Review: SEASPARROW by Kristin Cashore

 

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

While I would definitely recommend having read the first four Graceling Realm books prior to reading Seasparrow, you don’t have to have read them recently for this book to make sense. Cashore helpfully recaps everything that happened in Winterkeep during the first few chapters, refreshing the reader on who the characters are, where they are, and what they’re doing. Seasparrow picks up shortly after Winterkeep ends. 

This book starts out being set on a boat, which I thought I wouldn’t like, but I actually didn’t mind it here. I tend to not like stories on boats, but Hava talks so much about her day-to-day activities and her emotions and her spying that the boat setting didn’t bother me. 

Hava, the protagonist and sole POV in this installment, is a girl who has learned to hide. Her Grace is being able to change what people see when they look at her, essentially rendering herself invisible. Her ability makes her the perfect spy for Bitterblue. 

I absolutely loved Hava as this book’s viewpoint character. Before I started reading, I wasn’t sure how I would like her, but I quickly came to love her. She’s so real. She’s bitter and holds grudges longer than she should, but she’s also compassionate and cares fiercely for those close to her. She seeks justice in the face of being wronged, even to the detriment of those around her, which I found to be so relatable. Of all of Cashore’s protagonists so far, I saw myself the most in Hava, which surprised me. Bitterblue has always been my favorite, but she’s a queen and level-headed and can stand up for herself in front of thousands, and that’s just not me. Katsa is loyal and a fierce fighter who will survive against any odds and protect those she loves, the typical strong YA protagonist who I want to be but who I know I’m not. But Hava, she’s smaller, weaker, used to hiding and being overlooked, smart and clever but also irrational at times, and oh so angry. I loved her. I feel like I am her. I love how different each of Cashore’s female leads is across this series. 

Seasparrow is about hope and survival. Kristin Cashore knows how to write about endless and relentless cold in a way that makes me physically cold while I am reading. I had this experience when I first read Graceling years ago, and I had it with this book too. The characters are suffering and doing everything possible to survive in grueling, freezing conditions. I could physically feel it. That’s good writing, in my opinion. 

The end of Winterkeep alluded to lots of political machinations to come in Seasparrow, but the politicking doesn’t come into play until the last third of the story. The first two-thirds of Seasparrow is about hope and survival during a long and physically demanding journey from Winterkeep back to Monsea through the icy cold north seas. It’s slower-paced. The story that I expected to see in this book doesn’t start until the crew finally makes it back to Monsea. That’s when the intrigue with the zilfium finally becomes prevalent. 

The first 70% is pretty slow and the last 30% feels pretty rushed. I honestly didn’t mind it because I loved the book regardless, but less devoted fans may find parts of the book to be more difficult to get through and struggle with the pacing. I would have loved more political intrigue because I think it’s one of Cashore’s strongest areas of writing. 

The ending alluded to a possible sixth book to come in the future as Hava outlines her plans for the next few years, and there’s a possible cold war looming on the horizon. At least I hope there’s another book planned. I could read Graceling books for the rest of my life. I think having the next book be from Trina’s POV would be super interesting as her future plans are mentioned toward the end and it really piqued my interest. Either way, the way Winterkeep ended left more to be desired that I had hoped to get in Seasparrow, but I didn’t feel like this book fully covered what I expected it to, which is why I think there has to be another one coming. 

Seasparrow is mostly a story about Hava coming of age, even though she’s already twenty-one years old. She’s still very haunted by demons from her past, and she’s holding a lot of grudges that she’s struggling to let go of and move past. The reader sees Hava arguing with herself and refusing to admit truths to herself while also being faced with new challenges and being in the spotlight for the first time in her life. And by the end, Hava has gone through so much and overcome so much and really learned who she is and who she wants to be. It was so heartwarming to see and I was so proud of her. 

There is also not really any romance in this novel, except for a slight hinting within the last few chapters at one to come in the future. This is the first Graceling book that didn’t have a romance subplot and instead was primarily character-focused on Hava with the actual plot being secondary. I honestly loved it. I love how Cashore approaches each of her books differently and writes such distinct female leads that are each strong in their own way. 

