My Book Reviews

Category: Fantasy

This category contains any posts published in reference to books of Fantasy genre.

Everless (Everless #1) by Sara Holland
Everless by Sara Holland
Release: January 2, 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Amazon

Everless Synopsis:

In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

Review:

Watch my video review of Everless by Sara Holland!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB0lSgX2hsw[/embedyt]

I loved this book! Everything from the cover design to the last page was just perfect. There are so many things going on in this novel that I could not put it down.

Firstly, I loved the whole concept about time being money. The fact that you can bleed time from yourself and exchange it for goods and services itself sounds very intriguing. The author has designed the world so intricately, whether it is Crofton or Everless. You have a clear structure of how people live, and how the people give up their time to feed their children, while the rich waste it on frivolous things. It sounds unbelievable, and yet we can relate it to our present world.

Secondly, there are so many plot twists that come out of nowhere. While the story is gripping from the start, I found it becoming intense when Jules vows vengeance for her father and tries to get closer to the Queen to find out the truth. Each chapter has a shocking reveal, or a twist and turn that makes you want to turn the page and find out what happens next. Some of the most memorable parts for me in the book where:
- When Jules meets Rinn in Briarsmoor to find out the truth about what happened there
- When Jules, Ina and Caro go to the hedge witch to learn about their past
- The climax when we find out what is happening
Coming to the characters, Jules is a wonderful protagonist who is very complex and interesting to read. At some parts, she shows her bravery and fearlessness, whereas in other parts she shows how naive and gullible she can be, which gets her into a lot of trouble. She is the perfect role model and heroine for such kind of novels. I also liked the fact that the story did not divert and focus primarily on Jules’s love interest. It is nice to read her infatuation with Roan and her chemistry with Liam without becoming a teen, angst love relationship. Even the supporting characters are very memorable and my favorite characters are Ina and Liam. Even the villain is so memorable and devious that I cannot wait to pick up the next book.

Sara Holland has done a wonderful job in this novel, covering so many things like revenge, deception, love, magic etc. Overall, I loved reading Eveless and would give it a rating of 5/5 stars.
February 24, 2019
Smoke and Mirrors by K.D. Halbrook

Smoke and Mirrors by K.D. Halbrook
Release: September 4th 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Simon Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Source: Amazon

Smoke and Mirrors Synopsis:

Smoke has come to the Cirque Magnifique. And Sasha Brown is sure it is her fault.

Sasha has always loved the Cirque, a place filled with sequined costumes, dazzling spotlights, and magnificent tents. But when she starts fifth grade with the Islanders—the ordinary folk from the other side of the Island—for the first time, she’s not so sure she wants to be a Cirque kid. She starts to question her home and her Cirque family. Is the magic real? Are the stories even true? As the bullying by the Island kids gets worse, swirling blue-gray Smoke appears.

One night in the big tent, Sasha’s dad performs, twisting his body through the air as the lights dance. Sasha is supposed to be helping, but instead she sits beneath the bleachers, seething. She has wished for the Smoke to come and make it all disappear: the Cirque, her family, the Island with its mean Island kids. And the Smoke does come. As Sasha watches her dad, he flips and raises his arms out for the bar that is supposed to meet him, his bright grin confident and sure. But there is only air…and Smoke.

Both of Sasha’s parents disappear that night, and it’s all Sasha’s fault. What can she do but try and find them?

Review:

Watch my video review of Smoke and Mirrors by K.D. Halbrook!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-vUVdBzvWg[/embedyt]

I enjoyed reading this book a lot, because it is very different from other stories out there right now. I feel like this is one of those books that a person of any age group can enjoy. The book highlights as as we get older, we succumb to peer pressure and reality and forget the magic and innocence of our childhood. The author beautifully depicts how our cheerfulness and creativity can deteriorate when we step out of our comfort zone and get bullied by others.

The story gives a beautiful message about finding your strength, to be hopeful and courageous and determined. I also loved how the author has blended the magic of the circus life and our average daily life into the life of the protagonist. My favorite aspect though is how the author has written the story in such a fairy tale like manner. The story gets is so interesting in the second half when Sasha and her brother go on a wonderful large than life adventure quest. I loved how Halbrook transitions the characters from one quest to another, and we get something meaningful out of it.

Probably the only downside to it is the character of Sasha in some places. At times, she comes off as a very weak character who has to lean on her brother to get confidence. She is also very moody and annoying in the middle, and I couldn’t really connect with the character. However, apart from that, I loved reading this book, and would recommend it to those who like to read about magic, circus life, fairy tales or adventure quests.

Overall, I liked “Smoke and Mirrors” a lot and would give it a rating of 4/5 stars.

January 20, 2019
Bob by Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead

Bob by Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead
Release: May 1st 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Amazon

Bob Synopsis:

A classic middle-grade tale of magic and friendship, about a girl who helps an old friend find home, by two New York Times–bestselling authors Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead.

It’s been five years since Livy and her family have visited Livy’s grandmother in Australia. Now that she’s back, Livy has the feeling she’s forgotten something really, really important about Gran’s house.

It turns out she’s right.

Bob, a short, greenish creature dressed in a chicken suit, didn’t forget Livy, or her promise. He’s been waiting five years for her to come back, hiding in a closet like she told him to. He can’t remember who—or what—he is, where he came from, or if he even has a family. But five years ago Livy promised she would help him find his way back home. Now it’s time to keep that promise.

Clue by clue, Livy and Bob will unravel the mystery of where Bob comes from, and discover the kind of magic that lasts forever.

Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, two masterminds of classic, middle-grade fiction come together to craft this magical story about the enduring power of friendship.

Review:

Watch my detailed video review of Bob by Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuuX2fKaPG0[/embedyt]

Firstly, I really liked this book! It is so cute and whimsical and easy to read. Bob is so adorable in the way he looks and his mannerisms that you cannot help but fall in love with him from the get-go. I actually loved both the characters Bob and Livy, and really reading on how their friendship re-develops.Moreover, I also loved Nicholas Gannon’s artwork in this book! Initially picked up this book because I loved his work in the Doldrums which is another wonderful book that is written and illustrated beautifully by him. Finally, this is a delightful fun book to read that can be enjoyed by readers of any age. The kids will enjoy it for its whimsical and magical story line, and the adults will also enjoy Bob’s quirkiness and innocence.

October 1, 2018
City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab

City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab
Release: August 28th 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Amazon

City of Ghosts Synopsis:

Cassidy Blake’s parents are The Inspectres, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

When The Inspectres head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn’t sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn’t belong in her world. Cassidy’s powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself.

Review:

Watch my detailed video review of City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc6tWR5aLoY[/embedyt]

This is the first book that I am reading from Victoria Schwab, and I think she did a pretty good job for it being her debut novel in the middle grade genre as she primarily writes YA Fantasy.I loved the characters and their interactions in this book. Moreover, all the characters have very distinctive personalities and I really liked the friendship between Cassidy and Jacob. The only thing that I didn’t like was the first half of the book where the pacing was very slow. Overall though, it was a very entertaining read!

October 1, 2018
The Once and Future Geek (The Camelot Code #1) by Mari Mancusi

The Once and Future Geek (The Camelot Code #1) by Mari Mancusi
Release: July 25th 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Netgalley

The Once and Future Geek Synopsis:

Young King Arthur accidentally time travels to the 21st century and googles himself, discovering the not-so-happily ever after in store for him once he pulls the sword from the stone. He decides he’d much rather stay here–and join the football team instead.

Now modern day gamer geeks Sophie and Stu, with the help of Merlin, find themselves in a race against time to pull a Camelot-size caper–get that sword pulled from the stone and the stubborn once and future king back to the past where he belongs. While Arthur takes on the role of wide-receiver in an attempt to save the football team from a losing season, Sophie and Stu sword-fight, joust, and horseback ride their way through Camelot as they fight to save the timeline. If they fail, the world as they know it (not to mention the existence of pepperoni pizza!) will cease to exist forever.

Review:

Watch my booktube video review of “The Once and Future Geek (The Camelot Code #1) ” by Mari Mancusi!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwEwQTEQ3fM[/embedyt]

A BIG thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for providing an ebook ARC copy of this book. This book was amazing! I loved reading every minute of it. The story is fast paced and has a lot happening to all the characters, so there’s never a dull moment. It has adventure, fantasy, romance, humor, video games, and even history trivia making it so entertaining! I have become a fan of Mari Mancusi and cannot wait to read her other novels after this. Overall, this is one of my favorite reads of 2018 and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is wanting to read a light-hearted adventure/fantasy novel.

P.S. I apologize for butchering Guinevere’s name in the video 🤐

September 16, 2018
The Immortals of Meluha (Shiva Trilogy #1) by Amish Tripathi

The Immortals of Meluha (Shiva Trilogy #1) by Amish Tripathi
Release: April 1st 2010
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Westland
Source: Amazony

The Immortals of Meluha Synopsis:

1900 BC. In what modern Indians mistakenly call the Indus Valley Civilisation. The inhabitants of that period called it the land of Meluha a near perfect empire created many centuries earlier by Lord Ram, one of the greatest monarchs that ever lived. This once proud empire and its Suryavanshi rulers face severe perils as its primary river, the revered Saraswati, is slowly drying to extinction. They also face devastating terrorist attacks from the east, the land of the Chandravanshis. To make matters worse, the Chandravanshis appear to have allied with the Nagas, an ostracised and sinister race of deformed humans with astonishing martial skills!
The only hope for the Suryavanshis is an ancient legend: When evil reaches epic proportions, when all seems lost, when it appears that your enemies have triumphed, a hero will emerge.

Is the rough-hewn Tibetan immigrant Shiva, really that hero? And does he want to be that hero at all? Drawn suddenly to his destiny, by duty as well as by love, will Shiva lead the Suryavanshi vengeance and destroy evil?

Review:

Watch my first video book review on the Immortals of Meluha!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnRiVDTXn4w[/embedyt]

I enjoyed reading “The Immortals of Meluha”! The story is fast paced and kept me glued to the plot. Moreover, the world building is amazing and I loved the intricate details the author provides on how the city functions. Also, I really liked Amish’s style of writing. However, character development was a bit weak and could have been better. Overall, it surpassed my expectations as I really didn’t think it would be good. If you are looking for a good Indian mythological book with action and adventure, you will enjoy this one.

August 18, 2018
The Charmed Life of Alex Moore by Molly Flatt

The Charmed Life of Alex Moore by Molly Flatt
Release: May 3rd 2018
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Macmillan
Source: Netgalley

The Charmed Life of Alex Moore Synopsis:

How would you feel if everything in your life suddenly started to go . . . right? Six months ago, Alex Moore was stuck in a dead-end job, feeling her potential quietly slip away. Then, seemingly overnight, she launched her dream start-up and became one of London’s fastest rising tech stars. At thirty-one, her life has just begun. But Alex’s transformation isn’t easy for those around her. Her friends are struggling to accept her rapid success, her parents worry she’s burning out and her fiancé is getting cold feet.

Then weird things start to happen. Muggings, stalkers – even a wild claim that she murdered a stranger. But when Alex visits the Orkney Islands to recharge, weird turns into WTF. Because there she discovers the world’s oldest secret – and it’s a secret that Alex’s stratospheric rise has royally messed up.

Review:

A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Macmillan for providing me a copy of “The Charmed Life of Alex Moore” by Molly Flatt in exchange for my review.I honestly had mixed feelings about this book.

What I liked: The overall concept. I enjoyed how the plot significantly changes when Alex enters the island. The plot becomes very science-fiction like and I enjoyed the author’s idea behind it. Would we really want to remove our darkest memories that’s holding us back from our minds to become a better person? I enjoyed the overall theme of the novel.

There are also a lot of twists and turns that make you wonder what will happen next. People are not who they seem, and I was genuinely shocked to find out who the villain was. There are some characters who I found very intriguing, like Iain and Freya, and I wanted to read more about them.

What I disliked: *POSSIBLE SPOILERS ahead* I think what bothered me most was the sudden love interest between Alex and Finn. After covering around 70% of the book, I imagined they only maintained a sibling like relationship. However, towards the end they suddenly fall for each other? I couldn’t buy into this unexpected romance between the two.

Moreover, I really didn’t enjoy the author’s style of writing. It was exciting and fast paced at some moments, but for the most part, it seemed very wordy and trite without the story-line progressing in anyway. This 450 page book could have easily been shortened to 350 pages. For instance, the author spends an entire page describing a song that Alex and Finn hear on their way back to the island. Who cares?

Also, after reading this story, I’m still didn’t understand some of the concepts like stack and ‘freit’ and have trouble visualizing the whole Library. It also didn’t help that all the characters in the island’s surname is prefixed with Mac, making it very confusing to initially figure our who’s-who.
Overall, Alex Moore was a book that I had to force myself to complete for the most part. I think this would make an excellent TV adaptation for providers like Netflix. But, since I have more points to dislike like, I am giving it 2/5 stars.

August 11, 2018
Spell and Spindle by Michelle Schusterman

Spell and Spindle by Michelle Schusterman
Release: July 31st 2018
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Source: Netgalley

Spell and Spindle Synopsis:

The Museum of Peculiar Arts holds many oddities–a mechanical heart, a diary bound in its owner’s skin . . . and Penny, a child-size marionette who almost looks alive. Fog clouds Penny’s memories from before the museum, but she catches glimpses here and there: a stage, deep red curtains, long-fingered hands gripping her strings.

One day, a boy named Chance touches Penny’s strings and hears her voice in his head. Penny can listen, and watch, and think?

Now someone else is watching Penny and Chance; a man with a sharp face, a puppeteer who has the tools to change things. A string through a needle. A twist of a spindle. And suddenly Chance is trapped in Penny’s marionette body, while Penny is free to run and dance. She knows that finding a way to switch back is the right thing to do. But this body feels so wonderful, so full of life! How can Penny ever return to her puppet shell?

Review:

A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for providing me a copy of “Spell and Spindle” by Michelle Schusterman in exchange for my review.

The main highlight of this story for me was the characters how the author realistically portrays them. I especially adored how the author made Penny more three dimensional, even though she is only supposed to be a marionette in theory. Though Penny is supposed to be good and heroic, she also makes mistakes, gets scared, and runs away from problems rather than facing them. I loved seeing all these facets in our protagonist, which is very rare in middle grade novels. Another reason why this book was fun was because the author did not stereotype the genders. Penny and Constance are the main brave heroes in this story. Chance is brave at times too, but we also see a vulnerable side to him and he comes across as the damsel in distress here.

The only trouble I had with this “Spell and Spindle” was the villain. Considering how wonderful it was to read about the good guys, I found the villain to be very two dimensional in the mustache-twirling way. I also had trouble understanding the reasons for doing what he did as it didn’t seem very convincing.

Apart from that though, I truly enjoyed this story. I really liked Michelle Schusterman’s style of writing, and would love to pick up some of her other novels. I also found the illustrations by Kathrin Honesta to be cute on each chapter. Also, I loved that each chapter ends in a serialized cliff-hanger and I found myself turning pages to find out what happened next! Spell and Spindle is definitely one of those books that boys and girls would enjoy reading as it has a lot of mystery, adventure and drama in it. Personally, I enjoyed it a lot too and can’t wait to re-read it once it hits the bookstores.

July 29, 2018
Winterhouse (Winterhouse #1) by Ben Guterson

Winterhouse (Winterhouse #1) by Ben Guterson
Release: January 2nd 2018
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Source: Amazon

Winterhouse Book 1 Synopsis:

Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms―most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth starts to realize that she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?

Mystery, adventure, and beautiful writing combine in this exciting debut richly set in a hotel full of secrets.

Book trailer:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps_8YD8gg0c[/embedyt]

Review:

I LOVED reading this book! The story reminded me a lot of the Harry Potter series. For instance, the main character, Elizabeth, is an orphan and lives with her aunt and uncle who don’t care about her at all. One day, she receives an invitation from a mysterious benefactor to go and stay at this hotel for a few days and her whole life changes there! The plot is captivating from the first page and makes you wonder what will happen next. It is filled with endearing characters surrounded by mystery and adventure. In fact, there were some scenes where I was at the edge of my seat, like when Elizabeth goes to meet the creepy couple for tea to investigate their room, or when she goes to the cabin and finds the flickering light. In fact, I almost finished reading this book in one sitting, it was THAT good!

Ben Guterson, the author, has done a wonderful job in narrating this story. In general, I loved how he sets the atmosphere around Winterhouse as per the plot. In some places, Winterhouse is this wonderful place that I would love to go on a winter holiday. However, in some chapters, it becomes this creepy mansion hat reminds me of the Overlook Hotel from The Shining. Moreover, the characters are charming and intriguing. I loved Elizabeth as the main character and the inquisitiveness that she has to solve the mystery. Furthermore, I also enjoyed her friendship with Freddy and how they play word chains with each other.

Also, special credit has to be given to the illustrator. Chloe Bristol has included beautiful, whimsical illustrations that complement the book very well. Albeit, it might be too cute to lower the scare factor for younger readers, but I loved each one of them! Overall, I loved reading “WinterHouse” and feel it is one of those books that people of all ages would enjoy reading.

July 29, 2018
Serafina and the Black Cloak (Serafina #1) by Robert Beatty

Serafina and the Black Cloak (Serafina #1) by Robert Beatty
Release: July 14th 2015
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Disney•Hyperion
Source: Amazon

Serafina and the Black Cloak Synopsis:

“Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.

Review:

I’m a bit late in reading this series, but better late than never, right? Having said that, I really enjoyed reading this book.

Serafina is a great character that you want to root for from the first page. She has such an innocent yet brave quality in her that you cannot help but like her. Serafina believes in herself even though she knows she is different from others. She is independent and takes charge to do what is right without depending on anyone else. There are so many qualities in her that make her an inspiring role model. I also enjoyed Braedan’s character, and liked the friendship between the two. Also, I loved Serafina’s father and felt that he was an underrated character. Moreover, I was fascinated and scared by the Man in the Black Cloak. There are hardly any memorable villains in recently published novels, and I think that’s one of the main reasons this book held my interest.

However, there were two aspects that bothered me a bit while reading Serafina. The first reason is the number of characters. The author introduces a lot of characters in the beginning and it takes time to get used to it. Due to this, I found the story to be initially slow at times, but it picked up as soon as Braeden and Serafina meet. The second reason that had me rolling my eyes was how Serafina managed to escape unbelievably fantastic situations and came out barely scratched. True that this is a magical fantasy novel, but I just couldn’t connect to the character during these scenes. There are so many instances where you feel that she should be breaking a few bones from her actions, but seconds later, she is perfect with just a few minor bruises.

However, apart from these small details, I really liked this middle grade novel. Robert Beatty has a beautiful style of writing and it reminded me a lot of JK Rowling. There are so many wonderful messages and themes included to make this an engaging read. It’s one of those books that readers of any age would enjoy. I also think it would be a great adaptation to a movie someday. Overall, “Serafina and the Black Cloak” is a wonderful start to the series and I cannot wait to pick up “The Twisted Staff”!

July 14, 2018