Tag Archives: Historical Fantasy

Review: What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez cover shows a girl standing before a building surrounded by plant life.

What the River Knows
Isabel Ibañez
Wednesday Books
Published November 14, 2023

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About What the River Knows

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth-century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old-world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

My Review

Last year, the book I read by this author, TOGETHER WE BURN, was one of my favorite books. I’ve enjoyed the other books she’s written, so I went into this book fully expecting it to be amazing. And it really is.

The story is different than I expected, though. I liked how quickly Inez reaches Egypt and her quest there begins. It did feel like she was often at the mercy of other characters or that there were brief lulls in the action.

It really might just be me, though. I started and stopped a lot during my reading, so that might have made the book seem choppier than it is. Once I got to about the 60% mark, I felt a significant uptick in my investment in the book, and I think I read from there to the end in one sitting.

I love how this author creates strong, independent characters and delivers some great connections between female characters. The romance, as in her other books, definitely had me hooked.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book and loved getting to read a book set in Egypt. I think fans of Isabel Ibañez’s other books will not be disappointed in this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Inez and her family are Argentinian. Some characters are Egyptian. Others are British.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. References to more than kissing. One kissing scene is pretty intense.

Spiritual Content
There used to be people who could create magic. Now, the magic only remains in artifacts, which transfer some of their magic to someone who touches them.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Several characters carry guns. In a couple of scenes, people fire their guns at others. References to domestic abuse.

Drug Content
One character was formerly addicted to alcohol. He still occasionally drinks. Others drink alcohol recreationally.

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 WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS in exchange for my honest review.

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
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 Ring and the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz

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

The Ring and the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz
Disney-Hyperion

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Two girls, best friends. One is heir to the Lily throne. The other is the daughter of the most powerful mage in the empire.

Princess Marie-Victoria has always been a sick and weak child. As the time comes for her to inherit the throne, her mother and the Mage of England seek an alliance with the powerful, savvy crown prince of Prussia. But Marie-Victoria has other plans for her life.

Aelwyn, the bastard daughter of the Mage of England, has to make her own choice: return to Avalon and live as a magician in exile, or take her vows and join the order who serve the Franco-British Empire. Aelwyn has never desired to serve. In her heart, she has always envied the princess’ life and privileges. When Marie-Victoria approaches her with a plan for the future, Aelwyn’s heart thrums at the possibility and quakes in terror at what her friend is asking of her.

Together the girls have the opportunity to shape the future of the world. Only first they must decide which future to choose.

I was a little nervous beginning this story because I’d read one of her Gates of Paradise books and really struggled with the story and characters. I found myself really fascinated with the set-up of this story. If Merlin were real and his power continued beyond King Arthur’s day, how would that shape the world? In The Ring and the Crown, this means England conquers France. The Revolutionary War? Not so much. The American colonies still belong to the English – er, the Franco-British – Empire. These guys can’t be beat.

I liked the way de la Cruz wove in some French cultural references into the politics and traditions surrounding the royal family. It added an authenticity to the story world in a really subtle way. As strange as the concept sounds, the story world felt totally believable. I loved the idea and it read like the author really thought through a lot of the lore about Merlin and the period of European history.

The characters were fantastic. Each had really distinct personality and voice. It was easy to root for them. I liked that the romance was a bit unpredictable. Several times I thought I knew what would happen and was surprised at the real outcome.

All in all this was a really entertaining read. I would definitely consider following this series, which isn’t something I normally do. The ending really set a great hook for the next story, though, so I’m finding it hard to resist!

Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Sexual Content
Leo is a bit of a cad and appears to frequently take ladies to bed with him. He coerces Isabelle into having sex with him. Isabelle’s guardian has been sexually abusing her since she was a girl. Very few real details about it. Her description is more of a flickering memory, so we don’t experience him doing anything in scene, other than kissing her. Aelwyn recalls a love affair with another resident of Avalon. She briefly recollects having sex with him and the heartbreak that followed when the relationship ended. No details describing the sex, just a brief reference to waking up together, etc. There are no rules regarding same-sex relationships, and two very eligible bachelors have chosen one another as lovers. No description of the physical affection between them.

Spiritual Content
Merlin’s order has pretty much taken the place of the church in England. The order appears to operate much like a monastery, and the head rules alongside the queen of the empire. A Pandora’s box is the only weapon that can stand against the power of the magic held by the English.

Violence
Brief references to battle. A young prince takes out frustrations in the boxing ring. A young man defends the honor of his love in a duel to the death.

Drug Content
References to drinking wine.

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