Category Archives: Fantasy

Top Ten Books from 2017

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Top Ten Books from 2017

Top Ten Books from 2017

Here are some of my favorite books that came out this year, that have been reviewed here by Kasey or me:

The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill– February 7th, 2017

Stephanie Morrill’s latest book is a mystery set in Chicago during the Roaring 20s. It features a strong heroine and a swoon-worthy detective, along with several unexpected twists. Kasey reviewed this book back in March, and said it was a must read for historical fiction and mystery lovers alike. After reading it for myself, I definitely would agree!

The Illusionist’s Apprentice by Kristy Cambron– March 7th, 2017

The Illusionist’s Apprentice is another historical fiction/mystery novel set in the 1920s. It had some of the strongest written characters that I have come across, and an incredible plot to go along with it. I love the heartbreaking depth of Kristy Cambron’s writing, and highly recommend her latest novel. This book is a great follow-up for those looking for another book similar to The Lost Girl of Astor Street.

Shadow and Thorn (Andari Chronicles #4) by Kenley Davidson– March 12th, 2017

Kenley Davidson writes some of the best fairytale retellings that I have ever come across. Her latest addition to the series is a retelling inspired by Beauty and the Beast, and features the return of several characters from previous books. Kasey remarked that it was possibly one of the most clever retellings of Beauty and the Beast that she has ever come across, and that’s including the great Robin McKinley’s own retelling, Beauty. If you love fairytales as much as we do, you need to pick up this series ASAP!

Spindle Fire (Spindle Fire #1) by Lexa Hillyer– April 11th, 2017

Another fairytale retelling, but this one is much grittier. It’s a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a dash of Alice in Wonderland and Maleficent thrown in for good measure. Kasey loved all of the characters in this book, and so did I–there’s a wide variety of personalities in this one, and all of them are fun to read. You might want to wait to read this one until the sequel comes out though–it ends in a horrific cliffhanger!

Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson– May 30th, 2017

In this book, Sara B. Larson (author of the Defy series) tells a story inspired by Swan Lake in a high-fantasy world that will bring back LOTR vibes. Creepy and magical by turns, it’s definitely a book that will give you chills at all the right times. The world-building was epic, and I adored the characters. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

Unraveling by Sara Ella– July 11th, 2017

If Dark Breaks the Dawn will give you chills, Unraveling by Sara Ella will make you cry. In a happy sort of way, of course. This book is the sequel to Unblemished, a world-hopping fantasy adventure that reminded me of the Chronicles of Narnia. It features my favorite book couple of all time, and one of the sweetest romances I’ve come across. Kasey likened it to The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, and The Storm Siren trilogy by Mary Weber. If you haven’t read Unblemished yet, be sure to give that one a go before diving into Unraveling, so you can understand what in the world is going on.

Reintegration by Ashley Bogner– August 15th, 2017

While I felt like this dystopian novel got off to a slow start, the ending made up for it many times over. I could not read fast enough to find out what happened! There was a lot of twists and surprises packed into the last few pages, and I’m looking forward to the second book to get some answers. I highly recommend adding this one to your dystopian shelf alongside books like The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron and the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie.

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones– September 19th, 2017

This book was hilarious.It’s the perfect light-hearted read, and an excellent way to recover from a book hangover. The tongue-in-cheek humor reminded me a lot of Cindy Anstey’s writing, as did the Regency-era setting. The magic system reminded me of Mary Robinette Kowal’s Glamourist Histories, while being cleaner and more accessible to a younger audience.  I’m hoping that Kelly Jones will turn this into a series, as I would love to see what happens to the characters next!

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson– September 26th, 2017

I was so thrilled to read this book, that I actually ended up preordering it (something that I almost never do). I wasn’t disappointed–this book was the perfect mixture of spooky and epic, and it makes for a great Halloween read. I would love to read more books set in this world, as Rogerson did an amazing job fleshing out the Fair Folk and their realm. This book will especially appeal to fans of Sara J. Maas and Holly Black.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia– October 24th, 2017

This book was so good, I ended up reading and reviewing it twice. The characters have such amazing depth to them, as did the writing itself. I got chills as I read it through and came across an especially insightful conversation or end to a chapter. While it does have some content issues, it’s still well worth the read, as it gives an incredibly perceptive look at human nature.

