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"'Say then you'll look for me. That you'll find me. That you'll set after me the way the sun always does the moon. Promise you'll find me.'"
The First Binding is one of those books that simultaneously feels like it takes a day to read but also a year. At 800 pages, it's not a light read, not to mention it takes a little bit to get into (the actual story doesn't really start until 80 pages in). It reminded me of Jennifer Lyon's The Ruin of Kings and The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez but it also had some elements reminiscent of R. F. Kuang's The Poppy War.
The story switches between past and present, detailing Ari's childhood as he tells his story to his new friend, Eloine. It's also interspersed with other stories of mythology and history, as told by people who are essentially bards. My favorite parts were the stories from Ari's childhood, as they tended to be more fast-paced and action-packed. I really hope the next book comes back to close up some loose ends from the first parts of his backstory, especially what happens to Nika and Nisha and all of his friends.
Ari is a compelling storyteller and narrator, of course, and I liked him as a protagonist. His perfect mix of snark, curiosity, and stubbornness renders him an intriguing character to follow. I liked most of his childhood friends, especially Nika and Aram, although I loved Radi too. Shola is adorable (any book with a cat automatically gets bonus points) and I'm scared to find out what happens to him. The only character I had issues with was Eloine. I don't know what it was, but I didn't get good vibes from her and maybe I'm overreacting but I feel like she's going to betray Ari and I don't like her.
If you want an epic fantasy full of stories upon stories, The First Binding is the book for you.
3.75/5
The First Binding is one of those books that simultaneously feels like it takes a day to read but also a year. At 800 pages, it's not a light read, not to mention it takes a little bit to get into (the actual story doesn't really start until 80 pages in). It reminded me of Jennifer Lyon's The Ruin of Kings and The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez but it also had some elements reminiscent of R. F. Kuang's The Poppy War.
The story switches between past and present, detailing Ari's childhood as he tells his story to his new friend, Eloine. It's also interspersed with other stories of mythology and history, as told by people who are essentially bards. My favorite parts were the stories from Ari's childhood, as they tended to be more fast-paced and action-packed. I really hope the next book comes back to close up some loose ends from the first parts of his backstory, especially what happens to Nika and Nisha and all of his friends.
Ari is a compelling storyteller and narrator, of course, and I liked him as a protagonist. His perfect mix of snark, curiosity, and stubbornness renders him an intriguing character to follow. I liked most of his childhood friends, especially Nika and Aram, although I loved Radi too. Shola is adorable (any book with a cat automatically gets bonus points) and I'm scared to find out what happens to him. The only character I had issues with was Eloine. I don't know what it was, but I didn't get good vibes from her and maybe I'm overreacting but I feel like she's going to betray Ari and I don't like her.
If you want an epic fantasy full of stories upon stories, The First Binding is the book for you.
3.75/5
This is the most angry I've been with a book in a very long time...
King of Fools is the dark, angsty sequel to Amanda Foody's Ace of Shades, and when I say it's dark and angsty...I was internally screaming for multiple scenes.
The story begins where the previous book left off, with Enne and Levi having narrowly beat the Shadow Game and the city in turmoil with an upcoming election. Vianca and her son, Harrison, are campaigning on opposite sides of the political spectrum, and Enne, Levi, and Jac are caught in the middle of it. This book is very politically focused and I would say there's quite a bit less action (until the very end). That being said, it still held my attention and I liked the plot twists. I think the thing that bothered me the most was that despite the claims of "lots of danger," it was rare that the characters actually ended up in danger. Even though Enne and Levi had bounties on their heads, no one turned them in; and Vianca didn't use her omertas to her advantage like she easily could have.
