Fresh new fantasy book
596757
*****SPOILERS. READ AT OWN RISK.******

I bought The Girl of Fire and Thorns in hardback, which I rarely do, so I was crossing my fingers that it would be good and not a waste of 19 dollars.

Thank goodness it wasn't.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns. It was an intriguing high fantasy novel that left me wanting more. I will definitely buy the sequel when it comes out.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is about Elisa, the younger of two princesses, who has never been anything special. She bears the Godstone, which marks someone for a grand destiny, and she can't understand why God chose her. Only after she marries the king Alejandro does she realize what destiny God has in store for her.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns has a refreshing protagonist. Elisa was an interesting character. She truly went through major changes through the book. She began the novel overweight, shy, and self-doubting. By the end of the novel, she had become much more confident i herself. It was nice to see some real character development, which I feel some YA books have been lacking. I also like that Elisa wasn't constantly kicking butt. It seems that in YA books, there's either a weak, helpless protagonist or there's a warrior maiden who is just so tought to the point it's annoying. Elisa was a strong character, but she wasn't constantly kicking butt or anything. She was a flawed character and occasionally annoying, but it made her all the more realisitic.

The other characters in the novel were also well-developed. I really liked Humberto, the dashing revolutionary and his sister Cosme, who was bitter and sometimes unlikable, but you came to understand why she was the way she was. I liked little Rosario and Ximena and Hector and Alejandro. Rae Carson created both an interesting protagonist and interesting secondary characters to back her up.

The worldbuilding of the novel was well-done. I loved how it was Hispanic-based. It was a unique change from all the Ye Olde Medieval Tymes settings that have been prominent in YA fantasy. The world was a nice change and I feel like we really got to understand the culture and landscape of this world.

Carson throws in a major twist at the end, which is shocking, but it worked for the book.

I also liked that Carson showed some true grit to war. Two major characters die, but it didn't feel forced or unnecessarily gratuitous. It worked for the novel. However, I was sad that one character died. That particular character was one of my favorites.

My two complains are that: 1) The beginning of the book is slow-moving. There are exciting bits, but overall, most of Part 1 of the book is slow-going. 2) I wish there had been a more defined antagonist. We know that the animagus are evil as a whole, but we never really got one main bad guy (or at least not that I remember. I haven't read the book in a while, please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Overall, The Girl of Fire and Thorns is an interesting, fresh new high fantasy novel that I enjoyed. Recommended.

