#julia ember

[bookcoversonly]

Title: The Navigator's Touch | Author: Julia Ember | Publisher: Duet Books (2018)

[bookcoversonly]

Title: The Seafarer's Kiss | Author: Julia Ember | Publisher: Duet Books (2017)

[bookwhurm]

Ruinsong by Julia Ember

A YA novel with an interesting magic system in a woman dominated universe.

I purchased this book as a “blind date with a book” and it was described as:

- Childhood friend to enemies to lovers trope

- Bewitching and emotionally devastating in the best way

- Immersive queer fantasy tale

All of which sounded right up my alley so I obviously purchase it.

Spoilers Ahead:

This novels magic system and kingdom are all woman dominated which is amazing. The magic occurs through singing that is granted specifically by the goddess of summer. There are 4 goddesses for all 4 seasons and they give gifts to children born in their months. I wish this was explored more and could read a whole novel written like a history book on the magic system and their goddesses.

I didn’t realize this was a YA book when I bought it as it was a blind date with a book, but it did say that those on that specific shelf were suitable for those 14+, but I didn’t realize that meant it was really YA. You know how some YA is categorized in bookstores at YA, but is actually more New Adult? I thought it was something like that. I was wrong. It is truly written like a normal YA novel which is not a bad thing. I have just personally moved onto novels written in a different kind of way. With more nuance.

I did appreciate, however, how morally grey Candace is written. She’s just doing the best with what she has, though she doesn’t seem to stop and wonder if there could be more that she could be doing against the evil queen since she is fearful and doesn’t think that anything can be done.

Remi is a noblewoman who doesn’t seem to have empathy for the things that Candace has been through despite supposedly liking her. She things Candace is a coward (understandably so), but doesn’t stop to think about what losing things would mean for Candace, even though I understand how Remi puts her family before everything else, she doesn’t seem to have a lot of stock in actually doing things herself.

Neither of the main characters really drive the revolution at all. It seems as if they hopped on the bandwagon towards the latter part of the book and were given a lot more credit than was due. The development of the romance also didn’t make sense to me. I understand falling in love because of proximity, but there didn’t really seem to be a REASON for them to fall in love. They just kind of did. 

Overall, I did enjoy reading for the magic system and I couldn’t have DNR’d it because I did want to know what happened next, but I do wish it could’ve been fleshed out more and had more nuances. I understand this is YA, however, but that doesn’t mean the writing couldn’t have been improved. The characters descriptions also included race which was refreshing because not knowing exactly what characters looked like always kind of frustrates me when I read and having to read about someone with my skin color described as food colored gets annoying after awhile. Although I do feel like it did nothing but highlight the lack of diversity within the main cast. But I liked the book for what it was.

Rating: 5/10

[myhikari21things]

Read of The Navigator’s Touch by Julia Ember (2018) (234pgs)

[myhikari21things]

Read of The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember (2017) (213pgs)

[myplussizebookshelf]

F/F romance

Doesn't care by Deliah Green

D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

The Seafarer's Kiss by Julia Ember

Season of love by Helena Gree

Soft on soft by Em Ali

Mrs. Martin's Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan

Knit one, girl two by Shira Glassman

Get it right by Skye Kilaen

Eight kinky nights by Xan West

Curvy Girls Can't Date Curvy Girls by Kelsie Stelting

[mistwraiths]

4 stars

Let me preface this by saying this book is a solid three, but I read it so quickly and it felt easy and I enjoyed fairly well so I'm going to allow it 4 stars for no hard thoughts just simple reading.

The BEST part of this novel is the super cool magic system. Magic is done by singing and there's different classifications and such. It's not just words, our MC Cadence hums several songs and the magic works just fine. I do wish we explored more of the magic and really got maybe more magic attacks/duels because there wasn't really enough of it.

I did like the worldbuilding in this book, the mythos and such. It was done pretty well. The evil queen was also done fairly well, she seems pretty awful for the most part and I LIKE when we know the evil character does the evil things and its not a past thing or oh, they are bad but give a million chances. I mean, she does give Cadence some chances but she still clearly does awful things too.

There is an offscreen death of a pet dog done by revenge that is described not too graphically but explained enough, and grief over that dog and the dead dog is on page for several pages.

I did like Cadence and I liked her struggling with not wanting to do what the queen tells her to, but knowing someone ELSE would likely do it worse and she also doesn't want to DIE.

Remi I found a bit annoying and foolish at the best and worst of times. Honestly, if it was illegal to treat nobles and you wanted to pay them back for saving your mother, you think you'd be far more discreet about it and NOT spend the entire night. She also didn't really seem to have critical thinking skills about how most likely the people doing awful things don't have much of a choice and bravery or defiance will get them killed.

The romance was far too instalove to be believable. Or for me to really even to ship them. They used to be friends once and... that was it?

The whole rebellion and stopping the queen was ultimately really quickly done and far too simple and easy to really feel like a big deal. The queen should have died but I do respect Cadence's decision not to be like her. I mean, if all you were forced to do was hurt people with your magic, I wouldn't want to do it again either.

Overall, really cool magic system, nice little fantasy world. Don't expect anything deep or unexpected. Quickly paced and easy to read with an insta-love sapphic romance.

[readtilyoudie]

Loki crossed their arms and leaned against the fragile wood of the human closet. “I have given you three forms. When you learn to show me a little gratitude, I’ll give you more.”

The Seafarer's Kiss by Julia Ember