Questland, By Carrie Vaughn ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, School Shootings, Science Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: July 22nd, 2021

304 Pages

Synopsis: YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A MAZE FULL OF TWISTY PASSAGES…

Literature professor Dr. Addie Cox is living a happy, if sheltered life, in her ivory tower when Harris Lang, the famously eccentric billionaire tech genius, offers her an unusual  job. He wants her to guide a military strike team sent to infiltrate his island retreat off the northwest coast of the United States. Addie is puzzled by her role on the mission until she understands what Lang has built: Insula Mirabilis, an isolated resort where tourists will pay big bucks for a high-tech-powered, fantasy-world experience, complete with dragons, unicorns, and yes, magic.

Unfortunately, one of the island’s employees has gone rogue and activated an invisible force shield that has cut off all outside communications. A Coast Guard cutter attempting to pass through the shield has been destroyed. Suspicion falls on Dominic Brand, the project’s head designer—and Addie Cox’s ex-boyfriend. Lang has tasked Addie and the mercenary team with taking back control of the island at any cost.

But Addie is wrestling with demons of her own—and not the fantastical kind. Now she must navigate the deadly traps of Insula Mirabilis as well as her own past trauma. And no d20, however lucky, can help Addie make this saving throw. (Goodreads)

Questland is one of those books that’s a little off-the-wall, and imperfect, but is an entertaining escape from the real world. I’m not into Literary Role Playing Games or LitRPGs as they’re known, but I do LOVE fantasy, especially Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter, and Carrie Vaughn includes plenty of references to those. Plus, this has dragons AND unicorns in it! Need I say more?

There are a couple of things that prevent this from being a perfect read. In my opinion, the majority of characters are not well written and come across as stereotypical and in some cases, not very believable. The only two to deviate from this one-dimensional mold are a secondary character named Rucker who I disliked in the beginning, before he sneakily changed my mind, and the protagonist of the story, literature professor, Dr. Addie Cox, who fifteen years previously survived a school shooting, but helplessly watched two of her friends die. I absolutely loved her, both for her strength and vulnerability, and also for her humorous reactions to what she sees on the island. Throughout much of the book, she gets herself into situations where she has to be saved, but given that she’s suffering from PTSD, I was willing to cut her some slack. And during the second half of the book, she starts gaining more confidence in herself which was nice to watch. The story itself with its magic-mimicking technology is fascinating, and I found myself wistfully wishing to be able to go visit Insula Mirabilis. Thanks to the fast pace that leads to an ending which wraps everything up nice and neatly, I finished this in one sitting.

I’ll be honest and say that I don’t think Questland is one of Vaughn’s best books, but it’s fun nonetheless and I’m happy I read it. I think my fellow fantasy geeks would enjoy this as well. As for me, now I really, REALLY want a dragon!

Lost In the Never Woods, By Aiden Thomas ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Alcoholism, Anxiety, Death of a child, Dysfunctional Families, Fantasy, Gun Violence, Mystery, PTSD, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Swoon Reads for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 23rd, 2021

384 Pages

Synopsis: When children go missing, people want answers. When children go missing in the small coastal town is Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.

It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don’t do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods. (Goodreads)

For someone who didn’t particularly care for the original Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie, I’ve read my fair share of retellings, some good, others not so much. Lost In the Never Woods gives the oft-told fantasy an entirely imaginative albeit extremely dark spin, that completely captured my attention from beginning to end. As always, I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I have to warn you that there are themes here that some readers may find difficult, including: PTSD, anxiety, death of children, and gun violence.

This is one of the very few times I actually liked the character of Peter Pan. He has that cavalier nonchalance at times, that I’ve found in previous stories, but I wasn’t annoyed by it like I usually am, because underneath that facade is a much deeper and complex personality. Indeed, this is a Peter who really does take his responsibilities to both Neverland and the Lost Children, seriously. And, once he realizes what has put everything in danger, he’s willing to sacrifice himself. I also loved Wendy, who’s written much differently here then how she’s been depicted in other retellings. While she struggles with memory loss and PTSD from her ordeal, she’s a fierce fighter, yet also retains that maternal side the classic Wendy displayed. When Peter drops back into Wendy’s life, he appears to be a few years younger than Wendy, which gave me a moment’s pause, as their relationship obviously is heading for romance. Thankfully, for readers’ sensibilities, the darkness that is behind the children’s disappearance, is also in part, responsible for the draining of Peter’s magic, and results in him aging, so by the time his and Wendy’s relationship reaches the kissing stage, he’s about eighteen-years-old as she is. Their relationship is the driving force behind everything that happens, so it was important that the author made Peter and Wendy believable and relatable, and I’m happy to say Aiden Thomas delivered in spades. As for the story itself, it’s different than any other retelling I’ve read. You don’t see much of Neverland, except through Wendy’s memories. There’s no Tinkerbell, and no Captain Hook. In fact, the villain is someone who innocuously appears in the original classic, but here, takes on epic evil proportions. Thomas also skillfully blends in other original characters and elements from the original, such as the Darling’s Saint Bernard Nana, and Wendy’s talent with sewing. If you’re familiar with Peter Pan, you won’t find it surprising that this doesn’t have a perfect happily-ever-after, yet the bittersweet finale is really the only way the story could end, and leaves the characters as well as the reader with a satisfying sense of peace and closure.

I absolutely loved Thomas’s debut, Cemetery Boys so Lost In the Never Woods has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2021, and I was not disappointed. I will even go so far as to predict  this will most likely be one of my favorite reads of this year. I highly and enthusiastically recommend this for older teens and adults who love imaginative fantasy retellings!

Dark Whispers (Brightstorm #2), By Vashti Hardy ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Fantasy, Middle School Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 16th, 2021

416 Pages

Synopsis: The ragtag crew of Captain Harriet Culpepper, is off on another adventure! Ermitage Wrigglesworth, the notable explorer and author, has been reported missing in Stella Oceanus to the east. Twins Arthur and Maudie are eager to answer the call of adventure to find him, but their old nemesis and newly discovered aunt, Eudora Vane, is also on the hunt. As Lontown’s most famous explorer families set sail aboard their sky-ships, it soon becomes clear that Eudora’s not just after the missing explorer. There’s a secret she’s chasing, something Wrigglesworth had discovered before he vanished, something that definitely shouldn’t be in Eudora Vane’s hands. The Aurora’s crew will have to journey to uncover Wrigglesworth’s secret first, and will discover new lands and new friends along the way… (Goodreads)

Darkwhispers is the sequel to last year’s Brightstorm, and in my humble opinion, an equally brilliant middle school fantasy/science fiction novel, that’s perfect for fans of authors like Philip Pullman. It’s filled with exciting adventure just as the previous book was, with familiar characters and intriguing new ones.

In this entry, the twins each begin to set forth on their own paths and you can just begin to glimpse the remarkable adults they’ll develop into. The mystery itself is a fun and twisty one, especially when the villainous Eudora Vane gets involved. I especially appreciated the additional insight provided, through the memories of her relationship with the twins mother. It made me somewhat sympathetic toward her, although that was temporary. A beloved character meets their demise, but even that was handled imaginatively.

I grew fearful near the end that perhaps this was going to finish as a duology, which had me deeply disappointed, because I’ve grown quite attached to Maudie, Arthur, Harriet, and the rest of the crew of the Aurora, but something occured in the last couple of pages that has me thinking there will be another book. I cannot recommend Brightstorm and Darkwhispers enough. They’re creative, unique, and although technically written for upper elementary through middle school readers, are bound to appeal to adult readers who enjoy these genres as well. They truly are a perfect escape that you will find yourself easily lost in!

The Iron Raven (The Iron Fey: Evenfall #1), Julie Kagawa ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 9th, 2021

336 Pages

Synopsis: You may have heard of me…

Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Prankster, joker, raven, fool…King Oberon’s right-hand jester from a Midsummer’s Night Dream. The legends are many, but the truth will now be known, as Puck finally tells his own story and faces a threat to the lands of Faery and the human world unlike any before.

With the Iron Queen, Meghan Chase, and her prince consort, Puck’s longtime rival Ash, and allies old and new by his side, Puck begins a fantastical and dangerous adventure not to be missed or forgotten.

I really enjoyed Kagawa’s Iron Fey series, so I’ve been eagerly looking forward to The Iron Raven, the first book in this new trilogy. I do advise that anyone who hasn’t read the previous series do so before reading this, because although you won’t be lost, I think you’ll still find something missing if you’re not already familiar with the world and characters Kagawa has created.

I’ve been fascinated with Robin Goodfellow/Puck since I read Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in high school, and I liked Kagawa’s take on him in the Iron Fey series. Unsurprisingly, he is my favorite part in this book. Finally granting center stage to the clever mischief maker is marvelous, and getting a glimpse of his beginnings adds an insightful layer to his background. As of right now, I’m missing a certain amount of chemistry between Puck and his new love interest, Nyx, but their relationship is just developing so I’m withholding judgement.

As Iron Raven picks up from the first series, it’s delightful to see familiar figures return as well as the introduction of new ones. Kagawa’s writing is as always, beautifully descriptive and immediately swept me back in the world of the Fey. I do feel there are a few sections that are slightly repetitive and slow, but overall this is a solid beginning to to this new trilogy and I believe longtime fans of Kagawa will be quite pleased.

City of Villains (City of Villains #1), By Estelle Laure ~ 3.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Mystery, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 26th, 2020

240 Pages

Synopsis: Disney’s Villains meet Gotham in this gritty fairy-tale inspired story.

Mary Elizabeth Heart is a high school senior by day, but by night she’s an intern at the Monarch City Police Department. She watches with envy from behind a desk as detectives come and go, trying to contain the city’s growing crime rate. For years, tension has simmered between the city’s wealthy elite, and their plans to gentrify the decaying neighborhood called the Scar—once upon a time the epicenter of all things magic.

When the daughter of one of the city’s most powerful businessmen goes missing, Mary Elizabeth is thrilled when the Chief actually puts her on the case. But what begins as a missing person’s report soon multiplies, leading her down a rabbit hole of a city in turmoil. There she finds a girl with horns, a boyfriend with secrets, and what seems to be a sea monster in a poison lake. As the mystery circles closer to home, Mary finds herself caught in the fight between those who once had magic, and those who will do anything to bring magic back.

This dark and edgy YA series explores the reimagined origins of  Maleficent, Ursula, Captain Hook, and other infamous Disney villains like you’ve never seen before.

I was quite excited when I read the premise of City of Villains with the tagline Disney villains meets Gotham, but I have to be honest and say it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. My biggest problem I think is that everything is told rather than shown. I was never able to fully connect with the characters, the setting, or the story. However, seeing the origin stories of some of my favorite Disney villains was interesting and kept me turning the pages. I also have to say this is a quick read which I breezed through in couple of hours. Overall, while City of Villains wasn’t everything I was hoping it would be, there was just enough there that not only kept me reading, but also has me sufficiently interested enough to give the sequel a try when it comes out.

The Awakening (The Dragon Heart Legacy #1), By Nora Roberts ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Diversity, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: November 24th, 2020

464 Pages

Synopsis: #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, begins a new trilogy of adventure, romance, and magick in The Awakening.

In the realm of Talamh, a teenage warrior named Keegan, emerges from a lake holding a sword—representing both power and the terrifying responsibility to protect the Fey. In another realm known as Philadelphia, a young woman has just discovered she possesses a treasure of her own…

When Breen Kelly was a girl, her father would tell her stories of magical places. Now she’s an anxious twenty-something mired in student debt and working a job she hates. But one day she stumbles upon a shocking discovery: her mother has been hiding an investment account in her name. It has been funded by her long-lost father—and it’s worth nearly four million dollars.

This newfound fortune would be life-changing for anyone. But little does Breen know that when she uses some of the money to journey to Ireland, it will unlock mysteries she couldn’t have imagined. Here she will begin to understand why she kept seeing that silver-haired, elusive man, why she imagined his voice in her head saying “Come home Breen Siobhan. It’s time you came home.” Why she dreamed of dragons. And where her true destiny lies—through a portal in Galway that takes her to a realm of faeries and mermaids, to a man named Keegan, and to the courage in her own heart that will guide her through a powerful, dangerous destiny…

Many of you already know that I’m a longtime fan of Nora Roberts, and her upcoming novel is a perfect example of why. The first in a new fantasy trilogy, The Awakening is a gorgeously told tale that has left me eager for more.

For personal reasons, I really connected with Breen and enjoyed her transformation from timid mouse, to the beginnings of a fierce warrior. I was a little slower to embrace Keegan as his alpha male persona put me off in the beginning, but it didn’t take long for my feelings toward him to thaw. The secondary characters are numerous, but all are immensely likable. The world building is, well in a word, magical. From a Philadelphia drag queen club, to the misty Irish countryside, to the delightful world of Talahm, I was fully immersed with the delightful settings and characters. Except for a few scenes with the big bad and a couple of his minions, there’s not a lot of action, but due to Robert’s talented storytelling skills, this in no way takes away from the story.

For me, the mark of a perfectly written story is when it’s so immersive that it’s difficult to get my head back in the real world. If you’re looking for an escape I can’t recommend The Awakening enough. It’s an enchanting tale with memorable characters that will leave you eager for the next book.

The Mirror: Broken Wish (The Mirror #1), by Julie C. Dao ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Fairytale Retellings, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 6th, 2020

320 Pages

Synopsis: 1865 Hanau Germany 

Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that  she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow. But when Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner—none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.

Broken Wish is the first book in the upcoming The Mirror series which in itself is an exciting premise. Four books following a multigenerational family by some of the most popular YA authors today: Julie C. Dao, Dhonielle Clayton, J.C. Cervantes, and L.L. McKinney. I started this last night around 8:00 p.m. and finished it three hours later. It’s a highly entertaining fairytale retelling of Snow White with a little of The Red Shoes thrown in, and it perfectly captures Germany in the latter half of the 19th century. Dao is a wonderful storyteller who is known for her richly detailed world building and complex characters, and that’s very much on display here. But included in this beautifully written fantasy is the thoughtful exploration of the difficulty of being unique in a world where differences are often met with ignorance and cruelty. It’s a tale of friendship, loyalty, and the ramifications of broken promises, that all lead up to a shocking ending. I cannot recommend Broken Wishes highly enough. It’s an exciting and original YA fantasy whose storyline will enthrall you and characters will capture your heart. The series continues with Dhonielle Clayton’s Shattered Midnight (July 2021), which jumps to 1920s New Orleans, and sounds from the title to perhaps be a retelling of Cinderella. I’m going to be impatiently counting down the months.

 

Eventide, By Sarah Goodman ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Southern Gothic, Young Adult Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 6th, 2020

336 Pages

Synopsis: MADNESS, SECRETS, AND LIES

Wheeler, Arkansas, 1907

When their father descends into madness after the death of their mother, Verity Pruitt and her little sister Lilah find themselves on an orphan train to rural Arkansas.

In Wheeler, eleven-year-old Lilah is quickly adopted but seventeen-year-old Verity is not. Desperate to stay close to her sister, Verity indentures herself as a farmhand. But even charming farm boy Abel Atchley can’t completely distract her from the sense that something is not quite right in this little town. Strange local superstitions abound, especially about the eerie old well at the center of the forest. The woods play tricks, unleashing heavy fog and bone-chilling cold…and sometimes visions of things that aren’t there.

But for Verity, perhaps the most unsettling revelation of all is that her parents have a scandalous history in this very town. And as she tries to unearth the past, sinister secrets come with it—secrets that someone will go to violent lengths to protect…

A haunting tale of long-buried secrets, small-town scandal, and single-minded vengeance by talented debut novelist Sarah Goodman.

Eventide is the debut novel by Sarah Cooper, and while its slow burning suspense might not be for everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed the eerie Southern gothic theme, as well as the fascinating characters and intriguing mystery. I have to be honest and say that Verity annoyed me at first with her rather know-it-all attitude, but there’s so much more behind that initial obnoxiousness. Likewise, there’s similar complexity with all the characters, even the villain who winds up deserving of a small amount of sympathy. The mystery and how everything ultimately comes together, kept me turning the pages even though there were some slow spots. There are some reviewers who have criticized that there weren’t enough fantasy/supernatural elements until the near the end, but I actually liked how they were tantalizingly kept under the surface. Overall, Eventide is an excellent YA debut by Cooper and I unhesitatingly recommend it. I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes out with next.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V.E. Schwab ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance, Supernatural Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 6th, 2020

448 Pages

Synopsis: A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

As I do my final read-through on this book, a story nearly ten years in the making, all I can think is that I’ve put my heart and soul, my teeth and blood and bones into this one.

I hope you love it.

~ Message from V.E. Schwab on Goodreads ~

I’ve been truly blessed with the number of fantastic eARCS I’ve been approved for this year, but my goodness…two days and almost 500 pages, of being swept away into the captivating The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and I find myself at a loss to come up with enough superlatives to express my love of this book. This sumptuous and gorgeously told tale ticked all my boxes: swoon-worthy romance, devilish yet perversely charming villain, feisty heroine, beautifully detailed world building, twists and turns aplenty, and overall, just an exquisite story that will have you laughing, crying, and holding your breath right up to the bittersweet ending. 

What she needs are stories. Stories are a way to preserve one’s self. To be remembered. And to forget. Stories come in so many forms: in charcoal, and in song, in paintings, poems, films. And books. Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives—or to find strength in a very long one.

With the first quote, V.E. Schwab shares how much of herself she put into this book and all that work and passion certainly shows. The Strange Life of Addie LaRue is the eleventh book I’ve read by her, and I believe she may have outdone herself. It truly is a literary masterpiece and the characters and their stories will wring every drop of emotion from you. You’re going to want to make time for this guys, particularly if you’re a fan of books and films such as The Time Traveler’s Wife, and The Age of Adaline. Trust me. Get your preorders or library holds in now because this is a magical reading experience you don’t want to miss!

Down Comes the Night, By Allison Saft ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Gothic Fiction, LGBTQ, Mystery, Political Intrigue, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 2nd, 2021

400 Pages

Synopsis: A gorgeously gothic, deeply romantic YA debut fantasy about two enemies trapped inside a crumbling mansion with no escape from the monsters within.

Honor your oath, destroy your country.

Wren Southerland is the most talented healer in the Queen’s Guard, but her reckless actions have repeatedly put her on thin ice with her superiors. So when a letter arrives from a reclusive lord, asking Wren to come to his estate to cure his servant from a mysterious disease, she seizes the chance to prove herself.

When she arrives at Colwick Hall, Wren realizes that nothing is what it seems. Particularly when she discovers her patient is actually Hal Cavendish, the sworn enemy of her kingdom.

As the snowy mountains make it impossible to leave the estate, Wren and Hal grow closer as they discover a sinister plot that could destroy everything they hold dear. But choosing love could doom both their kingdoms.

Allison Saft’s Down Comes the Night is a snow-drenched, gothic, romantic fantasy that keeps you racing through the pages long into the night.

Down Comes the Night is a lovely gothic tale that reminded me of Daphne du Maurier and Guillermo del Toro. I have to admit it took me a little while to warm up to Wren, but once the setting moved to the castle and she connected with Hal, I found her much more relatable. The world building is very well done and I especially found the political strife interesting. Add in an intriguing murder mystery with a lovely romance and I was pretty much hooked by the end of the first chapter. Allison Saft’s writing style is also beautifully descriptive which further pulled me into the story. As far as I can tell, Down Comes the Night is a standalone, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel as I was left wanting more. Overall I unhesitatingly recommend this to anyone looking for dark gothic fantasy that’s filled with political intrigue, self-discovery, mystery, and romance.