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Category: Book Reviews

Book Review: The Rose and the Thorn (The Riyria Chronicles, #2) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: The Rose and the Thorn (The Riyria Chronicles, #2) by Michael J. Sullivan

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Cover art illustrated by: Larry Rostant

The Rose and the Thorn by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Riyria Chronicles (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 372 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 17th September 2013 by Orbit

The cover art to The Rose and the Thorn is atrocious, but let’s not judge a book by its cover.

“The right word, said at the right moment, can work magic, he was fond of saying. You merely need to understand power, where it comes from, and the direction it flows.”

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Book Review: Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann

Book Review: Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann

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Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
My rating: 6 of 5 stars

The premise and cover of Olympus, Texas immediately grabbed my attention, but I wasn’t expecting anything earth-shattering. I figured I was in for an interesting story that would hopefully keep me engaged but which I would most likely forget about soon after. I was incredibly mistaken. It’s closing in on mid-June, and I can unequivocally say this is the best book I’ve read so far this year. And I started off the year with The Labyrinth of the Spirits, which blew my mind. I can’t believe I found this book even more impactful. Not only was the story excellent and the characters impeccably crafted, this book was a masterclass on the psychology of fictional beings who have been around for millennia without being this thoroughly exposed and explained. I feel like an entire college class could be taught on the Greek pantheon using Olympus, Texas as a textbook. It’s incredible, and it changed the way I think about stories I’ve known for decades.
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Book Review: The Spirit War (The Legend of Eli Monpress, #4) by Rachel Aaron

Book Review: The Spirit War (The Legend of Eli Monpress, #4) by Rachel Aaron

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The Spirit War by Rachel Aaron

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Legend of Eli Monpress (Book #4 of 5)

Genre: Fantasy, high fantasy

Published: June 2012 by Orbit (UK and US)

A new-found favourite, The Spirit War was a fantastic penultimate volume in The Legend of Eli Monpress, a series which just kept getting better. 

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Book Review: Bloodline (Cradle, #9) by Will Wight

Book Review: Bloodline (Cradle, #9) by Will Wight

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Cover art illustration by: Patrick Foster

Bloodline by Will Wight

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Cradle (Book #9 of 12)

Genre: Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Xianxia

Pages: 378 pages

Published: 6th April 2021 by Hidden Gnome Publishing (Indie)

I am not sure whether this is an unpopular opinion or not, but Bloodline is the best of the series so far for me. …

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Book Review: Legacy by Nora Roberts

Book Review: Legacy by Nora Roberts

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Legacy by Nora Roberts
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

When will I learn? I’ve read over 200 Nora Roberts novels, and yet every once in a while I will still read a synopsis for an upcoming novel of hers and decide that I’m not sure I’m going to love that one. So instead of preordering, like I generally do for her new releases, I place a hold with my library. That’s what I did with Legacy. And now I have to buy it anyway, because I loved it. …

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Book Review: The Broken God (The Black Iron Legacy, #3) by Gareth Hanrahan

Book Review: The Broken God (The Black Iron Legacy, #3) by Gareth Hanrahan

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ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by: Thea Dumitriu

The Broken God by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Black Iron Legacy (Book #3 of 5)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 578 pages (Paperback edition)

Published: 20th May 2021 by Orbit (UK) & 18th May 2021 by Orbit (US)

The Broken God continues The Black Iron Legacy’s reputation as one of the most imaginative ongoing fantasy series right now. …

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Book Review: The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1) by John Gwynne

Book Review: The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1) by John Gwynne

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Shadow of the Gods
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, Orbit Books, in exchange for an honest review.

The Shadow of the Gods was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. I adored both The Faithful and the Fallen and Of Blood and Bone in their entirety, and I couldn’t wait to see what new world Gwynne was going to create outside of the Banished Lands, which until this point had served as the setting for every novel he’s penned. And he didn’t disappoint. The Norse-inspired Vigrið is a fantastic setting, one I’m sure will only become more and more interesting as the series progresses. However, as with his previous series, the setting and premise might draw a reader in, but the characters are what keeps said reader invested. …

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Book Review: The Crown Tower (The Riyria Chronicles, #1) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: The Crown Tower (The Riyria Chronicles, #1) by Michael J. Sullivan

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The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Riyria Chronicles (Book #1)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Published: 6th August 2013 by Orbit

If ever there was a prequel story which I thought was perfection, The Crown Tower absolutely fit the bill.

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Book Review: Magician: Master (The Riftwar Saga, #2) by Raymond E. Feist

Book Review: Magician: Master (The Riftwar Saga, #2) by Raymond E. Feist

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Magician: Master by Raymond E. Feist

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Riftwar Saga (Book #2 of 3 or 4), The Riftwar Cycle (Book #2 of 31)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Classic Fantasy

Pages: 523 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: November 1982

I enjoyed this much more on reread. Magician: Master is a great “sequel” that raises the stakes of the series and proves that the series is not a mere Lord of the Rings clone.
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Book Review: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Book Review: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

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The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, Macmillan Audio, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The premise for The Maidens immediately piqued my interest. A ritualistic murder on a prestigious college campus, with a Classics professor and his select group of all female students, known as the Maidens, at the center of the intrigue? Yes, please. I love dark academia, especially when combined with the study of Ancient Greek and classical literature. I went in hoping form something along the lines of The Secret History, which I absolutely adore. But I liked what this book pretended to be far more than what it actually was. If that makes sense. Alas, The Maidens fell a bit flat for me. …

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