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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this audiobook from Macmillan Audio. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Raybearer
Author: Jordan Ifuenko
Book Series: Raybearer Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: lesbian side character, asexual and bisexual character, African inspired
Recommended For...: fantasy, epic fantasy, LGBT+
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (sex mention, violence, abuse, sexism, suicide, racism likeness, gore, sexual content)
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Nothing is more important than loyalty.
But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?
Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?
Review: I really loved this book! The magic system was unique and so well written and described. The author did well with the characters and the world building. The book was rich with descriptions and I could listen to this audiobook on repeat without getting tired of it. They did well to find a narrator who accurately portrayed what I thought the MC sounded like. I also loved the commentary on the criminal justice system and how corrupt and unfair it can become and is in some countries.
The only part I didn't like is that I thought the relationship with two characters, one a demon kinda, was a bit weird with what I think the age difference is (maybe it's not a bad age difference. It's hard to flip back through an audiobook. I do know he's a child when he became part of counsel but idk how long ago that was). The audiobook also had a glitch on Chapter 23 so I won't know what's in that chapter until I get another version of the book.
Verdict: An excellent book! I loved it!
Book: Raybearer
Author: Jordan Ifuenko
Book Series: Raybearer Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: lesbian side character, asexual and bisexual character, African inspired
Recommended For...: fantasy, epic fantasy, LGBT+
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (sex mention, violence, abuse, sexism, suicide, racism likeness, gore, sexual content)
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Nothing is more important than loyalty.
But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?
Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?
Review: I really loved this book! The magic system was unique and so well written and described. The author did well with the characters and the world building. The book was rich with descriptions and I could listen to this audiobook on repeat without getting tired of it. They did well to find a narrator who accurately portrayed what I thought the MC sounded like. I also loved the commentary on the criminal justice system and how corrupt and unfair it can become and is in some countries.
The only part I didn't like is that I thought the relationship with two characters, one a demon kinda, was a bit weird with what I think the age difference is (maybe it's not a bad age difference. It's hard to flip back through an audiobook. I do know he's a child when he became part of counsel but idk how long ago that was). The audiobook also had a glitch on Chapter 23 so I won't know what's in that chapter until I get another version of the book.
Verdict: An excellent book! I loved it!
Disclaimer: My husband bought this book for me. Thank you @summonsays! Support your authors!
Book: The Rise of Kyoshi
Author: F.C. Yee
Book Series: The Kyoshi Novels Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Asian and Sapphic romance!
Recommended For...: ATLA fans, Asian fantasy, fantasy, superhero books
Publication Date: July 16, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (slavery, cat calling, gory, starvation, violence, death, romance, sexual content, abandonment, found family, torture, sassy Kyoshi)
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 442
Synopsis: F. C. Yee’s The Rise of Kyoshi delves into the story of Kyoshi, the Earth Kingdom–born Avatar. The longest-living Avatar in this beloved world’s history, Kyoshi established the brave and respected Kyoshi Warriors, but also founded the secretive Dai Li, which led to the corruption, decline, and fall of her own nation. The first of two novels based on Kyoshi, The Rise of Kyoshi maps her journey from a girl of humble origins to the merciless pursuer of justice who is still feared and admired centuries after she became the Avatar.
Review: Overall I really enjoyed this book. It has the raw emotions and feel of Avatar that I love and Kyoshi is such a complex character. I loved her development and the romance. I loved the action scenes and the plot line too.
The only issue I had was that the book sometimes did more telling than showing and the book sometimes was confusing in bits. I had to reread some of it but it was a great book overall.
Verdict: Highly recommend Avatar fans!
Book: The Rise of Kyoshi
Author: F.C. Yee
Book Series: The Kyoshi Novels Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Asian and Sapphic romance!
