February Book Reviews
contributed by Brace Books
The following book reviews appeared in the print issue of Ponca City Monthly magazine. Get full access to all online articles, videos, and content by becoming a paid subscriber. We offer free and paid subscription plans. Find rack locations to pick up your free print copy here, or subscribe here to get online access plus exclusive content.
Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Series, Book 1)
by Rebecca Yarros
Have you heard of the genre “Romantasy”? A romantasy occurs when a novel is a solid romance and a solid fantasy, both at the same time. Fourth Wing is such a novel. Fourth Wing is set in the brutal world of Basgiath War College, a military college for dragon riders, healers, scribes and infantry.
Violet is the 20-year-old daughter of General Sorrengail, the commanding general of Basgiath. All her life, until six months ago, Violet has trained to become a scribe, like her father. That all changed when her mother decreed that all of her children will be riders. In the Riders’ Quadrant, there any many ways to die — death by other cadets or by incineration (by dragon) being the top two possible causes of death.
Dain is Violet’s best friend and a year older than she. They’ve grown up together at Basgiath, as their parents have served together. Dain is a second-year rider and manages to get Violet placed in the squad he commands.
Xaden Riorson is the 22-year-old son of the separatist who led the failed rebellion against Navarre. All the separatists were executed. All the separatists’ children were forced to serve Navarre as Dragon Riders, where they could most easily die. Xaden is bonded with Sgaeyl, the second largest and second most powerful dragon on the continent. Each rider has a unique signet power they channel through their dragon. Often, riders of more powerful dragons have much more valuable and impressive powers.
Only Violet’s sister, Mira, expects her to survive the Riders’ Quadrant. Violet, however, is smarter and more courageous than anyone expects.
Fourth Wing is amazing. Iron Flame is the second novel in this series. Onyx Storm, the third book
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Reviewed by Lorrie Layton
Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos
by Alex Evanovich
Keeper Chance is a 16-year-old high school student with a solid 75% average in all his classes — but he could easily finish his tests early, without bothering to check his work, and earn an A+ every time if he so chose. Hmmm … He also loves to take things apart and improve them or turn the components into new things.
Keeper lives with his grandmother, who Keeper describes as having the personality of a hobgoblin — no offense to any actual or wannabe hobgoblins. She constantly nags him. He is not allowed to play video games (they rot the brain) or have friends.
On the day before spring break Keeper receives an invitation to a question-and-answer session for possible membership in the Evil Villains International League (E.V.I.L.).
Okay, I don’t know about you, but when I think of a villain, I think of someone who is cruel, ruthless, lacking compassion and a moral code. Surprisingly, E.V.I.L. evil villains don’t hurt people or animals — it’s against their code.
At the Q&A session, Keeper meets Toby. Both boys want to join E.V.I.L, but they must first pass a small test, confirming that they possess the correct disposition for a career of villainy. The test doesn’t go according to plan and disasters begin to snowball as villains are abducted, one by one. Keeper and Toby race to save their new friends before E.V.I.L. Chapter 626 is no more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Keeper is the nicest wannabe villain you can imagine. My absolute favorite thing about this book is the variety of exclamations used by E.V.I.L. villains and recruits, alike. Exclamations such as “Holy snot rockets,” “Thank the Doofenshmirtz” and “Holy Jar Jar Binks” were my favorites!
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Reviewed by Lorrie Layton
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