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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"What's it like in that head of yours?"
"Busy"
Same.
I loved the anxiety and overthinking representation in this. It kept surprising me with how accurately it depicted what happens in my head constantly. The twists at the end weren't predictable to me, and I am always theorizing about what could happen in the end.
That said, some aspects seemed nonsensical, and it felt a little too whiny/immature at times, even for a YA.
"Busy"
Same.
I loved the anxiety and overthinking representation in this. It kept surprising me with how accurately it depicted what happens in my head constantly. The twists at the end weren't predictable to me, and I am always theorizing about what could happen in the end.
That said, some aspects seemed nonsensical, and it felt a little too whiny/immature at times, even for a YA.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Can I just being with: THAT ENDING. I didn't think that was really it, I kept flipping through to make sure it was right and not missing anything and.. well it wasn't, that was really the end. Which also means: NEW SERIES/DUOLOGY??
On a more serious note, I absolutely loved this and having never read anything by Tricia Levenseller I absolutely loved it! I'm so used to book that have a slow burn that just.. doesn't feel like a slow burn romance. Until this one! I was so addicted to the characters and not only that but Tricia did a fantastic job at making the writing feel like you're inside of Ziva's head. With the questioning and the panic and the anxiety, I loved seeing that represented in a fantasy story! At first I had thought it would get way too annoying to enjoy the book, but it really takes hold of the plot and you really learn more about her and her relationships when figuring out where she might fit in in the world.
Not only that, but the ending makes me want to see more! It really took a turn that made me realize that the villain in the series may not be who we think it is.
This story is about a girl finding her comfort spot and being ripped from it and learning more about herself, the world, and relationships along the way. Although she remains the nervous blacksmith she was in the beginning there's a whole new part of her that began to emerge and I'd love to see how she navigates life after this.
For any lover of fantasy stories with a nice story and some relatable characters, this is for you! I can't compare it to her other works, as I mentioned before, because I haven't read them but I adored this!
On a more serious note, I absolutely loved this and having never read anything by Tricia Levenseller I absolutely loved it! I'm so used to book that have a slow burn that just.. doesn't feel like a slow burn romance. Until this one! I was so addicted to the characters and not only that but Tricia did a fantastic job at making the writing feel like you're inside of Ziva's head. With the questioning and the panic and the anxiety, I loved seeing that represented in a fantasy story! At first I had thought it would get way too annoying to enjoy the book, but it really takes hold of the plot and you really learn more about her and her relationships when figuring out where she might fit in in the world.
Not only that, but the ending makes me want to see more! It really took a turn that made me realize that the villain in the series may not be who we think it is.
This story is about a girl finding her comfort spot and being ripped from it and learning more about herself, the world, and relationships along the way. Although she remains the nervous blacksmith she was in the beginning there's a whole new part of her that began to emerge and I'd love to see how she navigates life after this.
For any lover of fantasy stories with a nice story and some relatable characters, this is for you! I can't compare it to her other works, as I mentioned before, because I haven't read them but I adored this!
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ziva is 18 and already renown for ability to create weapons with magic in the weapon. When a warlord visits, Ziva’s store a orders a sword that can kill several opponents at once, a broadsword more powerful than any other and the promise of place in the warlord’s kingdom to practice her sword building in peace, Ziva agrees. However, the sword reveals to Ziva that the warlord wants to topple the rulers of their country, Ziva must make a decision. She decides that she and sister must leave the only place Ziva feels safe in order to keep the sword from the warlord’s grasp. Along the way, Ziva and her sister, Temera, hire a mercenary and agree to let a magic scholar tag along with them on their trek.
Levenseller has created a character in Ziva that one seldom sees in fiction let alone in YA Fantasy. Ziva suffers from social anxiety. She overthinks everything, hates talking to strangers because she’s afraid of appearing stupid, and feels safest alone in her forge. Anyone on the scale of anxiety can relate to Ziva. Levenseller has described Ziva’s anxiety in such a way that even those who have never had to deal with debilitating understand and sympathize with Ziva. With that much awareness of social anxiety, Levenseller’s readers who suffer from it will feel a little less alone in the world.
Levenseller takes her time in building her world and people who live in it. The book is well-written and the characters charming and easy to like. The fantasy isn’t too fantastical, but Ziva’s anxiety is very real and it will certainly speak to you in a way you may remember from your own teenaged years.
Even if you’ve never read a YA book before because you’re past the YA age group, pick this book up because you’ll get a stellar story and likable characters – things you may not be able to find in the genres you prefer. Some of the best fiction being written these days is in the YA genre. This book deserves to be at the top of your to-be-read pile.
My thanks to Feilwel & Friends and Edelweiss for an eARC.
Levenseller has created a character in Ziva that one seldom sees in fiction let alone in YA Fantasy. Ziva suffers from social anxiety. She overthinks everything, hates talking to strangers because she’s afraid of appearing stupid, and feels safest alone in her forge. Anyone on the scale of anxiety can relate to Ziva. Levenseller has described Ziva’s anxiety in such a way that even those who have never had to deal with debilitating understand and sympathize with Ziva. With that much awareness of social anxiety, Levenseller’s readers who suffer from it will feel a little less alone in the world.
Levenseller takes her time in building her world and people who live in it. The book is well-written and the characters charming and easy to like. The fantasy isn’t too fantastical, but Ziva’s anxiety is very real and it will certainly speak to you in a way you may remember from your own teenaged years.
Even if you’ve never read a YA book before because you’re past the YA age group, pick this book up because you’ll get a stellar story and likable characters – things you may not be able to find in the genres you prefer. Some of the best fiction being written these days is in the YA genre. This book deserves to be at the top of your to-be-read pile.
My thanks to Feilwel & Friends and Edelweiss for an eARC.
dhdhdhdhdjd I binge read this in a frenzy and I am on the floor in awe. I would die for the four main characters. I am a husk, awaiting book 2.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes