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Babel by R.F. Kuang Published by Harper Voyager on August 23, 2022 Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Dark Academia, BIPOC Pages: 560 Format: Hardback Source: Purchased
Content Warnings: Racism, Classism, Death, Alcohol Use, Blood, Gore, Blackmail, Torture, Child Abuse, Gun Violence, Colonialism, Misogyny, Sexual Assault, Slavery, Self-Harm, Death of a Parent, Murder, War Rating:
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. 1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. The tower and its students are the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver-working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as the arcane craft serves the Empire's quest for colonization. For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide . . . Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?
Babelis my first experience with R.F. Kuang, as I have yet to read The Poppy Wars, and I was not disappointed. While I may not have rated Babel as high as other reviewers, it was still high up on my list of reads this year.
"Betrayal. Translation means doing violence upon the original, means warping and distorting it for foreign, unintended eyes."
Babel is an in-depth look at the harm colonialism has and is continuing to enact on society at large, set in a fantastical, alternative version of our own world where "magic" exists through the act of translation and silver bars. Despite it being set in an alternative reality, the message is no less an honest reflection of our world, where colonialism has led to the worst atrocities we have ever witnessed. Kuang ruthlessly explores the themes of colonialism, racism, and resistance, leaving very little up to interpretation.
Some readers have remarked that Kuang is "heavy-handed" in her writing, but I disagree. Just because the exploration and commentary are "obvious" doesn't mean the writing is heavy-handed. In a world where people are arguing that books are not political, I think we need more authors to be clear in their messaging.
Kuang not-so-politely holds up a mirror to the reader and modern society and asks us to confront our darkest demons. Under all the glamour and illusions, we find there is nothing but a failing system leading all of us to our inevitable doom. Robin, our main character, and his friends, who are largely non-white immigrants, are faced with the harsh realities of an oppressive system that is failing everyone except the ultra-wealthy. From capitalism and colonialism to misogyny and racism, our characters, and therefore we as readers, experience the very worst society has to offer, and things never get better.
"Only it builds up, doesn’t it? It doesn’t just disappear. And one day you start prodding at what you’ve suppressed. And it’s a mass of black rot, and it’s endless, horrifying, and you can’t look away."
It's through this exploration that we find ourselves siding with what society calls "terrorists," the individuals fighting against the system. The lengths our characters are willing to go to fight against oppression are the same lengths that so many people have gone through for centuries. This is a culmination of resistance, the desire to fight for freedom and liberation, even when death comes knocking. I was sobbing by the end of Babel, my heart aching for our characters and the world. From the language to the setting to the themes and magic system, Babelis a masterpiece.
“Power did not lie in the tip of a pen. Power did not work against its own interests. Power could only be brought to heel by acts of defiance it could not ignore. With brute, unflinching force. With violence.”
While I thought the story dragged in some parts and could have probably been about 150-200 pages shorter, I loved every minute of it. From the linguistic lessons to the footnotes, my breath was consistently taken away. I am such a sucker for footnotes, whether they are real or not; I believe they are a unique and interesting way to world-build. I loved the footnotes just as much here as I did in the Emily Wilde Trilogy. However, some parts were read like an academic textbook, with very little actually happening in the story. This was my biggest qualm with the book.
Furthermore, the magic system was profoundly unique. Translations were written on silver bars, which were then used to perform different tasks, like shielding the building or speeding up carriages. What was even more interesting was that the silver bar's function waned over time, and eventually, some word pairs no longer worked because the languages became too similar to each other. French and Spanish end up having words in common with English as societies intermingle and trade, resulting in a Frankenstein language. This was such a clever idea, and I ate it up.
I cannot recommend Babel enough, especially in light of current events, not just here in the United States, but all over the world. Alt-right ideologies and politics are on the rise, which is a threat to all of us, not just a few. I encourage you to educate yourself through diverse viewpoints and take whatever actions you can to fight against oppression.
