Forged for Destiny by Andrew Knighton Medieval Fantasy NetGalley eARC (Invite) Pub Date: Apr. 15, 2025 Orbit Books Ages: 16+
Raul's birthmark is exactly whatForged for Destiny by Andrew Knighton Medieval Fantasy NetGalley eARC (Invite) Pub Date: Apr. 15, 2025 Orbit Books Ages: 16+
Raul's birthmark is exactly what the prophecy describes, thus marking the young man as the last surviving heir of King Balbainus and it is said that the heir will lead his people to freedom by defeating the Dunholmi government that had conquered the people eighteen years ago.
Under the care of his adopted parents: an older warrior, and a seer, Raul has been trained to fight and to see signs in the world around him. But Raul doesn't want to be a fighter because his heart is soft. He is caring, but he is willing to play along until he can find a peaceful way.
Yeah, I can't say much about this book because at around twenty-five percent I so wanted to DNF. Even though the first chapter had action and suspense, I got bored and started to skim. Nothing was going on except rambling pointless dialogue, narrations that went around and around like a textbook, and Raul's daily life and those around him, who were all flat, as was the world.
Kicking myself for not tossing this book when I first wanted to, I skimmed even faster because I was so far into it and hoped in those last chapters I would find out why so many people rated this three or more stars... And even after finishing, I still have no idea why.
Nothing grabbed my attention until the end... spoiler.... then the story left off as a minor cliffhanger...
As for the twist... 'eye roll'...
There is violence, a little gory, so this isn't suitable for readers under sixteen.
As for a next possible book, I won't be reading it!
When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur YA Suspense Horror NetGalley eARC Pub Date: May 27, 2025 Macmillan Children's/Henry Holt Ages: 14+
Dawson Sumter is missing, andWhen Devils Sing by Xan Kaur YA Suspense Horror NetGalley eARC Pub Date: May 27, 2025 Macmillan Children's/Henry Holt Ages: 14+
Dawson Sumter is missing, and Neera might be the last person that saw him when he arrived at her grandparents' hotel, Dawson leaving behind a lot of blood in the bathroom.
Sam made a deal to save her little brother after a horrific car accident. All she had to do was lie, saying she saw Dawson at the lake drunk.
Reid and Dawson became fast friends at the golf course, though Reid's family wasn't thrilled about a poor kid hanging around.
After receiving an email from Dawson claiming something bad was going to happen to him, Isaiah begins to investigate, wondering if there is some truth to the urban legend about three devils.
Disappearances in Carrion are common, but they seem to spike every thirteen years, most of the missing drowning in the lake during the celebration of the cicadas' returns.
This book kept up at a steady pace, a slow one. I loved the unique idea of how the deals with devils were made, but they were not creepy enough, instead, they were simple. And with the multiple MCs, it got confusing at times, then bogged down with their histories; some were constantly reminded, while others were just a brushing. Equal grounds would have highlighted the characters' growth.
Even though it started off good, without the backstory of the character and what led to it, there was no impact. I had no idea why the situation happened. That reasoning wasn't given until much later. After the initial event, the story's pace dropped and didn't pick up until the end, and that was just a blip.
While one early reviewer called this: 'A true blood-soaked Southern Gothic...' I am going to majorly disagree! It's really only a sprinkling of blood.
I was expecting a blood filled horror story with devils and creepy bugs, but alas, nope. Yeah, there is some gore, blood, and death, but there was only one part of the story that came close to horror and gore. The descriptions of the town, environment, etc, were great; wonderful details, especially with the old pictures!
Even though I think this is tame, with the violence and blood, this book isn't suitable for readers under fourteen.
Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington Science Fiction Historical NetGalley eARC Pub Date: Mar 18, 2025 St. Martin's Press Ages: 16+
Rabbit Ward is an archaeoloSplinter Effect by Andrew Ludington Science Fiction Historical NetGalley eARC Pub Date: Mar 18, 2025 St. Martin's Press Ages: 16+
Rabbit Ward is an archaeologist who travels through time for the Smithsonian to retrieve lost treasures the moment they disappear from history, funded by the government and private collectors. But the Smithsonian and its sponsors aren't the only people who have the time travel technology, and there is one woman, Helen, who seems to pop up during Rabbit's expeditions, stealing what he retrieved.
On an expedition to Constantinople, hunting for the menorah, the same one that in a previous expedition had cost the life of the young man accompanying Rabbit, once again Helen is there, shadowing his search. When it starts to look as if there is someone else who also wants the menorah, willing to kill to achieve their goal, the two of them make a truce. But there is something about the whole thing that feels out of place to Rabbit.
I was hoping for more time travel adventures, but this story pretty much stayed at Constantinople. I am not a history buff, so I do not know how much of the detail descriptions, which sometimes dragged on to irritable, were correct, or the time frame and events that were talked about, and while I hope there is truth to it and the author did their research, I took it, as I do with all history/scientific fiction, with a grain of salt. The author is human, so mistakes can happen and embellishments are a part of fiction.
This story moved along at a good and steady pace, had action here and there, and the characters and setting were really developed, though I kind of wish a little more was spent on the science of the time travel. The how it worked and was discovered, I don't feel was described, but the 'splinter effect' (different timelines) was really thought out.
If it hadn't been for the over descriptions that I started to skim so I didn't get bored, I would've given this one more star. Because I can see how this could become a series, I would be interested in reading more.
Billie's Not So Secret Diary
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