Audio Book Review: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik

 

Tongues of Serpents (Temeraire #6) by Naomi Novik narrated by Simon Vance
Historical/Fantasy
Summary: Convicted of treason despite their heroic defense against Napoleon’s invasion of England, Temeraire and Laurence—stripped of rank and standing—have been transported to the prison colony at New South Wales in distant Australia, where, it is hoped, they cannot further corrupt the British Aerial Corps with their dangerous notions of liberty for dragons.
274 pages

My Rating: A-

Getting to the end of this series. This one felt a little too short to me. The journey across the outback was interesting, and the ideas of early English Australia, but I feel like we could have had so much more in this book. Hopefully the next book, which is second to the last, will be a bit more well-rounded. But it definitely feels like we are getting to the edge of this story, as Novik is struggling to tell us more. I have a feeling there was really only one more book idea, but it ended up split into three stories.

This one's fun for the ideas of early English settlement in Australia, and the native creatures on the continent. But don't expect a gigantically expansive story any more. I have a feeling that's true of the last three books, but I guess we shall see.

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Audio Book Review: Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey

 

Kushiel's Justice (Imriel's Trilogy #2) by Jacqueline Carey, narrated by Simon Vance
Romance/Historical/Fantasy
Summary: After a year abroad to study at university, Imriel returns from his adventures a little older and somewhat wiser. But perhaps not wise enough. What was once a mere spark of interest between himself and his cousin Sidonie now ignites into a white-hot blaze. But from commoner to peer, the whole realm would recoil from any alliance between Sidonie, heir to the throne, and Imriel, who bears the stigma of his mother's of his mother's misdeeds and betrayals. Praying that their passion will peak and fade, Imriel and Sidonie embark on an intense, secret affair.
703 pages

My Rating: A

I really love this series, and this is definitely a great addition to the universe. I do wonder what will happen next, given who Imriel's parents were, but I can't wait to find out. Jacqueline Carey does an amazing job of drawing you along, and the world she's created here, a very distinct offshoot of our own, feels as real as ours is. And every time she reminds you of things that happened in the past of these stories, it really is like recalling a memory. Far more than the usual "oh, right, that happened," of other books.

I have to mention that this is the first time I have listened to this series, and I was delighted to realize that the narrator is the same one in the Temeraire books. It feels somehow fitting that he is reading them both, what with the historical, English, and French connections in both series.

While this is not a light series (I mean, 700 pages is not shocking for this series...), its richness, and the things she's implanted in this world that I am sure will crop up in future stories, just makes it wonderful to read. Nothing just vanishes in this world, and everything that happens has an effect on what will come. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants an adult series, doesn't mind a little sex, and loves fantasy and history. This one just does not disappoint.

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Audio Book Review: Straight on Till Morning & So This Is Love

 

Straight on Till Morning (Twisted Tales #8) by Liz Braswell, narrated by Lorna Bennett 
Fantasy/Fairy Tales
Summary: What if Wendy first traveled to Neverland… with Captain Hook?
496 Pages
My Rating: B

So This Is Love (Twisted Tales #9) by Elizabeth Lim, narrated by Esther Wane
Fantasy/Romance/Fairy Tales
Summary: What if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?
416 Pages
My Rating: A

More Twisted Tales. Of these two, I'm surprised to say that I enjoyed the Cinderella one more than the Peter Pan one. Generally, with this series, I've had issues with the classic fairy tale princess ones more, but So This Is Love did better than the others have, and I found it very enjoyable. Straight on Till Morning was good, but I've never been a huge fan of the Disney Peter Pan, and there are some distinct issues with the world that the story couldn't work past. I did enjoy the actual friendship between Wendy and Tinkerbell, and I enjoyed the end of her story in this far more than in the original story, but I don't think this is one I would pick up again.

Still, if you've been reading these, and if you enjoy these two tales, these are as fun as the others. And I'm finding myself wanting to try some of the other Disney-licensed tales to see what they're like as well. We'll see which ones I end up picking up.

