Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo & Master Assassins by Robert V.S. Redick


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo 
Publication Date: March 6th, 2018
Feiwel & Friends
384 pages
Pre-order: Amazon Book Depository 
From Goodreads:

To Kill a Kingdom
"Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?"



Sirens!? I'm in! I love how fresh this storyline sounds and I am extremely excited to read this one. Also, that cover is amazing!

and...
Master Assassins by Robert V.S. Redick
Publication Date: March 6th, 2018
Talos
458 pages
Pre-order: Amazon Book Depository 
From Goodreads:

Master Assassins (The Fire Sacraments, #1)
"Two village boys mistaken for assassins become the decisive figures in the battle for a continent in the thrilling new desert-based epic fantasy by the author of The Red Wolf Conspiracy. 

Kandri Hinjuman was never meant to be a soldier. His brother Mektu was never meant for this world. Rivals since childhood, they are drafted into a horrific war led by a madwoman-Prophet, and survive each day only by hiding their disbelief. Kandri is good at blending in, but Mektu is hopeless: impulsive, erratic—and certain that a demon is stalking him. Is this madness or a second sense? Either way, Kandri knows that Mektu’s antics will land them both in early graves.

But all bets are off when the brothers’ simmering feud explodes into violence, and holy blood is spilled. Kandri and Mektu are taken for contract killers and must flee for their lives—to the one place where they can hope to disappear: the sprawling desert known as the Land that Eats Men. In this eerie wilderness, the terrain is as deadly as the monsters, ghouls, and traffickers in human flesh. Here the brothers find strange allies: an aging warlord, a desert nomad searching for her family, a lethal child-soldier still in her teens. They also find themselves in possession of a secret that could bring peace to the continent of Urrath. Or unthinkable carnage.

On their heels are the Prophet’s death squads. Ahead lie warring armies, sandstorms, evil spirits and the deeper evil of human greed. But hope beckons as well—if the “Master Assassins” can expose the lie that has made them the world’s most wanted men."

Not only does this sound interesting, but Mark Lawrence also has a review up that sings its praises, and he hasn't steered me wrong yet, so... I'm in!


What do you think about this upcoming release? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?


Planning to purchase a book or two? Consider purchasing on Book Depository through my affiliate link! Book Depository has worldwide free shipping and millions of titles to choose from.

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Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Can't Believe I Actually Read

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly book blog meme now hosted by Jana over at The Artsy Reader Girl!

This week's topic is: Books I Can't Believe I Read
There were a lot of different ways I could have gone with this: I can't believe I read it because it's long/hard, I can't believe it because it was horrible, and so on and so forth. Because of this, I just kind of went with a bunch of different reasons that I explain for each book. This is all done in good fun and I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of these books. :)


The Gene: An Intimate History

The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
I'm mainly surprised I read this one because I am just not all that great at following in-depth science-based discussions, but because of my mom's cancer and genetic things I thought this would be interesting to read. And it was! I really liked this one.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository





Infinite Jest


Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
I still am shocked that I made it through this one. Honestly, people might hate me for this, but... I didn't like it. I can appreciate it and what it is supposed to do and there were a few paragraphs here and there that were wonderful, but overall... I could not read this again. Once is enough, I'm good.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository




Seven Brief Lessons on Physics

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli -- Review
Much like with The Gene,  I am just not that into this. I took AP Physics, but why? I can't even fathom why I did that because I did not enjoy it. It's fascinating, but I just can't do it. This book was actually pretty interesting, so I'm glad I read it, but I'm still surprised I did. (I actually think it's because I was sent an ARC so I thought 'why not?', but still.) If you're interested in basic physics concepts, however, I highly recommend this one!
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository




Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance -- Review
Surprisingly, Elon Musk is not really my favorite person. I'm impressed by his accomplishments and his intelligence and whatnot, but let's just say everything else I've read/heard doesn't exactly endear him to me. Why I picked this one up, then, I'm not so sure. I enjoy reading about people--even if I don't really like them--and I wanted to know his full story. My boyfriend is all working in the tech world so I though I should try to immerse myself a bit (oh, the things we do for love...)
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository


The God Delusion

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
The main reason I can't believe I read this was because I was a junior/senior(?) in high school and I had been raised in a Christian household. This was when I was first starting to question things and think for myself, and I had heard that this book was good (which, you know, is questionable now), so I thought I'd try it. I definitely think I tried to hide it from my mom.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository




The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
I can't believe I read this because I can't imagine ever reading it now. I hated it then and I can't even imagine re-reading it. How I ever did it before is beyond me. I just wanted to know what all the fuss was about, and to be honest... I'd still like to know. 
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository





The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
I have no idea why I read this. I don't even like John Green's writing all that much. I had read one or two of his books prior to reading this one and I already knew he wasn't my favorite, plus I hate cancer-type books, so why?? (My issues with cancer books is a rant for another time.) Why did I do this?? I still don't know. I may never know. But I did, so there's that.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository





The Fuck-Up
The Fuck-Up by Arthur Nersesian
Okay, so this one is only here because I was maybe 12/13 when I read it and what kind of death wish did I have to be that age and buy a book that said 'fuck' on the cover? My mom never saw it, but... I was a risk-taking kid, apparently. 
(*Note: my mom is actually not some hardass strict lady, I just don't think she would have been keen on her child owning a book with that on the cover at that age. Now, she might just be amused.)
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository


War and Peace

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
This is one that I'm not totally surprised I read this because I enjoy classics, but I'm still shocked that I actually followed through, picked it up, and finished reading it. I think I made myself a three-four month schedule where a read X number of pages a day (or more, depending on if I wanted to), and finished by a certain date. It worked well! That's also how I read Infinite Jest, though I had much more fun with this one. War and Peace is a really enjoyable book!
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository



Have you read any of these? What books can you not believe you read, for whatever reason?




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Monday, January 29, 2018

Middle Grade Double Review: The Thickety (Books #1 & #2) by J.A. White


A Path Begins (The Thickety #1)The Whispering Trees (The Thickety #2)
A Path Begins (Book #1) by J.A. White. Katherine Tegen Books, 2015. Paperback. 512 pages.
The Whispering Trees (Book #2) by J.A. White. Katherine Tegen Books, 2016. Paperback. 544 pages.

As you may or may not know, I love to read middle grade books in addition to all of my regular 'adult' books. I think MG books can be incredibly clever, deep, and present new ideas and stories in unique and entertaining ways.  The Thickety series by J.A. White is one of my favorite middle grade series (Trenton Lee Stewart being one of my other favorites, in particular) and I really can't recommend it enough. I read these books a couple  months ago, but I've been sitting on reviews for them ever since and wondering just how to form them into something adequate enough to share with all of you.

These books are spooky, almost to the point where I started to think, "wait, is this really middle grade!?" And this is why I also say not to underestimate books marketed for younger readers. There are obviously spooky aspects of the book (the haunted woods, witches, etc.), but there are also much deeper, creepier ideas and events that occur as well. The first book, A Path Begins, takes place mostly in the town, and the second book, The Whispering Trees, actually takes readers into the Thickety itself, which is full of endless traps and terrors. There are weird, crazy creatures, haunting settings, and a slew of other magical elements incorporated in these books.

The magic that is used in this book comes from a grimoire that can only be used by witches. This magic is not simply a power that can be used, it is more of a give-and-take situation in which sure, you can use spells, but every time you use that power, a small piece of you is also taken. It's nothing noticeable or tangible, but if you use up all of the pages of the grimoire, you may just lose yourself in the process. I won't go into much more detail than that, but suffice to say... it's an interesting concept.

Grief also casts quite an umbrella over many parts of both novels, and I think White really did a wonderful job portraying how it affects people in different ways, and particularly how Kara, our protagonist, managed to find her own grief and ability to comfort those around her. White managed to develop extremely strong characters that felt very authentic and three-dimensional. There was so much to each person that allowed them to stand out and also transform according to what events occurred in the book. Kara herself is an extremely dynamic character who carries many burdens throughout her journeys in these books, and she is a character that I really liked and admired. There are moments in which she struggles to do what is right and maintain her goodness, but her strength shines in these moments.

Even the villains in these books are well-rounded and fully fleshed out. In the first book, Grace is one of our main villains, and although she at first appears to be your typical 'mean girl' that bullies Kara in school, it eventually becomes apparent that there is much more to Grace than meets the eye.

In addition to the characters, White also plays with the issue of how fear and the unknown can impact the mentality of a large group of people, leading them to treat people wrong and do things to them that aren't right or justified in any manner. These books are intense, but totally worth it. The most prominent and (to me, at least) interesting parts of these novels is the focus on humanity and what it means to have compassion, to yearn for something more, to have power and how to know when its too much, and--most importantly--to remember who we are and who we are meant to be as humans.

