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The Hollow Gods by A. J. Vrana is not what you'd expect, even with the blurb giving next to nothing away.
I went into it expecting a small town mystery (even murder mystery by the sounds of it) and got a supernatural tale with a stubbornly logical doctor and some supernatural romance sprinkled on top. And what a ride that was.
Seen through 3 point of views. A. J. Vrana tells the story of a town obsessed with a local legend, that has very real consequences. Kai, Miya and Mason each set out, in one way or another, to figure out the truth behind the legend, leading to their paths eventually colliding right before the climax. Due to the rather vague blurb, there isn't much more I can say on the plot without spoiling but it's much more interesting than I initially thought.
As for the writing, it was good. Very straightforward, if a bit dry at times, but that just made it a breeze to read through. Vrana has quite a distinct style of writing, with interesting, even unusual, metaphors, which makes her stand out as an author that much more.
Her characters are also something special. Each has a strong personality that easily comes through which is a plus when juggling three perspectives. Kai is head strong, doesn't mince words, and unpleasant at times. Miya is chaotic but curious, with a thirst for the unknown. Whereas Mason is driven and headstrong, but definitely a man on a mission.
Unfortunately I found the book a bit confusing, from how the plot was laid out and paced, to the climax. I didn't really understand the resolution because of all the moving parts that were only vaguely referred to earlier. I would've liked to have more of the story or world laid out previously, instead of it crammed alongside the ending.
All in all, I enjoyed The Hollow Gods by A. J Vrana. It was a strong story with memorable characters, if a bit messy in its execution.
I went into it expecting a small town mystery (even murder mystery by the sounds of it) and got a supernatural tale with a stubbornly logical doctor and some supernatural romance sprinkled on top. And what a ride that was.
Seen through 3 point of views. A. J. Vrana tells the story of a town obsessed with a local legend, that has very real consequences. Kai, Miya and Mason each set out, in one way or another, to figure out the truth behind the legend, leading to their paths eventually colliding right before the climax. Due to the rather vague blurb, there isn't much more I can say on the plot without spoiling but it's much more interesting than I initially thought.
As for the writing, it was good. Very straightforward, if a bit dry at times, but that just made it a breeze to read through. Vrana has quite a distinct style of writing, with interesting, even unusual, metaphors, which makes her stand out as an author that much more.
Her characters are also something special. Each has a strong personality that easily comes through which is a plus when juggling three perspectives. Kai is head strong, doesn't mince words, and unpleasant at times. Miya is chaotic but curious, with a thirst for the unknown. Whereas Mason is driven and headstrong, but definitely a man on a mission.
Unfortunately I found the book a bit confusing, from how the plot was laid out and paced, to the climax. I didn't really understand the resolution because of all the moving parts that were only vaguely referred to earlier. I would've liked to have more of the story or world laid out previously, instead of it crammed alongside the ending.
All in all, I enjoyed The Hollow Gods by A. J Vrana. It was a strong story with memorable characters, if a bit messy in its execution.
Actual star rating: 2.5/5
"A Peculiar Royal" by Alonna Williams starts out strongly, with the reader being thrust into Tristan's life as a street rat. The first few chapters are all about his life on the streets, and the found family he's surrounded himself with, and the relationships he's grown up with.
Once he's found to be the prince, the tone of the novel changes considerably. With a focus on Tristan's education and shenanigans around the palace, the novel becomes much lighter, almost reading as a middle grade novel rather than YA.
In fact, this is the main problem of the novel. Everything from the characters to the plot are strangely exaggerated. It's something that's usually found in middle grade novels, and it works really well, but it comes off as cartoonish when in a YA setting. I should note that I place it as a YA book because the main character, Tristan, is 17 and the depictions of violence (however minute). Tristan's mannerisms correspond to characters between the ages of 11-14, while violence that draws blood is something generally reserved for older audiences.
However, this doesn't extend to the writing. Williams' uses a 3rd person POV and omniscient narrator, which allows her to jump from character to character mid chapter or sometimes mid conversation. Not only do we get the thoughts of the main characters, but the POV shifts to secondary and even background characters, given the readers a much fuller view of a scene than many other books. More generally, the writing was good. Being easy to read combined with the dynamic plot, made the book fast to get through. It never bored me, and I finished it within a few days.
"A Peculiar Royal" could be a fantastic Middle Grade book, but it loses out being labelled as Young Adult. I recommend this shift in mentality as I enjoyed it more that way.
"A Peculiar Royal" by Alonna Williams starts out strongly, with the reader being thrust into Tristan's life as a street rat. The first few chapters are all about his life on the streets, and the found family he's surrounded himself with, and the relationships he's grown up with.
Once he's found to be the prince, the tone of the novel changes considerably. With a focus on Tristan's education and shenanigans around the palace, the novel becomes much lighter, almost reading as a middle grade novel rather than YA.
In fact, this is the main problem of the novel. Everything from the characters to the plot are strangely exaggerated. It's something that's usually found in middle grade novels, and it works really well, but it comes off as cartoonish when in a YA setting. I should note that I place it as a YA book because the main character, Tristan, is 17 and the depictions of violence (however minute). Tristan's mannerisms correspond to characters between the ages of 11-14, while violence that draws blood is something generally reserved for older audiences.
However, this doesn't extend to the writing. Williams' uses a 3rd person POV and omniscient narrator, which allows her to jump from character to character mid chapter or sometimes mid conversation. Not only do we get the thoughts of the main characters, but the POV shifts to secondary and even background characters, given the readers a much fuller view of a scene than many other books. More generally, the writing was good. Being easy to read combined with the dynamic plot, made the book fast to get through. It never bored me, and I finished it within a few days.
"A Peculiar Royal" could be a fantastic Middle Grade book, but it loses out being labelled as Young Adult. I recommend this shift in mentality as I enjoyed it more that way.
Actual rating: 4.5/5
"Kingdom of the Wicked" by Kerri Maniscalco is a story about a young woman who's revenge sends her straight into the arms of demons.
Emilia is the quiet twin. Where her sister sneaks out and parties, she stays in with a good book or busies herself coming up with new recipes for their family's trattoria. That is, until she stumbles on Vittoria's body who is the latest victim of a killer targeting Palermo's twelve witching families. Her twin's death and the grief that follows transforms her as she becomes more daring and driven. The more Princes of Hell she encounters, the more her desire for vengeance grows into an all consuming emotion. Even though Vittoria dies early on, Emilia's character is well established enough that the effects of her grief are startling. Her journey is interesting and well done, adding complexity to her character as she struggles to understand and handle her newfound desires. In fact, the closer to Wrath she gets, the more these come out. A subtle way this come out is the clothing, specifically Emilia's outfits. In the beginning, Emilia strives to be comfortable, specifically choosing that quality in her dresses, she also rejects the clothes Wrath offers her because of this. As her determination grows, she turns towards more elaborate and darker outfits.
Wrath is an interesting character. All her life, Emilia's been warned away from the Prince of Hell, but he's never dangerous towards her but, even when she attacks him, he's civil (if a bit sarcastic). The more we get to know him, the more his aloofness hides away a deeper, more complex personality. His growing closeness to Emilia inevitably brings this out as they play off each other. Meanwhile the enemies to friends dynamic they have going on is so deliciously complicated and good.
When it comes to relationships with secondary characters "Kingdom of the Wicked", isn't at the top of its game. Emilia's relationship with her family is very important in the beginning of the book, but the more the book progresses, the more it drops off the radar for no obvious reason. I found that to be disappointing given how much its emphasized early on.
Maniscalco's use of the 1st person POV gives the audience a one sided view of the story. However it also allows her to really centre the plot around Emilia's grief, which works really well. I found the plot to have a good pace, it starts out slow and picks up the pace the closer it gets to the climax, and kept me engaged throughout.
The writing in general is really good. It's full of metaphors and descriptions, but it only adds to the magic of the story as they're not so abundant that they bog down the text. For example, Emilia's family has a restaurant and the cooking features heavily in the first few chapters, helping to build the scene.
I did find the worldbuilding a bit lacking in some respects. The Princes of Hell, and their kingdom is described in detail, with customs and history adding to the world. However, there's very little information on the witching families or how magic works, beyond the interactions between the witches and the demons. I liked what Maniscalco has given us and I wish there had been more, especially given the fact that Emilia is a witch rather than a demon.
All in all, I really enjoyed "Kingdom of the Wicked" by Kerri Maniscalco. It's a fascinating story that I will definitely be continuing in the sequel!
