JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Secrets. Betrayal. Seduction. Welcome to the Alexandrian Society.

When the world’s best magicians are offered an extraordinary opportunity, saying yes is easy. Each could join the secretive Alexandrian Society, whose custodians guard lost knowledge from ancient civilizations. Their members enjoy a lifetime of power and prestige. Yet each decade, only six practitioners are invited – to fill five places.

Contenders Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona are inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds. Parisa Kamali is a telepath, who sees the mind’s deepest secrets. Reina Mori is a naturalist who can perceive and understand the flow of life itself. And Callum Nova is an empath, who can manipulate the desires of others. Finally there’s Tristan Caine, whose powers mystify even himself.

Following recruitment by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they travel to the Society’s London headquarters. Here, each must study and innovate within esoteric subject areas. And if they can prove themselves, over the course of a year, they’ll survive. Most of them.

Olivie Blake’s fantasy novel The Atlas Six is the first in a planned series, centring around the elusive but esteemed Alexandrian Society, inheritors of lost knowledge. When six of the most promising young magicians are recruited to join their ranks, they’re told only five will be accepted into the society. And it’s not guaranteed that all of them will make it out alive…

The setting is deliberately claustrophobic — we are confined inside the walls of the society for most of the novel, and so we experience as the characters’ world grows smaller and smaller. For twelve months, they can only confide in each other, largely inside the same walls that surround them. Characters who normally wouldn’t have anything to do with each other suddenly seem to form unacknowledged alliances as they work together in this strange new environment.

“That sneaky little monstress. This was Nico’s punishment, then. Forced communication with people who mattered to him — which she knew he loathed — all for implying that her boyfriend was precisely what he was.”

The characters’ magic did feel creative and interesting, and certainly like their abilities were outside the realm of usual fantasy tropes. Early chapters of the book very much function as an introduction to each of the six characters, as we move through their perspectives and come to understand who they are and what their magic encompasses.

Action scenes appear intermittently throughout the book, breaking up the slower chapters where it’s mainly conversation and world-building. Admittedly, the world-building did feel quite complex, certainly at the end of the book as the climax unfolded. But with morally ambiguous and multi-layered characters, tension in this dark academia novel run high and stakes are maintained throughout the novel.

“So this, too, came with strings. That was obvious. Reina had never liked this sort of persuasion, but there was a logical piece of her that understood people would never stop asking. She was a well of power, a vault with heavy doors, and people would either find ways to break in or she would have to simply open them on occasion. Only for a worthy purchaser.”

For a lot of the book, the chapters consist of dialogue between the young magicians — bickering, fighting, or flirting. There’s a lot of scene-setting and exposition, and characters hooking up with each other. It all felt a little inconsequential for a while there. Even if you like the characters, after a while, you’re desperate for something more to happen! I definitely think this novel could’ve benefited from more plot.

The ending did feel satisfying, as Olivie tied together the mystery and revealed what was really at stake here — what the society is attempting to achieve and what the true purpose of these six magicians has been. In saying that, I do look forward to subsequent novels when the true nature of this society is more deeply explained — quite a few moments in the book went over my head, and explanations around magic and physics and certain characters’ true intentions were a little lost on me.

Moments of humour pepper the novel, keeping conversation light and enjoyable whilst maintaining tension and stakes and this impending build-up of dread. You know something is about to happen, you know the bubble is about to burst, you’re just not quite sure what or how.

“Lust was a colour, but fear was a sensation. Clammy hands or a cold sweat were obvious markers, but more often it was some sort of multisensory incongruity. Like seeing sun and smelling smoke, or feeling silk and tasting bile. Sounds that rose out of unseeing darkness. This was like that, only stranger.”

Recommended for YA fantasy readers. Punchy and imaginative, the readership for The Atlas Six skews female, 16+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Atlas Six
Olivie Blake
March 2022
Pan Macmillan Publishers

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte

Ever since his mother was killed in a freak edem-based crime, seventeen-year-old Cayder Broduck has had one goal: to have illegal users of extradimensional magic brought to justice. Cayder dreams of becoming a prosecutor and, when he secretly accepts an apprenticeship under the city’s best public defender, he plans to learn every legal trick he can to one day dismantle defence arguments. Then he’ll finally be able to make sure justice is served.

