Tag Archives: fantasy

The Bone Witch By Rin Chupeco

Posted on by
Reply

Tea is an outcast in her village because of her TODA – a feared magic type. Tea didn’t want to be a Bone witch, but her powerful magic couldn’t be denied. After she accidentally raises her brother from death, Tea discovers she is destined to be the dark Asha, the one everyone dreaded and feared.

The Bone Witch is a nested story with vivid, detailed world-building and well-drawn characters. Tea, the protagonist, is particularly compelling. Throughout the book, you can see that her relationship with other characters, like her mentor and brother, is rich and complex. Their dynamics are often surprising and unexpected. Chupeco crafted and weaved magic and exquisite details in every chapter, making the readers want more. The other bone witches’ unique abilities and personalities are fascinating to learn about and add depth and complexity to the story.

The plot of The Bone Witch is fast-paced and full of twists and turns. Chupeco does an excellent job of keeping you guessing and building tension throughout the story. There are moments of heartbreak and triumph, and the ending leaves you eager to learn more about Tea and her world.

The Bone Witch is worth checking out for fantasy fans and anyone looking for an exciting, immersive read with a cliffhanger ending. It’s a good read for readers in seventh grade and up. The Bone Witch is available to borrow on Libby, and last I checked at Mission Viejo Library.

Rin Chupeco’s world characters are memorable, and her world-building skills are top-knot; an exciting and intricate world filled with unique characters and a gripping plot. I am looking forward to reading more of this author’s series!

Happy Reading!

Bella H.

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: The Heroes of Olympus The Mark of Athena

Posted on by
1

The Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan is the third book within the Heroes of Olympus series. Within this book, the seven demi-gods mentioned in the prophecy of the seven finally meet up and begin their quest. Of those seven demi-gods, this book shows the P.OV. of the four of them who are Greek demi-gods, namely Percy Jackson son of Poseidon, Annabeth Chase daughter of Athena, Piper McLean daughter of Aphrodite, and Leo Valdez son of Hephestus.

Moving more into the plot now, this book places a lot of emphasis on the struggles and furthermore, the doubts of the protagonists. With Percy we see him being to think more about his role on the team, his fatal flaw of loyalty, and how that affects him. Percy is grappling with the fact that he is insanely loyal and protective of his friends and therefore struggles with letting them go and do their own thing because he’s worried that if they do and they get hurt it will be his fault.

With Annabeth we mostly see her struggling with her doubts about if she can complete the quest her mother gave her. Basically, Annabeth is given the task of following the Mark of Athena and recovering the Athena Parthenos, which was stolen by the Romans several years before the story started and is now in the hands of the antagonists. This quest becomes even more important when it is learned that the recovery of the statue is important to fixing the gods’ case of fantasy dissociative identity disorder(don’t ask).

Piper’s issue is honestly mostly petty drama with her boyfriend who spends most of this book passed out so we’re skipping over that dumpster fire to talk about Leo. So Leo’s issue is due to the fact that he is something of the odd man out in the group of heroes. Leo has a lot of issues combining to make him the proverbial black sheep with the two most notable being that his being possessed by ghosts at the start of the book starts a fair bit of the book’s conflict and the fact that he is the only member of the seven to not be in a relationship. The second one may seem minor by comparison but given that there are several points where he is referred to as a seventh wheel it’s pretty clear that it affects him a lot.

I honestly have to say that I enjoyed this book more than the previous two in the series. Not that the first two were bad it’s just that most of the “character development” there was a character getting over trauma related to one of their powers or with Percy and Jason dealing with their amnesia (long story). In conclusion, I would say that this series is definitely a good one and that its author really earned his title of “the storyteller of the gods.”

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Piranesi: book review

Posted on by
Reply

I started reading Piranesi by Susanna Clarke with no previous knowledge about the book or the author. I had no idea of the rollercoaster I was about to experience. The first thing I noticed about the book was Clarke’s writing style, which I thought was exceptionally meticulous and clever as if she had spent time carefully choosing each and every word. That being said, because the first thirty or so pages are spent mostly on world-building, it felt slow at first and hard to get through. However, once the story picked up, it kept up a breakneck pace for the rest of the book, with each plot twist pushing the story further.

I think the most brilliant technique Clarke used when creating this story, was the formatting. Piranesi is a first-person perspective book, with the chapters written in a diary entry style. After finishing the book, I realized that this unique style choice played an extremely important role in the aesthetic and captivation of the book. Because there are so many layers to the plot, there’s an exciting anticipation that Clarke creates when the reader is forced to only learn what the protagonist learns WHEN the protagonist learns it.

Additionally, due to the complexity of the story, and the world in which it takes place, it could have been very easy for our protagonist to fade into the background. However, Clarke was able to continuously draw him back into the spotlight, and keep the reader focused on and caring about the hero and his journey throughout the entire length of the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique, fantasy read. Although it starts off at a slow pace and only picks up speed later in the book, the many intriguing elements span the whole book, and the creativity within the world of Piranesi is simply infinite.

Piranesi by Susanna Clark is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Everless by Sara Holland

Posted on by
1

Sara Holland’s Everless was a fresh perspective on time and living life to its fullest.

In the city of Sempura, time is exchanged for blood, and many of its citizens are constantly living in fear of displacement or death.

The main character, Jules Ember, is an audacious young woman who cares deeply for her father and their survival. All her life, he has sheltered her from the process of exchanging blood for money. When her father’s health declines, Jules must forge her own path and do what it takes to survive.

As a child, she was raised on palace grounds alongside the kingdom’s princes, until she and her father were suddenly forced to flee. When Jules begins work at Everless at the princes’ estate, she forms new bonds with them

Everless was a somewhat complex novel, as the realm was intricate and elaborate. As the reader understands Jules and how she perceives her life, reading the novel flows more easily.

Holland also presents the difference in social status and stereotypes in her novel. The contrast between the nobles and commoners are visible in the blithe actions of the nobility and the scrounging lifestyle of those in the streets.

Overall, Everless consisted of a thorough plot, exciting characters, and captivating ideas. This was a great book!

Everless by Sara Holland is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Spoiler Free Review of Lockwood and Company Book 1: The Screaming Staircase

Posted on by
1

I read the first book of Lockwood and Company after watching and liking the Netflix adaptation. The first book, written by Jonathan Stroud, is titled The Screaming Staircase. It is an urban fantasy novel with some horror elements.

The world is one where 50 years prior to the events of the novel (which takes place in an unclear time but may take place in a technologically-stagnant early 2010’s) a catastrophe referred to as the Problem caused ghosts to start appearing and killing many people, only requiring a touch to cause a kind of quickly-fatal spreading necrotic toxin. However, the only people that can catch more than a glimpse of a ghost are children, who lose their psychic powers by their 20’s. This, of course, means children have to work.

One such child is Lucy Carlyle, the narrator, who is an expert in hearing ghosts and telepathically communicating with them. She is the newest member of the group and is generally competent, but messes up due to a lack of knowledge on occasion.

The titular company is owned by Anthony Lockwood, who is arrogant but also the only person on the team who can talk to people. He is best at seeing ghosts and places where people died.

The last protagonist is George Cubbins, who is not particularly good at any paranormal power and gets in to fights with the other members over nothing, but he’s also the only one who bothers preparing for anything and do any research.

While Lockwood and Company may seem incompetent, the ghost hunting groups run by adults are even more incompetent, with added bureaucracy and a lack of care for human life. The children end up having to deal with adults who are incompetent but also extremely overconfident and condescending, which drives the half of the conflict in the story that is not caused by Lockwood and Co. themselves. The story is full of mystery and twists which is why I will not spoil it here. Lockwood and Co. is a great read for anyone who likes urban fantasy and can handle injury, death, peril, and horror.

– Alexander U.

Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

BOOK REVIEW (SPOILERS) – Reverie by Ryan La Sala

Posted on by
1

(spoilers!) 

I lost my sense of direction when I read this book. 

3/5 stars from me!

Reading Reverie by Ryan La Sala changed my life — in lovely, strange ways. Reverie, a story about superheroes, amnesia, and a DRAG QUEEN FOR AN ANTAGONIST, wasn’t the worst book I’ve read. 

The story follows Kane Montgomery, an out-and-proud gay teenager who recently lost all his memories. Throughout the story (spoilers), he finds out that he was a superhero… who can shoot rainbows out his hands. I mean, I love the representation, but I guess it feels forced. 

