Showing posts with label air awakens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label air awakens. Show all posts

10 Apr 2023

Review: A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS by Elise Kova, Book #3 of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!

10 April 1 Comments

A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS

Author: Elise Kova
Series: A Trial of Sorcerers #3
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: September 13, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:
Representation: gay side characters

Summary:
From the co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid, a thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads

Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.

But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner's office, she's never encountered a case she couldn't solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren's examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.

An addictive read with straight-from-the-morgue details only an autopsy technician could provide, The Butcher and the Wren promises to ensnare all who enter.
Purchase:
Amazon | TBD
Read my review of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!
Read my review of A HUNT OF SHADOWS!

Content Warning: abuse of a family member and blood from some scenes during the competition, grieving, mentions of death

This was a little disappointing - mostly because it feels like it's dragging instead of getting to the interesting parts. I think there are too many things happening that don't have enough satisfying threads throughout the novels to keep me interested. 

I was really happy with the fact that this series is following someone who isn't a royal and tangentially related to the previous events of the Air Awakens world, but I am disappointed with how things are intertwined and integrated. The most interesting part of Eira is how she shows her strength and her mysterious parental lineage and that is barely touched upon in this book.

Also the romance is just not there for me at all. There was too much build up in the previous books only for this one to be a let down. I think that's the struggle with knowing this series is 5 books - there is too much book timespan for it to feel super satisfying because there's too much time for things to go well or poorly.

I will finish the series but I hope I'm not let down the way I was with the Vortex Chronicles at the end!

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12 Dec 2022

Review: A HUNT OF SHADOWS by Elise Kova, Book #2 in A Trial of Sorcerers

12 December 0 Comments

A HUNT OF SHADOWS

Author: Elise Kova
Series: A Trial of Sorcerers #2
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:
Representation: gay side characters

Summary:
Eira is now a champion of the Solaris Empire. She’s off to a land she’s only dreamed about. But a nightmare awaits her.

Her sworn enemy has escaped. His allies are powerful and deadly. And Eira finds herself tangled in the dangerous web of the undercity of Risen where the mysterious Court of Shadows and lethal Pillars battle for the fate of the kingdom.

But vengeance has a price. When Eira is captured by her enemies, it’s not only her life, but the lives of her friends, and the man she loves most, at stake. The woman she was won’t be enough to turn the tides churning against her from long before she was born. She’ll have to become something more. She’ll have to love deeper and fight fiercer than ever before.

The only way to kill a legendary champion, will be to become one herself.

Experience Eira’s adventure in the A Trial of Sorcerers series by USA Today bestselling author Elise Kova today, for readers who enjoy young adult, epic fantasy, filled with sorcery, deep friendships, forbidden romance, and tales of faraway lands.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
Content Warning:  sexual harassment, torture, fire explosions resulting in loss of life, kidnapping, death of a loved one (discussed), mild gore and blood.

Read my review of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!

I'm seeing a lot of pattern in the way the Air Awakens related series are going. That's both a good and bad thing. I loved Eira as a character, and having her focus on revenge and also being curious about a new land, was great! She had such great character development throughout this and I really liked exploring more of her magical abilities.

However, I'm not totally feeling the romance. Looking back at my reviews for the Vortex Chronicles series (and Air Awakens), after book two of each of those I was very meh on the romance as well. I hope that changes as things continue and progress forward. I was definitely rooting for them, but there's not enough on the page for me to really believe it.

But the worldbuilding, the setting, and the overarching plot is so exciting and intense! I loved every second of it and sometimes wish we got other perspectives in this one so that I could see some of the moving pieces behind the scenes that we don't get from Eira (who is very much in the dark and making her own decisions based on what she knows).

If you are planning on reading this, I still very much think you should read the entire Air Awakens and Vortex Chronicles series so that you get to experience the lush worldbuilding of the setting and not get spoiled for those if you end up going back to them.

I have definitely seen Kova's craft improve book over book and series over series and this is shaping up to be the best one yet. I can't wait to see where this goes next with A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS!

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26 Sept 2022

Audio Review: A TRIAL OF SORCERERS by Elise Kova

26 September 0 Comments

A TRIAL OF SORCERERS

Author: Elise Kova
Series: A Trial of Sorcerers #1
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: March 4, 2021
Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Summary:
Ice is in her blood.

Eighteen-year-old Waterrunner Eira Landan lives her life in the shadows — the shadow of her older brother, of her magic’s whispers, and of the person she accidentally killed. She’s the most unwanted apprentice in the Tower of Sorcerers until the day she decides to step out and compete for a spot in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms.

Pitted against the best sorcerers in the Empire, Eira fights to be one of four champions. Excelling in the trials has its rewards. She's invited to the royal court with the “Prince of the Tower,” discovers her rare talent for forbidden magic, and at midnight, Eira meets with a handsome elfin ambassador.

But, Eira soon learns, no reward is without risk. As she comes into the spotlight, so too do the skeletons of a past she hadn't even realized was haunting her.

Eira went into the trials ready for a fight. Ready to win. She wasn't ready for what it would cost her. No one expected the candidates might not make it out with their lives.

This is the first book in a young adult, epic fantasy that's a tale of competition, coming of age, distant lands, elemental magic, and romance. It's perfect for fans of the Legend of Korra, Truthwitch, and A Sorcery of Thorns.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
Another foray into the Air Awakens world, A TRIAL OF SORCERERS hits it out of the park with the elemental fantasy novel genre. This plays on the trope and concept of magical trials and does it really well. I liked seeing returning characters and some new ones as well. I am glad we're starting to delve more into the other worlds that are connected. But there were some parts of that felt so rushed and I wanted more slow burn than what we got, especially around the romance.

This first book reintroduces us to the Air Awakens and the Vortex Chronicles world. So much was similar yet different but being reacquainted felt like a breeze. Partly in thanks to seeing familiar faces - especially Vhalla's! She was involved with the competition which was full of thrills. The trials were nerve-wracking to watch but fulfilling in action. You never knew who was going to end up on whose side. Also, in true Elise Kova fashion, we're kept on our toes with the romance. It's most definitely a slow burn. I pray something more will happen in the next book ;)

I really enjoyed Eira's character. She carried a heavy burden despite her young age. Her stubbornness grated on my nerves sometimes but I completely understood she had good reasons to be. I delighted in watching Eira stand up for herself. While I wasn't very surprised by the twist about her, I thought the build up to it was quite nice. The truth was already there in the little details. I was sad to see how much a betrayal affected Eira but I kind of love the hardened version of her. Can't wait to see more of it!

I found the villain in A Trial of Sorcerers to be a bit obvious. I'm not sure if Elise intended for it to be but this character's sweet words and nice acts made me very wary. It was impossible not to suspect this person. I was on high alert whenever said person was around so I was not the least bit surprised when the reveal happened. I was, however, surprised by Eira and how her singular focus achieved something incredible. Sorry for the vagueness, just know that she really is a wonderful main character.

While this is a "standalone" in the sense that it starts a new series, it DOES spoil Air Awakens AND Vortex Chronicles so if you care about that, be sure to read those first. It also made me want a "prequel" type book about Adela lol so Elise, if you're reading this, please 🥺

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator was PERFECT. Highly recommend doing that if you have an extra credit somewhere!

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5 Sept 2022

Audio Review: CRYSTAL CAGED by Elise Kova, the finale in the Vortex Chronicles Saga

05 September 0 Comments

CRYSTAL CAGED

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Vortex Chronicles #5
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: March 14, 2020
Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Summary:
The highly anticipated and breathtaking finale of Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles by USA Today bestselling author Elise Kova.

One way or another... she will be the end of the world.

With powers that weren't supposed to be touched by mortal hands, Vi Solaris is determined to free herself and the world from the deadly vortex it's trapped in. This mission has taken her to forbidden lands and has transformed her from a sheltered princess to a fearsome warrior.

But the ultimate triumph requires the ultimate sacrifice, forcing Vi to choose between the last tethers to her humanity and the very people she's sworn to protect.

Vi's story of magic, sacrifice, triumph, and love reaches its epic conclusion in Crystal Caged. 
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
See my review of VORTEX VISIONS!
See my review of CHOSEN CHAMPION!
See my review of FAILED FUTURE!
See my review of SOVEREIGN SACRIFICE!

Note: This is part of the Air Awakens universe and the fifth book in a series. If you have not yet read some or all of these books, please know that there may be some minor spoilers!

This was better than the last book - and more of what I was expecting from this series overall - but still not the best book that Kova has written. I think up until book 3 I was entirely INVESTED, and I just didn’t enjoy the path the series followed after that.

I was never really invested in the romance or a lot of the relationships, but I loved seeing how Vi impacted the original Air Awakens books. I liked seeing connections and putting things together that made a lot of sense now that I have the hindsight. There was a LOT of planning put into both the original series and this one - a lot of little details you may have overlooked in the original Air Awakens series are now made to be clearer after reading THIS book.

But... that's a lot of reading for only a little pay off. If this series was more of a duology rather than FIVE books, I think I would have enjoyed it more overall. There was just too much (reading) for too little satisfaction.

Would I recommend this series? Probably not. Would I recommend reading just this book? Maybe, actually, if you enjoyed and read the Air Awakens series. I think you could get the gist of this series from this book and then you'd feel satisfied overall.

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4 Apr 2022

Audio Review: SOVEREIGN SACRIFICE by Elise Kova (Vortex Chronicles #4)

04 April 2 Comments

SOVEREIGN SACRIFICE

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Vortex Chronicles #4
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Summary:
Vi was supposed to be the perfect crown princess. Then, she abandoned her throne.

Vi was supposed to save the world as its Champion. Then, the world she loved vanished.

Now, all she knows is that she has deadly magic and brutal cunning and she's ready to settle some scores.

Old loves and new allies tell her to play it safe. But Vi is done with caution. She has a chance to right ancient wrongs and this princess-turned-warrior isn't turning back.

She's ready to bring an end to the vortex of death the world is trapped in.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
See my review of VORTEX VISIONS!
See my review of CHOSEN CHAMPION!
See my review of FAILED FUTURE!

Honestly, I'm glad I'm almost done this series. What should have been a triumphant return to the Air Awakens series, and a new way for people to get interested and excited, has only left me completely disappointed.

This book, much like it's earlier versions, feels as thought nothing has happened until the very end. There is something about this series that it tends to have huge cliffhangers with every book that get resolved pretty easily in the first couple chapters of the next book. Then nothing happens until the last two chapters again. I am over it, to be honest.

The pacing has just been so off in all of these novels - with many months being thrown away in a single line to the characters not doing anything for weeks at a time. I was really disappointed with the pacing in this banking on nostalgia and hope that some of the "previews" from the other series coming to fruition.

I think the worst part was that there was no payoff from the slow pace of this book. This book suffered from a lot of waiting, impulsive decisions, and eventually a rather large I-told-you-so. I get Vi’s character is supposed to be hard-headed, driven, and hopeful, but she toes the line into idiocy on more than a few occasions. More often than not I found myself frustrated by her actions, which seemed more petulant and immature than anything.

The characters have barely grown or changed over time and as the series has gone on, they've become more and more one-dimensional. I don't find myself caring about any of the "new" characters we are introduced to, but rather making sure the characters from the original Air Awakens series are still able to live their best lives. But that shouldn't be how it is - it should interest me to know what Vi is up to or keeping the rest of the characters alive.

I just feel like this book was ultimately a placeholder and a way to ‘meet’ Fiera and an alternate Tiberus than the despicable bastard we’re all so familiar with in Air Awakens. Seeing a kinder side to hated characters is another thing I’m not fond of in stories, and both that and the time travel thing are entirely subjective preferences on my part. I don't like the idea that the original novels or characters could be "tainted" by the time travel even though I know that means we have seen only "one" of the 93 timelines.

Taavin is once again in the book. He plays his usual role as the voice of reason - no pun intended, and is the overly cautious counterpoint to Vi’s recklessness. I don’t mind Taavin’s character in the capacity he serves as the Voice, but I can’t buy into the romance. We’re just glossing over the end events of Failed Future, but it’s fine because new world? I don’t know. Neither Vi not Taavin were particularly enjoyable characters in this one, and then together just grated.

I will finish this series because I've invested a lot of time and money into the audiobooks but I'm not sure that this is one I would recommend to people - even those who are die hard Air Awakens fans. I do hope that the A Trial of Sorcerers series is better, since it takes place in the same world, but I'm not holding my breath.

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21 Mar 2022

Audio Review: FAILED FUTURE by Elise Kova (Vortex Chronicles #3)

21 March 0 Comments

FAILED FUTURE

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Vortex Chronicles #3
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: July 21, 2019
Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Summary:
When worlds collide, and things are rarely what they seem, there may be no one Vi can trust.

Having forsaken her crown for a chance to save her family, and the world, Vi Solaris washes up on the shores of Meru. She's wounded and barely alive. But Vi's fight for survival is only just beginning.

As a princess in a foreign land, everyone is after her.

The pirate queen Adela wants to sell her to the evil elfin'ra. The Twilight King wants to use her to settle an old score. And, perhaps most dangerous, is the scheming Lord of the Faithful who sees her as an opportunity to further consolidate his power.

The only path for Vi is forward. But she doesn't yet know if she's running toward salvation... or a brutal end to everything she loves.

Vi's journey continues with even more betrayal, romance, magic, and a twist you never saw coming that leaves readers begging for the next book.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
See my review of VORTEX VISIONS!
See my review of CHOSEN CHAMPION!
Honestly I’m torn between 3 and 4 stars but it’s not a 3.5 star book. I don’t know if that makes sense to you but it does to me.

There was a lot to like about this book but not a lot to love about it. I think this series plays too much into the “bring new readers into the series” even though it is VERY clearly connected to not only the Air Awakens series but the Golden Guard trilogy. For new readers, they get a lot of detailed history and information but for readers who have been a part of the canon for a while, like myself, everything is taking too long.

I think the love arc following a similar pattern to that of Vhalla and Aldrik in Air Awakens is meh. I am over couples growing together, then breaking apart, only to have to come back together. I think this series feels as though it is lacking in originality to me because I have seen some of the flashes of what’s to come in the previous books and the characters don’t feel any different than the ones we’ve seen before.

But the fighting styles, the magic, and the expanded world building are all making this worthwhile. It took me a long time to get through this one because of characters but I’m quite enjoying the stuff outside of the characters. I want to see the big bad villain, I want to learn more about the expanded magic system and other continents! I just feel like I’m being bogged down by Vhalla 2.0.

Will I continue? Yes. Will I enjoy this series more than Air Awakens? Probably not.

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