REVIEW: Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria

**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria

Release Date: October 9, 2018

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary: In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in power by virtue of the prophecies of the elder seers. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade.

In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.

TOUR / REVIEW: Mirage by Somaiya Daud

**I received an ARC from Netgalley for this tour. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

Release Date: August 28, 2018

My Rating: 3.75 stars

Summary: In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death.

DISCUSSION: my (complicated) thoughts on the TATBILB movie

I'm sure if you're involved in the YA world or book twitter, you know that Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before was adapted to a film that recently premiered on Netflix. I'd had some conflicting feelings about this movie for reasons I'll explain later, but overall, I enjoyed it and thought it was cute! However, I did have some issues that I'll outline, and I promise they're not petty "this was in the book but not in the movie!" complaints. I do want to explicitly say that these are my opinions and that I do support the movie and what it represents as a step in the right direction. This post is not meant to be unsupportive criticism, but rather discourse that I hope people will acknowledge without only focusing on the negative things. To balance it out, I'll talk about some things I liked about the movie as well!

REVIEW: A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna

**I received an ARC from Edelweiss. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna

Release Date: September 11, 2018

My Rating: 5 stars

Summary: In a universe of capricious gods, dark moons, and kingdoms built on the backs of spaceships, a cursed queen sends her infant daughter away, a jealous uncle steals the throne of Kali from his nephew, and an exiled prince vows to take his crown back.

Raised alone and far away from her home on Kali, Esmae longs to return to her family. When the King of Wychstar offers to gift the unbeatable, sentient warship Titania to a warrior that can win his competition, she sees her way home: she’ll enter the competition, reveal her true identity to the world, and help her famous brother win back the crown of Kali.

It’s a great plan. Until it falls apart.

Inspired by the Mahabharata and other ancient Indian stories, A Spark of White Fire is a lush, sweeping space opera about family, curses, and the endless battle between jealousy and love.

REVIEW: The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: July 31, 2018

My Rating: 5 stars

Summary: Five years after the destruction of the so-called rehabilitation camps that imprisoned her and countless other Psi kids, seventeen-year-old Suzume "Zu" Kimura has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of Psi kids against a growing tide of misinformation and prejudice. But when she is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run once more in order to stay alive.

Determined to clear her name, Zu finds herself in an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, two mysterious Psi who could either help her prove her innocence or betray her before she gets the chance. But as they travel in search of safety and answers, and Zu grows closer to the people she knows she shouldn't trust, they uncover even darker things roiling beneath the veneer of the country's recovery. With her future-and the future of all Psi-on the line, Zu must use her powerful voice to fight back against forces that seek to drive the Psi into the shadows and save the friends who were once her protectors.

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a harrowing story of resilience, resistance, and reckoning that will thrill loyal fans and new readers alike.

LIST: if you like Asian SFF...

here's a list of YA fantasy and science fiction by Asian authors!! Note that some of these authors write about their own culture and some have been inspired by others, but this doesn't necessarily diminish their works! also, these books are ones that I've read or have heard of, so this is not a complete list. Feel free to send me some recs!

This is a list of mostly YA books, with a few MG and adult books sprinkled in. These will be noted!

if you like Asian SFF...

REVIEW: Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi

**I received an ARC from Netgalley. In no way was I compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**

Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi

Release Date: November 27, 2018

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary: The Huntresses of Artemis must obey two rules: never disobey the goddess, and never fall in love. After being rescued from a harrowing life as an Oracle of Delphi, Kahina is glad to be a part of the Hunt; living among a group of female warriors gives her a chance to reclaim her strength, even while her prophetic powers linger. But when a routine mission goes awry, Kahina breaks the first rule in order to save the legendary huntress Atalanta.

To earn back Artemis’s favor, Kahina must complete a dangerous task in the kingdom of Arkadia— where the king’s daughter is revealed to be none other than Atalanta. Still reeling from her disastrous quest and her father’s insistence on marriage, Atalanta isn’t sure what to make of Kahina. As her connection to Atalanta deepens, Kahina finds herself in danger of breaking Artemis’ second rule.

She helps Atalanta devise a dangerous game to avoid marriage, and word spreads throughout Greece, attracting suitors willing to tempt fate to go up against Atalanta in a race for her hand. But when the men responsible for both the girls’ dark pasts arrive, the game turns deadly.