Category: Young Adult

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price …

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

Review:

Feyre hunts for animals to feed her father and two sisters. When she comes across a wolf one day, she pauses as she wonders if he could be a faerie in disguise. She decides to kill him so that he doesn’t attack her prey. However, a faerie shows up to their home soon after she killed the wolf and tells them that he was a fae in disguise. The faerie, named Tamlin, brings Feyre to his kingdom as her punishment for killing one of his kind. The faerie world is dangerous for a human, but at the same time, Feyre holds the key to saving Tamlin and his kingdom.

This book was definitely worth the hype. I tried to read it during a buddy read a few years ago, but I found it difficult to get into at the beginning. I think the beginning was slow because the characters all seemed very angry and weren’t getting what they wanted. Feyre had to hunt to feed her ungrateful family, and she made the mistake of killing a faerie. Tamlin wasn’t happy to lose his fellow fae and have to punish Feyre for it. Neither of them were happy for a long time, which was discouraging to read. However, the story picked up about a quarter of the way through and was exciting until the end.

One thing that surprised me about this book was how graphic some scenes were. There were some quite violent scenes. There were also descriptive sex scenes. The characters were in their late teens and early twenties so that’s probably why there were more mature themes. The story is classified as young adult but I would suggest it for an older young adult audience.

I’m so glad I finally read this book. I’m excited to read the next one.

What to read next:

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black

Other books in the series:

• A Court of Mist and Fury
• A Court of Wings and Ruin
• A Court of Frost and Starlight

Have you read A Court of Thorns and Roses? What did you think of it?

Title: The Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #1)
Author: Gena Showalter
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

WELCOME TO THE FOREST OF GOOD AND EVIL.

A DREAM COME TRUE…AND A LIVING NIGHTMARE.

Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future.

Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real-life fairy-tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.

Look. See… What will one peek hurt?

Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen.

With powers beyond her imagination or control, Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed. As the prophecy unfolds, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be?

The battle between good and evil is on.

Review:

Everly Morrow has lived her whole life in the mortal world with her sister and mother. One day, she begins to see something in the mirror, which is her special magical ability. Everly is actually from a fairy tale world, Enchantia, where she is fated to play a role in the fairy tale of Snow White and the Evil Queen. Everly has to travel to Enchantia to fulfill her part in the prophecy, but no one knows which role they are supposed to play. They have to figure out who will be Snow White, Prince Charming, and the Evil Queen.

This was an exciting twist on the fairy tale adaptation. It wasn’t clear which character was playing which role in the Snow White fairy tale. At different parts of the story, any of the characters could be either Snow White, the Huntsman, Prince Charming, or the Evil Queen. This was a clever way to keep the reader guessing until the end.

This story was a little long and complicated at times. It got confusing when the roles in the Snow White kept changing, though it kept me wondering who was going to eventually fulfill each role. Some of the scenes were repetitive, such as when they traveled in the forest. The same things kept happening to the characters in the forest, like being chased by different creatures and bathing in the lake. I think some of these parts could have been condensed to make the story more fast paced.

I really enjoyed this fairy tale story. I’m excited to read the next one!

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford

Other books in the series:

• The Glass Queen

Have you read The Evil Queen? What did you think of it?

Title: Queen of Volts (The Shadow Game #3)
Author: Amanda Foody
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Return to the City of Sin, where the final game is about to begin…and winning will demand the ultimate sacrifice.

Only days after a corrupt election and brutal street war, one last bloodthirsty game has begun. The players? The twenty-two most powerful, notorious people in New Reynes.

After realizing they have no choice but to play, Enne Scordata and Levi Glaisyer are desperate to forge new alliances and bargain for their safety. But while Levi offers false smiles and an even falser peace to the city’s politicians, Enne must face a world where her true Mizer identity has been revealed…and any misstep could turn deadly.

Meanwhile, a far more dangerous opponent has appeared on the board, one plucked right from the most gruesome legends of New Reynes. As the game takes its final, vicious turn, Levi and Enne must decide once and for all whether to be partners or enemies.

Because in a game for survival, there are only losers…

And monsters.

Review:

Just days after the events of the election in King of Fools, a new shadow game has begun. Each player was given a card with a character on it. Now, the card has another name listed, which is the person’s target. The only way to win the game is to kill your target and take their card. Meanwhile, Levi is struggling with the loss of his friend, while Enne is figuring out her new identity. It doesn’t seem like there will be any way to survive this game.

There was a bit of a recap as the characters were introduced in this story. I was glad, because it has been a while since I read King of Fools. I think this series could be reread multiple times, with the reader noticing more clues each time. Since the events of the books take place over a few months, it would be much easier to keep track of the plot if they were read all at once.

The stakes were the highest yet in this book. The shadow game was literally life or death. It was quite intense, with everyone being a target. Each character’s story was so detailed and carefully plotted. The characters could almost have had a book of their own because there was so much that happened in this story.

This was a great ending to The Shadow Game trilogy!

Thank you Inkyard Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

The Diviners by Libba Bray

About the author:

Amanda Foody has always considered imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After spending her childhood longing to attend Hogwarts, she now loves to write about immersive settings and characters grappling with insurmountable destinies. She holds a master’s in accountancy from Villanova University and a bachelor of arts in English literature from the College of William and Mary.

Have you read Queen of Volts? What did you think of it?

Title: Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards #1)
Author: Janella Angeles
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 25, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost

The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told

The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide

Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

Review:

Kallia is the star showgirl at a secret nightclub, but no one knows what she looks like hidden behind her mask. When she escapes to the city Glorian, she enters a competition for magicians. She is the only female magician in the competition. Kallia catches the eye of Demarco, a retired magician with a dark past who is judging the competition. Things spin out of control when contestants go missing and everyone gets closed down in the city.

