Book Review: Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

October 24, 2022December 29, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 336 pages
Author: Makiia Lucier
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: November 9th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The past never forgets…

Before an ambush by enemy soldiers, Lord Cassia was an engineer’s apprentice on a mission entrusted by the king. But when plague sweeps over the land, leaving countless dead and devastating the kingdom, even Cas’ title cannot save him from a rotting prison cell and a merciless sickness.

Three years later, Cas wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget past horrors. But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them.

When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for a killer… one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with a brilliant young historian named Lena. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war.

AMAZING WRITING.

That was one of my largest takeaways here. This book is magnetic. I was swept away in this story about Cas returning home to find what the plague has wreaked havoc upon. The audio is STELLAR. Highly recommend and I love the way the narrator gave a humorous voice to Cas. It perfectly off-set the darker sides of this tale and made it all the better.

I looove that this was told from the guy’s perspective. That’s not super common in YA lit. Cas was a resilient man who was looking out for those he loved, and the kingdom he fights for, all while bonding with Lena. I also adored Lena. Both of these characters sold the story for me. I loved the interactions, the banter, and watching their connection strengthen over time. I wouldn’t exactly call it a romance because it’s not heavily implied, but there’s feelings there by the end.

The story was intriguing and I liked the mystery aspect of it all. I remember thinking, WAIT WHAT, a few times as the reveals started occurring in the second half. The twists and turns are there and plenty of action to keep things moving. I can’t believe this was a standalone. It was without a doubt, one of the best ones I’ve read this year. Everything was well built and formulated to occur at the necessary pacing to finish up in less than 350 pages.

Absolute gem, highly recommend. I can’t wait to find out what this author will write next!

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: flirting (maybe a kiss at the end?)
Violence: skirmishes, weaponry wounds (arrows, swords)
Trigger/Content Warnings: plague (based off of the Black Death), loss of many loved ones, medical experimentation, near drowning of an infant

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Book Review: The Blood Traitor (The Prison Healer #3) by Lynette Noni

October 20, 2022June 20, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Author: Lynette Noni
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: June 14th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’d failed them. All of them. And now she was paying the price.

Kiva thought she knew what she wanted—revenge. But feelings change, people change… everything has changed.

After what happened at the palace, Kiva is desperate to know if her friends and family are safe, and whether those she wronged can ever forgive her. But with the kingdoms closer to the brink of war than they’ve ever been, and Kiva far away from the conflict, more is at stake than her own broken heart.

A fresh start will mean a perilous quest, forcing mortal enemies and uneasy allies together in a race against the clock to save not just Evalon, but all of Wenderall. With her loyalties now set, Kiva can no longer just survive—she must fight for what she believes in. For who she believes in. But with danger coming from every side, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, does she have what it takes to stand, or will she fall?

SATISFYING.

Oh do I really appreciate when I can close the last book of a series and feel like I am well enough satisfied with how everything wrapped up. If you don’t get farther than this paragraph, I definitely recommend The Prison Healer series.

Now to the NON SPOILER review.

I thought this was a great conclusion. My faaavorite favorite parts were all of the growth Kiva went through. There were so many perfect conversations surrounding forgiveness and true apologies. And Kiva was also given the time and encouragement to grow into her power and strength that was hidden under years of entrapment. Y’all know I love character growth and this had it in spades.

My small complaint is the lack of romance. I was just hoping for a BIT more, okay? Just a little more of Kiva and Jaren getting a chance to *be*. I liked that there wasn’t an immediate forgiveness scene, but that things took time. I think they’re the sweetest and I could have loved on 100 more pages of them.

AND ALL OF THE SIDE CHARACTERS. Holy wow. This cast was stellar. STELLAR. I love when even side characters have you wrapped around your finger. Everyone played a roll, the found family was incredible and I am in love with this whole group.

The action at the end kept me locked in and all of the sequences were impressive. I think it was nicely paced and led to a conclusion I was easily happy with. I have adored these books and look forward to more by this author!!

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: a little
Romance: kisses
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: drug addiction (and recovery), torture, kidnapping, murder, physical and magical altercations, loss of loved ones, small battle themes, assault

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Book Review: A Psalm of Storms and Silence (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) by Roseanne A. Brown

October 18, 2022January 31, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 560 pages
Author: Roseanna A. Brown
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: November 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Karina lost everything after a violent coup left her without her kingdom or her throne. Now the most wanted person in Sonande, her only hope of reclaiming what is rightfully hers lies in a divine power hidden in the long-lost city of her ancestors.

Meanwhile, the resurrection of Karina’s sister has spiraled the world into chaos, with disaster after disaster threatening the hard-won peace Malik has found as Farid’s apprentice. When they discover that Karina herself is the key to restoring balance, Malik must use his magic to lure her back to their side. But how do you regain the trust of someone you once tried to kill?

As the fabric holding Sonande together begins to tear, Malik and Karina once again find themselves torn between their duties and their desires. And when the fate of everything hangs on a single, horrifying choice, they each must decide what they value most—a power that could transform the world, or a love that could transform their lives.

The highly-anticipated second—and final—book in the immersive fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore that began with the New York Times bestselling A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, from author Roseanne A. Brown.

GOOD CONCLUSION.

As someone continually hesitant of duology conclusions I am happy to say, this one worked well for me! Maybe it was the audio book (because it was stellar), but hey, whatever works.

I really enjoyed these two main characters, Malik and Karina. Both had so much growth and I thought truly found themselves by the end. I like how they have those purely raw, human moments where I felt connected to the deep emotions being felt.

This plot took some interesting turns that at first took me a while to get into. Once I got my footing on where things were going I realized I did like the change. Following a villain twisted by his idea of love brought about plenty of action and death-defying moments.

I liked that the conclusion was more hopeful than happily ever after. There’s still a lot of rebuilding to do and things to secure. I didn’t feel that I was missing anything from the end and can easily close this book and know it was a good one.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: some strong
Romance: one closed door
Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, kidnapping, torture

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Book Review: Vespertine (Vespertine #1) by Margaret Rogerson

October 10, 2022November 21, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: Margaret Rogerson
Publisher: McElderry Books
Release Date: October 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The dead of Loraille do not rest.

Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.

When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. It is a revenant, a malevolent being that threatens to possess her the moment she drops her guard. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but death has come to Loraille, and only a vespertine, a priestess trained to wield a high relic, has any chance of stopping it. With all knowledge of vespertines lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.

As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.

HIGHLY ENJOYABLE.

If you have a chance to listen to this on audio, definitely recommend that route. I couldn’t stop laughing at the antics between Artemisia and the Revenant. The narrator did a fantastic job conveying the voices and story itself.

To also get something out of the way, this book does not have a romance! Please don’t go in thinking so. I knew that ahead of time and appreciated being aware. I wasn’t looking for missed connections, but enjoying Artemisia come into her own as she unraveled the world around her.

Lots of action and traveling. Everything felt necessary and moved the plot forward though. I was wrapped up in following along and this book is perfectly dark and whimsical in the same breath. The plot was interesting and moved well. I’m glad to know there’s a sequel because this story still has more to give. I love Rogerson’s books and can’t wait for the next one.

Overall audience notes: