This was such an enjoyable read: the atmosphere, the quick pacing, the character development and growth. It was the perfect accompaniment for my jury This was such an enjoyable read: the atmosphere, the quick pacing, the character development and growth. It was the perfect accompaniment for my jury duty today.
What I really liked about this book was how self-contained it felt. The author could’ve easily dragged this out to a trilogy, and in another authors hands, it would’ve been meandering and only focused on the vibes. But I felt she developed the story, the world, and the characters with enough depth while still moving things forward. This is intended for young readers, so while I would’ve liked to even more world-building, I think she was right to keep it to the amount she did.
The writing style reminded me a bit of Maggie Stiefvater, which I’m a big fan of. Also the inclusion of folklore in fairytale elements.
If you’re looking for a very immersive story with descriptive writing, that doesn’t bog down the plot, check this one out! ...more
This story was a lot larger in scope, with more perspectives and ideas than pretty much any other book that Pullman has written in this world. I enjoyThis story was a lot larger in scope, with more perspectives and ideas than pretty much any other book that Pullman has written in this world. I enjoyed the ambition, and I do think he's an excellent storyteller. I flew through a 630 page book in 5 days. So there's something to that. However, I felt this lacked some of the emotional weight that these books normally had. It's much more about concepts and ideas rather than focusing on characters and heart. I will still finish this trilogy whenever the 3rd book comes out because how this book ends makes me intrigued to see where it goes. I'm optimistic that it will have a satisfying ending, but there's no doubt that this series doesn't hold a candle to His Dark Materials....more
This started strong but tapered off a bit at the end for me. I think Stiefvater has only gotten stronger since this series in not only her writing (evThis started strong but tapered off a bit at the end for me. I think Stiefvater has only gotten stronger since this series in not only her writing (evidence of which you can definitely see here) but also her character development. I liked but didn't *love* any of the characters in this series, and her characters are usually what make me fall for her stories. So in this one I kept reading because I was intrigued by the plot and it was enjoyable enough. While not a series I see myself ever returning to, I'm glad I have finally read it!...more
I enjoyed this book a lot and I think it all makes sense for the arc of the trilogy but it definitely veers into middle book syndrome at times. IsabelI enjoyed this book a lot and I think it all makes sense for the arc of the trilogy but it definitely veers into middle book syndrome at times. Isabel & Cole are far more interesting than the main characters, Sam & Grace. But the ending!! I am intrigued. Will be diving right into the last book immediately. ...more
Jam is a young woman living in a town called Lucille. This is a sort-of America, after the 'angels' have eradicated the 'monsters' from society. But wJam is a young woman living in a town called Lucille. This is a sort-of America, after the 'angels' have eradicated the 'monsters' from society. But what if not all the monsters are gone? When Jam discovers a new monster might be in their midst, she must decide what to do about it, even if that means making decisions that uncover the hard truths of growing up.
I liked this. I think Emezi has really great ideas and solid writing. I appreciated the message this book had, but I think it could have easily been a short story. I know it's meant for young readers, so perhaps I'm not the right audience (though I have and do enjoy middle grade/YA novels). But the tone was pretty heavy-handed at times, reading more like a parable than a sci-fi/speculative novel.
All in all, a good story but not one I felt was as impactful as it tried to be. I hope it finds a good audience in young readers and I'm glad it exists on library shelves, even if it is being banned in a lot of places....more
I really loved this. I’m debating 4 or 5 stars. I just don’t know if I’m as likely to re-read this one as I am with the HDM series. But regardless thiI really loved this. I’m debating 4 or 5 stars. I just don’t know if I’m as likely to re-read this one as I am with the HDM series. But regardless this was so enthralling and fun to read! I loved getting backstory on the world and characters and how it tied into the original trilogy but also stands as its own story. I can’t wait to continue with this series!...more
I fully recognize that if any other author’s name was on this book I probably would never in a million years pick this up. A YA werewolf romance from I fully recognize that if any other author’s name was on this book I probably would never in a million years pick this up. A YA werewolf romance from 2009?? Absolutely not in my wheelhouses. BUT it’s Maggie and it has her quintessential wit, atmospheric writing, obsession with painting and poetry and cars, and that magical quality she has that just pulls me in.
I’m not even gonna bother recapping the story in this review because so many people have read this book (like more than a decade ago lol). I will say I found the first 25% or so to be kind of slow but once I realized this was basically an intro to the world and had a minor plot and was more character-focused, I started to get more into it.
Also the audiobook narrators are SO, SO good. They performed this story and their voices fit the characters so well. There’s one narrator for Grace (Jenna Lamia) and one for Sam (David Ledoux) which I really liked as well. Dual perspectives with two narrators is the best.
I will be diving into the rest of the series ASAP. Continuing with the audiobooks for sure. ...more
A beautiful, moving coming-of-age story. I loved hearing Xiomara find her voice. Acevedo's writing and narration are fantastic—would highly recommend A beautiful, moving coming-of-age story. I loved hearing Xiomara find her voice. Acevedo's writing and narration are fantastic—would highly recommend the audiobook. While it does have some tropes common in coming-of-age stories, it was refreshing to read a novel written in poetry format, especially because the plot itself revolves heavily around poetry. I'll definitely check more of this author's work and would recommend this one to many readers!...more
I don't know how to rate this because I love these characters and the world so much that I was bound to love this sequel and conclusion to the story. I don't know how to rate this because I love these characters and the world so much that I was bound to love this sequel and conclusion to the story.
What I can say is I absolutely LOVE Tarisai's story and how Ifueko sets everything up from the very beginning of Raybearer. It's clear she planned everything out very well, and with that she is able to do so much in just two relatively short books.
The themes in this one are particularly powerful; the idea of being a revolutionary, finding your passion in life, inspiring change that goes against the very actions your ancestors may have taken to cause a lot of harm in the world; the idea of pursuing your calling even if it goes against the voices of many, sometimes the very people you need to support you. It's all very complicated but Ifueko handles it with such care through the lens of this coming-of-age story.
My only small complaints for this one were that it could have been longer, and there were SO many characters. Part of that is just in the world-building, and I think she did a good job of giving info as needed, having a world with so many lands and people groups means that naturally you have to neglect some to focus on the main story. I'm a sucker for good world-building, and you can tell there is a lot more Ifueko could do in this world, so maybe she will give us more someday. But I liked how throughout both books in this duology, she really just focuses on one girl and her story.
And with that being said, I appreciated how this sort of stuck to but also subverted the 'chosen one' tropes. Everything makes sense and has a reason for why Tarisai is the way she is, what decisions she makes, and how the construct of their world necessitates certain decisions or actions. Though there is magic and lore in this world, it never exists just for the sake of explaining things away. Through the final chapters of this book, every previous decision or historical fact serves a purpose and for that I was impressed.
All in all, I can see myself returning to both of these books again and again. In fact, I recently re-read the first book via audio to prepare for this one, and I absolutely want to read this one in audio form now to immerse myself even further in the world. The narrator is fantastic and something about hearing all the names and countries and magical elements read out loud just brings it to life even more for me.
Truly a special and unique series for me that I'll think about for years to come....more
This has to be one of the best YA fantasy novels I’ve ever read. I need the sequel now! August can’t come fast enough. In fact, after I finished it I This has to be one of the best YA fantasy novels I’ve ever read. I need the sequel now! August can’t come fast enough. In fact, after I finished it I went back and re-read the whole first chapter...very tempted to do a re-read immediately after which NEVER happens. But I'll hold off and probably do a re-read before Redemptor comes out!
What is Raybearer about? Well, it follows a young girl name Tarisai who was raised in isolation with only her tutors and caretakers. No other children were around, and she rarely saw her mother whom she only knows as 'The Lady.' One night she sneaks out of her walled-in mansion of a home and discovers a secret about her inception that changes her fate forever. From there she's thrust into her journey of self-discovery as she travels to the capital and vies for a chance to be part of the Crown Prince's council of elders. In this world, each Emperor has a gift called the Ray in which he selects eleven elders—one from each region of their world—to form a council that can hear each others' thoughts, share emotions and rule together. Tarisai is commanded by her mother to attempt to infiltrate the prince's council so that she can earn his trust...and kill him.
That's all I will say about the plot because there is SO much wonderful, intricate but never confusing world-building in this novel. Jordan Ifueko has crafted a world that's reminiscent of many fantasy worlds you have seen before but still something all its own. I think that familiarity makes it easy to sink into, but it's uniqueness keeps you turning the page to discover a rich and incredible fantasy world heavily inspired by West Africa.
Somehow she's balanced rich characters, a compelling and twisty plot, and a beautifully created world that makes for a knockout of a novel. And it's all in about 380 pages! I honestly am shocked she made something with such depth and breadth in less than 400 pages, especially in the fantasy genre. It's massively impressive. I think the decision to make it a duology is so smart because while this novel has a great conclusion and a satisfying ending, it clearly sets up the plot for book 2 and I cannot wait to see how it ends. It seems like Ifueko had both books planned out before she wrote Raybearer which I appreciate so much.
Overall, I can't recommend this novel enough. If you like fantasy of any kind (adult or YA) I think you should read this. If you're looking for something unique, exciting, heart-breaking and yet uplifting, this is the book for you....more
What a journey! This book was very epic in scale and I think that slightly decreased me enjoyment of it because what makes the first and second books What a journey! This book was very epic in scale and I think that slightly decreased me enjoyment of it because what makes the first and second books so good is how close you feel to Lyra, and then to Will. I definitely felt more of a distance from the characters as I was reading this one since Pullman is using this story to explore deeper and darker themes and tie up loose ends.
I think this book could have been edited down some. It lost the plot for a while in the middle and felt more bloated and meandering than the first two books. I still thoroughly enjoyed this read and I think the ending makes sense for the series, but it didn't have as strong of an emotional impact for me. It was more logical and 'realistic' than impactful, if that makes sense.
I'm so glad that I finally picked up and finished this series! I will definitely be eager to check out the other series in this world soon. ...more
This picks up right where The Golden Compass leaves off, so I can't say much in terms of plot because spoilers (though at this point who, besides me, This picks up right where The Golden Compass leaves off, so I can't say much in terms of plot because spoilers (though at this point who, besides me, hasn't read this series??). BUT, I can say that this adds in a new perspective of sorts and I really enjoy the way Pullman expands the world with that. Again, I've seen, at this point, seasons 1-2 of the HBO adaptation, so I knew pretty much everything that happens in this book. It was still really fun to read though!
I absolutely love Lyra, Will and Mary Malone as characters. Also Hester and Lee Scoresby are the best ever. SO many good characters which really makes this series worth reading.
And at the same time, it's quite a complex, fast-paced plot with lots of details. It can almost be overwhelming, but I appreciate that Pullman respects the reader and doesn't dumb things down just because it's intended for young readers. I'm at times even wondering who is on which side and what their motivations are, and then wondering if those are true motivations or a guise. It's complicated and messy but so intriguing and really keeps me turning the page.
I'll absolutely be picking up the 3rd and final book next. I cannot wait to find out how this series ends!...more
This book feels very different than book 1 in the series. It’s a lot bigger in scope and more alien focused than I am used to reading. I likeDNF @ 34%
This book feels very different than book 1 in the series. It’s a lot bigger in scope and more alien focused than I am used to reading. I liked book 1 because it was a pretty straightforward coming of age with some fun action scenes and the found family trope. And while I think Sanderson is an amazing world builder, this particular type of sci-fi isn’t really my jam. Not a bad book just not what I wanted or expected from this sequel. ...more
Legendborn tells the story of Bree, a sixteen year old Black girl who is starting an early college program at UNC Chapel Hill. Her mother died in a caLegendborn tells the story of Bree, a sixteen year old Black girl who is starting an early college program at UNC Chapel Hill. Her mother died in a car crash a few months before and Bree is trying to cope with the grief left over in her mother's absence while also navigating young adulthood, school and a secret society on campus whose world she gets pulled into. Along the way she discovers more about her family history, her greater calling and herself.
In many ways Legendborn follows the tropes of a YA fantasy novel. Bree is finding her footing in a new world, while navigating the highs and lows of being a teenager, foiled by the magical environment she discovers. She meets new people, maybe falls in love, and struggles with balancing these new relationships with old ones (with both her father and best friend, Alice). Bree has greater things ahead of her than she can ever imagine, and how she comes to claim this future while continuing to process her trauma is the real crux of this story.
Tracy Deonn subverts a lot of fantasy tropes and expectations in this novel while still abiding by the 'rules' of the genre. It's a refreshing and compelling take on the coming-of-age tale in fantasy. I really liked how she used historical fact mixed with myths and traditional stories to create something wholly new. She both pays homage to her alma mater (Deonn's a graduate of UNC-CH) while recognizing it's participation in the exploitation of enslaved Africans.
While it did get a tiny bit repetitive in the middle, and there were SO many side characters that I never felt we really got to know very well, the action and plot twists kept me entertained and eager to read on. Especially the ending—I both saw something like it coming but didn't know exactly how she was going to pull it off! I was impressed.
I'm pretty interested to see where this series goes and will definitely pick up the next book when it comes out!...more
Quite a letdown, sadly. 2 stars feels harsh but when I try to think about things I really *loved* about this book, I come up short.
My biggest issue wQuite a letdown, sadly. 2 stars feels harsh but when I try to think about things I really *loved* about this book, I come up short.
My biggest issue with the book is that the characters, who are 17 years old, act and speak more like pre-teens. If this book had been written for Middle Grade rather than YA, I think the storytelling and tone would have worked a lot more.
Also the world-building is really random. I'm okay with light fantasy/magic without a root cause, but a lot of this story felt haphazard and convenient to move the plot forward.
The plot was fine and what kept me reading. I love a good murder mystery but this one felt really underdeveloped at the end. What you expect is pretty much exactly what happens.
And lastly, the main character, Ellie, undergoes no sort of character growth throughout the novel. The Ellie we know at the start is exactly the same at the end. It felt like a missed opportunity to add some depth to the story and create more compelling characters to fuel the narrative.
It's a quick read with some interesting elements (I personally liked a lot of the stories about her Sixth-Great Grandmother and how the author tied in indigenous folktales; oh and dogs! Love dogs.) But all in all it was just a bit lacking for me....more
The pros: strong atmosphere, inventive world-building and Ophelia is a unique main character that I was rooting for. The magic/powers aspec[3.5 stars]
The pros: strong atmosphere, inventive world-building and Ophelia is a unique main character that I was rooting for. The magic/powers aspect of this novel were really cool, though arguably under-developed (though this is the first volume of a series, so I imagine that would be improved in later volumes).
The cons: a meandering plot that takes a while to dole out information in odd ways. I think if I re-read it I wouldn't necessarily have these same feelings, but on my first read it was a bit disorienting (and not in the fun way where I could just go along with it). Also for a YA book, this has some weirdly adult content or discussion of topics like miscarriage, abuse, and infidelity that don't feel like they are given the space to be examined seriously. It was a bit jarring for me, not going to lie.
I've heard this series gets better as it goes along, so I may continue because my library has the next books and I like the setting and Ophelia enough to know more....more
Basically everything I said below, in my original review of this book, holds true upon a re-read. I don't think it's her best2nd Review: February 2022
Basically everything I said below, in my original review of this book, holds true upon a re-read. I don't think it's her best work but it's doing a lot of set-up and heavy lifting for this trilogy. I am excited to continue though because there is a lot of potential in this world and I'm excited to see more, especially now that I'm more familiar with the new characters and lore that she's creating in this one.
Original Review: January 2020 Let me say this first: I loveThe Raven Cycle. I think the characters, plots, and atmosphere with her writing that Stiefvater crafted in that series is phenomenal and unmatched by many YA (or even non-YA) series out there.
I went into this book with basically no knowledge of what it was other than a spin-off of TRC that followed Ronan, presumably after the events of TRC. That's what this book is about, for sure, but it's so much more. And it wants to be so much more than the Raven Cycle, which I think is admirable.
Stiefvater definitely diversified her cast of characters in this story which is refreshing, but she also expanded the world a lot. The thing that TRC really thrives on is the close-knit community of characters it cultivates: the ladies of 300 Fox Way, the boys of Monmouth Manufacturing, and the endless permutations of both groups coming together. Call Down the Hawk has many characters, but for a majority of the story they are siloed.
We start with the brothers Lynch: we are familiar with Declan, Ronan and Matthew from TRC. I loved these guys, and this installment really made me enjoy Declan's presence a lot more. He came to life more than he did in TRC and I appreciate the time and attention he got immensely. Matthew's story arc is fascinating and excites me for future books. Ronan is Ronan, of course, but in a way compared to all the other characters and because he is so well established from TRC, he didn't shine as much as I expected.
Other characters we meet and begin to get to know (this is only book 1 of 3, keep in mind) are Jordan & Hennessy, two lovely additions to this world. Jordan is a curious character who I adore and can't wait to see more of. Carmen Farooq-Lane and Parsifal Bauer were fun but a bit shallow characters. And all the ancillary characters in Carmen's world are really only serving, so far, as plot devices. I hope they get fleshed out more in future installments of the series.
A lot of what I think this book suffers from is first book syndrome, which is ironic because it both is and is not the first book in a series. While you don't have to read TRC before reading this, it would be a bit disorienting and lackluster to skip right to this book. You'd get minor spoilers that probably wouldn't mean much to you, but you would get along fine. However, because it is the first book in a new series that relies so much on the lore and world of the first, I had a hard time getting settled in the fact that this was solely Ronan's story of the original TRC characters. I missed Blue and Gansey, and though Adam makes appearances, he's definitely not a major focus. The chemistry we got from the Raven Boys & Blue does not exist here. That's not to fault the fact that this is meant to be something new, but I didn't feel that Ronan, in this book, did enough to really make up for the loss of the others.
That being said, I will definitely continue this series. In the final 100 pages or so I saw glimmers of something much larger and exciting that I believe will be explored and expanded on in the next two books. Plus Stiefvater's writing is always delicious, and not many authors can get me to write such a long review. There's lots to think about, and I might enjoy this more upon a re-read (or listen since Will Patton also reads this one on audio!)....more
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