Tag Archives: Book Review

2015, Book Review

[Review] Shadow and Bone — Leigh Bardugo

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Book Title                   Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1)
Author:                         Leigh Bardugo
Number of pages:  368

Synopsis:

shadow and bone - leigh bardugo - book coverSurrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

(re: Goodreads @ Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– Mild-to-steep learning curve in world-building melding Russian cultural influences with magic systems akin to Avatar: The Last Airbender
– A page-turning read that ends with a thrilling bang (perhaps a cliffhanger that may require book two)
– Narrative voice often unwillingly promotes the romance as the central plot; includes a tedious (and somewhat forced) love-square+ that glimpses adolescent drama concerning popularity and individuality
– Character arcing is a jumble of good and bad eggs. Supporting characters may be more intriguing than some of the main ensemble

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Initial Thoughts

3.5/5 may sound low but I assure you that it is a high 3.5 (it’s probably really a 4 to a lot of other people, okay?)

 

Continue reading [Review] Shadow and Bone — Leigh Bardugo →

2015, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] The Blackthorn Key — Kevin Sands

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Book Title                  The Blackthorn Key
Author:                        Kevin Sands
Number of pages:  384

Synopsis:

blackthorn key - kevin sands - book cover“Tell no one what I’ve given you.”

Until he got that cryptic warning, Christopher Rowe was happy, learning how to solve complex codes and puzzles and creating powerful medicines, potions, and weapons as an apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn—with maybe an explosion or two along the way.

But when a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, the trail of murders grows closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop. With time running out, Christopher must use every skill he’s learned to discover the key to a terrible secret with the power to tear the world apart.

(re: Goodreads @ The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– Frenetically paced mystery with solvable puzzles providing an interactive reading experience
– Hist-fic world building is rustic, has medieval flair, and the tone is vividly portrayed given it’s time; mild “fade to black/off-screen” gore
– Characters and relationships (i.e. bromance) feel organic. However, there isn’t a strong female presence
– There is a pigeon named Bridget. You will have animal/pet feels
– Story is self-contained (though part of a series) and is courageously resilient, full of hilarious tomfoolery, and painfully tragic

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Initial Thoughts

It seems like stories with animal sidekicks will, without fail, garner 4+ stars from me. NO COMPLAINTS HEREEEEEE.

Full disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of The Blackthorn Key from the Book Blog Ontario Meet-Up. I extend thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing me with the opportunity to review this book.

Continue reading [Review] The Blackthorn Key — Kevin Sands →

2015, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] Don’t Fail Me Now — Una LaMarche

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Book Title                   Don’t Fail Me Now (Standalone)
Author:                         Una LaMarche
Number of pages:  288

Synopsis:

una lamarche - dont fail me now book cover2Michelle and her little siblings Cass and Denny are African-American and living on the poverty line in urban Baltimore, struggling to keep it together with their mom in jail and only Michelle’s part-time job at the Taco Bell to sustain them.

Leah and her stepbrother Tim are white and middle class from suburban Maryland, with few worries beyond winning lacrosse games and getting college applications in on time.

Michelle and Leah only have one thing in common: Buck Devereaux, the biological father who abandoned them when they were little. After news trickles back to them that Buck is dying, they make the uneasy decision to drive across country to his hospice in California. Leah hopes for closure; Michelle just wants to give him a piece of her mind.

(re: Goodreads @ Don’t Fail Me Now by Una LaMarche)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– A road-trip book brimming with intersectionality/diversity
– Slow-paced writing and feeling of being disengaged from the cast and their conflict made the experience a bit of a drag
– Romance in this book is off-center of incest (not actually…but the half-sister’s brother is the interest)
– Raises awareness to racial discrimination and microaggressions, economic disparity, gender roles, physiological concerns (diabetes), privilege, etc., but doesn’t cause its importance to resonate

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Initial Thoughts

Someone needs to explain to me why road trip books are so wonderful because I’m all “¯\_(ツ)_/¯”

Full disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of Don’t Fail Me Now from the Book Blog Ontario Meet-Up. I extend thanks to RazorBill for providing me with the opportunity to review this book.

Continue reading [Review] Don’t Fail Me Now — Una LaMarche →