Recommended For...: ATLA fans, Asian fantasy, fantasy, superhero books
Publication Date: July 16, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (slavery, cat calling, gory, starvation, violence, death, romance, sexual content, abandonment, found family, torture, sassy Kyoshi)
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 442
Synopsis: F. C. Yee’s The Rise of Kyoshi delves into the story of Kyoshi, the Earth Kingdom–born Avatar. The longest-living Avatar in this beloved world’s history, Kyoshi established the brave and respected Kyoshi Warriors, but also founded the secretive Dai Li, which led to the corruption, decline, and fall of her own nation. The first of two novels based on Kyoshi, The Rise of Kyoshi maps her journey from a girl of humble origins to the merciless pursuer of justice who is still feared and admired centuries after she became the Avatar.
Review: Overall I really enjoyed this book. It has the raw emotions and feel of Avatar that I love and Kyoshi is such a complex character. I loved her development and the romance. I loved the action scenes and the plot line too.
The only issue I had was that the book sometimes did more telling than showing and the book sometimes was confusing in bits. I had to reread some of it but it was a great book overall.
Verdict: Highly recommend Avatar fans!
Disclaimer: I won this arc in a giveaway auction. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: All the Ways the World Can End
Author: Abby Sher
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT side characters, bi-curious main character, jewish family)
Recommended For...: contemporary, death, cancer, and scared
Publication Date: July 11, 2017
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (depression, drugs, cancer character, CTSD, self harm, alcohol, inappropriate relationship, death processing and grief)
Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Lenny (short for Eleanor) feels like the world is about to end. Her best friend is moving to New York City to attend Julliard and her dad has terminal cancer. To cope with her stress Lenny is making a list of all the ways the world can end—designer pathogens, blood moon prophecies, alien invasion—and stockpiling supplies in a bunker in the backyard. Then she starts to develop feelings for her dad's very nice young doctor—and she thinks he may have feelings for her too. Spoiler alert: he doesn't. But a more age-appropriate love interest might. In a time of complete uncertainty, one thing's for sure: Lenny's about to see how everything is ending and beginning. All at the same time.
Review: This was such an emotional rollercoaster. I thought the book did well with the characters and the plot. The book was well written and so emotional. It's a great one if you need to cry.
However, I did think that the book didn't have a lot of world building and I think it could have been better to tie up some of the loose ends like with Julian and the self harm issue.
Verdict: So so so so good!
Book: All the Ways the World Can End
Author: Abby Sher
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT side characters, bi-curious main character, jewish family)
Recommended For...: contemporary, death, cancer, and scared
Publication Date: July 11, 2017
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (depression, drugs, cancer character, CTSD, self harm, alcohol, inappropriate relationship, death processing and grief)
Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Lenny (short for Eleanor) feels like the world is about to end. Her best friend is moving to New York City to attend Julliard and her dad has terminal cancer. To cope with her stress Lenny is making a list of all the ways the world can end—designer pathogens, blood moon prophecies, alien invasion—and stockpiling supplies in a bunker in the backyard. Then she starts to develop feelings for her dad's very nice young doctor—and she thinks he may have feelings for her too. Spoiler alert: he doesn't. But a more age-appropriate love interest might. In a time of complete uncertainty, one thing's for sure: Lenny's about to see how everything is ending and beginning. All at the same time.
Review: This was such an emotional rollercoaster. I thought the book did well with the characters and the plot. The book was well written and so emotional. It's a great one if you need to cry.
However, I did think that the book didn't have a lot of world building and I think it could have been better to tie up some of the loose ends like with Julian and the self harm issue.
Verdict: So so so so good!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Hybrids Volume 2: Vengeance
Author: Jennie Dorny
Book Series: Hybrids Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: April 4, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 426
Synopsis: Set in a future where human values are more important than technology, Hybrids weaves a science-fiction world with a story of love, friendship and tolerance.
Hybrids is divided into four parts: Trouble, Vengeance, Fear and Hope.
Summary of Volume 1: Trouble
After fleeing Gambling Nova, her home planet, Theo Maddiogga finds refuge on Eridan. She becomes a Savalwoman and befriends Ashta, another Savalwoman who falls in love with her; Washone, the spiritual leader; and Declan, the Master Face Changer.
Disturbance in the form of erratic tides and nauseous seaweed reveal political tensions within Mocean, the living ocean covering the planet. Nand, the young woman who understands whales, vainly raises the alarm. As she is about to leave Eridan, Theo engages in a mental battle with Keith of Rain Forest, who is determined to become the new spiritual leader.
