I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
Wher I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
Where Fate Whispers leans towards the ya/na side with a sweet romance, fated-pairs and love conquers all kind of feel.
Kai and Wen are best friends and in no surprise to anyone who knows them, they are chosen as teens, to become a future fated-pair of the Twin Realms- where they will be bonded and rule together. But during that same choosing ceremony, the Fates themselves speak and for the realms to survive Wen and Kai, instead of bonding must fight on their Fate’s Day with only one of them surviving for the Realms to be safe.
*
I am a die-hard enemy to lovers’ fan, so when I read the prologue, I was very excited for that bit of trope switching-up.
Where Fate Whispers wasn’t quite enemies to lovers but I still enjoyed how WFW was playing with the romance tropes by forcing them to become enemies from the best friends that are crazy in love with each other. The inevitable ‘breakup’ came before they’re even ‘together’ and my heart was hurting for them losing that friendship before I even got to see how deep it ran!
But I must say while this had some very neat ideas and should have been full of tension because of those same ideas- it wasn’t. Not that that is a bad thing- it depends on your expectations. This was just a very sweet story and would be suitable for even a younger teen audience.
Where Fate Whispers had a lot of great points:
I loved Wen and Eva’s friendship- I am always saying that there should be more women friendships in romance (or any genre really) and that was a huge plus for me. I also loved Wen and Kai (and that Kai was as sunny as the realm he was from). They were super sweet together. And really the characters were all pretty awesome in their own ways.
The story and plotting were a bit predictable and the resolution felt easy- at least for someone like me who’s read hundreds of romances over the years. I didn’t find too much to surprise me- other than Luna. I loved the mothling sidekick! I mean really, who’d have thought the animal companion would be a giant moth? When was the last time you’ve read that? For me, I can safely say never! This was way more awesome than the usual wolf companion of the night-people trope.
Anyway, Where Fate Whispers has a lot to offer in the way of a sweet romance, some cool trope-twisting and some nice friendships.
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
The I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
The setting for Silverskin was the biggest reason I wanted to read this one and it was one of my choices when we divvied up the books. It takes place partially in a small remote Alaskan community – access is by ferry. I live in the north so I was excited to read something with similarities in lifestyle to my neck of the woods.
The scenery is beautiful, the ghost stories creepy. I really enjoyed the horror aspects; it reminded me of early supernatural or even x-files- when they had episodes that dealt with local legends and not aliens. I thought the book had great use of atmosphere. There are interludes that allow us to see how the entities were affecting the townspeople /family/friends and giving the whole situation a more personal feel to our leads.
Silverskin’s story is slow to build though- it’s a character story first and has a pretty emotional beginning when the lead Ellie, already dealing with the loss of her mom and sister, loses yet another important person. During this time Ellie reconnects with childhood friend Oliver; whom she knew from time spent in Portlock hunting and hiking when younger, and their families had become friends. Oliver’s family runs the guiding camp the she and her family holiday at. There is a lot of time spent on letting these two characters reconnect during the story over shared grief- through calls and messages and eventually in person. I did like the respectful amount of time the relationship was given, considering the events of their first meet after so many years.
The writing is nice- clear and easily accessible. It has that careful and slow feeling that you sometimes get with a debut, especially one dealing with triggery issues; grief along with affects of the haunting’s- depression, suicidal thoughts, etc. Its very heavy-content handled cautiously.
This is my number one complaint in nearly everything I read so take it with a grain of salt but I did feel the story could use a thinning down, as the page count was a bit high for what it was and some places felt dense in the way the information is given- like the scene with Oliver and the Nantinaq among others. Repetition is a killer for me and some of the info/feelings etc tended to repeat, muddying up the pacing Anyway just a couple of my thoughts. It was very little to detract from the good stuff.
Silverskin is definitely a stepping off book to a series which doesn’t fully resolve everything here but it does really let you get involved with its characters, so ymmv depending on your taste.
Silverskin is a thoughtful story of two people’s journey of healing, set against a creepy backdrop of an entity-haunted Alaskan wilderness.
Huge thanks go out to Rachel Aaron for the e-arc in exchange for a review!