But when he meets all three criminals he is to defend, he finds they are teenagers, like him, and their stories are … complicated, like his. As their cases unfold, Cayder must race to separate the truth from the lies and uncover what really happened the night his mother died

From the bestselling author of Four Dead Queens comes a heart-pounding mystery rife with secrets and danger, where nothing is as it seems…

Astrid Scholte’s third novel League of Liars is fantasy YA fiction, a thriller that races against the clock as we work to save four teenagers imprisoned for murder and the illegal use of magic.

The author’s strengths lie in crafting clever, addictive plots. She navigates multiple characters with unique backstories and voices, so the reader doesn’t get confused between chapters. I find her world-building to be intriguing and expansive, and the stakes consistently high. Characters struggle with secrets and loyalties, but over the course of the novel they come together to overcome the oppressing force.

“I didn’t want to cross the threshold; I hated the feeling of being lost within my own home. Homes were supposed to be full of love and laughter, not empty hallways and closed doors. My mother’s presence lingered within the walls…”

League of Liars is the first novel is a prospected trilogy, and this first foray into the series leaves enough left unsaid that readers will crave more. A lot of this book takes place in the one setting — prison — so I’m looking forward to travelling beyond this in the second book and discovering more about this world Astrid has crafted. I also look forward to finding out more about the magic system, because it wasn’t overly described in this book and I’m certain there’s more to come.

It’s always interesting to centre a YA fantasy around a group of morally ambiguous criminals, and when you embed a prison break into that story it’s clear you’ve got a story that young readers will love. Pacing is consistent and fast, with stakes only growing higher during each chapter.

League of Liars will please reluctant teenage readers, but also seasoned YA fantasy readers looking for the next tale to devour.

“A spark of fury burned within me. She knew the risks of going to Ferrington. She knew she was breaking the law. Now we would both pay the consequences. I felt like something had struck me in the back and lodged within my ribs.”

At times, I found the writing in need of tightening. There was a lot of telling rather than showing — emotions are described a lot, rather than letting actions and dialogue convey the character’s emotion.

I also felt that Cayder’s dialogue was a little over-dramatic and over-the-top during heightened moments, particularly revelations or moments or surprise or betrayal. Conversations where he’s trying to extract information out of someone else descended into desperate shouting and it made him feel one-dimensional. Stronger characterisation is awarded to Jey and Leta.

“Out on the horizon, a black streak cleaved the sky in two. Like a static bolt of lightning, but where light should be, darkness reigned. Known as the veil, it was the source of edem and many kids’ nightmares. A fissure between our world and another, allowing time-altering magic to seep through.”

Recommended for fans of young adult fantasy fiction; League of Liars reminds me of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, which should give an indication of audience. Readership skews female, 12+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

League of Liars
Astrid Scholte
March 2022
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers

Only A Monster by Vanessa Len

Only a monster would kill a hero. Right?

Every family has its secrets, but the summer Joan Chang-Hunt goes to stay with her Gran in London, she learns hers is bigger than most. The Hunts are one of twelve families in London with terrifying, hidden powers.

Joan is half-monster. And what’s more, her summer crush Nick isn’t just a cute boy – he’s hiding a secret as well; a secret that places Joan in terrible danger.

When the monsters of London are attacked, Joan is forced on the run with the ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family who are sworn enemies of her own. Joan is drawn deeper into a world that simmers with hostilities, alliances and secrets. And her rare and dangerous power means she’s being hunted. She’ll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . .

. . . she is not the hero.

Vanessa Len’s debut urban fantasy Only a Monster is an exciting release for fantasy readers, particularly fans of young adult fiction. Set in the real world, we meet a cast of characters labelled ‘monsters’. They’re able to travel through time by stealing time from other humans. Amongst the monster population, there’s a myth of a human hero who is destined to destroy their entire existence.

