Showing posts with label Fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fantasy. Show all posts
{ARC Review} MAGONIA by Maria Dahvana Headley
Labels:
4 Stars,
ARC,
Book Review,
Fantasy,
Young Adult
·
Author: Maria Dahvana Headley
Published: 28th April 2015
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Paperback ARC provided by Harper Collins for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
Maria Dahvana Headley's soaring YA debut is a fiercely intelligent, multilayered fantasy where Neil Gaiman's Stardust meets John Green's The Fault in Our Stars in a story about a girl caught between two worlds . . . two races . . . and two destinies.
Aza Ray Boyle is drowning in thin air. Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak--to live. So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn't think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.
Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who's always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world--and found, by another. Magonia.
Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power--but as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war between Magonia and Earth is coming. In Aza's hands lies fate of the whole of humanity--including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?
There are birds, pirates, flying ships, magic, singing and so much more that make this the most unique story I've read.
REVIEW:
The story:
Wow, I don't even know where to begin with this review. I was so different to anything I've ever read, and certainly not what I expected from the blurb. The entire world and concept of Magonia is so incredibly unique in every way possible. The book is told from two POVs, however Aza has the majority of chapters with Jason only having a few throughout the book. Aza has suffered from a rare and unknown illness all her life. Everyday she struggles to breath and doctors have no idea how to cure her. It's very difficult to say much about the story without giving away any spoilers, as the majority of this book is something that needs to be experienced as you read it first hand.
Aza find's herself thrown into the unknown world of Magoina. A land of floating/flying ships in the sky, where she meets her 'mother' Caption Zal and is told she has a destiny to fulfil to save the Magonians from starvation. She's introduced to her Magonian 'partner', Dai, and together they have the power to change not only future of Magonia but the human world bellow. But helping Captain Zal with her plans, might just mean betraying the world bellow and people she loves.
The characters:
Aza is one of the of most sarcastic narrators I've ever read, and I absolutely loved it! Every word out of this girls mouth is coated in her dry sense of humour. Naturally her new world scares her and she has trouble adapting to her supposed 'destiny'. She a loyal character, but her loyalties are tested when her density will mean betraying the life and the boy she's always loved.
Jason and Aza are very similar characters. They are both smart and witty and aren't afraid to bend the rules. When reading Jason's POV it's clear that he's quite an eccentric person, spending days without sleep and counting the number of PI to keep calm. He's also extremely devoted to his friendship Aza, which I just loved him for.
Dai is Aza's Magonian 'partner'. He was a difficult character to read, and I still don't really know what to make of him. He's devoted to Captain Zal's quest, and although he seemed nice enough, I'm not sure if he can be trusted.
The romance:
The romance between Aza & Jason is slow building for the majority of the book. They have been best friends since childhood, and have been there for each other no matter what. Slowly we see that there may be something more between them, but the romance is never really the centre of the story, just quieting building in the background. If there is a sequel, their commitment to each other will be tested even further. I sincerely hope that a love triangle doesn't develop with Dai, but if it does, I'm most certainly Team Jason.
The writing:
While this book does follow the typical YA trope: girl turns 16 and discovers she's from another world, and has destiny to complete, I felt Headley's unique world building and intelligent character voice's ensured this book was like nothing else out there.
FINAL WORD:
This book pushes the limits of fantasy and many times I found myself saying "this is such a strange story". There are birds, pirates, flying ships, magic, singing and so much more that make this the most unique story I've read.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: mild / some mild kissing
Violence: medium / some mention of fighting and 'gore'
Language: mild / occasional f word
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{ARC Review } Talon by Julie Kagawa
Labels:
4 Stars,
ARC,
Book Review,
Fantasy,
Julie Kagawa,
Paranormal Romance
·
Series: Talon #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: 1st November 2014
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: eARC provided by HarlequinTeen for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.
Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.
Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
An Exciting New Series With Vibrant Characters & Intriguing Storyline!
REVIEW:
The story:
Talon is an exciting new series set in a world where Dragons are real. Ember and her twin brother Dante arrive in the small beach town for their final training mission before they are given their work placement by Talon. They must blend in and become part of the human world, which they do well at first. They both make friends and Ember starts to build a close relationship with the intense and quiet Garret. Little does she know he belongs to a group of Dragon Hunters, The Order of St George.
