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Tag: duology

  • 3 Things We Love About Zodiac Legacy By Katie Zhao

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    The twelve Chinese zodiac signs undergo a major transformation in Katie Zhao‘s Descendants of the Zodiac fantasy duology. The Descendants have been cursed into supernatural creatures, unable to access their full powers until they can restore all twelve stone fountainheads to their rightful place.

    In Zhao’s new sequel, Zodiac Legacy, we pick up promptly after the chaotic ending of book one, Zodiac Rising. Evangeline Long and her crew search for the two remaining fountainheads. The person hiding them? None other than Evangeline’s brother, Julius, back to life from his (fake) death.

    With multiple perspectives and satisfying character arcs, this is a YA duology conclusion you can’t miss! Here are three things we love about Katie Zhao’s Zodiac Legacy!

    Zodiac Legacy by Katie Zhao
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Book Overview: Zodiac Legacy

    Content warnings: death of loved ones, graphic violence, gore, torture, forced captivity, hostages, bodies/corpses, warfare, weapons, poisoning (Read at your discretion!)

    Summary: After the heist of a lifetime to reclaim the source of their magic—the twelve Chinese zodiac statues—Evangeline Long and her crew of supernatural beings are on the run. Something—or someone—is working against the Descendants of the Zodiac from the shadows, and despite Evangeline’s efforts, her people remain cursed as creatures of darkness.

    However, not everyone wants to return to life before the curse. As factions begin to tear the Descendants apart, Evangeline must travel to London to finish her mission: break the curse and restore the Descendants to their former glory. But with one of her crew in enemy hands and longtime allies turning on her, Evangeline must barter with lives as she decides who to trust . . . and who to target.

    And she’ll have to do it soon. There are whispers of monsters on the loose—longtime foes of the Descendants who have returned for blood—and as long as the Descendants remain cursed, they don’t stand a chance. Now more than ever, Evangeline’s crew must finish their mission and reclaim their powers, before there is nothing left of the Descendants to save. . .

    Cat-And-Mouse Game

    Before the start of the Descendants of the Zodiac series, Evangeline and Julius were truly inseparable siblings. Evangeline admired and learned everything she could from Julius. Julius loved and had taken care of Evangeline since their parents died. That is, until he faked his own death in book one and came back to life having long betrayed Evangeline. Evangeline will stop at nothing for any clues on her brother’s whereabouts. Too bad Julius always seems to be three steps ahead of her.

    Character Growth

    The amount of character growth we see in Zodiac Legacy is truly incredible. Every character plays a role in restoring the Descendants to their full power, even the unlikely allies. Each point of view brings us up close and personal to some of our favorite characters, including the core four: Evangeline, Tristan, Nicholas, and Alice. Their journeys lead to much-needed emotional clarity as well as help leveling up their respective abilities. Our favorite arc has to be Cecil’s path from being Julius’s puppet to devoting herself to what she thinks is the right thing to do.

    Final Showdown

    The various POVs culminate into a face off between Julius and Evangeline’s forces, as well as between all the Descendants and the Wrathlings, which are cunning, vengeful, and powerful monsters that can take on the forms of the humans they kill. Now, we won’t spoil the results of either battle, but just be prepared for a ton of action and twists. A silver bullet here, a silver knife there. Each side uses their abilities and weapons to the fullest, and neither comes out unscathed. We’re still processing some things…

    Katie Zhao’s Zodiac Legacy pulls us straight into the action as the characters search for missing relics and prepare to battle an evil that has been festering far too long.

    Zodiac Legacy by Katie Zhao officially releases on October 7th, and you can order a copy of it here!

    What are your thoughts on Katie Zhao’s new sequel, Zodiac Legacy? Have you already read Zodiac Rising? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KATIE ZHAO:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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  • Our 3 Favorite Things About Thief Of Night By Holly Black

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    It’s officially fall, and we’ve adjusted our reading lists accordingly! This next book review needs no introduction. But if you didn’t already know, Holly Black has just released her new adult fantasy novel, Thief of Night!

    Thief of Night is the second and final book in The Charlatan Duology, picking up shortly after the end of Book of Night. With new responsibilities and somehow even more enemies, we looked forward to seeing how Charlie and Red would make it through in this sequel.

    An urban fantasy with shadow magic and plenty of action, here are three of our favorite things about Thief of Night by Holly Black!

    Thief of Night by Holly Black
    Image Source: Macmillan Publishers

    Book Overview: Thief Of Night

    Content warnings: death, murder, mass murder, graphic violence, gore, bodies, corpses, torture, amnesia, poisoning, weapons, mentions of sexual assault and child abuse (Please read at your discretion!)

    Summary: There’d always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked from the day she was born. Never met a bad decision she wasn’t willing to double down on. She may be good enough to steal a shadow from a tower, but will she be good enough to steal back a heart?

    The Romantic Tension

    One of the best things about Thief of Night is the buildup of Charlie and Red’s romance, in our humble opinion. When they become entangled at the end of book one, we thought that would bring them ever closer. Little did we know Red (formerly known as Vince) wouldn’t remember a thing about his intimate relationship with Charlie. But to see that attraction build up again was so rewarding, and we ate it up! Red can now act as himself around Charlie, even if he has to assume certain roles in the outside world.

    Red’s Protectiveness

    A big part of the romantic tension between Charlie and Red comes from Red’s instinctive protectiveness of Charlie. Charlie can technically make Red do whatever she wants him to do since they’re tethered together. However, she gives Red a lot more autonomy and only asks him for help if she needs it. Red would still materialize and protect Charlie even if she doesn’t ask for help. He also shows so much restraint whenever Charlie has to feed him her blood, not wanting to hurt her. Mom, we love him. That’s it. That’s the tweet.

    Supporting Cast

    While we’re here for the main characters and romance in Thief of Night, we also love the supporting characters. Specifically Charlie’s sister Posey and the graduate research student/ethnographer Malhar. We had a feeling they’d get together in some capacity, as seen by their not-so-situationship in book two. These two add some humor and levity to the story that we can always appreciate. Malhar’s research allows us to understand the shadow magic from a logical perspective. And Posey always tries to look out for Charlie, even if Charlie still doesn’t treat her like an adult.

    Charlie and Red must navigate their strange new connection and take down more enemies in Holly Black’s new sequel, Thief of Night. It’s a duology conclusion we couldn’t put down!

    Thief of Night by Holly Black comes out September 23rd, and you can order a copy of it here!

    What are your thoughts on Holly Black’s new sequel, Thief of Night? Did you enjoy it as much as we did? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOLLY BLACK:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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  • Why Heir By Sabaa Tahir Needs To Be Next On Your TBR!

    Why Heir By Sabaa Tahir Needs To Be Next On Your TBR!

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    Buckle yourselves in for this one, folks! The iconic Sabaa Tahir is back with Heir, her latest fantasy novel and the first book in the Heir duology.

    Set in the same world as Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes quartet, Heir takes place 20 years later. It follows the lives of three young characters: a vengeful orphan named Aiz, an outcast and tracker named Sirsha, and the Empire’s Crown Prince Quil. They struggle with power, love, and greed in an adventure that had us on the edge of our seats.

    Sabaa Tahir takes our breath away yet again with Heir. Here are three reasons why you should read it as soon as possible!

    Cover: Heir by Sabaa Tahir
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Book Overview: Heir

    Content Warnings: murder, death, parent death, child deaths, decapitation, warfare, graphic violence, torture (Read at your discretion!)

    Summary: An orphan.
    An outcast.
    A prince.
    And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

    Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but the love of her people propels her until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

    Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she’s willing to give up.  

    QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

    It’s So Immersive

    Maybe it’s because we both read Heir and listened to its audiobook, but we were locked in! This fantasy world is everything, from the physical and political landscape to each character’s dark history. Aiz sails across the Southern Ocean and back to rule her people in the name of Mother Div. Sirsha races across sea and land in the hopes of tracking a killer. Meanwhile, Quil is forced out of his palace in search of safety. We fully lost ourselves in this story and even had to reread the ending to cope.

    The Intersection Of Characters

    With three alternating points of view, it can be difficult to keep track of the plot while learning the individual backstories. But Heir weaves everyone’s stories together so well. Not to mention those of the beloved characters from An Ember in the Ashes! There’s a point in the novel where we must stop and think, is this all happening simultaneously? (IYKYK) But once we figured out the twist, everything else came together. Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil all play their destined role in the final battle, and we’re interested in seeing the aftermath in the sequel.

    Of Course, The Romance

    We couldn’t write this review without mentioning the romance between Sirsha and Quil! From their first chance encounter to bantering while traveling together, we absolutely loved seeing their chemistry develop. Because who else would get fake engaged and bonded to someone just to save her from her sister’s wrath? Soulmates, that’s who! Honestly, that is one of the most romantic moments we’ve ever seen in a romantasy, and we’re not afraid to admit it. Here’s hoping Sirsha and Quil get their happily ever after!

    Sabaa Tahir reimagines a familiar world in Heir, a captivating tale with dark schemes, magic, and twists up until the final page!

    Heir by Sabaa Tahir will be released on October 1st, and you can preorder a copy of it here!

    What do you think about Sabaa Tahir’s Heir? Are you looking forward to this new duology? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SABAA TAHIR:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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