Yassen Knight was the Arohassin’s most notorious assassin until a horrible accident. Now, he’s on the run from both the authorities and his former employer. But when Yassen seeks refuge with an old friend, he’s offered an irresistible deal: defend the heir of Ravence from the Arohassin, and earn his freedom. Elena Ravence prepares to ascend the throne. Trained since birth in statecraft, warfare, and the desert ways, Elena knows she is ready. She only lacks one thing: the ability to hold Fire. With the coronation only weeks away, she must learn quickly or lose her kingdom. Leo Ravence is not yet ready to give up the crown. There’s still too much work to be done, too many battles to be won. But when an ancient prophecy threatens to undo his lifetime of work, Leo wages war on the heavens themselves to protect his legacy.
Top Ten Tuesday: Give the Sidekick Some Love
I am definitely guilty of falling in love with the side characters in novels, especially in SFF, so I’m excited that I get to talk about them for this TTT! I’m not entirely sure if there is something specific about a minor character that attracts me, but I think the thing they all have in common is the way they each walk that line of being incredibly badass and soft-hearted at the same time, and it causes me to think “wow I wish I could be them” at the same time as thinking “I wish they could just hold me”, with a bonus feeling of “I just wish I could hold them” when they have tragic events occur.
Review: The Raven Heir by Stephanie Burgis
Cordelia, Rosalind and Giles. They have lived in the tower all their lives, protected by their mother's enchantments. Only Cordelia's magic lets her steal moments of freedom - over the wall in the shape of a bird or beneath them as a scurrying mouse. The eldest of the three is heir to the Raven Throne of Corvenne - a land no one can rule for long and hope to live. Only their mother knows which is the true heir, and she will do anything to keep them hidden. But one day, thanks to Cordelia, destiny finds them...
July Wrap Up
It's a few days into August, which is my birthday month, yay! 25 here I come... I have some celebrations prepared that will involve a lot of pampering, food, and -of course- books! I may talk a bit about it at the end of the month, in August's wrap-up, but for now, let's have a… Continue reading July Wrap Up
Women in SFF Readalong: Week 4
It's the end! This has been a really fun read along, with some great conversations over on the Discord that Nils and Beth over at The Fantasy Hive created for it. My overall thoughts on The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty are a bit of a muddle - it was quite a slow-going first half, and the intrigue was enough to keep me going but not quite the right amount to have me stay up late reading. But once all the characters came together geographically, things became a lot more interesting for me, and this culmination was satisfying (if somewhat confusing) to read! You can see what my thoughts were for Week One, for Week Two, and for Week Three. Needless to say, my thoughts on this last section will include spoilers for the entire book, so please don't read on if you don't want to know!
Review: The Hand of the Sun King by J.T. Greathouse
All my life, I have been torn between two legacies: that of my father, whose roots trace back to the right hand of the Emperor. That of my mother's family, who reject the oppressive Empire and embrace the resistance. I can choose between them - between protecting my family, or protecting my people - or I can search out a better path . . . a magical path, filled with secrets, unbound by empire or resistance, which could shake my world to its very foundation. But my search for freedom will entangle me in a war between the gods themselves . . .
Review: Notes from the Burning Age by Claire North
a holy man, a keeper of ancient archives. It was his duty to interpret archaic texts, sorting useful knowledge from the heretical ideas of the Burning Age - a time of excess and climate disaster. For in Ven's world, such material must be closely guarded, so that the ills that led to that cataclysmic era can never be repeated. But when the revolutionary Brotherhood approaches Ven, pressuring him to translate stolen writings that threaten everything he once held dear, his life will be turned upside down. Torn between friendship and faith, Ven must decide how far he's willing to go to save this new world, and how much he is willing to lose.
Women in SFF Readalong: Week 3
I have been quiet on the blog... I'm back to being full time at work and my reading and writing have takes a backseat until I figure out how to balance my time properly, but I am still loving the Fantasy Hive‘s readalong of The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty! We're on week three now, which means only one more section left to tackle, and this week left me with a lot of questions... Dara and Nahri are in Daevabad at last, and things are definitely complicated... If you haven't already, you can read my posts for Week One and Week Two, but now let’s look at this week’s questions – please be advised there will be spoilers up until chapter 22.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
In a famine-stricken village on a dusty plain, a seer shows two children their fates. For a family’s eighth-born son, there’s greatness. For the second daughter, nothing. In 1345, China lies restless under harsh Mongol rule. And when a bandit raid wipes out their home, the two children must somehow survive. Zhu Chongba despairs and gives in. But the girl resolves to overcome her destiny. So she takes her dead brother's identity and begins her journey. Can Zhu escape what’s written in the stars, as rebellion sweeps the land? Or can she claim her brother’s greatness – and rise as high as she can dream?
Women in SFF Readalong: Week 2
Here we are folks, the second week of the Fantasy Hive's readalong of The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty, and the action is definitely starting! At the end of the first section, Nahri and Dara were in the middle of the desert, running from the ifrit and heading towards Daevabad in a tenuous alliance, while Ali, in the city itself, has found himself back in the palace, and in charge of the city guard. All three are hurtling towards situations they are not looking forward to being in, which makes this next part very interesting. You can see what my thoughts on week one were over here, but now let's look at this week's questions - please be advised there will be spoilers up until chapter 15.
