Tag Archives: magic
Labyrinth Lost
Brooklyn Brujas, Book 1
Sourcebooks Fire
September 1, 2016
336
"Alex is a bruja and the most powerful witch in her family. But she's hated magic ever since it made her father disappear into thin air. When a curse she performs to rid herself of magic backfires and her family vanishes, she must travel to Los Lagos, a land in-between as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland, to get her family back"--
Review:
“Labyrinth Lost” is a fun adventure revolving around a bruja and her friends.
I loved the rich world that the author built-in the alternate dimension Alex and her friends found themselves in. It was imaginative and seemed to pop right off of the page. The plot moved quickly, making it a very quick read. My only problem is that there is one plot point well-developed throughout the book with a sudden twist that made zero sense thrown in at the end. I get wanting the element of surprise, but the author should have given at least a bit of development to the twist if that is where she wanted to go. As written, it seemed like an afterthought. I wish I could further explain but don’t want to give away any spoilers.
“Labyrinth Lost” is a good start to a series about magic and adventure. I recommend it to anyone upper middle school and up looking for a fun, fast read.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Underage Drinking
The King Slayer (The Witch Hunter, Book 2)
The King Slayer
The Witch Hunter, Book 2
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
June 14, 2016
Hardcover
368
An action-packed and suspenseful sequel to The Witch Hunter, perfect for fans of Graceling and the Grisha Trilogy.
"I think, in time, you'll either be my greatest mistake or my greatest victory."
Former witch hunter Elizabeth Grey is hiding within the magically protected village of Harrow, evading the price put on her head by Lord Blackwell, the usurper king of Anglia. Their last encounter left Blackwell ruined, but his thirst for power grows stronger every day. He's readying for a war against those who would resist his rule--namely Elizabeth and the witches and wizards she now calls her allies.
Having lost her stigma, a magical source of protection and healing, Elizabeth's strength is tested both physically and emotionally. War always means sacrifice, and as the lines between good and evil blur once more, Elizabeth must decide just how far she'll go to save those she loves.
"[Filled] with everything a good fantasy book needs: swords, poison, black magic, and betrayal."--April Tucholke, author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, on The Witch Hunter
Review:
“The King Slayer” is an excellent follow-up to “The Witch Hunter.”
For those who read the first of the duology, you will be happy to know that all of your favorite (and not-so-favorite) characters are back, most of them with much bigger parts in the story. I’m almost afraid to write anything in this review for fear of spoiling someone. I can say that it is as good as, if not better, than the first. The world is still one of the most well-built I have ever read.
There is something that some may find controversial, but given the historical context, it’s really the only way it could play out realistically.
Oh, and please Virginia Boecker, give us a book about Schuyler. There seems like so much to tell, and I don’t want to see him go.
Highly recommended to anyone who loved the first.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Gore
Tell the Wind and Fire
Tell the Wind and Fire
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group
April 5, 2016
Hardcover
368
“Sarah Rees Brennan writes with fine control and wit, and I suspect that word of this magical thriller will pass through the populace with the energy of wind, of fire.” —Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked and Egg and Spoon
In a city divided between opulent luxury in the Light and fierce privations in the Dark, a determined young woman survives by guarding her secrets.
Lucie Manette was born in the Dark half of the city, but careful manipulations won her a home in the Light, celebrity status, and a rich, loving boyfriend. Now she just wants to keep her head down, but her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own—one involving an apparent stranger who is destitute and despised. Lucie alone knows the young men’s deadly connection, and even as the knowledge leads her to make a grave mistake, she can trust no one with the truth.
Blood and secrets alike spill out when revolution erupts. With both halves of the city burning, and mercy nowhere to be found, can Lucie save either boy—or herself?
Celebrated author Sarah Rees Brennan weaves a magical tale of romance and revolution, love and loss.
Review:
Actual rating would be 3 1/2 stars.
“Tell the Wind and Fire” is a fantasy novel based heavily on “A Tale of Two Cities,” but if you haven’t read that you won’t be lost. I had very mixed feelings on it, ranging from being in love with certain parts to wanting to scream and throw the book at the wall in frustration.
The premise was really good and engaging. The world-building was fantastic, and that is always something that hooks me. Unfortunately, the plot was kind of jerked around. Sometimes it was fast-paced and others it was slow. Perhaps the worst aspect was that at times it felt like a good chunk of information was missing, and the reader was expected to infer what backstory led to the current events. It wasn’t enough to ruin the story, but it was an annoyance.
The main character, Lucie, was a child born in the Dark City who ended up in the Light. For half of the book she was fierce and relatable. Her dialogue with one character, whose details I will keep secret due to spoilers, was absolutely amazing. I loved their dynamic and wish the entire book had been about them. Then there was Ethan, her boyfriend. The term “flowery prose” does not even begin to describe how she thought of him. It felt like an entirely separate book. Think Victorian era romance, which would have been fine had she not been a strong character literally everywhere else. He was given flaws, some pretty serious ones, that were all but ignored in favor of her falling all over herself over his perfection. The over-the-top relationship almost ruined the entire book.
“Tell the Wind and Fire” is worth the read for the good parts, but be sure to be prepared for some frustration. It’s best for high school aged and up.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Mild Gore
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