Tag: fantasy

ARC Review: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

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The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Based on Russian history and folklore, this is a beautifully written and atmospheric story that I liked a lot. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite wow me as much as I had hoped it would but it’s definitely one I’d recommend as it could be the beginning of a very interesting series.

Synopsis (from GoodReads)

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.

Thoughts

When I first finished this book I really couldn’t make up my mind about it and even now a few days later I’m still not sure. As a lover of fairytales, magic and tales of things that go bump in the night and lurk in the woods it should have been the perfect read for me. However, while I liked it a lot I found it to be missing that special something that would take it from good to great.

It is a beautifully written story. The author does a magnificent job of transporting you to a magical and wild land in medieval Russia. The writing is so evocative you almost feel like you are there, huddling around the fire, travelling across the cold and snowy wilderness or visiting the market and palaces of Moscow.

The characters are also very well created and believable and there is a unique and captivating story in there but for me it was missing the emotion I needed to really connect to it. When I was reading on the way home from work after a long day I found my attention wandering and had to re read certain pages more than once before I took it in.

This lack of emotion and connection to any of the characters was due, I believe, to the constantly switching point of view from one character to another. It moves from father to mother to nanny to Grand Prince to priest and on and on. I found this particularly bad in the first half of the book where I actually started to wonder who the main character was, if there was one and where it was all going. I also struggled a little with the different names used for the same character. I understand that this is accurate for the time and place and that the author had tried to make it easy for the English reader but I still found myself getting confused at times with so many different characters and so many names.

As a result of the switching focus and insight into each of the different characters the story felt quite slow in the beginning. It did give a real sense of time and place which was fascinating in some ways but I did feel like a lot of it could have been covered much faster without so many characters. I probably would have cut a whole part where the father visits Moscow as it didn’t really add much and I was close to giving up.

Thankfully however the story does turn around. There is a lot more focus on Vasilisa and the strange events that start to occur in the village where she lives. Vasilisa is a very likeable character. An outcast in the village due to some very unique abilities, she’s brave, a little wild and not cut out for the options available to her at that time (marriage or a convent). I loved almost every chapter she was in, I just wish the author had stuck with her  and the events around her throughout.

The pacing of the story was a little bit off for me, too slow in the beginning and too fast at the end but it is a good story. It is the first in a trilogy so I think there is some real potential. I will definitely be giving the next book in the series a try.

I think whether you love this book or not will come down to why you read. If you’re looking for a beautifully written and vivid world with a slow building story and a mix of Russian history and folklore I think you’ll love this book. Unfortunately for me, while I could appreciate it, I didn’t love it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are my own.

ARC Review: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

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HeartlessHeartless by Marissa Meyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, just wow.

I read this a couple of weeks ago but my emotions were so all over the place on finishing that I had to leave it for a little while before writing a review. I’m still not entirely sure I’ve recovered so I will apologize in advance if this is a little all over the place.

Having read, and loved, the Lunar Chronicles it’s safe to say I had high hopes for this book but I wasn’t expecting it to be quite that good. I laughed, I cried, I begged and I was jumping up in down in my seat with anxiety. I loved every moment.Read More »

ARC Review: Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

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Stealing Snow (Stealing Snow, #1)Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Maybe I really was crazy. I’d followed the word of a boy I didn’t know to look for a Tree in the woods to save the life of my boyfriend who had disappeared through a mirror”

Hmm…. where to start with this review.

I wanted to like this book so much but unfortunately it was a little bit of a letdown. I’m a huge big fan of any kind of re telling so I was very excited when I spotted this on NetGalley. I did begin to have some doubts about it when I noticed there were so many negative reviews but I was ever hopeful they were wrong.

Synopsis

The story is a re telling of the Snow Queen, which I have to admit is not a story I know particularly well, and begins with main character Snow in a mental ward where’s she’s been for most of her life after trying to walk through a mirror as a child. She has some anger management issues, which they try to control by giving her a cocktail of drugs she’s named after the seven dwarfs (sleepy, dopey, grumpy, happy etc). She also has a major attachment to one of the other patients, Bale, who she’s been forbidden from seeing after they kissed and he deliberately hurt her.