I loved Seasparrow, so much, and it was definitely one of my most anticipated books of the year. I sincerely hope it’s not the final installment in this series. Each book is written in a way that it could be the last one, or it could be one of many more to come. I have no idea what’s in store, but I’m not ready to leave these characters and this world behind. I believe the Graceling Realm series is a standout YA fantasy series, different from the cookie-cutter stories that seem so common nowadays. It’s truly one of my favorite series ever. I love it. And if you love it as much as I do then you will also enjoy Seasparrow for the journey and the character development and all of the wonderful additions to this world that it brings. 

Review: HALF A SOUL by Olivia Atwater

 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Half a Soul is a historical fantasy hate-to-love romance between Elias Wilder, the grumpy and stuck-up Lord Sorcier, and Dora Ettings, a girl cursed by a faerie to have only half a soul. 

I loved that both our hero and our heroine are awkward and unlikable in their society, but still likable to the readers. Elias is snarky and generally avoided by others because of his lack of decorum. Dora does not feel embarrassment or fear ever since she was cursed, so she’s always saying the wrong thing in public. I thought their relationship was cute, and even though the reader knows they will get together from the beginning when they don’t like each other, it is still a fun journey through the book watching them interact and be awkward. 

This book is being published by Orbit, so it’s an adult fantasy, but it’s very clean and wholesome and reads kind of like a YA, so it’s definitely suitable for a young adult audience. I’m actually surprised that Orbit of all publishers is who picked it up because this doesn’t feel like an Orbit title at all, but I am glad that they are diversifying their fantasy genres a bit. 

Half a Soul is part of a series, but it also could be read as a standalone novel. I felt satisfied with the ending so I don’t know yet if I will be finishing the series or not. I liked the book for what it was, a romance with light fantasy elements, but I also don’t feel super inclined to read any more books in the series. If you are looking for a cozy and fun book, then check this out. 

Half a Soul is for fans of books that feature:
• A Regency time period
• Hate-to-love romance
• Grumpy/sunshine romance
• Clean yet swoon-worthy romance 
• Awkward yet wholesome characters
• Soft fantasy with light magic
• Magical mirrors and scissors
• Divination
• Cunning faeries 
• Faerie tales
• A standalone plot that’s also part of a larger series 

Review: THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner

 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

I’ve had my eye on this book ever since I saw the entrancing cover when it first came out. The Lost Apothecary is a historical fiction novel about a hidden apothecary that caters to women bent on escaping from the oppressive clutches of their husbands: through discreet murder. 

I saw this advertised as historical fantasy, but it’s not; I’ve read books not labeled as fantasy that have more fantastical elements than this book did. The only aspect that even alludes to something magical is that Eliza, a young girl, believes in ghosts, and she also thinks the potions and tinctures are magical, but they’re just doing what any medicine does. There’s no magic in this book, so don’t be misled before you start it. As much as I love all things fantastical, I think this novel was just fine the way it is and doesn’t need magic to make it better. 

I’m glad I picked up The Lost Apothecary because I really enjoyed it. My favorite part was seeing how the two POVs in eighteenth-century England intertwined with and connected to the POV in the present day. The three perspectives we read from are Nella, the apothecary; Eliza, a young girl sent to the apothecary by her mistress and who wants to become an apprentice to Nella; and Caroline, a woman in the modern-day who finds an old apothecary vial in the river and desires to uncover its history. My favorite historical fiction novels are those that have multiple protagonists whose perspectives all weave together, so this was perfect for me. 

I love that this novel was about giving power to women at a time when they didn’t originally have much power. The Lost Apothecary shows how women can triumph over men who are abusing or neglecting them. I thought it was an original and fun idea: women go to this special hidden apothecary to get poison to administer to their unfaithful husbands, etc. I loved being able to read from the apothecary’s POV and see how she came to be in the place that she was. My favorite perspective, however, was Caroline in the present. It is uncanny (but intentional on the author’s part) how many parallels she draws between her own life and the life of the women she reads about in the 1700s. I thought it was so fun to follow her journey of uncovering the history of the vial she found and the history of the apothecary shop. 

Overall, this was an enjoyable historical fiction novel that I would recommend. It’s not my favorite nor is it the best book out there, but I had a good time reading it and would consider reading other works from Sarah Penner in the future. 

