Book Review ~ Snow Like Ashes

Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1)

by Sara Raasch
published by Balzer + Bray
genre: YA, Fantasy, Debut Book

Summary (Goodreads): A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

My Thoughts: I was glad that this mostly lived up to the Hype. I'm always concerned when everyone loves a book, for some reason I tend to not like those books.
My favorite thing had to be the world the author created. I loved the idea of having four different lands based on the seasons and with the characteristics of the seasons. The other side of that was the Rhythms. These I didn't understand as well but understand where the author was going. Ms Raasch brought balance throughout. Whether through the four seasons/ four rhythms or the four female conduits/ four male conduits. Balance was important.
Meira was another thing that I liked. She was young and eager but at the same time full of doubts concerning her place in their world. All she wants to do is prove herself to those she looks up to and feel a part of Winter, a world she hasn't set foot in since she was an infant. From being on the run, learning to be a queen, and dealing with Spring each scenario made Meira a stronger and more likable character.
The only thing that stopped this from being a straight five star read was the foreshadowing to the big reveal. It might be because I read so many fantasy books but the flashbacks, while subtle and easy to miss, told me what was going to happen. I did enjoy how and when it happened. There is some romance in this book. I never bought into Meira and Mather only because they knew no one else so who else would they be interested in. I thought her relationship with Theron felt more genuine.
Overall, this is one of my favorite reads of 2014 and I look forward to reading more about this world that Ms Raasch has created.

Rating: 4.5 

Book Review ~ Camelot Burning

Camelot Burning (Metal & Lace #1)

by Kathryn Rose
published by Flux
expected release date: May 8, 2014
genre: Steampunk, retellings, author debut 

**e-galley received from netGalley/publisher in exchange for honest review.

Summary (Goodreads): By day, Vivienne is Guinevere's lady-in-waiting. By night, she's Merlin's secret apprentice, indulging in the new mechanical arts and science of alchemy. It's a preferred distraction from Camelot’s gossipy nobility, roguish knights, and Lancelot’s athletic new squire, Marcus, who will follow in all knights’ footsteps by taking a rather inconvenient vow of chastity.

More than anything, Vivienne longs to escape Camelot for a future that wouldn't include needlework or marriage to a boorish lord or dandy. But when King Arthur's sorceress sister, Morgan le Fay, threatens Camelot, Vivienne must stay to help Merlin build a steam-powered weapon to defeat the dark magic machine Morgan will set upon the castle. Because if Camelot falls, Morgan would be that much closer to finding the elusive Holy Grail. Time is running out and Morgan draws near, and if Vivienne doesn't have Merlin's weapon ready soon, lives would pay the price, including that of Marcus, the only one fast enough to activate it on the battlefield.

My Thoughts: This story combines steampunk and a loose interpretation of Arthurian legend. The author did a good job with good vs evil aspects of this story, represented in the better known Arthur/Morgan and also machine/ magic.
Vivienne was a curious and interesting character. She played the part of the lady in waiting to the Guinevere but did not thin twice about running off to Merlin's tower whenever she could (which was more often than you would think). I liked how many of her reactions were not that of the normal court lady. She spoke up even when she shouldn't and was more likely to be found standing by the knights in a battle than hiding in the castle. Her relationship with Marcus was odd/awkward. Not really sure how I feel about it. It seemed to be there more to move certain plots along or create tension between characters.
One of my main problems with this book was the feeling that things were missing.  Vivienne's whole relationship with Azur was never explained and yet we are supposed to understand why he would expect her to leave Camelot with him to get away from everything happening. I took it to mean they had met before but don't know more than that. There was also Arthur's metal, it was just a big and well guarded thing but I never really understood the when/how it got to where it was and why.
Also, the final battle was a little lack luster, there was a lot happening but the death's of Morgan and Mordred just seemed to happen too quickly. The story was in the heat of battle and then the next sentence they are dead. There was more to the earlier battle than this main part. I had to reread the paragraph a couple of times to figure out what exactly happened.
That being said, I still enjoyed the story overall. The riddles from the Lady of the Lake and why Vivienne knows where the Holy Grail is and how she is going to help bring Camelot back. I can see myself taking the time to read book 2.

Rating: 4

Book Review ~ Stolen Songbird

Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1)

by Danielle J. Jensen
published by Strange Chemistry
expected release date: April 1, 2014
genre: Fantasy, Romance, 

**eGalley received from netGalley/publisher in exchange for honest review.


Summary (Goodreads): For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

My Thoughts: For a debut book this was a really great read. I could not stop reading it. Even when I had other things to do, I just kept telling myself 5 more minutes. One of my favorite things was the fact that there was a romance without either a triangle or insta-love.
Cecile was an interesting character. She started as a strong female that was getting ready to jump feet first into a future she had been working her whole life towards only to have it all pulled out from under her. The author did a good job making her feelings, to the different things that happen while she is in Trollus, believable. Watching her go through every emotion possible with Tristan made their falling in love a natural thing. Cecile spent a lot of time not only trying to find out more about him but about this new world that she is forced to live in.
Overall, this story has a lot of everything that I enjoy in a book. There is court politics, messed up family drama, and a great fantasy world. Along with a subtle reveal of what the trolls really are this is a series that I cannot wait to read more of.

Rating: 5

Book Review ~ The Book of Wonders

The Book of Wonders
by Jasmine Richards
published by HarperCollins
genre: MG, Fantasy, Debut

Summary (full @Goodreads): Magic, Djinn, Ogres, and Sorcerers. Thirteen-year-old Zardi loves to hear stories about fantastical beings, long banned from the kingdom of Arribitha. But anyone caught whispering of their powers will feel the rage of the sultan—a terrifying usurper who, even with his eyes closed, can see all...

My Thoughts: I've found when I'm having trouble finishing books, if I pick up an MG book it helps get me out of my slump. This book was no exception. I enjoyed both the world and the characters that the author brought us. Some may seem familiar, there is a correlation to Aladdin and Arabian Nights. We even have the characters searching for Aladdin to take over ruling Arribitha from the evil Sultan.
  There were times throughout that I wished the story had only focused on one character, either Sardi or Ridhan's. I found myself liking Rdhan better and was more interested in his story since it had to do with magic and sorcerers. Also, while the Sultan and what he did to Sardi's family (as well as the whole country) was terrible, Ridhan's dad came off as much more vile and those are the type of villain's I like reading about.
Overall, this was a fun enjoyable read with a great set up for a next book (nothing showing at this time).  From Sardi and Ridhan to the pirates and djinni there is something for everyone. The twists in the story made sure it did not become boring and keeps you reading to the end.

Rating: 4 (wavered between this and 3.5)

Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1)
by Kylie Griffin
published by Berkley Trade
genre: Adult, Debut

Summary (full available @Goodreads): There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born...

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na'Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father's people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she's gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy...

My Thoughts:  I really enjoyed the world that the author created. The demons (Na' Reish) and the humans are only separated by a river but there is so much more between the two. The hatred and animosity jumps off the page and it was easy to get drawn into the turmoil.
Annika and Kalan are the main focus of this HEA. While I liked Kalan, Annika was the reason I kept reading. There was something about her story that made your heart break for her while at the same time you wanted her to finally catch a break. From the hatred and ridicule she received from her father and the rest of the Na'Reish just for being a half blood (Na'Chi) to the hatred from the humans it would have been easy for her to be bitter. Instead she took the time to learn and become a healer for the humans that were slaves in her father's lands.
My favorite character was Rissa. She is a young human who has the common sense of childhood. She becomes friends with Annika  and doesn't see why she should hate Annika when she has done nothing to her. The scenes with these two were some of my favorite. I also like both Varian and Kymora. It was obvious as soon as they were on the page that they would be an HEA in this series. I found myself more interested in them than the main couple.
Overall, I enjoyed both the world and characters the author created. It was a nice beginning to a new adult series. With all the changes and surprises that were found towards the end of the book it will be interesting where things go. We didn't really get much about the Na'Reish except what we learned from Annika and Varian and I'm interested to see if the author delves more into this side of the war.

Rating: 4