Tag: book review

Reviews

The Priory of the Orange Tree Review

by amyleighreads3 Comments on The Priory of the Orange Tree Review

91DIYtTpRnLThis was epic!!!

This is the first ever novel I read of Samantha Shannon and oh my goodness it was amazing. The world is wonderfully rich and developed, the magic system is complex and highly original and the plot was suspenseful and riveting!

We follow multiple perspectives throughout this book and at first that kind of had me a little confused. There is a lot of information given right from the start and like most epic novels it takes me a while to get situated into the story. But once I had a grasp of the characters and a general scope of the premise I was hooked!

This world was once ravaged and nearly decimated by a war that was lead by a fierce dragon called the nameless one. A thousand years ago he was defeated by a saint that the kingdom now revere and his direct descendant is Queen Sabran who is ruler over this land. Ead has been charged by the Priory of the Orange Tree a sacred sect of mages to guard Queen Sabran and keep her safe.

I love that this book really centers around three totally different but complex and distinct female characters. Ead is wonderful. She is so stubborn yet staunch in her beliefs and I like that she will not cower from her duties. She will rebut and argue her point and she will always do what is necessary. Queen Sabran I didn’t really enjoy at the start of the book. I thought she was a little too pious and naïve but she really grew on me as the story progressed. I thought she handled the responsibility and obligation to her people very well. She had a lot of harsh blows dealt to her throughout the course of the book yet she remained firm and strong. I was curious about Tane and how she would fit in to the story as I continued to read. I couldn’t tell how she would connect back and make a mark on the plot but she definitely surprised me in the end. As one of the main perspectives in the book I knew she would have to make some form of impact but her storyline started out so small and kind of insignificant that I didn’t see anything coming! I love that we really see her hit rock bottom but continue to fight and strive to right her wrongs and gain some form of atonement for her actions.

Being over eight hundred pages there is a lot of action and twist that take place. The story wove together beautifully and I honestly could not predict what was going to happen next. This was a very plot heavy and character driven story that really excelled in capturing the harsh reality of the situation. The stakes were incredibly high and the anticipation kept building.

I really enjoyed this read, high/epic fantasy is without a doubt my favourite genre and this book ticked all the boxes for me!

⭐️4.5/5 Dragons, destinies and drama!!!

Reviews

The Vanishing Stair Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on The Vanishing Stair Review

y648This book was absolutely fantastic!

Truly Devious was a shining star last year for me, I really enjoyed the whole premise and plot of the story and The Vanishing Stair really lived up to the expectations that I had built up.

Stevie’s parents have pulled her out of Ellingham Academy after the tragic death of her classmate. She still longs to return and figure out the unsolved case of Truly Devious but her parents are resolute. That is until Edward King turns up at her house with a solution.

Every single line of this book was captivating to read. It was really fast paced and the stakes were incredibly high. The theme is very dark and mysterious and there are so many twists and turns that you can’t help but turn the pages.

Stevie was really relatable in this book. She is so driven and focused on her goal and she will really stop at nothing to find out the truth of what happened that night back in 1936 and also the present day conundrum of Ellie and Hayes. I like the fact that she didn’t immediately dismiss Ellie’s disappearance and looked further into it. It really showed how dedicated she is in becoming a detective. I also like that fact that she tried to include others into her discoveries. She asked for help when she thought she needed it and didn’t dismiss their input.

I’m not quite sure what to make of David yet. I kind of wrote him off as a typical rich kid character that is trying to get his absent fathers attention, but I can’t help feeling like there might be more to his story. I liked how we see him break down after they found Ellie, it was nice to see a teenage boy express his feelings and not be embarrassed by it. He acknowledged their friendship in his grief and I thought that showed how comfortable he is with Stevie.

Larry is another character that I kind of dismissed in the first book and didn’t think he would have a pivotal role in the storyline. I thought he was very honourable and decent and actually treated Stevie with respect and slight disgruntlement for being in the midst of all the scandals. Stevie kind of looked up to his as an authoritative figure that she could trust which is far and few between.

This book is so entertaining; it really has you on the edge of your seat as you read. I found myself really engrossed and engaged in the plot, as I didn’t want to miss anything. All the scenes in the book I thought were pivotal in the overall storyline and every single character that is introduced or carry on from the last book have a purpose. I love reading between the lines and figuring out all the clues and I can’t wait to get my hands on the final book and see once and for all what happened to Alice. I definitely have my theories and I’m excited to see if any are true!

⭐️5/5 I loved this! Mysterious, moody and manic, a wonderful read!

Reviews

The Retribution of Mara Dyer Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on The Retribution of Mara Dyer Review

81YstLg924LI didn’t absolutely love it and I didn’t hate it either.

It was just kind of ok…. We definitely delved a lot deeper into the story and the reasoning’s behind the study of the defect, but I wasn’t really left with any overwhelming feelings after the ending.

This book really starts with a lot of tense, highly emotional scenes that set up the tone of the book very well. The stakes were very high throughout the first 100 pages or so and it really had me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages. But with that being said the rest of the book was just kind of mediocre for me. I like that the flashbacks are more in depth and we are getting the answers to a lot of questions but the direction that the book went with wasn’t a favourite of mine.

I started to question Mara and her decisions a lot in this third instalment of the series. Yes I know she was tortured and has had a lot of emotional and physical trauma happen to her a short period of time, but I didn’t really like who she became after she escaped. Sure she did save Stella and Jamie but I don’t feel like that justifies some of her actions since. I was wholly on Stella’s side after the incident in the subway and I fully supported her decision to leave and go home… I feel like I would of done the same. I think it was the fact that Mara took on the role of judge and executioner and really would of followed through had it not been for Jamie and Stella’s presence. It didn’t sit well with me and I thought she was very detached.

Daniel really shone for me in this book, his staunch support of his sister and commitment to finding the truth and uncovering the secrets of the trial was wonderful. I love the bond that they share and I really enjoyed his character and how solid and stable he is.

Noah didn’t do a lot for me in this book either. I know there was the whole mystery surrounding his death but I had no doubt that he would be making a reappearance. It was a little obvious and when he did finally show up it wasn’t all that impressive or shocking. He just kind of strolled in and it wasn’t impactful at all for me.

It was a very fast paced book and I did read it really quickly but I wasn’t satisfied with the ending. Everything was exposed and it made sense but it didn’t really answer all of the questions that I wanted and it was a very open ended conclusion. I wasn’t left awestruck or dumbfounded I was just like ok.

⭐️3.5/5 A little anticlimactic…

Reviews

Skyward Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Skyward Review

36642458Brandon Sanderson has done it again!

This story follows Spensa who lives on a world that is constantly under attack by aliens. In this world being a fighter pilot is deemed one of the most honourable and sought after positions in their society. Spensa’s father was a fighter pilot and was highly respected until one day when she was seven he deserted and was killed forever branding him as a coward. Now nine years later Spensa is trying to step out of her father’s shadow and become a pilot herself.

This is another example of how amazing Brandon Sanderson’s writing skills are. The world was built up wonderfully and the characters are flawed and highly developed.

Spensa is another strong female protagonist that isn’t afraid to speak up and voice her opinion. She has had to overcome so much adversity in her life, always having to defend herself and work so much harder to fight for what she wants because of what her father supposedly did. Her arc throughout the storyline was wonderful to read. She starts off as this cocky, overconfident cadet who is trying to prove herself worthy to a strong, self aware, more grounded (lol) pilot. The fact that she is able to acknowledge her flaws and express her emotions showed great growth in her character.

I also quietly enjoyed Jorgan as well. I thought he was a great contrast to Spensa, he was more rigid and by the book where she kind of flew off the cuff and was more spontaneous and prone to disobeying orders. I like that we get a look into his life and how different it was to Spensa’s, seemingly being handed everything to him on a silver platter as opposed to Spensa’s battle to belong. I like the subtle shift in their relationship as the story progressed and how it evolved into a more companionable and mutually respective friendship. Though the banter between them was fun and very entertaining to read.

The fact that the flight group kept dwindling really added a layer of urgency and pressure to the storyline. Every time they took off you didn’t know if everyone was going to make it and that really kept me engaged in the plot.

M-bot added a nice spark as well. The communication between him and Spensa was witty and light in comparison to some of the darker tones that the book was evoking. The same with Cobb, he really had Spensa’s back from the start and he was a great buffer to the Admiral. He kind of acted as a lifeline to Spensa’s father and added some insight to that day he defected, I like that he still honoured his friendship to her father by being her mentor.

All in all I was very much invested in the characters and the plot. The battles and the simulation were exciting and precarious. There were definitely rumblings of political schemes in play so I can see it really evolving and expanding a whole lot more in the books to come! Some of the flight jargon and manoeuvrings slowed me down and bored me a little but the overall plot and storyline was very captivating to read!

⭐️4.5/5 stars from someone who isn’t a great fan of sci-fi this was GREAT!!

Reviews

Truthwitch Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Truthwitch Review

truthwitchI loved this!

Safiya is a Truthwitch and is able to discern truth from lies and Iseult is a Threadwitch, she is able to see the threads that are bound to everyone showing their emotions and bonds to those around them. Ever since Safiya saved Iseult’s life when they were children then have become bonded and will do anything to protect each other. Safiya’s powers are highly sought after, especially amongst the nobility in which she was born, so she has to keep it a secret or else she could be used as a political pawn. All they want is to live their own lives free of the war that is about to break out in the Witchlands.

It was a little hard to get into the book at the start as there are lot of facts and information and names thrown at you from the get go and it took me a minute to get established in the story. But after I found myself situated I was swept away into this world. I love the distinguishing characteristics between all of the witches and their different abilities and the varying levels of power and respect given. There are multiple storylines and POVs throughout the course of the book and it really kept me invested.

Iseult and Safiya are now among some of my favourite female protagonists. I love their companionship and loyalty that they share. You can really see the depth of their friendship and how much they mean to each other. They both value and complement each other perfectly in my opinion.

Safiya’s tenacity was soo entertaining to read. She really shone for me in this book and I love her single-mindedness in terms of Iseult’s safety and health. I also loved seeing her subtly evolve throughout the story as well. She realises some of her flaws and actively tries to adjust herself for the better.

Iseult’s backstory really captivated me as well. I found myself really engaging and empathising with her as she is quite ostracised from everyone because of where she comes from. She still holds her head high and really embraces herself, which made me like her even more!

I love that the story starts off pretty basic and continues to grow and become more convoluted and complex and the plot unfolds. We are introduced to a lot of different characters with different magical abilities with everyone really having their own political agenda’s and reasoning. It makes for a very fast paced and action packed story that I highly enjoyed!

⭐️4.5/5 slow start but a wild ending!