Category Archives: Fantasy

Review: Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

Fawkes by Nadine BrandesFawkes
Nadine Brandes
Thomas Nelson
Publishes on July 10th, 2018

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About Fawkes

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did it. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

My Review

Nadine Brandes’ latest YA book was an incredible allegorical take on the conflict during the Protestant Reformation. It zeroes on just one of the many conflicts that went on at that time, and presents it in a new way with a fantasy slant.

What I loved:

  • Color magic
  • Emma. She is such a brilliant, fierce character.
  • The romance. This is exactly how YA romances should be—a balance between two characters, where they support each other and help each other grow.
  • That ending (!)
  • All the heart in this book.

So many YA books these days lack warmth and heart, so it was refreshing to get to read a book where characters cared deeply, loved fearlessly, and were genuine.

What I didn’t love:

  • It took a long time to get started. I wasn’t properly “hooked” till about 2/3 through.
  • All the indecision. Thomas would voice a belief in one thing, and then flip-flop about it in the next scene. It was very frustrating that it took him so long to find conviction!
  • Some of the sentences used very modern vernacular, and it threw me off. It didn’t happen too often, but when it did, it was jarring.

While I can’t say I loved this book as much as some of Brandes’ other work, it was still a great novel that is well worth the read. (That ending, people! It slayed me–in the best way. 😉 )

Recommended for Ages 14 and up

Cultural Elements
Infrequent use of the word “negro” in keeping with the time period. Characters also described as African. Mention of slavery, and mistreatment of Africans. Thomas sees an African for the first time, and is startled. MAJOR SPOILER: one main character is revealed to be of African and English descent. END SPOILER.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some name-calling, and mention of “wh—houses” as a reference to prostitution. 

Romance/Sexual Content
Mention of prostitution. One non-detailed kiss. Mention of mistresses.

Spiritual Content
Faith isn’t explicitly mentioned, but the battle between Keepers and Igniters is implied to be allegorical take on the Protestant Reformation (including a brief mention of Luther). Spoiler: White Light could be interpreted to be a reference to the Holy Spirit. End Spoiler.

Violent Content
Semi-graphic descriptions of stone plague, injuries, executions. Some are fairly disturbing.

Drug Content
Characters consume wine and ale. Some minor characters are drunk. 

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The One by Kiera Cass

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

The One (The Selection #3)
Kiera Cass
HarperTeen
Published on May 6, 2014

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About The One
The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

My Review
I picked up The One because I needed a light read, and this The Bachelor meets Cinderella fit the bill. Sometimes the dialog gets a bit superficial, and a few times America comes off as selfish. She criticizes Maxon about his complex feelings for the other candidates when she harbors her own feelings for her childhood bestie, Aspen. But where The Elite left me frustrated by that hypocrisy, America finally faces the truth that she’ll have to choose between the two boys in The One. And not just choose between them—but face the fact that her secret-keeping might destroy any hope of happiness in her future.

The writing is a bit different, but I think this series might appeal to readers who like books by Melanie Dickerson or Victoria Aveyard. See below for content notes.

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Cultural Elements
One of the girls America competes with is black and another is Asian.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used maybe eight or ten times.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. At one point, America invites a boy into her bed. They stop short of having sex, not wanting their first experience to be an impulsive moment. But they do spend the night together.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Rebels attack and kill citizens. The king pressures the remaining Selection candidates to condemn criminals to harsh, violent punishments.

Drug Content
None.

Review: Reached by Ally Condie

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

Reached
Ally Condie
Penguin
Published on November 13, 2012

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After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.

My Review
Reached was my favorite book in this series. Through all three books, poetry has served as a kind of rallying point, encouraging Cassia and Ky and others to oppose the Society. In Reached, though, Cassia takes her love of art further by beginning to create her own and to gather others who do the same. At first, she’s told that creating new things doesn’t matter. Even The Rising, which she values so highly, doesn’t hold any love for creativity. Cassia doesn’t agree with them, so she faces a choice on whether to be totally devoted to The Rising, which she’s always dreamed of, or to be kind of on her own side. A free agent, more like Ky has always been.

In some ways this story reminded me of the Matrix trilogy, where things are not at all as they seem. The Society. The Rising. The pandemic sweeping through the provinces. There’s always more going on beneath what they’re telling Cassia, Xander, and Ky. I loved that layered feeling it gave the story. And I loved that it made the story about more than an uprising and shift in power. The answer wasn’t as simple as swapping The Society for The Rising. Which made the story a lot more interesting to me.

I definitely recommend the series to readers looking for clean dystopian books. The second book was a little draggy to me, but on the whole, I thought the series was good.

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Cultural Elements
Major characters are white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Cassia wonders about what people experience after death as she’s flying and seeing the sky and clouds.

Violent Content
A vicious illness spreads rapidly through the population, unleashed by one group as part of a battle strategy.

Drug Content
The Society gives each person a case with three pills in it. The red pill causes memory loss, and is used by the Society to make people forget things they’ve done or seen.

Review: Whisper of the Tide by Sarah Tolcser

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Whisper of the Tide
Sarah Tolcser
Bloomsbury
Published on June 5, 2018

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About Whisper of the Tide
Caro Oresteia spent her life waiting to be called by the river god, as those in her family had been for generations. But when she’s swept away on an adventure to save the Akhaian royal prince, Markos, her destiny is sealed by the sea god instead.

For now, Caro is landlocked, helping Markos reclaim his throne after nearly his entire family was assassinated in a political coup. Without any financial or military support, Markos is desperate for allies, and Caro has fought off more than one attempt on his life. When a powerful Archon offers his army in exchange for Markos’s marriage to his daughter, Caro must choose: Her love for Markos, or the fate of Akhaia? And more importantly: How much is she willing to risk to defy the sea god’s wishes and chart her own course?

With shipwrecks, lost treasure, old and new enemies, dark magic, and breathtaking romance, Sarah Tolcser weaves another epic story about chasing your fate.

My Review
I forgot how much I love Caro’s character in this series. She’s so spunky and strong. All the sailing stuff and love for ships and such make Whisper of the Tide a fun read, too. It’s all my favorite things about Pirates of the Caribbean but tossed with some political intrigue and additional strong female characters. Delicious!

It always makes me nervous to read the sequel to a book I loved. I’m always torn because I want to know what happens next, but I’m so afraid it won’t be as good as the first book and will somehow diminish my good memories. No worries here. Whisper of the Tide stands alone as a great love story and a tale about how you have to understand who you are before you can hope to have a happy romantic relationship. It’s very different than Song of the Current, but I really enjoyed the high adventure and race against assassins. I’m so glad I read it. Unfortunately, it does have some references to sex (see below for details), so some sensitive readers may want a heads up on that. The tone and scope of the story will probably appeal more to older readers. You can find my review of Song of the Current here.

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Cultural Elements
Caro has brown skin and red hair—an oddity where she lives.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Infrequent use of strong profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. Two scenes show Caro and Markos getting into bed. One cuts to the next morning, letting us know they had sex without showing anything. The other gives some limited details.

Spiritual Content
Caro has been chosen by the god of the sea, and then asked to make a choice between her calling and her life with Markos. The sea god is a capricious one, who has destroyed followers who’ve disappointed her in the past. Caro’s cousin has learned some magic associated with stealth and assassination.

Violent Content
Some combat between Caro and enemies involving knives and guns.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

Review: Crossed by Ally Condie

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

Crossed (Matched #2)
Ally Condie
Dutton Children’s
Published on November 1, 2011

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About Crossed
The Society chooses everything.

The books you read.
The music you listen to.
The person you love.

Yet for Cassia the rules have changed. Ky has been taken and she will sacrifice everything to find him.

And when Cassia discovers Ky has escaped to the wild frontiers beyond the Society there is hope.

But on the edge of society nothing is as it seems…

A rebellion is rising.

And a tangled web of lies and double-crosses could destroy everything.

My Review
For me, Crossed has that droopy feel of a second book where it’s all about setting up the final story in the series. I wasn’t hooked by the journey from the Carving to look for the Rebellion. I think I wanted the stakes to be different. Cassia wants to find the Rebellion to join them, and while I understood Ky’s reason for opposing her, I didn’t really find Cassia’s curiosity very compelling.

I liked the part of the story where Cassia has to navigate the river. It’s dangerous and foreign to her. The stakes are high. But it’s a short piece of the story.

The characters hooked me enough that I still want to finish reading the series. I also love that the story is pretty clean other than some brief violence. See below for content information.

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Cultural Elements
Major characters are white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief kissing and embracing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Ky witnesses the deaths of his family and friends. The Society sends boys into battle with faulty weapons.

Drug Content
Red pills from the Society are supposed to cause someone to forget what has happened to them. Blue pills may aid or inhibit survival (different characters believe different things about them.).

Review: The Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George

Book Review and Content, Clean Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , ,

The Rose Legacy
Jessica Day George
Bloomsbury
Published on May 1, 2018

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About The Rose Legacy
Orphaned Anthea Cross-Thornley has been shuttled between family members her whole life. When she receives a letter from a long-lost uncle, she dares to dream that she will finally find a home. Upon her arrival she is shocked to learn that her uncle secretly breeds horses–animals that have been forbidden in their kingdom for centuries. More alarming is Anthea’s strange ability to sense the horses’ thoughts and feelings, an ancient gift called The Way. Confused and terrified, Anthea is desperate to leave, but when dangers arise that put her family and her kingdom at risk, she has no choice but to embrace The Way and the exciting future adventures it will bring her.

My Review
I found myself both intrigued and hesitant about this story. I’m a huge fan of Jessica Day George after reading Dragon Slippers and Tuesdays at the Castle, but something about this premise didn’t make me want to drop everything and leap into the book.

However, once I started the first chapter, I got lost in this fascinating, well-developed story-world where a young girl raised with a very specific sense of propriety gets tossed into a rural farm life with a family who have totally different values to her own. Anthea proves a strong heroine, facing each new challenge with determination and poise. I love her horse, Florian, too, and the relationship they develop.

The whole story is filled with great characters—Jilly is my favorite. I liked that the story also follows the hierarchy of the herd of horses and shows some elements of the story from their point-of-view.

The Rose Legacy is a great start to a series perfect for middle and late elementary-aged readers. I loved it so much, and I can’t wait to find out what Anthea and company do next.

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Cultural Elements
The story has an English/Scottish feel to it. I don’t remember racial descriptions of the characters.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
One brief kiss between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Anthea and some other characters can communicate with horses via thoughts.

Violent Content
A horse gets caught in a hunting trap. Two horses fight for dominance. A horse nearly injures a girl and threatens to kill another animal.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.