Book Review: These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy

 

These Feathered Flames

Alexandra Overy 
Release date: 13th July 2021
★★★★★

When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn the skills she’d need as the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm.

But before Asya’s training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which can mean only one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned.

As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they’ll discover who they can trust, who they can love—and who killed their mother.

It’s about power, it’s about magic, yes all that but it is so much more about these two sisters who were inseparable for all their childhood and then ripped apart to become something they both come to hate. It is an intricate, interwoven, brilliantly written fantasy. I had this book on my tbr mainly for the f/f enemies to lovers and yes it is there. That and a retelling of an old folktale was all I knew about this and it delivers.

I loved Izaveta. She was excellently written and so clever and manipulative, it was so great to get to know the other characters through her. She has been manipulated her entire life by her mother and she hates it and still continues the cycle. And the way her character develops and deals with this untrusting part of herself who tries to find motive and scheme in every single action was so fascinating to read. In the same way, Asya's fantasy about how everything with her sister will be the same even after the years of separation is really sad. And how she deals with the fact that they’ve grown apart and different and are no longer children with no responsibility is so beautifully written. The sister’s relationship with each other, how they perceive the other, and how they are trying to restore their relationship is the core of the story. The miscommunication between them is a plot point without it becoming frustrating and actively forwards the character arcs. How they are trying to hold themselves together because their sister is and they have a responsibility too. It all comes down to power and responsibility, of two sisters trying to navigate and hold the power and authority that is theirs, in a place they would be thrown out of without a second thought. The other best point after the political intrigue was the worldbuilding. It is so rich and so beautifully done. It is high fantasy at its peak. It is one of my favorite reads of the year and with a cliffhanger ending, I can't wait for the sequel. Especially since this beautiful cover was revealed.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher, Inkyard Press for providing me with an e-arc for an honest review.

Book Review: XOXO by Axie Oh

XOXO

Axie Oh
Release date: 13th July 2021
★★★★

Cello prodigy Jenny has one goal: to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious, handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. But in a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure…before he disappears without a word.

Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she’s enrolled for the semester. And he’s not just any student. He’s a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world—and he’s strictly forbidden from dating.

When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love. 

This is just a cute cliched adorable fluff. This is definitely more suited to younger audiences, maybe someone just starting in the Young adult genre. And it does read a lot like fanfiction (nothing wrong with fanfiction was just hoping for something more substantial here) I loved the side characters more than the main character. Youngmin is so freaking adorable. And I also really enjoyed the friendships in the book, maybe even more than the romance. While the romance to me felt inevitable and more like the course of the plot; however the friendships felt like some work was being done, there was beautiful character development in those moments. The relationships Jenny has with Sori and Angela and Gi Taek felt solid.

The rep is actually really casual with Korean culture seamlessly and beautifully explained. I do however think that the plot was just generalized rather than having much substance. The topic of icons not being able to date was brought up time and again but it didn't really have a huge payoff. I would have loved to see more of that. That would have been a much more interesting read, raising the stakes for both Jaewoo and Jenny. Overall this was a short light read. I am not a huge K-pop person so this was a little miss for me but I do think K-pop and K-drama fans would enjoy it.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher, Harper Teen for providing me with an e-arc for an honest review.

Mid-Year Book Check-In 2021

 

I cannot believe it's already July. Oh, I haven't posted here for so long. I think this tag usually goes up in June, with that actually being the middle but well here we are.

I have read 24 books by now, which is pretty great because my end year goal was 25 books. So here are a few reading highlights from my first half of the year.

BEST BOOK YOU'VE READ SO FAR

This has been a pretty great reading year, with mostly 4 and 5 stars reads. I think it was These Feathered Flames (one of my most anticipated releases) and Ace of Spades. They were both straight five stars. I was a little skeptical about Ace of spades because it is a YA thriller and not really my usual genre but then I finished it in a single day. Highly recommend.

BEST SEQUEL YOU'VE READ SO FAR

I haven't read a lot of sequels this year. Mostly debut books or just standalone. I think I’ll go with Down among the sticks and bone (wayward children #2). I actually liked it more than the first book. If you don't know Wayward Children is a portal fantasy novella series. Each novella has different characters and different stories so you can pretty much start with any book in the series.

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN'T READ YET BUT WANT TO

So many, The Jasmine Throne and The Unbroken I just kept waiting and waiting for them, and now that it’s out and I haven't touched them. Another one is The Mask of Mirrors, a January release that now already has a sequel arcs out. Oh also Crownchasers, it sounds awesome.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

I have so many but I think She Who Became the Sun and Our Violent Ends are on the top. Also Iron widow, All of us villains, The grimrose girls, Jade Fire Gold, maybe I could do another post for this.

BIGGEST DISSAPOINTMENT

Ok, Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis. Here’s my review (in goodreads). I’m pretty sure it is a case of really high expectations but it was a Romeo and Juliet musical, it sounded amazing.

BEST SEQUEL YOU'VE READ SO FAR

The Girls I've been. I thought this would be it would be a simple straight forward thriller (well as straight forward as thrillers are). I finished it in a say and really the pace of this is so consistent, so fast and it's really well done. Still do check out the trigger warnings before picking it up. Book trigger warnings

NEW FAVORITE AUTHOR


















S.T. Gibson. The Dowry of Blood was one of my first reads of this year and the prose is just *chef's kiss.*

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU WANT TO CRY/ A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

Both these prompts are fulfilled by The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. This was just a fluffy, sweet and just happy found family. Tea dragon society was so beautiful and delightful.

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU'VE BOUGHT OR RECEIVED

I mostly read ebooks and there has been an on and off lockdown still happening so there haven't been a lot of buying books. Still The Priory of the Orange Tree. The map, the art inside it, and the dragon outside it. It's blue and shimmery, it's beautiful.

NEW FAVORITE CHARACTER

Ok weirdly enough there is no fictional crush. Yet. I am reading The Jasmine Throne so yes that may change. for favorite character, it's Izaveta from These Feathered Flames. She was so manipulative and just political. And Nirrim from The Midnight Lie. Oh they were amazing. WHAT BOOK DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

Except for the pile of arcs that I'm so excited for, and my physical tbr, I still have 400 books in my tbr, I don't know there are so many. Definitely want to finish The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy (I'm reading the second book right now). I think rather than some books I just want to make my way through my actual physical tbr.