Fantasy – Page 6 – For the Sake of Reading

YA Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Published on October 5, 2015January 25, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingya3 Comments

The Grisha #1 • 368 Pages • Young Adult
TasCH’s Rating:
Published: June 5th 2012

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

..ggg

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I’ve had Shadow and Bone on my peripheral vision for, um, about 3 years but never really got around to reading it. This or that title always got in the way (also the screaming fan girls kept me at bay because I didn’t want to be disappointed in such a “hot” title). The only reason I picked it up was because I purchased Six of Crows, not knowing that it was connected to this series. Oops! My bad! I was so enthralled with the world building, characters, and setting of Six of Crows that I decided to stop reading it and start on Shadow and Bone because I didn’t want to miss those sweet cameos authors like to throw at you every so often when they write a brand new series that hails from their older one.

Shadow and Bone is really good, just not Six of Crows good. Which is completely understandable given that Shadow and Bone was Leigh Bardugo’s debut title. Even then I still liked this glitzy world of the Grisha’s Leigh has created, with their “small science” (which is pretty much like having low key powers) and high school court life. I fear like we have yet to see the real underbelly of the Grisha world, and I cannot wait for it. Continue reading “YA Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo” →

Book Review: A Thousand Nights

Published on October 5, 2015October 4, 2015 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he will want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.

And so she is taken in her sister’s place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin’s court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time.But the first sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.

Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.

Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster.

Pros – Lo-Melkhiin, the thoughtful writing, the focus on what it means to measure up

Cons – Felt abrupt at times with transitions, while we get a feel for the main character (Lady-Bless) we get very little feel for everyone else, book confuses at times

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Series Recap: Thrones of Glass series by Sarah J Maas

Published on August 25, 2015October 24, 2016 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

Welcome to Series Recap! A quick recap of what to remember before the next new book hits the shelves.

Today we’re going to tackle the THRONE OF GLASS series by Sarah J Maas. Currently standing strong at 1 book of prequel novellas, 3 novels and book 4, QUEEN OF SHADOWS, releasing in September I think its safe to say folk really dig this assassin’s life. Even if she seems to do less assassinating then you’d think given her title. But how much do you remember?

Warning: Spoilers abound. I don’t suggest reading these if you haven’t read the series in question first. I don’t pull punches and I won’t give you another warning before telling you your favorite character’s pet cat dies in a horrible fire.

Continue reading “Series Recap: Thrones of Glass series by Sarah J Maas” →

Book Review: The Shadow Behind the Stars

Published on August 21, 2015August 20, 2015 by forthesakeofreadingya2 Comments

Heed this warning, mortal: stay far away from the three sister Fates. For if they come to love you, they might bring about the end of the world…

Chloe is the youngest. Hers are the fingers that choose the wool, that shape the thread, that begin it. The sun smiles upon her. Men love her without knowing who she is. She has lived forever and will live forever more. She and her sisters have been on their isolated Greek island for centuries, longer than any mortal can remember. They spin, measure, and slice the countless golden threads of human life. They are the three Fates, and they have stayed separate for good reason: it is dangerous for them to become involved with the humans whose lives they shape.

So when a beautiful girl named Aglaia shows up on their doorstep, Chloe tries to make sure her sisters don’t become attached. But in seeking to protect them, Chloe discovers the dark power of Aglaia’s destiny. As her path unwinds, the three Fates find themselves pulled inextricably along—toward mortal pain, and mortal love, and a fate that could unravel the world.

Pros – The Three Fates!, no romance, a lot of sage advice from Chloe

Cons – Its hard to really pinpoint the main plot at times, Aglaia is not particularly likable at times, the pacing may throw others off

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Book Review: The Pirate Code

Published on August 11, 2015August 10, 2015 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

Fresh off a fearsome encounter with the Neverland crocodile, Jocelyn Hook decides the most practical plan is to hunt down her father’s famous fortune. After all, she’ll need the gold to fund her adventuring in the future. (And luckily, Hook left her the map.)

But the map proves to be a bit harder to crack than Jocelyn had hoped, and she’s convinced that the horrible Peter Pan might be the only one with the answers. Of course, he doesn’t really feel like helping her, so Jocelyn takes the only reasonable course of action left to her: she kidnaps his mother. Evie, though, is absolutely thrilled to be taken prisoner, so Jocelyn’s daring ploy doesn’t have quite the effect she’d planned for.

Along with the problem of her all-too-willing captive, Jocelyn must also contend with Captain Krueger, whose general policy is that no deed is too dastardly when it comes to stealing Hook’s treasure. And with the ever-shifting Whens of the Neverland working against her as well, Jocelyn, Evie, Roger, and the rest of the Hook’s Revenge crew have their work cut out for them.

In this rambunctious showdown between characters new and old, Jocelyn puts her own brand of pirating to the test in a quest to save her future and those she loves. !

Pros – Lots more pirate’ing fun, bonding over pillaging (well, sort of) and several people getting their just desserts (good and bad)

Cons – You need tissues and if you don’t have any you’re in a bit of trouble, Peter Pan (I really don’t like this kid) and not enough Tiger Lily

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Book Review: Uprooted

Published on July 9, 2015July 9, 2015 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life. Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her. But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

Pros – The “romance” is light and doesn’t play out like you would imagine, old world “fairy tale” feel to the narrative, Agnieszka is easy to relate to, unexpected humor

Cons – takes a long while to get to the “root” of the plot, the Dragon is borderline abusive towards Agnieszka for the better part of the book, gets somewhat confusing in the middle third

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So I Started Reading Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine…

Published on June 28, 2015June 28, 2015 by forthesakeofreadingyaLeave a comment

So I started reading 2 ..

In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…

……

Right now, I am all pros. Continue reading “So I Started Reading Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine…” →

Category: Fantasy