Tag: magic

4 star, YA

Review: House of Marionne by J. Elle

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: House of Marionne #1

Rich is the blood of the chosen

17 year-old Quell has lived her entire life on the run. She and her mother have fled from city to city, in order to hide the deadly magic that flows through Quell’s veins. 

Until someone discovers her dark secret.

To hide from the assassin hunting her, and keep her mother out of harm’s way, Quell reluctantly inducts into a debutante society of magical social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever. 

If caught, she will be killed.

But becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined, especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her brooding mentor and— assassin in training. 

When Quell uncovers the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power, she’s forced to choose: embrace the dark magic she’s been running from her entire life or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to love.

Still, she fears the most formidable monster she’ll have to face is the one inside.

Overall Recommendation:

House of Marionne takes us to the exciting world of magical boarding schools where students learn more about their magic in order to integrate into their magical societies. So basically an older version of Harry Potter, right? I loved the introduction to the Houses and the various magic that can be learned. Quell’s overall journey to magic while hiding all of who she is kept the pace fast and tense. While the romance has yet to truly captivate my heart, time will only tell where it goes from here. This was a nice introductory book 1, but I really want book 2 now.

Set in the modern world where magic is hidden from the ordinary people with no magic in their blood, Quell is one of the unfortunate people born with dark magic, known as toushana, that only knows how to destroy, not create. I thought this overall arc tied the whole story together from the beginning when she was on the run with her mom to her journey to her grandmother’s House for magical training. Although the settings change and sometimes the outward focus of things in Quell’s life feels disjointed – I mean, she’s taking etiquette classes one moment and hiding from the Dragun on her tail the next – I do feel at least there’s an invisible connection between all things so nothing felt like weird and unnecessary filler.

The tension to hide Quell’s innate magic always gave me this sense of urgency and worry that kept the book pace elevated even during more mundane scenes. The info dump wasn’t too severe either as Quell was as unfamiliar to this world of magic as we were. I enjoyed learning alongside her the different trials she’d have to perform to bind fully with her magic, and the different Houses present in this magical society. I did wish in part that the learning aspect was both longer and more interesting. Etiquette classes just make me want to snooze, even with intriguing scenes with her mentor Jordan. I wouldn’t have minded more action packed magical learning instead.

Speaking of Jordan, the romance was okay. I know, not a solid raving about the romance? Am I feeling okay? I suppose I didn’t connect with Jordan enough to love him as a character yet. He’s the stereotypical brooding male love interest who is both wary of Quell initially but reluctantly falls in love with her over the course of mentoring because he somehow knows she’s different. He never did anything unpredictable. I knew what he’d feel or maybe even do when, not if, he found out about her magic. Quell’s own feelings towards him didn’t feel particularly strong in a way that made sense from their briefly intense/emotionally charged moments together. I will wait to see if my feelings about them grow in book 2.

However, a person who was more three-dimensional was Yagrin, this unknown individual who was off to the side of the story but had his own POV chapters here and there. His perspective of this society and his role was a fascinating insight into the overall direction the story and series is moving towards as well as giving more depth to the world. I would love to see more of his perspective in the future also.

For the things I did wish connected me more to the story, I overall loved the flow and direction of this book. Having read it as an audiobook probably also helped. My pickiness on minor things is surely based on my own feelings around reading at the moment and perhaps may change in the future if I were to reread this again. I do look forward to seeing where Quell’s journey moves next.

4 star, adult

ARC Review: Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Flesh and False Gods #1

Inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra , Immortal Longings is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.

Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin will flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. For those confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies, competitors across San-Er fight to the death to win unimaginable riches.

Princess Calla Tuoleimi lurks in hiding. Five years ago, a massacre killed her parents and left the palace of Er empty…and she was the one who did it. Before King Kasa’s forces in San can catch her, she plans to finish the job and bring down the monarchy. Her reclusive uncle always greets the victor of the games, so if she wins, she gets her opportunity at last to kill him.

Enter Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat. His childhood love has lain in a coma since they were both ousted from the palace, and he’s deep in debt trying to keep her alive. Thankfully, he’s one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, flitting from body to body at will. His last chance at saving her is entering the games and winning.

Calla finds both an unexpected alliance with Anton and help from King Kasa’s adopted son, August, who wants to mend Talin’s ills. But the three of them have very different goals, even as Calla and Anton’s partnership spirals into something all-consuming. Before the games close, Calla must decide what she’s playing for—her lover or her kingdom.

Overall Recommendation:

Immortal Longings takes us on a journey into the crowded twin cities of San-Er where mysterious magic underlies perhaps more nefarious motives and no one can be trusted. In a Hunger Games x gladiator style competition to the death, only one victor will be crowned and the lost princess Calla wants it more than anything. I thought the setting drew you in while the bloodthirsty backdrop definitely sets the tone for adult-rated violence. Chloe’s writing continues to paint her stories vividly, but this time in more blood with higher stakes.

**Immortal Longings comes out July 18, 2023**

Thank you Simon & Schuster for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think I left my heart in the crowded alleys and mashed up buildings of San-Er. Phew, what an ending! But let me start from the beginning.

Immortal Longings is Chloe Gong’s adult debut based on Anthony and Cleopatra. In her style of writing I’ve come to know from her YA historical fantasies, her world building doesn’t disappoint. I loved how she places you in San-Er like it’s in front of you. The constant gloom from lack of sun among the buildings, the hopelessness permeating the air of the citizens who are “safe” (trapped?) inside the giant walls that circle the twin cities, and the ever watchful eye of the palace looming over everything and everyone.

The pacing worked out okay, though at times it could’ve moved faster. With Calla, the lost princess of Er who holds more secrets in her than meets the eye, there is always someone to root for. Entered into the games that leaves only one victor alive, the goal is the end of the current reign. But when an alliance is made with Anton Makusa, oh boy do things get messy.

I loved getting to know both Anton and Calla, but one reason this isn’t a 5 star read is the romance between them. It may be just me but I didn’t really feel drawn to their “strong” feelings for each other. They had great banter, and over time proved that trust does form even in a places it doesn’t belong. However, the two of them falling for each other romantically felt like something that happened only because they don’t have anyone else in the world. They’re both lonely souls, exiled or thought dead, and perhaps each other’s company was the first they’ve had in years. It felt like they settled for one another because they’re there, not because there’s anything special about each other. Plus, Anton has a special girl that threw him into the games in the first place. Are we just forgetting that? Where does Calla lie in his heart if so much of it seems to be taken up by another already? How much is genuine? I suppose only time (and the next book) will tell.

The magic system was also an interesting element. It took me a while to more fully comprehend this idea of jumping bodies, the maximum quota of souls/qi one body can handle simultaneously and what happens to empty bodies or overused ones. Oh, and how does one recognize if someone’s been invaded? Our friend Anton is an expert jumper, but the fact he never wears his birth body is strange.

Where the romance was lacking, the action and mysterious deaths of some of the players in the games definitely kept me going. Everyone’s motives are questioned and I was surprised by some of those twists I didn’t see coming. This book is definitely in the adult category with its sometimes graphic descriptions of death and added spice for those romance lovers. If you’re someone looking for a good fantasy with solid worldbuilding and political intrigue, this one is for you, especially if it introduces you to Chloe Gong. For fans of her YA novels, this transition was as I’ve come to expect from her – a seamless jump to adult fantasy. I look forward to book 2.

4 star, adult

Review: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

The Alexandrian Society is a secret society of magical academicians, the best in the world. Their members are caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity. And those who earn a place among their number will secure a life of wealth, power, and prestige beyond their wildest dreams. Each decade, the world’s six most uniquely talented magicians are selected for initiation – and here are the chosen few…

– Libby Rhodes and Nicolás Ferrer de Varona: inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds.
– Reina Mori: a naturalist who can speak the language of life itself.
– Parisa Kamali: a mind reader whose powers of seduction are unmatched.
– Tristan Caine: the son of a crime kingpin who can see the secrets of the universe.
– Callum Nova: an insanely rich pretty boy who could bring about the end of the world. He need only ask.

When the candidates are recruited by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they are told they must spend one year together to qualify for initiation. During this time, they will be permitted access to the Society’s archives and judged on their contributions to arcane areas of knowledge. Five, they are told, will be initiated. One will be eliminated. If they can prove themselves to be the best, they will survive. Most of them.

Overall Recommendation:

The Atlas Six is a character driven story that features six complex and flawed magical humans. Not every character is lovable, but every one was fascinating to be in their heads as they’re unique in voice from one another. The intellectual prose and imaginative potential of this world was wonderful to sink into, however a lot of the major plot points come almost at the end. Worth the hype, but I hope the vagueness of the world and the Society will be cleared up in book 2.

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