Fantasy Archives - Page 5 of 9 - Hsinju’s Lit Log

ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising by Karen Frost | ARC Review

11th September 2020
Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising (Destiny and Darkness #2) by Karen Frost
- Publisher: Ylva Publishing, November 17th 2019
- Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: eARC
- Page Count: 196 pages
- My Rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
Content warnings: death, blood, cult, kidnapping, mind control

This story has certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. Frost made great decisions on where a chapter should break, and I find myself unable to even pause reading.

In part two of Daughter of Fire, Aeryn (16) finally learns that her family is likely alive. And some people around her are definitely up to no good. When things break into chaos, can Aeryn and her fellow students save the kingdom they don’t really care for?
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ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark by Karen Frost

10th September 2020
Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark (Destiny and Darkness #1) by Karen Frost
- Publisher: Ylva Publishing, October 1st 2019
- Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: eARC
- Page Count: 208 pages
- My Rating: ★★★ (3/5)
Content warning: death of minor characters, magical gaslighting, blood, kidnapping, minor character with cancer

This is part one of Daughter of Fire. Though possibly unfair to rate now, it was indeed published as two separate books. I am giving a somewhat positive rating since the story is fairly good so far. With the knowledge of only 50% of the plot, this review might be a little spoilery but not much more than what the publisher’s blurb already stated.
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ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

Moon Fever by Ileandra Young | ARC Review

20th August 2020
Moon Fever (The S.P.E.A.R. Mission Files #2) by Ileandra Young
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, August 11th 2020
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Paperback (eARC)
- Page Count: 303 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
CW: speciesism from main character, ableist language from main character, blood, transphobia, sexism, loss of body parts, torture

I have very conflicted feelings about this sequel. Danika’s egotistic actions irk me constantly, but I am still very invested in her story. In Both Ways, her stubbornness and rashness often lead her into horrible situations. And now? Things are worse. With her team investigating in recent werewolf attacks, she is drastically overpowered by the edanes and yet somehow thinks it is a good idea for her to get involved in their conflicts.
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ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians by Laurel Beckley | ARC Review

16th August 2020
Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians by Laurel Beckley
- Publisher: NineStar Press, August 17th 2020
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+, Novella
- Format: Ebook (eARC)
- Page Count: 98 pages
- My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
CW: racial slights, mentioning of amputation

If you want a very cute fantasy novella featuring a joyous cast of LGBTQ+ people, Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians should be your top choice.
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Book Reviews, Fiction

Both Ways by Ileandra Young

15th August 2020
Both Ways (The S.P.E.A.R. Mission Files #1) by Ileandra Young
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, 2018
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Ebook
- Page Count: 301 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
CW: speciesism from Danika, homophobia, violence, pregnancy, blood, one-time unintentional misgendering from Rayne, one-time nonconsensual m/f kissing

This book was nothing like I imagined and completely outdid my expectations.
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