The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg - A Review

 Hello everyone & Happy Thursday!!

Today's post will be a review!

The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg (@gosalgo), is a mythic dark fantasy, equal parts smart, exhilarating, and delightfully fun. It examines identity, loneliness and forbidden love, in a stunning world with Thai demon folklore. 

The book was released on April 9th from Angry Robot (@angryrobotbooks)

I really liked reading this book. I loved the Thai & Southeast Asia inspired world building and the lore. The writing was really vibrant and the characters were both dark and funny. I really liked our MC Ex, who is very loveable.

If I had one complain it would be that towards the end I was a little bit confused but thankfully the ending was satisfying.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

Ambitious Phi Hunter and perpetual lone wolf, Ex, finds his road to glory interrupted when a heavily pregnant runaway enlists his help to escape through the ghost-infected forest…

Ex, the youngest member of the Phi Hunters Order, has spent his life slaying the ghosts and demons of Suyoram Kingdom. While he takes great pride in his mystical trade, collecting dwindling bounties and peddling butchered spirit organs lacks the glory he craves. He’s determined to hunt down Shar-Ala, a demon of nightmares, of madness – who has eluded even Ex’s masters.

In a provincial village along the way, Arinya, a charming muay-boran champion, saves him from an ass-kicking, despite being nine months pregnant. In return, she asks him to escort her through the dangerous, spirit-filled forest, where ghosts salivate over the scent of the unborn.

But as more of Arinya’s secrets emerge, and the elusive demon nears, Ex must face dangers from both men and monsters, or lose not only the respect of the Phi Hunters, but the Hunters themselves, along with the woman he’s trying not to fall in love with.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Forgotten Beasts f Eld by Patricia A. McKillip - A Review

 

"You can weave your life so long -- only so long, and then a thing in the world out of your control will tug at one vital thread and leave you patternless and subdued.”

― Patricia A. McKillip, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

To celebrate its 50th anniversary of The Forgotten Beasts of Elm the publisher (Tachyon Publications) are releasing a special edition of the book with many beautiful illustrations by Stephanie Law. 

I haven't read anything by Patricia A. McKillip before and this book intrigued so much that I will definitely read more of her works. 

This book was really magical and with very beautiful and powerful writing. It feels like you are reading a fairytale but a modern one. There is no much world building but that does not matter. We have magical talking animals and powerful wizards. 

It is an atmospheric and character-driven story, a story of love, revenge and forgiveness.

This edition will be published on February 29th & you do not want to miss it!

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

Fifty years ago, the soon-to-be celebrated young author Patricia A. McKillip (the Riddle-Master trilogy) penned the tale of an iron-willed young sorceress. Brought vividly to life by McKillip's gorgeously lush prose, Sybel, living with her captivating menagerie, is powerful and resourceful, yet headstrong and flawed. Sybel and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld continue to enrapture new generations of readers, and they continue to inspire generations of new fantasy writers. This lovely 50th anniversary hardcover special edition features cover art by World Fantasy Award-winner Thomas Canty and a brand new introduction by bestselling fantasy author Marjorie Liu (The Tangleroot Palace).

Sybel, the heiress of powerful wizards, needs the company of no-one outside her gates. In her exquisite stone mansion, she is attended by exotic, magical Riddle-master Cyrin the boar; the treasure-starved dragon Gyld; Gules the Lyon, tawny master of the Southern Deserts; Ter, the fiercely vengeful falcon; Moriah, feline Lady of the Night. Sybel only lacks the exquisite and mysterious Liralen, which continues to elude her most powerful enchantments.

But when a soldier bearing an infant arrives, Sybel discovers that the world of man and magic is full of both love and deceit, and the possibility of more power than she can possibly imagine.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis - A Review

“Love is when you find a piece of yourself in someone else, a piece you never knew was missing, but without which you'd be broken. You feel whole, and complete, and accepted for exactly who you are. You can be your true self, because around this person, for the first time you have no desire to pretend to be anyone else.”