If you're someone who is thinking of picking this up for a kid in your life, you might want to make sure they can handle things on the darker side. If so, then it's a great book to introduce a lot of important themes and discussions about many different aspects of life and relationships among people. Overall, I've given both books five stars and I look forward to diving into the rest of this series!

Buy the book:
A Path BeginsAmazon Book Depository
The Whispering TreesAmazon Book Depository



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Friday, January 26, 2018

Anticipated February 2018 Releases!



It's almost time for another month of new releases! January has felt like a very long, very full month, yet at the same time it feels a little nuts that we're already into February releases. Regardless, there are some really great-looking ones coming up in February, so be sure to check them out! Below are only a few of the many books coming out next month.

Tempests and Slaughter (The Numair Chronicles, #1)The Wicked ComethShadowsong (Wintersong, #2)The Toymakers
Child of a Mad God (Coven, #1)The Seven Deaths of Evelyn HardcastleThe Phantom's ApprenticeTess of the Road
The Queen's RisingThe Tiger and the AcrobatHonor Among Thieves (The Honors, #1)The Traitor's Game (The Traitor's Game #1)
The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, #1)Ink, Iron, and Glass (Ink, Iron, and Glass, #1)


Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce || February 6th -- Amazon BookDepository

The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin || February 8th -- Amazon BookDepository

Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones || February 6th -- Amazon BookDepository

The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale || February 8th -- BookDepository

Child of a Mad God by R.A Slavatore || February 6th -- Amazon BookDepository

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton || February 8th -- Amazon BookDepository

The Phantom's Apprentice by Heather Webb || February 6th -- Amazon 

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman || February 27th -- Amazon BookDepository

The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross || February 6th -- Amazon BookDepository

The Tiger and the Acrobat by Susanna Tamaro || February 1st -- Amazon BookDepository

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre || February 13th -- Amazon BookDepository

The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen || February 27th -- Amazon BookDepository

The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasGupta || February 27th -- Amazon BookDepository

Ink, Iron, and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare || February 20th -- Amazon BookDepository

What are your anticipated February releases?

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Thursday, January 25, 2018

In The Night Garden (The Orphan's Tales #1) by Catherynne M. Valente

In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente. Bantam Dell, 2006. Paperback. 483 pages. 

I've been debating for a while on whether or not I wanted to try to write a full review for this book, but it was just so beautiful and engrossing it has continued to stick with me quite some time and I really want to share it with you all. Just a note: this review will only cover the basics of this book, as it's hard to go into detail about this book without writing far too much than anyone would actually want to read. 

I have loved Valente's writing ever since I first picked up her Fairyland series, and then onto Deathless and Palimpsest, and I have yet to meet a book of hers that I don't enjoy, but I honestly did not expect to enjoy this one as much as I did because of the formatting. Somehow, though, Valente made it work in her usual magical, captivating manner that completely pulls me in.

In the Night Garden is written in a format inspired by The Thousand and One Nights, which includes an ongoing frame story that contains many stories within. With In the Night Garden, however, the basic premise of a story within a story turns into yet another story within that story, and another story in that one, and so on and so forth. For example, the book begins with a young girl telling a young boy a story, and one character in that story then tells another character their own story, and that idea continues, delving deeper and back out of the story, coming back to the frame every now and then to push the dialogue forward. I really did not at all expect to love this as much as I did, as I'm actually not usually that much of a fan of people telling stories within stories, but somehow each tale managed to fully capture me.

The tales that Valente tells through her characters are not just random stories thrown together, but instead have threads among each one that very cleverly and neatly tie them all up together. Some are obviously connected (especially among the outer stories), but some have connections that tie not only to the stories it is a part of, but even to earlier stories that were a part of a different main plot. (Apologies if that sounds confusing--it's really hard to describe!)

The characters in this collection were all so dazzling in their unique portrayals and their own strengths, each of which was different from the last. All of our main protagonists have fascinating, complex stories and are shown to be very strong people with each showcased in their own way that is displayed at some point in each magical tale. There are influences from so many myths and cultures, from Grimm's Fairy Tales to The Arabian Nights and so much more. If you are at all interested in fairy-tale and myth-like stories,t hen you must pick this one up. There are endless magical events such as animal transformation, witches, and so much more. 

