ARC Review: The Girl the Sea Gave Back

The new gut-wrenching epic from the New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep.

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I have not read the other book by this author in this setting. But I loved the setting, and the characters were very full of character especially Tova. I loved the idea of the stones telling the future. I was a little unsure about the spinners, maybe they were explained more in the first book, but since this is a stand alone ( I didn’t know there was a book in the same setting until half way through).

I found placing ages of the characters was hard, I know it doesn’t seem a big thing but for me it helps with relationships between characters.

I found the pace of the book a little slow. At times I couldn’t put it down, at others I almost didn’t pick it back up. The action scenes were described very well, I found them really interesting.

I did really enjoy the end, would have liked a little more closure as to what happened after but I felt satisfied. I would read more books by this author.

3 out of 5 stars

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Tackling my TBR

So I have a fair few books, and a fair few of those are ARCs and some are late, yes I am ashamed but I am trying to sort it. I have tried before when I got behind to read nothing but ARCs and I feel like it’s a chore rather than reading books I enjoy. So I have come up with a system where I can get through my ARC’s catch up and still read books I buy. My plan is read each one of these then start over the list again.

1. Booksirens book

2. New Netgalley book

3. A kindle book.

4. Edelweiss book

5. Old Netgalley book

6. Paperback/ hardback book.

so explanations.

1. Booksirens is a new book site that I have found to get books from publishers. I have only gotten one book so far. And I have just finished it. (My last review). I will look to see if there are any books I fancy just before and if not I will skip this one.
2. So any new netgalley book I have been approved for. (I am limiting how many I request to get them read.
3. Just any kindle book I have bought. I have a few series I want to get through.
4. Edelweiss, I haven’t actually gotten any of these yet. But I have requested a few so if I get any then this will come into effect.
5. An old netgalley book, one I am behind one, not proud of, but I will review them all, better late than never.
6. Paperback/ Hardback. I seem to have a bad habit of buying books on a whim, also I am expecting my first Fairyloot box and hopefully a good book will arrive.

So hopefully this will help me get through them.

Do you have any systems to get through your books?

ARC Review: Into the Wildbarrens (The Gems of Elsana #1)

We know him well. Ever-flowing wisdom. Concealed power. A white beard and a proclivity for mentoring chosen ones. In so many stories, we find ourselves enamored with a kindly wizard guiding our protagonist, curious to his roots, source of power, and hidden knowledge. This is that wizard’s story.

Falin is only twenty years of age, and with nine-hundred eighty years left to explore the world, he is eager to begin his quest for the Gems of Elsana. As one of ten wizard’s acting as peacekeepers to their land, Falin must first embark on a journey to gather the Gems, four jewels that provide wizards with their full power. Once a century, a wizard sets out on their quest, accompanied by four Champions from each kingdom within the The Crown of Elsana. Falin considers himself lucky, joined by a sage healer, elven assassin, drakkish warrior, and madorian prince. All seems well until the elder wizards reveal they expect Falin’s quest will take them into the Wildbarrens, a desolate and horrid land teeming with creatures of the Dark. Given the circumstances—and to the chagrin of Falin’s honorable Champions—the group is accompanied by an unscrupulous pair of outlaws claimed to have traveled through the Wildbarrens. In their expedition, they come across friends and foes, countless landscapes, all while uncovering a sinister plot threatening the balance of Elsana.

In this feel-good fiction, we are cast into a world brimming with our favorite elements of fantasy with new twists unlike anything we’ve read before. Within The Gems of Elsana: Into the Wildbarrens, Christian Sterling has cultivated the start of a series with unparalleled charm, action, humor, romance, and thrills. All ages will be sure to enjoy this story from its first magical pages, to its last.

I recieved a free copy of this book via booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. There was lots to like and only a few things to dislike. I really enjoyed the setting, it was well described and since there was lots of travelling there was lots of variations in setting.

The characters were good but I did feel a few of them weren’t really showing any personality. Bossodor was a bland Borromir for me. Everything about him screamed Borromir. There were a few other similarities to Lord of the Rings, not a plagarism way, just a tone and feeling way. I felt it was hard ot get a read on the two female champions, they meshed into one for me, there wasn’t enough to seperate them.

The quest was good, there was lots of history and it was well thought out. I did feel there was a lot of stuff happening though, they could never catch a break. I know I normally say there isn’t enough action, now I am saying there may have been too much. It was well done and well explained.

There was no long gaps, the story would skip days if needed, I liked this, it made it realistic, so the quest happened over a long period of time but we only read the exciting parts.

I am looking forward to the second book in the series and hopefully it will be out soon. I am assuming from the pace set in the first book that this will be a duology.

4 out of 5 stars

Books on my TBR

I managed to read a few off of my last post of this type so I thought it would be a good idea to do another and hopefully it will encourage me to read some more.

Netgalley

Paperbacks

Kindle

Have you read any of these? What do you think? Which ones should I bump up my list and read asap?

First Flight (Dragon School #1)

Join Dragon School. Learn to Fly.

Sixteen-year-old Amel arrived at Dragon School just like everyone else – with a dream to ride dragons and join the Dominion Dragon Riders.

But Amel has a crippled leg and Dragon School training is grueling. Before she can even become an initiate, she must complete her First Flight on a dragon.

Can Amel survive First Flight and become a Dragon School initiate or will her dreams dash on the rocks below?

Review

This was a sweet entry the world of Dragon school. I like Amel but in my opinion she focused on her disabilty a little too much. I did like enthusiasm and steel. The dragons were cool and I look forward to getting to know more about them. Especially the purple one.

I am not sure about the other students, they seem quite mean with not much substance. I am looking forward to see what they bring to the table in the next book.

It’s a quick read of only just over 100pages. It’s a young adult book, so a fairly easy read. But well worth it.

4 out of 5 stars

City of Brass (Daevabad Trilogy #1)

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass?a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for…

Review

I don’t know what made me pick this book up in waterstones, it’s not my usual kind of book. But I am so glad I did, this book had me hooked very early on. I loved the setting, and how they transitioned for one to another. Even given all the conflicts I would love to be able to visit Daevabad. Nahri was a great main character, she was sassy and adapted well. She did not give up on her goals easily and was always looking out for herself.

I have read reviews saying this book is slow. Whilst there is not action on every page it does flow well gives a lot of depth and world building to the story (but not too much in my opinion). I did get confused a few times at the different factions, but I was reading this after long shifts so that might have had something to do with it, (so not going to hold it against the book).

Ali was also a great character, he gave a different side to the story and the dynamics of Daevabad. I thought his views were interesting if not a little niave for his station. It was good to see how he grew throughout the book though.

Dara I was unsure what to make of him, he seemed to change a few times throughout the book and I could not work out which was the real Dara. I am looking forward to see what else we can find out about his history in the next book.

Overall I realy enjoyed this book and am very much looking forward to reading the next one. It is sitting on my coffee table waiting paitenly for me to finish a few ARC’s before diving in.

4 out of 5 stars