The Never Ending Story - Michael Ende

"Only the right name gives beings and things their reality. A wrong
name makes everything unreal. That's what lies do.

Bastian is nobody's idea of a hero, least of all his own. Through the pages of an old book he discovers a mysterious magical world - a world of dragons, monsters, witches and giants. A world that is doomed unless a human can save it. Can Bastian succeed in battling terrible foes and find the strength he needs to give the Empress a new name?" 

I enjoyed a huge amount of this book. However, I must admit that I understand why the movie decided to change where the story ended. The first half of the book is truly amazing and I loved every minute of it. However once Bastian has been taken into Fantasia, things started to get rather wobbly from a plot point of view. While still incorporating a huge amount of stunning imagery and fun ideas, the plot felt aimless and only loosely tied together. Bastian wanders from place to place, scenario to scenario with no drive or purpose. I understand what Ende was trying to express, he used a very old folklore theme, of the corrupting influence of power and finding the joy of your own identity. However I don't think this theme was as well expressed as the theme of the importance of imagination and creativity expressed in the first half. 

I must say that Ende certainly knows his mythology/ folklore. I recognised many themes, emotional motifs and plot beats from other stories. Quite similar to the Arthurian legends. 

Age Rating 13+. Nothing untoward but some emotionally intense scenes. 

Sorcery of Thorns - Margaret Rogerson

"All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has
known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them."

I enjoyed this book. It was a fun and aesthetically unique fantasy romp. The characters, while not unique in their archetypes, where funny, relatable and loveable. Rogerson's dialogue between protagonists is witty and suitably banter-y. Nathaniel Thorn was easily my favourite character being wonderfully sarcastic and also bisexual. Yay representation! Rogerson's writing is also brilliant. Her rendering of scenes left me breathless with detailed images in my mind that I would want to paint if I had any artistic skill. Small interactions deepen characterisation and there are many imminently quotable passages, with much of Silas's dialogue being truly terrifying.  

Plot wise, it was predictable, which is not exactly a bad thing and there were enough plot twists to keep me engaged. The concept of this book was astonishing, the world building was interesting and truly the selling point. The atmosphere of the Libraries, the steampunk world, the statues coming to life, ladies with swords down their dress, demon footmen. Just impeccable. All of it was just excellent. 

However what let me down was that some plot elements just weren't explained, or explained really really badly. I mean the reason that the books listen to Elisabeth, the big reveal...is because she grew up in a Library. That's it. All the previously murderous books suddenly treating her like she is a beloved niece...is because she grew up in a Library...I am sorry but what! That is such a boring and lazy reason and it really felt like Rogerson didn't really know what to say. 

I appreciated the unique concept and world that she tried to convey. I was aware of her intentions and inspiration with the whimsical world building, snarky love interest, secretly soft demon, etc. Unfortunately there was no romantic chemistry between the couple at all, (they felt like siblings to me), and the villain is one-dimensional and moustache-twirling. There are definite merits to this book and I appreciate the effort to create a unique type of fantasy story, and while it wont win any awards, it was fun and enjoyable. 

Age Rating 14+ Nothing untoward. Some low level fantasy violence and kissing. 

House of Earth and Blood - Sarah J Maas

"Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying
all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it."

Yes, I have returned to my guilty pleasure of Maas's work. 

When I heard that Maas's next work would be her first foray into adult fiction I was pretty surprised as I have always felt that, despite the fantasy genre which is for some reason always felt to be YA by publishers, her other series have been pretty damn adult with the heavy focus of violence, torture and sexual content. 

Now, I am no prude, but the swearing in this book was totally unnecessary and just came across as childish. If anything, it made Crescent city feel like a young Throne of Glass trying to impress all of her older friends with her edginess. Crescent City fancies itself quite the edgelord with its filthy mouth, drugs and sex but none of it is handled well. Drugs are treated as something casually edgy that the characters do without any sorts of repercussions. Violence is casual as well, and doesn't really serve any purpose in the story. Characters are killed off before we can really care about them properly. And the sexual content is... painfully cringey. (Though somehow there was less sex then in her YA stuff. Riddle me that.)

Then there's MC Bryce. I, personally, really don't see what people would find empowering in Bryce's character. She's gorgeous. She's sexy. Everyone, everyone,wants to fuck her. She's not like other girls. Yay for a women finding her strength outside of male validation, I guess?? Lol. She feels pity for whores because she only sleeps around to self-medicate for her emotional issues. (This is never addressed by the way.) She recklessly endangers herself by doing drugs but somehow she's deep and intelligent. Like, Maas was clearly trying to use Bryce's character to show how women shouldn't be underestimated because she likes to look pretty, something I completely agree with. However then Bryce has random hookups every five seconds (this is not safe from a STD or rape point of view), romanticises drug use (a whole lot of nope), and uses her body to monetarily gain? Why do women have to be highly sexual to be empowered? Also Bryce complains about men treating her like a whore when she herself admits to dressing like one and that most half - human women make a living through prostitution? I am feeling soo empowered right now. 

Strangely I preferred Hunt's character in this novel. Shock horror he has wings, would he really be a Maas ML if he didn't have wings. He was actually somewhat relatable, enjoyable to read about and strangely funny at times. However he too is cursed with the better then everyone, only one of his kind, probably a god in disguise trope that Mass has going on with literally all of her characters. Thus he comes of as one dimensional and lacking a certain grit I was hoping for. I understand that Maas was trying to be be feminist and veer away from the "toxic masculinity" but am I truly supposed to believe that a 200 year old General who is now a an assassin is actually just a sweet softie starved of snuggles who's PTSD comes down to crying in the shower?

One of the major points of this book is that there is a war going on in the background of the entire novel, between humans and the Vanir. Yes, the Vanir. If that sounded familiar, it’s because it refers to a race of elder nature gods in Norse mythology. However, SJM liked the sound of that word but didn’t like its meaning, so in this world (also called Midgard) the word ‘Vanir’ refers to all different kinds of mythological beings, including angels, fae, werewolves, demons, mermaids etc. I love stealing words from ancient cultures and disregarding its original meaning. 

Anyway, this war is going on because humans are completely oppressed by the Vanir, who see themselves as superior to humans in every way. (Which technically, physically, magically and lifespan wise they are.) However, most of the characters are actually sympathetic nice Vanir so the human plight is pretty much pushed to the background except when the half-human Bryce is being sneered at and she gets irritated by it. There are no full human characters, the most we see of this "oppression" is Bryce being given a snooty look in a restaurant. There are literally people dying, Bryce. This war and human oppression get less screen-time than Bryce’s perfect ass. How can I take this war seriously and believe the Vanir are meant to be the bad guys when we spend so much of the book talking about how sexy they are??

Now, on to a few of my small pet peeves. Why is so many of these people called tan? It feels like a get out of jail free card of having more POC in her work without ever actually saying so. Also, and I really don't know if this will make sense, but all of her LGBT representation still somehow feels so heterosexual. Last but not least..."alphaholes." Please in the name of all that is unholy, no.

I must admit, the reason that I enjoy coming back to Mass's work is very similar to Holly Black. Both of their plots and characters are okay, however it is the fantasy elements, fun writing and world building that really gets me. The whole aesthetic of the book, the visual images that Maas conjures up for you are just so much fun. Baby puppy werewolves lying in the grass, a nightclub located in a forgotten temple, a Fallen Angel wearing a baseball cap. All of Maas's work, no matter how problematic they are, are just fun to read. Large, grand, funny, over - emotional self insert fan fiction where everyone has superpowers, is descended from someone really important and is really really pretty. I am not saying it is perfect, but this book didn't feel slow to me at all. I was engaged and interested the entire time, and Maas does actually touch on a few good themes. I enjoyed the emphasis on friendship and how powerful that can be. 

Age Rating 18+. I am 19 and I felt uncomfortable, dear god it felt like reading a Mills and Boons with swearing. 

Honeycomb - Joanne M Harris

"A lushly illustrated set of dark, captivating fairy tales

The beauty of stories; you never know where they will take you. Full of dreams and nightmares, Honeycomb is an entrancing mosaic novel of original fairy tales from bestselling author Joanne M. Harris and legendary artist Charles Vess in a collaboration that’s been years in the making. The toy-maker who wants to create the perfect wife; the princess whose heart is won by words, not actions; the tiny dog whose confidence far outweighs his size; and the sinister Lacewing King who rules over the Silken Folk. These are just a few of the weird and wonderful creatures who populate Joanne Harris’s first collection of fairy tales."