"Kingdom of the Wicked" by Kerri Maniscalco is a story about a young woman who's revenge sends her straight into the arms of demons.
Emilia is the quiet twin. Where her sister sneaks out and parties, she stays in with a good book or busies herself coming up with new recipes for their family's trattoria. That is, until she stumbles on Vittoria's body who is the latest victim of a killer targeting Palermo's twelve witching families. Her twin's death and the grief that follows transforms her as she becomes more daring and driven. The more Princes of Hell she encounters, the more her desire for vengeance grows into an all consuming emotion. Even though Vittoria dies early on, Emilia's character is well established enough that the effects of her grief are startling. Her journey is interesting and well done, adding complexity to her character as she struggles to understand and handle her newfound desires. In fact, the closer to Wrath she gets, the more these come out. A subtle way this come out is the clothing, specifically Emilia's outfits. In the beginning, Emilia strives to be comfortable, specifically choosing that quality in her dresses, she also rejects the clothes Wrath offers her because of this. As her determination grows, she turns towards more elaborate and darker outfits.
Wrath is an interesting character. All her life, Emilia's been warned away from the Prince of Hell, but he's never dangerous towards her but, even when she attacks him, he's civil (if a bit sarcastic). The more we get to know him, the more his aloofness hides away a deeper, more complex personality. His growing closeness to Emilia inevitably brings this out as they play off each other. Meanwhile the enemies to friends dynamic they have going on is so deliciously complicated and good.
When it comes to relationships with secondary characters "Kingdom of the Wicked", isn't at the top of its game. Emilia's relationship with her family is very important in the beginning of the book, but the more the book progresses, the more it drops off the radar for no obvious reason. I found that to be disappointing given how much its emphasized early on.
Maniscalco's use of the 1st person POV gives the audience a one sided view of the story. However it also allows her to really centre the plot around Emilia's grief, which works really well. I found the plot to have a good pace, it starts out slow and picks up the pace the closer it gets to the climax, and kept me engaged throughout.
The writing in general is really good. It's full of metaphors and descriptions, but it only adds to the magic of the story as they're not so abundant that they bog down the text. For example, Emilia's family has a restaurant and the cooking features heavily in the first few chapters, helping to build the scene.
I did find the worldbuilding a bit lacking in some respects. The Princes of Hell, and their kingdom is described in detail, with customs and history adding to the world. However, there's very little information on the witching families or how magic works, beyond the interactions between the witches and the demons. I liked what Maniscalco has given us and I wish there had been more, especially given the fact that Emilia is a witch rather than a demon.
All in all, I really enjoyed "Kingdom of the Wicked" by Kerri Maniscalco. It's a fascinating story that I will definitely be continuing in the sequel!
"Talon the Black" by Melissa Mitchell thrusts Claire into a fantasy world where wild dragons threaten a 50 000 year old peace.
The cover immediately drew me in and, after reading the blurb, I had to get my hands on it. Mitchell constructs a detailed world with a very long history, where the Drengr, half dragons-half humans, rule Dragonwall and protect its human citizens, while living along side goblins, dwarves, and Sprites. Mitchell's world is bigger than life and that really comes across through Claire who looks at it all in amazement. It's also worth noting that Mitchell doesn’t hesitate to delve into the nitty gritty of keeping a castle running; unlike most novels, Mitchell doesn't shy away from topics like chamber pots and menstruation.
Melissa Mitchell also pays close attention to her plot. "Talon the Black" has two distinct parts that symbolise Claire's transition into her role at Dragonwall. The first part is largely character exposition, with the audience getting to know Claire, Cyrus, and Dragonwall, before Claire is thrust into court politics that threaten her life. On the whole, it was a good plot, I found myself enjoying it more as all the elements came together towards the end of the book.
However the pacing wasn't ideal and the constant jumps between POVs and locations were hard to keep up with. While they added to a general understanding of the story or the circumstances that led to the book's events, they distracted from the plot, even dragging it down at points.
Michell's writing also didn't help. It's very wordy, especially when it comes to characters from Dragonwall. The way they speak is meant to recall older times, but it ends up being tedious to read through, if incomprehensible at times, Since certain Dragonwall characters have their own POV, it makes getting through whole chapters a challenge, to the point where I would skip paragraphs at times without missing anything major. As the book goes on, this became less noticeable, put I didn't appreciate having to push through half of it before that point (I even considered putting it down more than once).
Another problem I had with a book was the heteronormativity of it all. In a world with shapeshifting dragons, relying on the human male-female binary bugged me, especially given the disadvantageous position women are placed in. Claire's choices are frequently ignored or overruled, as are other women's in the novel, and having one side character raise the issue doesn't make up for the tone set by the other instances. On top of that, the Drengr are always men and their riders always women through some predetermined mating bond, and the women are bound to giving the Drengr one heir, one side character even goes so far as to classify the riders as broodmares upon learning this. To top it all off, the process of finding a mate includes the women in the kingdom lining up to touch dragons and form a bond when they're 15 because that's around the time they become "women" aka get their periods. Because the drengr are slow to age, this can give age gaps such as 32-15 which was unpleasant to read about to say the least.
Honestly, Melissa Mitchell's action packed plot and interesting worldbuilding didn’t make up for the "Talon the Black's" pitfalls and, as such, I won't be continuing with the series.
The cover immediately drew me in and, after reading the blurb, I had to get my hands on it. Mitchell constructs a detailed world with a very long history, where the Drengr, half dragons-half humans, rule Dragonwall and protect its human citizens, while living along side goblins, dwarves, and Sprites. Mitchell's world is bigger than life and that really comes across through Claire who looks at it all in amazement. It's also worth noting that Mitchell doesn’t hesitate to delve into the nitty gritty of keeping a castle running; unlike most novels, Mitchell doesn't shy away from topics like chamber pots and menstruation.
Melissa Mitchell also pays close attention to her plot. "Talon the Black" has two distinct parts that symbolise Claire's transition into her role at Dragonwall. The first part is largely character exposition, with the audience getting to know Claire, Cyrus, and Dragonwall, before Claire is thrust into court politics that threaten her life. On the whole, it was a good plot, I found myself enjoying it more as all the elements came together towards the end of the book.
However the pacing wasn't ideal and the constant jumps between POVs and locations were hard to keep up with. While they added to a general understanding of the story or the circumstances that led to the book's events, they distracted from the plot, even dragging it down at points.
Michell's writing also didn't help. It's very wordy, especially when it comes to characters from Dragonwall. The way they speak is meant to recall older times, but it ends up being tedious to read through, if incomprehensible at times, Since certain Dragonwall characters have their own POV, it makes getting through whole chapters a challenge, to the point where I would skip paragraphs at times without missing anything major. As the book goes on, this became less noticeable, put I didn't appreciate having to push through half of it before that point (I even considered putting it down more than once).
Another problem I had with a book was the heteronormativity of it all. In a world with shapeshifting dragons, relying on the human male-female binary bugged me, especially given the disadvantageous position women are placed in. Claire's choices are frequently ignored or overruled, as are other women's in the novel, and having one side character raise the issue doesn't make up for the tone set by the other instances. On top of that, the Drengr are always men and their riders always women through some predetermined mating bond, and the women are bound to giving the Drengr one heir, one side character even goes so far as to classify the riders as broodmares upon learning this. To top it all off, the process of finding a mate includes the women in the kingdom lining up to touch dragons and form a bond when they're 15 because that's around the time they become "women" aka get their periods. Because the drengr are slow to age, this can give age gaps such as 32-15 which was unpleasant to read about to say the least.
Honestly, Melissa Mitchell's action packed plot and interesting worldbuilding didn’t make up for the "Talon the Black's" pitfalls and, as such, I won't be continuing with the series.
"Fallen Queen" by Y. R. Shin follows Reuyen who is the reincarnated treacherous queen of Rarke as she helps finish a two hundred year old conflict.
My overall impression is that it's a very average book with one glaring problem: It doesn't have a clear, overarching plot. The book starts out with Reuyen on a desperate search to find her last remaining brother who's joined the army to avenge their older brother after his death. However, once she finds her brother and enlists in the army, all she does is follow orders until they deliver her to the next big plot point, making the novel unappealing.
The book left only a small impression on me, and no appeal to continue the series.
My overall impression is that it's a very average book with one glaring problem: It doesn't have a clear, overarching plot. The book starts out with Reuyen on a desperate search to find her last remaining brother who's joined the army to avenge their older brother after his death. However, once she finds her brother and enlists in the army, all she does is follow orders until they deliver her to the next big plot point, making the novel unappealing.
The book left only a small impression on me, and no appeal to continue the series.
This review can also be found on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/the-tower-of-nero-review-by-rick-riordan/
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
The book begins like many of Riordan’s others with Apollo and Meg being ambushed while travelling. Once captured, the pair gain a new ally in Luguselwa who betrays her team and escorts them to the safety.
This is where Apollo’s emotional maturity, and character development truly comes to light. Where in the first book, he turned up on Sally Jackson’s doorstep without a second thought, he’s reluctant to bring trouble to their door after all that’s happened. This reflection on his own actions and how they’ve affected the people around him is constant through the book. He’s more cautious, respectful, and cares deeply for his friends and children. The closer the book moves to the climax, the more Apollo looks back on his life and sees it in a new perspective, vowing to be better as a god this time around.
His friendship with Meg changes as well. Over the course of the six months they’ve been together, their relationship has deepened past her ordering him around and sarcastic bickering between the two, to a deep bond.
Meg has also changed over the series, she’s matured far more than any 12 year-old ever should in that amount of time. While she’s still fun, and more prone to fight rather than ask questions, there’s an underlying sadness in her the closer she gets to confronting Nero. Her friendship with Luguselwa also delves into how she grew up, but it’s her current friendships that allowed her to open up and accept help without suspicion.
In this last book, Riordan brings his readers back to familiar territory as Apollo and Meg travel to Camp Half Blood to team up with old friends. When Will, Nico, and Rachel complete the team, the audience gets to see how they’ve grown over the years. Will and Nico have fallen into a comfortable relationship dynamic, with Nico being more confident, outspoken and far more comfortable with himself than we’ve ever seen him. Will keeps being the ray of sunshine (quite literally in certain situations) of the group, whereas Rachel is just as Dare-ing as she was back in the first PJO series.
In terms of plot, The Tower of Nero is just as fast paced as any of Riordan’s books. Once at Camp Half Blood, our heroes only have 48 hours to take Nero down before he acts on his ultimatum, so everything happens fast. However, I never find the action overwhelming, as there are plenty of comedic or dialogue scenes to balance it out.
Going into "The Tower of Nero", I found it very interesting that Riordan chose to take Nero and Python down in a single book, as opposed to dedicating one book to each. But I think that was a good idea as each villain compliments the other.
Riordan’s writing has been adapted to this last book. As always, it’s full of funny quirks and puns, with each chapter title containing a comedic haiku that gives some insight into the story. As the story progresses, the tone of the writing shifts to reflect Apollo’s own introspection and all he’s learned in the past six months as a human. Riordan also forgoes the romance, choosing instead to emphasize how important friendships can be for a person. Both Apollo and Meg emerge as different people from having been friends; Apollo is a better person while Meg is able to begin the healing process after escaping from her abusive home.
Domestic abuse is at the core of the series and The Tower of Nero delves into the psychological effects that can have. While the book is told through Apollo’s POV, his insight allows the audience to understand what Meg is going through as she prepares to confront her abuser and how that might affect her. He also reflects on the dynamics of his own family, how they compare and contrast with Nero’s household. Considering the plot, Riordan treats these heavy subjects in a respectful manner that also makes them accessible to a younger audience.
Overall, I enjoyed "The Tower of Nero" very much. The nostalgic elements combined with the action and character development make for an excellent conclusion to the series. I look forward to whatever Rick Riordan has planned next, as there are hints of a new story in the making.
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
The book begins like many of Riordan’s others with Apollo and Meg being ambushed while travelling. Once captured, the pair gain a new ally in Luguselwa who betrays her team and escorts them to the safety.
This is where Apollo’s emotional maturity, and character development truly comes to light. Where in the first book, he turned up on Sally Jackson’s doorstep without a second thought, he’s reluctant to bring trouble to their door after all that’s happened. This reflection on his own actions and how they’ve affected the people around him is constant through the book. He’s more cautious, respectful, and cares deeply for his friends and children. The closer the book moves to the climax, the more Apollo looks back on his life and sees it in a new perspective, vowing to be better as a god this time around.
His friendship with Meg changes as well. Over the course of the six months they’ve been together, their relationship has deepened past her ordering him around and sarcastic bickering between the two, to a deep bond.
Meg has also changed over the series, she’s matured far more than any 12 year-old ever should in that amount of time. While she’s still fun, and more prone to fight rather than ask questions, there’s an underlying sadness in her the closer she gets to confronting Nero. Her friendship with Luguselwa also delves into how she grew up, but it’s her current friendships that allowed her to open up and accept help without suspicion.
In this last book, Riordan brings his readers back to familiar territory as Apollo and Meg travel to Camp Half Blood to team up with old friends. When Will, Nico, and Rachel complete the team, the audience gets to see how they’ve grown over the years. Will and Nico have fallen into a comfortable relationship dynamic, with Nico being more confident, outspoken and far more comfortable with himself than we’ve ever seen him. Will keeps being the ray of sunshine (quite literally in certain situations) of the group, whereas Rachel is just as Dare-ing as she was back in the first PJO series.
In terms of plot, The Tower of Nero is just as fast paced as any of Riordan’s books. Once at Camp Half Blood, our heroes only have 48 hours to take Nero down before he acts on his ultimatum, so everything happens fast. However, I never find the action overwhelming, as there are plenty of comedic or dialogue scenes to balance it out.
Going into "The Tower of Nero", I found it very interesting that Riordan chose to take Nero and Python down in a single book, as opposed to dedicating one book to each. But I think that was a good idea as each villain compliments the other.
Riordan’s writing has been adapted to this last book. As always, it’s full of funny quirks and puns, with each chapter title containing a comedic haiku that gives some insight into the story. As the story progresses, the tone of the writing shifts to reflect Apollo’s own introspection and all he’s learned in the past six months as a human. Riordan also forgoes the romance, choosing instead to emphasize how important friendships can be for a person. Both Apollo and Meg emerge as different people from having been friends; Apollo is a better person while Meg is able to begin the healing process after escaping from her abusive home.
Domestic abuse is at the core of the series and The Tower of Nero delves into the psychological effects that can have. While the book is told through Apollo’s POV, his insight allows the audience to understand what Meg is going through as she prepares to confront her abuser and how that might affect her. He also reflects on the dynamics of his own family, how they compare and contrast with Nero’s household. Considering the plot, Riordan treats these heavy subjects in a respectful manner that also makes them accessible to a younger audience.
Overall, I enjoyed "The Tower of Nero" very much. The nostalgic elements combined with the action and character development make for an excellent conclusion to the series. I look forward to whatever Rick Riordan has planned next, as there are hints of a new story in the making.
This review can also be found on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/incendiary-review-zoraida-cordova/
Actual rating 3.5/5
"Incendiary" by Zoraida Córdova starts out messy but moves past that to deliver a gripping story with echoes of Latin America’s own past.
I have mixed feelings about this book because I’m not a fan of the events that kick-start the plot, specifically the romance. In the first chapter Renata emphatically states she can’t act on her feelings for Dez, her commander, because of how this would impact the unit’s dynamics. However, a few chapters later she is sneaking off into the woods with him, where they all but proclaim their love for each other. In the time that passed there was no obvious development in her feelings, or an event to cement her decision. Their relationship felt rushed and her motivation slightly overblown.
Once the plot does kick off, Incendiary becomes much better. The writing becomes much more focused on the plot, with fewer info-dumpy passages and a good pace. While Renata’s stay at the palace isn’t the most action-packed part of the novel, her alertness and the constant underlying tension make it far from boring.
It also allows Córdova to develop Renata’s character alongside the secondary characters who appear throughout. Of those, Leo and Lady Nuria were my favourite because their loyalty was a question that kept me on my toes. However, I wish Córdova had developed the characters of Renata’s unit a bit more as they felt flat in comparison.
I also want to touch on Castian’s character because he surprised me the most. The prologue sets him up as a formidable villain but most of what we know about him, once Renata is in the palace, comes from local rumours and the rebels’ impressions of him. It’s impressive how present he is in the story all while he physically remains in the shadows.
Finally, I want to talk about the world. It’s incredibly rich and relies on an attention to detail. Beyond the fascinating magic system, there’s a lot of history and politics thrown in, which can become confusing at times. The information wasn’t overwhelming — Córdova creates links between events, places, and political events and/or figures — but it was a lot to remember.
Córdova’s skill with her characters were my favourite feature and I can’t wait to be reunited with them in the sequel to Incendiary!
Actual rating 3.5/5
"Incendiary" by Zoraida Córdova starts out messy but moves past that to deliver a gripping story with echoes of Latin America’s own past.
I have mixed feelings about this book because I’m not a fan of the events that kick-start the plot, specifically the romance. In the first chapter Renata emphatically states she can’t act on her feelings for Dez, her commander, because of how this would impact the unit’s dynamics. However, a few chapters later she is sneaking off into the woods with him, where they all but proclaim their love for each other. In the time that passed there was no obvious development in her feelings, or an event to cement her decision. Their relationship felt rushed and her motivation slightly overblown.
Once the plot does kick off, Incendiary becomes much better. The writing becomes much more focused on the plot, with fewer info-dumpy passages and a good pace. While Renata’s stay at the palace isn’t the most action-packed part of the novel, her alertness and the constant underlying tension make it far from boring.
It also allows Córdova to develop Renata’s character alongside the secondary characters who appear throughout. Of those, Leo and Lady Nuria were my favourite because their loyalty was a question that kept me on my toes. However, I wish Córdova had developed the characters of Renata’s unit a bit more as they felt flat in comparison.
I also want to touch on Castian’s character because he surprised me the most. The prologue sets him up as a formidable villain but most of what we know about him, once Renata is in the palace, comes from local rumours and the rebels’ impressions of him. It’s impressive how present he is in the story all while he physically remains in the shadows.
Finally, I want to talk about the world. It’s incredibly rich and relies on an attention to detail. Beyond the fascinating magic system, there’s a lot of history and politics thrown in, which can become confusing at times. The information wasn’t overwhelming — Córdova creates links between events, places, and political events and/or figures — but it was a lot to remember.
Córdova’s skill with her characters were my favourite feature and I can’t wait to be reunited with them in the sequel to Incendiary!
This review can also be found on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/a-song-of-wraiths-and-ruin-review-roseanne-brown/
"A Song of Wraiths and Ruin" started out strong and maintained that momentum throughout. The plot is intricate, with new aspects being added constantly and a fast pace to match. Roseanne A. Brown’s writing kept me engaged the entire time and the final reveal blew me away. I can’t wait to see where this villain goes.
The only issue I had was that it became hard to keep up with all the subplots, mythology and history as the climax approached. The sequence of events leading up to it suddenly added a lot of new elements that were hard to fit into the story so close to the end.
"A Song of Wraiths and Ruin" by Roseanne A. Brown is set in a world where magic has been forgotten, however the world itself is steeped in mythology and tradition. The world-building is fantastic. Brown opens up the book with a griot beckoning the people to hear a story. Then, she introduces further West African elements before blending those with North African history and mythology. The Kennouan empire is clearly inspired by the Egyptian pharaohs while being far darker than how it’s usually seen within YA fantasy. The magical aspect of it all was confusing but it’s also new to the characters, so I’m confident it’ll be explained in the sequel.
Roseanne A. Brown also excels in her characters. Each one, even amongst the secondary characters, is well rounded with strengths and flaws that are slowly revealed throughout, even up to the end. This adds a richness to the story and made me all the more invested in the book.
Malik’s character was a breath of fresh air. He is smart and resourceful but he is also very anxious and vulnerable. Particularly, his panic attacks do get in the way of the story and need to be addressed, rather than being something he can brush off for the sake of plot.
Despite the façade Karina projects in Malik’s POV chapters, she too is a vulnerable and scared young woman who is just trying to figure out how to move forward. Her character arc is remarkable as she comes to realise that her reality cannot change, with the culmination being cathartic for both her and the audience.
"A Song of Wraiths and Ruin" by Roseanne A. Brown is a strong debut that offers a whole new world to explore in a genre typically dominated by European mythologies. The story and characters pulled me in and I look forward to the sequel, hoping it’ll be a little smoother.
"A Song of Wraiths and Ruin" started out strong and maintained that momentum throughout. The plot is intricate, with new aspects being added constantly and a fast pace to match. Roseanne A. Brown’s writing kept me engaged the entire time and the final reveal blew me away. I can’t wait to see where this villain goes.
The only issue I had was that it became hard to keep up with all the subplots, mythology and history as the climax approached. The sequence of events leading up to it suddenly added a lot of new elements that were hard to fit into the story so close to the end.
