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brhillmann's review
4.0
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for the opportunity to leave an honest review.
The only complaint I really had is that the MC's tendency to use random nicknames made it frustrating to follow who she was talking about during action scenes. Several of the characters were referred to by more than one nickname, and even their real name added to the mix.
All of that said, I had worried that this would be a story of a Jewish girl having to embrace Christianity to save her life, and I was pleased to be wrong. I adore stories told from perspectives of what we have deemed 'normal' (ie: Christian), and it's refreshing to read a story about being Jewish that is not a Holocaust tragedy. Stacy's religion plays well into the story with a nice twist on the vampire genre, and aside from the main plot, I love that it's so normalized in the backdrop of the setting. Excellent work.
I'm looking forward to the next book!
The only complaint I really had is that the MC's tendency to use random nicknames made it frustrating to follow who she was talking about during action scenes. Several of the characters were referred to by more than one nickname, and even their real name added to the mix.
All of that said, I had worried that this would be a story of a Jewish girl having to embrace Christianity to save her life, and I was pleased to be wrong. I adore stories told from perspectives of what we have deemed 'normal' (ie: Christian), and it's refreshing to read a story about being Jewish that is not a Holocaust tragedy. Stacy's religion plays well into the story with a nice twist on the vampire genre, and aside from the main plot, I love that it's so normalized in the backdrop of the setting. Excellent work.
I'm looking forward to the next book!
clwalters's review
4.0
I received Hidden Kingdom, The Unimaginables Book 1 by JS Furlong as a free ARC for an honest review.
After 9/11 Stacy’s father relocates the family to Richmond, Virginia, and she isn’t happy about it. Her friends, her grandmother, her chess coach and chess team are in the City and she’ll do anything to get back there. She just has to bide her time. In the meantime, she does what she can to try and fit in. When her new friends take her out on the town and she witnesses what looks to be a vampire feasting on a fresh kill (WTH?!?), everything Stacy thought to be true changes.
This is a Buffy meets Queen’s Gambit with an Anne Rice gothic feel and I enjoyed several things about this book. First, the chess (especially when it was integral to the plot). The protagonist Stacy’s snark was great. Her wrestling with her faith added depth. Finally, the third act was stellar. I think this is a strong indie YA fantasy and people who enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural will dig it.
After 9/11 Stacy’s father relocates the family to Richmond, Virginia, and she isn’t happy about it. Her friends, her grandmother, her chess coach and chess team are in the City and she’ll do anything to get back there. She just has to bide her time. In the meantime, she does what she can to try and fit in. When her new friends take her out on the town and she witnesses what looks to be a vampire feasting on a fresh kill (WTH?!?), everything Stacy thought to be true changes.
This is a Buffy meets Queen’s Gambit with an Anne Rice gothic feel and I enjoyed several things about this book. First, the chess (especially when it was integral to the plot). The protagonist Stacy’s snark was great. Her wrestling with her faith added depth. Finally, the third act was stellar. I think this is a strong indie YA fantasy and people who enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural will dig it.
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