Book Review: White Sand Graphic Novels (Vol. 1 – 3) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Graphic Novel
Length: 460 pages (total)
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A brand new saga of magic and adventure by #1 New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson.

On the planet of Taldain, the legendary Sand Masters harness arcane powers to manipulate sand in spectacular ways. But when they are slaughtered in a sinister conspiracy, the weakest of their number, Kenton, believes himself to be the only survivor. With enemies closing in on all sides, Kenton forges an unlikely partnership with Khriss — a mysterious Darksider who hides secrets of her own.

White Sand brings to life a crucial, unpublished part of Brandon Sanderson’s sprawling Cosmere universe. The story has been adapted by Rik Hoskin (Mercy Thompson), with art by Julius Gopez and colors by Ross Campbell. Employing powerful imagery and Sanderson’s celebrated approach to magical systems, White Sand is a spectacular new saga for lovers of fantasy and adventure.

I LIKED THEM.

This is a non spoiler review of the series as a whole.

I’m on a quest to read all of Sanderson’s back list/less common books and it was time to read his graphic novels! I thought the sand magic system was super cool and the inklings of the world building aspects were great too. In a graphic novel system it doesn’t have the same big style that Sanderson’s novels typical has, but I understood the framework enough to still like them.

The characters were pretty interesting too. Occasionally a bit jilted in conversations and such, but there was some good arcs and people I enjoyed seeing. I tend to think of always needing something more from a short book and that was basically the case here. The plot was good, kept me mostly engaged and I did read all of these in an evening so that’s something.

Not upset I read them, but also not a priority type of read either.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Graphic Novels
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: high (and graphically depicted with blood)
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mass loss of life, loss of loved ones, assassination attempts, murder, physical and magical altercations, creature attacks and hunting

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Book Review: When Gods Fall (The Gifts of the Gods #1) by S.E. Bouvier

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 607 pages
Author: S.E. Bouvier
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: November 23rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two sisters. Both destined for greatness. One will rise. One will fall.

In the Freefolk camps, magic is forbidden, and the gods are dead.

Alena has lived in the camps all her life but is fascinated by the Old Lands and their magic.

When her father is injured in a hunting accident, that same magic is his only hope of survival. Alena has no choice but to break Freefolk law to save him—a crime for which she is swiftly captured. Now, only her older sister, Katell, can help her.

But Katell, a Freefolk huntress, discovers she has magical abilities of her own, and in the camps, being Marked is a death sentence. The sisters are forced to leave their home and venture into the war-torn Old Lands in search of answers. Their journey takes a dangerous turn when slavers capture them.

Alena escapes slavery and finds an unlikely ally—a rebel warrior, fighting against the oppressive Rasennan Empire. Katell, a slave, is sold to an arena to fight for the entertainment of the Rasennan crowds. Her life is on the line with each ferocious fight.

Alena vows to rescue her sister, but amidst awakening gods, scheming rebels, and a power-hungry Emperor, the sisters’ bond will be tested, and each must decide how far she is willing to go to save the other.

If you crave strong heroines, elemental magic, ancient Greek and Roman influences, tortured heroes, and a heart-wrenching romance, get ready to dive into this gripping upper YA fantasy.

WHEN GODS FALL is the first book in a new epic fantasy series, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, An Ember in the Ashes, and Air Awakens.

Please note: WHEN GODS FALL is an upper YA fantasy that contains moderate violence, some gore, and mild adult situations.

MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

I love finding indie gems. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. I loved it so much. I loved all of the Greek & Roman inspired dynamics and how those + the meddling gods played into the larger plot. I loved both of these sisters and how much they cared for each other but also how they have to pursue their own paths for now.

I’m also weak for the subtle slow burn romances. The longing glances and heated kisses, good heavens, if I could ask for one thing, MORE of this. I loved both dynamics (each sister has a romantic sub plot). And the reveals??? I kept thinking I had figured something out and then was hit with new information that made me GASP. And tear up, let me tell y’all, things get emotional.

I loved all of the more prevalent side characters. I loved how much action and politicking was involved. I loved seeing glimpses of the emperor and the big journey these characters went on. The magic is really cool, and is one of those thick fantasy books I crave. It absolutely deserves all the love and I need more people to find it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA/NA Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes, loss of life, near death experiences, weapons violence

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Book Review: Sing Me to Sleep (Sing Me to Sleep #1) by Gabi Burton

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Gabi Burton
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: June 27th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this dark and seductive YA fantasy debut, a siren must choose between protecting her family and following her heart in a prejudiced kingdom where her existence is illegal.

Saoirse Sorkova survives on lies. As a soldier-in-training at the most prestigious barracks in the kingdom, she lies about being a siren to avoid execution. At night, working as an assassin for a dangerous group of mercenaries, Saoirse lies about her true identity. And to her family, Saoirse tells the biggest lie of all: that she can control her siren powers and doesn’t struggle constantly against an impulse to kill.

As the top trainee in her class, Saoirse would be headed for a bright future if it weren’t for the need to keep her secrets out of the spotlight. But when a mysterious blackmailer threatens her sister, Saoirse takes a dangerous job that will help her investigate: she becomes personal bodyguard to the crown prince.

Saoirse should hate Prince Hayes. After all, his father is the one who enforces the kingdom’s brutal creature segregation laws. But when Hayes turns out to be kind, thoughtful, and charming, Saoirse finds herself increasingly drawn to him-especially when they’re forced to work together to stop a deadly killer who’s plaguing the city. There’s only one problem: Saoirse is that deadly killer.

Featuring an all Black and Brown cast, a forbidden romance, and a compulsively dark plot full of twists, this thrilling YA fantasy is perfect for fans of A Song Below Water and To Kill a Kingdom.

I’LL READ BOOK TWO.

At first, I felt like the beginning lacked a focus. I didn’t know the WHY of the book and it didn’t feel strong enough to carry the whole story. I will say that as the book progressed and that focus became known, things were much better.

I LOVED that the main character was super morally gray. She was fierce, a siren, and one of the most loyal sisters I’ve read recently. Watching her slowly come undone to the golden retriever energy of Prince Hayes was beautiful. I love this slow burn romance and can’t wait to see where it continues.

There’s some good twists and turns. An interesting magic concept and the audiobook was stellar. I loved seeing Saoirse grapple with tough decisions and trying to make the right choices while handling the compulsions of her nature. I think this was a really solid debut and I look forward to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, physical and weapons violence, magical violence, drownings

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Book Review: The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: May 16th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

The True Love Experiment is the book fans have been waiting for ever since Fizzy’s debut in The Soulmate Equation. But when the lights come on and all eyes are on her, it turns out the happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on might lie just behind the camera.

I LIKED IT.

I’m very up and down, hit and miss with Christina Lauren books. This fell somewhere in-between. Honestly I’m feeling a little generous giving four stars, but here we are.

The plot set up and style was fun. I did like that it was unique with the TV show and romance books aspects. I absolutely adore Fizzy and Connor was incredibly swoony too. Definitely felt the chemistry from them and how much they wanted to be together.

BUT. The third act. I can’t. I can’t handle Connor offering up vulnerability, honesty and communication and Fizzy throwing that in his face. Very much rage inducing for me and I even waited until the next day to finish because this book had been going so well?!

I will commend the finale. It went exactly as I hoped and was super cute. SUPER. Therefore, it made me happy and I love a sweet happy ending.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; high explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment mentioned, infidelity mentioned

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