#Wednesday Review - Tell The Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan (Young Adult, Fantasy)

Series: Standalone
Format: E-Galley, 368 pages
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Clarion Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

In a city divided between opulent luxury in the Light and fierce privations in the Dark, a determined young woman survives by guarding her secrets. 

Lucie Manette was born in the Dark half of the city, but careful manipulations won her a home in the Light, celebrity status, and a rich, loving boyfriend. Now she just wants to keep her head down, but her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own—one involving an apparent stranger who is destitute and despised.

Lucie alone knows of the deadly connection the young men share, and even as the knowledge leads her to make a grave mistake, she can trust no one with the truth.

Blood and secrets alike spill out when revolution erupts. With both halves of the city burning, and mercy nowhere to be found, can Lucie save either boy—or herself?

Celebrated author Sarah Rees Brennan tells a magical tale of romance and revolution, love and loss.

"Tell the wind and the fire where to stop, but don't tell me."

Author Sarah Rees Brennan, who I know best from her The Lynnburn Legacy trilogy, takes on Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities. While Dickens story takes place in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution, Brennan re-images her own version of the story. Tell The Wind and Fire takes place in an alternative reality New York City. A city that is divided by Light and Dark Magic.

The city of Light holds all the power and privilege, while the Dark, while necessary for the survival of light magicians, are kept at bay and under wraps. Brennan's protagonist is 17-year old Lucie Manette, aka The Golden Thread in the Dark. Lucie was born in the Dark City and is a trained light magician/medic just like her mother, and her father. For the past 2 years, she has lived in the Light. She can wield a sword, just as easily as she can use magic.

Lucie is currently in a relationship with Ethan Stryker, who's own family is at the top of the Light food chain and leads the Light Council. But, things are not as they seem. There are rumors of a rebellion by a group known as Sans-Merci, and Ethan is accused of being a traitor by passing information to the group. Ethan's family also has a deep, dark secret. They created a doppelganger in Ethan's image, and doppelganger, Carwyn, suddenly appears and throws everything Lucie knows into turmoil. 

Having a doppelganger is against the law, but who is going to tell the powerful Stryker family what to do? Carwyn is anything but a lovable character. He is mean spirited at times, sarcastic to the core, and whether or not he is actually a trustworthy ally, is a matter of time and space. But, don't throw eggs at him just yet. He isn't all that bad when all is said and done. Will Lucie stand up for the Light in a time of rebellion, or will she become the Golden One for the Dark?

This story doesn't take a straight path to the final outcome. It meanders it's way through things that probably won't make any sense to certain readers. Lucie is a strange character at times. She obviously cares about Ethan, but she ends up on a collision course of feelings for Carwyn, including eating cupcakes, and setting him free against all sorts of laws. 

Then there is the obvious correlation to the French Revolution. Let me say that there wasn't anything beautiful about the Revolution. Elites, brilliant minds, every day people, and those who had personal vendetta's against another, were taken to the guillotine and disposed of. In this story, instead of using a guillotine, the Dark uses cages which is probably just as gruesome once you consider the outcome.

We have now become a society where authors rage against the injustice machine whether stated, or unstated. This story once again hits on the usual angles of a society divided by race, by inequality, and by magic. This story lines has been told in books like Red Rising and Red Queen, as examples. I am glad that this book is a standalone. I am glad because after all is said and done, there is no reason to continue hoping Lucie and Ethan make better choices and decisions.

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#Review - Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan (YA, Fantasy)

Series: The Lynnburn Legacy # 3
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Publisher: Random House BYR
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

A modern, magical twist on the Gothic romance and girl detective genres, the Lynburn Legacy books will appeal to fans of both Beautiful Creaturesand the Mortal Instruments series.

Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?

Kami has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town.

Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s life, but also the lives of those she loves most.
 
As coauthor with Cassandra Clare of the bestselling Bane Chronicles, Sarah Rees Brennan has mastered the art of the page-turner. This final book in the Lynburn Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.

Unmade is the final installment in the Lynburn Legacy trilogy. Things in Sorry-in-the-Vale couldn't be any more dangerous. Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale after his forces defeated Lillian. He expects to return to the times when human sacrifices were mandatory and willingly to keep his sorcerers in magic. As for Kami Glass, our series protagonist, she, as a Source is tied to sorcerer Ash Lynburn, and has no idea if her friend/lover/tormentor Jared is alive or dead. She also continues to search for the Lynburn secret that could give her, and Ash the power to end Rob's reign. 

Her allies, Angela, Holly, Rusty, and Henry, are in disarray, and have no clue what they are going to do next. I will say this right up in front, there is a whole lot of angst, stressful situations, and heartbreak which shouldn't surprise anyone who has read the first two books. The heartbreak comes from the most unlikely source. It also has a bit of sarcasm that can either break or make the story. Most surprising character in my opinion is Kami's father, Jon. Holy Cow, where did he find his backbone? I loved his interactions with Lillian. I couldn't stop laughing at the nicknames he came up for her, or the fact that he stands shoulder to shoulder with his daughter in the final confrontation with Rob.

While he's the most surprising, the most disappointing has to be Kami's mom, Claire. I guess one could say she was doing what she thought was right to save her family, but in the end, it ends up hurting everyone involved. I do like that Kami grows a bit in this installment, especially the ending when she stands up for her friends and family against Rob one last time. I love that she finds new power with her connection to Ash. I like that she finds allies within Rob's camp who don't agree with what he's doing, but are afraid of ending up like Lillian's allies, dead. 

I am absolutely fine with the relationship choices made by Kami, Jared, Ash, Angela, and Holly. I don't think that Brennan could have gone in any other direction without getting negative reader feedback. I do have to talk about Kami and Jared though. Sorry. I know this is going to sound selfish, but, Jared is mostly a jerk in this story. Kami has loved Jared for a long time. She's showed him that she does, but he goes off into a broody moody, and it gets tiring after awhile. This is the one constant in the entire trilogy, Jared's mood swings. 

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