Review: ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr

 

Rating: 4/5 stars

I have to be honest. I almost unhauled this book on many occasions, but something always kept me from doing so each time. I just don’t care much anymore to read WW2 historical fiction, which is what this book is. I kept passing it over when it came time to choose another book, thinking I’ll get to it eventually.

This year I am doing the Buzzwordathon reading challenge, and June’s prompt is a book with the word “all” in the title. All the Light We Cannot See is literally the only book I own that fits that prompt, so I reluctantly picked it up, seeing no other option. 

Dang, am I glad I didn’t unhaul this! This book is the kind of book that reminded me of why I originally liked historical fiction in the first place. Doerr’s writing is incredible and captivating, and it’s what kept me reading. 

The time and place are less of a focus here than the characters, which I really appreciated. I love that we get to see the POVs from two people on opposite sides that you know will ultimately collide in the end. 

Overall, I’m really glad I ended up reading this book, especially after putting it off for so long. All of the praise this book gets is warranted, and I would definitely recommend it. I can’t wait to read Anthony Doerr’s newest work, Cloud Cuckoo Land, because his writing style was my absolute favorite part of this reading experience. 

Review: A PRAYER FOR THE CROWN-SHY by Becky Chambers

 

Rating: 3/5 stars

I've been meaning to check out Becky Chambers's work for awhile now, and I decided on a whim that I was going to read the Monk and Robot duology as my introduction to her writing. Both A Pslam for the Wild-Built and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy are very wholesome sci-fi novellas that I ended up enjoying. 

The story follows a tea monk, Dex, and their robot companion, Mosscap, as they travel across the land together while learning about each other and the various people they come across on their journey. There's not really much more to the plot than that, but this story doesn't need more. 

This story is about acceptance and hope and living. Mosscap is still trying to find the answer to the question, "What do people need?" which it asks everyone it comes across but no one seems to have a good answer. Dex is still trying to find their purpose as well. Mosscap was definitely my favorite character as it was just so wholesome, and I loved seeing its innocence as it learns about the way humans live. 

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy was an enjoyable read, but it also wasn't a standout story to me. I liked it and I'm glad I read it and I'd recommend it, but I also don't know how long it will stick with me. It does have me interested in checking out more of Becky Chambers's works in the future though. 

Review: WILD IS THE WITCH by Rachel Griffin

 

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Wild Is the Witch was exactly what I needed right now. I wanted something light and fun, a soft fantasy that didn’t take too long getting used to. This contemporary fantasy romance novel is about Iris, a witch who has a strong connection with animals. She works at her mother’s animal refuge in the Pacific Northwest along with the college intern, Pike, who constantly gets on her nerves. The two of them must come together to go on a mission to rescue an endangered owl out in the forest. 

The Pacific Northwest setting was my absolute favorite aspect of this book. I used to live in the lush forests of western Washington, and this book really encapsulates the vibes and atmosphere of that area. I desperately missed my home while reading this book, and that might be part of the reason why I liked it so much. Almost the entire book is Iris and Pike hiking through the damp green woods of Washington while trying to find a missing owl that holds a secret that could change the world. I felt like I was there with them. 

I loved all the characters in this book. Our protagonist, Iris, has a special bond with a wolf named Winter. She’s so compassionate toward others and toward animals. She also experiences anxiety and panic attacks, and I appreciated that they were accurately represented. There were moments when her anxiety consumed her, and I felt that personally. Iris’s mom is super cool, fun, easygoing, and relatable. I liked her a lot too. Pike was a great love interest. The way he irritates Iris and gets on her nerves without ever being mean to her was so much fun to read about. Even the animals in this book had distinct personalities, too. 

Wild Is the Witch has lots of positive commentary about helping animals and helping the earth, and there’s no one better to do that than the witches. There are three kinds of witches: solar, whose magic is strongest toward animals; lunar, whose magic is strongest toward plants; and stellar, whose magic is strongest toward people. I thought it was very neat how Rachel Griffin created different kinds of witches in each of her books so far, although we really did not learn as much as I would have liked about the different kinds of witches in this book. 