Despite a slow start, Only A Monster is fantastic. The premise of the novel fits comfortably in the urban fantasy genre but features enough originality to surprise even the most avid of genre fans. I genuinely felt unsure of where the story was going, surprised by the twists, engrossed by the characters, absorbed into the world building, and I finished the book feeling like Vanessa was bringing something unique to the readership.

“Joan lay there for a moment, trying to breathe through the pain. On the ground beside her, the dead woman lay, eyes wide open, looking up at nothing. Joan felt a sob rise in her throat like bile. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second and then forced herself to her feet.”

Set in London, Only A Monster incorporates the known trope of the anti-hero. Sixteen-year-old Joan Chang-Hunt discovers that she’s inherited her family’s ability to steal time from another’s life span and after finding herself alone, hunted and incredibly naive about this new ability she has, she teams up with an unlikely enemy. He is able to aid her escape, and then her plight as she attempts to right the wrongs inflicted at the beginning of the novel. Only A Monster explores the blurred boundary between good and evil and what it means to be a hero.

What transpires is a race through time, largely set in the 1990s, as Joan tries to flee those who hunt her. What starts as an urban fantasy soon turns into a fast-paced thriller with heightened stakes and well-crafted, multi-layered characters. There is an even balance of character driven and plot driven stylistic devices.

“Joan tried to remember, and panic bubbled up inside her again. The whole day was missing from her memory. There was just nothing there.”

Vanessa sets up the ending of the novel for a sequel, with enough questions left unanswered to keep you gripped. The mechanics of the time travel do remain a bit unanswered, and I think some readers will find the logistics a little blurry. But accepting the storyline and the characters and allowing yourself to fall into the story and let yourself be swept up into it will result in an engaging and enjoyable reading experience. When done well, time travel novels are a guilty pleasure of mine.

“She imagined Nick waiting for her at that cafe. She hadn’t responded to any of his messages. But she knew him. He’d have waited and waited, just in case. How long had he been there before he’d realised that she wasn’t coming?”

An exciting new story from an Australian writer. Engrossing and original, Vanessa Len’s Only a Monster can be devoured in quick succession. Recommended for YA readers and urban fantasy fans. Readership skews 13+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Only A Monster
Vanessa Len
February 2022
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he’s actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren’t for this administrative error, he’d never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world.

Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor – but he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.

Freya Marske’s debut novel A Marvellous Light is both fantasy and queer romance, set in early 1900s Edwardian England. The confident — but slightly clueless — Robin Blyth finds himself thrust into the hidden world of magic and the victim of a curse he can’t control.

Readers will enjoy the premise of the novel, the integration of magical realism throughout the story, and the leading characters Robin and Edwin. Both these men are grappling with the situation before them — Robin, determined but ultimately in over his head, and Edwin, unfortunately plagued with meagre magic and constantly tormented by his siblings.

Notably, this is the first book in a planned series, and Freya does leave much to be answered. There is enough world-building in this as the first book, but still much to be explored in sequels.

“Robin’s second impression was that Lord Hawthorn had also been visited by disruptive thieves during the night, because the room into which they were led was a morass of belongings strewn over every surface.”

Family dynamics is a strong element in this story — how Robin and Edwin both interact with family amidst society. I can’t quite explain it, but this book feels suited to seasoned readers — those who know exactly what they’re looking for in a novel. Those who love genre fiction and romance, and unsuspecting characters thrust into an alternate world that they’re ill-prepared for. Personally, I found the opening of the novel quite slow and impenetrable, but admittedly it got better as it went on.

When Robin is attacked by thugs and finds himself cursed, he must work together with Edwin to end the curse and find the object these thugs are so desperate to uncover. Stylistically, Freya writes in third person but moves back and forth between Robin and Edwin’s POV. Freya’s writing is sharp and succinct — her description allows for emotional and depth, without being fluffy or over-the-top.

“Edwin settled himself back against the leather of the seat. It was real. The rattle of the window in its frame was real. Robert Blyth was not exactly imaginary — no, he was too solid, too broad-shouldered, his voice too loud and too warm: the voice of someone who’d never had cause to make himself smaller.”

