Book Review: Crossroads of Twilight (The Wheel of Time #10) by Robert Jordan

Rating: ★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 704 pages
Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Tor
Release Date: January 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the tenth book of The Wheel of Time from the New York Times #1 bestselling author Robert Jordan, the world and the characters stand at a crossroads, and the world approaches twilight, when the power of the Shadow grows stronger.

Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her nor let her go, not in safety for either of them, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan Empire are in deadly pursuit.

Perrin Aybara seeks to free his wife, Faile, a captive of the Shaido, but his only hope may be an alliance with the enemy. Can he remain true to his friend Rand and to himself? For his love of Faile, Perrin is willing to sell his soul.

At Tar Valon, Egwene al’Vere, the young Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, lays siege to the heart of Aes Sedai power, but she must win quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible, for unless the Aes Sedai are reunited, only the male Asha’man will remain to defend the world against the Dark One, and nothing can hold the Asha’man themselves back from total power except the Aes Sedai and a unified White Tower.

In Andor, Elayne Trakland fights for the Lion Throne that is hers by right, but enemies and Darkfriends surround her, plotting her destruction. If she fails, Andor may fall to the Shadow, and the Dragon Reborn with it.

Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn himself, has cleansed the Dark One’s taint from the male half of the True Source, and everything has changed. Yet nothing has, for only men who can channel believe that saidin is clean again, and a man who can channel is still hated and feared-even one prophesied to save the world. Now, Rand must gamble again, with himself at stake, and he cannot be sure which of his allies are really enemies.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

Imma keep this short because it’s a waste of energy to spend it on a book that already made me waste my time listening to it. I was told to skip this book and honestly I could have. I even looked up a YouTube recap to make sure I really didn’t miss anything and YUP. This is a “build” book that will slowly cause you to lose your mind.

Alright, that’s it.

I’m only reading this series to get to the Sanderson books and what a labor of author love this has been lol.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: some
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate-high

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ARC Book Review: The Night Ends with Fire (The Night Ends with Fire #1) by K.X. Song

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy + Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: K.X. Song
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.

The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.

In the army, Meilin’s relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.

With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.

Thank you to Ace Pub and Berkley for the gifted copy.

YES, THIS.

Your girl is a big time Mulan fan. Like obsessively used to watch it growing up. But I haven’t read a lot of Mulan retellings?? Or at least not ones that i truly felt like had those markers from the movie and made it their own. I loved that this had some of those scenes but the entire plot was something new. It was a great combination of worlds colliding and I am incredibly impressed with the writing.

If I wanted anything more I would have loved a touch more romance, but I think that’s coming?? And I don’t know where it’s going??! Which is honestly kind of my favorite for fantasy series. Give me that long slow burn and make me beg for them to even touch hands. This is the tension I CRAVE.

I liked the plot and the added spirit realms. The magic system made enough sense where I didn’t feel lost and look forward to its expansion in later installments. I loved the heroine, Meilin. Her strength and perseverance. I love that she’s complicated and has weaknesses. Messy characters feel relatable and like someone you want to to root for, Meilin is one of those characters for me. I can’t wait to read what happens next!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: heated make out with touching
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: attempted sexual assault, loss of life, war themes

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Reading Wrap-Up: June 2024

SUMMER.

It was a slower month of reading because we got to do some traveling as well. I got through quite a few good ones!

Favorites this month:

  • Masquerade of the Heart
  • Scythe and Pen
  • First Test Graphic Novel
  • Beauty and the Beach
  • [Reread] The Way of Kings
  • Seven Summers
  • Unmasked
  • Beauty and the Baron
  • One-Star Romance
  • The Night Ends with Fire

Least favorites:

  • A Love Like the Sun
  • Refine (House of Oak #4) by Nichole Van
  • A Ballad of Stars (Thieves of Felshan #2) by Jacqlin Guernsey
  • Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis
  • [ALC] The Calculation of You and Me
  • Caught Up (Windy City #3) by Liz Tomforde
  • The Wren in the Holly Library (The Oak and the Holly Cycle #1) by K.A. Linde
  • [ALC] Masquerade of the Heart (Garden of the Cursed #2) by Katy Rose Pool
  • Scythe and Pen by A.C. Hobbs
  • [ARC] We Shall Be Monsters (We Shall Be Monsters #1) by Tara Sim
  • [ARC] First Test: Graphic Novel by Tamora Pierce
  • [ARC] Beauty and the Beach (Falling for Summer) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson
  • [Reread] The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archives #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Seven Summers by Paige Toon
  • Forever Reign (The Elementals of Iona #2) by V.B. Lacey
  • Summer Ever After (Falling for Summer) by Kortney Keisel
  • [ALC] The Undermining of Twyla and Frank (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy #2) by Megan Bannen
  • Unmasked (Benevolence & Blood #2.5) by Lauren M. Leasure
  • [ARC] The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
  • This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
  • Beauty and the Baron (Forever After Retellings #1) by Joanna Barker
  • Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
  • To Forge Her Fate (Hearts of Harewood #1) by Kasey Stockton
  • City of Mirth and Malice (Order and Chaos #2) by Alexis L. Menard
  • One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin
  • Beachy Keen (Falling for Summer) by Kasey Stockton
  • [ALC] The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
  • Where We Started (Stone Riders MC #1) by Ashley Munoz
  • [ARC] The Night Ends with Fire (The Night Ends with Fire #1) by K.X. Song
  • Awakening (Infinity Blade #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Plotting Summer (Falling for Summer) by Jess Heileman
  • [ARC] Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan

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

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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