More reviews at my blog: Random Musings of a Critical Critic (dot blogspot dot com)
1538701
A great and interesting new heroine in urban fantasy. As a fan of Norse mythology I like this very interesting new twist on the lore of the Scandinavians, Saxons, Celts and Vikings. The plot is very good, although some of the developments are a bit repetitive. The heroine is a very interesting character, and her being lesbian makes her more interesting, although sometimes it drags on the plot. But this is a minor issue as this novel is about her and her adventures not about sex. I enjoyed the interplay of characters and mythological symbols. The reader may have to find some more information to get a good grip on what all of them mean. I look forward to new adventures with Sarah Beauhall and her friends.
2886317
Finally, a new book with a real refreshing and new feel by R.A. Salvatore that is based on his previously created characters in Forgotten Realms.  His previous works in the realms, apart from the Cleric Quintet, focused too much on Drizzt Do'Urden.  Even Spine of the World, considered a radical departure by fans, dealt with Wulfgar, a character which many readers are already familiar.
In comparison, Servant of the Shard continued where Silent Blade left off, and finally, two very interesting but under-developed characters, human assassin Enteris Artemis and drow mercenary company Bregan D'aerthe' enigmatic yet brilliant and astute leader Jarlaxle, took the centre stage.
Readers would already be familiar some of Enteri's philosophy through earlier novels, but that had at most been a sideshow and a less significant contemplation to act as a comparison to Drizzt's own private reflections.  In this book, Salvatore presented a new yet old Enteri - a man who walks carrying his past, his past life, his old motivations and thoughts, along with new ones which came from his experiences in Menzoberanzan and from finally surviving his duel-to-death against Drizzt.  The fact that Enteri had been forced to work for the Bregan D'aerthe in the latter's foray into the surface world served as a catalyst to Enteri decide what kind of an existence he really would want.
Readers did not really get to see the inside of Jarlaxle because he was clearly, though not definitively, influenced by the Crystal Shard.  As the Shard urged to expand its influence, the inevitable conflict leads to more-than-cursory role-playing of secondary characters who were often under-utilised in other novels.  Jarlaxle's top lieutenants from the Underdark, along with Enteri's subordinates running the guild which Enteri took over in Silent Blade, had their work cut out for them.  It is refreshing to see such supporting cast do more than come, go, obey, betray, kill and die, these characters actually affected the development of the events.
The plot of the book is a little of a typical gangland turf-war, with more devious plottings and intricate intrigue rather than outright brute force (compared to less flattering depiction of sterotype gangsters in most novels), motivated by the possession of an ultimate weapon (isn't it nice that such a weapon is used in turf wars instead of the run-of-the-mill take over the world, it is so less damaging).
Jarlaxle, having completed his goal of establishing indirect but definite influence and network on the surface, brought danger to his mercenary group when goaded by the Shard, sought to expand that dominance aggressively, threatening to expose the drows' presence on the surface.  His lieutenants, justifiably worried, and none-too-kind on Enteri, had to decide the steps to take to protect themselves.
Thus set the background stage for one of the best books on underworld intrigues in a fantasy setting where in the foreground really was the internal conflict within Enteri as he fought to keep alive.
This is one book where any loopholes are not really discernable nor distracting, worth keeping if you have the money.  The actions are fast and furious, but not too detailed with swashbuckling details as Salvatore's previous books. Salvatore finally came up with something fresh, thankfully.  For sometime, he had been exhausting the potential of Drizzt until his novels became weak.  Consider this a new beginning, returning to the excitement generated for the original drow trilogy.
4217876
I was impressed by this- it's a fresh new epic fantasy (It sounds as if this book will be one of five or six!), at least to me. There is a lot of action, but there are also a lot of thought provoking events going on throughout. We have a handful of characters and it's very intriguing to see how they will meet, will they be allies or enemies?

I would definitely consider reading the next installment in the series.

The narrator did a good job differentiating most characters, and I would absolutely listen to more of his work in the future.

I received this book for free from the publisher, authors or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review.
4630961
Rachelle McCalla has done a magnificent job of creating a post-nuclear holocaust world with characters that seem to breath and eat with room to grow and change as the story goes. The world she creates is one which fascinates the reader into wanting to learn just a little more with each page; while not overwhelming the reader with descriptions and details. Finally, McCalla brings in just enough of a twist to the end of this first installment that it begs the reader to move on to book two. This is a fresh take on the end of the world literature which gives a nod to one of the great fantasy writers of the past 30 years Terry Brooks. This book is a solid read for veteran fantasy readers and a great starting point for those new to the genre.
2176172
I really enjoyed this book, and I like the concept of the world very much. It is a urban fantasy, but with a fresh modern tone that feels like it has left behind the genres 80s roots.
4040736
Great new author to the market.  Can't wait for the sequel.  I have to be honest, this book started a little slow for me, but hang in there.  This new author really hooks us into the story and leaves us wanting more.  Ember is a fantastic character with unique abilities and I think we may have a love story developing.  Wolves, visions, guardians...this is a great new fantasy author!!!!!
1999735
Jessica Therrien's Oppression, the first volume in the Children of the Gods series, offers readers a refreshing and exciting new take on Greek mythology.

Elyse, may look eighteen but she's really in her eighties. Elyse ages 5 times slower than humans and her blood has the ability to heal. After her parents' death, who also aged slow and had abilities, Elyse thinks she's the only of her kind left...until she meets William and finds out that there are others like her and they are all descendants of what people call Greek gods. Elyse is soon immersed in the world of the Descendants and learns that she's the subject of a prophecy. A prophecy that claims she'll bring her people out from under the oppression The Council has put upon them. Elyse soon finds herself having to make impossible decisions and fighting to protect the ones she loves.

I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology and books that explore this topic, so I was super excited to delve into Oppression, and what I found was an exciting, original and enjoyable read. The Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan are some of my absolute favorite books that explore Greek mythology and Oppression reminds me of a more grown up version of these books. Therrien has crafted a captivating story, engaging characters and an enticing romance, but this book certainly isn't without its faults.

While I was instantly intrigued by the story being laid out from page one, I must admit that I found the first few chapters a bit confusing and disorienting. There's quite a bit of history and backstory introduced in the first chapter alone, as well has a handful of characters, and these things/people aren't really explained right away. But, they are explained and developed more as the story progresses, and as I stated above, even with the confusion in the first few chapters, I was completely intrigued and had to keep reading. And by chapter three, the story really finds its flow and moves at a nice pace.

The mythological/fantasy elements are really awesome. The idea of children of Greek gods having abilities is not a new one, but the author takes this idea to new and thrilling places. Therrien has created a wonderfully imaginative and dimensional mythological world within the realm of the "real" world, and she balances the fantastical with real life situations really well. The different abilities (healing, time freezing, intuition, thought reading, light manipulation, etc) are really fun and surprisingly educational to read about. Therrien's knowledge and understanding of Greek mythology is quite impressive.

Therrien's characters are well developed and layered. Elyse is compelling, likable and relatable; I really liked "seeing" the story unfold from her perspective. William adds a lot of much needed humor and he's easy to crush on. But I think I was most intrigued by Kara, who was once William's best friend and who has been forced to work for The Council. Kara has done terrible things, but there's such a thought-provoking depth to her character and I look forward to learning more about her.

The relationship between Elyse and William is very significant and I don't want to give away too much about why, but I will say that I found their relationship frustratingly addictive. I'm not a fan of insta-love and I would definitely classify the Elyse/William relationship as insta-love and I would have liked to have seen a natural progression of their love. However, I really did enjoy the interaction between the two and their spark is undeniable. And I definitely could have done without all of Elyse's swooning and all of her thoughts about how glorious/perfect/good-looking William is.

The book ends a bit abruptly, but left me eager for more.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Jessica Therrien's Oppression is a refreshing and exciting edition to the world of Mythological Fiction and an ejoyable first volume in what is sure to be a great series. I really enjoyed delving into the world of the Descendants and can't wait to read more.
1115288
Good fantasy books make world's that are only imaginary feel real. Aaron Safronoff has managed to do this in his book Sunborn Rising Beneath The Fall.

The Story

Cerulean once was a world full of brightness and life. But it has slowly become a place that is decaying. Barra finds her father's journal which tells of how the world has decayed and how it needs to stop. She and two of her friends take up her father's cause and begin to change Cerulean.

What I Liked About This Book

There is a lot to like about this book. I really like that the main character of this book is a strong female. She decides to solve a problem, and she doesn't hesitate to set out on an adventure. I like that the author has created a different and beautiful world. And I absolutely love that he used illustrations to show help the reader picture this world.

I also like that the author is kind of making a bigger statement. He is showing what happens when we forget to take care of the world we live in. Through Barra's story he is reminding us all of what happens when we don't heed some of the warnings that are offered

Who Should Read This Book

Because of it's strong female main character this book is a good book for young adult females. But I believe that there are many adults who would enjoy this book too. The world that the author paints is rich. And fans of fantasy fiction will probably enjoy this book.

Disclaimer
I did receive this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review
1851111
This is a new author for me and I've already bought more of his books.  The story line is very well paced and is sprinkled with a fun dose of humor. Very enjoyable fantasy read.
751574
Black Rook is the first in the Cornerstone Run Trilogy so much of the first part of this book is spent building the world of Magus, werewolves and vampires. Much is unique and refreshing in this fantasy world that has come from the mind of Kelly Meade. No predestined mates and wolf colors (hence the name Black Rook) are just two examples of a different spin on the paranormal creatures. While the progress into the story of Rook and Bryan is a bit slow during this time, I can't fault the author since she is building such an interesting world and has given so many very vivid descriptions. Even on common places such as the auction house, it was describe so I could see it perfectly in my mind. I really enjoyed going to this world through reading the book.

