Tag: science fiction

Book Review: Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S.K. Ali

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Dystopia / Sci-fi
Length: 544 pages
Author: S.K. Ali
Publisher: Kokila
Release Date: October 8th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war.

Would you trade love for peace?

Raisa of Upper Earth has only lived a life of privilege and acquiescence. Ever dutiful, she accepts her father’s arrangement of her marriage to Lein, Crown Prince of the corrupt, volatile lands of Lower Earth. Though Lein is a stranger, Raisa knows the wedding will unite their vastly different worlds in a pact of peace: an infusion of Upper Earth technology into Lower Earth will usher in the final age of enlightenment, ending war between humans forever.

Or is justice more urgent?

Newly released from imprisonment, Nada of Lower Earth has found her own calling: disrupting the royal wedding. Convinced her cousin Lein’s alliance with Upper Earth will launch an invasive, terrifying form of tyranny, Nada sets out undercover to light the spark of revolution.

When Raisa goes missing a week before the wedding, all eyes turn to the rebels, including Nayf, Nada’s twin brother—a fugitive on the run. And when Nayf and Raisa meet, the long-simmering animosity they feel toward each other’s worlds slowly burns away into something unexpected.

But the Crown Prince wants his bride—and future—back. And he will go to the ends of the Earths to reclaim them.

SOLID.

Or maybe more? I feel like the ending kind of left things open but I do think enough of the story lines were closed off that it can be read as a standalone without any trouble. This wasn’t initially on my radar but I am so happy I picked it up. Fledgling starts out INTENSE and keeps that energy going for most of the book. I enjoyed the darker angles of the story and the how this dystopian world worked.

There were multiple POV’s from all different angles that added to the complexity of this story. From rebels, to government members to everything in between. I loved seeing the underside of Lower Earth and how that compared to Upper Earth. I enjoyed the complex character dynamics and how you never quite knew what was going to happen next and who might be the next cause of betrayal. World building and politics were heavy hitters here and made for a great read.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Dystopian / Sci-Fi
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: murder, torture

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Book Review: Into the Abyss (Into the Churn #3) by Hayley Reese Chow

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Sci-FI Romance
Length: 312 pages
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Publisher: Whimsical Publishing
Release Date: March 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It was never just a race…

Four months after dark syndicate interference in Crion’s inaugural race royale, Ezren and Foster have settled into their roles as ambassadors on the BRR council.

Though begrudgingly working beside their would-be murderer, Ezren and Foster have struck an uneasy truce as Calderon mentors them in Casollan politics for the upcoming BRR. While Foster counts down the days until they can walk away from the council, Ezren is conflicted as she weighs their ever-growing positive impact.

However, when a high-profile murder upends the whole system, Casolla’s fragile peace balances on a knife blade of disaster. As the deadly conspiracy unfurls, a new race begins, and blood spills among the stars. With both their lives and Casolla’s future hanging in the balance, Foster and Ezren will have to decide who they’re meant to be or risk losing their world to the darkness forever.

Run. Drive. Fight. Rise.

I’M GOING TO MISS THEM.

I have adored this series so much and didn’t expect this last book to pack such a punch for me but that goes to show how incredible HRC has crafted these characters and story. I loooove Ezren and Foster so much. They have beautiful chemistry and a strong desire to work together (rather than petty problems pull them apart, BLESS). They fought for each other in multiple ways and my heart was in my throat throughout many chapters because things got INTENSE.

And I love this whole cast. The found family trope was executed to perfection where I felt drawn to everyone and emotionally invested in where they landed (praise the epilogue).

The antagonist aka the final boss was predictable, yet I was still drawn to how the plot unfolded. Seeing how they got there, what caused the fallout, and the eventual demise were exactly what this book needed. I loved how the entire series got wrapped up, it feels complete and I can put it down knowing I enjoyed the heck out of every page.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Sci-Fi Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: moderate blood/gore depiction, physical & psychological torture, loss of life, murder, kidnapping

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Book Review: Brand of Light (The Droseran Saga #1) by Ronie Kendig

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: Ronie Kendig
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Release Date: December 3rd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There’s a price on her head, and it has everything to do with the brand on her arm.

Tertian Space Coalition has blessed every planet in the quadrants with high technology, save one: Drosero. But in spite of their tenuous treaty with the ruling clans, TSC has plans for the backward planet. And they’re not alone.

After a catastrophic explosion, Kersei Dragoumis awakens in a derelict shuttle, alone, injured, and ignorant of the forbidden technology that has swept her into a nightmare. The brand she’s borne since childhood burns mysteriously, but the pain is nothing to that when she learns her family is dead and she is accused of their murders.

Across the quadrants, Marco Dusan responds to the call of a holy order-not to join them, but to seek a bounty. Gifted-or cursed-with abilities that mark him a Kynigos, a tracker sworn to bring interplanetary fugitives to justice, Marco discovers this particular bounty has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with prophecy. One that involves the hunter as much as the hunted.

Thank you to the author for a gifted audiobook.

INTRIGUED.

I love having a new completed series to work through and I am definitely invested enough to keep going on this one! This is such a cool sci-fi world. I love all of the different groups and planets and politicking. Once you’ve got your footing in the world and what’s happening it’s easy to be invested.

There’s multiple POV’s and multiple romances and I loved following them all. I enjoyed these characters and thought the audiobook narrator did a good job of all the different voices needed. I did start to feel the length of the story towards the end and thought some of it could have been a bit shorter, but like I said, it doesn’t deter me from continuing. There’s action scenes that ramp up the intensity and I was on pins and needles multiple times.

Such a good start, can’t wait for more!

Overall audience notes:

  • Sci-Fi + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: torture

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Book Review: We Could Be Villains (The Vigil & Ante Files #1) by Megan McCullough

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Sci-Fi Romance
Length: 346 pages
Author: Megan McCullough
Publisher: Whimsical Publishing
Release Date: October 3rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Avoid spoilers. Don’t get fired. Defeat a not-so-fictional supervillain?

Seventeen-year-old fangirl Rosemary Collins lives for VIGIL & ANTE Studios movies. From action-packed superhero fights to sweet character moments, she’s here for it all. But in a real-life crossover no one saw coming, the fandom’s heartthrob supervillain, Ironfall, isn’t as fictional as the film studio wants her to believe. Beyond the glamorous red carpet lies the government’s most guarded secret: the movies are real.

Armed with a devilish grin and a wit as sharp as his knives, Ironfall needs her help, and refusing means he’ll kill her parents. Her only other option involves spying on him for the government’s secret superhero division. Suspended between fact and what she thought was fiction, Rosemary must join her heroes and create an impenetrable web of lies—or guarantee her parents’ safety as she watches the world burn at its adored villain’s hand.

Perfect for fans of pop culture and comics, WE COULD BE VILLAINS packs an entire cinematic universe into a book. Join Rosemary and the not-so-fictional heroes (and villains!) of the VIGIL & ANTE films in this imaginative science fiction where superhero battles equal publicity stunts, fictional characters become family, and the villain just might steal your heart.

Thank you to Whimsical Publishing for the gifted audiobook.

DEFINITELY NEED BOOK TWO.

This has been sitting on my TBR for a long while now and I am very grateful that the audiobook became available and saved it from the cemetery of my kindle folder.

I thought this concept was so much fun and I loved all of the sci-fi superheroes, anti-heroes and other groups throughout. It took some darker turns I wasn’t expecting and I thought the action scenes packed a lot of punch.

There’s a subtle romance too that had my full attention and I look forward to seeing the final development of that in book two. I liked Rosemary as the FMC and how she was naive about a lot of things, but caring and loyal to her loved ones. Even better, she took the time to work on her skills and learned many new things along the way.

The audiobook was great. I enjoyed the narrator. There was one side character who’s voice was a bit nasally to me, but that was a minor issue. I definitely recommend this format for reading WCBV.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Sci-Fi + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content Warnings: murder, gun violence

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