Mini Review Monday is back! I have been really bad at sticking to it, but I am hoping to keep it going every two weeks from now on, especially as I’ve read a lot of books since being in lockdown.
This week I am sharing reviews of two YA Fantasy sequels that I have read in the past few weeks. My opinions on each of these actually varies, but I hope you enjoy nevertheless.
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The Deck of Omens by Christine Lynn Herman
Published by: Titan Books
Released: 21st April 2020
Amazon / Book Depository / Waterstones
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The teenagers of Four Paths must save their home.
Though the Beast is seemingly subdued for now, a new threat looms in Four Paths: a corruption seeping from the Gray into the forest. And with the other Founders preoccupied by their tangled alliances and fraying relationships, only May Hawthorne seems to realize the danger. But saving the town she loves means seeking aid from the person her family despises most–her and Justin’s father.
May’s father isn’t the only newcomer in town–Isaac Sullivan’s older brother has also returned, seeking forgiveness for the role he played in Isaac’s troubled past. But Isaac isn’t ready to let go of his family’s history, especially when that history might hold the key that he and Violet Saunders need to destroy the Gray and the monster within it.
Harper Carlisle isn’t ready to forgive, either. Two devastating betrayals have left her isolated from her family and uncertain who to trust. As the corruption becomes impossible to ignore, Harper must learn to control her newfound powers in order to protect Four Paths. But the only people who can help her do that are the ones who have hurt her the most.
With the veil between the Gray and the town growing ever thinner, all of the Founder descendants must put their grievances with one another aside to stop the corruption and kill the Beast once and for all.
But maybe the monster they truly need to slay has never been the Beast…
Okay, so I read The Devouring Gray last year, and although it wasn’t the best book I read in 2019, it wasn’t the worse and I did enjoy it for the most part. I was really intrigued to read the second book The Deck of Omens and was lucky enough to recieve a copy from the publisher, Titan Books.
I went into The Deck of Omens with lots of questions that had been unanswered in the first book, and as you can probably guess I was dying to have them answered. Alas, I got about halfway through and realised that none of my questions were actually being answered, which yes was disappointing. I also found the story and plot-line to be rather dull, and I found that not a lot was happening, which in turn, made me lose interest quite quickly. Also, with regards to the characters, I just couldn’t find myself investing in any of them and I found their individual story lines to be very predictable. One thing I did like was the LGBT representation, but even that could have been done a bit better in my opinion. The sexuality of a few characters were addressed, but then after that you didn’t really hear about it again. Keeping in mind that this series was meant to have great diversity. I’m gonna be honest I did DNF this book just after half way through, and it’s a shame as I had high hopes.
A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
Published by: Bloomsbury
Released: 7th January 2020
Amazon / Book Depository / Waterstones
Find the heir, win the crown.
Win the crown, save the kingdom.Harper has freed Prince Rhen from the curse that almost destroyed his kingdom. But all is not well; rumours are rife that there is a rival heir with a stronger claim to the throne and that ‘Princess’ Harper of Disi is nothing but a fraud.
Grey has fled the castle carrying a terrible secret. When he is discovered by soldiers and returned to Ironrose by force, Grey’s allegiances begin to shift. And as he grows closer to an enemy princess, he is forced to decide whether he will stand against Rhen for the crown he never wanted.
After reading A Curse So Dark and Lonely and falling in love with it, I picked up the sequel A Heart So Fierce and Broken straight away, and oh my god I can’t describe my utter love for this series.
A Heart So Fierce and Broken is told through the eyes of Grey and a new character, Lia Mara, and I found their perspectives to be so insightful and I couldn’t stop reading, literally. I enjoyed getting to know Grey a lot more and get under his skin to discover his inner struggles. Grey was my favourite character in the first book so to get more of him was just amazing. He’s such a complex character and his point of view in this book had me falling in love with him even more. Lia Mara, well what a bad ass, well developed character. I have to admit I wasn’t sure I would even like her at first, but as the story went on my opinion changed and I ended up rooting for her.
The plot, itself, was fast paced, action packed and pulled me in from the moment I started reading. The way the author builds up tension is inspiring, and honestly I didn’t know what was going to come next. It certainly left me guessing, and come the climax I had my mouth open in complete and utter shock. This world that Brigid Kemmerer has created is honestly one of the best I have read, and her world-building is next to none, honestly. It’s made me want to visit Ironrose..if only.
A Heart So Fierce and Broken was a great sequel to what is becoming one of my favourite YA Fantasy series of all time. I need the third book desperately and will be waiting impatiently for it.
Amy's Bookish Life 