Gods of Jade and Shadow - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

"The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning
the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld."

This is my first book by Moreno - Garcia. I have heard a lot about her work, especially as I am some one who enjoys the rather nebulous category of magic realism. I must say that I enjoyed the way that Moreno - Garcia writes, with some truly wonderful descriptions and prose, however I found the characterisation and plot deeply lacking. 

Gods of Jade and Shadow had a great beginning. Martin, Casiopea, and her grandfather were all initially well depicted, and then I just wanted to go to sleep. It began to get tedious VERY early on in the story, and I was bored before she even introduced Hun-Kame, the Mayan God of Death. He brought about some respite from the slow movement, but not for long. The jazz era twist was a great idea but it leant nothing really to the story, it didn't further the plot or the conflict in Casiopea. 

I wanted so much more from this. I wanted to know more about the culture, the magic, folklore, stories of the Mayan culture. I wanted to explore the social dynamics of 1920's Mexico. What was it like? What was it like to be indigenous? Did some people keep their old religion or had it been completely lost to Catholicism? How did the flapper movement seem to a highly religious people? It wasn't a horrible book, but it definitely do justice to the wealth of Mayan or Mexican culture. 

I understand why many people think that this is a YA rather than an Adult book as it certainly reads like a YA, with the plot skimming over much of the deeper themes that I was expecting. I was hoping/ expecting the book to explore the conflict between Cassiopeia's identities and religion. I wish this had been further explored, more of Casiopea questioning her upbringing and the Catholic way of doing things when confronted with a Pagan god. How would their moral be similar or different? I wanted Casiopea to have more conflict around her mixed identity and come to realise how beautiful her indigenous heritage is through her interactions with Hun - Kame. However none of this is ever explored leaving the characters feeling flat and the plot had no emotional stakes whatsoever. I couldn't care for these characters or become invested in their journey. 

However all that said, I would give Moreno-Garcia's work another go as I enjoyed her writing style.

Age Rating 15+. Some light familial bullying. 

The Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao

"The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot
Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. However, through an unexpected incident, she is labelled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot. 

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and stop more girls from being sacrificed."

I knew I would enjoy this book but I absolutely loved it. 

For a debut novel, it is absolutely knockout. The plot is snappy, fast - paced and fluid while still giving the world time to be fleshed out and moments of quiet. Jay Zhao beautifully interweaves the recognizable elements of popular YA, with Chinese mythology and history all while using these elements to explore the modern dilemmas of sexism, societally condoned abuse, shame tactics, body politics, Chinese tribal politics and jingoism. However, it never becomes didactic, nor do these themes feel forced into the narrative. They flow naturally within the story structure. Clearly an incredibly well read/informed author.  

The writing is stellar. There were heart-breaking moments and moments that made me feel like I should go scream victoriously on a roof top somewhere. The descriptions were beautiful, and created a vivid and unique world for me. The Chrysalises sounded so damn cool. The dialogue is so good, it never felt clunky and each person had a very unique voice. 

The characters where all so lovable to me. Very few novels out there allow their female protagonist to gain full ownership not only of her body, but of her destiny; to be merciless and vengeful, and cold-blooded; to kill people in order to achieve her goals. Zetian is brutal and fabulous. She is allowed to be as cold and calculating as her male peers, arguably more so, while never becoming unrelatable. She loves and feels so deeply, which is why she fights so hard. She is probably the first "empowering" character that I have read that I actually felt was relatable and genuinely had me coming away feeling pumped. 

Li Shimin was adorable, this huge, terrifying, hulking solider is actually a big softie. This contrasted by Gao YiZhi, who is the most traditionally feminine of them all, is the cool and calculating strategist. I adored the dynamics between the three of them. I wasn't aware that it was going to be a polyamorous relationship so I was so thrilled when I started to see the way that the book was headed. I also just really appreciated seeing a relationship between a more aggressive women and and more feminine guy, where she didn't look down on him, nor did he feel emasculated by her in anyway. It was beautiful and refreshing. 

While there where some elements that where clearly recognizable from other places such as the obvious nod to Pacific Rim or Ender's Game, I never felt that this book was derivative. It felt unique, original, scintillating and surprisingly gritty in places. I would 100% recommend and I am looking forward to the next instalment after that plot twist! 

Age Rating 17+. Mentions of domestic violence, rape, abuse, physically mutilation, torture.

The Story of Kao Yu - Peter S Beagle

 "The story of a Judge travelling through ancient China, and the
criminal he encounters."

Kao Yu is a middle-aged judge in ancient China, renowned for his fairness and honesty. He spends much of the year traveling from town to town to assist with legal cases. Kao Yu is sometimes assisted in making decisions by a chi-lin, a multi-coloured Chinese unicorn (that looks nothing like a unicorn, by the way) who will suffer no dishonesty in its presence. 

Kao Yu, however, during the course of one of these journeys must struggle with the warring between his heart, his head and divine justice. 

“The Story of Kao Yu” is a melancholy tale, a story of love and loss, and the choices we make when any choice will bring us pain. Beagle effectively and respectfully captures the style of an ancient Chinese legend, while making some timeless points about our innate human weaknesses.

However, while I did enjoy the short story and the execution is perfect, I just felt that it doesn't bring anything new to the table. It relies on traditional archetypes and storylines, and doesn't do anything so many hundreds of myths and legends haven't been doing for millennia.

Age Rating 13+ Nothing untoward but a lady does kill a man for his wallet and sex is very vaguely implied by "staying the night."

Ninth House (#1) - Leigh Bardugo

"Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman
class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive."

I really enjoyed this book, it was right up my alley. Secret Societies, Old Universities, Magic and Academia, Ghosts, Magic Tattoos, Tradition and the "Old Boys Club" being infiltrated by someone who definitely doesn't traditionally belong there. It was a bit slow to start but I, personally, enjoy slower paced books. Bardugo's atmosphere building is top notch and her plot kept me guessing and interested. There are also some really stunning writing/ aesthetic moments that, if I had any drawing skills, I would love to draw. The dialogue was fun and snappy. The character's a good mix of cliché and unique. 

I am not very fond of Alex’s character just yet, she’s indeed a hard girl to love but I think she might grow on me after a while. I already love her wits and confidence so I just need another push to be sure I love her.

I feel that Leigh Bardugo definitely seems more suited to writing more adult slanted content. There is no YA, which seems to have come to mean tweens and up, content here, okay. This really is young ADULT. 

If this book is one thing, it's violent. There are some graphic scenes that show sexual abuse, rape, drug addiction and the sexual abuse of minors. There is trauma and pain and it's not glossed over. That said, it isn’t the grimmest, or bleakest book I’ve ever read. In fact, Bardugo sometimes tries too hard for big, dramatic horror, and the violence comes off as gratuitous, her ghosts sometimes too chain-rattling to believe. Ninth House is about all kinds of trauma, yet I found that the consequences of such a monumental thing are barely brushed upon. The novel is rife with flashbacks, seen through Alex’s eyes as she passively witnesses the horrifying events of her past, but her trauma-suppressed memories seemingly only resurface whenever it's convenient for the plot, and without much of a statement being made besides. And that occasionally struck a sour note.

There’s a lot going on in this book. It is something hard to get into because the beginning is extremely confusing. The action is quite slow and not necessarily that complex, but somehow, until the end, there is something there. Something that leaves you thinking that you actually really enjoyed it. I am keen to read the second instalment when I think the magic aspect of the series will also come into it's own and we will get a better understanding of the characters. 

Age Rating 17+. As said above, quite a brutal book that includes no small amount of abuse. 

