The main character was on the one hand curious, resourceful, open-minded, and compassionate; and on the other jThe Grace Year was a mixed bag for me.
The main character was on the one hand curious, resourceful, open-minded, and compassionate; and on the other judgmental, combative, rebellious, and impulsive. The other characters were not very developed, so I can't rate this very high on character work. Tierney felt more like a vehicle through which to tell the story, than a fully-developed character I could love, understand, empathize with, and relate to.
The setting was also contradictory. On the one hand, it was intriguing since we're not supposed to know where the girls go or what they do or how they expel their magic during the grace year. But ultimately, it wasn't very mysterious, and it seems very clear from Tierney's perspective that she isn't really buying any of it. She knows she's going off to isolation, that survival will be difficult and that she may be hunted. The fact that she goes at all is interesting, as she doesn't seem connected to her community or particularly dependent on them. It's not clear why she wouldn't just choose to leave. The potential for her younger sisters to be exiled if she doesn't comply also doesn't feel like a real motivator, since exile seems preferable to living in the community.
Overall, I give this book 3 stars, because I think the primary reasons I didn't love it have to do with my own taste. I just don't feel super interested in women-hating cults. The themes here are solid, but not subtle, and ultimately, the pacing and mystery were predictable for me. There wasn't a lot here to keep me invested, so I was bored and it all felt over the top and not very believable. All that said, I know this is beloved, and I am not the target audience. I will say, that I appreciated the theme that women do better by being good to one another. That men have significantly less power over women when women don't give their power away, and when they see and support one another. There is a kind of magic in the feminine bond. These are great themes especially for young adult women to read about.
Loved this creepy poetic take on Alice and Wonderland. Dark and mad as the original is, this takes the classic fairytale and goes eve3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Loved this creepy poetic take on Alice and Wonderland. Dark and mad as the original is, this takes the classic fairytale and goes even more sinister and bizarre. Centering two young witches who experience a devastating loss and are framed for the crime, they battle through Wonderland, a forest of monsters to earn their pardon from the Red Queen. Meanwhile, the Red Queen is newly coronated upon the mysterious death of her mother. The circumstances around the White Queen's death and the magic of the royal line itself are a mystery.
The stylistic writing is such a strength here. The characters are so unique, and their intensity makes for compelling reading. Thematically, the story explores grief, obsession, and the fine line between love and hate, when passion and intensity blur the lines.
This does the original story proud, ages it up, and explores the emotional complexity and horror of loss, obsession, grief, and desperation. I would recommend to readers who love Chloe Gong and Ava Reid stylistically, and to anyone obsessed with fairytale retellings.
Check your trigger warnings on this one. It's YA, but leans heavily into horror.
Note: I received this book and compensation for a review on another platform. This review is not compensated or required.
I loved the vibes! The page count was EARNED, and this book wasn’t trying too hard or taking itself too serioThis is YA fantasy romance done so well!
I loved the vibes! The page count was EARNED, and this book wasn’t trying too hard or taking itself too seriously. I enjoyed the true enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and Alex’s character arc. The magic system was interesting, the action and pacing kept me hooked, and the cliffhanger was great setup for a sequel. I would absolutely recommend to readers who enjoyed the Shepherd King duology and Belladonna!
Because it’s YA: there is some repetition and hand-holding for the plot, the twists are somewhat predictable, and the setting isn’t historically accurate. These elements do pull me out of the story, BUT they don’t feel like failings of this book so much as qualities of the genre and target audience. ...more
Has there ever been a more satisfying and heart-wrenching/heart-warming conclusion to a young adult romance?! I couldn't have asked for more. It4.5 ⭐️
Has there ever been a more satisfying and heart-wrenching/heart-warming conclusion to a young adult romance?! I couldn't have asked for more. It felt so right and earned.
As with the first two installments, I didn't wholly connect to the actual good vs. evil plot, but that's not what I was reading for. These characters–their backstories, choices, triumphs, failures, sacrifices, and love for each other—it's top-tier emotional reading.
I wish I had found this in my teens, but I enjoyed it as an adult, and recommend it to fantasy romance and historical fiction readers who can handle a bit of fantasy. It's an absolutely scrumptious love story....more
God, what an excellent expansion on book one. The love triangle trope is so tired and often done poorly...but this! This is how you do it. All three cGod, what an excellent expansion on book one. The love triangle trope is so tired and often done poorly...but this! This is how you do it. All three characters are beautifully fleshed out. Their motivations are heart-wrenching and believable, they are all so honorable, and there is very little drama, miscommunication, or juvenile angst. It just aches and burns, and I was hanging on every moment.
