Tag: fantasy

REVIEW: Spark by J. M. Hackman

REVIEW: Spark by J. M. Hackman

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Brenna set a school display aflame with fire from her hands, it was a surprise to say the least. But that surprise was small compared to the news that her mother was really from a parallel universe – an “alternity” called Linneah. Her Linnean heritage gives Brenna her power with fire. Brenna is required to visit Linneah by her 16th birthday – and today is that day. The only problem at the moment are the four monsters blocking the portal.

Brenna, her dad and her grandma manage to make it through the portal after some peril. But things aren’t all peaceful in Linneah. Brenna’s mom is missing. No one has heard from her in weeks. She’s somewhere in the Jasper Territory, possibly captured by the enemies of Elyon, the Most High God. And Linneah’s leadership and way of life is under attack as well. Brenna’s powers mark her as the possible subject of an old prophecy which starts to come true, regardless of Brenna’s resistance. She will have to choose her priorities – save Linneah or save her mother – and figure out what she is willing lose in order to save anyone.

Review

I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this fantasy world and the faith pieces that were woven into it. The characters were good, and I cared about what happened to them. There were hints of Narnia in the story, I thought, which I enjoyed.

My only disappointment in an otherwise terrific book was the climax. There were several lovely, highly suspenseful moments throughout the story that were totally satisfying. But when the final battle came, it fell a little flat in comparison. I read the entire wrap up of the book waiting for one last twist or an unexpected betrayal to give the ending a satisfying punch, but that never came. So after enjoying 85-90% of the novel, the ending fizzled a little for me.

I will happily recommend this to Christian young people – really, any young people – looking for a new fantasy series to enjoy. But I will include the caveat that the ending might be a little low key compared to their expectations. Book 2, Flare, will be out in the fall, and I will totally be checking it out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

REVIEW: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Princess Theodosia is the only daughter of the Astrean Fire Queen. But that is before the Kalovaxians come. Before the Theyn kills her mother and the Kaiser conquers Astrea. Before the people of Astrea are turned into slaves and the Spiritgems that provide the kingdom’s magic are mined almost to extinction just for decoration of the Kalovaxian nobility. Before the Kaiser declares Theodosia is now “Lady Thora,” the Ash Princess.

Stripped of her strong, true name, Lady Thora tries to keep her head down and survive. She is publicly beaten if there is even a hint of rebellion anywhere in Astrea. She is whipped to remind her – and anyone who would even think of helping her – that she is nothing. No longer a princess, but only an Astrean disgrace. Thora’s only friend is the daughter of the Theyn, the man who murdered the Fire Queen. But how much can Thora truly trust this “friendship?” She’s been betrayed before – even by her own people trying to curry favor with the Kaiser. How could any Kalovaxian be a true friend to the Ash Princess?

When the Kaiser forces Thora to kill the Fire Queen’s last guardian, she starts to wonder if keeping her head down and merely surviving her beatings is enough of an existence. Thousands of her people are dead or dying while she lives in relative “comfort” in the palace. But the Kaiser has decided the Ash Princess is now of age, and he is plotting decisions for her life that will place her on a dark and dangerous path. Perhaps it is time for Theodosia to return and take a stand.

Review

In a Young Adult market full of books of displaced royalty fighting to reclaim their throne, this book stands out from the crowd. It’s captivating!

The fantasy thread in the story is thin but intriguing. The Spiritgems are a foundational piece of Astrea’s history, but I don’t think we have seen yet all they can mean to this story. I am eager to see them cut loose.

The most satisfying part of the story for me was the intricate relationships and competing loyalties in the besieged world of Astrea. Theo/Thora has worked so hard to merely survive, she hasn’t been able to spare a lot of energy to think about her people. She has no one she can truly trust. And her enemy is stunningly manipulative and cut-throat. It’s hard enough for her to even think about standing up to the Kaiser. Her feelings for some of the Kalovaxians who have been her only companions for the last 10 years complicate her desire for freedom. I loved the complex and competing motivations.

There are some nice twists in the end that make the wait for book 2 excruciating. I can’t wait to see how things progress for Theo next. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to the folks at Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Looking for Dei by David A. Willson

REVIEW: Looking for Dei by David A. Willson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Nara was a toddler – only two years old – she lived in an orphanage. Children like her were usually killed, but instead she was cast off. Forgotten.

But Nara’s arrival in the world was special. Prophesied. And Bylo had spent years trying to find a child like her. When he found her, he carted her away. The orphanage hardly noticed.

