4 stars Archives - Novel Notions

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

April 26, 2024 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received advance digital copies of this book and audiobook from the publishers, Tor Books and Macmillan Audio, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

When Among Crows is the first Veronica Roth book I’ve read since throwing Allegiant across my living room over a decade ago. I really enjoy her writing style but felt desperately betrayed by that book, and so I haven’t picked up anything by her since then. However, the premise of When Among Crows fascinated me, and a standalone novella sounded like a relatively safe way to dip my toes back into the pool of her work. This proved to be a great decision. While I didn’t quite love When Among Crows, I did have a lot of fun with it. Is it a perfect novella? No. Is it worth picking up? Absolutely. …

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Book Review: Stones of Light (Threadlight, #2) by Zack Argyle

April 5, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art by Omer Burak Onal

Stones of Light by Zack Argyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Threadlight (Book #2 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 362 pages (Hardcover edition)

Publish date: 4th of April 2021 by Zack Argyle (Self-Published)

This was a great sequel. In Stones of Light, Argyle maintained the consistency of quality in his storytelling.

“It’s like comparing granite to clay. The clay may take shape more easily, but the granite, once you’ve chiseled it into place, is so much stronger. For some people, motherhood comes more easily. For others, it takes a hammer and chisel. No one is made for motherhood. Motherhood is made for you. Some of us aren’t so lucky.”

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Book Review: Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 3 (The Sun Eater, #5.5) by Christopher Ruocchio

March 8, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by James L. Cook

Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 3 by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #5.5 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Pages: 216 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 15th September 2023 (Self-Published)

Tales of the Sun Eater Volume 3 is, by far, the strongest collection of short stories in The Sun Eater series so far. …

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Book Review: Voice of War (Threadlight, #1) by Zack Argyle

February 23, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 2 comments

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art by Omer Burak Onal

Voice of War by Zack Argyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Threadlight (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 382 pages (Hardcover edition)

Publish date: 19th of March 2020 by Zack Argyle (Self-Published)

Promising beginning. Readers weren’t exaggerating when they said Voice of War by Zack Argyle is a great Sanderson-lite fantasy novel.

“The Rite of Revelation was such an important event for a parent, but would a parent really love their child less based on the color of their eyes? Love is not a calculated result of features and faults. Love is the unseen thread binding two souls together no matter the externalities.”

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Book Review: Defiant (Skyward, #4) by Brandon Sanderson

February 21, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Sam Green

Defiant by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Skyward (Book #4 of 4)

Genre: Sci-fi

Pages: 415 pages (Kindle edition)

Word count: 117,000 words

Publish date: 21st of November 2023 by Delacorte Press (US) & Gollancz (UK)

This is another series wrap-up from Sanderson. Defiant is a satisfying concluding volume to the Skyward series that reflected the root of the first book: friendship.

“Some of them might die, I said. And it’s going to hurt. We’ll get through it though. Pretending that nobody will ever be in danger is the same as living in the nowhere, pretending loss doesn’t exist.”

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Book Review: The Heart of What Was Lost (The Osten Ard Saga, #3.5) by Tad Williams

January 5, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Michael Whelan

The Heart of What Was Lost by Tad Williams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Osten Ard Saga (Book #3.5 of 7)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 222 pages (Kindle edition)

Word Count: 78,000 words

Published: 3rd January 2017 by DAW Books

The Heart of What Was Lost is the action-packed epilogue to Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, and it is also a great setup to The Last King of Osten Ard. …

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Book Review: Evershore (Skyward Flight, #2.3) by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson

December 30, 2023 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Review copy provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Sam Green

Evershore by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Skyward (Book #2.3 of 4)

Genre: Sci-fi

Pages: 224 pages (Hardcover edition)

Publish date: 28th of December 2021 by Delacorte Press (US) & Gollancz (UK)

Even without Spensa, this is a return to form. Evershore is the best title in Skyward Flight omnibus.
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Book Review: Queen Amid Ashes (The Sun Eater, #2.5) by Christopher Ruocchio

November 6, 2023 Petrik Leo Comments 1 comment

Cover design by Jenna Ruocchio

Queen Amid Ashes by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #2.5 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Pages: 173 pages (Kindle edition)

Word Count: 36,000 words

Published: 8th June 2022 (Self-Published)

Contemplative and thought-provoking, Queen Amid Ashes asked the question of who’s more monstrous in The Sun Eater universe: humanity or The Cielcin?