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mmetacarpals's reviews
174 reviews
The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic
2.5
This book was perplexing and strangely paced. It was angsty and weirdly violent, and I feel as though I was never once clued in as to how exactly Exy, the sport that all the characters are obsessed with, even works. I could not put it down.
All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace
2.25
I liked this better than the previous book, but that's probably because I love a good Macguffin quest lol. I was pleased with the romantic tension we got between Amora and Bastian, even if the reason for keeping them apart was kind of stupid. I felt like it paid off for the most part.
The worst part of this book was the pacing. Not much happened for a long time, and then the culmination of the whole book's quest came through in about 30 pages. However, the ending was honestly quite emotional. I was surprised with how much I felt aboutFerrick's sacrifice I don't know whether that surprise is a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, the author obviously made me attached to the characters, but on the other hand, I didn't realize that until the last ten pages.
Overall, it was a meh duology. Some parts were fun but it was lacking in plot cohesion, good pacing, and character development. What hints of those we did get made me long for a better book. So three stars because it wasn't bad and I wanted to finish it, but it wasn't great and I probably won't reread it.
The worst part of this book was the pacing. Not much happened for a long time, and then the culmination of the whole book's quest came through in about 30 pages. However, the ending was honestly quite emotional. I was surprised with how much I felt about
Overall, it was a meh duology. Some parts were fun but it was lacking in plot cohesion, good pacing, and character development. What hints of those we did get made me long for a better book. So three stars because it wasn't bad and I wanted to finish it, but it wasn't great and I probably won't reread it.
The Last of the Renshai by Mickey Zucker Reichert
3.75
I was gifted this book by my sister who saw the cover and the word "wizards" and thought it would be something I would enjoy, and I did! it was very much a 90's fantasy--- which isn't a mark against at all--- it just has that specific vibe that 90's epic fantasy has. I liked the Norse mythology influences, though I feel like they were a bit underplayed. Even though Valhalla played a major role in the religion and day to day life of one of our main characters, I still felt as though Reichert could have been doing more with the Norse influences. The gods were mentioned as being actual deities (as evidenced by the wizards) but they didn't seem to have any actual power or influence over the world.
I thought that characters were interesting and lovable. I especially liked Mitrian. She's a badass woman with a big, demonically possessed sword, and I love that for her. (The mental image of a heavily pregnant teenage girl with a huge broadsword is particularly fun.) Rache's character arc is something I haven't seen much in fantasy from this time period, as he grapples with an overcomes the disadvantages of his disability. The horse-as-a-mobility-aid worked really well for me, and I thought it was a unique approach to that kind of character and arc. Arduwyn was another guy who I just really enjoyed reading about. He's a hunter, he's in love with his best friend's wife, he is a borderline conman, he's a coward--- he has a lot going on. Unfortunately, other characters kind of melt into the background. Colbey in particular seemed dreadfully under-utilized. I imagine he'll take center stage in future books, but in this one, he was barely a player, which is strange because supposedly he has a whole prophecy about him. Speaking of...
The Great War. The first page of the book lays out a prophecy about this "great war" that could destroy the whole world. This war happens within the last fifth of the book. The majority of the book is about Rache and Garn and Mitrian all figuring out their complicated feelings towards each other, home, and the idea of family with some fluffy scenes and sword fights thrown in. The war subplot occasionally shows up in a few sporadic chapters about a bard singing peaceful songs to the warlike Easterners, but, other than that, it doesn't play a role until randomly everyone is told that the war has begun and they need to go fight in it.
And the Easterners... Reichert posits the Easterners as an inherently evil race made for the purpose of war. The have to fight, they hate the peaceful songs, and they will go to war. And yet, this idea is completely incongruent with how she positions the Renshai. The Renshai have killed whole clans of people, but when Arduwyn confronts Colbey and says that he believes that the Renshai are killers, Colbey tells him that is just his backwards racist thinking (pg. 323). Colbey tells him to have some grace for the Renshai because they aren't as bad as the racist Northmen make them out to be, but this grace is not extended to the Easterners or the Leukenyans, who are vicious cultists who call anyone who does not follow their god "infidels." So that's not coding for anything... Reichert just seems to misunderstand the points she makes in her own book and paints a very hypocritical view of her own world, which is really quite sad because I enjoy the story other than that. I suppose it's a good thing that the Easterners don't really seem to play that big a role in the book, just like the Great War.
So, overall 3.75 stars. I rate for enjoyment, craft, and real life implications. The story was good--- I really like a character focused story, even if the plot meanders--- but the politics were very much of their time. I think I'll give book 2 a shot, but we'll see how that goes.
I thought that characters were interesting and lovable. I especially liked Mitrian. She's a badass woman with a big, demonically possessed sword, and I love that for her. (The mental image of a heavily pregnant teenage girl with a huge broadsword is particularly fun.) Rache's character arc is something I haven't seen much in fantasy from this time period, as he grapples with an overcomes the disadvantages of his disability. The horse-as-a-mobility-aid worked really well for me, and I thought it was a unique approach to that kind of character and arc. Arduwyn was another guy who I just really enjoyed reading about. He's a hunter, he's in love with his best friend's wife, he is a borderline conman, he's a coward--- he has a lot going on. Unfortunately, other characters kind of melt into the background. Colbey in particular seemed dreadfully under-utilized. I imagine he'll take center stage in future books, but in this one, he was barely a player, which is strange because supposedly he has a whole prophecy about him. Speaking of...
The Great War. The first page of the book lays out a prophecy about this "great war" that could destroy the whole world. This war happens within the last fifth of the book. The majority of the book is about Rache and Garn and Mitrian all figuring out their complicated feelings towards each other, home, and the idea of family with some fluffy scenes and sword fights thrown in. The war subplot occasionally shows up in a few sporadic chapters about a bard singing peaceful songs to the warlike Easterners, but, other than that, it doesn't play a role until randomly everyone is told that the war has begun and they need to go fight in it.
And the Easterners... Reichert posits the Easterners as an inherently evil race made for the purpose of war. The have to fight, they hate the peaceful songs, and they will go to war. And yet, this idea is completely incongruent with how she positions the Renshai. The Renshai have killed whole clans of people, but when Arduwyn confronts Colbey and says that he believes that the Renshai are killers, Colbey tells him that is just his backwards racist thinking (pg. 323). Colbey tells him to have some grace for the Renshai because they aren't as bad as the racist Northmen make them out to be, but this grace is not extended to the Easterners or the Leukenyans, who are vicious cultists who call anyone who does not follow their god "infidels." So that's not coding for anything... Reichert just seems to misunderstand the points she makes in her own book and paints a very hypocritical view of her own world, which is really quite sad because I enjoy the story other than that. I suppose it's a good thing that the Easterners don't really seem to play that big a role in the book, just like the Great War.
So, overall 3.75 stars. I rate for enjoyment, craft, and real life implications. The story was good--- I really like a character focused story, even if the plot meanders--- but the politics were very much of their time. I think I'll give book 2 a shot, but we'll see how that goes.
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
2.0
I found this book enjoyable and fun to read. It's been a bit since I've read a young adult fantasy, and this was a good reintroduction to the genre with its adventurous nature, charming love interest, and complex teenaged lead.
Amora was an endearing main character, and though she was a bit melodramatic at times, I understood it. I remember what it was like to turn 18 and suddenly be trusted with the responsibilities of an adult. Her magic and the way she wields it was the most interesting part of this world's magic system.
Speaking of--- I feel kind of conflicted/confused by the magic system here. The soul magic and curse magic was compelling, and I liked the somewhat gorey nature of that kind of magic. (I just really love magic channeled through bodies: blood, bones, and teeth.) However, the division of magic users by island doesn't quite make sense to me. As you read, it becomes apparent that power isn't something one is born with or inherit but something they choose and learn. And yet there is a strict segregation of people by the type of magic they use. So a person born to water magic users on Valuka could choose to learn time magic and be made to live on Kerost? But why would they?
It would make far more sense if people were born with a specific kind of magic regardless of their island, and if that magic were different than their family's, they would be forcibly relocated. This would makeCato's curse and the hatred the islands have for the king make far more sense. I am hoping the next book does more work fleshing out the politics of Visidia and the unrest on the islands because I feel like there is a lot of potential there that, as of book one, is underdeveloped.
I also want more Bastian character work. He has a lot of interesting stuff going on, and I don't know if this is just because of the close first person narration, but I felt like he did not get the characterization and fleshing out he deserved.
Overall it was a fun romp, but sometimes underwhelming. I like the bones of what we have so far--- the magic, the curses, the characters, the political unrest--- and I hope to see more of it in the sequel!
Amora was an endearing main character, and though she was a bit melodramatic at times, I understood it. I remember what it was like to turn 18 and suddenly be trusted with the responsibilities of an adult. Her magic and the way she wields it was the most interesting part of this world's magic system.
Speaking of--- I feel kind of conflicted/confused by the magic system here. The soul magic and curse magic was compelling, and I liked the somewhat gorey nature of that kind of magic. (I just really love magic channeled through bodies: blood, bones, and teeth.) However, the division of magic users by island doesn't quite make sense to me. As you read, it becomes apparent that power isn't something one is born with or inherit but something they choose and learn. And yet there is a strict segregation of people by the type of magic they use. So a person born to water magic users on Valuka could choose to learn time magic and be made to live on Kerost? But why would they?
It would make far more sense if people were born with a specific kind of magic regardless of their island, and if that magic were different than their family's, they would be forcibly relocated. This would make
I also want more Bastian character work. He has a lot of interesting stuff going on, and I don't know if this is just because of the close first person narration, but I felt like he did not get the characterization and fleshing out he deserved.
Overall it was a fun romp, but sometimes underwhelming. I like the bones of what we have so far--- the magic, the curses, the characters, the political unrest--- and I hope to see more of it in the sequel!