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typedtruths's Reviews (1.8k)
I loved this book so much. It's my first five-star read of the year!
The characters were perfect. Ceony reminds me so much of myself - though admittedly a hell of a lot braver - and Emery is exactly my sort of male romantic interest. On top of that, the plot was action-packed and engaging. There was a lot of intrigue and the perfect amount of awesome magical fighting scenes. I loved learning more about the magical lore since this time we get to see more of the different types of magic, namely the Gaffers.
Overall, I enjoyed this so thoroughly that I cannot think of any faults to mention. By far the best book of the year so far. I don't know how I am meant to wait for The Master Magician's release.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
The characters were perfect. Ceony reminds me so much of myself - though admittedly a hell of a lot braver - and Emery is exactly my sort of male romantic interest. On top of that, the plot was action-packed and engaging. There was a lot of intrigue and the perfect amount of awesome magical fighting scenes. I loved learning more about the magical lore since this time we get to see more of the different types of magic, namely the Gaffers.
Overall, I enjoyed this so thoroughly that I cannot think of any faults to mention. By far the best book of the year so far. I don't know how I am meant to wait for The Master Magician's release.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Long May She Reign was a well-written decent fantasy read but it did not do enough to truly set itself above the rest of solid fantasy I have read over the last couple of years. Somewhere between the average writing style and the underwhelming world-building, I worry that it will lose a lot of the intense fantasy readers. While there were many elements that did work for me and as a whole, I undeniably enjoyed it, there was just some indistinguishable element lacking to make it stand out from the other books in its genre.
Freya, our protagonist was my favourite aspect of the novel. Lady scientists are always a hit with me and Freya’s passion for her science experiments - and inventing a process of detecting poisons that would benefit everyone - made me so happy. There is just something about nerdy characters puttering around in a lab worrying whether they were about to blow something up by accident or succeed at their aim that makes me giddy. The fact that we also had a protagonist in a fantasy story that suffered from a mental illness - in this case, anxiety - was another thing that really worked for me. I felt that Freya’s anxiety made her seem like a more dimensional and realistic character. It was reasonably well written and did not take the focus away from the murder mystery.
The other characters were not too bad. I liked that we had a strong female friendship throughout the story between Freya and her best friend but I wish there had been a large ensemble of character for me to fall in love with. Freya’s relationship with Fitzroy was sweet but also a little bit… unnecessary? I did like that the author made sure that their romance remained secondary to the main plotline but this also made it feel like an added element to the story which took the focus away from Freya’s primary objective. I don’t know? I think it should either have had more of a role to play in the overall story or just have been completely removed. Maybe that is just me being picky, though?
The plotline was what drew me into this story and was probably the most disappointing element. By itself, the concept is brilliant: a girl who is twenty-third in line for the throne is suddenly crowned queen when the entire royal family/court is killed in one mass poisoning. I just love this! However, I felt that Freya’s ascension was a little bit too rushed. I mean over 400 members of the royal family and nobility/court just died… apart from Freya’s closest friends and family, of course. I think there would have had to be a lot of panic and planning and turmoil in those earlier few weeks, let alone days. Could you even imagine that? Hundreds of people all dying at once? It would surely send the kingdom into a panic. I just wished that Freya’s ascension - particularly her response to it - had taken a bit longer. I did really like that the story took on a murder mystery angle instead of your typical politic-focused fantasy, though. It was so unique and definitely had me on my toes. I had about three characters who I could not shake my suspicion off so I really enjoyed being caught up in the thrill of the chase, waiting to see who was at fault. The ending however… yeah, that. It certainly left a bit to be desired. I just cannot believe that Freya made the decision she did. It seems a little bit irresponsible...
Overall?
Long May She Reign was a unique fantasy story that was enjoyable but not quite as lovable as I would have liked. While the protagonist was decent, I struggled to connect to any of the secondary characters. I also felt that the plotline had its moment. The general concept was well thought out but its execution left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I definitely appreciated the anxiety representation and female scientist lead but there was just something missing for me to completely fall in love with this story.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Long May She Reign was a well-written decent fantasy read but it did not do enough to truly set itself above the rest of solid fantasy I have read over the last couple of years. Somewhere between the average writing style and the underwhelming world-building, I worry that it will lose a lot of the intense fantasy readers. While there were many elements that did work for me and as a whole, I undeniably enjoyed it, there was just some indistinguishable element lacking to make it stand out from the other books in its genre.
Freya, our protagonist was my favourite aspect of the novel. Lady scientists are always a hit with me and Freya’s passion for her science experiments - and inventing a process of detecting poisons that would benefit everyone - made me so happy. There is just something about nerdy characters puttering around in a lab worrying whether they were about to blow something up by accident or succeed at their aim that makes me giddy. The fact that we also had a protagonist in a fantasy story that suffered from a mental illness - in this case, anxiety - was another thing that really worked for me. I felt that Freya’s anxiety made her seem like a more dimensional and realistic character. It was reasonably well written and did not take the focus away from the murder mystery.
The other characters were not too bad. I liked that we had a strong female friendship throughout the story between Freya and her best friend but I wish there had been a large ensemble of character for me to fall in love with. Freya’s relationship with Fitzroy was sweet but also a little bit… unnecessary? I did like that the author made sure that their romance remained secondary to the main plotline but this also made it feel like an added element to the story which took the focus away from Freya’s primary objective. I don’t know? I think it should either have had more of a role to play in the overall story or just have been completely removed. Maybe that is just me being picky, though?