I know this is listed as a paranormal romance but it is heavy on the intrigue and seems to tilt towards urban fantasy. The romance is not as heavy in this story but the connection and chemistry between Rook and Bryan is strong but with problems since they are different. The story picks up the paces when they are involved. They are drawn to each other but are struggling with responsibilities, acceptance, self-image, self-doubt, prejudices and outsider danger.

Along with this new fantasy world, I especially liked the secondary characters of the McQueen family.  I look forward to another book in this small town of loup garou.

Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
3081309
It seems that every Amazon fantasy recommendation I get these days involves a coming-of-age story of young boy destined to fight an ancient evil.

This book is a refreshing change of pace.  It creates a very intriguing, post-Apocalyptic world where life is harsh unless you are one of the privileged few.  Within that world, there are some very interesting characters, some from a privileged background and the main characters from the lower segments of society - Khat belongs to a mutant/engineered race called Kris, who aren't even accepted as having souls, by most of society.  So from a worldbuilding point of view, this creates a really, really fresh background for the story.

The story itself is told quite differently as well - unlike a "omg, we must do X, Y, Z or the Dark Lord will take over the world" type of quest, the characters - and the reader - muddle along without knowing what's at stake:  that is only revealed towards the end.  The scale of this story is much smaller than "save the world"... it is Khat's struggle to save himself from whatever machinations he's gotten into.  So yeah, in that context, the grand denouement isn't as taut or climactic as in other stories, but i don't see that as a fault:  that is very much in keeping with the scale of the book.

And yes, between the original world setting and an equally original story that flows with ease and ample development, this is a book that was very hard to put down.  I was hooked by page 3.

I rarely give books 5-stars but this is definitely a 5-star read for fantasy buffs, IMO.
4949233
This book was a great surprise for me when i read it. Initially I thought I was not going to like it. There were certain aspects of the opening bit that annoyed me and almost made me stop reading. The character of Remger was one I disliked quite a bit, his personality seemed very forced and his interactions with Evan were annoying at best and did not mesh well with the rest of the story.
Luckily the ends quickly and from there the books opens up into a fantasy world that i have never seen before. The book brought a new and refreshing view to the fantasy, not so much in plot but quite a bit in scenes and characters.
This was a very enjoyable read and if you can get past the lackluster start you can open up to new mesmerizing world.
3088767
This is a great, fantasy book.  The main character, a young girl called Imelda, is instantly likeable.  She has a wonderful relationship with her father and both are good role models for young and old alike.  The story is fast paced and takes you on an adventure to another world; written with excellent imagination and vision by Mackenzie Brown.  It is well written and you immediately like the good guys and hate the bad guys.  I found myself transported to the places described thanks to the skill of the author.  Imelda has to use her own abilities and the skills of those around her to save her father and much more...  The connection between father and daughter is heart warming as are the connections between the friends they make along the way.  There is definitely scope for another book as I would love to read more of Imelda's adventures with the new friends she makes in this story.  The start of a new series and a new heroine maybe?  Enjoyable fantasy adventure with great characters.
1245275
Always a fan of jbern and he does not disappoint with this new fantasy novel.  Jim B. has the ability to take an old tired idea and put a new fresh interesting spin on them.  The major issue I have with the author is that he writes too  "S..L..O..W.."  I want to read more of his books.  :)
124272
I found this to be a great introduction to a new fantasy world.  While several fantasy tropes are on display, none were overwhelming or came off as overly forced.  Embracing Norse culture and mythology as an inspiration was a noted departure from the army of Tolkien clones I have come across lately.  The world building evoked some great imagery and left me craving more.

Dialogue between characters starts off a bit stilted but clears up towards the end.  The writing style (not the content) was reminiscent of The Black Company to me.

This was a great introductory novella from a new author and I will absolutely be picking up the next installment.  The style and substance showed great promise so it will be interesting to see how Duckworth evolves and develops alongside his characters.
203371
I bought this book awhile ago and stumbled upon it on my kindle when I was looking for something to read. I was really impressed by the author's world building. His take on mythology and fairy tales is unique. It was a refreshing YA fantasy that didn't wallow in romances nor did it make me feel that it was only half written and would be 7 books long for no reason. I will definitely look out for more novels from this author.