I wanted to write reviews for some books I read during the summer, but I didn’t take any notes and all I really remember is general ~feelings. So, I thought I’d write a bunch of mini reviews.
Mystic City by Theo Lawrence
This one is very similar in premise to Black City but without so much of an insta-love. The world building was fabulous and I loved the plethora of characters. The magic was fun and I liked how it became a social issue. And I loved that you never quite knew who you could and couldn’t trust and that there was some real loss at the end. I also enjoyed that Aria didn’t just sit back and let stuff happen. She got out there, messed up a lot, but was determined to find the truth. I’m really looking forward to the next one.
Preloved by Shirley Marr
This one was just plain old FUN! I loved how it took place now but worked in so much of the Eighties. I loved how, on the surface, it was fun and lighthearted but had all these serious things going on beneath all the fun. I loved Amy slowly realized how WORTH IT she was. This book was simply a joy to read. If you’re looking for something fun and fluffy that still has some weight to it, and a slight paranormal edge (GHOSTS!) then I highly recommend this one.
Defiance by C. J. Redwine
Defiance was one of those books that could be marketed as a couple of different things. It could be a bleak future of our own world. It could be retelling of the past or it could be just a complete alternate universe. Either way, there is a dystopic element with resurfacing technologies that not many people understand, and tyrants working for their own means and keeping the people in the dark. I liked the world building and the romance. And that the characters were always struggling for balance and equality and understanding. And there was some good action! So, basically this book had it all.
Shadowfell by Juliette Marillier
I was very excited about this one having read some of Juiliette’s adult works before and knowing that she wrote the type of books that I read a lot of while in high school. What I like to call High Faerie Fantasy. You know the type I mean. Like a Holly Black book in the middle ages. I liked that the characters had trust issues, that not everyone got along and that a country at war forced people to make real personal sacrifices. I did find some of the twists to be rather predictable but I enjoyed it anyway. I’m really interested to see where the romance goes. I’ve always enjoyed that element in Marilier’s earlier books. And where the war goes.