And that leads us to the characters...of which I had very strong feelings. For most of the side characters, they didn't grow much and I didn't really love any of them. Lola was okay, I liked Grace, Tock was cool cause she played the saxophone. In terms of the "villains" ... I still think Vianca wasn't nearly as villainous as she could've been, and I know Harrison isn't a villain but he gives me bad vibes. I liked Levi, but he and Enne kind of got on my nerves a bit with all of their lying to each other. They both made stupid decisions and honestly, I didn't really like Enne in this book. Her chapters were my least favorite and as much as I loved the corruption arc, she sided too much with Vianca for my liking and annoyed me at times. But Jac? My little cinnamon roll? He suffered so freaking much and he was my favorite character by a long shot. I only had one issue with him: Sophia. After skimming all of the other reviews and seeing no mention of her, I don't know if people like her or not but I absolutely hate her. She didn't do anything wrong, I just get bad vibes and I don't trust her at all.
King of Fools is the exciting, angsty sequel to Ace of Shades, and I will now continue to be angry about it.
3.75/5
King of Fools is the dark, angsty sequel to Amanda Foody's Ace of Shades, and when I say it's dark and angsty...I was internally screaming for multiple scenes.
The story begins where the previous book left off, with Enne and Levi having narrowly beat the Shadow Game and the city in turmoil with an upcoming election. Vianca and her son, Harrison, are campaigning on opposite sides of the political spectrum, and Enne, Levi, and Jac are caught in the middle of it. This book is very politically focused and I would say there's quite a bit less action (until the very end). That being said, it still held my attention and I liked the plot twists. I think the thing that bothered me the most was that despite the claims of "lots of danger," it was rare that the characters actually ended up in danger. Even though Enne and Levi had bounties on their heads, no one turned them in; and Vianca didn't use her omertas to her advantage like she easily could have.
And that leads us to the characters...of which I had very strong feelings. For most of the side characters, they didn't grow much and I didn't really love any of them. Lola was okay, I liked Grace, Tock was cool cause she played the saxophone. In terms of the "villains" ... I still think Vianca wasn't nearly as villainous as she could've been, and I know Harrison isn't a villain but he gives me bad vibes. I liked Levi, but he and Enne kind of got on my nerves a bit with all of their lying to each other. They both made stupid decisions and honestly, I didn't really like Enne in this book. Her chapters were my least favorite and as much as I loved the corruption arc, she sided too much with Vianca for my liking and annoyed me at times. But Jac? My little cinnamon roll? He suffered so freaking much and he was my favorite character by a long shot. I only had one issue with him: Sophia. After skimming all of the other reviews and seeing no mention of her, I don't know if people like her or not but I absolutely hate her. She didn't do anything wrong, I just get bad vibes and I don't trust her at all.
King of Fools is the exciting, angsty sequel to Ace of Shades, and I will now continue to be angry about it.
3.75/5
I've decided I want to run away and join a found family of spies.
So as it turns out, Foul Lady Fortune does indeed make a lot more sense when it's read after the original series (These Violent Delights) and it's also a lot more enjoyable. I've wanted to reread it for a while, and I'd forgotten how bad the cliffhanger is so now I need to go buy the next one ASAP.
The story follows two spies - Rosalind Lang and Orion Hong - as they infiltrate a company to investigate the series of murders taking place around the city. There are also plenty of subplots with Celia Lang and Oliver Hong, as well as Alisa Montagova, Silas Wu, and Phoebe Hong. I loved how all of the subplots weaved together by the end. There was plenty of action (I'm specifically thinking of the car chase scene that lives rent-free in my head when it absolutely should not) and I'm still not over the plot twist because...yeah, it was a good one.
Chloe Gong excels at creating some of the best characters and dynamics as well. Orion is your typical sarcastic, written-by-a-woman love interest type man and he's amazing. I didn't realize Rosalind was demi the first time, but I caught it this time. She's also a great example of a strong female character that isn't completely overpowered, and I love her for that. Of the main characters, Celia and Oliver were my least favorite but we also didn't see much of them and I still liked their banter. Phoebe and Silas are adorable and I will cry if they don't get together. And Alisa Montagova is an aroace queen who hates romance and loves bread (and that's why she's one of my all-time favorite characters). They're set up (in my opinion) to be a sort of found family in the next book and I'm really excited about that.
If you enjoyed These Violent Delights or are looking for a spy story with crazy twists and a great story, Foul Lady Fortune does not disappoint.
4.5/5
So as it turns out, Foul Lady Fortune does indeed make a lot more sense when it's read after the original series (These Violent Delights) and it's also a lot more enjoyable. I've wanted to reread it for a while, and I'd forgotten how bad the cliffhanger is so now I need to go buy the next one ASAP.
The story follows two spies - Rosalind Lang and Orion Hong - as they infiltrate a company to investigate the series of murders taking place around the city. There are also plenty of subplots with Celia Lang and Oliver Hong, as well as Alisa Montagova, Silas Wu, and Phoebe Hong. I loved how all of the subplots weaved together by the end. There was plenty of action (I'm specifically thinking of the car chase scene that lives rent-free in my head when it absolutely should not) and I'm still not over the plot twist because...yeah, it was a good one.
Chloe Gong excels at creating some of the best characters and dynamics as well. Orion is your typical sarcastic, written-by-a-woman love interest type man and he's amazing. I didn't realize Rosalind was demi the first time, but I caught it this time. She's also a great example of a strong female character that isn't completely overpowered, and I love her for that. Of the main characters, Celia and Oliver were my least favorite but we also didn't see much of them and I still liked their banter. Phoebe and Silas are adorable and I will cry if they don't get together. And Alisa Montagova is an aroace queen who hates romance and loves bread (and that's why she's one of my all-time favorite characters). They're set up (in my opinion) to be a sort of found family in the next book and I'm really excited about that.
If you enjoyed These Violent Delights or are looking for a spy story with crazy twists and a great story, Foul Lady Fortune does not disappoint.
4.5/5
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Reread update: The car chase scene still shows up in my mind at least once a week.
Keeping my rating the same because I once again read this in pretty much one day
"She terrified him. She grounded him. She should have been named after an epithet of the sun instead of an epithet of the moon, because it was inevitable that everything in Phoebe Hong's vicinity would circle her in orbit."
"How could he put voice to the fact that her happiness made him happy, because even when they were little kids, it was so clear that she had found her place in a world where very few managed the same?"
Just shut up and kiss already
"How could he put voice to the fact that her happiness made him happy, because even when they were little kids, it was so clear that she had found her place in a world where very few managed the same?"
Just shut up and kiss already
"And what a cruel and terrible thing it is, to be a divine with such power and magic, and yet find yourself so small-minded and afraid that you decide to live out your endless days harming others."
I knew Ruthless Vows was going to be angsty, but it exceeded my expectations. As the sequel to Divine Rivals, it possesses the same enchanting romance and beautiful prose.
To avoid spoilers for the first book, I won't go into too much detail about the plot. However, I will say that the entire thing is peppered with angst (and I loved every second of it). It's much darker than the first one and there's a lot more danger. We also got to see a lot more of Girlboss Iris, which I really loved. I didn't cry, but I did tear up and I think the conclusion was quite satisfying. It also expands on the worldbuilding a lot and I found the myths very intriguing. Overall, I felt that I enjoyed the plot of this one far more than the plot of the last.
We also got introduced to some new characters, as well as saw a larger focus on the side characters. There were no characters I disliked except for the obvious antagonists. Of the side characters, my favorite was probably Tobias. He reminded me of Brandon from Timekeeper and I just thought he was neat. Once again, Iris and Roman's romance was lovely and there was so much angst and I loved it all so much. Iris really showed off her strength in this book and Roman raised the standards even higher. They're probably one of my favorite book couples.
If you enjoyed Divine Rivals, Ruthless Vows is a book you do not want to miss. The Letters of Enchantment series as a whole is wonderfully written and 100% worth the read for any "romantasy" fans looking for a less lusty series.
4.75/5
I knew Ruthless Vows was going to be angsty, but it exceeded my expectations. As the sequel to Divine Rivals, it possesses the same enchanting romance and beautiful prose.
To avoid spoilers for the first book, I won't go into too much detail about the plot. However, I will say that the entire thing is peppered with angst (and I loved every second of it). It's much darker than the first one and there's a lot more danger. We also got to see a lot more of Girlboss Iris, which I really loved. I didn't cry, but I did tear up and I think the conclusion was quite satisfying. It also expands on the worldbuilding a lot and I found the myths very intriguing. Overall, I felt that I enjoyed the plot of this one far more than the plot of the last.
We also got introduced to some new characters, as well as saw a larger focus on the side characters. There were no characters I disliked except for the obvious antagonists. Of the side characters, my favorite was probably Tobias. He reminded me of Brandon from Timekeeper and I just thought he was neat. Once again, Iris and Roman's romance was lovely and there was so much angst and I loved it all so much. Iris really showed off her strength in this book and Roman raised the standards even higher. They're probably one of my favorite book couples.
If you enjoyed Divine Rivals, Ruthless Vows is a book you do not want to miss. The Letters of Enchantment series as a whole is wonderfully written and 100% worth the read for any "romantasy" fans looking for a less lusty series.
4.75/5
"You are bound to me in matrimony. If you break it and descend into another plane of existence, I will chase after you and snatch you back."
Foul Heart Huntsman has been at the top of my TBR for a very long time, and I am so glad that I read it because with the angst and the characters and the action...it far exceeded my expectations, which were set pretty high to begin with. And I think I can now honestly say I prefer the spinoff to the original duology.
I'll admit that it took me a few chapters to really get into the plot because I just wanted to see Orion, but once it got moving, it got moving and there was never a moment where one of the characters wasn't in danger. There were so many twists (and I did call one of the betrayals) and I was on the edge of my seat for almost the entire thing. While I hadn't previously cared as much for some of the characters, like Oliver or Silas, I was scared for all of them. The angst was strong with this one.
And, once again, I adored all of the characters. Like, I would give so much just to be a part of their little found family. Of the main cast, Celia is probably my least favorite but I still really liked her. Oliver grew a lot on me in this one. Phoebe and Silas were the unsung heroes and they had their angsty moments, and I love them both so much. Rosalind and Orion were angsty too, and while I have some thoughts about Orion's arc in this one, I'm still happy with the ending. Alisa, of course, was my favorite once again. I would read an entire series about her, Phoebe, and Silas getting into trouble. Also, I'd just like to mention that Lady Hong is joining my list of most hateable villains; I don't care that she's a "mother," I have a lot of words I want to say to her.
(Also, my copy of the book came with a bonus epilogue and it was absolutely adorable. I don't know if it's in all editions of the book, but just know that it's a fictional wedding I actually liked).
If you're looking for a historical fantasy series with plenty of action, angst, and romance, look no further than Foul Lady Fortune and Foul Heart Huntsman.
4.75/5
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Reread Update: Still 4.75/5. I still want a Phoebe/Silas/Alisa spin-off, but I know it's unlikely. I also need to read As You Like It at some point so I can get the references...
Foul Heart Huntsman has been at the top of my TBR for a very long time, and I am so glad that I read it because with the angst and the characters and the action...it far exceeded my expectations, which were set pretty high to begin with. And I think I can now honestly say I prefer the spinoff to the original duology.
I'll admit that it took me a few chapters to really get into the plot because I just wanted to see Orion, but once it got moving, it got moving and there was never a moment where one of the characters wasn't in danger. There were so many twists (and I did call one of the betrayals) and I was on the edge of my seat for almost the entire thing. While I hadn't previously cared as much for some of the characters, like Oliver or Silas, I was scared for all of them. The angst was strong with this one.
And, once again, I adored all of the characters. Like, I would give so much just to be a part of their little found family. Of the main cast, Celia is probably my least favorite but I still really liked her. Oliver grew a lot on me in this one. Phoebe and Silas were the unsung heroes and they had their angsty moments, and I love them both so much. Rosalind and Orion were angsty too, and while I have some thoughts about Orion's arc in this one, I'm still happy with the ending. Alisa, of course, was my favorite once again. I would read an entire series about her, Phoebe, and Silas getting into trouble. Also, I'd just like to mention that Lady Hong is joining my list of most hateable villains; I don't care that she's a "mother," I have a lot of words I want to say to her.
(Also, my copy of the book came with a bonus epilogue and it was absolutely adorable. I don't know if it's in all editions of the book, but just know that it's a fictional wedding I actually liked).
If you're looking for a historical fantasy series with plenty of action, angst, and romance, look no further than Foul Lady Fortune and Foul Heart Huntsman.
4.75/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reread Update: Still 4.75/5. I still want a Phoebe/Silas/Alisa spin-off, but I know it's unlikely. I also need to read As You Like It at some point so I can get the references...
"It was the sort of kiss that gives you faith in the Stars and makes you realize they despise you."
Starlight Jewel reminded me of the Cruel Prince series but with less royalty and more romance. There were parts of it that I really liked and parts of it that I didn't enjoy as much, but I can attribute some of my struggles getting into the book to this being the first week of a new semester. The world-building was interesting; there are sprygans (which are basically tree fae) and then hybrids (half-human, half-sprygan), and they have certain abilities like good hearing and sight among other things. My favorite ability was heartfire, which enables a character to keep another alive through love.
The pacing was probably my biggest issue with the book. Parts of it were super fast-paced which was good, but I also got bored at times because the pacing slowed drastically. I can't really describe the plot because it almost felt like a bunch of side-quests...every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it changed direction. There was action, yes, but there was also a lot of scheming and just existing in certain places.
Of the characters, Hyde/Greg was my favorite just because he seems to have an intriguing backstory that I really wanted to get details too but never did. Axly wasn't bad as far as protagonists go. I liked her character and her strength. Grim wasn't my favorite but I didn't mind him (although he named his dog Cleatus and I can't get over that). Of the rest of the characters, I liked most of them but there were a lot to remember and I got them mixed up occasionally. I can't say my other favorite without spoiling anything, but he shows up halfway through and I don't really have a reason for liking him.
If the Cruel Prince series gave you a book hangover or you're just in the mood for ruthless fae-like creatures, E. L. Lyons's Starlight Jewel is a great story filled with action, adventure, and romance.
3.75/5
Starlight Jewel reminded me of the Cruel Prince series but with less royalty and more romance. There were parts of it that I really liked and parts of it that I didn't enjoy as much, but I can attribute some of my struggles getting into the book to this being the first week of a new semester. The world-building was interesting; there are sprygans (which are basically tree fae) and then hybrids (half-human, half-sprygan), and they have certain abilities like good hearing and sight among other things. My favorite ability was heartfire, which enables a character to keep another alive through love.
The pacing was probably my biggest issue with the book. Parts of it were super fast-paced which was good, but I also got bored at times because the pacing slowed drastically. I can't really describe the plot because it almost felt like a bunch of side-quests...every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it changed direction. There was action, yes, but there was also a lot of scheming and just existing in certain places.
Of the characters, Hyde/Greg was my favorite just because he seems to have an intriguing backstory that I really wanted to get details too but never did. Axly wasn't bad as far as protagonists go. I liked her character and her strength. Grim wasn't my favorite but I didn't mind him (although he named his dog Cleatus and I can't get over that). Of the rest of the characters, I liked most of them but there were a lot to remember and I got them mixed up occasionally. I can't say my other favorite without spoiling anything, but he shows up halfway through and I don't really have a reason for liking him.
If the Cruel Prince series gave you a book hangover or you're just in the mood for ruthless fae-like creatures, E. L. Lyons's Starlight Jewel is a great story filled with action, adventure, and romance.
3.75/5
"But perhaps, these hearts were supposed to be broken. Perhaps this faith was undeserved. Perhaps what came after heartbreak was just as important: when you rose on one knee, then the other, and stood. When you realized that you could piece yourself back together, little by little, slowly and painfully. You might not be whole ever again, but you would survive, and that was - that was salvation in its true form."
Hearts That Cut is the exciting sequel to Threads That Bind, and I definitely did not solve the mystery in this one either. Honestly, I think my favorite part of this duology has been the worldbuilding, to be quite honest. Greek mythology (and other mythologies too) takes center stage in this fantasy world dealing with an apocalypse ... and fantasy apocalypse stories are some of my favorites.