Black Leopard, Red Wolf - Marlon James

"Tracker is known far and wide for his skills as a hunter: "He has a
nose," people say. Engaged to track down a mysterious boy who disappeared three years earlier, Tracker breaks his own rule of always working alone when he finds himself part of a group that comes together to search for the boy. The band is a hodgepodge, full of unusual characters with secrets of their own, including a shape-shifting man-animal known as Leopard.

Drawing from African history and mythology and his own rich imagination, Marlon James has written an adventure that's also an ambitious, involving read. Defying categorization and full of unforgettable characters, Black Leopard, Red Wolf explores the fundamentals of truths, the limits of power, the excesses of ambition, and our need to understand them all."

Defying the more Western belief in one definitive version of a story, this book is structured as an oral epic in which stories lead to more stories which lead to yet more, ultimately providing the reader with a conundrum of reliability: who tells the truth and whose story is being told? Marlon James chooses to leave that entirely up to the reader. There are many elusive layers of detail to sift through from the very beginning: a test of endurance, almost asking "do you really want to hear this story?"

And I found that my answers was...No, not really, thank you. 

This is a deeply disturbing book. 

First, my purely literary criticism. I don't mind having to sometimes work for a story. some of the best stories take patience to dissect deeper meanings. But what is really happening here is Marlon James hiding behind his fancy words and complicated sentences to distract the reader from the lack of substance and development. The rhetoric in this story is dense, convoluted, and bogged down with false promises of something worth reading. The prose is evasive and meandering, dragging the reader around and around in circles without an end in sight. The pacing is uneven and the whole experience one of crazy disorganisation. It reads like a dreamscape, full of portent and stark brutality. The writing is often staccato, list-like, with small, well-crafted sentences that are a perfect foil for Marlon James’ ability, showcasing his striking imagery and unusual connections. Well, I would like to think that this was a stylistic choice of James's to create a feeling of unreliability or a drug induced haze and the book wasn't just an disorganized mess. Yes, it’s beautiful at times, but, for me at least, emotionless.

Now onto the really disturbing part. The amount of lewdness in the book is obscene. I'm not easily deterred by things sexual in nature, even perverse stuff as sex and the way we use it can give us a huge amount of insight into the human psyche. Bring it on. But this is too extreme for me. A big neon flashing trigger warning is necessary for the following: rape, gang rape, paedophilia, bestiality, incest, mutilation of bodies, graphic murder, physical and emotional abuse, repetitious orgies, torture, constant misogyny in all the characters, etc. and none of it has any relevance to the plot or progression of the storyline. I understand that mythology doesn't shy away from such brutality, but there is a difference between being aware and having these events happen for a reason and just being down right offensive for shock value. This book is the latter. 

Characters have limited realism, some act as symbols, some merely a means of upping the violence levels still further. When read all at once, it’s an endless and eventually numbing litany of misery and horror that loses any meaning. Such a lack of humanity ensures there is nothing redeemable or relatable about this book. Had this been a story about a tracker and a shapeshifter finding love while in search of a missing boy, deeply rooted in African mythology and cultural folklore fantasy, I would have loved this to bits. The concept is phenomenally creative. but this book is nothing that it claims to be. Instead is showcases toxic relationship after another, a disturbingly misogynistic and awful main character (that I really hope doesn't mirror the author's own feelings towards women)  that has zero character growth and reduces queer men's relationships to nigh-  on bestial sex. 

I wouldn't recommend it but it was certainly an experience that brought something new. 

Age Rating 18+. Please believe me on this one. I am not being overly sensitive, just trust me.

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. 

Tithe (#1) - Holly Black

"Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she
travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could very well mean her death."

Yes, Yes I know. Another Holly Black. I am just a sucker for her description of Fae. So first of all, on the good side… the fairies . The way Holly Black draws her fairy worlds and fairy characters is genuinely so imaginative, gorgeous, and… creepy. Every time I dive into one of her books, I find myself both terrified and enamoured with her fairy world. Holly Black always knocks the fairy stories out the park. Tithe is a raw, dark faerie tale in keeping with Black's usual style. While not suitable for younger readers (lots of swearing, torture and violence, and mature themes), I loved its take on the darker side of faerie. Black's understanding and vision for Fairies is excellent and is exactly how I imagine them.  It also deals with faerie themes like Changelings and the knowing of one's True Name very well. 

Roiben had a lot of potential. The idea of being trapped in a different court, sent there by your beloved Queen where she knows you will be humiliated and tortured, but can do nothing about the terrible things you are made to do because they have your true name and have to do everything they say. I mean how absolutely horrific. However he did need to be fleshed out more as he did feel a little one dimensional at times. 

Kaye, though, is a bit of a blah main character. I found that she was one of those early YA protagonists who’s written just generic enough that she’s easy to make into a self insert, but at the cost of an engaging motivation or quirky personality. Cool outfits do not a character make. I think this book really suffered from being so short, and I mean it is really really short. The characters don't have time to be developed, and neither does the romance that is probably one of the worst Insta-loves I have ever come across. I just don't see how these two characters could fall for each other - especially in such short amount of time. Kaye saw Roiben once and fell instantaneously in love with his ... hair?  I mean, they know each other for 4 days max, have nothing in common, never really have a heart to heart talk to make us understand what attracts them to each other. 

It dallied with some themes but didn’t stick with them in any meaningful way. I find Black’s work tends to do this often. I’ve never read something by her that had anything to it. It’s all aesthetic for aesthetics’ sake, which is fine but undeniably tiring after a while. A quick, light read with plenty of beautiful descriptions. 

Age Rating 16+ Surprisingly high rating, drugs, sex with dubious consent, domestic abuse, swearing, minor's having sex, torture and humiliation. Other than that,
though completely fine. 

The Sisters Grimm - Menna Van Praag

"Once upon a time, a demon who desired earthly domination fathered an
army of dark daughters to help him corrupt humanity . . .

As children, Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea dreamed of a strange otherworld: a nightscape of mists and fog, perpetually falling leaves and hungry ivy, lit by an unwavering moon. Here, in this shadowland of Everwhere, the four girls, half-sisters connected by blood and magic, began to nurture their powers together. But at thirteen, the sisters were ripped from Everwhere and separated. Now, five years later, they search for one another and yearn to rediscover their unique and supernatural strengths.

To realize their full potential, the sisters must return to the land of their childhood dreams. But Everwhere can only be accessed through certain gates at 3:33 A.M. on the night of a new moon. As Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea are beset with the challenges of their earthly lives, they must prepare for a battle that lies ahead. 

They have thirty-three days to discover who they truly are and what they can truly do, before they must fight to save themselves and those they love."

The concept for this story is fantastic, fallen star soldiers, elemental sisters, dreamscapes and misty Cambridge nights.  Unfortunately we are never given enough explanation to make the story understood. As a matter of fact, a lot of things are not explained at all. This leaves the world feeling flat. 

I also found myself disappointed. When I pick up a book with Grimm in the title, I have fairy tales, red hoods and thick German forests come to mind. However we get nothing that even closely resembles anything thing to do with Grimm other than Liyana occasionally likening her sisters to fairy-tale characters. 

Sisters Hecate would have made more sense. 

And as for Wilhelm Grimm... I am still confused as to his character. Is this one of the Grimm brothers turned demon (somehow?), or is this a demon/devil who happens to be named Grimm and commands all of these girls who have something to do with fairy tales? His existence, as is the brief and repetitive view that we get of Everwhere, are not expanded enough for me to feel any impact from this character or setting.

Unfortunately this disassociation from the characters was also true for the girls. I felt very little for them. I think it was due to the constant POV change, as soon as I was really getting to know them I was whisked away. I also have a small gripe that kept on dragging me out of the story. All of this girls are supposedly 17, about to turn 18. That's a large plot point. But they all act well into their 20s? Bea is studying at Cambridge and is having an affair with her Teacher?? I mean... really ...at 17?? Goldie as well is still a minor, yet is the sole guardian to her brother yet they never comment on having to hide that fact to avoid child services. All the girls have sex like bunnies with seemingly grown ass adult men, I mean. It was just really odd to me.