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Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan Series: Until We Shatter #1 Published by Hodderscape on October 17, 2024 Genres:YA Fantasy, Romance, LGBT Pages: 319 Format: Hardback Source: Illumicrate
A desperate thief. An impossible heist. Survive . . . or shatter. No matter where she goes, Cemmy's life is under threat. The Church would see her killed for having any magic. The Council of Shades wants her dead for not having enough. So when her mother falls ill, Cemmy has no choice but to turn thief. And when she's offered a job that could solve all their problems, it's impossible to resist. The catch? Cemmy will have to work with Chase - beautiful, dangerous, and full of secrets - to steal a powerful relic the Church has hidden within a deadly realm of shadows. If she succeeds, Cemmy will finally be safe. But if she's caught, she risks igniting a spark that could destroy the city - and everyone inside . . .
First of all, I am not a huge fan of the heist trope. I am not sure why it always rubs me the wrong way, but it is rare for me to enjoy a story about stealing, even if the stealing is "justified." Time and time again, someone betrays the team for selfish reasons, things crumble right when success is within reach, and innocent people often pay a terrible price for nothing.
"And when power is afraid, you can always trust it to make the most morally bankrupt choice."
Until We Shatter is certainly a unique take on the heist trope, with our motley crew using an alternate reality to steal from an oppressive religious government that is seeking to eradicate magic and everyone capable of doing magic. The parallels between the trials and tribulations faced by Shades and Hues, those with the ability to use magic, and what modern-day Palestinians face are uncanny. We have an outside government using religion and colonialism to genocide an entire group of people. The Shades and Hues were essentially rounded up and forced to live in only certain parts of the city, a city they helped found and start, and then deprived of food, clean water, medicine, and stability, all under the guise of religious purity and supposed violence. The Church constantly tries to incite violence (which is really just self-defense) from the Shades in an attempt to take away even more of their land and freedoms. Sound familiar?
This subtext was excellently executed, with gorgeous prose to boot. Dylan is certainly a gifted writer, constructing sentences in such a way as to keep the reader fully engaged and emersed in the text. However, while she is strong in language, she is not strong in world-building or character development.
The first half of the book felt like a brain dump of facts about the world and its magic system. The magic system was so convoluted it was often hard to keep up with the powers possessed by each type of Shade and Hue. This book would have benefited greatly from an Appendix that included a chart of all the possible combinations and their powers. After a while, I was able to put together the basics, but I did give up trying to remember every single detail. It was confusing and complicated for no other reason than to be extra. It's okay to have complicated magic systems, but when they are poorly done, it takes away from the entire experience.
Furthermore, I didn't particularly connect with all of our characters. I was rooting for them because I wanted them to take down an oppressive system, but I wasn't so attached that I cried when they were injured or killed. That is a failure on Dylan's part for sure. The heist trope relies on readers falling in love with the characters—that is what makes the book high stakes, but it was lacking here. However, there was both bisexual and deaf representation, both of which were beautifully integrated into the story. I am a sucker for good representation.
Overall, Until We Shatter was just fine. I had my heartstrings pulled a time or two and cared enough to finish, but it's not necessarily a series I think I will continue. Book 2 looks like it is taking a very different turn away from the original story, so I may give it a chance, but I am not overly enthusiastic about it. This is the perfect book to cleanse your palate or bump up your monthly reading count in a pinch.
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Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven Published by Wednesday Books on March 4, 2025 Genres:YA Fantasy, Romance, LGBT Pages: 352 Format: Hardback Source: OwlCrate
Content Warnings: Ableism, Racism, Sexism, Classism, Sexual Assault, Domestic Abuse, Suicide, Blood, Forced Institutionalization, Death, Torture, Kidnapping, Cancer Rating:
They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one. Evelyn can remember all her past lives. She can also remember that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being linked to her soul. The problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, she’ll have to find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life before they find her first, figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse, and try not to fall in love . . . again.
Our Infinite Fates is a love story that transcends time and space; a yearning that will leave you breathless in the best way possible. Despite how much I loved this story, there was a moment Steven lost me, but she was able to suck me back in right at the very end.
Our Infinite Fates alternates through time, with some chapters taking place in modern day and others occurring in the past. Honestly, I could have skipped the present-day story, which played too much of a central focus in my opinion, and just followed this pair of souls across time and space. I felt the same way while reading Paula Brackston's The Witch's Daughter, preferring the historical parts of the story. That isn't to say the modern story isn't interesting or worthy of reading; it just didn't pique my fascination as much as the past did.
“I love you, I have loved you, and I will love you.”
Steven does an amazing job showing reincarnation andhow souls change as time wears on, being reborn in multiple bodies of all colors, shapes, sizes, genders, and nationalities. The fluidity of the characters' souls was so beautiful, with them both finding each other in every lifetime, no matter what society dictated. Tragically, both souls have to die in every lifetime before the age of 18 due to a mysterious curse. This curse looms over their entire existence, a curse only one of them can remember, but will take both of them to break.
The suspense and impending doom, the resignation in Arden (the current incarnation of the soul who remembers), and the longing to be together left my heart both racing and in shambles. Steven really does know how to suck a reader into a story, but the twist was so awkwardly done that it pulled me out of the story.
Obviously, Our Infinite Fates has fantastical elements, and the twist certainly leaned heavily into fantasy, particularly religious doctrine. What angered me the most, however, was Arden's absolute refusal to give our protagonist any information throughout multiple lifetimes. I understand they had been burned in the past, but as a reader looking in, I was absolutely frustrated by the lack of information and their coldness. When Arden is finally forced to reveal the truth, things have gone so sideways in the story that it doesn't matter anymore.
Steven lost me with the fantastical subplot that occurs after their death, but the last chapter sucked me back in, offering an alternate explanation to the curse and the fate of our protagonists. It was this last chapter that sucked me back in and left me breathless. Ultimately, however, I was left wanting more; more history, more understanding, more timeless yearning, more true love and affection, more characterization...just...more. I would love to see Steven tell the story of their beginning, and maybe even give some more details of the past.
Despite the lack of plot, Steven's writing is fantastic. She does an amazing job leaving the reader in the dark as we follow a largely unreliable narrator, with beautiful prose and even some excellent one-liners. I loved the souls' vows to each other so much that I incorporated “I love you, I have loved you, and I will love you" into my own wedding vows.
"Translation in a colonized state is an act of violence..."
Furthermore, Steven begins to address some cultural issues facing different groups of people, as seen in the quote above, but never dives deep into any of these issues. While I appreciate the subtext, it would have been more meaningful if the plot engaged such issues. Ultimately, Our Infinite Fateswas just okay. It is not the best book I've read or the worst.
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The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna Series: Deathless #3 Published by Delacorte Press on February 13, 2024 Genres:YA Fantasy, LGBT, BIPOC Pages: 480 Format: Paperback Source: Purchased
Content Warnings: Sexism, Misogyny, Body Horror, Racism, Death, Disownment, Torture, Mutilation, Starvation, Trauma, Sexual Violence, Death of Parent Rating:
Mere weeks after confronting the Gilded Ones—the false beings she once believed to be her family—Deka is on the hunt. In order to kill the gods, whose ravenous competition for power is bleeding Otera dry, she must uncover the source of her divinity. But with her mortal body on the verge of ruin, Deka is running out of time—to save herself and an empire that’s tearing itself apart at its seams. When Deka’s search leads her and her friends to the edge of the world as they know it, they discover an astonishing new realm, one which holds the key to Deka’s past. Yet it also illuminates a devastating decision she must soon make… Choose to be reborn as a god, losing everyone she loves in the process. Or bring about the end of the world.
The Eternal Ones is the epic conclusion to Forna's Deathless series and did it go out with a bang! The final book is fast-paced, engaging, character and plot-driven; basically everything you want in a book. Forna's writing developed beautifully over the course of this series, culminating in a fantastical conclusion that left my jaw on the floor and my eyes welling with tears.
“I realize that fate isn't just due to some remote deity pushing a poor mortal toward an outcome that they wished. Fate also happens because an individual pushes themselves, pulls the threads of the universe a little their way.”
I do not want to give away the plot or spoilers in this series, but I will say this; the final twist was beautifully done, with Deka pulling on the threads of fate to rewrite the course of history. I am not going to say it is shocking or comes out of nowhere (the story leads us to the final conclusions effortlessly), but it was a beautiful turn of events. The final couple of scenes broke my heart into a million pieces...for the girls, the gods, and everyone involved in our story. Sometimes we are faced with impossible decisions and hardships and must find a way back into the light. Deka certainly does just that.
