#Review - Dawnbreaker by Jodi Meadows #YA #Fantasy

Series: Salvation Cycle # 2
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: November 7, 2023
Publisher: Holiday House
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic

The king is dead. The world is lost. Long live the queen.

The thin membrane of magic separating the human and demonic planes has been destroyed. Nightrender, the immortal warrior of the gods, must find a way to rebuild it, but Hanne—the serpent girl, always too cunning to be trusted, too hungry for power—has become High Queen, and is too consumed with ambition to cooperate. Meanwhile, Rune—married to Hanne, but in love with Nightrender—is lost in the realm of demons after a disastrous battle, wandering alone in a  twisted landscape of mercury seas, black-glass spires, and winds blowing ash … In this second and final installment of the Nightrender duology, the circle will close, and the world will be saved—or burnt to a cinder.  

Jodi Meadows Dawnbreaker is the second installment in the authors Salvation Cycle duology. In the middle of nothingness is the continent of Salvation. Reality bends easily here. Villages disappear. Forests burn forever. Pockets of inconsistent time are everywhere, their boundaries strung with yellow ribbon. And the three kingdoms of Salvation (Caberwill, Embria & Ivasland) have been at war for a thousand years. But the greatest threat is the Malice, an incursion from the demon plane slowly tearing its way through the world's weakest seams. Seams that--once split--will lead to the total unraveling of night and day, light and dark, life and death. 

Key characters: Rune Highcrown, Johanne (Hanne) Fortuin, and Nightrender. As the story opens, Rune is in the unfortunate position of being stuck in the Malice alone, and tormented by Daghath Mal, the Caged King. Rune's only hope is the feather that the Nightrender gave him as her soul shard which allows him to stay alive and hope for a way to escape. Later, after Rune returns home, he learns that Hanne has been kidnapped and is now charged with treason and will likely die for her actions. Regardless of everything Hanne has done, there is still hope that she will understand the errors that lead her down this path.

Meanwhile, Hanne Fortuin, married to Rune, but in a loveless marriage that was supposed to benefit Embria and Caberwill, is hated by nearly everyone, including those of her own home of Embria who are rebellion against her family. They blame her for the devastation that turned men into cattle, and destroyed valuable resources. The fact remains that Hanne has done some grotesques things in the name of peace. But, when you dig deeper into what happened to her when she was a child, you understand that she has been a tool for a power evil that can't be defeated easily.

Nightrender, the hammer of the gods, an immortal warrior more weapon than girl, was created to be a powerful weapon against Daghath Mal, but she can not defeat or kill him. If she does, she will end up taking his place. But if she can find a weapon which nobody has seen in over 400 years, there may be a way to survive the upcoming battle and save the world. Nightrender is not a fan of Hanne by any stretch of the imagination. And, when Hanne makes a devastating mistake that seems to be the opening for a major disaster, it leaves Nightrender to clean up her messes. The connection between Nightrender and Rune has grown leaps and bounds since they first met, and Rune learned that he was her soul shard.

*Thoughts* It is fair to say that Hanne gets a whole lot of deserved hatred, but when the veneer is slowly peeled away, and we learn of her past and what happened to her, it gives readers a better understanding. She is a good person overall, but misguided by those who were supposed to love and support her. For years, she has been guided by a voice in her head who she thought was a God. There is a hint that Hanne may like a character from the previous installment, but that relationship is not explored. 

The book end on what appears to be a cliffhanger as one of the characters is battling for their very lives trying to maybe find a new future that she can make up for her mistakes, while the other two are enjoying peace. It is very hard to find anything to complain about when it comes to Rune. He tries to understand Hanne's reasons for what she did, and still finds a way to use her in the final battle. He is firmly in love with Medella, and their future seems to be bright.  

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#Review - Nightrender (Salvation Cycle #1) by Jodi Meadows #YA #Fantasy

Series: Salvation Cycle (#1)
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: January 11, 2022
Publisher: Holiday House
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic

Kingdoms will fall, gods will die, and hearts will be broken in this sprawling new fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jodi Meadows.

In the middle of nothingness is the Island of Salvation.   
 
Reality bends easily here. Villages disappear. Forests burn forever. Pockets of inconsistent time are everywhere, their boundaries strung with yellow ribbon. And the three kingdoms of Salvation have been at war for a thousand years.  
 
But the greatest threat is the Malice, an incursion from the demon plane slowly tearing its way through the world’s weakest seams. Seams that—once split—will lead to the total unraveling of night and day, light and dark, life and death. 
 
Not that the human world takes much interest. Of more concern is the upcoming marriage of Rune Hightower, Prince of Caberwill, and Johanne Fortuin, Princess of Embria—the serpent bride, a girl of famous cunning—which offers a possible end to the ancient conflict. But Rune has noticed the growing darkness, and he is determined to summon mankind’s only defense: Nightrender, the hammer of the gods, an immortal warrior more weapon than girl.
 
There is only one problem. The last time she was summoned, she slaughtered every royal in Salvation, and no one knows why. Will she save humanity from the Malice… or plunge it deeper into the fires of eternal war?

 

Nightrender is the first installment in author Jodi Meadows Salvation Cycle duology. The story revolves around three characters: Johanne (Hanne) Fortuin, Princess of Embria—the serpent bride, a girl of famous cunning—which offers a possible end to the ancient conflict. Rune Hightower, Prince of Caberwill, elevated to the position of Crown Prince thanks to his brothers murder by an assassin. Rune has noticed the growing darkness, and he is determined to summon mankind’s only defense. Nightrender, the hammer of the gods, an immortal warrior more weapon than girl. Nightrender herself, an immortal warrior--more weapon than girl--sworn to defend mankind even after a terrible betrayal.

This is a pretty curious world. It appears as though the rest of the world has fallen to the darkness and only a continent called Salvation remains. Salvation is divided between three warring countries: Embria, Caberwill, and Ivasland. The Winterfast accords divided the world of the humans from that of the Malstop, fed by the dark human compulsions and overrun with demon-like creatures called Rancor that use the weakening borders to break into the human world with their dark magic called malice. Malsites dot the landscape, trapping and torturing humans that stumble upon them. 

The Veil is weakening, and one of the three kingdoms, Ivasland, is poised to break the Winterfast Accords. To prevent this, Embria and Caberwill, the other two kingdoms, have forged a treaty to be signed in marriage of their heirs, Hanne and Rune, respectively. 400 years ago, the Malice came to Salvation and was defeated by the Nightrender who has been sleeping for hundreds of years, waiting for someone to awaken her so she can use her power to save the land of Salvation. When she's finally summoned, she realizes the world around her is not as she remembers, and neither are her memories.   

Hanne has accepted that she will one day be queen of the entire Salvation if her devious plans fall into place. She even has her cousin Nadine along for the ride which we see through diary entries. Her first stop is to marry the Crown Prince of Caberwill and then destroy Ivasland which seems to be more technology based than the other two countries. It also appears as though Ivasland has broken the accords which means war is definitely imminent. While the three countries have been warring on each other, they have ignored the most dangerous threat to the entire continent for the first time in 400 years. 

After Hanne is caught in a Malsite, she is confronted by a Rancor who tells her she will teach her hated enemies how to build a terrible weapon. A terrible weapon that might bring down the Veil forever. Meanwhile, Rune summons Nightrender who seems to have lost a whole lot of her past memories. Nightrender is a weapon created by long gone Gods that is supposed to stand in front of the darkness and protect the light. The weapon that failed 400 years ago, killing 99 percent of all Kingdom's royalty except for a missing princess who hasn't been seen.  

And, to make it even more unbearable, it seems her memories keep floating away without any explanation as to why. Rune also has a curious connection to Nightrender which makes his pending marriage to Hanne that much more interesting and Hanne that much more despicable for her own actions. Rune was a very sensitive man who wanted someone to love him and that person is not Hanne. There were those within his own family who would have preferred that one of his younger sisters was elevated to Crown Princess instead.

The speculative fantasy setting may be the distant past—or the distant future—and the reality-bending elements Jodi employs add a unique freshness to the fantasy storytelling. Think Rory Power meets Sarah Maas. Nightrender is commercial fantasy at its best—warring kingdoms, young love, gods and demons, world-ending stakes, deadly magic, cliffhanger ending—perfect for fans of hits like Furyborn, Sorcery of Thorns, Four Dead Queens, and A Court of Roses. This is a world of filled with danger, magic, and insidious politics and games played by several devious individuals. The stakes couldn't be much higher with heart rendering cliffhanger ending.

*Note* Even though this is sold as young adult, the age group the main characters fall in is more like 20-24 which is new adult. Curious if the publisher has an plans to change that focus. 

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#Review - My Calamity Jane by Hand, Ashton, Meadows #YA #Fantasy

Series: The Lady Janies #3
Format: Hardcover, 544 pages
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy

Hold on to your hats: The authors of My Plain Jane are back with a side-splittin’, whopper-filled (but actually kind of factual?) historical retelling, and it’s the not-so-tall-tale of the one and only Calamity Jane. 


Welcome to 1876 and a rootin’-tootin’ America bursting with gunslingers, outlaws, and garou—better known as werewolves.

Calamity Jane’s her name, and garou hunting’s her game—when she’s not starring in Wild Bill’s Traveling Show with Annie Oakley and Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler, that is.

But after a garou hunt goes south and Jane finds a suspicious-like bite on her arm, she turns tail for Deadwood, where there’s been talk of a garou cure. But things ain’t always what they seem—meaning the gang better hightail it after her before they’re a day late and a Jane short.

My Calamity Jane, by co-authors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, is the third installment in the authors The Lady Janies series. The authors turn back the hands of time to the year 1876 where we find 17-year old Calamity "Heroine of the Plains" Jane in Cincinnati, Ohio with Wild Bill Hickok’s Traveling Show. There's Wild Bill Hickok, of course, Pinkerton Detective Charlie Utter, and Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler who was born in Ireland and is a deadly accurate sharpshooter.

In infamous gunslinger Bill Hickok's Wild Bill's Wild West theatrical traveling show, the group travels around the country entertaining audiences with tales of their adventures and performing sharpshooter and rodeo tricks. But, this isn't about the show itself, it's about a group of individuals who are secretly loup garou hunters. Bill has been hunting the Alpha for years. When words gets back to them that workers at a local plant have been infected, turning humans into loup garou, the group sets off to set the Alpha straight.  

They are joined by 16-year old Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) who taught herself to shoot and challenges Frank's dominance which proves that women are just as badass as men. Frank's pretty sure he's met the love of his life. Too bad that she may have some prejudices she needs to examine before they can rush into marriage. Unfortunately during the hunt, Jane is bitten by one of them and since there's no cure, she'll likely to become a loup garou. These same wolves nearly killed Annie when she was young, so she has a good reason to want a little revenge. This turn of events sends Jane off on what might be a fruitless hunt for a cure, and everyone else on a hunt for Jane.

This takes the group from Cincinnati, to Deadwood where someone is claiming that they are able to cure loup garou. As with the previous installments, the authors use (3) narrators to tell the story: Jane, Annie, and Frank. Jane loves living life on her own terms and has come a long way from the tragedies of her childhood, but sometimes the sadness still lingers and she gets to explore it more when her life takes an unexpected turn. Annie wants to support her family, but her  impulsiveness to go on an adventure ends up costing her. She's really does have supreme confidence in her abilities and never backs down in the face of unfavorable odds. Including making friends with two Indian women who have seen first hand what Deadwood, Dakota Territory is capable of. 

I'm impressed that the authors are able to mix in a bit of fantasy with actual historical figures like Annie, Wild Bill, Frank, and Jane. There's a bit of realism involved as well since it is the last 19th century and things aren't exactly perfect for everyone who lived in this area. There is a bit of romance on two fronts: Annie and Frank who apparently really did fall in love in real life, while giving Jane, who was totally not the person the author depicts her to be in this story, one as well.

 
Calamity Jane (May 1, 1852 – August 1, 1903) really did make a name for herself in the Wild West, and by all accounts, had the same larger-than-life personality as our fearless protagonist. But like the best revisionist history, My Calamity Jane tweaks minor details, completely rearranges major details, and turns a true story on its head in service of fun, romance, and good storytelling. In the real world, Jane was a deadly shot. In this book, she's deadly with a whip. The real Calamity Jane had a reputation big enough to eclipse the moon, but not everything folks said was kind—or true. In this story, our big-hearted, whopper-telling Jane gets a happier ending. 

