Tag: fantasy

Wolfsong by TJ Klune – 5 Star Book Review

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Title: Wolfsong
Author: TJ Klune
Genre: Fantasy / LGBT
Publication Date: June 2016

Ox was twelve when his daddy taught him a very valuable lesson. He said that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then he left.

Ox was sixteen when he met the boy on the road. The little boy who talked and talked and talked. Ox found out later the little boy hadn’t spoken in almost two years before that day, and that the little boy belonged to a family who had moved into the house at the end of the lane. (Goodreads).

THIS BOOK. It took my by surprise and then proceeded to steal an entire weekend. A situation I was happy to abide by!

First off, this book is long. Like, much longer than I was expecting and yet the story flowed with great pace and character development. The sheer amount of events in this was a tad bit overwhelming (in a good way!) and every page felt necessary. Which isn’t always the case for books of this length (600+ pages).

The story follows Ox, bless his kind heart, and his encounters with the Bennett Pack of wolf shifters. Ox’s steadfastness and kindness truly captured my heart. He was the pure definition of a protective, gentle giant.

I have to be honest, for majority of the story I actually forgot that this was going to be a romance. While I adored Joe, the young individual Ox meets, I mostly enjoyed the growth of Ox and Joe as friends over the years. Klune managed to expertly convey their growth as individuals, friends, family and finaly mates. I adore the fated-mates trope but find that it usually involves insta-love. That wasn’t the case for this book. This was pure gold slow-burn.

While I was initially a bit uncertain of the romantic undertones in this story due to Joe’s age when Ox first meets him, Klune handled this so well. Almost a decade passes over the length of this book and the character development is astounding. By the end, Ox and Joe feel incredibly mature as characters and nothing untoward happens until that point to make you uncomfortable as a reader.

What made this book a soaring 5 Star read was the side characters. They came to life in this book and felt unique. Klune kept things unique and original which I really enjoyed.

I say this book stole my weekend but in reality I read, devoured and LOVED the sequels Ravensong and Heartsong as well. I CANNOT WAIT for Brothersong in October, 2020.

5 Stars.

Nevertell by Katharine Orton – MG eARC Book Review

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Title: Nevertell
Author: Katharine Orton
Genre: Middle Grade / Fantasy
Publication Date: April 2020

A snowy adventure, set in the wilds of Siberia, full of magic and wonder.

Born in a Soviet prison camp, Lina has never seen the world outside until the night she escapes with her best friend, Bogdan. As the pair journey across a snowy wilderness, they are pursued by a vengeful sorceress and her pack of shadow wolves. The children will need every ounce of courage – and a whisper of magic – if they are to survive… (Goodreads).

I’ve been in an MG mood lately with everything still being so intense and crazy out in the wide world. MG books have been a saving grace. Their wonder, whimsy and wholesome themes have kept my sanity safely in place and anxiety at bay. So this ARC couldn’t have come along at a better time.

Nevertell was a perfect read for my mood this week. With fantastical wolf-beasts, a vengeful sorceress and themes of friendship and love this story kept me happily entertained! Orton’s writing is fast-paced and full of energy. I was expecting a wild, adventurous ride and Nevertell certainly delivered on that.

Lina and Bogdan were easy-to-like characters that had a level of strength I hadn’t been expecting, considering their age. Forced to grow up fast in the Soviet Camp, these children faced battles head-on with a maturity well beyond their young teen years. While this would usually be considered to be a lack of effort to accurately portray a younger character, in this case it seemed appropriate. These children had suffered so much. Anything extra in the fight for freedom just seemed like the norm to them.

That said, the characters’ complete and unwavering strength made it hard to connect with them and story overall. I was expecting there to be a lot of emotional impact in this book due to the Soviet Camp and their fight for freedom but it didn’t really come across that way. Instead Lina and Bogdan took me on a fantastical, adventurous ride but I wasn’t overly invested in their plight. I hoped for a happy ending but would have been okay without one.

Additionally, I was expecting a lot more depth with the inclusion of Lina’s magical powers and soviet themes in this book. There was some growth of powers and the camp was present however, I wish Orton would have gone in to more detail on these. These issues made me reduce my rating to 3.5 stars, as opposed to 4.

3.5 Stars

*ARC provided via Walker Books Ltd via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Wish Had Been Published When I was a Child

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Hey all,

It’s been a LONG while since I’ve done a Top Ten Tuesday post but it seems I came back perfectly in time for this week’s fun theme: Books I Wish I’d Read as a Child. I was an avid reader when I was a child and there are so many good books released now that I wish I’d have had a chance to experience reading as a child/young teen. This is my list of books I wish would go back in time and be published 20 years early, haha.

