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Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao Published by Del Ray on January 14, 2025 Genres:Fantasy Pages: 384 Format: Hardcover Source: Illumicrate
Content Warnings: Death, Blood, Injury, Loss of a Parent, Abortion, Grief, Alcohol Consumption, Abandonment
Rating:
On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see a cozy ramen restaurant. And only the chosen ones—those who are lost—will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets. Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen, and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike its other customers, for he offers help instead of seeking it. Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice—by way of rain puddles, rides on paper cranes, the bridge between midnight and morning, and a night market in the clouds. But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own—and risk making a choice that she will never be able to take back.
I really wanted to love this book, but it just fell flat. I'm not saying it's bad; it just wasn't the amazing, epic adventure I was hoping it would be. I kept seeing Water Moon described as akin to Howl's Moving Castle or a Studio Ghibli film, and while I can definitely see the whimsy, it failed to live up to the hype. So what went wrong?
First and foremost, it felt like the plot went nowhere. Sure, the protagonists were constantly on the move, jumping through puddles, sailing on a song, or being folded into bits to move between realms, but there was very little plot progression during this magical journey. It was the same repetitive theme over and over: run away from the big bads, safe, then run some more. During this time, we do learn all about the world in which Hana lives, which is incredible. The world-building is beautifully executedand immersive, akin to a Studio Ghibli film but without the engaging story.
On top of the overall lack of plot, the romance is underdeveloped and boring. Hana and Keishin fall in love almost immediately, but there is no build-up, character development, or meaningful interactions between the two. There is a potential plot element that could explain their instant attraction, but you don't discover this until the very end, and it just feels...forced. The juxtaposition of the whimsy with sex scenes was messy and not well executed on top of a lukewarm romance. Don't get me wrong, I was happy the two end up together and think they make a cute couple in light of all the details, but its not a grand love story that I'll remember for the rest of my life.
As mentioned earlier, I absolutely loved the world-building. I even loved Hana's character development. She felt three-dimensional and interesting, while Keishin felt predictable and out of place. I didn't care whether his character stayed or left. Honestly, this was a trip Hana should have taken with her father, not some random stranger who magically appears in her shop one morning. Keishin's only purpose it to progress a subpar romance.
Water Moonwould make for a fantastic movie, but I wouldn't recommend wasting your time reading it unless you are just interested in a new experience. I will hand it to Sotto Yambao that the story was unique and very whimsical, but it could have been executed better.
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What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould Published by Wednesday Books on December 10, 2024 Genres:Horror, LGBT, Folklore Pages: 336 Format: Hardcover Source: OwlCrate December 2024
Content Warnings: Gore, Violence, Mentions of Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Suicide, Self Harm, Drug Use
Rating:
Devin Green wakes in the middle of the night to find two men in her bedroom. No stranger to a fight, she calls to her foster parents for help, but it soon becomes clear this is a planned abduction—one everyone but Devin signed up for. She’s shoved in a van and driven deep into the Idaho woods, where she’s dropped off with a cohort of equally confused teens. Finally, two camp counselors inform them that they've all been enrolled in an experimental therapy program. If the campers can learn to change their self-destructive ways—and survive a fifty-days hike through the wilderness—they’ll come out the other side as better versions of themselves. Or so the counselors say. Devin is immediately determined to escape. She’s also determined to ignore Sheridan, the cruel-mouthed, lavender-haired bully who mocks every group exercise. But there’s something strange about these woods—inhuman faces appearing between the trees, visions of people who shouldn't be there flashing in the leaves—and when the campers wake up to find both counselors missing, therapy becomes the least of their problems. Stranded and left to fend for themselves, the teens quickly realize they’ll have to trust each other if they want to survive. But what lies in the woods may not be as dangerous as what the campers are hiding from each other—and if the monsters have their way, no one will leave the woods alive.
First and foremost, the OwlCrate edition of What the Woods Took is absolutely stunning, and I am thankful I decided to renew my subscription for the month of December. It has gorgeous stenciled edges, an eerie dust jacket redesign, and a beautifully decorated hardcover. As for the actual story, it was a thrilling read.
What the Woods Took is an interesting critique on wilderness rehabilitation camps and retreats for troubled teens. These programs have a history of being sketchy, and the science behind them just isn't there. While modern camps and retreats might not be dealing with real monsters hunting everyone involved, they do have a habit of bringing out the worst in us. Gould does an excellent job showing how forcing children to break can bring out those demons, with campers turning against each other in a fight for survival. She sprinkles in a bit of psychological horror as well, making it difficult to determine what is and is not real, which adds to the eeriness of it all.
What the Woods Took is told from multiple perspectives, mostly that of Devin and Oliver, who quickly bond over their shared experiences. We occasionally hear from Sheridan, Devin's rival, with the rest of the campers' stories being told through dialogue. As the plot progresses, we get a deeper look into the trauma each camper has experienced, from child abuse and foster care to sibling loss and parental estrangement. As someone who works with teens on a daily basis, insights into a child's trauma informs their behavior. Children are not inherently bad; they just make bad choices. I fell in love with every single camper and cried right along with them as they suffered unimaginable horrors in their fight to escape a forest trying to kill them.
The character development and world-building were so good I couldn't put the book down. It was incredibly engaging and very fast-paced, but the ending left something to be desired. It fell flat for me, and that's why I ended up rating the book 3.5 out of 5 stars. Ending a book like this is difficult, and while everything was wrapped up in a nice little bow, it felt forced and out of place, almost dreamlike, but not in a good way. I think I would have appreciated a more open ending that left me unsure of what really went on, but Gould did dive into some of the things that happen after someone survives a horrific event, especially if it is "unbelievable."
Overall, What the Woods Took is a quick, eerie read that isa perfect palette cleanser between series or if you are in a reading slump.
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We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees Published by Del Ray on November 12, 2024 Genres:Fantasy Pages: 320 Format: Paperback Source: Gifted
Content Warnings: Death, Blood, Gore, Intergeneration Trauma, Patriarchy, Loss of a Parent
Rating:
Gemma Cassata lives with her mother in an isolated antiques shop in Michigan, near a seductive patch of woods concealing an enchanted gateway to fairyland. Gemma knows she’s not supposed to go into the woods—her mother, Virginia, has warned her multiple times about the monsters that lurk there—and yet she can’t resist. Virginia understands her daughter’s defiance. She knows the allure of the woods all too well. Her own mother warned her about the monsters, and Virginia also did not listen—until a witch cursed her true love just days before their child’s birth. So Virginia will do whatever she can to protect her daughter—even if it means stealing Gemma’s memories. But everything changes when Gemma gets too close to the truth, and the witch takes Virginia . Now it is up to Gemma to venture deep into the mysterious woods to rescue her mother and break the curse. Told in the alternating viewpoints of Gemma and Virginia, this novel is not only a tale of a girl’s fantastical quest through a darkly magical fairyland but also an exploration of the complex bonds between children and their parents.
Where The Waking Forest took place entirely beyond our realm, We Shall Be Monsters does not. Instead it takes place right in our own backyard of Michigan, where I was born, changing the way I view the dense forest behind my own home. There is something different about the woods up North, something almost primordial...Wees uses this to her advantage, creating an utterly terrifying yet oddly welcoming enchanted forest.
We Shall Be Monsters is a dual perspective novel, told from both mother's (Virginia) and daughter's (Gemma) point of view. The time line is not necessarily linear, but its made plain when we are in the past versus when we are in current time. I loved the back and forth story of mother and daughter as they struggle with the decisions that they have made and those that have been made for them. As Gemma approaches her 15th birthday, things become increasingly obvious that something bad is going to happen, prompting Gemma to go on the adventure of a life time to save her mother who was stolen by monsters years before. The story does an excellent job exploring intergenerational trauma, and how younger generations can work with older generations to break these cycles for the benefit of everyone. I wish this part of the story had been explored in more detail, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
The story is fast-paced and the world-building is enough to leave you feeling uncomfortable yet determined to persevere with Gemma and Virginia as they grapple with they consequences of their choices. The character development for both Virginia and Gemma is phenomenal, but the other characters often fell flat or felt one-dimensional. Sylvanus, the elusive faery prince, started out fantastic, but quickly devolved into nothing more than blood lust. In fact, he wrongfully kills innocent creatures, which left me feeling sick to my stomach. I did not love his character by the end, which is unfortunate because I believed he had so much potential
However, after the big-bad is finally defeated, we are given a chance to see into the lives of other creatures in the forest, in particular one who struggled with what was expected of her. I wish Wees had given us so much more here than she did because her commentary on societal expectations of women is something to be applauded. Very briefly, Wees explores how society's expectations of women, particularly those related to patriarchy, often force women into situations they do not want. Women are expected to marry and bare children, but that isn't a path many women want, including one of the characters in this book. Despite not wanting to marry or have children, some women still do, which results in children being neglected at best and killed at worst.Living in a patriarchal society hurts everyone, especially women and children, and We Shall Be Monsters makes this very clear.
While I enjoyed the story overall, although I do feel parts were rushed or unrealistic. I gave We Shall Be Monsters 3.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I didn't enjoy it as much as The Waking Forest but it was still a fun read while waiting for other books to arrive.
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The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter Series: The Burning #2 Published by Orbit on November 10, 2020 Genres:Epic Fantasy, BIPOC Pages: 529 Format: Paperback Source: Purchased
Content Warnings: Colonization, Genocide, Death, War, Blood, Gore, Sexual Assault, Misogyny, Classism, Racism
Rating:
Tau and his Queen, desperate to delay the impending attack on the capital by the indigenous people of Xidda, craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the Queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the 'true' Queen of the Omehi. If the city can be taken, if Tsiora can reclaim her throne, and if she can reunite her people then the Omehi have a chance to survive the onslaught.
I am not going to lie, when I picked up the first book in this series, I thought it was a duology and everything would be tied up nice and neat by the end of The Fires of Vengeance. About half way through, however, I realized my mistake. There was no way Winter could wrap everything up in 2 books. That's when I started doing some digging and realized how wrong I was. Not only is this not a duology, it's intended to be a 4 book series...Great...The third and fourth installment are not out yet, but the third book in the series is set to release this summer. There is no confirmed date for the final book, so heaven knows how long I will have to hold onto these characters in my mind.
Regardless, I was just an enthralled with The Fires of Vengeance as I was with The Rage of Dragons. The story continues with Tau and Tisora as they navigate vengeance, rebellion, and other endless threats and upheavals. I felt much more connected with Tau in this book compared to the one prior. Tau does a lot of growing up, but he still acts impulsively, which is very annoying at times, especially when it results in his friends or family being put into harms way. I have to keep reminding myself that Tau is still a child, and therefore not fully capable of understanding the consequences of his actions. He is definitely an impulsive teenage boy with a chip on his shoulder, but his transformation into a skilled, discipline fighter is something to be admired.
We are also given a much better look into Tisora, the new young queen of the Omehi. She truly shines, even when making mistakes. I loved her character development as well as her insights into the history of the Omehi people. It is Tisora that finally provides us with the information we, the reader, need to understand why the Omehi fled from their ancestral home and why the caste systems are designed the way they are. I love her rebellious streak and her desire to save her people while systemically dismantling systems that have oppressed others for far too long. Of course nothing comes easy for our young queen and her champion, but that's the whole point right?
Winter continues to expand upon his universe with gritty details, history lessons, and beautiful descriptions. Just like before, I felt like I was watching a movie as I read, the characters and landscape blooming across the pages of my mind. The fight scenes, especially those with dragons and demons, were even better than the first book and I can't wait to see where this story takes our main characters.
We also start to get a hint of a couple of different love stories in The Fires of Vengeance. The Rage of Dragons touches on Tau's relationship with Zuri, a childhood friend and Gifted who risks everything to keep Tau and their queen safe during an insurrection. The Fires of Vengeance continues Tau's love story, but at a much slower pace. We are leaning into slow burn romance here, which I look forward to seeing more of in the next book. We also get hints of a relationship between two men in Tau's unit, which was nice to see. I had a feeling there was a bit of this happening, but it was nice to see it confirmed.
If you haven't picked up The Burning series yet, I recommend you do. This one is certain to please and leave you wanting more!
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The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter Series: The Burning #1 Published by Orbit on February 12, 2019 Genres:Epic Fantasy, BIPOC Pages: 578 Format: Paperback Source: Purchased
Content Warnings: Colonization, Genocide, Death, War, Blood, Gore, Sexual Assault, Misogyny, Classism, Racism,
Rating:
The Omehi people have been fighting an unwinnable fight for almost two hundred years. Their society has been built around war and only war. The lucky ones are born gifted. One in every two thousand women has the power to call down dragons. One in every hundred men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine. Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the endless war. Young, gift-less Tau knows all this, but he has a plan of escape. He's going to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land. Only, he doesn't get the chance. Those closest to him are brutally murdered, and his grief swiftly turns to anger. Fixated on revenge, Tau dedicates himself to an unthinkable path. He'll become the greatest swordsman to ever live, a man willing to die a hundred thousand times for the chance to kill the three who betrayed him.
BookTok did not let me down when suggesting I read The Rage of Dragons. I haven't been this excited to see the culmination of a story since I read The Faithful & The Fallen series by John Gwynne, although it's not quite a 5-star series for me like The Faithful & The Fallen. This might be because there haven't been any banger one-liners or moments where I was full-on rooting for the "heroes." In fact, I am not really on the main character's side, or on the side of his people. Let me explain.
The Rage of Dragons is the first in what is expected to be a 4 book series which follows the Omehi people's struggle for survival in a new world after their escape from bloodthirsty, silver-skinned immortals called the Cull. The problem is, the Omehi people do not belong to the new world they have "discovered" on the other side of the Roar (ocean). There are already well-established peoples in this "new" world and in order to take it by force, they have to use their magical abilities and dragons to scorch the new world into submission.
On top of this, there is an extremely oppressive caste system that leaves people broken and destitute based on their blood and whether or not they can serve in the endless war the Omehi rage on the "savages" of their new home. While our main character, Tau, is fighting against this oppressive system, he isn't interested in dismantling it or preventing the war with those indigenous to the land. This is the most frustrating part of the entire series thus far. I want Tau to burn everything to the ground, instead of using the system as it is intended to seek revenge for his father's death. Yes...his father dies, but don't worry, that isn't some great revelation or spoiler. Maybe later books will provide more commentary on dismantling systems of oppression, but as it stands, I am not on the side of the Omehi. For the most part, I have been rooting for them to fail in their conquest.
Despite my frustrations, I thoroughly enjoy the story.The magic system is unique, with the Gifted's abilities arising from the Otherworld, a prison that contains unkillable demons. Slipping into the Otherworld and drawing on its power makes you corporeal in that realm and therefore vulnerable to demon attack. All Gifted are able to shroud while there, thus protecting them from the demons for a time. Over time, however, they tire and their shroud falls. If they are unable to leave fast enough, they fall victim to "demon death," which is beyond horrifying. Omehi Gifted are able to perform a variety of magics, from knocking people's souls into the Otherworld to incapacitate them to enraging their prized Noble fighters, to controlling animals, people, demons, and even dragons. I haven't seen a magical system like this one, and love that only women are able to be Gifted.
In fact, women are the leaders of Omehi society, with husbands and children taking their wife or mother's last name. Women are the rulers and hold almost all of the power, no matter what caste they belong to. Despite their power, there are still signs of misogyny which is frustrating. Queen Tisora, in particular, is often treated as incompetent, fragile, and inexperienced, not just because she is young, but because she is a young woman. Despite this, she rises to the occasion and works tirelessly to do what is best for her people, despite opposition. My greatest complaint about all the women characters in this book is that they are written for the male gaze, but what can you expect from a male author telling a story mostly from the point of view of a man?
The Rage of Dragons is fast-paced, making 578 pages feel like 250, but it's the world-building that really made this story come alive. I could see the entire cast and plot play out in my mind like a movie, every detail of the world springing to life in vibrant technicolor. I pride myself on my vibrant imagination, but Winter's descriptions were so detailed that I could feel the wind whipping against my face. While I may be frustrated with some of the aspects of the story, I was fully engaged the entire time and cannot wait to see what happens to Tau and Queen Tisora in the upcoming books.
I highly recommend picking up The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter if you are interested in fast-paced high fantasy, but not if you want to read about dragons. The dragons play a small part in this story, but their involvement is crucial all the same.
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Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang Published by Del Ray on October 29, 2024 Genres:Fantasy Pages: 448 Format: Hardback Source: Purchased
For twenty years, Sciona has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry. When Sciona finally passes the qualifying exam and becomes a highmage, she finds her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues are determined to make her feel unwelcome—and, instead of a qualified lab assistant, they give her a janitor. What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was not always a janitor. Ten years ago, he was a nomadic hunter who lost his family on their perilous journey from the wild plains to the city. But now he sees the opportunity to understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the privileged in power. At first, mage and outsider have a fractious relationship. But working together, they uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first.
"So many parents will try to kill everything brilliant about a girl in the name of giving her a good life, a safe life, a chance at happiness."
There are a lot of trigger warnings when it comes to Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang, but trust me, it's entirely worth reading. Blood Over Bright Haven follows Sciona, the first ever female High Mage in Tiran, and Thomil, a Kwen janitor turned assistant, as they uncover a dark secret and grapple with the social and political implications of their discovery. The story hits the ground running right from the get-go, detailing Thomil's clan's attempt to make it across the barrier into Tiran to escape Blight, a light that rips every living thing it touches to shreds. I didn't even know these characters yet and I was sobbing by the time Thomil successfully made it to safety heart racing the entire time. Thomil is by far my favorite character, his devotion to his family, clan, and the good of all is something to be admired.
Wang takes on some heavy social and political commentary but does it in such an amazing, eye-opening way. Sciona is not meant to be a likable character. She is self-centered and bigoted, and despite the misogyny she faces, she still seeks to uphold the oppressive systems against which she struggles. Sciona is a perfect depiction of many white women in the United States, which is probably why her character rubbed so many readers and reviewers the wrong way. It's hard to come to terms with your behavior when it's reflected back to you in a mirror. Sciona isn't meant to be the good guy, even though she does some good with her knowledge and power, but again, mostly for selfish reasons.
Blood Over Bright Haven shines a bright light on xenophobia and how the dominant culture dehumanizes those different from them to justify their abhorrent treatment. From mass sterilization to downright murder, the Kwen are routinely referred to as being dumb and animal-like. This is the same rhetoric colonizers used to dehumanize all non-white people around the world. The US continues this same rhetoric when referring to the Latine community and now seeks to remove anyone they deem "unworthy" of being her. Racial profiling has already begun, and Wang does not hold back on showing us just how wrong such an opinion is.
"You’re the worst kind of murderer, I think… The kind who won’t even acknowledge her crime. You’ve never worshipped a god of truth… You worship a delusion."
Everything Wang does in Blood Over Bright Haven is a mirror of what is currently happening in the United States. It was scary just how much overlap there is between us and Tiran. It would behoove us all if everyone read this book. Maybe then some would open their eyes to the propaganda being sold to us as truth.
"It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to actually be one."
On top of loving Wang's social and political commentary, the magic system in Blood Over Bright Haven is the most unique magic system I have ever encountered. I know I have mentioned other systems being unique, but there is nothing that comes close to Wang's creativity. Sciona and the other mages siphon their magic from the otherworld, a realm beyond ours, a realm gifted to them by their god. Their entire religious system is built around siphoning, which is done through computer programming. The whole thing is absolutely genius and I loved every minute Wang spent describing how the system worked. She does an incredible job teaching the reader about siphoning and locating magical sources within the context of the story, so it doesn't feel like we are being educated. Her beautiful prose, world-building, and story-telling ability shine so brightly, I forgot I was reading a book and not watching a movie.
I absolutely devoured Blood Over Bright Haven and wish I could read it again for the first time. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished it a couple of weeks ago. My only complaint is there was some slight enemies-to-lovers romance going on, which can only be done when both parties are equal. Sciona and Thomil are not equals, making this more of a colonizer romance which I am not fond of. The romance, however, is light and not the main purpose of the story. While it does drive the plot and ultimately leads Sciona to make the choices she does, the story is more about tearing down oppressive, unjust systems, than it is about falling in love.
"Because good people can turn desperate when the horrors are upon them—especially people whose culture of plenty has left them with no systems to cope with scarcity or cataclysm. Good people will turn monstrous when it’s down to their survival or someone else’s."
If you want to watch the world burn, especially in light of recent events, Blood Over Bright Havenis certain to light that fire in you. First two reads for 2025 have been absolute bangers and I am thankful for that.
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Heir by Sabaa Tahir Series: Heir Duology #1 Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on October 1, 2024 Genres:YA Fantasy, Romance Pages: 512 Format: Hardback Source: Gifted
Content Warnings: Genocide, Colonialism, War, Death, Poverty, Death of a Child, Family Violence, Grief, Torture
Rating:
An orphan. An outcast. A prince. And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees. Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite. Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she's willing to give up. QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need. Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives―and their hearts. Literally.
"Grief is a strange beast. Some battle it, their souls scarred from its abuse. Some bury it, and live life waiting for it to reemerge. And some tread water, the grief a weight about their necks. Every reminder makes the weight heavier." She turned halfway, her face in profile. "You and I tread water, nephew. And I would not see you drown."
I've felt like I have been drowning these last couple of weeks since I lost a loved one, and the quote above gave me such comfort and strength. It's funny how a fictional character can speak to your soul and pull it out of the depths of Hell... I am not sure where to begin with this book review, other than to say Heir by Sabaa Tahir was just what I needed and came into my life at exactly the right time. The story, the characters, the world-building, the magic systems, the hope it inspired in me...flawless!
Heir, which takes place 20 years after Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series, is told from multiple points of view, including but not limited to Aiz, an orphan seeking a way to save her people, Quil the soon-to-be emperor of the Empire, and Sirsha, a tracker who has been exiled by her tribe and just trying to survive in an unforgiving world. Every character, great and small, is completely fleshed out, their contributions to the story are meaningful and full of life. I loved every character, even when I disagreed with them, and felt as if they were my friends. That is a mark of an incredible writer: to suck in a reader so well they view the characters as their own found family. You feel what they feel, want what they want, and love when they love. Their anxieties, fears, hopes, and dreams become yours as you root for good to will out. I cannot wait for the second book in this duology, as I must know what happens to everyone in the end.
On top of this, the world-building and magic system are fantastic and unique. I haven't read An Ember in the Ashes, and there is no reason you have to understand the story. I am sure Tahir fully fleshed out her world in that series as well, and she continues to do it justice in this story. Not a single detail is left out, but not to the point where you are sluggishly moving through superfluous details. It's done in such a beautiful way you don't even realize you have been transported to another world. As much as I love Dickens, he had a nasty habit of over-explaining details. Tahir provides descriptions without being overly verbose.
The magic system is also unique, with some powers purportedly descending from a goddess while others seem to be innate. While a magical power might be god-given, it can also fade and eventually die out with time. I found it fascinating that a people who once had magical gifts lost these abilities over time or that an individual could lose power as they age, despite their best efforts. Some can wield the wind, while others read the stars or transfer power through stories, and others still commune with the elements to see impressions of the past. It was a lovely mix of often-used magic with elements of surprise.
On top of incredible character development, an engaging plot, a unique magic system, and masterful world-building was the non-linear timeline. I don't want to give too much away and ruin the book for anyone, so I will just leave it at that. It will keep you guessing until the very end until everything suddenly clicks into place, leaving you in awe. I knew something was up mid-way through the book, but was still left shocked at the turn of events.
My favorite aspect of Heir, however, was the commentary on oppression, poverty, and colonialism...what the poor and the downtrodden will do when times are desperate; how inequality and power imbalances hurt everyone in society and will eventually lead to its destruction; how the desire to survive and thrive can make monsters of even the best-intentioned. There were a lot of parallels between this fantastical world and what we are currently facing in the United States. What are you willing to sacrifice to save the people you love?
