Forged in Fire and Stars: A Book Review

What instantly drew me into this book was the idea of the Loresmith: a blacksmith blessed by the gods who defends kings and queens through the ages. The story starts out with high stakes: the kingdom's Loresmith killed during a battle to overthrow the regency, and everyone thinks that the Loresmith becomes extinct. But the Loresmith had a daughter no one knew about. In short, the story follows Ara as she becomes involved with the lost prince and princess to restore their kingdom. 

The most unique thing about this book is the writing. It feels similar to J. R. R. Tolkien's writing; it has that similar fanciful feel like some old bard is telling the story over a campfire. Because of this, I struggled to see into the characters' hearts and minds and connect to them. I was constantly reminded that this is simply a story being told. I couldn't escape into the world like I normally do when I read fantasy. 

Andrea Robertson sets up a nice series with this one, so a lot of the book is spent on world-building while the characters continually travel. The plot meanders a lot, and some things just don't make sense at first. But I still felt mildly interested in the plot and characters, so it wasn't hard to finish. In sum, this book simply wasn't remarkable enough for me to fully engage with it. But I may pick up the sequel. 

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you Philomel Books and NetGalley for the review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Tigers, Not Daughters: A Book Review

What a thriller. The story starts out with four daughters trying to escape from their confining house and tyrannical father, and then shifts entirely when Ana, the oldest daughter, dies and comes back as a ghost. However, this book isn't really about the plot. It's about the daughters—their unique and maybe even strange personalities. And it's about their relationships with each other, which is probably why other reviewers draw the connection to Little Women.

When I learned that this book was inspired by the line "tigers, not daughters" in King Lear (by Shakespeare, and perhaps my most favorite play), my entire perception about this book changed. I agree with Samantha Mabry that these words have such power, and I think this book encapsulates what that phrase means in a modern setting. I felt empowered reading this book because I realized that the characters that aren't just daughters. Similarly, we aren't all confined to one title, one descriptor. We are much more, and can be much more—as much as we want. We can be tigers. It's a powerful message to explore in a book, and Mabry does it very well.

Clearly, this book made me think, and then it made me be all theoretical, and then it made me never forget. It's a haunting read filled with perfect character sketches, underlying meanings that I'm still teasing out, and an uncanny atmosphere. I absolutely loved it.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4.5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Algonquin Young Readers, for the review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Joy's Summer Love Playlist: A Book Review

Looking for the perfect summer read? Honestly, this book has it all: a fake relationship, pop-culture references, singing, and a carefree summer before college starts. This book honestly reminded me of my own summer after graduation (though without the fake relationship, thank goodness), when you still feel like a teen, but you're about to become a full adult. It's a fun, light read that you can easily finish it in an afternoon because it definitely pulls you in.

Okay so first, Joy has a great character voice. You get right in her head and right in her heart, and her voice stays true throughout. She is incredibly loyal and selfless, even to a fault. Cale and Jin are also amazing characters. You've got Cale's humor and easy friendship, and Jin's sexiness and soft-heartedness. I'm totally #teamjin myself, but I loved both of them and their relationships with Joy.

Piper Bee has written a solid debut. There's definitely tension with the plot and subplots weaving together, and it's easy to get lost in the story and keep turning pages. The characters are solid, and the themes are hopeful and inspiring. There were a few small things that distracted me from the story, but Piper's writing is overall funny, relatable, and delightful. I can't wait to read more from her!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Piper Bee, for the review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Of Silver and Shadow: A Book Review

Jennifer Gruenke has written a solid fantasy debut, Of Silver and Shadow. While there's really nothing crazy new with forbidden magic, secret rebellions, enemies-to-lovers romance, and a messed-up royal family, I still enjoyed reading this book. I mostly enjoyed all the points of view we get (I think there's four?). The differing views kept the pace moving pretty quickly, and I liked seeing all the characters' developments, especially Kellen's and Adley's. Also, this book is pretty dark. Often, YA fantasy is a bit cushy, not showing too much violence and gore. But this book doesn't hold back, and all the violence is tastefully done and helps you remember the stakes. This book just felt different from a normal YA fantasy for that reason, and it was plenty entertaining. Perfect for fans of Night Spinner, Flame in the Mist, and The Shadows Between Us.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, NetGalley and Flux, for the ARC! This book will be released on May 26, 2020.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Night: A Book Review

I didn't think it was possible for Alexandria Warwick to top Below, the first book in this series. But she totally did. The world gets bigger in Night, and the characters grow so much more. The plot adds on new layers and new twists, setting up bigger problems and questions for the next two books to answer. The only thing I'm angry about is having to wait for the next books to come out. I NEED THEM NOW.

This book starts out slowly. Apaay has a lot of trauma to overcome, and she doesn't trust people easily, especially the Face Stealer. And although it moved a little too slowly for my tastes, I love how accurate Apaay's journey through her trauma is. I've obviously never been tortured by a girl and a demon, but Apaay's feelings seem justified. I think her journey can bring hope to a lot of people, and Warwick's dedication even says: "To those who look for light in dark places."

We see twice as many characters in this book, and go deeper into the characters we already know. Ila plays an even greater role, and I found her character growth to be absolutely empowering. The Face Stealer in all his mysterious glory also plays a huge role. I honestly can't get enough of him. We learn a lot more about his background and his personality in this book, and let me just say he's fascinating.

My favorite, favorite part of Warwick's books is her writing. WOW. Talk about one of the best writers I've ever seen. Even if the plot didn't grip me at first, her writing did. It's perfectly lyrical, and every word carries weight. She does some amazing things with rhythm and syntax that make my editor's heart giddy. She carefully crafts unique dialogue for each character, making them jump off the page. And she's laid the groundwork for an incredible series. Do yourself a favor and start this series!!! You won't regret it.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4.7
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Alexandria Warwick, for the ARC! This book will be released on October 8, 2020.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Shadows Between Us: A Book Review

I've never met a Tricia Levenseller book I didn't like. The Shadows Between Us was everything I hoped for and more: a wicked, clever main character that I somehow admire, a mysterious, handsome king, a slow, steaming romance, and threats of murder and blackmail at every turn. Honestly, it's a solid read because it has all the elements that make a fantasy book unforgettable: the characters are unique, the plot tense and driving, and the writing both humorous and deep. Levenseller keeps setting the bar higher and higher for herself, and she never fails to disappoint. I can't wait to read more from her. She deserves all the stars!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly: A Book Review

Jamie Pacton's debut is perfect for the feminist YA readers of the world. Kit works as a serving wench (waitress) at a medieval-themed restaurant and dreams of being promoted to a knight so she can earn money for college and help her mom pay the bills. But the company and her boss want to keep it medieval and traditional, meaning only guys can be knights. So Kit takes things into her own hands, riding out as a knight and raising awareness for gender restrictions and spurring a whole new set of problems.

As far as contemporary YA goes, this book has a cute story. There's lots of pop-culture references in here and lots of inclusion with sexualities, races, etc. The characters are entertaining, the restaurant setting is original and interesting, and the writing is pleasant. But to be honest, none of these characteristics really set it apart from other contemporaries. I took greatest issue with the plot, which seemed to move quite slowly and felt like a play-by-play of Kit's everyday life. I wanted more punchy scenes and less showering, eating, driving, and studying. I also didn't love the romance. It felt non-existent until the end, and by then it felt forced. Unfortunately, this book fell a bit flat for me, but it was still entertaining and cute.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.5
Plot/Movement: 2.5
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you, Page Street Publishing, for the ARC! This book will be released on May 5, 2020.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!