I loved watching our diverse group of characters really grow into their own, as their relationships with each other blossomed into such fierce loyalty, no matter what hardships they faced. The love they shared for each other, both familial and not, were so well done. I actually felt like I was there, witnessing these kids grow up. Forna shows young readers what friendship actually means and it was wonderful to behold.
“I've never needed you, Keita ... But I've always wanted you. More than anything, I've wanted you ... You're not a need, Keita, you're not an obligation to me. What you are is my happiness, my delight. When I didn't believe that there was good in the world, there was you. You're my comfort and joy, and I hope I'm the same for you.”
While the love between Deka and Keita felt clunky in the first book, by the time we reach the ending of of the Deathless series it felt natural. It was a love to make the whole world jealous; a love born out of shared mutual respect and trust, not just desire or need. Keita is everything a woman wants in a partner: helpful, devoted, honest, emotionally intelligent, and selfless. He is the epitome of "if he wanted to he would."
Above all else, I love Forna's commentary on the patriarchy, feminism, and community. In the end, it took the entire village to bring about a better and brighter future, where people are free to love and exist in their truest forms. No longer were women or men subservient to the other, but instead equal on the playing field of life. We also see the strength of women together, and how even the patriarchy could not turn them against each other as it so often does in our own society. Young people need more books modeling such love and respect; even some adults need it. The Eternal Ones is an absolute masterclass in empathy.
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Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth Hobbes Published by One More Chapter on February 27, 2025 Genres:Fantasy, Romance, LGBT Pages: 384 Format: Paperback Source: The Forbidden Wing
Sigh...I was so looking forward to my first month's subscription of The Forbidden Wing by The Locked Library, which included Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth Hobbes. The original and new cover designs were great, the story sounded right up my alley, and it included faeries. Sounds like a win-win, right? Unfortunately, not so much. I'm not going to say I hatedDance with the Fae, but it wasn't great either. Let's start with what I liked.
First, I loved all of the characters and their development. Hobbes did an excellent job creating three-dimensional characters that felt both real and otherworldly at the same time. Not all characters are lovable, but their story and quest still felt important to me, despite my reservations. It takes an author who knows their craft to create such an attachment to even unlovable characters. Kit was my favorite by far, representing the bisexual community at a time when such proclivities could get you killed.
Not only do we have excellent and tastefully done queer-rep that added to the story and character development, but also PTSD representation that, again, added to the story and character development. As the granddaughter, sister, and wife of war veterans, I have firsthand experience with the trials and tribulations of PTSD. Authors often get it wrong, using what they see in the media to fuel their own imaginations. It's not always zoning out and screaming and nightmares; it's also the all-consuming guilt, the unregulated emotions, the racing brain, the debilitating anxiety. Kit perfectly encapsulates the nuances of PTSD in a real and meaningful way.
While the overall story was fine and cute, the pacing was not. There were times events moved at a snail's pace, slugging along endlessly, while important moments seemed to fly by in a heartbeat. Maybe this was done because time flows differently in the Otherworld, but it seems more like a failure on Hobbes' part than a plot device. The entire book is building up to what should be an "epic" battle that determines the fate of two worlds, but instead it lasts, what?...three pages? It was a little longer than that, but you get my drift.
I didn't mind that parts felt crazy or weird, because that is the point of the Otherworld, but I did care that the story's pacing was so off that it detracted from everything else. Poor pacing can destroy an entire book, and it certainly did that here. Maybe it won't for you.
Overall, Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth Hobbes was just okay. It was certainly disappointing as the first book in a new-to-me subscription box, but it did make for a quick palate cleanser all the same.
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The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna Series: Deathless #2 Published by Delacorte Press on May 31, 2022 Genres:YA Fantasy, LGBT, BIPOC Pages: 464 Format: Paperback Source: Purchased
Content Warnings: Sexism, Misogyny, Body Horror, Racism, Death, Disownment, Torture, Mutilation, Starvation, Trauma, Sexual Violence, Death of Parent Rating:
It's been six months since Deka freed the goddesses in the ancient kingdom of Otera and discovered who she really is... but war is waging across the kingdom, and the real battle has only just begun. For there is a dark force growing in Otera—a merciless power that Deka and her army must stop. Yet hidden secrets threaten to destroy everything Deka has known. And with her own gifts changing, Deka must discover if she holds the key to saving Otera... or if she might be its greatest threat.