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A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft Published by Del Ray on September 17, 2024 Genres:Fantasy, LGBT Pages: 384 Format: Paperback Source: Purchased
Content Warnings: Torture, Antisemitism, Death, Murder, Sexual Assault, Gore, Stigmata
Rating:
Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist with a quick temper and an even quicker wit, is on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a fabled spring. The magical spring promises untold power, which the king wants to harness in order to secure his reign over the embattled country of Brunnestaad. Lorelei is determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and make her wildest, most impossible dream come true: to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to lands she’s only read about. The expedition gets off to a harrowing start when its leader—Lorelei’s beloved mentor—is murdered in her quarters aboard their ship. The suspects are the five remaining expedition mates, each with their own motive. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her longtime academic rival, the insufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of the expedition, Lorelei must find the spring before the murderer strikes again—and a coup begins in earnest. But there are other dangers lurking in the dark: forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers with slumbering dragons hiding beneath the water, and shapeshifting beasts out for blood. As Lorelei and Sylvia grudgingly work together to uncover the truth—and resist their growing feelings for each other—they discover that their leader had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Lorelei question whether justice is worth pursuing, and if this kingdom is worth saving at all.
I am so glad I picked this book up when I did because Saft's poetic prose, gripping story, and slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance got me through one of the toughest events of my entire life this past December. I don't know what I would have done without this magical world to anchor me.
A Dark and Drowning Tide is a commentary on anti-Semitism mixed with magic, romance, and political intrigue. Saft is not subtle about what she based her story on in the least. She mixes elements from both World Wars into one fantastical tale while simultaneously including real religious practices from Catholicism and Judaism. Sometimes Saft uses the correct terms to describe the practices while other times she uses descriptions. For example, Lorelei, who is Jewish, talks about how they would normally mourn the dead by bathing, praying, and watching over the body for several nights before burial. Not once does Saft mention this is called "sitting shiva" but that is exactly what she was describing. While I am not Jewish, I am familiar enough through friends, coworkers, and previous work experience to know exactly what she was talking about, and was thankful she didn't bastardize very sacred practices in the process of telling her tale. I felt her descriptions, uses, and inclusion were done so respectfully, but as someone outside both faiths, I cannot speak with authority on this issue.
I did not mind that Saft wasn't subtle in her presentation but did sometimes find it lazy that she was unable to come up with systems and practices of her own. Others have mentioned this in their reviews as well, and I am inclined to agree. However, this wasn't enough for me to rate the book poorly. With a severe lack of media literacy, I can see why Saft would want to be as blunt as possible. I am sure we all remember just a month ago that "Books shouldn't be political." Yes...yes they should and sometimes the political aspects need to be better spelled out for people to understand. Because this book isn't spicy, I am sure the people who really need to hear this message aren't picking it up to begin with, which is an utter shame.
Despite lifting practices and history straight from reality, the magical system, world-building, and story were rather unique. The entire magic system focuses on the use of water, as water holds the magic from the original source, the Ursprung (which means 'origin' in German by the way). I absolutely adored this system as water has a tendency to hold onto things much longer than other sources. For example, spent radioactive cores are stored in pools of water because water retains radiation. I viewed the magic in A Dark and Drowning Tide as radiation being held exclusively by water. Water closer to the source contained more magic and therefore was easier to wield, while water further away was less so. I honestly wish Saft had spent more time delving into this magical system than she did and why water was the magical source and not others.
On top of an interesting magic system, the world-building was beautifully constructed, full of interesting and unique creatures. Many of these creatures were pulled directly from folklore but with a twist. I am a sucker for folk and the fact that our main character, Lorelei, is a folklorist herself sucked in me. From Saft's description of the landscape to the creatures to the plant life, I was hooked. I could fully immerse myself into this story, the images blooming across my inner eye as I read. It's not often a book sucks me in so completely, and this one certainly did.
Finally, I adored the story. I am not super into romance, let alone such tropes as enemies-to-lovers, but I felt Saft did a good job making the romance secondary to the main plot. It's a slow burn as Lorelei grapples with her feelings and the little bit of spice was tastefully done.
My only complaint is there is no real resolution at the end of the book. Everything Lorelei does is to save her people, rescue them from the ghettos, and allow them to exist free of discrimination, but there is no resolution. They are never freed, there is no talk of what is to happen to them in the future, nor are they granted full citizenship. Yes, Lorelei is free, but that's it. I was disappointed that anti-Semitism took center stage, but there was no real addressing it. We were fed crumbs when we should have been given cake. This was the biggest disappointment.
With everything that is going on in the world, A Dark and Drowning Tide is definitely a book I would recommend others pick up, especially older teens studying more recent history. Reading teaches empathy and we could all use a little more of that right now.