What’s on your favorites list?

How about you? Do you have any favorite books that came out this year? Or are you ready to discover a new favorite by picking up one of these? Comment below; we’d love to hear your recommendations!

 

Review: Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson

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Dark Breaks the Dawn
Sara B. Larson
Scholastic Press
Published May 30th, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Dark Breaks the Dawn

On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless.

But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn onto the throne much sooner than she expected.

In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.

My Review

This is the first retelling of Swan Lake that I have come across, and while it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, I still enjoyed it. The characters for the most part were enjoyable, and I liked how in this book the romance progressed steadily and seemed like a positive relationship. No painful love triangles and drama here! I wasn’t a fan of the scenes from Lorcan’s and Lothar’s POV. I think the author was trying to create sympathy for them, but I still didn’t like them a whole lot. And it just left me with a lot of unanswered questions.

The world-building definitely carries the book however. It was excellent, very well thought out with a unique magic system. One thing that threw me for a loop at first though was that this book is not about humans–it’s about Draiolon, a race of fae-like creatures who live centuries, and have skin and hair colors in a variety of shades–blue, green, white, gold, you name it. The Light Draiolon wield the powers of Summer–heat, fire, light, etc. The Dark Draiolon wield the powers of Winter– cold, shadowflame, darkness, etc. It took me an embarrassing long time to figure this stuff out. I finally caught on when I realized that the words “people,” “man,” and “woman” weren’t used because the book isn’t about humans. Instead, words like “Draiolon,” “male,” and “female” are used.

One thing that kinda bugged me about this book however was that the retelling aspect of the book didn’t come into play until the very end. Hopefully the sequel will explore more of the original story, although it seems like there is still a lot of questions to be answered for it to be just a duology. Dark Breaks the Dawn earns 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion, and is perfect for fans of high fantasy in the vein of Tolkien.


Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Cultural Elements
All of the characters are Draiolan, with there being two distinct races–the Light Draiolan, and the Dark Draiolan.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None that I can recall–possibly fantasy-style swearing.

Romance/Sexual Content
Heavy kissing/embracing, touching, attraction, lust, mention of producing an heir.

Spiritual Content
High-fantasy style magic and rituals.

Violent Content
Deaths, attacks, abuse, magical violence, etc–some graphic encounters. One especially heartbreaking death.

Drug Content
None that I can recall beyond drinking at feasts.

Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

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The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)
Mary E. Pearson
Henry Holt and Co.
Published on July 8th, 2014

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About The Kiss of Deception
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor’s secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can’t abide. Like having to marry someone she’s never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

My Review

Part fantasy, part dystopian, The Kiss of Deception was very unique book with some incredible writing. This book had one of the most unique ways of using narration to build up tension that I have ever seen in a book. I won’t go into details, as I don’t want to spoil it, but this book is one surprise after another.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this one at first, but once I got past the first few chapters I was completely sucked in. I really liked Lia, and rooted for her as she worked on building herself a new life. While I can’t say I agree with all of her choices, the characterization was believable and I can understand where she was coming from.

The world-building, while interesting, at times just didn’t piece together very well. I had a hard time believing some aspects of it (especially when the prophecy becomes a part of the story–I would have preferred had the author left the story uncomplicated by “chosen one” tropes). My only other gripes are the insta-love and love triangle clichés that are featured in this story (though those are fairly mild compared to some other books I have read/heard of).

The Kiss of Deception is a fantastic read for teens who love complex fantasy. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to readers 14 and up.

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Cultural Elements
Major characters are white. One group of people is described as barbaric in comparison to the others.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some British-esque cursing.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing and caressing between a boy and girl. Also several scenes contain some sexual innuendo. Definitely sexual tension between characters, and one off-page scene could be interpreted as a sexual encounter. A woman is pregnant out of wedlock.

Spiritual Content
Mention of gods and goddesses. High-fantasy type religion and prophecy stuff, though not described in depth.

Violent Content
Strong violence in several scenes. Some disturbing (mostly emotionally, though graphic as well) deaths. Scars from abuse.

Drug Content
Characters drink wine.

Review: The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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The Beautiful Ones
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Thomas Dunne Books
Published October 24th, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About The Beautiful Ones

In a world of etiquette and polite masks, no one is who they seem to be.

Antonina Beaulieu is in the glittering city of Loisail for her first Grand Season, where she will attend balls and mingle among high society. Under the tutelage of the beautiful but cold Valérie Beaulieu, she hopes to find a suitable husband. However, the haphazard manifestations of Nina’s telekinetic powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

Yet dazzling telekinetic performer and outsider Hector Auvray sees Nina’s powers as a gift, and he teaches her how to hone and control them. As they spend more and more time together, Nina falls in love and believes she’s found the great romance that she’s always dreamed of, but Hector’s courtship of Nina is deceptive.

The Beautiful Ones is a sweeping fantasy of manners set in a world inspired by the Belle Époque.

My Review

This is one of the most amazing books I have read this year. Its depth is incredible, especially in the way that it plumbs the human spirit, and reveals all the nitty-grittiness of a person’s soul. If you’re looking for an exciting book, this isn’t it. But if you’d like to read a story about human nature that will both chill and warm you to your core, than look no further, because this is your book.

The characters are the driving force behind the story. No character is fully good, and no character is fully evil in this book; rather, they are human, with different wants and desires that they are chasing after, and different means of getting them. We get to explore the plot through several pairs of eyes, and it gives the story credibility and depth, as well as allowing us to at least sympathize with characters, if not agree with them.

There was so many themes explored in this book: betrayal, love, idolatry, selfishness, etc. Even though the author packed a lot of material into The Beautiful Ones, she did so with grace. It never felt heavy-handed, or like the author was trying to beat a message into the reader’s head. Instead, she wove it with such subtlety that I wouldn’t realize what she was getting at until the last few lines of a chapter, or certain phrases of dialogue, and then I would get chills. I was astonished over and over again at the depth of this book.

I highly recommend adding this book to your reading list. The Beautiful Ones (perhaps better titled The Broken Ones) is a complex tale of human nature and weakness that is well worth the read. Fans of the melancholy atmosphere and magic of The Night Circus, or the complex characters of Kristy Cambron’s books. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars, with a star subtracted for content.


Recommended for Ages 17 up.

Cultural Elements
All of the characters are white. Some are described as country bumpkins, or rubes.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Several obscene words scattered through the pages. References to fornification and suggestions of adultery.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kisses, embracing, touching, thinly-veiled references to adultery, marital duties, and fornification. It is clear that characters have sex several times (before marriage), sometimes on page, though very few details are given. Characters talk about sex, without mentioning details. Mention of seeing a druggist to prevent having a baby.

Spiritual Content
Some mention of gods and goddesses. Nina briefly ponders if she’ll be damned for fornification, but doesn’t consider it a serious possibility. Mention of priests and martyrs.

Violent Content
Some minor injuries, not overly detailed.

Drug Content
Characters drink wine. 

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Review: The Crystal Ribbon by Celeste Lim

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The Crystal Ribbon
Celeste Lim
Scholastic Press
Published on January 31, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About The Crystal Ribbon
In the village of Huanan, in medieval China, the deity that rules is the Great Huli Jing. Though twelve-year-old Li Jing’s name is a different character entirely from the Huli Jing, the sound is close enough to provide constant teasing-but maybe is also a source of greater destiny and power. Jing’s life isn’t easy. Her father is a poor tea farmer, and her family has come to the conclusion that in order for everyone to survive, Jing must be sacrificed for the common good.

She is sold as a bride to the Koh family, where she will be the wife and nursemaid to their three-year-old son, Ju’nan. It’s not fair, and Jing feels this bitterly, especially when she is treated poorly by the Koh’s, and sold yet again into a worse situation that leads Jing to believe her only option is to run away, and find home again. With the help of a spider who weaves Jing a means to escape, and a nightingale who helps her find her way, Jing embarks on a quest back to Huanan–and to herself.

My Review
I tend to like genre-blending books, and since The Crystal Ribbon mixes a historical setting with real cultural issues with some magical elements, I found it to be a really unusual, interesting read. The story itself reminded me a teeny bit of Disney’s Mulan, in that it follows a strong heroine through a time period and culture where she feels entirely out of place for her strength. While Jing doesn’t join an army or literally fight as a soldier, she does challenge enemies and use her cleverness and strength of heart to overcome difficulties. I liked her character a lot and enjoyed reading about her.

The story itself feels like it should be more of a middle grade book, since Jing is about twelve as it begins, but the tone is much more mature. I’d probably call this one a coming-of-age tale rather than middle grade, though that label doesn’t feel perfectly right either.

Readers who enjoy history and foreign settings will like the careful attention to setting and culture in The Crystal Ribbon. Readers who enjoy a taste of magic lurking beyond the ordinary will find Jing’s adventures engaging as well.

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Cultural Elements
The story takes place in China. One character is described as having golden hair and pale skin, and Jing wonders if he’s from some faraway place.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
During her time in the city, Jing encounters some men who solicit the company of women. They tease the girls and pat them on their behinds. Jing feels totally creeped out by the whole idea.

Spiritual Content
Each city has its own spirit worshipped by the people who live there. In Jing’s hometown, it’s the Great Huli Jing, a five-tailed fox who saved the village from disaster.

Jing meets some other spirits (jing) through the course of the story. A spider weaves a magical ladder to help her. A woman with skeletal hands visits her in the night. Jing visits and prays to altars for various jing and at her mother’s gravesite altar.

Violent Content
Jing’s in-laws punish her by caning her or using a torture device which severely damages her fingers. Some details included. Sensitive readers may find that part especially difficult to read.

Drug Content
None.

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

 

Review: Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

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

Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2)
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published on October 16, 2016

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Gemina
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

My Review
One of the really fun things about this book (both books in the series, actually) is the unusual way the story is told. Instant message transcripts and transcripts of video footage make up the bulk of the story with some additional notes, like memos, journal illustrations, and emails sprinkled in.

Hanna’s a tough cookie, and a bit spoiled. She won me over because she quickly put aside her infatuation with fashion and her dreamy boyfriend to take on the task of bringing down hostile invaders.

Nik is basically your typical bad boy with the heart of gold. Maybe a little trope-y, but to be honest, I never mind that kind of a hero, so I was totally in—even though it did take me a while to get past his rough edges.

The story moves fast—lots happens and the stakes pretty much constantly jump higher and higher. Some of the twists caught me completely unprepared. I liked how things dove-tailed together to complete the arc.

Readers who enjoy quick dialogue and banter as well as somewhat gritty sci-fi will want this one on their lists. Gemina makes a great follow-up to the series debut, Illuminae, and I had no trouble following it even though I’d forgotten a lot of pertinent details to that first book.

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Cultural Elements
Major characters are white. Nik’s cousin has some physical disabilities as a result of her surviving a plague illness.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Another clever thing about this story is it censored most of the profanity, as if someone went back and blacked out the words from the record. A couple words did not get blacked out.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between a boy and girl. Also several scenes contain some sexual innuendo. At one point, Hanna ends up in her bra and underwear for non-romantic reasons, and has to find another outfit. There are a couple of references to her being in bed with her boyfriend, but they focus on either falling asleep or waking together, etc, rather than sexual details.

Spiritual Content
A couple of “Oh my God!” – “No, it’s just me,” kinds of comments.

Violent Content
Strong violence in several scenes. A man executes a hostage by shooting him in the head. Creepy descriptions tell of a parasite capable of attacking others which renders its victims sort of braindead and helpless. A couple gory descriptions of animal deaths.

Drug Content
Nik’s family deals a powerful drug referred to as dust. He’s involved in the manufacturing of the drug and in selling it. Hanna purchases it for friends and parties, but maintains that her own use is minimal or under control. She seems to have extreme familiarity with the effects of the drug and uses it for other purposes as the story progresses.