Author: GoodeyReads

Book Review: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 336 pages
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publisher: Fiewel & Friends
Release Date: February 26th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

How do you kill a god?

As her father’s chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: to win back her honour, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying. 

RESONATING.

“Each scar marks me as a survivor. A warrior of the wild.”

This was a book that really caught my attention. A lot of powerful phrasing that really hit home for me. I love this authors writing and the way she builds her characters and the story as a whole.

I absolutely love the dialogue throughout WotW. It was impressive. It felt real and had me flying through the book. I didn’t want to put it down! I vaguely figured out where the book was going, but loved the progression all the same.

I appreciate that the romance was believable. That can be a hard task in a standalone. I adored Soren and his practical, loving nature was precious. Things moved at a steady pace and never went too far, which made absolute sense for the time frame/plot. The banter between Sorren and Rasmira had me chuckling and begging for more.

Each of the main characters (Rasmira, Sorren & Iric) all went through these characters arcs that dove into deeper waters. Conquering fears, realizing one’s true nature and abilities, and learning to communicate were just a few of the aspects broached. I feel like I really got this book. Which is probably why I’m gushing over it now.

The only “eh” thing was the god Peruxolo. There wasn’t much to him so he wasn’t a completely believable antagonist. The scope of the story was so much broader than him that his background took a backseat. I was at least satisfied in the fact that the truth was fully explained at the end.

“My soul has worth, and I won’t let it depart this world just yet.”

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy (vikings)
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: light kisses to barely intense make-outs
  • Violence: ax, knives, physical

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Book Tag: Do I Have That Book Challenge

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I wasn’t tagged in this, but saw on Sara’s (The Bibliophagist) blog and thought it would be a lot of fun! I usually scroll through my Goodreads lists and I like this unique challenge of going through my shelves.

You can see the Youtube video that this challenge originated from here.

Rules:

1. Time yourself trying to find each prompt on your shelf
2. Try and beat the time of the person who challenged you.
3. Don’t forget to tag your challenger and the original creator.
4. Have fun!

1. Do you have a book with deckled edges?

I have a handful, but The Madman’s Daughter, was the first one I found.

2. Do you have a book with 3+ people on the cover?

A Reaper at the Gates, love this cover change. Now if only my first two in the series matched!

3. Do you have a book based on another fictional story?

I absolutely adore this book, My Lady Jane was so cute!

4. Do you have a book with a title 10 letters long?

First one I found, Six of Crows.

5. Do you have a book with a title that starts and ends with the same letter?

Obsidio!

6. Do you have a Mass Market Paperback book?

The Longest Ride, honestly the only one I own!

7. Do you have a book written by an author using a pen name?

I know she uses both Victoria Schwab and V.E. Schwab, so A Darker Shade of Magic it is.

8. Do you have a book with a character’s name in the title?

I love anything Amy Harmon writes.

9. Do you have a book with 2 maps in it?

The same map on both covers of the book, but hey, it counts!

10. Do you have a book that was turned into a TV show?

Having to use Sara’s answer because I own a handful that are now movies, but The Mortal Instruments is the only one I know that’s a TV show. Oh how I wish this was an actually good adaptation.

11. Do you have a book written by someone who is originally famous for something else? (celebrity/athlete/politician/TV personality…)

Initially got this because I love Amy Poehler, but unfortunately didn’t love it as much as I hoped.

12. Do you have a book with a clock on the cover?

I can’t find one with a clock, so another time device will have to work. Evermore has an hourglass!

13. Do you have a poetry book?

My absolute favorite poems from childhood. Reading them as an adult is even more humorous. These were a little more clever than I thought.

14. Do you have a book with an award stamp on it?

Echo.

15. Do you have a book written by an author with the same initials as you?

It doesn’t appear that I own one, so I went with my maiden initials: C.C.

16. Do you have a book of short stories?

Anything Bardugo writes ends up on my shelves and The Language of Thorns was no exception.

17. Do you have a book that is between 500-510 pages long?

A solid 502 pages.

18. Do you have a book that was turned into a movie?

This movie was so precious. A great adaptation!

19. Do you have a graphic novel?

It doesn’t look like I have any…I own a lot of children’s books so those have a lot of pictures, ha! I read with our babe a lot, but it looks like I need to look into some graphic novels!

20. Do you have a book written by 2 or more authors?

This whole series is stunning. And I can’t wait for their next duo series, Aurora Rising!

There we have it! Have you read any of these?

What graphic novel should I read? I would love your suggestions! Let’s talk in the comments.

Also, since I wasn’t tagged, I’m not tagging anyone! If you end up doing this though, please let me know! Would love to see your answers.

First Impression Friday || Deathcaster (Shattered Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima

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Howdy! I wanted to add more to my blogging week and decided to try First Impression Fridays!

This meme was created by Joe at JW Martin – Storeys of Stories. The rules are:

• Based on this sampling of your current read, give a few impressions and predict what you’ll think by the end.
• Did you think you’d love and ended up hating it? Or did you think you’d hate it and wound up loving it? Or were you exactly right?
• Link back to Storeys of Stories so everyone can enjoy reading all the First Impression Fridays out there!

BOOK SUMMARY:

SPLINTERED ALLEGIANCE.

Warrior Alyssa ana’Raisa would do anything to protect her home, the Fells, and her legacy, the Gray Wolf Line. But as a prisoner of Empress Celestine, Lyss is forced to turn her fearsome talents as an army commander against her beloved homeland. Refusal would swiftly lead to her death, and her death would end the Gray Wolf Line.

ANCIENT DANGER.

In Lyss’s absence, Fellsmarch Castle swarms with intrigue, deception, and a primordial threat. Destin Karn, a Southern spymaster with a hidden agenda of his own, might be the queendom’s only hope of defeating the forces aligned against the Seven Realms… as well as the enemies within the castle.

THE DEADLY COST OF PEACE.

Master storyteller Cinda Williams Chima delivers spellbinding action, bittersweet reunions, and dazzling revelations in this indispensable conclusion to the Shattered Realms series. 

I’m about 100 pages into the finale book for the Shattered Realms series. I’m a bit sad that this is the last book in this world. Seven Realms became one of my favorite series last year and immediately picked this up after finishing it.

So far so good in this behemoth (656 pages!). There’s been a lot of POV changes and a lot of things happening. I expect chaos to reign and am excited to see what the costs will be to bring peace to this land at last.

I’m also hoping all of my ships sail. I’m not sure if anyone will be killed off. I’m hoping it’s not anyone high on my favorites list or I’ll flip my lid.

I think that I will love this book. I wasn’t as impressed with book 3, but finales have a way of winning me over big time. I know I’m going to lose sleep trying to finish Deathcaster.

Final rating prediction?

☆☆☆☆ / ☆☆☆☆☆

This book would have to fall off a cliff for me to give it less than an amazing rating. Gonna get back to it now.

Is this on your TBR? Have you already read it? Let’s talk in the comments!

Book Review: Stormcaster (Shattered Realms #3) by Cinda Williams Chima

GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 535 pages
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 3rd, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The third book in the thrilling four-book Shattered Realms series from New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima

The empress in the east—the unspeakably cruel ruler whose power grew in Flamecaster and Shadowcaster—tightens her grip in this chilling third installment in the series.

Vagabond seafarer Evan Strangward can move the ocean and the wind, but his magical abilities seem paltry in comparison to Empress Celestine’s. As Celestine’s bloodsworn armies grow, Evan travels to the Fells to warn the queendom of her imminent invasion. If he can’t convince the Gray Wolf queen to take a stand, he knows that the Seven Realms will fall. Among the dead will be the one person Evan can’t stand to lose.

Meanwhile, the queen’s formidable daughter, Princess Alyssa ana’Raisa, is already a prisoner aboard the empress’s ship. Lyss may be the last remaining hope of bringing down the empress from within her own tightly controlled territory.

Multiple intricately interwoven storylines converge in this gripping novel about a brave, coordinated effort to undermine a horrific tyrant.

I LIKED MOST OF IT.

Unfortunately, I think this will be the weakest book in the series. My biggest issue is that each book has started with a new character. Then we spend 100+ pages going over their back story while I’m impatiently waiting to get back to the main story-line, stopping the empress.

The problem with beginning with the back-story is that it makes all of the love interests seem quick and insta-attraction (even when the story talks about time jumps). I love the opposite attraction of Evan and Destin. Evan is striving to right wrongs and save not only his Kingdom, but the Seven Realms. Then we have Destin, a complex, morally gray character who I LOVE. I never know what kind of move he’s going to make.

I think all of these relationships are going to have a major reckoning in Deathcaster. I can’t wait to see how everyone comes together since literally every pair is one opposite sides of the realm currently.

Now there’s so many POVs and so many things happening that I was missing some characters. Lyssa and Ash, for instance, were hardly in here, even though they are super critical to the finale.

While I had some issues, this authors writing is still entrancing. I find myself flying through the book. I love all of the politics and world-building. Everyone is crossing paths and then double-crossing their actions. It’s really exciting and I love all the twists and turns. I definitely have a lot more questions and am so excited to finish this just in time for the release of the last book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: a kiss
  • Violence: knives, physical, poison
  • Trigger warnings: domestic abuse

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