Tag: fantasy

Biblioshelf Musings – The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni. I remember when this book was first published in 2021, the hype surrounding it was so big. As it came in one of my Fairyloot boxes, I automatically purchased the matching sequel editions for the whole trilogy despite not reading the first instalment. Fastforward 3 years, and they’ve been sat on my shelves ever since, completely unread! One of my 2024 reading goals was to finally tick this series off my list and reader, I’m proud to say that this goal has officially been started! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Genre: Fantasy / YA
Publication Date: April 2021
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 406
Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Here at Zalindov, the only person you can trust is yourself.

Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan is a survivor. For ten years, she has worked as the healer in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, making herself indispensable. Kept afloat by messages of hope from her family, Kiva has one goal and one goal only: stay alive.

Then one day the infamous Rebel Queen arrives at the prison on death’s door and Kiva receives a new message: Don’t let her die. We are coming.

The queen is sentenced to the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals. Aware the sickly queen has little chance of making it through the Trials alive, Kiva volunteers to take her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

And with an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.

My Musings

When The Prison Healer was featured in Fairyloot’s 2021 Aril box, the corresponding theme was ‘Hidden Identities’. This actually encapsulates a major part of the novel’s plot. Whilst I was able to guess around 85% of all the plot twists relating to this theme, there were still a few identities which did leave me guessing. The characters themselves are quite an endearing bunch. Being essentially ‘prison riff-raff’, you’ve got your loveable rogues, heroes in disguise, prickly people who are actually good at heart, guards with a sense of morality (or are they…?!) and the elderly comedian.

Kiva is quite an honest character who I warmed to. Her duties as a healer mean that she sees some of the more grizzly sides of prison life. I admired her abilities to want to stay positive and happy, whilst also keeping her steely resolve to stay focused and work towards getting herself out. When she becomes determined to do the Trials by Ordeal, you get to see more of her interactions with those around her and this brings her whole character arc to life. I particularly enjoyed the sections where she worked with herbal remedies as it gave a nerdy, botanical kick!

The Prison setting was quite unique to the book and definitely kept the story interesting. As the plot progresses, we get to visit each area and aspect of the prison which is referenced on the map so for me, the author did a great job at not only utilising this as the main location within the book, but also using the elements and areas of it as a tool to develop and push the story forward. Without going into copious amounts of detail, there was enough world-building to bring Zalindov to life, and even though I’m not adding it to my fictional travel bucket-list in a hurry, it will stay in my mind for quite some time.

The Trials by Ordeal that Kiva puts herself forward for in place of the Rebel Queen, is really the sole magical part of the story. In order to survive the trials and progress towards freedom, challengers ideally need to have an affinity in one of the four elemental areas of magic. It is these trials which also take us to the different prison areas as mentioned above. This was an intriguing part of the plot, if a little predictable at times, but it did heighten the level of drama and tension and added that much needed element of fantasy to the mix.

Now that some big reveals have happened, and based on the outcome of the story ending, I’m not too sure where this book series will go next. Asides from giving out major spoilers about the fates of Kiva, the Rebel Queen and other characters. All of the major parts of what made The Prison Healer that little bit unique, may almost render themselves a bit irrelevant now as we follow down a more traditional fantasy plotline. Nevertheless, I will still be reading the sequels to see how the story pans out – I just hope the follow-ups have the same amount of charm that Zalindov had in this first instalment.

Have you read The Prison Healer yet or is it on your TBR list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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Biblioshelf Musings – Faebound by Saara el-Arifi

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about Faebound by Saara el-Arifi. Normally I am such a mood reader, however in April I was taking part in the Magical Readathon so had pre-picked all of my TBR and prompts beforehand. Sometimes when I do this, I almost feel like I’m forcing myself to read something just to tick it off the list, rather than because I wanted to – however, this was definitely not the case with Faebound! I was caught hook, line and sinker from the first few pages! It gave me everything I was craving in a brand-new fantasy and I just had to give it the full 5 stars at the end! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: Faebound by Saara el-Arifi
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: January 2024
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 392
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Two elven sisters become imprisoned in the hidden world of the fae where danger, and love, lies in wait. Faebound is the first book in an enchanting new trilogy from the internationally bestselling author of The Final Strife.

A thousand years ago, the world held three beings: fae, elves, and humans. But now the fae and humans exist only in myth and legend, survived by the elves who are trapped in an endless war over the remaining lands.

Yeeran is a colonel in the elven army and has known nothing but a life of violence and hardship. Her sister, Lettle, is a diviner whose magic promises a different future for her and her sister, but the prophecies have yet come to pass.  

When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven Lands, Lettle, fearful for her sister’s life, follows her into the uncharted territory beyond their borders. In the wilderness the sisters encounter the largest obeah they have ever seen. Part leopard, part stag, the obeah’s magic is harnessed to make weapons for the elven war. It is during this hunt that they are confronted with the impossible: a group of fae who take them captive. Imprisoned in a new land, they must navigate the politics of the fae court all while planning their escape.

Now Yeeran and Lettle are fighting a different kind of war: between their loyalty to their elven homeland and the intoxicating world of the fae, between what duty decrees is right, and what their hearts tell them they need.

My Musings

Sometimes, you just come across a book which grabs hold of you from the very first lines – for me Faebound was that book! I haven’t really read many stories about Elves, other than Lord of the Rings so I had a pretty preconceived idea about what I anticipated an elf to be. Saara el-Arifi completely made my perceptions of the elfish shift and I am so here for how she has represented them in this book!