There is a definite improvement in Forna's writing in the second book of the Deathless series, The Merciless Ones, which takes place six months after the events of book one. Despite the improvement in the overall writing, this is the weakest book in the trilogy.
I read all three books back-to-back, so there was no time for me to forget what had happened in previous books, but The Merciless Ones made me feel like I had missed something incredibly important in The Gilded Ones. Suddenly, our ragtag team of rebels is looking for Arcane objects of great power, and we, as readers, are just expected to know what they are and why they are important. Forna eventually gives us a little bit of background knowledge on these objects, but otherwise, we are thrown into the ocean without a life jacket and expected to swim. I did not like this shift from book one, and the objects felt as if they were contrived simply to drive the plot in the direction Forna eventually wanted it to go. I think mentioning these arcane objects in the first book would have been beneficial, so it wasn't so abrupt in book two.
Thankfully, I felt the pacing was better in The Merciless Ones compared to The Gilded Ones, where the story had fits and starts. The Merciless Ones was incredibly fast paced, introducing and fleshing out the world and characters of Otera along the way. Our cast of characters greatly expands in book two, but Forna does such a great job fleshing out their backstories and personalities that I had no problem keeping track of everyone. Sometimes there are so many side characters I get lost in the sauce, but that wasn't the case here.
Furthermore, Forna expands on the themes of trauma and our response to it. Several of our girls have experienced terrible cruelties that have influenced and driven their futures. These horrors are introduced in a tasteful way, and we work through these events with the characters to grow and expand with them. I loved the commentary on mental health, trauma, and overcoming adversity, and felt it helped me connect with each of the characters in a more meaningful way.
However, I liked Deka, our main character, less in this book than in the previous one. She is so overpowered, with new powers arriving at just the right moment, that the story sometimes felt contrived. On top of this, Deka is so confused and unsure of her own power that she is often insufferable. Everyone else seems to be growing and maturing, but Deka is stuck in this perpetual state of childhood. Because of this, the love story takes a backseat, which I was fine with. However, there are enough cute moments between Deka and Keita to keep the love alive. It felt more real in The Merciless Ones than it did previously.
“There’s nothing worse than ordinary men.”
Despite the inherent flaws, I loved Forna's commentary on misogyny and the patriarchy. While there is certainly a twist at the end that shifts some of the blame, it's obvious the current oppressive system is entirely the fault of ordinary men thinking they are something great. Forna's representation of the patriarchy and its harms is a perfect overlay with our current world. I'm all for eating terrible men, and Forna certainly ate. On top of this, we get a variety of queer characters, humor, friendship, and female-bonding. At the end of the day, it's Deka's relationship with the women in her life that truly matters.
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A Study In Drowning by Ava Reid Series: A Study in Drowning #1 Published by Harper Collins on November 5, 2024 Genres:YA Fantasy, Dark Academia Pages: 432 Format: Hardback Source: Purchased
Content Warnings: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Misogyny, Violence, Drug Use, Abuse, Mental Illness, Death, Sexism, Racism Rating:
2025 certainly feels like my dark academia era as I continue to dive deeper into the genre. I ate A Study in Drowningup, and while there were certainly some issues, I deeply enjoyed Reid's storytelling. The best way to describe A Study in Drowning is a dark academia version of Crimson Peak. If you loved the film Crimson Peak, you'll love this story. The dark and decrepit house is haunted by an otherworldly presence while the once wealthy owners seek to save it, potentially through nefarious means. The Fairy King haunts Hiraeth Manor in such a way that it often feels like you are slipping into madness with Effy. I loved every minute in Hiraeth Manor.
Apart from loving the vibes, I appreciated Reid's portrayal of trauma, particularly that of Effy. Not only is she dealing with misogyny, but she is also trying to prove herself in a world that thinks she slept her way to the top and that, because she is pretty, she is asking for it. There are multiple times Effy is put into a situation she did not ask for simply because she is a beautiful young girl/woman. While it absolutely broke my heart what Effy suffered, it's a story we both share; one I know many women unfortunately share. Effy consistently proves everyone wrong, and I loved every minute of it.
Despite how strong and noteworthy Effy is, she is not without her flaws. You would think a character who is constantly belittled and underestimated would not be prejudiced, but here we are. I mean, this isn't an uncommon trope, as it's incredibly common in real life. White women, despite experiencing prejudice, will still center white supremacy, and that's exactly what Effy does. Preston, while white, is half Argantian. Argant and Llyr are rival nations, not just politically but culturally as well. Llyrians strongly believe their "Storytellers," known as Sleepers, magically protect Llyr. Llyrians believe themselves to be more intelligent, rational, and superior in every way to Argantians and, unfortunately, Effy sings this tune loudly.
The conflict between these two nations is underdeveloped, which actually didn't bother me because both nations seemed to have reached somewhat of a stalemate. The prejudices still existed, but much of the battling was fading, and the war was fading from the public mindset. Because it was fading, our main characters didn't expound on it, allowing more pressing matters, even if trivial, to be the main focus.
What I did not like was Effy's disregard for intersectionality and her constant pestering of Preston. She uses racist stereotypes and insults, despite Preston being in a similar situation to hers. The disparaging doesn't end until she falls in love with him, but she never addresses her prejudice nor grows as a person. This reeks of, "I have a black friend, so I can't be racist." Because she fell in love with a half-Argantian man, suddenly she can't be racist. Yeah, that's not how that works, and it made me uncomfortable. I am hoping this is addressed in the next book, which is set to release later this year.
A Study in Drowning is certainly not for everyone. Many other reviewers have mentioned they were bored or couldn't connect with the characters. I can definitely see why that would be the case, but I still found the eerie setting, mystery, looming destruction, and the characters to be enthralling.
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Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson Series: The Mistborn Saga #1 Published by Tor Books on July 17, 2006 Genres:Epic Fantasy Pages: 576 Format: Paperback Source: Purchased
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. Then Kelsier reveals 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. She will have to learn trust if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.
Mistborn: The Final Empire is my introduction to Sanderson, and what an introduction it was! I can see why he is so highly recommended in fantasy spaces and can't wait to read more of his works. The world-building, character development, magical system, and story are all top tier. I have little to say that others haven't already said before, so if you have seen other raving reviews, then you have certainly seen mine.
The Final Empire takes place after the installation of a tyrant, despite apparent rebellions in the past. A ragtag team of rebels comes up with a crazy scheme to rob and defeat the Empire to free the Skaa from their oppressors. There's certainly nothing unique about the themes and tropes in this story, but it's done in such a beautiful way that it's hard not to love it. What really pushed it over the edge for me was the magic system, which really is like nothing else out there.
Some people have mocked the system as just "eating metals," but it's so much more than that. From a scientific and witchy perspective, the idea that like attracts like and that metals have different vibrational powers was a fantastic basis for a magic system. Sanderson incorporated Hermetic principles with modern physics and chemistry to create a fantastical magic system that works in profound ways. I finished reading Mistbornin February, and I am still thinking about it.
On top of a beautiful magic system, the world-building is effortless and spans the entire book. Sanderson does not simply tell us what the world is like; he immerses us in it. We learn and explore as our main character, Vin, does. Vin has been so sheltered her entire life, struggling to survive in the slums of the city, that when she begins exploring the wide world around her, we too explore it with her. But it is not just Vin through which we see the world; we are also seeing it through the eyes of Vin's mentor and leader of the rebels, Kelsier. Through Kel, we are able to adventure out into the agricultural districts to see just how differently Skaa in the city live versus Skaa in the fields.
While all this is happening in real time, we are also given glimpses into the Lord Ruler's past and how he came to be through journal entries. I love exploring the past in such a way, given snippets of information periodically throughout the story as it either becomes available or is necessary to understand the plot.
The story ends with a bang. We suffer great loss as well as great revelations. There is a major twist at the end, more than one in fact, but the story wraps up in a nice bow, allowing this to act as a stand-alone if you want. It wraps up so nicely that I haven't felt the need to pick up books two and three yet, instead focusing on other books that have been sitting on my shelf longer. If you are afraid to dive into the Sandserson-verse, don't be. Mistborn: The Final Empire is s great starting place and won't leave you feeling like you have to read 10 more books to understand what is going on.
I highly recommend fantasy readers pick up The Final Empire sooner rather than later. Make the jump! You won't regret it!
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The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna Series: Deathless #1 Published by Delacorta Press on May 1, 2020 Genres:YA Fantasy, LGBT, BIPOC Pages: 432 Format: Paperback Source: Purchased
Content Warnings: Sexism, Misogyny, Body Horror, Racism, Death, Disownment, Torture, Mutilation, Starvation, Trauma, Sexual Violence, Death of Parent Rating:
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.
The Gilded Ones is the first in the Deathless Trilogy by Namina Forna. Unfortunately, you can also tell this is Forna's debut, as the writing, characters, and pacing seem slightly off. That isn't to say the book is bad (I rated it 3.75 stars), just don't go in expecting a masterpiece.
The story opens with Deka fearing her upcoming blood ceremony, where girls are tested to see if their blood runs red or gold. Red means you are "normal" and can continue living, but gold means you are a demon and must be sentenced to death immediately. Girls are tested once they reach puberty because by that point, their demon blood begins to manifest. Of course, Deka's blood runs gold. I wouldn't say this magic system is particularly new, because special blood exists in multiple fantasy realms, but the execution of it is different.
This gold blood gives the girls greater strength, healing abilities, etc, which makes them a threat to the patriarchy. The commentary on patriarchal systems and the harm it does to everyone is part of the reason I rated The Gilded Onesas high as I did. Women, whether they have red or gold blood, are treated as secondary citizens, with even the men facing retribution if they show any signs of weakness. This is exactly how patriarchy hurts everyone, and Forna does a fantastic job setting this premise up in The Gilded Ones.
On top of this, there is an excellent, complex, and diverse cast from a wide range of ethnicities. Forna flawlessly integrates multiple cultures into one story with her world-building. Furthermore, there is ample queer representation, which isn't uncommon in girl-power type books. Each character was fleshed out, creating a dynamic cast I very quickly connected with. I absolutely loved Britta, a joyful redhead with a great sense of humor, who quickly becomes Deka's best friend. She had me laughing more often than not.
Furthermore, it's through Britta that menstruation is actually mentioned in the story, more than once, mind you! I don't know about you, but something that always bothers me about books and movies is that menstruation is very rarely ever addressed. This is a real "issue" people with a uterus deal with, and one that should play a role in their story. Unless we are dealing with pre-menstrual children or people with a uterus who have undergone so much trauma, stress, and malnourishment, they no longer menstruate, bleeding once a month is going to pose problems while you try to save the world. Most people with a uterus experience cramps, heavy bleeding, fatigue, moodiness, and increased appetite. Some even run fevers and cramp so badly they have difficulty moving. This is going to affect their ability to save the world! It should be included in the narrative! Forna does just that, without making it something revolting or disturbing. Instead, she normalizes it.
Apart from the demon blood plaguing our main character, we are also dealing with deities and monsters, both good and bad. The Deathshrikes are a consistent threat to our main characters and the main villain in The Gilded Ones. However, the book ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the reader questioning everything they thought they knew.
So why did I say this wasn't a masterpiece? As mentioned previously, there are some pacing issues. It is certainly fast-paced, and I devoured the book in 2 or 3 days, but sometimes the story stuttered in fits and starts. This uneven pacing was jarring at times and even pulled me out of the story.
Furthermore, Deka isn't that lovable of a main character. Sometimes I liked her, and other times she fell into the "chosen one" trope a little too hard. She is selfish and downright dumb at times. I was fairly frustrated with her overall, but her friends made things more bearable. I also have to keep in mind that this is a 16-year-old girl with limited knowledge and experience due to the environment in which she was raised.
The love story also felt out of place. All of a sudden, Deka and Keita were in love, and Keita would do anything to protect her. Yeah, okay, great, but you just met, and you have literally had no interaction with each other. Why are you suddenly deeply in love?
Despite these flaws, I really enjoyed The Gilded Ones and quickly jumped into the sequels, desperate to see where the story was taking us.
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The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor Series: The Broken Citadel #1 Published by Henry Hold and Co. on February 4, 2024 Genres:YA Fantasy, Romance Pages: 368 Format: Hardback Source: OwlCrate
Will he steal her heart... or her chance at the throne? Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals—only after killing them with her bare hands. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon her to strengthen their power. Silver is a charming thief struggling to survive in a world torn apart by Mancella’s father’s reign. When a mysterious benefactor recruits him for the heist of a lifetime, a chance to rob the castle, Silver relishes the opportunity for a real future—and revenge. But he'll have to manipulate Mance and earn her trust to pull it off. As the deception and carnage mount, Mance must find a way to save her realm without becoming the ruthless monster she's been bred to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he'll have to choose between his ambition and the girl he’s falling for.
Where to begin. I was an emotional wreck after the first chapter, sure I was going to DNF The Beasts We Bury because I could not handle the heartbreaking description of Mance's fight and ultimate triumph over a very sacred mother jaguar. I love animals so profoundly that I refuse to eat them and perpetuate their mass torture and slaughter. Any animal torture and death is a big turn-off for me, and I was concerned the entire book was going to be filled with more heartbreak, but I am glad I stuck it out.
Mancella, or Mance for short, is gifted with a very unique power-- if she kills an animal, she is able to absorb its spirit and its strength into herself, but only if she kills it with her bare hands, an even fight if you will. While other royal powers are fairly common in other fantasy books, such as blood magic, control over others, etc, I haven't seen anything quite like Mance's. This makes for a truly unique magical system and a damn good time when things hit the fan. I'm not going to lie, it was difficult to reconcile how Mance received her gifts, but it's just as hard on our heroine as it is on the reader. Mance does not want this gift. She hates killing animals, even refusing to eat meat because of it. She doesn't want the throne, her gift, or anything else that comes with being the heir apparent, and I don't blame her.
The story unfolds naturally, with dual perspectives between Mance and an orphan turned rogue, Silver. Silver and his friends are attempting to push back against the throne, not to free the oppressed, but to freely exist themselves. Silver takes on a job to infiltrate the throne and gather information for a mysterious buyer, and meets Mance as a result. It's an "enemies-to-lovers" story arc between Mance and Silver, but it didn't really feel like they were ever true enemies. It was very one-sided hatred that quickly dissolved once they got to know each other.
Their love blossoms very quickly, but it's not surprising considering the traumas both of them have been through. If anything, a great loss causes us to cling to anything and everything the best we can. Despite how short The Beast We Buryis, I fell so in love with both Mance and Silver. They are two children trying to do the best they can in a very cruel world. Both are full of such anger and rage, yet both desperately want to be loved, as any broken child does.
The world-building is not completely fleshed out, but I fully expect this to be reconciled in the next book(s), as this is only the first book. I did not realize this was going to be part of a series until later, which altered my rating a bit. This is an excellent first book, but the follow-up needs to do some serious work to keep the series alive. I think some reviewers failed to recognize this in their own reviews, so take this how you will.
Furthermore, I loved Mance's character development. When the story begins, Mance is naive and disconnected from the world, spending all of her time cruelly sheltered away. Her father is incredibly abusive, not just to Mance but to her mother and sister as well. He even tortures the staff. When it comes to villains, Mance's father takes the cake for the worst father. I absolutely hated the man and could not wait for him to get exactly what he deserved. However, as the story unfolds, Mance's eyes are opened to the cruelty her people are also forced to endure, the endless wars, taxes, stealing of children, false imprisonment, etc. She does everything she can to break the system, knowing in her heart that no one should have to suffer the way she has. I love that the cruelty she faced made her a more generous person, not a spiteful one. Mance's character development is to be applauded.
Finally, the twist at the end was fantastic. I'm not going to say I didn't see it coming, but I certainly didn't see all of it coming the way it did. I cannot wait to see where the story takes us in the next book! The love, political intrigue, the magic system...I am excited to see where Taylor takes us.
