Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
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| Pub Date: 9-2-24 Adult - Fantasy |
The Shattered King- Charlie N. Holmberg: Nym is a healer struggling to care for her siblings after her brother is sent to war. Summoned by the queen to heal the chronically ill Prince Renn, Nym hopes to fail like other healers so she can quickly return home. Unexpectedly, her touch improves a small part of his illness, forcing her to stay as his official healer until he recovers. As Nym treats Renn, she unravels deeper mysteries behind his sickness and navigates complex court politics and unexpected feelings for the prince.
I love Holmberg's writing, so I was looking forward to picking this one up. I did enjoy it, but I think my expectations were just a little too high. I liked Nym as a main character. She was headstrong, a little stubborn, and had a big heart. The magic system and the way Nym healed were interesting. There are other forms of magic throughout the land that were briefly touched upon, but I'm hoping to learn more as the series progresses. Since the majority of this was just Nym dowsing into Renn to try and heal him, the plot did feel repetitive, but I liked watching them grow closer. However, the romance felt forced. There was zero chemistry between them, so it didn't feel believable. The cliffhanger also felt like it came out of left field, but I'm intrigued enough to pick up the next book.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 11-11-25 Adult - Fantasy |
Snake-Eater- T. Kingfisher: When Selena arrives in the small desert town of Quartz Creek, she only has $27 to her name, her trusty dog, Copper, and a postcard from her aunt Amelia. She didn't have much of a plan beyond finding her aunt, so when she learns that Amelia passed away last year, Selena is resigned to returning to the unhappy relationship she left behind. But the townspeople of Quartz Creek take her under their wings and offer Selena her aunt's home while she figures out a new plan. At first, Selena finds calm in tending her aunt's garden and in the stillness of the desert. But Selena learns that the town shares its land with old gods and spirits, and one of them has its eyes set on Selena.
I'll read anything Kingfisher writes. I love how she blends fantasy with bits of horror. She always manages to do something unique that I've never seen before. While I loved the premise of this one, it wasn't my favorite of hers. There were many aspects I enjoyed, mainly Selena. You can't help but feel for her and want her to pull out on top. She's been beaten down and has a lot of anxieties, and I loved watching her growth throughout the story. There's also some wonderful found family moments, which I come to expect from a Kingfisher book. I loved how the townspeople, especially Grandma Billy, supported Selena. There were some moments between Selena and Snake-Eater that I found questionable, and I never found myself fully invested in the plot, but I still liked it and would recommend checking it out.
Rating: 3/5
GoodReads | Bookshop.org
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| Pub Date: 2-14-22 Adult - Fantasy |
Heavenly Bodies- Imani Erriu: Elara is the princess of the Kingdom of Night and is prophesied to fall in love with the King of Stars, dooming them both. When the Star of Wrath, War and Chaos, Ariete, razes her kingdom, Elara is captured and hidden by a neighboring kingdom, Helios. The Land of Light has always been at odds with Elara's kingdom, so she doesn't understand why they would come to her aid. But the King of Helios has plans to train Elara into the perfect weapon-- one that can kill a Star. As Elara trains with Prince Lorenzo, their animosity soon evolves into something more, and as their powers merge, they uncover secrets that will impact their entire world.
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