Review: Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher

Name: Paladin's Faith (The Saint of Steel #4)

Author: T. Kingfisher

Publisher: Orbit 

Date published: First published December 2023, this edition published April 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, fantasy, mystery, adventure

Pages: 480

Rating: 5/5

Marguerite Florian is a spy with two problems. A former employer wants her dead, and one of her new bodyguards is a far too good-looking paladin with a martyr complex.
Shane is a paladin with three problems. His god is dead, his client is much too attractive for his peace of mind, and a powerful organization is trying to have them both killed.
Add in a brilliant artificer with a device that may change the world, a glittering and dangerous court, and a demon-led cult, and Shane and Marguerite will be lucky to escape with their souls intact, never mind their hearts… 

- From Goodreads. 

Once again I am impressed that all the books in this series have the same feeling of being a comforting and entertaining fantasy romance, whilst also managing to have such different plots. All the stories go in such different directions and have distinct characters, while also having a similar tone, humour and feel-good message that keeps the series cohesive and still feeling like there is an overarching plot that flows well between books.

This book really set up a lot for the rest of the series and I am very excited to see how it continues, both for the romantic stories between the new couples, and for the wider fantasy plot. There are just always so many fascinating details that make the world fully realised and such an interesting setting for the characters' stories to take place in.

I loved the two main characters in this story, Marguerite and Shane. It was wonderful to see Marguerite again and learn more about her after briefly meeting her in the first book, and I think she worked well opposite Shane, who, like all the other paladins so far, was very compelling and sympathetic. I also thought it was fun that he was especially good at the "paladin voice", and how that came to be significant in the plot at the end.

I really recommend this series, it's a wonderful balance of clever fantasy plot, brilliant humour, a little touch of horror, and really lovely romance. I'm so looking forward to the rest of the books in this series, and more from T. Kingfisher in general. 

BOOKS | Review: Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan

Name: Jade Fire Gold

Author: June C.L. Tan

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Date published: November 2024

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, adventure

Pages: 464

Rating: 3/5 

 

Her destiny. His revenge.
In an empire on the brink of war...
Ahn is no one, with no past and no family.
Altan is a lost heir, his future stolen away as a child.
When they meet, Altan sees in Ahn a path to reclaiming the throne. Ahn sees a way to finally unlock her past and understand her lethal magical abilities.
But they may have to pay a far deadlier price than either could have imagined.

- From Goodreads. 

This had a lot of potential and I did enjoy reading it, especially in the beginning, but I think I struggled with the pacing and the way the plot unfolded. There were a lot of plot threads that were only touched on briefly that I thought could have been explored more, but since this seems to be a stand-alone for now, we won't get to find out any more about them.

I did like our two main characters, but I felt Jin had a stronger personality and journey, while with Ahn I felt like the writing for her wasn't so certain and it felt like we needed more time to really understand who she was and what she wanted. It also felt like we spent a lot of time on the build up of the romance between them, for it not to really get anywhere, and I think the romance storyline could have been stronger, if the author had really committed to making this a really powerful love story between them, either that or made it two books and built up the friendship in the first book and focused on the romance in the second book.

The world-building had a lot of interesting elements, once again that I think would have been fascinating to explore more if there had been more time, it felt like there was a lot more depth to the world that we didn't get to see and that could have been intriguing to learn more about.

Overall, I think the premise and the ideas in the story were great, but it was a bit disappointing that the story didn't live up to its potential when it could have been really great if there had been more follow-through on the things it set up. 

BOOKS | Review: The High Lord by Trudi Canavan

Name: The High Lord (The Black Magician trilogy #3)

Author: Trudi Canavan 

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: Originally 2004, Illumicrate edition 2023

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, adventure

Pages: 647

Rating: 3/5

This review contains moderate spoilers.

In the city of Imardin, where those who wield magic wield power, a young street-girl, adopted by the Magician's Guild, finds herself at the centre of a terrible plot that may destroy the entire world...
Sonea has learned much at the magicians' guild and the other novices now treat her with a grudging respect. But she cannot forget what she witnessed in the High Lord's underground room - or his warning that the realm's ancient enemy is growing in power once more. As Sonea learns more, she begins to doubt her guildmaster's word. Could the truth really be as terrifying as Akkarin claims, or is he trying to trick her into assisting in some unspeakably dark scheme?

- From Goodreads.

The story was very exciting, I was not sure what was going to happen and just had to keep reading, I couldn't predict anything!

The scenes where they were hunting the enemy in the city and had to make their way through all the different areas, using the tunnels and hidden passageways was very fun and thrilling to read.

I was happy that we got more of Tayend and Dannyl together, but it was a little disappointing we did not get to see more of their developing relationship, or more moments of them together, to see their romantic moments.

I was left feeling dissatisfied by the ending, although the final showdown did have great drama to it, it could have felt a little more epic and I was not happy about the deaths at the end. Of course with it being fantasy and everyone in such danger, I did expect some death, and there were some deaths I could accept (although sadly of course since I was attached to and invested in a lot of the characters), there was one in particular I don't think was the right choice. It did not give a satisfying conclusion to the character's story arc and I felt like there had not been enough leading up to it. I also felt it was not a very satisfying ending for Sonya, who I really loved, I wanted more of how she was feeling and what she was going through at the end, and it felt strangely distanced from her in the last couple of chapters, given that she had been such an important main character throughout the series and we had seen a lot of the story through her thoughts and feelings previously. I am glad she got her wish of things becoming more equal in the city by the end and better treatment for the poorer classes, and a less elitist guild and university, but I think there could have been better ways to reach that ending.

I was excited and thrilled the whole time I was reading, there was some great action, and development in characters (I enjoyed learning more about Akkarin and his backstory and seeing how his and Sonea's relationship changed over time) but the end unfortunately didn't really have the impact and closure I was hoping for.

BOOKS | Review: The Novice by Trudi Canavan

Name: The Novice (The Black Magician trilogy #2)

Author: Trudi Canavan 

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: Originally 2004, Illumicrate edition 2023

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, adventure

Pages: 581

Rating: 5/5

This review contains minor spoilers.

Imardin is a city of dark intrigues and deadly politics, where those who wield magic wield power. Into this established order has blundered a young street-girl with extraordinary magical gifts. Adopted by the Magicians' Guild, her life is changed forever - but for better or for worse?
Sonea knew that she'd face a tough time training within the Magicians' Guild but she little realised the level of animosity she would face from her fellow novices. The sons and daughters of the most powerful families in the realm, her classmates seem determined to see her fail - at whatever cost. But in accepting the protection of the guild's high lord, Sonea may have embraced an even bleaker fate. For High Lord Akkarin harbours a secret that is far darker than his magician's robes.

- Goodreads.

This book had a very exciting storyline, I got more and more invested as the story went on as the mysteries were all very intriguing and I found the last few chapters especially thrilling! I can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens.

The descriptions were all very well written, I could always picture each scene easily and what was happening in each one was clear. The descriptions of the scenery were always lovely, and especially interesting as we got to travel to different countries in this book through one of the perspectives and it was fun to see what the other places in the world were like and how they differed from the setting of the first book.

I was not sure I would enjoy both perspectives but I found both really compelling. Dannyl's travels and discoveries were fascinating to read about and I thought the way he discovered new things about himself and realised the effects of what had happened to him at the Guild in the past was all very well done and I really felt the emotions he was going through. I also really loved Tayend who he travelled with, he was such a sweet character and the relationship that slowly began to develop between them was wonderful. I hope we will seem more of them together in the next book.

Sonea's perspective was also interestig to read as she figured out how to navigate life in the guild and deal with the judgement from everone there, especially Regin who was well written to be absolutely awful! I definitely admired Sonea for taking everything that was done to her and learning to be stronger and not giving up. I am looking forward to seeing more of her journey in the third book.

The mysterious High Lord was also very compelling in this book and it was exciting to see more of him and learn a little bit more about him, and to see the mystery deepen as even more questions about him were raised. I will also be curious to see what the dynamic between him and Sonea is like in the next book and how it changes.

Obviously I really enjoyed this book and am very excited to continue onto the next one! I was nervous it might not live up to the first one and I might not love it as much, but it did not let me down and it was definitely just as good!

BOOKS | Most Anticipated New Books of 2024

Here are ten of the books I am most anticipating that are releasing this year!

1. The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

Expected publication 5th March 2024

Elhame #5,  The Stolen Heir Duology #2

An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, should Oak attempt to regain the trust of the girl he's always loved, or remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign - even if it means ending Wren, too...
With war looming and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak's guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. He will have some terrible choices to make.

- Goodreads.

I still need to read The Stolen Heir, but I am hoping to read it soon so that as soon as The Prisoner's Throne comes out I can get straight into it and find out what happens next in this series. I really loved The Folk of the Air trilogy so I have been really looking forward to finding out what happens next with the characters, it certainly seems like Holly Black has lots of dramatic reveals and plots twists in store!

2. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandana

Expected publication 12th September 2024

Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guest’s shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.
When she learns about an old spell book that could hold the secret to restoring her power, she finds herself turning to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous and icy historian who might be the only person who can help her unlock the book’s mysteries. The fact that he also happens to be her one-night stand from years ago is totally irrelevant.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and trying not to fall in love is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

- Goodreads.

I absolutely adored Sangu Mandana's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and this sounds like it will be another wonderful cosy fantasy romance with some charming humour and loveable characters, so I am very excited for this one!

3. A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Published 4th Jauary 2024

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more - until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible. 

- Goodreads.