The plotline was what drew me into this story and was probably the most disappointing element. By itself, the concept is brilliant: a girl who is twenty-third in line for the throne is suddenly crowned queen when the entire royal family/court is killed in one mass poisoning. I just love this! However, I felt that Freya’s ascension was a little bit too rushed. I mean over 400 members of the royal family and nobility/court just died… apart from Freya’s closest friends and family, of course. I think there would have had to be a lot of panic and planning and turmoil in those earlier few weeks, let alone days. Could you even imagine that? Hundreds of people all dying at once? It would surely send the kingdom into a panic. I just wished that Freya’s ascension - particularly her response to it - had taken a bit longer. I did really like that the story took on a murder mystery angle instead of your typical politic-focused fantasy, though. It was so unique and definitely had me on my toes. I had about three characters who I could not shake my suspicion off so I really enjoyed being caught up in the thrill of the chase, waiting to see who was at fault. The ending however… yeah, that. It certainly left a bit to be desired. I just cannot believe that Freya made the decision she did. It seems a little bit irresponsible...
Overall?
Long May She Reign was a unique fantasy story that was enjoyable but not quite as lovable as I would have liked. While the protagonist was decent, I struggled to connect to any of the secondary characters. I also felt that the plotline had its moment. The general concept was well thought out but its execution left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I definitely appreciated the anxiety representation and female scientist lead but there was just something missing for me to completely fall in love with this story.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
I wish I could say that this book was as good as The Potion Diaries but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I think the biggest problem I had with it was that the plot did not have a clear end goal. Well, not like the first book did. The whole desperation surrounding Sam’s need to find her great-grandmother’s potion diary was lost on me. I felt that it was a little over-exaggerated. I understand that she needed to save her grandfather and the diary held a possible solution but it was not a guarantee so it felt like a half-hearted sort of reason to start such a quest? Also, the ending hinting that that the next book will focus on Sam and Zain finding a cure for Evelyn’s sickness ) means that this entire book was simply setting that situation up. Does this make this book a little bit of a filler sequel? Yes - and that is a tad frustrating.
With that being said, this storyline was undeniably addictive. The alchemy of this world is one of my favourite types of magical systems. I love potion-making and scavenger hunts so Sam’s adventures speak to my soul. I loved that we expanded on the world and got to discover new creatures and ingredients. Some of the action was touch-and-go but I found the story enjoyable and engaging if a little simplistic.
Sam is also the kind of protagonist that I could never tire reading from the perspective of. She is one of the main reasons why this series is so enjoyable. I love her spunk and her tireless loyalty to her family/loved ones. She is the first to admit she has made a mistake but also always makes sure she is the one responsible for fixing them. I admire her dedication to her craft and how she insists on actively keeping up her mixing so she can improve; no matter how often she proves her skill in alchemy, she remains modest and willing to learn, shape and refine her talent.
I also really love Zain. I know he is not the most fleshed out character but he is just so adorable. I only wish that we had gotten more time with him in this story. I felt that he was strangely absent from the plot which meant that we did not get to explore his and Sam’s relationship as much as I would have liked.
Also:
• I liked that Princess Evelyn and Sam have maintained a friendship since the first book. It was nice to see Evelyn play a different role in this story than she did in the first book.
• Kirsty annoyed me so much. I don’t know what it is about her personality but she rubs me the wrong way. I really do not like her!
• The fact that we explored the ethicality of using animal parts as potion ingredients - and the benefits of synths, consequently - was very well-done. I think that this discussion links to a lot of contemporary issues raised by the rise in veganism (etc.) and would be great food for thought.
• I wish that Sam’s family had been in this story more.
Overall?
I think the plotline of this book was nowhere near as strong as the first book and it did let the story down. Instead of focusing on a scavenger hunt with a clear end goal, the plotline meandered for a bit and it did feel a little bit like a filler sequel at times. However, these characters are sweet and engaging. I love this cast - apart from Kirsty, ugh - and definitely want to see more of their adventures. I’m eagerly anticipating the third sequel now.
With that being said, this storyline was undeniably addictive. The alchemy of this world is one of my favourite types of magical systems. I love potion-making and scavenger hunts so Sam’s adventures speak to my soul. I loved that we expanded on the world and got to discover new creatures and ingredients. Some of the action was touch-and-go but I found the story enjoyable and engaging if a little simplistic.
Sam is also the kind of protagonist that I could never tire reading from the perspective of. She is one of the main reasons why this series is so enjoyable. I love her spunk and her tireless loyalty to her family/loved ones. She is the first to admit she has made a mistake but also always makes sure she is the one responsible for fixing them. I admire her dedication to her craft and how she insists on actively keeping up her mixing so she can improve; no matter how often she proves her skill in alchemy, she remains modest and willing to learn, shape and refine her talent.
I also really love Zain. I know he is not the most fleshed out character but he is just so adorable. I only wish that we had gotten more time with him in this story. I felt that he was strangely absent from the plot which meant that we did not get to explore his and Sam’s relationship as much as I would have liked.
Also:
• I liked that Princess Evelyn and Sam have maintained a friendship since the first book. It was nice to see Evelyn play a different role in this story than she did in the first book.
• Kirsty annoyed me so much. I don’t know what it is about her personality but she rubs me the wrong way. I really do not like her!
• The fact that we explored the ethicality of using animal parts as potion ingredients - and the benefits of synths, consequently - was very well-done. I think that this discussion links to a lot of contemporary issues raised by the rise in veganism (etc.) and would be great food for thought.
• I wish that Sam’s family had been in this story more.
Overall?
I think the plotline of this book was nowhere near as strong as the first book and it did let the story down. Instead of focusing on a scavenger hunt with a clear end goal, the plotline meandered for a bit and it did feel a little bit like a filler sequel at times. However, these characters are sweet and engaging. I love this cast - apart from Kirsty, ugh - and definitely want to see more of their adventures. I’m eagerly anticipating the third sequel now.
3.5 stars
Straight after finishing this book, I couldn’t help but smile. I loved how original and different the story had been and was sure that it had made a lasting impression… but it’s a couple of days later and I’m rethinking that train of thought. While this book was undeniably unique, enjoyable and downright clever at times, it was also a little slow and lacking that intangible quality that makes books truly shine. I don’t know what it is, but it wasn’t there and the more I think about it, the less I can truly say that this book was a standout.
Pros:
Subtle diversity - which is my favourite thing of ever, if you didn’t know. Angela, our protagonist, is dyslexic so for someone who has dyslexia running in their family (aka me), it was refreshing to see that incorporated into a YA novel. I don’t think I have read a story with dyslexic characters before (apart from Percy Jackson, but that hardly seems to count).
The female friendships. It is always an amazing addition to a book when female friendships can be included and done well. For some reason, YA contemporaries often portray female friendships as toxic or unhealthy, but the bond between Angela and her cellmates made me smile. It was done with such sincerity, and it really added an extra layer to the story.
The writing was on point. You know that I’m a sucker for good writing and Danielle Rollins has this really simple but addictive style. It was kind of like Colleen Hoover meets Stephanie Oakes. If that makes sense. It let you really get into the head of the characters but never lacked the urgency that the plot needed. It balanced the character-driven moments and action pretty darn well… which leads me to my next point:
The suspense! This book is pitched as a horror story and why it isn’t exactly scary, it still had this deliciously creepy vibe. It was suspenseful as hell, and I loved the way the plot just gently crept up on us. The pacing was just perfect too.
However, my favourite aspect of this novel was - without a doubt - the setting. Juvenile detention! Ever since I read [b:The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|17185496|The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|Stephanie Oakes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412065594s/17185496.jpg|23634541] earlier this year, I’ve been eager to read something similar and this definitely gave me the same vibes. I don’t know what it is about juvie - maybe the isolation? - but it’s the perfect environment for fascinating character-driven stories IMO, and this definitely delivered on that front.
Cons:
My first complaint is a biggie: there were no explanations! We have no answers to well, anything, and that is quite annoying to put it lightly. We spent a fair amount of time building up to this dramatic and undeniably well-done climax… but then, the book just with literally no answers. I am not okay with that! I need answers. I wanted to know more about Jessica, more about SciGirls and more about everything in general. I won’t say too much because I want to keep it vague, but there were certain aspects of this story that deserved some further exploration.
I’m also a little (read: a lot) pissed at the opening ending. I know that I usually say that I’m one of the few readers who are okay with open endings, but this time it just didn’t work. I know there’s a companion/sequel coming out next year but the whole book led to this big ending and then the book just finished. It wasn’t enough to satisfy me. I needed more answers and a more fulfilling conclusion.
Like a lot of other reviewers, I did find Angela a little bit dull. I don’t know what it was about her, but the secondary characters were so well done that she paled in comparison. Her “badassery” was also played up a little bit. I just wish we had gotten to see more of her… which makes no sense because she’s our protagonist! But somehow she just felt absent from the story. I also didn’t understand how easily she accepted certain reveals throughout the story. These are the sort of major reveals that would have made you question everything you thought you ever knew but she just accepted it without much fuss. It didn’t feel realistic.
Overall?
I did really enjoy this book, but I didn’t think that the protagonist was a little bit lackluster and the open ending kind of dragged the story down. The setting and plotline - for the most part - was engaging. I adored the characters and definitely got creepy vibes from the writing. I’ll be picking up the sequel/companion as soon as it comes out next year to hopefully get the answers I need, and I look forward to more of the author’s work. A solid novel, but not a standout.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Straight after finishing this book, I couldn’t help but smile. I loved how original and different the story had been and was sure that it had made a lasting impression… but it’s a couple of days later and I’m rethinking that train of thought. While this book was undeniably unique, enjoyable and downright clever at times, it was also a little slow and lacking that intangible quality that makes books truly shine. I don’t know what it is, but it wasn’t there and the more I think about it, the less I can truly say that this book was a standout.
Pros:
Subtle diversity - which is my favourite thing of ever, if you didn’t know. Angela, our protagonist, is dyslexic so for someone who has dyslexia running in their family (aka me), it was refreshing to see that incorporated into a YA novel. I don’t think I have read a story with dyslexic characters before (apart from Percy Jackson, but that hardly seems to count).
The female friendships. It is always an amazing addition to a book when female friendships can be included and done well. For some reason, YA contemporaries often portray female friendships as toxic or unhealthy, but the bond between Angela and her cellmates made me smile. It was done with such sincerity, and it really added an extra layer to the story.
The writing was on point. You know that I’m a sucker for good writing and Danielle Rollins has this really simple but addictive style. It was kind of like Colleen Hoover meets Stephanie Oakes. If that makes sense. It let you really get into the head of the characters but never lacked the urgency that the plot needed. It balanced the character-driven moments and action pretty darn well… which leads me to my next point:
The suspense! This book is pitched as a horror story and why it isn’t exactly scary, it still had this deliciously creepy vibe. It was suspenseful as hell, and I loved the way the plot just gently crept up on us. The pacing was just perfect too.
However, my favourite aspect of this novel was - without a doubt - the setting. Juvenile detention! Ever since I read [b:The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|17185496|The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|Stephanie Oakes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412065594s/17185496.jpg|23634541] earlier this year, I’ve been eager to read something similar and this definitely gave me the same vibes. I don’t know what it is about juvie - maybe the isolation? - but it’s the perfect environment for fascinating character-driven stories IMO, and this definitely delivered on that front.
Cons:
My first complaint is a biggie: there were no explanations! We have no answers to well, anything, and that is quite annoying to put it lightly. We spent a fair amount of time building up to this dramatic and undeniably well-done climax… but then, the book just with literally no answers. I am not okay with that! I need answers. I wanted to know more about Jessica, more about SciGirls and more about everything in general. I won’t say too much because I want to keep it vague, but there were certain aspects of this story that deserved some further exploration.
I’m also a little (read: a lot) pissed at the opening ending. I know that I usually say that I’m one of the few readers who are okay with open endings, but this time it just didn’t work. I know there’s a companion/sequel coming out next year but the whole book led to this big ending and then the book just finished. It wasn’t enough to satisfy me. I needed more answers and a more fulfilling conclusion.
Like a lot of other reviewers, I did find Angela a little bit dull. I don’t know what it was about her, but the secondary characters were so well done that she paled in comparison. Her “badassery” was also played up a little bit. I just wish we had gotten to see more of her… which makes no sense because she’s our protagonist! But somehow she just felt absent from the story. I also didn’t understand how easily she accepted certain reveals throughout the story. These are the sort of major reveals that would have made you question everything you thought you ever knew but she just accepted it without much fuss. It didn’t feel realistic.
Overall?
I did really enjoy this book, but I didn’t think that the protagonist was a little bit lackluster and the open ending kind of dragged the story down. The setting and plotline - for the most part - was engaging. I adored the characters and definitely got creepy vibes from the writing. I’ll be picking up the sequel/companion as soon as it comes out next year to hopefully get the answers I need, and I look forward to more of the author’s work. A solid novel, but not a standout.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
3.5 stars - Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
This is one of the most difficult reviews I’ve ever had to write. Have you ever read a book that you loved but was also so different and strange and peculiar that you aren’t actually sure whether you did enjoy it or not? No? Well, damn because that’s what I feel about this book and I am struggling so much to translate my tangle of emotions to the screen.
There is definitely something undeniably addictive and downright gorgeous about Holmberg’s writing. It always manages to draw me in, and keep me reading. It’s subtle but poetic and completely enthralling. If we just singled out the writing aspect of this story, I’d have no problems giving this book five stars.
The plot also had an addictive quality to it too. The first 40% (or so) was unputdownable. I fell into this story without meaning to it, and boy, did it suck me in quickly or what. I was up late, flipping through the pages with ease, desperate to see where the story was heading. It was unlike anything I’d ever read before, and I had no idea where the story was heading or even where it could possibly go. If you know me, you know that predictability is a massive no-no for me so the fact that Holmberg left me no clues whatsoever, and that I had to keep reading if I wanted to find out more was perfect.
But the more the story went on, the less I felt that urgency to read more. The story started to peter out - so slowly at first that I honestly didn’t even realise. Yet the more and more I read, the more and more I was getting… sidetracked? Probably not the most accurate description, but I felt that the story had lost it’s momentum. The plot was getting a little stranger and stranger. The characters lost their oomph, the villain became… useless and dull, not doing anything. The story just felt like it’d taken a wrong turn, and was too far in to turn back. It hit a snag, and I didn’t like it. Then bam - we were hit with the ending/major plot twist thing and… gah, I don’t know what to think of it. I think I liked it? Or maybe just the idea of it? It worked, and it didn’t. It was unique, and explained everything… but I don’t know if I’m 100% satisfied with it and now I’m lost.
Can you see why I’m struggling to write this review now?
Let’s just break this down:
Writing? Check. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Enchanting. Similar adjectives.
Plot? Hmm, it was mostly good…
Characters? Spot on… until they weren’t?
Pacing? Perfect... at first.
Romance? Great tension but mostly confusing.
Magic? BRILLIANT. CAN I GO FOR LENGTHS AT A TIME HOW BRILLIANT THIS MAGICAL BAKING THING WAS. GENIUS!
Ending? Uh…. I don’t know.
… so that’s it.
Overall? I loved this story. I think. The writing and magical system was perfect. The characters and plot were perfect for the first 40%... and almost everything slowly petered out after that, unfortunately. I’ll still be reading everything this author put outs. I loved her writing style, but I don’t know what to think of this book.
This is one of the most difficult reviews I’ve ever had to write. Have you ever read a book that you loved but was also so different and strange and peculiar that you aren’t actually sure whether you did enjoy it or not? No? Well, damn because that’s what I feel about this book and I am struggling so much to translate my tangle of emotions to the screen.
There is definitely something undeniably addictive and downright gorgeous about Holmberg’s writing. It always manages to draw me in, and keep me reading. It’s subtle but poetic and completely enthralling. If we just singled out the writing aspect of this story, I’d have no problems giving this book five stars.
The plot also had an addictive quality to it too. The first 40% (or so) was unputdownable. I fell into this story without meaning to it, and boy, did it suck me in quickly or what. I was up late, flipping through the pages with ease, desperate to see where the story was heading. It was unlike anything I’d ever read before, and I had no idea where the story was heading or even where it could possibly go. If you know me, you know that predictability is a massive no-no for me so the fact that Holmberg left me no clues whatsoever, and that I had to keep reading if I wanted to find out more was perfect.
But the more the story went on, the less I felt that urgency to read more. The story started to peter out - so slowly at first that I honestly didn’t even realise. Yet the more and more I read, the more and more I was getting… sidetracked? Probably not the most accurate description, but I felt that the story had lost it’s momentum. The plot was getting a little stranger and stranger. The characters lost their oomph, the villain became… useless and dull, not doing anything. The story just felt like it’d taken a wrong turn, and was too far in to turn back. It hit a snag, and I didn’t like it. Then bam - we were hit with the ending/major plot twist thing and… gah, I don’t know what to think of it. I think I liked it? Or maybe just the idea of it? It worked, and it didn’t. It was unique, and explained everything… but I don’t know if I’m 100% satisfied with it and now I’m lost.
Can you see why I’m struggling to write this review now?
Let’s just break this down:
Writing? Check. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Enchanting. Similar adjectives.
Plot? Hmm, it was mostly good…
Characters? Spot on… until they weren’t?
Pacing? Perfect... at first.
Romance? Great tension but mostly confusing.
Magic? BRILLIANT. CAN I GO FOR LENGTHS AT A TIME HOW BRILLIANT THIS MAGICAL BAKING THING WAS. GENIUS!
Ending? Uh…. I don’t know.
… so that’s it.
Overall? I loved this story. I think. The writing and magical system was perfect. The characters and plot were perfect for the first 40%... and almost everything slowly petered out after that, unfortunately. I’ll still be reading everything this author put outs. I loved her writing style, but I don’t know what to think of this book.
Breaking definitely delivered the venomous thriller it promised. It was short, sharp and shiny. I managed to whizz through it in one evening, the very night that it appeared on my front door. It helped that the beginning was edgy and drew me in but I will say that it didn’t quite manage to perfectly pace the intensity throughout the story. Maybe because of the character’s mild reactions to the twists and revelations? I understand why they acted like they did but their passivity really dampened my own enthusiasm. There were definitely elements of the story that could have - and should have - been expanded on, especially in the second half. The ending was also a little rushed. Cliffhangers normally make or break a book for me but I don’t quite know how I feel about this one. I definitely need more from this world now but I would have liked to see the story wrapped up with a solid conclusion. With all that being said, there was definitely something about Breaking that kept me on the edge of my seat, eager for answers.
Everything else about the story hit all the marks but failed to do anything above and beyond that would make this a standout read. I did enjoy Rollins’ writing style. She managed to create a dark, suspenseful atmosphere but some of the dialogue felt a little stiff. The characters were decent enough. I liked that they played into the stereotypical boarding school student/rich kids moulds but had a little more life breathed into them. Charlotte was an interesting protagonist and I liked exploring her relationships with the other characters. I wished Jack had been a little more nuanced but I did like Zoe. The romance - while it did nothing for me personally - was a solid addition to the overall story. It actually had a role to play! I am so sick of unnecessary romances. If the drama had been a little more downplayed (although I know that it is realistic in this setting), I would have been very much on board.
Overall? A solid thriller and a decent read, just nothing particularly original.
Also, for everyone that is curious about whether this can be read as a standalone, I would say that it definitely could. I know that the storyline was meant to tie in with Burning but I honestly remember next to nothing about that book and found it easy to follow this storyline regardless.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
***
Original Thoughts: I love the cover but I'm a little confused how this is going to tie in with [b:Burning|21525975|Burning|Danielle Rollins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458743204s/21525975.jpg|40851897]? I still have so many questions!
Everything else about the story hit all the marks but failed to do anything above and beyond that would make this a standout read. I did enjoy Rollins’ writing style. She managed to create a dark, suspenseful atmosphere but some of the dialogue felt a little stiff. The characters were decent enough. I liked that they played into the stereotypical boarding school student/rich kids moulds but had a little more life breathed into them. Charlotte was an interesting protagonist and I liked exploring her relationships with the other characters. I wished Jack had been a little more nuanced but I did like Zoe. The romance - while it did nothing for me personally - was a solid addition to the overall story. It actually had a role to play! I am so sick of unnecessary romances. If the drama had been a little more downplayed (although I know that it is realistic in this setting), I would have been very much on board.
Overall? A solid thriller and a decent read, just nothing particularly original.
Also, for everyone that is curious about whether this can be read as a standalone, I would say that it definitely could. I know that the storyline was meant to tie in with Burning but I honestly remember next to nothing about that book and found it easy to follow this storyline regardless.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
***
Original Thoughts: I love the cover but I'm a little confused how this is going to tie in with [b:Burning|21525975|Burning|Danielle Rollins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458743204s/21525975.jpg|40851897]? I still have so many questions!
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Frostblood was the perfect book to start the year with. I know that is has received its fair share of negativity already and I do understand why - its use a few familiar tropes will rub some readers the wrong way - but I am not those readers. Whether my enjoyment stems purely from my disappointment at the last fantasy I read, Ever the Hunted ( which was a truly terrible trope-ridden fantasy) I cannot say but whatever way you want to twist it, it does not change the fact that I completely fell in love with Frostblood.
What made this such an addictive and unputdownable read for me was my attachment to the characters. Ruby - our protagonist - is temperamental and aggressive at times but at her core, she had so many traits I love in a protagonist: she was strong, brave and unflinching but also willing to learn and aware of her weaknesses. Yes, she did suffer from a quick temper and a snappy attitude which led to some bad choices but what I really appreciated about her character was that as time progressed - and as she was exposed to more and more of the world outside of her village - she matured and developed, without ever losing that spunk that made her Ruby. I also really loved that she had difficulty controlling her powers. Instead of being natural adept like most Special Snowflake protagonists, she struggled to learn to control the raw power she possessed. Instead, Ruby had to learn to use it to her wildness to her advantage and I loved that this involved her coming to terms with the type of person she was. I think that in general there was just something about Ruby that was easy to root for. I wanted to see her succeed, and I really came to appreciate her development across the story.
Arcus, though, was my true favourite. He was just so… *swoon*! There is something about the serious, quiet characters that are masking their pain and just trying to quietly go on with their lives that just get to me. Maybe that’s my hardcore Bucky Barnes fangirl coming through but I from the second Arcus was introduced, I wanted to know everything about him. I loved how he was loyal to the monks and a little bit rough around the edges. He had no time for Ruby’s antics because he understood what was at stake and it should not have been left in the hands of an untrained teenage girl like Ruby. I loved that he was passionate about helping the people without it seeming too cliched. I loved that he understood when he crossed a line, and even though he was not the protagonist of the story, his development was nonetheless prominent. We saw him learn to let others love him, despite his scars and despite his history. I loved that he didn’t let his feelings dictate his actions, and he thought through things before doing them (impulsive characters will be the death of me, honestly). Mostly, I just wanted to reach through the pages and give him a hug.
Because of my love for both Ruby and Arcus, I was completely invested in their developing relationship and my little shipping heart shipped them a lot. The romance was handled so well in my opinion, and it was just the perfect balance of swoon-worthy and realistic. The chemistry between the characters was on point. Their banter was witty and whip-smart, and I really appreciated that their hate-to-love relationship was well-paced. I will admit that the romance did direct the plotline at times but I do not think it was too domineering.
The world-building was another aspect of the story which was very well done. I liked that it was fairly easy to understand and pick up. The history of the world was complex enough to make the world seem rich in my mind but not too complex for a non-epic fantasy. I liked that it wove a religion throughout the politics which also tied in with the Frostblood/Fireblood lore. It made the two cultures seem much more realistic and believable. However, I will admit - again - that this world draws on a lot of familiar elements from other similar fantasy stories, like warring magical races, prophecies, and corrupt rulers. At the same time, there is a reason these tropes are used so often. Instead of making the world seem overly cliched, I think it drew on elements that people enjoy reading about and did as much as it could to set itself apart.
I think the weakest part of this story was its plot. While I personally found it addictive, if you are not a fan of the characters, I fear you might struggle to make it through the first part. It is a little slow at first as it centres around Ruby’s recovery and training but I did think this was the best way to organically allow us to learn more about the Frostblood/Firebloods’ powers and their history. The second part was action-packed and thrilling. We are thrown lots of twists and turns to keep us on our toes, and the ending was jam-packed full of feels and emotions and intrigue. It was satisfying but still left me desperate for more.
Overall?
I unashamedly enjoyed Frostblood more than I would have expected. The plotline was engaging and addictive. I fell in love with Ruby and Arcus, and their relationship hit all the shipping check points. The story was twisty at times and kept me eagerly flipping the pages. The world-building was organically incorporated into the story. All in all, I can see this one being quite the success, especially amongst [b:Red Queen|22328546|Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)|Victoria Aveyard|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449778912s/22328546.jpg|25037051] fans.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
What made this such an addictive and unputdownable read for me was my attachment to the characters. Ruby - our protagonist - is temperamental and aggressive at times but at her core, she had so many traits I love in a protagonist: she was strong, brave and unflinching but also willing to learn and aware of her weaknesses. Yes, she did suffer from a quick temper and a snappy attitude which led to some bad choices but what I really appreciated about her character was that as time progressed - and as she was exposed to more and more of the world outside of her village - she matured and developed, without ever losing that spunk that made her Ruby. I also really loved that she had difficulty controlling her powers. Instead of being natural adept like most Special Snowflake protagonists, she struggled to learn to control the raw power she possessed. Instead, Ruby had to learn to use it to her wildness to her advantage and I loved that this involved her coming to terms with the type of person she was. I think that in general there was just something about Ruby that was easy to root for. I wanted to see her succeed, and I really came to appreciate her development across the story.
Arcus, though, was my true favourite. He was just so… *swoon*! There is something about the serious, quiet characters that are masking their pain and just trying to quietly go on with their lives that just get to me. Maybe that’s my hardcore Bucky Barnes fangirl coming through but I from the second Arcus was introduced, I wanted to know everything about him. I loved how he was loyal to the monks and a little bit rough around the edges. He had no time for Ruby’s antics because he understood what was at stake and it should not have been left in the hands of an untrained teenage girl like Ruby. I loved that he was passionate about helping the people without it seeming too cliched. I loved that he understood when he crossed a line, and even though he was not the protagonist of the story, his development was nonetheless prominent. We saw him learn to let others love him, despite his scars and despite his history. I loved that he didn’t let his feelings dictate his actions, and he thought through things before doing them (impulsive characters will be the death of me, honestly). Mostly, I just wanted to reach through the pages and give him a hug.
Because of my love for both Ruby and Arcus, I was completely invested in their developing relationship and my little shipping heart shipped them a lot. The romance was handled so well in my opinion, and it was just the perfect balance of swoon-worthy and realistic. The chemistry between the characters was on point. Their banter was witty and whip-smart, and I really appreciated that their hate-to-love relationship was well-paced. I will admit that the romance did direct the plotline at times but I do not think it was too domineering.
The world-building was another aspect of the story which was very well done. I liked that it was fairly easy to understand and pick up. The history of the world was complex enough to make the world seem rich in my mind but not too complex for a non-epic fantasy. I liked that it wove a religion throughout the politics which also tied in with the Frostblood/Fireblood lore. It made the two cultures seem much more realistic and believable. However, I will admit - again - that this world draws on a lot of familiar elements from other similar fantasy stories, like warring magical races, prophecies, and corrupt rulers. At the same time, there is a reason these tropes are used so often. Instead of making the world seem overly cliched, I think it drew on elements that people enjoy reading about and did as much as it could to set itself apart.
I think the weakest part of this story was its plot. While I personally found it addictive, if you are not a fan of the characters, I fear you might struggle to make it through the first part. It is a little slow at first as it centres around Ruby’s recovery and training but I did think this was the best way to organically allow us to learn more about the Frostblood/Firebloods’ powers and their history. The second part was action-packed and thrilling. We are thrown lots of twists and turns to keep us on our toes, and the ending was jam-packed full of feels and emotions and intrigue. It was satisfying but still left me desperate for more.
Overall?
I unashamedly enjoyed Frostblood more than I would have expected. The plotline was engaging and addictive. I fell in love with Ruby and Arcus, and their relationship hit all the shipping check points. The story was twisty at times and kept me eagerly flipping the pages. The world-building was organically incorporated into the story. All in all, I can see this one being quite the success, especially amongst [b:Red Queen|22328546|Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)|Victoria Aveyard|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449778912s/22328546.jpg|25037051] fans.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Even the Darkest Stars was a beautifully atmospheric read. The Himalayan-inspired fantasy world it was set in was, by far, my favourite aspect of the story. The world truly came to life under Fawcett’s writing style. She truly has a knack for world-building with the way she was able to seamlessly blend Nepalese culture with her unique magic system. I adored that so many different magical races were present, especially how they tied in with the characters’ own folklore. The mini dragons were just so adorable and I always love stories with human-animal bonds. I did think that the fire demon and Familiar lore could have been developed more but I loved Fawcett’s spin on witches. Hopefully, they will play more of a role in the sequels!
I personally enjoyed the storyline. Looking back, I guess it was a little slow but it did not read like that. I was able to flip through this story incredibly quickly. The plot is a journey-plot at its heart though so there were a lot of walking, talking and making camp scenes. Did it bother me? No, not really. I really loved how it let us explore the world and it never became repetitive. There were lots of ‘action’ scenes to break the monotony of their expedition up. I also thought that it added an emotional element to the story: the danger of their journey was constantly present and kind of terrifying. I will say that one problem I had with the plot was how some scenes lacked the emotion they needed. I don’t quite know how to phrase it but there were a few times throughout the story where something happened and Kamzin’s reaction was so mild that it took the, I don’t know, the emphasis (??) out of the scene. I am mainly talking aboutwhen Kamzin discovered River’s fire demon and when she was reunited with her sister on the mountain . Both of those scenes should have caused Kamzin to react very strongly but she kind of accepted it and moved on without even blinking. I think that if Fawcett had tapped into the emotion of the story at these points, it would have helped to pull me into the story more. I felt too much like an outsider looking in, completely disengaged from the story happening before my eyes.
Unfortunately, the book did suffer from another fatal flaw: a love triangle. For the love of all things good and pure, I beg of you, authors please stop doing this to us! It is not realistic and by now, it is almost impossible to add anything unique to add to this trope. It is so tired, so worn out. It really disappointed me that it had to be included. It detracted from the main storyline and I had little patience for some of the petty drama it ignited. I could understand where the feelings between River and Kamzin might have started from: they had a lot of the same interests and had to spend a lot of time together. In fact, I would have been happy for River and Kamzin to develop a romantic relationship if it had been more appropriate. In the middle of a dangerous (read: deadly) mountain-trekking expedition was definitely not the place. Tem did also frustrate me. I understand you cannot help who you develop feelings for; becoming bitter about them remaining unrequited starts to toe the line of problematic, though. Yes, Kamzin did make a few dodgy decisions and he would not be a true friend if he did not try to stop her from pointing that out. I was just a little worried about his motivation doing so might not have been 100% pure.
Overall?
I really enjoyed Even the Darkest Stars but it was not a standout read. Fawcett definitely has a talent for world-building and atmospheric writing. I loved this world, particularly its mythology and creatures. The plotline was engaging but a lot of the key scenes failed to capture the emotion of the situation. It made me feel oddly detached from the characters and their journey, which really hurt my overall enjoyment. I also thought that the incorporation of a love triangle was unnecessary and led to petty drama. lacked emotion. The ending was intense, though, so I look forward to seeing where the sequel will take these characters.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
I personally enjoyed the storyline. Looking back, I guess it was a little slow but it did not read like that. I was able to flip through this story incredibly quickly. The plot is a journey-plot at its heart though so there were a lot of walking, talking and making camp scenes. Did it bother me? No, not really. I really loved how it let us explore the world and it never became repetitive. There were lots of ‘action’ scenes to break the monotony of their expedition up. I also thought that it added an emotional element to the story: the danger of their journey was constantly present and kind of terrifying. I will say that one problem I had with the plot was how some scenes lacked the emotion they needed. I don’t quite know how to phrase it but there were a few times throughout the story where something happened and Kamzin’s reaction was so mild that it took the, I don’t know, the emphasis (??) out of the scene. I am mainly talking about
Unfortunately, the book did suffer from another fatal flaw: a love triangle. For the love of all things good and pure, I beg of you, authors please stop doing this to us! It is not realistic and by now, it is almost impossible to add anything unique to add to this trope. It is so tired, so worn out. It really disappointed me that it had to be included. It detracted from the main storyline and I had little patience for some of the petty drama it ignited. I could understand where the feelings between River and Kamzin might have started from: they had a lot of the same interests and had to spend a lot of time together. In fact, I would have been happy for River and Kamzin to develop a romantic relationship if it had been more appropriate. In the middle of a dangerous (read: deadly) mountain-trekking expedition was definitely not the place. Tem did also frustrate me. I understand you cannot help who you develop feelings for; becoming bitter about them remaining unrequited starts to toe the line of problematic, though. Yes, Kamzin did make a few dodgy decisions and he would not be a true friend if he did not try to stop her from pointing that out. I was just a little worried about his motivation doing so might not have been 100% pure.
Overall?
I really enjoyed Even the Darkest Stars but it was not a standout read. Fawcett definitely has a talent for world-building and atmospheric writing. I loved this world, particularly its mythology and creatures. The plotline was engaging but a lot of the key scenes failed to capture the emotion of the situation. It made me feel oddly detached from the characters and their journey, which really hurt my overall enjoyment. I also thought that the incorporation of a love triangle was unnecessary and led to petty drama. lacked emotion. The ending was intense, though, so I look forward to seeing where the sequel will take these characters.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Before anything can I give the author a bazillion stars for her incredible, breath-taking writing style and brilliant dialogue (so damn sassy!).
I don't even know where to start with this book. I'm such a mess of thoughts right now. I simultaneously enjoyed this book, and thought it incredibly bland. Niklaas was an okay character, and his development across the story made me weep with joy. But Aurora? Yeah, I wasn't a massive fan. I don't think I can forgive her for some of the decisions she made. I just... gosh, they were stupid and made me furious. And on top of that, this story had an incredibly weak plot. There was a lot of travelling, but not much explanation or action - it felt like a string of Aurora and Niklaas bonding moments. I just cannot stress enough how little I knew about the world or why Aurora was being hunted by the Ogre queen. I didn't understand what ogres looked like or where meant to be or why they want Jor or Aurora. The world had a rich, thought-out history but it didn't fit into the story well. I was floundering try to keep up with everything, and still have a billion questions afterwards. The Queen felt like an incredibly underdeveloped, underwhelming character... and somewhat convenient. The ending, just no... I just... nope. Again, underwhelming. I don't ship the characters. I thought the ending was too easy and a little anticlimactic. This world had a lot of potential. I enjoyed Niklaas' character, but its potential wasn't reached. At all, IMO.
I think I have to say I prefer the author other book, Of Beast and Beauty. I wish I would have loved this more than I did. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading it - it was fun, no doubts - but I had so many problems with it.
Recommend for fans of: [b:Passenger|20983362|Passenger (Passenger, #1)|Alexandra Bracken|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1446749751s/20983362.jpg|40360384], [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810], [b:Poison Study|60510|Poison Study (Study, #1)|Maria V. Snyder|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388519019s/60510.jpg|1180409]
Before anything can I give the author a bazillion stars for her incredible, breath-taking writing style and brilliant dialogue (so damn sassy!).
I don't even know where to start with this book. I'm such a mess of thoughts right now. I simultaneously enjoyed this book, and thought it incredibly bland. Niklaas was an okay character, and his development across the story made me weep with joy. But Aurora? Yeah, I wasn't a massive fan. I don't think I can forgive her for some of the decisions she made. I just... gosh, they were stupid and made me furious. And on top of that, this story had an incredibly weak plot. There was a lot of travelling, but not much explanation or action - it felt like a string of Aurora and Niklaas bonding moments. I just cannot stress enough how little I knew about the world or why Aurora was being hunted by the Ogre queen. I didn't understand what ogres looked like or where meant to be or why they want Jor or Aurora. The world had a rich, thought-out history but it didn't fit into the story well. I was floundering try to keep up with everything, and still have a billion questions afterwards. The Queen felt like an incredibly underdeveloped, underwhelming character... and somewhat convenient. The ending, just no... I just... nope. Again, underwhelming. I don't ship the characters. I thought the ending was too easy and a little anticlimactic. This world had a lot of potential. I enjoyed Niklaas' character, but its potential wasn't reached. At all, IMO.
I think I have to say I prefer the author other book, Of Beast and Beauty. I wish I would have loved this more than I did. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading it - it was fun, no doubts - but I had so many problems with it.
Recommend for fans of: [b:Passenger|20983362|Passenger (Passenger, #1)|Alexandra Bracken|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1446749751s/20983362.jpg|40360384], [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810], [b:Poison Study|60510|Poison Study (Study, #1)|Maria V. Snyder|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388519019s/60510.jpg|1180409]