Tag: young adult fantasy

Book Review: The Prison Healer (The Prison Healer #1) by Lynette Noni

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 416 pages
Author: Lynette Noni
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 13th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer.

When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals.

Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.

OHHHH SNAP.

When your friends keep talking about a big reveal that blew their minds, it makes interested. Then I spent my entire read anxiously waiting what news was going to make things hit the fan. My thoughts went as followed:

First drop: okay okay, I kinda figured that. Am happy with this knowledge. Not a huge reveal though?

Second drop: ALRIGHT THEN. That is definitely new information. I’m curious how this will affect the next book.

Third drop: OHHHHMYGOSHHHH!?!?! WHY DID I NOT SEE THAT COMING. Totally blindsided.

Those last 50 pages skyrocketed this book to five stars. The rest of it was truly enjoyable and I was having a good time diving into this darker YA fantasy. That ending though. Y’all. My hopes are through the roof on this second book.

What I thought was a bit quirky was that I could see some similarities to SJM’s plots and writing. Not a bad thing, just something I noticed. They are friends (I believe, don’t quote me) so that was an interesting tidbit that I realized after finishing.

Back to the characters. I really liked Kiva! She felt human and flawed, but desperately trying to do the right thing and honest to goodness survive. I loved Naari and hope to see more of her in the next book. And I am smitten with Tipp. He is precious and brings a bit of lightness to this otherwise morose tale. I wish the romantic sub-plot was a little more developed, though I’m grateful it didn’t jump to over the top in love without more development. I’m hoping it’s all more well-rounded as the series goes on.

A really great first book that kept me interested and had plenty of action. I’m so excited to see what happens next!!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Dark Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: some forehead kisses
  • Violence: plague, poisoning, physical altercations, riots, knife violence; this is a dark fantasy
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of rape (off-page, implied), self-harm, loss of loved ones, torture, whipping, imprisonment, nearly being burned alive, drowned, buried alive

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ARC Book Review: Redemptor (Raybearer #2) by Jordan Ifueko

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 336 pages
Author: Jordan Ifueko
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: August 17th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The hotly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling YA fantasy about Tarisai’s quest to change her fate

For the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar’s throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer. She must then descend into the Underworld, a sacrifice to end all future atrocities.

Tarisai is determined to survive. Or at least, that’s what she tells her increasingly distant circle of friends. Months into her shaky reign as empress, child spirits haunt her, demanding that she pay for past sins of the empire.

With the lives of her loved ones on the line, assassination attempts from unknown quarters, and a handsome new stranger she can’t quite trust . . . Tarisai fears the pressure may consume her. But in this finale to the Raybearer duology, Tarisai must learn whether to die for justice . . . or to live for it.

Thank you to Amulet Books and Netgalley for an eARC!

MOSTLY FINE.

Ahhhhhhck.

Okay. The story was good. It was. The world building with all of the different nations is well written. I mostly liked the magic system and I once again really love this found family council that Tarisai has.

This book draaaaagged. I had to look up the page number amount because I swore I was reading something 450ish pages. Nope, 336. Felt so much longer and not in a good way. The repeated plot of Tarisai finding another group of council members rang hollow. When the other lines of the story with redeeming the horrific children sacrifices were being discussed, that was where everything was strong. The pacing was just off between the two major schemes.

Random plot lines were also thrown out and others added in. All of a sudden, Sanjeet was out for 90% of the book, and a newcomer (not named because, spoilers) is kind of involved, but not really? I don’t like random toss-ups like that. I did end up liking how the second “interest” worked into the story. He played a much bigger role than I expected and helped further the plot rather than being there purely for a love triangle.

Still really into this found family and all of the type of love witnessed. It’s such a great cast and I wanted more of them like I read in Raybearer. I love that there was more Dayo, but I wanted everyone else too.

The ending wrapped up the story well. All of the underworld scenes were really short compared to what I thought was coming. I felt like at least I wasn’t left with a long list of questions. I think it gave the final pages hope for a different and new future that did make sense for the world.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses to heated make-outs
  • Violence: physical altercations, battle scenes, magic attacks
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: alcohol consumption, drug use, child abuse and neglect, murder

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Book Review: Gods & Monsters (Serpent & Dove #3) by Shelby Mahurin

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 624 pages
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 27th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The spellbinding conclusion to the New York Times and IndieBound bestselling trilogy Serpent & Dove. This stunning fantasy take on French witches and forbidden love is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.

Evil always seeks a foothold. We must not give it one.

After a heartbreaking loss, Lou, Reid, Beau, and Coco are bent on vengeance more than ever before—and none more so than Lou.

But this is no longer the Lou they thought they knew. No longer the Lou that captured a chasseur’s heart. A darkness has settled over her, and this time it will take more than love to drive it out.

THE DISAPPOINTMENT I FEEL HURTS.

My one main sentiment is that of the previous sentence. Why can’t I get a good ending to a series? Is this why I have a hard time finishing them? UGH.

I love the characters and this world and I think that’s also what made the dissatisfaction more apparent. Everyone on this cast is solid and well rounded with flaws and strengths. Wit and passion that make me love them. And I desperately needed more of that.

What I missed most was Reid and Lou, being Reid and Lou. In vague terms, both characters were dealing with separate debacles that took until page FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE to be completely and fully resolved. To say I was salty was an understatement. I wanted the banter and flirtation that was way more present in the first two novels. The main conflict doesn’t always have to come between the couple. Especially if the couple has already truly gotten together before the finale then why not LET THEM WORK TOGETHER. Gosh dang it, such a missed opportunity.

With those debacles came a very round about and torturously long route to the final battle. With many scenes that dragged on. And when the sex scenes came into play I didn’t love those either. They didn’t fit the story, and they definitely didn’t fit the YA category. A big mash up of MEH.

I was full of anguish at how all of this went down. I loved the tidbit from a past character. That was sweet and hopeful. The ending wrapped things up at least, and the epilogue was cute.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses to two brief open door scenes
  • Violence: physical, magical, near drowning, fires, loss of friends, battle scenes

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Book Review: Raybearer (Raybearer #1) by Jordan Ifueko

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jordan Ifueko
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: August 18th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nothing is more important than loyalty. But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?

Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? 

INSTANT HIT.

WOW.

This was so good!! And highly recommend on audio too. I felt that brought Raybearer to life.

I’m always hesitant over a timeline that starts off with a younger child then moves on to teenager/adulthood. I loove the way this was written. I never felt stuck too long in one area, but got all of the information needed to get a great sense of the world being built and the magic system being established.

Found family is a hidden gem trope for me. I start to feel all the things for every member of the group. This was fantastic. I love that Tarisai found her home. She found her friends and family. Those who would love and protect her just like she would them. It was beautiful. Every side character I met stole my heart and I am captivated by them all.

Her relationship with Sanjeet was adorable. Brooding and with the right amount of angst and longing. It played so well into the storyline, but didn’t over shadow the plot. I always love a good romance woven in and I see it here.

The political action was astounding and kept me on my toes. It wasn’t bogged down with too many council meetings and babble that didn’t go anywhere. Every scene had a point and meant something to the story. Many things are incredibly unique to this fantasy and it was refreshing to take it all in. This one is worth the hype y’all and there’s no way to cover the abundant aspects I enjoyed.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses; closed door scenes
  • Violence: small battles, physical altercations, attempted exocutions
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, child sacrifice (not depicted, but spoken of as it pertains heavily to the plot), domestice abuse, gaslighting

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