Erin Beaty – The Traitor’s Kiss
I read this as a proof copy for NetGalley. Here is my review: Sage is quite observant, brutally honest, and totally unfit for marriage according to those around her. Instead she is apprenticed to the local matchmaker and tasked with not only keeping an eye on the girls during their travel to the main city, but also to recommend which eligible bachelor would make a good match. Her astute observation skills catch the notice of an attractive soldier/captain and soon she is recruited to spy for the soldiers too. As the journey progresses, danger increases, and her heart has difficulty staying out of the matching pool. The only complaint I have is that the title does not really reflect the story.
Update: I enjoyed the rest of the series but once again, I didn’t like the title. Every time I see the title, I struggle to remember the series because it just doesn’t fit!
The Traitor’s Circle: The Traitor’s Kiss, The Traitor’s Ruin and The Traitor’s Kingdom
Hilari Bell – Fall of a Kingdom
The kingdom of Farsala has enjoyed peace and prosperity for so long that it doesn’t see the danger rising next door. Three young people do see the prospect of war and try to prepare Farsala against the immovable political structures. Each of the three heroes have a unique voice and perspective throughout the series. The story is supposedly based on a Persian legend and definitely brings this culture alive.
The Farsala Trilogy: Fall of a Kingdom, Rise of a Hero, and Forging the Sword
Holly Black – The Cruel Prince
Jude and her sisters were taken to the Faerie world after her step-father murdered her father. Now at seventeen, Jude wants to earn a place in the Faerie world in spite of her significant handicap of mortality. She finds her human ability to lie an advantage to her new position as spy. Now if only her staunchest enemy, the crown Prince, would just get out of her way.
Holly writes awesome “faeries behaving badly” urban fantasies. This trilogy is just her latest.
The Folk of the Air: The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing
Kristin Cashore – Graceling
A “graceling” is one who was born with a special talent – baking bread that never burns, calming any animal, the voice of an angel – and are noted because of their two different colored eyes. Katsa’s grace is the ability to kill. As the king’s enforcer, she is feared across the land yet she hides a double life working for justice. When she is sent to rescue a kidnapped king, she meets Po and her world gets upended.
The other two books in this “series” focus on different characters and time periods in the same world but this first one was my favorite.
Series: Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue
Cinda Williams Chima – The Warrior Heir
Imagine the War of the Roses is not between British royal families but between two magical houses competing for leadership of the Weir, or magical world. Jack lives with his hippy mom in a little town in the middle of nowhere and his only ambition is to be on the soccer team. When he tries out for the team, he blasts by the rest of the players with strength and energy he has never had before. The only thing that is out of the ordinary is that he forgot to take his daily heart medicine. And now everything is out of the ordinary because he is one of only two surviving Warriors destined to duel to the death, this year.
Series: The Warrior Heir, The Wizard Heir, The Dragon Heir, The Enchanter Heir, and The Sorcerer Heir
Cinda Williams Chima –The Demon King
Former street gang leader Han is trying to live a straight life taking care of his mother and sister. After confronting three privileged young wizards, he ends up with the amulet of the long-dead demon king. And he knows the wizards will be after him to get it back. Princess Raisa has returned to court after three years of freedom running in the mountains with the clans of her father. Court life is stifling when she realizes her mother plans to marry her off.
I LOVE this series. The world is so intricate and the characters are plenty complicated, even the minor ones. This is definitely a re-read.
Series: The Demon King, The Exiled Queen, The Gray Wolf Throne, and The Crimson Crown
Honestly I would read anything that Chima writes. Her characters are diverse, complicated, and compelling. Her worlds are easily imagined and complete. And she always surprises.