Frustrated, one night she manages to sneak out of her room to see him but when she gets there something very strange happens, a set of arms appear through a mirror in his room and pull him through. Unable to follow through the mirror she has to find another way to get to the land beyond to try to save the boy she loves.

When she gets there she finds that she is the lost Princess of the realm with a powerful destiny but all she really wants is to rescue her friend. She’s offered help by witches, monsters, robbers and others but who can she trust and who is after something from her.

Thoughts

I think there are the bones of a really good story in this book but frustratingly for a number of reasons it just didn’t quite work. It actually started quite well and I had high hopes that the other reviews would be wrong. The scenes in the mental hospital are probably the best in the book and did draw me in but unfortunately as soon as she made her escape the story somehow lost its way.

For me the main problem, I’m sorry to say, was the writing. The whole thing feels a little too rushed and a bit disjointed. It seems to jump from one scene to the next at breakneck speed and, while I like a lot of action and dialogue in a book, it felt like it needed to stop and take a breath. There wasn’t enough description and world building and definitely not enough character development, criticisms I very rarely make as I’m not a fan of lengthy and flowery descriptions.

Everything seemed to come too easily or be revealed too quickly. There was no struggle and therefore I didn’t feel any of the emotion. Characters immediately revealed their deepest, darkest secrets to each other, magic was instantly available and battles seemed to happen every few pages. There was so much going on and being revealed it was difficult to keep up.

Snow was ok as far as characters go. I did quite like her at the start but eventually found her to be so changeable and flighty that it became a little frustrating. She’s a little selfish and far too ready to give up and be rescued to make a convincing heroine.

The current dragged me down, and I could feel the pressure of the air I was holding in my nose and behind my eyes. I needed to get to the surface. I needed air. I felt myself give up.

The other frustrating thing about this book is the romance. I’m afraid I didn’t buy into the Snow and Bale relationship. Bale is abducted pretty much at the start so we mostly learn about their relationship through flashbacks but I just didn’t feel it and consequently couldn’t understand why she was willing to go to any lengths to rescue him.

This was further confused by the introduction of two further love interests. Yep there’s a love quadrangle. I’d expected this from the other reviews and wasn’t particularly against the idea but again it doesn’t quite work. I think it’s the fact that every single male she meets just so happens to be her age and seems to be in love with her and she’s attracted to them. I know being locked in a mental ward she hasn’t gotten out much but I’m still not convinced you would fall in love with every boy you met and get all confused about your feelings.

Despite these negatives it’s not a bad book. There are some good writing moments and at the start I did find myself highlighting the odd passage here or there that I liked. Some of the other characters are interesting and it would be good to see more of them. With some editing and a slower pace I do think this could be a really good story (it feels like it’s in there somewhere) but it’s not quite working yet. It may be different for younger readers (unfortunately I’m no longer a young adult) who’re looking for a story with plenty of action, romance and some magic so please don’t be put off by my review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Book Review: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

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Serafina and the Black Cloak (Serafina, #1)Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a middle grade/children’s story Serafina and Black Cloak is obviously not meant for me. I’m most definitely not the target audience. But, do you know what, I liked it a lot. It’s very well written, has an exciting story that keeps you engaged throughout and a wonderful cast of characters. I loved it and I think it’s a tale that kids will love too.

While I read a lot of YA books I tend to steer clear of stories for younger children. I’ve found in the past that I just don’t get them, they read that little bit too young for me (unsurprisingly). However when I saw the cover and read the description of Serafina and the Black Cloak I couldn’t resist. It really is one of the prettiest covers I’ve come across and while I know you shouldn’t choose books on that basis sometimes I can’t resist and believe it or not I think the cover does actually give you a good feel for what the story is like.

