Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Title: Six Crimson Cranes

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Six Crimson Cranes # 1

Publication: July 6, 2021, 454 pages

Source: Personal Library.

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A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse...

Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear--no matter what the cost.

MY THOUGHTS

I just finished reading Elizabeth Lim’s latest novel, A Forgery of Fate, and was so impressed that I immediately went back to explore more of her work. Six Crimson Cranes, a duology set in the same world, felt like the perfect place to start.

Lim masterfully weaves elements from various fairy tales, Cinderella being the most prominent in this story from what I noticed, which I’m starting to realize is a signature of hers. Our main protagonist, Princess Shiori, and her brothers are banished by her stepmother. Cursed into silence, Shiori sets off on a journey to find her six brothers and break the spell.

It took me a little longer to warm up to Six Crimson Cranes, but the writing and worldbuilding were just as strong as in A Forgery of Fate. While I usually enjoy multiple subplots, the curse, the romance, and the looming threat to Kiata didn’t blend smoothly for me. Just as I’d start to get invested in one storyline, the focus would shift, which occasionally disrupted my engagement. Personally, I might have preferred a more streamlined narrative but I understand why Lim chose to give Shiori a voiceless curse, as it plays a key role in her character development.

I generally liked the characters, but with such a large cast, none of them truly stood out. I didn’t feel much connection to the brothers, Raikama, Sheryu, or even Kiki. While I enjoyed the first half of the book, my interest started to wane around the midpoint. The ending felt a bit anticlimactic and left me unsure whether I want to continue the series or read the Raikama spin-off.

Overall, Six Crimson Cranes was a decent, very quick read, but I won’t be rushing to pick up the sequel.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

Title: Sword Catcher

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Chronicles of Castellane # 1

Publication: October 10, 2023 624 pages

Source: Personal Library

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In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill.

Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword Catcher—the body double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are as close as brothers, but Kel knows that his destiny is to die for Conor. No other future is possible.

Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community whose members still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls within the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend without access to forbidden knowledge.

After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces.

As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will their discoveries plunge their nation into war—and the world into chaos?

MY THOUGHTS

Finally, Cassandra Clare writes something other than a Shadowhunter novel. Sword Catcher marks her foray into the adult genre. However, to be honest, it still reads like a Young Adult novel despite the characters being in their 20s and 30s. Many reviews have compared it to another popular series, but aside from the fact that Kel is an orphan who becomes the prince's shield and companion, the two stories are nothing alike, at least, not to me.

Sword Catcher revolves around the politics of Castellane, exploring its relationships with other kingdoms as well as the criminal underbelly within its own walls. The magic element is minimal and takes a backseat to the political intrigue. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but going into the book, I expected more fantasy. The story follows Prince Conor, his Sword Catcher, Kel, and the physician, Lin. Kel serves as the prince’s body double; stepping in for Conor during dangerous situations and publicly posing as his "cousin" when needed. His entire purpose is to serve House Aurelian; until he gets entangled with criminals like the Ragpicker King and Prosper Beck. Lin, on the other hand, lives in the Sault, a walled-off district within Castellane, home to the Ashkari people who sought refuge in the city after fleeing their homeland. As a physician, she cares for the lower class, but her life is upended when she finds herself caught between nobility and the city's criminal underworld.

Clare's new world is intriguing. I enjoyed the political maneuvering and seeing both sides of Castellane, and everything was presented in a clear, easy-to-follow manner. The story unfolded in a way that left me curious enough to pick up the sequel. I struggled to connect with the characters. I didn’t find them particularly likable or well-developed. Most of them were self-serving; even Kel, who convinces himself that everything he did was for the prince.

Two major events near the end drastically changed life for both the nobility on the Hill and the people of the Sault, yet they felt anticlimactic. Normally, moments like these would have me on the edge of my seat, frantically turning pages, but instead, I found myself thinking, 'That’s it?'

Overall, Sword Catcher is a solid introduction to a new series, and I hope the sequel delivers a stronger impact.

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison

Title: The Good, the Bad, and the Undead

Author: Kim Harrison

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: The Hollows # 2

Publication: 405 pages, January 25, 2005

Source: Personal Library

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It's a tough life for witch Rachel Morgan, sexy, independent bounty hunter, prowling the darkest shadows of downtown Cincinnati for criminal creatures of the night.

She can handle the leather-clad vamps and even tangle with a cunning demon or two. But a serial killer who feeds on the experts in the most dangerous kind of black magic is definitely pushing the limits.

Confronting an ancient, implacable evil is more than just child's play - and this time, Rachel will be lucky to escape with her very soul.

MY THOUGHTS

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead is the second book in the Hollows series, following green witch Rachel Morgan. In this installment, ley line witches are turning up dead, and Rachel is determined to find the killer. She suspects her archnemesis, Trent, whom we met in the previous book. However, Trent turns out to be the least of her concerns, as it seems everyone is after her, including the person hunting down the ley line witches.

I like Rachel as a protagonist, but half the time, she comes across as extremely immature and impulsive. She frequently does reckless things without considering how her actions affect the people around her. That’s not to say she doesn’t care for or love her friends, but she has plenty of lapses in judgment. These mistakes often lead to her screwing up, feeling guilty, and then scrambling to fix the problems she’s caused. Honestly, the book would probably be half as long if she used her head more often.

The overall plot of each book so far feels fairly typical for the urban fantasy genre; a quick, one-and-done case. However, the author does introduce an intriguing history between Trent and the demon Al, which is the main thing keeping my interest. I actually enjoy the dynamic between Rachel and Trent more than with any of the other side characters. Jinx is whatever, and Nick, Rachel’s boyfriend, is a complete bore. Honestly, I hope Rachel dumps him soon; he’s the least interesting character, following Glen and his dad.

I’m interested in continuing this series, but I really hope the author gives Rachel some serious character development...and fast. With 17 books in this series, I’m not sure I can stick with her current personality for the long haul.

Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

Title: Full Speed to a Crash Landing

Author: Beth Revis

Genre: Sci-Fi

Series: Chaotic Orbits # 1, Novella

Publication: 192 Pages, August 6, 2024

Source: Personal Library

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Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission.

But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late….

MY THOUGHTS

Full Speed to a Crash Landing is a light and entertaining novella that throws readers right into the action. Ada, a scavenger stranded on her ship, is awaiting rescue, which arrives in the form of a governmental vessel on a secret mission. The story sets the stage for what I see will be a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase as everyone scrambles to find a device with the power to change humanity forever.

At just 192 pages, this novella is a quick read and serves as the opening of a trilogy. The series is structured like episodes of a favorite TV show, with each novella offering a piece of the larger narrative. While reading, I found it initially challenging to piece together what was happening. Ada’s carefree attitude felt a bit too light and cheesy for my taste at first. However, as the story unfolded, the characters and overarching plot began to take shape, tying everything together by the end.

I’ll admit I wasn’t fully hooked until the final pages, but the ending intrigued me enough to continue with the series and read the next installment. Overall, Full Speed to a Crash Landing is a decent entry point for readers new to the sci-fi genre. Its quick pace and accessible style make it an easy read that could appeal to a wide variety of readers.

The Memory Puller by Kris K. Haines

Title: The Memory Puller

Author: Kris K. Haines

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Memory Puller # 1

Paperback, 413 Pages

June 14, 2023

Source: Personal Library
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Shrouded Sister Cassandra Fortin is a wannabe rebel hidden beneath midnight blue dress robes.

By day, she toils at the Temple, pulling the human memories craved by her Fae overlords. By night, she hunts through those same memories for treasures to steal, buying freedom for the mortal colonies’ least fortunate families.

When her fellow Sisters begin disappearing, the officer assigned to the case is the one individual who could expose her secret criminal history.

Good thing Cassandra stole his memory when he apprehended her during her most recent philanthropic robbery.

Officer Tristan Saros has always had a soft spot for mortals and a healthy skepticism towards authority. Especially his own. Now the irreverent, flirtatious Fae warrior has finally found the perfect distraction from immortal boredom - his intriguing new partner. Too bad about her pesky chastity vow. And why does she seem so familiar?

As Tristan and Cassandra team up to find her missing Sisters, their reluctant alliance transforms into a passionate, yet forbidden attraction. And during the investigation, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to dismantle the five-centuries-long peace between their two species.