 
At its core, My Calamity Jane is a tale for all the ladies of the Wild West who tended to be overshadowed by their male counterparts. Annie and Jane are powerful, complex characters and each brings a different kind of tough to the table.

 

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#Review - When She Reigns by Jodi Meadows #YA #Fantasy

Series: Fallen Isles# 3
Format: Hardcover, 544 pages
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of My Plain Jane comes the sizzling finale in a fantasy trilogy about a girl whose connection to dragons is the only hope for her peoples’ survival. 

The Great Abandonment has begun! Now dragons aren’t the only creatures facing extinction in the Fallen Isles. As entire islands rise up from the sea, causing earthquakes, tidal waves, and utter devastation, Mira must use her growing connection with dragons’ powers to track a legendary treasure that could stop the destruction—the bones of the first dragon. But finding them means traveling into the land of her greatest enemies. What will it cost Mira to save the dragons, the people she loves, and the only home she’s ever known from total ruin? And what will be left of Mira once the final cataclysm is over?

When She Reigns is the third and final installment in author Jodi Meadows' Fallen Isles trilogy. For Mira Minkoba, the worst possible situation is happening. The Great Abandonment is upon the Fallen Isles. Their gods are abandoning them as the people have abandoned their commitments to protecting their world and their dragons.  Mira, who has a dragon soul, has tried her hardest to get people to pay attention to what she is saying. 

Mira, is also the former Hopebearer, and spokeswoman for the Mira Treaty. She must somehow convince an enemy to help her people before thousands end up dead or forever adrift in the ocean. Mira has her own friends who have been with her since she broke out of prison. Best friend Ilina, dragons Lala & Crystal, Chenda, Hristo, Zara, and Aaru who has already lost his entire family who once lived on Idris Island before it rose up from the ocean. The Algotti Empire has long been enemies of the people from the Fallen Isles.

But, Paorah, the High Magistrate, has reached out to them for assistance. Or, is he up to something even more nefarious? Because Mira's people already shipped 7 dragons dragons to the Empire along with powerful noorstones, Mira has to hope that she can beat Paorah to the Empress before it is too late. Mira and her friends set out on the quest to find the dragons that have been taken, stop more gods from rising and abandoning their people, and putting an end to Paorah's machinations. 

Mira gets to meet Apolla, the Empress of the Algotti Empire, while trying to find the bones of the First Dragon which she apparently has a deep connection to. These are two women are not only trying to hold a nation together, but Mira's people might not exist past the upcoming eclipse if she can't convince the Gods and Apolla not to abandon them. Mira's connection to Dragons was absolutely wild. I have to say the last chapters of this book were action packed, and exciting.

Would Mira finally find a way to save her people? Would her connection to the Dragons finally unleash what she has held back for so long? Mira has grown up so much as a character and has cemented her relationships with the supporting cast – once an abrasive ragtag group, now a formidable team. Her love for Aaru is unbreakable, as is her connection to her best friend Ilina who is a dragon handler who loves dragons as much as Mira does. Overall, I have no regrets in reading this trilogy, and will look forward to Meadows next project.

 

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#Review - As She Ascends by Jodi Meadows #YALit #Fantasy

Series: Fallen Isles # 2
Format: Hardcover, 560 pages
Release Date: September 11, 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic

From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of My Lady Jane comes the second book in a smoldering fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Kristin Cashore about a girl determined to rescue stolen dragons.

Mira is on the run with her friends after a fiery escape from the prison to which she’d been condemned for speaking out against dragon trafficking. And she wants answers. Has the treaty she’s been defending her whole life truly sold out the Fallen Isles to their enemies? And did her own parents lie to her?

As her connection to dragons—and their power—grows stronger, so does Mira’s anxiety: What if she can’t succeed? What if she loses control and hurts someone she loves? The only way to find the truth is to go home again, to face the people who betrayed her and the parents she’s not sure she can trust. Home, where she must learn to rise above her fears. Or be consumed.

The second novel in Jodi Meadow’s Fallen Isles trilogy blazes with endangered magic, smoldering romance, and one girl’s struggle to stand up against injustice.

 

As She Ascends is the second installment in author Jodi Meadows' Fallen Isles trilogy. The story picks up right where Before She Ignites left off. Mira Minkoba is on the run with her friends (Aaru, Ilina, Hristo, Gerel & Chenda) after a fiery escape from the Pit, where she’d been imprisoned for defending the dragons she loves. And she wants answers. Where have all the dragons been taken? 

Why are powerful noorestones being shipped to the mainland? And did the Mira treaty she’s been defending her whole life truly sell out the Fallen Isles to their enemies? As Mira's connection to the dragons—and their power—grows stronger, so does Mira’s fear that she might lose control and hurt someone she loves. But the only way to find the truth is to go home again, to Damina, to face the people who betrayed her and the parents she’s not sure she can trust. 

This story isn't just Mira's story. This story also includes Aaru's back story which alternates over the course of 13 years. Aaru is probably the most curious character in that he has been through so much. He is from the Isle of Silence Idris. He believes in Strength thru Silence. For his crimes, which we do find out eventually, he is sent to the Pit where he meets Mira. Mira and Aaru and friends are really rushing against time. While Aaru feels a connection with Mira, he has left his family behind, and doesn't know if they are still alive or not.

The Great Abandonment is close at hand, and it is only a matter of time before things will get very scary for everyone involved. Throughout the course of this story, Mira has to deal with so many issues. From rescuing dragons, to dealing with her growing powers which connect with her emotions, to facing the parents who played a role in the Mira Treaty. And, if that weren't enough, she has reoccurring panic attacks which actually makes her more of a likable character in my humble opinion. Shows that someone can have a powerful ability, but her own body stands in the way.

I have to say one of my favorite parts of this series has been the dragons. Especially Mira's LaLa, and Ilina's Crystal. They really add another bit of depth to the story, especially since Mira is called Dragonhearted, and is able to connect to them in ways nobody seems to be able to. One of the other positives is that the story actually moves around from place to place. From escaping the pit, to being chased by Mira's nemesis Altan who claims he wants to protect not only the dragons, but also the Fallen Isles.

In the end, this story is actually much more action packed, and the pacing makes it seem as though you are reading a much shorter book, and not one with 500+ pages. Were it my choice, I would have read the 1st book right before starting with this one. While I keep pretty extensive notes while reading, I still found myself going back and trying to remember who key characters are, especially Gerel and Chenda who Mira refused to leave behind in the Pit. Looking forward to reading the sequel to see how the author resolves her sort of cliffhanger ending.

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#Review - My Plain Jane by Hand, Meadows, & Ashton #YALit #Fantasy

Series: The Lady Janies # 2
Format: E-Book, 464 pages
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Publisher: HaperTeen
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: Young Adult / Romantic Comedy

You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!)

Or does she?

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

My Plain Jane is the second installment in The Lady Janies series by authors Hand, Meadows, and Ashton. Move over, Charlotte Brontë, the authors of My Lady Jane are back with a fantastic, romantic, hilarious reimagining of Jane Eyre. Once again, the authors write another irreverent tale of mischief, mayhem, and romance—perfect for fans of The Princess Bride or A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue.

Let me start out by saying that this story takes place in 1834 when William the IV was King of England. Let me also say that the story revolves around three specific characters; Jane, Charlotte and Alexander Blackwood. While the story itself is part of the Lady Janies series, it is really Charlotte who tells the story, and plays much more of an important role than Jane does. It starts out with two girls, Jane and Charlotte, who are part of the Lowood Girls home. 

Charlotte is a parsons daughter who has already lost 2 sisters to the so called Graveyard Disease. She also has 2 younger sisters, and a brother. She is a wannabe writer who writes about every subject, but her most interesting is Jane Frere. Jane is a penniless orphan who was dumped at Lowood by her own aunt after calling her disobedient, and a heathen girl headed for hell.  Oh, did I mention that Jane has the ability to see ghosts? 

Since a bad deal happened to her when she was a child, Jane has been able to see ghosts. Jane has a few rules when it comes to ghosts: Rule # 1 - Never tell anyone that you can see ghosts. 2. Never interact with or speak to a ghost in the presence of a living person. Rule # 3 - No matter how tempted, no matter how interesting the ghost, no matter how pressing the situation, refer to Rules 1 & 2. All this is fine and dandy, but when your best friend is a ghost, and your other best friend is a writer who is inquisitive, it is hard to be secretive about her ability. 

In this reality, there's an organization called the Royal Society for the Relocation of Wayward Spirits. As you have already been introduced to Jane and Charlotte, this where you get to discover Alexander Blackwood who works for the society. Alexander is at the top of his game. He has successfully collected and relocated more ghosts than anyone else. Until he discovers a girl who can see ghosts but pretends that she doesn't. Alexander tracks the girl, Jane, to Lowood and offers her a job. 

You obviously know what happens next since the authors have tried to stay somewhat true to the original story. Jane discovers an ad for a governess position at Thornfield Hall. There she meets Mr. Rochester who she finds herself drawn to. Meanwhile, Charlotte takes control over her own life. She stalks Blackwood down, and travels back to London with him where all sorts of hijinks and they embark on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights. While the mystery deepens, Charlotte knows that Jane may be the only one able to help them solve a life or death mystery. Will she abide, or will she walk into the sunset with the secretive Mr. Rochester?

Not sure if I said this before, but it is really interesting to read parts of the story where the authors are actually talking to the readers directly to explain what they are doing, and why they are making a mockery out of certain aspects of the classic works that have been re-imaged. One of my favorite characters in this book, Helen Burns, just happens to also be Jane's best friend and the ghost I mentioned earlier. She's pretty humorous and keeps things moving along. 

I would say that Charlotte is my second favorite because she's very determined, and she's a captivating character who you definitely want to root for. Jane really isn't necessarily a main character. She's the focus of Charlotte's story, and therefore there are things that readers will only learn by reading her parts of the story. While My Plain Jane is definitely darker than My Lady Jane, it still has all the markings of this series: humor, ridiculousness, paranormal creatures, loveable characters, and top-notch writing.  

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#Review - My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows #YALIT #Fantasy

Series: The Lady Janies # 1
Format: Hardcover, 512 pages
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult /  Romantic Comedy

In the tradition of The Princess Bride comes a fantastical, romantical, hilarious(ical) adventure inspired by the true story of Lady Jane Grey—or, “an uproarious historical fantasy that’s not to be missed” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Lady Jane Grey, sixteen, is about to be married to a total stranger—and caught up in an insidious plot to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his crown. But that’s the least of Jane’s problems. Jane’s about to become Queen of England.

Like that could go wrong.

In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, true love, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.

My Lady Jane is the first installment in The Lady Janies series by co-authors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows. Let's get the facts out of the way first. This is a story about a real life historical figure named Lady Jane Grey who spent 9 days as Queen of England before... See, I'm pushing you towards actually looking up to what she really happened to her. You need more HISTORY in your lives! The authors have manipulated and tweaked and completely rearranged major details. 

They added a touch of magic to keep things interesting. So really anything could happen. The authors then added a bit of hijinks, romance, action, adventure and plenty of fun where history gets turned on its bloody head. The year is 1553. In this world, there are those called Edian. The E∂ians were blessed (or cursed, depending on your point of view) with the ability to switch between a human form and an animal one. That second group (known as Verities) believed that human beings had no business being anything other than human beings.

And because Verities were largely in charge of everything, E∂ians were persecuted and hunted until most of them died out or went deep into hiding. The story begins in the middle of tense times, with an increasing animosity brewing between E∂ians and Verities, a teenage king with a tenuous grasp on the throne of England, and a young lord and lady who have no idea their destinies are about to collide. Totally against their will.

As King Edward is being told he only has months to live, his cousin 16-year old Lady Jane Grey is being forced into marrying a complete stranger (Lord Guildford). Jane, who has been previously betrothed numerous times, loves to read and research history, philosophy, and religion. Jane is also notoriously willful which has left four previous suitors in the dirt. Jane really doesn't care for G when they meet. First, they have to marry at night. NIGHT, I say unto thee! Why in bloody hades must one be married at night!!!

Second, she believes the rumors about his womanizing, especially since nobody, including her best friend, or his family, failed to tell her the truth about her intended. The twisted part is that Lord Guildford is what the authors called a undomesticated horseman who lives an entirely nighttime existence. Horse by night, human by day. Even though it believes it to be a curse, he wouldn't change the freedom of what being a horse brings to him. The twist part is that the two have such a rollercoaster ride of emotions that you can't hope and keep your fingers crossed that things work out for them. 

