Book Review: Air Awakens by Elise Kova

Title: Air Awakens
Series: Air Awakens #1
Author: Elise Kova
Genre: Fantasy; Young Adult
Publication Date: August 27, 2015

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world.

Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

Rating

Hello Fellow Readers,

I had this in my Kindle library for a long time and I finally decided that I wanted to read my TBR. I've read Kova's other works and enjoyed them so when I saw the cover and read the synopsis for Air Awakens I was intrigued. At first, I liked it, although I found Vhalla to be a bit whiney, and then she was thrown off a roof to make her wind powers manifest. It wasn't just a light shove and oh look, she's flying. 

No, she hit roofs and broke ribs, scratched at buildings until her fingernails ripped off and she broke them, she smashed her head into walls. Her injuries were so severe that was in a coma for 3 days and had to be healed over the week with magic, but the prince who did it (her love interest be precise, one of three!) called her a worm because she was traumatized and didn't want to thank him.

I wanted to vomit.

Yes, He eventually reveals he is remorseful but still, TOXIC!  No wonder people are afraid of sorcerers if they go throwing people off buildings! I know this is a young adult book, but should we really be teaching young minds that it's okay to be abused? Also, let us talk about Vhalla. I love books, I mean I have a blog and Instagram dedicated to them, but I also do other things. Vhalla has no personality besides books, if there is a hint of one in the vicinity then that is all Vhalla focuses on. 

Also, remember how I mentioned that she seems a bit whiney? It gets worse. I understand that she doesn't want to be the last 'Airbender' or whatever but eventually, you need to make a decision and accept things. I don't often give books 1 star but everything in this one just screamed problematic.

Overall, Stay away. 

The Alchemists of Loom; Elise Kova

Title: The Alchemists of Loom (Book #1 of the Loom Saga)
Author: Elise Kova
Genre: Fantasy; Young Adult; Steampunk
Publisher: Keymaster Press
Publication Date: January 10th, 2017

Her vengeance. His vision.
Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.
Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.
When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.
He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom

Rating

Hello Fellow Readers,

I am so surprised how much I liked this book considering it took me two times to read it. The first time I was in the middle of my reading slump and I just could not get into the book. The second time, however, was a completely different experience.  At First, I thought Arianna was Selfish, Egotists, and Stubborn but as the story progresses you start to see a softer side especially in the interactions with Florence. This made me really endear to the character. I loved Cvareh and Florence as well which made it a breeze when reading their point of view.

The world that Kova built is phenomenal and the way she gives you backstory and exposition so subtle without punching you in the face with blocks of text is great. I enjoyed the different guilds, while also learning about the different Dragon houses. It's also refreshing to read about Dragons rather than other mythical creatures like fae (They are overused in my opinion). The slow build and evolution of Arianna and Cvareh's relationship were fun to read. I am so rooting for them!

Leona was not a hard POV to read despite me not liking her (which you shouldn't do). The sadistic tendencies of dragons towards other really makes you a bigger fan of Arianna and Cvareh. Nova and Loom are so different and Kova did a really good job describing the cities around Loom. Since the next book takes place on Nova it makes me really excited to see how that differs, although I think I already know. Overall, I am really glad I gave this book another shot. Can't wait to read The Dragons of Nova Next.

Challenges

#BeatTheBacklist 2018 - 2/85*

#2018AtoZChallenge - 3/26