TL;DR: A good YA fantasy, especially for a younger audience.Source: Netgalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: Kids had goals, kids met, liked each other and kind of continued goals (not really, but enough I suppose).Characters: I think perhaps the characters felt a bit distant, but they were okay.Setting: It was okay, I don’t know... Continue Reading →
The Wicked and the Damned by Rebecca Robinson
TL;DR: This was like… 75% fillerSource: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Vassa gets kidnapped and we get a lot of filler before a bang of an ending.Characters: Vassa looses a lot of her kickassery in this and we don’t get nearly enough Reid time. I couldn’t stand most of the other characters (Roman).Setting: A... Continue Reading →
Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado
TL;DR: A coming of age story for two very different characters.Source: Netgalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: One part revenge, one part politicalCharacters: A bit on the standard side for me, but not bad.Setting: A lovely setting, but I don’t know if I could clearly visualize a lot of it.Fantasy: I generally enjoy a... Continue Reading →
Something Wicked by Falon Ballard
TL;DR: A lot of work on the sex, not so much on the actual plot.Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: There is an attempt at a political engine here, but I think the story was written for the sex and the characters.Characters: These two read identical in their voice. They had different ideas and... Continue Reading →
Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood
TL;DR: More of the same tropes and a cliffhanger ending with no satisfaction. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Silver haired fae girl enters trials to get freedom, black haired broody man gets horny. Characters: I can’t say much for them because honestly there wasn’t much too them. Setting: Felt very much like every... Continue Reading →
Kill All Wizards (The Barbaric Ledgers #1) by Jedediah Berry
TL;DR: This felt like Conan had an acid trip in a wizard city. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Gotch is trying to avenge his brother in a city run by wizards, the weird follows Characters: Gotch was our best character, but I really liked the variety we were introduced to Setting: This city... Continue Reading →
The Dungeon Book (As Told by Cornelius the Skull) by Gareth Hanrahan
TL;DR: A super fun little adventure. I really enjoyed this. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Bait has to figure out how to live in two worlds. In the Dungeon or beneath? Characters: We’re being told this from a third perspective so not super deep but still lovable. Setting: I loved the Dungeon. I... Continue Reading →
March’s End by Daniel Polansky
TL;DR: An ambitious mix of Narnia, The NeverEnding Story, and really any contemporary story. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: A family balances normal life and struggles with ruling a fantasy world. Characters: There are SO many here, even for me there were probably too many. Setting: I loved the idea of the March,... Continue Reading →
The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten
TL;DR: A deeply disappointing sequel. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Immediately after book one, and we quickly find out nothing was free will? Characters: For such fierce characters in book one these three felt so drab and dull. Setting: The city just sat there. It felt like a prop. Other parts of the... Continue Reading →
The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan
TL;DR: An incredible debut, I don’t understand how this doesn’t have more hype. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Sebastian tells us the story of a great love, and tragedy in his long history. Characters: I loved all these terrible and wonderful people. Setting: This was beautifully written. It felt cold, wet, bloody, all... Continue Reading →