Nova Artino is a villain, but Adrian Everhart does not know that. In a world where having super powers is common, there is a struggle between the Anarchists and the Renegades in Gatlon City. The beginning of this problem started when Nova was just a child, where people with powers were being persecuted, and her uncle, Ace Anarchy fought alongside others for their rights to live a normal life. Hugh Everhart began the Renegades during this time too, however he saw that the Anarchist way was hurting too many people, and took down Ace Anarchy.
The Night Circus tells the story about the magical circus that travels around the world. It has no schedule or warning, it simply appears, stays for a while and performs shows, and then up and leaves. One of the main focuses of the story however, is between two magicians in the circus, Marco and Celia. It is sort of like a Romeo and Juliet situation, their parents hated each other and they were forced to be enemies in the circus, until they fall in love.
Stardust is a fantasy movie that follows Tristain Thorn and his journey to Wall. Tristan visits Wall to find his mom and to retrieve a star for the women he believes he loves. His journey however ends up being a path of self-discovery and finding true love. To me the movie is about finding your true self and love. Finding love is shown through finding romantic love, self-love, and familial love. I really loved this movie; it was funny, interesting, and the acting was well enjoyed.
Ashes of Gold by J. Elle is teen fiction but heavily focused on fantasy with ties to our world. The book is a continuation of Rue’s journey to reclaim Ghizon from the Chancellor and give it back to the Ghizoni people. Not only does Rue struggle in the fight against the Chancellor, she also struggles to connect with her people and herself. I love the compelling plot and the character growth in this book.
Mistborn: The Final Empire is the first book in the Mistborn series written by the acclaimed fantasy author, Brandon Sanderson. Set in a fresh and unique fantasy world without the usual fantasy tropes and overused creatures, it tells a tale that is part coming of age, part heist, and part fantasy.
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is the latest addition to The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black. This novella provides more insight into how and why Cardan wears his cruel facade. This novella is a series of interconnected stories that tell the tale of Cardan’s life, past, present, and future. My favorite parts of this book were the retellings of events that happened in The Folk of the Air trilogy told from Cardan’s perspective. Additionally, I loved the illustrations.
The Lost Sisters is a novella in Holly Black’s The Folk of the Air trilogy. Set after The Cruel Prince, this novella is a kind of letter from Taryn to Jude quasi-apologizing for and explaining how Taryn fell for Locke. While I assume Black wrote this novella to garner some understanding for Taryn’s actions, Taryn’s attempts at justification only made me like her less.
The final novel in Holly Black’s, The Folk of the Air trilogy, The Queen of Nothing, is fast-paced and unexpected. Jude, the Queen of Faerie, has been exiled, but she must risk everything and return to the Faerie Court to save her sister. Elfhame is different, stuck deep within a brewing war, and crossing over from the mortal world will trap Jude in a world of sensitive politics. The ending of this book felt rushed and somewhat incomplete, but the rest of the novel was fantastic.
The Wicked King by Holly Black is the second novel in her The Folk of the Air trilogy. This novel was way better than its predecessor. After Jude tricks him, Cardan is the new High King of Elfhame, and he must listen to all of Jude’s commands. This book is filled with twists and turns; even the last page is a heart wrenching cliffhanger. I loved the display of power dynamics in this book. Jude should have had all the power, but Cardan and other nobles could still get things over her.
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat is the first novel in a young adult fantasy series of the same name. The world of ancient magic has been forgotten, but not by everyone. Set in London, Will Kempen is on the run from the man who killed his mother, but he is quickly rushed back into the world of magic to follow his destiny and fight among the Stewards. This novel was refreshingly unique. The characters were distinctive, the plot was full of twists, and the world-building was flawless.
