To ramp up my
young adult (YA) game, I’m posting another compilation featuring YA novels.
*This is the second book in a trilogy.*
Caraval has
never happened twice in the same year, and now Legend has given his performers
less than a week to recover since it was won. Another Caraval is going to begin
in honor of Empress Elantine’s 75th birthday. The other Dragna
sister, Donatella (Tella), is playing this time. In the previous game, to
believe it was too real was to go mad, but based on the first clue, is there truth
to this Caraval? If it’s real, then the Fates are more than their pictures on a
cursed Deck of Destiny, and history shows no kindness in them. There’s a
“friend” who has tasked her with winning Caraval so she can discover who Master
Legend truly is, and he doesn’t just want his name; he wants Legend himself.
The only way Tella will meet Legend in the flesh is to win. And if she doesn’t
win and therefore doesn’t deliver Legend to her “friend,” then her mother will
remain lost to her, for her “friend” claims to know where she is.
Tella gains a room at Elantine’s
palace when Dante – insufferable, handsome, usually acts like a villain –
claims Tella’s the heir’s fiancée. He means it as a jest, but then she receives
a note and an exquisite dress from her fake fiancé. Enter golden-haired Jacks,
who may be the Prince of Hearts. Known for his fatal kisses, Tella has kissed
him. Whoops. All the bravery and cunning in the world will not help Tella if
her life is in trouble. And if she can’t figure out Legend’s real name, then
she’ll lose someone she loves besides.
“Legendary,” the second book in the Caraval
trilogy, shines with magic and enchantment. Love and betrayal twirl in a
sensuous dance in this story with air that tastes like wonder and glitters with
opulence. Seams of darkness run close to the surface, ready to ensnare the
unwary and tempt the main character. Garber’s imagination knows no bounds, but
I actually don’t care for Tella. She’s the epitome of a younger sister, the
type that was pampered and constantly looked out for by an older sibling
(Scarlett, from the first novel). Still, the story is dark and seductive and
sweeps the reader away. Just try not to get caught in any sugared spiderwebs. I
can’t imagine that would go well for anyone.
Book One: Caraval
War Storm (May 15, 2018) by Victoria Aveyard.
*This is the final book in a tetralogy.*
War is coming. The
world where Mare Barrow lives is volatile at best. She fights to secure freedom
for Reds and newbloods (or Ardents)
like her from the Silvers who would keep using them like they’re expendable. Other
Silvers are tentative allies, and they include Cal, though Mare’s struggle is
real since his betrayal. Cal is no Maven, but it’s crushing that his vision for
the future does not match hers. And even as half brothers, they are still
brothers. Despite the enmity, they are both “Constructions of their parents.
Cal is built from his father’s dreams, and Maven from his mother’s nightmares” (--thoughts
from Mare, p. 458). Their greatest allies are the residents of Montfort,
especially the Ardents, some of which have abilities never before carried in a
Silver’s blood. Montfort’s Premier Davidson gives them a glimpse of a piece of
the world where Ardents, Reds and Silvers are encouraged to live amicably
amongst one another. It’s a place where a man can marry a man or a woman a
woman (Evangeline “stares at the man with such naked envy I think she might
turn green.” --Mare’s thought, p.124). Will Mare return to Montfort where her family
now resides? Or will the lightning girl be silenced forever? Is there a chance
that the damage Elara did to Maven’s mind can be undone if an Ardent whisper powerful enough exists? Or is
Maven truly gone beyond help? After all, “There’s no way to complete a puzzle
with missing pieces, or put together shattered glass” (--Mare, to Maven, on his
brokenness caused by his mother).
As a concluding novel in a series,
“War Storm” is epic and exciting. It crackles with glorious purpose like
lightning in a storm and booms with the thunder and violence of war, revenge
and mortal enemies. This dystopian fantasy has been inventive, exhilarating and
dramatic all series long. It’s an intense duel of romance and revolution, power
and balance, dominance and teamwork. It’s a great show without the theater
screen or the stage, so strong is Aveyard’s writing in bringing all 657 pages
to life for her readers!
Book One: Red Queen
Book Two: Glass Sword
Book Three: King’s Crown
Winter (Nov. 10, 2015) by Marissa Meyer.
*This is the final book in a tetralogy.*
Things are not
looking good. Linh Cinder and company are fugitives, both of the Earthen Union
and Luna. They abducted Emperor Kaito (Kai), who has been engaged to Queen
Levana, the Lunar queen. In his absence, Earth has been overrun with
genetically-modified beings mind-controlled by thaumaturges. So much death.
Cinder knows that Levana wants nothing more than to be made empress and control
both realms once she assassinates Kai. Cinder is someone very important from
the past, and she’s coming to terms with it. This means she isn’t only trying
to save the Earthen realm she grew up in, but also a moon that she has no
recollection of.*
Princess Winter is like one of her
pets in her menagerie, except she can wander around. Despite the scars on her
face (blame Levana), Winter remains the most beautiful person anyone has ever
met (no glamour necessary). Her beauty is unrivaled even by Levana’s
carefully-constructed glamour of herself. Through no fault of her own, she’s
gained an Earthen “pet” in Scarlet Benoit. Wolf (a.k.a. Ze’ev Kesley) is trying
tirelessly to save her, though he doesn’t know if she’s still alive. Along with
their allies, Crescent Moon “Cress” Darnel, Carswell Thorne, Jacin Clay and
Iko, they need to get ahead of Levana once and for all.
I admit that my interest in The Lunar Chronicles has waned, but
since I’ve read the other books in the series, I wanted to finish it. I set
this book aside multiple times; it took me months to get through. I don’t mind
multiple perspectives, but there are too many perspectives running around this
story. I suspect that’s the reason the trade paperback version is 824 pages
long, which it definitely does not need to be. That said, I do feel that this
series concluded in a satisfactory way. This world which Meyer created is
well-developed and imaginatively immersive. I have liked that the author
created a mosh pit of fairy tale and science fiction; I think it has worked
well. Despite the sheer size of the final novel, this should appeal to anyone
who appreciates strong heroines and the fractured fairy tale genre.
Book One: Cinder
Book Two: Scarlett
Book Three: Cress
*Perhaps this is
for the best. After all, how hard would it have been to live up to the name
Selene Channary Jannali Blackburn?
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