Tag: young adult fantasy

Book Review: We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya #1) by Hafsah Faizal

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Young adult fantasy + romance
Length: 472 pages
Author: Hafsah Faizal
Publisher: Straus and Giourx
Release Date: May 14th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways.

Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.

Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands.

A GOOD START.

I’ve decided I’m into this. Enough to check out the next in this series.

It’s hard to judge a fantasy series off of the first book because I know fantasies can take a long time to build. I think that was the case here. There was world-building, magic systems, personalities of characters to begin to figure out. This was all present here and makes me hopeful that in the next one we’ll get get to the real deepness of the book now that the groundwork is laid out.

I love the setting and it felt good to be back in a YA fantasy world. It’s my favorite genre for a reason! I love Zafira and Nasir. Hot dang the tension between them was aaaaamazing. Hardcore shipping them and better get a HEA with them or I’ll just be obliterated. They had good banter, moments of strength and weaknesses, and you could really feel them.

Things started off strong with pacing, but oh wow, dragged in the middle. It unfortunately showcased one of my lower favorite tropes, traveling. Most of the book focused on Zafira going on a journey to restore magic. Plenty of things happened along the way, yet at times felt like it things were moving rather slowly. Luckily in the last quarter they sped up again and the action took off, leaving me wondering what’s going to happen next.

These side characters were fantastic too! I didn’t find the forgettable or annoying. I wanted to know more about them and was also blown away when plot twists came in involving them. They weren’t wasteful additions and clearly are bringing a lot to the story.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses, some intense kissing
  • Violence: swords, arrows, ifrit/magical creature attacks, physical, magic

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ARC Book Review and Blog Tour: Kingdom of Sea and Stone (Crown of Coral and Pearl #2) by Mara Rutherford

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Young adult fantasy
Length: 368 pages
Author: Mara Rutherford
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: October 6th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ever since Nor was forced to go to a nearby kingdom in her sister’s place, she’s wanted nothing more than to return to the place and people she loves. But when her wish comes true, she soon finds herself cast out from both worlds, with a war on the horizon.

As an old enemy resurfaces more powerful than ever, Nor will have to keep the kingdom from falling apart with the help of Prince Talin and Nor’s twin sister, Zadie. There are forces within the world more mysterious than any of them ever guessed—and they’ll need to stay alive long enough to conquer them.

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

SOLID CONCLUSION.

This was a good conclusion, not great, but good.

I loved being back in this world and was stoked that I got to see more of it! There were a lot of travelling aspects to KOSAS, allowing for a much bigger map view. I would even love spin-offs in other areas because I wanted to spend time all over this land.

What didn’t fit in line was the romance (or lake thereof?). It was a pretty big piece in the first book, and this one made it feel stilted and stuffed in. Nor struggled the entire time with her feelings and frankly, I felt bad for Talin. More communication would have really enlightened everything. Or honestly, I was way more into a ship with a different character.

The ending felt a bit trivial with how the villain story-line went down. I thought it was anti-climatic to everything they had done in the first book. It could have used something else to add to it.

I liked that Nor was more vulnerable and open once she saw the world around her. Her strength helped her make some tough choices, but her love for her family (especially her sister) was always clear. Nor had a lot of personality and learned to love herself, flaws and all. The ending did wrap everything up, I didn’t feel like their were loose ends. It ended the way the book was definitely leading up towards, which some might love and others not.

The writing was still beautiful and made for a quick read. I’m excited to see what other stories Rutherford will write.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: battle scenes, murder, physical; not intensely gory/bloody

Author Bio:

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world with her marine-turned-diplomat husband. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a master’s degree in cultural studies from the University of London. When she’s not writing or chasing after her two sons, she can usually be found pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone, whether at a traditional Russian banya or an Incan archaeological site. Mara is a former Pitch Wars mentee and three-time mentor.

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2020

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I have big goals to hit 200 books this year.

Which may have lead to a wild amount of books read to make sure I’m on target. I hit 177 and 200 is in sight y’all.

Favorite reads: Blood & Honey, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, and the Wayfair Witches series

Least favorite: The Last House Guest, Bone Crier’s Moon, A Kingdom of Ash and Briars, and The Princess Will Save You

  • He Started It by Samantha Downing – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda – (☆☆)
  • Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove #2) by Shelby Mahurin – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • [ARC] Float Plan by Trish Doller – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Silent Kingdom by Rachel L. Schade – (☆☆☆)
  • Majesty (American Royals #2) by Katharine McGee – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle #1) by Rosaria Munda – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Bone Crier’s Moon (Bone Grace #1) by Kathryn Purdie – (☆☆☆)
  • The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Bottling It (Wayfair Witches #1) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Enemy (It Happened in Charleston #2) by Sarah Adams – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Poison Study (Study #1) by Maria V. Snyder – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Reread] Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Kingdom of Ash and Briars (The Nissera Chronicles #1) by Hannah West – (☆☆)
  • Bricking It (Wayfair Witches #2) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Reread] Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] The Bitterwine Oath by Hannah West – (☆☆☆)
  • Room-maid by Sariah Wilson – (☆☆☆☆)
  • A Trick for a Treat (Wayfair Witches #3) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Forgotten Kingdom (The Lost Queen Trilogy #2) by Signe Pike – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Princess Will Save You (Kingdoms of the Sand and Sky #1) by Sarah Henning – (☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Magic Study (Poison Study #2) Maria V. Snyder – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Winging It (Wayfair Witches #4) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Wrapping Up (Wayfair Witches #5) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Novella] Of Sun & Sandstorms (Swift Shadows #2.5) by M.L. Greye – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks – (☆☆☆☆)
  • A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles #1) by Amanda Bouchet – (☆☆☆☆)

How was your reading this month? Any favorites? Did we read any of the same books? Lets talk in the comments!

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ARC Book Review: The Hunter and the Mage (The Raven and the Dove #2) by Kaitlyn Davis

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 495 pages
Author: Kaitlyn Davis
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: September 21st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Return to the world of The Raven and the Dove, where winged people rule the skies, a lost kingdom lives at sea, and two star-crossed lovers hold the fate of each in their palms. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!

A mage written in prophecy…

When Lyana wakes in the Sea of Mist, adventure is the first thing on her mind. But between her unruly new magic and an unyielding young king, the world below comes with more responsibility than she ever dreamed. An entire civilization exists within the fog, and its survival depends entirely on her.

A hunter forged in blood…

Adrift at sea on a ship full of strangers, Rafe fights to cope with his new reality. He’ll do anything to return to the sky and the people he left behind. When a surprising offer comes his way, he instantly accepts, sparing no time to consider the consequences.

Loyalties are tested and an ancient war begins anew…

With rebellion in her heart, Cassi defies her king and befriends the prince she’s been ordered to kill. Oblivious to the threat, Xander welcomes her into his inner circle, determined to rescue his mate. As one works to help and the other to hinder, an ancient enemy stirs, forcing Cassi to choose between trusting the man who broke her heart and turning her back on everything she’s ever known.

Thank you to the author for an eARC. All opinions are my own!

ANOTHER GREAT BOOK.

I just really love this series y’all.

Admittedly yes, there’s some book two syndrome here, but nothing that truly detracted from this well built fantasy. By the time the ending was coming up things were wild and I was asking myself [again] how I was supposed to wait for the next book!

I love all of these characters. They each have a unique voice in their point-of-view chapters and it’s easy to know who’s speaking. Everyone has differing strengths and weakness that shape choices and desires. Even with characters I feel like I shouldn’t love, I find myself cheering on their future character arcs because everyone is that compelling. Lyana, Rafe, Xander, and Cassi all have these amazing and well thought out stories that I am so here for to see how they unfold.

One of my favorite aspects was how the prophecy rolled out. I tend to find these kind of gimmicky, but this was written beautifully. It even surprised me how things were unveiled, who was who, and how it all came about. I’m curious how more of the prophecy will unfold and love where it’s going.

I wish I had a few more romantic interactions (which, we know I’m a sucker for). Characters were more split up and facing their own challenges and I missed some closer interactions. Everything is so magical on screen that I crave more! [And I’m staying away from names since this is a second book and I don’t want to spoil ships/connections/friendships/etc.].

This indie series is magical, action-packed, and definitely one I would recommend picking up!

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: physical, magical, elemental, natural disasters, weapons

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