3.0 Stars Goddess driven stories can be challenging to write because the author needs to create a powerful character but also a flawed one. I appreciat3.0 Stars Goddess driven stories can be challenging to write because the author needs to create a powerful character but also a flawed one. I appreciated that the protagonist was morally and complex.
I likesld a lot of elements of this one but would have liked to see more depth from the characters and worldbuilding. The story felt a bit shallow which held me back from truly loving it. I am still interested to read more in this series to see where the author goes from here
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
3.0 Stars I really enjoyed The Bone Shard Daughtee, so I was eager to read another book by the same author. However I quickly learned that this one has3.0 Stars I really enjoyed The Bone Shard Daughtee, so I was eager to read another book by the same author. However I quickly learned that this one has a different tone and style so fans of one series won't necessarily love the other.
For me, the strength of the Drowning Empire series was the characters and unfortunately I found these characters to be flater in comparison. This story is vast and ambitious and certainly has potential to turn into a compelling series. Yet judging this book alone, this one was not as compelling or memorable as I wanted it to be. I am still interested in this series but this wasn't the home run I expect from this author.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
3.5 Stars This was such an enjoyable fantasy romance. Normally, I read dark and disturbing reads, but even I carve the occasional break with a cute rea3.5 Stars This was such an enjoyable fantasy romance. Normally, I read dark and disturbing reads, but even I carve the occasional break with a cute read. This one fit the bill.
I have an exceptionally soft spots for pirate stories and this one delivered. The story is very character and relationship focus, which felt well developed. The stakes of this one were low, which I expected and so didn't mind.
If you are interested in a cozy queer pirate story, then I highly recommend this one. It is technically the second book in the series but I didn't have am issue picking it up here.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.5 Stars This was such an adorable middle grade fantasy novel. I love the Ghibli adaptation already and so I was thrilled to find the same cozy magic 4.5 Stars This was such an adorable middle grade fantasy novel. I love the Ghibli adaptation already and so I was thrilled to find the same cozy magic story in the original book. I will definitely reread this one when I need a feel-good story....more
3.5 Stars I finally took the time to read this buzzy romance fantasy novel. It was an enjoyable read that is best enjoyed without analyzing it too much3.5 Stars I finally took the time to read this buzzy romance fantasy novel. It was an enjoyable read that is best enjoyed without analyzing it too much. I went in without expecting much and found it pleasantly fun with some steamy bits. Despite not being an amazing piece of literature, I want to finish up the series so I can participate in the online discussions....more
4.0 Stars This was a really enjoyable dragon heist story. I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent amount of depth to the characters and their under4.0 Stars This was a really enjoyable dragon heist story. I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent amount of depth to the characters and their underlying story.
I've seen this compared to Fourth Wing but since I haven't read that one and I cannot comment if they are similar or not. On its own, I found this to be a really fun story.
I would recommend this to someone looking for a lighter, but worthwhile fantasy story. I have read the entire Chorus of Dragons and felt this had a very similar tone. If you love that series, you will very likely enjoy this book too
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
3.5 Stars This was a beautifully written and often haunting story. I have not read Peter Pan (yet) but I very much want to. I imagine that there were d3.5 Stars This was a beautifully written and often haunting story. I have not read Peter Pan (yet) but I very much want to. I imagine that there were details I missed, but I felt it held up well as a standalone.
I was surprised to find that this portal fantasy was very much set in our modern world. References to modern technology like computers felt like a harsh contrast to this other worldly fantasy story.
There was a lot I liked about this one, but it ended up with this particular rating because I found the actual plot thin. It was a dark story, but lacked teeth. Still, I would still recommend this one to readers looking for a Peter Pan retelling.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars This was such a delightfully cute fantasy story… and this is coming from a reader who usually reads the dark and disturbing.
This book works b4.0 Stars This was such a delightfully cute fantasy story… and this is coming from a reader who usually reads the dark and disturbing.
This book works because there is an actual plot and, perhaps more importantly, it has well developed complex characters. I felt like the characters with flawed in the most relatable ways with motivation and emotions I could understand and appreciate.
I would recommend this to readers looking for a cute fantastical read with a surprising amount of depth.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
3.5 Stars This is a solid finale installment in this sci fantasy series. I felt this one dragged a touch compared to the first two books but I was stil3.5 Stars This is a solid finale installment in this sci fantasy series. I felt this one dragged a touch compared to the first two books but I was still glad to experience the series....more
3.5 Stars I love reading non-European inspired fantasy so the setup of this one immediately grabbed my attention.
As expected, I enjoyed those less fam3.5 Stars I love reading non-European inspired fantasy so the setup of this one immediately grabbed my attention.
As expected, I enjoyed those less familiar elements but ultimately I felt the story played with the same tropes, just with a different backdrop.
My biggest challenge was the writing style. It was just a bit average which was highlighted in this dialogue-heavy book. Not bad by any means, but not a style I particularly enjoy. The storytelling and its character just felt young. It felt like a debut novel. I would like to see growth in the later books as they get published.
If you enjoy reading fantasy stories from different perspectives, then you might want to check out this one out.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher for review....more
I don't think this is NK Jemisin's strongest series but I still felt it was worth a read as an author I really enjoy. Personally I like her d4.0 Stars
I don't think this is NK Jemisin's strongest series but I still felt it was worth a read as an author I really enjoy. Personally I like her distinct writing style and her ability to build complex worlds full of morally gray worlds. Her books aren't the easiest reads, but that effort always comes with rewards. ...more
3.0 Stars I really appreciated the unique worldbuilding in this novel. It had a different narrative tone which immediately caught me off guard. I am al3.0 Stars I really appreciated the unique worldbuilding in this novel. It had a different narrative tone which immediately caught me off guard. I am always looking for something special.
Despite that, I never completely fell in love with this story. I think the challenge is that this one didn't have a strong narrative direction or direction to the plot. At times, this can work if I'm attached to the characters but I found these ones to be a bit distant.
This novel has some great potential and things I liked about it, but it did not completely work for me.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars This was a solid piece of standalone fantasy. I have previously read The Basilisk Throne by this same author and now want to explore more of 4.0 Stars This was a solid piece of standalone fantasy. I have previously read The Basilisk Throne by this same author and now want to explore more of their backlist because they write the kinds of stories I like to read.
Perhaps not the most most inventive, but at the end of the day, this one delivered the kind of fantasy that is easy to read yet engrossing. The writing is simple, but pleasing. The characters are complex enough to offer compelling motivations. Finally I enjoyed the world. It's hard to flesh out worldbuilding in only one book but I was intrigued by what I had read.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for a new fantasy to read.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars This was a fantastic sequel that expands the world introduced in the first book. One of my favourite aspect was the reliance on a morally gra4.0 Stars This was a fantastic sequel that expands the world introduced in the first book. One of my favourite aspect was the reliance on a morally gray character that created a wonderful moral dilemma for our protagonist....more
4.0 Stars I really enjoyed the dark premise of this fantasy novel. The setup was exactly up my alley and reminded me of some of my other favourite medi4.0 Stars I really enjoyed the dark premise of this fantasy novel. The setup was exactly up my alley and reminded me of some of my other favourite media that have gone to similar dark places.
This might be the first time I have read a fantasy novel translated from Korean. I appreciated the unique perspective but I found myself wondering if any style was lost through the translation. The story was good but the actual narrative style was incredibly straightforward with very plain writing. I wish there had been more nuanced and complexity to the prose because this one had serious five star potential but fell a little flat.
Despite my criticisms, I still enjoyed this one a lot and would highly recommend to readers looking for a dark fantasy story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
4.0 Stars I am always on the lookout for a good ghost/demon hunter fantasy story and I am thrilled to have finally found a good one.
The worldbuilding w4.0 Stars I am always on the lookout for a good ghost/demon hunter fantasy story and I am thrilled to have finally found a good one.
The worldbuilding was rich and interesting. The narrative was interesting with the right amount of action. I liked the characters but did not find them quite as compelling as they could have been. The magic, monsters and world were easily the best parts.
This is currently listed as a standalone on Goodreads but I really hope there is more to come in this universe. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a fresh fantasy story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher....more
3.5 Stars This is a solid conclusion to the Greek myth fantasy series that started back with Ithaca. I enjoyed book one but I struggled with book two. 3.5 Stars This is a solid conclusion to the Greek myth fantasy series that started back with Ithaca. I enjoyed book one but I struggled with book two. Thankfully this finale entry returned back to the elements that I loved at the beginning of the series.
This is another feminist character driven entry with strong interpersonal moments. Like the previous entries, this one continues to be slow paced. This kind of story is very dependent on the complexity of the characters. I felt these characters were interesting, but could have been stronger.
This book would have a higher rating if I loved mythological retellings more. I suspect other readers who can’t get enough of this fantasy subgenre will love this trilogy even more than I did. I liked it, but I felt it played it a bit safe and I would have loved a more creative approach to the source material.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Rachel (TheShadesofOrange)
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