Fantasy – Page 5 – For the Sake of Reading

2017 Anticipated Titles: SFF Edition

Published on December 2, 2016December 20, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingya5 Comments

1111i4z — Ben Wyatt is literally my patronus

Friends, readers, laymen…lend me your eyeballs. As we approach 2017 let’s look at some awesome cool books coming out shall we? From the gloriously expected from authors we know will please us to newcomers, 2017 has some whoopers of titles being released.

Leading up to 2017 there shall be 5 posts about books I’m looking forward to in:

SFF (Science Fiction & Fantasy)
Romance (link)
Anthology (link)
Whatever I Want (link)
Young Adult Contemporary (link)

Some books may cross over in terms of category, but I tried to list them on the list I consider them first to be.

Today’s edition is all about Science Fiction and Fantasy titles! What new worlds will we visit? What vistas shall we explore? How many Chosen Ones and Prophesized Ones will save the day? Let’s find out!

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Book Review: Vassa in the Night

Published on October 14, 2016October 14, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

In the enchanted kingdom of Brooklyn, the fashionable people put on cute shoes, go to parties in warehouses, drink on rooftops at sunset, and tell themselves they’ve arrived. A whole lot of Brooklyn is like that now—but not Vassa’s working-class neighborhood.

In Vassa’s neighborhood, where she lives with her stepmother and bickering stepsisters, one might stumble onto magic, but stumbling out again could become an issue. Babs Yagg, the owner of the local convenience store, has a policy of beheading shoplifters—and sometimes innocent shoppers as well. So when Vassa’s stepsister sends her out for light bulbs in the middle of night, she knows it could easily become a suicide mission.

But Vassa has a bit of luck hidden in her pocket, a gift from her dead mother. Erg is a tough-talking wooden doll with sticky fingers, a bottomless stomach, and a ferocious cunning. With Erg’s help, Vassa just might be able to break the witch’s curse and free her Brooklyn neighborhood. But Babs won’t be playing fair…

Pros – Babs (I will never not consider Baba Yaga a Pro in a book), the visuals of this book, Erg

Cons – The surreal nature sometimes makes it hard to understand just what happened, Vassa can be blind, dead things

Spoiler – If you know the original Russian fairy tale of “Vassilissa the Beautiful” you can guess how this will turn out.

Note – I got only one warning for y’all – if you have a weak stomach when it comes to dead things being described, be wary.

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Book Review: The Queen of Blood

Published on October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.

Pros – Daleina is a pragmatic heroine, the forest is dark and full of terrors, Ven’s training program

Cons – Some parts (such as the romance) felt glossed over and “then this happened” storytelling occurs, Ven’s an idiot, EVERYONE I LOVED [spoiler]

Spoiler – I won’t ruin the end, but literally keep a box of tissues handy if you ever get emotional over fictionals

Note -Durst notes this in the author’s note, but originally this wasn’t meant to be book 1, this is sort of a “prequel” to the events Durst was originally writing about. Which…I love Daleina, so I’m glad. Also I don’t trust trees now.

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The Guild Games: Join Today!

Published on August 13, 2016August 13, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingya1 Comment

guild games.png

Have you heard about Elise Kova’s new series launching in January 2017? The Loom Saga starts off with THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM, a dark story of vengeance, family and politics that quite frankly sends shivers down my reading spine.

In prep for the Loom Saga Elise has created the Guild Games – once upon a time the Guilds resisted the Dragon King, but they fell, leaving a lot of broken pieces behind. Now as we gear up for the launch we’re working to make the Guilds the power they once were.

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Book Review: Magic Born

Published on July 15, 2016July 14, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

After the death of her parents, Kat Thomas retreated from college life into an online fantasy game.

But what if the game she plays is closer to reality?

When a panther shifter named Alex knocks on her door one night, he delivers a message and a package. Kat’s birth mother was a powerful mage who has just been murdered…and now the killer is after Kat. The package contains her mother’s talisman: an amber necklace that latches onto Kat’s neck and attacks anyone who tries to remove it. Before she knows it, ice is shooting from her hands and she’s on the run from an assassin.

Kat must navigate a world of magic and intrigue, fight the forces who want her dead, and protect her friends from becoming collateral damage–all while coming to terms with her new identity. She’s heir to a powerful legacy, but only if she lives long enough to claim it.

Pro – Panther shifters

Con – Kat in the beginning (she gets better)

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Graphic Novel Review: White Sand Vol 1

Published on June 30, 2016July 5, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingya6 Comments

On the planet of Taldain, the legendary Sand Masters harness arcane powers to manipulate sand in spectacular ways. But when they are slaughtered in a sinister conspiracy, the weakest of their number, Kenton, believes himself to be the only survivor. With enemies closing in on all sides, Kenton forges an unlikely partnership with Khriss—a mysterious Darksider who hides secrets of her own.

Spoiler – There’s a spoiler beneath in my review. If you’d prefer to read the review minus the spoiler I suggest you check out my GR review, as the spoiler is hidden there.

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Book Review: Every Heart a Doorway

Published on March 28, 2016January 24, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingya3 Comments

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

Pros – Jack, the school, Kade

Cons – I’ll be honest, as much as I like this book I now rather desperately want books about Kade, Jack, Nancy, and Sumi and the adventures behind their doors…

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Book Review Redux: Stained Glass Monsters

Published on February 11, 2016February 10, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

Creatures from the Eferum are a world-wide problem: creeping through tears in the fabric of space, they feast on every unprotected human they can find.

Tyrland has a solution in the Kellian: faster and stronger than humans, they are Tyrland’s clawed, shadowy monster hunters. But no matter how faithfully they serve, or how true their sworn word, they are too different, too separate, to ever be entirely trusted.

Rennyn Claire is a complication. Secretive and obscenely powerful, she knows entirely too much about a massive new threat to Tyrland’s safety. Worst of all, she is linked to a past that the Kellian would rather forget.

All three of these things – monsters, Kellian, and an entirely overpowered mage – are about to land in Kendall Stockton’s lap. The last thing Kendall wants is to try to play conscience to someone who can swat her like a bug. But innocent lives are at stake, and no-one else seems willing to ask if what is necessary is the right thing to do.

And who, exactly, is the monster?

Pros – Ren, folk actually discussing the best way to do something, Helecho the Bastard

Cons -Sometimes very long discussions about magic, Kendall for much of it

(please note: a version of this review appeared originally on Poisoned Rationality. I’ve since updated and tweaked it after a recent re-read. Additions are noted in italics)

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Blog Tour: Greta and the Lost Army

Published on February 1, 2016February 1, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingya3 Comments

greta and the lost army chloe jacobs

All right folks so you ventured with Greta as she battled her way across Mylena in GRETA AND THE GOBLIN KING, fought against the darkness in her and Issac’s lives in GRETA AND THE GLASS KINGDOM to read as she finally made it home. So what’s next for our battle born beauty and her kingly love?

Well Agramon really doesn’t like to let go, Greta’s parents are very surprised by the changes in their daughter and oh yeah that wedding…

Tody is the first day of the blog tour (see schedule here) hosted by YA Reads Blog Tours and I have the distinct pleasure of reviewing the book! Stay tuned for the giveaway at the end as well 😉

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Book Review: Through Fire & Sea

Published on October 6, 2015October 5, 2015 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

Mirror mirror, hear my call…

In the Fire world, seventeen-year-old Leah is the illegitimate daughter of one of the realm’s most powerful lords. She’s hot-blooded—able to communicate with the tempestuous volcano gods that either bless a civilization or destroy it. But then Leah discovers she’s a Caller, gifted with the unique—and dangerous—ability to “call” her Otherselves in mirror worlds. And her father will do anything to use her powers for his own purposes.

In the Water world, Holly nearly drowns when she sees—and interacts with—Leah, a mirror image of herself. She’s rescued by Ryan, a boy from school with a secret he’d die to protect. Little do they know, his Otherself is the son of a powerful volcano god at war in the Fire world…and he’s about to fall.

As Leah and Holly’s lives intersect, the Fire and Water worlds descend into darkness. The only way to protect the mirror worlds is to break every rule they’ve ever known. If they don’t, the evil seeping through the mirrors will destroy everything—and everyone—they love…

Pros – Gideon & Leah, the Mirror Worlds concept, Quetrah

Cons – Holly & Ryan (sort of), disjointed feeling between the first Part & second Part, Quetrah

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