Tag: fantasy

Reviews

The Shadows Between Us Review

by amyleighreads3 Comments on The Shadows Between Us Review

35702241I LOVED this!!!!

The Shadows Between Us is about a girl named Alessandra who is the second daughter of an earl who has a plan to seduce, marry and then kill the elusive king.

I just adored Alessandra’s character. Right from the start when we find out what happened between her and Henrik and then to see how comfortable she has become with her sexuality and not letting the men in her life use her for their own gain. She takes her life into her own hands and emerges from under her father and sisters shadows and forged a life for herself without their help or influence. I love how ruthless she is and how unapologetic she is about her appearance and demeanour.

Kallias really drew me in from the moment we first see him. He is quite enigmatic and seductive in a way with the shadows swirling around him. I’m a sucker for a dark, broody male protagonist and he really ticked all the boxes for me. I would of loved to learn more about him and go a little more in depth in terms of his abilities and why the skipped over his brother. The origins of his family’s reign which was discussed briefly, I just wanted more. I think the fact that he wasn’t intimidated by Alessandra and saw her as an equal was the icing on the cake for me!

There was the perfect amount of political intrigue mixed with those more high action sequences to keep me engaged and entertained. Too much of the court politics and political machinations can be a little dragging for me but I didn’t get that at all in this book. Because Alessandra was so spontaneous and has all of these secrets she is trying to keep on top of there was never a time I wasn’t invested.

I have to admit the investigation aspect regarding Henrik was resolved a little too conveniently; there was quite the build-up of anticipation regarding the murder and it was dismissed by Kallias with really no repercussions of Alessandra’s part. I was able to overlook it and still really enjoy the read but that was something that I noticed.

Overall I loved this, from reading the blurb I knew immediately that this was a book that I would love and I am honestly gratified that I have such a thorough understanding of my reading tastes!

⭐️5/5 stars the Slytherin romance we didn’t know we needed!

Reviews

Kingsbane Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Kingsbane Review

*Spoilers below*

40523458._SY475_Kingsbane continues pretty much straight after where Furyborn left off. Eliana is trying to come to terms with her new powers and Rielle is assuaging her guilt over the deaths of her father and the king by locating the legendary castings to fix the Gate containing the angels.

I just straight up don’t really like Rielle’s character. I can appreciate how she is pushing the plot forward but I find her to be incredibly insufferable. First of all having to be talked into saving the capital of Borsvall from the tidal wave by Ludivine and Audric, almost condemning all of those innocent people because she was outraged that they would dare threaten her and had absolutely no remorse doing so. Then slaughtering all of those Obex members because they were rightfully mistrustful of her after she weakened the Gate further. She has no humility and believes that her power gives her the right to just do whatever she wants with no repercussions and that doesn’t sit well with me at all. I’m very much on the Queen’s side about her thoughts for her.

Audric is just so blindly in love with Rielle that one or two little placations from her and he just dismisses all of the problematic things she says and does. Granted he does finally stand up for himself after finding out about what happened with his father but I felt like it was a little too late at that point. I don’t trust Ludivine at all at this point either. She stepped up and played more of a role in this book than the previous and I am curious as to whom she truly is and what her intentions are.

I MUCH preferred Eliana’s storyline compared to her mothers. Seeing her make her castings and tapping into her powers kept me very much engaged in the plot. Even though she was quite closed off and standoffish in the first book she starts to open up more and develops more relationships with those around her. She is still making some questionable decisions but overall I really like how her character is evolving.

Now we come to Simon. Once again he killed me in this book! I was always attached to him the most out of all the characters and he definitely took us on a journey of discovery in this book. We gain a little more insight into what he has doing all these years and the level of devotion he has for Eliana is touching bordering on the side of being a little too possessive. He really opens up to Eliana and they find salvation in each other only for it all to be ripped away and we discover who he truly is. UGH!!!!

I have to say Claire Legrand has masterfully developed each character and have given them all a purpose in the plot. The pacing was too up and down for me, we have large sections of nothing really going on and then all the action seemingly taking place all at once. I am still very much invested and can’t wait to find out what will happen next!

⭐️4/5 stars that ending …. WOW!

Reviews

The City of Brass Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on The City of Brass Review

36215220._SY475_For some reason I didn’t think I was going to like this book, I’ve been putting it off for months and months now and I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved this book!

It follows Nahri a young woman in 18th century Cairo, who masquerades as a healer for the wealthy  but ends up stealing from them to make ends meet. During one of her ceremonies Nahri ends up inadvertently summoning a djinn, thrusting her into a magical world she didn’t believe existed.

I really liked Nahri’s character and her development over the course of the story. It was a subtle shift but we really see her become a lot more open and honest both with Dara and herself. She was a little frustrating at times, especially when she refused to see the patients and didn’t even try to listen to Nisreen about the Daeva clan and what was happening to them out in the city. I’m glad Nisreen gave it to her straight and tried to make her accountable for her actions.

I’m not a fan of how Dara kept so many secrets from Nahri and just expected her to follow him with no explanation on his part. He did become a little too possessive over her in the end there and that did grate my nerves a little. He still intrigues me a lot and I am so very much invested in his storyline, what really happened all those years ago, who freed him from his slavery and what other secrets he is hiding.

Ali’s plotIine I wasn’t as invested in as the others, I guess I am a bit more biased towards the Daeva clan than I am with his family. I appreciated that he is trying to go against his father and help the Shafit plight in the city but he gives up to easily in my opinion, and I thought he deserved the punishment he got in the end. He was completely outclassed by his father and the Sheik’s death was pretty much in vain at this point. I guess I just expected more from his character, especially since he is built up to be this feared warrior.

I loved the overall concept and the premise of the story. The world building was wonderful and highly atmospheric. I could do with a little more information about the magic system and the extent of the powers of the different clans. I can’t wait to find out this world and how each of the characters develops as the story continues!

⭐️4/5 stars I need to continue ASAP!

Reviews

Furyborn Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Furyborn Review

34323570Furyborn is a dual perspective novel about Eliana and Rielle; two young women set 1000 years apart that are the focus of an ancient prophecy

Rielle I am a bit ambivalent towards to be completely honest. I wasn’t all that invested in her character even though she was one of the main protagonists. She just came across a little too arrogant and conceited. Yes she has had to overcome a lot of obstacle hiding her powers for so many years and having to deal with the guilt of her mother’s death, but there was just something about her that rubbed me the wrong way. I think it has to do with letting Corien into her mind so easily, especially after finding out what he was and still perpetuating his attachment to her.

Eliana was frustrating at times as well. Again I can understand why she chose to be the assassin of the empire for so many years but when she tried to betray the resistance and almost murder those 300ish people for her own selfish reasons it really soured her for me. She does redeem herself though and sees the error of her ways, but I just wish she was a little more open to those around her and wasn’t so closed off and snappish all the time.

Simon definitely intrigues me the most! What happened when he let go of the thread at the start and how did he come to be under the employ of the emperor? Broody, secretive, sullen male protagonists are a crutch for me, I guess I give them a bit more leeway than female protagonists who have the same characteristics but that’s just me…

Even though our two female protagonists got on my nerves it didn’t take away from the story at all. Every character really has that morally grey, ambiguous nature where you don’t really know what side they are truly on. It raises the stakes consistently and maintains a level of unpredictability throughout the course of the story line.

I loved the dual timeline and seeing how the world differs between the two. I am very much invested in the story and want to find out more about what happened during that two year window between Rielle, Audric and Corien. The world building was wonderful, the juxtaposition between the two countries and how the perception of magic has changed over time.

⭐️4/5 stars I was invested from the start!

Reviews

Fool Moon Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Fool Moon Review

91477Fool Moon is the second book in the Dresden Files; it takes place around 6 months after the first book finished. Harry’s relationship with Detective Murphy has been fractured and he has to gain back her trust, whilst in the middle of a murder investigation involving werewolves.

I liked the fact that Harry has remained pretty consistent throughout the series so far. He openly acknowledges his inadequacies and his fears and is actively trying to remedy them. His leap without looking characteristic is still very much prevalent and again keeps me highly entertained! I think his attitude towards woman can do with a little work but it’s nothing that outwardly offends me. I’m still highly intrigued with his background, especially since we are given just a little more information during the book, just enough to keep me engaged and wanting to know more!

I’m starting to see a pattern of Harry pushing himself to his breaking point, running out of magic or magical weapons and still being able to come back and save the day. Hopefully the narrative evolves a little more and we get a different structure as the series continues, as I can see myself getting a little bored of the predictability of it all.

Again, all of the characters in the book serve a purpose and even if they seem insignificant at the start can become quite integral in the end. We are introduced to a lot of new characters that was a little difficult to keep track of at the start, even towards the end I was struggling to remember who was who and which gang they belonged to.  Because the pacing is so fast we aren’t given a lot of time on character development, it’s pretty much just all about Harry and the couple of other regular characters in the plot.

As the time frame is so short and it was so action packed I was always entertained and eager to read on to see what would happen next. These books are also quite dark and macabre; Jim Butcher has no qualms about blood and gore and really goes into detail about the murders, which definitely raises the stakes! Harry is such an enigmatic character that has me willing to just enjoy all of the action and not really have to focus.

⭐️4/5 A thoroughly entertaining read!