I adored the sisterly relationship between Yeeran and Lettle. The story was a split narrative between their two perspectives. It took me a little time to find my balance between the two, but further into the story their characteristics were so distinctive that I didn’t need the heading at the chapter beginnings to know who I was reading.

As a Colonel, Yeeran is an exceptional warrior – fierce, strong, smart, always ready for a fight and constantly with some kind of battle weapon or armour. I was thoroughly intrigued by her and the military vibes she was giving off. Add into that the Africanesque, desert style surroundings and this presented my reading brain with an aesthetic I couldn’t get enough of.

Lettle on the other hand, is almost a complete antithesis of Yeeran. Whilst Yeeran is all about strength, mettle and fighting – Lettle reads prophecies about the future. She has a more wistful and romantic outlook on life which perfectly complements her sister. Lettle’s strength comes from more than just physicality, it comes from the devotion and loyalty she feels towards those that she loves, and also the conviction of her beliefs and actions.

The plot was pacy and clearly driving towards goals and revelations. It had me turning page after page, and I was so happy when my train was delayed so I could keep reading those extra few pages! The magic style offered a familiarity that I expected with elves and the fae, whilst still bringing in this breath of fresh air about how they use their magic within their environment.

The obeahs were also thoroughly intriguing characters. I’m a little jealous that I don’t have an obeah of my own in all honesty! The role that they play within the story reminds me of the deamons from Philip Pullman’s The Northern Lights. They are characters within their own right and I loved how these personalities intertwined between the lives of the elves and fae.

Political tensions were well-written, without being dull or long-drawn out. We found out all we needed to know and there was still room for a few plot twists and revelations to see how all of the threads were coming together.

When you think of a story about Elves and Fae, you might think that you’ve heard it all before. But Saara el-Arifi has absolutely smashed that threshold with this amazing novel. I devoured every inch of the wild escapist ride it gave me and am now eagerly awaiting the next instalment to find our what on earth is going to happen to my merry band of el-Arfians!

Have you read Faebound yet or is it on your TBR list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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Biblioshelf Musings – House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about House of Flame and Shadow [Crescent City #3] by Sarah J. Maas. My brain is literally all over my kitchen floor right now after finishing this book – and I’m kinda grateful for that considering I thought I’d be finishing this book in Starbucks, whilst waiting for my car to be serviced, and everyone around me would witness the fully blown mental breakdown that often comes at the end of a Maas tale. 🙈 Luckily, Urd helped me to escape that fate! I’m not sure whether this post is going to form as an actual ‘review’ or whether I’m just going to be rambling on about my feelings and theorising about where the Hel this series goes next!

🚨 Needless to say there are spoilers ahead for the entire Maasverse so if you are not up to speed with ANY of Maas’ other books, you might want to pop back to this at a later date…! 🚨

Book: House of Flame and Shadow [Crescent City #3] by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: January 2024
Publisher: HarperTeen / Magpie
Pages: 835
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

My Musings

Erm, excuse me – I don’t mean to be rude… but I think my edition of HOFAS is missing a few pages… particularly towards the end… it’s missing an epilogue with a rather twisty cliffhanger…? Right?!

Not five minutes after finishing this book, I had to go on Google and just check whether or not this was the final book in this series – I never had it pegged down for a trilogy, however with that final chapter having all of this weird closure… it’s something I’m not used to as a Maas reader. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not arguing or saying that I dislike the ending, I had just hoped that we wouldn’t necessarily be having quite so much finality just yet.

My theory on this is that with four main houses on Midgard’s world, surely the next novel has to be The House of Many Waters right… so are we having another ACOTAR situation where after book 3, the main narrative now moves onto one of the side characters (à la A Court of Silver Flames)? Hmm, who do we know from the House of Many Waters who has taken on a central part in Crescent City… Tharion Ketos. I’m predicting that he’s now taking over the main storyline from Bryce and Hunt and we’re going to find out how his life pans out with the Viper, River and Ocean Queens, plus his (rather sassy) wife Sathia.

Throne of Glass stan that I am, by far my favourite reveal was about Lidia’s ancestry. It had always been hovering at the back of my mind (in the same way that any ‘stag’ symbolism has me immediately thinking of the Lord of the North), that there had to be some connection in these books with the world of Erilea. References to the shifter fae with their elongated canines had me absolutely screaming internally! I was getting major green-eyed Reaper envy of all the Prythian links and cross-overs, with hardly any references at all to my beloved Fireheart… enter The Hind! I had so many Kingdom of Ash flashbacks when Lidia strode out onto that battlefield! It even reminded me of the Yielding of the Thirteen and my eyes were immediately welling up. And omg Brann… Brannon! *kicks myself for not spotting this link sooner…* Asides from the creepy-ass ‘fertility ritual’ stuff, I am so here for this ancestry line and neeeeed to know more!

Overall, I’m satisfied with how this all played out. Nesta and Azriel got some pretty epic cameos which I loved, especially the mirroring and parallels between the two worlds and their hidden cave systems and carvings. The mists, ley lines and thin places elements are setting up so much in the way of crossovers for whatever Maas brings us next within her multiverse [clearly someone’s been watching a lot of Phase 1-3 Marvel! 😍].

The fight scenes towards the final summit with the Asteri were incredibly intense, fairly predictable SJM self-sacrificing stuff, but I enjoyed seeing Jesiba’s softer side and her forfeit for Bryce towards the end. All of the Midgardians and Princes of Hel pulling Bryce and Hunt out of that Black Hole had me in absolute floods, even if I did know deep down that Maas wasn’t really going to kill Bryce off. It was a pretty epic finale, I’m not even sure how anything on Midgard could even follow that, hence the reason for all of my procrastinating over where the supposed next book in this series goes. I can’t really imagine Maas writing up a whole novel on setting up a new Midgarian senate and energy system.

I rewatched the Today interview that SJM did when bringing out House of Flame and Shadow purely to see if I could glean anything I hadn’t already picked up on. Clearly we know that there’s still some major shit going down in Prythian, hence the giving of the Starsword over to Nesta – something tells me it’s going to become a vital weapon in a future battle. I’m also insanely curious as to the ’emotional’ secret project that SJM is working on after the next ACOTAR instalment. Any thoughts on what it is? Could we be diving back into the Throne of Glass world, maybe something about Manon and the witches…? A Princes of Hel novel? Or something entirely new?

Hopefully if you made it this far, you’ve definitely read all the Maaslore that’s currently available and I haven’t just ruined anything for you. I’m so desperate to chat about this series so if you have any thoughts, theories, major gaping plot holes which you also feel the need to talk about, as always, drop me a comment below to chat!

T xx

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Biblioshelf Musings – If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun. I’ve been chugging through a few standalones recently and this YA fantasy was both spooky and sweet. If you love a straightforward, linear plot with wide-ranging yet descriptive world-building, then If I Have To Be Haunted may be right up your street. Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
Genre: YA / Fantasy
Publication Date: September 2023
Publisher: HarperTeen / Magpie
Pages: 371
Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Your first love will always haunt you…

The most haunting, heartwarming debut of 2023. Perfect for fans of strong female leads and supernatural stakes in Buffy, with all the sweetness and romance of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Cara’s just trying to stay on top of all her classes, excel at her extracurriculars, and prepare for college – which means not speaking to the dead, an ability she inherited from her grandmother. Ghosts are trouble, and Cara doesn’t need to add their problems to her own.

But then she stumbles upon the body of Zach – the super popular but very newly dead high school golden boy – in the woods, and guess what? He wants her to resurrect him.

Cue trouble.

Miranda Sun’s debut touches on the power and conflicts in a mother-daughter love, first romance – and finding your place in the world while honouring your culture. Full of heart, humour and thrills, If I Have to be Haunted will put a spell on you.

My Musings

If I Have To Be Haunted centres around ghost-speaker Cara, who attempts to resurrect her high school enemy Zach who has been turned into a ghost. Their mission, much like the entirety of the plot, is pretty linear and straightforward. The quest they embark upon plays out almost like a video game. Each stage of their journey through the liminal world is like a gaming level with a mini-boss at the end to either defeat or escape. They pick up a sidekick along the way whose assistance is integral to the overall outcome of the plot and when they reach the culmination of their journey, sacrifices must be made and truths come out.

On the one hand this overarching plot is quite simplistic – our characters mainly have the one goal to achieve. However, due to the number of different settings and locations they visit, the whole story ended up feeling a bit choppy and jumpy. This did enable me to read through each chapter fairly quickly, but personally I don’t think I ever really got my teeth stuck into the novel.

What I did love about all of these hoppy sections, was that it felt like we were getting a tiny glimpse into Miranda Sun’s amazingly creative brain. Each setting is described in wondrously vivid details. She creates exceptional atmospheres to match each of the liminal thresholds she has designed, whether these are tropical rainforest-style settings with a multitude of flora and fauna, or whether they are ghostly fogs pits with creatures who have the ability to make you see the thing you desire most in the world. Transporting the reader to the various settings of her novel is definitely one of Miranda Sun’s strengths and it was by far my favourite aspect of the whole book.

The mother/daughter relationship was well executed for a YA novel. We got to feel the tension and strain in the relationship between Cara and her mother. As a Chinese American, Cara had to strike the right balance between her mother’s high expectations, her destiny as a ghost-speaker and her own sense of self-identity being a young girl still in high school.

The romance element was fairly light and predictable. Although it came across as quite saccharine at times, I couldn’t help but have a smile on my face during Zach’s scenes. His personality is endearing and grew on me more and more with each chapter. It also brought an air of comedy to the story.

On the whole, I enjoyed my read of If I Have To Be Haunted. Several times, I had to remind myself that this was a YA book. It definitely fits within that genre due to the linear style of the plot and the PG romance and horror vibes. There’s no doubt that Miranda Sun is a tremendously talented writer. She created so many dreamy worldscapes within the one novel, that I’m actually a little jealous that we didn’t get to explore them in more depth. If you’re after a rather light, ghostly fantasy with a charming little hint of enemies to lovers on the side, then If I Have To Be Haunted may be your perfect TBR pick!

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Biblioshelf Musings – A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas. I don’t know why I left it so long to pick this book up. I’m not sure if it was the utter tragedy of finishing A Court of Wings and Ruin, or if it was more that I felt that the original ACOTAR series had already been wrapped up nicely. 🤷🏻‍♀️ However, after sinking my teeth into all 784 pages of this tome, I now realise how much I needed this Nesta / Cassian instalment in my life! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 784
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Sarah J. Maas’s sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre’s fiery sister, Nesta.

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.

My Musings

First and foremost, Sarah J Maas was the writer I found after coming out of my major “Harry Potter is over” reading slump. I love all of her books and she is pretty much at the top of my auto-buy authors list. At the time A Court of Silver Flames was published, I didn’t fully see the need for a whole 780-odd pages on Nesta’s character… this was where I was incredibly wrong!! The character arc that Nesta goes through is one of epic proportions and it has taken me this fourth instalment of the ACOTAR series to finally see that. I have unequivocally fallen in love with her through reading this book (watch out Aelin 😂)!

As a character, Nesta goes through (pretty much) every emotion imaginable. There is rage, aggression, despair, self-loathing, denial, perseverance, compassion, respect, resilience, love – the list is a whole rainbow of feelings! I really admire the way that she faced up to herself and her own fears throughout the plot of this book. It was interesting to see the good, the bad and the ugly of her innermost thoughts, but also to witness her develop and grow into her own personality traits. Again, Nesta’s journey is one of self-acceptance – and once that has been established, other relationships can be built up or healed.

I loved the introduction of Gwyn and Emerie. There was such a need within this tale to incorporate new characters rather than just rely on the ones we have already come across in the previous four novels. Whilst Emerie and Gwyn can be seen as plot devices in Nesta’s redemption arc, they also bring their own backstories which add freshness and contribute to the overarching plot of this tale. In addition to this, they emphasise the theme of how women are treated with negativity and how we can rise up against those which oppress us.

The magical house and Made items were the plot drivers which I enjoyed the most. The house is almost a character in itself with all the sentient sass it hands out to those who visit. The extension of the storyline with the Cauldron since A Court of Wings and Ruin ended, seamlessly weaves a new narrative for us to follow without feeling like too much of a main series spin-off. And with that cliffhanger ending… I’m eagerly anticipating where the next ACOTAR novel will take us!

One thing that almost had me holding back from giving this the full five stars was the smut. This may need an ‘unpopular opinion warning’ on it but parts of the ‘romance’ in here was so graphic and cringe that I’m not sure I’d even call it romance! Whilst it seems that every SJM novel gets chunkier and chunkier (I like big books and I cannot lie 😉), I just pray that we don’t end up with them becoming hornier and pornier as time goes on – I loved seeing Nesta’s relationship blossom in this book, however I’m not really liking the fifty shades of fae vibes of it all… Am I a total prude? Anyone else feel like that or is it just me?

All in all, I am on tenterhooks now to find out what is going to happen to these characters next. I’m desperate for more knowledge of Elain / Azriel / Tamlin / Lucien and what the hell is going on there! With Crescent City 3 still sitting on my TBR bookshelf, I’m also desperate to know how this is factoring in to the whole Maasverse fae-quation! I’d better hurry off to the House of Flame and Shadow pretty sharpish!

Find out more about this book here:

Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | Author Website

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Biblioshelf Musings – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I had seen this book everwhere: all over Insta, all over Goodreads, all over my bookish socials and even on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s beach towel! In the Christmas sales (which seems like an eternity ago now), I picked up a hardback of Fourth Wing for half price and proceeded to immerse myself fully on this hype train! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: May 2023
Publisher: Piatkus
Pages: 498
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where everyone has an agenda, and every night could be your last . . .

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general-also known as her tough-as-talons mother-has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away . . . because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter-like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Alliances will be forged. Lives will be lost. Traitors will become allies . . . or even lovers. But sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

My Musings

Fourth Wing was a crazy ride filled with dragons, friendships, romance, betrayal and magic! The whole setting for Basgiath War College reminded me a little of Hogwarts, but with a Dauntless-esque initiation ceremony thrown in to actually prove that you deserve to be there. From there, the quests and challenges bordered on Hunger Games-style crazy, and each element of Violet’s journey was filled with extra danger and tension. I appreciated the academia side to this novel, it appealed to my inner geekiness.

As a character, I warmed to Violet. She had to overcome the expectations and demands put on her by her family and friends in order to find her own true self – this was a process that took time and felt fairly well developed. The ordeals she went through helped to strengthen her character and I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this journey. For me, it was the perfect pacing – not too quick, not too drawn out. Violet’s chronic pain representation made her have to work harder than most in order to succeed. This part of her character was dealt with quite well, without coming across as just a plot device. Xaden was the typical: dark, handsome and brooding type – what’s not to love about that Rhysand stans?! 😂

The dragons are by far my favourite thing about this entire novel. They bring the sass, the drama, the cuteness and the eye-widening action. I don’t want to say too much about them without spoiling everything, but imagine How to Train Your Dragon grew up and got a pair of vicious, look-at-me-the-wrong-way-and-die fangs! I cherished the dynamic between Andarna and Tairn, as well as the additional interactions with Sgaeyl. The bonds between the dragons and their riders made for some interesting dialogue.

I was really intrigued by the wyverns and venin. The fight scenes had me on the edge of my seat with how on earth they were going to make it out alive. The venin themselves had a different style of magic to the dragon riders which added more depth to world-building across the whole kingdom.

Admittedly, I did not see the plot twist coming at the end. I actually gasped out loud when reading it. I knew there had to be something more to the story… but that was not it!! I cannot wait to see where this goes in Iron Flame and what happens to these characters! I hope we get to experience more of the entire world as well. There are definitely more places on my endpaper map that need exploring!