While The Nature of Witches is more about the magic, Wild Is the Witch is more about the romance—it’s a hate-to-love romance that includes the “only one bed” trope. If you enjoyed Rachel’s debut novel, however, you likely will enjoy her sophomore novel as well. They have a very similar feel to them, and both are about a girl coming of age in the PNW while learning about her witch powers while simultaneously falling in love for the first time. I love her style and I look forward to reading her future books. 

I absolutely flew through this book and physically could not stop reading late into the night. It was very compelling. But the plot was also a little contrived. The mom lets her teenage daughter go off into the woods alone with a boy she doesn’t like to find an endangered owl without the help of any professionals or mature witches. The fate of Iris’s and Pike’s lives and the lives of many others rests with them finding this owl. 

This book is fun and comforting in the same way that Twilight is fun and comforting. I liked it. I liked the characters and the atmosphere and the story. Is it the best thing out there? No. But will I reread it? Yes. Sometimes you just need those light and fun fantasy books that aren’t too heavy with the magic and with the focus primarily on the romance and aren’t top quality but are still like candy, where you can’t stop eating them up, just one more chapter. That’s how I felt about this book. I had a fantastic time reading it; I really enjoyed it. But when I look at it objectively, I start to squint and tilt my head to the side and think, was it really as good as I thought it was? Probably not. And I think a lot of that has to do with the audience. It’s very hard for me to give out five stars to a young adult book these days because I have read so much more intricate and detailed plots and magic systems in adult novels that I just prefer. That doesn’t make YA any less valid, but my expectations have been skewed, and there are always plot devices used in YA books that I never see in adult books that I roll my eyes at and just have to ignore. For what this book was trying to do, it accomplished it. It was angsty and melodramatic and had high stakes without having any action, which I loved. Would it hold up to an adult fantasy? Not at all. But for young adult it was pretty good. I recommend it to those interested in witchy stories and romantic fantasy. I like Rachel Griffin’s writing and I will continue to read all the books she writes. 

Review: BOOK OF NIGHT by Holly Black

 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Book of Night is my sixteenth Holly Black book. I've never considered myself a major fan of hers, but dang, I've read a ton of her books so I guess I am. I'd heard pretty conflicting reviews on Book of Night before I started it, so I'm very happy that I ended up among the group of people who really enjoyed the book. In fact, this is probably my favorite of all her books so far. 

As a con artist, Charlie Hall is not a particularly good person, but I still found myself loving her as the morally grey protagonist that she is. She tries to distance herself from the dark dealings she's been involved with by hiding her past from her boyfriend, but she inevitably gets pulled back in. I also really liked Vince, Charlie's quiet and mysterious boyfriend who's hiding a few secrets of his own. I thought all the characters in this book were very well-written and fleshed out. 

The concept of shadow magic was really cool to me. In this world, you can steal someone's shadow to gain more power, manipulate your own shadow to look different for aesthetic purposes, and even cause your shadow to come alive as its own entity. 

On its surface, Book of Night is about Charlie getting wrapped up in the plot to steal a dark and powerful book that contains secrets about shadows, but it's also a story about power and dark magic and unexpected relationships. 

The way this ended, there is no way Book of Night is a standalone story. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and following Charlie Hall on her next shadowy adventure. 

Review: THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS by Ursula K. Le Guin

 

Rating: 1/5 stars

DNF at 35%. 

I've wanted to check out Ursula K. Le Guin for a while now, and I heard from many that The Left Hand of Darkness is a good place to start. Well, it apparently wasn't a good place for me because I couldn't even finish the book. 

I appreciate that Le Guin was really ahead of her time in the topics she wrote about, and her books are already renowned as science fiction classics. I wanted to love this, but I didn't. The Left Hand of Darkness is just not approachable or accessible in its writing. I read over one-third of this book and I still have no idea what's going on or why I should care. Absolutely nothing here was working for me. 

I really hope this book is not indicative of Le Guin's writing style because I already own six other books from her and I genuinely hope I enjoy at least a few of them. I'm most excited to check out the Earthsea Cycle because it's fantasy, which I prefer over science fiction. But I do want to give some of her other science fiction works a try before I decide if she's truly not for me. 

I hope if you give this book a read that you'll like it more than I did.