The End And Other Beginnings – Veronica Roth | A Book Review

Title: The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future

Author: Veronica Roth

Genre: Science Fiction (Young Adult)

About the book: It’s a short story collection with black and white artwork throughout that complements the text.

I received an advanced review copy from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: The title and cover are cool. I enjoy futuristic stories, so I found the premise interesting.

Characters: Each story follows a different cast of characters. I could relate to the protagonists, and they develop a good deal by the end of their narrative.

Quote:

“I wanted one last chance to tell you that you’re worth so much more than your pain.”

Writing: The stories aren’t too short or too long. Despite the advanced technology, Roth explores human issues like friendship, revenge, as well as love.

Final thoughts: I crave closure as a reader, and I felt the ending tied up loose ends enough to satisfy me. That said, the narratives also leave room for further rumination.

If you’re looking to read a few futuristic stories, check out The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future. It’s not a lengthy collection, so the book makes for a quick, fun read.

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Fireborne – Rosaria Munda | A Book Review

Title: Fireborne

Author: Rosaria Munda

Genre: Fantasy (Young Adult)

About the book: It’s the first in a series following Lee and Anne, two teens rising in the ranks as dragonriders, despite different backgrounds. Fireborne explores ties to the family you were born into and the family you choose.

I received an advanced review copy from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: I adore both the title and the cover. I was also super intrigued by the novel’s themes.

Characters: The two protagonists grew on me so much. I especially enjoyed seeing Anne’s development into a more confident young woman. Even the secondary characters are unique and likeable.

Quote:

“It is difficult, knowing that your choices are ones whose consequences others suffer.”

Writing: The book alternates between Lee’s and Anne’s point of view with flashbacks to their childhood at the beginning of some chapters. Munda is descriptive, building the world in detail. Overall, I liked the platonic relationships as well as the romantic ones.

Final thoughts: The ending provides some closure while leaving questions to be answered in the second novel. I’m curious to know what happens next. My favourite fantasy novels balance fantastical elements with human issues; this book falls into that category.

I highly recommend Fireborne if you like stories about rivalries and romance.

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Crier’s War – Nina Varela | A Book Review

Title: Crier’s War

Author: Nina Varela

Genre: Fantasy (Young Adult)

About the book: It’s the first in a series with a female-female, enemies to lovers story. Ayla, a human girl, wants revenge by killing the sovereign’s daughter, Crier, an Automae. But after Alya becomes Crier’s handmaiden, both realize they aren’t that different from each other.

I received an advanced review copy from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: I love a good fantasy read, so I was looking forward to this novel. The cover is beautiful.

Characters: I liked Ayla and Crier equally. They have their flaws, but I found them easy to root for. I enjoyed seeing their development alone as well as together. I will never not be a fan of diversity and representation, especially when it’s done well.

Quote:

“But if I give up, then what have I even been living for?”

Writing: The narrative alternates between the two main characters’ points of view. There’s a little romance near the end of the story. Varela is descriptive but not overly so.

Final thoughts: The ending doesn’t wrap up all the loose ends. Instead, it leaves many questions unanswered, setting the stage for the next book.

I highly recommend Crier’s War to fans of fantasy with LGBTQ+ representation.

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Break In Case Of Emergency – Brian Francis | A Book Review

Title: Break in Case of Emergency

Author: Brian Francis

Genre: Contemporary (Young Adult)

About the book: Toby Goodman’s mom committed suicide and her dad left before she was born. But now her father, a gay, female impersonator, comes home. When Toby’s plans to end her pain goes awry, she has to learn to pick up the pieces of her life and put them back together.

I received an advanced review copy from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: I like the title and cover a lot. The premise intrigued me, so I was looking forward to reading it.

Characters: Toby develops a great deal throughout the course of the novel. Many of the characters are flawed in their own ways, which made it easy to relate to them.

Quote:

“It’s only when you lose something that you understand what it meant to you.”

Writing: The author explores topics such as mental health and suicide. In my opinion, Francis handles these issues really well. He doesn’t glamourize or trivialize anything.

The book isn’t too long, and the chapters are short. On one hand, it’s beautifully written; on the other, the story is so sad.

Final thoughts: The ending suits the rest of the story. Honestly, I wish I could’ve read this book when I was in high school.

I highly recommend Break in Case of Emergency if you want to read an emotional but important novel.

