My Book Reviews

Category: Fantasy

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

  • Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1) by Kate Robinson Dunne

    Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1) by Kate Robinson Dunne

    Ludlow

    Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1) by Kate Robinson Dunne
    Release: October 10th 2017
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Two Pigeons Press
    Source: NetGalley

    Ludlow



    Ludlow Lost Synopsis:

    If you’re reading this, you’ve probably never had the bad fortune to be kidnapped and held captive by creatures human beings don’t believe in.

    Ludlow Osgoode has not been as lucky as you.

     

    Review:

    A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Two Pigeons Press for providing me a copy of “Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1)” by Kate Robinson Dunne in exchange for my review. I had mixed feelings about “Ludlow Lost”. There are some aspects of it that I really enjoyed and some aspects that made me disappointed in reading it.

    Let’s start with the negative aspects. There are a few reasons why I gave this book only a three star rating. Firstly, the book gets a little monotonous towards the middle when Ludlow, Raghnall and Harry are lost at sea. Nothing really happens for a while, except for Ludlow meeting strange mythological creatures along the way. Furthermore, the author initiates about some really interesting subplots but it never materializes in the story. For example, what is the weejy weejy bird and why did it appear at times? Perhaps the author will explain all this in book two, but it still made me frustrated in not knowing.

    Secondly, I did not find any of the characters to be engrossing. Most of the characters only reveal a bit about themselves, and as it is a short book, it’s hard to get invested in them. Also, I felt like Ludlow was boring and Harry was very annoying. The mermaid and Storey were somewhat interesting, but were hardly present in the book to be memorable. The only character I felt was complex and interesting was Raghnall. In fact, I would have loved it if this trilogy was about Raghnall’s life instead of Ludlow. It would have been so exciting to read about how Raghnall gets trapped in Morag’s clutches and becomes a goblin. Speaking of Morag, I didn’t find the villain to be someone who was scary, and at times she was comical.

    Now to talk about the positive aspects. I loved the author’s style of writing. She has written this book in a very matter of fact way but with a whimsical touch. She has the perfect style for writing children’s stories and I would definitely love to read her future books. The author has also included some cute illustrations that add well to the chapters.

    I also loved the concept of the book. True, it didn’t turn out the way I had expected, but it’s still a charming plot. It reminds me a lot of “Alice in Wonderland”, or the movie “Spirited Away”. Moreover, I really liked the way the book ended. It had a very surreal effect that made me want to look forward to book two coming in 2019. Overall, I liked “Ludlow Lost” but I felt that it could have been so much better! I am looking forward to reading book two when it releases.

  • The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson

    The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson

    Door

    The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson
    Expected Release: July 3rd 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Delacorte Press
    Source: NetGalley

    Door



    The Door to the Lost Synopsis:

    From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mark of the Dragonfly comes a thrilling fantasy adventure about two magical friends living as refugees in a world that doesn’t trust magic. Perfect for fans of Serafina and the Black Cloak and the School for Good and Evil series!

    There was no warning the day magic died in Talhaven. It happened with a giant explosion and the arrival of a skyship full of children, all with magic running through their veins and no memory of home.

    Rook and Drift are two of those children, and ever since that day, they’ve been on the run, magical refugees in a world that doesn’t trust magic. Because magic doesn’t die right away–it decays, twists, and poisons all that it touches. And now it’s beginning to poison people.

    Try as they might, Rook and Drift can’t remember anything about their lives before Talhaven. But it’s beginning to look like they’re the only ones who can save their adopted world . . . if that world doesn’t destroy them first.

     

    Review:

    A BIG Thank You to NetGalley, Delacorte Books for Young Readers and Random House Children’s for providing me a copy of “The Door to the Lost” by Jaleigh Johnson in exchange for my review. Before I begin, I would like to say that I’m not a fantasy reader in any way. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, but it takes quite some time for me to finish a fantasy novel. I prefer to read realistic fiction for the most part. Having said that, I selected this book in NetGalley because I LOVED the cover design! I am glad I selected it because Wow, this was a roller coaster of a read!

    Let’s start off with the characters. For a fantasy adventure, the characters are down to Earth that we can relate to. All the three main characters, Rook, Drift and Fox have endearing qualities that make them naive and charming. I loved that we directly jump into the adventure and learn about the characters, instead of getting a proper introduction. My favorite character was Fox. He’s so adorable the moment he bumps into Rook and Drift! Even though he doesn’t have much of a dialogue, his ardent support throughout their journey makes him very memorable. I also loved the other exiles that the team meets in the ship, and wished they also had a backstory. The author has also written Dozana very well and you cannot help despise her for the crooked villain she is.

    Now let’s talk about the story-line. From the get go, we travel with Rook as she tries to survive in the land of Talhaven. The whole book is action packed and there is never a dull moment in the story. There are some great suspenseful moment like when Rook and Drift hide in Mr. Baroman’s attic, or when Rook hears knocking on the other side of the door or when she gets trapped in the giant spider web. I really couldn’t predict what was going to happen next, and was completely engrossed in the book till the climax.

    This is the first book I have read by Jaleigh Johnson, and I really like her style of writing. She beautifully blends the progression of the characters while keeping the fast pace of the story. My only question is, is this a standalone book or part of a series? The only part that could have been better was if the author provided more details of the characters and the history of the land. As much as I loved the story, I felt that the author cut down a lot to keep it in pace with a middle grade novel. Perhaps that is why I would love to read about more of these characters and hope there is a continuation. I want to pick out her “World of Solace” Series to see if that is equally good.

    Overall, I completely enjoyed this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

  • The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani DasGupta

    The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani DasGupta

    kiranmala

    The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani DasGupta
    Release: February 27th, 2018
    Format: Hardcover
    Publisher: Scholastic
    Source: Amazon

    kiranmala


    Kiranmala – The Serpent’s Secret Synopsis:

    MEET KIRANMALA: INTERDIMENSIONAL DEMONSLAYER (But she doesn’t know it yet.)

    On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey… until her parents mysteriously vanish later that day and a rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents’ fantastical stories—like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess—and a wealth of secrets about her origin they’ve kept hidden.

    To complicate matters, two crush worthy Indian princes ring her doorbell, insisting they’re here to rescue her. Suddenly, Kiran is swept into another dimension full of magic, winged horses, moving maps, and annoying, talking birds. There she must solve riddles and slay demons all while avoiding the Serpent King of the underworld (who may or may not want to kill her) and the rakkhosh queen (who definitely does) in order to find her parents and basically save New Jersey, her entire world, and everything beyond it…

    Book Trailer:

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJDRgjgRBG8[/embedyt]

    Review:

    This was such a fun book to read! It’s so refreshing to see a girl of Indian heritage be the protagonist and kick-ass in this adventure novel.

    What’s great about “The Serpent’s Secret” is in its story line and pacing. The story keeps you hooked from the get go and never gets boring. I finished this book in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. As Kiran and her friends go on their quest, they come across different adventures, whether it be from the mountains, in the sea or in a serpent’s lair. The adventures themselves range from serious edge of your seat moments like stealing a jewel from a Python, to hilarious escapes from demonic-cheerleaders. I loved how some of popular Indian folk-tales like the Rakkhosh and the thirsty crow were incorporated into the story line.

    The characters are adorable and you can’t help but like something about almost all of them. Kiran is a cool heroine with a snarky sense of humor. Neel is the brooding hero who is frustrating at times but has good intentions. Tuntuni is annoying but his jokes and rhymes are fun to read. The Raja came across as a jolly fellow even though he makes bad decisions. Even the Rakkhosh baby and the khokkosh demons made me laugh with their personality and dialogue. My favorite character in this story was Ai-ma. She is so creepy but has charming grandmother qualities, and the terms of endearment she uses on Neel is hilarious.

    The author has also put in her thoughts of Philosophy and Astronomy that make it stand out. Some of the dialogues (like the below) really made me reflect on our connection as human beings and how everyone is connected in someway.

    “My Baba always tells me we’re all connected by energy-trees, wind, animals, people, everything. He says that life energy is a link of river flowing through the universe. And that our souls are just a bit of that river water held inside the clay pitcher of our bodies. When our bodies give out, that’s just the pitcher breaking, pouring what’s inside black into the original stream of universal souls.”

    Overall, I devoured this book like a hungry Rakkhosh and cannot wait for the next one! The small preview at the end proves that it will be equally awesome as the first. The illustrations by Vivienne To are lovely and whimsical. If you haven’t read “The Serpent’s Secret” yet, don’t be such a 2-D duckweed, pick this up and read!

  • The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics

    The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics

    The Women in the Walls

    The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics
    Released: September 27, 2016
    Format: Hardcover
    Publisher: Harlequin Teen
    Source: Amazon
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle,

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    Lucy Acosta’s mother died when she was three. Growing up in a Victorian mansion in the middle of the woods with her cold, distant father, she explored the dark hallways of the estate with her cousin, Margaret. They’re inseparable—a family.

    But her aunt Penelope, the only mother she ever knew about, tragically disappears while walking in the woods surrounding their estate. Then Lucy finds herself devastated and alone. Margaret has been spending a lot of time in the attic. She claims she can hear her dead mother’s voice whispering from the walls. Her father shuts her out emotionally . So Lucy watches helplessly as her cousin’s sanity slowly unravels. But when she begins hearing voices herself, Lucy finds herself confronting an ancient and deadly legacy that has marked the women in her family for generations.

    About the Author:

    Ever since she was little, horror books and movies intrigued Amy. She grew up in a small mountain town in Arizona, and  sustained herself on a steady diet of Goosebumps, Fear Street, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books before discovering Stephen King in her mother’s bookshelf.

    Amy lives with her husband, their two precious squidlings, and an old gentleman cat by the name of Frodo. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, crafting, and playing games across many platforms.

    Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

    The Women in the Walls Review:

    The story writing is good for most of the part. And I enjoyed the steady pacing of the storyline that had me engrossed throughout. There are some cleverly designed plot twists , but some of these twists had gruesome details that made me cringe. While I didn’t have any issues with the grisly details, the only part of the writing that I found puzzling was the consistency in the setting. In some parts of the book, it felt like the story is taking place a long time ago, but then in some scenes, the characters curse foul language and use the internet etc. which I thought didn’t fit well with the setup.

    The depiction of characters are good , and I enjoyed the conflict between Lucy and Margaret. In fact, I liked Margaret’s character more than Lucy, as she seemed truly psychotic and on the edge, and I had no idea what she would do to Lucy. I also enjoyed Vanessa’s character, and wished that she was involved more in the book. While I didn’t have any issues with Lucy as such, I thought the girl was whiny and suicidal and not that strong to be the main character in the book.

    There was disappointment towards the end of the book, mainly because all the revelations provided were not very clear. Also, the pacing seemed rushed, and the author didn’t provide closure to the storyline. It was as  though Amy Lukavics got tired of writing towards the end, and just wanted to finish it somehow. Considering the good narration of the story  for most of the book, I wish it had ended with the same consistency and a better explanation for the events.

    Overall, this was a pretty good book to read, but one that is easily forgettable.