The magic in this world was different from typical fantasy novels. The magicians were born with their talent, which was a performative magic with illusions and transformations. Some had more skill than others, but the magic would wear out the magician after the performance. This kind of magic seemed more real, because it reminded me of watching magicians or illusionists perform on a stage or on TV, rather than the fantastic magic in other fantasy novels.

This story was exciting and unpredictable. The competition was largely a mystery to the magicians, with their props given to them right as they had to perform. They couldn’t prepare for the act ahead of time, so the performances were a surprise for the judges and the reader. There were some hints about the characters’ mysterious pasts given throughout the story. I still had some questions at the end of the story, so I’m looking forward to learning the rest in the next book.

This is a great, magical story!

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Caraval (Caraval #1) Stephanie Garber

Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game #1) by Amanda

About the author:

JANELLA ANGELES is a Filipino-American author who got her start in writing through consuming glorious amounts of fanfiction at a young age—which eventually led to penning a few of her own, and later on, creating original stories from her imagination. A lifelong lover of books, she’s lucky enough to be working in the business of publishing them on top of writing them. She currently resides in Massachusetts, where she’s most likely to be found listening to musicals on repeat and daydreaming too much for her own good. Where Dreams Descend is her first book.

Have you read Where Dreams Descend? What did you think of it?

Title: Ever Cursed
Author: Corey Ann Haydu
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 28, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Damsel meets A Heart in a Body in the World in this incisive and lyrical feminist fairy tale about a princess determined to save her sisters from a curse, even if it means allying herself with the very witch who cast it.

The Princesses of Ever are beloved by the kingdom and their father, the King. They are cherished, admired.

Cursed.

Jane, Alice, Nora, Grace, and Eden carry the burden of being punished for a crime they did not commit, or even know about. They are each cursed to be Without one essential thing—the ability to eat, sleep, love, remember, or hope. And their mother, the Queen, is imprisoned, frozen in time in an unbreakable glass box.

But when Eden’s curse sets in on her thirteenth birthday, the princesses are given the opportunity to break the curse, preventing it from becoming a True Spell and dooming the princesses for life. To do this, they must confront the one who cast the spell—Reagan, a young witch who might not be the villain they thought—as well as the wickedness plaguing their own kingdom…and family.

Told through the eyes of Reagan and Jane—the witch and the bewitched—this insightful twist of a fairy tale explores power in a patriarchal kingdom not unlike our own.

Review:

The princesses of Ever were cursed on their thirteenth birthdays. Just before the oldest princess’s thirteenth birthday, a young witch, Reagan, visited them, cursed the five princesses, and enclosed their mother in a glass box. On each of their thirteenth birthdays they would be cursed, each girl losing the ability to eat, to sleep, to love, to remember, or to hope. The princesses will have just a few days to break the curse after the youngest princess turns thirteen and before the witch turns eighteen, which will make the curses last forever. The eldest princess, Jane, who has lost the ability to eat, has to look after her sisters and figure out how to break the curse, while also learning why they were cursed in the first place.

This story was set in a fairytale-like kingdom called Ever, but the serious subject matter wasn’t like a children’s fairytale. The Kingdom looked picturesque from the outside, but their history was filled with sexual assaults and rape. These things were hinted at through the beginning of the book, and weren’t confirmed until partway through, but I think it was obvious that that was what happened. These serious issues reminded me of the dark subject matter of the original Grimm’s fairytales, which were disturbing and not always meant for children.

I was hopeful for the princesses throughout the story, though they kept having bad things happen to them. It was getting so bad that I didn’t see how it could possibly have a happy ending. I won’t spoil the ending, but I think it was fitting for the story.

This is a great fairytale fantasy with contemporary themes.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Have you read Ever Cursed? What did you think of it?

Title: Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns #3)
Author: Kendare Blake
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake returns with the highly anticipated third book in the Three Dark Crowns series! And while Arsinoe, Mirabella, and Katharine all have their own scores to settle, they aren’t the only queens stirring things up on Fennbirn Island.

Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There’s also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually dead—or if they’re waiting in the wings to usurp the throne.

Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting, bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn. 

Jules, too, is in a strange place—in disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she can’t imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharine’s doorstep.

This is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessed—or expected.

Review:

Queen Katharine won the battle, so she is ruling Fennbirn Island. Her sisters, Arinsoe and Mirabella, are on the mainland, where they escaped after the duel with Katharine. Katharine doesn’t know if her sisters are alive or not, which means they could come and threaten her reign. Arsinoe’s friend Jules also escaped and is living in disguise. Jules’s friends Emilia and Mathilde want her to fill the role of the legion cursed queen to oppose Katharine. At the same time, the legendary Blue Queen is appearing in Arsinoe’s dreams, pointing her back toward Fennbirn Island. The biggest danger may be something they can’t see.

This story had a lot of world building, even though it is the third in the series. It opens with a flashback 400 years ago when Queen Illian, the Blue Queen, was born. She plays an important role in the story. I loved that history returned to the island in this story.

The plot took a twist I didn’t see coming. Some characters that were minor in previous books became more important to the story in this book. I love that the plot arc has changed in a surprising way, yet it still makes sense to the story as a whole.

I loved this book! I’m going to have to get the next book right away!

What to read next:

Five Dark Fates (Three Dark Crowns #3) by Kendare Blake

Queens of Fennbirn (Three Dark Crowns #0.1-0.2) by Kendare Blake

Other books in the series:

• Three Dark Crowns
• One Dark Throne
• Five Dark Fates
• Queens of Fennbirn

Have you read Two Dark Reigns? What did you think of it?