ebookreview | Entries tagged with author: andrea stewart

Title: The Bone Shard War

Series: The Drowning Empire #3

Author: Andrea Stewart

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Adult, Magic Realism, Young Adult, Science Fiction, High Fantasy, Sapphic, Adult, Young Adult, Queer, Book Tok, Netgalley

Date Started: February 3rd, 2023

Date Finished: February 4th, 2023

Status: Finished

Rating: 3.5/5

Sypnosis: The Bone Shard Daughter was hailed as "one of the best debut fantasy novels of the year" (BuzzFeed News). Now, Andrea Stewart brings us the final book in this unmissable, action-packed, magic-laced epic fantasy trilogy, The Bone Shard War.

Lin Sukai has won her first victory as Emperor, but the future of the Phoenix Empire hangs in the balance – and Lin is dangerously short of allies.

As her own governors plot treason, the Shardless Few renew hostilities. Worse still, Lin discovers her old nemesis Nisong has joined forces with the rogue Alanga, Ragan. Both seek her death.

Yet hopes lies in history. Legend tells of seven mythic swords, forged in centuries past. If Lin can find them before her enemies, she may yet be able to turn the tide.

If she fails, the Sukai dynasty – and the entire empire – will fall.

Review: When I found this book, the whole premise drew me in that I had to pick it up. Unfortunately, I had not realized it was part of a trilogy. So, I went back and picked up the first two books to read before I cracked open this one.

I am glad I did because I would have probably never understood it if I had not. LOL, I would be extremely lost knowing what was going on and would have been turned off from the book. But I am glad I did get a chance.

This book, however, was one of the weakest books of the trilogy. I actually struggled with this book that I nearly either DNFed it or I was just going to pick it up here and there to try to finish reading it. I pushed myself to do the latter. I wanted to see how this book ends.

The plot felt like something was either missing or parts of it felt out of place. I could not point out a specific part but the whole thing was meh. I could not even bother to connect with the characters as I had in the first two books. They had personalities and had grown as a character. These characters in the third novel felt like they had taken two steps backward. I can only think that with the feeling that the plot had nothing to really contribute to the story. We step two years into the future on a boat. Yeah. Nothing new has happened in between. There is a war coming on the horizon and a sword quest.

Even Mephi seemed to blend into the background. He was nothing notable unlike he had been in the first two books and I missed him. He was growing on me dammit.

Overall, this series is pretty good and well worth the read. The final book is a bit weak but it works well into finishing up the series. So, definitely give it a chance and you may just enjoy it yourself.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and their publishing company for a chance to read this book and give an honest opinion.

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: The Underworld
Current Music: Kings & Queens .:. Ava Max

katara

Title: The Bone Shard Emperor

Series: The Drowning Empire #2

Author: Andrea Stewart

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Adult, Magic Realism, Young Adult, Science Fiction, High Fantasy, Sapphic, Adult, Young Adult, Queer, Book Tok

Date Started: February 3rd, 2023

Date Finished: February 4th, 2023

Status: Finished

Rating: 3.8/5

Sypnosis: Andrea Stewart returns with The Bone Shard Emperor, the second installment of this unmissable, action-packed, magic-laced fantasy epic.

The Emperor is Dead. Long live the Emperor.

Lin Sukai finally sits on the throne she won at so much cost, but her struggles are only just beginning. Her people don’t trust her. Her political alliances are weak. And in the north-east of the Empire, a rebel army of constructs is gathering, its leader determined to take the throne by force.

Yet an even greater threat is on the horizon, for the Alanga – the powerful magicians of legend – have returned to the Empire. They claim they come in peace, and Lin will need their help in order to defeat the rebels and restore peace.

But can she trust them?

Review: This book picks up pretty much where the first book ends. The stakes have been raised on Lin as she takes the throne from her late father. She is struggling to gain the favor and faith of her people and even worse there is a threat of rebellion on the horizon. She still has not learned how to use bone shard magic.

The others - Jovis is conflicted, Phalue and Ranami are learning how to keep a balance between being the governor and the governor's wife along with their new roles, and our mysterious island lady finally has a name - Nisong, a woman grabbling with her past.

I have to admit I liked Lin in this book. She grew up even just a bit. She does not want to rule like her father. She wants to be out of his shadow and have her own story to be told. She knows she has a lot of work to do and though she tries hard to prove herself, there is still much more she has to learn.

Even the relationship between Lin and Jovis was something of a bit surprising. I suppose that it was due mainly to the fact she reminded Jovis of his wife. I can understand the conflict within him over this. He loved her and to find someone that nearly resembles her is something that no one can really handle.

I think every character in this book really grew from the last book. Each one had more of a change in their character and I think I can see why most people can relate to them. Unfortunately, I could not do this round. I think I struggled with each one. Even Nisong - she was quite a bit more than I expected. She was surprisingly violent and brutal but I can see that when your memories return, they can change their personality to something unexpected.

As for my take on this book, it was fifty-fifty. There were parts I loved about the book and then there were parts that I felt didn't vibe with me. I could not get into this part of the book. No matter how much I tried I just couldn't.

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: The Underworld
Current Music: Way Down We Go .:. Kaleo

katara

Title: The Bone Shard Daughter

Series: The Drowning Empire #1

Author: Andrea Stewart

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Adult, Magic Realism, Young Adult, Science Fiction, High Fantasy, Sapphic, Adult, Young Adult, Queer, Book Tok

Date Started: February 2nd, 2023

Date Finished: February 3rd, 2023

Status: Finished

Rating: 4/5

Sypnosis: The emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands.

Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people.

Review: This book was never on my TBR nor had I ever heard anything about it until I started going through Book Tok. Now I was hesitant about reading this book because a lot of the Book Tok books have been complete disappointments to me. This book was different.

Written from different perspectives, this book encapsulates you into this world-building and lush world of magic. Each character pulls you in with their story and keeps you hooked until the very last page. The characters are unique on their own and each one has a story to tell. These character points of view are perfectly layered and do not overlap with each other making sure each character is their own and each perspective offers a view of a different life.

You have Lin, the daughter of the Emperor and the heir to the Empire. A young girl who's missing pieces of her past and must find a way to gain them back.

Then there is Jovis, a young smuggler with a heart of gold. He saves a young Alon and Mephi, a sea creature that becomes Jovis' companion. This little creature should have his own book. He is the cutest little thing and what has made the book the best.

Phalue is the daughter of a governor and her girlfriend/rebel activist called Ranami. These two are cute. I love how Phalue does anything for Ranami even going against the rules to help.

Our last character is a woman on the island of Sand.

The biggest interest in this story is the constructs. Each one is built from dead animal parts and given bone shards that make them come alive. That really threw me for a loop because I was not expecting that KIND of magic. For me, that was both creepy and interesting especially after learning they have thought and souls. I am not sure what to really think of them. It's just weird.

This story is worth the read but it may not be everyone. There are triggers within the pages from human trafficking to body horror to death. This can turn off a lot of readers so please make sure to check the triggers that will cause this book to be a turn-off for you.

Current Mood: annoyed
Current Location: The Underworld
Current Music: Each Time You Break My Heart .:. Madonna