"A Song of Wraiths and Ruin" by Roseanne A. Brown is set in a world where magic has been forgotten, however the world itself is steeped in mythology and tradition. The world-building is fantastic. Brown opens up the book with a griot beckoning the people to hear a story. Then, she introduces further West African elements before blending those with North African history and mythology. The Kennouan empire is clearly inspired by the Egyptian pharaohs while being far darker than how it’s usually seen within YA fantasy. The magical aspect of it all was confusing but it’s also new to the characters, so I’m confident it’ll be explained in the sequel.
Roseanne A. Brown also excels in her characters. Each one, even amongst the secondary characters, is well rounded with strengths and flaws that are slowly revealed throughout, even up to the end. This adds a richness to the story and made me all the more invested in the book.
Malik’s character was a breath of fresh air. He is smart and resourceful but he is also very anxious and vulnerable. Particularly, his panic attacks do get in the way of the story and need to be addressed, rather than being something he can brush off for the sake of plot.
Despite the façade Karina projects in Malik’s POV chapters, she too is a vulnerable and scared young woman who is just trying to figure out how to move forward. Her character arc is remarkable as she comes to realise that her reality cannot change, with the culmination being cathartic for both her and the audience.
"A Song of Wraiths and Ruin" by Roseanne A. Brown is a strong debut that offers a whole new world to explore in a genre typically dominated by European mythologies. The story and characters pulled me in and I look forward to the sequel, hoping it’ll be a little smoother.
This review can also be found on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/the-crow-rider-review-kalyn-josephson/
"The Crow Rider" by Kalyn Josephson picks up where the first one left off, with the gang fleeing on the boat while they plan their next move.
Unlike the first book, the pace of "The Crow Rider" was lacking. The first half of the novel was slow because it’s part montage of the places they visit to show off the Crow, part training montage, and part political alliances. However, the second half is much more action packed, with a good balance of fight scenes and non-action that made it a breeze to read.
In "The Crow Rider", Josephson shifts her focus away from Thia in order to develop the other characters. Through her perspective, the audience comes to understand them which imparts a richness into the story. Ericen stood out as he was unpredictable but incredibly entertaining, especially in his interactions with Kiva.
As for the plot, it was good but didn’t hold any surprises. It’s a plot I’ve read many times in fantasy novels, particularly in YA. I didn’t find it lacked in anything, however the last minute new magic curve-ball could have been explained better or mentioned earlier in the series.
Another well done aspect of the book was the romance. None of the relationships were forced or rushed, and I was surprised by the inclusion of an amicable break-up. Break-ups aren’t something that are seen often in YA, much less one where the participants saw the relationship wasn’t working and agreed they were better off as close friends.
However, this book’s biggest flaw is that it was, unfortunately, forgettable. I felt hyped while reading, especially the closer I got to the end — but little of it stayed with me in the days and weeks that followed.
All in all, I enjoyed "The Crow Rider" by Kalyn Josephson while I was reading it. It was a good conclusion to the series, I just wish it had been more memorable.
"The Crow Rider" by Kalyn Josephson picks up where the first one left off, with the gang fleeing on the boat while they plan their next move.
Unlike the first book, the pace of "The Crow Rider" was lacking. The first half of the novel was slow because it’s part montage of the places they visit to show off the Crow, part training montage, and part political alliances. However, the second half is much more action packed, with a good balance of fight scenes and non-action that made it a breeze to read.
In "The Crow Rider", Josephson shifts her focus away from Thia in order to develop the other characters. Through her perspective, the audience comes to understand them which imparts a richness into the story. Ericen stood out as he was unpredictable but incredibly entertaining, especially in his interactions with Kiva.
As for the plot, it was good but didn’t hold any surprises. It’s a plot I’ve read many times in fantasy novels, particularly in YA. I didn’t find it lacked in anything, however the last minute new magic curve-ball could have been explained better or mentioned earlier in the series.
Another well done aspect of the book was the romance. None of the relationships were forced or rushed, and I was surprised by the inclusion of an amicable break-up. Break-ups aren’t something that are seen often in YA, much less one where the participants saw the relationship wasn’t working and agreed they were better off as close friends.
However, this book’s biggest flaw is that it was, unfortunately, forgettable. I felt hyped while reading, especially the closer I got to the end — but little of it stayed with me in the days and weeks that followed.
All in all, I enjoyed "The Crow Rider" by Kalyn Josephson while I was reading it. It was a good conclusion to the series, I just wish it had been more memorable.