This is a weekly feature, where I get to go all fannish about two randomly-picked favvies (which may not actually be favorites, but got a rating of 3 or higher) that I would recommend to friends! So, here are this week's two picks:
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Genre: historical fantasy/romance
Part of a Series: Yes
Rating: 3 out of 5
Who'll Like It: Girl read, fifteen and up, fans of historical fantasy involving witches - and fans of romance. Those who are extremely picky about gay/lesbian content should be wary, however.
Why I Like It:
This isn't a favorite book, and Cate Cahill isn't my favorite protagonist (at least, in the first book she isn't). But the alternate history feel of the story intrigued me, I liked the character dynamics - especially between the three Cahill sisters, - and I liked Finn. The narration is in present tense, but it actually suits the story very well, to a point that made me rather like it! Sometimes it felt like the Author was trying to make a point with all of her equality preaching about lesbians and gays, and later in the story I was nastily surprised when one of the main characters turned out to be a lesbian. I would have been all right with this if it had furthered the story's plot, but it really didn't. But it's a good, relaxing weekend read, with moderately good characters, a pleasing writing style, and an interesting world. It's sequel - Star Cursed - is even better.
Title: Witchlanders
Author: Lena Coakley
Genre: fantasy
Part of a Series: Possible sequel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Who'll Like It: Girls and guys alike, fourteen and up just due to attention span and reading level (I would have liked it at any age), great for fantasy fans, and Readers who really like stories with strong camaraderie and brotherhood attachment
Why I Like It:
I love stories that take place in the winter, more specifically the mountains in the winter. I'm not a huge fan of magic, though I certainly read my own fair share of fantasy. But I do actually rather like elemental and "song" magic. This book has both, and the way the Author weaves it in is, to the say the least, enchanting. And then there's the characters. I absolute loved the whole "two young men at odds with each other, and then turning into brothers through shared hardship" story. I like camaraderie stories, and despite the girl in the cover, the two main characters are young men. And they are on opposing sides in a war. The one main girl character that is in the story is also a terrific character. The Author also did an extremely good job in catching the isolated beauty of the high country, and that isn't easy to capture in writing unless one has spent a lot of time in the mountains - and in the winter.
Witchlanders was a really awesome book, I really want to read it again sometime, since there were a couple things that kind of confused me when I first read it that wouldn't on a second go ;) I really hope the author writes another book in the same world. I find myself rather annoyed at those authors you are never sure you will see anything from again :P
ReplyDeleteI know! It ended to where there could be a sequel, but it also doesn't need one. I rather hope she does write one, though. :)
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