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486 reviews
Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth
4.0
After reading and enjoying the first two Atlas books, I was curious if this author would also be good at writing YA, which led to me reading this novel.
Then, when I opened the book and saw a dramatis personae, I thought "I'm going to really enjoy this one, aren't I." I can safely tell my past self that yes, you are.
Twelfth Knight
By Alexene Farol Follmuth
4.75/5⭐️
This is a contemporary retelling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, starring Viola, a girl tired of living in a patriarchal society. She loves the online game Twelfth Knight, in which she plays as a male character, Cesario. When Jack Orsino fractures his ACL and can't play American football, he begins playing the online game and becomes friends with Viola, who pretends to be her twin brother Bach. Meanwhile in the offline world, Jack enlists Viola to figure out why his popular girlfriend Olivia is avoiding him in exchange for actually doing his job as Student President.
This was the light read I needed, full of banter, interesting games, sweet romance. Making Olivia Queer was a delightful twist, one of the many ways the original plot line remained without containing the pretending-to-be-another-gender aspect.
Viola was a bitter and frustrated protagonist, tired of women being forced to be calm and quiet to please men. I enjoyed her bluntness, but loved watching the process of her realising she deserves to have people around her and not push them away.
Jack began as a confident, swaggering sportsman, but turned out to be quite lost as he discovered what future lay ahead without football.
Their relationship was adorable, though the miscommunication did annoy me slightly.
I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy fandoms, video games, and predictable but comforting plots in books.
Queer rep:
Questioning protagonist
Queer sc
Bi parent
TWs: misogyny, sexism, injury, sexual harassment, racism, cursing
Then, when I opened the book and saw a dramatis personae, I thought "I'm going to really enjoy this one, aren't I." I can safely tell my past self that yes, you are.
Twelfth Knight
By Alexene Farol Follmuth
4.75/5⭐️
This is a contemporary retelling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, starring Viola, a girl tired of living in a patriarchal society. She loves the online game Twelfth Knight, in which she plays as a male character, Cesario. When Jack Orsino fractures his ACL and can't play American football, he begins playing the online game and becomes friends with Viola, who pretends to be her twin brother Bach. Meanwhile in the offline world, Jack enlists Viola to figure out why his popular girlfriend Olivia is avoiding him in exchange for actually doing his job as Student President.
This was the light read I needed, full of banter, interesting games, sweet romance. Making Olivia Queer was a delightful twist, one of the many ways the original plot line remained without containing the pretending-to-be-another-gender aspect.
Viola was a bitter and frustrated protagonist, tired of women being forced to be calm and quiet to please men. I enjoyed her bluntness, but loved watching the process of her realising she deserves to have people around her and not push them away.
Jack began as a confident, swaggering sportsman, but turned out to be quite lost as he discovered what future lay ahead without football.
Their relationship was adorable, though the miscommunication did annoy me slightly.
I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy fandoms, video games, and predictable but comforting plots in books.
Queer rep:
Questioning protagonist
Queer sc
Bi parent
TWs: misogyny, sexism, injury, sexual harassment, racism, cursing
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall
5.0
"Looking for a roleplay-heavy, story- driven game of Secrets & Sorcery?
I'm looking for you. I'm starting a new girl-friendly, LGBTQIA+-friendly campaign and need a few more daring adventurers to join the party. Want to roam the Realms with us?"
The No-girlfriend Rule
By Christen Randall
5/5⭐️
This book stars the lovable Hollis, who struggles in a sexist male friend group. They don't let her play Secrets & Sorcery, a tabletop role playing game, with them due to her dating Chris and the "no-girlfriend rule". Hollis finds a group of welcoming girls to play with, and quickly finds her place there.
Hollis starts playing S&S to try become enough for Chris, but realises she is enough, and he is not that great. Instead, she finds so much more from the weekly games. The girls became a place of support for Hollis, a place to be herself and not suppress her personality, a place to have fun. I really enjoyed her as a protagonist, we definitely need more books with fat protagonists, and more anxiety representation. I think the reason I loved her so much was that by the end I really felt like I knew her and understood her, and because she was just so realistic.
Throughout the book, Hollis has a slow-burn romance with the charismatic Aini. I loved how their relationship grew, from Aini making a playlist for their characters to Hollis's drawings. Aini was dependable, once she showed how much she cared for Hollis, she never stopped. I immensely enjoyed her character and his jokes!