4.5
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Rachel Aaron has been on my to-read list for simply ages! I’ve heard greHuge thanks go out to Rachel Aaron for the e-arc in exchange for a review!
4.5
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Rachel Aaron has been on my to-read list for simply ages! I’ve heard great things about her books and I’ve had my sights on a couple of her past series- the Legend of Eli Monpress, and also Heartstriker (Nice Dragons Finish Last) which has been in my reader since 2019).
Part of that delay in checking out her work outside of having a mountain of a TBR, is that I don’t get into Urban Fantasy side of the fantasy shelves very often these days. I was really looking forward to Hell for Hire, for the change of pace- something different, and fun, to break up the epic and dark fantasy I tend to lean towards and to finally get a chance to check out Rachel’s works.
And what an incredibly fun story Hell for Hire turned out to be!
I do like UF with stories being based in “our world” for doing some of the heavy-lifting in the world-building department; giving characters more space to shine. I was expecting a light-read with a little window-dressing and the usual motley collection of characters. But there was way more than just window dressing here. Hell for Hire is a very well-thought-out merging of world and lores.
After conquering the Nine Hells King Gilgamesh took over Paradise and made the demons slaves.
Ok so, I don’t know about you all but my knowledge of Mesopotamian mythology fits in a Stargate-shaped thimble, along with a hodge-podge of other stuff that I can’t possibly unravel from each other anymore. But no problem, because this was some smooth and accessible world-building and the pace never lags! There is just the right amount of fighting, cool lore, and locations. Combine all that with an endearing cast of characters - I can understand why Rachel’s stories have gained such popularity.
The cast is just so fun and quirky.
I really Loved Bex and Adrian and the supporting characters on each side. Each of them brought something a little different to the table; whether it be a bit of humour, action, or story support- they round the world out and allow for growth where it’s needed.
Rebexa-
Bex and her team are free demons living and travelling in their tricked-out RV staying under the radar as best they can to avoid the wrong sort of attention. They do jobs to get by and one of those jobs happens to be Adrian.
Beca is just awesome- she’s tough, while still being personable, vulnerable and warm. I really love that found family trope to pieces, and whenever we get a group of misfits together, that rely-on and trust each with their lives- I’m just a happy reader.
The whole team is a hoot but my favourite of them was Nemeni. She’s is a real downer. Her Eeyore personality is sparingly used- almost like a running gag, but holy crap did she made me laugh.
Adrian-
Adrian plans to start his own Witchwood in Pacific Northwest, he wants to beak free from his family’s coven and has hired Bex and team, to protect him until his forest is far enough along to protect himself.
Adrian was just adorable. I loved everything about him and his familiar/cat and the grumpy broom. I, for some reason, had this mental image of him as Tuxedo Mask.
I really loved all the stuff to do with him and building his grove- especially the whole part the heart of the forest.
I can’t go into details because of spoilers, but one thing I really enjoyed was how Bex and Adrian, both had a part to play, with moments to shine in the end and it never felt too easy. I appreciated the feeling of completeness and liked that it was a clear hopeful ending that left room for a series without feeling like we’d lose out by not continuing on.
TLDR:
Hell for Hire is smart, fun, and addicting. My first Rachel Aaron book and definitely won’t be my last! ...more
Than you to Brendan Noble for the e-arc in exchange for a review.
I jumped on a chance to read Brendan Noble’s newest book The Crimson Court. I totallyThan you to Brendan Noble for the e-arc in exchange for a review.
I jumped on a chance to read Brendan Noble’s newest book The Crimson Court. I totally adore flintlock and to combo that with a political twisty epic fantasy is just a huge plus. There wasn’t much on the flintlock side of things- in this book at least, so it didn’t scratch that itch for me, but we are building a world and conflict here, so there will be probably be more of that in later installments. The political twisty-side of things on the other hand- delivers the goods. The pages are packed with treachery and the world itself and its magic are both complex and unique- getting bigger and more involved with every new area explored and people that we meet.
* The Crimson Court begins with one heck of a bang as Kasia and her father are attacked in their home by awakened spirits that have been sent to kill her father. Kasia survives but her father does not.
Years later Kasia is still hunting for information on who is responsible and quietly dealing out revenge with each new clue. Her latest lead puts her on the trail of the Crimson Court- a shady group that seems to be working behind the scenes maneuvering the worlds events through its leaders.
* Brendan has created and incredibly cool and original world in the Crimson Court and filled it with some bad-ass magic.
Reaching – is a type of magic where they tear a space between the realms and draw their powers from there- can be used in various ways from truth, fire, death, light etc. But the coolest part imo had to be the Spirit Reachers, who guide the spirit into a newborn so the person essentially has everlasting life - kind of a like reincarnation but here, all the memories are intact from person to person, so you have this accumulated generations of experience and knowledge being carried over to the next in line. This is kind of a rich person prestige thing too that is generally only done by the Scions of society (from what I understood).
Absolutely the neatest thing I’ve read this year.
Kasia herself, also, has a pretty neat reacher ability – she can cause the death of a spirit, so they can never return (all their knowledge dies too). Her type of magic is very rare but adds a nice counterbalance to the spirit reachers.
Characters:
Lots of fun personalities fill out the cast- which is large and varied. I liked Kasia the best- mostly that had to do with the mystery unfolding around her as she looked into the why’s of her father’s death along with the shadowy presence of the Crimson Court.
Radais- with him we get to see the world outside of the city. He is a Glassblade that protects the outlying areas from the awakened. His mission to the city, to bring information to the king helps to enlarge the world for us while also balancing out the slower area of Kasia’s story. Also, I thought the fact that all their weapons and armour being made of glass (a defense against the awakened) was pretty neat.
Zinarus was a lot of fun too. He’s a bit naïve but I kind of enjoyed that flip and having the young naive character be a male.
I also really enjoyed Tazper- though I don’t think he actually had a pov in the story, he’s just one of the many that are in our pov’s circle of friends/contacts that round out the story.
If there isn’t enough to keep you interested with the shady behind the thrones dealing of the crimson court we also have spirit plague spreading throughout the kingdom. This plague eats the connection between bodies and souls creating the Awakened- the same scary beings that killed Kasia’s father. I love the whole idea of these spirits wisping around in the air all the time. Some docile and some not. I just thought how mystical the world must look, with them floating around like jelly fish swarms.
***
I had a lot of fun with the Crimson Court! It’s quite different from the last book of Brendan Noble’s that I had read (A Dagger in the Winds). The world in Crimson Court feels huge and the story is way more politically charged, though it does take a while to get every thing set-up, there’s enough interesting ideas to keep you busy while everything falls into place.
Dial A for Aunties is one of those entertaining popcorn genre-straddling stories. It’s a mash-up of comedy and romance with a dash of crime, and a whoDial A for Aunties is one of those entertaining popcorn genre-straddling stories. It’s a mash-up of comedy and romance with a dash of crime, and a whole gallon of suspend your disbelief. If you ever saw and loved Weekend at Bernie’s then you have an idea of what kind of crazy to expect here.
The aunties are the meddling with love kind and the romance the low-key leaving you ready for more in future books kind. I found the story a bit slow to get going but once it finds its feet, it takes off flying.
Around half-way Jesse Sutanto throws caution to the wind and really embraces the madness and that’s when things get really hilarious, as events go from bad to worse, building into this crescendo of chaos that would have made the aforementioned movie proud.
Fun ride of a story. I’d say it’s about a 3.5 but I enjoyed the pure ridiculousness of the whole premise so I’m rounding to a 4. ( I also loved Weekend at Bernie’s)...more
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
A Ri I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
A Rival Most Vial is a nice little low stakes romantasy. It feels a little like a contemporary romance in a d&d setting. It was sweet. It was funny. And it was cute (I mean look at that title for a clue). It had a great cast of characters surrounding our leads and a world full of everything from orcs to elves.
Ambrose is a bit of a stuffed shirt. He likes his shop quiet and orderly. He’s that uptight prickly character that’s burying a lot of hurt…and my favourite type, I might add.
Elias is a friendlier, messier personality, and it’s reflected in is shop. What I loved about Elias was that he also had concerns and worries but just copes differently than someone like Ambrose does. He’s not just there to be that person who brings Ambrose out of the darkness and shows him that he is worthy. Ambrose also does this for Elias. So, each of them has that something special that helps make the other feel whole- if that makes sense.
