Friday at last! And this week also means a weekend off for me!
For this week's Friday Reads I've got a book that I've finally got to read, that has been on my TBR pile since August of last year and that was one of my most anticipated debuts of 2014. I pushed it back for some reason or other and now I finally got to read it!
As a 2014 debut it counts both for my 2015 Debut Author Challenge and for my 105 Challenge as one of the books that has been in my TBR pile since 2014 or before!
Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
From the moment I heard about this book I was extremely excited about it, then saw the cover and was in love and then I got a signed copy and flailed all over the place... and then it took me months to finally read it, and boy am I kicking myself for not having read it before!
I went into this book expecting a fantasy book but I got an added extra bonus of having some uniquely postapocalyptic added touches to it. Unique because the world was already a fantasy world before the catastrophe happened and it continues to be so afterwards.
Kai, our main character, is an orphan that was taken in by Reev, her brother in any way that counts but blood. I loved how their relationship, of one caring for the other and trying to protect each other, is what moved the plot along. It's quite unusual that a familial relationship would be the stronger motivator for a character, instead of the romantic one.
She is determined to get her brother back, and to rescue him she'd do anything. Use her secret & hidden ability, start a dangerous adventure and get herself infiltrated in the most dangerous place in the city. She's strong, determined a lil rash but not overly so and she has so much trust and faith in her brother that you sometimes worry about her, in case she is disappointed.
That the romantic relationship is not the one driving the main character doesn't mean there isn't one here, because there is, and one that I was a huge fan of from the start. Avan and Kai are friends, there is attraction and butterflies in the stomach and something more going on, but it's a fantastic slow burn and Kai is always putting her search for Reev first. So much that poor Avan feels like a second fiddle but remains with her protecting her and helping her every moment.
The mythology that we get to discover in this book is once again at the same time unique and familiar. There's some limited magic left after the fight that led to the catastrophe and there are some extremely powerful beings that are not exactly gods but are godlike, The Infinite. I cannot wait to find out more about them, their past and even more after the information that we got at the ending of the book!
About that ending... well it was quite explosive with revelations and fights and Kai kicking arse and refusing to be manipulated and quite a bit of heartbreak and a shock or two, BUT it doesn't end with a cliffhanger! We do want to know more about what comes next but aren't left crushed and wailing for the next book, which for me it's always a plus! Very well deserved 4 stars for this one!
View all my reviews
For this week's Friday Reads I've got a book that I've finally got to read, that has been on my TBR pile since August of last year and that was one of my most anticipated debuts of 2014. I pushed it back for some reason or other and now I finally got to read it!
As a 2014 debut it counts both for my 2015 Debut Author Challenge and for my 105 Challenge as one of the books that has been in my TBR pile since 2014 or before!
Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. LeeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
From the moment I heard about this book I was extremely excited about it, then saw the cover and was in love and then I got a signed copy and flailed all over the place... and then it took me months to finally read it, and boy am I kicking myself for not having read it before!
I went into this book expecting a fantasy book but I got an added extra bonus of having some uniquely postapocalyptic added touches to it. Unique because the world was already a fantasy world before the catastrophe happened and it continues to be so afterwards.
Kai, our main character, is an orphan that was taken in by Reev, her brother in any way that counts but blood. I loved how their relationship, of one caring for the other and trying to protect each other, is what moved the plot along. It's quite unusual that a familial relationship would be the stronger motivator for a character, instead of the romantic one.
She is determined to get her brother back, and to rescue him she'd do anything. Use her secret & hidden ability, start a dangerous adventure and get herself infiltrated in the most dangerous place in the city. She's strong, determined a lil rash but not overly so and she has so much trust and faith in her brother that you sometimes worry about her, in case she is disappointed.
That the romantic relationship is not the one driving the main character doesn't mean there isn't one here, because there is, and one that I was a huge fan of from the start. Avan and Kai are friends, there is attraction and butterflies in the stomach and something more going on, but it's a fantastic slow burn and Kai is always putting her search for Reev first. So much that poor Avan feels like a second fiddle but remains with her protecting her and helping her every moment.
The mythology that we get to discover in this book is once again at the same time unique and familiar. There's some limited magic left after the fight that led to the catastrophe and there are some extremely powerful beings that are not exactly gods but are godlike, The Infinite. I cannot wait to find out more about them, their past and even more after the information that we got at the ending of the book!
About that ending... well it was quite explosive with revelations and fights and Kai kicking arse and refusing to be manipulated and quite a bit of heartbreak and a shock or two, BUT it doesn't end with a cliffhanger! We do want to know more about what comes next but aren't left crushed and wailing for the next book, which for me it's always a plus! Very well deserved 4 stars for this one!
View all my reviews
Yay :D I'm glad you enjoyed this book so much Pili. <3 I.. have not read it yet. Ack. But I have pre-ordered book two. <3 And I am excited about this one. And I shall read it soonish. Though, maybe after I get book two, lol :p So happy you liked it so much, though. <3 Yay for good romance, hih :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts sweetie. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you Carina sweetie! No love triangles in this one, so I'm pretty sure you'll like this one! =D
DeleteFantastic review Pili, I actually forgot about this one because I had been accepted on Netgalley! Should get around to reading it soon because you make it sound super epic with the strong heroine and the action!
ReplyDeleteYep, you really ought to! I had my copy lying around for quite a while too!
DeleteI hope you'll like it a lot too, Jeann!
I bought this one for both myself and my youngest sister. She loved it, but like you, I kept putting it off b/c reasons. I'm glad there's no cliffhanger, but I'm probably going to wait anyway, b/c the next book comes out in like a month. <-----HOORAY! Glad you loved it, Pili ;) I hope I do too.
ReplyDeleteI have the eARC of the sequel in my Kindle, so I'll get to it soon! I hope you'll like this one as much as I did, Jessica!
DeleteTHAT COVER PILI!!!! It's so gorgeous I can hardly even deal with it. I've heard a lot of mixed things about this book, so I'm really glad to see it got a high rating from you. I almost fell over from shock when I read that it doesn't end with a cliffhanger, I almost can't even remember a YA book that ends any other way:) Looking forward to giving this a try!
ReplyDeleteThe cover is a stunner Jenny, but you need to see the cover for the sequel because it's even more gorgeous and awesome!
DeleteAnd I know what you mean!! The ending was a lil open BUT NOT A CLIFFHANGER AND I almost weeped with joy for that!!
I think I have this on my eReader, but I need to make sure, because it sounds good!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
Make sure you give it a try, Kate!
DeleteThis was a three-star read for me, and to be honest, I've forgotten most of what happened in the book already O_O I won't be reading the sequel, probably, but that's not the book/series/author's fault :D
ReplyDeleteExcellent review, Pili! Glad you liked this one!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Thank you Alyssa! I have the sequel as an ARC and if it's awesome I might poke you about reading it! ;)
DeleteI really need to read this book soon!! It sounds nice that it has post-apocalyptic elements even if it's mainly fantasy. I don't think I've read many of that mix. Plus, that cover... it's SO bloody pretty.
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato
The cover is so pretty, and not only the dust jacket, but the hardcover is print all over!! And the book doesn't disappoint in the inside either! I hope you'll check it out and like it, Faye!
DeleteI'm really excited to read this one soon! Quite a few newer fantasies seem to have that added post-apocalyptic touch to it, which makes the worlds really interesting. Kai sounds like a heroine that I'll love. :) Great review!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you'll check this one out, Kaitlin!
DeleteThis sounds really interesting, though I've been iffy about it because it sort of has this fantasy feel to it that I don't usually read. But I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I'll definitely be keeping this one in mind still :)
ReplyDeleteI love fantasy so this one was great for me, with the added touch of a lil postapocalyptic in there! But if fantasy is not your thing Lili... maybe give it a pass...
DeleteHow did I miss this post!!!! I loved this book to pieces. I am so happy you finally read it. When are you going to start the sequel? I snuck the first chapter, but I think I can outright read it now because I don't think my next review book comes out until March. Did you switch to a review for the tour? I stayed with an interview.
ReplyDeleteI hope to read it next week, I want to read it once I finish with Uprooted and Shadow Scale! =D
DeleteI decided to add my review to the interview post! ;)
Oh wow, this one definitely does sound amazing! I really want to read it - its already on my TBR. That aside I also really liked that it is fantasy and post apocalyptic. Sounds new to me!
ReplyDelete