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abby_ace_of_books
Detective Abby is back, y'all, and this book reminds me why I love fantasy murder mysteries.
Strange Beasts is a historical fantasy mystery novel with one of the most unexpected crossovers I've ever seen in a book: Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. I haven't read either original piece, so I might have missed some easter eggs, but I think I knew enough about them in general to understand the backstories of the characters. I really liked the gothic vibes, and even though I'm typically not a fantasy of monster-hunting tropes, I actually enjoyed it in this book. Also, I've said it so many times recently but you have to forgive my current game obsession...this gave Betrayal at the House on the Hill vibes.
The story follows Sam (the daughter of the woman who killed Dracula) and Hel (Moriarty's daughter) as they navigate the streets of Paris on the hunt for a murderous beast. The pacing was well done, and the book kept my interest the whole time. The story is peppered with plot twists, and although I called most of them (including the main killer), I only called the twists a few chapters before they happened. The ending was satisfying, and it leaves the potential for a sequel, which I would definitely be interested in.
The cast of characters was quite interesting. I really liked Sam and how her visions of monsters helped with the mystery. I also liked the development of Sam and Hel's relationship dynamics. Hel reminded me a lot of Alice Quicke from the Talents trilogy, and I really liked her air of mystery and how it related to the case. I can't say much about side characters to avoid spoilers, but I didn't hate Cyprien, and I found most of the other side characters to be rather intriguing.
If you're in the mood for a gothic historical fantasy and murder mystery for the upcoming spooky season, be sure to check out Strange Beasts.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4/5
Strange Beasts is a historical fantasy mystery novel with one of the most unexpected crossovers I've ever seen in a book: Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. I haven't read either original piece, so I might have missed some easter eggs, but I think I knew enough about them in general to understand the backstories of the characters. I really liked the gothic vibes, and even though I'm typically not a fantasy of monster-hunting tropes, I actually enjoyed it in this book. Also, I've said it so many times recently but you have to forgive my current game obsession...this gave Betrayal at the House on the Hill vibes.
The story follows Sam (the daughter of the woman who killed Dracula) and Hel (Moriarty's daughter) as they navigate the streets of Paris on the hunt for a murderous beast. The pacing was well done, and the book kept my interest the whole time. The story is peppered with plot twists, and although I called most of them (including the main killer), I only called the twists a few chapters before they happened. The ending was satisfying, and it leaves the potential for a sequel, which I would definitely be interested in.
The cast of characters was quite interesting. I really liked Sam and how her visions of monsters helped with the mystery. I also liked the development of Sam and Hel's relationship dynamics. Hel reminded me a lot of Alice Quicke from the Talents trilogy, and I really liked her air of mystery and how it related to the case. I can't say much about side characters to avoid spoilers, but I didn't hate Cyprien, and I found most of the other side characters to be rather intriguing.
If you're in the mood for a gothic historical fantasy and murder mystery for the upcoming spooky season, be sure to check out Strange Beasts.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4/5
"I want what they have" and it's Palamedes and Camilla being soulmates, not in the romantic sense but in literally every other way.
Nona the Ninth is the third installation in the Locked Tomb series, and I can honestly say it might be my favorite one so far. I have my issues with the second book, but the third might have surpassed the first in terms of my favorite. I'm glad we finally addressed the worldbuilding backstory, and I was also excited just to see people who weren't from the Nine Houses.
Introducing yet another narrator, this part of the story features Nona - a young girl who wakes up in a body that's probably not hers. For some reason, this book didn't confuse me all that much? Admittedly, I had to do some Googling when I finished just to comprehend what the last chapter meant, but otherwise, I had a general idea of what was happening (unlike in Harrow). While I think I like the plot of the first book better, the last half of this book was incredibly done, and I really liked the pacing and how the plot twists were foreshadowed enough that they were believable. I kind of guessed them and then told myself I was wrong.
I absolutely adored the found families and the cast of this book. Nona is my favorite of the narrators by far, and I found her views of the world incredibly interesting. I loved seeing her relationship with the others, especially with Pyrrha as a parental figure. Camilla and Palamedes were predictably my favorites. I think they might have joined my Character Hall of Fame because their dynamic is just so good. They're making top 5 book duos right there. I also really liked Nona's friends from school, and I hope we get to see more of them in future books.