In order to save the Sisters and keep their world from the brink of war, Tristan will need to decide if his loyalties reside with Fae or humans. And Cassandra will be forced to choose between her safe, gilded cage or an uncertain, pitiless freedom outside the Temple walls.

And if Tristan ever recalls Cassandra’s crime? Well, that might just be the most dangerous outcome of all.

MY THOUGHTS

I never thought I’d read a fantasy novel featuring a nun, but here we are. The Memory Puller introduces readers to Cassandra, a shrouded sister with the ability to extract unwanted memories—whether by request or, for the lower class, in exchange for a few drachas to make ends meet. What most don’t know is that in her spare time, Cassandra plays a Robin Hood-like role, stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

In her latest heist, she steals a necklace from Thaleen’s most affluent mortal family but gets caught by a fae Vestian Guard. This seemingly simple theft spirals into a larger plot involving missing shrouded sisters and deep-rooted corruption, threatening the fragile relationships between fae and mortals.

The Memory Puller is a light, fun fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The world-building is interesting and easy to follow, with both mortals and fae inhabiting the city of Thaleen. The fae are divided into three groups: Wingriders (who can fly), Beastrunners (essentially shifters), and Deathstalkers (a.k.a. vampires). These are your basic fantasy supernaturals, just with new names.

I liked Cassandra for the most part. Despite being a nun and having led a mostly sheltered life, she never lets that stop her from following her heart, even if it means breaking or bending a few rules. Then there's Tristan, the fae Vestian Guard who quickly becomes interested in her. However, their relationship feels very "instalove"—both characters seem obsessed with each other from the start, which made it hard for me to connect with their romance. Tristan himself is a bit of a mixed bag; he alternates between being a comedian and coming across as slightly stalker-ish. There are maybe one or two scenes where he’s serious.

Both Cassandra and Tristan have best friends who are always by their side, and I suspect the next book will focus on them, given how things ended. However, I didn’t have strong feelings about the secondary characters—they felt more like background extras. I didn’t particularly like or dislike them.

Overall, The Memory Puller was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed it in the moment, but looking back, it was good, just not particularly memorable.

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Title: The Falconer

Author: Elizabeth May

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Falconer # 1 

Hardcover, 378 pages 

Publication: September 19, 2013

Source: Personal Library
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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 a rare ability to sense the sìthíchean—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 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 a 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..

MY THOUGHTS

The Falconer series has been on my TBR list for over 10 years. But I always knew it was a series I wanted to get into eventually. And I'm so glad I finally did. The Falconer, the first book in a trilogy takes place in 1800s in Edinburgh, Scotland. Our heroine, Aileana Kameron is a debutant by day and fae-slayer by night. What drives Aileana is finding her mother's murderer. I used the term 'Fae-slayer' because the entire book had Buffy vibes; all you have to do is just substitute the vampires with faeries.  

The beginning of the book was quite slow and took a while to get into. I didn't find Aileana's high society life very interesting. And the faerie slaying night after night got monotonous. It wasn't until Aileana's two world collided that thing got more riveting...but just by a smidgen. I somewhat enjoyed the chemistry between Aileana and Kiaran but no matter how much I read; I felt like something was missing. Something we missed between the two because they went from hot/cold to flirty to full-blown I worship thee. It didn't make sense, nor did it feel like a natural progression. However, the author recently said she is rewriting the series as it was intended; meaning it was supposed to be an adult romantasy not young adult. I think if I read the author's original adult version I would like it more. 

The characters and world building are pretty minimal and lackluster. I didn't feel like enough time or thought were put into their character development and the foundation of the world was weak. The only standout to the first book was derek, Aileana's faerie friend that resides in her closet. All in all, I thought The Falconer was an okay, decent read. There's just enough substance and a cliff-hanger that has me possibly picking up the sequel. But I may wait until the revised edition comes out before I continue with the series. 

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Title: Wicked Lovely

Author: Melissa Marr

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Wicked Lovely #1

Hardcover, 437 pages 

Publication: June 12, 2007

Source: Personal Library
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Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

MY THOUGHTS

Wicked Lovely was one of the most well-known and loved Young Adult series back in the day. If you were reading Young Adult or Fantasy back in the mid-2000s, chances are you've read it or have heard about it. I owned the series back then but never got around to reading it until now.

In Wicked Lovely, the Faerie Realm exist, and Faeries roam around alongside humans. The more powerful Faeries could glamour themselves as human. Which brings us to our main characters, Aislinn, who has the sight and could see Faeries. She has known about them her whole life and made it her purpose to avoid them and stay under the radar. Until the Summer King, Keenan has Aislinn in his sight. It's been centuries that he's been looking for his Queen. And he believes that person is Aislinn. 

Wicked Lovely was a solid and well-written young adult. While it's aimed at a younger audience, I thought the subjects and themes tackled were very adult and mature. There were some adult things I've never seen in YA books and Marr incorporated it flawlessly. I thought the overall plot was okay, there wasn't as much action as I expected. However, the ending and turn of events took me by surprise. Especially when it came to the main male and female characters. As I've mentioned before, Keenan is looking for his Queen and normally, with most books we'd assume XYZ will happen...that if Aislinn is the Summer Queen, she must automatically end up with Keenan. Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. 

For the most part I enjoyed Wicked Lovely but the story didn't make a long-lasting impression. I don't feel compelled to pick up the rest of the series. The sequel features different characters we met in the first book and then it goes back to the main couple...but with how things ended, I'm not left wanting or curious enough to know what happens next with the characters. which is unfortunate.

Threaded by Tay Rose

Title: Threaded

Author: Tay Rose

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Solstice Cycle # 1

Paperback, 600 pages 

Publication: May 1, 2024

Source: Personal Library
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In a world where magic means servitude, being giftless is a blessing.

Mariah’s twenty-first birthday was supposed to bring freedom: from expectation, from scrutiny, from the oppressive lord reigning over her hometown. When a summons from the Queen puts those dreams at risk, she has no choice but to follow through—even if it means a future she doesn’t want or deserve.

Thrust into a world of cutthroat politics, secret rituals, and ruthless power grabs, Mariah is forced to come to terms with her new position as terrifying hidden magic begins to awaken in her veins. Meanwhile, the brooding, disgraced royal heir selected to serve in her sworn guard inexplicably hates her, yet he can’t seem to stay away. As the kingdom’s delicate balance shifts and crumbles, Mariah’s freedom seems further away than ever.

Relationships blossom, schemes are unearthed, and gods are awakened… yet her heart may be the biggest threat of all.

Love is a weakness. But will fate weave a different thread?

MY THOUGHTS

Threaded was a pleasant surprise. I honestly haven't heard much about the novel, but a sub was featuring the book; so, I thought I would give it a go. Like most Romantasy-Fantasy novels these days with the Chosen One Trope, Threaded centers around a young woman on the brink of turning twenty-one. All her life she dreamt of escaping the everyday norm, to travel the world. But on her twenty-first birthday, The Queen requests all those of age to present themselves before her and one will be chosen as the newest Queen Apparent. Our Heroine Mariah is of course chosen and thus begins her journey to becoming Queen.

If anyone has read The Legacy series by Melissa E. Roehrich, then you'd enjoy this as well. Because the two series are very, very similar. Especially with the involvement of Gods and Goddess and how the Heroine is written. I thought the world-building and magic system was interesting. Mariah's first task as the Queen Apparent necessitate that she chooses seven men to form her guards and seven women to be her ladies in waiting. For the men, she has to bond to them magically and is only breakable in death. 

Overall, I thought Mariah was a good heroine, but I've been seeing a pattern in most Fantasy Novel: Feminine Rage. Half the time Mariah was either raging at the world about her situation or repeatedly telling the reader how much she never asked to be Queen and the other half; she actually steps up to the task and acts like a Queen worthy of her people. But it was constantly a whiplash, hot and cold when it came to Mariah's emotions. And speaking of hot and cold, Mariah's love interest is practically the same. One minute he acts very caring and the next he treats her badly. It goes on like this for majority of the book. It was tiring to read. And the love interest, isn't really likable nor has any redeeming qualities. 

Despite these slight criticisms, I do plan on picking up the sequel when it comes out, but I won't be rushing to read it. I am curious as to what will happen next. I hope Mariah leans more to becoming the powerful Queen that she could be and less an angry petulant child. I am also tired of all the feminine rage and rollercoaster emotions I've been seeing in books...unless someone can write it better. 

