athenezadam's reviews
175 reviews

The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Truth of the Aleke is about a Junior Peacekeeper in the Forever Desert's last free city, who tries to defend his home from the Aleke, a Cult that has attempted to invade the city for three centuries. The storytelling in this dark fantasy novella is as compelling as the first in the series, exploring truth, power, and manipulation through the eyes of a flawed hero. The story is masterfully woven with the events of the first novella. This is a brilliant, gut-wrenching read.

River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

River Mumma is about a young black woman with no career prospects, who must find a river deity's missing comb within 24 hours. Jamaican diaspora, ancestral history, and cultural identity are all explored in this story. The folklore is vibrant, described through visions and mythical creatures. There isn't as much character development as expected, but a special mention goes to the protagonist's mother, who has a small role but is a delightful character to read. The Canadian references are also fun. Overall, this fantasy quest story is a joy to read.

The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

In The Lies of the Ajungo, a boy from the City of Lies sets out on a quest to find water to save his mother and his city. This novella is unique and compelling. The protagonist is relatable and has depth, and so do all the other characters. The fantasy element is mysterious, the descriptions are gory, and the plot comes together in a way that makes sense. The Lies of the Ajungo is a short but powerful read, an example of exquisite storytelling.

Shutter by Ramona Emerson

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Shutter is about a forensic photographer who can see ghosts, and one of these ghosts forces her on a quest for revenge against a murderer. The story alternates between past and present. Navajo cultural traditions are lovely and the story telling in this past timeline is poignant. However, this past storyline continues once the current timeline gains traction, which throws off the pacing. The ghostly encounters are delightfully creepy. Overall this is a good debut novel. Readers may want to be aware of its content warnings including grisly crime scenes.

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Vengeful is about an array of supernatural villains and includes a mob boss's wife who is determined to be the new power in town. The villains are varied and are generally fun to read, with unique abilities and no clear "superhero". At times, the storytelling is not exciting, and the chapter-by-chapter time shifts are even less necessary compared to the first book. Overall, though, this is a gritty and dark novel with a good premise.

Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin

slow-paced

4.0

Song of the Six Realms is a about a musician whose indenture is bought out by a young Duke, who whisks her away to his home in one of the Celestial Realms threatened by demonic beasts. The story is atmospheric and paced slowly, which is fine as the descriptions are vivid. But the love interest becomes less interesting as the story progresses, as does the plot which becomes muddled in the last third of the book.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0

Heir takes place several years after the events of An Ember in the Ashes series. An orphan from the slums fights for her people, a tracker must magically hunt a murderer, and a crown prince must fight against a new threat that emerges against the empire. The fantasy world is nicely laid out. The story is intricate though slow at times. The characters aren't as intriguing as those in the original series, who play minor roles here, but it's exciting when the various characters cross paths. 

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

adventurous emotional lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

In A Fire Endless, with Jack and Adaira separated and the island's east and west falling further out of balance, humans and spirits alike must join forces to fight the North Wind, who seeks dominion over all. This fairy tale world is atmospheric, particularly the elemental spirits, and all of the characters are loveable. The plot is tense at several points and story aspects are seamlessly interwoven. This sequel is a lovely fantasy read.

The City Below the Cloud by T.S. Galindo

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

The City Below the Cloud is about a cleaner in a fungi covered city who discovers the secret above the city. This novella has an interesting premise and the dark fungal setting is aptly described. The characters' inner thoughts insightfully describe the sisters' relationship. The story is a bit rushed but this is a nice, quick dystopian read.

This book was discovered on myindiebookshelf.com.

Warm Up by V.E. Schwab

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

Warm Up is about a man who, after months of seclusion trying to manage a new supernatural power, ventures out of his house and meets a new threat. This short story reads more like a deleted scene. The reader learns quite a bit about the main character in just a few pages, and the reveal at the end is expected but a nice touch.