The Wizard's Promise (Review)

The Hanna Duology: The Wizard's Promise | Cassandra Rose Clarke

Published by: Strange Chemistry, May 6th 2014

Genre: YA, High Fantasy
Pages: 329

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

All Hanna Euli wants is to become a proper witch – but unfortunately, she’s stuck as an apprentice to a grumpy fisherman. When their boat gets caught up in a mysterious storm and blown wildly off course, Hanna finds herself further away from home than she’s ever been before.

As she tries to get back, she learns there may be more to her apprentice master than she realized, especially when a mysterious, beautiful, and very non-human boy begins following her through the ocean, claiming that he needs Hanna’s help.

I liked this book. It was such a change of pace to what I was expecting, though. Instead of a fast romp on the high seas, I got a slow adventure of islands and magic. The pace hindered me in the beginning, coming off the back end of the Super Slow Splintered which I just finished. But by halfway I'd surrendered all expectations and learned to just go with the story. Which I really did enjoy.

Hanna was a great protagonist. She was scared while brave, ordinary while special. I liked her a lot. Her reactions to being lied to and, essentially, kidnapped were the same as mine would be. I liked her fire and how she didn't stand for any crap, how she got away from the dubious friendship of Kolur and Frida and found her own way. Speaking of friendships, I adored the relationship between Hanna and Finnur and Asbera. They were such genuine cuties. (Why is it I can always remember the names of everyone in these books, when I usually forget high fantasy character names the moment I close the book?)

I enjoyed the story. As I said, it wasn't as fast as I expected, or as action-packed, but there was plenty of magic and threats and Mist to keep me happy despite that. Not to mention the references to Ananna and Naji that made me squeal in delight! For the most part, I read these books for the wonderful world and the ships. Man, I love ships. (I mean the sailing kind, though I do suspect Hanna/Isolfr will become my OTP in the next book... if there is a next book.) I honestly hope Cassandra writes a handful more books in this world - for one, I'd like to read about a teenager raised in the Mists!!

What is the Wizard's Promise, though? What did Kolur promise? Did I miss it? Is it obvious? Curious.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

Reading round up (58)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

22nd December

Currently Reading: Talon | Julie Kagawa

Current page/percent: 56%

Read today: 36%

Thoughts: I fricking LOVE this book. I'm only halfway through and it's already one of my favourites. And I adore Garret *swoons*

23rd December

Currently Reading: Talon | Julie Kagawa

Current page/percent: 100%

Read today: 44%

Thoughts: Riley is a MAJOR creep. Dude, leave her alone. Awesome book though. Plenty wrong with it but my love for the story and Garret overshadows any problems.

24th December

Started Splintered by A. G. Howard (6%). This has been on my tbr list for about 2 years now, and everyone loves this story so I'm expecting a lot but I'm finding it REALLY hard to get into. Insects and boarding aren't my thing so I'm a little disheartened by the beginning. I also read 44 pages of The Wizard's Promise by Cassandra Rose Clarke to counteract the slowness of Splintered. It's awesome so far.

25th December

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FOLKS!!

I read 28% of Splintered and God this is taking forever to get good. It's also not what I was expecting, more outrageous fantasy than dark. Not sure I like.

26th December

I read a further 41% of Splintered. We're in Wonderland now and I'm still not sure if I like this or not. Jeb started to grow on me then started being controlling, Morpheus is a manipulative creep, and I don't know if I'm ever gonna connect to any of the characters.

27th December

Finished Splintered (read 25%). I both like and hate this book at the same time, so it's gonna be another 2.5 star highly-anticipated book for me. Ah yes, crushing disappointment how nice to see you.

I also read 32 pages of The Wizard's Promise and I'm liking it, even if it is another slow build up like Splintered (hopefully not as long; hopefully not half the book.)

28th December

Currently Reading: The Wizard's Promise | Cassandra Rose Clarke

Current page/percent: page 191

Read today: 104 pages

Thoughts: Getting better but it's a slow book as opposed to a fast one. I like it, but after the excruciatingly long Splintered, I don't love this as much as I should.

Books finished this week: 2

I got a major haul of Christmas present books (as shown here) and will be using Christmas present money to get a second haul. It's been a good week for books because I also got these ebooks:

The Cage | Megan Shepherd

The Replaced | Kimberly Derting

I still haven't finished reading The Madman's Daughter from months ago, so I'm not sure if I'll totally love The Cage but the premise is far too exciting to ignore. I did, however, really enjoy The Taking, and much more than I expected, so I'm looking forward to The Replaced!! Don't like the text treatment on the cover, though. My eyes can't focus on it :(

Song of Blood and Stone | L. Penelope

POC? High fantasy? Fricking stunning cover? What sounds like a really cool world? A FUCKING MAP INSIDE? Oh God I'm gonna love this book. 

Paranormalcy | Kiersten White

Article 5 | Kristen Simmons

These two beauties were on kindle sale. You have NO idea how long I've been coveting them

Talon

Splintered

Splintered (Review)

Splintered: Splintered | A. G. Howard

Published by: Amulet Books, January 1st 2013

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retellings

Pages: 371

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own. 

I went into this book expecting explosions of awesome. I didn't get it. From the onset, Splintered was slow and dragged on and on. I started to get into it once it finally took the story into Wonderland (around 50%) but it lost me at that all the crazy.

The story itself is a very literal reimagining of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. I thought it may deviate from the story, bringing something new, but it feels very much like rehashing the tale. Which would be fine, if you're expecting that kind of thing. I was expecting something more ... original maybe. Different, certainly. So I didn't like how bizarre and outrageous most of the plot was - though you could blame that on me, since I should've expected it from an AIW retelling.

I could have coped with that, though, if it hadn't been for the characters. For about two years now all I've heard about is Morpheus this, Morpheus that. I knew he was dark, a Warner-like character, so I expected to like him. But the problem is he's a manipulative bastard, that lies to Alyssa for his own gains. He's selfish, and problematic, and I hated him. He has literally no redeemable qualities - even his protectiveness and adoration of Alyssa is twisted and fucked. There was a spark of humanity in Warner that made me like him, and I just didn't see it in Morpheus.

And then we have Jeb, sweet Jeb who starts off supporting and friendly and caring. He's Alyssa's white knight ... until jealousy morphs him into a controlling dick. He undermines Alyssa's decisions and actions at every turn, and though everything she does is questionable at best, he doesn't allow her to act for herself. He's just so controlling. I honestly can't understand what anyone sees in either of these two love interests.

And then there's Alyssa, who is admittedly the best of the bunch. Even if she is naive and too trusting and makes awful, airheaded decisions. I began to actually like her toward the end, when she's fighting for herself, stripped down to the bare essentials of her character, and when she starts to see Morpheus for what he really is. Tjough she still thinks the sun shines out of Jeb's ass, so she's not seeing totally clear. Still, there's a bit of character development and it makes her slightly likeable. The trouble is it's the characters that get me through a book, and I didn't connect to any of these three.

I probably will read the second book, since the Wonderland stuff sounds to take place in the real world and I reckon I'll prefer that more (though it does sound like Morpheus ups himself from manipulative douche to threatening stalker... and I'm not into that). But all in all, I didn't really enjoy this book. It had elements I liked and decent enough writing to get me to the finish line, but I'm sorely disappointed in Splintered.

Characters ★★☆☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Talon (ARC Review)

Talon Saga: Talon | Julie Kagawa

Published by: Mira Ink, January 15th 2015

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology

Pages: 461

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

‘There are a dozen soldiers hiding in that maze All hunting you. All looking to kill you.’

To the outside world Ember Hill is an ordinary girl, but Ember has a deadly secret. A dragon hiding in human form, she is destined to fight the shadowy Order of St.George, a powerful society of dragonslayers. St. George soldier Garret is determined to kill Ember and her kind. Until her bravery makes him question all he’s been taught about dragons.

Now a war is coming and Garret and Ember must choose their sides – fight to save their bond or fulfil their fate and destroy one another.

Once again Julie Kagawa proves herself to be a master at writing YA heroines.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this story of teenage dragons. I'd heard good and bad things, and my personal experience with the Iron Fey made me a little unsure, but I loved Blood of Eden so much I had to read this. And boy am I happy I did - Talon is a crazy, surreal rollercoaster of emotions, action, intrigue, and danger. The secrets these characters keep from each other will kill you, and the emotions Kagawa throws into every chapter will take you to breaking point. There's never a dull moment for Ember, the main character, and even if there are dull moments for the reader it all changes in the next chapter, where the stakes are ramped even higher than before.

But now the characters - Ember I actually liked. I thought I'd hate her at first but I actually didn't. So that was good. But in the beginning Kagawa makes a point of taking three major jerks who are clearly about to sexually assault these girls and saying this is fucking bad, don't do this - but then she gives us a completely unhealthy relationship with a love interest. Riley is dark and mysterious and a total creep. He thinks he owns Ember after meeting her in dragon form one time and he obsesses about her constantly. Borderline stalker that uses 'dragon instinct' as an excuse for his shitty behaviour. Please get rid of this guy.

On the flipside, you have Garret, who is spending time with Ember because she's a possible target and it's his job to watch her (to see if she's a dragon, which, oops, she is), and accidentally falls in love with her. At no point does Garret claim ownership of Ember, nor express any feelings of entitlement. He likes her, plain and simple, and much more he respects Ember and regards her as a person, not as a possession. I rather like Garret.

The only thing I was missing from this book was a bit of diversity among the main characters, like in Blood of Eden. Ember is red haired, thus white, Garret is fair haired, thus most likely white, and while Riley could quite possibly be a POC with his dark hair, I'm sure it would have been mentioned and I wouldn't have missed it. Still, an exceptional book that I fell in love with, and I'm hoping there are diverse characters in the next books so I can find no fault at all.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Reading round up (57)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

15th December

I desperately want to finish A Great and Terrible Beauty. It feels like I've spent a whole week reading it! AND I FINISHED IT!!! Huzzah! A whole 198 pages!

16th December

Currently Reading: The Jewel | Amy Ewing

Current page/percent: 14%

Read today: 4%

Thoughts: Either I've not invested enough time in this or it's really not for me. I'm finding it hard to actually get into the rhythm of reading.

17th December

The Jewel is long and slow and not for me. It took me 2 hours to read 5%. DNF at 20%. I started Illusionarium (5%, read in half an hour, my actual rate of reading) and it's pretty great so far.

18th December

Currently Reading: Illusionarium | Heather Dixon

Current page/percent: 27%

Read today: 22%

Thoughts: Okay now I see why everyone loves Heather Dixon.

19th December

Currently Reading: Illusionarium | Heather Dixon

Current page/percent: 58%

Read today: 31%

Thoughts: I HAVE AN OTP!! Sadly, it's a M/M OTP in a world of heteros.

20th December

Finished Illusionarium (42%) and it was crazy cool. Alternative London, fanciful illusions, dashing heroes!

21st December

I started Talon by Julie Kagawa and read 20%. I'm liking it a fair bit so far and I actually like one of the love interests!!!! (the person I shipping with Kagawa's last MC was her brother so ... yay less awkward times in this series!)

Books finished this week: 2.5

Nightbird | Alice Hoffman

Talon | Julie Kagawa

Got these from Netgalley for review! I am really excited for Talon (Kagawa, God bless!) and Nightbird sounds pretty awesome too. Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK and Mira Ink.

A Great and Terrible Beauty

The Jewel

Illusionarium (scheduled for May 13th 2015)

The Jewel (DNF mini review)

The Lone City: The Jewel | Amy Ewing

Published by: HarperTeen, September 2nd 2014

Genre: YA, Fantasy?, Dystopia? (Not honestly certain)

Pages: 358

Format: Ebook

Source: HarperTeen, via Edelweiss

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

From the get go, The Jewel and I weren't really well matched. It seemed to take an entire day to read just 10% of it, and it was slower and longer from there on. Maybe all I read was the build up and I should have given it a bigger chance to get started, but nothing about it gripped me in the first 70 pages and a lot of it made me frustrated and fed up. 

DNF at 20%