Title: The Witch Hunter
Author: Virginia Boecker
Published: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
ISBN: 978-0316327008
Genre: Fantasy
Witches, watch out... Half Bad meets Kill Bill in this incredible new supernatural series.
Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Grey doesn't look dangerous. A tiny, blonde, wisp of a girl shouldn't know how to poison a wizard and make it look like an accident. Or take out ten necromancers with a single sword and a bag of salt. Or kill a man using only her thumb. But things are not always as they appear. Elizabeth is one of the best witch hunters in Anglia and a member of the king's elite guard, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and bringing those who practice it to justice. And in Anglia, the price of justice is high: death by burning.
When Elizabeth is accused of being a witch herself, she's arrested and thrown in prison. The king declares her a traitor and her life is all but forfeit. With just hours before she's to die at the stake, Elizabeth gets a visitor - Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in Anglia. He offers her a deal: he will free her from prison and save her from execution if she will track down the wizard who laid a deadly curse on him.
As Elizabeth uncovers the horrifying facts about Nicholas's curse and the unwitting role she played in its creation, she is forced to redefine the differences between right and wrong, friends and enemies, love and hate... and life and death.
The first book in an incredible new series set in a fantastical medieval world.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Wow, guys, this was a really fun.
Elizabeth Grey is part of an elite force of Witch Hunters in medieval Anglia when her life starts to go horribly wrong. Found in possession of witch's herbs, she is sentenced to death by her own mentor and thrown into Fleet prison. Desolate and alone, Elizabeth is sure she is on the verge of death when she is given a last minute reprieve by Nicholas Perevil, a wizard and the most wanted man in Anglia. Suddenly, she now finds herself in hiding with a motley crew of witches and wizards (and a recalcitrant ghost)- none of whom know about her previous position as a witch hunter- and in the midst of a prophecy that she doesn't want any part of but cannot help being caught up in.
This was an incredibly enjoyable and addictive read; I couldn't put it down. The writing is strong, clear and immersive, the world building is first class and the characters are interesting and well-fleshed out.
I can understand some people's concerns regarding the Harry Potter connection given that the story centers around Witches but this is nothing like Harry Potter. Although, Nicholas does have something Dumbledore-y about him. But I can honestly say, this is completely different from the Harry Potter series.
I think one of the things I liked most about this book was that you didn't spend ages trying to force your way through the beginning of the book whilst the author did the necessary world building. Things get crazy pretty fast and you learn everything you need to along the way. BUT there's no info dumps either. It's seamlessly done.
I loved Elizabeth as a character. She's exactly the kind of plucky, prickly female MC that I usually hate, but there's something really different about her. She hasn't had an easy life and she's had some pretty horrific things happen to her. I love the way Boecker uses Elizabeth as a device to address the ideals regarding innocence in women and I love that regardless of the horrors that Elizabeth has faced, she doesn't allow them to rule her life nor do they become a constant feature of her thoughts throughout the book. The pity train can only be ridden for so long before it becomes painfully annoying, but with Elizabeth this trip is short and pain-free.
The supporting cast is equally fantastic. I love Elizabeth's relationship with John and the antagonistic friendship that she picks up with George. It was great watching her friendship with Fifer blossom, and Fifer in and of herself was a very entertaining character to read. Blackwell inspires all of the hatred and anger that he's supposed to, and Caleb - well, the less said about him, the better!
This whole thing was just really well done. I can't wait for the second book.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Title: An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes #1)
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Razorbill
ISBN: 978-1595148032
Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy
Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, AN EMBER IN THE ASHES is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.
What if you were the spark that could ignite a revolution?For years Laia has lived in fear. Fear of the Empire, fear of the Martials, fear of truly living at all. Born as a Scholar, she’s never had much of a choice.
For Elias it’s the opposite. He has seen too much on his path to becoming a Mask, one of the Empire’s elite soldiers. With the Masks’ help the Empire has conquered a continent and enslaved thousands, all in the name of power.
When Laia’s brother is taken she must force herself to help the Resistance, the only people who have a chance of saving him. She must spy on the Commandant, ruthless overseer of Blackcliff Academy.
Blackcliff is the training ground for Masks and the very place that Elias is planning to escape. If he succeeds, he will be named deserter. If found, the punishment will be death.
But once Laia and Elias meet, they will find that their destinies are intertwined and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
In the ashes of a broken world one person can make a difference. One voice in the dark can be heard. The price of freedom is always high and this time that price might demand everything, even life itself.
Rating: ★★★★☆
“You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it.”
This book had some serious hype to live up to. Thankfully, it was up to the challenge.
Anyone who knows me knows that I have an unbridled passion for anything remotely related to ancient Greece and Rome. So when the blurb for this book was released it automatically went to the top of my 'Most Anticipated' list. It was, perhaps, less Rome-like than I was hoping for, but there is absolutely no doubt that it draws heavily upon Roman culture from the naming conventions to slave brutality.
This book definitely has a lot going on. We follow two main characters - Elias and Laia - in alternating chapters in which we come to learn their stories and meet the supporting casts of both their lives. The alternating narratives gives us a wonderful insight into the polarity of their lives, and yet how they still manage to maintain the same core ideals. It actually takes a while before the two meet, but once they do the story kicks into overdrive and all the things start to happen. But between the two character's stories and arcs there is a lot going on. However, instead of being overwhelming or confusing, Tahir manages to keep the plot tight and neat and through her wonderful writing has it running effortlessly. The writing is gorgeous and makes reading this book a dream.
“The voice is deep and soft, not a sound so much as a feeling. It is storm and wind and leaves twisting in the night. It is roots sucking deep at the earth, and the pale, sightless creatures that live below the ground. But there’s something wrong with this voice, something diseased at its core.”
That doesn't, however, take away from the gravity of the novel. This book is dark and gritty. Tahir does not shy away from the gruesome topics we are confronted with; topics such as rape and torture and child abuse which Tahir explores with unapologetic realism. This book is evocative. It makes you feel so completely for the characters and the things they are forced to endure in their attempts to do what they believe is right in a world which will see them dead for trying.
Laia as a female MC was surprising to me. Mostly for the fact that I quite like her. Her journey from start to finish is wonderfully done. She begins as a timid, scared young girl who has lost her family and who lives in constant shame that she will never have the courage that her Mother had. When we leave her at the end of the book Laia is strong and capable and has found the courage that she needs to move forward and save her brother. It's satisfying watching her grow as a person through everything that happens to her.
“My brother is still fighting, and his screams slice right through me. I know then that I will hear them over and over again, echoing in every hour of every day until I am dead or I make it right. I know it.”
Elias when we meet him is a dispirited soldier who is on the verge of fleeing a life, and Empire, he has come to hate. His character arc is more complicated than Laia's and I did find it slightly more compelling. Elias, first and foremost is a soldier - a Mask, elite. Taken at the age of six and then raised to manhood within the walls of Blackcliff. And yet, he has the strength of character to maintain his own ideals about what he believes is good and right. We watch a young man on the verge of desertion grow into something so infinitely more. I can't really say much without heading into spoiler territory - but trust me, there is a reason this guy is a love interest to two women!
The supporting cast of Resistance and Mask characters are diverse and irresistible. The Commandant is one of the most chilling villains that I have come across in a long time. My level of hatred for her is right up there with Dolores Umbridge. Helene is one of the characters that is hard for me to come to terms with; we see her through Elias' eyes and so through his narrative she is cast into a favourable light, and yet we are given enough information about her to know that she is, inherently, not a nice person - anyone who can agree with the enslaving of an entire nation and the annexation of their lands purely because she believes that "might makes right" does not strike me as a good person and yet it her Loyalty to Elias and her willingness to do anything for him that stops her from becoming one of the bad guys. The augurs are a great plot device and are very, very cleverly done. If this does have a second book, I can certainly see that there is a lot more to them and their story than we have been led to believe. And Izzi. Poor Izzi. She is the Neville Longbottom of our story: scared, timid, but someone who wants to fight and has a heart made of fire and hope.
And this is just a small sample of the wonderful secondary characters that we come across.
The love quadrangle - or whatever it was - is what lost this book a star for me. Mostly, the instalust! between Elias and Laia is what I found it hard to cope with. Tahir does a good job of making the feelings between Helene and Elias feel real, but then the rest all feel very forced. I think it's because it's more a case of Tahir has told us instead of shown us and I couldn't connect with their feelings. Still, it is definitely better done than a lot of romances that I've come across.
The book has an exciting start, slows down briefly and then is explosive for the last 50%. I think one of the things I like best about this book is that it constantly kept me guessing but never gave enough away that I knew what was coming. The plot twists were big surprises and it made for a much more exciting read.
A phenomenal book that is worth the hype and is more than worth the read!
If you liked this, you'll definitely like Sacrificed by Emily Wibberley.
“You are full, Laia. Full of life and dark and strength and spirit. You are in our dreams. You will burn, for you are an ember in the ashes.”
Title: Starborn (The Worldmaker Trilogy #1)
Author: Lucy Hounsom
Published: April 23, 2015
Publisher: Tor UK
ISBN: 978-1447268529Genre: Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Death and destruction will bar her way...
Kyndra's fate holds betrayal and salvation, but the journey starts in her small village. On the day she comes of age, she accidentally disrupts an ancient ceremony, ending centuries of tradition. So when an unnatural storm targets her superstitious community, Kyndra is blamed. She fears for her life until two strangers save her, by wielding powers not seen for an age - powers fuelled by the sun and the moon.
Together, they flee to the hidden citadel of Naris. And here, Kyndra experiences disturbing visions of the past, showing war and one man's terrifying response. She'll learn more in the city's subterranean chambers, amongst fanatics and rebels. But first Kyndra will be brutally tested in a bid to unlock her own magic.
If she survives the ordeal, she'll discover a force greater than she could ever have imagined. But could it create as well as destroy? And can she control it, to right an ancient wrong?
Book One of the Worldmaker Trilogy
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
DNF at 32%
I'll be honest. I think I knew from the start that I was going to be DNFing this, but I stuck with it for as long as possible until I got to the point where I was saying to myself: "Kayleigh, you're not enjoying this. You're struggling to read this. There is nothing about this story that you like. You shouldn't have to force yourself to read a book. Give up the ghost."
The writing is generally of a decent quality, but the pacing was awful - it was all over the place. You would go for a few pages of decently paced, decently written prose and then all of a sudden you were flying through important scenes which seemed to have half the information you need missing and you'd come out the other side more confused than you went in - and not in the way that makes you want to read more to find out what is going on but in the way that makes you wonder why you're still reading.
But then the things that are supposed to be mysterious and keep you guessing - for example: Kyndra's special snowflakeness - are so blindingly obvious that it makes you feel genuinely embarrassed for Hounsom
The plot is something I've seen a hundred times before: ordinary village girl turns out not to be so ordinary after all. I can enjoy these books if they are well written or if the author has done something new and exciting with the story. Hounsom does nothing new or exciting and it is not well written.
The world building was ... lacking. I'm trying to be nice. Again there's nothing new here but she does try to shake things up (air ships?!?!) and gets it horribly, horribly wrong. The characters were awful. Completely 1-dimensional and unrelatable. I hated most of them. Passionately. In fact the only character that I remotely liked was Nediah and even he was on the flat side.
It's like Hounsom has taken aspects from books written by Trudi Canavan and Brandon Sanderson and tried to make a story out of it. Just minus the writing talent and creative genius.
Sorry, but no.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Snow Like Ashes
Author: Sara Raasch
Publisher: Balzer+Bray
Published: October 14, 2014
ASIN: B00HYMBNUS
Genre: Fantasy
A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.
Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.
So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
This book was really, really disappointing.
I had really high hopes after all of the reviews and it just sort of ... fell flat?
Don't get me wrong. It's a good book. I enjoyed it enough that I kept reading. I think I just got caught up in the hype and expected too much?
Overall, I thought the book just tried too hard. The world building is what I'd call 'meh' - I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. At times, the naming could be a little cringe-worthy. There was absolutely nothing new in terms of characters. I've met them all a hundred times before in a hundred different books. This one was riddled with tropes that have been done better in other books.
And what is with the frickin' love-triangles? Is it law that all YA-Fantasy books featuring a female protagonist must feature a love triangle?
Meira, as a character, tries too hard. I love that writers are trying to make a point and take a feminist stand with their characters. But sometimes they fall short of the mark and, at times, can do more harm than good. Meira is your standard fantasy female MC: orphaned, tom-boy, can-do, I-dont-need-no-man, burn-anything-remotely-feminine but ends up being the specialest of special snowflakes. Again, there's nothing new here and for a recycled character, it's been done better in other books. Unfortunately, here's another one to add to the list of female characters I do not like. Mostly because, like a lot of female characters, Meira strays dangerously close to Misandry. Or, well, Raasch does.
By trying to maintain a feminine view-point and trying to project the message that women are just as capable as men, she goes to far and can, at times, err on the side of man-bashing. That's not feminism. It's, also, not cool.
Also, Meira is too much of a moaner to make it onto my list of likeable characters. For someone who spends so much of the book trying to convince us of her capability, she is way too much of a whiner.
This book is actually compared to Graceling, and I can fully support that because I had a nice little rant about feminist ideologies in that book, too.
But, overall, a pretty enjoyable read with enough good points that I am looking forward to the next book.