The meta-narrative is what limits this to the young adult genre. The character arcs are just more important and get more page time than the mystery of the villain, his intentions and motivations, and any plans to take him down. This second book gets into shadow-hunter politics, corruption, and sexism, which felt gimmicky to me, but it just wasn't the focal point, so I didn't mind. The plot really acts more as a setting/backdrop on which these characters evolve and grow together.
Cannot wait for the conclusion of this series. The tension is so visceral....more
What a beautiful conclusion to this series. I have loved the Belladonna trilogy, but this was by far my favorite installment. Blythe and Aris are suchWhat a beautiful conclusion to this series. I have loved the Belladonna trilogy, but this was by far my favorite installment. Blythe and Aris are such iconic fairytale romance characters, and their story is aching and healing in the best ways.
This is the most magical setting. I love the gothic setting in both Belladonna and Foxglove, but this setting is more fantastical and whimsical. It has that gothic and dilapidated feel some of the time, but the rest of it definitely leans fairytale. I loved the winter vibes and the way the magic wove throughout the setting and plot.
The characters and their relationship were more the center of this plot which made it the most romantic of the books, but the mystery at the heart of the trilogy was tied up nicely and the villain came in seamlessly which can be hard to do this late in a series.
Overall, I find this to be imaginative and emotional escapism, that's super satisfying and dreamy. If I'm going to read something for young adults that's a bit more simplistic I want these immaculate vibes. Highly recommend!...more
What a totally satisfying spin-off to These Violent Delights! Dare I say, I liked following Rosalin and Celia more than I did Roma and Juliette? I alwWhat a totally satisfying spin-off to These Violent Delights! Dare I say, I liked following Rosalin and Celia more than I did Roma and Juliette? I always adore this magical realism approach to Shanghai in the 1930's. The political tensions feel complicated, long-lasting, and accurate, even though this is a fantasy. I found a lot of payoff from the original duology, in seeing the Nationalist and Communist factions 5 years later, desperately holding on after the foreign imperialists have continued to take over more and more of Shanghai. Rosalin as an assassin-turned-spy was even more intriguing than Rosalin the turncoat gangster. Loved this continuation for her, and her attempts at redemption. I also really enjoyed the new characters and the return of a certain Montagov.
Similar to These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends, I was more enamored with the characters and their relationships than the plot, as it can be dizzying and full of maguffins. However, I did enjoy this plot, and liked the reveals at the end, though they were perhaps predictable.
Honestly, I just jive with Gong's writing style. The pacing isn't quick persé, but it is constantly moving and evolving. The payoffs feel worth it. The scenes play like a movie in my head, whether the characters are in their walk-up apartment, in cahoots at the office, out at the club, or in the middle of a car chase. It's picturesque and gritty to me, and so I'm happy to go along for the ride. Because of that, I feel I can only reliably recommend this to other readers who also love the writing style and setting. There isn't enough plot-wise and even character-wise to super stand out in the genre. It just really works for my personal tastes.
I am eager for the next installment, as the stakes are now relational as well as political, and the setting and characters continue to have me wholly captivated. This audiobook is also excellent, and I'll never get over the love interests calling Rosalin "beloved" and Celia "sweetheart." Absolute swoon....more
Such a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I loved the family development the most. Taryn, Vivi, and Oak all get moments that show their grow4.25 ⭐️
Such a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I loved the family development the most. Taryn, Vivi, and Oak all get moments that show their growth. Jude also deals with her fear and lust for power really directly in this installment and has her real hero moment.
The tone, style, and pacing were maintained throughout this series, and I was pleased to see so many redemptive arcs and watch characters soften here at the conclusion. This one really leaned into the fairytale style of the trilogy, and that worked.
Cardan is solidified as one of my favorite characters in fantasy, and I will be recommending this series to everyone. I think the setting and overall concept are the standouts for me. The characters and plot are solid, but the setting is what remains memorable, unique, and enchanting, and the idea of a cruel and wicked heir, who fills so many opposing roles (tormentor, victim, pawn, opponent, traitor, schemer, lover, ruler, savior, king), is really compelling.
This trilogy is a knockout in the YA space. Highly recommend. ...more
The Wicked King was exactly the escalation and progression from The Cruel Prince that I wanted. As more courts and schemes become involved, the 4.5 ⭐️
The Wicked King was exactly the escalation and progression from The Cruel Prince that I wanted. As more courts and schemes become involved, the intrigue is even more captivating. I loved reading about Jude's clever maneuvering even as she was being outmaneuvered, portraying how it's even more difficult to hold power than seize it. Cardan's smooth manipulations and schemes were the highlight, as they were happy surprises all along. Jude never underestimates his propensity for cruelty, but she somehow always underestimates his cleverness. Madoc remained an impressive threat, as did Belakin.
I love how much patience and secrecy play into Jude's strategy, how she wars with wanting to be seen as powerful and recognizes her power stems from being underestimated. This self-mastery really developed and matured her as a character. As her juvenile portrayal was the main weakness of the Cruel Prince, this was really gratifying development for me.
This series is near perfect for me. If I had to pick a weakness, it is perhaps that the stakes don't feel quite high enough. While I like Jude and want her to succeed, it isn't clear to me that she is far and away the best choice of ruler for Elfhame, or that Elfhame truly needs a better ruler. It's not clear that she will reform anything or right wrongs and overturn corruption. Her competitors are clearly self-serving and violent, so not good choices. She is clearly better, but somehow Vivi provides this perspective that Elfhame doesn't really matter in the scheme of "the real world" and so it's only a big deal because it's a big deal to Jude.
The cliffhanger in this book is delicious, and of course, propelled me right into the final book of the trilogy. I can't wait to see how this story concludes....more
I was completely sucked into this world and these characters. It felt like A Series of Unfortunate Events met Jane Eyre in a chilling, coming-of-age, I was completely sucked into this world and these characters. It felt like A Series of Unfortunate Events met Jane Eyre in a chilling, coming-of-age, romantic mystery/horror. Such a genre mashup and it was executed brilliantly!
The academic rivals scenario had a dual purpose, as it was both immersive and used to shed light on the inequality of access, power, and credibility given to men over women in academia. Personally, this note throughout the book failed to move me, as I haven't experienced this blatant sexism myself. As both a plot and character device it worked though. It did make the plot fairly predictable, and I guessed the twist very early on since this theme is prominent from the beginning. As a young-adult book, though, I forgive it for it's predictability, and value the experience of reading the story more than its shock value. In an adult genre, I would expect these themes to be more subtle and nuanced.
I loved this romance, and greatly appreciated that in a book exploring sexism, the male protagonist shows an antithesis to what is presented as the norm. He is the full master of his feelings and behavior. He is empathetic, emotionally intelligent, competent, self-assured, secure in himself, and also willing to ask for help. He is helpful, respectful, affectionate when wanted, and brave enough to challenge convention and expectation. All very admirable qualities, wrapped up in an adorably nerdy package. He was extremely lovable.
Merged review:
I was completely sucked into this world and these characters. It felt like A Series of Unfortunate Events met Jane Eyre in a chilling, coming-of-age, romantic mystery/horror. Such a genre mashup and it was executed brilliantly!
The academic rivals scenario had a dual purpose, as it was both immersive and used to shed light on the inequality of access, power, and credibility given to men over women in academia. Personally, this note throughout the book failed to move me, as I haven't experienced this blatant sexism myself. As both a plot and character device it worked though. It did make the plot fairly predictable, and I guessed the twist very early on since this theme is prominent from the beginning. As a young-adult book, though, I forgive it for it's predictability, and value the experience of reading the story more than its shock value. In an adult genre, I would expect these themes to be more subtle and nuanced.
I loved this romance, and greatly appreciated that in a book exploring sexism, the male protagonist shows an antithesis to what is presented as the norm. He is the full master of his feelings and behavior. He is empathetic, emotionally intelligent, competent, self-assured, secure in himself, and also willing to ask for help. He is helpful, respectful, affectionate when wanted, and brave enough to challenge convention and expectation. All very admirable qualities, wrapped up in an adorably nerdy package. He was extremely lovable....more
I enjoyed the setting and political system the most. The majestics and their unique gifts were fun. This story is great for young adult readers, who eI enjoyed the setting and political system the most. The majestics and their unique gifts were fun. This story is great for young adult readers, who enjoy feminist themes, representation in the cast of characters, and themes of self-belief and embracing one’s shadows, wrapped in a straightforward plot.