Overall, was this a masterfully written novel? Not quite… yes, as others who are not on the hype-train have pointed out, elements of this story feel like an immense melee of Hogwarts, Divergent, How To Train Your Dragon and the Hunger Games, but hey, I love all of these things individually so why wouldn’t I love them altogether? This was what made me fall in love with these characters and these dragons. This was what made me keep turning page after page. This was what made me wish it wasn’t quite so ‘spicy’ and adult so that I could tell my class of 9 year old bookworms that I was reading an amazing book! The tension had me on the edge of my seat, constantly questioning who was betraying who or what would happen next. My spidey-senses were always on the lookout for potential twists or secrets. I love the way this book swept me up and completely absorbed me into its world. It sure as hell was one rollercoaster of a dragon ride and I will definitely be reading Iron Flame before 2024 is out!

Why Should I Read This?

For:
> Dragons
> Dragons
> and more Dragons… That’s all.

Find out more about this book here:

Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | Author Website

Connect with me here:

Twitter | Goodreads | Book Sloth: @thebiblioshelf |Email: thebiblioshelf@gmail.com

Biblioshelf Musings – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about A Storm of Swords (Game of Thrones #3) by George R.R. Martin.

Book: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3)
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: First published August 2000 (Audiobook copyrighted 2011)
Publisher: Harper Collins / Audible
Pages: 1177
Audiobook Duration: 47hrs 32mins
Audiobook Narrator: Roy Dotrice
Rating: 📚📚📚📚

I first began reading the Game of Thrones series when the buzz about the upcoming TV adaptation was becoming global. I had found A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings as paperbacks in a second hand book store and started reading them pretty much immediately. The first book was fairly easy to get through, the second one a little less so. Then by the time I had started reading A Storm of Swords Part One (again as a paperback), I found myself struggling a little with some particular character-based chapters (not mentioning any names, Bran…!). I did something I don’t usually do, and DNF’d the book.

At some point during my reading mission, I watched the first couple of series when they came out on TV and got hooked by the characters. Needless to say, without a continuously rolling Sky subscription, I eventually abandoned the TV series as well. Fast forward to end of 2023 and I had still neither finished the TV show or the book series and was getting a little curious as to how the whole saga had progressed. I was also quite pleased that I’d managed to avoid all spoilers as to who finally wins the Iron Throne. Having a tiny stash of Audible credits to spare, I eventually downloaded the A Storm of Swords audiobook and it has definitely reignited my love for this series again!

🚨🚨🚨 Normally, I try not to write spoilers into my reviews and musings, however with the content of this book, I’m not going to be able to stop myself from discussing key events – take this as your spoiler warning if you’re still making your way through the series or you’re yet to reach it! If you haven’t got to it yet, but you love your fantasies on the more ‘epic’ side, you should totally check this series out. Complex world-building, mixed with equally complex characters make for a gripping peregrination through the world of the Seven Kingdoms!

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. . . .

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others–a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . . .

My Musings

First and foremost, I think I need to address the issue of audiobook narration by Roy Dotrice. If you read some of the Audible reviews, he comes across as quite a marmite narrator – people either love his style of they hate it. Personally, I absolutely loved Roy’s voice and felt like the intonation and voiceovers he used matched the rural, rugged image I have of Westeros in my head. At times, he comes across as gruff, sometimes incredibly Welsh; other times, he puts on a lighter more feminine lilt to reflect Sansa’s or other ladies’ characters.

The power of Roy’s voice is really the main driver as to why I think I fell in love with this series again. He put entertainment back into character arcs which had dried up a little bit in my head. According to Wikipedia, he holds the Guinness World Record for the most character voices by an individual for an audiobook – a pretty remarkable achievement. His background in Shakespeare and the theatre can be heard through the clarity of these different voices and the expression with which he reads. Obviously, his style will not suit every listener which is where audio samplers are brilliant at helping you know what you’re letting yourself in for.

Now onto the book itself… My mind was blown all over the place throughout this almost two day audiobook journey. Here are some of my favourite parts from the book!

Jon Snow – I was already aware that Jon and Ygritte were a bit of an item from the TV show and that eventually Jon turned his back on her in order to get back to The Wall. I found the descriptions of the fights along The Wall itself to be filled with excellent amounts of tension and an eye for detail. From the battle strategies and details of weapon supplies, especially the contrasts from battling in the dark at different altitudes, these scenes provided an adequate break from the more political/courtly style conversations happening in King’s Landing. I found the part where Jon becomes elected as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch to be quite poignant and moving. Dotrice’s narration helped to emphasise that this was a major moment in this character’s development to set him up as a key player within the world of Westeros.

The Red Wedding – I felt like Robb Stark’s journey was starting to stagnate and he is one of the characters I was struggling with in the first read around of this book. I mean, yes he’s the King in the North and yes he is amassing a whole host of troops to move towards the Iron Throne, but marrying a bit of a randomner called Jeyne … really? That is where his decision-making went completely downhill! I’m not adverse to a bit of blood and gore, but I have to say that what happened at the Red Wedding was brutal yet brilliant. I feel so sorry for poor Grey Wind, but my mind was reeling that we had essentially lost two main characters in Robb and Catelyn. Martin is forever proving that he isn’t afraid to hold his punches and no character is at all safe! I adored Catelyn’s character so much, although she married into a household with a sigil of the direwolf, Catelyn protected her flock like an absolute lioness. I loved her ferocity, shrewdness and common-sense approach to the power-plays evolving around her.