Nona the Ninth is the third book in the Locked Tomb series, and I think it might be the best one yet.
4.5/5
Nona the Ninth is the third installation in the Locked Tomb series, and I can honestly say it might be my favorite one so far. I have my issues with the second book, but the third might have surpassed the first in terms of my favorite. I'm glad we finally addressed the worldbuilding backstory, and I was also excited just to see people who weren't from the Nine Houses.
Introducing yet another narrator, this part of the story features Nona - a young girl who wakes up in a body that's probably not hers. For some reason, this book didn't confuse me all that much? Admittedly, I had to do some Googling when I finished just to comprehend what the last chapter meant, but otherwise, I had a general idea of what was happening (unlike in Harrow). While I think I like the plot of the first book better, the last half of this book was incredibly done, and I really liked the pacing and how the plot twists were foreshadowed enough that they were believable. I kind of guessed them and then told myself I was wrong.
I absolutely adored the found families and the cast of this book. Nona is my favorite of the narrators by far, and I found her views of the world incredibly interesting. I loved seeing her relationship with the others, especially with Pyrrha as a parental figure. Camilla and Palamedes were predictably my favorites. I think they might have joined my Character Hall of Fame because their dynamic is just so good. They're making top 5 book duos right there. I also really liked Nona's friends from school, and I hope we get to see more of them in future books.
Nona the Ninth is the third book in the Locked Tomb series, and I think it might be the best one yet.
4.5/5
"Love may give you strength, but retribution gives you purpose."
The Final Strife is a fantasy story rich with discussion of oppression in a world where classes are divided by the color of their blood. The worldbuilding was intriguing, especially as the book progressed and plot twists were revealed. I'm always a fan of stories rich in history, and this book was no different.
The story follows three main POVs: Sylah, an Ember disguised as a Duster; Anoor, a Duster disguised as an Ember; and Hassa, a Ghosting. The three women come from different classes but are connected in their wish to see change in the world. I did find the book a little slow at times. It could be the beginning of a reading slump, but I really just didn't connect well to the story. There was a fair amount of action throughout, especially towards the end, and the plot twists kept me entertained, but overall I just felt like the story dragged on for a while. The middle of the book focused more on the characters' inner growth, in my opinion, and because I wasn't super invested in the characters, I didn't love the slower pacing.
The main cast of characters is definitely intriguing and complex, I just didn't really feel attached to any of them. Sylah's struggle with addiction was empowering, but she was fairly stubborn and set in her ways, and she got on my nerves a few times. I liked Anoor a little bit more, and I'm excited to see where her character arc takes her, but she was a bit trope-y. Hassa was probably my favorite, and she was the only one whose POVs I really looked forward to. In terms of side characters, Gorn grew on me, I liked Kwame, and I absolutely despised Jond.
Fans of fantasy stories rooted in history will enjoy The Final Strife and the romance, action, and social commentary it has to offer.
3.5/5
The Final Strife is a fantasy story rich with discussion of oppression in a world where classes are divided by the color of their blood. The worldbuilding was intriguing, especially as the book progressed and plot twists were revealed. I'm always a fan of stories rich in history, and this book was no different.
The story follows three main POVs: Sylah, an Ember disguised as a Duster; Anoor, a Duster disguised as an Ember; and Hassa, a Ghosting. The three women come from different classes but are connected in their wish to see change in the world. I did find the book a little slow at times. It could be the beginning of a reading slump, but I really just didn't connect well to the story. There was a fair amount of action throughout, especially towards the end, and the plot twists kept me entertained, but overall I just felt like the story dragged on for a while. The middle of the book focused more on the characters' inner growth, in my opinion, and because I wasn't super invested in the characters, I didn't love the slower pacing.
The main cast of characters is definitely intriguing and complex, I just didn't really feel attached to any of them. Sylah's struggle with addiction was empowering, but she was fairly stubborn and set in her ways, and she got on my nerves a few times. I liked Anoor a little bit more, and I'm excited to see where her character arc takes her, but she was a bit trope-y. Hassa was probably my favorite, and she was the only one whose POVs I really looked forward to. In terms of side characters, Gorn grew on me, I liked Kwame, and I absolutely despised Jond.
Fans of fantasy stories rooted in history will enjoy The Final Strife and the romance, action, and social commentary it has to offer.
3.5/5
I don't think I've ever hated a sixteen-year-old boy more than I hate Sebastian ... my commitment to my beef with a fictional teenager is probably concerning, to be honest.
Among Serpents is the thrilling sequel to Sky's End, and I still think it totally matches the vibes of the Ascendance trilogy. While this book takes on a more political focus, the worldbuilding is expanded immensely, and the stakes are higher than ever.
Conrad is now the Prince of the Skylands, but he's still the Captain of the Gladian as he is sent on a mission to find a secret weapon to save the Skylands. Once again, the story was incredibly fast-paced, and there were a ton of twists and betrayals. I called most of the twists, but I was still pleased with them. I really enjoyed the high stakes and the action scenes, and the ending of the book leaves me excited for book three.
The cast of characters has expanded as well, and I think it definitely worked in the book's favor. I really liked seeing Conrad's character arc and his internal conflicts. Bryce's backstory was interesting, and I like her as a character, but I hope she gets more page time in the next book. Roderick and Keeton are my favorites (I'm praying for a happy ending), but I also really like Pound and his arc. Ella, Arika, and Yez were interesting, but they're not my favorites. Sebastian can die in a hole. Or, better yet, we can feed him to the gigataun.
The stakes are raised in this second installation to the Above the Black series, Among Serpents.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.25/5
Among Serpents is the thrilling sequel to Sky's End, and I still think it totally matches the vibes of the Ascendance trilogy. While this book takes on a more political focus, the worldbuilding is expanded immensely, and the stakes are higher than ever.
Conrad is now the Prince of the Skylands, but he's still the Captain of the Gladian as he is sent on a mission to find a secret weapon to save the Skylands. Once again, the story was incredibly fast-paced, and there were a ton of twists and betrayals. I called most of the twists, but I was still pleased with them. I really enjoyed the high stakes and the action scenes, and the ending of the book leaves me excited for book three.
The cast of characters has expanded as well, and I think it definitely worked in the book's favor. I really liked seeing Conrad's character arc and his internal conflicts. Bryce's backstory was interesting, and I like her as a character, but I hope she gets more page time in the next book. Roderick and Keeton are my favorites (I'm praying for a happy ending), but I also really like Pound and his arc. Ella, Arika, and Yez were interesting, but they're not my favorites. Sebastian can die in a hole. Or, better yet, we can feed him to the gigataun.
The stakes are raised in this second installation to the Above the Black series, Among Serpents.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.25/5
If I had a nickel for every time characters secretly got married before they tried to sacrifice themselves to save the world...I'd be a millionaire.
Empire of Storms is the fifth book in the Throne of Glass series, and while I know a lot of people love it, this book is definitely far from my favorite in the series. Also, shoutout to this book specifically for being one of the first books I can remember with an explicit smut scene that made me almost throw up.
The stakes are higher than ever as Aelin and her court search for a lock for the wyrdkeys. There's so much that happens in this book, but simultaneously I feel like so little of it actually feels relevant. I definitely think this part of the series is devoted more to character growth in the sense that most of the book is spent building up for One Big Plot Thing, and the little scenes leading up to it feel rather uneventful. Maybe I'm just tired of this series, or maybe it isn't as good as I remember, but the pacing felt really slow in this book, and most of the plot twists felt predictable (even the first time I read it).
Because it's such a character-focused book (in my opinion), I think it is fitting that we get more interactions with characters we haven't met or have spent little time with before. That being said, I'm just kinda tired of these characters. Like I've said before, Aelin is fine, but she and Rowan just feel sort of bland to me. I used to like Dorian the most, but his instalust gets on my nerves, and the same goes for Manon. Aedion is okay. Lysandra's probably my favorite. I don't really care for any of the cadre, and for some reason, I do not like Elide as much as I did on my first read-through.
I know this review feels rather negative (and I'm going to go into more spoiler-y details below), but I did enjoy it, especially the ending. It just feels like Empire of Storms isn't my favorite part of the series, and it was a slog to get through.
3.75/5
Character Rant
This section will include spoilers.