The plot style is definitely up to preference. It moved and unfurled achingly slowly. All of the action is crammed into the last chapter, with the sisters only meeting right at the end. Throughout this novel, I felt that I was ambivalently moving along while waiting for action to jump into the moment, any moment, and save the day. It never really does. The constant jumping back and forth from past to present without any Then vs Now made for an uneven, bumpy switch in narrative.

When we eventually get some action, the sisters defeat of their father is lacklustre and unbelievable. These girls have a spark of magic that grows and forms mostly in dreams, and suddenly it is all re-awoken, embraced and used so very knowledgeably.

I would have really enjoyed this novel if it had been longer, the girls meet in the middle of the book and started training then, and there was way more world building. 

The writing itself is very good, and I am thankful for it.  I would be interested to pick something else up by this author, purely from the writing and unique concepts. But I was far too confused in things that I wanted more understanding of, as well as lacking any real investment in the characters and the pace at which they moved, to be fully immersed and enjoy the tale.

Age Rating 16+. Sex, sexual abuse of minors, murder. 

Ariadnis - Josh Martin

"Back then I thought that if it weren't for that cliff, our cities
would be one and there would be no need for all this fierceness toward each other. But then I learned about pride and tradition and prophecy, and those things are harder than rock.

Joomia and Aula are Chosen. They will never be normal. They can never be free.

On the last island on Erthe, Chosen Ones are destined to enter Ariadnis on the day they turn eighteen. There, they must undertake a mysterious and deadly challenge. For Joomia and Aula, this means competing against each other, to end the war that has seethed between their cities for nine generations.

As the day draws nearer, all thoughts are on the trial ahead. There's no space for friendship. No time for love. However much the girls might crave them.

But how you prepare for a task you know nothing certain about? Nothing, except that you must win, at whatever cost, or lose everything."

This book turned out to be nothing like what I was expecting it to be. 

There is a lack of information at the start of the novel, unfortunately that was frustrating and I nearly stopped reading. I was confused about what exactly was happening, what the Wise One was, why there are Chosen Ones, where the past Chosen Ones are, why they were competing, for longer than I should have been. But soon enough the explanations start to roll in and the bizarre yet beautiful ideas behind Ariadnis come to the fore.

The writing itself is lovely; there is a touch of slang to give it character, the girls both have distinct voices and personalities, and Martin manages to utilise time skips really well. I personally really didn't like the slang at the beginning, I found it distracting. However Martin doesn't over use it and it actually helps demonstrate the difference between the two characters personalities. 

The world building was interesting and incredibly unique. A vine treetop city, sentient owls, metal wrapped trees, prophets with shining tears, singing tree spells. I can truly say I haven't read anything that feels similar. The conflict is centred between a patriarchal, technology based city and a equalist, nature based city. I am interested to see how Martin will further explore this dynamic in his second book, as it is only lightly touched on here. 

I also really enjoyed the diverse cast. There are many POC characters, actually being the norm now in the amalgamated cities where past cultures have ceased to be separate. There are also plenty of bisexual characters, and it is just treated as completely normal, which was so surprising and absolutely wonderful. 

I thought the characters themselves were really nicely realised. The bold, impetuous Aula and the sensitive, unsure Joomia both stood out, and I loved their magical powers. Taurus was a great best friend and a moving character in his own right. Ade, the mad prophet was also one of my favourite characters and I loved her. 

However there are a few minor criticism I'd level at this book. It did get confusing from time to time, especially when other characters' prophesies were revealed. There were a few times I had to dip back a few pages to check I was following what was going on! There are also quite a bit that is left unexplained like where are the past Chosen Ones. Where people really going mad when they left or was that a conspiracy? why was Ade the only Chosen one in her generation for both cities?

Also, I wasn't quite sure all the swearing was necessary as it didn't serve much purpose. The same goes for the amount of talk about sex. These girls are supposed to be 17 and it just felt incongruous. Everyone, even in the middle of an awful and emotional situation is thinking about sex. It just didn't feel realistic and actually brought me out the story a few times. There is one scene where Aula, one of the Chosen One's mother figure has just died, and all Aula can think about is how much she ones to sleep with this dude. I mean, your emotional loss obviously isn't that bad then and I no longer really empathize with you. 

Age Rating 16+ Because of aforesaid sex and swearing. 

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. 

Anansi Boys - Neil Gaiman

"God is dead. Meet the kids.

Fat Charlie Nancy's normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn't know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother.

Now brother Spider's on his doorstep -- about to make Fat Charlie's life more interesting... and a lot more dangerous."

Through the book we follow Fat Charlie as he becomes immersed into the world of the Gods, something he is inextricably linked to as the son of the trickster god Anansi- from discovering primitive magic to his secret brother. His life is quickly thrown into chaos. His fiancee leaves him, his brother swoops her up and Fat Charlie is set up to take the fall for a very terrible person. All the while, he has to deal with the fallout from his dad's embarrassing death.

I adore the humour in the book. This is easily the funniest Neil Gaiman book I read. I found my self laughing out loud and maniacally giggling with Gaiman's humorous observations on humanity. Everything was so real while still having this wonderful fantasy element. 

It was also great to read a fantasy using myths from Africa. It was a great idea and an unusual touch. I loved being introduced to the gods and found some of the writing really moving and thought provoking. Some lines I  had to just sit and reread. This book could definitely be read on two levels. One where is is just a really funny fantasy story full of giggle and mishaps. But there is another deeper level. One which explores the nature of humanity, how our trickiness makes us human and reduces our brutality. How fun gives meaning to life and gives another dimension to the act of merely surviving. 

While this book takes place in the same world as American Gods - there is hardly any overlap. This can easily be read as a standalone. My only gripe with this book it the pacing. The plot progressed at a glacial pace but once it started ramping up, I was hooked - there were so many side plots that were masterfully interwoven.

Overall another excellent book from Gaiman, employing his signature mix of exploration of humanity, mythology, humour and magic realism. Age Rating 13+ A murder takes place and there are some allusions to sex. 

The Ghost Bride - Yangsze Choo

"One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever."One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever."One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever."One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever."One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever."

Despite some beautiful imagery and scene settings, “The Ghost Bride” is painfully slow. Even though it has the calming zen-like presence common to most Asian historical fiction novels; the plot is halted, as well. Choo has the habit of telling Li Lan’s story versus allowing the reader to ‘live’ it which is unusual as the story is told in 1st-person narrative. Li Lan never comes alive and is one-dimensional, boring, and not available for attachment. This weakens the pace of the story and filters the characters.

“The Ghost Bride” flows too much like a young adult fictional novel as Choo simplifies and overly romanticizes the plot (in a teen lust of way) while also constantly explaining things. Meaning, Choo interrupts dialogue to explain a Chinese term or tradition or even has the characters explain these to each other in a “As you know, Bob…” style common to annoying HF novels. This is not how people think or speak to each in ‘real life’ taking away from the reality of the story. Also annoying is Choo’s overuse of foreshadowing which isn’t subtle, to say the least.

Although “The Ghost Bride” is rich in historical context in terms of the story settings; the characters act, think, and respond in a much too modern way in comparison to other Asian historical fiction novels. “The Ghost Bride” is noticeably modernized, reducing the possibility of memorable and moving characters and/or plots. The novel simply lacks that special “oomph”. 

I had to eventually put it down and didn't want to carry on so I can't comment on

how the book ends. 

Age rating 13+. Creepy ghosts.