The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

May 13, 2019February 3, 2020Leave a comment

The Priory of the Orange Tree

Author: Samantha Shannon
Reviewer: Renee

Summary

A world divided.

A queendom without an heir.

An ancient enemy awakens.

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction—but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

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Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Priory of the Orange Tree is everything I love about fantasy. The worldbuilding is amazing and the characters are well developed. Bonuses for LGBTQ rep and several women as lead characters. There is so much in this book (which is why it’s so long!). Even at 850 pages, there are no wasted words. Everything keeps moving toward the ending. The LGBTQ relationships were treated no differently than straight relationships; they are part of the world just like everybody else.

You get a full belief system from three major cultures, politics shaped from those beliefs, love, betrayal, and so much more all under the threat of the Nameless One returning to destroy everything (or save the world, depending on what you believe).

The character arcs are great. I loved when some characters traveled to other locations where they hold vastly different views or when characters learned new information that challenged their core beliefs. You could feel the characters struggling to justify or adjust their beliefs based on these interactions.

There are many plotlines to follow as the characters are in various locations with very different beliefs and cultures. The beginning can be a bit overwhelming due to the number of characters, beliefs, and locations that are introduced, but I quickly got the hang of who was where and what their current goal was.

While I didn’t like all the POV characters, I loved most of them. I fell in love with Ead right away and she probably gave me (and a couple of the characters) the most stress. She began as my favorite and remains so after finishing the book. I love her determination and how she focuses on doing what she believes is right. She also doesn’t care for court manners, which puts her in conflict with some other characters.

I love how everything wrapped up at the end while leaving room to return to this world and characters. I would have gladly continued reading just to inhabit this world for a little longer. I really hope there’s a plan to have more books set in this world.

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

May 6, 2019February 3, 20201 Comment

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

Author: Sabina Khan
Reviewer: Renee

Content warnings

rape (including with a minor), domestic violence, homophobia, exorcism, forced marriage, drugging

Summary

Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali tries her hardest to live up to her conservative Muslim parents’ expectations, but lately she’s finding that harder and harder to do. She rolls her eyes instead of screaming when they blatantly favor her brother and she dresses conservatively at home, saving her crop tops and makeup for parties her parents don’t know about. Luckily, only a few more months stand between her carefully monitored life in Seattle and her new life at Caltech, where she can pursue her dream of becoming an engineer.

But when her parents catch her kissing her girlfriend Ariana, all of Rukhsana’s plans fall apart. Her parents are devastated; being gay may as well be a death sentence in the Bengali community. They immediately whisk Rukhsana off to Bangladesh, where she is thrown headfirst into a world of arranged marriages and tradition. Only through reading her grandmother’s old diary is Rukhsana able to gain some much needed perspective.

Rukhsana realizes she must find the courage to fight for her love, but can she do so without losing everyone and everything in her life?

View this book on Goodreads.

Review

Rating: 4,5 out of 5 stars

I cannot recommend this book enough. There are many themes that are so important not just for those who directly relate to Rukhsana but also for others who can learn and help those who do.

I couldn’t put this book down because Rukhsana always seemed to be at risk and I wanted her to have the safety and freedom to just exist and be happy. I found the dialog funny, especially Rukhsana’s thoughts when talking with a character who had much more conservative views than herself. The beginning has many lighthearted moments but it gets heavier as the book goes on. Many people can benefit from reading this story and will be able to relate to one or more themes.

I do think the end wrapped up a bit too quickly. More time could have been spent showing that things won’t be perfect after a few weeks of talking or trying to change.

Disclaimer: While I love the themes discussed in this book, I do not have any real-life experience with most of them. I do not come from a family who forced their beliefs on me and have been privileged to have freedom when it comes to deciding what to do with my life (though my mom is anxiously awaiting the prospect grandkids…)

Rukhsana struggles constantly to keep her two lives separate – the good conservative Muslim daughter at home and the “normal” American when out with her friends. She loves both her worlds, but finds herself constantly hiding or defending one over the other.

