Tag: fantasy

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J Maas

14+

This collection of novellas is where Celaena’s story starts and it is definitely my favourite book in the series.

There are several different novellas within, and they all outline the day to day things Celaena experienced during the last year or so of her life as Ardalans Assassin. We get to really experience the varied and detailed world that Celaena has travelled so widely, and her relationship with Sam as it grows and develops.

Each Novella builds on the one before and sets up the devastating stage for Throne of Glass – the first full length novel in the series. I cant say much more without spoilers, but this is honestly a great read that creates every emotion as we are swept into a fantasy land where even if Celaena is one of the most feared things in it, danger and intrigue is everywhere in a land where the players are constantly changing, and the rules are changed before you know they exist.

Characters – 5/5 stars – I LOVE THEM – also if you like morally grey main characters then well, the two main characters for most of the novellas are assassins so…

World – 5/5 stars – Its perfect, this entire world has been so well thought out and in this novella collection we really get to see just how diverse and complex her world is.

Romance – 1000/5 stars- Suggestive Romance – Sam and Celaena are the ultimate couple I love them so much

Plot  – 5/5 stars – Its complex, and each novella has its own plot as well as an over arching plot of the book and then the huge plot of the entire series. I love series that are multi-faceted and where while everything means something, so much you dont understand or notice until later on.

Things to be aware of: It is quite dark in places, especially at the end, but that is to be expected in a 14+. Personally I read this when I was 13, and adored it so it all depends on what your comfort levels are on violence.

Also on a side note, this book and the rest of the series are all on Borrowbox, so if you are willing to wait a few months then you can read it on there.

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Terrier (Beka Cooper Book 1) by Tamora Pierce

14+B
This book is another hit from Tamora, and I love how different Beka is from Alanna, Kennedy, Daine, and Aly. Unlike those series which are all set within a thirty-year time frame, this series is set hundreds of years before and stars Beka Cooper (yes she is George Cooper’s great great many greats relative) who is working as a Puppy. This is a trainee ‘Dog’ which is essentially Tortalls version of a police. Beka is a tough lead – I might even go as far as to say that she is one of the toughest heroines that i have ever read in the first book.
While this returns to the Tortall I love, Beka’s world is very very different from Alanna’s and Kennedy’s especially. It focuses on the Lower City and the crime within and the morally grey lines between being a ‘Dog’ and a criminal. Beka is older (16) than the other heroines have been in their first books, so she suits this darker representation of Tortall.
Characters – 5/5 stars – They are incredibly lifelike even though I would say that Beka isnt the most morally complex – i LOVE morally complex characters – which leaves room for the supporting cast to show the lack of set morals in the Lower City.
World – 4.5/5 stars – Tortall is amazing, but in this book, we only focus on a very small corner of it unlike some of the other books where we get to see different countries and customs.
Romance – NA – not present but there are sexual undertones to some of it.
Plot  – 1000/5 stars – It is complex it is twisty and it took a second read to see the clues to the criminal.
Things to be aware of: This was a tricky one to put an age rating on – but I had to add the B because it is pretty dark and there are a few sexual innuendos. As always the age ratings are just a guide so you can read it whenever you want as long as you are comfortable with a bit more violence than some of my recommendations.

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A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

15+

When I opened this book I was expecting the normal staples of a boarding school/magic school fantasy, but this book utterly flipped them on there head. Instead of a relatively safe on the surface this was blatantly dangerous, and all throughout there was a layer of threat made even more serious by the fact that everyone in the book was so accepting of it.

The Scholmance is a secondary school at least in its basics. The school is located in a void – which may be one of the most terrifying locations I have read yet – and is isolated from the outside world completely. Inside the school it isn’t safe, with monsters creeping out of pipes and the constant threat of death. However, outside is even worse, and the only way to survive when you graduate is to learn enough from the school – and I mean the school its self as there are no adults or teachers inside the school –.

The world is so complex of its self, and all the characters are opposites. The exploration of the difference in privileges between the enclave kids and the indie kids is intriguing and touches on an aspect that I always love finding in books. The enclave kids have so much more power and community than the indie kids who are basically sitting ducks for the creatures who roam the halls.

Characters – 4/5 stars – the focus isn’t on the characters for the first half of the book, it is on the world and how to survive in an environment that is ever-changing.

World – 100000000/5 stars  – I have gushed about this in my review but I have to say it again the world is amazing.

Romance – 4/5 stars – Soft Romance – the romance isn’t really prevalent in this story, but the little bit there is sets up delightfully for the next book in the series which I cant wait to read!

Plot  – 5/5 stars – it is beautiful in its simplicity, and then the shocking twist at the end. El the main character knows what her goal is and that is survival, even if her plans to survive may be counterintuitive.

Things to be aware of: It deals with constant threat, and is therefore a darker read than my usual picks, but it is worth it for the intriguing world. Its not the biggest book but it is quite description heavy in the beginning, which reflects how El is on her own and only talking to herself.

2

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

14+B

First – the dedication – “for every girl who has ever felt powerless”. That dedication is the first thing you read, and it tells you the one of the most important and nuanced parts of the book, the push and pull between being given power by your birth and gaining power by hard work.

Paedyn has earnt her power, as she is an ‘Ordinary’ without any of the superpowers of the Elites. It means that she will be killed instantly and painfully if she is caught. However, she pretends to be a Psychic and is able to fake it by constant practice and hyperfocus on the tiniest details. Kai on the other hand is almost ridiculously overpowered, but by his own work (and the cruelty of his father) he is deadlier than his birth power would have normally made him.

The juxtaposition of the two fathers in the story shows the power of parents. Pae’s father Adam who taught her how to become powerful even through she was born without the superhuman abilities of her peers and the King, who took his two sons and made them into the perfect molds of what he wished them to become; Kai into a weapon by torture and constant forcing past limits until he kills for the crown, Kitt into the next king.

The romance is out of this world. Kai and Pae have the perfect banter and the iconic lines of the best couples. Usually enemies to lovers isnt my favourite trope, but here it works perfectly. The most delicate thing between them is the power balance, which I am very invested in. Kai Azer is a prince and he can take the ability of any Elite in the vincity, he is essentially a powerhouse assassin, and yet Paedyn holds her own despite being in some of the most deadly trials I have ever read about.

Characters – 5/5 stars

World – 4.5/5 stars  – it isnt an uncommon premise, a split society between people with powers and those without, but it is executed beautifully.

Romance – 100000/5 stars –Suggestive Romance – I love love love Paedyn and Kai

Plot – 4.5/5 stars – it is well done and it supports the characters perfectly. The plot develops in the later half of the book much more than the first, and that means that the characters are already so established that you are really rooting for them.

Things to be aware of: It is quite violent, and there is a lot of on page brutality and medium graphic description, probably a 4/5 which gives it the B. The romance is a 14+ because of the enemies to lovers trope throughout the book. They regularly kiss, and sleep next to each other a few times, but it is non romantic and mostly to offer emotional support around the deaths of other characters.

4

The First Test by Tamora Pierce

12+B

This is an amazing series, with a glorious first book. Keladry is a strong female lead who is standing against a flood of sexism as she trains for her shield as the first openly female knight for centuries. This is a different series to the Alanna the Lioness series that is set in the same world but about two decades previously. It isn’t necessary to read Alanna the Lioness first, but the are a few spoilers, and I read this series first myself. One of the only problems with this first book is that Keladry is the only female character in the first novel. She is surrounded with hostile boys as she trains and certainly in the beginning, she is mostly alone. Nealan of Queenscove becomes her mentor and first friend, and later on several others spend time with her. I love Kennedy’s past as the child of a foreign ambassador and that she had been trained in a different cultures warfare.

I love this series and have reread it more times than i can count. I would recommend this as one of the great fantasy reads! On that note, I am off to go and find my copy…..

Characters – 5/5 stars

World – 5/5 stars – it is beautiful, and the depiction of such a complex and vast world is done without any info-dumps.

Romance – NA

Plot  – 5/5 stars – amazing, and 1000 stars if you read the whole series.

Things to be aware of: there are a few mentions from various male characters that Kennedy might sleep with the boys despite the fact she is only 10. There is some violence. It depends on what you are comfortable with, but I would say that you could read it around eleven if you are comfortable with fantasy violence. I personally read it about then and have reread it several times since and got just as much enjoyment as I did the first time.

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Rating: 14+ (i read it about twelve i think which was a little bit young so I would recommend waiting until you are comfortable with threat and violence and can enjoy the vivid fantasy world the most!)

This is fantasy. Pure fantasy. The main character is an assassin and she has so many layers you constantly discover more about her throughout the series. The world is GLORIOUS. Theres no other word for it. complicated and twisted with cities and underworlds and underbellies of pirates and assassins and the worse of the worse. And Caeleana is one of the most notorious. I love the political undertones and it has several of my favourite parts that make up the book.

Strong female lead. (that loves books! she is a fellow book lover!) Complicated plot. Layers and layers and layers! Prince Dorian has more to him than meets the eye, even through i am not a fan of the potential romantic relationship between them, he is a key character. Chaol is a little two dimensional, but it works perfectly for his part in this book and his development throughout the series. Plot is perfect, slightly slow in places because it needs to be to introduce the large and varied cast, but well thought out and well done. Sarah J. Maas doesn’t shy away from building a realistic world, and adds darker details that make it a 15 even more than the violence and gore and torture that goes on. the are mentions of off the page sexual assault and murder to a unnamed secondary character so if that would be triggering to you then maybe give it a few more years before you read it.

Characters – 5/5 stars – Caeleana is the perfect morally grey character, and she is delightfully flawed.

World – 4.5/5 stars  – the world develops even further in the next books, but in this first one we get a glorious look at the lives of the court through the eyes of an scornful assassin.

Romance – 4/5 stars – Sweet Romance – Caeleana does have a few romantic moments, but they are not overly done and quite subtle as well as important to the plot.

Plot 4.5/5 stars – Because it is a series, Maas is setting up for the whole series plot so while this one is satisfying, there are some clear ties to lead to the next book.

Things to be aware of: It is quite violent 4/5 because the main character is an assassin in a series of trials. Mentions of empire building. SA (of the page) murder (some on some off the page)

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Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

10+

I adore this series. Some aspects (and the characters) are younger than some of my other key bookshelf dominators, but everything else makes up for it! The main character Sophie is delightful and the secondary characters are perfect. I adore the characters and they will always be a model of the personalities a truly great author can create. The are no words for how perfectly created the characters and world are. The idea of Sophie being unknowingly adopted from the elf world to the human world and then adopted back again is perfectly done and i love that she brings her stuffed animal with her to her new world. it is so real! If the is one fault with this series it is that everyone is described as flawlessly beautiful and able bodied and are young for eternity. However, I can over look that because of the way that everything else is done so well. I love the tiny details and quirks of the characters and the huge plotline. This is a wow from me and I am definitely going to reread this several times.

Characters – 4.5 stars

World – 5 stars

Romance – NA

Plot – 4 stars – 5 if you read the whole series

Potential triggers/things to be aware of: like I said, the cast of characters are described as being a traditional Western beauty – and even through this is explained away slightly it still is a consideration or something to bear in mind when reading this book. There is no extreme violence.

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Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

14+

Amazing series that I love and is on my reread list! Red Queen is a dystopian fantasy with a sprinkling of romance. A 14+ as a warning because the are parts that are quite dark. The Red Queen is Mare Barrow, a red girl from the Stilts that is going to be force conscripted into the army if she doesn’t get a job and quick. She gets a job as a servant in the palace and during the Queentrial, falls onto the lightning shield. She survives the electricity which should have killed her on impact as she is a Red. The Silver Elite, who are supposed to be the only people with powers, pretend she is a long lost generals daughter to cover up what they think is an anomaly. She is engaged to the youngest prince, Maven and is introduced to a court of betrayal, politics and an country on the brink of revolution. Mare is a strong character with clear aims. Survival for herself and the protection of her family and Kilorn, her friend and a boy that she might have married, had this not all happened. the secondary characters are well developed, and all have their agendas and aims, as is only right in a political fantasy like that. The world of Norta is vivid and well thought out and i would love to see more series set in this universe. The romance is well done, a little wince worthy in places because of the love triangle aspect, but Mare holds true to her usual characteristics around her love interests, which is nice to read.

Characters – 5 stars – just gorgeous, they all live rentfree in my head.

World – 5 stars – perfect dystopian/fantasy world, I LOVE it.

Romance – 4.5 stars – Sweet Romance – it is worth mentioning there is a slight love triangle between Mare, Cal and Maven which is done incredibly well but it still is morally messy in the first book as Mare is engaged to Maven.

Plot – Can I give it a 1000? The plot is out of this world, it is complex, intriguing and we see every part of society through the eyes of Mare, a girl from the slums.

Things to be aware of: it is very violent as it is set during a civil war and a wider war as well as a revolution. There is extreme racial separation and discrimination between the Reds and the Silvers, which is one of the reasons it is a 14+.

3

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

13+B

Amazing book. Rick Riordan has written a book solely from the point of view of a female character for the first time and it is amazing. It has loose ties to Two Thousand Leagues under the Sea, but only minor spoilers if you haven’t read it. Ana is an amazing protagonist and the secondary characters are hardly secondary! they feel just as solid and thought out as Ana. I love the premise and the idea that two high schools are fighting a war with better than millitary grade weapons. the plot is great, quick pased and perfect with moments of glorious rest before we launch into the action again. the world is insanely good. Rick Riordan excels at magic realism, and this skirts the edge, while keeping the best parts of sci-fi.

Characters – 5 stars

World – 4 stars

Romance – NA

Plot – 4 stars

Things to be aware of: In the beginning an entire high school is blown up by their rivals, and the whole cliff crumbles. There is betrayal and a huge secret is revealed at the very beginning. There is a constant stream of threat throughout the book which is why i have awarded it that B, but despite this the characters still act normal and manage to make the book – which only lasts about five days – seem like a lifetime of relationships and trust.

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Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

13+B

Wow, this book is a rare find! I read it in one sitting and have since read the rest of the series. The heroine Elisa is not the typical YA character and super realistic, especially in the first book. Her character arc is one of the standout points in this book and it is a joy to read as she grows into a true heroine.

She begins the book as a sixteen year old princess destined for a political marriage far away, and is constantly comparing herself to her older sister. She is special, she has a Godstone. she has a destiny. This sounds kind of familiar, right? The premise is a well known one, but from then on I was hooked. She starts as a character we all can relate too. She is overshadowed and has an insane amount of pressure on her. Because of this she comfort eats and has low self confidence, which is understandable and makes her character believable. Because she isn’t sassy for the sake of being sassy and immature as many YA heroines are, she is a breath of fresh air to read.

Even the minor characters are well developed and with backstories. Her relationship with her new husbands child Roserio is interesting, especially considering there is only about ten years between them, and it really shows another side of Elisa’s character. Althrough the is minor romance, it isn’t spicy at all and it takes a backseat to her personal journey. The world is an original mix of Spain, the middle east, colonial times and just good world building.

I adore that the author isn’t afraid to remove characters and the characters who die are often close to the heroine, which gives the war a layer of bitter heart -breaking reality.

Characters – 5 stars – while some of the characters are dislikable, all of them, even the most minor are fully developed and fleshed out.

World – 5 stars

Romance – 5 stars – Sweet Romance – like I said further up, the romance isnt spicy, just a few kisses – and the author has made it very natural and it happens over time.

Plot – 5 stars – complex and develops nicely.

Potential triggers/things to be aware of: Elisa has a political marriage to a widower king much older than her (they don’t have sexual or romantic relationship, even through she fears that he might expect one in the very beginning). Several characters die, and in mediumly graphic descriptions. The topics of betrayal, love and loss are explored. Self doubt especially at the beginning althrough we get to see her grow out of that and understand her own power. The King she marries does have a mistress which is an interesting detail which supports Elisa’s emotional abandonment by the King.

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