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Tag: ya fantasy series

  • 3 Things We Love About Fortress Of Ambrose By J. Elle

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    As we reach the last quarter of 2025, THP’s book team wants to acknowledge how many new books we’ve read and reviewed this year. From incredible series starters to jaw-dropping sequels, and now epic trilogy conclusions like Fortress of Ambrose by J. Elle.

    Fortress of Ambrose picks up shortly after Shadows of Perl, book two of the House of Marionne trilogy. If you remember, we were left on a huge cliffhanger that had us overthinking for months!

    Now we finally get to know what happens to Quell, Jordan, Nore, and Yagrin in this trilogy conclusion. Here are three things we enjoyed most about J. Elle’s Fortress of Ambrose!

    Fortress of Ambrose by J. Elle
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Book Overview: Fortress Of Ambrose

    Content warnings: death of loved ones, gore, bodies/corpses, mentions of child abuse and abandonment, serious injury, violence, warfare, weapons

    Summary: With the future of the Order clouded in uncertainty, and the evil within its ranks coming to the surface, Quell Marionne has nowhere left to turn.

    Everyone Quell cares about is gone and she still can’t escape the powerful legacy that wants to destroy her. But when she uncovers an earth-shattering revelation, she must choose: be the hero the magic world needs or save Jordan.

    Meanwhile, a darkness festers inside Dragunheart Jordan Wexton. His path to survival means becoming the monster he was bred to hate, if he can overcome the power rotting within himself.

    In a world where the line between proper and forbidden magic blurs, Quell and Jordan, along with two unlikely allies – bitter assassin Yagrin Wexton and magicless Heir Nore Ambrose, must navigate a treacherous path where freedom hangs by a thread. Can love tip the scales toward freedom? Or will rivalries and deadly betrayals shatter their hearts and destroy the world they once knew?

    Quell & Nore’s Leadership

    When it comes to diverse YA fantasies, Fortress of Ambrose and the rest of the House of Marionne trilogy has made it to the top of our list. Each House is led by women, and the line of succession passes from mother to daughter. Quell and Nore both assume the roles of Headmistresses for the House of Marionne and House of Ambrose, respectively. Though they were reluctant to lead at first, these young women endure and sacrifice so much in this book. We can’t help but feel proud of their growth!

    Two Core Romances

    We love when a fantasy also has a romance or two sprinkled in. Quell and Jordan’s enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies romance in book two brought them back to lovers in Fortress of Ambrose. But the Sphere’s magic in Jordan prevent them from getting close to each other, making it an angsty wait for the moment they could be fully together. Nore and Yagrin’s romance had just as much tension, given Yagrin’s past love with Red and current attraction to Nore without knowing their shared identity.

    Breaking Cycles Of Trauma

    Another thing we love about Fortress of Ambrose is seeing our main characters overcoming the trauma that all seem to stem from their parents and families. One of the most drastic developments we found in Jordan, whose upbringing made him believe himself to be undeserving of love. It took Quell’s love to make him start to unlearn this traumatic and toxic mindset. Nore also had a notable change once she started to acknowledge her strengths, despite not having magic (to her mother’s great regret).

    Themes of character growth, inner strength, and breaking cycles abound in J. Elle’s Fortress of Ambrose, making for a satisfying trilogy finale!

    Fortress of Ambrose by J. Elle comes out October 14th, and you can order a copy of it here!

    What do you think of the conclusion to the House of Marionne trilogy? Are you planning to read J. Elle’s latest novel, Fortress of Ambrose? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

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

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT J. ELLE:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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  • 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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  • 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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  • Book Review: Of Jade And Dragons By Amber Chen

    Book Review: Of Jade And Dragons By Amber Chen

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    On behalf of YA fantasy lovers everywhere, we are getting fed this year! We’ve gotten sequels like Sound the Gong and Blood & Fury, along with conclusions to trilogies like All This Twisted Glory and Burning Crowns. And today, we’re reviewing a YA fantasy series starter: Of Jade and Dragons, Amber Chen’s debut novel.

    Inspired by Qing Dynasty China, Of Jade and Dragons follows Aihui Ying, a girl who’s determined to find her father’s killer and avenge him. She disguises herself as her brother to infiltrate the Engineers Guild and even makes an unlikely ally of Aogiya Ye-yang, the eighth prince.

    Of Jade and Dragons is the first book of the Fall of the Dragon duology. Let’s just say we’re already eager to get our hands on the second book! But we’re willing to wait as long as it takes to see the conclusion to Ying and Ye-yang’s story. So until that time comes, we’ll share three of our favorite things about Amber Chen’s Of Jade and Dragons!

    Cover: Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Book Overview: Of Jade And Dragons

    Content Warnings: parental death, murder, violence, blood, mentions of war, descriptions of weapons of war, misogyny as is typical of a society entrenched in patriarchy

    Summary: Eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father, but after his sudden murder, her life falls apart. Left with only a journal of her father’s engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, a heartbroken Ying follows the trail to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild—a place that harbors her father’s hidden past—determined to discover why anyone would threaten a man who ultimately chose a quiet life over fame and fortune. 

    Disguised as her brother, Ying manages to infiltrate the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of an unlikely ally—Aogiya Ye-yang, the taciturn eighth prince of the High Command. With her father’s renown placing a target firmly on her back, Ying must stay one step ahead of her fellow competitors, the jealous guild masters, and the killer still hunting for her father’s journal. Complicating everything is her increasingly tangled relationship with the prince, who may have mysterious plans of his own. 

    The secrets concealed within the guild can be as deadly as the weapons they build—and with her life and the future of her homeland at stake, Ying doesn’t know who to trust. Can she avenge her father even if it means going against everything he stood for, or will she be next in the mastermind’s line of fire?

    C-Drama Vibes

    Part of our love of fantasy comes from our love of Chinese historical and fantasy dramas! And we can easily imagine Of Jade and Dragons as an action-packed C-Drama with plenty of palace intrigue. With the question of the High Commander’s heir apparent still undecided, all the princes must prove their worth. It even played like a TV show in our heads as we were reading. We can’t get enough of this book, and the writing fully immersed us in the story.

    Ying’s Courage

    There’s no denying that Ying has main character energy. She’s willing to bet her life by disguising herself as a boy in order to gain access to the Engineers Guild. Everything will be worth it, as long as she can find her father’s killer and take revenge. Granted, Ying completely goes against her father’s dying wishes to get here. But she barrels her way through the training and tests, surrounded by people who stop at nothing to bring her down. Ultimately, the cost of revenge may have been worth more than she expected.

    Good Ol’ Angst

    We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: we don’t want to make ourselves sad or frustrated all the time. But it’s hard to believe with all the angst we’ve read this year. The plot twists with Ye-yang’s true political role and arranged marriage had us punching the air. Ying and Ye-yang have crossed too many lines not to be fated together. Of course, everything is much easier said than done when the love interest is 1) royalty and 2) most favored to be the next ruler. We won’t give up on them yet!

    With an intricately woven plot and an ill-fated entanglement, Amber Chen’s Of Jade and Dragons has the makings of one of our favorite YA fantasy series openers yet!

    Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen releases June 18th, and you can preorder a copy of it here!

    What do you think of Amber Chen’s Of Jade and Dragons from our review? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AMBER CHEN:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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