Tag: Book Review

Book Review: The Devil’s Thief (The Last Magician #2) by Lisa Maxwell

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 704 pages
Author: Lisa Maxwell
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 9th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this spellbinding sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Last Magician, Esta and Harte set off on a cross-country chase through time to steal back the elemental stones they need to save the future of magic.

Hunt the Stones.
Beware the Thief.
Avenge the Past.

Esta’s parents were murdered. Her life was stolen. And everything she knew about magic was a lie. She thought the Book of Mysteries held the key to freeing the Mageus from the Order’s grasp, but the danger within its pages was greater than she ever imagined.

Now the Book’s furious power lives inside Harte. If he can’t control it, it will rip apart the world to get its revenge, and it will use Esta to do it.

To bind the power, Esta and Harte must track down four elemental stones scattered across the continent. But the world outside the city is like nothing they expected. There are Mageus beyond the Brink not willing to live in the shadows—and the Order isn’t alone in its mission to crush them.

In St. Louis, the extravagant World’s Fair hides the first stone, but an old enemy is out for revenge and a new enemy is emerging. And back in New York, Viola and Jianyu must defeat a traitor in a city on the verge of chaos.

As past and future collide, time is running out to rewrite history—even for a time-traveling thief. 

WAY TOO LONG.

I finally picked this series back up (I don’t know why it took me so long, I loved The Last Magician!). This was a hefty tome to read, and was filled with a lot…and nothing…all at the same time.

My biggest complaint is the length, there was no way this needed to be 700 pages. It became very unfocused and searching after ONE stone took up the entire book. It led to off pacing, moments where the characters themselves were dragging their feet and I was wishing things would get a move on.

The writing is great though. Even with how thick it is, I didn’t start feeling that strain until late in the second half of the book. I wanted to read every word, wanted to know what was going to happen next. I think it’s also because I enjoy most of the characters. They’re endearing and frustrating, which makes them feel real. Esta probably annoyed me the most because she kept FLAT OUT REFUISNG to let Harte help her with anything. It was like she had to prove she could do anything on her own, every. dang. time. I need this character arc to bring in some ability to ask for and accept help.

There’s MANY points of view here. Some that made sense, I understood, was overall fine with. Then, there were others that I’m questioning why they were necessary? I don’t think the handful of them really added anything and probably could have been left out and the story wouldn’t be lacking.

The historical aspects of this were interesting. I haven’t read a book set in this time period and in this location. I liked the Author’s Note at the end as well that explained some more of the history, her writing choices and other books to read on the subject. I love when this is put in there for historical fiction-ish based books.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fiction / Fantasy
  • Language: some
  • Romance: kisses to heated make-out
  • Violence: physical altercations, explosions, magical attacks, train wrecks, poisoning
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: hate crime, racism, substance abuse, pain-med addiction

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ARC Book Review: Beasts of Ruin (Beasts of Prey #2) by Ayanna Gray

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Rating: ★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Ayanna Gray
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: July 26th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this much anticipated follow up to New York Times bestselling Beasts of Prey, Koffi’s powers grow stronger and Ekon’s secrets turn darker as they face the god of death.

Koffi has saved her city and the boy she loves, but at a terrible price. Now a servant to the cunning god of death, she must use her newfound power to further his continental conquest, or risk the safety of her home and loved ones. As she reluctantly learns to survive amidst unexpected friends and foes, she will also have to choose between the life—and love—she once had, or the one she could have, if she truly embraces her dangerous gifts.

Cast out from the only home he’s ever known, Ekon is forced to strike new and unconventional alliances to find and rescue Koffi before it’s too late. But as he gets closer to the realm of death each day, so too does he draw nearer to a terrible truth—one that could cost everything.

Koffi and Ekon—separated by land, sea, and gods—will have to risk everything to reunite again. But the longer they’re kept apart, the more each of their loyalties are tested. Soon, both may have to reckon with changing hearts—and maybe, changing destinies.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

WHYYYYYYYY.

This was one of the most second book syndrome books I have ever read. I spent the entire read wondering why in the world the characters were doing what they were. Ekon spent his entire time trying to get to Koffi while she spent the entire time trying to get out of where she was. It made this book draaaaaaaaaag.

Not to mention, we have thrown a love…square? into this. Something like that, I don’t even know at this point. I’m incredibly frustrated. I think this would have been beautiful as a duology and this felt like mostly wasted pages.

I really love these characters. I do. Koffi and Ekon are written incredibly well. Full of strengths and weaknesses and a resilience to take the next step forward. They are the reason I kept going. The beasts are a fun aspect and I love learning the backgrounds on them (from the author’s note) and how they play into the overall scheme of this book.

Juuuuust feeling upset this is how this book went down. It was one of my top fantasy releases for 2022. And you know what? I think book three will be extremely good. This was too middle book for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: animal attacks, loss of loved ones, near death experiences, magical and physical altercations, weapons violence

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ARC Book Review: Stealing Infinity (Stolen Beauty #1) by Alyson Noel

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Magical Realism / Fantasy + Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: June 28th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

These days, I’ve been killing it when it comes to letting people down. Now I’ve been kicked out of high school, arrested, and accepted into a remote, off-the-grid school owned and operated by an inscrutable billionaire tech guru.

Gray Wolf Academy is looking for a certain kind of student. Ones that no one will miss. Like me.

Then there’s Braxton. The beautiful, oddly anachronistic guy who showed up right when the trouble started. And he’s a total enigma—which means that I definitely can’t trust him, even if there’s something about him that makes me want to.
They all tell me I have a gift. A very rare gift. And Gray Wolf Academy wants me to learn it. To use it. Because if what they say is true, I have all the time in the world.
And that makes me the most dangerous high school student you’ll never know…

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an audio ARC.

KIND OF INTO IT.

I picked this one up after a lot of hype from Bookstagram friends and I think it did it’s job well. As this was an audiobook ARC I’ll speak to that first, LOVED. No complaints here about the narration or anything. I thought it was wonderful and I was able to listen at a 2.5x – 3x speed easily.

The set-up for this was fun. I liked the time travel aspects and getting to see different facets of history. The school setting wasn’t a big factor (as someone who doesn’t love that setting). It was more in the background to everything else Nat was learning and doing.

I didn’t love the side characters. Some in the context of not great antagonists which came off childish. And others is just that I wanted more! There were many opportunities for some found family moments and I think those should have been capitalized on.

This was somehow upper YA and lower YA all in the same book. The dialogue and personalities leaned towards younger while the themes and some of the scenes (like attempted rape) were definitely in the older group. This clash caused a issue with me finding the right niche for the story overall.

I am intrigued by the plot though and definitely want to continue. I really liked the banter at the beginning of the romance and am curious how that is going to continue to play out. Maybe a love triangle? I’m not sure. BUT I did like what Braxton brought to the table.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Magical Realism/Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: some light
  • Romance: heated make-outs
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: sexual assault, attempted rape, loss of loved ones, near death experiences

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Book Review: The Saltwater Heir (The Blood and Water Saga #1) by Cassidy Clarke

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 560 pages
Author: Cassidy Clarke
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: June 25th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Princess Soren of Nyx is no stranger to loss after a decade-long war with the neighboring kingdom of Atlas. But with her best friend slowly succumbing to a cruel Atlas poison, she hatches a reckless plan: kidnap the enemy prince from the battlefield and use his life to barter for the antidote.

But when that prince calls her by a different name…the name of his sister, whose death began the war ten years ago…everything changes.

Stolen away to Atlas, trapped behind enemy lines, Soren must navigate a kingdom she knows nothing about, surrounded by a family she doesn’t remember, and work to hunt down the antidote only Atlas possesses, all while strange memories fight to take over-memories of a different life, a different home, a different girl.

And memories aren’t the only thing awakened by Soren’s return. Dark, forbidden magics begin to stir, threatening both her new life and her old. With death stalking in every shadow, the lost princess must fight harder and sacrifice more than she ever dreamed to save what she holds most dear. 

READ IT.

Uh wow, how have I not known about this book? It’s a gem. AND YOU NEED TO READ IT TOO PLEASE.

This, hands down, has the best sibling relationships I have ever read. They felt incredibly real and they were tight knit. But that didn’t stop arguments, nor did it stop apologies. I think getting a multi point of view set-up with everyone really sold this book for me. I loved seeing everyone’s sides and decisions. What they were thinking and how that played into the further plot.

The MAIN character, Soren, is just on the cusp of some major character arcs (well, everyone is for that matter). Saltwater did a great job of accomplishing a cast that needs to grow, but without making you not want to keep going. I LOVE the initial vibes for Finn, Kal, Soren, Elias and more. I think some serious moves will be made throughout the series.

There’s only a dash of romance at this time (which I am curious as to how it’ll be carried over multiple books). I would have loved a bit more, yet by the time some feelings were being expressed I realized I was very much emotionally attached to these two getting their way. The best kind of feelings towards fiction relationships.

I couldn’t get enough of this book and it is so easy to fly through. There’s not intense world-building throughout. It works well in that it’s still easy to know who’s who and what the overall plot will continue to be. I’m interested in many of the sub-plots with meddling gods and betrayals galore.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: some
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, wasting sicknesses, near death experiences, weapons violence, battle scenes

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