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: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games Prequel) by Suszanne Collins, narrated by Santino Fontana  

Sci Fi/Dystopia/YA

Summary: It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him.

439 pages

My Rating: A-

Last year was a year of many prequels and sequels, and I, for one, am glad of it. It meant more stories about the characters we know. I've heard a lot of complaints about this one. That it's unnecessary, that Snow is not a sympathetic character to follow, and more. No book is ever necessary unless there's a literal cliffhanger from the previous book. This one? Gives us lots of insight into President Snow, and how he became the unbending man he was. Not sympathetic, no. But it provides a depth to the world that we didn't have before. And I love the insight into how the Games became the high-profile thing it was in Katniss's time. 

The world of the Hunger Games has never been a happy one. But seeing how things came to be so set in stone tells a lot about the way things evolved, which I find fascinating. And the little links between Snow's youth and Katniss's time also shows why he took her especially personally. If he had not, so much could have been avoided. But he'd been trained out of empathy before the end of this prequel, and that explains so much. I would be interested to read this again, and then follow up with the Hunger Games series to notice the other names mentioned in this. There was one in particular who shocked me. I won't name them specifically, but I will say to pay attention to his cousin. I was fascinated by that, because it came out of left field.

In short? A very worthy prequel, but don't expect to feel empathy for what he goes through, or why he ended up where he was. He wasn't a good man, and some of it was definitely his own doing. If you like prequels like that, and characters you might not be able to empathize with or understand, definitely give it a look. It is a very interesting addition to this universe.

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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: 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: Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

 

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard, narrated by Amanda Dolan

Sci Fi/Dystopia/Romance/YA

Summary: If there's one thing Mare Barrow knows, it's that she's different. 

Mare Barrow's blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

464 Pages

My Rating: B

While this wasn't my favorite of the year (or even my favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling), I did enjoy it. It's a dark world, and it's not for everyone, definitely, but I love the explorations of the abilities these people have, and I am curious where it will go from where she left it.

I like the characters, even Mare. Though I feel like her prince is a bit milktoast. I'm not sure if that's just from her viewpoint, and he will eventually be allowed to show who he truly is. I want to see Cal come into his own, a man who could become a great leader, instead of the leader his father tried to force him into the box of. I almost feel this is more his story in some ways. Yes, she's the main character, but her change is just learning who she is. He's the one having to make some severe decisions, and that kind of thing would cripple anyone. Hopefully he'll mange to overcome everything that has been thrown at them.

I look forward to seeing where their story will go next. I'm also looking forward to reading the two queens' stories for the prequels, though really, I couldn't care less about Maven and his psychotic mother. Mostly I want to find out more about Cal's mother, and what she went through, despite knowing that her story doesn't end happily.

I say, if you enjoyed the first, this is an excellent follow up. If you didn't, I don't think you'll enjoy this one more than the first. Though this borrows from some of the ideas in Hunger Games, it is not as well-packed as that series, so fans of that one probably won't enjoy this as much.

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Audio Book Review: Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

 

Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, narrated by Julia Whelan

Sci Fi/Dystopia/Romance/YA

Summary: In the city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra is raised to be a human sacrifice. Her death will ensure her city's vitality. In the desert, a mutant beast named Gem fights to save his people, known as the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that, together, they can return balance to their worlds.

391 Pages

My Rating: B+

This version of Beauty and the Beast definitely has some lovely aspects you don't get with these stories often. For one, the roles are reversed. Instead of "Beauty" (or the girl, if you prefer) being held hostage by the "Beast" (or boy, if you prefer), her people hold him hostage instead. For another, she starts out with a disability, which is something there still isn't enough of in YA these days. Granted, in this case, she is magically cured, so it's not perfect, but I do like that the story started out with her being perfectly capable even without her sight. I'm also very happy to find a sci fi version of this story, though it's very fantasy-based sci fi.

The story of Isra and Gem is a fairly typical story of two groups who hate each other and have done for so long that each no longer sees the other group as fully human. I like how well-woven the story of this world is, though at the beginning, I was certain the roses would have a very different role to play than they actually did. There are a few easy-fix issues in the story (see above about her disability for one), but overall, the story is a fascinating one, and those fixes don't do much to harm the story itself.

Definitely for fans of Beauty and the Beast, but don't expect the Disney version here. If you like sci fi as well as fairy tale retellings, and are a fan of YA, I think this is a good one to read.

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Audio Book Review: The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning

The Princess Will Save You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky book 1) by Sarah Henning, narrated by Katharine Lee McEwan 
Fantasy/Romance
Summary: When a princess' commoner true love is kidnapped to coerce her into a political marriage, she doesn't give in - she goes to rescue him.
368 Pages 

My Rating: A-

This story is actually loosely based on the Princess Bride. So not technically a fairy tale, but definitely a retelling with a lot of fun things in it. Of course, when I started, I failed to look to see when it was written. Which means I now have to wait until next year to see what happens next. But! I really had fun listening to this. The princess and her boy are lovely, and their adventures take them all over the place. It's not a one-to-one retelling, so there are lots of great twists and turns that will keep you guessing. And then those moments that are almost completely Princess Bride will pop up, and you'll be hard pressed not to laugh. Definitely a lot of fun. I highly recommend.

If you are the sort who wants to see a reversal of roles, where the girl is the one who does the saving, this is definitely the book for you. YA, light romance, lots of adventure, and yes, kissing. If you're a fan of the Princess Bride, this is definitely a lot of fun. 

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Audio Book Review: The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett

The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett, narrated by Chloe Cannon
Fantasy/Romance/YA
Summary: All Ekata wants is to stay alive--and the chance to prove herself as a scholar. But just as escape is within reach, her parents and twelve siblings fall under a strange sleeping sickness, and no one can find a cure. In the space of a single night, Ekata inherits the title of duke, her brother's captivating warrior bride, and ever-encroaching challengers from without--and within--her ministry.
432 pages.

My rating: A+

This book was a lot of fun. Ekata's world is a dark one, but she's an incredibly strong character who works through everything, even when her final supports seem to have been torn away. The world is basically Russian in feel, with a magical lake full of a whole separate race of merfolk who live there, despite the fact that the lake itself is frozen. The romance in this is sweet, but very YA. A few kisses between two girls, nothing more, even though they share a bed.

This one's definitely a good one for people who want a bit of romance, but not a strong one, and who love plot and intrigue and magic. I would definitely love more in this world, so I look forward to seeing what else Bartlett has written. 

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