As much as I liked the ending of this book, the beginning felt a bit slow. In the first book, it felt like nonstop action but this book felt like it didn't start until the 50% mark. The first third or so was just intro and it felt like reviewing the events of the last book. That being said, the ending was very exciting and this series is one of those that is written like a movie. The visual design and the way the scenes look in my head are incredible. There was a fair bit of action and mystery, and the plot twists were surprising, so the second half was enjoyable. I just struggled to get into it.
In terms of characters, Nico is still my favorite despite the limited page time. I liked Io and Edei and their struggles with deciding whether or not to abide by fate. Besides Io and Edei, though, the side characters didn't get much attention (besides Bianca) and so I didn't really have many opinions on them.
Fans of fantasy-mysteries or fantasy stories about fantasy-apocalypses should check out Threads That Bind and Hearts That Cut.
3.75/5
Hearts That Cut is the exciting sequel to Threads That Bind, and I definitely did not solve the mystery in this one either. Honestly, I think my favorite part of this duology has been the worldbuilding, to be quite honest. Greek mythology (and other mythologies too) takes center stage in this fantasy world dealing with an apocalypse ... and fantasy apocalypse stories are some of my favorites.
As much as I liked the ending of this book, the beginning felt a bit slow. In the first book, it felt like nonstop action but this book felt like it didn't start until the 50% mark. The first third or so was just intro and it felt like reviewing the events of the last book. That being said, the ending was very exciting and this series is one of those that is written like a movie. The visual design and the way the scenes look in my head are incredible. There was a fair bit of action and mystery, and the plot twists were surprising, so the second half was enjoyable. I just struggled to get into it.
In terms of characters, Nico is still my favorite despite the limited page time. I liked Io and Edei and their struggles with deciding whether or not to abide by fate. Besides Io and Edei, though, the side characters didn't get much attention (besides Bianca) and so I didn't really have many opinions on them.
Fans of fantasy-mysteries or fantasy stories about fantasy-apocalypses should check out Threads That Bind and Hearts That Cut.
3.75/5
1) the gay golden retriever/black cat trope is the best
2) Tori is literally me
3) this series fills me with so much happiness when reading it
2) Tori is literally me
3) this series fills me with so much happiness when reading it
"'Yes,' Ash said. 'The wealthy and powerful are willing to step on the backs of others to get where they are.'"
Infinity Alchemist is a YA fantasy about a world where magic is controlled by the elite and one boy has the desire to change that.
While there were a few scenes that intrigued me, I think the biggest issue I had with this book was the pacing. Some parts seemed to drag on forever, whereas the final climax lasted about thirty seconds. Overall, it felt like the novel was more character-driven than plot-driven. Most of the scenes developed character rather than plot, which personally isn't my favorite thing.
Unfortunately, the characters also fell a bit flat for me. I'm going to be honest when I say I accidentally skimmed through some of the dialogue (because I wanted more plot scenes), and so even though the book felt character-driven, I didn't connect to any of the characters. The cast is very diverse and queer, which is a bonus, but I just couldn't relate much to them.
While Infinity Alchemist wasn't exactly my cup of tea, I can see it being very enjoyable for other people. If you're looking for a character-driven story with a queer cast and plenty of magic, this book is for you.
2.5/5
Infinity Alchemist is a YA fantasy about a world where magic is controlled by the elite and one boy has the desire to change that.
While there were a few scenes that intrigued me, I think the biggest issue I had with this book was the pacing. Some parts seemed to drag on forever, whereas the final climax lasted about thirty seconds. Overall, it felt like the novel was more character-driven than plot-driven. Most of the scenes developed character rather than plot, which personally isn't my favorite thing.
Unfortunately, the characters also fell a bit flat for me. I'm going to be honest when I say I accidentally skimmed through some of the dialogue (because I wanted more plot scenes), and so even though the book felt character-driven, I didn't connect to any of the characters. The cast is very diverse and queer, which is a bonus, but I just couldn't relate much to them.
While Infinity Alchemist wasn't exactly my cup of tea, I can see it being very enjoyable for other people. If you're looking for a character-driven story with a queer cast and plenty of magic, this book is for you.
2.5/5