I don’t fit the demographic totally, as I prefer more complicated and nuanced plot and relationships, and I thrive on unpredictability and no-win scenarios. But I still had a good time. I’m so excited for this book to be out in the world and find its readers! They’re going to love it....more
This was a delicious setting and magic system. I loved the college, its secret society, and the house affiliations dependent on moon phase and birthdaThis was a delicious setting and magic system. I loved the college, its secret society, and the house affiliations dependent on moon phase and birthdate. The moon phase and tide alignments were clever and created not only a structure but a mood for the story as well. I ate it up.
The characters are in college, and the overall themes and development of the story definitely feel young adult with a predictable plot outline. What strengthened and matured the narrative was Baz's POV chapters. His backstory, relationships, management of his magic, grief, loss, and subsequent need for emotional and magical control, were very compelling. The conversations with his mentor Jae and scenes in the institute were a fascinating part of the narrative.
The aspect that drew me out of the story was how convenient things were for the characters. Their access and authority seemed unrealistic. They can access Dovermere whenever they want to even though students regularly drown there—seems like the adults would make it more difficult, with wards, curfews, etc. The institute also seems incredibly easy to infiltrate. Their access to magic feels very overpowered; awesome, but without enough limits to make any plights carry weight. If glamours and illusions can disguise people so absolutely, and power over light can make people invisible, and time can be undone so that misfortunes are reversible, what challenges are left? As it is, it seems the characters' only limitations are their own beliefs. While this is a really solid message thematically, I need magic systems to have some clear limitations, or the world becomes too ungrounded for me.
Overall, this is a strong and entertaining YA story, and I will definitely pick up the next book....more
This is YA Black Swan meets The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, with a thriller-esq subplot and a slow burn monster romance…and I ate it up!
I loved theThis is YA Black Swan meets The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, with a thriller-esq subplot and a slow burn monster romance…and I ate it up!
I loved the setting in the Parisian ballet, and the sinister magic lurking in the catacombs beneath the city. Likewise, the characters were interesting and engaging, and the tone was creepy and moody, without being too grim and haunting.
The promise was well-established in the beginning, introducing us to Laure, a perfectionistic aspiring ballerina, who must manipulate her body, mind, and soul to be all that is expected, and is never enough. No wonder she is willing to go to any lengths to gain power over her circumstances.
As the story progresses, and Laure begins to accomplish her goals, new characters are introduced and some go missing, only to turn up dead. Laure struggles with priorities as she balances pursuing her professional goals, navigating her tense relationship with her roommate, and getting to the bottom of the mysterious deaths of her friends. She questions herself as she discovers aspects of herself that conflict with her pursuit of perfection—anger, want, hunger, loneliness. As her chaos manifests, she must learn temperance and acceptance. And she cannot do it alone.
The payoff is really satisfying and plays to well-established themes throughout: power, rejection, loss, loneliness, betrayal, surrender and retribution.
A solid debut novel!
(This book was sent to me by the publisher. I am being compensated for an honest review on another platform. This review is not being compensated.)
I really enjoyed this plot and setting! The characters were decent, and the writing was cozy and atmospheric.
I think this story is very appropriatelyI really enjoyed this plot and setting! The characters were decent, and the writing was cozy and atmospheric.
I think this story is very appropriately marketed as Young Adult. The characters’ inner dialogue, insecurities, and decisions felt immature due to their youth. Iris trying to prove herself and control what others thought of her lent to this. Not my favorite thing personally, but it works for the demographic.
The theme of this story is vulnerability. A worthwhile theme to explore with this audience!
The story also felt localized and smaller in scale, even though we’re dealing with a gods war, and that aspect also felt a little more YA.
One weakness is that the side characters did not earn my attachment or investment, and I didn’t care enough about their survival.
I would recommend this story to young women, especially those who like more lyrical writing....more
A fun setup to a world and characters. Definitely has YA flavor, but manages to be plot-forward and not cheesy. I will definitely read the rest of theA fun setup to a world and characters. Definitely has YA flavor, but manages to be plot-forward and not cheesy. I will definitely read the rest of the trilogy, primarily for the characters and plot twists. The only letdown here is the lack of complexity and world building that other YA series have aspired to and accomplished. Simple, but very entertaining....more
This is shaping up to be a favorite series. I loved the further development of Alice and Sel in this installment, and Bree’s growth in the understandiThis is shaping up to be a favorite series. I loved the further development of Alice and Sel in this installment, and Bree’s growth in the understanding of her heritages. Bree grappling with her ancestors and power, the themes emerging around her purpose, and how much agency she wants to take, makes for very immersive and worthwhile reading.
My only trepidation as I read is worry that Bree’s thinking will remain too insular. As a chosen one of sorts, with so much power, she will need to find a greater purpose, free of obligation and fear for me to be ultimately satisfied. She certainly seems to be on that path, but we’ll have to see where she goes as the series concludes. The theme of integration is fully setup here, but hasn’t been realized, and it feels essential for me to be satisfied.
World building, plot, pacing, character development, magic system and themes are all here and done really well. I’m very invested and highly recommend Legendborn. The overall value of Bloodmarked is going to depend for me on how the series ends. It has all the potential of being perfect in retrospect. At the moment, with a sliver of doubt, I am holding with 4 stars. Definitely an enjoyable read!...more
Note: this book was sent to me by the author as a gift, with no requirement or expectation of a review.
To be honest, the title of this book gave me soNote: this book was sent to me by the author as a gift, with no requirement or expectation of a review.
To be honest, the title of this book gave me some trepidation. “Blessing” has a specific connotation to me, and I didn’t want to read something with overly religious messaging or overtones. Instead, the book explores the distinction between religion and faith, doctrine and truth. Secondarily, the story wrestles with the theme of integration: light cannot exist without dark, all power has potential for good and evil. These are ambitious themes, difficult to ground. I think the series can nail it with enough time and attention.
While I found the plot to be predictable, and the pacing to be inconsistent at times, the characters, world-building, and magic system hooked me, and I flew through this! This world’s political religion was well-developed and explained, and I’m interested to continue reading the series to find out more about the factions, herbalists, and areas in this world. The elixirs, fount, and auras are also fascinating. Rayelle and Paladin are a couple you can really root for, and the forbidden aspect of their love made the ride so fun.
I found the villains to be truly despicable, and frighteningly capable, which is what we want as readers! As the series continues, I’m excited to see both the heroes and villains engage with higher and greater stakes beyond the personal. These greater stakes are hinted at in book one, but each character was pretty insularly focused in this first book.
Overall, without spice, I think this book may appeal more to fantasy romance readers that love the YA genre, or fantasy readers that like the romance to be more of a subplot....more
This was charming and delightful. Tress is a domestic queen, with a remarkable outlook on everything. She's resourceful and compassionate, a quick stuThis was charming and delightful. Tress is a domestic queen, with a remarkable outlook on everything. She's resourceful and compassionate, a quick study, self-confident, and yet wholly unentitled. I usually like main characters, but Tress stands out. She's super fresh, and she enhances the whole book.
As always, Brandon Sanderson is unparalleled in world-building. The setting here is unique and fun, it gives a fresh twist to this pirate adventure. The non-wet oceans comprised of reactive spores are ingenious.
The way this story is narrated by Hoid is next-level. The humor and wit made this so engaging and hilarious. After every chapter, our book club was highlighting and sharing quotes. I need to reread so I can go back and tab and highlight all the gold nuggets.
As a lover of high stakes and moral complexity, I don't know that a cozy ya fantasy is ever going to be a perfect story for me. The pivotal moments of action just weren't the crux of this story, and that's okay. The lower stakes were intentional, and I wouldn't change it. However, the simplicity and sweetness are what makes it a GREAT book instead of a PERFECT book for me....more
This was a solid and satisfying conclusion to These Violent Delights. Again, the research is so evident and makes the historic backdrop very immersiveThis was a solid and satisfying conclusion to These Violent Delights. Again, the research is so evident and makes the historic backdrop very immersive. Roma and Juliette’s romance is fleshed out and satisfying, it’s tragedy is poignant, but with fresh zest. The supporting characters are well established and make this ensemble story much richer.
As a YA fantasy, I don’t think this duology is what readers will expect. It reads more like historic fiction with a romantic subplot. Much of the narrative focuses on political espionage, problem solving, and navigating betrayal.
While this story has monsters, and the action focuses on young people, it doesn’t read like a fast-paced action romance. It is more subtle and nuanced. More about time and place. Shanghai is very much a character in its own right.
I loved this retelling of star-crossed lovers. It’s felt fresh and expansive. The inclusion of monsters and madness, contrasted in a pre-tech Shanghai in the 1920’s on the brink of civil war, gave it such a cool energy.
I would recommend this more to adults who love historic fiction and mafia/gangster subplots. The fantasy romance is there, but neither dominate the narrative. ...more
Loading...