As always, thanks go to the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl for this week’s topic and for creating this meme.

The Trials of Apollo Series by Rick Riordan – I fell in love with Riordan’s writing from reading the Percy Jackson series after having seen the movie (yes… the book is certainly better!). After that I was excited to try another series by this author, The Trials of Apollo, and was not disappointed!

Percy Jackson and The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan – My beginning in to the love that I currently have for Riordan’s writing. It’s fast paced, exciting and has just the right amount of mythology to spark and keep my interest!

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani – I read this book as part of a tutoring program, to help a young teen read and gain interest in reading but was surprised to find myself immersed in the story along the way. I picked up on this series where the tutoring left off and devoured the rest of the series. This is good vs evil drama without all of the angst that usually is associated with books of this theme.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney – I saw the movie and it pulled on my heart strings. I had to give the books a try after that. They’re so quick and easy to read – I was hooked!

The Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths – This is another series I initially read for tutoring and was swept up in it’s whimsy, fun and The Faraway Tree vibes. I was obsessed with the Magic Faraway Tree as a kid and this has some serious links to that. It spurred on my sentimental heart and I fell in love with this series which felt like an extension of The Faraway books of my childhood.

Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend – I loved the cover and blurb of this book when in the book shop. This is one of those perfect fantasy series that can be appreciated by children and adults alike. If you haven’t tried it yet, you really should!

Star Wars Box Set – I only discovered Star Wars in my early 20s by watching the movies (yes, I know I was waaaaaay behind the ball on this one) and loved them so much I decided to buy the children’s box set. It’s fun, easy to read and perfect for when you’re in the mood to escape current reality.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan – Yes, yet another Riordan book on my list but in my defence: they’re awesome. Carter and Sadie’s adventure was so thrilling to read and the story itself was full of sibling banter, whimsy, magic and featured a Goddess Cat. What more could you want??

The Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan – I found this series through a friend’s recommendation and was hooked from the very first chapter. Flanagan writes stories that remind me of Tamora Pierce’s writing. It’s a magical world full of brave characters, bows and arrows and exciting adventure.

Wonder by R J Palacio – I watched Wonder the movie when it came out and was completely caught off guard by how emotional it made me. Picking up the book after that was a foregone conclusion and I loved it! Wonder is the perfect story to teach children that it’s okay to be different – and adults too it seems. This was a wholesome delight!

Have you read any of these? Do you also wish you’d had a chance to read them when you were younger??

Circe by Madeline Miller – Book Review

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Title: Circe
Author: Madeline Miller
Genre: Fantasy / Mythology
Publication Date: April 2018

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. (Goodreads).

Mythology is not usually a genre I tend to read but Circe came up as a book club read and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I had been expecting to hate it, honestly. Generally, mythology tends to be very intense and this one was intense but in a way that was strangely relatable for a book of this genre.

Too often the protagonists in mythological retellings have morals and motives that aren’t necessarily relatable or understandable to modern readers (or maybe it’s just me??) and this generally makes me avoid the genre. In Circe’s case, she started off as a typical god-like character with little to relate to. What was different in Circe however, was her character development throughout the course of the book. It was captivating to read about. Despite being over 10, 000 years old it felt like the 300 year time span within this book was the true culmination of her life’s journey and experiences.

Miller’s ability to incorporate a wealth of mythological stories and characters in a way that not only seemed seamless but also provided an intimate insight in to the personalities of the Gods was enthralling to read about. Written in a tone that seemed fantastical but also modern, Miller managed to gain my interest and keep me hooked.

Despite the beautifully lush writing and great character development, this story had some down sides that leaved me rating it 4-Stars instead of 5. The beginning of the story was very hard to get hooked on. It dragged and I honestly wasn’t all that connected to the characters. After Circe was exiled to the Island however, things started to pick up and the story of her growth as a person began to form. Before this point it had just seemed like a host of short stories, about one character, had been lumped together.

Additionally, this book felt long. Really long. It’s only 300 pages but the pace and sheer volume of plot condensed in to the novel made it seem like a 500-pager. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it does mean that this is a story best appreciated in small bites. This is particularly important for readers that take on the emotions from the books they’re reading (me!) as this story isn’t one I’d consider light-hearted by any means. There’s depth and Circe’s poor plight that never seemed to end. Being continuously abandoned added a heavy weight to her character (spurring on some pretty great development) but also took a toll on the reader.

This was a brilliantly written story that will stay with me for a long time. That said, its emotional impact means I won’t be rereading this again anytime soon! For those of you that enjoy books with intense emotional impact – you’ll love this!