Iffy was definitely the most hardworking character, but she still found time to be extremely welcoming to Hollis, offering rides to the weekly games and even tutoring her in school.
Gloria, the host of the games of S&S, was certainly a leader. She was also so creative as she invented the detailed story the game followed. She made it clear that she was also there if any of the girls needed help.
Maggie needed a place where she could be herself, not just a famous influencer, and I was delighted that the S&S game could be a place where she unravelled and relaxed.
Hollis hit the nail on the head when she described Fran as a "personified caps-lock key smash." Gloria's younger sister was accepted into the group of older girls, and was loved by everyone for her boisterous and cheerful nature.
I strongly disliked the boys. Landon in particular was so sexist, it was disgusting. Even when Hollis played with the girls, he was remarking that it wasn't a proper game and that they must all be lesbians (homophobe!!!). He later comments that "It's so selfish when hot girls aren't straight". I wanted to punch him.
Marius just sat back and watched Hollis be constantly tormented and bullied by Landon.
And Chris, Hollis's boyfriend, really got on my nerves. Hollis, who had been his friend for years, wasn't allowed to join their S&S game, but then he complained when she spoke about the girls and even when she seemed happier and started to be herself more. Hollis never deserved a guy like him.
Secrets & Sorcery is a tabletop roleplaying game, with many different creatures available to play as. It includes spells, battles, journeys; and, most of all, teamwork.
I found myself looking forward to the weekly games of S&S. Gloria as the Secret Keeper made up the story, and did a fantastic job, while Honoria (Hollis's paladin) went on a journey with a group, including Aini's cheerful bard Umber, who is soon shipped with Honoria (ship name: Steadfast), which incites the girls' playful flirtation to maybe become something outside of the game.
A main theme of this book is found family, with the girls forming amazing bonds through their games. I adored how they grew to love each other, exchanging presents at Critmas (a Christmas party), dancing, having sleepovers, and really just supporting each other.
Change is the other prominent theme. How people and things change over time, how something that may have made sense before may not now, how it's okay to change if it means being true to yourself.
Overall, this is the ideal blend of lighthearted and serious topics, full of lovable characters. I highly recommend it to everyone!
Lastly, I must bring your attention to the cover of the book, which I believe was illustrated by Simini Blocker. This is such an amazing cover, the characters look EXACTLY as described in the book and it just fully shows the whole atmosphere of the book.
On-page LGBTQIA+ representation:
Questioning protagonist (sexuality)
Lesbian sc (Aini)
Trans sc (Iffy)
TWs: misogyny, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, panic attacks, fatphobia, toxic relationship
I'm looking for you. I'm starting a new girl-friendly, LGBTQIA+-friendly campaign and need a few more daring adventurers to join the party. Want to roam the Realms with us?"
The No-girlfriend Rule
By Christen Randall
5/5⭐️
This book stars the lovable Hollis, who struggles in a sexist male friend group. They don't let her play Secrets & Sorcery, a tabletop role playing game, with them due to her dating Chris and the "no-girlfriend rule". Hollis finds a group of welcoming girls to play with, and quickly finds her place there.
Hollis starts playing S&S to try become enough for Chris, but realises she is enough, and he is not that great. Instead, she finds so much more from the weekly games. The girls became a place of support for Hollis, a place to be herself and not suppress her personality, a place to have fun. I really enjoyed her as a protagonist, we definitely need more books with fat protagonists, and more anxiety representation. I think the reason I loved her so much was that by the end I really felt like I knew her and understood her, and because she was just so realistic.
Throughout the book, Hollis has a slow-burn romance with the charismatic Aini. I loved how their relationship grew, from Aini making a playlist for their characters to Hollis's drawings. Aini was dependable, once she showed how much she cared for Hollis, she never stopped. I immensely enjoyed her character and his jokes!
Iffy was definitely the most hardworking character, but she still found time to be extremely welcoming to Hollis, offering rides to the weekly games and even tutoring her in school.
Gloria, the host of the games of S&S, was certainly a leader. She was also so creative as she invented the detailed story the game followed. She made it clear that she was also there if any of the girls needed help.
Maggie needed a place where she could be herself, not just a famous influencer, and I was delighted that the S&S game could be a place where she unravelled and relaxed.
