Category Archives: Ya Fantasy

The Winner’s Curse
(The Winner’s Trilogy, #1)
By: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Published: March 4, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating:

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

 

Read More →

Poison Study
(Study, #1)
By: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira
Published: Nov. 18, 2008
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating:

Goodreads | Amazon

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She’ll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly’s Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can’t control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear…

Yelena is charged with murder and is awaiting noose. When a guard comes and leads her to the chief of security’s office, she is expecting the end. What she doesn’t expect is for Valek to offer her a job instead. If she accepts his offer, she will be the food taster for the commander making sure that his food isn’t poisoned, and if it is identifying it in time so that Valek can find the culprit. For her “services” her life will be spared from the noose and she will live a rather comfortable life in comparison.

I really enjoyed this story and the magical world the the author has created. There are magician, spies and Valek… someone whom cannot be effected by magic. I liked the addition of the secondary characters and the author did a great job keeping them interactive throughout the duration of the story.

Another aspect of the story that I really enjoyed was the connection between Yelena and Valek. They don’t start off on good terms. In fact, he is very cold and distant to her. Which is understandable since she is someone who he pulled from deathrow only to be the food tester for the Commander. So her chance of survival is pretty low. As the story progresses though you start to notice Valek softening around Yelena but when he is around her he tries to maintain an uninterested demeanor. Their relationship was definitely a slow building interesting one. There is no insta-love. This was definitely an interesting story.

“Yelena, you’ve driven me crazy. You’ve caused me considerable trouble and I’ve contemplated ending your life twice since I’ve known you. But you’ve slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.” -Valek

Graceling
(Graceling Realm #1)
By: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Harcourt
Published: Oct. 1, 2008
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating:

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Katsa 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, Katsa 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…

Katsa is a Graceling. She was born with a special gift that allows her to fight with extreme skill. She always wins when facing an opponent. She’s been her Uncle’s mercenary since she was young and she’s had enough. When another Graceling comes into the picture, she decides to leave her uncle and take off with the other Graceling on his quest. They come across some enemies along the way who have special gifts of their own.

The world that Kristin creates is amazing. This really didn’t read like a debut novel. She wrote such a great fantasy with strong characters. You won’t find any timid, self-conscious females here. Oh no, Katsa is as rough as they come. She’s not afraid of anything and she’s not looking to get married and have babies. Even Bitterblue (Po’s cousin) is a strong willed 10 year old girl who is wise beyond her years. She doesn’t take things at face value but she doesn’t voice her opinion, instead she seems to observe and take in everything. I really did enjoy all the characters in the story.

The author also does an amazing job with the plot and pacing. There wasn’t a lot of lag time where I was left skimming over pages. There was always something going on whether it was Katsa and her gift, Po and his gift, their journey to save Bitterblue or simply, what it’s like to live during those times. Everything flowed together nicely and I really did enjoy the story. I will definitely be reading Fire.

“If there’s anyone I wish to stun at dinner, I’ll hit him in the face.”