Summoned by Washone, SpaceSS agent Jack Finch travels to Eridan to fetch Theo and take her to Earth Metropolis. In his absence, his husband Farren Megan is sent undercover on a secret mission to Gambling Nova by Spylady Donatella Simpson.
Vengeance , Volume 2 of Hybrids
Caught in a web of murder and vengeance, Theo must outsmart the Spylady to save her new friends.
Imprisoned in a male appearance, can Nand survive deportation without losing herself?
Forced to leave Eridan after her mental battle with Keith of Rain Forest, Theo travels to Earth Metropolis with SpaceSS agent Jack Finch. When Jack is arrested for murdering his husband, Farren, Theo's plans for a new future collapse.
To impress Declan, Nand face-changes into her cousin's appearance on the day of the Face Changer Assembly. But her moment of triumph turns into a nightmare when Keith launches an attack against the Face Changers.
Deported to Gambling Nova, the federal prison, with Ashta and a few Face Changers, will Declan be strong enough to overcome his guilt in order to help Nand keep her male appearance and safeguard Eridan's future?
Convinced that Farren is still alive, Theo must outsmart the Spylady if she wants to get Jack released from the penitentiary and find Farren's whereabouts. Yet when Sheer, the Savalwomen leader, orders her to rescue the Face Changers, Theo faces a new challenge: is she ready to return to Gambling Nova? And risk her life?
Review: I had to DNF at 30%. It's not that it's a bad book, it's pretty good, but I'm not connecting with the story at the moment and I don't want to push my reading. I'll come back to this book in the future because from what I could see, the story and plotline were great.
Verdict: It’s good but not for me at the moment.
Book: Hybrids Volume 2: Vengeance
Author: Jennie Dorny
Book Series: Hybrids Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: April 4, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 426
Synopsis: Set in a future where human values are more important than technology, Hybrids weaves a science-fiction world with a story of love, friendship and tolerance.
Hybrids is divided into four parts: Trouble, Vengeance, Fear and Hope.
Summary of Volume 1: Trouble
After fleeing Gambling Nova, her home planet, Theo Maddiogga finds refuge on Eridan. She becomes a Savalwoman and befriends Ashta, another Savalwoman who falls in love with her; Washone, the spiritual leader; and Declan, the Master Face Changer.
Disturbance in the form of erratic tides and nauseous seaweed reveal political tensions within Mocean, the living ocean covering the planet. Nand, the young woman who understands whales, vainly raises the alarm. As she is about to leave Eridan, Theo engages in a mental battle with Keith of Rain Forest, who is determined to become the new spiritual leader.
Summoned by Washone, SpaceSS agent Jack Finch travels to Eridan to fetch Theo and take her to Earth Metropolis. In his absence, his husband Farren Megan is sent undercover on a secret mission to Gambling Nova by Spylady Donatella Simpson.
Vengeance , Volume 2 of Hybrids
Caught in a web of murder and vengeance, Theo must outsmart the Spylady to save her new friends.
Imprisoned in a male appearance, can Nand survive deportation without losing herself?
Forced to leave Eridan after her mental battle with Keith of Rain Forest, Theo travels to Earth Metropolis with SpaceSS agent Jack Finch. When Jack is arrested for murdering his husband, Farren, Theo's plans for a new future collapse.
To impress Declan, Nand face-changes into her cousin's appearance on the day of the Face Changer Assembly. But her moment of triumph turns into a nightmare when Keith launches an attack against the Face Changers.
Deported to Gambling Nova, the federal prison, with Ashta and a few Face Changers, will Declan be strong enough to overcome his guilt in order to help Nand keep her male appearance and safeguard Eridan's future?
Convinced that Farren is still alive, Theo must outsmart the Spylady if she wants to get Jack released from the penitentiary and find Farren's whereabouts. Yet when Sheer, the Savalwomen leader, orders her to rescue the Face Changers, Theo faces a new challenge: is she ready to return to Gambling Nova? And risk her life?
Review: I had to DNF at 30%. It's not that it's a bad book, it's pretty good, but I'm not connecting with the story at the moment and I don't want to push my reading. I'll come back to this book in the future because from what I could see, the story and plotline were great.
Verdict: It’s good but not for me at the moment.
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Beauty of the Moment
Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: February 26, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 354
Synopsis: Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since.
Susan’s parents are on the verge of divorce. Malcolm’s dad is a known adulterer.
Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her.
Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.
Review: Had to DNF at 23%. The story is great and so fun, but the trope-y plot is not interesting to me and I don't really like bad boy/good girl stories.
Verdict: It was good, but trope-y
Book: The Beauty of the Moment
Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: February 26, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 354
Synopsis: Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since.
Susan’s parents are on the verge of divorce. Malcolm’s dad is a known adulterer.
Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her.
Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.
Review: Had to DNF at 23%. The story is great and so fun, but the trope-y plot is not interesting to me and I don't really like bad boy/good girl stories.
Verdict: It was good, but trope-y
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the publisher and for Blackthorn Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Lake City Way Ninja Girl
Author: Cait Moore
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers
Publication Date: March 9, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, slight mature situations)
Publisher: Floricanto Press
Pages: 270
Synopsis: Driven mad by poverty, the death of her father, and the ruthless streets of North Seattle’s Lake City, twelve-year-old Gabriela Urieta puts on her ski-mask at night and becomes Ninja Girl. In her own mind, she’s a superhero—the only hope for cleaning up her neighborhood. In reality, she’s a sixth-grader who drugs her little brother to sleep so she can sneak out at night and rob criminals.Using money taken from her victims, Gaby hires a transient as her sidekick, naming him “Wallman.” Together they get lost in her comic-book fantasy. But before long, Ninja Girl and her family find themselves in all sorts of danger.She’s small, she’s angry, she’s trained in mixed martial arts—and she’s only twelve.
Review: I thought the book did well to touch on really dark topics and it was a great action book. Like seriously, if you're looking for action then this is your book. The book also had a well done storyline.
However, the characters weren't well developed and the plot was a bit weird. It was just confusing and I didn't understand the characters motives.
Verdict: It was good, just a bit weird.
Book: Lake City Way Ninja Girl
Author: Cait Moore
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers
Publication Date: March 9, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, slight mature situations)
Publisher: Floricanto Press
Pages: 270
Synopsis: Driven mad by poverty, the death of her father, and the ruthless streets of North Seattle’s Lake City, twelve-year-old Gabriela Urieta puts on her ski-mask at night and becomes Ninja Girl. In her own mind, she’s a superhero—the only hope for cleaning up her neighborhood. In reality, she’s a sixth-grader who drugs her little brother to sleep so she can sneak out at night and rob criminals.Using money taken from her victims, Gaby hires a transient as her sidekick, naming him “Wallman.” Together they get lost in her comic-book fantasy. But before long, Ninja Girl and her family find themselves in all sorts of danger.She’s small, she’s angry, she’s trained in mixed martial arts—and she’s only twelve.
Review: I thought the book did well to touch on really dark topics and it was a great action book. Like seriously, if you're looking for action then this is your book. The book also had a well done storyline.
However, the characters weren't well developed and the plot was a bit weird. It was just confusing and I didn't understand the characters motives.
Verdict: It was good, just a bit weird.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Firefrost
Author: Camille Longley
Book Series: Flameskin Chronicles Book 0
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: September 21, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Pages: 372
Synopsis: She’s a huntress:
Sol d’Hillerod is sent on a desperate mission through a treacherous winter pass. She carries with her the only hope of her village’s survival, and she will do whatever she must to keep her world from burning.
He’s a monster:
Lieutenant Kelan Birke has spent his whole life fighting for his freedom and his soul. As his control slips, and the war rages on, he knows it won’t be long before he loses himself entirely to the fire that flows through his veins.
Sol and Kelan are enemies in an age-old war, forced to depend on each other to survive a perilous journey through the mountains. As fire melts the ice in Sol’s heart, she questions everything she’s been taught to believe, and Kelan becomes more desperate to fight the flames that consume him. Together they discover that their struggle will have repercussions for both sides of this burning war.
Review: DNF at 35%. It reminded me of Wicked Saints and we all know about my hatard of that book.
Verdict: Not for me, but maybe for you!
Book: Firefrost
Author: Camille Longley
Book Series: Flameskin Chronicles Book 0
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: September 21, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Pages: 372
Synopsis: She’s a huntress:
Sol d’Hillerod is sent on a desperate mission through a treacherous winter pass. She carries with her the only hope of her village’s survival, and she will do whatever she must to keep her world from burning.
He’s a monster:
Lieutenant Kelan Birke has spent his whole life fighting for his freedom and his soul. As his control slips, and the war rages on, he knows it won’t be long before he loses himself entirely to the fire that flows through his veins.
Sol and Kelan are enemies in an age-old war, forced to depend on each other to survive a perilous journey through the mountains. As fire melts the ice in Sol’s heart, she questions everything she’s been taught to believe, and Kelan becomes more desperate to fight the flames that consume him. Together they discover that their struggle will have repercussions for both sides of this burning war.
Review: DNF at 35%. It reminded me of Wicked Saints and we all know about my hatard of that book.
Verdict: Not for me, but maybe for you!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Loop
Author: Jeremy Robert Johnson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi fans, thriller/mystery lovers
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Saga Press
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Stranger Things meets World War Z in this heart-racing conspiracy thriller as a lonely young woman teams up with a group of fellow outcasts to survive the night in a town overcome by a science experiment gone wrong.
Turner Falls is a small tourist town nestled in the hills of western Oregon, the kind of town you escape to for a vacation. When an inexplicable outbreak rapidly develops, this idyllic town becomes the epicenter of an epidemic of violence as the teenaged children of several executives from the local biotech firm become ill and aggressively murderous. Suddenly the town is on edge, and Lucy and her friends must do everything it takes just to fight through the night.
Review: I had to DNF at 20%. The book is really slow and I just couldn't get into it as much as I wanted to.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
Book: The Loop
Author: Jeremy Robert Johnson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi fans, thriller/mystery lovers
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Saga Press
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Stranger Things meets World War Z in this heart-racing conspiracy thriller as a lonely young woman teams up with a group of fellow outcasts to survive the night in a town overcome by a science experiment gone wrong.
Turner Falls is a small tourist town nestled in the hills of western Oregon, the kind of town you escape to for a vacation. When an inexplicable outbreak rapidly develops, this idyllic town becomes the epicenter of an epidemic of violence as the teenaged children of several executives from the local biotech firm become ill and aggressively murderous. Suddenly the town is on edge, and Lucy and her friends must do everything it takes just to fight through the night.
Review: I had to DNF at 20%. The book is really slow and I just couldn't get into it as much as I wanted to.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Marilia, the Warlord
Author: Morgan Cole
Book Series: Chrysathamere Trilogy
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: February 28, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 482
Synopsis: Born the bastard daughter of a painted lady, Marilia was told she would live out her days within the walls of her mother’s brothel, a companion for the rich men of Tyrace. But after a terrible betrayal, Marilia’s world turns upside down. With the help of her twin brother, Annuweth, she flees the only home she’s ever known in search of the one man who can offer her a chance at a better life–the Emperor of Navessea’s greatest general, a friend of her deceased father.
What follows is a journey spanning years, from the streets of the desert city of Tyracium to the splendor of the emperor’s keep and the wind-swept, wild island of Svartennos. Along the way, Marilia discovers, for the first time, the gift she has for strategy and warfare—a world that is forbidden to girls like her
When the empire is threatened by a foreign invasion, the defense of Navessea is left in the hands of a cruel and arrogant general no match for the empire's enemy. With the fate of her new home and her family hanging in the balance, Marilia swears to use all her courage and cunning to do whatever she can to help repel the invasion—if she can convince anyone to follow her.
