Tag: YA fantasy
A Darkness at the Door cover reveal!
If you’re familiar with me through my blog or social accounts, you know I’m an Intisar Khanani super fan. As such, I could not be more excited for her next book release in the Dauntless Path series, A Darkness at the Door! I’m fortunate to be a part of her latest cover reveal by the excellent Jenny Zemanek (who has done all of her indie covers, too) at Seedlings Design Studio.
For those not familiar with the series, it begins with a goose girl retelling in Thorn (read my review here), then continues Princess Alyrra’s story in a really interesting way. With new protagonist Rae, the series delves into the social problems of Menaiya and its missing children in The Theft of Sunlight.
The Dauntless series…
- has disability rep through Rae
- reps middle eastern culture and peoples through its kingdom and Menaiyan characters
- deals with abusive families through Alyrra
- is full of sweet romance (and a somewhat star-crossed one with Rae and thief Bren)
- draws from real life to bring attention to human trafficking in The Theft of Sunlight (and undoubtedly in A Darkness at the Door)
- has tons of action and cool, interesting magic…
- …yet none of the MCs have it! So well executed
- all have 4 🌟 or higher ratings from me
At the moment, Intisar Khanani is also running a Kickstarter for the audiobook and special edition hard cover of A Darkness at the Door, and the gift swag is gorgeous! You can find the campaign here.
So, without further ado…
Coming July 22, 2022 from Hot Key
Preorder here
Publisher’s description:
The truth I carry can’t be allowed to die . . .
Only Rae knows how deep the corruption at the heart of her kingdom runs. Imprisoned on a slave ship, she effects a harrowing escape – but her freedom comes with the weight of dangerous debts and terrifying magic. Now, to free her land from the growing darkness, Rae will need every ally she can find, including Bren, the thief who may have stolen her heart. But Bren is hiding his own bloody secrets, and the curses that encircle Rae have sunk their claws into her mind.
While the truth could save Rae’s kingdom, it might destroy her first.
To learn more about this author, visit booksbyintisar.com.
Crown of Midnight review
For my review of Throne of Glass #1, click here.
Did you love Throne of Glass? In this Crown of Midnight review, we’ll take a look at how the tone of the series majorly shifts in book two of the series.
The legend of unparalleled assassin Celaena Sardothien continues with a double dose of revenge, intrigue and romance.
Crown of Midnight finally gives us glimpses of Celaena’s life before she was captured and taken to Endovier. Though still spare with details of her past, Celaena shows more of her hidden abilities and becomes emotionally vulnerable. Stuck doing the evil king’s bidding, she is stagnant in other ways, too: BFF Nehemia is angry she won’t do more to stop him, and Celaena only knows how to work in the shadows.
I thought the romance, grief and anger unfolded beautifully from Celaena’s perspective. Dorian’s POV becomes more of a placeholder and Chaol sometimes verges on bland (for a captain of the guard, the dude needs some backbone), but Celaena (and her sharp new frenemy Mort) shines as she struggles to solve more supernatural riddles. It’s an exceptional second book.
My rating:
5/5
To learn more about this author, visit sarahjmaas.com.
Skin of the Sea review
African mermaids and dragons, mythological odysseys and mortals versus the gods, oh my! In this Skin of the Sea review, I delve into this spectacular book (and what other popular YA fantasy I’d compare it to).
In case you thought epic mythological adventures only happened in ancient Rome and Greece, Natasha Bowen is here to set the record straight. Bowen throws down the gauntlet with the Yoruba legends-based Skin of the Sea, an action tale of an unwittingly disobedient mermaid who must set things right.
At it’s core, Skin of the Sea is a story of love, sacrifice and forgiveness. It’s also an odyssey full of mythological creatures from Nigeria and beyond. (Note: Bowen’s inspiration is discussed at the end of the book and should not be missed). With the help of humans she can’t fully trust (and one she’s almost instantly drawn to), Simi must seek forgiveness from the supreme deity for interfering in human affairs. Unfortunately for Simi, an embittered trickster-slash-messenger god stands in her way.
This wonderful book has beautiful writing and true heart. Though it’s not for those who prefer a tidy ending (book two can’t come fast enough!), it should be required reading for mythology fans. Anyone who loved Six Crimson Cranes should likewise pick up Skin of the Sea.
My rating:
5/5
For more on this author, visit natashabowen.com.
Protected: The Fishermen’s Princess Chapter Ten
Protected: The Fishermen’s Princess Chapter Nine
Only a Monster review
This one is for fantasy, romance and time travel fans. This Only a Monster review takes a look at the fast-paced YA fantasy by Vanessa Len, including the unusual romance and the one thing that might turn readers off.
This book was such an unexpected surprise for me! Full of heartache, adventure and moral dilemmas, Only a Monster takes its MC, Joan, from life as a history-loving teenager (admittedly, one who often reads as younger than 16) on a journey through recent history.
When one tragic night leaves Joan on the run with the strikingly dapper Aaron, it sets the stage for star-crossed but understated drama. Aaron is an Oliver and Joan is a Hunt; the two London Monster families don’t mix. Life was far simpler for Romeo and Juliet.
It was refreshing to see an earnest heroine with two love interests without a love triangle forming. In fact, all the tropes in Only a Monster are subverted. Joan has been told she’s the savior of all monsters, yet she’s clueless. The hero is the bad guy, there are gray areas galore, and destined love is all but impossible.
Fans of Claire North’s The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August and David Mitchell’s The Bone Clocks will enjoy this well-paced, heartfelt book, as will romantic fantasy fans. I’m excited to see what the rest of the series will bring.
My rating:
4.5/5
For more information on this author, visit vanessalen.com.
The Cruel Prince review
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m posting a day early with an often controversial YA romantic fantasy. Heard a lot about it and wondered whether it was for you? Read my The Cruel Prince review below.
Based on what I’d heard, I didn’t expect to like this book. A cruel love interest? Not my cup of tea. Yet I finished reading this brisk, pulls-no-punches read in about three days and snatched up book two.
The Cruel Prince is unputdownable, sometimes because of the many bad things that come MC Jude Duarte’s way (the train wreck phenomenon, if you will). Other times, it’s because it genuinely sizzles and hooks the reader. What a strangely effective mix of exciting, high-stakes plot developments and dread! Like the cruel prince himself, it’s a little bit manipulative and a lotta bit addicting.
Part of why this works is because Jude is easy to identify with. One of the few humans in fairy, she is an outsider who has a love-hate relationship with her father figure, stands up to bullies and just wants some say in her life, for crying out loud. She’s a typical teen with familiar problems, only dropped into a wicked, dangerous world where she is constantly at a disadvantage and her mortality is shoved in her face. Except for Jude, the threats she faces are nothing compared to what her protective fae father, the blood-soaked General Madoc, would do in a rage. She chooses to greet them in silence.
I don’t care for books that handle violence—especially against the weak—callously. Verging on grimdark, the casual viciousness of The Cruel Prince’s fae world was almost too dark to keep me reading. Jude’s situation feels as hopeless as it is complex, but just as she’s headed on a mission of self-destruction through challenging Cardan, the cruel prince of the title, she is offered not only agency but a real role in fairy. One that’s not “cowering human.” The way she develops saves the book from wallowing in darkness and dread, without making everything sunny or allowing her an unlikely amount of power.
The chemistry between Jude and Cardan relies on both tropes and a promise: Jude is the girl from the wrong (human) side of the tracks whom Cardan is both repulsed by and attracted to; the reader is regularly reassured that if fairy wasn’t a vile place of twisted politics and people, Cardan would be a pretty cool dude. Whether or not the last part is believable will vary by reader, but there’s real heat behind their forbidden attraction dynamic.
Like any “good girl” drawn to a “bad boy,” the fact that Cardan is an enigma leaves both Jude and the reader to imagine him as someone better than he may actually be. Knowing that Jude is not and does not wish to be the good girl (in fact, she can’t be in this unsettling interpretation of fairy, if she wants to thrive), makes it more than a little frustrating at times.
So will these two schemers learn to plot together? Or will the unwritten rules of the fae leave them plotting against one another forever? Only one thing is certain: don’t expect the answer to come anytime soon.
My rating:
4.5/5
To learn more about this author, visit blackholly.com.
Six Crimson Cranes review
Happy Lunar New Year! If you’re searching for a book with sweet romance, fairytale-style elements/curses or just love a good arranged marriage trope, read my (short!) Six Crimson Cranes review below.
The Six Crimson Cranes duology begins with Princess Shiori on the verge of marriage. She is childish and selfish, but also wise enough to know everything is changing. Much as she’d like her last year with her six brothers to be the same, each of them has moved on and is consumed by their royal duties. Which leaves Shiori available for a whole lot of trouble.
This coming of age story centers on forbidden magic, curses, a wicked stepmother and a classic hero’s journey with Shiori at its center, all with great fairytale styling. There are multiple villains, one of whom is fully fleshed out, while the rest pull a “it was me all along!” cliche before explaining their plan. It was the weakest part of an otherwise stellar, captivating novel.
Shiori’s first-person narration is captivating, fun and empathetic where it needs to be. Her sidekick Kiki is a joy and the ultimate animal sidekick (she just happens to be made of animated paper). The romance is sweet and honest, and also works into Shiori’s characters development arc. It’s a pleasure to watch this spoiled princess learn to embrace change, and I look forward to book two.
My rating:
5/5
To learn more about this author, visit elizabethlim.com.
Maiden of Candlelight and Lotuses review
Other books in this series:
Guardian of Talons and Snares
Warrior of Blade and Dusk
(Note: I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book contains brief scenes of non-consensual kissing and contact.)
Cute, swoony romance? Check. Kind, handsome prince? Check check! Serious underdog female MC with a ton of heart? Big ol’ check! All of these, plus an extremely engaging storytelling style (with plenty of action), are what made Maiden of Candlelight and Lotuses a truly entertaining, well-written book I enjoyed reading every time I picked it up.
I had a brief introduction to Anastasis Blythe’s (formerly Anastasis Faith’s) writing through free chapters of her Kindle Vella series, Guardians of Talons and Snares, which is set in the same world as Maiden of Candlelight and Lotuses. This was my first time reading a complete work by her, and I am officially a fan. Blythe excels at writing underdogs. Maiden of Candlelight and Lotuses has a plucky, compassionate heroine at its helm, and she is great fun to follow, even through the darkest parts of the Academy.
Protagonist Song Liena begins Maiden of Candlelight and Lotuses as the “half-barbarian” daughter of a poor millet-farming family in the north of Zheninghai. The Songs’ fate is tied to that of each harvest, and Liena never stops worrying about her family, long after a vision derails her trip to the matchmaker. The law requires Liena attend the national Academy for magic users, which means she has a chance to better her parents’ and grandmother’s lives.
Unfortunately for Liena, 16 is incredibly late for magic to develop, and she is more than a decade behind at the Academy. She loves learning and applies herself, but battle prowess (important for a low magic seer) is well out of her reach. The consequences of failure are huge: if expelled, Liena could end up a monster hunter, certain to meet a terrible end. When literally and figuratively warm Nianzu (and his dimples) takes an interest in her (along with mean girl Shu), Liena’s days get way more complicated, and not just because of her Magic Theory class. Nianzu is the equivalent of an ultra popular high school senior–and he’s also the Crown Prince of Zheninghai.
The world of the Zheninghai Chronicles is full of magic and mythology (protective or lucky creatures like dragons, phoenixes and qilin are fearsome monsters in Zheninghai). With its unforgiving academy for magic users, Maiden of Candlelight and Lotuses reminded me of R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War (but far less grim) combined with Tamora Pierce’s Tempests and Slaughter (but more romantic). And the romance is definitely squeal-worthy.
My one complaint is that Liena often reads as younger than 16 (prior to the end). She is sometimes described as whining or giggling, which made her sound a good bit younger to me. She also goes completely weak-kneed at the sight of Nianzu and talks herself right out of being the focus of his attention. She has a serious case of “who, me?” when it comes to the handsome prince. (On the other hand, the butcher’s boy back home didn’t notice her existence; her experience with boys is nonexistent.)
Otherwise, Blythe’s writing is smooth and descriptive. I particularly enjoyed her atmospheric similes and metaphors, like “knife-cold air” and “her mind was like a mushy bowl of rice.” She also excels at combat descriptions, never getting bogged down in minutiae that would ruin the sense of speed. Yet the scenes in which Nianzu helps her with her training are highly convincing. I felt sure the author had martial arts and self-defense experience.
This was a 5-star read for me, and I’ll be sure to dive into whatever comes next in the world of Zheninghai.
To learn more about this author (or sign up for her mailing list), visit anastasisblythe.com.