More YA Mini Reviews
These are three mini reviews for books that were perfectly ok, but just didn’t stand out to me really. I didn’t fall in love with any of them, but they do all have things that speak for them. I received eARCs from the publishers for all three, but all opinions are entirely my own.
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft had a very promising set-up but did not manage to actually follow through on it in execution. It is half gothic mystery in a mansion, half epic fantasy, and I could not have cared less for the epic parts of it. I wish that the story had actually focused on the gothic mystery and explored those elements in depth, rather than trying to do too much and not doing any of it properly. This story has an explicitly bisexual lead – but is there much done with that? Nope. Just like so much of the story, it is another missed opportunity. Part of me hopes that the eARC I read was actually still a major edit away from the finished version, because this has SO MUCH potential. I really wanted to like it, but instead I felt it was very mediocre in terms of plot, characters and worldbuilding.
All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace is the follow-up to last year’s All the Stars and Teeth. While I felt a bit ambivalent about the first book, I thought that book two did a lot of things better. Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses. After the first book centering on reforming the world, this second installment focuses on how to figure out whether the way Amora sees the world going is the way that is best for society, or whether it needs much deeper change. It is a sequel that isn’t afraid to ask bigger questions and doubt itself. And all this is packaged in a compelling YA fantasy that if not outstanding is certainly solid and entertaining. If you liked book one, I recommend book two, and I generally think this is a duology worth reading if you’re looking to pass the time.
The Bright & The Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski is a Russian inspired epic fantasy story about a frozen world, a heroine, a long lost, believed-dead friend and a looming threat. It is also incredibly forgettable – I don’t think a single thing that happened or any of the characters have left any sort of lasting impression on me in the days since I finished reading this. The cover for this is so pretty that I really wanted to love it, but I just couldn’t. I struggled getting into it and I think because of the lack of character depth (and maybe my general mental state) I just kind of skimmed over it? I do think that it will find its readership, but that reader is not me.