dragoninwinterfell's Reviews (147)

Deathless Divide had so much potential to be as amazing as its predecessor, Dread Nation. Justina Ireland's skill in writing characters and developing a gritty world is still very strong. There's so much about this novel that I love. But that only made the parts of the book that weren't so great feel that much worse. Alongside strong characters and solid world-building, the story felt incredibly disjointed and the overall message seemed unrealistically preachy.

The Good: Again, the characters were very well-written. Jane continued to be a deeply complex and loveable heroine. The choice to make Katherine a co-lead alongside Jane was an excellent one. They're both unique and fascinating characters who can stand independently and complement each other well. Both narrators, Bahni Turpin and Jordan Cobb, brought each character to life beautifully. The supporting characters, especially Sue, were intriguing as well. Unfortunately...

The Bad: The story didn't hold up to the quality of the characters. The plot felt weirdly disjointed. The beginning of this book was very strong, but once a monumental incident happens, there is a year-and-a-half time jump that requires periodic info dumps that hint at stories much more interesting than the one told in the second portion of the novel. Both Jane and Katherine are forced to grow in different ways that would have benefited from being told through the actual narrative rather than just summarized here and there. The info dumps removed any emotional resonance that should have resulted from all that character and relationship development they went through. For instance, Jane has a romance during that year and a half that ends immediately after the jump. The ending of this relationship should be tragic. Rather than tragic, the situation is just incidental since we never got to see that relationship play out other than the ending of it.

The story also became very strangely preachy. Mild spoilers, but Jane becomes a bounty hunter while also hunting down the main villain of the series. This job involves killing terrible people who have done terrible things to others while forcing information out of them that will help her stop a man who is responsible for killing thousands if not millions of people. Somehow, Jane doing this is treated as her supposedly becoming as bad as the people she is executing. While she becomes a folk heroine who is seen as administering justice (which is what's happening), Jane and those around her are judging her to a very bizarre degree. I can't comprehend the idea that there's something wrong with her killing terrible people who will continue to do terrible things to others if they aren't stopped.

As amazing as Ireland's characters were, the story and the preachiness that seemed to support villainy continuing made this sequel fall flat for me, which is a real shame given the strength of the first novel.

This was very disappointing. I love the premise and the world building, but the plot, main character, and the dynamics between the characters were very lacking. 

The novel starts with the main character being taken by The Empire TM (very generic sci-fi overlords) while the fate of her family and community were left unknown and the main character doesn't spend much time caring. She's then forced to act as a stand-in for the imperial princess, whom she looks identical to. She is immediately approached to act as a spy for The Rebellion TM (again, very generic), who have no reason to trust her. While this is happening, a "romance" (incredibly generic) is forced in. All this happens without ever getting to know the main character, let alone care about her or what's happening. None of the plot nor dynamics that were supposedly forming felt organic or natural.

I really did like the world building with the clashing cultures. The history with the previous royals being forced to join with the conquerors of their planet in marriage was very interesting as well. There were moments when the story felt very promising, but they happened in the last fourth of the novel when I had already checked out for the most part.

I might give the sequel a try since it's already released. I hope the story gets better from here. 

In this book, Octavia Butler made some choices I don't think we're necessary, like having her 53-year-old protagonist look like she's 11 years old. She definitely didn't have to do that. Yet, Butler's writing was so excellent, I was fully immersed and just enjoyed living in this universe with Shori as she unraveled the mystery of who she was and what happened to her. 

I really love novels told from the perspective of a character waking up with amnesia or a "white room story" as Brandon Sanderson coined it. That convention adds such an interesting layer to the story, the world building, and the development of the character since the reader is on completely equal footing in discovering everything with them. 

The world building in creating the vampires in this story was fascinating. It's a shame Butler never wrote another book in this universe. I was genuinely sad when the novel ended.

Full disclosure: I've been obsessed with Greek mythology since I was a kid. I've read countless retellings and researched the earliest tellings. So, this novel is specifically targeted for me as a love letter to Greek mythology. 

The novel does have something of a slow start as both Psyche and Eros are set up as individual characters before they are united. But I loved the build-up as McNamara  brought together so many characters and conflicting myths, streamlining them into her narrative. For instance, Eros is both one of the very first gods in existence as well as the son of Aphrodite (who she retroactively adopts), bringing together two very different origin myths for him. Psyche's backstory is also filled out more, connecting her to other mythological figures while also giving her a fully realized characterization and goals of becoming a warrior heroine.

The story is told through the dual POVs of the titular characters. This creates a very interesting tension in their dynamic with each other as they are both dealing with different information and world views. Even as they're growing to love each other, they can't trust each other, which leads to the main conflicts. 

I would recommend this novel to Greek mythology enthusiasts who are comfortable with reimaginings. But the story is still very accessible to anyone who isn't familiar with the myths.

The Conductors by Nicole Glover is a fantastic, magical read filled with realistic characters, strong relationship dynamics, and excellent world building that flawlessly blends US history with a magic-filled alternate reality. Hetty as the protagonist was so entertaining to follow as she navigated her world with confidenceand self-respect as well as vulnerability. The story is told switching between the present where she and her husband are investigating the murder of their friend and interludes into the past that explore her backstory as an escaped slave who seved as a conductor in the Underground Railroad, leading others to freedom. As such, we get to see her at different points in her life, dealing with varied struggles from life threatening danger to personal struggles to issues with employment and rent. Glover makes each aspect of Hetty's story compelling. I'm excited to move forward with the sequel.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a delightful piece of cozy escapism that highlights Brandon Sanderson's strengths as an author. With this whimsical novel, he brings together exceptional character work, unparalleled worldbuilding for not one but two completely different settings, two distinct magic systems that work with the same artistic theme, and a solidly structured plot. The dual protagonists, Yumi and Nikaro, each stand out as unique and realistic characters who don't fit into the usual conventions for lead fantasy characters. I had such a great time following them through their shared journey as mysterious circumstances connected them to each other and literally forced each of them to walk in the other's shoes.

This novel is exceptionally well-timed for two reasons. First, it aligns with the intensifying conversation around AI and the impact it has on different art forms. Second, it fits solidly within the cozy fantasy trend that has become more popular within the last year. While Yumi and Nikaro are technically dealing with a life-or-death situation, the tone and the overall themes are still pretty wholesome. Even when the story reaches its darkest points, the overall stakes never feel genuinely high with the most significant issues in question being the individual character arcs of the two protagonists and the relationships they develop. There is a plot and two unique settings to explore, but those are secondary. This is a refreshing departure from the grim-dark trend that had taken over fantasy for several years. There will likely come a time when the pendulum swings back the other way. But right now, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is the exact type of escapism that many need.

My only complaint about the novel is the narrator. As part of Sanderson's Cosmere series, this book takes place on one of the planets in that universe. To tell the story, he frames it through the POV of a recurring character who can be found as a minor character in other works. Since I'm not particularly attached to that character, it was a little annoying that the book was framed through his perspective rather than through a character more closely tied to Yumi and Nikaro. Design could have easily been the narrator instead, which would have achieved the same purpose since she knew and interacted with the main characters as an actual participant in the story while also connecting the book to the broader Cosmere. As annoying as that was, it wasn't enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel. 
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter was a solid five-star read and easily the strongest of the currently published secret novels.

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury isn't just a story of a haunted house. This is the story of a haunted family, with each family member dumping their emotional burdens and trauma onto each other, pushing the cycle of trauma forward. In that way, the ghosts and even the menacing house that preys on the living and dead alike aren't the biggest monsters in the novel. Just as in real life, those who cause the most pain and turmoil are human beings.

The novel is told through the dual POVs of Daisy -- a 17-year-old who sees dead people -- and Brittney -- a college student who runs a YouTube channel centered on supernatural mysteries. Taking place ten years apart, Brittney and her co-host are investigating the mysterious circumstances Daisy endured in the mansion her mother inherited. 

