Category Archives: Fantasy

January 29, 2014 · 9:02 pm

Healer Series in Mini-Reviews

Scent of MagicTitle: Scent of Magic
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Source: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★☆

Like Touch of Power, this book clearly exhibited the superb writing I’ve come to expect from Maria V. Snyder. Even better, she completely fixed the pacing issue I had with the first one. Instead of dragging at the beginning, this book started off fast. The author kept the tension and excitement high with the introduction of a second viewpoint. Strategic chapter breaks kept me constantly wondering what would happen next. The world building of the last book was expanded on in new and clever ways, always staying internally consistent. I was more engaged in this book than the previous one and loved every minute of it. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

· 8:47 pm

Touch of Power

Touch of PowerTitle: Touch of Power
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Source: library
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: Although this dragged a bit for me, the writing was practically perfect and the world building was fascinating.

Avry is the last of the healers. After a plague the healers couldn’t cure decimated the Fifteen Territories, all of the healers were hunted down and killed. On the run, Avry is eventually captured by a band of men who, surprisingly, value her healing skills over the bounty for turning her in. Unfortunately, they want her to heal the man Avry blames for the healer’s demise. The decision she has to make is a tough one, since he might also be her land’s best chance at peace. Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , , , maria v snyder, touch of power, ,

January 27, 2014 · 9:08 pm

Defy

17406847Title: Defy
Author: Sara B. Larson
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: The author included all the things I love in YA fantasy – gripping action, relatable protagonist, fascinating world-building – but she lost me with the annoying love triangle and pointlessly unhappy ending.

Only by disguising herself as a boy is Alexa safe from a fate worse than death. Fortunately, her impressive fighting skills quickly earn her a place in the elite prince’s guard. In that position, she’ll have to decide where her loyalties lie, with her prince or her kingdom. Her decision will influence the fate of her world. Also, there is a love triangle. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , epic, , , love triangle, , ,

January 25, 2014 · 8:48 am

Way of Kings Read-Along – Part IV

wayofkingsralI’m a bit behind getting this week’s questions answered due to much extra business at school, but I’m still having tons of fun with the read-along. I can’t wait to listen to more on my drive to ALA! This week’s host was Micheline at Lunar Rainbows. As usual for read-alongs, this post contains spoilers. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Blogger Events, Fantasy, Fiction

Tagged as , book discussion, , brandon sanderson, discussion, , read-along, , way of kings

January 9, 2014 · 6:43 am

Witch Finder

18039069Title: Witch Finder
Author: Ruth Warburton
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: This was a fun, light, action-packed adventure but the anticlimactic ending and two-dimensional villain left me wanting something more.

London. 1880. In the slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to hunting and killing witches. Luke’s final test is to pick a name at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could ever imagine. (Source) Continue reading →

8 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism

Tagged as , , , , ,

November 15, 2013 · 8:20 pm

The Dream Thieves

17347389Title: The Dream Thieves
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Source: bought at Oblong Books/from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: Amazing! Included everything I love about Maggie’s writing- well-rounded characters; believable relationship development; writing that can be beautiful or hilarious; and an epic ending.

The Dream Thieves is the sequel to The Raven Boys. It continues the story of Blue and the boy who is her true love, but who will die if she kisses him. The focus of the book, however, is on one of the other boys. Ronan is a complete punk at first glance, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. Not only can he be nicer than you might expect, he also the ability to dream things into reality. And some very bad people would love to make use of that ability if they find out who he is… Continue reading →

12 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , , , Maggie Stiefvater, , myth, sequels, ,

October 24, 2013 · 11:01 pm

Finnikin of the Rock

4932435Title: Finnikin of the Rock
Author: Melina Marchetta
Source: library
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: It has all the elements a great epic fantasy should have without feeling cliched and the characters are impressively well developed.

Ten years ago the entire royal family of Lumatere was slain and the kingdom fell under a curse. Surrounded by an impenetrable magic barrier, half of her people remain trapped inside with an evil king and half wander the land outside as exiles. On the outside, Finnikin and his guardian Sir Topher have struggled to find a home for the Lumateren exiles, but when they meet an exile named Evanjalin who claims the heir to the throne is alive, they have to consider the possibility that they have a hope of returning home. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

October 11, 2013 · 8:02 am

The Immortal Rules

10215349Title: The Immortal Rules
Author: Julie Kagawa
Source: giveaway from Me and Reading
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: Everything about this book was perfect, from the unique protagonist to the great writing and world building to the lack of annoying cliches.

Allison Sekemoto is an unregistered human, surviving on the fringes of society rather than be periodically drained by the vampires who rule her city. Until one night she dies and is forced to become one of the monsters she hates if she wants to survive. Fleeing from the city, she ends up with a band of humans searching through the rabid-infested wilderness for a cure that might not even exist. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Dystopian, Fantasy, Fiction

September 1, 2013 · 8:45 am

Soundbites About The Scorpio Races

10858437Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Narrators: Fiona Hardingham, Steve West
Rating (Story): ★★★★★
Rating (Narration):★★★★☆

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. (synopsis from goodreads). Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Soundbites, Young Adult

Tagged as audiobook, , , , , , ,

August 10, 2013 · 4:05 pm

Bookends About Dark Triumph

9943270Title: Dark Triumph
Editor: Robin LaFevers
Source: bought at Rochester Teen Book Festival
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: The perfect sequel to Grave Mercy, with the same strengths – strong protagonist, constant action, and fascinating setting.

For those of you who read Grave Mercy, you’ll recognize our new protagonist Sybella from her encounter with Ismae at the convent. In this book, Sybella is forced to face the dark events that chased her to the convent for refuge in the first place. We learn a lot about her past and the reasons she has such a drive for revenge. We also share her discovery that revenge might not be enough and, as with Isame, learn more about the mythos surrounding the nuns position as servants of the god of death. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as assassin nuns, , , , , grave mercy, , , , robin lafevers,