I just want to take a moment to discuss the characters in greater depth. Typically, the character sections of the review are focused exclusively on whether or not I like characters, but I wanted to take some extra time to look at these characters in a bit more depth.
More specifically, I've been trying to figure out why this arguably "found family" doesn't have the same vibes and why none of the romances in the series feel particularly interesting to me.
I think it's firstly important to also mention that Empire of Storms (like SJM's other works) lacks diversity. There are very few POC characters, and none of them are main characters, despite the main cast in this book numbering at least 8 characters. Additionally, there is a lack of queer characters. I know Aedion is technically bi, but given I didn't know that until I was reading one-star reviews earlier, the representation is minimal. I've seen reviews discussing how queer-coded some of these characters are and how intriguing their arcs could have been, and I have to admit I agree. However, I know it's not usually appropriate in book reviews to judge books based on what they DON'T have...I just thought it needed to be mentioned.
Which brings me to my next point: all the relationships feel the same, and, by extension, a lot of the characters are really, really similar.
Rowan and Aelin are two crazy powerful royals. Cool. I can deal with that.
But then Aedion and Lysandra are also two crazy powerful people. Okay...
Oh, and Manon and Dorian are two crazy, powerful royals, too...
Obviously, I know there are differences between these characters and their various relationships, but they all feel eerily similar, and I think that's a lot of the reason I don't enjoy the romance parts of this book (which, admittedly, are a LOT of them). I just wish the author could've played around more with other relationship dynamics besides, "Oh, we're both two super hot, super powerful people, so we should bang but then pretend to be cold towards each other until everyone else inevitably notices."
And I know this isn't necessarily a remark about the characters themselves, but I think this "sameness" of the characters and the fact that they're all incredibly powerful people negates the effects of the "high stakes." These people are too powerful for any sense of danger to genuinely feel real (at least for the first 90% of the book). They rarely face consequences during bloodshed, simply wiping entire armies off the map with minimal injuries that are typically quickly healed. And, yeah, sure, their enemies are powerful, too, but it never seems like any of them are legitimately in danger, and I think it ruins some of the tension for me.
I also think the "sameness" is what takes away the found family vibes for me. I usually imagine found families as a ragtag group of heroes from different backgrounds and with different personalities, opinions, etc. Aelin's court just all feels so strong, mostly in the same ways, and it just feels...off to me.
Apologies for the mini-rant, I just wanted to explain my sudden drop in excitement regarding this series. It's not living up to how I remember it, and I think there are many reasons for that, but these are just some of them.
Empire of Storms is the fifth book in the Throne of Glass series, and while I know a lot of people love it, this book is definitely far from my favorite in the series. Also, shoutout to this book specifically for being one of the first books I can remember with an explicit smut scene that made me almost throw up.
The stakes are higher than ever as Aelin and her court search for a lock for the wyrdkeys. There's so much that happens in this book, but simultaneously I feel like so little of it actually feels relevant. I definitely think this part of the series is devoted more to character growth in the sense that most of the book is spent building up for One Big Plot Thing, and the little scenes leading up to it feel rather uneventful. Maybe I'm just tired of this series, or maybe it isn't as good as I remember, but the pacing felt really slow in this book, and most of the plot twists felt predictable (even the first time I read it).
Because it's such a character-focused book (in my opinion), I think it is fitting that we get more interactions with characters we haven't met or have spent little time with before. That being said, I'm just kinda tired of these characters. Like I've said before, Aelin is fine, but she and Rowan just feel sort of bland to me. I used to like Dorian the most, but his instalust gets on my nerves, and the same goes for Manon. Aedion is okay. Lysandra's probably my favorite. I don't really care for any of the cadre, and for some reason, I do not like Elide as much as I did on my first read-through.
I know this review feels rather negative (and I'm going to go into more spoiler-y details below), but I did enjoy it, especially the ending. It just feels like Empire of Storms isn't my favorite part of the series, and it was a slog to get through.
3.75/5
Character Rant
This section will include spoilers.
I just want to take a moment to discuss the characters in greater depth. Typically, the character sections of the review are focused exclusively on whether or not I like characters, but I wanted to take some extra time to look at these characters in a bit more depth.
