The Diminished (Untitled Duology #1), by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: Available Now

384 Pages

Synopsis: In the Alskad Empire, nearly all are born with a twin, two halves to form one whole…yet some face the world alone.

The singleborn.

A rare few are singleborn in each generation, and therefore given the right to rule by the gods and goddesses. Bo Trousillion is one of those few, born into the royal line and destined to rule. Though he has been chosen to succeed his great-aunt, Queen Runa, as the leader of the Alskad Empire, Bo has never felt equal to the grand future before him.

The diminished.

When one twin dies, the other usually follows, unable to face the world without their other half. Those who survive are considered diminished, doomed to succumb to the violent grief that inevitably destroys everyone whose twin has died. Such is the fate of Vi Abernathy, whose twin sister died in infancy. Raised by the anchorites of the temple after her family cast her off, Vi has spent her whole life scheming for a way to escape and live out what’s left of her life in peace.

As their sixteenth birthday approaches, Bo and Vi face very different futures—-one a life of luxury as the heir to the throne, the other years of backbreaking work as a temple servant. But a long-held secret and the fate of the empire are destined to bring them together in a way they never could have imagined.

The Diminished is a fabulous beginning to an as of yet, untitled duology. The chapters alternate between the two main characters, both who I found equally fascinating. I loved the way Bo being gay was depicted so matter of factly. There is no bigotry in this world regarding sexual identity. It’s an accepted part of society. Neither is there any racism. Unfortunately there is bigotry toward the “diminished”, those who have lost a twin. So, not only do they go through the heartbreak of losing their other half, but then they’re treated with abject cruelty. This is most detailed in Vi’s chapters and it can be tough reading at times. While it seems as though Bo and Vi have nothing in common, as the story continues their lives converge in the most interesting ways. 

The world building is rich in detail and I loved how the Alskad Empire shares societal issues that mirror those found in the real world. Between that and the characters, I was completely enthralled throughout the entire story. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book takes things. I highly recommend The Diminished for older teens and adults who are looking for a fantasy that’s unique and exciting.

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Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game #1), by Amanda Foody ~ 3.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, LGBT, Suspense, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: April 10th, 2018

Synopsis:

Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets…and secrets hide in every corner.

Enne Salt was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—-and her reputation—-behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted.

Frightened and alone, her only lead is a name: Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—-he’s a street lord and a con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unraveling investment scam, so he doesn’t have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne’s offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems.

Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets and into the clutches of a ruthless mafia donna. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi’s enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne, will have to surrender herself to the city…

And she’ll need to play.

Ace of Shades has been a much buzzed about books or months and while I didn’t think it quite lived up to the hype, there were aspects of it that I did enjoy.

New Reynes aka the City of Sin, is a magical version of Las Vegas. Underneath its glitzy exterior lies a far more dark and gritty world filled with violence and danger. The main character, Enne, is an interesting character, but she transforms too quickly from a prim and proper ballerina who makes some incredibly stupid mistakes, to a lethal assassin. And Levi, as a young bisexual man of color and leader of a gang, should have been so much more interesting than he was. It took most of the book for me to get a sense of who he is and what his motivations are. I did wind up really liking him towards the end though. The secondary characters definitely need more development as well if they’re to progress from mere silhouettes in the background.

The world building left me with mixed feelings. There were some parts I liked such as the lethal Game of Shadows, and the history of the families, but there was quite a bit of info dumping and for the first half of the book I found it very slow going. 

Despite my issues with Ace of Shades, I do think it has potential. The pace picked up considerably in the second half of the book and the ending was exciting enough that I’ll definitely be trying the sequel. There are plenty of readers who love this so if you’re a fan of YA fantasy and like plenty of political intrigue I’d recommend giving this a try.

Never Apart, by Romily Bernard ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: October 3rd, 2017

400 Pages

Synopsis: How many times would you die for love? 

What if you had to relive the same day over and over?

And what if at the end, your boyfriend is killed…

And you have to watch. Every time.

You don’t know why you’re stuck in this nightmare.

But you do know that these are the rules you now live by:

Wake up.

Run.

Die.

Repeat.

Now, the only way to escape this loop is to attempt something dangerous. Something completely unexpected. This time…you’re not going to run.

Never Apart is a YA thriller/science fiction/fantasy that checks off all the right boxes. The characters are well-developed and relatable, the romance sweet and heartfelt, and the storyline compelling.

The story is told by Grace, who I loved, and alternates between the present and the past. The only reason why I’m not giving this a perfect 5 stars is because I did find the present chapters faster paced. There are plenty of surprises and I can honestly say I didn’t see the last one coming. 

Never Apart is the first book I’ve read by Romily Bernard, but I love her writing style so it certainly won’t be my last. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

 

Moonbreaker (Secret Histories #11) by, Simon Green ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller

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

Release Date: Available Now

352 Pages

Synopsis: My name is Eddie Drood, aka Shaman Bond, the very secret agent. And I am a dead man walking.

I’ve been poisoned by Dr. DOA. There is no cure, no treatment, no chance of a last-minute miracle. So all that is left to me and my love, Molly Metcalf, is to track down my killer and stop him before he can murder anyone else.

So whether that means fighting a secret army on another world; or searching for a forgotten weapon in the Museum of Unattached Oddities; or facing off against Grendel Rex, the Unforgiven God, in the hidden heart of the Moon, for the terrible secret that is Moonbreaker…I will do whatever it takes, while I still can. Because the game isn’t over till I say it’s over–and I still have one last card to play.

Moonbreaker is another fantastic entry in the long-running Secret Histories series. If you don’t remember my reviews on previous books, this series is a magical and science fiction play on James Bond. As always I caution you that if you haven’t read the previous books you need to start at the beginning, or as what’s happened to Eddie on occasion, you may become hopelessly lost on another world or in another dimension.

Whenever a series goes on this long, there’s a danger of monotony setting in due to a lack of fresh ideas. But this isn’t the case here. Simon Green is an author who continually amazes me with his seemingly boundless imagination. The Secret Histories books are constantly fun, roller-coaster thrill rides filled with plenty of humor, snark, and sass amidst all the bloody mayhem. Each book begins with a new danger that undoubtedly will not only wipe out Eddie and the intimidating and scary Drood family, but quite possibly the world, yet Eddie, with the able assistance of his enemy turned true love, wild witch Molly Metcalf, always manages to save the day. You would think this would get old but it doesn’t. This is due to the way Green effortlessly creates new creatures, villains, magics, and science. And the powerful Drood family who has been around for millennia, has no shortage of enemies, even Eddie, who’s the moral one of the family. 

Picking up where the previous book, Dr. DOA left off, Eddie is slowly dying from a seemingly incurable poison that not even his powerful family can decipher. Even his soulmate the magic of his soulmate Molly comes up short. For the first time, it seems like this could be curtains for Eddie, who up until now, has seemed to have more lives than a cat. I was actually nervous going into this because honestly, this time I just didn’t see anyway out for him. But, in the end, and yes this is a spoiler, he perseveres. Just like all his other perilous adventures, it’s not quick or tidy, but he lives on to fight another day, although not before making my own heart stop a few times. 

I honestly cannot convey how much I LOVE this series and Moonbreaker once again proves why. If  you’re new to this series and you love exciting science fiction and fantasy mixed with tongue-in-cheek humor, you simply have to try these books. Do it for me! Please! I 100% guarantee you will not regret it. I’m both looking forward to and dreading the finale of the series, Night Fall, which is due out on 6/12/18. It looks to join with Green’s other popular series, the Nightside, so this should be the mother of all endings. I’m prepared to have a box of tissues handy because I know I’m going to have a downright impossible time letting go of Eddie, Molly, and even the those insufferable, yet likable quirky Droods.

 

 

 

 

Everlife (Everlife #3), By Gena Showalter ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to Edelweiss and Harlequin Teen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

304 Pages

Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes book three in the unique and exhilarating Everlife series. Tenley “Ten” Lockwood knows the fate of the Everlife rests on her ability to unite the realms and destroy the Prince of Ravens. When betrayal leads to defeat and Ten finds herself bonded to the enemy, an unthinkable choice may be the only answer.

I do hope you guys don’t mind, but this is going to be another short review. I’m actually stealing this idea of “quickie reviews” from my friend Dani over at https://touchmyspinebookreviews.wordpress.com She’s been having a rough time of it healthwise as well and came up with this idea of posting shorter reviews, which is definitely better than no reviews. So, as you can guess by my rating, I loved Everlife. What I’ve really liked about this trilogy is that each book has gotten progressively better, and this conclusion is 100% perfect! It’s got a star-crossed couple you can’t help but root for, an outstanding cast of secondary characters, incredible world building, and a pace that never lets up. You definitely need to read these in order though. If you don’t you’ll be completely lost. And, this trilogy is definitely for older YAs and up due to violence and some slightly steamy scenes. Otherwise I highly recommend it. It’s a prime example of why Gena Showalter is such a popular author, whether she’s writing for adults or teens.

The Queen’s Rising (Untitled Trilogy), by Rebecca Ross ~ 2.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, YA Fiction

Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperTeen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now 

464 Pages

Synopsis: When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.

Growing up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her for such a life. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—-art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—-Brienna struggled to  find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fears come true—-the solstice does not go according to plan and she’s left without a patron. 

Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, and with no other choices, she accepts. But there is much more to his story, and Brienna soon discovers that he has sought her out for his own vengeful gain. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevna—-the arch rival kingdom ov Valenia—-and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved—-some closer to Brienna than she realizes.

With war brewing between the two lands, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—-passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. The ultimate decision Brienna must determine is: Who will be that queen?

I must confess that I was originally attracted to The Queen’s Rising because of the gorgeous cover. But the premise also had me excited as well. Although I finished it in three days, I wound up being disappointed.

I liked Brienna but there’s nothing about her that makes her stand out except for the mystery surrounding the identity of her father who has been kept hidden from her. However, that mystery is spoiled by the family tree that’s displayed at the beginning of the book. While it’s handy, it spoils several reveals. She also struggles with her mixed race heritage which adds a little more depth. And she has a dog, Nessie, who I loved. Otherwise, she’s your typical feisty, loyal, courageous, etc. fantasy heroine. I loved the sisterhood that was predominantly displayed between the the girls studying at Magnalia House. 

There’s not much in the way of romance, but the developing relationship between Brienna and Master Cartier made me uncomfortable. Given that he’s been one of her professors since she was ten-years-old, even though she’s of age when things turn more romantic, the whole thing just made me squirm. It’s something that continually bothered me and I was unable to let it go.

The world-building is very descriptive and reminded me somewhat of 16th century Scotland. I thought the the author’s writing style to be quite lovely. The pace was a little slow in parts, but it it never devolved into tediousness. Although this is being billed as a trilogy, the ending perfectly wraps everything up so it could actually work as a standalone.

In the end, The Queen’s Rising left me with mixed feelings. I saw flashes of brilliance, but they just never really panned out. That coupled with the off putting relationship between Brienna and Master Cartier, has me thinking I probably won’t be continuing with this trilogy. The book has received many positive reviews though, so if the premise intrigues you, please don’t let me put you off. If you do decide to try it though, DON’T READ THE FAMILY TREE! I would have enjoyed the story a little more if I had waited until the end of the book.

The Belles, by Dhonelle Clayton ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Diversity, Fantasy, LGBTQ Relationships, YA Fiction

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 6th, 2018

448 Pages

Synopsis: Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.

But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision.

With the future of Orleans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.

First, is that cover not exquisite? It perfectly fits the image of Camellia that I had in my mind. And to my delight, Belles not only lives up to the hype that’s surrounded it for months, but it is without a doubt one of the best debuts I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading! 

Everything in this story is meticulously developed and detailed, from the characters to the world-building. I actually had my doubts about Camellia in the beginning, because I thought she was a bit self- absorbed and full of herself. But almost before I knew it, I found myself admiring her self-confidence and gutsiness. I also loved the bond she shares with her fellow Belles. These girls are basically sisters, and while they may fight occasionally, at the end of the day they’re there for each other. As most of the story revolves around Camellia, I’m looking forward to getting to know the others more, although I can already tell that Edelweiss, the rebel, is going to be my favorite.

There’s a hint of a love triangle between Camellia, Remy (her personal guard), and August, who is one of Princess Sophie’s suitors. But while relationships do grow, there really isn’t a lot of time spent on the romance element, which I was quite happy about.

