Storm of Locusts - Book Review

 

Storm of Locusts (The Sixth World #2)

by Rebecca Roanhorse

What is it about:

Kai and Caleb Goodacre have been kidnapped just as rumors of a cult sweeping across the reservation leads Maggie and Hastiin to investigate an outpost, and what they find there will challenge everything they've come to know in this action-packed sequel to Trail of Lightning.

It's been four weeks since the bloody showdown at Black Mesa, and Maggie Hoskie, Diné monster hunter, is trying to make the best of things. Only her latest bounty hunt has gone sideways, she's lost her only friend, Kai Arviso, and she's somehow found herself responsible for a girl with a strange clan power.

Then the Goodacre twins show up at Maggie's door with the news that Kai and the youngest Goodacre, Caleb, have fallen in with a mysterious cult, led by a figure out of Navajo legend called the White Locust. The Goodacres are convinced that Kai's a true believer, but Maggie suspects there's more to Kai's new faith than meets the eye. She vows to track down the White Locust, then rescue Kai and make things right between them.

Her search leads her beyond the Walls of Dinétah and straight into the horrors of the Big Water world outside. With the aid of a motley collection of allies, Maggie must battle body harvesters, newborn casino gods, and, ultimately, the White Locust himself. But the cult leader is nothing like she suspected, and Kai might not need rescuing after all. When the full scope of the White Locust's plans are revealed, Maggie's burgeoning trust in her friends and herself will be pushed to the breaking point, and not everyone will survive.

What did I think of it:

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but the points of critique I had for that book made that I didn't immediately picked up the next book. One of the Facebook groups I'm in had a reading event this month celebrating Native American stories though, so I thought that'd be the perfect opportunity to finally read Storm of Locusts.

And this book is so good!

Where the first book took away some of my enjoyment by not giving me enough backstory for a big part of the story, this book didn't suffer from that problem. I was immediately hooked and worrying for Kai, Maggie, and the people who join her on her rescue mission.

As in the first book the world building is excellent and I loved encountering new locations and characters. I easily fell back in this post-apocalyptic world and enjoyed this book even more than the first. 

The story felt more solid and I felt more connected with Maggie and her feelings than the first book. The ending is satisfying, but there are hints of more trouble coming Maggie's way. It's a shame that it seems this series probably won't be continued unless Roanhorse decides to self publish though.

I'll keep hoping for a next book while  picking up the next book in her Between Earth and Sky Series soon.

Why should you read it:

It's amazing Post-Apocalyptic Urban Fantasy

Black Sun - Book Review

 

Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky #1)

by Rebecca Roanhorse

What is it about:

The first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic.

A god will return

When the earth and sky converge

Under the black sun

In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world.

Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.

What did I think of it:

This is a really awesome read!

There are several viewpoint characters and the way the story is told isn't linear, so you have to pay attention to the chapter headings to see when it is taking place.

I will say I liked all viewpoint characters, making that I worried about the outcome of this book as several of them are at opposite ends. And the more I learned about what's going on, the more I knew things most probably wouldn't end happy for all involved.

The worldbuilding is so so good. I loved learning about the holy city of Tova, the Teek heritage of Xiala, and about Serapio and his destiny. I could easily picture everything and was totally invested in the world as well as the story. I felt myself sympathizing with not just the main characters, but minor ones as well. I wanted the best outcome for all, knowing that would not be a possibility.

The ending was epic and made me eager to see what will happen next while it was also satisfying for now. You bet I'll be pre-ordering the next book.

Why should you read it:

It's an amazing Fantasy read.

buy from amazon

Vampires Never Get Old - Book Review

 

Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite

Anthology

What is it about:

Eleven fresh vampire stories from young adult fiction’s leading voices!

In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out―and going out for their first kill―and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.

Welcome to the evolution of the vampire―and a revolution on the page.

Vampires Never Get Old includes stories by authors both bestselling and acclaimed, including Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley

What did I think of it:

When I saw the names Rebecca Roanhorse and Victoria Schwab on the cover of this anthology I had to get it!

And this is a great anthology.

There are of course stories I loved more than others, but that's always the case in anthologies. I absolutely loved The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse. Easily the best story in the anthology for me at least. The atmosphere in this story was just perfect. 

I also really liked Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy, The Boy And The Bell by Heidi Heilig, A Guidebook For The Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed, and In Kind by Kayla Whaley.

The other stories were all enjoyable as well, but in a less memorable way as the stories mentioned above.

All in all this is a very enjoyable collection of vampire stories, where the vampires have been updated a bit to fit in today's world instead of living in the past. I can advice it to anyone who loves vampires.

Why should you read it:

 It's a great anthology filled with vampires.

buy from Amazon

Trail of Lightning - Book Review (repost)

 Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World #1)

by Rebecca Roanhorse

What is it about:
While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.

Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last—and best—hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much larger and more terrifying than anything she could imagine.

Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel to the rez to unravel clues from ancient legends, trade favors with tricksters, and battle dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.

As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past—if she wants to survive.

Welcome to the Sixth World.

What did I think of it:
When I heard about this book I had to get it. Post Apocalyptic Urban Fantasy with a Navajo heroine? Sign me up.

And I very much enjoyed this read. I loved the lore, worldbuilding, characters, and most of the story. What worked less for me was Maggie's background. At the start of the story she is pining after her mentor, the man who taught her how to be a monster hunter and how to use her clan powers. It turns out this relationship was pretty important for how Maggie reacts to things and for some parts of the story. I had wanted to know more about this relationship, maybe even have that relationship be part of the book instead of only seeing Maggie pine over it after the fact. Because I didn't see what happened it was hard to connect with this part of the story.

That aside this is a cool read with many twists and turns, nasty monsters (both human and otherwise), and a really interesting setting. Maggie can be completely oblivious at times, but Kai and other characters made up for that. And the ending! I need to know what will happen next.

All in all I'll get my trotters on the next book once it releases.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Post Apocalyptic Urban Fantasy read.


buy from bookdepository

Trail of Lightning - Book Review

Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World #1)
by Rebecca Roanhorse

What is it about:
While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.

Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last—and best—hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much larger and more terrifying than anything she could imagine.

Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel to the rez to unravel clues from ancient legends, trade favors with tricksters, and battle dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.

As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past—if she wants to survive.

Welcome to the Sixth World.

What did I think of it:
When I heard about this book I had to get it. Post Apocalyptic Urban Fantasy with a Navajo heroine? Sign me up.

And I very much enjoyed this read. I loved the lore, worldbuilding, characters, and most of the story. What worked less for me was Maggie's background. At the start of the story she is pining after her mentor, the man who taught her how to be a monster hunter and how to use her clan powers. It turns out this relationship was pretty important for how Maggie reacts to things and for some parts of the story. I had wanted to know more about this relationship, maybe even have that relationship be part of the book instead of only seeing Maggie pine over it after the fact. Because I didn't see what happened it was hard to connect with this part of the story.

That aside this is a cool read with many twists and turns, nasty monsters (both human and otherwise), and a really interesting setting. Maggie can be completely oblivious at times, but Kai and other characters made up for that. And the ending! I need to know what will happen next.

All in all I'll get my trotters on the next book once it releases.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Post Apocalyptic Urban Fantasy read.


buy from bookdepository