thelauramay's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book a great deal more than I thought I would. I was about to give up at around the 10% mark, and decided to give it just one more chapter to see how it went. Then some random lust interests appeared, and I adjusted my expectations to rote urban fantasy. Once I realised that's what I was reading, it became a lot more fun--and I've gotta say I loved the pixies.
Not the most inspiring book I've ever read, and not the most powerful writing. However, I'll be picking up the second book, because I'm a grown-up, and I do what I want.
Not the most inspiring book I've ever read, and not the most powerful writing. However, I'll be picking up the second book, because I'm a grown-up, and I do what I want.
chyina's review
3.0
Rie is a human and she is also a changeling. Over a hundred years ago high elves found her and took her to their realm and now she is unable to see the sunset in the human realm. More importantly, she is a messenger, an esteemed position with very few humans in it. One day, while delivering a message she is attacked by two blood sidhe. But blood sidhe shouldn't be there. And how would she explain this to the king of the Upper Court? Any connection with those from the Shadow Court means immediate execution, no explanation, no trial. Thus Rie begins a journey to prove her innocence in tow our her pixie friends who never leave her side and a quirky blood sidhe who acts as her guide around the capital of the Shadow Court.
Who tried to kill her and why? Rie risks it all to find answers.
While the fighting scenes were fun and the descriptions dutiful and never-boring. I felt like Rie's character changed quite often in order to fit the current plot goal which was a but upsetting. A woman who just promises herself that she won't do something does it just because it adds a little more internal conflict even though it is completely out of character.
Don't get me wrong, I was grateful to have this as a road trip book but it let me down in some areas.
Who tried to kill her and why? Rie risks it all to find answers.
While the fighting scenes were fun and the descriptions dutiful and never-boring. I felt like Rie's character changed quite often in order to fit the current plot goal which was a but upsetting. A woman who just promises herself that she won't do something does it just because it adds a little more internal conflict even though it is completely out of character.
Don't get me wrong, I was grateful to have this as a road trip book but it let me down in some areas.
angelerin's review
4.0
Review posted here on my blog. :)
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2015/11/sanyare-last-descendant-by-megan.html
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2015/11/sanyare-last-descendant-by-megan.html
jfwhite23's review
4.0
A quick read. I liked the story although trying to sort out all of the various magical creatures was a challenge. An interesting take on the caste system. Good character development and a strong central female character who doesn't need anyone to save her.
chymerra's review
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kartiknarayanan's review
4.0
Read the full review at my site https://wp.me/p89tYT-iH
Introduction
The “Sanyare Chronicles”, authored by Megan Haskell, is an ongoing fantasy series. This review will focus on the four books written so far. These are – ‘Pixie Tamer’ (a novella prequel), ‘The Last Descendant’, ‘The Heir Apparent’ and ‘The Last Apprentice’. The ‘Sanyare Chroncles’ is the story of ‘Rie’, a human, who grows up with the fae. Rie, a changling, grows up with the High Elves where she has to struggle to be respected and recognized. The books chronicle her adventures from the time she is a young adult.
Recommendation
I went into this series without knowing anything about it or the author. The high ratings on Goodreads encouraged me to start reading ‘Pixie Tamer’ which turned out to be quite good. The rest of the books follow this trend. While I would not rate this series as excellent, it is a cut above the rest of the usual young adult fantasy fare. The ‘Sanyare Chronicles’ is definitely worth a read. I would put it on par with other series like ‘October Daye’ or ‘Mercy Thompson’ (while not being as annoying).
Read the full review at my site https://wp.me/p89tYT-iH
Introduction
The “Sanyare Chronicles”, authored by Megan Haskell, is an ongoing fantasy series. This review will focus on the four books written so far. These are – ‘Pixie Tamer’ (a novella prequel), ‘The Last Descendant’, ‘The Heir Apparent’ and ‘The Last Apprentice’. The ‘Sanyare Chroncles’ is the story of ‘Rie’, a human, who grows up with the fae. Rie, a changling, grows up with the High Elves where she has to struggle to be respected and recognized. The books chronicle her adventures from the time she is a young adult.
Recommendation
I went into this series without knowing anything about it or the author. The high ratings on Goodreads encouraged me to start reading ‘Pixie Tamer’ which turned out to be quite good. The rest of the books follow this trend. While I would not rate this series as excellent, it is a cut above the rest of the usual young adult fantasy fare. The ‘Sanyare Chronicles’ is definitely worth a read. I would put it on par with other series like ‘October Daye’ or ‘Mercy Thompson’ (while not being as annoying).
Read the full review at my site https://wp.me/p89tYT-iH
soulhaven's review
3.0
This one is a tough one to review.
I finished it, and willingly, so that's a big point in its favour. No DNF, here.
I even found myself carving out any time I could spare to read it at times. There were times I was ready to gush over it.
And yet...
Early on, I wanted to know amore about how these portals opened up. What did they look like. Were they doors? Holes in the ground? Did they float in mid-air? How was security monitored? Were there keypads? Or guards? Rie was able to use someone else's "code" to go through a portal, so I'm guessing there weren't guards there. So, I wondered how she input this "code".
I was also a bit concerned that while the Shadow Realm was so named because it had short daylight hours, it also seemed populated with dark-skinned beings (vampires, dark elves, and the like). Yet, in our world, populations that evolved in areas of lesser daylight hours (farther north or south) tend to have lighter skin, to make as much Vitamin D as possible in those limited hours. In fact, Vitamin D deficiency is more common in darker skinned individuals during winters in places with short winter days... However, at the end of the book, we learn that these populations simply travelled to these different realms at some time in the past, rather than having evolved there. So, that might explain that. I would like to know what the impact is for these populations living in this realm with such short days (which seems to be a constant state, rather than seasonal, as on Earth); do they need to take supplements? Have their bodies adapted to simply not need so much sunlight? Such details wouldn't alter the story, and I suppose exploring them could have slowed the pace, so I understand not delving deep, but they were questions that swirled through my head as I read, so I would have loved to have got a hint.
The middle was probably the best bit. Just along for the ride, following a growing group of characters as Rie tries to learn who tried to have her killed.
I liked the pixies.
As the story began to wind up and tie up loose ends, I found myself feeling... disappointed. It started to feel like a book written with a plot firmly in mind, with the characters doing what needed doing and never straying from that path into full realness. When that declaration of attraction came, it felt scripted, to me (and this is, of course, just my opinion). And then later there came the knowledge that Rie simply attracts people, it's sort of a magic power of hers... If I was Rie, I would have immediately questioned the sincerity of that early declaration that I was so happy about. To me, it throws up so many questions.
I also would have liked more of a demonstration of who Lord Garamaen was earlier on. We learn a lot more about him at the end, but I felt like he wielded a lot of influence on Rie's journey, so I would have liked to have another hint or two regarding his standing in the worlds. He was able to remain neutral across realms. Why? Why did the kings tolerate this? Well, the answer is pretty clear near the end; forcing him to pick a side would be more trouble that it would be worth, but Rie never asked this question. She just went along for the ride and answers eventually revealed themselves. Just a moment of "Who is he to have set up the treaty, made demands to have the Human Realm remain neutral, and be granted this?" would've satisfied me. If Lord Garamaen was an inconsequential character, then fine. But as a fairly major force in the background of various realms, I would have liked to have felt more of a connection to him from earlier on.
Anyway, on a fundamental level, this was an enjoyable read and I can see it appealing to many. It just didn't address the questions that mattered to me
I finished it, and willingly, so that's a big point in its favour. No DNF, here.
I even found myself carving out any time I could spare to read it at times. There were times I was ready to gush over it.
And yet...
Early on, I wanted to know amore about how these portals opened up. What did they look like. Were they doors? Holes in the ground? Did they float in mid-air? How was security monitored? Were there keypads? Or guards? Rie was able to use someone else's "code" to go through a portal, so I'm guessing there weren't guards there. So, I wondered how she input this "code".
I was also a bit concerned that while the Shadow Realm was so named because it had short daylight hours, it also seemed populated with dark-skinned beings (vampires, dark elves, and the like). Yet, in our world, populations that evolved in areas of lesser daylight hours (farther north or south) tend to have lighter skin, to make as much Vitamin D as possible in those limited hours. In fact, Vitamin D deficiency is more common in darker skinned individuals during winters in places with short winter days... However, at the end of the book, we learn that these populations simply travelled to these different realms at some time in the past, rather than having evolved there. So, that might explain that. I would like to know what the impact is for these populations living in this realm with such short days (which seems to be a constant state, rather than seasonal, as on Earth); do they need to take supplements? Have their bodies adapted to simply not need so much sunlight? Such details wouldn't alter the story, and I suppose exploring them could have slowed the pace, so I understand not delving deep, but they were questions that swirled through my head as I read, so I would have loved to have got a hint.
The middle was probably the best bit. Just along for the ride, following a growing group of characters as Rie tries to learn who tried to have her killed.
I liked the pixies.
As the story began to wind up and tie up loose ends, I found myself feeling... disappointed. It started to feel like a book written with a plot firmly in mind, with the characters doing what needed doing and never straying from that path into full realness. When that declaration of attraction came, it felt scripted, to me (and this is, of course, just my opinion). And then later there came the knowledge that Rie simply attracts people, it's sort of a magic power of hers... If I was Rie, I would have immediately questioned the sincerity of that early declaration that I was so happy about. To me, it throws up so many questions.
I also would have liked more of a demonstration of who Lord Garamaen was earlier on. We learn a lot more about him at the end, but I felt like he wielded a lot of influence on Rie's journey, so I would have liked to have another hint or two regarding his standing in the worlds. He was able to remain neutral across realms. Why? Why did the kings tolerate this? Well, the answer is pretty clear near the end; forcing him to pick a side would be more trouble that it would be worth, but Rie never asked this question. She just went along for the ride and answers eventually revealed themselves. Just a moment of "Who is he to have set up the treaty, made demands to have the Human Realm remain neutral, and be granted this?" would've satisfied me. If Lord Garamaen was an inconsequential character, then fine. But as a fairly major force in the background of various realms, I would have liked to have felt more of a connection to him from earlier on.
Anyway, on a fundamental level, this was an enjoyable read and I can see it appealing to many. It just didn't address the questions that mattered to me
chanel's review
4.0
What to do when you have an incredibly crappy night? Finish what turned out to be a really great book. Megan Haskell is a new to me author and I'm glad I've discovered her because if book one is any indication, this series is going to be phenomenal.
In this story you have multiple realms. The main focus in this book is on the Upper Realm, Human Realm and Shadow Realm. They are all considered faerie realms however. The Upper and Shadow Realms have high elves and dark elves or sidhes (think vampires with elemental abilities). They are known as High Fae and then there are Lesser Fae which are your pixies, goblins, imps, etc. High and dark elves have different abilities. They could be related to the four elements (fire, air, earth water) or they can be soul or spirit driven. And then you have humans in the Human Realm. To travel between realms, you use portals. Think Stargate type of portals where you enter a code and it lets you through.
Nuriel, who prefers to go by Rie, is a messenger for the Upper Realm. One day she goes to deliver a message to Lord Garamaen when assassins attack her and try to kill her. She's always been considered a changeling (a human who is orphaned in the human realm and taken by a fae to live in their realm) but she has always had the power of premonition. So premonition and her pixie friends saved her life. Now she's in a bind because she cant go back to the Upper Realm cause just being in the presence of a sidhe means execution. She takes Lord Garamaen's offer instead to go to the Shadow Realm to try and clear her name. Along the way she makes some interesting friends and even a potential love interest but she also learns a huge lesson in that things are not always what they seem.
I truly enjoyed this ride very much. It's fast paced, action packed and hits all the right buttons for me in commentary alone. The author does a very good job in keeping you guessing at who is friend and who is foe. Rie is very resourceful but also very honest. She carries kukuris that have the ability of helping her focus when in battle by enhancing her abilities as they arise. I already have book 2 downloaded and can't wait to continue with this story. Highly recommend if you like fantasy filled with intrigue, is unique and has a romantic arc.
In this story you have multiple realms. The main focus in this book is on the Upper Realm, Human Realm and Shadow Realm. They are all considered faerie realms however. The Upper and Shadow Realms have high elves and dark elves or sidhes (think vampires with elemental abilities). They are known as High Fae and then there are Lesser Fae which are your pixies, goblins, imps, etc. High and dark elves have different abilities. They could be related to the four elements (fire, air, earth water) or they can be soul or spirit driven. And then you have humans in the Human Realm. To travel between realms, you use portals. Think Stargate type of portals where you enter a code and it lets you through.
Nuriel, who prefers to go by Rie, is a messenger for the Upper Realm. One day she goes to deliver a message to Lord Garamaen when assassins attack her and try to kill her. She's always been considered a changeling (a human who is orphaned in the human realm and taken by a fae to live in their realm) but she has always had the power of premonition. So premonition and her pixie friends saved her life. Now she's in a bind because she cant go back to the Upper Realm cause just being in the presence of a sidhe means execution. She takes Lord Garamaen's offer instead to go to the Shadow Realm to try and clear her name. Along the way she makes some interesting friends and even a potential love interest but she also learns a huge lesson in that things are not always what they seem.
I truly enjoyed this ride very much. It's fast paced, action packed and hits all the right buttons for me in commentary alone. The author does a very good job in keeping you guessing at who is friend and who is foe. Rie is very resourceful but also very honest. She carries kukuris that have the ability of helping her focus when in battle by enhancing her abilities as they arise. I already have book 2 downloaded and can't wait to continue with this story. Highly recommend if you like fantasy filled with intrigue, is unique and has a romantic arc.
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