While there is a clear cut villain, what’s truly scary is Orlean’s dangerous obsession with physical perfection. The lengths they go to attain their perceived ideas of beauty are insane and cringeworthy. It had me thinking of our own society’s fixation on physical appearance, and I have no doubt that we would do the some of the same things if such magic or science existed. 

Dhonelle Clayton does a wonderful job creating this world where everything is so glittery and beautiful at first look, but underneath there’s a sordid darkness. I cannot stress enough that it’s all these descriptive details that really make this book. I was completely immersed while reading and more than once felt as though I was in the mythical world of Orleans. 

What I also loved about this book was the vast diversity of the characters and the very strong message it sends about not only our never ending pursuit of physical perfection, how other people shape our own personal beliefs. It also brings up the questions of how far would you go and how much is too much?

The plot itself is fast-paced and captivating and I feel like we’ve only scraped the surface of this intriguing world. The ending was absolutely perfect and wonderfully sets the stage for the next book.

Belles will definitely be in my top ten 2018 favorites list and I HIGHLY recommend it for older teens and adults who love fantasy and are looking for something completely different than anything they’ve ever read before. There one scene which features a sexual assault though that I want to warn you about. It’s brief, but some readers might have a problem with it. Otherwise, my only disappointment is that it will probably be at least a year before the next book is released. Oh, and if you do pick this up, Dhonelle Clayton’s Afterward where she talks about how this book took form is an inspirational must read!

Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie Book One), by Amanda Hocking ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, LGBT Relationships, Norse Mythology, Supernatural, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: Available Now 

319 Pages

Synopsis: Valkyries have one great responsibility to return immortals to the afterlife by slaying them. As a Valkyrie, Malin has always known that the balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die, her world is thrown into chaos.

Malin not only wrestles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought—-she’s also thrust into the path of a gorgeous blue eyed guy named Asher who needs her help slaying the rogue immortal who destroyed his family. The balance of the world is at stake. And, as Asher competes with Malin’s ex for her love and loyalty, so is her heart.

I’ve enjoyed Amanda Hocking’s previous books and when I first heard about this new series with Valkyries my eyes immediately lit up. I LOVE Norse mythology! Between the Blade and the Heart wasn’t perfect, but it’s a pretty decent start and has me hopeful that some of the kinks will be worked out in the next book.

I wound up with mixed feelings about the heroine of the story, Malin. She’s bisexual which made me very happy. She’s kick-ass with a tough attitude which is perfectly in keeping of what a Valkyrie should be. But then there’s a love triangle between the new guy in her life, Asher, and her ex-girlfriend and as I’m not a fan of love triangles, naturally this got on my nerves. Making it worse was that I didn’t buy into the relationship that Malin had with either of them. There just didn’t seem to be any depth to them. And her helpless dithering between the two of them just didn’t  fit with the rest of her personna. 

Besides the Norse mythology, there’s a lot of other supernatural and mythological creature that live in this world. I had mixed feelings about this as well. There was a lot I liked, but at times it almost felt like too much was being introduced. That said, Amanda Hocking always impresses me with her world building and what she does here did not disappoint. It’s detailed and wonderfully descriptive and it’s most definitely unique. The plot itself was exciting and kept me turning the pages and I finished this in two sittings.

Overall, Between the Blade and the Heart left me feeling a slightly disappointed, but there are enough positives that I’m still looking forward to reading From the Earth to the Shadows, the second book in this duology. And I just won an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway so I’m a happy camper. So, if you’re a fan of Norse mythology I recommend you give this a try, especially if your already a fan of Hocking.

 

Everless (Untitled #1), by Sara Holland ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Mystery, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperTeen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

336 Pages

Synopsis: In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she an her father were servants at Everless, the Gerling’s palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers her father is dying, she knows she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

Huh. Okay, so this was different. Of course I mean that in a totally good way because Everless is definitely a YA fantasy that stands out from the pack.

I’m going to start with the world-building and mythology, which except for the very beginning, I LOVED! I’m not sure if it was just me, but for the first couple of chapters, I floundered a bit. I felt as though I was immediately dropped into this strange world where time is extracted from people’s blood and used as currency. It didn’t feel like there was quite enough backstory as to how this all came about. To be honest, I’m still a little confused. But this is a minor complaint because I was still completely sucked in.