This is a gorgeous collection of super short (2-5 page) stories that read like a cross between fairy tales and fables, each interconnected to a larger picture. The Lacewing Prince is a selfish and cruel ruler of the Silken folk, touching many lives with his behaviour, but as time goes on he starts to face the consequences and mature.

They’re really easy to read and particularly good if you only have a couple of minutes to spend reading at a time, though I will admit that I read the whole book in a couple of settings.

The stories carry a mixture of moral messages and explore different themes. She’s unapologetic in her criticism of certain characters and themes, without ever directly even criticising them leaving it up to your interpretation. 

Honeycomb is a book that you need to take time with, but will pay back richly if you do. It mixes myth and magic, nature and fear to form an intelligent and multi-layered prose poem that both celebrates traditional dark Fairy stories and brings the style to a modern-day audience. It is one to dip into, to read and reread, and I rather suspect would be excellent read out aloud. I really can't tell you how much I loved this book, there where moments I just had to look up from my book and relish the images conjured up. This is my second of Harris's books and I must say I am really blown away by her prose. It is poetic and lyrical yet never becomes overblown or shies away from the less beautiful aspects of the stories theme. If anything, the beautiful prose serves to highlight the pain or fear or horror of what is occurring. 

As someone brought up on Fairy-tales, this had a very nostalgic air to me and accurately revived the aesthetic/feeling of the originals, though still being so unique and original. 

Age Rating 15+. These are adult fairy-tales, and while some stories are okay for children, certainly not all. There are some very dark themes that are explore such as abuse, sexism and death. 

A Pocketful of Crows - Joanne M Harris

"I am as brown as brown can be,

And my eyes as black as sloe;

I am as brisk as brisk can be,

And wild as forest doe.

So begins a beautiful tale of love, loss and revenge. Following the seasons, A Pocketful of Crows balances youth and age, wisdom and passion and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless wild girl.

Only love could draw her into the world of named, tamed things. And it seems only revenge will be powerful enough to let her escape."

Joanne Harris has written a powerfully magical and fantastical tale brimful of folklore. It is beautifully written, poetic, lyrical, and a short read. I think it's fair to say that its whimsical, dark and gut-wrenching writing is without a doubt the main character. Poetry without poetry is my favourite. It reads like a dark fairytale, fully aware of it's pagan influence and origins. It has not been white washed, so their is sex and violence. This is the story of innocence, love, betrayal, loss and revenge. 

Our wild girl encounters William MacCormac, a man of privilege and power, the son of a influential lord and saves him. Neither can forget each other, and William persuades her to come live with him and names her Malmuira, the dark lady of the mountains. There are ominous signs and portents but the girl ignores them. Naming means taming, and despite the warnings of her community, she gives up her freedoms to stay, all for love. She is treated with contempt and fear and by others in William's household, whilst rumours abound of her being a wicked witch who has bewitched the young lord. William's love proves to be less than enduring and the girl once called Malmuira must fight to free herself of the taming influence that the name has had on her. It is a story of reclaiming yourself, your identity and your self respect. This is a wondrous and mythic story that weaves a spell over the reader. Highly recommended. 

Age Rating 16+. As I said, there is death, violence and sex though not incredibly explicit. 

The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern

"Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he
discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues—a bee, a key, and a sword—that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library hidden far below the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians—it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also of those who are intent on its destruction. Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose—in both the mysterious book and in his own life."

The Starless Sea is a love letter to literature, story telling as a whole and  to those of us dogged with the invisible burden of unbelonging that sends us out into the pages in search of solace. The writing is truly stunning. Morgenstern's prose is fluid, memorable and painfully beautiful. It kind of reminds me of Laini Taylor's newer works. The overall aesthetic is just spot on too, I wanted to climb into the book multiple times just from the sheer beautifulness of everything being described. 

The Starless Sea starts with a fascinating inciting incident. This guy named Zachary finds an old book at his library that tells his story. On a quest to discover why this book tells his story, Zachary soon finds himself in this magical library/world with some magical people. 

However, what follows is a disappointing series of seemingly endless fish-out-of-water scenes as Zachary bumbles along, trying to make sense of this magical place. But even when things started to "come together" in the last 100 pages or so, I still had no idea what was going on. I constantly asked "but what is the point?" while reading this book and never, even at the end, got a satisfactory answer. Who are the Owls, who are the bees, why does the starless sea exist, why does it rise or sink? There was also no antagonist or central conflict. Again, I'm utterly confounded. Without an antagonist or a cohesive plot I am reading beautiful meaningless prose. 