Since this is a retelling of the famous Tudor family, let's say that the Verities are Catholics, and Edian's are Protestants. The country is on the cusp of a war between the factions due in large part because the Edian's can shapeshift, and the Verities hate them for that. The Verities are all about burning, beheading, and whatever it takes to keep the Edian's from gaining any power. So, here we have a King, Edward, who has never kissed a girl, or fallen in love, on the edge of dying at a very young age. After changing the rules of succession, suddenly Jane becomes Queen. But.....

By the way, I liked this Edward. I especially loved his relationship with not only Jane who he grew up with, but his sister Bess, who you can call Queen Elizabeth. Then there's Gracie who refuses to call him King, and is really an interesting character. Lady Grey is a feisty girl with intelligence and things are going to drive you wild once you get through the story and discover the twists. Next, there is G, for Guildford he considers his "condition" to be a curse, others consider it a blessing, including Jane who would love to be able to shapeshift. Naturally we have the villains, who, I will just call her Bloody Mary and you can figure out who I am talking about.

“Very funny, my lady. And that reminds me"---he pointed a finger at her---"no horse jokes."
He was making it too easy. "Ah, my lord, why the long face?"
"That's it!”

Curiosity oftens sends me on researching different historical characters so, let me just say that these are historically accurate characters with a modern day spin and twist to make them have totally different lives than they actually lived. Yes, they all existed. They all played a part in the days of the Tudors, including Elizabeth Tudor, the sister to Mary and Edward. The story also includes Mary Queen of Scots. The story is actually broken into 2 parts. The first part is where history is pretty much followed as it apparently happened, while part 2 is history manipulated by the authors to fit their twisted imaginations. It definitely works.

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Tuesday #Review - Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows #YALit #Fantasy

Series: Fallen Isles Trilogy # 1
Format: E-Book, 496 pages
Release Date: September 12, 2017
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Young Adult / Epic Fantasy

Before

Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer. Since the day she was born, she’s been told she’s special. Important. Perfect. She’s known across the Fallen Isles not just for her beauty, but for the Mira Treaty named after her, a peace agreement which united the seven islands against their enemies on the mainland.

But Mira has never felt as perfect as everyone says. She counts compulsively. She struggles with crippling anxiety. And she’s far too interested in dragons for a girl of her station.
After

Then Mira discovers an explosive secret that challenges everything she and the Treaty stand for. Betrayed by the very people she spent her life serving, Mira is sentenced to the Pit–the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. There, a cruel guard would do anything to discover the secret she would die to protect.

No longer beholden to those who betrayed her, Mira must learn to survive on her own and unearth the dark truths about the Fallen Isles–and herself–before her very world begins to collapse.

Before She Ignites, by author Jodi Meadows, is the first installment in the Fallen Isles Trilogy. The first book is complete with romance, deadly games of deceit and betrayal, and a fiercely imagined world that keeps you guessing until the explosive ending. The reason I choose to request this story is the faction-like islands, the dragons, and protagonist Mira Minkoba’s strong resemblance to Daenerys Targaryen (aka Mother of Dragons). Meadows' world consists of 6 island nations that make up the Fallen Isles. 

Mira lives on the island of Damina. Mika is the girl the Mira Treaty is named after. For 16 years, she has led a pretty charmed life while having a strong affinity with dragons. In fact, she has her very own dragon she has raised since she was small. But, after she and her best friends Hristo and Ilina discover a shocking secret about what is happening to supposed protected dragons, Mika is thrown into one of the harshest prisons in the Fallen Isles after being betrayed by someone she's always trusted. 

Mira is supposed to be the symbol of hope for the island chain, but after being sent to The Pit, she will have to learn how to survive on her own for the first time and unearth the darkest truths about the Fallen Isles—and herself. Never fear my dears. Meadows twists the story be weaving Mira's back story and who she was before, with the present and who she is forced to become. I think, in this case, it was definitely necessary to do the back and forth in order to get the truth to come out. 

Mira is an interesting character. She has a nervous affliction & anxiety that makes her count things. She never forgets what she has counted. The story pretty much beings with Mira's arrival as an anonymous prisoner who has been stripped of her dignity by not only the council, but by over reactionary prison guards. Prison guards who may know too much about who Mira is, and that means abandoning all hope of escaping unless she can find a way to trust the strange boy from Idris named Aaru who teaches her a strange way to communicate, or the warrior named Gerel who I dare say I want to see more of in future installments.

In closing, Before She Ignites is a story that has a diverse cast, including the leading lady. There is betrayal, Dragons, curious magical candles called noorestones, a prison riot, friendships, alliances, and enemies that appear as friends but have other agenda's instead. The sequel to this book is apparently going to release in the Fall of 2018. I shall hope that I am alive and able to continue this series until the ending.

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#Friday Review - The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows (YA Fantasy)

Series: The Orphan Queen # 2
Format: E-Galley, 544 pages
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right. 

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen

The Mirror King, by author Jodi Meadows, is the second installment in The Orphan Queen series. The story picks up exactly where The Orphan Queen left off with its devastating cliffhanger ending. Crown Prince Tobiah has been fatally wounded by Patrick Lien, Princess Wilhelmina Korte's identity as the heir to the Vermilion Crown has been revealed after she saved Skyvale from the wraith, and people believe that she is the notorious Black Knife. But, that's just the tip of the iceberg.  

Her magic may have temporarily saved Skyvale, but it also created a living wraith-boy who Wil has to watch over with a keen eye. Wraith-boy seems to have a mind all his own, and does some pretty horrific things believing he is helping Wil. But, in the end, I think you can excuse him for some of his actions since I really do believe he genuinely wanted the best for Wil. On another front, her Osprey's, those who were high born and taken as children during the One-Night War, have divided. 

Half (Theresa, Connor, Karl, and Kevin) have stayed with her, while Wil's best friend Melanie, Paige, Oscar, and Ronald chose to go with Patrick Lien who tried to assassinate Crown Prince Tobiah Pierce. The same Patrick Lien who is killing in her name, and has made it is goal to go to war with the Indigo Kingdom. The same Patrick who honestly believes that his actions will make him a good king to Wilhelmina's queen. 

Whatever choices Wil decides on, people are going to have their feelings hurt. Her love life isn't exactly going along swimmingly either. She is in love with the person she knows as the Black Knife, even though there are some who believe she is the masked savior. The same boy she saved when they were children. The same man who is now betrothed to marry Meredith Corcoran who has become a friend to Wilhelmina after everything that has happened. 

One of the more fascinating aspects of this story is how Meadows gets inside Wil's head as she is struggling with major decisions. Should she continue to be allied with Tobiah when her own kingdom is being ruled a despot? Even though she is the daughter of the murdered former King and Queen, does she have what it takes to unite her people, and stop an all out war between Patrick, and Prince Colin, the overseer of the Aecorians? Will her magic help save her kingdom, or will it to fall to the wraith?

As for the romance, there are so many things to say about it that I worry I may spoil something. We know these two characters and have come to love them almost from the start. We know they are both required to be leaders of separate nations and whether or not that alliance stays true, depends on all sorts of outside interference's including an approaching wraith that is threatening Tobiah's kingdom. 

While Tobiah and Wil definitely are good together, I can't think of off the top of my head any other couple who has had to deal with so much trauma and loss. I am glad that Meadows choose to key on the struggles that each character experiences rather than just say, go away to anyone else who may have been in the way. 

Other things I liked: I adored the Osprey's minus Patrick. I loved that Melanie and Wil are able to stay best friends regardless of the former's previous actions in following Patrick. I loved Theresa and Connor as well. I adore James Raynor, Captain of Tobiah's guard, best friend, and cousin. There is almost nothing that James does that I can say I didn't like. James is an honest, and caring, and I believe that he is a friend to Wilhelmina as well as Tobiah. 

I really enjoyed this story, the action, the intensity, and the mystery right until I got to the last page and realized that Meadows apparently left the series right where it ends. I dare say that it may have affected my overall rating because of it. I just don't like presuming or guessing at what happens next to these characters. I know this book is rather larger than normal YA books that I read, but I could have seen this going a bit further, or yes, maybe even another book.  

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