Review: The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

4.25 stars. I'm going to start right off by saying that this book broke my heart, and I am 100% not okay. The Light Between Worlds is about three siblings who cross over into another world called the Woodlands, and then are thrust back into our world a few years later. Specifically, we follow Evelyn, the youngest, and Phillipa, her older sister. This story in many ways feels like a darker Narnia, as it explores all the thoughts and feelings I've always believed I would feel, were I one of the Pevensie children. Laura nails the weight of loss and long-term grief, and how people grapple with those feelings in different ways and in varying degrees. 

While I grew attached to both sisters, I connected most with Evelyn, who takes her exile back to reality the hardest. If you're someone who hasn't experienced or witnessed long-term grief or loss, you may get irritated at how many times Evelyn relapses into depression - but her cycles of brief light and utter darkness struck deep for me. I saw myself in her character so many times. One trigger warning I feel I should mention (which I'll list at the end) is for self-harm. There are a few scenes and references to the fact that Evelyn goes through episodes where she intentionally hurts herself. None of these scenes are graphic, but I do think they could be potentially triggering if you're in a bad place. I think anyone who's suffered any kind of personal trauma will relate to the themes in this book.

One bump I will mention is that it took me a bit of time to feel connected to the story, as the characters and the world-building felt very surface-level at first. As I continued reading, though, I became more invested, and now I'm just left with the bittersweet heartache of witnessing something beautiful and painful, and something that mirrors a part of my own soul.

TW: self-harm

Release Date: October 23, 2018

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Quick Review: Smoke in the Sun by Renée Ahdieh

3.75 stars. Once again, Renée Ahdieh totally stole my heart with Smoke in the Sun. I love that we got to see more of Tsuneoki in this sequel, since he was one of my favorite characters in Flame in the Mist. I think I loved Okami even more in this installment (if that's even possible), and I was backing Mariko 100% throughout the entire novel. Her relationship with Prince Raiden in particular kept me on the edge of my seat, as my trust in him kept ping-ponging back and forth. This book also confirmed how seriously messed up Roku - the new boy emperor - is. He's beyond twisted, and the way Renee wrote him was so beautiful and eerie that he really gave me the creeps. I got chills multiple times while curled up in bed, reading. My only qualm with Smoke in the Sun is that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly. Honestly, I think this series could've easily been a trilogy. A third book would've allowed the plot to breathe a bit, and would've given us more time to explore the characters, who I feel like we were just getting attached to. If you enjoyed Flame in the Mist, you have nothing to fear - this sequel does the story justice and will leave you satisfied, if not a little wistful for more.

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Underrated Fantasy Recommendations

Hi guys! Today I'll be recommending some fantasy books that stole my heart, but flew under the popular radar. I almost revel in these kinds of books - the ones that don't get too much attention - because I feel like I've stumbled across a hidden gem. However, I want the author to get all the snaps they deserve. So, if you're looking for amazing fantasies that you might've missed out on, here are my recommendations.

1. The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

I know this book got a lot of publicity when it first came out, but I feel like The Dark Days Club didn't get as much praise as it deserves. Being drawn to anything fantasy and anything Regency era, I decided to take a chance and pick up this new release that everyone had been hauling. And boy, am I glad I did. The Dark Days Club completely caught me off-guard with how much I loved it. If you like immersive world-building and character-driven narratives, I highly recommend you read this series. The romance is of the holy-crap-the-slow-burning-tension-will-kill-me variety, and the author includes actual events and people from the early 1800s that really ground the story. The magic element is interwoven seamlessly into the historical setting. If you enjoy any of Cassandra Clare's series, you'll like this book. Though the cast is smaller, in my opinion, the execution is on the same level. If you love complex characters and historical fantasies, please check out the synopsis here to see if you're interested!

2. A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

Similar to the previous book, A Shadow Bright and Burning got a fair amount of exposure when it was first released. But soon-after, I feel like it fell into the theoretical "average fantasy" pile, and it took me more than a year to finally yield to my curiosity and give it a try. Like The Dark Days Club, I was immediately hooked and ran out to buy the sequel. Honestly, I was plagued by the thought that I almost missed out on this amazing book. This is a sorcerer story following a girl named Henrietta Howel, who has to battle otherworldly monsters in early Victorian England. The characters just took hold of me and didn't let go, and the plot is incredibly well-paced and filled with action. While not overly concerned with romance, the romantic threads that are in this series may actually be the end of me (*cough* Team Blackwood *cough*). A Shadow Bright and Burning deserves way more recognition than it gets, and I highly recommend you check it out if you like magic, compelling character relationships, and a flip on the whole "chosen-one" trope.

3. Web of Frost by Lindsay Smith

I'm still surprised this book flew under the radar, because it has so many amazing elements. Web of Frost is a Russian-inspired fantasy following a royal girl with magical gifts, a beautiful saint boy with questionable motives, and a foreign prince who begins interfering in the politics of Russalka, Katza's kingdom. If you enjoyed Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy, then trust me, this book is for you. Particularly if you loved the Darkling. While Web of Frost didn't totally grip me, I definitely plan to continue on with the series. For a more in-depth synopsis, look here.

4. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

This book is difficult for me to talk about, because I loved it so much. In John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, Hazel ruminates on how some books are so special to you that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal. That's how I feel about An Enchantment of Ravens. If you love faeries, rich and complex characterization, and beautiful crisp writing, this book is for you. Margaret Rogerson is a born writer. Enough said. Read the full synopsis here.

5. Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

Last but not least. Not to be dramatic, but I will yell praises about this duology until the day I die. That's how under-appreciated I think Midnight Thief is. The story follows two protagonists: a thief named Kyra, who gets recruited by an assassin's guild, and a skilled knight named Tristam, who is bent on revenge for the death of his best friend. I'm not usually a fan of dual narrators, but Livia Blackburne did a great job of making me care about both characters. For once, I was actually excited for the two of them to meet! Aspects of this story reminded me a little of Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, particularly the group dynamics of the guild. There are also giant panthers in the story. You heard me right. Giant. Panthers. I think fans of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder will love this duology. If you like twisty loyalties and original-feeling fantasies, I highly recommend you pick up Midnight Thief.