Tag: young adult fantasy

Book Review: Dust (Heirs of Neverland #1) by Kara Swanson

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Urban Fantasy Retelling
Length: 348 pages
Author: Kara Swanson
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Release Date: July 21st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.

Claire Kenton believes the world is too dark for magic to be real—since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire’s desperate search points to London… and a boy who shouldn’t exist.

Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a lass with magic in her veins.

The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire thought she knew about Peter Pan—and herself.

PRETTY GOOD.

I’m new to Peter Pan retelling and this one was alright! I thought the concept was interesting and I liked how it was woven into a urban fantasy style plot. The dual POV with Peter Pan was great because it added another layer to the depth of the story.

The entire book just felt slow though. I kept waiting for *something* to pick up and I’m not sure it ever truly did. Seeing all of the other characters for the original story was cool. I liked how Swanson adapted them and the roles everyone played.

I’m undecided on the romance. I once again was wishing more something more to it. There’s some sweet romances and the expected conflicts. I don’t know yet if I’ll read book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Urban Fantasy Retelling
  • Language: light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, physical and magical altercations, loss of life

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Reading Wrap-Up: June 2024

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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: When Gods Fall (The Gifts of the Gods #1) by S.E. Bouvier

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 607 pages
Author: S.E. Bouvier
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: November 23rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two sisters. Both destined for greatness. One will rise. One will fall.

In the Freefolk camps, magic is forbidden, and the gods are dead.

Alena has lived in the camps all her life but is fascinated by the Old Lands and their magic.

When her father is injured in a hunting accident, that same magic is his only hope of survival. Alena has no choice but to break Freefolk law to save him—a crime for which she is swiftly captured. Now, only her older sister, Katell, can help her.

But Katell, a Freefolk huntress, discovers she has magical abilities of her own, and in the camps, being Marked is a death sentence. The sisters are forced to leave their home and venture into the war-torn Old Lands in search of answers. Their journey takes a dangerous turn when slavers capture them.

Alena escapes slavery and finds an unlikely ally—a rebel warrior, fighting against the oppressive Rasennan Empire. Katell, a slave, is sold to an arena to fight for the entertainment of the Rasennan crowds. Her life is on the line with each ferocious fight.

Alena vows to rescue her sister, but amidst awakening gods, scheming rebels, and a power-hungry Emperor, the sisters’ bond will be tested, and each must decide how far she is willing to go to save the other.

If you crave strong heroines, elemental magic, ancient Greek and Roman influences, tortured heroes, and a heart-wrenching romance, get ready to dive into this gripping upper YA fantasy.

WHEN GODS FALL is the first book in a new epic fantasy series, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, An Ember in the Ashes, and Air Awakens.

Please note: WHEN GODS FALL is an upper YA fantasy that contains moderate violence, some gore, and mild adult situations.

MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

I love finding indie gems. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. I loved it so much. I loved all of the Greek & Roman inspired dynamics and how those + the meddling gods played into the larger plot. I loved both of these sisters and how much they cared for each other but also how they have to pursue their own paths for now.

I’m also weak for the subtle slow burn romances. The longing glances and heated kisses, good heavens, if I could ask for one thing, MORE of this. I loved both dynamics (each sister has a romantic sub plot). And the reveals??? I kept thinking I had figured something out and then was hit with new information that made me GASP. And tear up, let me tell y’all, things get emotional.

I loved all of the more prevalent side characters. I loved how much action and politicking was involved. I loved seeing glimpses of the emperor and the big journey these characters went on. The magic is really cool, and is one of those thick fantasy books I crave. It absolutely deserves all the love and I need more people to find it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA/NA Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes, loss of life, near death experiences, weapons violence

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Book Review: Sing Me to Sleep (Sing Me to Sleep #1) by Gabi Burton

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Gabi Burton
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: June 27th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this dark and seductive YA fantasy debut, a siren must choose between protecting her family and following her heart in a prejudiced kingdom where her existence is illegal.

Saoirse Sorkova survives on lies. As a soldier-in-training at the most prestigious barracks in the kingdom, she lies about being a siren to avoid execution. At night, working as an assassin for a dangerous group of mercenaries, Saoirse lies about her true identity. And to her family, Saoirse tells the biggest lie of all: that she can control her siren powers and doesn’t struggle constantly against an impulse to kill.

As the top trainee in her class, Saoirse would be headed for a bright future if it weren’t for the need to keep her secrets out of the spotlight. But when a mysterious blackmailer threatens her sister, Saoirse takes a dangerous job that will help her investigate: she becomes personal bodyguard to the crown prince.

Saoirse should hate Prince Hayes. After all, his father is the one who enforces the kingdom’s brutal creature segregation laws. But when Hayes turns out to be kind, thoughtful, and charming, Saoirse finds herself increasingly drawn to him-especially when they’re forced to work together to stop a deadly killer who’s plaguing the city. There’s only one problem: Saoirse is that deadly killer.

Featuring an all Black and Brown cast, a forbidden romance, and a compulsively dark plot full of twists, this thrilling YA fantasy is perfect for fans of A Song Below Water and To Kill a Kingdom.

I’LL READ BOOK TWO.

At first, I felt like the beginning lacked a focus. I didn’t know the WHY of the book and it didn’t feel strong enough to carry the whole story. I will say that as the book progressed and that focus became known, things were much better.

I LOVED that the main character was super morally gray. She was fierce, a siren, and one of the most loyal sisters I’ve read recently. Watching her slowly come undone to the golden retriever energy of Prince Hayes was beautiful. I love this slow burn romance and can’t wait to see where it continues.

There’s some good twists and turns. An interesting magic concept and the audiobook was stellar. I loved seeing Saoirse grapple with tough decisions and trying to make the right choices while handling the compulsions of her nature. I think this was a really solid debut and I look forward to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, physical and weapons violence, magical violence, drownings

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