I enjoyed reading both Down Comes the Night and A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft, so I think I should enjoy this next book from her too! This one sounds like it will be another well written romance with some intriguing drama, and I am curious to see how the plot plays out.

4. A Dawn with the Wolf Knight by Elise Kova 

Expected publication 1st August 2024 

Married to Magic #5

To enter the woods as a human is death... But I am no mere human. They call me, "witch."
As one of the last surviving witches, her sole duty was to keep the protective barriers on the forests where the lykin roam - creatures who can shed flesh for fur. But when she has a magical encounter with the rare, primordial spirit of the moon, she’s taken to the magical land of Midscape and claimed by the Wolf King as his bride.
But the king’s blisteringly handsome knight who’s now her sole protector has other ideas...

- Goodreads.

I really liked the first three books in the Married to Magic series, my favourite being the first, A Deal with the Elf King, so I hope I will enjoy this next one, and the fourth one that was released last year that I still need to read, A Duet with the Siren Duke, as much as I did the first one. I think the world of this series is really interesting and I always think the concept of each book is really fun. 

5. The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers 

Expected publication 25th January 2024

Curses are made to be broken.
For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor is a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never grows sick - and never forgives a debt.
Ten years ago, Violet Everly's mother left, determined to break their curse, and never returned. Now Violet must find her mother, or she will be taken in her place.
To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope's quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted - and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.
Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began...

- Goodreads.

This sounds like it will be a wonderful magical adventure, with some fascinating characters, that I think I could really enjoy, and since it is a debut I am curious to see what the author's writing style is like.

6. The Darkness within Us by Tricia Levenseller

Expected publication 25th July 2024

The Shadows Between Us #2

Chrysantha Stathos has won.
By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has gathered important secrets, earned her father’s constant care, and become a wealthy duchess - all by age nineteen. Now, she is only one elderly, dying duke away from having all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.
Or so she thought.
Turns out her little sister somehow snatched the true victory away from her: Alessandra is wedding the Shadow King, the most powerful man in the world. Meanwhile, after the death of Chrysantha’s no-good, lecherous husband, a man claiming to be the duke’s estranged grandson turns up to inherit everything that should be hers.
Chrysantha is enraged. There is no way that she’s going to let some man take everything from her. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive and alluring with mysterious power... No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

- Goodreads.

When I originally read the first book, The Shadows Between Us, Alessandra's sister did not sound very likeable, so when this book was announced I was not sure how to feel about it and if I would enjoy a book from her perspective, but I enjoyed the first book a lot and I am curious enough to see what happens in this one and if I could like it, and just generally curious to see what Tricia Levenseller had in mind for what happens next in this world and it would be fun to see if any of the characters from the first book are included at all, even if it is just a mention.

7. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan

Expected publication 1st February 2024

The Celestial Kingdom #2.5

Return to the Immortal Realm, a world of gods, magic, and legendary creatures - and embark upon new adventures of valor, danger, and love.
Tales from the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories - two previously published, seven original, including the epilogue to the duology - set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.
With beautiful illustrations from Kelly Chong throughout, these wondrous tales make the perfect complement to Sue Lynn Tan’s breathtaking series.

- Goodreads.

The Celestial Kingdom duology was beautifully written and I really enjoyed the reading experience, so I am excited to read more stories from this world, which I think was wonderfully crafted. The first two books felt like an old myth so I think short stories from this world will be the perfect format for more stories from this series.

8. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Expected publication 11th July 2024

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.
She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy - and very handsome - neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks - the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.

- Goodreads.

I read and enjoyed Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst some time ago and ever since then I have been wanting to pick up another book by her, and this new book seems like the perfect opportunity to! As mentioned earlier I really loved The Very Society for Irregular Witches, and this sounds like aother cosy fantasy romance with a similar feeling to that book, so I will be looking forward to giving it a try!

9. Lore Olmpus: Volume 6 by Rachel Smythe

Expected publication 7th May 2024

Lore Olympus #6

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld - and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.
But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.
And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released...

- Goodreads.

I always have such a good time reading each volume of Lore Olympus, it always brings me such joy. Hades and Persephone and their slowly developing relationship is of course the highlight, but the other characters are so well done too, the art style is alway lovely to look at, the humour is delightful, and the plot always keeps me turning pages and wanting to find out more, so I am sure I will be picking up the next volume as soon as I have it.

10. Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek 

Expected publication 29th February 2024

Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood - the Leszy - who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return...

- Goodreads.

This book just sounds like it was made for me. It has been compared to so many of my favourite things, Howl's Moving Castle, Beauty and the Beast, authors like Margaret Rogerson, Brigid Kemmerer and V.E. Schwab, it would just be ridiculous if I did not read this.

So those are ten of the books I am most excited about that are releasing this year! In the comments below, let me know if you are also looking forward to any of these, and if there are any not on this list that you are eagerly anticipating!