But I am going to shock everyone now... I didn't mind being confused hugely. I think each person could read this book and come away with a hugely differing moral or take. Maybe the bees are God, maybe they are the first story tellers and stories make the world? Who knows? Maybe that was Morgenstern's point. Maybe this is a prolonged show of the mailability of stories and their meanings. If so she was very brave and I can see this being incredibly frustrating for many readers, myself occasionally included. 

However the one thing that did really grate on me was the irritating love story. I didn't buy Zachary and Dorian's relationship for a second. They kind of saved each other's lives once or twice, but never had any time to develop a deep connection. They spent an evening drinking wine and reading together, (and by "reading together" I mean reading different books in the same room together) but had no other significant interactions. They never flirted or talked to each other more than a few sentences. Then all of a sudden Dorian confesses to Zachery very dramatically.  Uh, what??!? At this point in the book, I wasn't even sure that Dorian was into men and liked Zachary, let alone was in love with him. It is hinted at that Zachary and Dorian are meant to be together because of some prophetic nonsense, but my god, what a cop out. Throw some scenes of them getting to know each other with some cute banter in this huge book so that I can believe they are in love.

Age Rating 14+ Nothing inappropriate.  

We Hunt the Flame (1#) - Hafsah Faizal

"Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves
the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya--but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds--and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine."

I was so keen on this book but it unfortunately falls flat. The main thing carrying this story is definitely the Arabic representation. It just gives the story a lush and cultural feel that is much needed in the book world. Had you taken that away.... 

The writing is very good. I never felt bored. I related to the characters and was enveloped in the world and there was some genuinely great prose. It was only after reading the book did I realise there wasn't much to actually be enveloped in. It was a great quick fantasy romp with no deeper pull. 

The full promise of We Hunt the Flame is swallowed by an overreliance on clichés. Once the main arc disengages fully from the shadows, it turns out to be fairly standard for a fantasy novel: A long-lost artifact to retrieve. The threat of dark magic hanging over everything like a shawl. Evil sources scheming. Enemies turning reluctant allies. Everyone is, of course, burdened by a tragic backstory with the always necessary brooding Prince and quippy side kick. 

The bare-boned plot of We Hunt the Flame meanders towards a conclusion that doesn't pack as much suspense as it could. Zafira’s quest is utterly non-earth-shaking, and the novel often shies away from the full impact of the magical stakes, and as a result, some of the grander moments were robbed of gravitas.

Not only does the plot come late, but it also felt like the story was making the deliberate decision not to raise too many questions about the worldbuilding in order to focus, instead, on the character arcs which weren’t even that gripping to begin with. If you decide to have a character-driven plot, please actually make me know the characters. They all started to care for each other for no reason. The bonding was so sudden. 

This was all bad enough but what had lowered my spirit still further is the fact that I picked up this book expecting a story grounded in a stellar Arabian setup, unfortunately, We Hunt the Flame doesn't linger there long. Too much of the world is glossed over, or left naggingly blank. As for the characters of We Hunt the Flame, they are a collection of stereotypes that we oftentimes see in YA books. I did enjoy Altair and his quippy banter though, but it wasn't original. Most of them are only special to the extent they serve a purpose, and once that purpose is met, they are no longer needed.

If you want to read a wonderful Arabic inspired fantasy I would instead direct you to City of Brass by S.A Chakraborty or even And I Darken by Kiersten White. 

Age Rating 14+. Some cringy teenage make out sessions, death and torture. 

Raybearer - Jordan Ifueko

"Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised
in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?"

I am conflicted about this book. Taking into account this is a debut novel I am really really impressed and I am looking forward to seeing more from this author as she grows. I really wanted to love it and part of me did. I loved the mixing of different cultures and the African setting. It is unique, individual, and I am thrilled by the explosion of POC fantasy books on the market. It’s just really great seeing new authors telling stories about their cultures. The book mixes cultures that took inspiration for Africa, France, Korea, China all mixing and merging was beautiful. It was also interesting to think about a world where the African continent was the most powerful and how would that make our own world look. 

It was also an interesting critic on colonialism and the dangers of unity rather than equality that never turned didactic. Ray bearer is a novel that understands empire’s tremendous and insidious power. That they can eat holes into the bulwarks of many cultures, destroying entire edifices, and it can be very, very convincing while it destroys them. I wondered again—for the thousandth time—if that is the truest death: being slowly rendered invisible. 