Things start to get even more complicated, when Ember meets a rogue dragon, Riley, who has shunned Talon's system to go on the run. At first Ember doesn't trust him, but as he reveals more secrets about the inner workings and corruption of Talon, Ember starts to question her future. With so many people out for Ember's blood, knowing who she can trust gets very complicated.
The characters:
Ember, is sweet and a little naive to the world she lives in. She wants freedom and a carefree Summer at the beach. It's not until later in the book, that she really starts to grow up and see the dangers around her. Her narrative voice was actually very realistic for a teenage girl. And I loved that when it came down to it, she knew how to defend and stand up for herself - very empowering.
Garret, is a quite and gentle guy of the surface, but underneath that, he's a dragon slayer. He's has always believed everything The Order of St George has told him about dragons…until he met Ember. While all his training tells him she must be a dragon who can't be trusted, he can't deny that she seems like a kind a caring girl, and his attraction towards her causes him to start questioning his beliefs.
Riley is a very confident character. He know what he wants and how to get it. For the first half of the book he is quite a mystery, but we do get to know him a bit better in the second half, and he is a very loyal person, and dedicated to protecting those around him. I can't wait to see more of him.
Dante, Ember's twin brother, is a confusing character. It's obvious he cares for Ember and wants to protect her. But he's also very dedicated to Talon. Sometimes I felt like he was completely blinded by that devotion, that he couldn't see what was right in front of him. I'm excited by the possibly of seeing more of him in the next book and hopefully watching him grow.
The romance:
Ember & Garret's relationship is really quite adorable. Neither have any experience with dating and they are both very hesitant to make the first move. Garret's doesn't understand his attraction to Ember, especially since she might be a dragon. And Ember is confused by her feeling for Garret, because she's always been taught that dragons don't feel human emotions. The big question, is there a love triangle? Well…sort of. While nothing really happens with Ember & Riley, it's clear that there is something between them. I'm guessing the next book is the series will explore their relationship further.
The writing:
While this book took a little while to get going for me, once it did it was excellent. It's told in dual 1st person POV of Ember & Garret. But about half way through, we start to get some chapters told from Riley's POV, which I really enjoyed. It gave the story a lot more depth to be able to hear the thoughts of all three main characters.
FINAL WORD:
Talon is an exciting new series with vibrant characters and intriguing storyline. The fantastic epilogue raises a lot of questions for the next instalment, and I simply can't wait! I'm curious if the next cover will be blue??
CONTENT:
Sexuality: mild / some kissing, minor passing references to sex
Violence: medium / some fight scenes, guns, shootings & references to murder
Language: medium / occasional f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{ARC Review} Rain by Amanda Sun
Labels:
3 Stars,
Amanda Sun,
ARC,
Book Review,
Fantasy,
Young Adult
·
Series: Paper Gods #2
Author: Amanda Sun
Published: 24th June 2014
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Source: eARC provided via Netgally for fair & honest review
Rating: 3.5/5
BLURB:
American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She's started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can't imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she's fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She's flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.
When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo's dark ancestry, as well as Katie's, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.
A Culturally Rich Story, But I Was Hoping For More Action
REVIEW:
The story:
So after reading the first book I was torn, there were parts I liked & parts I didn't, and this book is much the same.
Katie has decided to stay in Japan and face the dangers of the ink with Tomo. After reuniting with each other, Tomo decides to stop drawing hoping it will protect them from the dangers of his drawings. But Tomo continues to loose his control over the ink, and the danger escalates. Katie turns to the only person she thinks might be able to help, Jun. But while looking for information to help Tomo, Katie makes some startling discoveries about her own past and her connection to the Kami Gods.
Meanwhile, Tomo & Katie's relationship is further put to the test, as Shiroi, Tomo's pregnant friend makes it clear she's after Tomo and threatens Katie to stay away. Katie's not only afraid of loosing Tomo to Shiroi, but she fears the ink will soon take over his mind completely. It's getting harder and harder to know who is on who's side, and who she can trust.