Today we are talking about The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis which is the first book in The Raven and the Dove series. It was published at the beginning of 2020 and it sits on my tbr since then. I finally read it this month and I really liked it. 

It is an epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde and it has everything. Betrayals, star-crossed lovers, fierce heroines, brooding heroes and forbidden romances. It is action packed and with many plot twists. I really liked the writing style and the world building. I liked all the characters and if I had to choose a favourite it would be Rafe or Cassi.

The ending was really good and left me with my mouth open. Thankfully I have the next books to read asap.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!

A princess longing to be free...

On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.

A bastard aching to belong...

Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.

Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart...

Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you'll never see coming, don't miss The Raven and the Dove! 

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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Ithaca (Penelope #1) by Claire North - A Review

 

Ithaca by Claire North is the first book in the Penelope series and it is a mythology retelling. The book was published on September 6th in the US and September 8th in the UK.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I love reading myth retellings and when I saw Ithaca on Netgalley, I couldn't resist. Thankfully I really liked it. It is well-written and the fact that I already know the premise and the original myth/story made it even better ,as I wanted to see how it would be interpreted by the author. 

In the book we are seeing the events through Hera's POV. She oversees what happens in Ithaca during Odysseus' absence and especially what is happening with the women and how they are managing certain situations. We witness how Penelope strives to hold the kingdom together. She has Hera on her side, who tries to help her without drawing any attention from the other gods. 

The book touches on serious issues about women and their role in ancient times. How they had no autonomy and how cruelly they were treated. 

The ending promises that a really exciting sequel is in the making and I am looking forward to it. 

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

Seventeen years ago, king Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca. None of them have returned, and the women have been left behind to run the kingdom.

Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. Whilst he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that husband is dead, and suitors are starting to knock at her door . . .

But no one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus' empty throne - not yet. Between Penelope's many suitors, a cold war of dubious alliances and hidden knives reigns, as everyone waits for the balance of power to tip one way or another. If Penelope chooses one from amongst them, it will plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war. Only through cunning and her spy network of maids can she maintain the delicate balance of power needed for the kingdom to survive.

On Ithaca, everyone watches everyone else, and there is no corner of the palace where intrigue does not reign . . .

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Dragon's Promise (Six Crimson Cranes #2) by Elizabeth Lim - A review

 

The Dragon's Promise by Elizabeth Lim is a YA Fantasy book and the second book in the Six Crimson Cranes duology. The book was released on August 30th 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book . All opinions are my own.

Check out my review for Six Crimson Cranes here

Add The Dragon's Promise to your Goodreads TBR here

Purchase The Dragon's Promise:

Amazon /  Book Depository /  Barnes & Noble /  Indigo /  IndieBound

My Review

The Dragon's Promise is the conclusion to the Six Crimson Cranes duology and I really liked it. It is a sweet, heartwarming story that combines Asian mythology with romance and some high stakes. 

The book picks up where Six Crimson Cranes has ended and we follow Shiori as she tries to fulfill her promise to Raikama as well as saving Kiata and her people. 

I really like Elizabeth Lim's writing and I love the world, which is magical (and also has dragons). The story reads like a fairytale and it also has its twists and turns. It is well paced and has the necessary action. 

I also really liked that a character from  Spin the Dawn takes part in this one too.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood.

The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love, Takkan. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.

About the author:

Elizabeth Lim is the author of the critically-acclaimed and bestselling The Blood of Stars duology (Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk), the New York Times bestseller So This is Love, and the USA Today bestseller Reflection. Forthcoming books include the Six Crimson Cranes duology, expected summer 2021 and summer 2022, respectively. 

Elizabeth grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, “Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that’s kinda cool!” But after one of her teachers told her she had “too much voice” in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English. 

Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and she turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel—for kicks, at first, then things became serious—and she hasn’t looked back since.

