Category Archives: Fantasy

Review: The Architect by Jonathan Starrett

Book Review and Content, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,
The Architect by Jonathan Starrett

The Architect
Jonathan Starrett
Tyndale House
Published February 7, 2023

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About The Architect

There’s a golden rule in Phantom City: “No one about when the Zeppelin is out.” But one night, twelve-year-old Charlie Crane comes face-to-face with the Zeppelin, and instead of finding trouble, she is awakened.

Determined to find the truth in a city plagued with lies, Charlie, along with a quirky band of unlikely heroes, works to free the people of Phantom City from the clutches of a shadowy, evil villain. Helped by a mysterious Architect who only communicates over radio and telephone, Charlie wrestles with two big questions: Can she trust a guide she can’t see? And is the truth actually worth the trouble?

Filled with sinister schemes, bumbling superheroes, unexpected friendships, and plenty of humor and plot twists, THE ARCHITECT keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Boys and girls alike will be fascinated by the unique world of Phantom City, with its steampunk and Gotham City-type elements and will quickly find themselves cheering for our heroes in their fight against evil.

My Review

I thought at first (from the cover) that this was a young adult dystopian novel, so I was a little surprised when I started reading and learned it’s middle grade. The cover is so dark, I think I just assumed it was young adult? At any rate, it’s definitely middle grade! Ha.

I really liked the Gotham City feel the story has with its bizarre hero/villain types and strange happenings. The point of view is mainly split between two characters: Charlie, an orphan girl living on the street who doesn’t buy into the glam and glory surrounding the city’s “superheroes”, and Sneed, a boy responsible to create special effects for the heroes as they act out daring rescues in front of their adoring fans.

The story has a quirky, silly sense of humor and a playful tone in the vein of Andrew Peterson’s ON THE EDGE OF THE DARK SEA OF DARKNESS. I enjoyed that playfulness and the way that Charlie, who was a loner at the start of the story, was able to build a community around herself full of people she could depend on. I really liked that, too.

If you’re curious about the author’s journey to writing this book, he has an interesting blog post about it on his website.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Few character descriptions or details. I’m not sure of the race of the characters.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
The children receive instructions from an “Architect” who has a blueprint for the way the world should be, an oblique allegorical reference to God and the Bible. The story never overtly states this, though.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Bad guys tie up characters and kidnap them, at one point threatening to have them killed. A villain kidnaps people and forces them to work for him. At one point it appears a character has died from a fall.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of THE ARCHITECT in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan

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The Buried and the Bound
Rochelle Hassan
MacMillan
Published January 24, 2023

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About The Buried and the Bound

A contemporary fantasy YA debut from Rochelle Hassan about monsters, magic, and wicked fae, perfect for fans of The Darkest Part of the Forest and The Hazel Wood.

As the only hedgewitch in Blackthorn, Massachusetts—an uncommonly magical place—Aziza El-Amin has bargained with wood nymphs, rescued palm-sized fairies from house cats, banished flesh-eating shadows from the local park. But when a dark entity awakens in the forest outside of town, eroding the invisible boundary between the human world and fairyland, run-of-the-mill fae mischief turns into outright aggression, and the danger—to herself and others—becomes too great for her to handle alone.

Leo Merritt is no stranger to magical catastrophes. On his sixteenth birthday, a dormant curse kicked in and ripped away all his memories of his true love. A miserable year has passed since then. He’s road-tripped up and down the East Coast looking for a way to get his memories back and hit one dead end after another. He doesn’t even know his true love’s name, but he feels the absence in his life, and it’s haunting.

Desperate for answers, he makes a pact with Aziza: he’ll provide much-needed backup on her nightly patrols, and in exchange, she’ll help him break the curse.

When the creature in the woods sets its sights on them, their survival depends on the aid of a mysterious young necromancer they’re not certain they can trust. But they’ll have to work together to eradicate the new threat and take back their hometown… even if it forces them to uncover deeply buried secrets and make devastating sacrifices.

My Review

I absolutely loved PRINCE OF NOWHERE, Rochelle Hassan’s debut novel, so THE BURIED AND THE BOUND was one of the books I most looked forward to reading this year.

Though it took me a few chapters to get into the book, I was delighted to find characters just as rich in a world just as magical as the author’s debut. I loved Aziza immediately. Leo took me a minute, but once I saw his big heart and how determined he truly is, I couldn’t help loving him. Tristan grew on me much more slowly, but in the end, I loved him, too.

