These Infinite Threads by Tahereh Mafi

 

These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

"With the heat of a kiss, the walls between Alizeh, the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom, and Kamran, the crown prince of the Ardunian empire, have crumbled. And so have both of their lives. Kamran’s grandfather, the king of Ardunia, lays dead, the terrible secret of his deal with the devil exposed to the world. Cyrus, the mysterious copper-haired royal, has stolen Alizeh away to Tulan, the neighboring kingdom where he rules. Cyrus has made his own deal with the devil—one that would require Alizeh to betray her feelings for Kamran if she’s to reclaim the Jinn throne.

Alizeh wants nothing to do with Cyrus, or his deal with Iblees. But with no means of escaping Tulan, and with the tantalizing promise of fulfilling her destiny as the heir to the Jinn, she’s forced to wonder whether she can set aside her emotions—and finally become the queen her people need. Kamran, meanwhile, is picking up the pieces of his broken kingdom. Facing betrayal at every turn, all he knows for certain is that he must go to Tulan to avenge his grandfather. He can only hope that Alizeh will be waiting for him there—and that she’s not yet become queen of Tulan."--Goodreads blurb

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

This Woven Kingdom (This Woven Kingdom #1) by Tahereh Mafi, 512 p.

"To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world."--Goodreads blurb

This was a reread in preparation for reading the second book. This is one of my favorite books from last year, and it held up upon this reread. Alizeh is a great MC. Cool world, magic system, and characters. Looking forward to book 2.

 

The King of Faerie by A.J. Lancaster

 

The King of Faerie (Stariel #4) by A.J. Lancaster, 550 p. 

"The fae are real, and Hetta Valstar is trying her best to marry one. If Hetta and Wyn ever manage to marry, it will be the first union between Faerie and Mortal since the Iron Law was revoked. The mortal Queen has given them her blessing—sort of. Now, Wyn needs permission from the fae High King. There’s an intensely personal reason why they need to tie the knot as soon as possible, and time is not on their side.

The clock is ticking. Except in Wyn’s home court, which is trapped under magical stasis. To break the spell will mean venturing into the deepest realms of Faerie, where even fae princes—and definitely human lords—fear to tread. Unfortunately, the fae problems aren’t limited to Faerie.

Public tension is rising, and the reveal of Wyn’s true identity makes him and Hetta the centre of the storm. On top of this, Stariel’s magic is going haywire, and Hetta is struggling with her intensifying powers—and she might not be the only one affected. The High King might be the only one who can help, since he’s responsible for the fae returning to the Mortal Realm in the first place."--Goodreads blurb

I think this quartet ended on a high note and the series was perfect at 4 books. There is another book within the Stariel world, but it isn't technically in this series. I will look for more of Lancaster's books because they are great at worldbuilding and dialogue, which are two of my favorite parts of stories!

The Court of Mortals by A.J. Lancaster

The Court of Mortals (Stariel #3) by A.J. Lancaster, 412 p.

"Hetta’s family now know Wyn’s true identity, but that doesn’t mean they approve of their relationship. Princes are all very well - but Wyn’s not human, for all he’s spent ten years pretending to be.

With gossip spreading like wildfire, Hetta and Wyn receive a royal summons. The Queen of Prydein has heard the rumours of fae intruders, and she's not letting Wyn go until she's satisfied he and his people aren’t a threat. Convincing her would be a lot easier if someone wasn’t trying to blacken Wyn’s name - and if his sister wasn’t trying to kill him. For mortal politics aren’t the only problem the pair have to face. The Court of Ten Thousand Spires is still without a ruler, and the only way out may be for Wyn to assume the throne himself - meaning he and Hetta can never be together."--Goodreads

I'm continuing to really enjoy this series and being in Stariel with these characters. I feel like we're starting to get some more details about characters other than Hetta and Wyn and I'm enjoying that. Straight to the last book in this quartet!

 

The Prince of Secrets by A.J. Lancaster

The Prince of Secrets (Stariel #2) by A.J. Lancaster, 375 p.

"Wyn knows falling for Hetta Valstar is a bad idea. She's not only human but the new magically bonded ruler of Stariel Estate. If their relationship gets out, it'll cause a scandal that could ruin their attempts to sort out the estate's crumbling finances. And it doesn't help that Stariel has decided it doesn't like him. 

But more than jealous sentient estates and Hetta's good name are at stake. Wyn's past is coming back to bite him. Ten years ago, he broke an oath and shattered the power of his home court, and the fae have been hunting him ever since. Now they've found his hiding place, they won't rest until he's dead or the debt is repaid--and they don't play nicely. 

If we got to know Hetta in book 1, this book was for us to get to know Wyn even better. Hearing more about his life, upbringings, and why he is like he is, makes us understand just that much better how he fits in Stariel and more importantly, why he belongs with Hetta. I enjoyed this second book in the series as much as the first and am glad I don't have to wait for more!

 

The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster

The Lord of Stariel (Stariel #1) by A.J. Lancaster, 322 p.

"The Lord of Stariel is dead. Long live the Lord of Stariel. Whoever that is. Everyone knows who the magical estate will choose for its next ruler. Or do they? Will it be the lord’s eldest son, who he despised? His favourite nephew, with the strongest magical land-sense? His scandalous daughter, who ran away from home years ago to study illusion?

Hetta knows it won’t be her, and she’s glad of it. Returning home for her father’s funeral, all Hetta has to do is survive the family drama and avoid entanglements with irritatingly attractive local men until the Choosing. Then she can leave. But whoever Stariel chooses will have bigger problems than eccentric relatives to deal with. Winged, beautifully deadly problems. For the first time in centuries, the fae are returning to the Mortal Realm, and only the Lord of Stariel can keep the estate safe."--Goodreads blurb

The Lord of Stariel is the first book in the Stariel quartet, a cosy fantasy series about fae, magical estates, and complicated families. This was a fun entry into a series I'm looking forward to. We get to know Hetta and the magical world that she lives in and is now more entwined with than ever. I like how the character development is unfolding, and knowing that I have several more books in the series to get even more is exciting. Looking forward to continuing on with the series. 

 

Jade City by Fonda Lee

Jade City (The Green Bone Saga #1) by Fonda Lee, 560 p.

CW: General violence, gang scenarios

"The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself."--Goodreads blurb 

This is the first time reading Lee for me, and the writing was pretty good. It was a dialogue-heavy story, which appeals to me, but all-in-all, I didn't love this book. The characters weren't very likeable, and the lifestyle of the main characters was just out of my comfort zone. This is a series and for now, I won't be moving on the the next one, though I will keep it on my TBR. This won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel 2018.

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

 

The Atlas Six (The Atlas #1) by Olivie Blake, 628 p.

"When the world’s best magicians are offered an extraordinary opportunity, saying yes is easy. Each could join the secretive Alexandrian Society, whose custodians guard lost knowledge from ancient civilizations. Their members enjoy a lifetime of power and prestige. Yet each decade, only six practitioners are invited – to fill five places.

Contenders Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona are inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds. Parisa Kamali is a telepath, who sees the mind’s deepest secrets. Reina Mori is a naturalist who can perceive and understand the flow of life itself. And Callum Nova is an empath, who can manipulate the desires of others. Finally there’s Tristan Caine, whose powers mystify even himself.

Following recruitment by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they travel to the Society’s London headquarters. Here, each must study and innovate within esoteric subject areas. And if they can prove themselves, over the course of a year, they’ll survive. Most of them. " -- Goodreads blurb

This was a really cool, original story. Six different main characters can be hard to follow at some points, but the plot carries the characters. I'm sure there will be more character development as the series unfolds, and the story was well-written  and intriguing. This book was originally independently released by the author, then gained such a following that a major publishing house picked it up and released it. That says a lot! I hope to be following the author through her career.

Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes

 

Echoes and Empires (Echoes and Empires #1) by Morgan Rhodes, 700 p.

"Josslyn Drake knows only three things about magic: it’s rare, illegal, and always deadly. So when she’s caught up in a robbery gone wrong at the Queen’s Gala and infected by a dangerous piece of magic—one that allows her to step into the memories of an infamously evil warlock—she finds herself living her worst nightmare. Joss needs the magic removed before it corrupts her soul and kills her. But in Ironport, the cost of doing magic is death, and seeking help might mean scheduling her own execution. There’s nobody she can trust.

Nobody, that is, except wanted criminal Jericho Nox, who offers her a deal: his help extracting the magic in exchange for the magic itself. And though she’s not thrilled to be working with a thief, especially one as infuriating (and infuriatingly handsome) as Jericho, Joss is desperate enough to accept.

But Jericho is nothing like Joss expects. The closer she grows with Jericho and the more she sees of the world outside her pampered life in the city, the more Joss begins to question the beliefs she’s always taken for granted—beliefs about right and wrong, about power and magic, and even about herself. In an empire built on lies, the truth may be her greatest weapon."--Goodreads blurb

Josslyn is a very unlikeable character at first, and while she does redeem herself a bit throughout the book, she hasn't really grown on me yet. There are some pretty good plot reveals in this story, but I would have liked to see deeper character development. It was a quick read and a good first book to the series. I will pick up the second when it's released.

Crimson Reign by Amélie Wen Zhao

Crimson Reign (Blood Heir Trilogy #3) by Amélie Wen Zhao, 496 p.
 

"The Red Tigress, Ana Mikhailov, has returned to Cyrilia, but the country she once called home has fallen under a dark rule. Across the land, the Empress Morganya is tightening her grip on Affinites and non-Affinites alike. Ana dealt a blow to the Empress when she and her allies turned back Morganya's troops in Bregon, but she couldn't stop Morganya from gaining possession of the last remaining Bregonian siphon: a dangerous new weapon with the power to steal Affinities.

Ana's forces are scattered, and her tenuous alliance with the Cyrilian rebel group, the Red Cloaks, is becoming more frayed by the day. What's worse, she's lost her Affinity to blood and without it, Ana barely knows who she is anymore--or if she has the strength to defeat Morganya.

Morganya's reign of terror is close to crushing the nation Ana was born to rule. And now Ana will finally face the sinister empress, but will she survive? Will anyone? And will her Empire welcome her back to the throne, or turn her out to survive on her own. The Affinites and Non-Affinites of Cyrilia will determine Ana's future, if Morganya doesn't kill her first." --Goodreads blurb

This third book in the trilogy was a good wrap-up to the series. Ana, with the help of Ransom and friends, put their world to rights again through much toil and bloodshed. This re-imagining of the Anastasia tale was a good series. 

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

The Hero of Ages (The Mistbor Saga #3) by Brandon Sanderson, 760 p.

"To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness—the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists—is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.

Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. Vin can't even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!" -- Goodreads blurb

I'll repeat that I'm glad I read Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series before this series, because I'm not sure I would have gone on to read any more of his work. While I enjoyed this third in the series, it continues to be slow. Side characters turned more into main characters, bad guys (or bad inanimate objects?) become badder, and the "age" of the story wraps up well. There are 3+ more books in this series, but they come after a massive time jump with different characters, but in the same world. I'm going to take a break before picking those up. Still a huge Sanderson fan and always will be.

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

The Well of Ascension (The Mistborn Sage #2) by Brandon Sanderson, 796 p.
 

"They did the impossible, deposing the godlike being whose brutal rule had lasted a thousand years. Now Vin, the street urchin who has grown into the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of an empire.

They have barely begun when three separate armies attack. As the siege tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.

It may just be that killing the Lord Ruler was the easy part. Surviving the aftermath of his fall will be the real challenge."--Goodreads blurb

Happy to report I liked this book even more than the first. I've found that some of the side characters are my favorite, even over the main characters, with Sazed being my favorite and TenSoon really coming into "his" own in this story. The pace of this series continues to be slower, the climax of this book was worth the wait. High expectations for book 3. 

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn  (The Mistborn Saga #1) by Brandon Sanderson, 672 p.
 

"For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed."--Goodreads blurb

First thing's first, this book starts of S L O W L Y. It took me a good 200+ pages to really get into the story, however the second half of the book totally saved it. Strong leads with strong personalities, and creepy bad guys with creepy personalities. While Sanderson is one of the most prolific fantasy writers, I'm glad this wasn't my first foray into his writing, as I think (so far), this series is nothing compared to his Way of Kings series. I will be picking up book 2, though! 

The Storm of Echoes (Mirror Visitor #4) by Christelle Dabos, 528 p.

"The distrust between them has been overcome and now Ophelia and Thorn love each other passionately. However, they must keep their love hidden. Only in this way can they continue their journeys toward an understanding of the indecipherable code of God and the truth behind the mysterious figure of the Other, whose devastating power continues to bring down entire pieces of arks, plunging thousands of innocents into the void.

Ophelia and Thorn arrive at the observatory of the Deviations, an institute shrouded in absolute secrecy and overseen by a sect of mystical scientists who secretly conduct terrifying experiments. There, Ophelia and Thorn hope to discover truths that will halt the destruction and death and bring the world back into balance."--Goodreads blurb

I'm gonna be honest, I just finished this book and I'm not sure I could tell you what happened or how this 4-book arc concluded. This was a lot. I know I was enjoying it alright as I was ingesting it, but nothing stuck. This series was interesting and worth the read.

 

The memory of Babel by Christelle Dabos

The memory of Babel (Mirror Visitor #3) by Christelle Dabos, 508 p.

"After two years and seven months biding her time on Anima, her home ark, it is finally time to act, to put what she has discovered in the Book of Faruk to good use. Under an assumed identity she travels to Babel, a cosmopolitan and thoroughly modern ark that is the jewel of the universe, and where automata have taken over the most humble jobs from humans. But under the surface of this pacific and orderly ark social unrest stirs, fed by the memories of a fateful purge long ago, and the inhabitants’ growing fear of being replaced altogether. Will Ophelia’s talent as a reader suffice to avoid her being lured into a deadly trap by her ever more fearful adversaries? Will she ever see Thorn, her betrothed, again? "--Goodreads blurb

I liked this one a better than the third in the series, as it wasn't so off the rails. The main characters are just as tortured as the previous books, but the story unfolds a lot and as the end of this series nears, we really start to see the big picture. 
 

The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos

The Missing of Clairdelune (Mirror Visitor #2) by Christelle Dabos, 540 p.

"When Ophelia is promoted to Vice-storyteller by Farouk, the ancestral Spirit of Pole, she finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the public spotlight. her gift―the ability to read the secret history of objects―is now known by all, and there can be no greater threat to the nefarious denizens of her icy adopted home than this.

Beneath the golden rafters of Pole's capitol, she discovers that the only person she may be able to trust is Thorn, her enigmatic and emotionally distant fiancé. As one influential courtier after another disappears, Ophelia again finds herself unintentionally implicated in an investigation that will lead her to see beyond Pole's many illusions to the heart of a formidable truth."--Goodreads blurb

This story was a bit convoluted and crazy. While Ophelia is very likeable, Thorn is very unlikeable, yet there's just something about him that makes you want to come back to hear why he is the way he is...and he's a jerk. New characters and character development is great in this story. 

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos

A Winter's Promise (Mirror Visitor #1) by Christelle Dabos, 492 p.

"Long ago, following a cataclysm called “The Rupture,” the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands. Known now as Arks, each has developed in distinct ways; each seems to possess its own unique relationship to time, such that nowadays vastly different worlds exist, together but apart. And over all of the Arks the spirit of an omnipotent ancestor abides.
Ophelia lives on Anima, an ark where objects have souls. Beneath her worn scarf and thick glasses, the young girl hides the ability to read and communicate with the souls of objects, and the power to travel through mirrors. Her peaceful existence on the Ark of Anima is disrupted when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, from the powerful Dragon clan. Ophelia must leave her family and follow her fiancée to the floating capital on the distant Ark of the Pole. Why has she been chosen? Why must she hide her true identity? Though she doesn’t know it yet, she has become a pawn in a deadly plot."--Goodreads blurb

This was a re-read for me, as the fourth book in this series was recently translated into English and released. This series has a really interesting world with a steampunk-y feel. Our main character is really coming of age and is having all those pains. The magic in this series is different and cool. Settling into a series is always fun.

 

Disciple of War by Michael G. Manning

Disciple of War (Art of the Adept #4) by Michael G. Manning, 672 p.

"War looms on the horizon but Selene’s training as a wizard must begin, even though her age makes success nearly unattainable. Will searches for a solution, but their only hope may be a dangerous bargain with the king.

The fate of two nations lies on Will’s shoulders and the future is paved with violence. With few options, he needs the aid of uncertain allies and dubious friends. Traitors lurk among them, and soon he will be forced to choose who to trust—and who to sacrifice. For a terrible power has arrived in Darrow, and the price of victory will be paid in blood."--Goodreads blurb

This has been such a surprisingly great series. Manning is a great storyteller and his characters have kept me so interested. I didn't skip a beat from one book to the next. I really hope he continues this series. I'll look forward to re-reading these books to catch up when that next book does come out!

Scholar of Magic by Michael. G. Manning

Scholar of Magic (Art of the Adept #3) by Michael. G. Manning, 660 p.

"The looming war with Darrow has faded to a distant shadow, but Will’s continued studies at Wurthaven are disrupted by an unforeseen threat. Selene’s absence has raised suspicion among her friends and Will’s father-in-law, the king, who is now directing his ire at the obvious culprit, his daughter’s new husband. Meanwhile the citizens of Cerria have begun disappearing and a shadowy figure is stalking Will’s sister, Laina.

With his power pushed to the limit, Will finds himself attempting to preserve a family that rejected him and trying to save a city whose king might rather see him dead. Desperate for help, he may not be able to trust the powers that have supported him in the past, for though the fae could be the source of the catastrophe; they only offer their assistance—for a price. Evil stalks the streets of Cerria at night, seeking the blood of his family, the destruction of the city, and the death of the king. Will may have to decide what is most important for Terabinia: preserving the people of its most prosperous city, or saving its questionable ruler?"--Goodreads blurb

This story solidifies friendships, romances, and family connections. Will continues to reach his magical potential and people are starting to depend on him for his special abilities. He kills with too little thought, I think. Only one more book is out in this series, and I'm bummed for it to end.