4 out of 5 stars.

The Quick Fire Fantasy Tag

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It’s been a LONG while since I’ve done a tag but I couldn’t resist doing this one first (despite the long list of ones I haven’t gotten to yet) as fantasy is a genre that’s close to my heart. YA fantasy (City of Bones to be specific) was the reason I became so interested in reading when I was younger and it’s been non-stop ever since!

I was tagged by the wonderfully kind Siren over at Sweaters and Raindrops. If you haven’t checked out her blog yet… what are you waiting for???

The Rules:

  • Thank the person who tagged you and link back to their post
  • Link to the creator’s blog (thebookwormdreamer) in your post
  • Answer the prompts below – all fantasy books!
  • Tag 5 others to take part
  • Enjoy!

FIVE STAR BOOK

Scythe, well the whole Arc of a Scythe series really, is one of those books thats just so damn good. I couldn’t put it down and there’s no doubt in my mind that it was a 5-Star read. If you’re interested in something intense and unique then this is the book for you. My full review can be found here.

ALWAYS GOING TO RECOMMEND

This book… this book. It’s one of those that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s not buried deep in my memory amidst the hundreds of other fantasy/ sci-fi stories I’ve read. Nope. This sits near the top of the vault. It’s such an emotional journey that I couldn’t forget this even if I tried. I haven’t read any other books by Becky Chambers yet but it’s something I should fix ASAP!

OWN IT BUT HAVEN’T READ IT YET

I’ve read so, so many positive reviews about this book (as well as Laini Taylor’s writing) but unfortunately this one just didn’t work out well for me the first time around. The writing was deeply rich and too much for my mood at the time. I’m hoping to finish this someday soon as the hype didn’t lie about the writing style. It’s enthralling and beautiful. Fingers crossed for take two!

WOULD READ AGAIN

As I mentioned above, City of Bones was the start of ALL THIS. Of reading. Of my utter love and adoration for books, words and authors. It was my first foray in to the mystical and wonderful world of YA fantasy and for that reason is one that will always be on my reread list. It’s sentimental and so dear to my heart.

IN ANOTHER WORLD

The marvellous world of Tortall was entrancing when I was younger. I’d started off with Urban Fantasy but Tamora Pierce’s world was my first experience of being utterly immersed in a new world. It’s one that I cherish and come back to every few years. Plus, the strong kick-ass female characters in her quartets make these books ones that I’ll always recommend.

BACK ON EARTH

The Mercy Thompson series was such a high point for me last year. I had been putting off reading this series for years (I know… sometimes I really disappoint myself too) and I’m so glad I finally decided to give it a try. Not only is she strong, independent and fun this book showed me that I enjoy fantasy aimed at adults as opposed to just YA.

I tag (there’s no obligation to do this):

Top 5 Sat: MG Books Under 300 Pages

nen & jen27 Comments

Hey all,

I hope you’re all enjoying the start of your weekend. I don’t have much planned for mine but it feels like we’ve been cooped up inside for AGES now. This week’s Top 5 Sat theme, created by the wonderfully kind Mandy over at Devouring Books, involves books Under 300 Pages. I’ve been reading Middle Grade books lately and have decided to list my most anticipated upcoming MG reads. These are the perfect length to read in my current mindset. They’re short and easy to read but can still pack the same intense punch as longer novels.

Here they are:

The Witches of Willow Cove by Josh Roberts – It’s not easy being a teenage witch. Seventh grader Abby Shepherd is just getting the hang of it when weird stuff starts happening all around her hometown of Willow Cove. Things only begin to make sense when a stranger named Miss Winters reveals that Abby isn’t the only young witch in town—and that Willow Cove is home to a secret past that connects them all.

ReStart by Gordon Korman – Chase doesn’t remember falling off the roof. He doesn’t remember hitting his head. He doesn’t, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name. He knows he’s Chase. But who is Chase? When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed – The compelling story of a girl’s fight to regain her life and dreams after being forced into indentured servitude. Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal’s Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she’s busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when–as the eldest daughter–she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Then the unimaginable happens–after an accidental run-in with the son of her village’s corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family’s servant to pay off her own family’s debt.

Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga – Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises—there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might just try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is.

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman – When Viji and her sister, Rukku, whose developmental disability makes her overly trusting and vulnerable to the perils of the world, run away to live on their own, the situation could not be more grim. The sisters manage to find shelter on an abandoned bridge. There they befriend Muthi and Arul, two boys in a similar predicament, and the four children bond together and form a family of sorts. As their predicament worsens, Viji and Arul must decide whether to risk going for help–when most adults in their lives have proven themselves untrustworthy–or to continue holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.