The struggle that follows will test her to her core and lead her back to the past she thought she had escaped. Facing treachery within her own ranks as well as a devious enemy commander, Marilia will need all the help she can get, even if it means doing something her brother may never forgive—making a deal with the man who murdered her father.
Review: I had to DNF at 34%. The book wasn't for me and while it was action packed and epic,I just couldn't get into it.
Verdict: It’s good just not for me.
Book: Marilia, the Warlord
Author: Morgan Cole
Book Series: Chrysathamere Trilogy
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: February 28, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 482
Synopsis: Born the bastard daughter of a painted lady, Marilia was told she would live out her days within the walls of her mother’s brothel, a companion for the rich men of Tyrace. But after a terrible betrayal, Marilia’s world turns upside down. With the help of her twin brother, Annuweth, she flees the only home she’s ever known in search of the one man who can offer her a chance at a better life–the Emperor of Navessea’s greatest general, a friend of her deceased father.
What follows is a journey spanning years, from the streets of the desert city of Tyracium to the splendor of the emperor’s keep and the wind-swept, wild island of Svartennos. Along the way, Marilia discovers, for the first time, the gift she has for strategy and warfare—a world that is forbidden to girls like her
When the empire is threatened by a foreign invasion, the defense of Navessea is left in the hands of a cruel and arrogant general no match for the empire's enemy. With the fate of her new home and her family hanging in the balance, Marilia swears to use all her courage and cunning to do whatever she can to help repel the invasion—if she can convince anyone to follow her.
The struggle that follows will test her to her core and lead her back to the past she thought she had escaped. Facing treachery within her own ranks as well as a devious enemy commander, Marilia will need all the help she can get, even if it means doing something her brother may never forgive—making a deal with the man who murdered her father.
Review: I had to DNF at 34%. The book wasn't for me and while it was action packed and epic,I just couldn't get into it.
Verdict: It’s good just not for me.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Orphan of Cemetery Hill
Author: Hester Fox
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: ghosts, Victorian books, gothic feels
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: Historical Paranormal
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight violence and gore, dead people)
Publisher: Graydon House
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Boston, 1844.
Tabby has a peculiar gift: she can communicate with the recently departed. It makes her special, but it also makes her dangerous.
As an orphaned child, she fled with her sister, Alice, from their charlatan aunt Bellefonte, who wanted only to exploit Tabby’s gift so she could profit from the recent craze for seances.
Now a young woman and tragically separated from Alice, Tabby works with her adopted father, Eli, the kind caretaker of a large Boston cemetery. When a series of macabre grave robberies begins to plague the city, Tabby is ensnared in a deadly plot by the perpetrators, known only as the “Resurrection Men.”
In the end, Tabby’s gift will either save both her and the cemetery—or bring about her own destruction.
Review: For the most part this book was pretty good. The book had some great storytelling and I really enjoyed the plot. The characters were also well developed.
However, the book didn't have a lot of world building and I was left wondering what the world looked like. The book also had very slow pacing in some spots.
Verdict: It was good! Recommend!
Book: The Orphan of Cemetery Hill
Author: Hester Fox
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: ghosts, Victorian books, gothic feels
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: Historical Paranormal
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight violence and gore, dead people)
Publisher: Graydon House
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Boston, 1844.
Tabby has a peculiar gift: she can communicate with the recently departed. It makes her special, but it also makes her dangerous.
As an orphaned child, she fled with her sister, Alice, from their charlatan aunt Bellefonte, who wanted only to exploit Tabby’s gift so she could profit from the recent craze for seances.
Now a young woman and tragically separated from Alice, Tabby works with her adopted father, Eli, the kind caretaker of a large Boston cemetery. When a series of macabre grave robberies begins to plague the city, Tabby is ensnared in a deadly plot by the perpetrators, known only as the “Resurrection Men.”
In the end, Tabby’s gift will either save both her and the cemetery—or bring about her own destruction.
Review: For the most part this book was pretty good. The book had some great storytelling and I really enjoyed the plot. The characters were also well developed.
However, the book didn't have a lot of world building and I was left wondering what the world looked like. The book also had very slow pacing in some spots.
Verdict: It was good! Recommend!