City of Day by October K. Santerelli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun adventure that grabbed me from the first page. The world Santerelli created is rich and vibrant, conveyed in delicious details that managed not to detract from the pacing of the story. The island country of Astera suffers from a corrupt ruling class and an ancient curse that causes deadly specters to walk the streets at night. The book's protagonists will have to face both.

Thislen is a street urchin who hides his true identity. He makes a point of not caring about others, but he's not very good at it. From the very first chapter all his efforts go toward helping others. Mila is an apprentice apothecary with a family secret that even she is unaware of. She's spunky yet vulnerable, and she's a bit of an adventure seeker, at least until she actually experiences adventure first hand. Both protagonists are interesting, believable characters who bring a unique perspective to the narrative.

Bane of Giants: Legacy of Shadows by Todd Fahnestock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the conclusion of Fahnestock's Legacy of Shadows series in the Eldros shared universe. I've enjoyed the previous installments in this series quite a bit, and I was eager to dive back into Fahnestock's well-imagined world.

Slater remains my favorite character and, if anything, becomes more interesting and pivotal to the plot. My second favorite character, Khyven, finally faces a challenge he can't surpass with his skill alone. Luckily, he isn't alone. Every character that makes up this found family has a vital role to play. Without any one of them, our underdog heroes would surely fail.

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is all about Oak trying to protect the people he loves. He makes some bad choices, as do the other characters, but their actions, good and bad, are fairly believable (especially when you remember that the characters are teens) and help solidify the characters as multi-dimensional, struggling people. The one exception I found to that is when Hyacinth tells Oak to send Roach away, then immediately tells him to follow him. I understand this series of events from a plot perspective, but it didn't make much sense.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holly Black delivers another enchanting read. Masterful character work, beautiful prose, and a fast pace. I can't say I was surprised by the book's twists, having discerned them well in advance, but it was still satisfying when they came to pass. I'm eager to read the second book, but also worried. Because Wren does something so out of character at the end of this first book, I fear where I believe the second book may be going. I love Oak and Wren as characters, and I'm rooting for them. I just hope Wren manages to grow up before she loses herself entirely.

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