athenezadam's reviews
175 reviews

Daughter of the Gods: Children of Ginen by Rose Carmel Gaspard

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

In Daughter of the Gods: Children of Ginen, a woman who has abandoned her magic returns home to fight dark magic that is threatening to destroy her community. The heroin is confident and courageous. Exposition is appropriately provided as the story progresses, and the book's footnotes are helpful for translations and in explaining intriguing Haitian mythology. At times, the story's prose is too direct as opposed to the reader being able to making inferences, but this may be a style choice. Family dynamics are masterfully navigated, and the fight scenes are choreographed well. Colonial history and power imbalances are also explored. 

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

adventurous lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

In the Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, a girl sacrifices herself to the Sea God and arrives in the Spirit Realm, where she tries to wake the Sea God to lift his curse on her ravaged homeland. The story's setting consists of a mystical, dream-like state. The slow-burn romance is endearing. But the mythology's plot points appear somewhat suddenly and the path to resolution isn't clear.  Recommended for readers who enjoy atmospheric fantasy and beautiful imagery.

The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon's Memoir by Laura Huie, C.D. Houck

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon's Memoir is about a dragon who recounts his centuries-old relationship with a town to an assassin. The dragon is powerful yet generally polite, and his relationship with the townspeople is somewhat dysfunctional. There are several threats to the town and the foes in the middle of the book are the most entertaining. The assassin is not that interesting, but she is not the focus of the story. This quick read offers a unique perspective on a dragon's tale.

Echo of the Blue Mountain by JF Lee

adventurous emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

In Echo of the Blue Mountain, the swordsman teeters between life and death and a new foe joins the fight to keep the Emperor's control of the provinces. The arrival of an old friend shakes up the dynamic of the group, adding a pleasant perspective.  The fight scenes are nicely constructed and the medical magic is intriguing. The characters continue to have good depth. Loyalty and morality are tested in this great continuation of this action-packed series.

Fall of the Iron Gods by Olivia Chadha

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

In Fall of the Iron Gods, the Planetary Alliance Commission targets resistance fighters who must try to save their homeland before their population is sacrificed for the survival of the powerful and wealthy. Having read book #1, it's easier to delve back into this post-apocalyptic world. The book starts slow and reader investment in the characters happens once each of the three young heroes begin their individual missions. Then the pacing quickens into good action. The first half of the story plants clues leading up to one of the major plot points regarding bionic technology. The disastrous effects of climate change in a post-WWIII are nicely detailed. This South Asian-inspired duology sequel offers a fulsome cyberpunk, dystopian experience.

Fall of the King Saber: A Wuxia Martial Arts Fantasy by JF Lee, JF Lee

adventurous lighthearted tense medium-paced

4.0

In Fall of the King Saber, the swordsman must prepare to fight his nemesis, and becomes a mentor to the girl, who is seeking to remove a bounty from her head. This installment is back into constant action. Plot points are cleverly managed, and the reader gains greater insight into beloved characters. This includes learning more about the gruff swordsman, who must face his past demons before engaging in the story's ultimate battle. The fight scenes are tense with great fantasy imagery.

Fangs of the Black Tiger by JF Lee

adventurous lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.0

In Fangs of the Black Tiger, the last swordsman of the Blue Mountain searches for his captured young companion, who is trying to survive in the company of rebels. Vol. 2 is more introspective, with the reader learning more about the swordsman, the girl, and fierce supporting characters. The fulsomeness of martial arts is explored, lending insight into characters and enriching the fantasy worldbuilding. The last fight scene is intense. Also, the book's footnotes are helpful and humorous. 

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

In The Last Bloodcarver, a girl with the ability to control physiology is sold to a wealthy family to heal a witness to their father's murder. Colonialism, intergenerational trauma, and medical ethics are explored in this Vietnam-inspired fantasy novel. The protagonist's yearning for her family and for cultural identity are poignantly written. While the storyline is predictable, it is executed well, with a medical magic system that is truly fascinating.

Sword of Sorrow, Blade of Joy by JF Lee

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

In Sword of Sorrow, Blade of Joy, a teenager hires a swordsman to help her escape her past, while the swordsman pursues his oath to avenge his master's death. This story contains a series of events that might appear separate but are all threaded through the main plot. The banter is fun and more is learned about the characters through dialogue. The prose is tight--at times too tight, as there are parts where further description or sensory description would add to the reading experience. This fantasy tale is full of wuxia action and adventure.

The Unseen by Lilla Glass

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

In The Unseen, a thief absconds to a small town, where she is pursued by her former employer and then joins in odd company to try to save the life of a little girl. The characters shine with their different backstories, some of which are dark. The story slows a little when new characters are introduced but it is exciting when their paths cross or connections are made. The settings are varied, and the magic is whimsical but also creepy in this high fantasy novel.