The Fiction Feature

The City of Dusk by Tara Sim – ARC Review

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing this book as a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

One-Sentence Summary:

The heirs of four Houses descended from the gods must unite to bring down the barriers between worlds and prevent users of dark magic from wreaking havoc on the world.

My Review:

I've actually only read two Tara Sim books so far, but I'd definitely consider myself a fan. I've been looking forward to this book since the announcement, and I'm so glad I get to review it!
Some background: This book is about the realm of Vitae which houses a monarchy and four Houses whose members are descended from the gods. The Lastriders are descended from Nyx, god of darkness, the Mardovas from Deia, goddess of life, the Cyrs from Phos, god of light, and the Vakaras from Thana, goddess of death. All of the heirs of these houses want to pierce the veil between the four realms, each ruled by a god, but the gods themselves have sealed the doors.
First of all, characters! Because the houses are such a big focus, this story is very character-driven with seven POVs and a lot going on in each. My personal favorites were Dante and Taesia, the older siblings of House Lastrider. However, everyone was either really likeable or really purposefully unlikable. It's easy to see everyone's motivations, but only once they're really realized by the characters themselves. I thought it was a bit hard to keep track of what was going on with Angelica, but otherwise, every character was full fleshed out and had so many dimensions.
Next, the world! This world seemed like it would be incredibly confusing, but I got the hang of it quickly. Four gods, four realms, four Houses, and a lot to keep track of, but Sim is really good at worldbuilding and makes it not quite EASY, but not a pain, to figure everything out. I really loved all of the magic going on here, especially that of the Lastriders and Cyrs. I didn't really see any plot holes or inconsistencies, and I was definitely happy to be reading the entire time.
Relationships aren't really a priority in this installment, but I sense that romantic ones will be very relevant in the next few books. Here, it's mainly about familial bonds and loyalties, but also friendships the heirs of the Houses have made with each other and what tugs on those bonds. It was a tad hard to figure out who was mad at who and why, but I loved the intricacies and drama.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to fans of Sim's writing and the dark fantasy genre. This does come with a warning, though, that the book isn't YA like her others: there's explicit content, some pretty dark rituals, mutilation, suicide ideation, and cannibalism amongst other triggers. If none of those are deal-breakers for you, though, this book is amazing and fully worth the read. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM!!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta – ARC Review

Thank you to Fierce Reads and BookishFirst for providing this book as an early finished copy in exchange for an honest review!

One-Sentence Summary:

Two woman with the power to speak to spirits and dream prophecy separately try to protect those they love in the face of new leadership and changing dynamics in their magical world.

My Review:

To begin with, my introduction to this book! I went to a Fierce Reads event where they tried to play the book trailer for this book and it fully failed and they had to email it to us instead. That made quite the impression on me, so I was really excited to see the book here!
The Lost Dreamer follows two POVs, that of Saya, a Dreamer living freely on the outside with her controlling mother, and Indir, a Dreamer struggling to use her power and trying to grapple with new leadership in her city. Of the two, I definitely preferred Saya’s POV, but I didn’t really have a favorite of the two young women themselves. It was more that I liked the background characters of Saya’s POV (Ruta and Kinet, mostly) much more. Again though, it wasn’t that I didn’t like Indir’s friends, but more that there were so many of them! Indir’s POv was in a city and she had a very close-knit family, so there were a lot more names to remember and political motives to keep track of (although not too many to enjoy the book). Both women are fierce and powerful, and I loved reading about them.
In terms of interpersonal relationships, I did like Saya’s POV better again, but it’s not like Indir is without any valuable ones. Her POV includes the complex relationships her family members have with one another along with a potential romance with a warrior in her city. Meanwhile, Saya does talk about her aunt, but the main focus is with her, Ruta (a young woman from her current village trying to conceive), and Kinet (Ruta’s chosen and potential genderqueer representation– no pronouns are ever used for Kinet). I adored the friendship between all of them and how amazing they are to one another! There were also a number of characters who appeared later that I loved seeing.
On to plot and worldbuilding! This book definitely had a lot to keep track of, mostly in Indir’s POV. I loved the worldbuilding because it was simple, but well-done. The plot was really good too, but I didn’t love how the story lines ended up intersecting. You could see how it progressed I guess, but parts of it were really unexpected in a somewhat negative way because there was an entire chapter dedicated to filling in all of the blanks between POVs.
Overall, I really liked this book! I’d definitely recommend it to people who want to see an innovative new YA fantasy with loads of amazing characters to fall in love with and a world to be immediately immersed in.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee – ARC Review

Thank you to Clarion Teen and NetGalley for providing this book as a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

One-Sentence Summary:

Upon being cursed by a demon, serving girl Miuko must travel with her magpie companion and avoid a demon prince to become human and live in her village once again.

My Review:

For a book about a girl turning into a malevolence demon, this book is surprisingly fun. This is the story of Miuko, a girl cursed to become a demon unless her human soul can prevail and she can kill the demon prince following her before she fully turns. This book is really told in the style of a fairy tale, which I really love. It reads normally, but the plot structure is like you’re reading a myth, which is so fun. There are also so many interesting characters to observe, between humans Miuko scares or spirits she enlists. My favorites were Senara and Geiki (obviously) but everyone in this story is someone worth reading about. Geiki's natural charisma really humanizes Miuko even more than before in making her more lighthearted during a hard situation.
The world itself is done so well. I did think it was tiresome to have such a detailed world that you needed FOOTNOTES to say what everything was, and I still do, but it thins out after a while to be more manageable. I thought that while the footnotes were cumbersome, it was overall very readable since most things were recurring and not entirely new. Given that Miuko herself doesn’t know everything about the hierarchy of spirits or how on earth she can undo her curse, it’s easy to learn with her.
In terms of the plot, I did think there were a few too many twists and turns. It wasn't too many for the book itself, just a lot to keep up with. There was a segment of the book that was entirely unexpected and while it did make everything make sense a bit more, it also delayed the climax of the novel by a lot. This was really the only thing that bothered me though, and as I just said, it was extremely plot-relevant.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to fans of dark fantasy with detailed worldbuilding. Although I personally would’ve gotten fed up with the sexism and exclusion and just became a demon, I enjoyed reading about Miuko’s journey and every part of the book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/5

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft – ARC Review

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and Allison Saft for providing this book as a physical galley in exchange for an honest review!

One-Sentence Summary:

Sharpshooter Margaret Welty teams up with aspiring alchemist Wes Winters to participate in the hunt for the magical hala and prove themselves.

My Review:

I loved Allison Saft’s debut, but A Far Wilder Magic is even better. This book is a 1910-20s inspired fantasy in which Margaret, the daughter of a famous alchemist, must team up with Wes, an aspiring alchemist in need of a chance, to kill the legendary hala, a magic fox meant to destroy villages unless hunted down.

First of all, let’s talk characters! While I don’t believe Allison Saft has any weaknesses, I can definitely say her characters are a strength. Margaret and Wes are so full of life and depth that it’s impossible not to love them. Even with background characters, their emotions, pasts, and motivations are easy to see on the surface of the character, making them that much more realistic to read about. This includes even the horrible characters, like Jaime Harrington, bigot and d*ck.

This book is dual POV, which helps with both the romance and other interpersonal relationships. Between the enemies and the families, it’s so clear how every relationship has progressed and continues to do so. Again, Saft does an amazing job writing her characters to the point where it seems like I’m watching friends interact. The gravity of every situation is understood exactly how she wants it to be, whether it’s about romance or suspense.

The plot in this book makes it so engaging and readable. Since the overarching concept is relatively simple (a future for Wes, an active mother for Margaret, and a magical hunt to help them get them), it’s definitely a great introduction to YA fantasy and amazing for reading slumps. This book has everything: magic, trials, competition, and more. You’re never sure of what will happen next, but everything flows so easily!

I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants a 1920s inspired fantasy (something I think should be more common) with subjects touching on bigotry, tough family dynamics, and lighter ones like magic and competitions we all love to see. This book is so readable and accessible, and I think everyone should read it! Fans of Down Comes the Night won’t be disappointed at all! I couldn’t put this down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Extasia by Claire Legrand – ARC Review

Thank you so much to Claire Legrand for providing a physical ARC of this book as a giveaway prize!

One-Sentence Summary:

In a dystopian society prioritizing the safety of men and the obedience of women, newly appointed Saint Amity finds out about witches close to her home that could change her entire world.

My Review:

First off, are you familiar with Elana K. Arnold? If you like Arnold, I’d highly recommend this, but if not, you should know it’s a very different book from the Empirium Trilogy or even Sawkill Girls. As someone who couldn’t care less what Claire writes as long as it’s hers and has read Elana K. Arnold because of Queen Legrand herself, I had no issues, but this book does contain some potentially triggering content (manipulation, physical assault, ritualistic harm, religious cults, body horror). If you’re still interested, keep reading!

The longer it’s been since I read this book, the more I like it. I’ll start off critiquing the smallest element: romance. There’s a very low key F/M plot line and two F/F relationships, but none take center stage. Given that the point of the book is revenge, empowerment, and escaping the religious cult the girls were born into, it’s unsurprising that the romance isn’t the most important aspect, but it’s still beautiful, as are the many friendships forged. I like it that way though; again, the point isn’t romance at all.

In terms of plot, there’s a lot of it! The genre of this book is somewhat abstract besides the thriller/horror lens. Extasia takes place in a potential future in which the world was wiped out and only some villages survived, this one choosing to blame the end of the world on women and isolating themselves. Amity, our main character, discovers that two of her peers might be conspiring against the Elders, so, naturally, she ends up entrenched in a plot to summon the Devil.

Honestly, I loved the plot of this book. While it was probably not the ideal kind of female empowerment, there was a lot of revenge and journeys of self-discovery. Amity knows absolutely nothing about the extasia and the users of it, so her discovery of magic is alongside the reader’s. Although I know some don’t agree in regards to Furyborn, Legrand is great with making plot and worldbuilding both intricate and understandable. I did have a bit of a hard time with the applications of magic on the village, but overall, it wasn’t enough to hinder my enjoyment of the book.

Characters now! One thing Legrand excelled at here was character development. Everyone had so much depth to begin with, but Queen Claire had no trouble making sure secrets stayed revealed until they couldn’t be and everyone had their own personal journey. There was a moment at the end that I thought, while special, was a little forced, but otherwise, I loved how everything progressed. I honestly didn’t really like most of the characters as people, but again, it’s kind of the point. I loved seeing them all grow, though, and Legrand is a master of the corruption arc.

This book definitely has a lot of trigger warnings to check out, but if you’re looking for a dark, dystopian story with witches and vengeance, look no further. In regards to similarity to Legrand’s other work, I’d again say it’s more Sawkill Girls than Furyborn, but fans of recommendations that Claire has given like The Mercies and Red Hood would probably be big supporters of Extasia. Honestly, this isn’t the kind of book that I usually read (epic fantasy and romance gal here), but I will read anything Claire Legrand writes and always rate it (honestly) 4⭐ and above!

⭐⭐⭐⭐.25/5

I am beyond honored to get to review a book by my favorite author, thank you so much to Claire Legrand for running the signed ARC giveaway for the cover reveal and to HarperTeen for publishing more books by the greatest author ever!

The best books of 2022 — In my humble opinion

I did make a TikTok about this ( @thefictionfeature on TikTok and IG 😉 ), but who has the attention span for 2:33 of a disembodied voice incoherently rambling about YA books? Not me, that’s for sure. Anyways, here’s what I’m looking forward to. The same disclaimer as in my TikTok applies here; I’ve read some of these so the praise is educated, but some is just excitement. Also, I’m numbering these because I feel like it, not ranking them. These books are all fantastic.

First up: READ

Extasia by Claire Legrand – Iffy in terms of age but dystopian horror

This wouldn’t be The Fiction Feature if I didn’t mention my one and only, Claire Legrand. I have seen NO hype around Extasia, but it comes out 2/22, so y’all need to get it together! This book has a lot of trigger warnings because of the subject material, but it’s about a religious cult, the teenage girls they chose as saints, and the witches who live in the woods. This book is so unpredictable and perfect for fans of Elana K. Arnold. The review will be out at noon on 2/23!

2. Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen – YA fantasy

This book is the definition of elite. I’ll be posting my full review of the book soon, but everything about it is perfect. It doesn’t have a single flaw. Fight me on this, I dare you. This is like if The Cruel Prince by Holly Black was actually what everyone thinks it is. I will never shut up about this book. I’ve been harassing my friend to read it for weeks. She literally has no way of doing so, I’m just obsessed. READ IT!

3. A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross – Adult fantasy

I was expecting ARE to blow me away, but it was even better than expected. It had multiple POVs, extremely lovable characters, and twists that made me want to cry. Everyone I know who has read this book absolutely adored it, and for good reason. I have a book box edition of it that I can’t wait to get!!!

4. The City of Dusk by Tara Sim – Adult dark fantasy

I’ve only read one Tara Sim book besides this, but I loved them both. TCOD had seven-ish different POVs and while it wasn’t always the easiest to understand, boy was it engaging. Although I wasn’t always on the same page as the characters, it’s one of the most readable adult fantasy books I’ve read in a while. I’m so excited for The Midnight Kingdom.

Next, the UNREADS!

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn – YA fantasy

Legendborn is one of the best books I’ve read in a while, so I obviously can’t wait for Bloodmarked! The first book was engaging and amazing from page one, and I need more of all of the characters IMMEDIATELY.

2. Wildbound by Elayne Audrey Becker – YA fantasy

When I tell you I would do anything for this book, I mean it. I’m so incredibly excited for the sequel to one of my 2021 favorites!!! I was on the tour for Forestborn, so feel free to check on my review! I recommend that book to EVERYONE.

3. All of Our Demise by Christine Lynn Herman and Amanda Foody – YA fantasy

Although All of Us Villains wasn’t what I had imagined, it was amazing nonetheless. With that ending, it’s no surprise that I’m foaming at the mouth for the sequel! Amanda Foody is truly another autobuy for me, and I loved the characters of All of Us Villains, so this book is sure to wreck me.

4. The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix YA fantasy

When I say most anticipated, I mean it. I’ve been looking forward to this book for MONTHS. Simon & Schuster, I would do anything for an ARC. Sapphic murder with blood witches and chaos? GIVE IT TO ME. I can’t even give many legitimate reasons for wanting this book because every time I think about it, I’m consumed by the immaculate vibes it’s already providing. This book will be a BookTok sensation, mark my words. (S&S please I wasn’t kidding I’ll do whatever you want)

Anyways, thanks for reading! I’ll try to do more recommendation lists and most anticipated’s in the future, but for now, I’ve got a lot of reviews scheduled for y’all! See you on Wednesday for my review of Extasia!

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross – ARC Review

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing this book as a a digital galley in exchange for an honest review!

One-Sentence Summary:

Jack Tamerlaine is called back from his time as a bard on the mainland to investigate the disappearances of young girls on his home island as romance and rivalries ignite.

My Review:

I had heard a lot of positive things about this book, especially since it's a book box pick, and it truly delivered. I didn't even know much about the plot, so I was going in with more of a vibe and a hope that it would be that good.
This book is about Jack and Adaira, childhood enemies separated after Jack left their island, Cadence, to study to become a bard. Years later, he's called back to solve the disappearance of two young girls, presumably taken by spirits, but the truth is much more complex. In a way, I think this book was predictable, but in a good way. The Tamerlaines, the people who occupy the western side of Cadence, have abundant resources, but the magic they use drains them, while the Breccans, the western people, are the opposite. Like you'd expect, there's a lot of rivalry in the story itself because of this. The actual plot of the book is so intriguing because it follows a few of the Tamerlaines: Jack, Adaira, Sidra, Torin, and Frae. My favorites were Sidra and Torin, but I actually can't think of a single character I didn't like, which is great!
In terms of worldbuilding, this book was so inventive. There were so many legends and fairytales about Cadence, and the author's magic system was really intriguing. The price of the magic in A River Enchanted makes you reevaluate what's truly important in the novel and how much the characters care for each other to make the decisions they do. There are elemental spirits, stories passed down throughout generations, and magic that gives you chills.
Romance isn't a huge focus in this book, but it was such a good romance that I had to mention it. The main couples are Jack and Adaira and Sidra and Torin. As I mentioned earlier, jack and Sidra hate each other, but they have to make a number of decisions for their own safety and the safety of the girls taken that bring them together in a way that's literally forced, but feels natural. Meanwhile, Torin married Sidra mainly because he needed someone good to help with his daughter after his wife's death, but the two really balance each other out, and despite what it seems like at the beginning, their relationship is one of mutual respect, not just her being a housewife because he needed it. (Side note, I love that this book has a village setting and yet so few of the "men do the fighting >:(" moments.)
In conclusion, y'all should ABSOLUTELY read this book. It's great for people who want a mysterious, mystical fantasy novel with characters that are easy to love and a plot that reels you in from the first chapter. I can't wait to get my physical copy!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the Serpent’s Wake by Rachel Hartman – ARC Review

Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing this book as a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

One-Sentence Summary:

The protagonist of book one, Tess, joins an expedition to find another Serpent in the polar circle along with crew members and old enemies.

