Tag: young adult fantasy

Book Review: The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #30 by Mary E. Pearson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 684 pages
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: August 2nd, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.

With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down.

In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.

IT’S JUST SO GOOD.

This is a reread review.

Good heavens. Mary E. Pearson is a brilliant author and I love all of her books and I have loved rereading her entire set. THEY ARE ALL AMAZING.

I forgot how absolutely intense this entire book is. I felt like it rarely let up and just kept hammering home the nature of everything daunting the cast was facing.

And the romance??? THE ANGST, THE WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY. I also found myself freaking out trying to remember how it all specifically worked out because Pearson does not hold back on creating the drama and the hope that Lia ends up with her best match.

I liked how the other side romance went too. Such a sweet and tender romance that was built between them (vague because spoilers) and seeing both of these couples again in DoT & VoT is an even bigger highlight.

There’s so much action, politicking, betrayals and twists. It has all the feels, and all you need in a fantastic YA fantasy trilogy.

READ THEM.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle and war themes, loss of loved ones, physical violence, weapons violence, childbirth

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ARC Book Review: Lost Kingdom (Lost Kingdom #1) by Laurel Black

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 460 pages
Author: Laurel Black
Publisher: 
Release Date: January 17th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Stripped of her memories and her magic, Raven has been left for dead.

As a prisoner in the enemy’s mineral mines, her only clue to who she is and where she came from is the mysterious map tattooed on her hand—a map containing hidden secrets that some people would kill for.

Jeddak is one of those people.

A warrior from the Kovak tribe, he’s hunting for the powerful Zavien stone to pay the corrupt king’s ransom. If he doesn’t return home with it by the new moon, his betrothed will be executed.

When Jeddak discovers that a prisoner named Raven has the only map that leads to the artifact, he allies with her as they navigate treacherous lands and battle against ancient magical forces to unravel the map’s secrets. But can Raven trust this stranger who’s helping her? If the map gets into the wrong hands, thousands of people will die.

As their feelings for each other grow, their tenuous alliance begins to fray. Until Jeddak is forced to make a decision—betray Raven or forsake his kingdom.

Choose wrong, and he’ll lose everything. 

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

WOW.

This was an incredible debut. I am so happy that I got a chance to read it early! It had a lot of those classic YA fantasy moments, but still felt new and intriguing and I will absolutely need the second book as soon as possible.

I loved the slow burn romance. It is slowwww and that’s my favorite kind of burn. I like that it’s not a linear path either. Some ups and downs, reveals and jaw drops that I can’t wait to see continue. I spotted possible other angles and now I’m theorizing all the things for this book.

Dual POV is my jam and I’m grateful we had it here. Seeing the hidden identities and lost memory tropes play out so well as they progression of the story moved back and forth between Jeddak and Raven. I loved Jeddak’s animal sidekick (Kah!!) and was the perfect addition to this traveling adventure. I thought that the world building was laid out well and I liked that I got see almost the whole world in this one book.

A wonderful debut and one I’ll happily be hyping to others. Definitely one to take a chance on!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little and light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: sexual assault (brief, non-consensual kissing), non-consensual drugging, murder, loss of loved ones, blood depiction

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Book Review: The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2) by Mary E. Pearson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 473 pages
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: July 7th, 2015
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together.

Desperate to save her life, Lia’s erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar’s interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw.

Meanwhile, the foundations of Lia’s deeply-held beliefs are crumbling beneath her. Nothing is straightforward: there’s Rafe, who lied to her, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom she always believed to be barbarians but whom she now realizes are people who have been terribly brutalized by the kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self, Lia will have to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people . . . and her own destiny.

THE TENSION.

This is a reread review.

Y’all, I forgot just how many people Lia kissed in this book and how much tension there is between all of the parties. What a ride. Here I am, with one of the few love triangle books I can get behind, loving every minute of this reread.

Another fast paced action filled book. I like the change of location and really getting to know both Kaden and Rafe on a deeper level. There’s a lot of great character building and you really start to see the cast grow up and take on the bigger life altering challenges in front of them. I LOVE the growth in Lia and she is continually a formidable FMC who stands in her truth each time.

For a middle book, I have zero complaints. Things keep moving, the intensity will leave you breathless, and all of those kisses will have you shouting at the pages. The world building is unique with the interweaving of the lore and past stories of the lands. I love how everything comes together. If you haven’t read this series it’s a must for backlists!!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of child abuse and whipping, kidnapping, physical altercations, weapons violence, battle themes

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Book Review: Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1) by Christopher Paolini

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 503 pages
Author: Christopher Paolini
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: June 1st, 2005
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One boy…
One dragon…
A world of adventure.

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

Thank you to GetUnderlined for a gifted copy!

I FINALLY READ IT!

In the window of my reading life this one slipped through the cracks and I have finally swung back around to read it, and I liked it a lot! Enough to definitely continue the series.

It had that nostalgic YA fantasy vibe for me with the chosen one, dragons, a big adventure and even bigger evil. I liked Eragon’s passion and seeing his growth over the course of the book. His connection with Saphira is awesome and I liked seeing their friendship grow. There’s some good side characters that help Eragon along his way and intense battles that will have you wondering who will surivie.

I’m curious as to where this series will go!

Overall audience notes:

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

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