Review: Gallant

Gallant by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Olivia doesn’t know much about her past.  She has her mother’s journal, but since it doesn’t make sense towards the end, it isn’t much help.  She has been at the Merilance School for girls for years and never thought she would be able to leave without a job or a husband … that is until a mysterious letter arrives and she is invited to Gallant, her mother’s home.  When she arrives at Gallant, no one knew she was coming; they didn’t even know she existed.  Who sent Olivia the letter?  What secrets is Gallant hiding and how does it tie into the ghouls that Olivia sees?

Gallant is a standalone supernatural novel that is a quick read with hidden depths.  There are family secrets, personal exploration, and hidden dimensions throughout the story.  Schwab has crafted an experience that grabbed me at the beginning and kept me turning the pages to the end.  I enjoyed the backstory as it was discovered by Olivia and was hoping for a satisfying ending, which was delivered.  Gallant was a great supernatural book without a lot of blood and guts.

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Review: Wakers

Wakers by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Laz has just woken up and found himself in a cloning facility.  No one else is around, except a girl who is still in her cloning pod.  He has memories of his life but doesn’t know why he has been cloned or who woke him up.  Laz also can move into the consciousness of himself in a parallel world.  He has memories of doing it “before,” yet him being alone in an abandoned world cannot be fixed with any side-stepping.  Laz thinks that the girl in the other pod will be the answer to why they are left alone.

Wakers is a stand-alone science fiction novel that was unique without being confusing.  There were a lot of scientific theories embedded throughout the story, yet it wasn’t enough science to distract readers who didn’t fully understand them.  The post-apocalyptic story was far-fetched and completely possible at the same time.  Card created characters that were easy to relate to and I found myself wishing the book would read a little faster because I wanted to know how it was going to end.  A fun read that might be a good start for a new sci-fi reader. 

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Review: In the Serpent's Wake

In the Serpent's Wake by Rachel Hartman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tess has already survived an adventure, but it is not time for her to rest.  She is now on a ship with a world-changing mission, but some don’t want the mission to succeed.  The world is in turmoil and they believe that finding the World Serpent will put them on the path of peace, but what tragedies will they need to overcome to make it to their destination?

In the Serpent’s Wake is the second book in the Tess of the Road duology.  This novel picks up shortly after the last novel and Hartman has written a poem that tells readers of the main events of the first book.  This book was full of adventures with lots of side stories to keep the reader wondering where the main plot was going.  This was a very “inclusive” world and I found that at times the varied people and relationships were trying too hard.  Otherwise, it was a great second book to close out this duology.

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Review: Tess of the Road

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tess is constantly getting in trouble.  Many of the situations she has gotten into have been hidden from those outside her family, but when she punches a relative in the nose at her sister’s wedding ... her actions can no longer be secret.  She knows her family wants her to go to a nunnery to live out her days, so she puts on her sturdy boots and runs away, pretending she is a boy.  Tess has no grand plans with what to do next, but she is intent on staying free.

Tess of the Road is the first book in a series with the same name.  This is a completely new series that is set in the world of Seraphina.  These new characters can be completely enjoyed even if readers have not explored the first series.  Tess has some strange adventures and readers will learn many things about Tess as she discovers how her past can help her future.  The second book in this series is about to be released and I will be reading it very soon.

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