The actual writing style had some really lovely moments and I felt grounded in the story's setting and tone. 

I also enjoyed the asexual representation however it was blink and you'll miss it. I wish that was explored more.

However something was missing for me in the book as a whole. 

I wish there was an exploration of polyamory. I genuinely thought that was where this book was going to go from the opening scenes and the blurb and I was excited to see and explore that dynamic. However, it turns out that most of the characters split off very neatly into couples. I think this is unlikely. If you are all telepathically connected, have been together since childhood, and literally sleep in a puppy pile of the floor every night...well.

On that note I really wanted more interactions between the people in the Ray. We only know Sanjeet, Dayo and Kirah. I can't even remember the names of the rest of them. There is one sweet scene where the girls are having their hair braided...but that was it. I really felt that is undercut the emotional depth of the book. One of the main themes of the book is Tarisai finding her "found family" where she can be loved and excepted, but then we get no sweet family interactions, it was disappointing and a waste of potential. The other cultures aren't fleshed out enough either to ground the characters, some are literally boiled down to ohh Chinese name, farm rice. Right... just feels lazy. 

The main antagonist, "the lady" was unfortunately less then terrifying. It was hard to relate to Tarisai's fear of her.  It felt like the author was trying to get across she had the potential to be a good person, but through the evils of patriarchy she became evil. I mean...sure not being appreciated and abandoned can make us do terrible things but raping a man, abusing your daughter and trying to kill a child. Well, I think that's just you, not the patriarchy. Thus the Lady trying to garner sympathy honestly just sounded like a delusional user.

The plot was all over the place. I was hooked the first third. It was gripping and made sense and was full of life. Then it slumped for the second third. It felt like a chore to keep reading at points and I had to take a break from it, which I almost never do. I felt like the author brushed over meaningful events that would have been interesting to explore, and focused on things that weren’t very interesting. Furthermore, throughout the story it felt like certain events just conveniently happened in order to drive the plot forward.

 The entire Redemptor arch felt very tacked on and just didn't seem to sit well with the rest of the book, it was introduced to late and had no grounding. The climax(es?) were meh. Things finally started to pick up again in the final third of the book, and I was back into it. There were a few interesting twists and a good climax that seemed to occur a little early in the book .... but then there were like 50 more pages of confusion ... and another climax that I was not expecting at all. It set the book up to continue the series, but it was just so jumbled and really left me uninterested in the direction of the series. 

I think overall this book would have been much better if it had slowed down with the plot, taken time to flesh out the characters, dynamics and world building more. Give us small personal moments with the other people in the Ray. Show us why they all love Tarisai, show us why she loves them. Display the characters different cultures and how they interact with each other. This could have been a large scale, epic, sweeping novel spanning continents with rich and lush cultures.

Age Rating 15+. Nothing untoward, some vague allusions to sex. However the rape that the Lady performs, while off page still isn't appropriate for younger audiences. 

Winter Rose - Patricia A McKillip

"Sorrow and trouble and bitterness will bound you and yours and the
children of yours...

Some said the dying words of Nial Lynn, murdered by his own son, were a wicked curse. To others, it was a winter's tale spun by firelight on cold, dark nights. But when Corbet Lynn came to rebuild his family estate, memories of his grandfather's curse were rekindled by young and old - and rumours filled the heavy air of summer.

In the woods that border Lynn Hall, free-spirited Rois Melior roams wild and barefooted in search of healing herbs. She is as hopelessly unbridled - and unsuited for marriage - as her betrothed sister Laurel is domestic. In Corbet's pale green eyes, Rois senses a desperate longing. In her restless dreams, mixed with the heady warmth of harvest wine, she hears him beckon. And as autumn gold fades, Rois is consumed with Corbet Lynn, obsessed with his secret past - until, across the frozen countryside and in flight from her own imagination, truth and dreams become inseparable..."

This was my first McKillip book, and I'm just a little disappointed actually. From the first pages, I thought it was going to be a combination of beautiful writing, fantasy with a solid plot and well developed characters. I'm afraid it only delivered the beautiful writing, and couldn't just hook me to the rest of the story.
It's a very slow going book, with lots of descriptions, and atmosphere. Which is absolutely fine if well executed, but there should have been a bit more balance for a more plot or better set up for fantastical elements.

However it could be argued that is sparseness in characterisation and plot was a literary choice on McKillip's part. The book does feel exactly like an old fairy-tale your mother would tell you. Simple, beautiful and slightly incomprehensible. If you just relax into the book and don't try to understand it, I think it would improve your reading experience. 

There is much to admire in this book: some beautifully lyrical, poetic writing, especially of dreams and visions and mysterious moments of two worlds intermingling. But ultimately it is undermined by a climax that remains too elusive, abstract and muddy (featuring dialogue that suddenly becomes jarringly melodramatic) and a general feeling that the poetic prose is keeping the emotional heart of the story at arms’ length.

I am still interested in reading more of Patrica A. McKillip’s work, since she is clearly gifted, has a rich imagination and the ability to paint beautiful pictures with her words. Her focus on fairy-tale and folklore, while keeping much of the traditional style of the old stories, is also right up my street. 

Age Rating 13+. Nothing untoward. An illusion to child abuse. Might struggle with comprehension but hey so did I. 

The Queen of Nothing (#3)- Holly Black

"Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude
learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.

Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.

And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…"

Was this series the most perfectly-plotted? The most unique? Did it break any new ground? No to all of the above. But I read every page of this with my heart pounding and a lump in my throat-- how many perfectly-plotted, unique and ground-breaking books can I say that about? These series really has been a wonderfully guilty pleasure. 

I was waiting with baited breath to see how Holly Black finished this series, especially with Wicked King being on top form. The Queen of Nothing was...not that. Don't get me wrong, I ate it up. It was fantastic. But it did not quite compare to what came before. 

I think I can tell you exactly why: the book was too short. All three books were very fast-paced. That's part of their magic. They don't give you time to breathe. But with this one I often wished Holly would slow down, focus more on the details, set the scene, make me feel the atmosphere and tension. I fear that that's why a certain character literally fell victim to negligence. I did not wait two books for Locke to die a very painful death for him to just die between two books without me being able to witness it. I deserved that. Taryn, too, never actually receives the absolution or punishment she needed. She was this complex, unpredictable character. Until she wasn't. She became nice, docile even. Her character arc was thrown out of the window.

I felt that Jude, someone who's entire character and character arch has been about revenge becomes far too forgiving. Madoc may have been punished but in a very unpunished way. I wanted someone to suffer! I wanted Jude to her usual brutal self. 

I also needed more of Jude and Cardan's relationship; they went from supposed enemies to sleeping together seemingly out of the blue, then the main event happened and then the super cheesy ending. Not much was shown in  how their relationship is actually going to work. These two characters that have been supressing their love and struggling with extreme guilt about their attraction to each other now are going to be a cutesy normal couple. Jude, a brutal vengeful solider and Carden, the most debauched and cruel Fae?? Really?

These books have been a guilty pleasure for me and I have been imagining so many wonderful and awful ways it could end. I wasn't disappointed. It was thrilling, and mostly satisfying. There where areas that I had issues with and I do feel that it lacked the emotional impact or nuance that the other books did. However, saying that I did thoroughly enjoy it. 

Age Rating 16+. Sex, death and torture. 

There will come a Darkness - Katy Rose Pool

"The Age of Darkness approaches.

Five lives stand in its way.
Who will stop it... or unleash it?

For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations―until the day, one hundred years ago, when the Prophets disappeared.

All they left behind was one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world’s salvation . . . or the cause of its destruction. As chaos takes hold, five souls are set on a collision course:

A prince exiled from his kingdom.
A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand.
A once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart.
A reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone.
And a dying girl on the verge of giving up.

One of them―or all of them―could break the world. Will they be saviour or destroyer?"

This is a strange book. So much happened, and yet… nothing actually happened??? The way I see it, this book was a long introduction to a story that is yet to actually come.

It book follows five different POVs. Five seemingly unconnected people with five different goals and five different plot lines. However you soon start to see how they interconnect and link with each others lives. 

Honestly this book is a masterclass on how to write multiple POVs correctly. More often than not, when several main characters are present, all with their own POV/chapters, things can go downhill. The plot gets easily lost and confusing, some characters get developed better, others end up being unlikable, some POVs are slower paced and more boring than others, etc. the list can go on. But this is the first story where I enjoyed every character and there is no POV that is lacking. Each perspective helps the plot instead of hinders it.

I also really enjoyed the Roman inspired setting, a setting honestly not used enough in Fantasy. However I did find this section of the world building odd, they have trains yet the rest of the world building feels very ancient, there are paladins with swords for goodness sake. It threw me a bit, one second I was imagining everyone in togas and then trains, which means a whole different aesthetic to me, like Roman steampunk... I hope that gets dived into more.

The characters are diverse with plenty of POC and even some LGBT representation, which was handled well. It wasn't spotlighted or made into a major plot point, just kind of like yeah why wouldn't these people be here. So the right why to go about writing a diverse cast. I also hope we find more about the characters different cultures as they all seem to come from countries modelled on vastly different cultures, it would be interesting to see if that is explored. 

This is the book where the world and the characters are set up but where nothing much happens plot-wise. We got introduced to all the major players and plotlines and then are left hanging, waiting for the sequel. 

The main villain, The Hierophant, is talked about constantly and yet we meet them in the last 15% of the novel for two scenes in which they do nothing that lives up to all the talk we’ve heard of them. Even the prophecy that connects all the characters and drives the plot forward has no real bearing in this specific book. It’s just sort of there to serve as a plot device.

Even the characters are just introduced. We only know the basics of them. We’ve yet to dive deep into their minds and see them as their truest selves. Basically, this book was the preview. Still, in spite of all that I just said, I actually enjoyed the story.

It was easy to read through, the writing was pacey and fun. It was interesting and I liked seeing the prophecy come together as the story went on. I did call a lot of the plot twists but there were definitely a few that I didn’t see coming and I appreciate that.

The characters were all interesting, even Hassan that I didn’t love, and I can’t wait to read more about them and see how the prophecy unfolds.

This might have just been the introduction, but I am excited to see what comes next in the sequel when Pool can really get into her stride. 

Age Rating 14+. Abuse, murder, large scale death. 

The Kingdom of Copper (#2)- S.A. Chakraborty

"Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad and quickly discovered she would need all her instincts to survive there.

Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali’s hand, Nahri must forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family and one misstep will doom her tribe.

Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid, the unpredictable water spirits, have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad's towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve."

Just a stunning, stunning series! I am loving it more with each instalment. I read City of Brass and while I had some problems with it, I really enjoyed it. One of my main issues with it was that it read very much like a YA novel at times, and while I do love YA novels, it made the characters seem childish at times that didn't mesh with the high stakes plot. 

However, with this novel taking place five years after the end of the first, and with the stakes having been tremendously raised, there was no time for being juvenile here. This change in tones is seen throughout the book, through the more gritty writing, matured characterisation and the deep exploration of personal loyalties and morals. 

This is the book where the characters fully come into themselves and are able to really develop, especially Dara. While I don't particularly like him as a person, his character is so interesting. Here we get to read from Dara's point of view for the first time and it was fascinating to see the world, war and all that was happening through his eyes. His contradicting beliefs and inner conflict when it came to both his and Manizheh's actions definitely added depth to his character and I loved every moment. 

Also, Ali! He has grown so much! While I liked him in book one, his chapters were a bit on the boring and long-winded side, but that was part of his personality in a way. In this book, we get to see some action and way more emotion out of him and it was so wonderful. He was coming into his own as a person. Stepping out of his brother's and father's shadows and becoming his own person with his own beliefs and morals. 

All the other characters were fabulous too. I really enjoyed all the minor characters, they feel too well fleshed out to be called minor, and their arcs. Muthandhir, Zaynab, Jamshid,and many others. I think that that is my main love of this series. No character feels extraneous. They all give us a different and valid insight into the politics, morals and society so you find yourself as confused and conflicted as the main characters. 

Now, the perfect segway into politics. I really enjoyed them in book one although they oftentimes felt overwhelming. This book, with a better handle on what was up, had just the right amount of intrigue, family drama and city politics. There was no one right side. Everyone is standing in a morally grey area, doing what they need for what they believe is right. Everyone believes themselves justified in their cruel actions and their hatred. Everyone was equally wrong, and yet, in a way, I could completely see and understand where each of them was coming from. Each had valid points and each group is shown to be equally at fault and equally innocent. It was an amazingly nuanced portrayal that mirrors modern day real-life racism, nationalism and tribalism experienced all over the world. To manage such a complex system in a book this big is certainly a talent that Chakraborty has clearly mastered. 

That ending though! I was honestly so stressed for the entire last 20% of this book. The pacing for this book is excellent and the tension only ramps up, without leaving it dull in the middle. I was at the edge of my seat, wondering what the heck was going to go down. So many questions have been answered in this book and now I have even more questions than ever before! I am super excited to see how it's all going to end in Empire of Gold! 

Age Rating 14+. Some adult themes. Reality of war (as much as a fantasy can provide), mass scale violence and hints to sexual violence. 

The City of Brass (#1) - S.A Chakraborty

"Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for..."

I really enjoyed this book. It is not without its flaws, granted, but I still found it highly engaging and a whirlwind of fun. 

Nahri, our main characters, is a twenty-year-old thief and con artist, working marks in 18th Century French-occupied Cairo. She has a gift for discerning medical maladies and treating them. She is supernaturally adept at languages and at parting the unwary from their money. Her character started out so well. She was a survivor; clever and mischievous, making decisions with her head rather than her heart, who’d do what needed to be done to make it through another day and though not all her decisions could be labelled as sound, they were necessary nonetheless. I appreciated that so much, after all, who isn’t a sucker for a survivor story?

Unfortunately as the story progressed her character seemed to become less and less important and less cohesive. Page after page she kept making one foolish decision after another which was so unlike her, as if the Nahri at the beginning of the novel transformed into a completely different character by the end.

All that pride I felt at the start was crushed. It was very disheartening and I am hoping that she becomes more like herself and, finds her power in Daevabad, in the next book. 

My favourite character is the book has to be Alizayd. I really felt for him and his struggle to find out the truth and be morally upstanding in a world that seems entirely morally grey. The confusion of his alliances because of his mixed tribe heritage was also really interesting. He felt the most realistic and complex of the characters. It was a little odd to me that in a community that is depicted as largely Muslim, Alizayd was the only character who was remotely portrayed as being so.....only he was ostracized on account of being Muslim by pretty much EVERYONE ELSE.

Ali is a pious, self-serious and kind-hearted scholar, trying to understand his own privilege and to balance exercising his own power with the love he has for his powerful family. Yet he was perceived, by everyone else, as an oddity for simply being devout – for declining his brother’s invitation to drink alcohol, for not

frequenting parties, etc. He was even called a “religious fanatic”

And last but not least of the main characters is Dara. Here’s the thing: I’m of the firm belief that a great character does not necessarily translate into a “good person”. In fact, some of the best literary figures are completely horrible people, and that's because a character’s worth should always be hinged on how interesting and complex they are, not on their morality in case they were real. But you know what? Male protagonists whose arc revolves around growth and actual personality will always be more interesting than insufferable wankers who punch everything and treat everyone around them like garbage.

Dara’s character lacks any creativity, emotion, or purpose beyond carrying on a pointless ancestral grudge. It’s impossible to sympathize with him, let alone root for him. He is shown to be incredibly prejudiced against shafits (half humans), believe his tribe is better than anyone else's and all round so supremist and exclusionary. This was never combated by the author or Nahri, merely brushed off by the fact that he is sweetly old-fashioned. Like no women he is deeply racist and insufferable. 

Now on to the plot, the book is quite long. It is definitely a set up for the rest of the trilogy, getting the stage set and the reader informed. However I didn't feel like the book dragged. I was interested and engaged the entire time. I am a sucker for fantasy politics and world building so it might be more my cup of tea than others.  Daevabad is stunningly complex and vibrant. Ancient tribal hatreds are kept at bay by a strong, fabulously morally grey and ruthless ruler. King Ghassan ibn Khader al Qahtani must contend not only with inter-tribal tensions, he must cope with a growing insurgency. (Think sundry Middle East rulers with tribally diverse populations.) 

The City of Brass is both smart and very entertaining.

 The richness of the world we see here gives added heft to a wonderful story. The world Chakraborty has created hums with humanity, well, whatever the djinn equivalent might be for humanity (djinnity?).The writing is really well done.

You will smell the incense, want to keep a damp cloth at hand to wipe the dust and sand from your face, and a cool drink nearby to help with the heat. It is also wonderful to learn more about a culture that is not my own. This is a wonderful, engaging, and fun read. Will certainly stick around for the second one. 

Age rating 14 +. There is quite a brutal scene where a man is crushed to death, people are burnt alive in molten metal and there are many concubines however nothing is explicitly sexual.