Hollis hit the nail on the head when she described Fran as a "personified caps-lock key smash." Gloria's younger sister was accepted into the group of older girls, and was loved by everyone for her boisterous and cheerful nature.
I strongly disliked the boys. Landon in particular was so sexist, it was disgusting. Even when Hollis played with the girls, he was remarking that it wasn't a proper game and that they must all be lesbians (homophobe!!!). He later comments that "It's so selfish when hot girls aren't straight". I wanted to punch him.
Marius just sat back and watched Hollis be constantly tormented and bullied by Landon.
And Chris, Hollis's boyfriend, really got on my nerves. Hollis, who had been his friend for years, wasn't allowed to join their S&S game, but then he complained when she spoke about the girls and even when she seemed happier and started to be herself more. Hollis never deserved a guy like him.
Secrets & Sorcery is a tabletop roleplaying game, with many different creatures available to play as. It includes spells, battles, journeys; and, most of all, teamwork.
I found myself looking forward to the weekly games of S&S. Gloria as the Secret Keeper made up the story, and did a fantastic job, while Honoria (Hollis's paladin) went on a journey with a group, including Aini's cheerful bard Umber, who is soon shipped with Honoria (ship name: Steadfast), which incites the girls' playful flirtation to maybe become something outside of the game.
A main theme of this book is found family, with the girls forming amazing bonds through their games. I adored how they grew to love each other, exchanging presents at Critmas (a Christmas party), dancing, having sleepovers, and really just supporting each other.
Change is the other prominent theme. How people and things change over time, how something that may have made sense before may not now, how it's okay to change if it means being true to yourself.
Overall, this is the ideal blend of lighthearted and serious topics, full of lovable characters. I highly recommend it to everyone!
Lastly, I must bring your attention to the cover of the book, which I believe was illustrated by Simini Blocker. This is such an amazing cover, the characters look EXACTLY as described in the book and it just fully shows the whole atmosphere of the book.
On-page LGBTQIA+ representation:
Questioning protagonist (sexuality)
Lesbian sc (Aini)
Trans sc (Iffy)
TWs: misogyny, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, panic attacks, fatphobia, toxic relationship
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Light From Uncommon Stars
By Ryka Aoki
5/5⭐️
What did I just read? I knew this would probably be one of my favourite books of the year, but I didn't expect it to be that good! I didn't even read the blurb, so I think I made that prediction based on the gorgeous cover and the knowledge that there was a trans protagonist.
This book has such a unique style, every paragraph flowed so well, it was so easy to pick up at any point and get pulled into the story again.
This book has such a loaded plot, but it all comes together so well. We have Shizuka Satomi, the violinist who made a deal to deliver seven talented violinists to Hell so that she can play once again. "This was more than power, ambition, beauty, or even genius. In the legendary teacher's presence, such words seemed meaningless-devoured by an unrelenting, inescapable flame. Yet what was most startling, even terrifying, was her focus. Nothing about Shizuka Satomi seemed random, without purpose. Everything was measured. Everything was arranged. Everything was completely and sublimely composed."
Katrina Nguyen, the teenage girl who ran from her transphobic family, meets Shizuka and becomes her seventh student.
"Might they think she was trans, queer, an abomination? Might they whisper she was ugly? Might they find her entrancing, exotic, grotesque, horrifying?
Might she not care? Because as she played, Katrina began to realize that yes, she was staring into a wall of darkness. But didn't that also mean the lights were on her? Didn't that mean that the stage was hers?"
Then there's Lan Tran, an alien starship captain who has escaped her doomed planet to run a donut shop on Earth with her four children (one of which is a hologram) and kind aunt Florestra.
"Shizuka realized then that the stars she had seen in Lan Tran's eyes were not figurative. They were real."
Lan and Shizuka fall in love, Katrina's talents blossom as she bonds with her new mentor, Lucy Matía realises that she can continue her family's legacy of fixing violins. All of these stories weave together into one.
My favourite aspect of this book was the soft relationship that formed between Lan and Shizuka. Two people who made many mistakes, but were overall loving and lonely.
The Sci-fi is very subtle, if you're unused to the genre this book will ease you in. The fantasy element is likewise not too elaborated on.
Who do I recommend this to, this beautiful work of art? I suppose anyone who enjoys classical music, aliens, donuts, demons, and found family.