More specifically, I've been trying to figure out why this arguably "found family" doesn't have the same vibes and why none of the romances in the series feel particularly interesting to me.
I think it's firstly important to also mention that Empire of Storms (like SJM's other works) lacks diversity. There are very few POC characters, and none of them are main characters, despite the main cast in this book numbering at least 8 characters. Additionally, there is a lack of queer characters. I know Aedion is technically bi, but given I didn't know that until I was reading one-star reviews earlier, the representation is minimal. I've seen reviews discussing how queer-coded some of these characters are and how intriguing their arcs could have been, and I have to admit I agree. However, I know it's not usually appropriate in book reviews to judge books based on what they DON'T have...I just thought it needed to be mentioned.
Which brings me to my next point: all the relationships feel the same, and, by extension, a lot of the characters are really, really similar.
Rowan and Aelin are two crazy powerful royals. Cool. I can deal with that.
But then Aedion and Lysandra are also two crazy powerful people. Okay...
Oh, and Manon and Dorian are two crazy, powerful royals, too...
Obviously, I know there are differences between these characters and their various relationships, but they all feel eerily similar, and I think that's a lot of the reason I don't enjoy the romance parts of this book (which, admittedly, are a LOT of them). I just wish the author could've played around more with other relationship dynamics besides, "Oh, we're both two super hot, super powerful people, so we should bang but then pretend to be cold towards each other until everyone else inevitably notices."
And I know this isn't necessarily a remark about the characters themselves, but I think this "sameness" of the characters and the fact that they're all incredibly powerful people negates the effects of the "high stakes." These people are too powerful for any sense of danger to genuinely feel real (at least for the first 90% of the book). They rarely face consequences during bloodshed, simply wiping entire armies off the map with minimal injuries that are typically quickly healed. And, yeah, sure, their enemies are powerful, too, but it never seems like any of them are legitimately in danger, and I think it ruins some of the tension for me.
I also think the "sameness" is what takes away the found family vibes for me. I usually imagine found families as a ragtag group of heroes from different backgrounds and with different personalities, opinions, etc. Aelin's court just all feels so strong, mostly in the same ways, and it just feels...off to me.
Apologies for the mini-rant, I just wanted to explain my sudden drop in excitement regarding this series. It's not living up to how I remember it, and I think there are many reasons for that, but these are just some of them.
My bookish red flag is that I'm physically incapable of hating August Shenzhi.
Vilest Things, second book in the Flesh and False Gods series, is the final book of my Top 5 Most Anticipated Reads of 2024...and it delivered. I'm shook. Like, legitimately, one of the best endings of the year. I'm going to be thinking about this for a while. And when the next book comes out...
It's hard to describe the plot of this book because it's so chaotic, and there are so many twists that I can say very little without giving them away. I think the pacing was a bit slower than in the first book, but the tension was so much higher that I didn't mind it (and also, I'd waited so long for this book that I read it in less than a day). The last 25% or so picked up the pacing dramatically, and I didn't try to predict the plot twists with this one, so I was completely blown away. I also liked that the slower pacing allowed for more character backstory (especially for Galipei!) and also worldbuilding. I'm super excited for the next book already.
The characters are all so incredibly complex, and in typical Chloe Gong fashion, I love all of them. Calla is such a strong character, and I really look forward to seeing where her arc goes next. I appreciated more Anton POVs in this book as well, and I liked seeing how his relationship with Calla changed. I love Galipei and his loyalty, and he's definitely my favorite, along with August. As I've said before, I don't have a defense for why I like August so much. Otta is...I have strong feelings and they aren't really positive.
Vilest Things is the thrilling sequel to Immortal Longings, and it's just reconfirming my claim that Chloe Gong can't write a bad book.
4.5/5
Vilest Things, second book in the Flesh and False Gods series, is the final book of my Top 5 Most Anticipated Reads of 2024...and it delivered. I'm shook. Like, legitimately, one of the best endings of the year. I'm going to be thinking about this for a while. And when the next book comes out...
It's hard to describe the plot of this book because it's so chaotic, and there are so many twists that I can say very little without giving them away. I think the pacing was a bit slower than in the first book, but the tension was so much higher that I didn't mind it (and also, I'd waited so long for this book that I read it in less than a day). The last 25% or so picked up the pacing dramatically, and I didn't try to predict the plot twists with this one, so I was completely blown away. I also liked that the slower pacing allowed for more character backstory (especially for Galipei!) and also worldbuilding. I'm super excited for the next book already.
The characters are all so incredibly complex, and in typical Chloe Gong fashion, I love all of them. Calla is such a strong character, and I really look forward to seeing where her arc goes next. I appreciated more Anton POVs in this book as well, and I liked seeing how his relationship with Calla changed. I love Galipei and his loyalty, and he's definitely my favorite, along with August. As I've said before, I don't have a defense for why I like August so much. Otta is...I have strong feelings and they aren't really positive.
Vilest Things is the thrilling sequel to Immortal Longings, and it's just reconfirming my claim that Chloe Gong can't write a bad book.
4.5/5
I thought I was mentally prepared for this book on my second read-through, but I wasn't...
The Dragon Republic is the second book in the Poppy War series, and not only does it expand worldbuilding-wise, but it also discusses new themes and introduces new characters and relationships. I honestly don't think I can rank these books because each one has things that I love.
Rin has destroyed the Federation, but now the stakes are higher than ever. The Hesperians wish to eliminate Chaos (aka shamanism), and the Dragon Warlord intends to overthrow the Empress and establish a republic. One of the things I love about this series is that you never know where it'll go next. Usually, I don't like it when I can't predict things in books, but I don't mind it here because the progression of events seems natural. The plot has plenty of twists, and there's some action dispersed throughout the book, but overall, I think it's the style and the themes that keep me enthralled.
Every single character feels complex and human. I love the evolving friendship between Rin and Kitay (more platonic friendships in fiction, please!), and I love it juxtaposed Rin's relationship with Nezha. I'm glad Venka made a reappearance (she's one of my favorites in this one). Qara and Ramsa are also favorites of mine, but Chagan grew on me a lot, and there are so many other characters that I like, too. I also like the introduction of the Hesperians and what they symbolize in terms of Chinese history.
The Dragon Republic escalates the stakes of the first Poppy War book while furthering character development and establishing new themes regarding the role of foreigners and their religions.
4.75/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To say I am angry with the end of this book is an immense understatement.
SPOILER I was so afraid that Kitay would die that I didn't even think to worry about Ramsa or Qara (two of my other favorites). And then Nezha? If he were real, he and I would no longer be on speaking terms.
At least my military history class knowledge finally came to be useful.
The Dragon Republic is the second book in the Poppy War series, and not only does it expand worldbuilding-wise, but it also discusses new themes and introduces new characters and relationships. I honestly don't think I can rank these books because each one has things that I love.
Rin has destroyed the Federation, but now the stakes are higher than ever. The Hesperians wish to eliminate Chaos (aka shamanism), and the Dragon Warlord intends to overthrow the Empress and establish a republic. One of the things I love about this series is that you never know where it'll go next. Usually, I don't like it when I can't predict things in books, but I don't mind it here because the progression of events seems natural. The plot has plenty of twists, and there's some action dispersed throughout the book, but overall, I think it's the style and the themes that keep me enthralled.
Every single character feels complex and human. I love the evolving friendship between Rin and Kitay (more platonic friendships in fiction, please!), and I love it juxtaposed Rin's relationship with Nezha. I'm glad Venka made a reappearance (she's one of my favorites in this one). Qara and Ramsa are also favorites of mine, but Chagan grew on me a lot, and there are so many other characters that I like, too. I also like the introduction of the Hesperians and what they symbolize in terms of Chinese history.
The Dragon Republic escalates the stakes of the first Poppy War book while furthering character development and establishing new themes regarding the role of foreigners and their religions.
4.75/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To say I am angry with the end of this book is an immense understatement.
SPOILER I was so afraid that Kitay would die that I didn't even think to worry about Ramsa or Qara (two of my other favorites). And then Nezha? If he were real, he and I would no longer be on speaking terms.
At least my military history class knowledge finally came to be useful.
I knew when the eye colors of the main characters were purple, teal, and "yellow but also brown but right now they look black" that this was gonna be one of those books
Five Broken Blades is a YA fantasy that I think I can safely say is just BookTok tropes on steroids. Did I pick it up because it's a multi-POV fantasy heist? Yes, I did, but I don't want to talk about that right now. I've been bamboozled. Whoever called this a thrift store Six of Crows isn't entirely wrong...
As I mentioned earlier, this book is supposed to be about a heist/assassination plot. I say supposed to because the actual heist/assassination is relevant for approximately 20% of the book. The first half is devoted almost entirely to traveling just to meet each other and being horny...because each of the three main couples had instalove. And like INSTA-instalove. I'm going to be completely honest and say this whole book felt like it could've been a prologue, backstory, or just the first half of a book. I read 500 pages, but it feels like I barely read anything because nothing super important happened. And while some of the plot twists are foreshadowed well, some of them just feel abrupt.
I tried to like the characters, but they didn't feel very complex. Tiyung was probably my least favorite just because he was so irrelevant and had no personality. Sora was okay (she's a poison maiden, aka assassin that seduces people), but she also felt generic, and her relationship with Tiyung was only "enemies-to-lovers" for, like, two chapters before they were in love. I thought I would like Euyn (a prince) and Mikhail (his spymaster), but they also just felt horny 24/7 despite the fact that they had negative histories. Royo (hired bodyguard) and Aeri (thief) also just felt way too trope-y because Royo was so grumpy and Aeri was heavy on the sunshine vibes and their instalove took literally one chapter.
If you're a fan of popular fantasy tropes and don't mind predictable storylines, Five Broken Blades is a book for you.
3.5/5
Five Broken Blades is a YA fantasy that I think I can safely say is just BookTok tropes on steroids. Did I pick it up because it's a multi-POV fantasy heist? Yes, I did, but I don't want to talk about that right now. I've been bamboozled. Whoever called this a thrift store Six of Crows isn't entirely wrong...
As I mentioned earlier, this book is supposed to be about a heist/assassination plot. I say supposed to because the actual heist/assassination is relevant for approximately 20% of the book. The first half is devoted almost entirely to traveling just to meet each other and being horny...because each of the three main couples had instalove. And like INSTA-instalove. I'm going to be completely honest and say this whole book felt like it could've been a prologue, backstory, or just the first half of a book. I read 500 pages, but it feels like I barely read anything because nothing super important happened. And while some of the plot twists are foreshadowed well, some of them just feel abrupt.
I tried to like the characters, but they didn't feel very complex. Tiyung was probably my least favorite just because he was so irrelevant and had no personality. Sora was okay (she's a poison maiden, aka assassin that seduces people), but she also felt generic, and her relationship with Tiyung was only "enemies-to-lovers" for, like, two chapters before they were in love. I thought I would like Euyn (a prince) and Mikhail (his spymaster), but they also just felt horny 24/7 despite the fact that they had negative histories. Royo (hired bodyguard) and Aeri (thief) also just felt way too trope-y because Royo was so grumpy and Aeri was heavy on the sunshine vibes and their instalove took literally one chapter.
If you're a fan of popular fantasy tropes and don't mind predictable storylines, Five Broken Blades is a book for you.
3.5/5
I'm so glad my college admissions didn't require letters of recommendation on this scale.
Wrath of the Triple Goddess is the second book in what I've seen deemed as the "Senior Year Adventures," a sequel to the original Percy Jackon series. This whole sequel series is more low-stakes than any of the originals, and I've always preferred higher stakes, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Also, I'm a college kid reading middle-grade books and hoping they hit the same as they did when I was 12...
For Percy's next letter of recommendation, he must pet-sit for Hecate. Hecuba (a hellhound) and Gale (a polecat) were both human once, and fans of the Heroes of Olympus series will recognize these familiar furry faces. After Hecuba and Gale escape Hecate's mansion during a freak accident, Percy must bring them back if he wants to get into college. Like I said, this is a lower-stakes adventure. I also felt that a lot of scenes just seemed like repeats of ones we'd seen in other books (specifically the two main action sequences). Overall, it just feels like a cozy, mildly spooky Halloween read for long-time fans of Percy Jackson.
I don't think I really need to say much about the characters. I love seeing the original trio (Percy, Annabeth, and Grover) back in action, especially seeing how strong their friendship is after all these years. I also appreciate the references to other familiar characters, like Leo and Hazel, to name a few.
