Thursday Book Reviews | The Darkness Rises by Stacy Stokes (#thriller #paranormal) and Books 1 & 2 of The Library Trilogy by Mark Lawrence (#fantasy)

The Darkness Rises by Stacy Stokes

Thank you @PenguinTeen for the free book! #penguinteenpartner

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🌷The Darkness Rises by Stacy Stokes🌷

• One-word review: Mysterious
• Emojis: ☁️☠️🤐
• Rating:  4🌟s

My thoughts:

The Darkness Rises by Stacy Stokes tells an eerie, atmospheric tale of Whitney and her unique ability to tell when someone is in danger of dying. At the start of the book, she is plagued by nightmares of an incident from last school year that impacted the whole community. When those nightmares turn into someone seeking revenge against her, a plot that may involve anyone around her, the body count rises. Can she figure out who wants revenge before it’s too late?

From the very beginning, I thought I had the mystery all figured out. With each turn of the page, my conviction grew stronger. But then, Stacy Stokes masterfully shattered my theory, leaving me utterly surprised. I couldn’t help but applaud her for this unexpected twist. It’s not often that a story can astonish me so profoundly, and it was a delightful surprise.

I loved the sci-fi aspect of the story with Whitney’s ability, a unique power passed down from her grandmother. This ability, seeing a dark cloud over the head of someone who is going to die, allows her to prevent their deaths by changing the course of events. It adds so much dimension to the story and is written so complexly that buy-in was easy, and Whitney’s character development was just sublime. The choices and decisions she has to make versus how her grandmother handled the ability create so much suspense and drama that it ramps the story to the next level.

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who relishes a gripping paranormal thriller.

The Library Trilogy by Mark Lawrence

Thank you @berkleypub for the free book! #berkleypartner

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🌷The Library Trilogy (books 1 and 2 of 3 – The Book that Wouldn’t Burn and The Book That Broke the World) by Mark Lawrence 🌷

• One-word review: Thought-provoking
• Emojis: 🤔🧐🥺
• Rating: 5 🌟s (both books)

My thoughts:

Mark Lawrence’s Library Trilogy, (books 1 and 2 -The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and The Book That Broke The World), is a contemplative fantasy series about a library and the nature of knowledge. It reminds me of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series in that I wanted to read it slowly and take time to sit in the story so I could begin to see the layers buried under the words and understand what they wanted to say to me.

While I haven’t fully unraveled all the intricate layers, allusions, and connections, I can sense their presence, which only fuels my eagerness to uncover the truths they hold. I know that the conclusion (book 3) will bring even more revelations, and I can’t wait to read it.

Lawrence’s world-building is exceptionally thoughtful and intelligently drawn. Every element is essential to the story and understanding what’s not being directly said. His world within the world and timelines make quantum physics seem as easy as addition and subtraction. It can be challenging to grasp occasionally, but I felt more secure with my understanding as long as I stuck with it.

What sets Lawrence’s character development apart is the relatability of each character, no matter their contribution to the story. Their layers are built from unique life experiences, making them all the more intriguing. Livira, the main character, is a force to be reckoned with, refusing to conform to others’ expectations. She’s a personal favorite, but many others, like Evar, his sister Clovis, and more, are equally captivating and relatable.

Thank you to Berkley Publishers for providing me with a free copy of The Book that Broke the World! I can’t wait for the final installment.