Jessica Leake

** spoiler alert ** A really good sequel to Arcana. I think I actually liked this one a little better. The Sylvani have already been explained, and the reader gets to spend time there, which is awesome because it’s a wonderfully drawn world (no pun intended, as Lucy, the protagonist, is an excellent artist who embues her work, at first unknowingly, with arcana. I think one of the reasons I liked this book was because of the _could have beens_ that weren’t. It would have been really easy show more to set it up as a full-on love triangle, and it wasn’t, because the third wasn’t invested enough. It could have been a horrible villain love interest who needs redeeming—now, this could be a toss up, but Alexander, I believe, _never_ meant Lucy any harm. His background was more of an accomplice than an actual villain (still, an accomplice to pretty awful things), but he was well and truly misled from the very beginning, which makes his redemption, upon realizing this and turning toward genuine atonement, almost unnecessary.

Also regarding Alexander—his fighting ability may have been supplemented by his arcana, but he came about it the way really good fighters do: practice, practice, and more practice. I thought it was nice that he had knowledge of herbs, because some traditions and cultures are very conscious of how everything is connected, and knowing about different things like that is normal. One of the closest characters I can think of like that off the top of my head is Aragorn from LOTR.

And I also really liked what Lucy’s grandmother does with Rose. That could have been turned into a somewhat unbelievable recovery but it wasn’t.

Another thing I enjoyed was that the villain’s plot wasn’t overwhelmingly complicated. I don’t mean that as an insult. I think some authors get so caught up in making things incredibly intricate they lose sight of the trees for the forest. Sometimes reading things with fewer characters who you can get really attached to, with a plot that doesn’t become nonsensical trying to be clever, is truly a relief. Given that, I thought the encounter between Lord Titus and Tyrell was pretty brilliant. Talk about getting ones wires crossed in terms of intentions. Snort. It’s nice to have time to enjoy extraordinary ballrooms.

And I think the fact that I noticed those things shows how much they are used in other fiction, and that the lack of them really makes the story better.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for other books by this author. show less

3.5 stars

"THERE ARE COUNTLESS MONSTERS IN THIS world. Some with fangs, some who skitter in the darkness just out of sight, some who wear human skin but whose hearts have turned dark as forest shadows....I knew that these men and women I’d grown up with—they thought of me as a monster, too. I wasn’t sure they were wrong."

I feel weirdly torn after reading this book. There was a lot of things I liked about it and I had a fun time reading it, but it felt like I’d read the story before. show more Through the White Wood is a Slavic-inspired fantasy story that brings elemental powers to life in impactful ways as the prince and a powerful outcast with an unknown history my save their country from being overrun.

Things I Liked
I always love elemental magic. It’s one of my favorite magic systems and I thought it was done very well here. I could feel the chill from Katya’s ice powers.

The slavic folklore influence was wonderful. I loved seeing the different spirits and witches sprinkled through the story. It really made the setting and atmosphere come alive.

Things I Didn’t Like
My biggest disappointment was the lack of tension and surprises throughout the story. The story never really hooked me because it never really surprised me. I new what was going to happen next, I could easily guess the reveals that were coming. It just made the story not exciting to read.

Even though the plot was lackluster, the setting was enough for me to enjoy the story. And it was such a quick read that I think it a great book to pick up if you’re in the mood for a fantasy, but it doesn’t require as much detailed focus as other high fantasy stories. Through the White Wood is a good story to pick up if you want an impactful setting and a cooling atmosphere.

I received a copy of the book from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. show less

For a book that promised a warrior maiden protagonist and a world filled with the dark delights of Norse and Celtic mythology, this book did NOT pay off.

First of all, Ciara just wasn't a relatable character for me. Her emotional responses to things were indifferent at best, and her feelings were told in thoughts and dialogue that made it difficult for me to care about her. Her relationships with the other characters were quite changeable, and frankly? I just don't believe her.

The magic show more system here had very limited, easily retracted consequences that meant a lot wasn't put on the line for the success of these characters. Thanks again to Ciara's flat personality, the few things that WERE at stake, I couldn't care less about. In a setting that should be dark and magical, we spend too much time traveling pointlessly in circles and trying to force a love story that didn't seem to click.

My biggest pet peeve, though, was in the details. There were multiple inconsistencies in the text with even my very LIMITED knowledge of Celtic and Norse mythology. Beyond the mythos - if you want to write that part off as creative license - there were parts written into the setting and world building that didn't make sense. At one point, a character mentions there was a formidable army of 50 that they defeated, and I had to slam the book down, because 50 is somewhere between a scouting party and war council - definitely not an ARMY. The fact checking to add realism here just... did not seem to happen. And that totally broke the illusion for me.

I think that this book still has the potential to be enjoyed by a lot of people. Not everyone reads books in the same way that I do, and not everyone is looking for the depth and world building that I have come to expect from my fantasy. I think that there are a lot of people out of there who would really enjoy this one, but it just fell WAY below my expectations. show less

3.75 stars

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Very Good
Recommended: Recommended
Level: High School

Jessica Leake’s Beyond A Darkened Shore blends together Norse and Celtic mythology, magic, mystery, romance, and bloodshed as two enemies are forced to become allies on an epic quest to save both of their people.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. Ciara, our female protagonist, is fierce, capable, and full of magic and a thirst for vengeance against the one that murdered her show more sister. Leif, a Northman, and Ciara’s sworn enemy is quite similar. Having also lost his sister to a gruesome death, he too seeks vengeance against the murderer. When the two find each other in battle, a mystical force sends them a message declaring they must become allies in order to both prevail and not only get vengeance, but also protect their people. There’s a decent amount of action throughout the story and a lot of descriptions of death in battle and the horrifying ways in which it occurs, so be aware if you have sensitivities.

Leif and Ciara are both fleshed out pretty well, with their magical abilities and their reasoning for their actions, but overall, they aren’t really anything new to the YA genre. They fit a lot of molds that already exist, which isn’t a bad thing, but isn’t particularly interesting either. I did quite enjoy their banter and the fact that they were enemies to friends to lovers, which is basically my most favorite trope ever.

I don’t know a lot about the mythology that was presented, both Norse and Celtic, but I really liked getting to learn more about each, especially the idea of an army of the dead. I got major Return of the King vibes, which I am 100 percent here for. The story as a whole was easy to follow, if a little slow in the middle, but overall really well written and enjoyable to read. show less