A Rival Most Vial’s story revolves around them trying to outdo each other to gain customers to their potion shops, and eventually, for reasons they need to work together- allowing them to appreciate each other strengths, and use them to achieve their goals. In the meantime, loves happens. This pretty much follows romance formula and I ate it up with a spoon…I have an undying love for the enemies to lover’s trope. This was that, but more to the sweet side. I enjoyed it for it’s light humour and warmth, and that all -around easy feeling that just allows you to sit back and enjoy the story.
Other thoughts:
I am not quite sure if I could wrap my head around Tom, I had a mental picture of a robotized ET crossed with something out of Inspector Gadget which is probably not what the author was going for but whatever she’s supposed to be, she was cute.
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
They I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
They say opposite attract and I can’t think of anyone more different to one another than Morana and her husband Percy.
Percy is a fleshmender, a healer. Double gifted; he can heal both plant and animals. He is as fun and light, as you would expect of someone who can bring life and healing to those around them.
Moranna is a boneweaver. A practice that is feared by most; her gift lets the dead raise. She hears their life stories and part of the price of her gift is listening and retelling them. As you can imagine, as someone who deals with death and the threat of it every day Moranna, is a bit more subdued than her pun-happy husband Percy.
Hills of Heather and Bone is just a pretty book. The presentation- between the cover, the interior art, the chapter headings (which I loved) and the style it was written, even the story itself was atmospherically pretty. I even dare to say- this was without a doubt the loveliest version of necromancy I have ever read.
The prose is a bit thicker than I tend to like these days, but it does suit the setting and the story, and just that all-around tone it has going for it of life and death and everything that comes in between and I was sold by chapter four.
I had a few complaints- mostly to do with repetition but that’s a hard trench to straddle, when you are spending so much time in one character’s head in a smaller stakes story like this one. So, it’s a very small complaint.
*
This was labeled cottage-core (something I’ve never heard of) but it likely fits better than “cozy fantasy” since Hills of Heather and Bone can be sorrowful at times with explorations of grief themes and depression- it’s just a little heavier emotionally than what I usually think of when thinking “cozy”.
*
I was very grateful for the way this ended. I felt the heaviness of the story deserved an ending that would ease our hearts and I was very much afraid we were going to be given what I like to call “*the Deveraux ending”.
I left the story feeling satisfied and at ease. (I hope that is not too spoilery to say)
PS. *If you want to know why then give Jude Deveraux’s A Knight in Shining Armor a read.
I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom.
Murder at Spindle Manor is a gas-light fantasy murder mystery wiI read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom.
Murder at Spindle Manor is a gas-light fantasy murder mystery with a creepy tone that suits the setting and darkish fairy-tale feel to Stang’s world.
* Morgan Stang does great character interactions – I knew this from having read The Spider and the Scribe and that doesn’t change here. The closed-room style of Murder at Spindle Manor, meant a more intimate story with a limited cast- which worked better for me all around since I found there to be way too many people to keep up with in TSatS. The intro for the cast here feels very Agatha Christie; they each had a unique trait that helped to cement them in my head and honestly it just made meeting them a lot of fun.
The first half this book was strong and just a treat if you are at all a fan of mysteries. I really enjoyed the genre blend/style and the general creepy horror elements mixed with occasional moments of comedy.
The mystery itself, I wouldn’t say was overly satisfying to me but it’s a short book and everyone has a secret so there isn’t a lot of time to really allow for much more than a cursory getting to know everyone and/or the clue trail. Big personalities helped with characters, but still there was a lot of running around and general chaos, muddying up the water in the middle before the reveals.
What saved this for me after a weaker middle/mystery reveals, was the ending. I loved how personal it became, which I think was what I was missing in the middle. It gave us a nice bit of character work for Isabeau and something to look forward to in upcoming books with her renewed partnership with Evie- whose interactions with Isabeau had been one of the highlights of the story for me.
All in all, Murder at Spindle Manor was a fun smash-up of a few things I have loved in my lifetime- I ultimately enjoyed it for taking those ideas and running with them.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the review copy!