Elizabeth graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in music and a secondary in East Asian Studies, and she completed her graduate degrees (MM, DMA) at The Juilliard School. She grew up in Northern California and Tokyo, Japan, and now resides in New York with her husband and two daughters.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Check out the rest of the tour schedule here

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Valkyrie's Daughter by Tiana Warner - A Review

 

"Nine Worlds. Two outcasts. One Destiny"

The Valkyrie's Daughter (formerly titled The Helheim Princess) by Tiana Warner, is a YA fantasy book inspired by Norse Mythology and it is the first book in The Helheim Prophecy series. The book will be published on July 26th by Entangled Teen.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by  the publisher. All opinions are my own.

It is a thrilling, intricate, and romantic #OwnVoices LGBTQ fantasy that builds on Norse mythology into a beautiful story all its own.

We follow Sigrid , who for as long as she could remember, she’s wanted to become a mighty, fearless valkyrie. But without a winged mare, she’s a mere stable hand, left wondering who her parents were and why she’s so different. So when the Eye shows her a vision where she's leading a valkyrie charge on the legendary eight-legged horse Sleipnir, she grabs the possibility of this greater destiny with both hands, refusing to let go. 

Too bad that the only one who can help her get there is Mariam, an enemy valkyrie who begrudgingly agrees to lead her to Helheim but who certainly can’t be trusted―even if she does make Sigrid more than a little flustered. As they cross the nine worlds, battling night elves, riding sea serpents, and hurtling into fire to learn the truth about Sigrid’s birthright, an unexpected but powerful bond forms. 

As her feelings for Mariam deepen into something fiery and undeniable, Fate has other plans for Sigrid. What happens when the one thing you think you were meant to do might end the nine worlds?

Lately I really enjoy reading Viking / Norse mythology inspired books and this one was no exception. 

I liked the writing style and I loved the story. There is an LGBTQ+ slow burn romance in the book that was perfectly done. I also really liked how the relationship between Sigrid and Mariam evolved as well as the friendship dynamics between Sigrid, Mariam and Fisk.

The world is inspired by Norse Mythology and it is done beautifully despite the liberties that the author took. I loved the part where they travelled through the nine worlds to Helheim where Sigrid would fulfill her destiny.

It has a satisfying ending and I am really excited to read the next book with new adventures for Sigrid.

Rating: 4 Stars

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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Assassin's Creed - The Magus Conspiracy by Kate Heartfield - A Review

 

Assassin's Creed - The Magus Conspiracy by Kate Heartfield is a historical fiction / fantasy book that takes place in the well-known Assassin's Creed universe. The book will be released on August 2nd 2022 by Aconyte.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The war between Assassins and Templars wreaks havoc in the Victorian era, in this breakneck thriller which opens up a whole new chapter of the Assassin’s Creed universe and of course I really enjoyed reading it as it's full of the rivalries between Assassin's and Templars.

I liked the storyline and the writing but I would prefer it to be more action packed. It seems that all the action happened towards the end. However I really liked how we got to the ending and the plot twists. 

I also really liked our main characters and especially Pierrette, who is strong willed and smart. 

As with every Assassin's Creed novel I really liked the historical elements and the historical figures that we meet. 

I recommend this book even if you are new to the Assassin's Creed franchise.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

London, 1851 – When Pierrette, a daring acrobat performing at the Great Exhibition, rescues the mathematician Ada Lovelace from a gang of thugs, she becomes immersed in an ancient feud between Assassins and Templars. But Lovelace is gravely ill, and shares her secrets with Pierrette, sending the acrobat in search of a terrible weapon which she’d been developing for a shadowy figure known as “the Magus”. Pierrette’s only ally is Simeon Price, Lovelace’s childhood friend, who belongs to a Brotherhood devoted to free will. With Simeon’s aid, they uncover a startling web of political assassinations destabilizing Europe. As they race to foil the Templars’ deadly plot, murders and bombs are everywhere they look, but hope is nowhere in sight.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Final Strife (The Final Strife Trilogy #1) by Saara El-Arifi - A Review

 

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi is a fantasy book and the first book in  The Final Strife Trilogy. The book will be published on June 23rd 2022.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is a beautiful book with a beautiful story and a very interesting world building and magic system. I really like that this debut novel is inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths. It is unusual to see in books.

We follow the stories of Sylah, Anoor and Hassa and the connections between them. The book has the friends to lovers trope (F/F) and also the chosen one trope but a little bit different than usual. 

The beginning of the book was a little slow for e but then it picked up and I couldn't put it down. I loved the author's writing style and how she wrote her characters.  Also that plot twist towards the end was perfect and now I need to read book two.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

In the first book of a visionary African and Arabian-inspired fantasy trilogy, three women band together against a cruel Empire that divides people by blood.

Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control. 

Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance. 

Clear is the blood of the servants, of the crushed, of the invisible.

Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the Empire from the red-blooded ruling classes’ tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes. 

Anoor has been told she’s nothing, no one, a disappointment by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the Empire. But dust always rises in a storm. 

Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it means to be invisible. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. 

As the Empire begins a set of trials of combat and skill designed to find its new leaders, the stage is set for blood to flow, power to shift, and cities to burn.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Thief (The Queen's Thief #1) by Megan Whalen Turner - A Review

 

“A little danger adds spice to life.”

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner is a YA fantasy book and it is the first book in The Queen's Thief series. The book was first published in 1996 but this edition was published on May 5th 2022. 

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I have heard many good things about the book and I couldn't pass reading it when I had the opportunity. 

I really liked it. It is a more traditional fantasy and I really liked the author's writing and the storyline. It also had a really good plot twist. I found the main character really interesting and I enjoyed reading his story. I loved the world and I am eager to learn more about it in the next book.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

The king’s scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king’s prison. The magus is interested only in the thief’s abilities. What Gen is interested in is anyone’s guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.

Eugenides, the queen's thief, can steal anything - or so he says. Then his boasting lands him in the king's prison, and his chances of escape look slim.

So when the king's magus invites him on a seemingly impossible quest to steal a legendary object and win back his freedom, Gen is in no position to refuse.

The magus has plans for his king and his country. Gen has plans of his own . . .

Megan Whalen Turner weaves Gen’s stories and Gen’s story together with style and verve in a novel that is filled with intrigue, adventure, and surprise.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Hunger of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga #2) by John Gwynne - A Review

 

“Real courage is to feel fear, but to stand and face it, not run from it.”

The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne is the second book in the Bloodsworn Saga and it is an adult fantasy book inspired by Norse Mythology. The book was released on April 2022 by Orbit.

Now that Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison,  she plots a new age of blood and conquest.

As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own – and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. 

Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. 

Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god. 

Their hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead . . . and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth.

John Gwynne has become one of my favourite authors after reading The Hunger of the Gods and now I need to read all of his backlist.

First of all,  I loved the cover art for this book too and second I really appreciated the fact that the author included a brief summary of what happened in book 1 so you can refresh your memory. 

Let's get to my review now. I loved this book too. We now have more POVs to follow besides Orka, Elvar and Varg but that didn't cause any problem but they added more to the story. The new POVs are Biorr and Gudvarr.

The story begins from where we have left it in The Shadow of the Gods and now the storylines of our main characters are interconnected. The book continues to be brutal and with many battle scenes. 

In this book I loved even more Orka's character and I really liked the relationship dynamics between her and the supporting characters. 

The ending was really intense and now I need book 3 asap.

Rating: 5 Stars

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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Age Of Ash (Kithamar #1) by Daniel Abraham - A Review

 

“For one night, Kithamar is a city between worlds and between ages. It falls out of its own history, at once the end of something and the beginning of something else.”

Age Of Ash by Daniel Abraham is an adult fantasy book and it is the first book in the Kithamar trilogy. The book was published in February 2022 by Orbit.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Our story unfolds within the walls of a single great city, over the course of one tumultuous year, where every story matters, and the fate of the city is woven from them all. 

Kithamar is a center of trade and wealth, an ancient city with a long, bloody history where countless thousands live and their stories unfold.