Unnatural Magic by Stacia Stark

Title: Unnatural Magic

Author: Stacia Stark

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Bargins with Beast # 1 

Paperback 386 pages 

Publication: September 23, 2022
Source: Personal library 
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If there’s one thing I loathe, it’s being told what to do.

I was kept ignorant and sheltered my whole life. Now that I’m free, I’ll never be coddled again. Even if the smoking hot werewolf king thinks coddling is perfectly acceptable. Because something’s hunting humans in my city. Something that kills like a werewolf, but displays those kills publicly–as if taunting the authorities. Thanks to my spiffy new agreement with the police, it’s my job to figure out just what that something is. But whoever is hunting the good citizens of Durham is also taunting me.

When my investigation takes me to the local werewolf pack–and the overprotective male in charge–I know I’m in trouble. Can I solve these murders without losing my freedom... or my life? Or will the creature make me regret ever thinking I was strong enough to be out in the world alone?

MY THOUGHTS

After finishing Stacia Stark’s Deals with Demon series some time ago, I found myself thinking often of the Deals with Demons universe. I was thrilled to discover that the author had launched a spin-off series, Bargains with Beasts, focusing on Danica’s sister, Evie. In Unnatural Magic, we journey alongside Evie as she grapples with her newfound power, hunts down villains, and contends with the HFE group. While the original series revolved around demons, Evie’s story delves deeper into the territory of werewolves.

Evie shares many traits with Danica—stubbornness, independence—but she carries additional burdens stemming from her discovery of being part of a genetic experiment and her coven's betrayal. Yet, it was annoying how often Evie compared herself to Danica or strives to differentiate herself from her sister. One can't have it both ways. Furthermore, I found the chemistry between Evie and Nathaniel forced; despite being told they're fated mates, it never felt authentic. While neither Evie nor Nathaniel particularly resonate with me, I found the side characters and the wolves' perspective intriguing.

In contrast to the Deals with Demon series, I found Unnatural Magic to be an okay read. It was a struggle to get through, although my interest finally peaked towards the end. Despite my reservations, I intend to continue with the next and final Evie installment, especially to delve into Kayla’s story. For the full experience, I highly recommend starting with the Deals with Demon series to fully appreciate the world-building, then circling back to explore the Bargains with Beast series.

 

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Title: Blue Bloods

Author: Melissa De La Cruz

Genre: Young Adult

Series: Blue Bloods #1

Hardcover, 302 pages 

Publication: March 27, 2006 by Hyperion
Source: Personal library 
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When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.

The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

MY THOUGHTS

I read Blue Bloods back in middle school and it’s been over fifteen years since the book has been published. My taste in books has certainly evolved…a bit but one thing has always remained the same which is my love of vampires. They never go out of style, no matter the medium. Blue Bloods is a young adult novel, on the younger side following a group of influential preppy teens of upper east-side New York. Their world is all fashion and parties, until it gets turned upside-down when a fellow student is found dead with all her blood drained. The parents, council and police ruled the death as an accident, but the teens suspect something more sinister.

Blue Bloods is not only an old term to denote people born of wealth but it’s also an indicator of those with vampirism due to the high pigment in the veins while humans were called ‘Red Bloods’. Readers follow along as Schuyler, Bliss, Jack and their friends learn about their history and integration into vampire society. I loved how the author incorporated history into the story of the famous Mayflower voyage to the first settlement of Plymouth Rock and the mysterious disappearance of the lost colony of Roanoke. The overall atmosphere of the book may seem very young and superficial with all the designer name drops, which to be honest was overkill but if one can look past that; there is an engaging story to be discovered. So much so, that after all these years I still found myself enjoying the book and do plan on continuing with the series.

I think one of the reasons why this series was so popular back then was because the adaptation of Gossip Girl came right on the heel of Blue Bloods’ release and this entire series is basically a mash-up of Gossip Girl with vampires. All the adolescent drama plus the supernatural. And during the 2000s vampires were all the rage. As I said it was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read the next book. It's been a very long time but jumping back into the world felt like it was just yesterday.  I would definitely recommend this to a younger audience or anyone looking for something light and fun. 

So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

Title: So This is Ever After

Author: F.T. Lukens

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: N/A

Hardcover, 352 pages 

Publication: March 29, 2022 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for a honest review.
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Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next.

As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead. Now Arek is stuck as king, a role that comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.

With his eighteenth birthday only three months away, and only Matt in on the secret, Arek embarks on a desperate bid to find a spouse to save his life—starting with his quest companions. But his attempts at wooing his friends go painfully and hilariously wrong…until he discovers that love might have been in front of him all along.

 

MY THOUGHTS

I love the traditional Hero’s Journey. You know,  the one where the hero and his trusted group of friends go on a mission to defeat the villain or fulfill a prophecy. But like most Hero’s Journeys’, after the hero defeats the villain and/or fulfills a prophecy they go home and that’s the last we see of them. Have you ever wonder what happens next to your favorite characters? I sure do. In Luken’s So This is Ever After she answers that precise question.

So This is Ever After is a light-hearted, fun rom-com spin on the traditional Hero’s Journey. Arek and his band of misfits just defeated The Vile One and is now the King of Chickpea (yes, that’s really the name of the Kingdom lol). But within hours of donning on the crown, Arek finds out that there’s a blessing-curse connected to the throne. In order to stay the king, Arek must wed by his 18th birthday or he’ll fade away.

I thought this was a cute and fun quick read. After reading a few sentences I immediately understood the tone of the novel. It’s like a mesh-mash of sci-fi fantasy and gamer lingo with a heavy dose of satires and parodies. I love that despite the dire situation that the character found themselves they were still having fun and always joking around with each other.

This book was pitched with hints of Arthurian legend and D&D vibes but there was nothing Arthurian about it and the D&D reference only got as far as the characters’ naming. And surprisingly there was very little plot and romance, which was a bit disappointing. The entire plot or lack thereof hinged on Arek having a conversation with his best friend Matt. If he simply told Matt how he felt there would be no story. So basically the plot/story is one extremely long miscommunication. In my opinion not a good thing.

Overall So This is Ever After was a fun read. If you’re in the mood for something entertaining and light…pretty much brain candy than this is the perfect book for you. The synopsis made this book sound like it was right up my alley but unfortunately I wanted a little more plot and character development. While it wasn’t my cup of tea, I think there’s still a lot to like about this book and other reader would enjoy it. As always I recommend checking out a snippet or chapter sample.

 

 

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Curse 

Author: Marie Rutkoski

Genre: YA
Series: The Winner's Curse # 1

Hardcover, 355 pages 

Publication: March 4th 2014 Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Source: Personal library
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As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

 

MY THOUGHTS

The Winner’s Curse has been on my TBR for years and honestly I’m not sure why I waited so long. The Winner’s Curse has everyone’s favorite trope: Enemy to Lover. It’s certainly one of mine. But I like that the author switched it up with the male lead as the captive and the heroine as the ‘Master’; the dynamic was interesting. Because I’ve read plenty of novels where the woman was in the subservient role. But there was nothing subservient when it came to Arin, the stubborn Herrani young man.

Despite the cover and the year it was released, The Winner’s Curse wasn’t a Fantasy novel like I thought. It’s a historical fiction that involved colonization, rebellion and those on the opposing sides of war. Which is where we found our two leads. The Valorians conquered the Herranis and those that survived the conquest became slaves. But The Herranis were not people who rolled over and accepted their fate. They waited and planned. The first step was to take the Valorians down from within which was why Arin posed as a slave at auction and had himself sold to the general’s daughter.

The book started off shaky, I didn’t know what to make of Kestrel and Arin. Their relationship felt clumsy, somewhat odd and definitely rushed. It felt almost like instalove but not quite that. I’m not sure if Kestrel was lonely and that was why she was so quick to be open and trusting of Arin, but there’s that. Arin spent most of the time fending indifference and acted cold towards Kestrel; but then he declared his love for Kestrel at at the end which seemed confusing and out of the blue. It didn’t feel realistic or believable to me.

As I write this, I’m not sure if I loved it or not. I did like the story and characters enough that I didn’t know the book ended until I reached the very last page expecting another chapter or two. And now I’m eager to see how Kestrel and Arin’s relationship unfolds after that abrupt cliffhanger ending. All in all a decent read that was engaging and well written.