In my case, this book fell victim to too much hype. Few books have I felt so guaranteed to like; fewer still have lived up to that kind of expectation. While I like each of the elements of this novel in principle, the execution stumbles enough that the concept itself doesn't quite save it. I would still recommend this to genuine young adult readers who love adventure and fantasy.
Book Review | The Shadow of the Gods
I am so excited about this new fantasy world from John Gwynne. It is everything comforting and familiar and yet somehow so hard to achieve that we look for in fantasy. And the audiobook performance is stunning.
Book Review | Inferno
A quick review for a quick read. With a fantastic, high stakes, fun plot, this book manages to wrap us in the cozy ambiance of Italian art and architecture while also being an adventure worthy of the 2016 film of the same name.
To Paradise (vs. A Little Life)
In To Paradise, Yanagihara has invented a newer, subtler way to torture her readers and her characters: loneliness, helplessness, and self-delusion. All afflictions that more easily land close to home than the operatic suffering of A Little Life.
The Farseer Trilogy | Series Review
What a tragedy to be finished with this trilogy, and to have finished my first journey through this world.
Book Review | War of Two Queens
No one is talking about the way this novel is carried by its villain. Armentrout's tendency towards repetition is the Achilles heel of the fourth installment of the From Blood and Ash series, taking away from the magic of a fully built-up fantasy world nearing its climax. A contentious scene didn't seem all that important.
Leia Shorney | GUEST Review | House of Sky and Breath
Anything for you, Rhysand. A guest reviewer was unimpressed with the newest installment of Sarah J. Maas' Crescent City series.
Crescent City and the Sarah J. Maas Experience
In this post, I'll review the delightful first installation of Crescent City and then suggest a (hopefully) helpful structure for talking about Sarah J. Maas amid a very prickly public discourse.
Book Review | If I Had Your Face
Frances Cha's unhappy, stunning debut is a real, engrossing look into the lives of Korea's young women you won't want to put down. Instantly invested, my heart broke for each of these characters as I turned the pages. If I Had Your Face will stick in the back of my mind for a long time to come.
Book Review | To Kill a Kingdom
The Little Mermaid source material is taken to stunning, fresh heights in this expertly-crafted YA fantasy. This novel's high quality writing and immensely intriguing concept carry it to four stars—brought down only by a satisfactory plot structured almost entirely around a big ol' mcguffin to search for and a very predictable ending.
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