I feel like very little progress has been made since the end of Ink. A few revelations are made towards the end, but not much when you consider the length of the book. I'm hoping we get to see a bit more action in the next book.
The characters:
Katie hasn't really grown up much since the first book. She's still extremely naive and very impulsive, not really thinking things through properly. I was hoping to see some growth and see her become stronger - perhaps even discovering some inner Kami powers, but no - maybe in the next book?
Tomo is such a sweet and extremely forgiving character. No matter how many mistakes Katie makes, he forgives her. However he does get jealous when he hears Katie refer to Jun by his first name (in Japan using first names is something you do with someone your close with). I liked seeing him like this, showing some emotions, that he normally keeps so well hidden.
The romance:
The so called love triangle element didn't really work for me. It felt so forced and did nothing more than irritate me with Katie's "I love Tomo so much, we are soooo perfect together"..."but Jun is really gorgeous". I just didn't understand why she was suddenly suggesting she was attracted to Jun, when it was clear she was in love with Tomo. Her relationship with Tomo was much more believable and I would have preferred seeing more time spent on the cultural issues that they faced in their relationship - that part was actually really interesting.
The writing:
The pacing of this book is quite slow in the beginning, and it's not until the end that we get to see any real action or excitement. I still love Amanda's use of Japanese language throughout the story, which created an rich atmosphere, it felt like I was really in Japan.
The ink illustrations that I loved so much from the first book were used again, but I felt they could have been used a little more effectively, especially at the climax of the story. It seemed like there were less of them this time sadly.
FINAL WORD:
This was a decent sequel to the Paper Gods series, but I felt there could have been more. This could be one of those series that may have been better suited to a 2 book series rather than 3. However, it was still entertaining and I will be back for the 3rd book to see how things wrap up.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: mild / some kissing, minor mentions of sex, teen pregnancy (minor character)
Violence: mild / some fighting - not overly detailed
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{Review} The Falconer by Elizabeth May
Labels:
4 Stars,
Book Review,
Fantasy,
Young Adult
·
Series: The Falconer #1
Author: Elizabeth May
Published: 12th Sept 2013
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy / Steampunk
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
One girl's nightmare is this girl's faery tale.
She's a stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title — and drop-dead beauty.
She's a liar.
But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. She's leading a double life: She has the rare ability to sense the sìthichean — the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans — and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.
She's a murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her abilities and her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons — from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols — ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.
She's a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with the gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother's murder — but she'll have to save the world first.
"Kiaran was . . . helping me."
"Was there something near your mouth that required such focused attention?"
REVIEW:
The story:
In 1844 Scotland, Aileana Kameron, is living a double life. After witnessing a faery violently murder her mother, she's has never been the same. She's seeking revenge, taking the the streets at night to take down any dangerous fae in her path. All the while searching for the one that cut her mother's life short. With the help of the mysterious and dangerous fae, Kiaran MacKay, she's becoming the warrior she was born to be. But as the sole remaining Falconer the responsibility of protecting the world from a deadly army of faeries rests of her shoulders.
What is great about this story is that it's perfect for both fans and newbies to the faery genre. It's such a different approach to the regular faery courts etc that fans will find this new and refreshing. While the storyline doesn't get to complicated or bogged down in faery lore to put off new readers.
The characters:
Aileana Kameron (or Kam as Kiaran calls her) is one feisty and kick ass heroine. Lady by day, fae slayer by night. She thrives on the power and thrill of killing deadly fae, and it's become a way of dealing with the anger of seeing her mother murdered by one. Not only is she strong, she's also intelligent, tinkering with gadgets to create new weapons for her hunts. But we do see a vulnerable side underneath her fierce exterior, something I hope we get to see more of in the next book.
Kiaran MacKay, a daoine sith, one of the most powerful and deadly type of fae, is an extremely mysterious character. He doesn't like to share anything personal about himself and it's clear he has secrets. He's closed off and very good and making it appear he doesn't care about anything or anyone, but there where a few moments and gestures that suggested otherwise.
I also have to make mention of the pixie fae, Derrick, who lives in Aileana's closet, mending her clothes and helping her hunt down the fae that killed her mother. Derrick is a scene stealer, he has all the best lines and the most vibrant personalities. FYI drunk pixies are hilarious!
