popthebutterfly's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from @enchanted_fandoms in a book box of theirs. Thanks! Make sure to purchase from your favorite small bookish shops and sub boxes! All opinions are my own.
Book: Sisters of Shadow and Light
Author: Sara B. Larson
Book Series: Sisters of Shadow and Light Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: ya readers, fantasy lovers, sister stories
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (child abuse, starvation, slight sexual content, violence, gore)
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the world--including their Paladin father the night Inara was born.
On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the citadel. Inara inherited their father's Paladin power; her eyes glow blue and she is able to make plants grow at unbelievable rates, but she has been trapped in her own mind because of a "roar" that drowns everything else out--leaving Zuhra virtually alone with their emotionally broken human mother.
For fifteen years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the outside world...until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything changes.
Review: Overall I really enjoyed this book! It had a great story and plot. The story hooked me right into it and I fell in love with the sisters. The character development was very well done and I felt like the world building was amazing as well.
The only issue I had with the book was that the book was rushed at the end in my opinion and I felt like the book would have been better on a bigger cliffhanger.
Verdict: It was great! Definitely read!
Book: Sisters of Shadow and Light
Author: Sara B. Larson
Book Series: Sisters of Shadow and Light Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: ya readers, fantasy lovers, sister stories
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (child abuse, starvation, slight sexual content, violence, gore)
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the world--including their Paladin father the night Inara was born.
On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the citadel. Inara inherited their father's Paladin power; her eyes glow blue and she is able to make plants grow at unbelievable rates, but she has been trapped in her own mind because of a "roar" that drowns everything else out--leaving Zuhra virtually alone with their emotionally broken human mother.
For fifteen years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the outside world...until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything changes.
Review: Overall I really enjoyed this book! It had a great story and plot. The story hooked me right into it and I fell in love with the sisters. The character development was very well done and I felt like the world building was amazing as well.
The only issue I had with the book was that the book was rushed at the end in my opinion and I felt like the book would have been better on a bigger cliffhanger.
Verdict: It was great! Definitely read!
asherlock99's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ashrocc's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cute.
gabrieljingco's review against another edition
5.0
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, reading it was a truly magical experience.
sc104906's review
4.0
I received an eARC of this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The night Inara was born, Zuhra, her mother, and lady's maid where trapped at the Citadel of the Paladin and their father disappeared. Inara has an overwhelming amount of power, that allows her to grow plants around her. It is this power that keeps her from being able to communicate with the world around her, Zuhra is only able to talk to her sister in short spurts of time. Their mother blames Inara for their father leaving and their entire living situation. While they are trapped, one day, a young man is able to enter the citadel through the impenetrable hedge. It is this change that sets off a chain of events that changes everything.
I enjoyed the characters in this book, except for the mother (but that was by design). I was interested in the magic and how it manifested around this world. I can't wait to see what new things will happen in the sequel.
The night Inara was born, Zuhra, her mother, and lady's maid where trapped at the Citadel of the Paladin and their father disappeared. Inara has an overwhelming amount of power, that allows her to grow plants around her. It is this power that keeps her from being able to communicate with the world around her, Zuhra is only able to talk to her sister in short spurts of time. Their mother blames Inara for their father leaving and their entire living situation. While they are trapped, one day, a young man is able to enter the citadel through the impenetrable hedge. It is this change that sets off a chain of events that changes everything.
I enjoyed the characters in this book, except for the mother (but that was by design). I was interested in the magic and how it manifested around this world. I can't wait to see what new things will happen in the sequel.
friend_of_sappho's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
randomly_kait's review against another edition
3.0
It took me longer to read this than I would have liked it to. It was a little slower paced than other books written by this author. I got really invested in it when Zuhra met Raidyn. Very curious to see what happens in book 2. (Loukas is my fave *heart eyes*)
nightc0urt's review against another edition
5.0
This book quickly has become my new obsession and now I’m mad I let it sit on my shelves for the last few months! When I bought it, I knew it would be something I liked because of the synopsis but turned out to be so much more!
This book really surprised me because for the first few chapters, it sat on 3.5⭐️ which is a jump from the 5 it ultimately ended up receiving. It started off a bit slow for me and honestly throughout the book, there were some slow sections but I could tell it was building up to something and had me completely curious, so I started to devour this book.
I found this world really unique and I loved the Gryphon’s, you don’t see them too often in most ya fantasy books, and I loved them and now seriously need more of them in my life. The girls live in a manor that sounds splendid but also bleak, as their lives are very bleak but there are hints of magic contained in this manor that I loved— give this book a chance, it’s extremely magical and beautiful and I just love it.
The two main girls are hard to connect with at first and you’ll know why if you read this, especially with one of them but the further this story went on, the more I felt for them. Also, I think I have a new bookish boyfriend, I’m not naming any names or explaining but you’ll know him when you meet him! This book ended up having so many amazing character’s who I love and the only thing I’m sad about is how much later I met some of them, I feel like I had only a small window of time with some of my new favorite characters!
I CAN NOT wait for book two, but until then, I’ll be dreaming of my new guy and new magical world to love. Oh and also, there’s a plot twist that I seriously didn’t seem coming, need I say more?!
This book really surprised me because for the first few chapters, it sat on 3.5⭐️ which is a jump from the 5 it ultimately ended up receiving. It started off a bit slow for me and honestly throughout the book, there were some slow sections but I could tell it was building up to something and had me completely curious, so I started to devour this book.
I found this world really unique and I loved the Gryphon’s, you don’t see them too often in most ya fantasy books, and I loved them and now seriously need more of them in my life. The girls live in a manor that sounds splendid but also bleak, as their lives are very bleak but there are hints of magic contained in this manor that I loved— give this book a chance, it’s extremely magical and beautiful and I just love it.
The two main girls are hard to connect with at first and you’ll know why if you read this, especially with one of them but the further this story went on, the more I felt for them. Also, I think I have a new bookish boyfriend, I’m not naming any names or explaining but you’ll know him when you meet him! This book ended up having so many amazing character’s who I love and the only thing I’m sad about is how much later I met some of them, I feel like I had only a small window of time with some of my new favorite characters!
I CAN NOT wait for book two, but until then, I’ll be dreaming of my new guy and new magical world to love. Oh and also, there’s a plot twist that I seriously didn’t seem coming, need I say more?!
chroniclesofabookreader's review against another edition
DNF @ 13%
I came back to this book multiple times and each time it was a struggle to stay within it, to keep turning the pages. I loved the idea behind the story, but it was too slow and didn’t grab or keep my attention. Unfortunately, I’ve decided it’s just not for me and I’m moving on.
**Received an early copy from the publisher; this had no bearing on my opinions**
I came back to this book multiple times and each time it was a struggle to stay within it, to keep turning the pages. I loved the idea behind the story, but it was too slow and didn’t grab or keep my attention. Unfortunately, I’ve decided it’s just not for me and I’m moving on.
**Received an early copy from the publisher; this had no bearing on my opinions**
leila_reads_too_much's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5