I had been taking a bit of an "unofficial" break from adult high fantasy, unofficial because I hadn't really realised I'd been d4.5 stars ~ [7.97/10]
I had been taking a bit of an "unofficial" break from adult high fantasy, unofficial because I hadn't really realised I'd been doing it and maybe it was burn-out or just because I've been reading fewer books in general, but this book really awakened that bug again!
I'd seen a lot of people recommend this book for fans of the Red Rising series and I absolutely agree with that comparison... in some ways it's extremely similar and in others not at all. However, if you're a fan of Pierce Brown's epic saga then you'd be hard missed to find things you don't like about this book. However, sometimes I did find the similarities a little distracting because I kept trying to make the links in my head, which took me out of the book a bit (totally my fault and not the fault of the book itself.) I did turn out that none of those links meant anything really because Islington took these characters and this story in a direction that I didn't expect at all!
There was a bit of a small lull after the first 100 pages where it felt slightly tedious to get through, in the moment it felt like it could have been a montage, but with hindsight it did make sense as to why the author need to lay the foundation because the book really hits it's stride in part 2 onwards. It also seemed to me like there was a bit of inconsistency in the character of Vis between part 1 and part 2, however I enjoyed the Academy version of him a lot so it didn't really matter much to me in the long-run.
I really enjoyed the mystery of the overall plot and the way that character motivations always felt mysterious too. I got more and more invested as the book went on and I'm still thinking about what that ending could mean for the rest of the series! I'll definitely be reading on and greatly anticipating the sequel!...more
All that and it was a really solid wrap on the overall fae fantasy plot that we’ve seen percolate throughout the first two books. We also got to see the MCs from book 1 and 2 play key roles towards the end. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this whole trilogy and I’ll be keeping my eye on whatever Grant writes next!
Merged review:
[7.36/10]
I was liiiiiiving for the tropes in this book:
✅ Friends to lovers
✅ Bodyguard
✅ Secret yearning
✅ Only one bed
✅ Journey across land
All that and it was a really solid wrap on the overall fae fantasy plot that we’ve seen percolate throughout the first two books. We also got to see the MCs from book 1 and 2 play key roles towards the end. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this whole trilogy and I’ll be keeping my eye on whatever Grant writes next!...more
We're definitely nearing the point where I stopped keeping up-to-date with the webtoon episodes and switched to the physical ver4.5 stars ~ [8.66/10]
We're definitely nearing the point where I stopped keeping up-to-date with the webtoon episodes and switched to the physical versions, just because it's my preferred way to read graphic novels. I think the next volume will be the last reread for me and then it's all new content after that! I am excited for that new content, I but I am also getting a lot of joy out of revisiting the earlier parts of this story too. The arc of this particular volume was one I had very clear memories of because (at the time of my first read) I thought the whole Bringer of Death thing had come out of nowhere - I guess things get a little fuzzy when you're reading week-to-week because this time through I can see better how the groundwork was established for this part of the story. I like that we got some more movement in the romance between Hades and Persephone and I liked how self-aware and realistic they both were about how their relationship is progressing. I think the balance of plot versus character started to feel more cemented at this point in the story too. Also the art is still the star of the show, I truly adore the way Rachel uses different (but consistent) techniques to communicate the emotions of characters and tone of the dialogue, it really brings the story to life....more
I picked this up on a whim in a very brief visit to Waterstones purely based on the comp to Jane Eyre (a very formative book for 4.5 stars ~ [8.34/10]
I picked this up on a whim in a very brief visit to Waterstones purely based on the comp to Jane Eyre (a very formative book for me.) I love that feeling of going into a bookshop, picking up a book you've never heard of (and haven't seen anyone talk about), reading it straight away and loving it. Something that doesn't happen often the more entrenched you get in the book world. And, it might just be that I've taken a bit of a step back in the last few months, but I'm kind of shocked this book hasn't got more of a buzz around it? Jane Eyre, yes. Gothic, yes. Romantasy, yes. All very buzzy things as far as I'm concerned. I thought the writing was lovely, I really enjoyed how vital the side-characters were to the story, I thought the forbidden romance was very dreamy and the ending - quite controversial in some circles - but it really hit a sweet spot for me. Will definitely be keeping this author on my radar! ...more
This had a very slow start for me mainly because I felt like I was being bombarded with information about the world and it seeme3.5 stars ~ [6.49/10]
This had a very slow start for me mainly because I felt like I was being bombarded with information about the world and it seemed like the expectation was for me to really care about that information before the book had put in the effort to make me care about it. But, once it settled into more character-led story I was more won over. The thing I did end up caring about in this book was the (somewhat generic) romance arc (nothing new or groundbreaking here though) and I was invested in the story in the moment, but there wasn't anything about it that felt like it would stick out in my memory long-term. There is something quite derivative about the major plot beats too, and I found myself constantly thinking 'oh that happens in X book' or 'that exact line is from Y book' - so it did throw me out of the story a lot.
Structurally, I really disliked the flashback POVs - without going into spoiler territory - I felt like they completely zapped out any mystery from the overall story. From the very first flashback it was abundantly clear where this story arc was going. I think this would have been a much more successful plot point had the focus point of the tension remained in the present timeline for much longer, it felt like the author was trying to handhold the reader to make sure they felt a certain way about one character in particular. I want to be desperate to get to the reveal of this mystery, but here I was kind of ambivalent.
It is a shame that the things I didn't like about this book are the things that are my big takeaways, but I was passively entertained, so if I can hold onto that feeling up to the release of the next book, I think I will read on in the series....more
I've absolutely fallen in love with this series this year and for a year where I've not had as much time to prioritise reading, it5 stars ~ [9.13/10]
I've absolutely fallen in love with this series this year and for a year where I've not had as much time to prioritise reading, it feels good to have added some new all time favourites to my collection. ...more
A magical follow up to Belladonna that didn't quite reach the same heights as the first instalment, but it got pretty damn close4.5 stars ~ [8.87/10]
A magical follow up to Belladonna that didn't quite reach the same heights as the first instalment, but it got pretty damn close!
I really came to appreciate some of the more subtle things that Adalyn Grace is doing with this series whilst reading this book, especially in relation to the way they are exploring different approaches to well-trodden tropes.
I did like reading Bythe's POV and her struggle with coming to terms with the revelations about Signa, but I did miss the having the single POV of Signa for the whole book. I found the narrative voice a touch less absorbing and a little more discordant at times. However, I still found this compulsively readable, extremely enjoyable and unique. ...more
If anyone knows anything of my reading tastes it is that I am forever on the hunt for genre-mashing adventure romance. My favourit5 stars ~ [9.57/10]
If anyone knows anything of my reading tastes it is that I am forever on the hunt for genre-mashing adventure romance. My favourite movie of ALL TIME is The Mummy precisely because it blends all of my favourite genres into one perfect 2 hour movie. There are so many ways that that movie could have felt crowded or directionless, but the miraculous result was true pure entertainment - there's a reason it has stood the test of time.
I was starting to think that exact vibe could never be captured in book form. Yes, I've read some really good adventure romances but there was never anything that felt like it truly captured why The Mummy resonated with so many people (the closest I've come to it previously were the Veronica Speedwell books,) and that's probably because the temptation might've been to get too close to it, to the point where it began to feel too much like an imitation rather than it's own thing. However, I think you can do a mash-up of history, comedy, horror, mystery, fantasy, adventure, with the throughline connecting them all being the emotional journey of the romance whilst still telling a fresh story.
I cannot stress enough how much this book hit every mark for me. The writing was polished and the voice was so vibrant, the history was fascinating and the comedy moments were actually funny, the adventure had me on the edge of my seat and the scary moments really did spook me, the mystery was well-seeded throughout and the fantasy elements didn't feel like they came out of nowhere. But above all, the romance was deftly handled, it felt earned and left me wanting more (perfect for the first book in a series, imo!)
The characters of Ellie and Adam were definite archetypes and probably the element of the book that most closely resembles The Mummy. Their approaches to this adventure didn't surprise me in any way; she is studious, a little prickly and very new to adventuring, and he is the quintessential action-hero - a tough-shelled rule-breaker with hidden depths and a soft underbelly. Yet, these recognisable characters were the thing that immediately drew me in... the character art on the front of the book cover was the thing that made me read the blurb and ultimately buy the book. I think having that immediate recognition was the most comforting aspect of this reading experience because I felt like I knew them before I'd even started getting to know them - I was primed to have an affection for them just because they reminded me of characters I already know and love.
The greatest success of this book has to be how much the author understands rising stakes. The first action sequence is fairly early on in the book and, as the reader, we know very little about the characters and the situation they're in but we clearly understand who our heroine is, why we want her to succeed and how disappointing it would feel if she didn't succeed. The stakes at this point in the book feel relatively high but, as the plot develops from there, the author keeps building on those stakes throughout the whole book and right up until the explosive ending! The origins of the stakes are varied, some are driven from the action on the page and some are more subtle in that they come from the characters' inner emotional lives or through conflict with how the characters feel about the morals/ethics of a situation - it made the entire book feel rich and really brought it to life.
I also appreciated how much the book engaged with the topics of imperialism and colonialism. It's something that often gets swept aside in these types of stories (including The Mummy,) but there's a very 21st century lens that they're viewed through. It's important to note that this is not an own voices novel about Mesoamerican culture and it is not pretending to be. The author explores the cultural history mainly through the eyes of a white British woman and a white American man, but engages with the topics from the point of view of people understanding how their privilege and power has impacted these cultures. This could have come off as if the characters were veering into white saviour territory, but there are certain scenes within the novel that clearly depict how much these characters are still impacting these cultures even though their intentions are on the noble side. Their actions have consequences and they're not fully absolved from those consequences. I don't think it is perfect, but I do think there was an extremely delicate balancing act that needed to be performed here in order to acknowledge the atrocities without sugarcoating them whilst also keeping the reader planted in the historical period, and I think the author had a good crack at it.
I'm so excited to have randomly discovered this book in a newsletter, I'm even more excited that I loved it as much as I did and I'm dying for the sequel, which is due to be released later this year! I will definitely be shoving this book on all my reader friends as much as possible and I'm already calling this a favourite of 2024!...more
There were quite a few things about this book that I found a bit silly and there were times when I felt like I was being told abou4 stars ~ [7.46/10]
There were quite a few things about this book that I found a bit silly and there were times when I felt like I was being told about aspects of the characters' personalities that were not evident in their actions, and I did find it rather predictable. However, putting all that aside, this was extremely readable and stupidly entertaining. It doesn't require much brain power and probably relies a bit too much on your brain not being present for the majority of the read, but I'm often endlessly grateful for books that allow me to just switch off and bask in the silliness - this book was definitely that. It takes aspects of soap opera regency/georgian historical romance and combines that with a witchy game of cat and mouse, the main characters are quite bad at both of these things but the stakes did feel high and the inevitability of the outcome, quite fraught. I loved the melodrama of it all and will absolutely be seated for the sequel. ...more
I've REALLY enjoyed my time binge reading this duology back to back - it felt like the reading experiences of the old days! I did 5 stars ~ [9.07/10]
I've REALLY enjoyed my time binge reading this duology back to back - it felt like the reading experiences of the old days! I did feel a touch of whiplash with a certain character not being front and centre for the majority of the book, but I fell head over heels for the characters who stepped into the limelight. And whilst I think it was a risky move, it also kind of ended up being the perfect story structure for a duology; it made me think a lot about the purpose of a duology and why something should or shouldn't be structured in that way. I think it could have been really tempting to make this a trilogy given how popular the series is, but the POV split and the overall plot was true duology fodder.
Elm was the stand out character for me in this instalment. I liked that we got to know parts of him in the previous book and that he really got to shine in this one. He was the kind of character that I admire because he was always trying so hard to do the right and noble thing, if he was getting knocked down he'd be clambering to get back up again even if he'd just gone ten rounds with the biggest baddy. He also had a really endearing personality, some wonderful one-liners, a cheeky-chappy air about him but was very believable as a romantic hero too. An all-rounder for me!
Super impressed with this author and I can't wait to follow her into whatever she puts out next!...more
Others have said it but if you like either Diana Wynne Jones' or Hayao Miyazaki's version of Howl then you really need to meet the5 stars ~ [9.23/10]
Others have said it but if you like either Diana Wynne Jones' or Hayao Miyazaki's version of Howl then you really need to meet the hero of this book. However, if you also like the way that Katherine Arden interacts with mythology and folklore in The Winternight Trilogy and the slow-burn intimacy of the romances in Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters series and Blackthorn & Grim Trilogy, then you definitely need to check out this book.
I was swept away in this fairytale-like story from the very first page and I often found myself swooning over both the writing and the quietness of the romance. I loved the pacing alongside the plot reveals and I think they worked perfectly in tandem to make the stakes feel like they were rising at just the right point. This book had echoes of a lot of old school fantasy romance, but the voice felt fresh and relevant - it gave me a lot of hope for romantasy as a sub-genre because there's always a diamond in the rough.
Ruthless Vows was a lovely read and although it didn't quite grab me in the same way as the first book did, I still really enjoyed4 stars ~ [7.34/10]
Ruthless Vows was a lovely read and although it didn't quite grab me in the same way as the first book did, I still really enjoyed spending time with these characters again. There were a few things that felt a bit recycled, but I think that feeling was exacerbated by the duology format. Had this been one big romantic epic it would've been a triumph. I'm glad I gave Rebecca Ross another go after not getting on well with earlier books as I can see myself revisiting this series in the future. ...more
It took a little bit for me to warm up to this book, there were a few cliche YA fantasy things that feel a little overdone to me a4 stars ~ [7.03/10]
It took a little bit for me to warm up to this book, there were a few cliche YA fantasy things that feel a little overdone to me and I don't really gravitate towards books about sisters or books where a missing sibling is the catalyst for the MC's story. However, I ended up really enjoying the character dynamics and the creative additions to vampire lore that really felt like they moved both character arcs and plot arcs along. Whilst it didn't read like the most original thing, I did find it really nostalgic and I became really invested in the romance. I will definitely be reading on in the series. ...more
Competition stories are always fun to read and quite often page-turners, in the popcorn movie sense. It seemed like a bit of a t3.5 stars ~ [6.06/10]
Competition stories are always fun to read and quite often page-turners, in the popcorn movie sense. It seemed like a bit of a trend started to emerge with these type of fantasy romance books last year (see: Fourth Wing and The Serpent and the Wings of Night) and now (for me) Powerless, this is the only YA book out of these 3, but I honestly couldn't see much difference between them. It's not this book's fault that it happened to come out at a similar time when this kind of plot seemed to be ruling romantasy spaces online however, because it was the third book of it's type, I couldn't stop thinking about that Ursula K. Le Guin quote about commodified fantasy:
Commodified fantasy takes no risks: it invents nothing, but imitates and trivialises. [...] What the commodifiers of fantasy count on and exploit is the insuperable imagination of the reader, child or adult, which gives even these dead things life--of a sort, for a while.
(Edited for brevity but, I believe this is from the foreword in Tales From Earthsea)
It's a quote that makes me feel a little guilty about the types of books I sometimes enjoy, and I did really enjoy this book. I do think the criticism is a little harsh to put on this book alone. But, that didn't stop me from constantly thinking about it, didn't stop this book from the being third of it's kind in a short space of time for me and (by luck of being the third) didn't stop it from feeling like an imitation of sorts.
All this is to say, is that if the synopsis of this book sounds familiar to you and you've enjoyed books like this in the past (perhaps even the ones already mentioned) then, like me, you are probably going to get on with it quite well. There is nothing new or groundbreaking here, there were times when I felt like I was missing some key information for why the world was structured the way that it was and the characterisation of the main characters felt a bit copy/paste. But, it is entertaining and low stakes in terms of brain power and I do think there is a place for books like that - there's certainly a place in my life for them. I also don't think that romantasy should be seriously compared with other (non-romantic) sub-genres of fantasy, it belongs much more to the romance readers and because of that should probably be discounted from the same level of scrutiny that Le Guin quote is aimed at. I did contemplate not mentioning that quote at all, but the fact that I kept thinking about it is a true reflection of my experience reading this book. Honestly, I kind of wish I'd never encountered it because this is not the type of book that requires this kind of review, but here we are.
And where I end up is: books shouldn't be about gatekeeping or elitism - it's ok for them to be derivative and for me to still find them entertaining. But, the fantasy books that sill manage to invent are a rare breed and deserve the all accolades due to them....more
I love under-the-wire entries into to my favourite books of the year list, especially when it was starting to feel like I'd never 5 stars ~ [9.23/10]
I love under-the-wire entries into to my favourite books of the year list, especially when it was starting to feel like I'd never give a book 5 stars again (it's been months!)
Freya Marske really hit it out of the park with this final book in The Last Binding series! These books have always felt like a bit of a love letter to K.J. Charles - owing to the fact that Charles was one of the few authors writing this kind of queer historical fantasy caper for a long time - but I do think Marske has made an indelible mark of their own with this series because they have a very specific talent for making characters feel like members of your family. I've loved the way that Marske has explored various queer themes through each of these books, but the message that has stuck with me most is how much Marske has spotlighted the importance of community and chosen family.
Jack and Alan are my favourite couple of the series, I loved their dynamic, how they connected through Alan's fiction writing and used those stories to suss each other out. The tension between them was electric because the perceived barriers between them were all external constraints of the time period but once it was Jack understood Alan was the roman behind the stories it was like they had a window into each other's desires - a true romance of the mind before it developed into anything more intimate. And, that really is the pinnacle of a good romance story for me. ...more
This book got quite a few laughs out me to begin with because I really wasn't anticipating how unhinged the humour was going to be3 stars ~ [5.57/10]
This book got quite a few laughs out me to begin with because I really wasn't anticipating how unhinged the humour was going to be and then because I found it a little bit endearing. I was quite into it for the first third, however I think the tone and humour style wore out it's welcome quite quickly. It became repetitive to the point where you could predict the punchline and not in the fun cyclical style of a Monty Python joke. There was a huge reliance on the same kind of sexual joke, which I do find funny but not for an entire book and not when it starts to feel like sexual harassment. The things that I'd warmed to in the first instance became more annoying as the book went on. I liked the concept of the plot in the beginning, I was really intrigued about the information that Avra had stumbled upon and I was gearing myself up for a swashbuckling adventure, however the cake competition taking up the majority of the back half really lost me.
I was super excited for this book and desperately wanted to love it so I'm kind of bummed that it turned out to be a little disappointing. ...more
T.J. Klune has a bit of a habit of continuing "finished" stories and the previous standalone now becoming the Cerulean Chronicles i4 stars ~ [7.50/10]
T.J. Klune has a bit of a habit of continuing "finished" stories and the previous standalone now becoming the Cerulean Chronicles is no different. This wasn't a story that was especially needed, but I did enjoy returning to this world and its adorable characters. The plot has a few sparse reveals, but it is essentially more of the same, and for a world that has established itself as a comfort above anything else, this is very appealing. Chauncey really carried this book for me though, his naivety and innocence, coupled with the way he views everything with wide-eyed wonder are a perfect encapsulation of what these books are trying to say about childhood and our responsibilities as adults to the children in our lives, whether they're green blobby things or not. ...more
I am struggling to rate this one because I did think the writing was lovely and it was rather atmospheric at times, I found that I3 stars ~ [4.90/10]
I am struggling to rate this one because I did think the writing was lovely and it was rather atmospheric at times, I found that I wasn't really invested in the plot nor did I feel any attachment to the characters. I love Leigh Bardugo, I would count some of her books as all-time favourites, I love her writing style and think she has a really distinct voice as an author, but I don't have much to say about this one either way... a bit of a miss for me....more
Whaaaaat?! How do these books keep getting better and better? I am IN LOVE! Perfect blend of fantasy and romance and a story you can really sink your Whaaaaat?! How do these books keep getting better and better? I am IN LOVE! Perfect blend of fantasy and romance and a story you can really sink your teeth into. I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to wait for the next book! I have so many thoughts and theories! Also, Leigh <3 Ambriel 4EVA
Merged review:
Whaaaaat?! How do these books keep getting better and better? I am IN LOVE! Perfect blend of fantasy and romance and a story you can really sink your teeth into. I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to wait for the next book! I have so many thoughts and theories! Also, Leigh <3 Ambriel 4EVA...more
A wonderfully, atmospheric read with Alix E. Harrow's signature evocative writing. I did think this was going to be my final 5 star4 stars ~ [7.63/10]
A wonderfully, atmospheric read with Alix E. Harrow's signature evocative writing. I did think this was going to be my final 5 star read of the year and, whilst I really enjoyed it, it took me a while to get into the story. I kept wanting the pacing to pick up, especially when it came to Opal finding out more secrets about the house and up until the 40/50% mark this was just an average 3 star read for me. However, it really started to win me over in the back half and I became much more emotionally invested in Opal, Arthur and Jasper. I do think the reveal at the end was a little predictable and it was delivered in a bit of an info-dump way, but overall I think this was a lovely book to finish off the 2023 with. Not my favourite Harrow book but so far this author hasn't had a flop in the bunch! ...more
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