Nostalgic, cozy, and perfect for the Halloween season, Wrath of the Triple Goddess continues Percy's most difficult journey yet: college applications.
3.75/5
Wrath of the Triple Goddess is the second book in what I've seen deemed as the "Senior Year Adventures," a sequel to the original Percy Jackon series. This whole sequel series is more low-stakes than any of the originals, and I've always preferred higher stakes, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Also, I'm a college kid reading middle-grade books and hoping they hit the same as they did when I was 12...
For Percy's next letter of recommendation, he must pet-sit for Hecate. Hecuba (a hellhound) and Gale (a polecat) were both human once, and fans of the Heroes of Olympus series will recognize these familiar furry faces. After Hecuba and Gale escape Hecate's mansion during a freak accident, Percy must bring them back if he wants to get into college. Like I said, this is a lower-stakes adventure. I also felt that a lot of scenes just seemed like repeats of ones we'd seen in other books (specifically the two main action sequences). Overall, it just feels like a cozy, mildly spooky Halloween read for long-time fans of Percy Jackson.
I don't think I really need to say much about the characters. I love seeing the original trio (Percy, Annabeth, and Grover) back in action, especially seeing how strong their friendship is after all these years. I also appreciate the references to other familiar characters, like Leo and Hazel, to name a few.
Nostalgic, cozy, and perfect for the Halloween season, Wrath of the Triple Goddess continues Percy's most difficult journey yet: college applications.
3.75/5
To kick off spooky season, I've been in a necromancy mood...but I was not expecting this book to be a part of that.
Vengeance of the Pirate Queen is technically a spin-off book for the Daughter of the Pirate King series, instead focusing on two previously introduced characters: Sorinda and Kearan. I hadn't particularly loved either character before, but this adventure had quite different vibes from the first two books, and I honestly think I might have liked it a little more.
Alosa has given Sorinda a mission: she is to find a bunch of girls who have recently disappeared. Sorinda sets sail with Kearan and a few other familiar faces, but things aren't all that they seem. There are a few action scenes and plot twists that keep the pacing relatively fast. Overall, I think I was just intrigued by the new worldbuilding (specifically regarding the King of the Undersea). I will say that the ending was really interesting, and I felt that the stakes were much higher, though I think the 50-75% mark was surprisingly anticlimactic.
With a mix of new and old characters, this book is filled with fun people. Sorinda's narrative was quite different from Alosa's, but I liked that about her. I didn't love Kearan at first, but he grew on me a bit. I really like Roslyn and Enwen still. Dimella was the only one I didn't love, only because I was suspicious of her. I also think the villain lacked a bit of motivation, but I thought he had a cool premise.
Fans of the Daughter of the Pirate King series will enjoy this spin-off about an assassin and her helmsman on a journey to the edge of the world, Vengeance of the Pirate Queen.
3.75/5
Vengeance of the Pirate Queen is technically a spin-off book for the Daughter of the Pirate King series, instead focusing on two previously introduced characters: Sorinda and Kearan. I hadn't particularly loved either character before, but this adventure had quite different vibes from the first two books, and I honestly think I might have liked it a little more.
Alosa has given Sorinda a mission: she is to find a bunch of girls who have recently disappeared. Sorinda sets sail with Kearan and a few other familiar faces, but things aren't all that they seem. There are a few action scenes and plot twists that keep the pacing relatively fast. Overall, I think I was just intrigued by the new worldbuilding (specifically regarding the King of the Undersea). I will say that the ending was really interesting, and I felt that the stakes were much higher, though I think the 50-75% mark was surprisingly anticlimactic.
With a mix of new and old characters, this book is filled with fun people. Sorinda's narrative was quite different from Alosa's, but I liked that about her. I didn't love Kearan at first, but he grew on me a bit. I really like Roslyn and Enwen still. Dimella was the only one I didn't love, only because I was suspicious of her. I also think the villain lacked a bit of motivation, but I thought he had a cool premise.
Fans of the Daughter of the Pirate King series will enjoy this spin-off about an assassin and her helmsman on a journey to the edge of the world, Vengeance of the Pirate Queen.
3.75/5