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.

Review: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

4.5 stars. Look, I don’t normally do a lot of gushing, so just brace yourself for this review. Because this book was amazing. I knew exactly 62 pages in that I was going to love this story. Shadow of the Fox is one of those rare books where you completely forget that you're reading, because you're so immersed in what's happening.

My History with Julie Kagawa's Books:

I enjoyed the first three books in Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series, despite some flat characterization and the romance not going the way I wanted. I'd also read the first two books in Julie's Immortal Rules series, and had the same reaction - enjoyed the books, wasn't really there for the romance. (She wrote a series about dragons too, which I never picked up because I’m not huge on dragons.) Despite having a positive experience with most of her series, none of them hold a candle to this new book. The development of the world, the intricacy of the plot, and most of all, the strength of the characterization, blew my mind. Shadow of the Fox is in a field all on its own.

The Characters:

Yumeko is our tricksy but well-intentending kitsune protagonist, and I absolutely loved her. She always gave people a chance no matter their reputation, and she was reluctant to provoke animosity with anyone. While some may view this as naive, I think it made her brave. To always see or hope for the best in people is an act of courage unto itself.

And then there's Tatsumi. Poor demon-possesed Tatsumi, who stole my heart and made me want to weep. If you’ve read Julie's Iron Fey series, Tatsumi is the character I wished Ash could have been. He’s dark and quiet and broody, and *cough* slightly evil, but he’s his own unique character and I loved getting to see inside his head. He’s one of those protagonists(?) who immediately feels like a real person, like someone you’re meeting and not just reading about.

The side characters were also awesome. I won't name all of them, but halfway through we’re introduced to a character named Okame who made me laugh in almost every scene he was in. The story also introduces many different kinds of villains, who were all great in that I absolutely hated the lot of them. If you like reading about terrible female villains, this book has what you're looking for.

Lastly, the romance was just...perfect. And agonizing. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and to say I’m dying for the sequel would be an understatement. Whether or not you’ve read Julie’s books before, let me help sway you now. YOU WANT THIS BOOK.

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Release Date: October 2, 2018

Quick Review: The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen

Rounding up to 3 stars. Despite being a little torn about this book, I would overall give it a thumbs up. There is a lot about The Bird and the Blade that feels different from your average fantasy novel, and I really enjoyed that. This is a standalone historical-fantasy set in the Mongol Empire. We follow a slave girl named Jinghua who sets off an a journey with Prince Khalaf, a descendent of Genghis Khan, to help save his kingdom.

There is a nice balance of character focus and action, and Bannen's writing has a romantic quality to it that reminded me a bit of Renee Ahdieh's prose. Despite the romance lacking some of the angst that I so dearly love to revel in, I ended up really liking the characters, especially Junghua, Khalaf, and Khalaf's father Timur. Timur especially is like that dry-humored old curmudgeon who slowly starts to grow on you as the plot progresses. There is a riddle aspect to this story that is riveting to watch play out, and I thought the ending was, dare I say it, a truly refreshing one. My only real qualm about this book is that the beginning throws you into a first-hand narrative without a lot of context. Once I figured out that the book jumps back-and-forth in time, and switches perspectives, I finally put together what was going on and was able to fully concentrate on the story.

While I enjoyed reading this, I don't know how long the story will stay with me. Even if it wasn't my favorite fantasy in the world, I am glad I picked it up. Overall, if you enjoy ghosts, slow-burn romance, and unique historical fantasies, then The Bird and the Blade is definitely calling your name.

Goodreads Description 
Release Date: June 5, 2018

Quick Review: Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake

3.25 stars. Beyond a Darkened Shore was a slow start for me, but I ended up really enjoying it. I loved how the author blended together Norse and Celtic mythology and used those elements to not only shape the world, but also to define the two main characters, Ciara and Lief. Ciara is a Celtic princess who may or may not possess a little mind-control magic, and Lief is a Northman warrior who invades her kingdom. It was fun to watch the two of them clash and grow together, and I immensely enjoyed the journey they wind up going on, filled with kelpies, fae, and ancient gods.

Some scenes I thought were a little overwritten, and dragged on longer than necessary, but I only found myself skimming a few times. After three or four chapters, I found myself totally engrossed in the story. If you like fantasy, especially Norse and Celtic-inspired fantasy, with a hate-to-love romance, then I do seriously recommend picking up Beyond a Darkened Shore. While perhaps not on the level of Cassandra Clare or Holly Black, it's a worthwhile read.

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Quick Review: Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

3 stars. I've never read anything by Siobhan Vivian before, but I thought this was really cute. The story really pulled me in, and it was cool how ice cream was almost like its own character in the book. I also enjoyed the flashback diary entries written by the shop's original owner, Molly. Some may see the main character, Amelia, as a "weak" character, but I actually related to her in a lot of ways (not sure what that says about me). She was more job-focused and understanding of others than Cate, her fun-loving best friend, and I identified with her struggle to balance her drive to be a good worker and her desire to have fun with her friends. 

Overall, this was a perfect contemporary to pick up for the summer - especially for us fantasy lovers who occasionally need to dip back into the real world.

Goodreads Description