Frostblood by Elly Blake Series: Frostblood Saga #1
Published by Little Brown (1.10.2017)
Genres: Young Adult, High Fantasy
Format: Audiobook, 376 pages
Length: 10 hours, 39 minutes
Narrator: Jennifer English
Source: Library
Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their bloodthirsty king, she agrees to come out of hiding, desperate to have her revenge.
Despite her unpredictable abilities, Ruby trains with the rebels and the infuriating - yet irresistible - Arcus, who seems to think of her as nothing more than a weapon. But before they can take action, Ruby is captured and forced to compete in the king’s tournaments that pit Fireblood prisoners against Frostblood champions. Now she has only one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who has taken everything from her - and from the icy young man she has come to love.
My thoughts
I picked this up on a whim, and to be honest I went in expecting not to enjoy it very much. I ended up being surprised because while it wasn’t great, it was still a fairly decent read. It was pretty generic as far as high fantasy goes and doesn’t really stand out in the sea of fantasy. But Blake’s writing style was solid and the book was able to hold my interest. I enjoyed it for the most part while reading, but it wasn’t very memorable. I already don’t remember much of what happened. I didn’t connect to the characters much at all and felt pretty apathetic about what was happening. The narrator wasn’t spectacular, but she wasn’t bad. Overall, my general feelings about this book are pretty meh. The book was okay. Not good, but okay. Would I recommend it? Honestly, probably not. It would never cross my mind when giving fantasy recs, but I wouldn’t deter anyone from reading it.
Overall Assessment
Plot: 3/5
Premise: 4/5
Writing style: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Characters: 2/5
World-building: 3/5
Pace: 3.5/5
Feels: 1/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Overall rating: 2.5/5
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco Series: The Bone Witch #1
Published by Sourcebooks Fire (3.7.2017)
Genres: Young Adult, High Fantasy
Format: Audiobook, 432 pages
Length: 12 hours, 8 minutes
Narrator: Emily Woo Zeller, Will Damron
Source: I own it
A story of scorned witches, sinister curses, and resurrection, The Bone Witch is the start of a dark fantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of Serpent & Dove and The Cruel Prince.
Tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price...
When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother, Fox, from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.
In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha—one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.
My thoughts
I’m going to be honest, I barely remember this book at all. I had actually forgotten that I’d even read it! I mean, I liked it for the most part – I did enjoy it while I was listening, even though it moved pretty slow and it didn’t stick with me. It was actually pretty boring at times because the pacing was as slow as molasses. In fact, nothing really happened?? BUT the concept was really cool, and it was dark, which I liked. And Chupeco’s prose is pretty beautiful. When there’s nothing happening plot wise, I need the writing to pick up that slack, and hers did! I don’t know if I’ll continue the series or not. I might grab the second book in audio from the library, who knows.
Overall Assessment
Plot: 2/5
Premise: 4/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Characters: 2/5
World-building: 3.5/5
Pace: 2/5
Feels: 1/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 3/5
Bound by Blood and Sand by Becky Allen Published by Delacorte (10.11.2016)
Genres: Young Adult, High Fantasy
Format: Audiobook, 304 pages
Length: 9 hours, 1 minute
Narrator: January LaVoy
Source: I own it
Jae is a slave in a dying desert world.
Once verdant with water from a magical Well, the land is drying up, and no one remembers the magic needed to keep the water flowing. If a new source isn’t found soon, the people will perish. Jae doesn’t mind, in a way. By law, she is bound by a curse to obey every order given her, no matter how vile. At least in death, she’ll be free.
Lord Elan’s family rules the fading realm. He comes to the estate where Jae works, searching for the hidden magic needed to replenish the Well, but it’s Jae who finds it, and she who must wield it. Desperate to save his realm, Elan begs her to use it to locate the Well.
But why would a slave—abused, beaten, and treated as less than human—want to save the system that shackles her? Jae would rather see the world burn.
Though revenge clouds her vision, she agrees to help if the kingdom’s slaves are freed. Then Elan’s father arrives. The ruler’s cruelty knows no limits. He is determined that the class system will not change—and that Jae will remain a slave forever.
My thoughts
I waited WAY too long to write this review. I don’t remember hardly any of this book, because well – let’s face it, it just wasn’t memorable. The story was really generic for a fantasy, and other than the desert setting (which I LOVE), it didn’t have a whole lot going for it. The characters were pretty bland, the romance was bland, and the world building wasn’t very fleshed out. The pacing was slow. Actually, if it weren’t for January LaVoy’s fantastic narrating, I’m pretty sure I would have DNFed this book.
Overall Assessment
Plot: 3/5
Premise: 3/5
Writing style: 3/5
Originality: 2.5/5
Characters: 2/5
World-building: 3/5
Pace: 2.5/5
Feels: 0/5
Cover: 3/5
Overall rating: 2/5
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