What do you think, do any of these spark your interest? Do you read MG as well when you’re in the mood for a shorter read?

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman – Book Review

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Title: Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe #2)
Author: Neal Shusterman
Genre: YA Fantasy / Dystopian
Publication Date: January 2018

Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames. Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out. Realizing she cannot do this alone she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?

I CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST READ. That cliffhanger?!?!?!?!

Seriously, I don’t know why I was so surprised by this but it BLEW ME AWAY. I should have been expecting it after the cliffhanger Shusterman dropped at the end of Scythe but little ol’ me thought Shusterman was gonna be nice this time. I couldn’t have been happier to have been wrong.

Thunderhead picked up a few months after Scythe ended and was heavy hitting from the very beginning. Shusterman’s ability to jump straight in to the action is what makes these books such a hit. It felt like I’d never really left the Scythedom despite there being a year between the first and second book. Too often the lustre and appeal of the worlds we read in books get lost in the chasm of time between the first book and its sequel but that (thankfully) wasn’t the case here.

While I adored Citra and her moral compass, Rowan was the character that really captured my interest in this story. Citra seemed weighed down trying to fight against the politics and tactical games associated with being in the Sycthedom and it was Rowan’s vigilante role that seemed harder-hitting. I liked how this provided a comparison of their lives and growth as they became wiser and more confident in their actions.

What I really enjoyed from this book though, was The Thunderhead. I have a big soft spot for likeable AI characters and the Thunderhead has firmly put itself in that category. There’s just something so innocent and wholesome about its love for the world (despite its omniscience) that put it high up on my list of fav AIs (right next to AIDAN).

The separation between Citra and Rowan, as well as the middle of the book that seemed to drag, were the main reasons this was only a 4-Star read for me as opposed to being a 5. I know these books don’t need any romance but I loved the one developing between Citra and Rowan. I would have liked to have seen more of that throughout the book.

Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by William Ford – MG ARC Review

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☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This was such a fun and whimsical read! I’ve been wanting to try MG for a while now and as my first foray in to the genre, this book did not disappoint. Ford’s lyrical narrative features adventure, time travel and historical events that captured my attention and had me wishing I could time travel too! What really made this an exceptional read were the graphics. They would fit right in with a Pixar movie and quite frankly, I would adore watching this!

Pros:

  • This story was so adorable! It was full of the curious wonder associated with childhood and brought me back to a simpler time when learning was the purpose of our day.
  • The imagination of Timothy was endearing. His excitement at historical marvels and events was captivating and I found myself eager to see where he would travel to next.
  • The really enjoyed reading the couplet rhyming in this story. It’s exactly what I remember reading about these books when I was younger.
  • I absolutely adored the graphics in this story! They really painted a beautiful picture of the time period Timothy had travelled to. The bold colours completely captured my attention and at times I had to remind myself to read the story first before just staring at them!

Cons:

The writing in this story was occasionally hard to read with the bold colours in the background. I think the story would have had more balance had there been a blank page with black writing on it. It would be simple, easier to follow (especially for the targeted age group) and would create a better balance of white space to the corresponding image.

Arc provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

WINNER OF READERS FAVOURITE SCI-Fi FANTASY CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2019.

// do you enjoy MG sci-fi fantasy stories? have you read this story? //

Jen

Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis – ARC Book Review

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☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2

Arc provided by Tor Ten via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good Luck Girls was a book that took me by surprise. The beginning completely captured my attention, the middle lost it and the end had me eager to (FINALLY) find out what would happen. The dichotomy between the start and end with the lacklustre middle of the book was quite strange. Usually books start slow and build up momentum, or vice versa. Despite this, the story still made a positive impression and is one I’d recommend people read if they’re interested in kick-ass females, Western settings and a well-written cast of diverse characters.

Blurb:

Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this stunning fantasy adventure from debut author Charlotte Nicole Davis.

Aster, the protector
Violet, the favorite
Tansy, the medic
Mallow, the fighter
Clementine, the catalyst

THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS

The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls–they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a “welcome house” as children and branded with cursed markings. Trapped in a life they would never have chosen.

When Clementine accidentally murders a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape and harrowing journey to find freedom, justice, and revenge in a country that wants them to have none of those things. Pursued by Arketta’s most vicious and powerful forces, both human and inhuman, their only hope lies in a bedtime story passed from one Good Luck Girl to another, a story that only the youngest or most desperate would ever believe.

It’s going to take more than luck for them all to survive.

The premise of this book sounded phenomenal. I mean, how can you go wrong with a cast of characters such as this and such an intriguing story line?

The focal character Aster annoyed me SO MUCH though. I can understand why she would be apprehensive of men after her traumatic experience working as a Good Luck Girl however, there were a few cases where her unchecked anger management issues led to the neglectful care and lack of consideration for those she was unofficially in charge of. Her change toward the end of the book and character development was refreshing and (mostly) redeemed my opinion of her though.

Added on to this, the POVs at the start of the book featured Aster as well as her younger sister Clementine. I love (LOVE) books that use multiple POV and was really excited to see this at the start of the book. Then…. it went away and all we got was Aster’s POV.

This felt like such a loss as the cast of characters were really interesting and unique. I would have loved to have learnt more about them as well as have an inside look at their relationships with other members of the group. Everything felt diluted by Aster’s anger though and it was a shame to have lost that potential. This is a story that could have been amazing had it been told from five perspectives. That’s just my personal preference and opinion though. I’m aware not everyone is a fan of reading in this format.

As I mentioned at the start of this review, the middle of this book was incredibly slow. Their journey to escape felt like it dragged on endlessly. We learnt about all of the small details of their journey. While some of it was interesting, there was quite a lot of it that I would have been happy to miss out on in order to speed up the pace of the book.

Despite this, the characters and world-building were really well done. It felt original and fresh. The beginning and ending had great pacing. I loved the inclusion of paranormal elements in to this story. It created a tension at the start and end of the book that was gripping and interesting to read about. I haven’t seen this take on a Western-set book before and I can see why some reviewers have absolutely loved this book. If you don’t mind pacing issues, you’ll most likely LOVE this.

// have you read this book? what were your thoughts on it? //

Jen

There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool – Book Review

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Buy it on AMAZON

☆ ☆ ☆ ½ 

I picked this book up during one of our recent trips to the library. The cover snatched my attention immediately and after learning that it was Katy Rose Pool’s fantasy debut, I couldn’t wait to give it a go. I mean, who doesn’t love a plot full of powers and prophesies? I know I do, especially when there are hints of our own ancient societies sprinkled throughout! There Will Come a Darkness is a well-written introduction into a series with real potential. Pool has crafted a new world of fantasy, enriched with characters from a variety of ethnical backgrounds and sexual orientations. While I can honestly say that I enjoyed this book, there were a few things that kept me from giving it a higher rating.

Blurb:

For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations―until the day, one hundred years ago, when the Prophets disappeared.

All they left behind was one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world’s salvation . . . or the cause of its destruction. As chaos takes hold, five souls are set on a collision course:

A prince exiled from his kingdom.

A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand.

A once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart. 

A reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone.

And a dying girl on the verge of giving up.

One of them―or all of them―could break the world. Will they be savior or destroyer?

Pros & Cons:

Overall, I liked the characters – but I didn’t love them. Their personalities, desires, and flaws were quite clear from the get-go, and it was really nice to see an accurate representation of ethnical diversity. However, the fact that there were five main characters made it difficult to fully appreciate all of them – I only ended up caring about two. The story cycled through five different perspectives (Ephyra, Hassan, Anton, Jude, and Beru), which not only disrupted it at times (particularly in the early stages when we’re still getting to know everyone), but also pushed some of the characters to the periphery and made it difficult to connect with them. Even the villain – The Hierophant – felt more like a footnote throughout the story.

These shifts in perspective also ate into the page count. 200+ pages flew by before I realised that not much had actually happened beyond introductions and descriptions. I understand that the five main characters all have their parts to play, but the plot unravels at a very slow pace as we follow all five arcs. I didn’t really mind because it held my attention anyway, but I know that not everyone enjoys a slow start. 

MAPS! I’ve previously mentioned that new fantasy worlds are something I really enjoy learning about. Pool’s was interesting to me because the influence of our own societies is clear to see. The world map reminds me of the Mediterranean, with places like Pallas Athos and Nazirah representing the ancient cities of Athens and Alexandria, respectively. Maybe it’s the history/map nerd in me, but I found it a lot easier to keep track of the characters and their respective settings because of these small and clever similarities. On the downside, the setting doesn’t actually come into play or further the plot all that much, but I’d love to see it explored more in the future! 

All in all, this was a decent book. I genuinely found it fun to read (even if I sometimes wished that things would speed up), and I’ll probably read it again when the next instalment is released. The main thing to take away from this review is that for a debut novel, There Will Come a Darkness has plenty of potential. As always, if you give it a go, please let us know what you think!

//Have you read There Will Come a Darkness? Are you looking forward to the next instalment?//

Nen