Queen of Someday - Book Review

Queen of Somedayy - Book Review

Sherry. D. Ficklin

YA Historical

Book #1 in the Stolen Empire Trilogy

UK Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing

Synopsis:

One girl will bring an empire to its knees…

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia - at any cost.

Imperial court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family - and herself - Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the Empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

Review:

I throughly enjoyed this book. It gives an imaginative interpretation on the younger years of a woman who grew to become one of Russia’s greatest historical figures, Catherine the Great. A truly page turning read.

When fifteen year old Sophie is sent to the Russian court, she knows the only hope she has to save her family from  destitution is to marry the Empresses nephew, Peter. But the Prince is a spoiled, selfish and temperamental young man, prone to playing cruel games - and Sophie is not the only contender for his heart.

But while she learns to weather and control Prince Peter’s erratic moods and tempers, she finds herself falling head over heels for his best friend. In a court full of spies and noblewoman competing for the throne, Sophie is too close to winning the game to let her eyes stray from the prize now. But with her heart and mind conflicted over what is right vs what she wants, Sophie must make the greatest decision of all. Duty to her family? or duty to her heart? But both paths will lead her down perilous roads…

I really liked this book. Jumping straight into the action, it hooks you into the story within a couple of pages, introducing you to Sophie, a brave and intelligent girl who knows the fate awaiting her should she fail to catch the Prince’s eye.

Sophie is a great heroine. She begins as a somewhat shy girl, naive to the courtly intrigues surrounding her. But she is a fast learner, and while she doesn't always make the best decisions, she never makes the same mistake twice. This is a girl who is forced to make life altering choices, and each trial she faces turns her into a more competent and stronger woman. 

However the book holds a great cast of characters. Sophie’s mother is a particularly interesting piece of work. Working to her own agenda, she often hinders Sophie’s chances at the throne and is both rude and pretentious, however she does add an undercurrent of embarrassed humour to the story. 

The Empress on the other hand is a much more maternal character… at least in the beginning, and I feel she often empathises with Sophie. Prince Peter on the other hand is a very sadistic and cruel man/boy who likes games and bad jokes. My heart went out to Sophie, knowing that she needed to marry such a man, which made everything even sadder when she fell for his kind and caring best friend. A much more suitable love interest, despite the hopelessness of their situation.

Yet all the characters in this story added something to the plot. Everyone from Sophie’s body guard, to her ladies in waiting, even to the gossipy madame who instructs Sophie in the sensual arts (loved that woman), they all add a little something to the story.

Otherwise the plot moves at a fast pace with plenty of ups and downs. Sophie is made to face many challenges, each one testing her dedication towards winning the throne. All in all, it made for a very good read. An Historical, YA Romance, I would give Queen of Someday 4 stars! Bring on the sequel!

Graceling - Book Review

Graceling - Book Review

Kristin Cashore

YA Fantasy

(Graceling Realm #1)

UK Publisher: Gollancz

Synopsis:

Katsi has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she’s a graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the King’s  thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsu has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po’s friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away…

Review:

I’d been meaning to read this book for such a long time! I’m so glad that I finally chose to pick it up as Gravelling was a story with a great concept, fantastic characters and a quick paced plot. While, sadly, I did have a few issues with the ending, I ultimately enjoyed it overall and really admire Kristin Cashores skills as a writer.

The story revolves around nineteen year old Katsu, a girl who was blessed/cursed with the grace of killing. Be it ten men or a hundred, she easily defeats them all, but she takes no joy in her gift. Used by her uncle, the king, to carry out his threats and executions, Katsus heart has grown hard and bitter. But then she meets Po, a Southernly Prince graced with the gift of Fighting. 

For the first time ever, Katsu has found a worthy opponent who can challenge her skills. But when she and Po strike up a friendship, Katsu suddenly begins to question the life fate has dealt her. With Po’s help, she becomes determined to escape her uncles tyranny, but her journey takes her down a path darker than she expected, for the unlikely pair soon uncover an evil even greater than Katsu’s uncle, and this time, Katsu’s killing Grace will not be able to save her…

As I said, I really enjoyed this book. Within its pages, it holds a few storylines, and with each plot Katsu develops more as a character. She is easily likeable, feisty and tough, yet she is also adorable in her socially awkward way. A very fun and readable heroine. 

Her love interest, Po, is also well written. He is unashamed that his woman is more capable of kicking ass than he is, and with his cool headed way of thinking, he made a good match against Katsu’s more fiery personality. His story is also an interesting one and he added a good deal of suspense to the book.

Set within a fantasy world of seven divided Kingdoms, sword fights, honour and magic run thick throughout this story. The descriptions are brilliant and the reader is easily immersed into Katsu’s world.

However while the book is very action based, the story moves through several plot lines - some more gripping than others - so the book can read a little slow at times. Still it held my attention throughout and while I found the end a little rushed and abruptly brought to a close, I would still recommend fans of fantasy give it a try.

I look forward to reading the other books in the series. 3.5 stars!

An Ember in the Ashes - Book Review

An Ember in the Ashes - Book Review

Sabaa Tahir

YA Fantasy

An Ember in the Ashes Book # 1

UK Publisher: Harper Voyager

Synopsis:

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empires impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from the rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. 

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier - and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realise that their destinies are intertwined - and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself. 

Review:

Words cannot do justice to how much I enjoyed this book! After reading several reviews claiming it’s brilliance, my interest was peaked, and I can honestly say I think every five star review claims true. The sequel cannot come soon enough! Am Ember in the Ashes was utterly fantastical!

Told from the dual Povs of Laia and Elias, the story follows these two teenagers on their criss-crossing path to survive their roles within a regimented empire.

Laia is one of the last scholars, the original people of the land before the Martials invaded five hundred years ago. Now her people are suppressed and scorned for their knowledge. But when her home is raided in the night, her grandparents killed and her beloved brother thrown in prison, she will do anything to get her brother back. Even become a slave in the house of the Martial’s head commander, a viscous and cold-blooded woman known for disfiguring her slaves for the smallest of slights.

Son of the commander, Elias is number one in his class of masked soldiers. Handsome and deadly, he keeps his kind heart hidden behind a cold indifference. All his life, he has been subjected to beatings, whippings and the harsh “survival of the fittest” ideal upheld by the marital soldiers. But as the days to his graduation draw nearer, so does the beginnings of a prophecy that will change the fates of both him and Laia, forever…

I devoured this book in one day, staying up well into the early hours of the morning as I just couldn't stop turning the pages. Admittedly, It did take a couple of chapters to get into the story, but by fifty pages, I was truly caught up in the lives  of the characters.

Laia is the one who I think changes the most throughout the story. Turning from a cowardly, timid girl to a strong, confident rebel. Elias on the other hand was always strong but he changes both mentally and spiritually throughout the book, and in some ways he is probably the character who suffers the most too.

Together, Elias and Laia make an interesting pairing, but I really liked how there was no instant love between them. In fact, they both had other potential love interests yet despite their very different upbringings and positions, their shared ideals drew them together.

However Elias’ best friend, Helen, was also a remarkable character. She adds complications to the plot, while Elias’ mother, the commander, is the most dislikable character going! Yet she does add something extra to the story. But personally I thought all the characters were very well written and many have agendas which are still yet to be uncovered. Can’t wait to see how things will turn out for them all in book 2!

Otherwise the plot moves at a fast pace and I liked the realism of emotions within the story. Combined with the fantastical elements, which brings to life myths and monsters, and the trials forced upon each character, the story was absolutely captivating.

I would recommend this book to fans of Sarah J Maas, Tamora Pierce and Garth Nix. For a debut novel, Sabaa Tahir has produced a spellbinding read that will stick with you for a long time to come. A must read for every fan of fantasy! 5 stars!