Synopsis

The story follows Serafina, a 12 year old girl who lives with her pa in a very grand house owned by the Vanderbilts. She doesn’t get to meet the rich people upstairs however as her pa keeps her hidden away in the basement. She creeps around the house but keeps out of sight at all times, something she’s become very good at. It’s a lonely life and she longs for friends but her pa has given her the very important job of C.R.C. (chief rat catcher) to keep her busy.

One night when she’s out hunting rats she hears footsteps and comes across a man in a black cloak. He’s chasing a young girl through the basement. Despite her fear, Serafina tries to help the girl but ends up witnessing her disappearance into the very sinister cloak before having to run to save herself. When her pa doesn’t believe her she tries to find someone else in the house who’ll listen to her tale and ends up telling Braeden, the nephew of the Vanderbilts.

As another child disappears each night and the adults can’t solve the mystery it’s up to Serafina and Braeden to try to track down the man in the cloak. However when it seems the man is after Braeden, Serafina has to take matters into her own hands to save her only friend. This leads to a journey into the forest, where her father has always forbidden her to go, and the discovery of some secrets about her past.

Thoughts

Despite the storyline being very dark in places I thought that at it’s core this was a very sweet and heart warming tale. Serafina is such a lovable character. She’s lived a very lonely life with only her pa for company so she’s desperate to make a friend but is very self conscious and feels like there’s something wrong with her. She knows there’s something that makes her different from everyone else (why else would her father hide her away) and worries that she might be bad in some way. Despite this however she doesn’t hide when someone needs help. She takes that big brave step and puts herself out there even though she knows she could get in trouble and that people may not believe her.

What she finds however is a possible friend in Braeden. He’s an orphan and also a bit of an outsider who prefers animals to people but he actually sees and listens to Serafina. I thought the relationship between them was just sooo sweet. Both are lonely and neither seems to know what it’s like to have a friend but despite a very tentative start they quickly become attached to each other.

I absolutely loved the way the author wrote the relationship between them and in fact the writing was probably the highlight of the whole book. While I often find children’s books a little too simple and superficial this is not the case here. The writing is simple but somehow very powerful and packed full of emotion and feeling. The descriptions and dialogue are excellent and you get a real sense of atmosphere. The pacing is pretty much spot on and the author manages to generate some real edge of the seat tension in places. I have a feeling this is a book that would work well being read aloud and I could almost imagine the words being spoken.

It’s a very difficult story to talk about without spoilers but there is a lot of action and mystery which keep you hooked. It’s a little bit of a twisty tale and while I guessed the truth fairly early on (it is meant for children so it would have been worrying if I hadn’t) it’s enjoyable to watch the characters uncover the secrets and get to the truth.

Overall a great story with fantastic writing. Definitely one I’d recommend for young (and not so young readers).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review.

Book Review: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

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A Monster CallsA Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Heartbreaking, beautifully written and absolutely incredible. I loved it from start to finish.

“Stories are the wildest things of all, the monster rumbled. Stories chase and bite and hunt.”

I picked this up around 11pm one night, intending to read a few chapters before bed. Two hours later my eyelids were starting to droop but there was no way I was going to stop reading. It pulled me into the story completely and just wouldn’t let go. As soon as I finished I wanted to flip to the beginning and start again.

Synopsis (from GoodReads)

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

My Thoughts

I’ve previously read the Chaos Walking trilogy and absolutely loved it but a lot of people had told me that A Monster Calls was by far Patrick Ness’s best work to date. I had my doubts, as I’m always suspicious of books with a lot of hype around them, but I have to say the hype is well deserved.

I managed to get a physical copy from the library and it’s definitely worth it if you can get your hands on one. Just holding it and flicking through the pages had me intrigued. The illustrations are beautiful and somehow add something to the story. They make it feel more like a fairytale which, in many ways, it is.

The story itself is captivating. While it is fantastical, it does give a very real and very honest portrayal of a boy whose mother has cancer. I think most people’s life has been touched by cancer or some other kind of long term illness so it’s easy to relate to the emotions that Conor experiences. There were many instances when I was reading with tears running down my face. He’s very much on his own, his father has moved overseas, he doesn’t get on with his Grandmother, his friends at school avoid him and his teachers pity him. To make matters worse he’s having nightmares and is afraid to sleep.

And then late one night the monster comes. I won’t go into the purpose of the monster to the story as it would give away too much but I will say that it was not at all what I expected and yet in many ways it was.

While it is a story about loss, guilt and letting go it is strangely uplifting. There is a very strong message of hope and love that runs through the story. While it did make me cry I also found myself regularly smiling and by the end felt somehow more positive about life. If nothing else it definitely makes you appreciative of what you have.

Patrick Ness’s writing is, as always, beautiful. He has this incredible ability to make the most fantastic and unbelievable things somehow very real and completely believable. I absolutely love how he describes things (and I’m not a fan of a lot of description) but I especially loved the dialogue. Some of the conversations between Conor and the monster are absolute genius.

It’s not a long book and it’s a YA book so it’s an easy read but somehow it feels packed full. I think it’s probably one of those books I’ll re read as I suspect there are things I missed and I want to know them all. It’s definitely a book I’d recommend to everyone.

I have to admit I’m also pretty excited about the film which is due for release this year.

 

Book Review: Fairest by Marrissa Meyer

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Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles, #3.5)Fairest by Marissa Meyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great story from Marissa Meyer this time from the point of view of the baddie.

Fairest is book 3.5 in the Lunar Chronicles and was intended as a bridge book between Cress and Winter. I somehow read them a little out of order and finished Winter before starting this but it probably doesn’t matter too much as this all takes place long before the other books.

Fairest tells the story of Levana and fills in a lot of the details of her childhood and how she became Queen of Luna. For anyone who has read the other books in the series you will already know a lot of it but this is the first time hearing it from Levana’s side. (For those who haven’t read the Lunar Chronicles, they are essentially retellings of classic fairytales with Levana the evil Queen from Snow White.)

I have to say it makes an interesting change to have a story told from the side of the villain. She does some truly terrible things in the other books (and in this one) but for most of this story I felt a lot of sympathy for her. She doesn’t have an easy time of it and comes across as lonely, damaged and desperate for someone to love her. While her actions are wrong you can understand why she acts as she does in both this and Winter, the final book in the series.

I think the “feels” in this book are definitely a mark of the quality of Marissa Meyer’s writing. It is, as always, fantastic and draws you into both the story and the emotions of the characters. I love how she always manages to work in references to the original fairytales while making the story and the world completely her own.

It is fairly short at just over 200 pages which is a pity as I could have quite happily read more about Levana but it’s a quick and enjoyable read. I look forward to seeing what Marissa does in her next series.

Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

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A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic, #1)A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love, love, love this book and can’t wait for the next in the series.

I had somehow never heard of this until it was voted book of the month in one of my groups. I wasn’t planning on reading it but then I saw some good reviews and couldn’t resist even though it meant breaking my no book buying new years resolution. I am so happy to have broken my resolution for this book. It was totally worth it.

Synopsis (from GoodReads)

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her ‘proper adventure’.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.

Thoughts

I haven’t been this excited about a series since Throne of Glass. The writing and world building are first class and the author has somehow managed to get the balance between descriptions and action just right.

The characters are very likeable for the most part. Reluctant hero Kell comes across a bit arrogant, bored and aloof at the start but once he is shaken up a bit we get to see a much nicer, funnier and insecure young man trying to do what’s right despite the temptation to just give up. I kind of want to adopt him or even just give him a big hug.

Lila, I thought was hilarious and brilliant. She’s a thief and wannabe pirate who likes to pretend she’s a man. She’ll try to steal pretty much anything that’s not nailed down (and probably things that are) and seems to actively seek out trouble. However although she tries to seem badass and uncaring you see the odd chink in her armour and get the impression that while she’s out for herself she does have morals and there are a few people she cares about despite her best efforts.

When she teams up with Kell their relationship is electric. I absolutely loved the banter between them and how their partnership develops from an uneasy arrangement to a kind of mutual respect and trust. Although it does seem like someone needs to bang their heads together so they can see what’s in front of them.

The other characters in the book are also well executed. The bad guys are truly creepy from their very first scene and always made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable. There are actually quite a few scenes which are quite dark and sinister and even the setting at times is unsettling.

While it should be confusing having four different Londons, they are well described and very distinct so I had a clear picture of each. From Kell’s home in Red London which seems almost too perfect, to Lila’s grey London which feels drab and miserable, to White London where there is an air of desperation, danger and evil lurking at all times, all were unique and you always knew exactly where you were.

The story itself is pretty fast paced and there is a lot of action which I loved. At times I was bouncing on my seat as I was reading, desperate to know what would happen next but afraid to read it. There were a few occasions where I would read a bit, get too wound up and have to stop so I could walk about the room a bit before going back and reading the next bit. Even now writing this review and thinking about it has me a little hyped up. I’m not sure how I’m going to take the wait till the next one is released.

I should say that while this is the first book in a series it does work on it’s own and a lot of the story is concluded. There are no horrible cliffhangers to watch out for. There are however a few things which have only been hinted at and definitely have potential to be expanded on and developed in future books.

It’s a little early to be saying this but I think this could be one of my top reads of 2016.

Book Review: The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

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The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library #1)The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I kind of swithered between 3 and 4 stars but decided that I’d give it the benefit of the doubt as it’s Christmas and I suspect my enjoyment of it was reduced by the chaos around me at the moment.

This book is a mixture of different genres, fantasy, science fiction and steampunk with a bit of good old fashioned detective story thrown in for good measure so there is a lot going on. However the author balances all of these elements very well. It’s not perfect but it’s definitely got potential to be the start of a great series.

Synopsis

The story follows Irene, junior librarian at “The Library”. Her role is to travel to alternate worlds and seek out particular books to be added to the libraries collection.

Her latest mission, thrust upon her unexpectedly, is to seek out a copy of Grimm’s fairytales from an alternate which is very much like Victorian London. The main difference being that this world is infected with chaos (kind of like magic I suppose) which means the presence of Fae, Werewolves, Vampires and strange mechanical inventions.

It’s a world considered dangerous by the ordered and controlled librarians but Irene is assigned an assistant Kai to help her with her mission.

When they reach the world things are more complicated than they were expecting, the owner of the book has been murdered and the book stolen by an infamous thief. The race is on to track down the volume before anyone else can but there are other factions and societies who want the book and will go to any means to obtain it.

Thoughts

This book should have been right up my street. It’s about a librarian and books (what more do I need?) but for some reason it didn’t quite draw me in the way that I hoped it would.

The writing and characters are excellent. It did remind me a little of Jasper Fforde or Jodi Taylor in terms of style. It has that very British, formal, dry humour type feel to it which I do love.

The characters were very well described and well rounded. They all had their positives as well negative qualities. No one was perfect in anyway and there were chunks of good even in the villains.

I think where it lost me a little was the plot. It seemed at times like an awful lot of trouble to go to just for a book. I love my books and I understand that this is their vocation but I’m not sure I would be willing to do and put up with as much as they do. I found it difficult to be captivated by the hunt for a book.

The other thing which I thought made it a bit difficult to connect to was narrator Irene. As librarian she must be disciplined, in control and detached at all times. While I admire her dedication to her role it’s not easy to connect with someone so seemingly prim, proper and emotionless. My favourite moments of the story were probably those where she loses control or gets distracted and let’s her thoughts wander inappropriately, particularly in respect of her assistant.

Other characters were a bit more likeable and I have to admit to a soft spot for her apprentice Kai. I wasn’t too sure about him initially but loved him by the end. There is a lot of mystery around him which is fascinating and I can’t wait to see what happens with him next.

There was quite a lot of world building in this, the first in the series, which probably slowed things down a little but I think now that’s out of the way subsequent books will be better. I have the feeling that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes of the Library. There have been a few suggestions of a darker motive to it and some questions over the true motivations of the senior librarians so I will be interested to find out where the story goes next.

Thankfully I have the Masked City ready and waiting to start.

Sneak Peek: Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

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Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Release Date: 5th January 2016

Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1)

Blurb from GoodReads

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Initial Thoughts

This is a book with a lot of buzz around it and I think it will definitely be one of the big new releases in 2016. It’s certainly the type of book I’m excited about particularly considering it’s been given the seal of approval by Sarah J Maas one of my favourite authors.

I received an extended extract (about the first 15 chapters) of Truthwitch from the publishers via NetGalley and based on what I’ve read so far I think I’ll have to read the rest.

It certainly starts well with action from the very first page (Safi and Iseult are in the middle of a heist gone wrong). This is great as it gives a good sense of the characters and hooks you into the story from the very beginning. I do like a story with strong female leads and that is definitely the case with Truthwitch. What makes it even better is that these women seem to be true and loyal friends, something which is too rare in young adult fiction.

Truthwitch is set in a totally new world and has a very unique take on magic. There are a number of different lands and places as well as a lot of different types of witch and magic which I have to admit I found a little confusing. I probably would have preferred a simpler start with more gradual world building but I’m sure it will all make more sense once I get further into the story.

Overall it’s definitely a promising start and I’m looking forward to reading the rest.

 

 

Book Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

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Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)Winter by Marissa Meyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is epic.

I’d been not so patiently waiting on this book for a while. I absolutely love this series and it feels like every book has been better than the last. The story just seems to build and build and I have to admit I was desperate to know how it would all end.

This book doesn’t disappoint. It feels huge, as all of the threads and characters from the previous books come together to reach a final conclusion which I thought was almost perfect.

A heck of a lot happens in this the final in the lunar chronicles. We have the long awaited visit to Luna, capture, rescue, tragedies, victories, rebellion, huge battles and throughout it all stories of friendship and love.

The standard of writing is consistently good and while the book is a lot bigger than the previous ones in the series it’s so easy to read and the story is so exciting that I flew through it in a couple of days.

My main criticism however and the reason for the loss of a star was that at times I felt there was too much happening. The narrative jumps between different characters so I felt like there wasn’t enough time to connect to one part of the story before you were jumping somewhere else.

While new character Winter gets a decent part of the narrative at the start it wasn’t quite sufficient for me to get a proper sense of her and it wasn’t long before we were off to Cinder and the other characters.

I felt that Cinder got the bulk of the attention which probably makes sense as she is the central character of the series. Her character has developed a lot over the books as she’s started to accept who and what she is and she develops further in this story but it seemed to me that the other characters were side-lined and became a bit less rounded.

My favourite characters are Cress and Thorne. I love them both individually and together and there just wasn’t nearly enough of them. Cress with her social awkwardness and desperate crush on Thorne has always been the one I relate most to and Thorne is the one who has always made me laugh, the flirty, loveable rogue. What there is of them is great, (like when Thorne takes his shirt off and Cress loses all thought) but I wanted more.

I suppose though that with everything that had to be crammed in there just wasn’t room. This story is a lot more serious than some of the previous ones and deals with much bigger issues and themes. The biggest being what are you willing to do and sacrifice to achieve your goal.

As it is the last in the series there is a big finale (which I won’t spoil) and the author wraps everything up nicely. I have the feeling though that there is scope for a spin off. I really, really hope that it does materialise as there are certain characters I want to see more of (no prizes for guessing which ones).

Overall I definitely enjoyed it but didn’t quite love it.