We follow the story of Alys. When her brother is murdered, a petty thief from the slums of Longhill sets out to discover who killed him and why.  But the more she discovers about him, the more she learns about herself, and the truths she finds are more dangerous than knives. 

Swept up in an intrigue as deep as the roots of Kithamar, where the secrets of the lowest born can sometimes topple thrones, the story Alys chooses will have the power to change everything.

I enjoyed reading Age of Ash but I didn't love it as much as I wanted. 

It is basically an epic fantasy where our main character is the city Kithamar. However, we follow the story of Alys which I didn't found  interesting enough since Alys wasn't a character I liked. I liked more Sammish who is just so precious.

The book has great character development and exploration of grief, family, loyalty and friendship. 

I really liked the writing style of the author and I want to learn more about the world and the magic system. I loved the setting as it felt so real. 

The thing that I didn't like was the pacing which I found slow but I am intrigued to continue with the series. 

Rating: 3 Stars

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

 

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The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh

 

“Nothing extraordinary is ever done out of reason or logic, but because it’s the only way for your soul to breathe.”

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh is a YA fantasy book that is also a myth retelling. The book was published in February 2022.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Who follow Mina whose homeland has been ravaged by deadly storms  for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

I will be honest with you. I picked up this book because of its cover. While reading it though I came to love it. 

It is an Asian mythology retelling and I really liked the author's writing style and interpretation of the myth. It is a whimsical story that reads like a fairytale. I lived the characters and the setting /  world building. The dynamics between the characters was really good. There are some satisfying plot twists that made me gasp but they answered many questions.

The fated love and the chosen one tropes are in the story. So , if you like these tropes as well as retelling you will like this book too.

Rating: 5 Stars

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Pariah ( Covenant of Steel #1) by Anthony Ryan - A Review

 

“All ambition is folly when it fails to be matched by reason.”

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan is an adult epic fantasy book that is the first in the Covenant of Steel trilogy. The book was published on February 2022 in the UK .

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Pariah was different from what I usually read and I really liked it.

We follow Alwyn Scribe and learn his adventures through his POV as he is narrating his story much later in time. 

I enjoyed the writing style and kind of medieval setting of the story. It is not action-packed but slow-paced and it reads like a historical fiction at times. Its main themes are religion, justice and freedom. 

Our main character Alwyn is one you will definitely like and root for. He is smart and efficient. I enjoyed the side characters as well. 

I would loved it more if it had more fantasy elements but I believe this will happen in the next books of the trilogy.  

The second book The Martyr comes out later this year.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

Born into the troubled kingdom of Albermaine, Alwyn Scribe is raised as an outlaw. Quick of wit and deft with a blade, Alwyn is content with the freedom of the woods and the comradeship of his fellow thieves. But an act of betrayal sets him on a new path - one of blood and vengeance, which eventually leads him to a soldier's life in the king's army.

Fighting under the command of Lady Evadine Courlain, a noblewoman beset by visions of a demonic apocalypse, Alwyn must survive war and the deadly intrigues of the nobility if he hopes to claim his vengeance. But as dark forces, both human and arcane, gather to oppose Evadine's rise, Alwyn faces a choice: can he be a warrior, or will he always be an outlaw?

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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Rebel Girls Champions: 25 Tales of Unstoppable Athletes by Rebel Girls

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Rebel Girls Champions: Tales of Unstoppable Athletes by Rebel Girls. It is a non-fiction book for younger readers and it will be published on October 12th from Rebel Girls.

This collection tells us the stories of 25 unstoppable women athletes. They are inspiring stories of girls who wanted to become athletes and they succeeded despite the difficulties and discriminations they faced. 

It is written like a fairytale and it is perfect for young readers, Also, the stories accompany great illustrations.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book

It is part of the award-winning Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series.

This paperback collection showcases some of the most beloved stories from the first three volumes of the New York Times best-selling series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. It also features brand new tales of game-changing athletes and their drive, resilience, and sportsmanship. In Rebel Girls Champions, young readers can win the World Cup with Megan Rapinoe, flip and tumble with Simone Biles, and land breathtaking snowboard tricks with Chloe Kim. 

Coming out directly after the Tokyo Olympics, Rebel Girls Champions will include the most thrilling anecdotes from the 2021 Games.

 

The exciting, easy-to-read text is paired with colorful full-page portraits created by female artists from all around the world 

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi - A Review

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Once More Upon A Time by Roshani Chokshi which is a fantasy romance book that will be published on October 5th by Sourcebooks Casablanca.

This is an unusual fairytale retelling because it combines many fairytales in one. It was a quick and sweet read full of references from many well-known and well-loved fairytales. 

I also really enjoyed the writing style of the author.

To be honest this book made me wanting to read the original fairytales that it mentions.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book

Once upon a dream, there was a prince named Ambrose

and a princess named Imelda who loved each other...

But alas, no more.

"What a witch takes, a witch does not give back!"

their friends and family warn.

They resign themselves to this loveless fate...

A year and a day pass.

And then their story truly begins...

Embark on a perilous journey with Imelda and Ambrose as they brave magical landscapes and enchanted creatures on their quest to reclaim their heart's desire... But first they must remember what that is...

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic by Rebel Girls - A Review

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing  Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic, which is a non-fiction book for young readers and it will be released on September 28th by Rebel Girls .

This is the latest installment in the Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls series and it features 100 barrier-breaking Black Women and girls who showcase the spirit of Black Girl Magic. 

The stories are very inspiring and they are well written with all the important information for the reader.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic celebrates the lives and accomplishments of 100 barrier-breaking Black women and girls who showcase the spirit of Black Girl Magic. Edited by award-winning journalist Lilly Workneh, with a foreword by CaShawn Thompson, creator of the hashtag #BlackGirlsAreMagic, the book includes stories of real women from all walks of life written in fairy tale style. Arranged in alphabetical order by first name, each brief biography is accompanied by a vibrant full-page illustration.

Contemporaries like tennis player Naomi Osaka, astronaut Jeanette Epps, and filmmaker Ava DuVernay join historical figures like aviator Bessie Coleman, Empress Taytu Betul, and journalist Ida B. Wells. Readers will also meet chess champion Phiona Mutesi, video game designer Muriel Tramis, punk rocker Poly Styrene, and chef Leah Chase.

The book exclusively features the work of Black female and non-binary editors, authors, and illustrators as they drive the stories of these phenomenal women from around the world and throughout history.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie Liu - A Review

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie Liu which is a collection of short stories with a novella at the end. It was published by Tachyon Publications on June 15th 2021.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was the first time I read anything from Marjorie Liu and I really enjoyed her writing style. I really liked the stories as well, some of them more than others. I liked that almost all the stories had strong female protagonists , who were resourceful.

The stories were magical and haunting at the same time, with beautiful world building and from the majority of them I wanted more. 

My favourites were The Tangleroot Palace, The Briar and the Rose & Where the heart lies. 

My least favourite was The Last Dignity of Man.

Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

New York Times bestseller and Hugo, British Fantasy, Romantic Times, and Eisner award-winning author of the graphic novel, Monstress, Marjorie Liu leads you deep into the heart of the tangled woods. In her long-awaited debut story collection, dark, lush, and spellbinding short fiction you will find unexpected detours, dangerous magic, and even more dangerous women.

Briar, bodyguard for a body-stealing sorceress, discovers her love for Rose, whose true soul emerges only once a week. An apprentice witch seeks her freedom through betrayal, the bones of the innocent, and a meticulously-plotted spell. In a world powered by crystal skulls, a warrior returns to save China from invasion by her jealous ex. A princess runs away from an arranged marriage, finding family in a strange troupe of traveling actors at the border of the kingdom’s deep, dark woods.

Concluding with a gorgeous full-length novella, Marjorie Liu’s first short fiction collection is an unflinching sojourn into her thorny tales of love, revenge, and new beginnings. 

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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The Ming Storm: An Assassin's Creed Novel by Yan Lei Sheng - A Review

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing The Ming Storm: An Assassin's Creed Novel by Yan Lei Sheng. It is part of the Assassin's Creed universe and it is the first book in a series. It was published on June 1st 2021 by Aconyte.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

You know by now my love for the Assassin's Creed books. This one was good but not as good as I expected it to be. I liked the story and the writing style but sometimes I found it a little slow and the number of names was a little confusing. 

I liked that it is inspired by the Chinese culture, which isn't used very often. Towards the end it was action packed and fast paced and I really enjoyed at. 

I will continue reading the series as I want to know more about this aspect of the story.

Rating: 3 Stars

Synopsis of the book

The Ming dynasty becomes a battleground for the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Order of the Templars in this blockbuster action novel from a previously unexplored part of the beloved Assassin’s Creed universe.

China, 16th century. The Assassins are gone. Zhang Yong, the relentless leader of the Eight Tigers, took advantage of the emperor's death to eliminate all his opponents, and now the Templars hold all the power. Shao Jun, the last representative of her clan, barely escapes death and has no choice but to flee her homeland. Vowing to avenge her former brothers in arms, she travels to Europe to train with the legendary Ezio Auditore. When she returns to the Middle Kingdom, her saber and her determination alone will not be enough to eliminate Zhang Yong: she will have to surround herself with allies and walk in the shadows to defeat the Eight Tigers. 

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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A Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe #1) by P. Djèlí Clark - A Review

 

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark, the first book in the Dead Djinn Universe which published on May 11th by Tordotcom. 

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A Master of Djinn is an adult fantasy book with historical and steampunk elements in it. We are in an alternate Cairo universe that is fascinating. 

The year is 1912 and we follow  Fatma el-Sha’arawi who is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, and  she is certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.
So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world 50 years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.
Alongside her Ministry colleagues and her clever girlfriend Siti, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city - or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems.

I really enjoyed reading this book. At the beginning it was a little slow paced for me. That was mostly because the author introduced us to the world and its elements. As the story went on it became a real page turner and I was continuously trying to guess the suspect. The best part for me was the worldbuilding. I haven't read any of the novellas that take place in this world but that didn't stop me from loving it. 

I also loved the characters. Fatma and Hadia are a great duo and I want to know more about Siti. They are great women characters in the book and they are smart and independent.

The ending was really satisfying and it wrap up everything really well.

Finally I really liked the diversity in the book and the writing style of the author. I will definitely read more of his work.

Rating: 4 Stars

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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Incognito (Keystone #2) by Katie Delahanty - A Review

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Incognito by Katie Delahanty which was released last week (May 3rd) by Entangled Teen. It is the sequel to Keystone and it is a YA science fiction / dystopian book taking place in the future where technology is really advanced and threatens humanity.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Last year I read Keystone and really liked. You can read my full review here.

I liked Incognito more than the first one. It was also full of plot twists and secrets but the twist at the end made me love it even more. I was suspecting something but I wasn't expecting that. The heist in this one was more complex and I liked how the characters reacted to it. 

I loved the tension and the chemistry between Elisha and Garrett as well as the group and friendship dynamics of all the characters. 

All in all, this book is a great adventure and page turner.

I hope book 3 comes out soon.

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis of the book

In the virtual utopia of the Simulation, everyone will live peacefully and without fear or needs—at least that’s how they’re selling it. But the government plans to use this program to take control of the entire human race. Elisha Dewitt has just been given her first mission to help prevent this, and she’s ready to prove she can go incognito just as well as any other master thief. 

Breaking and entering? No sweat. She’s done worse. Stealing a cassette tape from the museum vaults will be easy—in, out, done—until he shows up...and everything gets way more complicated. Garrett Alexander just has that effect. 

Nothing is as it seems, and a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse begins with Garrett, her rival and match in every way. Not knowing who she can trust, Elisha decides it’s up to her to rescue everyone—even Garrett—before the world as she knows it comes to a brutal end.

 See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

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