The romance:
At first I was a little concerned that there was going to be a love triangle, but it never eventuated thankfully. The relationship between Aileana & Kiaran was all about the unspoken moments. Slow burning, with stolen glances and the occasional meaningful touch. The romance was not the centre of attention, but it was slowly developing in the background.
The writing:
The world building was really well done. With lot's of different types of Fae, it could have easily gotten confusing, but each Fae is slowly introduced over numerous scenes, meaning no major info dumping occurs. The pacing was steady throughout, apart from the ending, which felt rather abrupt, but it has me extremely excited for book two! I also loved the Scottish language and accents that where sprinkled throughout, such as "Aye", it gave all the characters excellent, realistic voices.
FINAL WORD:
The Falconer is an exciting new Fae series that stands out from the crowd of YA fiction. With a unique storyline and a strong heroine, this should appeal to both teens and older YA audiences.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: mild
Violence: medium-strong / several bloody far battles/murder scenes
Language: mild / occasional 'bastard'
Drugs & alcohol: mild / some secondary characters drink
Review: Ink by Amanda Sun
Labels:
Amanda Sun,
Book Review,
Fantasy,
Ink
·
Series: Paper Gods #1
Author: Amanda Sun
Published: June 25th 2013
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Rating: 3/5
Source: NetGalley eARC provided for honest review
BLURB:
I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.
Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench.
A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.
And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.
On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.
Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.
Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.
***Mild Spoilers***
Oh my god. He's…he's a sketch."
THE GOOD:
The story:After Katie looses her mother she has to move to Japan to live with her Aunty. At first she feels lost and confused by the foreign language & cultural difference, but slowly as she learns the language and embraces the local food & customs she starts to make a new home for herself in Japan.
Tomorohiro was a little hard to like at first with his arrogant attitude and coldness towards Katie. However in the scenes with just the two of them we see the real Tomo, quieter and thoughtful. At times we get to see the young teenager that he his - he blushes when when Katie first calls him by his first name (using first names is considered very personal in Japan, where they usually address each other with last names.)
The romance is not the focal point of this story - it's more about the Kami & the ink, however they do develop feelings for each other and get closer throughout the story. Their interactions were actually very realistic for their age. They both get shy & embarrassed when alone, not sure how each other feel - it was actually quite cute! Little romantic interactions were effectively sprinkled throughout the story, so the main action was never interrupted.
Sun made very clever use of Japanese language throughout the story - it enhanced the Japanese atmosphere and I felt like I was really in Japan. While she does include a glossary at the back of the book for all the words she's used, I personally didn't find it necessary to look them up. In the context of what's being said it was usually clear what the meanings were:
"I'm not okay." I whispered.
Yes that's right, this book has some illustrations & they just enhanced the story all the more. Ink drawings that Tomohiro sketches are scattered throughout the book and I swear I saw some of them move…seriously…I thought I was going crazy :)
THE BAD:
There was one scene where Tomohiro does something quite horrible to Katie, and while at the time I was fully aware that he was doing it to push her away to ultimately protect her from his Kami powers, it still didn't sit well with me. I think there were perhaps other things, even nasty things he could have said or done to push her away - but this just seemed wrong. And it was interesting that the author wrote at the end of the book that this was a hard scene for her to write, because she knew it was out of character & very wrong of him to do. Yeah I know I'm being picky, sorry :)
FINAL WORD:
After studying Japanese for 5 years at school (although sadly I remember very little of it now), I've always had an interest in Japan & would desperately love to got there one day. This book brought me very close - I could see the Sakura (cherry blossoms), smell the curry and feel the power of the Kami & ink! This was a fun and very creative story that fans of fantasy romances are sure to love!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: mild-medium / some kissing, minor casual mentions of sex, ***spoiler***>>Tomohiro pressures Katie to sleep with him - an action intended to push Katie away to protect her***end spoiler***Violence: medium / Yakuza (violent Japanese gang) threaten violence, guns, kendo fighting
Language: medium / several f*ck and sh*t
Drugs & alcohol: none
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