I love how Khan not only shows Rukhsana’s struggle, but also points out how difficult it is for her friends to understand what she’s going through. Rukhsana is constantly trying to explain to her friends how she can’t just tell her parents “no” or “escape.” They keep thinking she’s overreacting, even the friends she’s known for years and are familiar with her family.

One of my favorite parts is when Rukhsana has had enough and ends up telling everybody that she understands things are difficult for them but she’s tired of always being told she needs to understand what everybody else is going through when nobody has considered what she has gone through or what she feels. I felt this was a very strong moment in the story because it’s when Rukhsana decided to stop trying to explain herself to people who just didn’t get it and put it on others to consider how she feels.

Hopefully those who do read this book come away with learning to show more compassion and empathy for people who have different perspectives. Too many people brush aside the feelings/opinions of others simply because they are unwilling to try to understand why somebody feels/thinks the way they do. Again, while most of this book doesn’t directly relate to my real life, this message resonates strongly with me. I see and experience people viewing things through their blinders without considering why anybody would have a different perspective. It usually turns into being told “I don’t see why you don’t just agree with me” instead of “can you explain what you mean because I don’t understand.”

I also liked how forgiveness wasn’t just given. It had to be earned. Some characters lost Rukhsana’s trust and had to earn it back. She wasn’t going to just give it to them for a happy ending. She was upset and let them know how much they hurt her and she couldn’t just forgive them even if they regretted their actions because it was too late. The reverse was also true; Rukhsana lost trust with some people she cared about and had to earn it back.

I don’t usually do warm and happy feelings but this book thawed my heart a little.

Rekindled by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

March 26, 2019February 2, 2020Leave a comment

Rekindled

Author: Genevieve Iseult Eldredge
Series: Circuit Fae #3.5
Reviewer: Renee

Summary

Syl Skye, newly crowned Queen of Fair Faerie, would be psyched to be the ruler of her Summer realm, except for two things.

First, her girlfriend Rouen Rivoche became Queen of Dark Faerie, the Winter realm. That would be great except the Winter realm’s always been at war with Summer. By tradition, that makes Rouen Syl’s mortal enemy.

That said, love can break past old hatred, right? Especially with a new foe about to attack them both.

Ah, no.

Which brings us to Syl’s second problem. Rouen’s under a dark spell and doesn’t remember Syl, their lives, their love. Worse, if Syl doesn’t break the spell by the next new moon, Rouen will forget her forever.

To defeat their foe, it’ll take two soul-bound queens whose hearts and minds act as one. Trouble is, no one has ever broken the dark spell Rouen suffers from.

Good thing Syl isn’t the type of queen who gives up easily.

View this book on Goodreads.

Review

This series owes me many hours of sleep, and this book is no exception. I strongly recommend dedicating a couple hours to read in one sitting because there is honestly no good place to say “Okay, I can stop here and come back later.” There is so much tension! (Make sure your device can handle when you will inevitably tighten your grasp while reading.)

If Syl and Rouen’s problems weren’t enough on their own, the dark Fae kids return to help…or cause havoc. Or maybe both. That Chuck E. Cheese scene! 😂 Rouen defending the dark Fae kids against unfair gaming machines. 😂 The new characters are also great (sounds like Laguna may make a return in Nemesis). We also get Glamma’s point of view a couple times!

You will find yourself smiling, laughing, hoping, and dreading what happens next. Now I need a time machine to take me to September because ROUEN!!! 😭😭

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Inimical by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

March 22, 2019February 2, 2020Leave a comment

Inimical

Author: Genevieve Iseult Eldredge
Series: Circuit Fae #3
Reviewer: Renee

Summary

Being a fairy princess isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you have to choose between saving your people…And killing your girlfriend. Oh, and let’s not forget having to pass summer school, too.

Talk about a hot mess.

First, there’s Rouen, princess of the dark Fae, goth-rock star Euphoria, and soon-to-be senior at Richmond Elite High. Her world is all things ice, snow, and death. And that death will include her own people unless she can defeat her evil father in a Battle of Wits and War and seize the throne. Trouble is, taking the throne is a death sentence for the princess of the fair Fae. In other words, a quick death for Syl, Rouen’s girlfriend.

And that’s so not good.

