Book Review
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Title: The Throne of the Five Winds
Series: Hostage of Empire
Author: S.C. Emmett
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Synopsis: The peace between the neighboring Kingdoms of Zhaon and Kir is a fragile one, and after putting down a revolt from the Kingdom of Khir, Zhaon takes Khirinese Princess Mahara hostage. She is to wed Prince Takyeo, who is first in line for the throne in Zhaon. Mahara brings her lady-in-waiting, Komor Yala, with her as a companion. While Prince Takyeo proves to be a good husband, the rest of their time in Zhaon is a disaster. The two women face constant fear of assassination, and balancing political angst between the members of the Royal Family proves difficult. When the Emperor of Zhaon begins to show signs of illness, the line of succession must be confirmed. The fate of Zhaon will depend on who survives the ensuing chaos.
Review: This was a great idea for a book, and the story has so many interesting traits. The Throne of the Five Winds is about the political push and pull between and within Kingdoms. Khir, Zhaon, and the surrounding Kingdoms are constantly fighting for power. Inside Zhaon, there are six Princes and Two Royal Concubines also looking for political elbow room of their own. The constant backstabbing, undercutting, and scheming makes this story really interesting. It plays out almost like reality TV, almost as if there are cameras inside the characters' private rooms listening to their intimate conversations. And speaking of intimate, the story includes one or two maybe slow-burning romances, as well.
My issue with this book, though, is that while it is full of political intrigue there is almost nothing else to the story. As a reader, I felt like there was almost no buy in at the beginning, as the first 100 pages or so was an info dump and the next 300 was super-complicated and hard to follow. I like a complex story, but since I felt detached from this book in the beginning that made it hard to get into.
I ended up enjoying the book,though. It grew on me. Last 200 pages hooked me in, and with the way it ended I am really excited to see what is coming next.
CONTINUED IN COMMENTS
Book Review
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Title: The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball
Series: The Three Hares #1
Author: Scott Lauder and David Ross
Publisher: Neem Tree Press @neemtreepress
Publication Date: September 5, 2019
Synopsis: Sara is a student in present-day China. Shan Mu is a kid in 996CE China, during the Northern Song Dynasty. When Sara starts to have strange, mystical experiences she does not know what to do. At the same time, Shan Mu's journey just beginning, as well. The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball follows the two of them, and details what happens when their stories intersect.
Book Review: This was an interesting story with lots of Chinese culture. The reader experiences that through Shan Mu's storyline in 996CE, as well as Sara's storyline that takes place in present day and through her time jump scenarios. While Sara's story is told in a more contemporary fashion, Shan Mu's is more in line with a Chinese fable. To me, this really kept the story going because, as a reader, I always wanted to know what was happening next.
This book does fall into the trap most books this short experience: not enough depth. In my opinion, this book could benefit from more character and plot development. There were times when the writing felt a little clunky. I mostly noticed at the ends of chapters, where the story felt abruptly cut off. These faults were not enough to take me out of the story often.
The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball is a unique story full of Chinese culture, magic, and adventure. I recommend it for Fantasy readers.
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Book Review
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Title: A Beginning at the End
Author: Mike Chen @mikechenwriter
Publisher: Mira (a Harper Imprint) @hqstories @harpercollins
Publication Date: January 14, 2020
Synopsis: Rob is a single dad and IT worker, Moira is an ex-pop star, and Krista is an event planner. Each is looking for a new start in San Franciso after a nearly-apocalyptic flu wiped out much of the world's population. In a world where looting is common and everyday people where medical masks to work, it hard to define "normal". In addition to constant fear of outbreak and gang activity, Rob, Moir, and Krista must all battle secrets from their past to survive in the new world.
Review: A Beginning at the End is a fresh take on The End of the World. You are not going to find any zombies, worldwide flooding, or AI takeovers here; just the stories of normal people trying to live their lives. The aspect I like most of Mike Chen's apocalypse scenario is how realistic it is; from the flu pandemic, to the looting and gangs, and the Reclaimed Territories where groups of people attempt to live outside of government control, the story makes sense.
The characters' stories were mostly well-written. The idea that they are all running from something (each in their own way) makes for intriguing storylines, each with a "what-is-going-to-happen-next" feeling. They have all been through a lot, and the reader can empathize with most of it.
I do have to say, Moira's story is my favorite (pop star "Mojo" turned pandemic bandit/survivor turned Regular Jane on the verge of marriage), but her overall motives for taking such precautions against reuniting with her father are not something I connected with well.
The ending was very good, with all of the characters banding together for a singular purpose. The lead-up to the climax of the story was full of tension and drama, but I like that it was not full of gore and violence. I like those kind of apocalyptic stories, too, but the overall tone of this book was positive. And we can all certainly use more of those kinds of stories in our lives.