Ocean’s Godori takes place in a future world where South Korea is a dominating power witThank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the review copy!
Ocean’s Godori takes place in a future world where South Korea is a dominating power with its Alliance (space exploration and military type of power) at the forefront. Ocean Yoon, one of the Alliances best pilots is spending her career on a low-class ship doing small jobs and mostly staying out of trouble until a longtime friend is in need of her help.
The simplified version of the plot is that Teo Anand playboy heir to the Anand Empire is framed for murder, and his good friend Ocean, steps up to the plate to help him out. The complicated version involves politics, eco-terrorists, and some crazy face-stealing tech!
On the whole, the plot sounds rather light when you write it out like that. And in some ways, it is because Ocean’s Godori seems more like of jumping off place to begin a series, than it feels like a complete story. Which was fine (depending on your expectations) because while the main plot progresses and ends on a bit of a cliffie, it was the relationships building throughout that kept it interesting and had me quickly flipping the pages.
So, if you’re looking for sci-fi action- you’re going to get a little of that but it’s the relationships that are the driving force of this tale.
***
The cast are likeable and varied and I liked that they could be as selfish at times, as they could be generous. Most of the events revolve around three key players (Ocean, Haven and Teo) with the rest moving in and out of focus as needed. Later we have a few new faces added, that will likely be key in the next book and add some fun dynamics.
It did take me a few chapters to settle in due to the largish cast and the setting-things-up, but it all gets a lot easier as the focus narrows to the crew of the Ohneul and we get to know everyone and the world they live in a little better.
While I was expecting this to be more sci-fi/pulpy leaning, I ended up being pleasantly surprised that there was a little more to it then just shoot ‘em up action. (That title gave me the idea this was going to be a heist story- probably word association on my part because of Ocean’s in the title, and knowing Godori is a strategic card game.)
I really enjoyed the relationships building between the characters- the bonding over family expectations, food, and even their losses and raw grief. I especially appreciate when an author can produce choke-you-up moments of grief, over characters we haven’t even had a chance to get to know outside of the people speaking about them.
Ocean’s Godorihas a strong relationship story at is core but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in action. There were plenty of exciting action sequences, some very cool fights; especially the face-off with the baddies- I loved that moment of slow-motion focus feeling to that fight! The end sequence goes from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat and when Ocean finally gets to show us her stuff- I was ready for her to bring it on!
Other notes-
- If you’re a Korean drama fan you’re going to enjoy this one! Ocean’s Godori is like a book version of a k-drama! It has a lot of those tropes you’ll find in dramas- the chaebol’s family conglomerates doing wrong things, strong women, strong friendships etc. it’s just a lot of fun in that regard!
-The cover is fabulous! Sci-fi pulpy but the style/colouring/cherry blossoms reminding me of a muted version of the backs of the godori cards (which I have only ever seen in drama’s so ymmv but I am assuming it was intentional considering the title.)
-There were a ton of little tidbits of South Korean culture, that my numerous years of drama/movie watching allowed me to enjoy on my own. But if you’re unfamiliar with the terms etc. there is a handy dandy (and quite funny) glossary at the back....more
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
The I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
The Wickwire Watch left me feeling a little divided in my thoughts. One part of me really enjoyed aspects of the story. It’s a Gaslamp fantasy which I like a lot, and the opening chapters had me just totally engrossed. I blazed through the first 15% of this book in no time at all- my curiosity captured by the story’s characters, and by the peek at a world.
I hate to say it but the middle was a bit draggy for me. There were things I enjoyed- just learning about how they were surviving on their isolated piece of land, and the friendships between the people hiding out there. And Ink fitting in while trying not to fit in. There was this whole kind of slice of life vibe here for a good long chunk of the book.
And then there was the last 20% of The Wickwire Watch which took a wild U-turn back to that strong, OMG! I can’t put this down kind of feel the start of the book had for me.
So, as you can see my quandary because all the different parts of this story were good in their own ways. But they felt like different parts of two books and I think that’s where I had a small issue with the story as a whole.
I do like slice of life/cozy fantasy for the most part. I think it just really threw me off, after the opening which didn’t feel like a slice of life at all, but more like the beginnings of a nice politically bent adventure kind of story.
other thoughts-
I liked the subtle humour, once you get to know the characters some of their replies are pretty funny.
I also liked Inkwell Featherfield. He’s a character that has an air of a mystery about him. He’s young, and comes across as trying to be tough – the push everyone away type but is a good kid underneath. The kind you want to hug that crusty-layer off and show him he is loved.
And some Spoilery thoughts --- There was a lot of things and information to do with Ink and/or the Watch, that I personally felt could have been fed along sooner, without wrecking any surprises along the way. Withholding for so long the simple things about his parents and especially the watch- after opening it once to not immediately want to go reopen it, when there is no serious threat other than chores- just frustrated me to no end.
A lot of stuff to do with the conflict between the Entrians and Colonists remains unclear as to whose side is really the bad side and whose side isn’t, and I liked that about it because right and wrong aren’t always clear in these sorts of situations. Especially when both sides have reasons to be angry towards one another.
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
Mast I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
Master of the Void is a coming-of-age tale that follows two young men and their groups of friends.
The story took me awhile to get into for whatever reason, I’m not sure because I pretty much like all the tropes. In this case it was more that I could see the direction it was heading early on- I might add that this had more to do with the number of years/books I’ve read, than anything to do with the story itself- so a lot of my time was waiting for it to get there
In Master of the Void both Derrius and Orimund are relying on entering the University for a formal education in magic to start the next step of their life. Derrius needs to succeed to help support his family, and Orimund’s family, have very high expectations of him along with a prestige he needs to uphold. Unfortunately, neither of them has a magic ability and they both fail their test and are unable to fulfill their dreams and suddenly are having to reassess their futures.
*
There are a lot of characters introduced early-on and pov changes, because of that, I didn’t find the characters were distinct enough at times esp. in the beginning, and I would occasionally confuse Orimund and Derrius’s beginnings/family/friends, thinking one boy was the other. A longer period of time with each boy might have helped that.
Later that problem works its way out, as each of the boys have someone memorable- like Cati and Dawn in their group to help place them.
The fun of Master of the Void for me, was in seeing how different a person’s life can turn out; by their attitude, support of friends, and/or the choices each person makes along the way. And I thought it did a fine job of showcasing its friendships and its different cultures. I always enjoy strong friendships in stories.
The ending of MotV was very strong. It sets up the world and future books nicely- making room to continue and for bad guys to be bigger and stronger etc. Since our hero/s were pretty green but obviously powerful, this set it up so someone who knows nothing managing to win, seemed fair, while also letting the scale grow for next book. The ending made for a promising book two.
I first read Unwanted last spring for the spfbo contest and fell in love with the characters and the neat world that Catherine had built around them. I first read Unwanted last spring for the spfbo contest and fell in love with the characters and the neat world that Catherine had built around them. I’ve been really looking forward to following up on everyone in this newest book- Sacrifice!
Be aware of possible spoilers ahead for events from book one though I’ll try to gloss over the good stuff where I can.
Sacrifice picks up pretty much where the Unwanted ended, making it easy to fall back in to the story but it still took me a little time to settle-in just because this is a big world with multiple pov characters and a ton of in-world stuff to do with cultures/magic and the politics between them. Mostly though, I just needed a little time to place everyone in my head and remember what trouble they were getting themselves into.
*
Damien and the Unwanted were a favourite part of the story last time around and he/they still are. Though I did really like Stephen here too. I mentioned in my review of Unwanted that his part in the first book felt a little pointless, so it was nice to see where that was headed. Plus, anytime a character has to step up to the plate and realize how much of a spoiled loser they’ve been, is always a little fun for me to see.
Anyway…
Damien has a rough road ahead of him- after years of using tiscan to control his veil magic, Damien now is realizing that it has come at a steep price that no one in his little village understood- it’s super addictive and now he has to learn to live without it.
A lot of the first section of Sacrifice is focused on the fall-out of growing-up on tiscan for Damien, and that need for its use. That need also leads to the Unwanted inadvertently discovering some key info which helps spur on the rest of the story. Of course, there’s so much more going on here, and with everyone else for that matter, but he’s my fave and I have limited talking space.
Again, I loved the whole Unwanted squad and the support they have for one another and not just to Damien, but also for like Olivia and dealing with her family and also the other members’ problems. They’re just fun and easy together and I love the humour and the jokes between them.
And my favourite brat Aiden, is up to no good; ensuring you don’t want to miss the next book because Aiden has some nasty little tricks up his sleeve that, hopefully it’s not too spoilery to say- ended the book with me wanting to strangle the little shit.
*
We also see a lot more of Jacylyn and her clan in Sacrifice. The way their family units work is still so interesting- there is this whole subplot where the likelihood of madness taking down the Monarchy may stem from the way they connect to their men, through their veil magic. We saw hints about this possibility in the last book but it moves to the forefront here as we learn more about the inner-workings of their society and the power-plays going on at home and it’s just really fascinating dynamics all around with the way their clans work.
*
And last but not least- there are the Hallaran clans. They’re fight with the Syllanians last book, had them retreating into the Unwanted’s territory, leaving behind friends in their escape.
A plan to rectify that mistake has Tarkhan managing to get himself in almost as much trouble as Damien; maybe more if that’s possible. Damien at least has the Unwanted to rely on, but Tarkhan is finding himself captive in a strange land with no will of his own. It should be a good time seeing how he gets out of this pickle.
*
Honestly, I’ve barely scratched the surface of the events in Sacrifice. It’s a packed, fast-moving story that explores different cultures, friendships, and family. All while being filled to the brim with action, humour and some cool magic. It’s just a fun popcorn kind of read- the kind you can kill a day with on your deck with cool drink. (Or two, it is 600 pages)
I’ve had an enjoyable time with this series up to now and am looking forward to seeing how it closes.
Thank you to Gregory Kontaxis for the ebook in exchange for review. And apologies or the delay in getting the review out in the world.
***
3.5 rounded uThank you to Gregory Kontaxis for the ebook in exchange for review. And apologies or the delay in getting the review out in the world.
***
3.5 rounded up
The Return of the Knights brings a heroic tale of a young man’s journey to lead a nation to stand against an invading army led by the tyrant Walter Thorn.
There was a lot to like in this book. This is a very classical feeling story. We know who the villain is and the hero and most of the side characters fall to one side of the other. I’m a fan of the classics so I enjoy a lot of the tropes that come along with the labels. Personally, I just like it when I can hate the bad guy and have fun doing it.
*
Elliot is our rising star. Raised and trained by a grandmaster - he is skilled in the art of war and is quick thinking. This is somewhat of a coming-of-age tale for him- though he already has the skills, his growth comes more in the learning and accepting of his family and his mentors’ choices for him etc.
Elliot can be rather brash and his ego is large at times, and I admit, deservedly, when it comes to his skills. Let’s just say he didn’t lack confidence and that boldness (though his heart was always in the right place) didn’t always make him the most likeable character.
Walter Thorn is the aforementioned tyrant. Walter feels like such a tame name, for a man whose rebellion has kept the country at war for the last twenty years- killing and pillaging his way across the land, doesn’t it? But don’t the name fool you, he’s a nasty piece of work. I appreciated that he was as smart and capable as a man of his station that has accomplished near domination should be. I hate it when the enemy is an idiot and easily falls in the end.
There is a huge amount of history and lore in this world. Every part of the map they travel to, we get a story about its people and their history. While I loved how it gave the world and story, this vibe of a collection of legends- its downfall was the huge amount of people that it added to the story making it hard to know who will be important to remember for later. The upside was that the legends were really cool and I enjoyed them.
I love good plotty behind the scenes strategic sessions, especially when it involves moving armies around or siege strategies and Return of the Knights has that in spades. This was a double-edged sword for me, because while I love that sort of thing, it bordered on the side of too much sometimes when it came to the exploring of every possible outcome of the enemies’ movements. At times, it could be a little exhausting in that respect. I did love how it showcased how smart these two leaders were and it kept you guessing to the end who would come out on top.
TLDR: Return of the Knights is a really fun story in that classic fantasy vein. The characters and the story itself have that feel of legends in the making- building to something grand as they work together to change the world around them. I had a few niggles here and there and I can’t say I wasn’t daunted by that massive glossary at the beginning, but it settles. If you love your stories, full of myths and creatures with heroic young men and women, fighting for justice and love - Return of the Knights is a great choice and looks to be a promising beginning to this series.
Other notes-
Considering this was translated from its original Greek, I have to be incredibly impressed with how well the story was put together and told. I never once had a moment where I felt meaning or intent was off or lost in translation.
Also, nothing against the name Walter (it’s actually a family name for us) I just need an intro. ...more
Thanks to Tim Hardie for the ecopy and his incredible patience in waiting for this review.
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Well, I wasn’t too surprised to find Sundered Souls to bThanks to Tim Hardie for the ecopy and his incredible patience in waiting for this review.
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Well, I wasn’t too surprised to find Sundered Souls to be a solidly entertaining read, it’s predecessor Hall of Bones was a great book that I enjoyed a lot. It must have left an impression with me too, because I had a very clear picture of the past book in my head when I started Sundered Souls and it has been three years in between for me.
*
In a nutshell- Sundered Souls returns us to Rothgar and his clan, their home at Ulfkell keep now in the hands of the enemy and his brother Johan, a landless clan leader. Johan intends to take their people to join with their sister clan, and show a united front against Adalrikr and his forces- a task easier said than done, as Gautarr and Johan have had their personal issues in the past, and also Gautarr’s keep is currently under siege and has been, for going on a year now.
*
Rothgar is our window into this world, and one of those characters that I enjoy the most. There is nothing I love more than reading about a good strong character having to rebuild and find their worth again after major set-backs.
And Rothgar definitely has had some set-backs to his life. The torture he received from Blackeyes has pretty well crippled him, taking away his life’s goal as a warrior, and in a clan of warriors- his worthiness to those around him.
But Rothgar has a good head on his shoulders, he’s quick thinking in a pinch and isn’t giving up despite those handicaps, He is standing strong and finding other ways to have worth, and to achieve his goals- currently those goals are laced with a heavy desire for revenge and to see Blackeyes and Adalrikr die, but hey, we all need something to aim our hats at.
*
There is a lot more magic in this book than there was in Hall of Bones. In HoB we were just beginning to discover world’s magic, and now we are really getting to see all the cool ways it can be used. I still love its use for rounding out the world when Rothgar ‘visits’ the people he is connected to through his gift of mindwalking I still feel its one of the best uses of naturally seeing the other pov’s in a spov story that I’ve found.
( I don’t remember if it was called mindwalking in the book, or that’s just what I wrote so I’d know what the heck I was talking about in my notes).
*
That slow burn base that were the building blocks of Hall of Bones, laid the groundwork here to allow Sundered Souls to capitalize on that foundation and shine all around. We see so much more of the bigger picture here- the characters, the political maneuvering, world and magic- all come together with increasing tension that cumulates into a grand finale of a battle.
I have to say that end battle scene was the chef’s kiss! I loved how the scenes utilized Rothgar’s gift and hopped around to different characters, letting us see key events, keeping it exciting and moving without a lot of repetition. Grande scale war scenes tend to get very hack and slash repetitive and this was just exciting, and tense, and so up-close and personal feeling. Excellent stuff! And it also included an incredibly cool final fight scene and end to one of the “big bads”.
TLDR:
Sundered Souls is a worthy follow-up. The character-work, world, plotting, magic… all of it- feels epic in every sense of the word. I can’t wait to see how it all plays-out over the course of this series!
Other notes-
I’m terrible with keeping up with a lot of characters. Now I’ve read a few books by Tim, I know to expect a country’s worth of people and after the first five or so chapters, I just had to quit trying to keep track. It seemed to work out for me for the most part; it also helps that I have the first book under my belt. But I can’t help but wonder how the author juggles so many people and relationships between them… all I could picture was one of those crime boards you see in dramas with a messy spiderwebs worth of red string connecting the characters to each other. TBH- that’s a little of what my head space likely looked like trying to keep track of all of them too. D:
btw- excuse any names that are incorrectly spelled. I swear I put them in my notes right but who knows what autocorrect did with them after that.
Jennifer (bunnyreads)
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