Tyrion Lannister – I cannot read his parts without thinking of the awesomeness that is Peter Dinklage. He was so made for this role! I’m glad we got some extra depth to his character in this book. I love the fact that he admits he isn’t a hero, but also tries so hard to show everyone that he isn’t a villain either. He doesn’t necessarily treat Sansa kindly, but at least he shows her a little bit of respect and honesty in a world filled with liars and schemers. Major, major kudos points for the showdown with Tywin at the end of the book. I couldn’t help myself but to laugh out loud – Tywin only got the shit that he deserved! 😂

Joffrey’s Wedding – the audiobook definitely brought this particular segment to life with the song elements! I don’t usually have a smile on my face when a character dies (despite what I just said about Tywin above!), but then again some characters don’t really deserve death in the way that Joffrey did – it was giving me major ‘ding, dong the witch is dead’ vibes! And go Olenna Tyrell, having the guts to help organise what countless characters had dreamed about!

Arya and Sandor Clegane – I love this pairing! And not in some weird -ship way (eew!). Arya is such an aggressive little character, she needs someone strong like Clegane to show her the ropes and simmer down that hot temperament of hers. I was mentally screaming in my head when they parted ways, I hope their paths cross again in the future of the series!

Daenerys – For me, Dany’s storyline here was a little bit of character filler before she moves into action again. This is the part of her character arc where she is building bonds, working out who she can trust and figuring out what she really wants from being a Queen. Is that the Iron Throne and conquering the Seven Kingdoms? Is it ruling in one place kingdom filled with loyal followers where everyone can live in freedom and peace? Who will be at her side when she achieves this? Jorah… seriously, what is his game? Obviously, I’m predicting that Daenerys is going to be a major power player when this series comes to a head – I can’t wait to see where that journey takes her – especially as she’s packing in that whole Mother of Dragons vibe!

Return of the dead – OK, I totally did not see that major ending plot twist coming!! I clearly haven’t caught up to this part of the TV show and to be honest, I’m glad! Finding out that Catelyn Stark is actually ALIVE, my eyes were popping out of my head! Imagine the PTSD she must be going through after what she’s witnessed – I mean, whoa! This also blows another part of the storyline wide open again, because she must have been brought back for a reason right?! I can’t wait to find out what that is!

All in all, listening to this audiobook has been the most excited I have been about this series in a long time and I’m so glad I took the plunge! Once I’m done with my current audio read, you can damn well bet that A Feast for Crows will be queued up right away!

Have you read or watched the Game of Thrones series? Have you got any tips for getting through books 4 and 5? Who are your favourite characters? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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Biblioshelf Musings – Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

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Hello Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings is Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. Sometimes you start a novel and know immediately that you are going to absolutely love and devour it – Six Crimson Cranes was one of those books! It completely transported me into a world of utter magic and fairytale.

Thank you to the publishers Hodder and Stoughton and the author Elizabeth Lim for providing me with a complimentary e-ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t manage to finish reading the whole e-ARC before it was archived but I was so thrilled when an exclusive edition of Six Crimson Cranes arrived in my July Fairyloot box – it has the most beautifully detailed cover and the sprayed edges feature the six cranes and Kiki the origami crane! It’s a work of art and I love it so much!

Book: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Genre: Fantasy / YA
Publication Date: 8th July 2021
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
Pages: 454
Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted, but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

Raikama has dark magic of her own, and she banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Peniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and, on her journey, uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne—a conspiracy more twisted and deceitful, more cunning and complex, than even Raikama’s betrayal. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to contain—no matter what it costs her.

My Musings

Elizabeth Lim’s voice and storytelling style conjured up a whole world in my head which I found fascinating. From the mountains, forests, rivers and seas, from Iro to Gindara and the dragon realms and islands in between there was always a new landscape to get completely immersed and lost in. It’s definitely one I’m adding to my bucket list of fictional worlds that I need to travel to.

I enjoyed that this was more than just your average retelling of The Wild Swans. I’m more familiar with the Grimm version (The Twelve Brothers) but I enjoyed the way that the author stayed true to the Anderson fairytale by weaving it into a stunning narrative then filling it up with extra characters and additional plot points. There was plenty of action, drama and complicated obstacles for the characters to overcome. The whole narrative exuded a magical quality, almost like lots of little moments from my favourite Disney movies all weaved together like golden threads intermittently throughout.

Shiori’s character initially came across to me as quite childish and naïve, everything she was supposed to be as a Princess living a fairly sheltered life – but then following the curse and the hardships she faced, her character was given the space to grow and mature. By the end of the novel I was championing her due to how much she had evolved through all of her trials and tribulations. Kiki, the sentient origami crane was so adorable that I had to have a go at creating some of my own!

Seryu the dragon shapeshifter was so fascinating and I’m excited to hopefully explore a bit more of the Ai’Long Realm in the next book. Takkan’s role in the story brought a little bit of romance which I was completely here for, but I’m being a little sceptical of a potential love triangle appearing in the sequel… I could be barking up the complete wrong tree though so I guess I’ll have to wait for book 2 to find out!

Several years ago, I remember reading a Chinese proverb about how an invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. As a big believer of fate and divine intervention etc. I was so taken by this idea and here, in Six Crimson Cranes, Elizabeth Lim incorporated it so beautifully into her storyline that it made me love this book even more. All of the magical elements and events relating to the threads of fate and Shiori’s weaving of the starstroke were so vivid that it definitely appealed to all of my reading tastebuds!

Just on a personal note, I found the ending to be slightly drawn with regards to one particular character. I appreciate that it was setting up for a sequel but I was way more interested in the outcome of the narrative between Raikama’s and Zairena’s characters because I found them so intriguing and hope we get to see them later in the series.

Overall, Six Crimson Cranes is one of my new favourite fairytale retellings. Elizabeth Lim’s story manages to exude mysticism, drama and folklore from every page. Stunning!

Find out more about this book here:

NetGalley | Publisher Website | Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | Author’s Twitter: @LizLim | Author’s Website

Connect with me here:

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Biblioshelf Musings – Can You Sign My Tentacle? by Brandon O’Brien

The Biblioshelf5 Comments

Hello Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings is Can You Sign My Tentacle? by Brandon O’Brien – a beguiling, unique collection of poetry which merges together a hybrid mix of contemporary hip-hop and folklorian Lovecraft monsters in a fun fusion of science-fiction and poetry. On the surface, it offers an entertaining, comedic chronicle; however, between the lines it offers something much more meaningful and profound.

Thank you to the publishers Interstellar Flight Press and the author Brandon O’Brien for providing me with a complimentary e-ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book: Can You Sign My Tentacle? by Brandon O’Brien
Genre: Science Fiction / Horror / Poetry
Publication Date: 20th August 2021
Publisher: Interstellar Flight Press
Pages: 75
Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Cthulhu meets hip-hop in this book of horror poems that flips the eldritch genre upside down. Lovecraftian-inspired nightmares are reversed as O’Brien asks readers to see Blackness as radically significant. Can You Sign My Tentacle? explores the monsters we know and the ones that hide behind racism, sexism, and violence, resulting in poems that are both comic and cosmic.

My Musings

What initially drew me to read Can You Sign My Tentacle?
Well first off, the title alone piqued my curiosity; then to discover that this was the work of a Caribbean author who has composed a strange blend of SFF, horror and poetry, I just had to open that cover and dive straight in.

Despite being a self-proclaimed SFF fan, I’ve never read any Lovecraft so I had no idea of the meaning behind the Cthulhu references until much later on. That being said, I feel this enabled me to approach O’Brien’s collection with a wholly open-mind.

O’Brien does not shy away from tackling some of the big themes of racism, sexism and violence, but through this unusual mix of varying genres, his messages tend to pop out and command your attention in a way that may be much less fun or remarkable in traditional prose.

There are some wonderful phrases and language. As a bit of a logophile, I was struck by the beautiful and bizarre range of vocabulary that Brandon utilised across his writing.

Notably in The Metaphysics of a Wine, In Theory and Practice, the concoction of academia-style concepts mixed with the celestial, paranormal-esque commentary of being lost in the throes of dancing captivated me. Other poems such as The One, Lovecraft Thesis #3 and Time, and Time Again were particular favourites.

The Author’s Note at the end (along with a little help from Google) helped me to understand how O’Brien’s use of the eldritch genre brought Can You Sign My Tentacle? to life. It tied together some of the loose connections that I hadn’t grasped from my initial reading and clarified the Lovecraft references along with the author’s influences and inspiration for writing this collection of poems.

I really, really like this book. It’s different, it’s highly entertaining yet meaningful at the same time. The poems are curious and provocative. The whole theme of the collection and ideas behind the Cthulhu/Lovecraft mix are totally original and have taught me something new; not just about the medley of Science-Fiction and Poetry as genres, but about the over-inflated concept of self-importance and that nobody or nothing is infallible.

In a world where cancel culture seems to be increasingly (somewhat shockingly) normalised, O’Brien’s narrative seems to challenge this notion and turn it on its head. Just as Lovecraft was undoubtedly a talented writer who has done much to shape the SFF genre, O’Brien shows that rather than ‘cancelling’ or criticising his creative legacy, we can turn his prejudices into a weapon and opportunity for education and awareness. He shows that we can learn from past denigrations and champions how today’s society can shift away from the attitudes, mistakes and short-sightedness of those who came before us.

I went into Can You Sign My Tentacle? looking for something a bit on the offbeat, peculiar side – I came out of it with something undoubtedly more meaningful. O’Brien is truly a voice to be celebrated. He has written such a thought-provoking, original masterpiece with a trailblazing message which will stay in my mind for a long time to come.

About the Author

Brandon O’Brien is a writer, performance poet, teaching artist and game designer from Trinidad and Tobago. His work has been shortlisted for the 2014 Alice Yard Prize for Art Writing, the 2014 and 2015 Small Axe Literary Competitions, and the inaugural Ignyte Award for Best Speculative Poetry. His work is published in Uncanny Magazine, Strange Horizons, Reckoning, and New Worlds, Old Ways: Speculative Tales from the Caribbean, among others. He is the former Poetry editor of FIYAH: A Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction.

Virtual Book Launch

Interstellar Flight Press are holding their first ever Virtual Book Launch for Can You Sign My Tentacle? It’s a free event on Zoom so check out the details below if you’re interested!

Here’s the details! Sign up via Eventbrite to join us.

Date: August 20th at 6:00pm EST / 5:00 PM CDT

Online via Zoom/Eventbrite

You will receive info from Eventbrite on how to access the event after you register. This event is FREE to attend.