Second, there’s Syl, princess of the fair Fae, geek girl mathlete, also an incoming senior. Things aren’t any easier for her. Syl must save her people by battling her old nemesis, the fair Fae prince, and the same rules apply: taking the throne means a death sentence for the other court’s princess, Rouen.

Even worse, Syl and Rouen’s enemies have figured out they’re in love. Now, both Rouen’s father and Syl’s archenemy are teaming up to ensure neither of them makes it till Midsummer’s Day—never mind the fall semester. Looks like passing summer school is the least of their worries!

View this book on Goodreads.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The action doesn’t really stop in this one – it’s one problem after another. We see Syl and Rouen grow in their relationship and as Fae princesses. Be warned: you will need the next book immediately after reading this one! (It’s currently scheduled for release in September 2019.)

Rouen and Syl have to juggle summer school, their relationship, and saving their Fae realms, which happen to be on a collision course thanks to the Convergence they set in motion. The two are pulled against their will into their respective realms. This shows us a different side of each character since they’ve previously been able to rely on each other but they must tackle these problems independently since they cannot communicate across the different realms, even with their soulbond.

They struggle to come up with a plan to save both realms only to have others interfere and ruin their plan. Through it all they discuss their relationship and its priority with all the chaos going on. Even with everything and everyone telling Rouen and Syl they must destroy each other in order to become Queen, they keep fighting to save both of their realms. This is one of my favorite things about the series – no matter the odds or the challenges, Syl and Rouen always push back against what they are expected to do in favor of doing what they believe is right.

As with other books in this series, the action rarely slows so it was a page turner, especially near the end when everything comes together.

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Dethroned by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

March 20, 2019February 2, 2020Leave a comment

Dethroned

Author: Genevieve Iseult Eldredge
Series: Circuit Fae #2.5
Reviewer: Renee

Summary

For eighteen-year-old Rouen Rivoche, being a fairy princess isn’t about fancy parties and happily ever afters.

Rouen’s people are the dark Fae whose powers of lightning, thundersnow, and all things Winter make them cold, severe, and 100% intolerant of rebellion.

Too bad being a rebel is in Rouen’s blood.

Against tradition, she’s teamed up with Syl Skye, the sleeper-princess of the fair Fae—a mortal enemy who Rouen should want to kill but only wants to kiss. Plus, to be with Syl, Rouen’s masquerading as a glam goth-rock star and human high school student. Honestly, Rouen doesn’t think things could get any more complicated.

Then, she discovers she must become Queen of the Winter Court or all her people will die. No pressure.

Now, dark forces are amassing in the Winter Court, turning Rouen’s people against her and blocking her path to the throne. Even Syl with all her powers of white flame and Summer can’t stop this new kind of evil.

Because betrayal cuts close when it’s someone you love… and now it looks like Rouen’s going to be dethroned before she ever becomes queen.

View this book on Goodreads.

Review

This is my favorite novella in the Circuit Fae series so far. We learn so much more about UnderHollow – the politics, races that live there, and of Rouen’s father, the current king. There is a larger focus on Rouen in this novella, and that’s definitely a plus for me! Rouen finds herself fighting her father for the crown, with the court divided on who should rule. Rouen ends up in prison with kidnapped dark Fae children while her father is slowly killing Syl (because he, of course, does not approve of his daughter dating a fair Fae princess).

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Ouroboros by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

March 18, 2019February 2, 2020Leave a comment

Ouroboros

Author: Genevieve Iseult Eldredge
Series: Circuit Fae #2
Reviewer: Renee

Summary

All introverted geek girl Syl Skye wants is to get close to her girlfriend. But when you can kill with a simple touch, a normal date night’s not really in the cards.

As it happens, Syl is also a sleeper-princess of the fair Fae. Last year after a freak accident, her power Awakened, granting her white flame to purify the darkness.

Rouen Rivoche is that darkness—a dark Fae princess whose power to bewitch mortals is as terrifying as the violet lightning she controls. Rouen is Syl’s total opposite. Her mortal enemy.

She’s also Syl’s beloved girlfriend.

And even though they joined forces to defeat the evil Circuit Fae who harnessed the killing magic in technology to take over the school…that was so last year.

Now, Syl’s touch could mean Rouen’s death. Her increasing power is spiraling out of control, threatening to burn down everything she and Rouen have built together.

Their lives, their love, their very world.

View this book on Goodreads.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Similar to the first book in the series, Moribund, I couldn’t put this down! I was hooked from page one. The book begins with Syl and Rouen trying to get two seconds of peace to have a normal date. They don’t get many since they are Fae princesses and are busy cleaning up from events after Moribund. Syl is learning to control her newly awakened powers, which can destroy Rouen so she’s at risk every time she’s near Syl. Throughout all this, they are the only two who can destroy the Ouroboros so they have to fight near each other. Enter the fair Fae prince to declare Syl should be his queen and it’s just another obstacle for Rouen and Syl to overcome together.

Syl and Rouen face old and new enemies but always have each other’s back. There’s more action and witty dialogue in this book. Rouen is still teaching Syl how to use her powers and they keep up the flirty banter throughout. As soon as you feel like everything is fine and the characters are safe, bad things happen and Syl and Rouen have to get up and fight again.

This book has one of my favorite scenes in the series (it’s near the end and it’s so good!) and it’s so difficult to put down. There is so much tension and so many conflicts that you just want Syl and Rouen to have two seconds of peace. Like in Moribund, the action rarely slows and there are plenty of action scenes.

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Derailed by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

March 15, 2019February 2, 2020Leave a comment

Derailed

Author: Genevieve Iseult Eldredge
Series: Circuit Fae #1.5
Reviewer: Renee

Summary

A goth-rock show. An innocent train ride. That’s all it takes for high school sophomore Syl Skye’s perfectly normal world to come crashing down. Why? Because this train holds the infamous Rouen Rivoche, a dark Fae assassin bent on murdering Syl. This is one journey that should end in tragedy, not two people falling love. Then again, whenever the Fae are involved, there’s no telling what will happen…

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Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This novella gives background on the major event that sets Moribund in motion and shows how Syl and Rouen first met (there are literal sparks).

I really enjoyed this novella, mostly because it gives more background on Rouen and I kind of love her sassiness. It shows how she’s been fighting the Contract forced upon her and goes deeper into her relationship with Agravaine. It also shows how Syl has been adjusting to her new life after a few personal changes have happened.

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Moribund by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

March 13, 2019February 2, 2020Leave a comment

Moribund

Author: Genevieve Iseult Eldredge
Series: Circuit Fae #1
Reviewer: Renee

Summary

High school sophomore Syl Skye is an ordinary girl. At least, she’s trying to be. School photographer and all-around geek, she introverts hard and keeps her crush on sexy-hot glam-Goth star Euphoria on the down-low. But when a freak accident Awakens her slumbering power, Syl is forced to accept a destiny she never wanted—as the last sleeper-princess of the fair Fae.

Suddenly hunted by the dark Fae, Syl’s pretty sure things can’t get any worse. Until she discovers her secret crush, Euphoria, is really a dark Circuit Fae able to harness the killing magic in technology. Even worse, she’s been sent to destroy Syl. With mean girls and magic and dark Fae trying to kill her, it’ll take more than just “clap if you believe in fairies” to save Syl’s bacon—not to mention, her heart.

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Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I love this series! I’m usually not into urban fantasy, but I got this book when it was free because I wanted to try a new fantasy series. I ended up purchasing the other books in the series before finishing the first five chapters.

In this book, Rouen and Syl deal with figuring out their feelings for each other while Rouen is under a Contract of Blood and Bone to kill all fair Fae princesses. The problem? Syl is the last fair Fae princess. I love the tension this creates between the two. Rouen tries her best to protect Syl but at the end of the day, when Agravaine uses her true name, she has to obey the Contract. That puts Syl in a lot of danger because she just found out she’s a Fae princess and doesn’t have full control of her powers.

The dialogue is witty and I laughed out loud several times. It was difficult to put this book down. I stayed up late because I needed to know how Rouen and Syl got out of trouble. The story moves quickly and the action scenes are amazing.

Most of the story takes place in Virginia but you get a glimpse of the dark and fair Fae worlds (you learn a lot more about these worlds in the later books).