Tag: young adult fantasy

Book Review: The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising #1) by Kiersten White

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Fantasy Retelling + Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: November 5th, 2019
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BOOK SUMMARY:

From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes a new fantasy series reimagining the Arthurian legend, set in the magical world of Camelot.

There was nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl.

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution–send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere’s real name–and her true identity–is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.

To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old–including Arthur’s own family–demand things continue as they have been, and the new–those drawn by the dream of Camelot–fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur’s knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free.

Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?

STOP TYING KNOTS.

I didn’t love this.

I didn’t hate it either.

But in reading I compared it often to The Lost Queen Trilogy. And that by far has more of my attention. This more fantasy based retelling didn’t do it for me by the end.

Curious tagline ey? Well, our lovely main character Guinevere would not stop tying knots for everything. Goodness. It was apart of her magic system but it because incredibly tedious. I was hoping for a bigger display of power or just something else. Instead, she kept tying knots, and I kept wanting to unravel them myself.

I don’t know if this was supposed to be a romance. It had some times to one with two characters, but…there was no chemistry? With either of them. I didn’t feel swayed one way or another and when secrets and lies starting coming to the surface I still wasn’t feeling any sort of way.

I love the initial ideas here. Camelot is such an interesting concept for a story. That’s what really drew me in. The tale of Merlin, King Arthur, Lancelot, etc. I am immediately drawn to reading stories of this type. This writing is a little more prose based. Not as much dialogue (which I know everyone has different opinions on how much of which they enjoy).

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy / Retelling
  • Language: some light
  • Romance: Kisses
  • Violence: Swords, arrows, animal attacks, magical and physical altercations

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Book Review: Of Sun & Sandstorms (A Swift Shadows Novella #2.5) by M.L. Greye

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Young adult fantasy novella
Length: 123 pages
Author: M.L. Greye
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: September 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s not easy becoming king to a country you never wanted to run in the first place.

Trezim Azure Niroz was once the third prince of Heerth. Just a few short weeks ago, his highest aspirations had been training his little band of Golds in sun blades and the Turanga. Now, he’s king with a whole slew of issues. The worst part of it all is that because of some tedious, ancient custom, Trezim can’t make any decisions for his country – at least, not until he finds himself a bride.

“Of Sun & Sandstorms” is a Swift Shadows novella following the golden-eyed King Trezim in Heerth.

I NEED MORE.

Trezim is definitely one of my favorite characters in this series. I jumped at this novella because how could I not read this?! It was short, sweet, and to the point.

I actually really liked the development of his quick relationship with Sefia. The way the pair/bonding system works in this series is well crafted and believable. While things moved speedily I was still swept up in the romantics of it all. The kiss scenes were on point.

I wonder how this will play into the third book for this series. There’s a lot going on in just over 100 pages and I think it’ll tie in well. I love Trezim and his new bride and can’t wait for them to meet back up with Emry and Declan.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy novella
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: physical altercations, magic attacks

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ARC Book Review: Flamefall (The Aurelian Cycle #2) by Rosaria Munda

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 336 pages
Author: Rosaria Munda
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 23rd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Revolutionary flames ignite around Annie, Lee, and a brand new POV character in the second book of the Fireborne trilogy.

After fleeing the revolution and settling into the craggy cliffs of New Pythos, the Dragonlords are eager to punish their usurpers–and reclaim their city. Their first order of business was destroying the Callipolan food supply. Now they’re coming for the Dragonriders.

Annie is Callipolis’s new Firstrider, and while her goal has always been to protect the people, being the government’s enforcer has turned her into public enemy number one.

Lee struggles to find his place after killing kin to prove himself to a leader who betrayed him. He can support Annie and the other Guardians . . . or join the radicals who look to topple the new regime.

Griff, a lowborn dragonrider who serves New Pythos, knows he has no future. And now that Julia, the Firstrider who had protected him, is dead, he is called on to sacrifice everything for the lords that oppress his people–or to forge a new path with the Callipolan Firstrider seeking his help.

With famine tearing Callipolis apart and the Pythians determined to take back what they lost, it will be up to Annie, Lee, and Griff to decide what to fight for–and who to love.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own!

GREAT MIDDLE BOOK.

We all know that sometimes a middle book doesn’t have the same fire as the first. I thought this was a great second book! SO MUCH happened.

This is a high action book. Everywhere I turned there were dragon attacks, a whole lot of fire, backstabbing and betrayals. It was plenty to keep track of and I enjoyed the challenge. I really like the addition of Griff into the story. He was able to provide insight from the other side of the war. I loved his romance sub-plot and how Griff continued to strive for a better solution for his situation and of those he loved.

Getting more of Annie and Lee was the best. I love this push and pull relationship. It doesn’t feel contrived, there’s a lot both characters have to work through. Pain, grief and anger. Lee and Annie had to look within themselves and had wonderful character progression. The tidbits of romance only make me want more and what’s hopefully a long awaited happy ever after!

A high action book filled with tough conversations and reveals. I would definitely lean this towards a darker YA book. There’s war, high loss of lives, and some really twisted individuals. I looooove all of the dragons and this might be one of my top series involving them. I can’t wait for the finale and to know where all of this leads!

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: murder, mass loss of lives, mass burnings, physical, creature attacks; fairly violent nature throughout the book

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Book Review: Magic Study (Poison Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: New adult fantasy
Length: 392 pages
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Luna Books
Release Date: September 26th, 2006
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

You know your life is complicated when you miss your days as a poison taster…

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be united with the family she’d been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But although she has gained her freedom, she once again finds herself alone – separated from her lover Valek and suspected as a spy for her reluctance to conform to Sitian ways.

Despite the turmoil, she’s eager to start her magic training – especially as she’s been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes embroiled in a plot to reclaim Ixia’s throne for a lost prince – and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn’t bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with her new enemies.

COVER DOES NOT MATCH THE STORY.

I’ve never come across a more clear depiction of a cover and story not matching. Maybe because it’s an older book? I’m not sure, I’m just saying…the story is so much better and the cover does not do that justice in anyway.

On to the story portion. WHERE WAS VALEK. I do have a severe issue with love interests being established and then removed for 70% of the next book. That was the case here and gosh dang the story was incredibly better once he showed up. Not that I didn’t mind getting to see Yelena learning about her powers and all of that good stuff, but I wanted both of them more often.

Yet, I find myself unable to put the book down. I like reading them. Something about the writing style keeps me drawn in and I find that I fly through the pages. It’s an interesting story line and the side plots don’t always connect back in (because I’m still trying to figure out where book three actually goes), but it’s a series I want to continue.

These are a lot darker than I ever anticipated. I struggle with the necessity of this towards the plot line in comparison with other portions that are kept less explicit.

A lot of these new characters are interesting and I especially hope Leif gets a better story line come the third book. I didn’t always love how stubborn Yelena was being. Running off because she knew best, then getting captured again…and again.

I don’t know, this review has gotten ramble worthy because there’s plenty to pick from here. I am somehow attached to this story yet its flaws turn me off. I’ll give the third book a chance still for some redemption.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs; a few no detail, fade out scenes
  • Violence: murder, torture, physical altercations, poisoning, swords, arrows
  • Trigger warnings: sexual assault, torture, rape (mentioned about multiple girls, no full scenes, but smaller paragraphs remembering what occurred); suicide ideation, mention of suicide attempt, PTSD

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