athenezadam's reviews
175 reviews

Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

In Sun of Blood and Ruin, a member of royalty, who is also a secret sorceress vigilante fighting against colonialism, must choose her path when faced with a prophecy of destruction. Taking place in New Spain, two decades after the Spanish conquest, the fantasy world building in this novel is intricate, with bright settings and vivid mythical creatures. The harsh forest setting is particularly memorable. Exposition is slightly awkward at times. The characters should create more of a reader connection than they do. The vibrant storytelling makes this an adventurous fantasy read. 

The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

In The Justice of Kings, a man representing the Emperor's Justice and his team investigate the murder of a provincial aristocrat and uncover a broader conspiracy. The magic is creepy, set against an ominous setting. Action scenes are realistically gory and tense. The pacing of this novel is slow, which is appropriate as it relates to the investigation, but scenes involving politics are dull since they are explained to the reader and not seen. Recommended for epic fantasy lovers who enjoy investigative stories with underlying politics.

A Darkness at the Door by Intisar Khanani

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

In A Darkness at the Door, Rae must escape her captors and must fight a massive child snatching conspiracy in the kingdom. Magic is seamless in a plot that is intricately crafted. The protagonist is clever and gutsy as she navigates dangerous situations, and she is more likeable in this book than the prior in the series. The romance is fun because the love interest is a thief and outlaw who opposes her quest for more formal means of justice. The resolution on this series is fulfilling, for both the main storyline and for tying off loose ends.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Blood Over Bright Haven is about a female scientist who breaks gender barriers to study magic and who works with her foreign, unqualified assistant to uncover a sinister secret that could change the future of magic. Wang effectively explores societal and workplace systemic gender discrimination, systemic cultural discrimination, unconscious bias, and power imbalances. The magic system is unique, and while much of this exposition occurs in the first parts of the novel, it is necessary to establish world building. The characters have dynamic arcs. The final chapters pull the story together into a satisfying resolution.

Never A Hero by Vanessa Len

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

In Never a Hero, after resetting the timeline, a teenaged girl escapes a deadly attack and becomes a fugitive with the boy she loved and who no longer remembers her. While this book is about time travel, the plot moves forward and is not a direct reliving of prior events. The focus is more on the legendary monster slayer: what he recalls of his prior life and how he will act in this timeline. This is the most intriguing aspect of the novel. The story can be streamlined if the protagonist reasonably explains things to her friends. There are unexpected reveals near the end. Never a Hero is a compelling read. 

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The Sword of Kaigen is about a trained warrior who has been living unhappily with her emotionally unavailable and sexist husband, and whose teenaged son is questioning the Empire as a threat of invasion nears their peninsula. There is high fantasy action and constant conflict throughout the novel, and the different view points help provide clarity. The character arcs are successfully executed, with insightful backstories that provide depth. Societal pressures are articulately conveyed. The heroin is dynamic, intelligent, and strong in different ways. There are some sections of prose where too much world building history is shared, but this can be easily overlooked. The Sword of Kaigen is a phenomenal read.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

The Inheritance Games is about a girl whose fortunes change when a billionaire with whom she has no connection unexpectedly bequeaths his inheritance to her instead of to his family. The dysfunction of the family is skillfully executed, as are the challenges the protagonist faces being thrown into a life of wealth and luxury. The mystery is not strong, but provides adequate entertainment to keep the reader's interest. This is a quick, light mystery read. 

The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani

dark lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

The Theft of Sunlight is about a country girl who travels to the royal court, to seek answers about children who are being snatched from their families. The story blends seamlessly with Book 1, with the return of beloved characters and good subplots. The magic is present but subtle. The prose is mostly light until very tense scenes occur. There is disability representation. The dark themes of violence, abuse, and human trafficking are all navigated realistically and with care. The protagonist's ultimate goal almost disappears at times as she awkwardly navigates court politics, making for a story that is longer than needed even though the journey is interesting.

Touch Me, See Me, Feel Me, Hear Me: A Supernatural Mystery Novel by Grace Mirchandani

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

In Touch Me, See Me, Feel Me, Hear Me, a fire victim who has lost the ability to speak and has gained the ability to communicate with ghosts sets out to solve a murder. The mystery is surprisingly complex, considering the novel isn't very long. The story is told from a first person point of view, and the voice of the protagonist is appropriately aged. The insta-love is a bit unnecessary but a quick relationship is needed to move this concise story along. Recommended for fans of Young Adult paranormal mystery.

This book was discovered on myindiebookshelf.com.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Recursion is about a detective who investigates what becomes known as False Memory Syndrome, an affliction where victims believe they have memories of a different life, and a neuroscientist who is working on a technology that will preserve the memories of those who lose them. This novel offers a searing look into a chaotic global apocalypse. The thriller aspect of this novel is present but inconsistent. At times the prose appears overly philosophical. The time loops maintain general interest by changing settings, and when this concept wears, the reader gets pulled back into action again. Recommended for fans of science fiction, who enjoy or can tolerate time loop plots.