Isabella's Reading Corner: The Queen's Rising

The Queen's Rising

Author: Rebecca Ross

Publication Date: February 6th, 2017

Publisher: HarperTeen

The Queen's Rising is an epic fantasy by debut author Rebecca Ross. When Brienna was ten years old, she was taken to Magnalia House by her grandfather. The girls who live there must study and master one of the five passions - art, music, dramatics, wit or knowledge. Brienna is not like the other girls, who are all from wealthy families. Her Valenian mother died when Brienna was still young and her Maevan father is unknown to her. Now seventeen, she is hoping to master the passion of knowledge by the upcoming summer solstice and gain a patron. Things don't go as planned for her though, as she unexpectedly becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow the king of Maevana.

Brienna is a mass of contradictions. She doesn't know who she really is or what she wants. While her friends at Magnalia House come from important noble families, Brienna's own remains a mystery to her. This affects her more deeply than she realizes and leads her down an uncertain path. The story itself sounds more complex than it is, and I found it quite easy to read. The importance of having a passion was inspiring. There is also a strong focus on female bonds and family relationships. The novel relies more heavily on the development of the characters and the dynamics between them, than on a lot of action, although there is an exciting battle scene which kept me on the edge of my seat. From descriptions of the past to interactions in the present, everything is composed with exquisite detail. The settings are gorgeous, and I became immersed in the sublime backdrops of castles and sumptuous landscapes. 

Elegantly written and visually stunning, The Queen's Rising reads as a standalone, so I'm intrigued to find out how Ross will follow it up in the sequel.

Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for the ARC provided for review.

From the publisher:

Grave Mercy meets Red Queen in this epic debut fantasy, inspired by Renaissance France, about an outcast who finds herself bound to a disgraced lord and entangled in his plot to overthrow the current king.

Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. Growing up in Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with a talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she chose knowledge. However, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—she is left without a patron. 

Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, she reluctantly accepts. But there is much more to his story, for there is a dangerous plot to overthrow the king of Maevana—the rival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes.

And now, with war brewing, Brienna must choose which side she will remain loyal to: passion or blood.

You can read my original Isabella's Reading Corner posts on The Queen's Rising here and here.

Isabella's Reading Corner: By a Charm and a Curse

By a Charm and a Curse

Author: Jaime Questell

Publication Date: February 6th 2018

Publisher: Entangled TEEN

Emma and her brothers move back to their hometown of Claremore, Oklahoma to live with their father, while their mom is away indefinitely in Guatemala. The only thing Emma has to look forward to is attending the travelling circus, Le Grande's Carnival Fantastic with her long-time friend Juliet. Little does she know how much her life is going to change when she is forced to become a central part of the carnival. The only way she can escape is to break its curse, but to do so will also remove the charm that protects people she has come to care about.

Ben and Emma are wonderful protagonists. The chemistry between them is highly charged, providing an additional thrilling element to the narrative. The differences in how they see and experience the carnival are understandable and create further depth to their relationship. The story is told through their multiple viewpoints and is rounded out with a cast of diverse and colourful characters.

Jaime Questell is an eloquent storyteller. She brilliantly brings to life the unusual and magical nature of the carnival. The crowds, smells and screams of excitement in the air - there is a strange innocence to this world, but it is also tinged with something slightly sinister. By a Charm and a Curse is an enchanting, unique and magical novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Entangled: Teen for the DRC to review.

From the publisher:

A kiss is never just a kiss.

Le Grand’s Carnival Fantastic isn’t like other traveling circuses. It’s bound by a charm, held together by a centuries-old curse, that protects its members from ever growing older or getting hurt. Emmaline King is drawn to the circus like a moth to a flame…and unwittingly recruited into its folds by a mysterious teen boy whose kiss is as cold as ice.

Forced to travel through Texas as the new Girl in the Box, Emmaline is completely trapped. Breaking the curse seems like her only chance at freedom, but with no curse, there’s no charm, either―dooming everyone who calls the Carnival Fantastic home. Including the boy she’s afraid she’s falling for.

Everything―including his life―could end with just one kiss.


You can read my original Isabella's Reading Corner post on By a Charm and a Curse here.

Isabella's Reading Corner: The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, A Rún Vol. 1

The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, A Rún Vol. 1

Author: Nagabe

Publication Date: January 24th 2017

Publisher: Seven Seas

Beautiful drawings offset this dark fairy tale about a little girl who lives among monsters. In The Girl from the Other Side, there are two worlds - the Outside where horrific beasts roam and the Inside, where humans reside, safe from their cursed touch. If an Insider shows any sign of the curse that afflicts the Outsiders, they are killed immediately, and their bodies removed and placed beyond the wall.

Suspected of being afflicted, Shiva is left in the woods to save her from certain death at the hands of Insiders. She is cared for by one of the beasts, who she calls Teacher. He is more than just her protector, though, as he also takes on the role of father. Teacher is gentle and kind. He worries that she will be emotionally hurt when she discovers that her family is not coming to get her. 

Although the Outsider can curse with his touch, he avoids doing so and he is not deliberately cruel. The Insiders are more of a danger to themselves and those they believe to be different, as they harm with intention. Shiva is spotted in the woods by a human and even though she is clearly not an Outsider, the reaction to her is one of irrational fear and distrust instead of understanding. Her physical safety is soon in jeopardy and I questioned who the real monsters in the book are. This is a lovely, thought-provoking manga and I'm looking forward to reading the next volume of the story.

From the publisher:

An ethereal fantasy from the editorial team behind the New York Times bestselling series The Ancient Magus’ Bride

The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún is an all-new manga series that pulls readers into a magical and enchanting tale about a young girl and her demonic guardian. A haunting story of love and fantastical creatures, The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún is a gorgeously-illustrated manga series. Each volume in the series will be released with a beautifully-textured matte finish cover and will include at least one full-color insert.

In a world split between the Inside and the Outside, those living in both realms are told never to cross over to the other side, lest they be cursed. A young girl named Shiva lives on the other side, in a vacant village with a demonic guardian known only as “Teacher.” Although the two are forbidden to touch, they seem to share a bond that transcends their disparate appearances. But when Shiva leaves Teacher’s care to seek out her grandmother, the secret behind her mysterious living arrangement comes to light.

You can read my original Isabella's Reading Corner post on The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, A Rún Vol. 1 here.