Additionally, there were other things that felt off that are included in this lovely, little list:

  1. The writing style wasn’t great. Many lines from the book were outright cringey, not funny, or just placed really strangely. Hard read.
  2. There was a lack of development both in the plot and characters. The start was long and unnecessarily overdeveloped… the end was bland and just strange (La Sala mentioned someone falling in love… and never brought it back up)… etc. 
  3. The novel felt so very close to an inclusive twist on a children’s superhero show. 
  4. I understand Kane, the main character’s confusion! But let’s not make the reader confused, alright?
  5. Cliffhanger after cliffhanger… and no resolutions.

There were positives from this read, however! Few. 

  1. I have to give props to La Sala for coming up with a wonderfully complicated magic system!! But actually, I really enjoyed the concept of Reveries and dreams, but I feel like it was poorly executed. With a new, broad world of magic, execution is key. The novel lacks development with worldbuilding.
  2. Inclusivity! I enjoyed knowing that Kane was gay every few pages. Overall, Kane is a lovely, somewhat 3D character, but the author was trying so desperately hard to show off this book. Overstating that a character is gay feels like you’re just fishing for money and/or fame. 
  3. The cover and the villain are the best parts of this entire story.

Again, 3/5 stars. The idea is cute, yes. The execution was horrendous, yes. 

Reading this book was like mindlessly wandering through a labyrinth. There was no escape with Reverie.

Reverie by Ryan La Sala is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

Posted on by
Reply

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass was a fantastical read. Princess Annika, who is much more than just a pretty face, and closed-off Lennox were an unplanned pair that reminded me of my childhood wonders of princesses and true love. But Annika and Lennox’s story is somewhat different than most fairy-tales.

I appreciated how Annika’s life as a princess did not change her brave, composed character. Throughout the story, Lennox’s softer side comes out when the narrations are told from his perspective.

This fiction novel was unlike the stereotypical fantasy story. Instead, Annika and Lennox almost entirely party ways and were initially unfriendly towards each other. In fact, the two met when Lennox and his band of men kidnapped Annika.

To add to the plot of the story, Cass included Nickolas, a practical man whom Annika’s father has chosen for her to marry for the better of their country. Annika and Lennox’s obvious feelings for each other are prevented by duty, fear, and family.

While Annika and Lennox have their own problems and pains, they both help each other through it all; Annika’s warm light helps the shadow of Lennox’s past fade away and Lennox’s encouragement gives Annika the hope she needs to lead.

In the end of the novel, after having braved many hardships that test their love for each other, Annika and Lennox’s love is sealed. The tender moments and intense times they have had together all come together in a beautiful ending. I especially enjoyed reading the epilogue of A Thousand Heartbeats, where the reader gets a glimpse of Annika and Lennox’s blissful futures.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: Thornlight by Claire Legrand

Posted on by
2

Thornlight is a book I picked up recently—an adventure-filled fantasy novel that exudes creativity, combined with heartfelt character development.

Before anything, though, I want to take a moment to appreciate Jaime Zollars’ beautiful illustrations that help to set the fairy-tale atmosphere straight from the get-go.

Thornlight: Legrand, Claire: 9780062696663: Amazon.com: Books

Okay. The story follows twin sisters Thorn and Brier, who, despite being twins, have utterly distinct characterization with unique struggles, not to mention their equally unique yet lovable animal companions. On a journey to close the chasm, known as the Break, that divides their world, the story’s characters encounter witches, evil creatures, and numerous obstacles that keep you intrigued.

One thing I love about this book is that it’s told from three points of view—the twins and a third character named Celestyna—that alternate consistently. You would think you’d lose track of the story because of this, but it’s quite the opposite while reading. The story flows smoothly and the changing perspectives keep you hooked.

I also love how Legrand conveys the relationships between her characters. No matter how fantasy-driven this novel is, the interpersonal relationships and the struggles that accompany them are portrayed realistically, in a way that touches your heart.

The only criticisms I have about this novel is that the pacing can feel rushed in some moments, particularly with Thorn’s character development. A few side characters also have resolutions that come off as unsatisfying, or don’t align with prior emphasis placed on them. Other than that, Thornlight was nothing short of an entertaining read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written fantasy.

Book Review: Konosuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonder World: Oh! My Useless Goddess (Yes I am aware the title of this book is overly long)

Posted on by
Reply

Okay, so Konosuba I’m not writing out that whole title again is an isekai comedy written by Natsume Akatsuki and is the first novel in a long-running series. (Also for those who don’t know isekai is a Japanese word for other world and will be used frequently in this review). The series follows its protagonist Kazuma Sato as he blunders his way through his journey where the only thing he really has going for him is his above-average luck and genre awareness.

So as mentioned above Konosuba is extensively a comedy. Said comedy is mostly drawn from subverting tropes commonly found in its second genre: Isekai. You see the isekai genre as it currently exists mainly contains teenage male power fantasies; stories where a normal nerd can gain insane amounts of strength, power, and magic with about as much effort as it takes to open a bag of chips. This is not the case for Konosuba’s protagonist however as he is recognized in-universe as one of the weakest adventurers in the guild. Additionally, this is not something that changes later in the book with Kazuma’s biggest achievement by the end of the novel being the fact that he killed a larger-than-normal amount of sentient cabbages during the harvest.

Another bit of comedic subversion in this book is how Kazuma’s team is set up. You see in normal isekai stories the protagonist is typically surrounded by a party whose gender ratio generally leans in the opposite direction to the protagonist, i.e. if the protagonist is male there will be a disproportionate amount of females. However, the subversion with Kazuma’s group is not that they are mostly male but rather the fact that they are completely worthless. With a group that consists of a healer who refuses to do anything unless she’s in crippling debt, a wizard who only knows one spell that can be cast once per day, and a paladin who can’t hit a target that is standing right in front of her Kazuma almost has to play the role of babysitter for the group of idiots that he found himself with.

None of this is to say that Kazuma himself is not also an idiot, he is, just less than the others. For example, the only reason the group’s healer, Aqua, is with the group is because Kazuma dragged her along. You see in this novel Kazuma is brought to his new world after he died a tragic death in our own. Upon dying he met Aqua, who claimed to be a goddess who could send him to a new world with one item or power of his choosing. However since Aqua mocked the way Kazuma died, in an act of pettiness he decided to bring Aqua with him to the new world.

However, I have gushed about this book for long enough and need to finish this review somehow. All in all, I personally believe that if you are a fan of the isekai genre this is a novel worth picking up and if you aren’t this novel still contains its fair share of good jokes.

The Dark Ascension Series: The Wicked Ones by Robin Benway

Posted on by
1

“The sky was glorious that morning, so blue and sharp that it looked like it could shatter, raining shards down on all of them, but instead it stayed in place while the rest of their world fell apart.”

We all know the story of Cinderella, enslaved by her evil stepmother and ugly stepsisters when her beloved father passes. She wishes upon a star, and, poof! Her dreams become true and she can finally escape from her horrible stepsisters to a land of charming royalty.

But before the two sisters became wicked, what changed them? They had a father who left them one day, a callous mother with a terrible temper, and a feeble stepsister unable to protect herself from their mother’s wrath. Scrutinized and criticized by even their own mother and villagers, the two sisters were misunderstood and abandoned.

Drizella, the older of the sisters, is a sensible young woman who is almost entirely sure that life is meant to be difficult and struggled through. It’s not like life is perfectly mapped out and lined up like the constellations that secretly fascinate her. Besides, a woman’s expected duties are pointless without learning anything new.

Anastasia is a dreamer who sees the world not for the cruelty and struggles it forces her to endure, but as a vast place to explore and even find romance in. Unfortunately, her sympathetic nature is muted by despair.

Though they are determined not to let evil lead them down a forlorn, empty path, can they remain hopeful forever?

I found this novel pleasant and a change of pace from the fantasy-fairytale books I usually read. I do remember reading another book—Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly—that was a more challenging read with a complicated storyline but had a similar idea to The Wicked Ones.

The stepsisters’ lives weren’t handed to them tied with a bow, it was paved through resentment and struggle. The reader can sympathize with the stepsisters and see their perspective and growth as characters.

Originally, I thought this book was simple and predictable, but it is really just a good novel to sit back and read. The fairytale sweeps you away and you can learn about the stepsisters’ detestable characters.

Through this novel of suffering and strife, the reader learns how the past of the stepsisters’ fostered the black-hearts that they have today.

The Wicked Ones by Robin Benway is available to download for free from Libby.