Tag: young adult fantasy

Book Review: Nightweaver by R.M. Gray

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 482 pages
Author: RM Gray
Publisher: Merlin’s Pen Publishing
Release Date: October 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Violet Oberon had never stepped foot on land.

Six hundred years after the Nightweavers claimed human lands for their own, the ocean is a haven for seventeen-year-old Violet and her family. Notorious pirates of the Western Sea, the Oberon clan are undefeated in battle—until an Underling murders Violet’s brother, and she discovers there are monsters more fearsome than the Nightweavers that have taken them captive.

When the son of a wealthy Nightweaver shows Violet and her family mercy, offering employment at his estate rather than enslavement, Violet vows not to forget that he is everything she hates. But as she adjusts to her new role as a kitchen maid at Bludgrave Manor, she finds that hatred is a curious thing. Arrogant, entitled, right hand to the wicked prince, William Castor might be the key to avenging her brother-and reclaiming her freedom.

But mercy always comes with a price. As Violet hunts the Underling responsible for her brother’s death, dark secrets threaten to unravel everything she thought she knew about the Nightweavers, herself, and her world. Torn between family loyalty and a chance at revenge, the cost of learning the truth about her brother’s murder could be her life.

STARTED STRONG.

I genuinely went in with the best of hopes for this one. And the first 40% were solid. I was intrigued by the magic system and world and all things pirates. A burgeoning romance was upon the pages and things seem settled for an amazing read.

And then I thought some aspects went downhill. The rest of the book was in one location and I needed more movement. There was also a lot of world building and magic explanations that felt info-dumping because we didn’t really see those in action. Having the book only in one place stopped a lot of expansion opportunities.

Then we had the love interest disappear for a bit on his own adventure which left the progress there become stagnant. I still don’t know if I like them together honestly. It does appear there will be a second book? I don’t have plans to pick it up though.

The last 25%ish picked up with some good twists and reveals. The villain monologues went on a bit but I was surprised by some scenes. I think I’m most obsessed with Captain Shade who absolutely needs his own POV.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #6) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: MG/YA Fantasy
Length: 304 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Starscape
Release Date: September 20th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From #1 New York Times bestselling authors Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson comes Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, the thrilling conclusion to the Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians saga.

As a Knight of Crystallia, I, Bastille, swore to protect the Smedry clan from the Evil Librarians. (And believe me, screwups like them constantly need protecting.) But when Alcatraz Smedry got strapped to an altar of outdated encyclopedias to be sacrificed to the dark gods, I arrived too late―and instead his father took his place.

Now Alcatraz is a blubbering mess, so it’s up to me lead the charge against his father’s killer: Biblioden, founder of the Evil Librarians―I was sure he died centuries ago!―who’s back to complete his goal of world domination. Now he’s going to use the dark powers he gained from that sacrifice against everyone not under Evil Librarian control. Being burned up from the inside is not how I plan to die, so I’d better figure out some way to stop him or we’re toast!

I know Alcatraz is wrong when he swears he’s no hero. But when a hero falls short, that’s the time for everyone else to step up and do what needs to be done.

BEAUTIFUL CONCLUSION.

I adored this series y’all. I shouldn’t be surprised. Brandon Sanderson can craft so many types of stories across age groups and genres and I am here for them all. I loved the lasting themes and messages and getting Bastille’s perspective turned out to be wonderful! I love her stabby personality and the way she and Alcatraz work together and provide support for each other.

There were some good turns in listening and the audio is seriously the way to go for this. Easy to fly through, always enjoyable and wrapped up everything I needed to feel satisfied with where things landed.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: March 2025

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I finally see the sun! And I am no longer a husk. I made it through another wide range of books and survived getting all 15+ ARCs read and posted about on my pages!

Happy reading y’all.

  • Of Song and Darkness by Jessica Spruill
  • [ARC] A Dance of Lies (A Dance of Lies #1) by Brittney Arena
  • [Novella] En Route to Romance by Laura Langa
  • Dawn of Vengeance (The Droseran Saga #2) by Ronie Kendig
  • Magnolia Parks (Magnolia Parks Universe #1) by Jessa Hastings
  • [ARC/ALC] Beautiful Exiles (Sparrow Falls #4) by Catherine Cowles
  • Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan #5) by Elle Cosimano
  • [ARC] Love Bites (Timber Creek #2) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins
  • Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle #3) by Tracy Deonn
  • [ARC] All’s Fair in Love and Blackmail by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • The Sword of Kaigan by M.L. Wang
  • It All Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Curse (The Winner’s Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski
  • If I Never Remember (Remember Me #1) by Meagan Williamson
  • Something Like Fate by Amy Lea
  • [ARC] Petals and Plot Twists (Only Magic in the Building) by Jenny Proctor
  • The Cupid Chronicles (Only Magic in the Building) by Courtney Walsh
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Crime (The Winner’s Trilogy #2) by Marie Rutkoski
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Kiss (The Winner’s Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski
  • [ARC] A Time Traveler’s Masquerade (A McQuivey’s Costume Shop Romance) by Sian Ann Bessey
  • Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde #3) by Heather Fawcett
  • Things I Wish I Said by Gracie Graham
  • Wormwood Abbey (The Secrets of Ormdale #1) by Christina Baehr
  • The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson
  • Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker
  • Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff
  • Empire of Shadows (Raiders of the Arcana #1) by Jacquelyn Benson
  • [ARC] What Blooms From Death (What Blooms From Death #1) by S.M. Gaither
  • [ARC/ALC] Lady Knight (The Diamonds #2) by Amalie Howard
  • Off the Hook (Never Harbor #1) by Julie Olivia
  • The Deathly Grimm (The Forest Grimm Duology #2) by Kathryn Purdie
  • Misfortune and Mr. Right (Only Magic in the Building) by Savannah Scott
  • [ARC] Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
  • Tomb of the Sun King (Raiders of the Arcana #2) by Jacquelyn Benson
  • [ARC] The Voice We Find (Fog Harbor #3) by Nicole Deese

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Book Review: The Dark Talent (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #5) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: MG/YA Fantasy
Length: 304 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Starscape
Release Date: September 20th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Alcatraz Smedry has successfully defeated the army of Evil Librarians and saved the kingdom of Mokia. Too bad he managed to break the Smedry Talents in the process. Even worse, his father is trying to enact a scheme that could ruin the world, and his friend, Bastille, is in a coma. To revive her, Alcatraz must infiltrate the Highbrary–known as The Library of Congress to Hushlanders–the seat of Evil Librarian power. Without his Talent to draw upon, can Alcatraz figure out a way to save Bastille and defeat the Evil Librarians once and for all?

WHOA.

I really enjoyed this “ending” (there’s a book six that seems to be from Bastille’s POV???). I loved that every aspect felt more intense and there was this impending sense of need surrounding solving the problems before Alcatraz. This took some twists I wasn’t expecting and I liked being blindsided by them.

I still love Alcatraz and his growth throughout. Is acknowledgement of the wrongs around him and his dedication to trying his hardest to make things right. I love this cast and the quirky/funny aspects are still present throughout.

Looking forward to wrapping this series up!

Overall audience notes:

  • MG Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: low

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