Raised by Bylo, Nara grew into a sweet young woman. At 15, she loved nature and animals. She spent most of her free time with her best friend Mykel. And she hid her magic.

Usually magic was only discovered at the Announcement. Teens would participate in a ceremony that would reveal the magic. No magic had been found in Dimmitt in years. And Nara’s magic was so unusual, she and Bylo weren’t sure what would happen to her at the ceremony.

But it’s Mykel’s turn in the ceremony that sets events in motion. Soon the three are on the run, desperate to stay alive and stay hidden. They don’t realize that someone else has been searching for Nara for years – and they know exactly where she is. And what she is.

Review

I received a request from the author to consider reviewing his new book. As I enjoy reading fantasy and the story sounded interesting, I said I would give it a try. I am so glad I did. This is an excellent fantasy world. The set up is well done. I was completely engrossed.

Nara and Mykel and Bylo are great characters. I cared about what happened to them. I especially liked Nara in contrast to Kayna. Nara was loved – Bylo raised her as if she was his own. And it made a huge impact on her character development. She truly loves and cares for others.

I loved the story line. The magic of this world is really interesting. I have some theories about how things work, but I’ll have to wait for book 2 to see if I am right. Elements of the magic system – and the story – reminded me of other great fantasy series which made this feel comfortable and familiar while still being original. There’s a faith/religious thread to the story – prophecy, prayer, faith, etc. – that was interesting. I am curious to see how that piece might develop in the next book, too.

Thanks to Netgalley and David A. Willson for an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Art of the Swap by Kristine Asselin and Jen Malone

REVIEW: Art of the Swap by Kristine Asselin and Jen Malone

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Hannah lives at the Elms, a turn-of-the-century (1900s) home that once belonged to the Berwind family. Her father is the caretaker, and they live in the old servant quarters of the mansion. A history buff, Hannah can’t imagine a better place to live.

Margaret Dunlap – Maggie – stayed with her aunt and uncle, the Berwinds, in 1905. They even commissioned a painting of Maggie by a new artist, Mary Cassatt. But the painting was stolen before it could be debuted. A servant was suspected of the theft, but neither he nor the painting were ever found.

At The Elms in Hannah’s time, they have a reproduction of the portrait. The mystery of the original’s disappearance is one of her favorite parts of the history of the house. If only she knew what really happened….

Hannah may get her chance to find out when she and Maggie swap places! Now Hannah is in 1905 trying to track down a missing painting and an art thief. And Maggie is in 2018 trying to figure out an unfamiliar world without anyone finding out what has happened.

Review

This was so fun! Hannah definitely got the better end of this swap. As a lover of history, and of Maggie’s story and The Elms, she is more prepared for her new surroundings. Poor Maggie isn’t ready for the social changes of our time – the language, the freedom for young women, the customs – much less the technology. Watching the girls negotiate their environments was a lot of fun.

This was less of a mystery than I expected. Discovering what happened to the painting played a smaller role than the bigger issues of (1) what to do with Hannah’s discoveries in 1905 and (2) how to get switched back to their own time. I would categorize this as historic fantasy moreso than mystery. This is an asset, though, because I think this will appeal to fans of historic fiction, fantasy, and mystery.

There’s a great girl-power piece to this that I wasn’t expecting but I adored. It took the overall story to a higher level for me than if they had not included it. There are recommended resources in the authors’ notes for readers who want to know more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aladdin for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

REVIEW: Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

As a child, Tess was a handful. She was curious and bright. She acted on instinct and impulse. And it nearly always got her into trouble.

Tess grew up with a religious and controlling mother. Tess wanted to do the right things and keep her mother happy. But eventually Tess’s choices left her shamed. She had to abandon her role as the oldest and instead let her twin sister pretend to fill that spot in the family. Tess would help Jeanne find a husband so their family would have a more secure place in society. She likely would have ended up serving her sister for the rest of her life.

As if that future wasn’t depressing enough, a few more of Tess’s choices instead leave her days away from a permanent trip to a convent. But Tess’s half sister, Seraphina (the half dragon) gives Tess an “out,” and Tess takes it. She hits the Road to find her own path.

Review

I have mixed feelings about this one. I loved Tess. I enjoyed all the parts of the story where she deals with her past and her choices and her future. I felt for her as she wrestled with her “evil nature” in light of her mother’s Puritanical faith. I loved the parts when other wise voices spoke into Tess’s pain and showed her there’s another way to look at her life. It was these parts that led to me giving this book the rating that I did.

