"Earthbound" & "Sparrow in the Sun", ARC Reviews
...two for one reviews!
Sometimes, we get book reviews around here, and today, we get two. I was an ARC reader for Katee Stein and Danielle Bullen, whose books release tomorrow!
Earthbound by Katie Stein
Genre: fantasy
Readership: NA
POV: multiple
Rating: 5 Stars
All opinions are my own. Earthbound will be available September 18, 2024.
Earthbound immediately draws you into the world and character’s conflict, especially those faced by one of the main characters, Knox. Although we know little of Knox’s conflict at first, we know he’s made a significant choice with even more significant consequences.
And that, is what draws readers in.
The world building nods to both fantasy and science fiction, focusing especially on the creatures of Knox’s world; this makes Earthbound feel familiar but new at the same time.
The plot itself explores the themes of magical, binding oaths and their consequences: how they knit one to another, or tear apart a soul when those oaths are in conflict. Katee excellently leverages three points of view to explore these themes, giving readers a very thorough look at her magical system. This, for me, might’ve been the most fascinating part of the book.
And the book certainly doesn’t end the way a reader expects, although it definitely ended the way I hoped. In a way ;) You’ll have to read Earthbound for yourself to find out what I’m talking about.
Earthbound is a very seat of your pants, peril around every corner book that endears its readers to the characters’ stakes.
If action, high stakes, and the most unique love triangle ever is you’re cuppa tea, Earthbound is for you!
Sparrow in the Sun by Danielle Bullen
Genre: fantasy
Readership: NA
POV: one
Rating: 5 Stars
All opinions are my own. Sparrow in the Sun will be available September 18, 2024.
Sparrow nods to the more classical modes of writing by drawing the reader into the world, the magic, and Eness Finch’s dilemma little by little. This doesn’t mean Sparrow is tiresome, but it is poetic and puts the story before the demands of trends (and I’m a huge fan of ditching writing trends to tell a story the right way).
Bullen’s style is poetic and probably the most unique voice I’ve yet to read in fiction. And that, with her classical way of building a story—in-depth so that characters can really savour the world—with it’s unique twist of narration, herbs, and magic, sets Sparrow in the Sun apart from many of my current reads.
There is something cosy and comforting about the setting in Sparrow, but that doesn’t mean the danger is insignificant. The book certainly earns its place alongside other fantasy-adventure counterparts.
I didn’t want the book to end, because when it gets going, it really gets going.
If magical singing, herbs, and a girl in hiding with beautiful twists of cottage core fantasy is your cuppa tea, Sparrow in the Sun is for you.
P.S. The goblin is my favourite <3 I love the good-guy goblin trope. So. Much.
As for us, we’re keeping busy, and I’m working on art that I hope to be sharing soon… and working through important life choices <3 I meant to post last week, but I was learning to make seamless patterns, and I got sucked in. I’ll be sharing a bit about seamless patterns and other digital things soon. Next week, I think <3
P.S. I’ll have some illustration work to share, too! I’m really getting a good system down for getting out good, quality work. But as I’m in “pattern making mode” I don’t have a lot to show on Instagram or Substack. Yet.
