Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Published: August 28, 2017
364 pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Daughter of immortals.
Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.
Daughter of death.
Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.
Together.
Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.
Kim’s Review:
I was so afraid to read this book! I love Wonder Woman and I love Leigh Bardugo so what happens if I don’t like this book?? But I worried for no reason, because I loved it. Bardugo captured the spirit of Wonder Woman perfectly! I saw Gal Gadot acting out every page in my head! Themyscira sounds like paradise and I’d like to live there. The Amazons are badass and brilliant.
Diana is the perfect combination of innocent and tough. Alia and her friends so accurately embody today’s youth, just without being insufferable. The story was well thought out and believable. I was completely satisfied with the ending; all strings were tied and everything made sense. My only issue with this book was the little political jabs that Bardugo put in. I’m not gonna get into how I hate politics in fiction, y’all have heard me complain before. I also acknowledge that they were indeed little and just because my views don’t align with Bardugo’s, they annoyed me more. But I still loved this book so much. It stuck in my brain and I had a great time contemplating and chewing on it. I would absolutely recommend this book to pretty much everybody! I cant wait to read more of the DC Icon series!!
Purchase Links:
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Beneath the Citadel
Author: Destiny Soria
Published: October 9, 2018
480 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in power by virtue of the prophecies of the elder seers. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade.
In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.
Kim’s Review:
Our first contender for the 2019 Most Gorgeous Cover Tournament! I’ll admit, I mostly bought this book for the cover . . . cuz its gorgeous! But the story also sounded interesting so I went for it! I am on a roll with characters I like! I actually liked all the characters in this book. They were all believable and realistic and I could understand and sympathize with them. The story is very unique and it kept me guessing the whole time. Soria did a great job of going for gut feeling, but leaving just enough doubt that I didn’t really know what the right thing was or how things were going to end. There were a few little things that didn’t quite make sense to me, and that’s why I gave 4 stars. Thankfully they were very little so it didn’t ruin the story.
What I really loved about this story, is that it showed how life is not black and white. There were some adult themes that would keep me from recommending this book to younger teens, but I would absolutely recommend it to older teens and even college students. The fact that life is made up of complicated and varying shades of gray is something that people seem to have forgotten. Beneath the Citadel perfectly illustrated how messy decisions and choices can be. Not everything is cut and dry and easy. I also loved the message of remembrance. History books can be forgotten, ignored, even erased . . . but the past is the past and it cannot be changed. Overall, this was a great book and I really enjoyed it!
Purchase Links:
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The Female of the Species
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Published: September 20, 2016
352 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it.
Three years ago, when her older sister, Anna, was murdered and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best—the language of violence. While her own crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other people. Not with Jack, the star athlete who wants to really know her but still feels guilty over the role he played the night Anna’s body was discovered. And not with Peekay, the preacher’s kid with a defiant streak who befriends Alex while they volunteer at an animal shelter. Not anyone.
As their senior year unfolds, Alex’s darker nature breaks out, setting these three teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.
Kim’s Review:
Mindy McGinnis has such a grasp of the darker side of humanity and l love it so so much! I have been dying to read this book for the longest time and I finally got it for Christmas. I picked it up, and was soon engrossed. I love the differing POVs, the look into the lives of teens surrounding a tragedy, and watching them live their normal lives in a small town. And considering how much I hate teens, I really liked Alex and Peekay and Jack. Alex is very mature for her age and I found her self-awareness to be interesting. I related with Peekay and her position as “goodie two shoes” and trying to overcome her father’s religious position in the community. And Jack is just a cutie and I love him. And thankfully, the parents in this story weren’t idiots!!! Peekay’s parents are so awesome and understanding and realistic! They’re certainly better than any pastors I know! There is a little teenage drama, but it really only adds to the story, so I was ok with it! I would definitely save this for more mature teens due to language and adult themes. Overall, a fascinating read and a perfect example of Mindy McGinnis!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