The main characters are fully formed and seemed to be ready to walk off the page. Jules is a wonderful heroine who will appeal to readers. She’s clever, resourceful, courageous, and intensely loyal, yet also stubborn which leads her to making mistakes. I was a little disappointed that a couple of interesting characters were introduced, only to disappear for the majority of the story. I’m hoping to see more of them in the next book. There’s a little bit of romance which I found somewhat “meh”, but as it wasn’t the sole focus of the story, it wasn’t really bothersome.

The central mystery kept my attention, and the plot was filled with little twists and turns, but it was the last fifty or so pages that had me racing to the conclusion. The huge reveal left me completely gobsmacked and I found myself re-reading the passage just to confirm that my eyes hadn’t deceived me. The ending is absolutely perfect and sets things up nicely for the second book.

Overall, Everless is a wonderful debut by Sara Holland. It’s left me quite excited for the sequel and I can’t wait to learn even more about Sempera. I highly recommend this for teens and adults who are looking for something unique in YA fantasy.

 

The Girl in the Tower (The Winternight Trilogy #2), by Katherine Arden ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Feminist Role Models, Historical Fiction, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

352 Pages

Synopsis:

The magical adventure begun in The Bear and the Nightingale continues as brave Vasya, now a young woman, is forced to choose between marriage or life in a convent and instead flees her home—-but soon finds herself called upon to help defend the city of Moscow when it comes under siege.

Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—-even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

I’m a little late to the Winternight Trilogy bandwagon. I think I’m one of the last YA Historical fantasy fans to have read the hugely popular The Bear and the Nightingale and I only picked it up when I was approved for The Girl in the Tower. Although I didn’t review the first book, I was utterly enchanted and my only complaint was that I found it a little slow in the beginning. The sequel is much more action packed, yet doesn’t lose any of the magic and charm of its predecessor.

The Girl in the Tower picks up exactly where the first story ended. Vasya, the heroine, has left her small medieval Russian village, where her life was in danger from her increasingly superstitious neighbors. She’s decided that she wants to see the world, and since it’s unheard of for a girl to be off exploring alone, she decides to disguise herself as a boy. While he doesn’t approve, her mysterious ally and protection Morozko the Frost Demon, aids her when he can. Unsurprisingly, Vasya stumbles across a sinister conspiracy once she reaches Moscow and it’s one that not only puts her own life in danger, but those of her family as well.

Vasya has quickly become one of my favorite YA protagonists. Fiercely courageous and loyal, she struggles to find her true self in a world where women have no say regarding their roles in a paternalistic society. Adding to her woes is how different she is from the other subservient members of her gender. She can see and converse with horses and the magical creatures who are slowly fading as Christianity takes a firmer foothold. She’s viewed with suspicion and fear, even by members of her own family. Despite this, she possesses more moral integrity in her little finger than any of those who judge her. Accompanied by her faithful horse Solovey, she takes so many risks, yet always follows her heart. Between the two books, Vasya evolves from this awkward child who is unsure of her place in the world, to an independent, strong young woman, determined to not let herself be forced into the typical female role of this time period. 

The relationship between Vasya and Morozko also continues to grow. But getting in the way of their developing romance are the secrets the Frost Demon stubbornly keeps from the suspicious Vasya. It’s a tricky relationship between an immortal who’s not used to answering to anyone and this young human girl who holds him accountable for his actions. I love the two of them together and I hope there’s even more shared scenes in the final book. 

The world building is simply exquisite. It’s incredibly detailed yet this doesn’t get in the way of the action. Katherine Arden perfectly blends 14th century Russian history with fairytale figures. Even the everyday life of the peasants, military, and nobility are brought realistically to life. Everything is set against a vividly drawn snowy landscape which is beautiful yet adds to the dangerous atmosphere.

The Girl in the Tower is a sumptuous literary feast for the eyes and soul. The only reason why I’m not giving this 5 stars is because Vasya refuses to do one particular thing in regards to her disguise and although I feel like I may be nitpicking, it bothered me because it didn’t seem to be in keeping with her character. Otherwise I cannot recommend both books highly enough for older teens and adults. I cannot wait for the conclusion, The Winter Witch, which is set to be released August 14th, 2018.