The most notable part of Valente's writing is, of course (and as usual) her stunning prose. To help close up this review, I'm going to share some of the many gorgeous pieces of writing that can be found in this book:

“Never put your faith in a Prince. When you require a miracle, trust in a Witch.”

“We all have someone we think shines so much more than we do that we are not even a moon to their sun, but a dead little rock floating in space next to their gold and their blaze.”

“You wanted Death? This is it. Dirt and decay, nothing more. Death translates us all into earth.” He frowned at me, his cheeks puffing slightly. “Are you disappointed? Did you want a man in black robes? I’m sure I’ve a set somewhere. A dour, thin face with bony hands? I’ve more bones in this house than you could ever count. You’ve been moping over half the world looking for Death as though that word meant anything but cold bodies and mushrooms growing out of young girls’ eye-sockets. What an exceptionally stupid child!” Suddenly he moved very fast, like a turtle after a spider—such unexpected movement from a thing so languid and round... “You want Death?” he hissed. “I am Death. I will break your neck and cover you with my jar of dirt. When you kill, you become Death, and so Death wears a thousand faces, a thousand robes, a thousand gazes.” He loosened his grip. “But you can be Death, too. You can wear that face and that gaze. Would you like to be Death? Would you like to live in this house and learn his trade?”

“Stories,' the green-eyed Sigrid said, unperturbed, 'are like prayers. It does not matter when you begin, or when you end, only that you bend a knee and say the words.”

...and so many more. I have so many marked passages from this book. Overall, I've given In the Night Garden five stars! I really never expect anything less from Valente, and I can't wait to continue devouring the work I haven't read by her. 



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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday: The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:
The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton
Publication Date: March 27th, 2018
Tor Books
576 pages
Pre-order: Amazon Book Depository 
From Goodreads:

"A kingdom at risk, a crown divided, a family drenched in blood.

The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes. 

The king's three daughters—battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia—know the realm's only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.

Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war—but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided."


I'm actually reading a short sample of this book right now and I'm certainly intrigued!
I really like how the dynamics sound and just the overall setup of this plot. It has familiar elements, but it seems as though it will be done in a unique way, and I can't wait to read the entire book! From my sample, Gratton sounds like she a very lyrical and intense prose that I hope to read more of soon.
I also believe that this is supposed to be a somewhat "King Lear"-inspired tale, but I've yet to read "King Lear" (I know, I know), so I'm not sure I'll quite appreciate that aspect of it.

What do you think about this upcoming release? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?


Planning to purchase a book or two? Consider purchasing on Book Depository through my affiliate link! Book Depository has worldwide free shipping and millions of titles to choose from.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Really Liked But Can't Remember Much About

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly book blog meme now hosted by Jana over at The Artsy Reader Girl!

This week's topic is: Books I Really Liked but Can’t Remember Anything/Much About
I was rather excited by this week's topic because I have recently realized that I need to re-read some books. I'm not usually much of a re-reader, but creating this post has glaringly pointed out some books that I really need to re-read and see if I still like them as much. I will say, however, that while going through my books I was pleasantly surprised to find that I remember much more than I expected about a lot of books I've really liked--I actually had to dig around to find ones I didn't recall as well.

To make this post, I basically went through my higher rated books on Goodreads and picked the ones I couldn't remember well. This, of course, means that this list doesn't include books that I read before I started using Goodreads, and I'm sure there would be many more if I did. Also, since I can't remember these books all that well, I've added Goodreads links in the titles in case you want to find out more about any of them!

Hole in My Life Unwind (Unwind, #1) The End of Mr. Y How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia

I do remember liking this one, but... I read it when I was in like 8th grade? A freshman in high school? I'm not sure, but I remember being really pleased with it.. and that's about it. 
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

I still remember the concept for this series and I still love it, but I can't remember any specific plot points about what actually happened, and that is really disappointing. Time for a re-read?
Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

I think this book was brilliant and super interesting, and I remember loving it. But as far as the story goes, no specific plot points are remembered. 
Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

The funny thing about this one is that I read The Reluctant Fundamentalist (also by Hamid) right around the same time as this one, so why I remember that one and not this one is beyond me.
Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

Who Could That Be at This Hour? (All the Wrong Questions, #1) City of a Thousand Dolls (Bhinian Empire, #1) Pure Sunshine The Count of Monte Cristo

Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

I gave this book five stars because I apparently really, really liked this book. But do I remember anything other than vague notions of the setting and basic world setup? Nope. I feel like if I really read the synopsis and other reviews I would remember more, but for the sake of just looking at a book and thinking about it, I can't remember It was a neat concept, though (or, I think it was...).
Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

