Book Review: Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

On June 29, 2020June 28, 2020 By AllieS.In Book ReviewLeave a comment

ByFireAbove_hc.indd Middlegame by Seanan McGuire is an adult fantasy novel about alchemy, language, math, and family. The story follows Roger and Dodger who were created by Reed to embody the Doctrine of Ethos which would allow someone to control how the world works. Adopted by different families Roger is all languages and works while Dodger is math and logic. When they connect as children talking to each other in their minds they know something is different about them and that it could be dangerous.

The story takes the reader brought different points of Roger and Dodgers life as they try to figure out why and how they are connected and how they can change plans made for them.

If you are interested in reading Middlegame I would recommend being familiar the fantasy genre as this does turn some fantasy tropes on its head. Also their is some dark material in this book primarily related to attempted suicide and the aftermath.

Middlegame is not an easy book or story to explain but it’s beautifully written and one of Seanan McGuire’s bests works. It’s one of my favorite book that I’ve read this year and I read it at the exact right time.

Book Review: Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #4)

On June 22, 2020June 19, 2020 By AllieS.In Book ReviewLeave a comment

91478 Summer Knight by Jim Butcher is the fourth book in the Dresden Files series. This book follows Dresden as he deals with the consequences of starting a war against the vampire courts. The main plot focuses more on the Fae Courts and his deal with Leananshidhe who sold it to Mab, the Winter Queen. Dresden must now work for Mab and attempt to find out who killed the Summer Knight.

This book gives more information of how the different Fae and other creatures work in this world. As well as finally showing us the White Council of Wizards. We get some more of Harry’s back story and how he became a member of the White Council. I really liked the new characters introduced especially Ebeneezer McCoy and Elaine as they give more information on Dresden’s past.

The main conflict of the story is that Dresden needs to find out who killed the Summer Knight before war can break out between the Fae Court while also proving himself to the White Council which if he doesn’t they will let the Vampire Courts kill him.

Every book of the Dresden Files keeps getting better and better. When I first started the series I didn’t know if I would continue with it but the world and stories which are better in each book keep bring me back.

Book Review:Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst

On May 22, 2020May 21, 2020 By AllieS.In Book ReviewLeave a comment

49950349 Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst is a new young adult standalone fantasy that follows a pair a strong women who are willing to risk their lives in their quest to become champions in the monster racing.

In the world of Becar who you are in this life determines who and what you are in the next. The augurs can read your fate so you can change your destiny. But the darkest of souls cannot be changed and you come back as a kehok, a monster that will never find redemption except through the races.

Tamra is an elite kehok rider and trainer who is down on her luck and needs the prize money from the races to stop the local augur temple from taking her daughter away. Raia is a young woman desperate to get away from her family and the awful man she is meant to marry. As a kehok rider she could win enough money to gain her freedom. Tamra agrees to train Raia to ride a new unusual kehok and attempt to win the races.

Through the story its apparent that is kehok is different and may hold the key to the death of the last emperor and the future of the nation of Becar.

The book is very fast paced and I often didn’t want to put it down. You are thrown into the story with very little explanation of the world or society but its done in a way that you want to find out more. I enjoyed the story and though its a standalone book I could see other stories set in this world. The only thing I would add is a pronunciation guide for the new words in this world and society.

Book Review: Grave Peril By Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #3)

On April 17, 2020April 15, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Review, BooksLeave a comment

91476 Grave Peril by Jim Butcher is the third book in the Dresden Files series. The story once again as always follows Harry Dresden, a wizard living in Chicago who helps the police with supernatural crimes. This time ghosts are causing trouble all over Chicago and many people affect are somehow connected to Harry.

The story starts out with what seems to be typical for Dresden at the moment trying to stop ghosts from killing anyone but as the story progresses there is a connection to a demon who Harry defeated before and their might be bigger problems coming.

Many people say that book three is where the series starts to get good and I agree that Jim Butcher has found his footing with the series and the stories he wants to tell. Grave Peril starts to give the reader more information about Harry’s backstory and the supernatural world that is connected to our modern world. The supernatural elements are better fleshed out and the stakes are being raised in this book as we see what Harry will do to protect the people he cares about.

As if the other books in this series, I read it as an audio book which is brilliantly narrated by James Marsters which makes me like the series even more. Unlike, the first two books I completely enjoyed the story and can’t wait to continue on with the series.

Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgerstern

On April 3, 2020April 2, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Review1 Comment

9361589 The Night Circus by Erin Morgerstern is a adult literary fiction and fantasy novel that follows two main protagonists, Ceila and Marco, who are competing against one another at a magical circus and try not to fall in love.

It took me awhile to get through The Night Circus not because it bad at all but because its a fairly slow book and I needed things that were fast paced at the time. The book is beautifully written and would be a good book for those who might not be fantasy readers. The main story covers multiple characters and time frames but focuses on the circus that all the main character live and work at which is where all the magic is.

Though Ceila and Marco are being pitted against each other because of a challenge their magical teachers have constructed they don’t have much of a real conflict with each other. Their story is more of show casing their magic and through learning more about each other trying not to fall in love.

Though the plot revolves around the circus, its traveling and how this contest has trapped all those who work at the circus the real focus of the book is about the stories we tell and the power they have.

I absolutely loved the Night Circus but I think I would have loved it even more if I hadn’t been in a slump and I look forward to reading it again.