Posts
Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice, Adalyn Grace’s All the Stars and Teeth is a thrilling fantasy for fans of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval and Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series.
She will reign.
As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.
When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.
But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.
I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
Review:
All The Stars and Teeth, by Adelyn Grace, is full of many of the elements I love in Fantasy novels. It is set in a world rich with magic and folklore. There are lots of fun characters. And the story is one where the main character must question their beliefs, and wrestle with how they perceive themselves. And it's basically a "road trip" book, set on the high seas!
What I Liked:
World-Building:In the Kingdom of Visidia, everyone has some type of magical ability. There are people who can manipulate the elements, people who can create illusions, and people with many other abilities. But the Montara royal family of Visidia has the most influential magic of them all: soul magic.
The author did an exceptional job of explaining the types of magic and then using them at different points in the story. She also went into the world's history and how these magics came about. This made for a world with tremendous depth, and gave it an epic quality.
Characters:
Amora, the main character, is facing many challenges all at once. She must redeem herself after a terrible public failure, while confronting several uncomfortable truths about her father's reign as King. All the while, she is being chased by almost everyone! I liked that she learns from her mistakes, and doesn't make excuses for her flaws. As she travels throughout the kingdom, she begins to realize that her kingdom is not the paradise she thinks it is. Seeing the larger picture is one of the cornerstones of transitioning into thinking as an adult. The author does a wonderful job showing this transformation.
One of the people sharing her adventures is Bastian, a pirate who helps her escape prison, but has his own motives for doing so. I liked that he was more than a stereotypical pirate. His own story is compelling and full of twists and turns.
Story:
As I said, this is basically a road trip novel. As the story progresses, Amora and her friends must travel to various islands in the kingdom. This creates many opportunities for the characters to meet encounter many different types of people, customs, clothing, foood, and magic. I loved that there was such variety in the kingdom. They all had positive and negative elements that made each place unique.
Through the road trip format, the different strengths (and weaknesses) of each character are revealed. By working together, the characters overcome lots of obstacles. I loved how this make everyone a valued member of the crew.
Rating:
Release Date: February 4th, 2020
Author: Adalyn Grace
Publisher: Imprint
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 384 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A must-read for fans of YA Fantasy. Lots of fun, but meant for older teens and adults due to many violent scenes.
0 comments :
Post a Comment