I  read this one way back in the days when I was really into my 'drug-themed' books phase (you know, Tweak, Leaving Dirty Jersey, etc...). but this one in particular just is not ringing any bells.
Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

I know that I loved this book, but I just don't remember any details about it. I have actually been planning to re-read this one sometime in the near future.
Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns, #2) White Oleander And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks

Looking through my books, I've noticed that I have a hard time remembering events in mainly the second book in a series. Why? No clue. For instance, in addition to this sequel, Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass series) is also the book I remember least in the series, and it just so happens to be the second. I remember the first and third book in The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy by Rae Carson, but the second one? Nope. (I love this trilogy and highly recommend it, though!)
Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

I think someone might have gotten arrested in this. I could, however, be very wrong. But I mean... it's a legitimate guess considering who is in the book...
Buy the book: AmazonBook Depository

Have you read any of these? What did you like but can't remember much about?


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Monday, January 22, 2018

Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft

*Senlin Ascends is now available!*

Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft. Orbit, 2017. Paperback. 448 pages. 

What a brilliant book! Senlin Ascends is action-packed with a surprise on each page, and I had a really hard time putting this one down.  

In the acknowledgements sections, Bancroft states that "If you know anything about my books, chances are you have Mark Lawrence to thank for it," and, well, pretty much! I first heard about this book from Mark Lawrence in 2016 (?) during his SPFBO contest and added it to my 'to-read'list because of how great it sounded and, well, it's sort of languished there every since. Orbit is now publishing it this month and the hype around this book has grown so much. After seeing Mark Lawrence continuously praise it and encourage everyone to read it, Orbit sent me over a copy and I picked it up right away--and it was amazing!

This book is so cleverly and carefully created. This is the story of Thomas Senlin, a headmaster in the small town of Ur, as he and his wife journey to the magnificent Tower of Babel to spend their honeymoon there together. Unfortunately, Senlin inadvertently loses his wife in the outskirts of the Tower, and must begin his own journey up the Tower on his own to find her and bring her home. The craziest--and coolest--part of this book, obviously, is the Tower of Babel itself, an extremely tall building of sorts with various 'ringdoms' making up each tier of the tower. Each 'ringdom' is entirely different from the last and filled with any number unknown variables; it is entirely unpredictable, despite a handy book guide that Senlin has used to study the Tower for years that has turned out to be, well, not so handy. 

Senlin himself is a truly delightful, compelling protagonist that undergoes so much growth in this book in so many ways. He learns that you can't necessarily trust everyone, but that you have to trust some people. He learns that you can't always believe everything you read and hear. Senlin is a quick-witted, somewhat conservative figure that wants to experience many exciting things in his life, but he always cares about people and strives to be a good person. 

I love imaginative books like this that make up something so incredibly bizarre and use it in an inventive and entertaining manner. This book was filled with quirky, unique, and rather clever characters along the way, all of which brought something very useful and important to the story. I really liked that Bancroft not only included many details and characters, but that each and every aspect of his story was purposeful. There was nothing added in just to add length to the pages or expand unnecessarily. His world-building is really well-done and I loved cracking open this book to get whisked away into the wild world of the Tower. The only minor issue I had with this book was that the end felt a bit... jumbled and crazy and I felt a bit confused at times, but I'm not sure if that's just my fault for getting easily confused, so I don't really blame Bancroft for that. Rest assured, Senlin Ascends will not once bore you!

From start to finish, Bancroft employs a simple yet also intricate method of storytelling that will completely draw you in and make you constantly yearn to know more about Senlin an the Tower of Babel itself. If you're looking for something unique, adventurous, witty, and imaginative--look no further, because you have arrived at your destination here at the Tower. 

Overall, I've given Senlin Ascends five stars!
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository




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Friday, January 19, 2018

Book Recommendations: If You Like Your Fantasy on the Darker Side



I enjoy most book genres, but fantasy tends to be one of my favorites, and although I enjoy many different types of fantasy, I have to say that I'm usually drawn to darker books and settings. Because of this, I decided that I might as well make a post with some of the ones I've really enjoyed that I am always recommending to people. About half of these were actually released in 2017 because it was such a fantastic year for debuts in fantasy, but the rest vary in release date. Many of the books on this list are also referred to as 'grimdark' novels, which, for those that do not know, does not have a firm definition, but generally refers to fantasy books that have dark, nihilistic, gritty settings with morally ambiguous characters. Of course, don't let the definition confine your opinions, because it isn't a fully defined term, but just that be a guideline. Now, on to the books!


Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle, #1)
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
I love Nevernight so much it's ridiculous. This is a story of Mia Corvere, who competes to become a true assassin so that she can take revenge on those who killed her father. It's super bloody, brutal, and all-around amazing. The second book, Godsgrave, is also already out and the final book should be out this year.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository





The Court of Broken Knives (Empires of Dust, #1)
The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith Spark -- Review
This book was so dark in such a beautiful way. Anna Smith Spark uses a really unique writing style that is, at times, almost reminiscent of a steam-of-consciousness style. From my review for it: This is true grimdark, meaning it is dark, full of gory details and violence, and spilling with characters whose morals lie in the grey area of life. The Court of Broken Knives is a devastating duet of beauty and cruelty that weave together to create a breathtaking book that is impossible to step away from. The sequel is coming this year!
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Jade City (The Green Bone Saga #1)
Jade City by Fonda Lee -- Review 
Jade City really stood out from other fantasy books that I read this past year because it was more of an urban/contemporary Asian setting, but still a very different world from what we have now. It's a gritty world with mafia-inspired groups that don't shy away from violence. 
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository





Blackwing (The Raven's Mark, #1)Blackwing by Ed McDonald 
I have a really hard time describing this book, which is partially why I do not yet have a review up for it. This is essentially set in a post-apocalyptic world that includes a huge wasteland known as the Misery, which is basically a terrifying, unpredictable, and incredibly deadly expanse of land that many do not survive crossing. The story focuses on a sort of bounty hunter who regularly crosses the Misery, and that's about all of the story I'll dive into. This book maybe be on the shorter side*, but it is brutal, dark, and not overly optimistic. It's great!
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

*Okay, so I just checked and it's actually 380 pages, but for some reason it looks really short and read really fast, so I thought it was shorter than it is. Oh well.


The Last Wish
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski - Review
I've never played The Witcher games, but I have read a few of the books that inspired them and I love them! This particular book in The Witcher series is a series of short stories that each focuses on one instance of Geralt taking down some crazy creature, spirit, etc. It's dark, bloody, and fantastic. I can't recommend these books enough--the entire series has about seven books so far.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository




Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1)Scythe by Neal Shusterman - Review
So this one isn't your typical grimdark-style fantasy that I've been recommending, but I still think it's very dark. It takes place in a world in which death is pretty much eradicated and everyone can live forever. To combat the risk of overpopulation, every year a certain amount of people are chosen at random to be 'gleaned' (aka: killed). This book dives deeply into many topics surrounding death and the many grey areas of life. Thunderhead, the sequel, just released this week. (This is also more dystopian, but thought that it fit on this list.)
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository


Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
Assassin nuns.
In this book, young girls are trained to become assassins and are taught how to fight, poison, lie, and do all-around not socially acceptable things--this book has it all! Oh, and magic. The second book, Grey Sister, is coming out this year.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository






Prince of Thorns (The Broken Empire, #1)
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence 
Mark Lawrence is pretty much just great for grimdark. The protagonist in this book/trilogy walks a very thin line between a mere 'grey' character and being completely heartless.  It is absolutely not recommended for the faint of heart, but if you tend to think 'the darker the better,' then step right up.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository





Godblind (The Godblind Trilogy #1)
Godblind by Anna Stephens 
This is another one that doesn't have a review yet because I've had a hard time putting my thoughts into words. Essentially, a group of peopleknown as the Mireces worship the rather bloodthirsty Red Gods and decide to invade the land of Rilpor. It is much, much more complex than that, but just be aware that this book is dark, bloodt, full of deceit, and hard to put down. 
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository




The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
I will confess that I have only ever read the first fifty or so page of this because I had to put it down for school and then sort of forgot about it.... but I plan to finally finish it up this year! Abercrombie's First Law books are dark and tend to be the top recommendation when people are asking for grimdark/dark fantasy. Let's just say that it's recommended for a reason.






(Note: I thought I included The Lies of Locke Lamora in this list, but after proofreading it I can see that I didn't. Oops. Please consider The Lies of Locke Lamora in your future book reading endeavor because it is fantastic. You can purchase it at Book Depository or Amazon [or any other bookstore probably].)

Have you read any of these? What books would you add to this list?


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