Rosey Reviews

Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender: A Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Published: November 12, 2019

Sigourney survived the massacre of her family. Now she is back ready to make those who took away her family pay. Of course, nothing is as it seems. With the threat of death laying above her head as she is surrounded by her enemies, she must find out who is killing everyone to have a chance at becoming queen of the conquered.

Callender weaves a beautifully harsh story with realistic characters. While the story does drag in pace, when twists come, they are certainly unexpected. At the same time you are cheering Sigourney on, you want more on the other characters as you learn what they want and how they feel. I certainly hope there is another.

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Writing: 8/10

Editor: 10/10

Total: 38/40

Title: Queen of the Conquered

Author: Kacen Callender

Edition: Paperback

Publisher: Orbit

ISBN: 9780316454933

If you want to get it: Amazon; $7.99 (Paperback), $4.99 (Kindle)

Song of the Crimson Flower by Julie C. Dao: A Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Published: November 5, 2019

Who do you love? Why? Caught between a spell, Lan and Bao certainly are not sure. Lan loves another – she thinks. And Bao has realized he was more in love with a version he made. As they travel to break the spell, caught even more in a war and family deceit will they discover this answer? Or as the journey ends will they leave the other to be lost in the chaos – never knowing just what love is?

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Writing: 10/10

Editor: 10/10

Total: 40/40

Title: Song of the Crimson Flower

Author: Julie C. Dao

Edition: Hardback

Publisher: Philomel Books

ISBN: 9781524738358

If you want to get it: Amazon; $12.69 (Hardback), $10.99 (Kindle)

Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson: A Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Published: November 5, 2019

Caught between two worlds, Zuhra works to make sense of her small world and manage her sister Inara, born with the ability of their lost father. When Inara opens a portal linked to the long past world of their father, Zuhra and Inara fight to reunite – of course nothing can – or will – remain as it has been, and no one is as safe as we wish them to be.

Plot: 9/10

Characters: 7/10

Writing: 10/10

Editor: 9/10

Total: 35/40

Title: Sisters of Shadow and Light

Author: Sara B. Larson

Edition: Hardback

Publisher: Tor Teen

ISBN: 9781250208408

If you want to get it: Amazon $13.49 (Hardback), $9.99 (Paperback), $9.99 (Kindle)

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow: A Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Published: September 10, 2019

January never sees her father – push off instead as a ward of his employer as daddy dearest travels the worlds in search of valuable artifacts. Of course, January isn’t an ordinary girl – or at least she is realizing that. As the truth bares its light in her eyes, January comes to search for the home she never really had and the family that goes along with it.

If you have read The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern or have read my review of it, The Ten Thousand Doors of January should be the next on your to-read list. With the same idea of doors, Harrow is able to tie in a similar plot that The Starless Sea with a group trying to get rid of the portals and a character fighting to keep and find them. The only difference is Harrow’s story is filled with platonic love at front while Morgenstern has romantic love.

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Writing: 9/10

Editor: 8/10

Total: 37/40

Title: The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Edition: Hardback

Publisher: Redhook

ISBN: 9780316421997

If you want to get it: Amazon, $13.59 (Hardback), $13.79 (Paperback), $9.99 (Kindle)

Book Trailer: The Starless Sea

I hate writing a negative review especially for a book like The Starless Sea. I highly encourage you to read my review of the book, but rather than just let things lie, I am adding a post for the book trailer.

In itself, the book trailer is amazing. It is quick and brings in little hints from the book. I would read my review and then watch the video before deciding on if you want to read it. Also, I would still highly recommend a companion guide or even the use of Sparknotes to help understand what is going on in the story.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern: A Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Published: November 5, 2019

Where are you in your story? Who are you in others’? Erin Morgenstern weaves a story in a story in multiple stories. Who is who and where are they? The only answer – in the Starless Sea.

While I liked the story, it went everywhere and nowhere. Things were moving in this story that seemed out of place and hard to fathom. Perhaps if the story was organized better it would have gained a better score. As it was, it was actually a really hard read and I am used to reading textbooks and philosophical theories. That being said, the book was definitely a challenge and one that I might go into when I have more time.

Readers will need a companion guide to help with the changing of time, place, and characters. Amazon has one here.

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 6/10

Writing: 8/10

Editor: 7/10

Total: 28/40

Title: The Starless Sea

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Edition: Hardback, first edition

Publisher: Doubleday

ISBN: 9780385541213

If you want to get it: Amazon, $14.99 (Kindle), $17.37 (Hardback), $19.99 (Paperback)

The Weight of a Soul by Elizabeth Tammi: A Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Published: December 3, 2019

Lena has never known a world without her sister – or at least can’t remember one. When, without a reason, Lena finds her dead, Lena decides she will do whatever it takes to right the wrong and bring her sister back – and the goddess of death seems willing to help. But Lena has yet to discover the enormity of what is at sake and must find out what is “the weight of a soul”.

Fans of Rick Riordan will especially like this story as it is based heavily in Norse mythology. Tammi’s other books also go into different mythologies.

Plot: 9/10

Characters: 10/10

Writing: 9/10

Editor: 9/10

Total: 37/40

Title: The Weight of a Soul

Author: Elizabeth Tammi

Edition: Paperback

Publisher: North Star Editions

ISBN: 9781635830446

If you want to get it: Amazon, $9.99 (Kindle), $10.99 (Paperback)

Diamond & Dawn by Lyra Selene: A Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Published: December 3, 2019

Gifted with the ability to create illusions, Sylvie struggles with the question of whether she has earned the throne she is sitting on or is she what the people think of her? Is she her own greatest illusion? Whatever the answer, she must work hard and smart in order to save the dream she has of the world in this installment of the second book of the Amber Empire.

While not necessary, reading the first book Amber & Dusk, will help with having a background knowledge of what is going on in the story. I did not read the first book as I have found that the second book typically can show if the series will be worth putting more time into reading the story in order. By this I mean that second books of series tend to be sloppier in their writing and more chopped in sequence. This book had none of the usual aspects that I find in second installments making it an awesome read and one to definitely go back to after reading the first book, so I can see all the little Easter egg clues in the second book.

Plot: 9/10

Characters: 7/10

Writing: 10/10

Editor: 10/10

Total: 36/40

Title: Diamond & Dawn

Author: Lyra Selene

Edition: Hardback

Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN: 9781338547597

If you want to get it: Amazon, $11.99 (Kindle), $12.23 (Hardback)

When Wishes Bleed by Casey L. Bond: A Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Published: October 11, 2019

I had the privilege of reading When Wishes Bleed, a beautiful story written in the world of Nautilus. First book in a (perhaps) future series, When Wishes Bleed is an endearing love story of two different person from two very different worlds.

Stable is a girl, chosen by Fate, going through life doing his bidding. Through him, she is able to see the future and able to right wrongs – as if she has a choice – but what happens when everything held dear is being threatened with execution and choices seem few and far between?

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Writing: 10/10

Editor: 10/10

Total: 40/40

Title: When Wishes Bleed

Author: Casey L. Bond

Edition: Paperback

Publisher: Independent Publisher

ISBN: 9781698251479

If you want to get it: Amazon, $3.99 (Kindle), $15.99 (Paperback), $24.99 (Hardback)

Casey L. Bond Website

Hi, guys! I am going to upload a few things today just because they have been stacking up and I finally have time to get them settled on here.

First off, I read one of Casey L. Bond’s books and was memorized. (Sounds cheesy, I know, but man do I love me some cheese.) Her blog/website are even more amazing though. So I am going to leave the link here:

https://www.authorcaseybond.com/

I seriously hope someday I can have as great of website as this. I will be returning to talk more about Bond and the book review for her book When Wishes Bleed will be posted shortly.

Best Wishes to all!