Alongside the story of the haunted house that's feeding on people are the emotional arcs of Daisy and Brittney working through their mirrored traumas with their mothers, who abuse them emotionally and control them financially. As their stories unfold, they reveal generational abuses that have been trickled down and left unspoken of for years.

Not only does this story have an incredibly compelling premise, Sambury's prose and narrative voice are among the most beautiful and original I've ever read. The descriptions are vivid and almost too visceral at times. The character focused way she moved through the plot really made it feel like one was living alongside the characters. I can't wait to check out her other novels.

Usually, I'm a very character-focused reader. If the characters aren't well-developed, it's difficult for me to become interested in the story. The Ghost Bride breaks that rule for me. I would say that the characters and their relationships with each other aren't particularly strong, but I didn't mind because the prose was so beautifully written and the exploration of Chinese folklore was incredibly compelling. Following Li Lan through the underworld as she struggles to escape an unwanted, ghostly suitor gives a lovely, detailed imagining of a Chinese afterlife that includes both the fantastical and a really interesting system of litigation. I would love to read more stories set in this universe.

Just a few details to keep in mind about this book: 
First, this story is very slow. I didn't mind because I enjoyed the prose and the world-building. But this is not an action-packed story. 

Second and more importantly, there is a great deal of fatphobia in this book. Li Lan's unwanted suitor is described as overweight and that is used to vilify him. He is a bad person because he is trying to force a young woman into marriage against her will. His weight shouldn't be a factor in it. I couldn't tell if this was meant to be a character flaw of Li Lan's. I hope it was an intentional flaw just as her judgment against women who use their sexuality to their advantage is presented as a flaw that she overcomes. But she never overcomes her superficial outlook on others. So it's hard to say if this is intentional or a bias of the author's.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the Nisha J. Tuli for providing me with this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heart of the Night is an Indian mythology-inspired adult fantasy novel that centers on a young woman named Zarya and the mystery of why she has been held prisoner in a secluded area for her entire life. She spends her days reading romance novels, arguing with and being trained by her captors, and slaying demons. When one of her captors disappears without a trace, the magical barrier keeping her in disappears as well allowing Zarya to escape.

Straight out the gate, this premise and Zarya as a fully fleshed out, multidimensional character drew me in. Right away, we're shown that she is skilled and well-trained in combat, but far from invincible. She has virtues and shortcomings in equal measure, making her incredibly engaging to follow through this story as she explores the world outside her prison. 

I love how she doesn't fit into any of the stock character cliches, which makes her very realistic. Zarya can physically fight and works hard to improve her skills, making her seem like an action girl. At the same time, she's romantic and naive, eager to live out the love stories she's read about, making her a romantic heroine. She also gives off chosen one vibes as its heavily hinted at that she's been kept hidden and trained in secret for ... something. It's impossible to fit her neatly into any category, making her very realistic.

That said, while I enjoy Zarya as a character overall, I do wish that we got more of her life during her imprisonment than we did. As it stands, she's mysteriously freed from this imprisonment almost immediately and spends the rest of the novel complaining about that imprisonment. While her complaints are valid, since the reader is introduced to her just as she's being freed, it's hard to care about this as much as she does. 

In addition to the excellent character work, the world building was deeply compelling. Nisha J. Tuli's descriptions of the world she created and the different forms of magic within it were vivid and beautiful. Listening to the audiobook, I could practically see what she was describing.

I gave this one four stars and I look forward to the rest of the series.

A pet peeve of mine is the common practice of advertising a piece of media as "Popular Thing" meets "Other Popular Thing". This usually leads to unmet expectations and disappointment for the audience. But with A Vengeful Realm, a comparison of A Song of Ice and Fire blended with Starz's Spartacus would be warranted. There are several aspects that seemed to be pulled from each work and melded together into this. My concern is that it might be too derivative of those works, especially as the series continues with Breaker of Chains, which is a title earned by ASOIAF heroine Daenerys Targaryen. I hope the series will be able to stand on its own without relying so heavily on those sources of inspiration.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were well drawn and complex. I will absolutely check out the sequel.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and First Torch Books, LLC for the audio ARC of the book provided in exchange for an honest review.