Realms Review: 'Stardust'

Imagine that the magical world of Faerie was next door to your village and the only thing separating the two was a wall. That's how the village of Wall got its name, and no one is allowed past the wall except once every nine years during the market. This is the story of Stardust, a novel written by Neil Gaiman. Would you go in search of what's beyond the wall?
          Tristran Thorn, a boy who's half fairy and doesn't know it, has no interest in what's beyond the wall until he and Victoria, the girl he's in love with, spot a shooting star. Tristran offers to find the star for Victoria in exchange for whatever he desires. She agrees, thinking Tristran would never go beyond the wall, and that even if he did, he'd come back shortly. But Tristran is in love and determined. He just didn't expect his months-long journey to be filled with quite so many fantastical things, like man-eating forests, candles that transport you miles in the direction you walk in, murderous witches, and treacherous princes. And, of course, the biggest shock comes when he realizes that the star isn't a lump of rock, but a young woman.
          A promise to a loved one leads to a perilous journey, the uncovering of Tristran's real identity, and the fate of Stormhold hanging in the balance. We give Stardust 4 out of 5 stars. The story and the world are incredible, and the magic lasts with you long after you've turned the last page. The characters motives are something we can all identify with, though we felt there was room for more development. Nonetheless, it's a fun tale we recommend to anyone over the age of fifteen.
          Stardust came to our attention after watching the beloved film adaptation starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, which adds new life and depth to the characters (and a lot more humor!) than what was portrayed in the book. Still, the novel offers more perspective into the story that the film was unable to touch on. Both version are enjoyable and we recommend them both to you.

For a look at the film adaptation, view the trailer below:

Realms Review: 'Wildefire'

If you're into tales of gods, goddesses, and mythology, you'll want to check out Wildefire by Karsten Knight right now. Imagine being at the scene of a crime, a crime where someone you know is murdered, and the murderer is your sister. Such is the fate of Ashline Wilde, a fifteen-year-old Polynesian girl who watches helplessly as her sister commands the weather and electrocutes the girl vandalizing their house. 

          Months later, Ashline finds herself at a boarding school on the other side of the country in California. She likes it there, and she's made friends. But as she and four other students constantly meet each other under strange circumstances, they begin to question why they're really at a boarding school in the middle of nowhere. The truth is they were drawn there for a reason...to prevent the apocalypse, a task that is a little easier when you're a reincarnated god or goddess. 

          We give Wildefire 4 out of 5 stars. The story and plot was amazing, with a surprise twist at the very end. Knight slowly winds the characters into your heart, giving them a depth you don't notice until their wills are tested. The reason we don't give it the whole 5 is because there were a few instances where scenes could have been more developed. We would have loved to see character reactions to certain events that were unfortunately glossed over. Occasionally the point of view was written sloppily, but after the beginning, it straightened out. 

          Overall, we think this book is a fantastic read and should be on your list if you like anything to do with modernized mythology. And, if you like it, it's the first in a trilogy! Be sure to also take a look at the sequel, Embers & Echoes.

Realms Review: 'Extraordinary'

Yesterday, we just finished reading Nancy Werlin's incredible storytelling in Extraordinary. For those of you who love tales of the realm of Faerie, read on. You won't be disappointed by the intricate the plot and twist at the end of this beautifully written story.
          The story follows the fate of two best friends, Phoebe and Mallory, and takes place in Boston, MA. Except, Mallory's not exactly human. She's a faerie sent to the human world on a mission and that mission involves preparing Phoebe for an ominous something. Then, when Mallory's brother, Ryland, arrives out of the blue, their friendship is tested. For Phoebe, the answers to her problems lies at the heart of one question: what does it mean to be extraordinary?
          We at Realms would like to give Extraordinary 3.5 out of 5 stars. Now that seems low, but hear us out. Personally, we were not fans of the writing itself. It was slow at times, despite being lovely language, and this is the only reason we rate it why we do. The plot was phenomenal, the hook was enticing, and just when you think you've predicted the ending, Werlin flips the story on its head.
           If you love reading for the sake of the story, we recommend Extraordinary. However, if you're into "juicier" writing, then you may want to pass on this one. We leave the choice up to you!

Realms Review: 'The Foretelling'

Imagine a world where women ruled the lands, where women went to war with men and won, taking prisoners and killing the rest. In The Foretelling, by Alice Hoffman, women are feared by men, but the protagonist, Rain, is curious about her role in this tribe of Amazon-like women.
          Due to the traumatic circumstances surrounding Rain's conception and the brutal birth Rain's mother, the chief, went through, Rain's mother rarely looks, let alone speaks, to her daughter. As the daughter of the tribe's leader, Rain is determined to learn her role and be a great leader like her mother. But, more importantly, she tests her boundaries to prove she's worthy of her mother. Determined to be accepted, she accomplishes amazing feats, but also tests the limits of her own culture, even making contact with a boy outside her tribe.
          Despite The Foretelling being listed as a children's book in some stores, we strongly believe that this is actually a young adult novel for several reasons. The protagonist is a teenager, though quite mature for her age due to her culture's expectations of her. The story has several coming-of-age elements to it, as well, and there is a lot of dark content. The book also released before the YA category (target audience) took off in publishing. If released today, we're 99% certain it would be released as a YA title.
          Hoffman weaves a story that imbeds itself in your heart as you root for the main character and long to see what happens with Rain's various relationships with those around her. And a little bit of magic, woven in so carefully that it seems a normal everyday thing, never hurts, especially to us fantasy-lovers. We rate The Foretelling with five out of five stars for Hoffman's incredible storytelling, diverse characters, and ability to make it a truly unforgettable tale.

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Realms Review: 'Angel Burn'

We were more than hesitant when we first picked up Angel Burn by l. a. weatherly. We'd heard of "all those fallen angel stories" from hush hush to Fallen to Halo. When we opened the first page tentatively, we thought, why are we putting ourselves through another angel story with, undoubtedly, a similar plot to the others? Well, that's where we were wrong. Weatherly crafts an angel story like nothing we've ever read before. Because angels aren't servants of God in Angel Burn; they're creatures that feed on human souls for sustenance, and our protagonist, Willow, is something impossible. She's the daughter of one.
          Willow is one of the most developed female protagonists we had read about in a while. After a reading slump, we found someone that brought the excitement back, our half-angel. She only wants to protect her family, but when an angel hunter realizes she's not quite what he was told, he winds up rescuing her and she has no choice but to go with him, or she will be killed. Angel Burn is the first book in an intense and engaging trilogy where angels are the bad guys. Willow's personal interests and well-rounded personality help her solve problems on her own and work with the hunter, Alex, to figure out why the angels have been brainwashing everyone and why they're after her. The romance that slowly blossoms between them is realistic and enticing, leaving you dying to know their fate.
          Weatherly's writing and plot twists will keep you turning pages. We give her book 4 out of 5 stars for its stunning originality, full characters, and quick pace. Angel Burn is a book that you will finish within a few days because you can't put it down.

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Realms Review: 'Love in the Time of Global Warming'

When you think of global warming and other aspects of climate change, you probably don't think of Homer's The Odyssey. We at Realms have just finished reading Love in the Time of Global Warming, written by Francesca Lia Block. For those of you who don't know, it's a story about a girl who's been separated from her family after a catastrophic earthquake wrecks all of California, and perhaps even the world. The story is about her journey to reunite with them, though she fights the giants that caused the apocalypse and makes new friends along the way. Ultimately, it's a book about transformation, something we all can relate to.

Francesca Lia Block's prose is phenomenal. She carefully weaves in Penelope's (the main character) narration with stunning visuals and relevant bits of The Odyssey. From the beginning, we were hooked, and for a while it was unclear how to distinguish reality from fantasy, an aspect of this book we loved. Was everything that was happening actually happening or the result of an overwhelmed, anxious, and unreliable narrator? The book constantly had the reader guessing until the last page. Hope and longing dripped from every page. Despite how heart-wrenching it is, when Pen (Penelope) encounters new characters who've survived the earthquake, the witty dialogue that follows will make you laugh out loud.

Even after the apocalypse, people are capable of smiling, forming new relationships, and celebrating love in a time of terror. If you love fantasy and the classics, we highly recommend this YA Fantasy novel, which we've decided to give 5 stars. It will leave you in tears, though you'll have to figure out the "why."

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Realms Review: "Cruel Beauty"

Cruel Beauty cover

In a retelling of the classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast, set in a world based on Greek mythology, what isn’t there to love about Rosamund Hodge’s debut novel, Cruel Beauty? Nyx, the protagonist, is being forced to marry the cruel ruler of their land, Ignifex. Even though she’s been forced to marry him, Nyx has also been training to kill him and unravel the spell that has separated their kingdom from the real world.

            Without giving anything else away, we would like to rate this tale with four stars. For a debut novel, it’s absolutely mesmerizing. The writing is beautiful, the world-building in incredible, and for a tale that’s been retold in so many ways, Hodge still makes it original and spins it on its head. Nyx is our strong female protagonist who represents the dark side within all of us. We’re all bound by responsibility, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hate those responsibilities. And, sometimes, what we want the most is what everyone else disapproves of.

            Rarely have I seen such a well-developed character with a strong voice. Even when she’s “helpless,” she’s independent and strong. Whether dealing with her father, her sister, or Ignifex, she bends the rules to achieve her goals. Ignifex is a great foil to her character. He represents pure evil, but, ultimately, reveals that no one can be categorized in such a black-and-white fashion. The well-rounded characters have you constantly guessing who the real villain is, and in the end, you have decide for yourself.
          Cruel Beauty is a magnificent tale that will have you dying to know what happens next. We couldn’t put the book down. You can buy the book here on Amazon! And, if you like this book, you need to check out Hodge’s new novel, Crimson Bound, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and The Girl with No Hands, set to release May 5, 2015.

Crimson Bound cover

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Realms Review: "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown"

If you're in love with vampires and novels by Holly Black, you'll love her novel The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Set in the present day U.S., The Coldest Girl in Coldtown explores the reaction of the world to an outbreak of vampires. Vampires are not new, but, for the past ten years, they've been public. Coldtowns are quarantined areas where outbreaks took place. The story follows Tana, a teenage girl who awoke after a massacre, only narrowly escaping the clutches of the vampires who attacked.

Black weaves a chilling tale, bringing us back to the classic horror stories of vampires. They are creatures that are beautiful and abhorrent. The characters are intriguing, well-written, and believable, traits that every reader loves. With witty dialogue and page-turning, edge-of-your-seat action scenes, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a book you just can't put down. In Coldtown, no one is safe, and you, the reader, will feel its power dripping off the pages.

We give this book 5 out of 5 stars for its originality, lovely prose, exquisite setting and characters, and boldness in redefining the modern vampire tale. If you loved this book, check out Black's upcoming novel, The Darkest Part of the Forest, an urban fantasy tale about faeries, releasing Jan. 13, 2015!

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