I was impressed by the different styles and perspectives used for each short story. These were smoothly executed, with light-hearted satire that made the book more entertaining, even though it did not make me laugh out loud. The cultural and setting details woven into the stories were also a great touch that I enjoyed.
Fiction
Fiction book reviews
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THE LAST BLOODCARVER by Vanessa Le
A simple, casual writing style with good prose and details smoothly brings this story to life. I was particularly impressed by the bloodcarving ability of the main character, which was brilliantly presented and explored. However, the worldbuilding felt somewhat thin and underdeveloped, especially since some concepts, like the constabulary, were mentioned but played no role in the story.
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THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo
The formal, beautiful writing style smoothly establishes an atmospheric world with historical, religious, and magical aspects. Direct foreshadowing is also neatly used to build intrigue and suspense. Sadly, I was underwhelmed by the world-building and magic system, which could have used more depth. The multiple points of view also added little to the story, and the third-person narrative made me feel distanced from the characters.
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WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
The descriptive writing style is simple yet filled with vivid descriptions that make the narrative eerie and atmospheric. However, the heavy-handed foreshadowing made some of the tension and suspense fall flat for me.
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THE PRISONER’S THRONE by Holly Black
The casual, easy-to-follow writing style contains vivid descriptions that smoothly establish the fascinating world of Elfhame, with its various creatures and landscapes. The narrative is also presented from Oak’s witty point of view, which constantly brought a smile to my face, but I craved Suran’s perspective as well.
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THE SILVERBLOOD PROMISE by James Logan
Although I initially struggled to find the formal writing style and third-person narrative engaging, I was soon engrossed in the story due to the strong prose and wit. The world-building was also well-developed and fascinating, with a creative magic system, diverse creatures, and intricate politics.
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THE UNBROKEN by C. L. Clark
Though I found the third-person narrative slightly confusing, I loved the vibrant descriptions that brought the desert setting and complex world brimming with culture and brutal politics to life. However, the magic system was underwhelming, as it seemed to be a convenient plot device and was poorly explained.
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DAUGHTERS OF NRI by Reni K. Amayo
The rich descriptions, touches of humour and cliffhanger chapter endings made it incredibly easy for me to lose myself in this story. I also loved the smooth world-building and fascinating world, even though some aspects were confusing and underdeveloped.