Past Due Reviews exists to help me make peace with my ever-growing backlog—books I received for review that I either read and never reviewed, or read well after their publication date (the struggle is very real). These posts are my way of catching up, one overdue review at a time, and finally giving those books the attention they deserve.
If you have a few reviews lingering on your backlist that you’ve been meaning to get to, I’d love for you to join me. At the end of each month I’ll host a link-up where you can share your own past-due reviews and catch up right alongside me. No stress, no deadlines, and absolutely no judgment—just a cozy little space to celebrate “better late than never” and give those books the love they’ve been waiting for.
The Daughters' War (Blacktongue, #0) by Christopher Buehlman
Synopsis (via Goodreads): Enter the fray in this luminous new adventure from Christopher Buehlman, set during the war-torn, goblin-infested years just before The Blacktongue Thief .
The goblins have killed all of our horses and most of our men.
They have enslaved our cities, burned our fields, and still they wage war.
Now, our daughters take up arms.
Galva ― Galvicha to her three brothers, two of whom the goblins will kill ― has defied her family’s wishes and joined the army’s untested new unit, the Raven Knights. They march toward a once-beautiful city overrun by the goblin horde, accompanied by scores of giant war corvids. Made with the darkest magics, these fearsome black birds may hold the key to stopping the goblins in their war to make cattle of mankind.
The road to victory is bloody, and goblins are clever and merciless. The Raven Knights can take nothing for granted ― not the bonds of family, nor the wisdom of their leaders, nor their own safety against the dangerous war birds at their side. But some hopes are worth any risk.
I was so excited to get a copy of The Daughters’ War after really enjoying The Blacktongue Thief. The only downside to receiving an ARC was not being able to listen to the audiobook. The author narrated the first book, and it was simply phenomenal—he knows the story, the characters, how they’re feeling, and it truly comes through in his narration. That said, The Daughters’ War was still an amazing read, and I loved seeing how Galva’s story began. This book takes us all the way up to her meeting characters from The Blacktongue Thief.
You should know going in that this is not a lighthearted fantasy where the stakes are small and everyone makes it out unscathed. The Daughters’ War is BRUTAL. Goblins aren’t kind. They aren’t forgiving. They play dirty. Humans do not have the advantage, and they’re forced to do unspeakable things just to survive. There were several scenes where I covered my mouth, my brain desperately trying to keep up with what my eyes were reading.
That said, the Corvids are humanity’s greatest weapon—and easily one of my favorite elements of the story. They’ve been bred specifically to fight goblins and withstand their attacks, but they’re still deeply independent creatures who think for themselves and don’t always follow orders. That independence creates real problems when they’re meant to function as obedient weapons. Buehlman did a wonderful job with them—and honestly, with this story as a whole.
If you like darker fantasy, blurred moral lines, and cool creatures, this series is absolutely for you. If you’re squeamish, need romance, or require a HEA… you might want to pass on this one. (★★★★★)
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Kassner
Synopsis (via Goodreads): In Heather Kassner's spine-chilling fantasy novel, reminiscent of Serafina and the Black Cloak, an orphaned girl chases a thieving boy into a magician's land of starless, moonless gloom where other children have gone missing before her.
Though the darkness is indeed plentiful, this book gleams with an eerie magic, its characters burning bright and fierce. A visual treat of a tale. --Stefan Bachmann, international bestselling author of Cinders and Sparrows
In order to survive on her own, twelve-year-old Rooney de Barra collects precious moonlight, which she draws from the evening sky with her (very rare and most magical) lunar mirror. All the while she tries to avoid the rival roughhouse boys, and yet another, more terrifying danger: the dreaded thing that's been disappearing children in the night.When Trick Aidan, the worst of the roughhouse boys, steals her lunar mirror, Rooney will do whatever it takes to get it back. Even if it means leaping into a pool of darkness after it swallows Trick and her mirror. Or braving the Plentiful Darkness, a bewitching world devoid of sky and stars. Or begrudgingly teaming up with Trick to confront the magician and unravel the magic that has trapped Warybone's children.
I read this one with my children, and we all loved it! It has such a unique premise, and the author absolutely delivers. It’s a little on the spookier side, so I’d classify this as upper middle grade, but the creativity of the story paired with the author’s beautiful writing is—chef’s kiss.
Rooney is an orphan desperately trying to survive in a world that doesn’t care about her. Her parents are gone, she’s at odds with a rival group of orphans, and she’s competing to collect and sell moonlight—a task that’s difficult and dangerous all on its own. Thankfully, Rooney has a rat that sticks by her side and comes to the rescue more than once.
I really enjoyed watching this story unfold and seeing Rooney find her courage—and her place in the world. People and places aren’t always what they seem, and she’ll have to work with her enemies to unravel the mystery and survive the circumstances she’s thrown into. The Plentiful Darkness truly is a wonderful book, and one I highly recommend. (★★★★☆)
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
January Past Due Reviews Posts
If you did your own Past Due Reviews Post, be sure to leave a link in the comments so I can check it out!
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