BOOKS | Review: The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner

Name: The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry (Unnatural Magic series #2)

Author: C.M. Waggoner 

Publisher: Ace

Date published: January 2021

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, adventure, mystery

Pages: 371

Rating: 4/5

Hard-drinking petty thief Dellaria Wells is down on her luck in the city of Leiscourt - again. Then she sees a want ad for a female bodyguard, and she fast-talks her way into the high-paying job. Along with a team of other women, she’s meant to protect a rich young lady from mysterious assassins.

At first Delly thinks the danger is exaggerated, but a series of attacks shows there’s much to fear. Then she begins to fall for Winn, one of the other bodyguards, and the women team up against a mysterious, magical foe who seems to have allies everywhere.

- From Goodreads.

This book had quite a unique writing style and voice that took a bit of getting used to at first, but was fun and entertaining to read and gave it quite a lot of personality.

The plot was quickly paced and full of plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I could not predict what was going to happen next or where the story would end. It definitely became quite intense and dramatic towards the end and was thrilling to read, but also had quite a bit of emotion to it.

The author created a collection of very interesting and unique characters, they were all very distinct and had lively personalities.

Overall, I think it was different to anything else I have read before and I would recommend it if you're looking for a fun adventure and mystery fantasy.

BOOKS | Review: Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

Name: Heart of the Sun Warrior (The Celestial Kingdom duology #2)

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Publisher: HarperVoyager

Date published: November 2022

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, adventure, romance, mythology, retellings

Pages: 465

Rating: 4/5

This review contains moderate spoilers.

After winning her mother’s freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon, and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power.
While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation. Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would.
As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation - to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love... even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

- From Goodreads.

I did enjoy this book, but there were a few things that meant I did not love it as much as Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Some of the events that set the plot of Heart of the Sun Warrior in motion did not seem that plausible to me, I could easily believe that the Celestial Emperor would use any excuse to punish Xingyin and her mother, but her mother's actions that lead to them being unjustly punished did seem a little out of character for her, a little more naive than I expected her to be since she was mostly quite a wise character.

I definitely still felt attached to the characters, I felt very emotional when they did, and felt their pain and worry and heartbreak, some parts of the story even made me cry.

Wenzhi was a character that I found a little more frustrating in this book. I still liked him and found the dynamic between him and Xingyin interesting, especially as they became allies, but there were a few times I did not enoy reading scenes with him in. Mostly it was because it seemed like he was not always listening when Xingyin told him what she wanted or he would push a little too much against her boundaries. He never went too far but it was enough to be annoying when it did happen.

I still really loved Liwei and worried for him, and wanted him and Xingyin to be able to work things and out and end the book at a good place together.

I also still loved Xingin's character, she struggled a lot and faced a lot of difficulties, but she still managed to be brave and tried to be kind and made the choice to be caring and take the better path even when it was not easy. I really liked that the author showed how difficult it was for her to be brave and keep going, to be heroic even when it was really hard and terrifying, even when she did not want to do something because she was scared, she did it anyway because she knew she needed to.

I did begin to miss the plot of the first book, the episodic storytelling style that slowly built to the more thrilling climax. This book in comparison had a more fast paced plot throughout, which was not really a fault of the book as it was a sequel that followed on from the first book, so it was propelled forward by the events of that book and could not slow back down. It was still well-plotted and the lovely writing style was still there, but the plot of the first book was just something I really enjoyed so I did miss it while I was reading this one.

I felt a bit conflicted about the ending, I was definitely happpy with some of it, I think the villain was defeated in a satisfying way and I was glad some of the characters I loved survived and found peace, but other parts of it were not as satisfying and I am still not sure how I feel about them. I was glad we saw Xingyin taking time to heal and recover at the end, as it felt realistic that she would be so effected by everything and even if I was not sure how I felt about how it all wrapped up, I was glad to see Xingyin finding happiness.

BOOKS | Review: Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Name: Daughter of the Moon Goddess (The Celestial Kingdom duology #1)

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Publisher: HarperVoyager

Date published: January 2022

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, retellings, mythology, adventure

Pages: 512

Rating: 5/5

This review contains mild spoilers.

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.
Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.
To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream - striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

- From Goodreads.

I had a really enjoyable time reading this book. The writing style and pacing really fit with the retelling genre as it really felt like being told an old story from mythology. I liked how at first we were told smaller stories of the journey that Xingyin was on and then these smaller parts all started to build together towards a larger epic climax that was so exhilarating to read.

It was wonderful to follow Xingyin as the main character, she was so kind-hearted and thoughtful. I liked how she always tried to learn from every experience she went through and was aware of herself and both her her flaws and her strengths. She never wanted to hurt someone just because they had hurt her and I admired her strength and determination for getting through to the end.

The other characters were well written too, they were all interesting and multi-dimensional, Liwei was especially a favourite. He had a lot of heart and charm and I loved his relationship with Xingyin and how tender their feelings for each other were.

Captain Wenzhi was also an interesting character that was introduced a little later on. I do not usually like love triangles but I felt it was done well here because it was still focused on Xingyin and her story and what each person meant to her and it was always about her choices and what it would mean for her journey. I also liked how it resolved, it was a surprising twist but it worked well and still gave the characters plenty of depth.

The plot in general had quite a few surprises and was exciting to read. The action scenes were all gripping and the emotional ones really had me feeling for the characters. I felt very immersed in the world and there were a lot of beautiful descriptions of some really incredible places.

Overall, I had a really lovely time reading this book, it made me feel nostalgic for reading myths when I was younger and I really felt connected to the characters. I will definitely be reading the sequel and more from the author in general.

BOOKS | Review: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Name: Poison Study (Poison Study series #1, The Chronicles of Ixia series #1)

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Publisher: Mira Books

Date published: September 2007

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, adventure

Rating: 4/5

Choose:

A quick death

Or slow poison...

Yelena has a choice – be executed for murder, or become food taster to the Commander of Ixia. She leaps at the chance for survival, but her relief may be short-lived.

Life in the palace is full of hazards and secrets. Wily and smart, Yelena must learn to identify poisons before they kill her, recognise whom she can trust and how to spy on those she can’t. And who is the mysterious Southern sorceress who can reach into her head?

When Yelena realises she has extraordinary powers of her own, she faces a whole new problem, for using magic in Ixia is punishable by death...

- From Goodreads.

Poison Study was an incredibly exciting and intense adventure with plenty of different plot threads weaving together that kept me turning the pages, invested in finding out what would happen next.

I thought the world was built well, the country it was set in, its history and politics all felt real and interesting to unravel and come to understand over the course of the story. I enjoyed the descriptions of the settings and felt they added to the mood and atmosphere of the story well.

My favourite part of the story was definitely the characters. Yelena was a great main character to follow as I loved seeing her grow and learn throughout the novel, and I thought her conflict and pain over her past and her struggles to feel strong despite that were very endearing. I also really enjoyed her dynamic and interactions with Valek, who was a very intriguing character, and I always looked forward to seeing him in a scene and seeing what he would do.

The side characters in the story were also well written, all of them engaging, whether they were likeable or hateful, they definitely added to the story and gave it plenty of depth.

One of the things that did take me out of the flow of the story once or twice was the writing of the action scenes, which I did not always find easy to follow or to picture in my mind, but this did not lessen my enjoyment too much and I am hopeful it could improve in the other books in the series, which I absolutely plan on reading.

Another thing I should mention is that this book does deal with some more serious topics, such as abuse and sexual assault. In general I felt this was dealt with carefully, but there were a couple of small scenes I felt unsure about and that were certainly not easy to read, so if that is something that could upset you, I would be cautious when reading this book.

Overall it was a really great book that was very quick to read as I was enjoying my time with it and was very invested with finding out how it would end. I became quite attached to the characters I liked and will certainly be reading on in the series to find out what happens to them all. I recommend this if you like the politics and danger of books like The Cruel Prince and the world building of something like Shadow and Bone.

BOOKS | Review: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Name: Crooked Kingdom (Grishaverse series #5, Six of Crows series #2)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Orion's Children's Books

Date published: This edition September 2019, first published September 2016.

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, adventure, romance

Pages: 544

Rating: 5/5

Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

- From Goodreads.

Crooked Kingdom was an incredible follow up to Six of Crows with a exciting plot that kept me invested the whole way through.

The way the emotional journeys of each character developed and wrapped up felt well done to me, and towards the end I found myself quite surprised by how much I reacted to the events and conclusions to the stories. I especially enjoyed Kaz and Inej's developments and how they reacted to each other and helped each other.

I also enjoyed the more in-depth exploration of Ketterdam, since in the first book the main heist took place outside of the city, it was interesting to see more of the place that meant so much to the characters and see it really become its own character. It was so detailed and well built, it felt like such a real place.

The little hints and references to the first trilogy in this series and the characters included from those books were exciting to see and well placed. They felt like they were included with good reason and because they needed to be, not just for the sake of it. Some of the small references even made me a little emotional.

Just as with Six of Crows, although a lot of the plot seemed to be set out in front of you because you knew what heist or plan or trap the characters needed to pull off, the plot still managed to be full of interesting twists and turns that were not expected and kept me wanting to read onto the ending to find out how everything resolved and what tricks the characters had up their sleeves.

Overall this was a fantastic book that was a great addition to the universe of the series in general and a great wrap up to the Six of Crows duology. It was intense and emotional and heart-breaking at times, but also had some really joyful and heart-warming moments.