Overall, Mike Chen’s A Beginning at the End is really good. I recommend reading it.
Rating: 4/5 🐙s
Book Review
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Title: The Bone Ships
Series: The Tide Child Trilogy
Author: RJ Barker @rj.barker
Publisher: Orbit @orbitbooks_us
Publication Date: September 25, 2019
Synopsis: Joron Twiner is shipwife of Tide Child - a ship made of the bones of an arkeesian (an ancient water dragon not seen in the Hundred Isles for centuries), painted black to signify a crew of criminals; that is, until Lucky Meas duels him for the two-tailed captain's hat. Joron loses and is demoted to Deckkeeper. In return, he is taken on the adventure of a lifetime. Joron and Meas travel the Hundred Isles chasing pirates and running from their pasts, but when an arkeesian is spotted roaming the seas, the crew of Tide Child will do whatever it takes to get there first to determine its fate.
Review: I really liked the concept of this book: pirates doing pirate things on ships made from dragon bones. The idea that the arkeesians are extinct (thus, no more ships can be made) brings a layer of depth to this story that makes it very compelling. New arkeesian bones would be extremely valuable, and any pirate that can get his/her/their hands on it would be famous and rich. The Bone Ships has all the elements of The Great Race, just add pirates, a dragon, and magical bird.
The book is full of well-written characters, and the main protagonists in particular. Joron and Meas work well together, playing off each other as Meas teaches Joron how to run a ship. Most the characters in the book come in pretty well-developed, but I think RJ Barker does particularly well developing Joron as the story goes along.
My favorite part of the book is the cadence. It has an almost-poetic nature to it, very ballad-like. The book could have been titled The Ballad of Lucky Meas, and that would have fit perfectly. The pirate dialect was fun, too.
For me, this book did start a little slow. I think it could have gotten into the meat of the story a little quicker. Also, the reader finds that there is a connection between Joron and Meas during their travels, but it gets glanced over and never brought up again. In my opinion, that could have been developed a little more.
Rating: 4/5 🐙s
BOOK REVIEW
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Title: Ormeshadow
Author: Priya Sharma
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Publisher: Tor @tordotcompub
Synopsis: Gideon Belman is content with his life in Bath, where his father has a good job as a secretary. But, when Gideon’s father loses his job, the family is suddenly uprooted and returns to Ormeshadow - where Gideon’s father grew up - to work the family farm. When Gideon learns there is a family history in Ormeshadow that involves an ancient dragon, his life suddenly gets more interesting.
Review: I found this book to quite endearing. The premise of a family returning home and the history that comes to light is very intriguing. There is much family drama to follow, as well as local politics and customs. Not to mention the tale of the dragon, which is rich in history of its own.
The main protagonist, Gideon, is a great character. This book is sort of a coming of age for him as he learns how to deal with family and growing up in a new town trying to find his place in the world. All of the characters in Ormeshadow are well-written. Though the book focuses on Gideon as the main character, the reader gets to experience the high and lows of each of the others, as well.
The one drawback to this book: I did not like the ending. It felt like there could have been a better way to finish the story.
All-in-all, Ormeshadow was a good read. I loved the family drama and descriptions of the farm and the surrounding land. Plus, the draw of the dragon brings the reader in and gives them something to root for. I recommend this book for fantasy readers.
Rating: 4/5 🐙s
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BOOK REVIEW
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Title: The Burning White
Series: The Lightbringer
Author: Brent Weeks @androssguile
Publisher: Orbit @orbitbooks_us
Publication Date: 10/22/2019
Synopsis: As the White King barrels toward the Chromeria, a blitzkrieg of bane, wights, drafters, and soldiers in tow, our heroes are all preparing for war in their own way. Will the White King be defeated? If so, how? And by whom? Also, who exactly IS the Lightbringer, and what role do they have to play in the upcoming events? What is the ultimate fate of the Chromeria? The Burning White seeks to answer these questions.
Review: The Burning White is an epic convergence eight years in the making. From the moment Kip ran into Gaspar Elos before the massacre at Rekton the plot has been building toward all out war, taking the reader on a rollercoaster of a journey - a series of crescendos and diminuendos that was destined to leave readers breathless. And Brent Weeks does not disappoint.
The Lightbringer Series finale is a story of redemption and betrayal, love and loss, heroes and villains. It is classic with being trope-y. Brent Weeks expertly navigates all the perspectives while keeping the end in mind. And what an ending it was. This book played off every emotion - hanging on tightly to every word - and oftentimes had me crying and smiling on the same page.
In my opinion, with The Burning White, Brent Weeks has cemented The Lightbringer Series on the Pantheon of all-time great Fantasy Series.
Rating: 5/5 🐙s
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