Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard (563 Pages)

                                                                    

Summary: A strange darkness grows in Allward even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it in her small town at the edge of the sea. The long lost heir to an ancient lineage, it’s not until Corayne meets a rag-tag group of companions that she learns how to wield the magic slumbering in her blood—and how together they might stop what’s coming. From her seat on the throne, Queen Erida has one aim: build a kingdom worthy of her destiny. While her court hopes to marry her off, Erida will do anything she can to avoid losing her crown—and her freedom. No matter the cost. Meanwhile, shadowy corpse armies march the hillsides and dangerous beasts creep through fissures in the world, and a great evil grows stronger by the day. As the realm descends into chaos, the choices are clear: Save the world…or end it.

Opinion: This is the first book in the Realm Breaker series. It's pretty long with multiple POVs with some chapters feeling slow because of unfinished action for another character from the other chapter. That being said, this book is a fun read with essentially a rogue, barbarian, mage, knight, and leader as the main characters taking on an adventure to save the world. Anyone who likes playing dungeons and dragons or likes the anime or manga Frieren: Beyond Journey's End would probably like this series. There is subtle romance, but more angst or longing than anything. Overall, a good fantasy adventure book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. 

Furysong by Rosaria Munda

Furysong (The Aurelian Cycle #3) by Rosaria Munda, 486 p.

"A new revolution is underway, and nobody will emerge unscathed.

In New Pythos, Griff is facing an execution by the dragonborn, who are furious at his betrayal. He has allies on both sides seeking to defy his fate, but the price of his freedom might come at a dear cost. And Delo will have to make a choice: follow his family, or finally surrender to his conscience.

Meanwhile, Annie must race home to hatch a plan to save her Guardians and their dragons. With Callipolis on the brink of collapse and the triarchy set to be reinstated, she may be the one person who can save the city—if she can overcome her own doubts about her future. Lee is a revolutionary at heart, but now he’ll have to find a way to fight with diplomacy. Going up against the dragonborn court and a foreign princess, he faces a test of loyalty that sets his head against his heart.

As the fate of Callipolis darkens, Annie and Lee must determine what they are willing to sacrifice in order to save each other, defeat their enemies, and reclaim their home." --Goodreads blurb

This trilogy ended up being a really great and engrossing read. It was slower to start, but the friendships, relationship dynamics, and strong civil-minded storyline kept me coming back for each book in the series. 

 

Flamefall by Rosaria Munda

Flamefall (The Aurelian Cycle #2) by Rosaria Munda, 496 p.

"After fleeing the revolution and settling into the craggy cliffs of New Pythos, the Dragonlords are eager to punish their usurpers--and reclaim their city. Their first order of business was destroying the Callipolan food supply. Now they're coming for the Dragonriders.

Annie is Callipolis's new Firstrider, and while her goal has always been to protect the people, being the government's enforcer has turned her into public enemy number one.Lee struggles to find his place after killing kin to prove himself to a leader who betrayed him. He can support Annie and the other Guardians . . . or join the radicals who look to topple the new regime. Griff, a lowborn dragonrider who serves New Pythos, knows he has no future. And now that Julia, the Firstrider who had protected him, is dead, he is called on to sacrifice everything for the lords that oppress his people--or to forge a new path with the Callipolan Firstrider seeking his help.

With famine tearing Callipolis apart and the Pythians determined to take back what they lost, it will be up to Annie, Lee, and Griff to decide what to fight for--and who to love."--Goodreads blurb

This book was just as good as the first in the series, and I especially enjoyed the development of the characters in the friend group. Really dumb decisions were still made in this book, just like the first, but I feel like there's a hint of more mature decisions coming on the horizon. 

 

Fireborne by Rosaria Munda

Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle #1) by Rosaria Munda, 432 p. 

"Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone--even the lowborn--a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.

Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn't be more different. Annie's lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee's aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city. With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he's come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs."--Goodreads blurb

This was the first book I've read by Munda and I enjoyed it enough to continue the series. Her characters are teenagers...is that enough said? I hate miscommunication between main characters (a trope I just can't get behind), especially when they're touted as being so smart. Friendships played a big part throughout this story, and those developing relationships kept me going to the end. And there's dragons, so I'm sticking around.

 

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, 384 p.

"Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad - author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.

Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.

But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud.

As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them - and the truth may bring them both to ruin." -- Goodreads blurb

Having read Reid before, I was really looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint. With her telltale depth of writing and plot, this was a great story. If there is such a thing as cozy horror (what an oxymoron!), this would be it!

 

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow #3) by Rainbow Rowell, 579 p.

"In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward. For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages -- and if he doesn't, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she's smuggled an American Normal into London, and now she isn't sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough. 

Any Way the Wind Blows takes the gang back to England, back to Watford, and back to their families for their longest and most emotionally wrenching adventure yet. This book is a finale. It tells secrets and answers questions and lays ghosts to rest." --Goodreads blurb

This was a fantastic series finale. It went way too quickly, despite its length, and the depth we went into several characters brought the whole series full circle. Rowell is an easy writer to read, and her character development is so smooth and fun. 

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

Wayward Son (Simon Snow #2) by Rainbow Rowell, 356 p.

"The story is supposed to be over. Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after…

So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch? What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light. That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West. They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…" --Goodreads blurb

Went straight from the first book in the series to the second. We get new characters, old characters are learned deeper and differently, and the mulitple POV writing style weaves this story seamlessly. I'm loving these books! 

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On (Simon Snow #1) by Rainbow Rowell, 522 p.

"Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. 

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up." --Goodreads blurb

 I've been on a roll this month reading books that have been on my TBR for a long time. I'm so glad I picked up this first book in the series. Rowell is a fantastic word builder and character writer. While it's simply-written, you care (or hate to care) about the characters. I went in not knowing this was a "knockoff Harry Potter" so that threw me off for a bit, but once I figured that out, I was in for the long haul!

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

 

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, 329 p.

"Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye." --Goodreads blurb

This is another title that's been on my TBR for a long time and I wanted something cozy and fun, and this fit the bill perfectly! Wynne Jones is one of the most well-known fantasy writers whose career has spanned decades. Her writing style is to-the-point, but not in a stilted way. I felt like the story moved at a great pace, with fun characters. It certainly read as a story for a younger crowd, as it should. I will be continuing on with the series, and maybe finally watch the super popular movie based on this title. 

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, 498 p.

"Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues—a bee, a key, and a sword—that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library hidden far below the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians—it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also of those who are intent on its destruction. Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose—in both the mysterious book and in his own life."

This has been on my TBR for what seems like forever. In a case of "yes, I judge a book by its cover," I wanted to read this from the first time I saw it. Great cover design. Anyway, this was only a three-star for me. It wasn't bad, but not only was the story choppy, but the main character left a lot to be desired and the narrator was very distracting.  

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.

 

Heat Wave by TJ Klune

Heat Wave (The Extraordinaries #3) by TJ Klune, 376 p.

"Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz are back in action bringing justice, protection, and disaster energy to the people of Nova City.

An unexpected hero returns to Nova City and crash lands into Nick's home, upturning his life, his family, and his understanding of what it means to be a hero in the explosive finale of the thrilling and hilarious Extraordinaries trilogy"--Goodreads blurb

Fun and dramatic (both actual drama and teenage drama) finale to a fun and dramatic series. I'm not sure I liked the way the mom storyline was handled at first, but once the twist was revealed, I got behind it a bit more. I love Klune and he stays on my automatic-buy list.

 

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune

The Extraordinaries (The Extraordinaries #1) by T.J. Klune, 405 p.

"Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves.

Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?

After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life)."--Goodreads blurb

As a Klune fan, I was excited to start this series. My experience with Klune has been sweet and emotional books that I have loved, and this was a bit of a departure from that. This is a YA novel and very much reads like one. But that doesn't mean it wasn't good. First and foremost, it was hilarious. The mind of a gay teenage boy with ADHD is apparently very entertaining! Regardless of it being fantasy, go into this being ready to suspend belief, because it's not just the setting, but the characters that are quite unbelievable at times. Will definitely be continuing on with this series!

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

The Last Graduate (The Scholomance #2) by Naomi Novik, 388 p.

"At the Scholomance, El, Orion, and the other students are faced with their final year—and the looming specter of graduation, a deadly ritual that leaves few students alive in its wake. El is determined that her chosen group will survive, but it is a prospect that is looking harder by the day as the savagery of the school ramps up. Until El realizes that sometimes winning the game means throwing out all the rules." --Goodreads blurb

This was a re-read for me in preparation for the third and final book in the series releasing soon. I'm a huge Novik fan, from way back in her Temeraire days, up to her widely popular and award-winning books Spinning Silver and Uprooted. Her writing style is great, and I love a good Dark Academia book, plus more in the vein of urban fantasy as well. This series is fun, with flawed characters and great dialogue. The magic system is pretty original as well. I'm sad the next book is the last one! 
 

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

A Deadly Education (The Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik, 336 p.

"Lesson One of the Scholomance: Learning has never been this deadly.

A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets.

There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere. El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students."--Goodreads blurb

This was a re-read for me in preparation for the third and final book in the series releasing soon. I'm a huge Novik fan, from way back in her Temeraire days, up to her widely popular and award-winning books Spinning Silver and Uprooted. Her writing style is great, and I love a good Dark Academia book, plus more in the vein of urban fantasy as well. This series is fun, with flawed characters and great dialogue. The magic system is pretty original as well. Looking foward to the next one!  

 

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, 403 p.

"Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next."--Goodreads blurb 

This was an impulse read and it sounded really interesting. It started out great but the plot took huge leaps and the character development just wasn't enough. Unfortunately, another disappointment for me. 
 

Dreams of Gods & Monsters

Dreams of Gods & Monsters, 613 p.

"Two worlds are poised on the brink of a vicious war. By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera's rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her.

When the brutal angel emperor brings his army to the human world, Karou and Akiva are finally reunited—not in love, but in a tentative alliance against their common enemy. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves.

But with even bigger threats on the horizon, are Karou and Akiva strong enough to stand among the gods and monsters?

The New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy comes to a stunning conclusion as—from the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond—humans, chimaera, and seraphim strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy."--Goodreads blurb

While I can see the draw to this series by fantasy lovers and teens, this just wasn't the series for me. This last installment was a complete disappointment. I will say I was kept in the story just enough by the author to give her another try in the future. 

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor, 517 p.

"Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?"--Goodreads blurb

I'm not sure if I would have stuck out this book (series, really) if not for listening to it on audiobook. The narrator really brings the characters to life in a story that is really just so-so for me. I'll be finishing out this series because I want to see how the story arc ends, but I will also be glad for it to be over. 

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor, 418 p.

"Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?"--Goodreads blurb

This is my second re-read of the month so I could finish out a series. I remember not being blown away by this first installment years ago, which is why I didn't finish it then, but it has been all over social media and people seem to love it. The story has some fun characters, an interesting main character, and intriguing storyline. I do see why teen readers would love this book. I will continue on with the second book.