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A Treason Of Thorns – Laura E. Weymouth | A Book Review

Title: A Treason of Thorns

Author: Laura E. Weymouth

Genre: Fantasy (Young Adult)

About the book: It’s a stand-alone novel following Violet Sterling who has been in exile for seven years after her father committed treason. When she returns to her childhood home, Burleigh House, it’s in bad shape. Vi needs to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice in order to save her house.

I received an advanced review copy from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: I haven’t read Weymouth’s debut, so I wasn’t too sure what to expect. That said, I love the cover and title. The beginning sets the stage for the rest of the story.

Characters: Violet is an interesting protagonist I could relate to, and she develops a good deal throughout the novel. Wyn is another main character who grew on me.

Quote:

“What if we don’t have to be who we were told to become?”

Writing: Weymouth is descriptive, describing many aspects of the world. The pacing is slower at the beginning and middle but picks up at the end. There’s not too much romance, just a little bit.

Final thoughts: The ending’s my favourite part of the book. Since it’s a standalone, loose ends are tied up.

A Treason of Thorns might not be for everybody, but if you enjoy fantasy with an unusual premise, consider checking it out. The novel is set in England with historical and magical realism elements.

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Obviously: Stories From My Timeline – Akilah Hughes | A Book Review

Title: Obviously: Stories From My Timeline

Author: Akilah Hughes

Genre: Nonfiction (personal essays)

About the book: It’s a collection of personal essays from Akilah Hughes’s perspective from being a spelling bee champion, moving to New York, and more.

I received an advanced review copy from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions:  I don’t read nonfiction often, much less personal essays, but the description intrigued me. The cover is beautiful.

Content: Hughes covers a mix of different subjects, ranging from her childhood to growing up and becoming an adult. I appreciate the author’s humour and perspective, especially in embarrassing or difficult situations. I understand that the book is about Akilah, and so the essays revolve around her, but her family and friends seem like very interesting people as well. I would have loved learning more about them.

Quote:

“I will do everything I want to do the way I want to do it, because that’s all there is.”

Writing: I enjoyed reading all the stories. They’re well-written, not too short or too long either. The book is under 300 pages.

Final thoughts: When I reached the end, I wanted more essays.

I would recommend Obviously: Stories From My Timeline to fans of Akilah Hughes or anyone interested in personal essays. There’s nothing quite like reading people’s stories to get to know them better.

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Missing Person – Sarah Lotz | A Book Review

Title: Missing Person

Author: Sarah Lotz

Genre: Mystery

About the book: It’s a standalone novel revolving around a bookseller named Shaun Ryan who learns that his uncle, Teddy, didn’t die in a car accident but rather he fled home and went missing. As more secrets start to come out, Shaun tries to discover what really happened to Teddy.

I received an advanced review copy from Hachette Book Group in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: I was excited to delve into this story as I love a good mystery. The cover is well done, as it symbolizes an important part of the narrative.

Characters: There are a lot of characters, and two of them had similar names, so it took a little work keeping track of everybody. The novel follows four main characters, all of them with different flaws.

Quote:

“And there it was: the perfect life for the taking.”

Writing: It’s written in the third person with four POVs. Even though it’s tough to pull off multiple perspectives, I think Lotz did a good job balancing them all. The writing is detailed and descriptive. While the book is longer than I expected, the pacing wasn’t too slow for me. There are a lot of moving parts to the story, but I appreciate the connections.

Final thoughts: The author comes full circle at the end, typing up loose ends. That said, it left me wanting more.

I’d recommend Missing Person to fans of suspenseful reads that plays out similar to an episode of Criminal Minds.

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A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook – Riche Billing | A Book Review

Title: A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook

Author: Riche Billing

Genre: Nonfiction (Writing)

About the book: This is a guide on the writing and publishing process, specifically focusing on fantasy. It was independently publishing and came out earlier this year.

I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: I don’t write much fantasy, but I love reading about writing, so I was excited.

Content: There’s a little bit of everything from writing to editing to marketing. The author compiles some useful resources such as a list of publications that accept fantasy stories. Billing also quotes other authors and includes comments from readers. I found the sections on weapons and armour especially interesting.

Quote:

“You have something to give to the world.”

Writing: The book isn’t super long at around 300 pages, broke up into chapters. They’re informative, giving a basic overview of topics like fighting and world-building.

Final thoughts: Overall, this is a helpful guide for writers. Even if you aren’t a fantasy author, a lot of the advice applies across all genres. If you’re looking for a useful book that covers different parts of the writing process, check out A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook.

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