Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
RATING 3.75/5 ⭐
Once & Future is a gender-swapped retelling of King Author - oh, and it is set IN SPACE. This fast paced plot follows Ari, the newest incarnation of King Author, and Merlin, the great wizard who has aged backwards and now is a scrawny teenager. With a round table of diverse characters and the entire galaxy at stake, it's now or never for this misfit band of knights.Ari was a great character to follow, and I liked her development throughout the novel. I am very impressed with the diversity represented in the novel and how natural it felt. That was one of my favourite parts of the novel, it was well written and it is significant in today's society to have books with different gender identities and sexuality represented.
Unfortunately, I was not as familiar with the King Author tale, so being immersed so quickly into the story was a bit confusing, and I found myself struggling to connect with the story. For fans of King Author, it is the perfect retelling though. It ends on a cliff hanger, leaving readers anticipating the next in the series.
* Thank you HBG Canada for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review *
Stealing Home by Becky Wallace
RATING: 4/5 ⭐
This story followed Ryan Russell, who's divorced parents own the minor league baseball team, the Buckley Beavers. Her goal is to one day become one of the only female General Managers in the sport. Their first round pick, Sawyer Campbell, is more charming than he appears, she is thrown a major curve ball. As challenges threaten the teams ownership, and its existence, Ryan is concerned that her team, her heart, and her future, is crumbling away.What a cute and simple contemporary. I am a huge sports fan, so the baseball references made sense, and were explained well by the author. Ryan and Sawyer had chemistry right away, and once sparks fly, the reader cannot wait to see if they will end up together. Besides being busy hiding feelings for each other, it was engaging to see the challenges that Ryan and Sawyer faced to find a way to save the team.
The realistic ties of patriarchy in a male dominated industry were well done too. I liked that it brought a more serious issue into a typically fun read, to make it more meaningful. At times it was a bit slow paced, but as a summer read, it was great. Overall, I would recommend to readers who enjoy contemporary reads with some female empowerment aspects.
Link to Goodreads Review
* Thank you Manda Group for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review *
The Sword & the Dagger by Robert Cochran
RATING: 4.5/5 ⭐
This novel follows three main characters: Elaine, Christian Crown Princess of Tripoli, her betrothed, Conrad, the Crown Prince of Antioch, and Rashid, a Muslim assassin preparing to kill. They go on a dangerous journey, risking their lives and their kingdoms, for a chance to know the truth, while facing some of most deadliest warriors in the land.
I loved this book, it totally surprised me. I read it in 24 hours, and it got me out of a reading slump. The mixed reviews on it had me skeptical, but I personally enjoyed it. The setting was magical, with lush worlds and a historical twist that was subtle yet relevant. The mix of races and religions was very well written and I liked the diversity it brought to the novel. Royalty in a novel is a guilty pleasure for me, so that aspect was also enticing.The characters I enjoyed most. Each was easy to connect with, and had strengths that would serve them well throughout the story. Elaine found a newfound confidence and courage that she could not have inside the palace walls. Conrad was physically strong, but throughout the novel his emotional side was tested through challenges, both physical and mental.
The plot was a bit slow or predictable at times, but the novel was a quick read so I did not mind. I do wish the novel had not ended as soon as it did, as I would have liked to see how the kingdoms reacted following all the events that occurred, and the potential dangers that still could threaten the kingdoms.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and would recommend to fantasy fans looking for a quick read with some historical aspects.
Link to Goodreads Review
* Thank you Raincoast Books for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest opinion *