Book Review: Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

February 23, 2025February 4, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 430 pages
Author: M.L. Wang
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: October 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Magic has made the city of Tiran an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost—and the collectors have come calling.

An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?

A standalone dark academia brimming with mystery, tragedy, and the damning echoes of the past. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, V. E. Schwab, and Fullmetal Alchemist.

(Content warnings for gore, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation)

FANTASTIC READ.

This had one of the coolest magic systems I’ve come across recently. I loved that it was coding based and how it worked. I really enjoyed Sciona as a main character. She’s exactly the type of lead I would expect in this type of book. A strong female who is trying to make a name for herself and prove her worth while also having to come to terms with her biases and facts that have been in front of her. The themes are complex and heavy hitting and made me think (even better my husband had just read this so we had a lot of good discussions).

It is not a romantic type book at all!! Just need to state because I do usually pick up romance based fantasy books. This one did not need a romantic plot at all. The characters were incredible. I loved getting Tiran’s POV too and seeing where he came from and how he and Sciona found ways to work together and ultimately begin the reconstruction of land.

A compelling read and I now want to go read other books by this author!

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: low
Romance: kiss
Violence: moderate – high
Content Warnings: gore, sexual assault, suicide ideation

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Book Review: Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive #5) by Brandon Sanderson

December 26, 2024December 18, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Epic Fantasy
Length: 1330 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: December 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive―the iconic epic fantasy masterpiece that has sold more than 10 million copies, from acclaimed bestselling author Brandon Sanderson.

Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare―and the sudden ascension of the crafty and ruthless Taravangian to take Odium’s place has thrown everything into disarray.

Desperate fighting continues simultaneously worldwide―Adolin in Azimir, Sigzil and Venli at the Shattered Plains, and Jasnah at Thaylen City. The former assassin, Szeth, must cleanse his homeland of Shinovar from the dark influence of the Unmade. He is accompanied by Kaladin, who faces a new battle helping Szeth fight his own demons . . . and who must do the same for the insane Herald of the Almighty, Ishar.

At the same time, Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain work to unravel the mystery behind the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram and her involvement in the enslavement of the singer race and in the ancient Knights Radiants killing their spren. And Dalinar and Navani seek an edge against Odium’s champion that can be found only in the Spiritual Realm, where memory and possibility combine in chaos. The fate of the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT?

This was arguably my biggest release of 2024. I have been waiting YEARS to get my hands on this book and y’all. It delivered and MORE. AND MORE. I honestly don’t even know how to put all my thoughts into coherent sentences. I’ll keep it vague so if you happen to read this without having read Stormlight yet, you’ll be okay. BUT ALSO GO READ IT.

I loved how Sanderson handled every single character in this story. The arcs are MAGNIFICENT. They are empowering and gives you hope and faith in something greater. I am in love with every member of this cast and I loved the flashbacks we received for a certain character this time and how that journey brought them to where they are now.

There were a few moments I had surmised or theorized happening (that did happen!!) and even more I could not have seen coming. And even more so, things I wasn’t expecting but am so happy to see. I laughed and cried, raged at the skies and shouted STORMS a few hundred times. I hugged this book trying to hug these characters.

Every single moment of the 62 hours I spent with this audiobook (okay less because I was listening at a 2.85x speed) BUT ANYWAYS. The longest book I have ever read was one of the best books of my life.

I just can’t even believe we’re here. The end of the first arc. THE END OF AN ERA.

(I’m excited about Sanderson’s next books but I don’t know how we’re supposed to all wait 10 years for arc two).

Overall audience notes:

Epic fantasy
Language: low
Romance: closed door
Violence: high

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Book Review: Mirror Sight (Green Rider #5) by Kristen Britain

August 14, 2022August 4, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: High Fantasy
Length: 784 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: May 6th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Karigan G’ladheon is a Green Rider–a seasoned member of the elite messenger corps of King Zachary of Sacoridia. This corps of messengers, each gifted with a brooch of office that imparts a unique magical ability to its wearer, was founded over a thousand years ago during the terrible time of the Long War.
During that spell-fueled war, Sacoridia was besieged by the sorcerous armies of the Arcosian Empire, led by Mornhavon the Black. When Sacoridia finally triumphed, Mornhavon resorted to dark magic that rendered his twisted spirit immortal. Determined to keep the realm safe from this terrifying enemy, multitudes of Sacoridian magicians sacrificed their lives to build the immense D’Yer Wall, imprisoning the dangerous spirit of Mornhavon in Blackveil Forest, which uncontrolled magic had mutated into a perilous and unnatural place.

For over a thousand years, the magic of the D’Yer Wall protected the people of Sacoridia, but as the centuries passed, memory of how the wall had been built was lost as a traumatized nation turned its back on magic. And when a malicious entity cracked the massive wall, there were none left who knew how to repair it. Desperate to regain the knowledge and repair the ever-expanding breach in the wall, agents of the king scoured the kingdom for magical relics and information. Finally, in a last-ditch attempt to gain time, Karigan, whose Rider brooch enabled her to “fade”–sometimes traversing the layers of time and space–was able to catapult the spirit of Mornhavon into the future. But how far into the future was anyone’s guess.
Realizing that this might be their only chance to enter Blackveil and examine the tainted peninsula, King Zachary sends Karigan and a contingent of Sacoridians beyond the wall, along with an equal number of Eletians–the immortal race that eons ago lived in what is now Blackveil Forest. But in addition to the unnatural dangers of the forest itself, Karigan and her small delegation have been followed by a secret rebel sect–descendants of the original Arcosian invaders, and during a showdown between these two groups, Mornhavon suddenly reappears.
In the magical confrontation that follows, Karigan is jolted out of Blackveil and wakes in a darkness blacker than night. She’s lying on smooth, cold stone, but as she reaches out, she realizes that the stone is not just beneath her, but above and around her as well. She’s landed in a sealed stone sarcophagus, some unknown tomb, and the air is becoming thin.

Is this to be her end? If she escapes, where will she find herself? Is she still in the world she remembers, or has the magical explosion transported her somewhere completely different? To find out, she must first win free of her prison–before it becomes her grave. And should she succeed, will she be walking straight into a trap created by Mornhavon himself?

WHAT WAS THE POINT?

I will say first, I did enjoy this story by the end. I finally got on board with the characters the story and what was happening. That’s why I gave it four stars (and what I mention at the end of this review).

But I do have questions, because the ending made me concerned for what the whole point of this read was? I don’t know. I will remain hopeful that there’s more to this.

I adored Cade and loved that Karigan got a chance to find love and enjoy those moments together. She’s been rushed into growing up and I thought this was a great moment for her to slow down a bit, even amidst everything else happening.

It was interesting getting a look into the future and how things shook out after Karigan left through Blackveil. There’s a lot of terrible and scathing reviews for this book. And I honestly fully understand those comments. I think I lucked out by the audio book and not having to wait years and years for another installment. I’m choosing to hope the next book resets itself and this series and that this book seems to have a point by the end.

Overall audience notes:

High fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: closed door
Violence: a lot of blood/gore
Trigger/Content Warnings: slavery, mass murder, physical and magical altercations, suicide (on page), kidnapping and torture, drugging without consent

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Book Review: First Rider’s Call (Green Rider #2) by Kristen Britain

August 10, 2022August 30, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 596 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: August 3rd, 2004
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

GHOSTLY RIDERS

Karigan G’ladheon had been a Green Rider, one of the king of Sacoridia’s elite magical messengers. Being a Green Rider was more perilous than Karigan had ever imagined, for a rogue Eletians had cracked the magical D’Yer Wall which had protected Sacoridia for a thousand years from the evil influence of Blackveil Forest–the arboreal prison of Sacoridia’s ancient enemy Mornhaven the Black–and had brought the threat of dark magic into the land. In the messenger service she had been caught up in a world of deadly danger, and though she had defeated the Eletian, she had nonetheless been tainted by his wild magic.

Exhausted in body and spirit, and determined to be the mistress of her own destiny, Karigan has returned to her home in Corsa. But Karigan’s determination was no match for the Rider’s call. Ghostly hoofbeats echoed in the deep regions of her mind, and when she awoke to find herself on horseback halfway to Sacor City–in her nightgown–she finally gave in.

Back at court Karigan found the Green Riders weakened and diminished. Rider magic was becoming unreliable, and she herself was having ghostly visions–visions of a strong woman with wild flowing hair and a blue and green tartan draped across her shoulder, pinned with a golden brooch. This woman was no stranger to Karigan nor would she have been to any Green Rider, for she was Lil Ambriodhe, First Rider, and founder of the Green Rider corps. But why was she appearing to Karigan? And would Karigan be able to seek the help of a woman who had been dead for a thousand years?

I’M INVESTED.

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked this up. I decided to try the audio (highly recommend) to make it through this tome to really decide if I wanted to invest in this series. Ohhhh did the audio convince me! I really liked this epic fantasy and I feel excited to read book three.

After about 100 pages I started to settle [and remember] who was who and what was happening. By the end I found myself intrigued by the storylines and characters. I wanted to know more about everyone and I am HOOKED on the bit of romance this book is finally adding in. Some books need a dash of romance and this is the case for the series. There’s so much action and politics and things of that nature happening that a bit heavier addition of some soft, tender moments would send this into 5 star land for me.

There’s many maaaany different lines weaving together. I liked the change of POV’s and I was able to keep up with what was happening. They’re journal chapters that gratefully do lead to a HUGE reveal that I think is going to have some great threads for the next book.

I’m excited to continue this high fantasy. It’s nice to have a thick series to work my way through and will definitely be continuing with the audio books.

Overall audience notes: