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ellemnope 's review for:
Gravemaidens
by Kelly Coon
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. *
Gravemaidens is a YA fantasy set in an area similar to ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia. In this society, maidens are chosen to accompany the ruler to the afterworld should he perish. These "chosen ones" are sealed in a tomb with the deceased and then made to drink poison or assassinated by a selected guard. Kammani, the daughter and apprentice to a local healer, has seen her younger sister Nanaea be chosen as one of these sacred maidens. She is distraught at this choice and wants to do all she can to save her sister from such a fate, as she sees it for what it really is...not a blessing, just an early death.
Both the premise and the cover of this one had me hooked. It was a good spookyish setup for a fall read and I really liked that it was set in a setting that is not common in current fantasy reads. I enjoyed the world building and the detail, the blending of existing cultures and imagination to create something that really is Coon's own. I enjoyed this atmosphere and the overall story was intriguing and entertaining.
The characters were dynamic and believable for the most part, though I did have some issues with Kammani as a consistent character in her actions (sometimes smart characters make dumb choices) and the supporting character of Iltani (she was a bit too flighty for my liking, though I did appreciate her sarcasm). Any other issues I had with the individual characters themselves really worked themselves out nicely for me with the ending, though I won't say more than that. Just trust in the author to have it make sense.
The pacing seemed a little up and down at some bits, but overall the plot moved nicely and the narrative kept me interested from very early on in the book. I will admit that I had somewhat figured out the plot by fairly early on in the book, but the writing did have me second guessing myself here and there, so I call that a win. This was a good and quick read that I wanted to get back to and I am looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing how this all shakes out.
Gravemaidens is a YA fantasy set in an area similar to ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia. In this society, maidens are chosen to accompany the ruler to the afterworld should he perish. These "chosen ones" are sealed in a tomb with the deceased and then made to drink poison or assassinated by a selected guard. Kammani, the daughter and apprentice to a local healer, has seen her younger sister Nanaea be chosen as one of these sacred maidens. She is distraught at this choice and wants to do all she can to save her sister from such a fate, as she sees it for what it really is...not a blessing, just an early death.
Both the premise and the cover of this one had me hooked. It was a good spookyish setup for a fall read and I really liked that it was set in a setting that is not common in current fantasy reads. I enjoyed the world building and the detail, the blending of existing cultures and imagination to create something that really is Coon's own. I enjoyed this atmosphere and the overall story was intriguing and entertaining.
The characters were dynamic and believable for the most part, though I did have some issues with Kammani as a consistent character in her actions (sometimes smart characters make dumb choices) and the supporting character of Iltani (she was a bit too flighty for my liking, though I did appreciate her sarcasm). Any other issues I had with the individual characters themselves really worked themselves out nicely for me with the ending, though I won't say more than that. Just trust in the author to have it make sense.
The pacing seemed a little up and down at some bits, but overall the plot moved nicely and the narrative kept me interested from very early on in the book. I will admit that I had somewhat figured out the plot by fairly early on in the book, but the writing did have me second guessing myself here and there, so I call that a win. This was a good and quick read that I wanted to get back to and I am looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing how this all shakes out.