Queer rep:
2 sapphic protagonists
1 Queer Transgirl protagonist
TWs: transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, sexual assault, child abuse, rape, racism, self harm, war, murder
By Ryka Aoki
5/5⭐️
What did I just read? I knew this would probably be one of my favourite books of the year, but I didn't expect it to be that good! I didn't even read the blurb, so I think I made that prediction based on the gorgeous cover and the knowledge that there was a trans protagonist.
This book has such a unique style, every paragraph flowed so well, it was so easy to pick up at any point and get pulled into the story again.
This book has such a loaded plot, but it all comes together so well. We have Shizuka Satomi, the violinist who made a deal to deliver seven talented violinists to Hell so that she can play once again. "This was more than power, ambition, beauty, or even genius. In the legendary teacher's presence, such words seemed meaningless-devoured by an unrelenting, inescapable flame. Yet what was most startling, even terrifying, was her focus. Nothing about Shizuka Satomi seemed random, without purpose. Everything was measured. Everything was arranged. Everything was completely and sublimely composed."
Katrina Nguyen, the teenage girl who ran from her transphobic family, meets Shizuka and becomes her seventh student.
"Might they think she was trans, queer, an abomination? Might they whisper she was ugly? Might they find her entrancing, exotic, grotesque, horrifying?
Might she not care? Because as she played, Katrina began to realize that yes, she was staring into a wall of darkness. But didn't that also mean the lights were on her? Didn't that mean that the stage was hers?"
Then there's Lan Tran, an alien starship captain who has escaped her doomed planet to run a donut shop on Earth with her four children (one of which is a hologram) and kind aunt Florestra.
"Shizuka realized then that the stars she had seen in Lan Tran's eyes were not figurative. They were real."
Lan and Shizuka fall in love, Katrina's talents blossom as she bonds with her new mentor, Lucy Matía realises that she can continue her family's legacy of fixing violins. All of these stories weave together into one.
My favourite aspect of this book was the soft relationship that formed between Lan and Shizuka. Two people who made many mistakes, but were overall loving and lonely.
The Sci-fi is very subtle, if you're unused to the genre this book will ease you in. The fantasy element is likewise not too elaborated on.
Who do I recommend this to, this beautiful work of art? I suppose anyone who enjoys classical music, aliens, donuts, demons, and found family.
Queer rep:
2 sapphic protagonists
1 Queer Transgirl protagonist
TWs: transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, sexual assault, child abuse, rape, racism, self harm, war, murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Murder
Moderate: Racism
Everyone's Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.75
In this fantastic YA contemporary mystery, cousins Kitan and Iyanu are shocked when, at their prestigious school Wodebury, Iyanu's photos are released with secrets scrawled on them. Alongside a cast of wonderful and terrible side characters, they try to solve the mystery.
Everyone's Thinking It
By Aleema Omotoni
4.75/5⭐️
The main theme of this book is finding a place where you belong, where you can feel safe to be yourself. Both Kitan and Iyanu struggle as two of the few Black girls at Wodebury, suppressing parts of themselves and their culture to avoid standing out. Iyanu hides behind her camera, Kitan forces herself to tolerate the problematic popular girls, and they slowly realise that they need each other and work well as a team.
The mystery of who send out the polaroids and stole Iyanu's binder of photo negatives was very interesting, especially as from the start there was a definite group of possible culprits. Not to brag, but I guessed who had done it in the first half of the book, which surprised me as I'm usually wrong when I try solve the mysteries in books. That final scene was delightfully hilarious, I know some would call it cliche but I adored it!
Iyanu and Kitan, two very different girls, brought back together by the troubling events, were very good protagonists. I found it interesting that during the first half of the book I only found Iyanu lovable, but in the second half Kitan also stole my heart.
There was a large cast of nice side characters, which may have been why the start of the book felt slow as I hasn't become attached to them yet. Navin, Jordan, Marcus, Oliver, and Quincy; all such developed characters without stealing the protagonists' spotlight. Honestly, I find that very impressive, as many books don't manage to have that many lovable, well developed characters in 350 pages
This book does contain topics that can trigger a lot of people, especially with the character of Heather, whose "new look" is Blackfishing (when a non-Black person changes their looks to appear Black/mixed-race) and at one point even dresses in Blackface (when a non-Black person wears makeup to imitate a Black person). Thankfully the protagonists put an end to that horrifically wrong racist behaviour. There are also other racist characters, and a lot of biphobia.
Queer rep:
Bi protagonist
2 Bi side characters
1 Gay side character
TWs: racism, blackfishing, blackface, biphobia, homophobia, panic attacks, bullying
Everyone's Thinking It
By Aleema Omotoni
4.75/5⭐️
The main theme of this book is finding a place where you belong, where you can feel safe to be yourself. Both Kitan and Iyanu struggle as two of the few Black girls at Wodebury, suppressing parts of themselves and their culture to avoid standing out. Iyanu hides behind her camera, Kitan forces herself to tolerate the problematic popular girls, and they slowly realise that they need each other and work well as a team.
The mystery of who send out the polaroids and stole Iyanu's binder of photo negatives was very interesting, especially as from the start there was a definite group of possible culprits. Not to brag, but I guessed who had done it in the first half of the book, which surprised me as I'm usually wrong when I try solve the mysteries in books. That final scene was delightfully hilarious, I know some would call it cliche but I adored it!
Iyanu and Kitan, two very different girls, brought back together by the troubling events, were very good protagonists. I found it interesting that during the first half of the book I only found Iyanu lovable, but in the second half Kitan also stole my heart.
There was a large cast of nice side characters, which may have been why the start of the book felt slow as I hasn't become attached to them yet. Navin, Jordan, Marcus, Oliver, and Quincy; all such developed characters without stealing the protagonists' spotlight. Honestly, I find that very impressive, as many books don't manage to have that many lovable, well developed characters in 350 pages
This book does contain topics that can trigger a lot of people, especially with the character of Heather, whose "new look" is Blackfishing (when a non-Black person changes their looks to appear Black/mixed-race) and at one point even dresses in Blackface (when a non-Black person wears makeup to imitate a Black person). Thankfully the protagonists put an end to that horrifically wrong racist behaviour. There are also other racist characters, and a lot of biphobia.
Queer rep:
Bi protagonist
2 Bi side characters
1 Gay side character
TWs: racism, blackfishing, blackface, biphobia, homophobia, panic attacks, bullying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders
Lost Boy by Christina Henry
4.5
Lost Boy
By Christina Henry
4.5/5⭐️
Lost Boy is a gripping adult horror fantasy novel, a fast-panced retelling of Peter Pan set before the classic tale, from the perspective of the boy who will grow up to become the infamous villain Captain Hook.
Jamie has lived on the island for countless years, never growing up and being Peter's favourite. Other boys are brought to the island, but they never last long. However, he begins to question his adoration of the unapologetic, cruel, self-centered Peter and his treatment of the other boys....
I immensely enjoyed reading this book, I quickly became interested in the characters, the setting, the plot. I kind of forgot about the map at the beginning, which might even have increased my interest levels!
When books feed us and the protagonist information simultaneously, I find it brings me into the story more. This was certainly the case with Jamie, and I found my opinions on the events being the same as his.
This book is horror due to the massive quantity of murder of young boys, so if you're sensitive to that maybe this one isn't for you.
My single critique is that the world felt slightly underdescribed. What did the mermaids and pirates look like? And I couldn't imagine the Many-Eyed at all, it didn't even mention how many eyes they had.
By the way, the smoothness in which the ending set up the popular tale was superb.
So, do you enjoy horror retellings? Then this one may be for you!
TWs: blood, child death, murder, violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, kidnapping
By Christina Henry
4.5/5⭐️
Lost Boy is a gripping adult horror fantasy novel, a fast-panced retelling of Peter Pan set before the classic tale, from the perspective of the boy who will grow up to become the infamous villain Captain Hook.
Jamie has lived on the island for countless years, never growing up and being Peter's favourite. Other boys are brought to the island, but they never last long. However, he begins to question his adoration of the unapologetic, cruel, self-centered Peter and his treatment of the other boys....
I immensely enjoyed reading this book, I quickly became interested in the characters, the setting, the plot. I kind of forgot about the map at the beginning, which might even have increased my interest levels!
When books feed us and the protagonist information simultaneously, I find it brings me into the story more. This was certainly the case with Jamie, and I found my opinions on the events being the same as his.
This book is horror due to the massive quantity of murder of young boys, so if you're sensitive to that maybe this one isn't for you.
My single critique is that the world felt slightly underdescribed. What did the mermaids and pirates look like? And I couldn't imagine the Many-Eyed at all, it didn't even mention how many eyes they had.
By the way, the smoothness in which the ending set up the popular tale was superb.
So, do you enjoy horror retellings? Then this one may be for you!
TWs: blood, child death, murder, violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, kidnapping
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Murder
Midnight's Twins by Holly Race
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I added this book to my tbr after someone on bookstagram said it was their favourite book last year, though I forget who it was...
I did put off reading it because, unlike other books on my tbr, I had only heard it mentioned by one person. My expectations were nonexistent, and therefore should have been easy to meet.
Midnight's Twins
By Holly Race
2.75/5⭐️
In this book, there is a reality called Annwyn that we go to during dreams. If you are killed by a nightmare monster in Annwyn, you die in Ithr (our reality). Some people are recruited to work in Annwyn to protect dreamers. Twins Fern and Ollie join the Knights, where their mother worked before her death when they were babies. They soon discover a powerful villain to defeat.
The ambitions of Medraut, the villain, were frankly ridiculous. He wanted to make himself an immortal king of both realities, forcing everyone to work in factories day and night without feeling anything ever. Why did he feel that way? No clue but he's definitely evil, with absolutely no redeeming qualities.
I spent a lot of time questioning how the Knights and other recruits like Harkers managed to work their jobs in Ithr and somehow also work all night long in Annwyn. Do their brains ever get a rest? It sounds terribly stressful, having to worry about yourself in two separate realities with different people in each one.
The protagonist, Fern, was one of those protagonists who has special powers that make her different. At least in this one she had to share them with her twin, but I still dislike the trope.
Honestly, I had no attachment to any characters at all, they all seemed quite flat.
The only character I didn't feel indifferent towards was Phoebe, because she had a lion and that's cool. But all the side characters had NO DEVELOPMENT, which was frustrating. Can even one of them have their own side quest or lesson to learn, please?
The world building was barely included, no characters seemed capable of anything so they flung their biggest missions onto two 15 year old with barely any training (a few months and suddenly this group of kids are qualified to save lives every night?). The first half contained far too much information, I didn't remember much of it and I have a good memory.
If you read a lot of fantasy, I don't recommend this one because it's nowhere near the quality of other books such as The Gilded Ones or A Darker Shade of Magic. But if you are intrigued by the concept of this dream world, give it a try, maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did!
TWs: bullying, fire injury (past), murder
I did put off reading it because, unlike other books on my tbr, I had only heard it mentioned by one person. My expectations were nonexistent, and therefore should have been easy to meet.
Midnight's Twins
By Holly Race
2.75/5⭐️
In this book, there is a reality called Annwyn that we go to during dreams. If you are killed by a nightmare monster in Annwyn, you die in Ithr (our reality). Some people are recruited to work in Annwyn to protect dreamers. Twins Fern and Ollie join the Knights, where their mother worked before her death when they were babies. They soon discover a powerful villain to defeat.
The ambitions of Medraut, the villain, were frankly ridiculous. He wanted to make himself an immortal king of both realities, forcing everyone to work in factories day and night without feeling anything ever. Why did he feel that way? No clue but he's definitely evil, with absolutely no redeeming qualities.
I spent a lot of time questioning how the Knights and other recruits like Harkers managed to work their jobs in Ithr and somehow also work all night long in Annwyn. Do their brains ever get a rest? It sounds terribly stressful, having to worry about yourself in two separate realities with different people in each one.
The protagonist, Fern, was one of those protagonists who has special powers that make her different. At least in this one she had to share them with her twin, but I still dislike the trope.
Honestly, I had no attachment to any characters at all, they all seemed quite flat.
The only character I didn't feel indifferent towards was Phoebe, because she had a lion and that's cool. But all the side characters had NO DEVELOPMENT, which was frustrating. Can even one of them have their own side quest or lesson to learn, please?
The world building was barely included, no characters seemed capable of anything so they flung their biggest missions onto two 15 year old with barely any training (a few months and suddenly this group of kids are qualified to save lives every night?). The first half contained far too much information, I didn't remember much of it and I have a good memory.
If you read a lot of fantasy, I don't recommend this one because it's nowhere near the quality of other books such as The Gilded Ones or A Darker Shade of Magic. But if you are intrigued by the concept of this dream world, give it a try, maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did!
TWs: bullying, fire injury (past), murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury