REVIEW: The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco

*Thank you to Netgalley & Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC in exchange for a review*

Publisher's Summary:

In The Bone Witch, Tea mastered resurrection―now she's after revenge...

No one knows death like Tea. A bone witch who can resurrect the dead, she has the power to take life...and return it. And she is done with her self-imposed exile. Her heart is set on vengeance, and she now possesses all she needs to command the mighty daeva. With the help of these terrifying beasts, she can finally enact revenge against the royals who wronged her―and took the life of her one true love.

But there are those who plot against her, those who would use Tea's dark power for their own nefarious ends. Because you can't kill someone who can never die...

War is brewing among the kingdoms, and when dark magic is at play, no one is safe.

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I read The Bone Witch a little over a year ago.  This sequel builds upon the rich narrative, character development and world building Chupeco weaves to share Tea's tale.  Readers can expect a particularly dark and complex narrative. There is a lot going on from a storytelling perspective and at times it is a tad hard to follow for this reason.  The novel consists of before and after tellings--basically the tale of what leads Tea down a dark path and the journey into another kingdom for a variety of reasons (I won't spoil anything!) and then a jump forward to the after tale told by a Bard where we encounter a very different, and darker, quite frightening Tea.  

While some questions are answered and mysteries uncovered, there remain a number of questions and more opportunity for exploration in order to connect the dots with exactly all the events alluded to throughout the book.  The Heart Forger is lovely in its fantastical delve into Gothic mystery and magic. This is definitely a book for a teen who is an upper level reader or an adult who enjoys YA fiction that is on the cusp of transitioning to the general adult science fiction/fantasy section.

Readers who've enjoyed authors like Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas, and Laini Taylor as well as Indian and Middle Eastern mythology inspired fiction like Roshani Chokshi's Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes or works by Renee Ahdieh or Emily R. King's Hundredth Queen series will enjoy these works by Chupeco. (All of which I've reviewed, so please feel free to search my blog for reviews)

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Grave Ransom by Kalayna Price

*Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Books for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

Grave witch Alex Craft is no stranger to the dead talking. She raises shades, works with ghosts, and is dating Death himself. But the dead walking? That’s not supposed to happen. And yet, reanimated corpses are committing crimes across Nekros City.

Alex’s investigation leads her deep into a web of sinister magic. When Briar Darque of the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau gets involved, Alex finds herself with an unexpected ally of sorts. But as the dead continue to rise and wreak havoc on the living, can Alex get to the soul of the matter in time?

This was a fantastic, detailed and exciting urban fantasy read building on the standalone story but also on the world-building and character struggles of the previous books in the series.  I love Alex. She's smart, kick-ass and funny but there is also a vulnerability to her as she explores more of her magic while also balancing the limitations set upon her by her grave magic.

Her love life continues to be complicated and one scene in particular made my heart break. I'm excited to see what might be in store for future books.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her affinity for necromancy labels her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living—and of the human.

Great power comes at a price. At a young age, Tea accidentally raises her recently deceased older brother from the dead, nearly killing herself in the process.  Tea is then forced to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch. Tea puts all of her energy into becoming an asha, learning to control her elemental magic and those beasts who will submit by no other force. Tea must show strength and resilience since a war is brewing in the eight kingdoms, war that will threaten the sovereignty of her homeland…and threaten the very survival of those she loves.

Overall, the audiobook was hit or miss for me; however, I enjoyed the general story, world-building, mythology and character development. There is a lot going on with this narrative and The Bone Witch is just a stepping stone for the series. I can't wait to see what happens because the visual image of Tea at the end is pretty powerful and has some exciting implications for the next book.  

Readers who've enjoyed authors like Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas, and Laini Taylor as well as some of the newer released delving into Indian and Middle Eastern mythology like Roshani Chokshi's Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes or works by Renee Ahdieh.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars