Books Via Ashley

The Tiger's Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera * I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review * Synopsis This is the story of a Qorin warrior, Barsalayaa Shefali, and a divine empress, O-Shizuka, two young women and warriors, raised together across borders since their prophesied birth, who must work together to save the world from the threat of demons. Review Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t really my cup of tea. While the writing was lovely, I found the manner of story-telling a bit jarring and unusual. First it is told in third-person present, then told in letter form, with first-person directing the narrative to a specific person, referred to as “you”. It drove me crazy that basically the entire book was a "letter", and it was about events the person reading it had already lived through. The plot meandered… I guess there was really no “plot”, no specific direction the story was headed. It was mostly an info-dump. The ...

Given To The Sea by Mindy McGinnis Synopsis Khosa has the dancing sickness that will one day carry her into the sea as a sacrifice, but first she must produce an heir. However, human contact makes her sick. Vincent is the prince of a kingdom Khosa must save, but can he save her instead? And from the other side of the land, an enemy marches on the kingdom. Review I received this book in the April FairyLoot box. I really wanted to like this one because I LOVED McGinnis' book last year, The Female of the Species . But I think her forte is in contemporary and not fantasy. I just don't even know where to begin... The world was super confusing. I had no idea what was going on half the time with the various peoples on this... Island? Continent? There's this race or species of people whose skin changes color and there's only two of them left. Then there's another people who send their citizens out to sea to die, then a group of people who are all disabled in ...

The Tiger's Watch by Julia Ember * I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review * Synopsis  ( from Goodreads ) Sixteen-year-old Tashi has spent their life training as a inhabitor, a soldier who spies and kills using a bonded animal. When the capital falls after a brutal siege, Tashi flees to a remote monastery to hide. But the invading army turns the monastery into a hospital, and Tashi catches the eye of Xian, the regiment’s fearless young commander. Tashi spies on Xian’s every move. In front of his men, Xian seems dangerous, even sadistic, but Tashi discovers a more vulnerable side of the enemy commander—a side that draws them to Xian. When their spying unveils that everything they’ve been taught is a lie, Tashi faces an impossible choice: save their country or the boy they’re growing to love. Though Tashi grapples with their decision, their volatile bonded tiger doesn't question her allegiances. Katala slaughters Xian’s s...

Ensnared by Rita Stradling I received a free ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis ( from Goodreads ) "Alainn’s father is not a bad man. He’s a genius and an inventor. When he’s hired to create the robot Rose, Alainn knows taking the money is a mistake. Rose acts like a human. She looks exactly like Alainn. But, something in her comes out wrong. To save her father from a five year prison sentence, Alainn takes Rose’s place. She says goodbye to the sun and goes to live in a tower no human is allowed to enter. She becomes the prisoner of a man no human is allowed to see. Believing that a life of servitude lies ahead, Alainn finds a very different fate awaits her in the company of the strange, scarred recluse." Review The premise sounded very interesting: Beauty and the Beast retelling in the near-future with robots and AI. But it really really fell flat. I read the first few chapters, then put it down for a couple of  months . ...

Quest of the Kings  - Robert Evert I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and the publisher for this opportunity. Synopsis Sixteen-year old Natalie is a peasant who dreams of more than mucking out stables to support her impoverished family. After a nasty run-in with an adventurer named Brago, Natalie seeks help from another adventurer, Sir Edris. With Brago after Natalie, together, they seek the elusive golden harp to win the contest and save her loved ones. Review This story has SO much potential. I liked how Natalie fights against the barriers imposed on her by society and shows that she can be just as tough and clever—more so even—than any man. I liked the idea of a quest for treasure! However, the writing failed to draw me in. The dialogue felt stilted, the characters more caricatures of types rather than fully realized people. Natalie was so naive and a brat. I felt like there was no growth on ...

The Magicians  - Lev Grossman Synopsis ( from Goodreads ) Like everyone else, precocious high school senior Quentin Coldwater assumes that magic isn't real, until he finds himself admitted to a very secretive and exclusive college of magic in upstate New York. There he indulges in joys of college-friendship, love, sex, and booze- and receives a rigorous education in modern sorcery. But magic doesn't bring the happiness and adventure Quentin thought it would. After graduation, he and his friends stumble upon a secret that sets them on a remarkable journey that may just fulfill Quentin's yearning. But their journey turns out to be darker and more dangerous than they'd imagined. Review Promoted as "Harry Potter for adults", I would say that's somewhat accurate. There's a magical college. And it's very adult. As in lots of sex and drinking, etc. The school part is actually only the first half of the book. I felt like there was just a bunch of...

And I Darken - Kiersten White Synopsis Lada, daughter to Vlad Dracul, Prince of Wallachia, is abandoned by her father in the Ottoman court to be held as ransom, along with her younger brother, Radu. Lada hates the Ottomans and patiently plots her vengeance. Radu, however, just wants a place to feel safe and call home. They become friends with the future Sultan, Mehmed. Together they form a strange triangle of friendship and love where their loyalty to their nation, and each other, is tested. Review I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. I've read and liked another one of Kiersten White's books and had high hopes for this one. The premise that the publisher gives is so interesting: Vlad the Impaler, but a girl, and her descent into being a ruthless, cruel killer. But the book never got there. I felt like the entire book was just build up to the second book. I feel like everything that did happen in the book could have easily been condensed into a third ...