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adventurous
dark
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
“They were sending her to war, so she would go and become something they had every right to fear.”
Synopsis:
The story follows Vhalla Yarl, a library apprentice, that has spent half of her life in the library of the Empire’s capital. Like every one else, she has been taught to fear sorcerers and the Tower, the sorcerers’ quarters, is a place she never wished to be in. That is, until she unknowingly saved the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of the world, the Crown Prince Aldrik.
It is by that seemingly small gesture that Vhalla finds herself entrenched in the sorcery world, making her question everything – herself, the empire, society, friendships. Now she must decide: embrace her power or eradicate it and remain as she was before. Who she always has been.
Every day of indecision is a step closer to danger and she will find out just how much her indecision will cost her.
Review:
Damn.
There is something about 2010s YA fantasy books that truly have a richness to it that 2020s YA fantasy books try to reach but very few achieve.
Was it the best fantasy book I read? No.
Was it really good? Yes.
I think the key is coming to it with low, nearly non-existing expectations, almost even negative ones, and you’ll be surprise with how much you’ll enjoy yourself.
This was an incredibly quick read. The pages flew as I read them and I finished them in three nights, pretty much. The story was fast paced, easy-to-read simple writing with no major purple prose. Basically, the author didn’t try to reach beyond her scope (with this one) – made it simple, easy and entertaining.
I’d be lying if I didn’t say the development of the bond between Vhalla and Aldrik wasn’t what entertained me the most. It was really well done; it was a slow burn that, at some point, I wondered if anything was even going to happen in this book.
The story felt so similar to ‘Avatar’ in some ways – the usage of elemental magic with different regions representing different ‘elements’
The plot differs from ‘Avatar’ quite a lot. It is a YA novel from the 2010s so it does use a lot of normal YA tropes/clichés. However, it doesn’t make it any less good.
The world building was slow, in the sense that is not explained to you in the first few pages. It’s laid out gradually as the plot develops and the need for the reader to know the context of X or Y grows.
Which, I believe, it’s a smart choice.
I’m constantly tired of having to power through 50 or more pages of almost only world building before the actual main plot starts and I can start enjoying the characters.
The character development is gradual and steady. Vhalla starts as a naïve know-it-all, insecure about herself, and by the end, she has acquired knowledge [outside of books], has understood context and complexity and has found strength within herself.
Most side characters were interesting and kept you engaged as they interacted with the main character. Aldrik, the love interest, was surprising at the third interaction. I loved how the author didn’t make him a total asshole throughout 70% of the story and then completely changed him. No. She made him complex whilst remaining through to the idea he is reserved, always an asshole but caring.
I completely loved how some things that I often see on YA fantasy books were ignored for the sake of, well, me and my sanity.
I will not read the 2nd book right away because I’m afraid that too much YA in a grow is going to break the magic this book created but I’ll definitely continue this series and I can’t wait to see how Vhalla, and Aldrik, manage everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
This book had an interesting concept but it felt like not much was happening until the last third of the book. I'm still going to continue reading the series, but the start of it was really slow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Blood, War
Minor: Genocide, Gore, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Genocide, War
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse
Moderate: Death
Minor: Genocide, War
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.3 stars.
Only 300 pages and it's a better fanfiction-ey read than most of the other fantasy romance books I've read.
Although short (maybe even to it's on undoing) 'Air Awakens' seems to be scratching just the fanfiction-yearning spot I always seem to be awfully pestered by.
Knowing there were 4 main sequel books in this series, I was content enough with how the protagonist, Vhalla, was introduced. Even though she was quite the quiscent character, what was there, or rather wasn't, left room for development and improvement for future books.
However, I can't say the same for the other characters, prince Aldrik specifically. Is it just me or is this guy flip-flopping all over the place? One second he's fawning over the MC, the next he's harassing her... I'm quite confused with my stance on this guy. Although I like flawed characters, including flawed main romantic interest, he seemed quite out of place and outright annoying at times. The same could be said for the other characters. Spefically this one guy... I don't remember his name... was it Cerulean? Cerillian? Anyways, whatever it was, he's just as forgettable as his name. Larel was the only exception but even then, her kindness and approachability towards Vhalla was a bit forced. This seems to be a big problem with the book and I think it could all boil down to time and pace.
Generally speaking, we needed more time with the plot progression of the book. Some plot points and storybeats were a tad too fast paced to the point where I had to imagine some scenes here and there in headcannon to be content enough with the pacing. I understand if an author wants to keep her novel within a 300 page margin, but sometimes it's be better to include some additional scenes for some breathing room and to explain a thing or two. For example, I wanted Vhalla to earn Larel's love and friendship, I wanted to see more of Vhalla and Aldrik's cute lil' garden dates. TW! I wanted the genocide of a whole race of magic weilders to be handled with proper care and seriousness Stuff like that might seem insignificant for the story as a whole, but it really helps with the character development and world building later on.
As for the magic system; It was kinda wishy-washy. I love elemental magic, but the laws and functions of this book's magic system was ruining my whole suspension of disbelief. However, again, I really don't expect much from these types of books. I'm perfectly content with an iffy system as long as the story, plot and characters seem fine.
In conclusion, I'm probably going to re-read this book if I ever were to find myself stuck in an airplane for 5-ish hours. A good, guilty-pleasure read that leaves room for my own imagination to fresh out the little I got.
Only 300 pages and it's a better fanfiction-ey read than most of the other fantasy romance books I've read.
Although short (maybe even to it's on undoing) 'Air Awakens' seems to be scratching just the fanfiction-yearning spot I always seem to be awfully pestered by.
Knowing there were 4 main sequel books in this series, I was content enough with how the protagonist, Vhalla, was introduced. Even though she was quite the quiscent character, what was there, or rather wasn't, left room for development and improvement for future books.
However, I can't say the same for the other characters, prince Aldrik specifically. Is it just me or is this guy flip-flopping all over the place? One second he's fawning over the MC, the next he's harassing her... I'm quite confused with my stance on this guy. Although I like flawed characters, including flawed main romantic interest, he seemed quite out of place and outright annoying at times. The same could be said for the other characters. Spefically this one guy...
Generally speaking, we needed more time with the plot progression of the book. Some plot points and storybeats were a tad too fast paced to the point where I had to imagine some scenes here and there in headcannon to be content enough with the pacing. I understand if an author wants to keep her novel within a 300 page margin, but sometimes it's be better to include some additional scenes for some breathing room and to explain a thing or two. For example,
As for the magic system; It was kinda wishy-washy. I love elemental magic, but the laws and functions of this book's magic system was ruining my whole suspension of disbelief. However, again, I really don't expect much from these types of books. I'm perfectly content with an iffy system as long as the story, plot and characters seem fine.
In conclusion, I'm probably going to re-read this book if I ever were to find myself stuck in an airplane for 5-ish hours. A good, guilty-pleasure read that leaves room for my own imagination to fresh out the little I got.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury