Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, mythology,
Hardcover: 369 pages
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Release date: August 29, 2017

Series:  DC Icons, #1

Source: Library

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

She will become one of the world's greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning. . . .

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn't know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

Fans of the recent movie will want to know, where does this book fit in? Well, Diana is a "teenager" in years, for a start. It seems to be pre-movie, but is not in any way connected to the movie or the comic series in chronology. (I've never read the comics, so I'm just taking this from Leigh's info about writing the book that she spoke about once.) This tale takes place in the modern era, finding Diana desperate to be worthy of her sisters and her mother's legacy. Diana is much less sure of herself and rather impetuous, choosing to fight her insecurities through action by rescuing Alia and attempting to reverse her Warbringer destiny. Rather than being sure of her superhuman abilities, here Diana does not fly or cause pulse shocks (or whatever you call it) with her armbands. Instead she is constantly trying to show her skills as a warrior, tougher than average because she's been trained by the best of her Amazon sisters. Even without her more flashy superpowers, Diana shines as she single-handedly manages to keep a horde of gun-toting mercenaries in a chase for miles and then leap aboard an ascending aircraft.

In Diana's relationship with and through Alia, we finally get to see how she navigates female friendship, potential romance, and discovers modern customs and humor as she meets Alia's friends Theo and Nim and her brother Jason. Here Diana gets her first dose of human violence, politics and manipulation all the while adapting to the mythical power of the Warbringer and the entropy towards mass destruction. I loved the characters and Nim, Theo, Jason and Alia come to life just as much as larger-than-life Diana.

It's a very clever, fun book, and while I don't want to give too much away, I will say I was laughing out loud at times and impressed by some astute observations on the behavior of humanity. I also learned a shared fact about Wonder Woman - she prefers Shakespeare's Benedick and Beatrice over Romeo and Juliet, a woman after my own heart! This was a fantastic book for fans of Wonder Woman and will grab teens who're new to the fandom. I loved the twists at the end and the spurts of mythology that almost remind readers of the appeal of Rick Riordan's famous Percy Jackson etc. series.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

Jason: "I'm just saying all those things that make our lives so convenient have a price. Think about the way technology has changed modern warfare. How much courage do you need to launch an air strike from behind a computer screen?"

Nim shook her head, "Alia and I have spent half our lives being bullied. If those asshats think they can scare us into not fighting back, they're in for an education."
Nim held up her right pinky and Alia locked her own finger into it. Alia raised her left hand, and after a moment of confusion, Diana hooked her pinky with Alia's, then offered her other pinky to Nim.
"Are you guys forming a coven?" called Theo, the spare slung over his bony shoulder.
"Bubble, bubble," said Nim with a determined grin.
Alia squeezed her pinkies and felt Nim and Diana squeeze back.
They answered together, "Make some trouble."

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by Kara at Thursday, February 01, 2018

 DC Icons, Fantasy, Leigh Bardugo, Mythology, Random House Children's Books, Wonder Woman: Warbringer, young adult  1 Person left their mark

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Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: High Fantasy
Hardcover: 560 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Release date: September 27, 2016

Series:  Six of Crows, #2

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

I'll tell you. After I finished Six of Crows, I was dying for this book. But when it came out, I thought, Oh no! If I read this, then it will all be over. Leigh (Bardugo) doesn't have anything else coming out. *insert despair/dying emoji here*.

So, there it sat. Taunting me on my bookshelf. Saying you know you want to read me because you'll love me, but I'll absolutely ruin you. MWHAHAHA!

UNTIL! *victory trumpet* Recently, she's had her The Language of Thorns published, which is a collection of short stories in the Grishaverse, AND she's announced she's writing King of Scars which centers around King Nikolai. Whew. A huge sigh of relief and now I can breathe and get on with this.

Crooked Kingdom picks up with the revelation that the Shu are hunting the Grisha in Ketterdam while our beloved crew had just experienced the crushing loss of Inej being taken captive by Van Eck. Kaz and crew have had some time to form a plan and they're just putting things into place to rescue Inej. In Inej's capture, Kaz's hard exterior has been bored through and he's anxious and reliving moments from his past that have made him vulnerable. Kaz has previously been thought to be bloodthirsty and fueled by greed, impenetrable by feeling. When it comes to Inej and his crew, this isn't the case, actually, and the others start to notice.

Kaz possesses a formidable amount of determination to succeed in his goal of freeing Inej and also besting Van Eck, but this determination, when levied by the humanity of his crew, threatens to fall apart. Nina has barely recovered from her emergency use of jurda parem and is still craving the potent drug. She hasn't been able to use her power since the event, either. Matthias has been taking care of her diligently, but he is a stranger in a foreign land and a wanted jailbird. Wylan is still wearing Kuwei's appearance, and dealing with his father's treachery and his own flaws of severe dyslexia. Jesper's betrayal was revealed, and he wrestles with his penchant for gambling as well as the news that his father has come to Ketterdam in search of him. Kuwei, their newest addition, is both collateral and a big liability as he doesn't even know the language or customs and stands to be fleeced or murdered if he even steps foot out of their custody.

Our heroes and heroines definitely possess less bravado this go around, though they haven't reached the limit of tricks up their proverbial (or in Kaz's case, literal) sleeves. The character development is more pronounced and relationships hinted at in the last book are better fleshed out. Since his encounter with Kaz & co., Van Eck has learned to respect their capabilities, and Kaz seems surrounded on both sides, since even he makes a deal with the devil, his personal devil Pekka Rollins. Favorite moment: When Kaz has a showdown with Per Haskell. Loose ends, like Rollins and Nina's Grisha connections and Jesper and Wylan's respective family issues, are all neatly and masterfully dealt with in the final climax of the novel.

Despite this being less of a delightful surprise than Six of Crows, Bardugo still pulls off a skillfully ingenious wrap up to the duology. If this series had food comparisons, Six of Crows would have been the mystery surprise of exotic flavors you didn't know you craved while Crooked Kingdom is full-bodied and richly satisfying to devour and complete the palate. I love this series and these characters, despite them being a bunch of teenage criminals. I am so sad to leave them! This duology will likely remain one of my top all-time favorites.


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by Kara at Thursday, January 11, 2018

 crooked kingdom, Henry Holt amp; Co., High Fantasy, Leigh Bardugo, six of crows, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This book was SO GOOD!!!  I hate that I have to wait until September for the sequel!  A coworker of mine recommended this to me, and I'm glad I took her advice.  I was hesitant to try it, because I've never read any of the Grisha books.  Let me reassure you that you don't need to have read the Grisha books to fully enjoy this spin-off series starter.

This review may be boring- I found nearly nothing wrong with it.  This review will just be a fanfest.  :)  It's got everything from it's metaphorical head down to it's metaphorical toes!  First, the book design itself.  It's got an AWESOME cover graphic, incorporating the crow wing and the cityscape.  I love it.  Then you've got the page edges.  You know how many Bibles have gold page edges?  This book has got black page edges.  It looks very cool.  Then there are the maps.  Don't you love books with maps of their worlds?  Six of Crows has two maps:  one of the Grisha world in entirety (very helpful if you've never read a Grisha book) and a detailed one of the city where the heist takes place.  Further, the book is split into a few parts, and each part has a two-page spread that's a black-and-white celestial-feeling image.

But don't let me convince you to judge a book by it's cover!  Six of Crows has also got a ton of plot, setting, and character "meat."  The story is super engaging:  a sorta street urchin Robin Hood-type character puts together a fantasy team from the dregs of society to pull off a huge heist and, in a way, save the world.  Or, at least, society as they know it.  I didn't have to read too far to make the connection with the classic movie Ocean's Eleven.  The first part of the book consists mostly of introduction of the main characters, with a little insight into their back stories.  There is also development of the world in which they live, and the society in which they operate.  All of the teens who join Kaz's crew (the Robin Hood-type main character) live in "the Dregs," which is a slum area in the Grisha world.  These teens have very, very little to lose and much to gain and a ton of guts.  Their heist "assignment" isn't to steal money directly, but something that is worth lots of money.  If they pull it off, they will all receive payments that will set them up for life.  The catch?  This heist is super dangerous, and is widely considered (by others outside the group) to be totally impossible.  As I read the book, I kept thinking that the characters were going to fail after all.  Everything that could go wrong, did.  I couldn't put it down!  I was so nervous for them!  I won't spoil it, and won't tell you whether or not they do finally succeed.

Then there are the characters.  As the synopsis on the back of the book says, there's a criminal prodigy, a convict, a sharpshooter, a runaway, a spy, a Heartrender*, and a thief.  None of these are particularly "warm and fuzzy" sounding, right?  But they are!  By the time you've learned some of their backstory and their reasons for doing this heist, and see their devotion to each other, you'll love them.  There wasn't a single one I disliked!  Each chapter is told from a rotating point of view, so you really get into their heads (and hearts).  Yes, they're rough around the edges, but with reason.  I just wanted to bring them all home and give them warm cookies.

*Heartrenders are explained in this book, in case you're new to the Grisha world.  Turns out some characters in this world have the ability to manipulate matter and/or physiology.  Magic!

So just as my coworker said to me:  "You need to read this."  Heed her advice!

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by Tynga at Thursday, March 31, 2016

 Action amp; Adventure, Dregs, Fantasy amp; Magic, Grisha, heist, Henry Holt amp; Co., Leigh Bardugo, Library, Review, young adult  3 People left their mark

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The Too-Clever Fox by Leigh Bardugo

This novella is publicized as a companion story to Siege & Storm, the second book in The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo. I'm afraid to say though that the link between the story and the book isn't clear at all. The only thing I can see maybe is that this story is about avoiding traps, and that Alina was caught in one unaware in the latest installment.

This novella is actually a fable featuring a fox whose very life was threatened by his own mother right at birth. Already at a young age he had a clever mind and thanks to his wits, he convinced his mother not to eat his ugly scrawny self. He overcame many challenges growing up and his smarts allowed him to slowly become accepted amongst the other forest animals. When a terrible hunter came to his forest, he stepped up to save his friends, thinking he was the cleverest of them all.

The fable was kind of cute and it was a nice way to show how strength of character and cleverness can get you out of many difficult situation. I liked ever more that the very bottom of the story is to show that even if you overcome many obstacles, it doesn't mean that there aren't more on the way, and that you should always remain alert. The poor fox grew cocky and it almost cost him his hide.

A nice lesson is shared by author Leigh Bardugo, but because it is so far removed from the series, I would not really recommend it. It's an ok read, but I don't feel like it brings anything to the table. It's a free novella though, so feel free to check it out and judge for yourself!



 

 

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by Tynga at Friday, November 29, 2013

 Fable, Free, Leigh Bardugo, Macmillan, Mythology, Novella November, Review, The Grisha, Tor Books  Leave your mark

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The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo

The Tailor is a very short novella and it's about a scene happening in Shadow & Bones from Genya's point of view. It takes place after Alina was injured by Zoya.

I enjoyed this very quick read because it gives Genya a stepping-stone to the readers heart. Her actions in the series have been questionable and this little insight to her true feelings and her past was very welcome.

She is a sweet but abused girl and she does her best to survive in this cruel world. You can't help but feel sympathy for the girl after reading this story.

I would not suggest reading it without having read Shadow & Bones, but it's a nice addition to the book if you have a moment to spare. Plus, it's free :)

If you haven't read the Grisha series yet, I urge you to get your hands on the first novel, It's really awesome!



 

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by Tynga at Friday, November 15, 2013

 Free, High Fantasy, Leigh Bardugo, Macmillan, Magic, Novella November, Review, The Grisha, young adult  Leave your mark

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The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo's writing is so addicting to me. THE WITCH OF DUVA is one of her many novellas and it's totally captivating despite the fact that it has no direct correlation with her Grisha trilogy. Instead, it gives you some type of background information for Ravka because it is a Ravkan folklore tale. And let me tell you, it's an addicting and dark folklore tale. It is definitely not one I'd want to be raised with, but one that I, as a reader who loves gritty stories, adore completely today.

This folktale comes off as a Hansel and Gretel re-telling that has a level of darkness that makes it terribly enticing because it's so chilling. Our main character is named Nadya. She's a young girl who is suffering in Duva's famine. Her elder brother went off to put warm food in his belly as a soldier for the King's Army shortly after her mother passed. The widow in town soon marries Nadya's father and this cold, cold creature makes her feel entirely unwelcome in her own home. Her own personal world is being thrown into chaos while Duva struggles to understand why young girls are forcibly disappearing at the edge of the wood. It's all very complex and surprising which gave Bardugo the ability to throw several plot twists at us that were completely unexpected.

Perhaps my favorite theme of this story was how misleading naivety can be. Character motivations are not always what they seem and perceptions can be entirely misleading if you're missing other important cues. It gives you this sinking feeling in your gut. However, it also paved the way for several huge plot twists that completely threw me for a loop. Everything led up to the big reveal in the ending and I've never been so surprised before. Told in an arguably unique matter, we discover the truth once and for all. Let's just say that it is dark, disturbing, and unpredictable. Then again, I would expect nothing less from Bardugo.

Although reading this novella is not essential in understanding anything specific in the series, I'd give it a chance because it's not only wonderfully dark and twisted, but it showcases Bardugo's amazing writing skills.

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by Tynga at Thursday, November 07, 2013

 Fantasy, Free, High Fantasy, Leigh Bardugo, Macmillan, Review, The Grisha, Tor Books, young adult  1 Person left their mark

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Siege & Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Book Stats:
Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: high fantasy
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release date: June 4, 2013

Series: Grisha #2

Source: Raincoast Books

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Aline and Mal are now actively running away from The Darkling after the stunt Alina pulled on him in the fold. She stills feels intense remorse over letting the Grisha and soldiers die to save Mal’s life, but how could she sacrifice him? Their life as a couple isn’t easy and matters gets worst when their nemesis catch up to them. Will both of them survive to tell the tale?

I know some have been disappointed with Siege and Storm, but I don’t think it suffered from the second-instalment-curse. I actually really liked it and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! While Shadow and Bone was fairly stationary with Alina learning about Grisha and her powers at the little palace, Siege and Storm felt like a moving forward quest. It all starts in Novyi Zem, moves on to the True Sea and ends in Os Alta. Our hero’s journey was smooth and addicting even though the plot wasn’t exactly action-packed.

We meet a handful of new characters and I must confess I fell for Sturmhond the pirate, umm, I mean Privateer *wink*. I even wish Alina would end up with him instead of Mal, who was a big disappointment this time around. There’s also a pair of twins I became very fond of and I enjoyed the ride with this merry crew. Alina changes a great deal over the course of this novel and I must say I am worried for her. Hopefully she’ll come back to her senses for the grand finally. The Darlking also developed some nifty talents, the things of nightmares, I swear!

The plot was intriguing and surprising. I didn’t see coming most of the key events and I must congratulate Leigh for a job well done. On the other hand, I feel like the final battle was over way too fast. It felt like David against Goliath, but the giant won this time around. Hopefully, Bardugo will make-up for it in the last novel of the trilogy.  

Overall, Siege and Storm was a very surprising and satisfying sequel to an awesome first book in the series. I am anxious to get my hands on the last novel but I now must wait a whole year. I’m sure Leigh Bardugo will make the wait worth it and knock us senseless with an amazing conclusion. Fans of high fantasy will definitely appreciate this trilogy.

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by Tynga at Friday, July 19, 2013

 Fantasy, Leigh Bardugo, Macmillan, Review, young adult  1 Person left their mark

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Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Book Stats:
Reading Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release date: June 5, 2012

Series: Grisha #1

Source: Raincoat Books

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.

Alina and Mal met at a very young age in an orphanage. Being the two youngest, they were mistreated by the eldest and they instantly bonded over their less than desirable situation. They both enrolled in the army and things started changing when Mal became handsome- thus popular- and she remained a scrawny, awkward girl. None of them could’ve predicated that she would develop a talent so rare that everyone would want a piece of her though.

Shadow & Bone was simply amazing. So much that I rushed through it in just two evenings (quite fast for me!), and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, staying up late at night. The world Bardugo created is simply stunning, and completely engrossing. I’d lie if I said I was sucked in from the very beginning because her Lore and fictive languages take some getting used to, but it wasn’t long before I was hooked. Rich with magic and original abilities, I loved the basis of her story.

The marvellous world isn’t all though, the characters are a force to be reckoned with. Alina was a strong female lead, with completely believable flaws. She’s in love with Mal, yet he never noticed. When she is swept away by the Darkling and he shows interest in her, she is understandably swooned. And I have to confess, he is such a sweet talker, I fell for him too. I also loved Mal though because despite the fact the he doesn’t see Alina in a romantic way, he is there for her and threats her right. Even though Alina is attracted to two boys, I wouldn't describe the romance as a love-triangle, I can’t really say more without spoiling anything so I won’t elaborate.

I was captivated by Alina’s journey as the Sun Summoner despite the fact that the novel isn’t exactly action filled. We follow our young hero as she learns about Grisha society and learns to master her talents. Bardugo kept a prefect balance between world building and action, keeping her readers riveted to the pages. The last third of the book kept me breathless, on the edge of my seat, and I’m so glad that I already have book two at home. I’ve actually already started reading it, I couldn't hold back.

I am convinced fans of Kristen Cashore, Maria V Snyder & Morgan Rhodes will fall in love with Leigh Bardugo the way I did and I strongly suggest you get your hands on a copy of Shadow & Bone as soon as possible. It’s rich love and engaging characters will keep you reading until you can’t keep your eyes open, I am convinced!

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by Tynga at Friday, July 12, 2013

 Fantasy, Leigh Bardugo, Macmillan, Review, young adult  4 People left their mark

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