On the other hand, this was not the book I was expecting. I thought there would be dragons – just look at that cover – and adventure. There were moments of action, yet the book as a whole was long and slow at times. I kept waiting to get to the adventure Tess was walking toward. But the point of the book is her evolution, her journey overcoming her past. It took almost half the book to realize the road trip WAS the story, not just a means to get to the story. The fantasy pieces felt disjointed as the character pieces would break into the story. It was like the book was uncertain about its own identity.

If you are looking for a dragon-focused adventure story – something like what the cover seems to promise – you may be disappointed. If you are looking for a character study or a hero’s journey sort of story, this might be a good fit for you. (Some mature content.)

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Marabel and the Book of Fate by Tracy Barrett

REVIEW: Marabel and the Book of Fate by Tracy Barrett

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The celebration of Prince Marco and Prince Marabel’s 13th birthday is a big deal. Moreso for Marco as the Book of Fate says he is the Chosen One. Sometimes Marabel feels like an afterthought.  She has to hide that she is taking fencing lessons because her father thinks it is a waste of time. On the day of the party, Marabel see something suspicious during the screening of party guests, but no one takes her seriously.

Just before the clock strikes 13:13 – the moment of Marco’s birth – at the party, Mab, the queen of the Evils of the Desolate Barrens reveals herself and kidnaps Marco.

Marabel is determined to go after her twin, but the king orders her to stay out of the way and locks her in her room. Marabel, her maid and best friend, Ellie, and Floriano the unicorn sneak out of the castle anyway to track down Queen Mab and rescue Marco, no matter what dangers the Barrens hold.

Review

This was a delight from start to finish. I loved that the author acknowledged the usual fairy tale clichés right from the beginning. The tone of the book was fun from page one.

My heart broke for Marabel. She had a great relationship with all her siblings, but she was shunted to the side – or forgotten – over and over again. Her twin had to remind the king it was her birthday, too! None of this made Marabel bitter or mean. She’s a smart, kind and determined girl. All of those qualities helped her on her quest.

This reminded me of the Hero’s Guide series (by Christopher Healy) or the Wide-Awake Princess series (by E.D. Baker) in tone. I adored both of those series. Marabel’s story fits in with them perfectly. If you have fans of either of those series, I think you can hand them this book confidently.

There’s plenty of adventure, some magic (but a lot more smarts), and some fantastic creatures (the dragon, Hotshot, is my favorite). There’s a thread of girl-power through the story. I loved that none of it was at the expense of the male leaders. The wrap up was terrific. I’d read more stories with Marabel and her friends!

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read an electronic copy of Marabel and the Book of Fate for review purposes.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

REVIEW: Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Elizabeth Somers is an orphan. She lives with a Dursley-ish aunt and uncle. This Christmas, penny-pinching Aunt Purdy and Uncle Burlap are going on an unprecedented vacation. Elizabeth is being sent to Winterhouse, a beautiful old hotel. Elizabeth has no idea how her aunt and uncle can afford to send her on the train or pay for a three-week stay at Winterhouse, much less afford a vacation. But everything is taken care of, and Elizabeth is welcomed into Winterhouse.

There are mysteries all around Elizabeth before she even boards the train. The weird feeling she gets before something unexpected happens. The whispered conversation between her aunt and uncle about a mysterious benefactor. And the conflicting stories and feelings about what happened to her parents.

At Winterhouse, the mysteries continue with the unhappy couple with a coffin of “books, ” and a curious library where people skulk around at midnight with flashlights. Soon Elizabeth is using her gift for puzzles, codes and crosswords to sort out the mysterious events at Winterhouse.

Review

This was an interesting book. Like The Westing Game or The Mysterious Benedict Society mashed up with Harry Potter. Puzzles and magic together. I enjoyed Elizabeth. Her affinity for puzzles and love of reading really clicked for me. The illustrations are also fantastic.

The setting of Winterhouse was great. It’s full of interesting and mysterious treasures and rooms that draw Elizabeth and her friend Freddy into the history of the hotel and the Falls family.

The author does a great job of doling out clues and questions from the beginning to keep the reader turning pages. Weird things started happening right from the start, and they built throughout the story. There is an element of dark magic at work, so sensitive readers should be prepared for that. I found it mild, but I read a lot of fantasy. The author leaves a few threads unresolved for future books. I am eager to see what might happen with these characters next and what other secrets are hidden in the Falls Family and Winterhouse.

Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co for an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri

REVIEW: The Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

On the way home one night, a priest passes by the scene of a car accident. No one is hurt, so she continues on. Shortly thereafter, she comes across a body. A dragon, clinging to life. “Father Penny” administers last rites, heads home, and resolves to reconsider her drinking habits. She’s obviously hallucinating.

Except she’s not. Penny is a rare human who has encountered a creature from Lloegyr, the equivalent of England in a parallel world where dragons, vampires, elves and such exist. With her love of Dr. Who and enough familiarity with Buffy the Vampire Slayer to fill her 55,000 word Master’s thesis, Penny is the perfect choice to be Vicar of General Incursions. Serving as Vicar means Penny would work with the church leadership of both worlds on instances where creatures from either side ended up in the other and problems ensued.

One of the first problems Father Penny has to address is her dead dragon, who appears to have died from poison rather than the car accident.

Review

I agreed to review this at the request of the author who provided an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. I rarely agree to such requests, but I enjoy fantasy stories and dragons and such, so I said I would give it a try. The book was a pleasant surprise!

This was so fun to read. The pop culture references were enjoyable and the characters were fascinating. I loved Father Penny. While my faith didn’t line up all the time with the book, I found the faith pieces genuine and moving. Penny is honest and earnest about the challenges and blessings in her calling. The other major characters are terrific – the humans, dragons, gryphons, and “snail sharks” (Clyde, the baby snail shark, is adorable in so many ways – and terrifying in others).

The story was delightfully layered. There was the human layer of Penny and her brother and their grief over Penny’s husband. Then there was the layer of world building for the fantasy characters/lands. Romance – or potential romance – creates another layer. And finally, there is the poison/murder plot layer. Each part was nuanced and enjoyable. I’m so glad I had the chance to read this! I’m looking forward to checking out the other two books in the series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Murder, Magic and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

REVIEW: Murder, Magic and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Annis Whitworth has been raised by her Aunt Cassia, who cared for her when her mother became sick while her father traveled for work. Annis has long suspected that her father was a spy. And that seems to be confirmed when his lawyer arrives, talking in code and announcing that her father is dead.

Annis isn’t convinced that her father died in an accident. The facts don’t line up. And she finds a message in the handkerchiefs that are among her father’s things. But when she cannot get anyone to take her seriously, she is determined to figure things out for herself. But all of her father’s money has disappeared. Annis and her aunt have nothing to live off of. But Annis discovers that she can do magic – she can sew glamours and change garments into other items when she sews. So Annis is going to put her magic – and her mind – to work to save her country, save what’s left of her family, and discover what really happened to her father.

Review

This was a delight from start to finish. The story holds up well as historical fiction and also as a mystery. The magical elements are a nice twist. They give this story something special to set it apart. An extra layer of awesome.

Annis and her maid, Millie, are fantastic as a team. But the author makes sure the reader doesn’t forget their differences in station and what assets and liabilities they each bring  to the partnership. There are some great nuances to their relationship.

While I figured out the mystery well before the end, there were several little twists and reveals left to come. Overall the full solution and wrap up was thorough and satisfying. There are a lot of ways to continue this as a series – more adventures for Annis and Millie and others to have in this time period and more to develop on the magic side of the story.

I will absolutely read any additional books in this series because I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Many thanks to Knopf Books and Netgalley for providing an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. It was a treat to read this book!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

REVIEW: Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

In Tilla’s world, lineage matters. Since her mother was a castle servant, Tilla’s father, Lord Kent, would never make Tilla “legitimate.” He has other daughters for that. Tilla’s lot in life is to be one of the “bastards.” And sometimes she’s okay with that. She can hang out with her half brother, Jax, who is a stable hand. They explore the castle’s secret tunnels. And she can be relatively free of the demands of the aristocracy.

When Princess Lyriana comes to the West to visit House Kent, she is immediately drawn to Tilla and the other teen “bastards,” Miles and Zell. The princess wants to know more about the common people in her kingdom including the cast off children of the Lords and Ladies.

An excursion to the ocean with the princess changes everything when the teens witness something they were never supposed to see. They are soon running for their lives and questioning everything they thought they knew about their homes and their families.

Review

Wow! This was a great thriller. The premise was clever. I knew from the start that this would be a read-straight-through kind of story. The energy was high and the pacing was terrific. Twists kept me guessing what might happen next.

I loved the characters. The five main kids are well defined and bring something unique to their quest to stay alive. They ask hard questions about their task. It’s not always clear if they are on the “right” side. I liked that depth and the wrestling the characters had to do.

The ending wraps things up for this story – no cliff hangers. But there’s definitely going to be another book because this story is far from over. For me I’d say this is a high school and older book due to mature content including language and violence. This will be a terrific story for older readers, including adults who love a great thriller!

Thanks to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for an electronic review copy of this book, offered in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½