The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna | Book Review

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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.

Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth Hobbes | Book Review

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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

Content Warnings: PTSD, Death, Homophobia, Violence, Sickness, Attempted Suicide, Sexual Assault, Kidnapping, Imprisonment, Infidelity
Rating:

Kit Arton-Price should be celebrating. It's his engagement party and, unlike many young men of his generation, he survived The Great War. Whilst his fiancée, Adelaide, is dancing with one of their guests, the enigmatic Mr Wilde, the scars on Kit's face bear the heavy toll of battle – and the scars on his heart bear a secret he's been forced to carry in silence. In the morning, Adelaide cannot be woken and the village doctor declares it's the mystifying 'Sleeping Sickness' – an unexplainable epidemic affecting society. But there is more to this sickness than first appears and it's not long before Kit is lured into a strange new realm. One of magic and danger. The realm of the fae…

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 hated Dance 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.

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna | Book Review

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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.

A Study In Drowning by Ava Reid | Book Review

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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:

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny. But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

2025 certainly feels like my dark academia era as I continue to dive deeper into the genre. I ate A Study in Drowning up, 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.

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson | Book Review

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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

Content Warnings: Abuse, Death, Genocide, Murder, Prostitution, Sexual Assault, Slavery, Gore, Torture, Violence, Classism

Rating:

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 Mistborn in 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!