Admittedly, I felt that the blend of magical realism and romance was not seamlessly executed. Moments of romantic tension seemed so far removed from the plot lines that the core mystery of the novel seemed forgotten. There’s a sequence of sex scenes in the middle of the novel that didn’t feel easily embedded — the rest of the novel centres entirely around the mystery element that I felt quite surprised to find sex scenes in the novel at all. Whilst they were sensual, and I’m sure they’ll be appreciated by some readers, I’m not sure they fit easily into this book where they are.

“Excitement crawled over Robin’s scalp. He didn’t think Courcey actually meant him any harm; the man was far too prickly. If he’d been trying for charm Robin might have been worried.”

Recommended for readers of fantasy romance, and perhaps magical realism. I wouldn’t recommend this book to reluctant readers. Readership skews female, 25+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Marvellous Light
Freya Marske
November 2021
Pan Macmillan Publishers

Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat

The ancient world of magic is no more. Its heroes are dead, its halls are ruins, and its great battles between Light and Dark are forgotten. Only the Stewards remember. For centuries they have kept vigil, sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns.

Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run in London, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant urges him to seek out the Stewards, Will is ushered into a secret world, where he must train to fight for the Light in the oncoming war.

As the Dark King’s return looms, reborn warriors begin to draw battle lines. But when the young descendants of Light and Dark step into their destined roles, old allegiances, old enmities and old flames are awakened. Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the calamity that destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own.

The first book in a new YA fantasy trilogy, C.S. Pacat’s Dark Rise comes highly anticipated. Set in 1821 London, teenager Will is on the run from his mother’s murderer – successful trader Lord Simon Crenshaw. Soon, he’s entangled in a world he knew nothing about, under the protection of an ancient order. Dark Rise is quite the clever story because you find yourself questioning who the real villain is the entire way through.

Dark Rise feels like it honours classical fantasy whilst also incorporating a lot of unique elements and surprising plot events that mean you don’t feel like the story is predictable. C.S Pacat twists familiar tropes to make them much more inviting for the readers. There were certain deaths I never saw coming, and some character revelations were teased throughout the book and I missed them – I think all readers will love this book, not just readers of YA.

“Justice had talked about Tom like—
Like he was a monster. Like he’d hunt a woman down and kill her. Like he served a dark power, and did it willingly. A horror rose up in her.”

Written in third person, C.S. Pacat’s writing is stripped but impactful. She offers enough insight into the minds of her characters but largely keeps the majority of the story to dialogue and action where it shines.

Credit must be given to the way she only pivots her story around her core characters, without falling into the trap of including/mentioning secondary characters too often in scenes – this can be confusing for the reader when there is a large cast of characters present, and I often find myself going back through the pages and needing to re-read.

C.S Pacat has set herself up for an explosive second book. Themes include family, destiny, friendship and courage.

“The gathered men were uneasy, shifting in the repressed silence. The three too-pale men swung silently down off their horses, their single black pieces of armour faintly repelling. Those left on the banks were shooting nervous glances from them to James and back again. Will felt it too, a strange pressure growing in his chest.”

Admittedly, elements of the novel’s structure were a little disjointed for me. We switch POV between the main characters, but sometimes it didn’t always feel necessary. Katherine, Simon’s fiancé, gets only a few chapters in her POV and it didn’t feel like a seamless jump.

Towards the end, when she comes back into the storyline, there have been so many significant things that have happened that we weren’t privy to, it felt like the reader was left on the out. Being more involved in Katherine’s turning point as a character likely would’ve made her contribution seem more worthwhile, and it certainly would’ve helped me connect to her as a character.

Finally, the presence of Elizabeth in the story could’ve been more dominant. She doesn’t appear until right at the end where she actually matters, and because we don’t really know who she is, I felt nothing for her.

“Cyprian was too perfect, riding straight-backed in garments that seemed to repel the mud of the marsh. He was one of two Stewards who were younger than the others – Will’s age – and he and the girl were dressed differently too.”

Recommended for fantasy readers, and suitable for younger audiences. Readership skews 13+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Rise: Dark Rise #1
C.S. Pacat
October 2021
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers