Sunday 22 May 2016

The Mirror King

****
4 Stars/5


Prince Tobiah is on his deathbed after an attempted assassination by Patrick. Princess Wilhelmia is desperate to save him, partly because he is her only ally, but mostly because she loves him despite him being engaged to someone else. Wil is also determined to reclaim her country but she doesn’t want a war that would lead to death for both people in Indigo and Aecor kingdoms. On top of that Wil is worried about her magic and how it created wraith boy, and what implications will it have on the wraith that is growing closer.

The Mirror King is the very good second and final book in the Orphan Queen duology. It had lots of unexpected twists and turns and for the most part very fast paced, but in the middle it slowed and did not hold my attention. This book had intense action, good world building and a complex and heart-breaking romance.  I would suggest rereading The Orphan Queen as it does not catch you up that well.

Wil has become more indecisive in this book, especially after an important point in the story, and does not feel like she is good enough. However, while she has a lot of insecurities they were understandable and she admits when she has made mistakes, as well as being loyal and kind. Tobiah will do anything to help and protect his people either as the prince or Black Knife. He also faces a lot of difficult choices in this book and goes through a massive emotional journey.

The romance was heart-breaking and was complicated as so much stood between Wil and Tobiah, and I had no idea how there was going to be a happy ending, especially after an event at 43% of the way through. There were lots of three dimensional secondary characters such as James, Melanie and wraith boy, but I wish the villains where more interesting, particularly Patrick as I felt with not much effort he could have become a relatable bad guy.


I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more books from Meadows. I would recommend The Mirror King to fans of The Orphan Queen.

Wednesday 18 May 2016

The Black Knife

****
4 Stars/5


Prince Tobiah has been beaten and broken, he has lost two people he cares about and on top of that his enemy Hensley knows his real identity. Tobiah has to stop Hensley trading the drugs to the Nightmare gang before it is too late and Skyvale will be overrun with firefly.


The Black Knife is the final prequel novella to The Orphan Queen and it is fast paced and full of action. I am glad I waited until all of the novellas were out before starting to read them as it worked well reading them as if they were one book. I really liked how we got to know how Tobiah became the person we know in the Orphan Queen and how he fights for what is right and to protect his people. I also liked the relationship between him and James and they are brilliant best friends and I hope we get to see more of them together in the next book. I am really looking forward to reading The Mirror King and seeing what happens next after that cliff-hanger ending. I would recommend The Black Knife to fans of The Orphan Queen.

Monday 16 May 2016

The Burning Hand

****
4 Stars/5


After watching his tutor being murdered and discovering that Skyvale is under threat, Prince Tobiah is determined to stop the murderer Hensley. With guidance for Romily, a girl who knows the way around the rooftops, is Tobiah willing to risk his reputation or his life to make things right?


The Burning Hand is the third prequel novella in The Orphan Queen series and my favourite so far but also the darkest. I love getting to know Tobiah better and seeing how much he wants to help his country despite how corrupt it is. I also liked how clumsy he is compared to the vigilante we know and love. I also did not see that twist about James coming. I really enjoyed The Burning Hand and would recommend it to fans of Jodi Meadows Novels. 

Saturday 14 May 2016

The Glowing Knight

***
3 Stars/5


Prince Tobiah’s parents are pushing him closer to the new girl at court, Meredith, but he is distracted by the attack on his favourite tutor, Knight. When Knight plans on meeting the person Tobiah believes attacked him, Tobiah sets out to discover what his tutor is mixed up in.

The Glowing Knight is the second novella in this series about Tobiah. This book is action-packed and a fun read even though it is dark and deals with drugs. Tobiah is courageous and wants to discover the truth, and I felt sorry for him and how his parents treat him. For a novella there are a lot of characters some we know from The Orphan Queen but also some new. I would recommend The Glowing Knight to people who have read the first novella and The Orphan Queen.

Thursday 12 May 2016

The Hidden Prince

***
3 Stars/5


Prince Tobiah knows his life is sheltered but he wants a chance to gain more freedom. When he witnesses a crime at his 16th birthday party he decides to risk everything and tries to find and apprehend the magical assailant.


The Hidden Prince is the enjoyable first novella of four, about Prince Tobiah from The Orphan Queen. It was very fast paced and well written, although it not worth the price considering there was not much too it. We get to know more about Tobiah and understand his frustration about the lack of control over his life, even though he is spoiled. We also get to see more of about James, Meredith and Chey. I liked this novella and I would recommend The Hidden Prince to fans of the Orphan Queen. 

Tuesday 10 May 2016

Hour of Mischief

****
4 Stars/5


Thanks to Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press for giving this book to review.

17 year old Janet has not had a good start in life and does not believe that she owes the Clockwork Gods anything. When I heist goes wrong and her gang and her ends up in prison she makes a deal with Itazura, the God of Mischief. To get her friends out of a deadly prison she must convince the gods to warn humanity about the danger they face from the Elder Gods. It is a lot harder than Janet was expecting especially when she is sure that Itazura is keeping something important from her.

Hour of Mischief is a very good steampunk fantasy novel. It is fast paced, has action, twists, mystery and a hint of romance. While good, I did found that the solutions to the problems were a bit easy. I like the mythology in this book with the Clockwork and seasonal gods, and the world that was created.

Janet is reckless, impulsive and sarcastic, but also loyal to her friends, no nonsense and insecure about failure and her mum. However, I did feel that Janet’s name did not fit her character. Itazura is cocky, sneaky and charming but while annoying he is also witty and respects and is protective of Janet. Laelatia is a fun and caring character. I hope we get to see more of the Pendulum gang in the next book.


There are lots of unanswered questions left at the end of this book and I hope they are answered in the next book. I would recommend Hour of Mischief to fans of Raven by Pauline Creeden and Thief’s Covenant by Ari Marmell.

Saturday 7 May 2016

Origins

***
3 Stars/5


Orphan stable boy Arcturus life changes forever when he reads a scroll and discovers that he has the ability to summon demons. Arcturus with his demon Sacharissa, are sent to Vocans Military Academy to learn about his ability but as the first commoner with this ability he finds he has enemies. With only Sacha on his side, Arcturus has to prove himself as a worthy summoner.


Origins is the prequel novella in the Summoner series, which is fast paced, enjoyable and easy to read, and it was great to see Arcturus’s beginning. While he is similar to Fletcher, I felt Arcturus is more street wise and I felt more protective towards him. After this novella I am hoping for some romance between Arcturus and Elaine Lovett in the next book. One thing I found irritating was that almost all of the adult characters from The Novice and The Inquisition were in this novella. I would recommend Origins to fans of the Summoner series. 

Thursday 5 May 2016

The Inquisition

****
4 Stars/5


Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Children’s Group for giving this book to review.

Imprisoned for a year, for a crime he did not commit, Fletcher has to face the Inquisition who will decide his future. With the trial led by those who hate Fletcher they will do anything to see him suffer. When the origins of Fletcher’s birth came to light, he has little time to deal with it before the king announces a challenge that involves entering orc territory. The odds are stacked against him and he must use his cunning, demons and friends to defeat a new evil.

The Inquisition is the sequel fantasy adventure novel in the Summoner series, and I enjoyed it more than the previous book as I found it more gripping and not as rushed. I like how this book is Pokemon mixed with Lord of the Rings. It is fast paced and has lots of twists, even if some were predictable.  

Fletcher is kind, naïve and a natural leader, as he has matured since the last book, courageous and has a strong sense of right and wrong. Othello is moral, loyal and clever, and Sylva is bossy, eager to prove herself and sensible but I still think there is more to her than we have seen so far. I wish the bad guys were more complex and not so much black and white.


This book ended on another massive cliff-hanger and I am looking forward to reading the next book. I would recommend The Inquisition to fans of the first book The Novice.

Tuesday 3 May 2016

The Crown

****
4 Stars/5


Thanks to HarperCollins Children’s UK for giving this book to review.

Princess Eadlyn has never felt more alone, with her twin brother married and in France, her mother just having had a heart attack and her father never leaving her side. Eadlyn must cope with running the country and finding love with one of the remaining boys in the selection. With everything in turmoil and the people not trusting her ruling ability, Eadlyn must make some hard choices about what to do with her kingdom, as well as her heart.

The Crown is very enjoyable final book of The Selection series. It is very fast paced as I stayed up very late just to see how it finished, and had some minor twists I didn’t see coming. There was not as much romance in this novel compared to the other books and while I was very happy about her choice and I felt it worked well in the story, I would have liked more.

Eadlyn is strong and a responsible and capable ruler who cared for her people and while spoiled would sacrifice anything for her kingdom’s happiness. Kile is intelligent, considerate and inventive, while Hale is confident and friendly. Henri is happy and innocent and Eric/Eikko is down to earth, shy and compassionate.


The Ending wrapped everything up but was a bit rushed. I am looking forward to seeing what Kiera Cass writes next. I would recommend The Crown to people who have read and enjoyed The Selection series, especially The Heir.