Find out more about this book here:

NetGalley | Publisher Website | Amazon | Waterstones | Goodreads | Author’s Twitter

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Biblioshelf Musings – These Violent Nights by Rebecca Crunden

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Hello Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings is These Violent Nights by Rebecca Crunden – a gritty, adult fantasy with a cast of characters that break apart but rejoin together in an epic, sweeping conclusion. I would really like to thank Rebecca for sending me a complimentary copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

Book: These Violent Nights by Rebecca Crunden
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: 31st March 2021
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 484
Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Once upon a time, inhabitants of another world tore a hole through the universe and came to Earth. They called themselves Suriias, and rivalled humans in knowledge and skill with one great exception: they had magic.

War followed. Humanity lost. And three hundred years later, humans are on the brink of extinction.

Orphans Thorn and Thistle live in hiding. They are the last of their families, the last of their friends. They scrape by, stealing to survive and living on the streets or hiding in sheds. But even under the brutal regime of the Suriias, there are places where humans can mingle in secret with magical sympathisers, and one night Thistle gets an unexpected offer of marriage from a Suriia with high standing and friends in all the right places. For Thistle, it’s a chance at safety and comfort; for Thorn, it’s a chance to find the ones who killed her parents.

And so the pair move into the capital city of Courtenz. An urban monstrosity of magic and might, false friends and flying cars, drones and death tolls, the new city promises a fresh start – and new love – for both.

But if there’s one thing Thorn knows for certain, it’s that dreams can swiftly turn into nightmares.

My Musings

I sometimes find that I read so many Fantasy novels that fit into the YA age bracket that I can often end up putting myself into a bit of a rut and end up crying out for something just a little more on the dark side…
Well readers, These Violent Nights was it.

Earth has been torn apart by a War involving humans and supernatural beings who came to Earth from Salfar via a Tear in the dimensions of the universe. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the fascinating, magically-built world of Courtenz with its metropolitan vibes, modern skyscrapers and technologically advanced Coach travel. In this world there is no place for humans; they are outcasts, kept as slaves or treated as the dregs of society. We really begin to feel the segregation of humans through the eyes of Thorn and Thistle who struggle to keep themselves alive and hidden.

As Thorn and Thistle’s world collides with their Suriia enemies, the first part of the novel showcases Thorn’s animosity towards Kol and Nithin and her mistrust of their true intentions. It drives the plot forward as she sets out to try and track down those responsible for her parents’ death whilst also attempting to find a new group of humans to band together with and escape the magical hell she has found herself caught up in.

From the diverse range of Suriia backgrounds and abilities, to the harrowing levels of violence and segregation between the humans and magic-bearers, there was plenty of complex world-building and plot politics to get stuck into. I enjoyed that the differences of the Frai, Vrykos, Ghuls (amongst others) was explained alongside the backdrop of information about how the world came to be as it is now. There was lots to take in, but not too much that it overwhelmed the action within the story.

The structuring of the novel is quite different to other stories I’ve read before. At times, the narrative felt like it was three linked novellas forming as one complete story arc. As the end of Part One rolls into Part Two we get left on a cliffhanger then introduced to an entirely new cast of characters as the story veers away from Thorn’s viewpoint. The reader gets to experience a new group of Suriia and human characters who live in a different part of this strange, dystopian Earth Crunden has created. In Lucien’s part of the world, humans pose more of a resistance and threat to the magic-bearers and this new story dynamic keeps the whole novel fresh and action-packed – all the while wondering what and where we are going to be taken next.

By the time Part Three begins, characters from both preceding parts collide. We get to see the aftermath of that cliffhanger at the end of Part One whilst also benefitting from a greater understanding of the world and circumstances of the groups of characters that dwell within it from explanations within Part Two. The final part of the novel brings the world of Salfar to the fore and provides a more traditional fantasy element than the previous parts of the story. It seeks to tie up the loose ends which came before it and supplies a neatly wrapped up conclusion (with some pretty, sneaky twists along the way)!

This three part plot was a bold way to structure the novel and even though it initially felt a little strange to leave one set of characters behind completely, it really paid off in the final climax of the novel as plots and conspiracies merge back together with both Suriia and humans now fighting for a common cause.

Overall, These Violent Nights is a dark, gritty and edgy adult fantasy novel which, as its title suggests, is packed with a ferocious wildness and complex, multi-layered plot. It’s most compelling element for me is how poignant the divide between Suriias and humans could so very easily be transposed into today’s real world issues: race, gender, vaxxed and unvaxxed… As my mind probably read way too deeply into that element of the story (too much Twitter doomscrolling!), the unsettling feeling which the novel invoked in me was exactly the type of vibe I was looking for after reading many fluffily-wrapped up happy endings.

Ultimately, underlying all of that segregation, revolution and warfare, These Violent Nights brings about an immensely memorable and strong group of characters to champion. Characters who overcome their personal issues and fight to craft out a world they truly believe in. A cast who sacrifice and compromise, who break down their barriers, who overcome their differences, all with the aim of trying to bring about a more understanding, hopeful and harmonious future for all… and that’s got to be something worth fighting for, isn’t it?

Why Should I Read This?

For a dystopian future Earth which could easily be reminiscent of today’s segregated societies.
For the intriguing design structure of the three-part narrative.
For an originally crafted fantasy world and magical beings.

Find out more about this book here:

Amazon | Waterstones | Goodreads | Author’s Website |

Connect with me here:

Twitter | Goodreads | Book Sloth: @thebiblioshelf | Email: thebiblioshelf@gmail.com