The story world. Okay, so this is a real world setting right next to an entirely magical world with fairy bargains, magical creatures, curses, and alliances. The magical world felt so rich and alive. I loved the way different parts of it came together in different ways.

On the whole, I had a second of uncertainty at the beginning of this book, but once I got oriented to the story, I was completely hooked on it. I’m super glad I read it, and I’ll be eagerly waiting for Hassan’s next book, which hopefully will be a sequel to this one??

Content Notes for The Buried and the Bound

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Tristan is gay and homeless (his parents threw him out when they learned he is gay). Leo is bisexual but closeted. Aziza is Lebanese American and lost both her parents as a very young child.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to a relationship between two boys.

Spiritual Content
Aziza is a hedgewitch, which means she can perform magic that reinforces boundaries between the human and fae worlds. The story contains magic creatures like nymphs, fairies, witches, kelpies, selkies, and a necromancer. A powerful creature has a bond agreement with Tristan in which he must serve her for ten years in exchange for a magical favor. She uses him to lure victims to her which she kills to power herself.

Violent Content
References to murders by Tristan’s master. Murders and harm carried out by immortal hound-like creatures. References to other harm done by magical creatures. Situations of peril. Battle scenes with some graphic detail.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of THE BURIED AND THE BOUND in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame by Meg Long

Book Review and Content, Sci-Fi, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame
Meg Long
Wednesday Books
Published January 17, 2023

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About Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame

A girl hellbent on finding the friend she lost. A planet on the brink of total destruction. Only one way to find answers amidst the chaos: team up with a traitor to stage a revolution, in Meg Long’s Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame.

After a mission gone awry two years ago, Remy Castell has been desperately searching across worlds to find the friend she failed to save—the friend who changed her life by helping her overcome the brainwashing she was subjected to as a genetically engineered corporate agent.

Since then, she’s been chasing the only lead she has: fellow genopath Kiran Lore, the same secretive ex-squadmate who left her for dead when she compromised that mission. She nearly caught up to him on Tundar before joining the infamous sled race alongside outcast Sena and her wolf companion Iska. Now, all three of them have tracked Kiran back to Maraas, the jungle planet where Remy lost everything. But nothing on Maraas is how it was two years ago. Syndicates and scavvers alike are now trying to overthrow a megalomaniac corpo director, which Remy wants nothing to do with; fighting against corpos is as useless as trying to stay dry in the middle of the giant hellstorm that encircles the planet. But the storm—and the rebellion—are growing stronger by the minute.

When Remy finds Kiran, he doesn’t run away like she expects. Instead, he offers her a deal: help with the revolution and he’ll reunite her with her friend. But can she really trust the boy who betrayed her once before? With the entire planet on the edge of all-out war, Remy will have to decide just how far she’s willing to go to save one girl before the impending storm drowns them all.

My Review

This one started off a little rough for me. Remy was one of my favorite characters in COLD THE NIGHT, FAST THE WOLVES, so I really looked forward to a story centered on her. I got very different vibes from her character in SWIFT THE STORM, FIERCE THE FLAMES than I did in the other book, though.

I liked that Remy was quick and brought some comedic relief to the first book with her banter. She’s a lot more serious in this book, which took some getting used to.

She also had a really single-minded focus on finding her friend from the past. As she learned new information, she was slow to update her view of what happened when they lost connection with one another. She kind of gets stuck in a loop for a bit in the middle of the book, going back and forth between two ideas and not really responding to the new information around her.

I think what I’m hoping is that this is going to turn out to be one of those trilogies where the middle book ends up being a bridge between the first and last ones? Maybe there wasn’t quite enough story to carry a whole second book but too much to keep the series to a duology? I don’t know.

The end of the book positioned the series well for a final reckoning in a third book. Even though there were some parts of this one that I struggled with, I would still like to read the series through to the end and find out what happens to Sena and Remy and their allies.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Two women are in a romantic relationship.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Attraction between characters. Reference to Sena’s two moms.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril and descriptions of battle violence. References to torture.

Drug Content
Sena and Remy visit a bar looking for someone. Remy pretends to be drunk.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of SWIFT THE STORM, FIERCE THE FLAME in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Rebel, Brave and Brutal by Shannon Dittemore

Book Review and Content, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Rebel, Brave and Brutal (Winter, White and Wicked #2)
Shannon Dittemore
Amulet Books
Published January 10, 2023

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About Rebel, Brave and Brutal

The gripping sequel to Winter, White and Wicked that boasts the thrills of Mad Max: Fury Road and the icy magic of Frozen

Sylvi Quine, the best rig driver on Layce, has braved the dangers of the Shiv Road to save her friend and learned the truth of her power over Winter. Now, she’s joined the rebels working to take down the Majority. Her magic could change the course of their fight, and she agrees to meet the king of Paradyia to offer an exchange: the healing powers of the Pool of Begynd for his army.

The journey won’t be easy. To get there, Sylvi will have to navigate the Kol Sea, crossing through Winter’s storms and swarms of her Abaki—all while outrunning the Majority, who have sent their best Kol Master to track her down and bring her in, dead or alive.

But she isn’t traveling alone. Mars Dresden knows Sylvi is the key to freeing Layce, and demands she train like it. Kyn, the boy with stone flesh and a soft heart, is bound to Sylvi in more ways than one, a connection that both hurts and heals. And Lenore, Sylvi’s best friend, insists the Majority pay for what they’ve done to her parents. Even though her crew believes in her, Sylvi’s still learning to use her power, and Winter’s whispers are constant.

Will she be able to control Winter when it matters most? Or will this be the end of the rebellion?

My Review

I have not read WINTER, WHITE AND WICKED, but I had no trouble reading and following this book. Whatever backstory information I needed to know was pretty seamlessly included in the book. I don’t remember reading anything that felt info-dump-like.

One thing I did notice is how smooth the writing is. It’s been a while since I read anything by Shannon Dittemore, and I remembered that I liked DARK HALO when I read it, but I didn’t remember how great her writing is. It made the book feel easy to read.

The romance in REBEL, BRAVE AND BRUTAL is pretty understated. I liked the relationship between Kyn and Sylvi and the bond between them. I also liked that it didn’t dominate the story, but felt like a significant relationship.

Something about the book reminded me of the Storm Siren Trilogy by Mary Weber. I think fans of that series would really like this one. Possibly also fans of COLD THE NIGHT, FAST THE WOLVES by Meg Long.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Some minor characters are Shiv, or humans made from a combination of stone and flesh.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
One instance of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kiss between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Sylvi has the ability to control the capricious spirit called Winter. She commands Winter’s magic, but pays a physical price for using her power. The Shiv believe in a creator called Begynd, who once healed people in the waters of a pool, now cursed.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to torture. Battle scenes.

Drug Content
Exposure to an ore called Kol, which is connected to magic, can become addictive and destructive to human bodies.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of REBEL, BRAVE AND BRUTAL in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Breakup From Hell by Ann Davila Cardinal

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Breakup From Hell
Ann Davila Cardinal
HarperTeen
Published January 3, 2023

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About Breakup From Hell

Miguela Angeles is tired. Tired of her abuela keeping secrets, especially about her heritage. Tired of her small Vermont town and hanging out at the same places with the same friends she’s known forever. So when another boring Sunday trip to church turns into a run-in with Sam, a mysterious hottie in town on vacation, Mica seizes the opportunity to get closer to him.

It’s not long before she is under Sam’s spell and doing things she’s never done before, like winning all her martial arts sparring matches—and lying to her favorite people. The more time Mica spends with Sam, the more weird things start to happen, too. Like terrifying-visions-of-the-world-ending weird.

Mica’s gut instincts keep telling her something is off, yet Sam is the most exciting guy she’s ever met. But when Mica discovers his family’s roots, she realizes that instead of being in the typical high school relationship, she’s living in a horror novel.

She has to leave Sam, but will ending their relationship also bring an end to everything she knows and everyone she loves?

Clever, hilarious, and steeped in supernatural suspense, BREAKUP FROM HELL will keep you hooked until the last page.

My Review

This was a fun book to read. It’s got some suspense– the world may literally end if Mica and her friends can’t figure out how to stop it. But it’s also got a lot of fun banter between friends, a best friends to lovers thread, and a powerful main character with a strong connection to her mom and grandmother.

BREAKUP FROM HELL is set in a small Vermont town, which I also really liked. It feels very much like a small New England place, with a small downtown area filled with interesting shops and some surrounding farmland. I liked the way the story used the landscape at different points. It was kind of funny to see this quaint little town erupt with apocalyptic events.

I really liked the relationships between Mica and her friends, especially Zee and Rage. They were a loyal friend group with a very can-do approach to things. They stuck together and needed each other in order to piece everything together. I also loved Mica’s relationship with Abuela. They didn’t always see eye to eye, but they both loved each other so much, and ultimately wanted the best for one another. I thought Abuela’s notes on the fridge were fantastic.

All in all, I thought BREAKUP FROM HELL was a fun read, perfect for fans of paranormal books like BITTERWINE OATH by Hannah West.

Content Notes for Breakup From Hell

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Mica is Puerto Rican.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used pretty infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Mica learns that the boy she’s been dating has dark powers and dark spiritual connections. Some characters have supernatural abilities. Some items also have supernatural abilities. Evil creatures can’t come onto the sacred ground of a church or chapel. Mica and her friend witness an evil sacrifice.

Violent Content
Mica and her friend witness an evil sacrifice of a deer. Situations of peril. Brief battle violence. A powerful weapon vanquishes an evil character, turning them to ash.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of BREAKUP FROM HELL in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

The Queen of Attolia (The Queen’s Thief #2)
Megan Whalen Turner
Greenwillow Books
Published February 28, 2017 (originally published in 2000)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Queen of Attolia

The brilliant thief Eugenides has visited the Queen of Attolia’s palace one too many times, leaving small tokens and then departing unseen. When his final excursion does not go as planned, he is captured by the ruthless queen. The Queen’s Thief novels have been praised by writers, critics, reviewers, and fans and have been honored with glowing reviews, “best of” citations, and numerous awards, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, a Newbery Honor, the Andre Norton Award shortlist, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award.

New York Times-bestselling author Megan Whalen Turner’s entrancing and award-winning Queen’s Thief novels bring to life the world of the epics and feature one of the most charismatic and incorrigible characters of fiction, Eugenides the thief. Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief novels are rich with political machinations and intrigue, battles lost and won, dangerous journeys, divine intervention, power, passion, revenge, and deception. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Patrick Rothfuss, and George R. R. Martin.

My Review

A bit more than a year ago, I finally read the first book in The Queen’s Thief series, THE THIEF, and I’m finally reading the second book. I remember the first book being a bit rough at the start because it felt like it took awhile for the story to get going.

THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA begins with a pretty big bang, and right away I was carried off into all the politics and intrigue of what was happening. In terms of violence, the beginning is the roughest part of the book. There’s one scene that’s particularly awful. I think the hardest part about the book is that I bought in so deeply to those early scenes, and that made shifting away from how the characters felt in that moment difficult.

Partly what made following the characters’ changing feelings hard is the way the story is told. Turner’s writing is pretty omniscient, giving us a view of a scene and what different characters are thinking. But we don’t always get to see how they feel. I think having more of a window into how characters felt and how those feelings changed would have strengthened my buy-in to the second half of the story.

I still really liked the second half of the book. One of my favorite parts that I really liked is Eugenides’ cleverness and the depth to his character that his experiences brought him. I also liked that the story focused so much on the relationship between the two queens, the difference in their ruling styles, and situations within their kingdoms. In my review of THE THIEF, I lamented the lack of female characters. This book did not leave me feeling that lack.

On the whole, I am really glad I read this book. I think I enjoyed this one more than the first one, and I would say it’s very likely I’ll continue with the series. (Have I mentioned that Steve West performs all the books in the series on audiobook?? Because yes, please!)

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Major characters are white. The countries are made up but inspired by countries on the Mediterranean Sea.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
A kiss between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Eugenides serves the God of Thieves and has taken his name as part of his role as the Queen’s Thief. He leaves sacrifices at alters for various gods and goddesses, and sometimes prays. The Queen of Eddis tells a story about a woman who is tricked by a goddess. The Queen of Attolia believes in the gods, but refuses to serve them. Attolians in general aren’t very religious.

Violent Content
References to torture and execution. One scene shows a boy strapped into a chair while a soldier cuts off his hand. Brief battle violence. Situations of peril.

Drug Content
Wine is served with meals. A physician gives Eugenides a strong pain medication which helps him sleep and recover from serious injury.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog.