Category: Fantasy

Title: Kiss of the Royal
Author: Lindsey Duga
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the war against the Forces of Darkness, the Royals are losing. Princess Ivy is determined to end this centuries-long conflict once and for all, so her new battle partner must succeed where the others failed. Prince Zach’s unparalleled skill with a sword, enhanced by Ivy’s magic Kiss, should make them an unstoppable pair—but try convincing Zach of that.

Prince Zach has spent his life preparing for battle, but he would rather be branded a heretic than use his lips as nothing more than a way to transfer magic. A kiss is a symbol of love, and love is the most powerful weapon they have—but try convincing Ivy of that.

With the fate of their world on the line, the battlefield has become a testing ground, and only one of them can be right. Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan—but try convincing their hearts of that.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book.

The world in this story is a matriarchal society. The Princesses hold the power of the Kisses to protect their Prince partners. There was a hierarchy of who has the most royal blood. The more royal blood, the stronger the Kiss’s power.

The arrival of Zach disrupted Ivy’s life in many ways. He had a different belief system, which threatened their relationship. But they had to find a way to work together.

I really liked that Ivy grew as a character throughout the story. When she was given evidence that there are other options out in the world, she listened. She didn’t just dismiss them without hearing both sides of the story. She was also willing to try new things.

This was a great story. Have you read this book or are you planning on reading it? What did you think?

What to read next:

• The Queen’s Rising
  
• Shadow and Bone
  

About the Author:

 

Title: Song of Blood & Stone
Author: L. Penelope
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: May 1, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers. 

Orphaned and alone, Jasminda lives in a land where cold whispers of invasion and war linger on the wind. Jasminda herself is an outcast in her homeland of Elsira, where her gift of Earthsong is feared. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive–an injured spy who threatens to steal her heart.

Jack’s mission behind enemy lines to prove that the Mantle between Elsira and Lagamiri is about to fall nearly cost him his life, but he is saved by the healing Song of a mysterious young woman. Now he must do whatever it takes to save Elsira and it’s people from the True Father and he needs Jasminda’s Earthsong to do it. They escape their ruthless captors and together they embark on a perilous journey to save Elsira and to uncover the secrets of The Queen Who Sleeps.

Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation.

The fates of two nations hang in the balance as Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies and end the war.

Review:

This is a great YA fantasy story.

I loved how quickly the action began in this story! I was immediately thrown into Jasminda’s life and problems. And right after she was introduced, Jack and some soldiers appeared on her doorstep. The only problem with this was that there wasn’t any background given about this world, so when things started happening in the world around Jasminda and Jack, I was a little confused.

Once I figured out what was happening in the wider world of the story, I really enjoyed it. The pacing was great. It all moved very quickly, so I flew through the book.

I’m curious to see where this series goes. I can’t wait to read the next story.

Title: Glass Sword
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Release Date: February 9, 2016
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.

Review:

I enjoyed this book much more than Red Queen.

The characters were much more developed in this book, since we already know them from Red Queen. It was sometimes hard to know who to trust in this story, between the two princes, but it made the story more exciting.

The plot was very dramatic and unpredictable. It was a real journey, both literally and figuratively from beginning to end. Plus there was always the threat of Maven coming after them.

I think Victoria Aveyard’s writing is improving with each book. (She’s also hilarious on Twitter!) I look forward to reading the King’s Cage next!

You can check out my review for Red Queen here.

Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart

Review:

This story is a lot like other contemporary YA Fantasy novels. Mare is a low class girl who finds herself at the palace where she discovers she is special, and she is valuable to the kingdom. This plot is like the Throne of Glass series or the Selection series. I was disappointed that it had an unoriginal beginning.

I did like the dynamic of the Reds and Silvers. Though I wasn’t happy that the story began in a predictable way, I was shocked at Mare’s powers. She’s a unique character. I liked her strength, though her bravery often got her into trouble.

Though I was initially disappointed by how this story began, I am going to continue with the series. It’s very popular, and I hope the rest of it heads in a different direction from other similar series.

 

Title: How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin’ Days
Author: Megan O’Russell
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy8
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Release Date: August 15, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ever wanted to grow a five-story tall flower in central park? How about fight a deadly battle under the subway tunnels of Manhattan?

Don’t worry. I never wanted to either. But if you’re ever being chased by ladies made of mist and you have to save the girl with the sparkly eyes you’ve never had the guts to say actual words to, there’s an app for that.

I found a magic cell phone, opened an app I shouldn’t have, burned down the set shop for my high school’s theatre, and it was all downhill from there. A drag queen seer who lives under a bridge is my only hope for keeping my mom alive, and I think the cops might be after me for destroying my dad’s penthouse.

But it gets better! Now I’m stuck being the sidekick to the guy who got me into this mess in the first place. It’ll be a miracle if I survive until Monday.

Review:

I loved this story.

It’s very fast paced. As the title says, it all happens in four days. There’s so much that happens.

The dynamics of the characters were really good. Bryant had the help of two friends, Devon and Elizabeth. This trio reminded me of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

The setting of New York City was great too. Since I could picture it clearly, it made the crazy things that happen stand out so much more, such as an enormous flower growing out of Central Park.

Though the story had hints of Harry Potter, it really reminded me of the Percy Jackson series. Bryant is unique, just like Percy. He lives with his mother and there is a mystery surrounding his father. Also, they both get swept up in mysterious things happening to them at school in NYC.

This is a great story, that I recommend for fans of middle grade fantasy.