BOOKS | Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Name: Six of Crows (Grishaverse series #4, Six of Crows series #1)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Orion Children's Books

Date published: This edition October 2018, first published September 2015

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, adventure, romance

Pages: 494

Rating: 5/5

Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist: break into the Ice Court - a military stronghold that has never been breached - and retrieve a hostage whose knowledge could change Grisha magic forever. To succeed would mean riches beyond his wildest dreams - but he can't pull it off alone . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Together they might just be unstoppable - if they don't kill each other first.

- From Goodreads.

Six of Crows was a thrilling story from start to finish, full of mystery and adventure and intriguing and complex characters.

The plot never ceased to be exciting and made for a very addictive storyline to follow. There were some parts where it was a little difficult to understand what was happening, but that definitely heightened the atmosphere of the mystery, and mostly everything was explained later so you could look back and realise what had been happening.

All of the characters had plenty of depth, and the way Leigh Bardugo slowly revealed information about all of them through their different perspectives was quite clever and made me very emotionally invested. I was worried I might not be as invested in all of the perspectives but I found them all interesting and Bardugo managed to give them all distinct points of view, even though it was written in third person.

Although it feels like quite a different book to the three books of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, it still fits into the series well and extends the world in a fascinating way, telling us about different parts of the world we first started learning about in that trilogy whilst also showing us how the world is carrying on after what happened in those books.

Overall this was a really brilliant book that had me very excited to read the sequel, Crooked Kingdom. The characters were compelling and made me want to keep following them to see how their journey continued, the plot was thrilling and full of well-written twists, and the world felt immersive and fit-to-burst with intriguing details. I definitely recommend it for anyone who read the Grisha trilogy and wants to see more from the world.

BOOKS | Review: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

 Name: Ruin and Rising

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Square Fish

Date published: June 2017

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance, adventure

Pages: 417

Rating: 4/5

This review contains major spoilers.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for. 

- From Goodreads.

The continued worldbuilding in Ruin and Rising was inventive and I was always fascinated to learn more about the world. The descriptions of setting and places and the technology and architecture was always interesting to read. I thought the author was very creative when inventing new parts of her world.

I loved the power struggle between Alina and the Darkling, how their interactions played out and built up in tension. Their relationship was written so well and was so engaging to read. The build up over the three books of the war between them really came to a point in this book and was very satisfying to read.

Something else I liked was that Alina made firm friends and made herself a sort of found family within her allies. It was something more light within the darker moments of the book, and I enjoyed reading about it.

However, I still did not really enjoy Alina's relationship with Mal, although he had improved from the last book, I still did not feel the desire for them to be together and thought they might have been better as friends. I did not like that Mal often seemed to make decisions for her, Alina should have been able to make more decisions for herself. Often it felt like she was pulled and pushed around when she should have had more opportunities to make her own choices. The emphasis on their relationship made it feel like Alina deciding what she would do after everything was over depended on who she would end up with, which cheapened the grander story and themes slightly, and I think it would have been better if the decision was more about what she wanted to be after the war and what kind of life she might make for herself. I would not have minded if she did end up with someone romantically, but with Mal it just felt a little forced. 

I also did not like that Alina was still made to feel like her power was bad, even when it meant so much to her. I liked that she had great power, and although I knew it was important that she did not go too far with it, I did not like the black and white nature of the implication that she would either become a villain like the Darkling or become powerless, there did not seem to be much chance for her to find a place somewhere in between.

It did not make sense to me that Mal was the third amplifier. The other amplifiers were great mythical creatures, so the fact that a person was one just felt strange and out of place. Although it was explained, it still felt like a circle had not been completed properly. Perhaps he could have had the ability to amplify, like how one of the Darkling's skills was to amplify other people's power, but it just did not fit for me that Mal was supposed to be an amplifier like the other creatures. Maybe I am biased because I am not fond of Mal as a character or love interest, but it still just seemed like it should have been the firebird to me. I did not really enjoy the way the story focused on the amplifiers generally in the book, as I found the other aspects of the story more interesting. Aspects like the dynamic between Alina and the Darkling, Alina developing as a character, resisting the pull towards the dark and learning to use her power, coming into her own, learning from people like the Darkling and Nikolai, but learning to make the most of her own strengths too, to become a wise, powerful and good person on her own, and I wish Leigh Bardugo had focused more on those. The story should have been about Alina, and I felt like towards the end it focused too much on Mal when it did not feel like it was meant to be his story.

While I did not like everything that happened and was not satisfied with every part of the ending, it was still enjoyable to read, the writing style was exciting, the plot made for a very addictive story, and I would probably happily read the book and series as a whole again. The ending was well-plotted and while I was not completely happy with how everything wrapped up, did not like everything that happened and would have liked some things to be done differently, it was clearly planned out well and well written. 

BOOKS | Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Name: Siege and Storm

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Square Fish

Date published: June 2017

Genre: Fiction, young adult, romance, fantasy, adventure

Pages: 435

Rating: 4/5

This review contains mild spoilers.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

- From Goodreads.

Siege and Storm was a great continuation of the story started in Shadow and Bone. The worldbuilding continued to be fascinating to read, the world felt very real and it was easy to become immersed in it. I think Leigh Bardugo has done a great job of creating a world that I will continue to be excited to read stories about.

One thing I did not enjoy about the story was Alina and Mal's relationship. Alina often felt inadequate when she was with Mal, and seemed to believe she was not good enough for him. I could not really understand or root for their relationship when I felt like Alina always felt worse about herself when she was with him, and when he often slipped into bad behaviour and got angry with her for things that were not her fault, or were out of her control. He did have some good qualities and of course he was not a truly evil person, but I just could not enjoy their relationship when it seemed like she would be happier by herself or with someone else. 

It also did not sit right with me that Mal did not like Alina's power. While it was good he did not want her to lose control or to become too greedy, it seemed like her power was just as much a part of her as any other part, and if he did not like it then he did not really love her. Using her power made her healthier and happier, and when he acted like it was a bad thing that she used it and enjoyed using it, it just made him seem envious and unsupportive and it did not help me like him. It made Alina physically unwell to deny that part of her, her powers, and when she accepted that part of herself and loved it, all Mal wanted was for it to be gone. He wanted her to go back to being the girl she was at the start, but she was not happy back then. She was good at being a leader and using her powers, but he wanted to take that away from her. I understood that he was struggling to find his place, but he could not seem to feel happy for her when she was happy, and it just made him seem too selfish. Alina often felt bad for how Mal felt at the palace, but she had gone to the palace to try and fix things and do good by leading the Grisha, and it seemed like he had never felt bad whenever she had felt out of place or like she did not belong. It just never seemed like their relationship was balanced or equal.

It just kept feeling like Mal and Alina were meant to go on different paths in life and like they were not meant to end up together. They argued so much and never seemed to come to an understanding. Ultimately, all this meant that I just could not love Mal like Alina apparently did, so I could not root for their relationship, and that was really the one thing in the book that fell flat for me. 

However, I did enjoy reading Alina's relationships with other characters, the interactions and dialogue were written well, and I especially enjoyed the moments between her and Genya, her and Sturmhond, and her dynamic with the Darkling continued to be engaging and thrilling.

I enjoyed the way Alina's struggle with the dark was written, how she was sometimes overcome by her powers, how it was shown that she was affected by what had happened between her and the Darkling and what had happened on the Fold. I think it felt very real that she was not completely fine after everything that had happened to her so far and Leigh Bardugo wrote that in a very compelling way that made Alina feel very relatable and strong to get through everything that she did. I really think the author played well with the idea of Alina struggling with a slippery slope into darkness, how she could easily go the same way as the Darkling, descending slowly into the desire for power. But her struggle with that and her determination to fight against it was what showed her strength and good heart.

I really enjoyed the middle of the book, the political manoeuvres, Alina learning how to lead and work with people, and her discussions with Nikolai. I thought it was all very intriguing and very enjoyable to read. The ending was also very thrilling, incredible and epic, and left me eager to read Ruin and Rising. 

BOOKS | Review: Between by L.L. Starling

 Name: Between

Author: L.L. Starling

Publisher: Wicked Fable Press

Date published: October 2020

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, adventure, romance

Pages: 737

Rating: 5/5

A bewitching, fiendishly funny cautionary tale about the perils of gatecrashing fairy tale kingdoms - particularly ones with drunken unicorns, bored dragons, and sorcerers in tight, leather pants.

Sasha Pierce hasn’t had a single dream since she was a child…

... until she accepts a substitute teaching position in the charmingly witchy village of Old Middleton. Her first dream in twenty-five years ought to be enchanting, but her wonder quickly turns to shock when she realizes that it’s not a dream at all, but an entirely different sort of magic. Catapulted into the fairy tale kingdom of Between through an ancient portal, Sasha’s astonishment is swiftly upgraded to panic when she accidentally performs a supposedly impossible feat and is declared the True Queen of Between… and betrothed to its infuriatingly handsome sorcerer-king.

Lorn, Shadow King of Between, is desperate to break free from Between’s clutches. Magically tethered to the ramshackle kingdom, he wages a daily battle to save his disreputable subjects from rampaging magical creatures, sinkholes, and catastrophes of the distressingly lethal variety. To avoid an early grave, he needs an escape plan, not a wife... until he learns that this magicless mortal holds the key to his freedom.

Unwilling to leave her world to accept the crown - or the husband - Sasha must race against the clock to disentangle herself from this fairy tale. But her empty throne leaves a dangerous rift between their worlds. As dark forces descend upon Old Middleton, the two must make a choice: work together or unleash fairytale chaos upon their realms.

Between is the spellbinding first novel in The Chronicles of Between fantasy series. Filled with feisty, fairytale-savvy heroines, swoon-worthy sorcerers, slow burn romance, morose minotaurs, and bawdy witches it’s a laugh-out-loud fairy tale romp.

- From Goodreads.

I completely adored this book. The sense of humour was just wonderful, the adventure and magic in the story were just brilliant, and the characters were immediately loveable. I was so excited to keep reading and sad when it was over because I just wanted more of this story and the characters, even though the book was already over 700 pages. Between was just fantastic and I smiled the whole time I was reading it.

I enjoyed both of the two perspectives. The first half is from Sasha's perspective and the second half is from the Shadow King's perspective, and since Sasha is from the human world and her perspective is first, it makes it easier to learn about the world and to understand what is happening because you as the reader are learning along with Sasha. That means that by the time you reach the king's perspective you already have a basic understanding of the events so reading what happens from his viewpoint is not overwhelming or confusing.

The illustrations were magnificent, drawn in such a unique style, and were a brilliant addition to the story. They really brought the scenes to life and made each moment they illustrated even more delightful.

I really loved each moment between Sasha and the Shadow King. They had such a fun dynamic and the two of them beginning to grow to care for each other was so compelling to read about. I am really looking forward to reading about the development of their relationship and their continuing journey together in the next book.

This was just a truly brilliant book that just made me so happy. If you liked the movie Labyrinth or Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, then I think you will really love this too. It has humour, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion and I think it has easily become a favourite of mine.

BOOKS | Review: A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

 Name: A Conjuring of Light

Author: V.E. Schwab

Publisher: Titan Books

Date published: February 2017

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, adventure

Pages: 666

Rating: 5/5

The precarious equilibrium among the four Londons has reached its breaking point. Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic, darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire, leaving a space for another London to rise. Kell - once assumed to be the last surviving Antari - begins to waver under the pressure of competing loyalties. Lila Bard, once a commonplace - but never common - thief, has survived and flourished through a series of magical trials. But now she must learn to control the magic, before it bleeds her dry.

Meanwhile, the disgraced Captain Alucard Emery and the Night Spire crew are attempting a race against time to acquire the impossible, as an ancient enemy returns to claim a crown and a fallen hero is desperate to save a decaying world...

- From Goodreads.

A Conjuring of Light was an incredible conclusion to a fantastic series. I was emotional and enthralled for the whole book and sad for it to end because I loved the characters and world so much. 

I loved every moment between Kell and Lila, I adored their relationship and I think V.E. Schwab wrote their romance very well. I also enjoyed reading the relationship between Rhy and Alucard, especially towards the end of the book. 

Schwab continued to add more to the world and the magic system in an inventive and unique way. The world felt so real and there were so many wonderful details. I very much enjoyed exploring the world throughout the book.

Overall this was a really wonderful book that wrapped everything up well and really made my heart ache for all the characters and everything they had been through. I really loved Kell and Lila and I was so happy that they had a good ending together, even though I was sad for the things that they lost along the way. I definitely recommend this series if you are looking for an epic adventure that will give you plenty of emotional reactions.

BOOKS | Review: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

 Name: A Gathering of Shadows

Author: V.E. Schwab

Publisher: Titan Books

Date published: February 2016

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, adventure, romance

Pages: 512

Rating: 5/5

Kell is one of the last magicians with the ability to travel between parallel universes, linked by the magical city of London. It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into his possession and he met Delilah Bard. Four months since the Dane twins of White London fell, and the stone was cast with Holland's dying body back into Black London.

Now Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila. And as Red London prepares for the Element Games--an international competition of magic - a certain pirate ship draws closer. But another London is coming back to life. The balance of magic is perilous, and for one city to flourish, another must fall...

- From Goodreads. 

A Gathering of Shadows had a wonderful sense of adventure that I really loved. The magic, the travelling, the new countries and characters that were introduced, they were all such enjoyable things to read about. 

The plot was unpredictable, I had no idea what was going to happen in the story. There were plenty of twists and turns that I did not see coming, it was very exciting to read. The well-written action scenes added to the enjoyment, especially the magic battles. They were very thrilling and creative in the way they used magic. 

I grew to love Kell and Lila even more, they both have such heart, they are such good people, with flaws that only make them more real and only make me feel for them more, and they try their best to do good in the end, even if they make a few mistakes along the way, and even when they have to make sacrifices to do good. I think they have definitely become favourite characters of mine. I would have liked more time and interaction between Kell and Lila in this book, but the tension between them because of the fact that they could not interact was fun to read and it was exciting to look forward to the point when they would meet again and recognise each other.

Overall, this was an incredible sequel to A Darker Shade of Magic that really set up for what should be an amazing third and final book in the trilogy, which I hope to read soon. I think it really developed the world and characters and deepened the story, and I am looking forward to seeing how that continues in A Conjuring of Light.