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Audio Book Review: The Kingdom of Copper & The Empire of Gold by SA Chakraborty

 

The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2) 
Summary: With Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali’s hand, Nahri must forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family and one misstep will doom her tribe.
625 Pages

The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy #3)
Summary: Daevabad has fallen.

After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people.
766 Pages

by SA Chakraborty, narrated by Soneela Nankani 
Fantasy/Romance
My Rating: A

This series is a wonderful exploration into Djinn and what their culture might be like. Also, for those of us of the European/American culture, a nice insight into what it is to be from the middle east, and to the Muslim culture. SA Chakraborty's voice is strong, and she's made a fascinating world here. Nahri and her friends are all such strong characters, and you never quite know what they will do next. I'm actually a little sad this series is done, but I will definitely keep watching her to see what she writes next.

The adventure of this story is vast, and there are so many threads, and yet in the end, they're all gently tied together. As someone from a white, western culture, I'm not sure how much of this is just me not knowing Muslim culture, and how much is completely from the author's ideas of this world, but either way, it's a fabulous story. It kept me guessing the entire time, how this would end, which was very refreshing. I also love the wide sweep of the history of this story. It takes place in the 18th or early 19th century, but the story of the Daeva people stretches into the mythic ages of the middle east. It definitely gave an intensity and depth to the story that I was not expecting at all.

I definitely recommend this to fantasy fans, particularly those who enjoy djinn/genies. It's a gorgeous, rich world with fantastic characters you will definitely enjoy meeting. You should absolutely check this one out.

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Book Review: The Sleeper and the Spindle

 

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman
Fantasy
Summary: On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment. 
72 pages

My Rating: B+

I bought this last year when I was reading fairy tale retellings, though I didn't get to it until last month. It's a fabulous winding of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, and changes the ending of both. While I've never been a big reader of Neil Gaiman, he wrote one of my all-time favorite books, and I love how supportive and appreciative of his fans he is. He's a great man, and we're lucky to have him.

The art in this is gorgeous, and some pages have hand-written quotes from the part of the story it illustrates. This one's definitely worth it if you enjoy fairy tales. And if you're a Gaiman fan, it's definitely worth getting.

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Audio Book Review: The Invisible Ring & Dreams Made Flesh by Anne Bishop

 

The Invisible Ring (Black Jewels #4) 
Summary: Jared is a Red-Jeweled Warlord bound as a pleasure slave by the Ring of Obedience. After suffering nine years of torment as a slave, he murdered his owner and escaped -- only to be caught and sold into slavery once again. The notorious queen who has purchased him, known as the Gray Lady, may not be what she seems. Soon, Jared faces a difficult choice: his freedom, or his honor.
398 Pages
My Rating: A

Dreams Made Flesh (Black Jewels #5) 
Summary: Jaenelle is the most powerful Witch ever known, centuries of hopes and dreams made flesh at last. She has forged ties with three of the realm’s mightiest Blood warriors: Saetan, the High Lord of Hell, who trains Jaenelle in magic and adopts her as his daughter; Lucivar, the winged Eyrien warlord who becomes her protector; and the near-immortal Daemon born to be Witch’s lover. Jaenelle has assumed her rightful place as Queen of the Darkness and restored order and peace to the realms…but at a terrible cost.
439 Pages
My Rating: A

by Anne Bishop, narrated by John Sharian
Fantasy/Romance

I'd forgotten how much I loved this world until I started listening to The Invisible Ring. Even before one of my favorite characters of all time appeared, I was enjoying it. The second Daemon appeared, I loved it. He and his father and brother are just wonderful, all of them. And seeing them again, watching their affects on their worlds, made me very happy. Invisible Ring is a lovely story, and was my favorite book of January, and Dreams Made Flesh is probably going to be my favorite of this month. If you haven't done yourself the favor of reading this series, definitely start. It's such a rich, lush world, I just want to sink into it, even with all its inherent darkness.

