Six is a dreamer. One of six who have the power to read omens in their dreams. The six of them are about to finish their 10 years, and then they will be able to be free, but one by one, they all start to disappear. Six has only one choice: to team up with a Rogue Knight and the King to find out what happened to her fellow dreamers and bring down the omens. It was a fun story, and I like the dynamic between the characters. Six is a smart and brave heroine. All of her life, she has dedicated herself to her craft to find out it’s all been a lie. It was a bit of a slow read to start because it took a bit to get into the world-building, but once I did, it started to pick up. I was pretty surprised by the ending. It was one of those endings that, in retrospect, should have been seen coming. It definitely did its job because I bought the sequel. Now that I know the world, I am sure the next one will be a faster read.
When I read the synopsis of this book, it reminded me of another book about a child of an author, who wrote them in their book. It took me a moment to realize that book was also written by Melissa Albert. She has a niche. This book was different. Guinevere and Ennis’ mother was a famous author who used their names and likeness as inspiration. The world started to know them as their characters. Over the years, Guin leaned into it, but Ennis didn’t. As idyllic their life seemed from the outside, it was anything but in reality. They lived in a farmhouse in Vermont. Their mom was mostly absent even though she was there, and their father was more visible but also an alcoholic and adulterer. The story goes back and forth between the present, where Guin is releasing a memoir, and Ennis decides to have a surprise art exhibition, and the past during their childhood. In the present, the siblings haven’t seen each other for over a decade, and Guin is starting to remember things about her childhood that she has forgotten or had blocked out. When she was 11 and Ennis was 13, both of their parents died in a house fire. Just weeks before their mother was to publish the fifth book in the six-book series. So how did these two become estranged? It’s not a simple story. I really liked how the story is set up. I felt like I could see the farmhouse and the freedom they felt, especially in the early years. It was disheartening watching Guin lose her innocence and her brother being more of a parent to her than her actual parents were. It does have a magical element, but most of the book is very rooted in reality. I don’t know how I feel about the ending, though. I will have to sit on it a bit longer, but all in all, it was a good book and worth giving it a shot.
Raeve is my kind of psycho killer. Okay, she’s not psycho, but also not fully sane either. She definitely is feisty, which is always a good trait in a heroine. She is a paid killer for a rebellion group in the Fade. She does her job well. Until a truly heinous man kills her friend, and she goes on a killing spree, gets caught, and is sentenced to death. Enter Kaan. The King of the Burn. He rescues her because, you wouldn’t you know, she’s his long-lost love thought to be dead. Yes. That is kind of a spoiler but also pretty obvious from the get-go. They do have a lot of fun banter between the two of them. You can see how, in a different time, they would be drawn to each other. This book has a lot of world-building. So much that it comes with a glossary and cast of characters at the very beginning of the book. It does take a few chapters to figure out the world, but once things all fall into place, it’s a very quick read. It’s an almost 700-page book that I read in less than a week. I am very interested to find out how Raeve became Raeve because it is very far from where she began. The ending introduces a new villain that I am not sure was needed, as there were already some pretty good bad guys, but hey, what do I know. I will just have to wait until the next book.
Library book number two. I have a week to read before it’s due. You will all be happy to know that I figured out how to pause my holds so I can avoid this happening again.
The myth of Medusa has been having a moment lately. I have seen a lot of discourse about how Medusa wasn’t the monster that she is portrayed as in the original stories but a victim. Even reframing her as a feminist heroine. This book takes on her myth from Medusa’s point of view. From her childhood as the only mortal child of minor Gods to priestess to monster. It was a tough read to be sure. Medusa is a very sheltered young woman. Her family is trapped on their island, and they cannot leave. What she knows of the outside world is what washes up on the shores. Things start to change when she accidentally kills the fiancé of her sister. This interaction introduces her to the Goddess, Athena, who is impressed with her honesty and gives her an opportunity to train as one of her priestesses in Athens. She moves to Athens and falls in love with the city but is also overwhelmed by so much of the injustice. In her time, she learns to navigate the politics of the temple and, in her naivety, makes some pretty terrible mistakes. During a festival, she leaves her friend to go to the restroom. She falls asleep and is rescued by a young man who escorts her home, but she left her friend behind. I’m sure you can guess as to what happens, and in the first moment of how cruel Athena can be, her friend is dismissed because she is no longer “pure,” even though she is the victim. Medusa will find herself in the same situation when Poseidon becomes interested in her. You know the story. Poseidon rapes her; Athena, who can’t punish Poseidon, punishes Medusa. Giving her hair of snakes and can turn anyone into stone. Her sisters stand up to Athena, and they are also turned into the same monsters. They soon take their revenge on any man that comes to their island, but Medusa is never really much into it. When her friend from Athens comes ashore, she realizes she wants more. They leave the island and start a new life, but Medusa realizes she cannot give up her rage and how it will get her friend and lover in trouble, so she leaves and goes back to the island, where she will live until she is murdered by a male “hero.” This really is a good illustration of how rape culture continues to endure over millennials. As an adult reading, I can see all the mistakes she makes and know instantly what terrible thing is going to happen because of it, because I have grown up being taught how to avoid these exact situations. This is a really harrowing book to read but I do feel it necessary.
