Author: Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

A lifelong reader of all things YA and books with heartfelt moments that punch you with all the feels. Currently expanding my reading interests to encompass anything that makes me feel deep and resonate with the characters
3 star, YA

Review: Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Circle of Shadows #1

circle of shadows -evelyn skySora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied behind his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.

As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging to the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark. So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group.Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.

3 Drink Me Potions

A little different from what I’ve come to enjoy from Evelyn Skye, this first book in her latest series is an interesting tale of magic, family and hidden surprises.

Sora and Daemon are taigas, which to me is like a version of warriors/spies dressed in uniform all-black with the single task of protecting the kingdom. Chosen at a young age by the goddess, they hold elemental magical abilities to enhance their senses, like being to climb and stick to walls or enhancing their hearing.

The world building wasn’t anything too too special – which basically says it’s nothing out of the ordinary for YA fantasy. Kichona, a country endearingly (or is it?) shaped as a tiger, has known peace for so long, especially after a huge bloody uprising years earlier when brother and sister fought for the same throne. But of course, can peace last? Well, not in a YA fantasy novel. Danger in the form of powerful revenge and a twisted ambition for greatness has finally come knocking, and the question stands, will Kichona be the same after it all comes to an end?

Sora and Daemon graduate from their studies into this treacherous world where their training is put to full use. Having witnessed something out of the ordinary while none of the leaders believed them, off the two go to prove there’s something amiss in their land.

The plot was predictable – I mean, I just summarized a chunk of it and don’t you feel like it’s been done before? – but the enemy was greatly formidable against our heroes, so I suppose those balance each other out a bit to make the story go by faster.

I don’t get surprised easily but there were two instances that caught me slightly off guard in this book which definitely warmed my cold heart up a notch or two. And having a mystery to unravel always keeps me turning the pages rapidly. Daemon sucked at magic for a taiga, and his history was an unknown. He was found in the woods as a child but there’s just something about him that seems more than meets the eye.

Okay so we have a bit of a mystery, definitely action (we’re in the middle of an incoming war), but let’s not forget the last part to the perfect trifecta!

You guessed it. A forbidden romance.

Ah it just makes my heart melt a little inside. Being partners and bound to each other as taigas since they were young, Sora and Daemon weren’t allowed to have a romantic relationship. ‘Cause what if it doesn’t turn out but you’re stuck with them for the rest of your life? Sora seemed fine with it all but Daemon’s poor heart was hers if she even wanted it in the slightest way.

I loved how their partnership worked but I loved the added tension (on Daemon’s part) to their relationship that may suggest something more one day. But all I will say without giving too much away is that I hate love triangles and I do hope they’re endgame.

I’ll conclude that the magic system was a bit ordinary but that the world of taigas and intriguing storytelling by Evelyn kept it entertaining. While I can’t say I flipped through its pages rapidly or anything, I can say that it was a fun ride that I look forward to hopping back on in the next book.

Overall Recommendation:

Circle of Shadows was an intriguing book of magic, forbidden love and surprising enemies. While the magic system and world building were well described, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before so don’t hope for the extraordinary. What makes this book fun is the excellent crafting of the ordinary story elements into a full picture that leaves you hungering for a bit more. With a little (and I mean little) forbidden romance thrown into the mix between our heroes, the fun and excitement is only just beginning!

book tag

Waiting on Wednesday: Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, originally hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we’ll be posting about an upcoming book that we’re extremely excited for!

lady smoke -laura sebastianSUMMARY

The sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that was “made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir” ( Bustle ), Lady Smoke is an epic new fantasy about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people.

The Kaiser murdered Theodosia’s mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took Theo’s country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess–a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenseless. He didn’t realize that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon.

Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. She has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage–Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser’s rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne.

To get them back, she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done.

Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself.

AUTHOR: Laura Sebastian

SERIES: Ash Princess Trilogy #2

PUBLICATION DATE: February 5, 2019

The best thing about books that we’re excited for is when it is pretty much the day of its release! Are you as happy as I am right now that it’s finally here? And give a shout out if you think that cover is just absolutely brilliant!

1.5 star, YA

Review: The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Hagenheim #9

the warrior maiden -melanie dickersonFrom New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes a fresh reimagining of the classic Mulan tale.

Mulan isn’t afraid to pretend to be a son and assume her father’s soldier duties in war. But what happens when the handsome son of a duke discovers her secret?

Mulan is trying to resign herself to marrying the village butcher for the good of her family, but her adventurous spirit just can’t stand the thought. At the last minute, she pretends to be the son her father never had, assumes his duties as a soldier, and rides off to join the fight to protect the castle of her liege lord’s ally from the besieging Teutonic Knights.

Wolfgang and his brother Steffan leave Hagenheim with several other soldiers to help their father’s ally in Poland. When they arrive, Wolfgang is exasperated by the young soldier Mikolai who seems to either always be one step away from disaster . . . or showing Wolfgang up in embarrassing ways.

When Wolfgang discovers his former rival and reluctant friend Mikolai is actually a girl, he is determined to protect her. But battle is a dangerous place where anything can happen—and usually does.

When Mulan receives word that her mother has been accused of practicing witchcraft through her healing herbs and skills, Mulan’s only thought is of defending her. Will she be able to trust Wolfgang to help? Or will sacrificing her own life be the only way to save her mother?

1.5 Drink Me Potions

**The Warrior Maiden comes out February 5, 2019**

Thank you Edelweiss and Thomas Nelson for this copy in exchange for an honest review

The Warrior Maiden reminds me why I stopped reading Melanie’s books for a while. Sometimes Christian fiction elements just don’t mix well with your typical fairy tale retelling.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that it’s weird and strange to try. I loved some of the earlier Hagenheim books but I think there reaches a point where all the more popular fairy tales have been done and you’re left trying to weave just one more story out of a tale that should be left alone.

The story of Mulan fits that bill.

For medieval age Lithuania, I’m not sure this story fit well. For one, Melanie kept the protagonist’s name as Mulan. Sure, I like the authenticity and the allusion to the Chinese heritage (for which I’m extremely happy about ’cause we’ve all had enough of westerners changing an original Asian cast to a white version while fans keep their complaints quiet or their grumbles come to nothing), but it just seemed far fetched too me.

Then came the romance. The “prince”. Wolfgang. I didn’t feel it. It was love at first sight. She saw him when she joined the army to fight the Knights and like fell in love? Was it lust? I mean, she really liked how handsome he was and she felt something different about him. Some kind of stirring in her. Yes, she got to know him afterwards and her attraction grew, but it was so strong so fast and I just didn’t feel a thing.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the plot fell flat. At like half point, the “big” bad was kind of defeated and they were celebrating. I’m sitting there thinking, well what’s the next half of the book gonna be about if it’s almost happily ever after already? Of course, things “still” happen but I wouldn’t say that it was very exciting from that point since it seemed we hit our climax in some way already.

I really wanted to like this book. I like the story of Mulan. She’s a strong female character, not your typical princess, who still got an amazing happily ever after. There’s nothing wrong with princesses but sometimes you just want a warrior girl.

I think it’s amazing to try and combine fairy tales and Christian themes/morals but maybe it’s almost time to conclude this series. Kudos to Melanie for even attempting such a creative process but I don’t know if I can sit through another book where I felt nothing for anyone and the story just bores me to tears.

Overall Recommendation:

The Warrior Maiden tried to be a Mulan retelling that just fell flat from its ambitions. The story was slow and there was no real buildup to create anticipation and excitement. The storytelling and actual prose was too simple, making it hard to stay enthusiastic about anyone or anything that was happening. I wanted to love a Chinese girl in medieval age Lithuania but the story just didn’t work for me. Maybe this is goodbye to Hagenheim at last.