With a cast of intriguing, well-developed characters, Relic is an enjoyable read for YA fans who like their fantasy dA gritty dark fantasy for YA fans
With a cast of intriguing, well-developed characters, Relic is an enjoyable read for YA fans who like their fantasy dark. Despite not being a lover of fantasy with 1st person narration, and finding the protagonist far mopier than expected, the plot was captivating and kept me interested throughout. The explosive ending more than made up for a relatively slow start and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next installment has planned!
3.5 stars.
Merged review:
A gritty dark fantasy for YA fans
With a cast of intriguing, well-developed characters, Relic is an enjoyable read for YA fans who like their fantasy dark. Despite not being a lover of fantasy with 1st person narration, and finding the protagonist far mopier than expected, the plot was captivating and kept me interested throughout. The explosive ending more than made up for a relatively slow start and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next installment has planned!
I picked it up to help me be a better, more supportive, more understanding parent.
Instead, I am the one walking away feelThis book will change lives.
I picked it up to help me be a better, more supportive, more understanding parent.
Instead, I am the one walking away feeling more understood.
I believe every single one of the ADHD lies outlined in this book. Every single one, for as long as I can remember. But it's never made any sense.
I come from a loving, supportive environment, full of praise and encouragement. Why do I still feel like a failure? Like I'm stupid or lazy or just straight up a bad person? Why do I never feel enough?
Since reading this book, I feel like I finally have answers. I don't feel alone in my feelings, like I'm the only person who thinks everyone secretly hates them.
By searching for tools to help my son, I've also learnt how to help myself.
Full of spicy goodness and topped with cheese -- just like the best kind of comfort food!
Perfect for holidays, lazy days in bed, or when curled up onFull of spicy goodness and topped with cheese -- just like the best kind of comfort food!
Perfect for holidays, lazy days in bed, or when curled up on the couch sick like I've been. Oli and Nikos captured my heart and took me through all the same fun, drama and swoon-worthy escapades you'll find in your favourite rom-coms.
A great light read.
(I received an ARC from the authors and leave this review voluntarily)....more
The Songs of the Drowned is unlike any dark fantasy I have read before and absolutely eveMasterfully heartbreaking
O Malel, this series *destroyed* me.
The Songs of the Drowned is unlike any dark fantasy I have read before and absolutely everything I WANT to read again. Rich in lore and setting, the world is as vivid and immersive as the people who inhabit it. Stephens's character work is second to none and the emotional rollercoaster I went endured will ensure they live rent free in my head for many MANY years to come.
This series had literally everything I live for: morally grey (morally obsidian ...more
The Sword of Kaigen is a phenomenal example of indie publishing, complete with epic worldbuilding, intricate magic systems and comMasterfully original
The Sword of Kaigen is a phenomenal example of indie publishing, complete with epic worldbuilding, intricate magic systems and compelling characters.
Going into Sword of Kaigen, I was expecting a secondary fantasy world heavily inspired by feudal Japan (a la Tales of the Otori) so it was rather jarring to discover the modern, almost sci-fantasy elements of the world at large. However, as this time-forgotten pocket on the planet Duna crucially served the overall plot, any confusion was ultimately pushed aside as I immersed myself in the story.
The lore and history of Duna and its inhabitants—particularly the warriors living on The Sword of Kaigen—was richly crafted, so much so it's sad to learn that the Theonite Saga will no longer expand beyond this one book. There was so much to unpack here, from theology to politics, language to culture ... and althought it did suffer from info-dumps, Wang's writing is clear and accessible, making these heavy passages of exposition feel less dense than they actually were.
I love a good action-packed adventure so the middle section of Sword of Kaigen was an absolute horrific delight, filled with bloody battles, brutal magic and shocking grief. The build up to this mid-book climax was steady and well-conceived, hinting equally at impending doom and dangerous secrets that inventiably tore the characters' lives apart.
With the height of action confined to the middle of the book, we're left with a slow burn resolution as the characters deal with the aftermath of the climax and unpack the resulting trauma. While this works very well in the book, and I understand Wang's decision to structure the story this way, I was left hanging for a second wave of action. While there are a few small tension spikes in the final act, it never really rose to its earlier heights so it was a little disappointing for me in that regard.
Wang's character work in Misaki is amazing. She is strong and deeply flawed, yet intelligent and self-aware. Her relationship with herself as a mother and by extension, with her children, is raw and complex, and was a real stand out for me. Conversely, while I was hoping for a Takeru redemption arc, it came together a little too neatly for me and would have liked to see him grapple with his issues a little longer.
Minor personal quibbles aside, The Sword of Kaigen is a fantastic book and I am angry at myself for not reading it sooner! I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who loves vivid worldbuilding, elemental magic systems, grand political mechinations, strong character arcs, and are not afraid to explore the devastingly human impacts of war. ...more
An action-packed but tragic look at two of Heart of Quinaria's most intriguing characters.
From the Depths is an emotionally complex study of family. RAn action-packed but tragic look at two of Heart of Quinaria's most intriguing characters.
From the Depths is an emotionally complex study of family. Rich in world-building and captivating in plot, Garcia provides a intimate picture of the heart-breaking past that shaped Konar and Karliah Brune.
In keeping with the primary series, the scope of Quinaria's lore and history is as board as Tolkien's Middle Earth, told through prose that is as eloquent as it is engaging.
Ambition alone marks Garcia's debut series a such a must-read; the execution makes 5-star....more
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is an emotionally charged novella that holds more weight than its 110 pages should.Dark, cosy, and uncompromisingly human
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is an emotionally charged novella that holds more weight than its 110 pages should.
Gaiman-esque in its dark quirkiness, Gam Gam is a skillful balance of the cosy and the grotesque, packed with deeply human experiences and delivered by engaging, lyrical prose.
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