Spoiler-Free Review: Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

4 stars. Not every book transports you. Plenty are entertaining and well-crafted, but when a story has the power to whisk you away from reality, you know it's special.

Sky in the Deep is one of those novels.

Before I get ahead of myself, this book isn't perfect. The writing is a little clunky in places, and the story took some expected turns. Nevertheless, I stayed up until 4 am finishing it. Adrienne Young really captures the atmosphere of the Norse setting. Eelyn's world feels immediate and real - I could touch the cold of the ice, taste the air coming off the fjord, hear the whizz of an arrow and the cries of warriors in battle. I grew invesested in Eelyn and in her relationships with her brother, her people, and her enemies. If you're looking for a captivating and character-driven adventure that explores the themes of enemies and allies, and recognizing people different from you as complex and multifaceted, then I highly recommend giving this debut a try.

Overall, I am kicking myself for not picking up this book sooner! Sky in the Deep is definitely a stand-out read for me, and I'm doubly excited for the author's new release later this year.

Goodreads

Review: Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

3.75 stars. So I read Vicious back in 2013, and I loved it. In fact, Vicious was my first (and favorite) book by V.E. Schwab. Thinking it a standalone, I was thrilled and slightly anxious when I heard she was writing a sequel. (Hence why I put off reading this until now). Turns out, I had no reason to fear.

Vengeful reminded me why I loved the first book so much. Schwab's writing is crisp and punchy, and utterly engaging. I'd honestly forgotten some of the events and side characters from Vicious, but Vengeful did such a good job of recapturing the atmosphere of the first one that everything soon came rushing back. I forgot how much I missed them all. Especially the family bond between Victor and Sydney. As in Vicious, these two were my favorite to read about. Eli continued to be as complicated as my feelings are for him, if that makes any sense, and the new characters introduced also proved a welcome addition. Although I wasn't as invested in Marcella's storyline, she was a compelling character and a refreshing perspective to read from.

If, like me, you have been hesitating to pick this up, Vengeful is definitely a worthy successor to Vicious. I was completely sucked in, and the final showdown near the end had me clasping my hand over my mouth the entire time.

Overall: I missed my damaged found-family of villains.

Goodreads

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.