Tag: fantasy books

Book Review: Vengeful (Villains #2) by V.E. Schwab

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy/Sci-fi
Length: 478 pages
Author: V.E. Schwab
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: September 25th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Magneto and Professor X. Superman and Lex Luthor. Victor Vale and Eli Ever. Sydney and Serena Clarke. Great partnerships, now soured on the vine.

But Marcella Riggins needs no one. Flush from her brush with death, she’s finally gained the control she’s always sought—and will use her new-found power to bring the city of Merit to its knees. She’ll do whatever it takes, collecting her own sidekicks, and leveraging the two most infamous EOs, Victor Vale and Eli Ever, against each other.

With Marcella’s rise, new enmities create opportunity–and the stage of Merit City will once again be set for a final, terrible reckoning.

A super-powered collision of extraordinary minds and vengeful intentions—#1 New York Times bestselling author V. E. Schwab returns with the thrilling follow-up to Vicious.

IT WAS TIME.

I’ve seen a little bit of marketing that the third (and final) book is finally coming out in 2026 so I figured it was time to see what the sequel was all about. I remember loving Vicious and the X-men vibes but make them all villains.

I don’t remember much from book one (I did not go reread it after 10 years), and I don’t think I really struggled with that fact. I was a little confused but the longer the book went on I did remember key pieces and that didn’t affect anything major. I’m grateful this book was pretty simple to fall into and the audiobook is fabulous.

The ever shifting POV is solid and makes the book flow well. There was less of Victor in this book than I was hoping and I think this lacked in some of the action I was expecting. The plot ramped up towards the end but was a slow starter in the beginning.

I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the conclusion pans out.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy/Sci-fi
  • Language: mild-moderate
  • Romance: very brief scenes (but this is a not a romance!!!)
  • Violence: very high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, murder, attempted murder, weapons violence, physical violence, torture, lots of death and discussions surrounding it

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Book Review: Falling in a Sea of Stars (Green Rider #8) by Kristen Britain

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 672 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After Sacoridia’s victory over Second Empire, Karigan G’ladheon’s life as a Green Rider should have settled into an ordinary routine. But her father’s abrupt departure to rescue Laren Mapstone, leader of the Green Riders and the woman he loves, from the far distant land of Varos, has left Clan G’ladheon’s business in disarray and Karigan’s hands full.

Even as Karigan tries to sort out the clan’s mess, a darker, more perilous crisis casts its shadows over her: Mornhavon the Black has reawakened. Moreover, he has freed two undead wraiths from their imprisoning tombs to hunt Karigan down and bring her to him in Blackveil Forest.

In a deadly confrontation with one of the wraiths amid the frivolity of the Harvest Ball, Karigan is left vulnerable to the intrigues of another old adversary she thought destroyed long ago. Haunted by the unceasing rhythm of the dance, she falls endlessly through the frigid dark of the heavens, and even Westrion, god of death, cannot save her.

King Zachary, bereft and hopeless, keeps vigil for her safe return. If they are not reunited, her loss may destroy him – and any chance Sacoridia has of overcoming Mornhavon’s dark designs.

I NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO READ THESE BOOKS.

To this day, I am convinced I am the only person I am aware of who is up to date on this series and it HURTS me because there is way too much to discuss!!!!!

Another intense installment with politicking and twists and action and questions and so many moments. What I find amazing about the writing style is that it continually switches POV and I have no issues listening to the audio through all of the changes. The characters stand out and I could not put this book down. I love the story telling and I must know what happens next.

There’s one plot line that brings me a little frustration [maybe I finally clocked where it’s going??] but otherwise I am here for it all. While not a ROMANCE in the traditional sense the romantic plot lines are well woven in and I love them all.

I just can’t recommend this series enough y’all!!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 1 almost vague scene; closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 480 pages
Author: Sarah Mughal Rana
Publisher: HarperCollins / Hanover Square
Release Date: December 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For fans of The Poppy War, She Who Became the Sun and The Will of the Many, a breathtaking fantasy novel about the daughter of an overthrown emperor from an exciting new voice

Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change. With her heavenly magic of nur, Khamilla is a weapon even enemies would wield—especially those in the magical, scholarly city of Za’skar. Hiding her identity, Khamilla joins the enemy’s army school full of jinn, magic and martial arts, risking it all to topple her adversaries, avenge her clan and reclaim their throne.

To survive, she studies under cutthroat mystic monks and battles in a series of contests to outmaneuver her fellow soldiers. She must win at all costs, even if it means embracing the darkness lurking inside her. But the more she excels, the more she is faced with history that contradicts her father’s teachings. With a war brewing among the kingdoms and a new twisted magic overtaking the land, Khamilla is torn between two impossible vengeance or salvation.

Thank you Hanover Square Press for the gifted eARC.

LOST MY ATTENTION.

I really really wanted to love this book (hello beautiful cover). But gosh, something was just missing. And I don’t know how best to explain it all. At the core are solid themes with a complex world and a good amount to ponder. I initially was interested in the happenings and then at some point I realized my mind just kept drifting.

I did see some growth in the FMC and I liked how her rage combined with her convictions took her on a journey of self discovery and learning how to best take the next step forward. Some of the side characters were interesting and I think I’d like an even stronger sense of found family. Not that every book needs a romance, but I feel this was lacking in any strong relationship bonds (of any variety).

I believe this is a standalone which connects back in to the pressing issues. The ending did not feel fully resolved and I think the entire plot would have been better if stretched out and allowed time for more connection. The amount of montage fight scenes got to be repetitive.

If you’re on the fence, I will say this did not turn me off from trying another book by this author. Sometimes the debut isn’t the gem and I’d be curious to see what comes next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Vilest Things (Flesh and False Gods #2) by Chloe Gong

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Chloe Gong
Publisher: S&S / Saga Press
Release Date: September 10th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the thrilling sequel to Immortal Longings, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra.

Calla Tuoleimi has succeeded in the impossible. Despite the odds, she has won San-Er’s bloody games and eliminated King Kasa, her tyrant uncle and the former ruler of Talin. She serves now as royal advisor to Kasa’s adopted son, August Shenzhi, who has risen to the throne.

Only Calla knows it isn’t really August.

Anton Makusa is still furious about Calla’s betrayal in the final round of the games. In an impossible feat, he took over August’s body to survive, and has no intention of giving up this newfound power. But when his first love, the beautiful, explosive Otta Avia, awakens from a years-long coma and reveals a secret that threatens the monarchy’s authority over Talin, chaos erupts. As tensions come to a boiling point, Calla and Anton must set their conflicts aside and head to the kingdom’s far reaches to prevent anarchy… even if their empire might be better off burning.

I’M TRYING.

Chloe Gong has written one of my favorite dark YA series so of course I’m over here trying to love on her adult books but y’all. I am STRUGGLING. I listened to the audiobook this time which didn’t change my perception but did make going through it quicker more achievable because I once again found myself somewhat…bored.

It feels like the plot is trying to do so many things at once that I’m not quite sure what truly needs to be done. Or it’s this sense of lolly-gagging from the characters while waiting for big shifts in the story to occur. And whoever is calling this book a romance is lying to you. Yes, it does have some romantic aspects but I consider that 10% of the story at best.

So I don’t know. Actually I do know, I know I will find myself reading book three hoping something clicks finally for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2+ brief open
  • Violence: high

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