My Review:

As civil as this review will be, I do consider this book a waste of my time since I didn't realize it was a sequel and ended up reading 1,000 pages of this series, most of which I'd consider maybe 2-2.5 stars. I have a very complicated relationship with this book. I just barely managed to keep track of Tess of the Road, and while this book was more my speed in terms of the concept, it was harder to follow. I did like the characters that I could recognize and understand (Spira, Marga, Hami, Kikiu, Pathka, Jacomo, etc.) but there were so many that were so new and I could even remember when they were introduced.
If I knew about 75% of the characters, I knew 40% of the plot, TOPS. I understood the basics: Tess is here to act as a Goreddi spy on a Ninysh expedition to the polar region to find the Polar Serpent and see if the Goreddi should interfere with Ninyah colonization. Everything beyond that was a mystery. “This man is evil” Okay but WHO IS THIS MAN??? There was just so much to keep track of, and I could not, no matter how hard I tried.
I didn’t find the book itself unpleasant, but the lack of understandable plot to me hindered my enjoyment of it. I also do understand the lack of romance, but just a minor plot line would’ve made it better for me because while I loved the platonic relationships of this book, the overwhelming world and character building made me need something to grasp onto.
Overall, I liked this one less than the first book, but I didn’t hate it. I’m giving it this rating simply because I didn’t find it that readable.

⭐⭐/5

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian – ARC Review

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing this book as a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

One-Sentence Summary:

Sisters Daphne, Sophronia, and Beatriz must find ways to unseat their new husbands, the leaders of rival kingdoms, in order to give power to their empress mother.

My Review:

I've only read one other Laura Sebastian book (Ash Princess) and hadn't even heard about this one until a couple weeks ago, but I'm so glad I requested. This book is about three sisters engaged to two princes and a king so that they can aid their mother in conquering the kingdoms of these men and adding them to her empire. Sophronia, the one talented in coding and intellectual pursuits, is engaged to Leopold, the new and somehow different king of Friv. Beatriz, the flirtatious and bold sister, is engaged to Pasquale, the prince of the extremely conservative and dangerous Cellaria. Lastly, Daphne, the deadliest one of all, is engaged to the newly legitimate prince of Temarin who wants nothing to do with her or his title after the death of his half brother.
One thing Laura Sebastian does incredibly well here is the multiple POVs. It's surprisingly easy to keep track of, which is really impressive for a detailed fantasy novel with magic and political focuses. It was a bit hard to remember which sister was in which kingdom and what the beliefs and politics of each one were. However, I got ahold of it within about 20% of the book. The world-building itself worked pretty well, but the limits of stardust specifically were a little unclear to me, especially the way Friv used it. Plot-wise, I thought everything unfurled really well, but I will touch on that a bit more in a minute.
As much as I liked the characters, I didn't think they were very dynamic. I thought Leopold at the very least would be a bit more because Sophronia said his recent actions didn't match up with his personality in their letters, but it wasn't really anything about his character. I really wanted to see more from the characters, but all we ever heard was how predictable they were because they DIDN'T change enough. I wasn't expecting the sisters or the princes to become completely different people, but the biggest decisions they made were predicted by everyone. The plot twists were honestly pretty clear to me based on basic character traits of those doing betraying or other things. It didn't really affect my speed or enjoyment, but it was kind of noticeable. Beatriz was probably my favorite POV character, but I did like them all.
Overall, I did really like this book. It wasn't perfect, but I'm really glad to have requested this. It would probably be a borrow for me, not a buy, but I'd definitely read more from the author. This is great for people who love magic and political intrigue with high stakes, intricate plots.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Servant Mage by Kate Elliott – ARC Review

One-Sentence Summary:

When a mage forced into servitude is recruited by a group of rebels, she’s roped into a much bigger scheme to change the structure of the kingdom.

My Review:

This book was honestly really good. For some reason I thought it was over 300 pages when I requested, but it’s actually under 200. I thought that was strange for a fantasy novel, especially one with so much worldbuilding, but it seemed to work!
Speaking of the worldbuilding, it was a bit confusing. With less than 200 pages of content, it’s hard to make a good introduction to this world, but the author did a good job for the most part. It’s one of those where I’m extremely confused while reading, but I could probably explain it to someone else.
I really liked the cast of characters, but I think one of the biggest issues was that I could hardly get attached to them with barely any time to know them, which bothered me. I feel like I would’ve liked this significantly more if it was more drawn out to a typical fantasy novel length.
Regardless, I really liked this book and would recommend it to people who like short fantasies with a strong, well-written world. I’d absolutely read a sequel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5