Fantasy Tag Archives

18 May, 2013

Fantasy, reviews

Bansh, Bear, Eternal Sky, Fantasy, Temur

Book Review: Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear

Range of Ghosts (Eternal Sky 1) by Elizabeth Bear

Method of Obtaining: I received an advance copy from the publisher.
Published by: Tor
Release Date: 3.27.2012

Temur, grandson of the Great Khan, is walking away from a battlefield where he was left for dead. All around lie the fallen armies of his cousin and his brother, who made war to rule the Khaganate. Temur is now the legitimate heir by blood to his grandfather’s throne, but he is not the strongest. Going into exile is the only way to survive his ruthless cousin.

Once-Princess Samarkar is climbing the thousand steps of the Citadel of the Wizards of Tsarepheth. She was heir to the Rasan Empire until her father got a son on a new wife. Then she was sent to be the wife of a Prince in Song, but that marriage ended in battle and blood. Now she has renounced her worldly power to seek the magical power of the wizards. These two will come together to stand against the hidden cult that has so carefully brought all the empires of the Celadon Highway to strife and civil war through guile and deceit and sorcerous power.

I also recommend:

A Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

My Review:

If I had not received the sequel to Range of Ghosts from the publisher, I can honestly say that Range of Ghosts would never have entered my radar. I’m fairly picky when it comes to my high-fantasy, and one of the qualifications is that the strange-name to familiar-name ratio be fairly balanced. Range of Ghosts was definitely not balanced.

However, I took the leap and purchased Range of Ghosts because I am unable to just dive into the second book of the series without having read the first. To be honest, about 100 pages in, I thought I was just going to have to suck up a loss because I just couldn’t get into the story. Then things started to happen.

So if you are like me and struggle with strange names and terms and trying to get your imagination wrapped around an extremely detailed and exotic world, let me lay out for you a little bit of the things you might just see in this series.

First, each kingdom has a different sky. You know which kingdom you are in by looking up – and the skies change according to who is in power. Cool, right? Yeah, I thought so once I figured it out.

Second, fluid sexuality is alive and thriving in this book. Characters can switch from male to female and back due to special circumstances.

Third, horses named Dumpling are fantastic characters. I won’t spoil the surprise.

Fourth, females (barren and fertile) have immense power. I loved this aspect of the book and, frankly, it’s a strong reason for why it’s receiving this review. I am fascinated by Edene, awed by Once-Princess Samarkar, and a little bit in animal love with a certain tiger.

I would recommend ignoring the summary of this book, as it just doesn’t do the complex nature of the story justice. Take your time, get to know the characters, and rest assured by the end of this first book, you will be rewarded.

Check out what these bloggers had to say!

The Little Red Reviewer | A Fantasy Reader | Neth Space

16 May, 2013

Fantasy, Mythology, reviews

Bear, Eternal Sky, Fantasy, Temur

Book Review: Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

Method of Obtaining: I received my copy from the publisher.
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 10/23/2012

This is not the time for the fight to end. Now is when the fight will begin. This is the time to regain what has been lost.Alera

Queen of a fallen kingdom, secretly in love with the enemy.

Shaselle

Daughter of a murdered father, rebel with a cause.

One lives behind the former Hytanican palace walls and walks the razor’s edge to keep the fragile peace in her beloved homeland. The other slips through the war-torn streets, seeking retribution for her family’s tragedy, following whispers of insurgency.

Both face choices that will separate them from those they cannot help but love. As their stories intertwine, a conspiracy ignites that may end in slavery or death—or lead to freedom anew, if only each can face what must be sacrificed.

I also recommend:

The Belgariad Vol. 1 by David Eddings
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

My Review:

Once again I am blown away by the complexity of this story. Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver is the third (and final I believe) book in the Legacy series and all of the main players have been maneuvered into places that seem nearly impossible to get out of.

I’ve been following this series since the release of Legacy and it is one of the series of books that I do not have to go back and reread in order to remember where I left off. Within a few pages of Sacrifice it all came rushing back to me – fluttering of my heart included. I felt like a teenage girl all over again.

There are a few things about Sacrifice that make it worthy of your time (and the series as a whole). While the romance aspect is there, Sacrifice centers around two very strong-willed, very determined young women who, ultimately, have to make choices that are difficult and necessary in order for the world to continue in a way that makes sense. I was at peace with where both characters ended up and throughout the entire book kept wondering where exactly Kluver was going to go next. I simply could not figure a way out of their predicaments without the story losing some of its quality, but it worked and it worked well.

This series has a little bit of everything (and some beautiful covers!) and it comes highly recommended by me. I wish I’d been able to get my teenage hands on books like these.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

The Reader Bee | Dark Faerie Tales | Alexa Loves Books

26 January, 2013

Fantasy, Favorites, reviews, Young Adult

Fantasy, Kluver, Legacy, Strong Female, Strong Heroine

Book Review: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Method of Obtaining: I obtained my copy via my local library.
Published by: Viking Australia
Release Date: 11/3/1987

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar’s cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere’s walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock—to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she’ll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin’s faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

Reason for Reading:

This book got some fantastic reviews!

I also recommend:

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

My Review:

It is hilarious to me that I can read the same formula over and over in fantasy novels and still be so entertained that it’s impossible to put the book down until I finish it. But that happened once again to me with Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta.

What is that formula? Young boy or girl, quest, strange creatures, seemingly insurmountable odds, and a fantastic world that it’s all set in. However, even with this tried and true formula, some fantasies just do not work – because one of those ingredients, or more, are never fully developed. That was not the case in Finnikin of the Rock.

This book had it all – strong male and female characters, confusing quest that reveals all in such a beautiful way in the end. I honestly expected to find something wrong, because there’s inevitably always a character who will annoy me in some way be that I find lacking in another way but I didn’t have that issue with this book. It was well-rounded in every way, which is something I should have expected considering the quality that Marchetta brings to her stories.

This is a series that will be set proudly on my shelves with other favorites. So glad I decided to take the leap and explore the fantasy world of Finnikin!

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Pure Imagination | Mostly Reading YA | Candace’s Book Blog

3 November, 2012

Fantasy, Favorites, reviews, Young Adult

Exiles, Fantasy, Finnikin, Marchetta, Quest

Book Review: Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

Method of Obtaining: I received my copy via the publisher through NetGalley.
Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: 9/11/2012

Sixteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured and brought before him. Eager to hide her own canny skill—a uniquely powerful ability to communicate with the fairy-like Good Folk—Neryn sets out for the legendary Shadowfell, a home and training ground for a secret rebel group determined to overthrow the evil King Keldec.

During her dangerous journey, she receives aid from the Good Folk, who tell her she must pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential. She also finds help from a handsome young man, Flint, who rescues her from certain death—but whose motives in doing so remain unclear. Neryn struggles to trust her only allies. They both hint that she alone may be the key to Alban’s release from Keldec’s rule.

Homeless, unsure of who to trust, and trapped in an empire determined to crush her, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only to save herself, but to save Alban.

Reason for Reading:

The cover totally drew me in on this one.

I also recommend:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

My Review:

Shadowfell is the first book I’ve read by Juliet Marillier – and if this book is any indication of what her other books might be like… I think I am going to have a new favorite fantasy author on my hands.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of adventure, danger, fae, questing, and most of all – the fantastic Neryn. There was a little bit of everything contained in these 400ish pages, and I found myself feeling so much sadness as I approached the end of the book and knew I’d have to wait for more.

As all great fantasy books go, Shadowfell involves a quest and an orphan who is blessed with some king of character or ability. In this way, Shadowfell falls right in line – but where Shadowfell is a bit different is the world. In Neryn’s world there are creatures (and dialects, wow!) that defy imagination, but are so cool they had me smiling while I read, trying to figure out who fit in where and what they looked like.

The only issue I had with this book was the sheer amount of travel that it contained and the fact that Neryn seemed to be, well.. weak in body. I love strong heroines, but my goodness, this one seemed to be sick all the time, and the fact that she was constantly traveling didn’t help. Still, as far as complaints go, that’s a relatively mild one, and I’d recommend this book for fantasy lovers of any age.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Cuddlebuggery| Musings of a YA Writer| Pure Imagination

23 September, 2012

Fantasy, reviews, Young Adult

Fae, Fantasy, Marillier, Seelie

Book Review: Wake by Amanda Hocking

Wake by Amanda Hocking

Method of Obtaining: I received my copy from my local library.
Published by: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: 8/7/2012

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They’re the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone’s attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

Reason for Reading:

I saw this title on a list for best science fiction/fantasy in 2012

I recommend:

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan
The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson

My Review:

I don’t remember where I first encountered Wake by Amanda Hocking – but I think it was on one of those “must read fantasy” lists. Amanda Hocking is well known for selling, well … quite a few self-published novels, but having not read any of them, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with Wake, the first book of a new trilogy.

I’m touch and go on stories with mermaids/selkies/sirens. They are so awkward to write about, to try to figure out logistics and such. I mean – it’s not like you can actually be sexy with a fin for your lower half, right? So while I think Hocking did an admirable job trying to make this strange, mystifying race alluring, I think it all kind of got lost in a strange loops.

Because, honestly, I finished the book yesterday and here’s what I remember about it: girl swims, girl falls for guy, sister falls for guy, girl swims, something bad, the end. Oh, and let’s not forget: .

Was I entertained while reading Wake? Sure. I mean, I wanted to finish the book, it wasn’t difficult to read, but it was a sort of morbid curiosity that ultimately led to me finishing it. I won’t be picking up book 2, not because I hated Wake, but rather.. because I’m just disinterested in the story and frankly, I’m tired of cliffhangers which exist solely to sell books.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Chapter by Chapter| Hippies, Beauties, & Books| Book Loving Mom

22 September, 2012

Fantasy, reviews, Young Adult

Fantasy, Hocking, Sirens

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

Order from:

Reason for Reading:

Cecelia Ahern has been my go-to guilty pleasure author for a while.

I recommend:

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Summary from GoodReads:

Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she’s ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with its own private beach, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and all that a girl could ever wish for. She’s always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow. But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever. Left with a mountain of debt, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country. Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gatehouse is a world away from Tamara’s childhood. With her mother shut away with grief, and her aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin.When a travelling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What she discovers within the pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to its core.

My Review:

When offered the chance to read and review The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern, I’m not going to lie – I squealed a little bit. You see, Cecelia Ahern is one of my guilty pleasure authors. I read her books when I want to cry a little bit and she became my go-to gal when I outgrew Nicholas Sparks.

That’s what makes this review so hard to write.

I’m going to go a little off-topic, but stick with me – it’ll make sense soon. When I was a kid, I remember getting on a ride at DisneyWorld – the people mover one. You know – the one that you just ride around in an open monorail type thing and listen to facts about the park? Well, I thought that was just the beginning of the ride and it would end up top where those rockets were because I really wanted to ride those rockets (I never got to ride those rockets. I don’t think I would fit in them now.) But instead, we just twisted and turned and moved slowly and instead of listening to what was being said and enjoying the view and the rest for my feet, I twisted my hands and wiggled and whined and complained and then… the ride was over and it was time to go stand in another 2 hour line. You see, I was so caught up in the anticipation of something happening, something I expected to happen, that I didn’t enjoy the breeze, or the view, or the time with my family. I wanted more, I craved more… but I never got it.

That’s what The Book of Tomorrow reminded me of. I read, and then I read some more, and then I read more and I was teased and given glimpses of those fantastic rockets and I (metaphorically) wiggled and twisted in anticipation but… I never got what I wanted. However, unlike DisneyWorld and my parents (who never told me the rockets were at the end, it was my imagination that betrayed me), I expected more from Cecelia Ahern because in her previous books – she gave me more.

So that is why I was disappointed in The Book of Tomorrow. I expected a character that would seduce me, but instead I got Tamara Goodwin, a snarky, bratty, horrible girl who had me wanting to smack her down more than a few dozen times. Her mother, her aunt, and her uncle were.. quirky and strange, sure – but I never cared two bits about them because, frankly, I was teased and teased but never given anything to help me understand. Instead, like those rockets, they lingered out of reach and never materialized in front of me.

Then there was the “mystery” and “gothic” nature of the book. It didn’t work for me. The ruins sounded well.. dirty and not mysterious. I don’t know if they weren’t described well enough or there wasn’t enough background given on the characters, or what the deal was but the story there felt unfinished and haphazard.

The only thing I liked about this book was seeing the end, because then I took my huge dose of reality, closed the book, swallowed the bitterness and sat down to write this review.

So do I stick with Cecelia Ahern? I’ll give her next book a shot, because one sour book isn’t enough to put me off. But I think she needs to stick with what she knows best – relationships and character-building… leave the fantasy and gothic stories to people who invest themselves well in them.

About the Author

Information regarding Cecelia Ahern:
- Website
- Facebook

For more reviews on The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern, please follow the book tour.

24 July, 2012

Coming of Age, Fantasy, reviews, Young Adult

2 comments

Ahern, Death, Diary, Family Relationships, Fantasy, Ireland

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Order from:

Reason for Reading:

I love reading Maria Snyder’s books. This one was no exception.

I also recommend:

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Summary from GoodReads:

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life…

My Review:

I’ve come to expect awesome things from Maria Snyder. She writes about strong females, the perfect touch of magic, action, a little bit of romance – basically everything that makes the teenager in me giggle with delight. Her latest book, Touch of Power, provided all those things.

Seriously, if you want to lose yourself in a good book, and know you have an entire day to allow yourself to get lost in it, you cannot fail with picking up one of Snyder’s books. With Touch of Power, I found myself trapped away in this world where healing is not considered to be a good thing, and the young heroine is on the run…constantly. So much so, in fact, even I was out of breath reading it!

The imagination of Snyder is to be envied. The Death Lilies were magnificent – so incredibly interesting. The choice having to be made by Avry was heart-breaking .. how would you choose? The combination of interesting characters, rough situations, and action scenes kept me reading from beginning to end in one sitting. And that, my friends, is fun reading.

Check out these reviews!

In the Good Books

Bookalicious

13 January, 2012

Adventure, Fantasy, reviews, Young Adult

6 comments

Fantasy, Healer, Magic, Snyder, Strong Heroine

The Realmsic Conquest by A. Demethius Jackson

The Realmsic Quest by A. Demethius Jackson

Order from:

Reason for Reading:

Neat cover and it’s a book in verse!!

I also recommend:

Beowulf by Unknown

Summary from Cover:

Throughout its history, the kingdom known as the Realm has never known peace. From its establishment, it has possessed the gift of magic, which is a treasure that exists no other place in the world! As a result, the Realm has endlessly defended itself against conquerers, but now faces it’s greated peril.

As our heroes battle the wicked and unlock mysteries, they must also face overwhelming circumstances as they are guided by ancient lore on a quest to find the greatest treasure their kingdom will ever know…peace.

My Review:

When I received this small book in the mail, I set it aside after making a note on my calendar to get it read. I didn’t notice it again until a few days later when my dad picked it up and exclaimed – this book is in verse!

I was excited to get to it then. This semester in British Literature, I was introduced to my very first epic poems in Beowulf, Paradise Lost, and other fun, old English tales. Then, when I read the introduction to The Realmsic Conquest, I felt a kinship with the author because, like he, I also had a friendship that thrived through letters – although we never wrote stories to each other (why didn’t we think of that, Chris??).

That all said, while The Realmsic Conquest was clever and amusing, it fell short of being a “true epic”. I feel as if Jackson could have done more with less attempt to rhyme – which, in a way, cheapened the story. I’ve read books in verse that ended up being very powerful because their lack of rhyme – and I really think that the potential existed in this story to make an “modern epic fantasy tale”.

The idea was good, putting it into practice fell short – in short. Still, I think if you are wanting to give something different to a young boy for a gift – this might be something you’d look toward. The story has a great message, there’s magic and bad guys and bad guys turning good – and it’s in verse!

Check out these reviews!

Splash of Our Worlds

8 December, 2011

Fantasy, Poetry, reviews

Fantasy, Good vs Evil, Jackson, Verse

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Order from:

Reason for Reading:

Pam at Bookalicious raving over this in her review (and on Twitter) was enough to make me bump this up my TBR.

I also recommend:

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Summary from GoodReads:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

My Review:

Elisa is not your typical heroine. She likes to eat, and her figure shows it. She’s the second born girl, with an older sister who has been trained to be a Queen. Elisa loves to read and is incredibly smart, but rarely gets to show that off due to a low self-esteem.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns begins with a wedding. Elisa’s wedding. She is being married to a King and sent away from her family on her 16th birthday, and so begins her adventures.

What I really appreciated about this book was, although Rae Carson went just a little overboard with Elisa’s “fat” figure (references to eating, to calling herself a ‘pig’, etc), she also made sure to give a fairly accurate picture of what it feels like to be large. The whispers and glances, even a wedding night – all made sense, especially during later events. I was worried that this would be one of those stories where the fat girl loses weight and all of the sudden everyone likes her, but Carson manages to skirt around that cliche and still maintain the integrity of the story.

There is a lot of religion on this book, it’s a world based around the premise of religion and of Elisa being the first “chosen-one” in about 100 years. It’s fascinating stuff, but also very, very religious so it was interesting to me to read a fantasy based so heavily on prayer.

I really enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I loved that, although there is love, it is not the central focus of the story, but rather Elisa’s growth and confidence is. The fantasy world was interesting, but could have been a little more fleshed out (with less prayer next time, please!) and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series to see where Carson takes us next.

Check out these reviews!

Bookalicious

The Midnight Readers