The Savior's Champion

I just finished plowing through this one, and I’m pretty excited to gush about it!

First off, I don’t know why, but reading the synopsis for this book and realizing it’s written from the POV of a male character made me hesitant to read it––maybe male POV romance just sounds weird to me. Which is stupid, and not a reason to refrain from a good book. So I ignored my weird prejudice because the book sounded intriguing and steamrolled through anyway. And it didn’t take longer than a few chapters to hook me, and then I couldn’t put it down until it was done (cue annoyed husband).

Brief synopsis: Tobias, a hardworking but penniless laborer, enters a deadly tournament where men compete to win marriage to The Savior and rule the kingdom by her side. Though he expects entering the contest will guarantee his death, entering will also provide for his family, and that makes it worth it for him. He doesn’t know The Savior, and so doesn’t care to win marriage to her. During the contest, he falls in love with Leila, the healer who tends to the contestants after their trials. Leila is caring and feisty while The Savior is a heartless tartlet who is thrilled to have men compete for her. The games promise no happy ending for them, as if he is the last man standing, he’s supposed to marry The Savior. But Leila has secrets, and one of them is the key to a happy ending (though not entirely, because the ending sets up a sequel).

My absolute favorite thing about this book is the dialogue. Some others have commented on why the word “cock” is used so many times, and gripe about the vulgar language. I don’t share those qualms. Most of the dialogue is among a group of men, so I find their liberal use of the word “cock” to be quite realistic. Funny, even. The “cock” plethora never got to the annoying level of Stephenie Meyer’s “chagrin” for me since it served a purpose. Men that I’ve been around tend to make a stupid amount of penis jokes. And cocky men (pun!) tend to brag about their dangly bits, so it makes complete sense to me why these fictional ones do too. And I love the conversations between Tobias and Leila! Those are the parts that had be laughing because Tobias is funny with her. Their interactions build realistically––no insta-love––and you can tell that they love each other prior to their own realizations, which I feel tends to be more satisfying while reading. It doesn’t feel rushed.

There’s a twist that you’ll probably see pretty early on, but there’s enough room for doubt that it’s still a great reveal. Leila’s secrets are pretty easy to figure out if you’re paying attention. There’s a lot of death, but nothing that really broke my heart. The challenges are exciting enough to keep you engaged with enough downtime in between for character development and relationship progress. There’s a good amount of steam between Leila and Tobias, but it’s balanced nicely with sweetness, and while yes, we’re in the mind of a boy and his thoughts can be a bit smutty, the relationship doesn’t cross into X-rated territory. The book ends mid-arc and definitely needs a sequel, but in my opinion it’s not a frustrating stopping point. Some books have those cliffhangers that have you pulling your hair out in anticipation of the next one. This one doesn’t do that. I can comfortably wait for the sequel, and still be excited when it debuts.

I’d say this is a good book for those who liked “The Gladiator” (just really reminds me of it for some reason), and books with deadly games and a romantic component (take your pick, The Hunger Games, Ruthless Magic, etc––common theme, but still a worthy read if that’s your thing, as it appears to be mine). 

Ruthless Magic

I really enjoyed this book! Some elements had a Hunger Games vibe, with teens competing to survive in games orchestrated by a corrupt government, and an end prize with some hidden strings attached.

Rocio and Finn are surprisingly balanced for our heroes, and are by far my favorite thing about this book! Rocio has all the magical talent and none of the privilege that comes from being born to the right family. Finn was born to the right family and has a heart of gold to boot, but doesn’t have the talent that Rocio does. With hints of societal racism and cronyism, Rocio, a poor Hispanic girl, is denied admittance to the über elite magic school that will allow her to keep her magical abilities while Finn, a rich white boy, is admitted despite his lack of qualifications. The society limits the magical abilities of those they feel like they can’t control, while giving those families who’ve proven their loyalty the privilege of keeping their full range of magic. They’re essentially comparable to Hermione and Draco, new-magic vs old-magic, if the government had a non-murderous Voldemort running the show. Showcasing heroic qualities from the get-go, Rocio and Finn both decide to compete for their admission by entering into a deadly series of tests that promise to let them keep their magical abilities if they pass. While Finn could take the easy route, and accept the perks life has given him, he’d rather prove that he deserves his magical abilities and throws himself into the competition knowing that he could lose it all instead. This book doesn’t have the typical frustrations that other authors would use in this scenario. Rocio doesn’t hold Finn’s birth against him, fully seeing his good nature, and Finn is humble, generous, and completely aware of his faults despite the silver spoon origins. There’s no instant love and no frustrating teen angst, and the romance between them is realistic, sweet, and perfectly paced.

Romance aside, there’s plenty of action and the stakes feel real. Think Harry Potter during the Goblet of Fire. But instead of fighting for honor, they’re fighting to keep magical abilities that the government will otherwise strip from them. Great for fans of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, and especially great for those who want a sweet and believable love story without heaps of teen angst and insta-love.

The Winner's Crime

Palpitations. THAT is what this book gave me. I’m so happy I can move straight on to the third book, because I’d be SO FRUSTRATED otherwise.

Kestrel bargained for the independence of Herran giving herself up as the cost. She’s set to marry the emperor’s son, Verex, who doesn’t want the match any more than she does. But he’s been at the mercy of his insane father for his whole life, and so knows that he’s destined to be his father’s pawn. Kestrel on the other hand must get used to the idea that she’ll never be free again.

Arin believes the worst of Kestrel. She didn’t care for him after all. At the first opportunity, she’s worked the game to put her in a more powerful position—THE most powerful position, since she’ll eventually be empress, so obviously, it’s power that she wanted all along. But he can’t help how he feels about her. And he can’t seem to get her out of his head, at war with himself over whether to hate her and move on or pursue her anyway.

If you liked the first book and want to hang on for the full enchilada, then this book is worth reading. Be prepared to dive straight into the third, and be oh so on edge while reading this one. Kestrel is keeping her secrets from Arin to protect him, and dealing with her own threats from playing politics with the emperor, and it’s so frustrating seeing how much they’re both hurting because of her deception. And Kestrel is so painfully alone during this book. She’s lost her friends, who aren’t faring so well after the fallout from the last novel. She can’t tell the truth to Arin, and is isolated from him by her own doing. And her father, who she loves but can’t seem to connect with, is off fighting for the emperor because victory is more important than her. Watching Arin struggle between the story he’s been fed and what he wants to believe is pure torture, as his image of Kestrel keeps switching between the true version and the one she’s created for him to see. This book helps to clarify the enemies, and expands the world to include another kingdom. And it definitely sets you up for another novel, because this story can’t possibly be considered finished. These are not standalone novels. Be prepared to trek through to the end. Reading this one felt like watching Game of Thrones during Joffrey’s reign. It’ll keep you biting your nails, watching from Sansa’s perspective to see if Joffrey will either get the Caesar treatment or find a fun new way to torture you. I can’t say you’ll be content by the end, but you’ll certainly feel energized! It’s ok. Run a few laps and continue on to the next.

The Winner's Curse

Kestrel, tempted in a slaving market by a Herrani man who can sing, enters a bidding war and though she wins, her prize is a Trojan horse. 

Kestrel is the daughter of general Trajan, a member of the Valorian conquerors who serves the emperor. They live on the Herran peninsula which was overtaken by the emperor’s kingdom and its citizens enslaved. Kestrel does not want to be a warrior, though her father keeps trying to recruit her. Eventually she’ll have to choose either marriage or the military. She’s a poor fighter, but an excellent strategist has a special talent for detecting when people lie. She's an even better pianist. Musical talents were prized by the Herran culture prior to their enslavement, and this particular proclivity of hers is not valued among her own people. She’s the daughter of the general, though, so while people may gossip, she continues to do what she wants. Even though she does not agree with the enslavement of the Herrani, she winds up at a slavers market while out with her friend, and while waiting for the auction to end so she can leave, a Herrani slave is brought forward who intrigues her. Though he’s a slave, he shows defiance and strength in captivity. This resonates with her, as she feels trapped by her own destiny. And then the slaver states that he can sing. Without a thought for what she’s doing—she’d never purchase a person and contribute to the problem—she bids on him. After winning the bidding war she unintentionally created, he’s hers. But he’s not what she expected.

Smith isn’t his real name. It indicates that he’s been trained as a blacksmith. Despite what his slaver says, he won’t sing. Not for them. Maybe never again. So he’ll work as a blacksmith and bide his time. Kestrel may be an expert at detecting lies, but he’s excellent at deception and she won’t find out what secrets he’s hiding.

This book is like playing chess, or Fire Emblem — all about moves and countermoves, a game of strategy in society. Kestrel is loyal to her people. Though she doesn’t agree with enslavement, she can’t help that she was born into a more privileged position. She still loves her father and wants to make him proud, though he’s still a part of the problem. She can’t help that she’s drawn to Smith. There can’t be a future for them. He’s her slave and she’s his enemy. And he seems to hate her. Smith can’t allow himself to sympathize with Kestrel. It’d be a betrayal to his people. But he can’t deny to himself that she’s not quite the same as the people who ruined his life. They can’t completely trust each other, and people on both sides look at them with wariness and distrust believing that they’re more to each other than what they claim. They’re players on opposing teams, both excellent at strategy and playing to win. Smith’s cause is more sympathetic, but Kestrel’s attempts to protect her own people despite their past actions is something that you can identify with.

This is only the first novel, so the story ends unresolved but at a clear transition. Both characters have leveled up, and are no longer the pawns that they began as. It sets up an interesting situation for the sequel. The pacing can be a bit frustrating, as it takes awhile for the big game changers, but it never got boring and kept me hooked till the end. And it convinced me to hang on to the journey and continue on to the sequel. Overall, I’d recommend!

The Queen's Rising

The Queen’s Rising was a surprising story of empowerment and self-discovery. Our heroine, Brienna, finds herself where we’ve all been—trying to find what she should do with her life, having no yellow brick road to guide her while everyone around her has clear paths and obvious talents. She grew up as an orphan, sent by her grandfather to live in hiding from her father. She doesn’t even know her father’s name, only that he’s dangerous and from Maevana, a neighboring kingdom now ruled by a ruthless dictator but which was once ruled by magical warrior queens until a traitor usurped their power. After living in Magnalia (a boarding school) for seven years, Brienna is about to become impassioned (essentially, graduate) and become a mistress of knowledge (like a graduate with a degree in history/education/medicine). There are five passions (majors)—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge. She tried and failed at four before landing in knowledge, and while she has managed to catch up in her education and succeed at it, she still feels like she just doesn’t measure up to the other students who have clear devotion for their studies. She sees how the people around her are so sure of their roles in life, and she’s still trying to find hers. When her peers get job offers and forge ahead with their lives, she’s left behind without a patron (employer) to take a chance on her. When she starts getting memories of her ancestor who led to the downfall of Maevana, she snatches the opportunity to right his wrongs by forging a new identity and helping to reinstate the rightful queen using her ancestor’s memories. Though that means leaving a budding romance unexplored, she needs to find her purpose, and there is finally a sense of destiny pushing her forward. As she grows to learn more about herself, she gains a family and a purpose, and by the end transitions beautifully from our protagonist to our heroine. While there is also a satisfying romantic storyline, this book is ultimately about Brienna forging her path and figuring out where she fits into the world. If you’ve watched people around you confidently step off into their futures while you linger behind waiting to find out which direction is yours, then this story will resonate with you.

What follows is a wee bit spoilery.

The only nitpicky thing I have with this story is that there are parts of her parents history that goes unexplored, and then we never find our what happens with her biological brother and his house or where Brienna’s relationship stands with him in the end. I’m not sure if that’s because there will be a sequel where those will be addressed, but the story can otherwise act as a standalone novel. My unanswered question regarding her origins is that we’re led to believe originally that her father is a terrible human, and while that is mostly true, we later find that they loved each other and her mother even named Brienna after him. So then why not go to be with him and raise Brienna together? Her mother didn’t die until she was two years old, so she must’ve made the decision to stay away from him, but then why the love letters to him? Granted, this is essentially irrelevant as it’s history and she has a new family in the end, but it’s the puzzle of it that bugs me.

However, the story ultimately delivers where it counts, giving us great character development that you can identify with and a satisfying payoff.

Pestilence: The Four Horsemen – Book 1

Sara drew the short straw, and now must kill one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. No, she’s not suicidal, though this task will likely get her killed. As her hometown of Whistler is evacuating, Sara must stay behind and kill Pestilence, the horseman of the apocalypse who is spreading plague through everywhere he rides. She’s not a killer. She’s a firefighter with a love of literature. But Pestilence is the one killing off the world, so someone must take him out, and Sara is the unlucky nominee. When her attempt fails because––surprise surprise––Pestilence can’t die, he takes Sara as his prisoner. He wants her to suffer. Turns out setting a guy on fire and leaving him to die will bring out his need for vengeance. Since only the living can suffer, he must keep her alive just so he can give her pain in return. As they travel, Pestilence is true to his word and makes her suffer—both intentionally, like dragging her behind his horse, and through his own ignorance by not understanding what humans need to survive. He’s not trying to kill her, but he doesn’t realize how fragile humans are either. Pestilence doesn’t see anything redeeming in humanity, and so doesn’t have any regret for causing their extinction. They deserve what they’re getting. But with every home they barge into, as those that live in the houses succumb to the plague, Sara shows Pestilence what compassion is as she takes care of the people as they die. Sara is the first to show Pestilence how good humans can be, but she’s still just one example. The longer they journey together, the closer they become. Sara tries to fight her feelings for him. He’s a mass murderer after all, as well as her tormentor. But she can see that he doesn’t enjoy seeing people suffer. He’s just playing his part. Maybe he doesn’t have a choice in his role. Since she can’t help how she feels about him, maybe she can change his mind. If he can’t be killed, maybe he can be convinced. Pestilence comes to care for Sara as well, and transitions from her tormentor to her protector. Ironically, coming to care for a human makes Pestilence hate humanity even more, as the human he’s trying to protect is in constant danger from those who want to hurt him. The more attempts made on Sara’s life, the greater his rage, and now there’s just one more sin they need to die for. She is ready to sacrifice herself to save the rest of humanity and he wants to kill everyone but her. These two are clearly at an impasse.

Can these two lovebirds overcome irreconcilable differences? Reaching the answer is an entertaining journey that will keep you hooked until the end. Their relationship is the focus of the story, with an apocalyptic setting that doesn’t overtake the character development. It’s fast-paced with high stakes—can’t get higher with the extinction of humanity on the line––and yet it’s still a guilty pleasure as the story somehow makes you fall for the harbinger of death. Pestilence begins as a cruel god-like character. Prior to the apocalypse he existed solely as the concept of illness, so he had never felt emotions. But in this new form, capable of interacting with others and going through his own human-like experience for the first time, there’s a vulnerability that keeps you from seeing him as a total villain. Sara reflects the best of humanity from the get-go––strength in attempting to kill Pestilence, and compassion through her own disgust at what she does to kill him––and acts as the perfect advocate for the rest of us. This story had a steady pace, and kept me on the line until its conclusion––never boring or slow. The book does lead into the sequel, but it doesn’t leave you dissatisfied the way a cliffhanger normally would. If you want to just read the first book, and don’t care about the larger story being told, then I think you could be satisfied with just reading this one. At the end, you feel that the story could wrap up (mostly) for Sara and Pestilence or it could continue with them in the next book. Personally, not that I don’t love the characters that she’s created, but I’d be curious to see the story continue on without them as the focus. It’s an interesting world she’s created, and I’d like to see it grow to include more characters. Overall, I recommend!

Beasts of Abigaile – Volume 1

My addiction!

Nina is our heroine of this shojo manga. She goes to visit her uncle in the wealthy Ruberia from her home in Japan. But she is somehow transformed into a luga, the secret race of wolfpeople who are slaves for Ruberia. Nina is taken to live on the island where luga are kept until they are old enough (or subdued enough) to join the rest of the luga as slaves. Upon arriving on the island, which functions as both a prison and a school, she sees how the luga are mistreated, and uses her karate skills to assault a guard who tries to hit a pup. Accustomed to her freedom as a human, she can’t tolerate the injustice of Ruberia’s treatment of luga and takes on a role as advocate for the underdogs (pun!). She gains an ally in Gilles, the mysterious prince-like character who recognizes her smell as human and provides her a special perfume to hide her scent. And an enemy in Roy. The rebellious and dangerous alpha who also knows her true identity, and has marked her (don’t yet know what that means, but as his prey maybe?). Roy hasn’t given away her secret, but he has so much resentment towards the humans that he’s not willing to believe she’s any different. They are both possible love interests for Nina. Personally, Roy is my favorite!

This manga is a must-read! There are only three volumes out so far. I wish I’d found this later so I’d have more to devour! I think people who like this will also like The Water God’s Bride. Similar heroines, both thrown into new worlds, with two possible love interests and beautiful illustration.