Tag: fantasy

Review: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Robin2 Comments

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

This was pitched as Mulan meets The Song of Achilles, and it was that and so much more. A glorious epic in every sense of the word. Fate is a tricky thing, and after hearing a fortune teller give reference to her brother’s destiny for greatness, the girl expects to hear very much the same. However, her own destiny is revealed to be just that: nothing. While her brother is fated to rise up and leave his mark upon the world, she is expected to fade from view, unremembered. Starving and desperate, an unexpected event changes the trajectory of her entire future. She takes her chance, seizing her brother’s identity and assuming his fate in the process. Under this new circumstance, she may just find freedom, glory, and a way to change her destiny forever.

She Who Became the Sun is, simply put, a masterpiece of a debut. It’s a powerful, evocative, and brutal high fantasy that will leave you utterly wrecked and begging for more. Parker-Chan blends history with fiction in this sweeping story that chronicles Zhu Yuanzhang’s ascent to power and the rise of the Ming Dynasty in 14th century China. It’s the perfect novel for anyone looking for complex characters set amid a backdrop where loyalties are tested and the stakes are high. The lyrical prose paints a vibrant picture of a war-torn period, reimagined, but ultimately true to its roots. Right from the get-go, I was pulled into the ambitious nature of the narrative amidst its definitive passion and decisive action. I straight up devoured this in under a few hours and then realized I would have to suffer in silence since none of my friends had finished reading. What it means to be an arc reviewer am I right? The exploration of gender and gender identity, tied up in a story that is so brilliantly queer, is the true hero of all of this though. There was a very nuanced conversation taking place within the novel, that I appreciate and can tell will be carried over into the next installment. To see a character that was not only flawed and determined but honest with themselves about their own identity and who they are was incredibly powerful to read. Looking forward to seeing just how that evolves in the next book. And my God, that ending. So devastatingly beautiful it may just keep me up for the next few nights. If we’re lucky, otherwise I may not ever get to experience sleep again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review

Trigger warnings: starvation, death, abuse, public execution, mass death, misgendering, ableist language, dysphoria, life-altering injury, offscreen murder of a child

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Review: The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

Robin2 Comments

Rating: 5 out of 5.

It begins with a burning and an exile. Malini is a traitor — a vengeful princess banished to the Hirana, a ruined temple, to atone for her crimes. Kept under lock and key, she grows weaker under the watchful eye of her caretaker, facing almost certain death. Priya is a maidservant tasked with taking the treacherous path to the Hirana every night to care for the captive princess. The job is dangerous, accompanied by the risk of revealing her most well-kept secret, and when Priya is attacked one evening, she reveals a power long kept buried to the last person she intends, the princess herself. Having witnessed Priya’s true nature, Malina and Priya are bound together on a journey that will have them uncovering the hidden power behind the ancient temple and setting them on a path to transform an empire.

It may have taken me a moment to fully immerse myself in the world of The Jasmine Throne, but once I did, it was impossible to put down. Tasha Suri has seamlessly combined everything I adore about fantasy into one novel, full of intricate history backdrops and character-driven storylines. Add to the list that this includes morally grey lesbians set in an Indian-inspired fantasy world, and you’ll understand why I went absolutely feral over this. There are almost ten different points of view combined throughout the entire story, which is no easy feat to accomplish, but one that was pulled off beautifully by Suri. While most of the book concentrates on the journey of Priya and Malini, the other points of view added a much-needed interlude, providing a necessary perspective on significant events taking place. Where this really wowed me though, was in the complexity of the plot and the depth of each of the characters. This is a slow-building story, with simmering tensions that wait until the last second to boil over, allowing for the motivations of both characters to be carefully picked apart. Just like the pacing, the romance was the most satisfying slow-burn, developing from reluctant allies to something much stronger. Truly, the best part of the story was watching these two women come together to strive to gain power and get their revenge. The romantic development alongside all of that really outsold this for me. With evocative language, an incredible magic system, and compelling characters, Tasha Suri once again makes her mark on the fantasy genre. The Jasmine Throne is a delicately layered story meant to be savored slowly and devoured with care. A triumphant start to what is sure to be an outright amazing series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review

Trigger warnings: blood, gore, violence, murder, poisoning, torture, public execution, homophobia, forced drug use, body horror, suicidal thoughts, self-mutilation, abusive family member

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Review: The Return of the Sorceress by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

A deposed sorceress seeks revenge and redemption after being betrayed by her lover and long-time friend in this fantasy novella from author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Ousted and deprived of the source of her power, housed in the diamond heart, sorceress Yalxi undertakes a dangerous road to try to restore her magic and overthrow the very person who betrayed her. Doing so means returning to her rather unpleasant past and turning to unlikely allies who understand just what she sacrificed in order to become an all-powerful sorceress.

Even before I began reading The Return of the Sorceress there was not a doubt in my mind that I would enjoy it, or that it would become yet another Silvia Moreno-Garcia book to surpass all of my wildest expectations. Though this is is the first novella I’ve read by its author, Moreno-Garcia attacks this with as much fervor as she did her previous books. The Return of the Sorceress sings, with magic that cuts deep to the core and brings with it the promise of revenge. Despite the constraint brought on by the page count, this novella manages to bring in such complexity and nuance to the character of Yalxi, a fallen sorceress on a quest for vengeance. Set in a collision of the past and present, there is an emotional depth that lingers behind every part of the story. Considering that is the general problem I have had with novellas in the past, I am so happy that was not lacking in this one. Though there is a slow build-up and a quick resolution to the issue at hand, like many of her past novels, Moreno-Garcia leaves the door open for the possibility of more to come in the future. The enveloping world and blood magic system are certainly enough for me to crave another story in this setting, yet I am not left feeling as if the novella itself isn’t complete. With a deep look into the corruptive nature of power tied up in an epic journey to reclaim the lost parts of oneself, it’s hard to feel like this was lacking in any respect. Infused with Mesoamerican folklore aspects, there is even more to enjoy about this hundred-page novelette than just the setup to the story. Besides just keeping me entertained, this novel only further solidified Silvia Moreno-Garcia as one of my favorite authors of all time. Will certainly be keeping an eye out for whatever else she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review.

Trigger warnings: blood, murder

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