Jared's story is one that gives a great view into how this world works, but with the happiest ending possible. And the Meaning of what the Invisible Ring is will make you smile, even as he fails to understand it time and again. Dreams tells the story of Lucivar falling in love, and of the aftermath of the original Black Jewels Trilogy, and the way this world treats men (ie, much the way ours treats women). Not a pretty or happy story, that second part, but the story of Daemon and Jaenelle finally coming to terms with what happened in the final book of the trilogy is perfect.

I will say this world won't be for everyone. I want everyone to love it as much as I do, but it's got a darkness that will definitely make it too much for some readers. Still, if you don't mind darkness and bad things happening to people, definitely give them a try. And if you've read the first three books, but haven't read more? These are must reads. I can't wait to read more.

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Audio Book Review: Empire of Ivory and Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

Empire of Ivory (Temeraire #4) 
Summary: Tragedy has struck His Majesty’s Aerial Corps, whose magnificent fleet of fighting dragons and their human captains valiantly defend England’s shores against the encroaching armies of Napoleon Bonaparte. An epidemic of unknown origin and no known cure is decimating the noble dragons’ ranks–forcing the hopelessly stricken into quarantine. Now only Temeraire and a pack of newly recruited dragons remain uninfected–and stand as the only means of an airborne defense against France’s ever bolder sorties.
404 Pages

Victory of Eagles (Temeraire #5) 
Summary: It is a grim time for the dragon Temeraire. On the heels of his mission to Africa, seeking the cure for a deadly contagion, he has been removed from military service - and his captain, Will Laurence, has been condemned to death for treason. For Britain, conditions are grimmer still: Napoleon's resurgent forces have breached the Channel and successfully invaded English soil. Napoleon's prime objective: the occupation of London.
352 Pages

by Naomi Novik narrated by Simon Vance
Fantasy/History

My Rating: A-

I love this series, and always forget how good it is until I get the next book and remember just how wonderful this world is. Temeraire has made his way onto my favorite characters list. A highly intelligent and independent dragon, despite his attachment to his captain Laurence. Novik has a talent for settling these dragons so solidly in this world that you almost forget that they are fantastical, and shouldn't be there. I'm currently listening to the sixth book now, and I'm getting closer to the end now, and not looking forward to that moment. I may eventually reread these, just because I love the world so.

I will say that this won't be fantasy for just anyone. You have to love history and dragons for it really to catch your heart, I think. Novik has a deft hand for these things, but even so, that doesn't mean everyone will love these books regardless. That said, I definitely recommend them if you enjoy dragons and history. A fabulous series well worth looking into.

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Book Review: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas

 

The Assassin's Blade (The Throne of Glass Prequels) by Sarah J Maas  
Fantasy/Romance/YA
Summary: Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. 
448 pages

My Rating: B

I read this before starting Throne of Glass on the advice of a friend who has read the series. I still haven't read the first book yet, but I'm glad to know the beginning of her story, though I'm not sure what I will think of the series once I start it. I will say that she grew on me over the course of the novellas, of which there are five in this collection, all of which follow in succession. 

I knew where it would end to some degree, though one bit, which I won't spoil here, surprised me. When I got to the end, I was definitely ready to start the second, despite this book ending in a dark place, which I also won't spoil here, given if you don't know the series, you might not be aware of. It's a great intro to the world, and she grew on me over the course of her story, though despite what she knows in this world, she has a shocking amount of innocence for being an assassin.

Overall, if you like darker fantasy, I say Maas is a great one. I'm enjoying all of her books so far. I'm looking forward to seeing where this one goes, and I can't wait to try more of her books in the future. She's definitely on a short list of authors poised to become my favorites. I can't wait to try more.

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Audio Book Review: The Heroes of Olympus 3, 4 & 5 by Rick Riordan

 

The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus #3) narrated by Joshua Swanson
Summary: Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war.
586 Pages
My Rating: B

The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus #4) narrated by Nick Chamian
Summary: Hazel stands at a crossroads. She and the remaining crew of the Argo II could return home with the Athena Parthenos statue and try to stop Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter from going to war. Or they could continue their quest to find the House of Hades, where they might be able to open the Doors of Death, rescue their friends Percy and Annabeth from Tartarus, and prevent monsters from being reincarnated in the mortal world. Whichever road they decide to take, they have to hurry, because time is running out. Gaea, the bloodthirsty Earth Mother, has set the date of August 1 for her rise to power.
597 Pages
My Rating: B-

The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus #5) narrated by Nick Chamian
Summary: Nico had warned them. Going through the House of Hades would stir the demigods' worst memories. Their ghosts would become restless. Nico may actually become a ghost if he has to shadow-travel with Reyna and Coach Hedge one more time. But that might be better than the alternative: allowing someone else to die, as Hades foretold.
516 Pages
My Rating: A

by Rick Riordan
Urban Fantasy/Romance/YA

This is the second of the Percy Jackson series, and I do like this group of teenagers and their adventures. Hazel and Leo in particular are lovely. I liked Nico in the original series, so I was glad to see him in this, but his romance felt unnecessary and thrown in to please people, rather than actually given time to develop and allow him to grow as a person. Hopefully anything more along those lines will be dealt with better.

I do plan to keep reading Riordan's series, but I think I'll put them on the back burner for now since this one is complete. They are definitely enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to the other Mythologies' stories. If you enjoyed the first series, this one's definitely worth checking out. A great follow-up to the first series.

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Audio Book Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

 

Fire (Graceling #2) by Kristin Cashore, narrated by Xanthe Elbrick 

Fantasy/Romance/YA

Summary: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

480 pages

My Rating: B+

It has been a very long time since I read the first book, but as the two stories are almost completely unrelated, aside from being in the same world, that really didn't affect this story for me at all. I did enjoy Graceling, but I really enjoyed this one much more. I love the romance, and their part of the world a great deal more. And their concept of the abilities of this world is fascinating. Fire and her prince and their love story are really wonderful. Both are strong, unique characters on their own, and together they feel like a force to be reckoned with. I'm looking forward to the third book to see what the two nations coming together will be like.

This one is for fans of high fantasy YA, definitely. And I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy Ya or fantasy romance. The details of this world are wonderful and some are distinctly unique. Cashore has a very strong world here, and I can't wait to read or listen to more.

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Audiobook Review: Splintered by AG Howard

 

Splintered (Splintered #1) by AG Howard, narrated by Rebecca Gibel  

Fantasy/Romance/YA

Summary: Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers--precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

272 pages

My Rating: B+

Alyssa is an interesting character. I'm a long-time fan of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, but I've never been a big fan of most retellings or films of the story. This one is definitely an exception. Alyssa's world is unique, and the characters in her real-world life as well as the ones she meets when she goes to Wonderland are fascinating. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this universe, and to finding out what happens next.

I definitely feel that Howard is a big fan of the original books, as she weaves in details that most retelling authors leave out, whether on accident or on purpose. She gives us things a lot of authors don't touch on in YA, and almost never in YA fantasy, so I'm definitely curious to see where she goes from here.

It's not a pretty world, this story, so if you have squeamishness, this might not be for you. Also, if you have trouble with stories about mental issues, this also might not be for you. However, if you love the Alice stories, this is definitely worth a look.

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Audio Book Review: A Court of Mist and Starlight by Sarah J Maas

 

A Court of Mist and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.5) by Sarah J Maas, narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb  

Fantasy/Romance

Summary: Feyre, Rhysand, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve.

272 pages

My Rating: B

For some reason, the bookish community really hates this book. Is it the best book in the series? No. But it's a short. I don't understand the hate, because I think it's a lovely bridge between the final book in the first trilogy, and the start of the new trilogy, which will be focusing on other characters. I think it does the original story justice, while setting up a few more things for what's to come. And it's a wonderful holiday book. The characters made me smile as much as they ever do, and I'm very eager to see what happens with Nesta and Cassian get up to.

If you're a fan of the original trilogy, I highly recommend this. Especially if you enjoy holiday stories.

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Audio Book Review: The Wicked King by Holly Black

 

The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black, narrated by Caitlin Kelly 

Fantasy/Romance

Summary: After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne.  

336 pages

My Rating: B

I like this series, but I don't think it will ever be one I look back on with great fondness. Jude is hard to like, and Cardan is worse. The only time I really get interested is when they talk, because there is something there, but... it doesn't make me love this series, and I really wish I did. Part of the problem is Black is incredibly adept at making a true faerie realm, where the intrigue is high, and the characters are only out for their own gain, which means they're generally unlikeable to me. I'd say it makes her an adept writer, but possibly not for me. I guess I'll learn if I read any of her other books, because she does write things I think I will enjoy. We'll see if I do, I guess.

But. If you like faerie realm stories, this is definitely worth a try. The first one, at the very least. And this is an excellent follow-up. I'd say if I haven't turned you off the idea yet, definitely check it out. And if I have, but you like the faerie realm as an idea, give the first one a look and see what you think. You might enjoy it. But if you don't like faeries or intrigue, this one's definitely not the series for you.

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Audio Book Review: The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

 

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) 
Summary: Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
409 Pages
My Rating: A

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) 
Summary: Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. 
439 Pages
My Rating: A-

Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) 
Summary: Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things, though, is how easily they can be lost.

391 Pages
My Rating: A-

The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) 
Summary: All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore. 
439 Pages
My Rating: A-

Opal (The Raven Cycle #4.5) 
Summary: An enchanting story from Maggie Stiefvater featuring Opal, Ronan, and Adam from her bestselling Raven Cycle, taking place after the events of The Raven King.
38 Pages
My Rating: B+

by Gina Showalter, narrated by Will Patton
Urban Fantasy/Romance

So I started reading these about mid-December, and just couldn't stop. This gang of young adults are just fabulous. And Blue's family made me itch to play with my Tarot cards. Every reading they give is filled with so much meaning. Gansy and the boys are each so unique, and I just want to hug them all and Blue. 

I love how deep Showalter goes into the legends, and the detail of the story and of the legend around the sleeping king is amazing. The kids each have their own unique ability that they bring to the table, and because of how they work as a group, you feel confident that despite everything, they will succeed, whatever it takes. The secrets each holds are also carefully bound together, and I can't help but wonder if there are some secrets still unrevealed. I'd love to see more in this universe, but with the Raven King, it all feels complete, and tied up in a bow, so nothing more is needed.

If you like Arthurian stories, young adult coming of age stories, or Tarot cards and psychics, this one is definitely a must-read. I highly recommend it.

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Audio Book Review: Twisted Tales books 3 - 6

 

As Old As Time (Disney Twisted Tales #3) by Liz Braswell, read by James Patrick Cronin

Summary: What if Belle's mother had cursed the Beast?

484 Pages

Rating: B+

Reflection (Disney Twisted Tales #4) by Elizabeth Lim, read by Emily Woo Zeller

Summary: What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld?

416 Pages

Rating: A-

Part of Your World (Disney Twisted Tales #5) by Liz Braswell, read by Saskia Maarleveld

Summary: What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula?

475 Pages

Rating: C+

Mirror, Mirror (Disney Twisted Tales #6) by Jen Calonita, read by Emily Woo Zeller

Summary: What if the Evil Queen poisoned the prince?

344 Pages

Rating: C+

Fantasy/Romance/Dystopia

Still having fun reading these, although the last two are two of my least favorite so far in the series. But that has more to do with my disagreements about what Disney thinks these books should be vs the original stories these came from. As Old as Time added some wonderful value to the original story, and a great deal more adventure, and Reflection even more. If you love those two Disney movies, I highly recommend them. 

However, if you are a fan of the original stories of the Little Mermaid, and Snow White over the Disney versions, these might be lacking for you. Also, if you have a problem with the plotline of "children saving the universe," these will both grate on your nerves. Part of Your World has some lack of comprehension of things that really annoyed me and dropped the rating a good deal. Mirror Mirror had Snow White blaming herself for the Wicked Queen taking over the kingdom which made no sense when she was literally a CHILD when the woman took over. So... if you think those things might bother you, these are definitely ones to skip.

The positive? These are completely unconnected to each other in any way aside from the Twisted Tales series title. So each can be read in any order, and can be ignored entirely for any reason. For myself, I plan not to read book number seven, which is one of my least favorite Disney films, as well as number eleven, which I also dislike. But it's a great variety of story which don't all even have strong romance elements to them, which makes them especially nice for sharing with the kids, so long as they don't mind a little bit of scary stuff.

Overall? I intend to keep going with this series for as long as they publish, though I will be avoiding certain Disney movies that I dislike. But at least they made that very easy to do.

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Audio Book Review: The Blood Spell by CJ Redwine

 

The Blood Spell (Ravenspire #4) by CJ Redwine, read by Khristine Hvam
Fantasy/Romance/YA
Summary: A dark and romantic epic-fantasy retelling of the Cinderella story, about a girl who must team up with the prince she despises to defeat an evil creature threatening their kingdom. 
438 pages

My Rating: A-

Currently the final book in the Ravenspire series. This came out in 2019, so it's possible there will be more, but I haven't seen anything one way or the other. I'd definitely love to see more, as this world is great fun. I'd love to hear more about the dragon race, and also about the fae people in this world. And there are so many more fairy tales she could cover, so I guess we'll see.

This story is Cinderella, as the summary above says, but it goes well beyond Cinderella. Blue and her Prince, Kellan, are not your usual Cinderella and Prince Charming. And Blue's "stepmother" is something else entirely. 

I love this world, and hope she does more, as I love the darkness she weaves into her stories, and how she uses bits of the fairy tale to influence that world. Whether this is the end or not, I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants fairy tales with a new twist. Redwine does an excellent job of making the stories her own. Definitely a fun series to lose yourself in.

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Audio Book Review: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

 

Uprooted by Naomi Novik, read by Julia Emelin
Fantasy/Romance
Summary: “Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
435 pages

My Rating: A-

Naomi Novik is an author who seems to dig deep into the world of the story she creates, and shows it to us without overloading us at all. It leads to a dense story where you immediately understand the world, and what might happen in it without question. Uprooted is such a distinct world that the story just comes out in small slices until suddenly the action happens, and nothing comes out of left field so much as ties pieces together that you weren't connecting until she did. And that's a poor explanation of this story. But it's a gorgeous world, and I'm so very glad I listened to it, because I have a feeling I'd have gotten caught on certain passages otherwise.

I really wish there was more to this world. Yes, she finished the story about the Wood, but I'm fascinated by Agnieszka's magic as compared to the usual mages of this world. Obviously, she is not the only one, but it does seem to be the less-known magic. I'd love to see a story about a magical school just for her type of magic, and more digging into how it works, and into her heroine's story. Heck, I would love to learn about that witch and what she got up to. Or to find out she wasn't dead after all, and the conversation between them. She was as fascinating as Agnieszka, really.

I highly recommend this to people who love rich, dense fantasy worlds, but I think if you're not a strong fantasy fan, this one might not be for you. Looking at the reviews on Goodreads, that seems to be the divide. This is for people who want a fantasy novel based on old tales, and not for a fan of modern romance fantasy, because it will only disappoint you in that regard. Yes, there is a touch of romance, but it is not the story she is telling, and it was never meant to be.

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Audio Book: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

 

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, read by Frazer Douglas
Fantasy/Mythology/Romance
Summary: Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions.
352 pages

My Rating: B+

I have so much to say about this one. I'm a huge Greek Myth nerd, and given the angle of this story into gay romance, I knew I had to give this a try after enjoying Circe as much as I did. And I plan to check out her other stories once I get my hands on them. However... This is the ultimate origin of the "Kill the Gays" trope. And I knew that going in. But I had hopes that she would find a way to twist it to mitigate the ending. Unfortunately, Miller is a Greek studies scholar. And this story is too well known for her to easily twist it. So... If "kill your gays" is something you avoid, this one unfortunately has to be a pass. Because they both die just as they do in the Illiad. There is a little twist at the very end which I won't give away, but I certainly wouldn't call it a happy ending. 

So now that you are warned, here are my feelings about the story itself. To start off, I was surprised at her choice of telling this story from Patroclus's point of view, given his role in the ending of their story. At the same time, I think it was the right choice. He goes through a much greater story arc than Achilles, who knows himself to be a Great Hero from the very beginning of his life. Unfortunately that means he really has no big change over the story, while Patroclus's story has great arcs in several ways that make his pov far more interesting. In the end, his choices make sense, and at least he keeps up the narration even after his ultimate fate, though I won't tell you what he tells us, so that you can experience that for yourself.

All said, it's a wonderful telling of their tale, as her Circe was for those characters. It was interesting seeing Odysseus in this after seeing him in Circe, and she's very consistent of her characterization of him, and his story. The boys are sweet together, especially during their time training with Chiron, which is my favorite part of the book. I say if you're a fan of greek myth, particularly the Illiad, you will enjoy it. So long as the big warning above doesn't scare you away. Madeline Miller is someone I will definitely be reading more from.

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Audio Book Dual Review: The Forest of Good and Evil #1 & 2

 

The Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #1) narrated by Caitlin Kelly 
Summary: Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future. Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real-life fairy-tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.

544 Pages

The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) narrated by Caitlin Kelly 
Summary: Princess Ashleigh Charmaine is known as the Glass Princess, fragile enough to shatter with a whisper of wind. Born with a weak heart, she dreams of being treated like anyone else. Unlike her headstrong sisters, she received no magical ability at birth and lives every day expecting to die. Until an oracle announces that Ashleigh is fated to play the part of Cinderella, wed a handsome royal and save the Kingdom of Sevon from the evil king and queen who once ruled the land.
552 Pages

by Gina Showalter
Fantasy/Romance

My Rating: A-

I do enjoy Gina Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series, so I was curious to see what this was like. These are so good. Highly enjoyable, with characters that pull you in hard. Everly is a spoiled brat who tries to do better, while Ashleigh is a child destroyed by circumstance. Both characters make  you care for their paths, and want to see them get only the best. And when they do... you just want to cheer. 

Yes, looking at the summaries and the names of the main characters might make you roll your eyes, but by the time you've hit Enchantia in the first book, you just don't want to stop. Everly's so much fun. And since she was raised on Earth, she's very American, which is just fun to watch her confuse her Enchantian friends with. Ashleigh is a much softer heroine who grows into her power, and just blooms from it. And their Princes are definitely worth all the things they go through. I will say this falls into the New Adult category more than YA, but it should be okay so long as a little spicy is okay.

I have tried to find out more about this series, because I want so much more, but Glass Queen only came out last year, so there are only hints of what we might get from this series, though I did see one thing saying it was currently listed as a trilogy. Still, I hope it goes much farther than that. There are so many characters in this world that I'd like to see settled and happy. They all deserve their happily ever afters. And their villains all need to be punished.

If you like fairy tales, especially twisted ones, this is a must read. I highly recommend.

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Reviews: The Cruel Prince & the Lost Sisters by Holly Black

 

The Cruel Prince (Folk of the Air #1) 
Summary: Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
370 Pages

The Lost Sisters (Folk of the Air #1.5) narrated by Caitlin Kelly 
Summary: While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke.
50 Pages

by Holly Black
Fantasy/Romance

My Rating: B

It took several attempts to get this from the library, because every time it came in, I was still working on another book, and knew I couldn't hold it long enough to read. It's a lovely book, but I think I would have gotten through it faster if I'd listened to it instead of reading it. So I did get the novella from the library, though it is much shorter.

I enjoyed this, but it's very complicated, plot ways, and so you have to pay very close attention to what's going on and who's allied with whom. Not a bad thing, but definitely makes for longer reading. Jude is an interesting character, but not one I can really love. Her conflict with Cardan, however, definitely drives this plot and makes it more interesting than it might otherwise be. I look forward to seeing where they go next with this story.

This one's definitely for the people who enjoy high fae stories, and seelie plotting. Because that is 90% of this story. Definitely worth checking out if you like fairy stories in general, and don't mind a bit of darkness.

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