"Foundyside" by Robert Jackson Bennett

Foundryside is the start of another epic fantasy trilogy (I do realize I keep reading a lot of firsts-in-series and need to be better at continuing and finishing the various trilogies that I start). The world as I picture it in my head is somewhat medieval and all the technology is powered by "scriving" (a type of magical writing on objects that "convinces" them to perform certain tasks or behave in a certain way). For a example, bricks would have sigils written on them that convince them to stick to each other, and thus a wall would be created.

The author does a good job setting up the world and explaining how things work without boring the reader. In fact, this book is anything but boring. Every time I sat down to read, I could not help but zoom through 50 to 100 pages at a time. It is that action-packed and suspenseful.

Our main character is Sanchia, a street urchin and a thief. We first meet her as she is about to steal an  highly-priced item from a well-guarded safe. Sanchia has an unusual ability: she is able to touch objects around her and "hear" their history. For instance, by touching the floor, she'll get information on who and when passed there and get details on where a weak or rotted through floorboard might be located.

I liked her character development. She grows a lot throughout the novel, learns many things about the world and herself, and really by the end of Book 1 has all preconditions to become the real hero of an epic story.

The world that Bennett weaves is gradually revealed to the reader and is unimaginably intricate and large. The world building includes not just the immediate surroundings and how thing work, it also encompasses a centuries-long history, lore, and beliefs. As our characters encounter new larger problems, we gradually get a wider-lens view of the world, and by the end of the book, the setup for a conflict of an epic proportions is complete. If anything, in reading the last chapter, I was stunned by the vastness of the world that Bennett succeeded in revealing.

Being a fast-paced and engaging read, it is also a novel that requires deeper thinking. It tackles social and economic issues, morality, people's insatiable hunger for power and the concept of a just and fair society. I really enjoyed this book. 5 out of 5 stars. The sequel comes out in January 2020.

"Trail of Lightning" by Rebecca Roanhorse

Trail of Lightning is the first book in a Navajo mythology inspired Sci-Fi series. The book has been nominated for both Hugo and Nebula awards and has been lauded by critics and readers alike. I'd been wanting to pick it up for a while and now finally had a chance to read it.

Overall, I think the book would appeal to readers who like post-apocalyptic settings, strong female warrior characters and Native American mythology. Personally, I enjoy all three so in many ways this was a great book for me. It is on a shorter side, action-packed and not overwhelming with world building. In fact, I thought the author did a great job gradually introducing the backstory and history of the world without inundating the reader with information.

This book is quite violent with multiple descriptions of fights and killing. So if this is something you try to avoid in books, this one is probably not for you. I loved the magic in this novel. The premise for the novel is that Navajo gods and monsters have left the spirit world and now walk the earth. To counteract their powers, some humans have received "clan powers," i.e. supernatural abilities specific to their clan. Our main character Maggie, for example, is super fast and is great at killing monsters. The one thing I thought would be helpful is a glossary of Navajo words used throughout the book.

In addition to the main character, I also really like the Coyote or the trickster. In some ways, he reminds me of Loki. I did not love the ending of the book. Without spoiling anything, one of the so called plot twists just seemed way too predictable to me. But overall, still a very enjoyable read. 4 out of 5 stars. I do already have book 2 and will probably read it next month if not earlier.

2019 Mid-Year Reading Goals Check-In

Since we are halfway through 2019, it is a good time to check on my reading goals for the year and see how I am doing. This year, I decided to keep it pretty simple and have only set 3 goals for myself. So let's see how I've done so far!

Goal 1: Read the books I want to read
I have definitely tried to read only the books I was excited about. I have been pretty selective about the ARCs I request and read. I have also stopped pushing myself to read bookclub picks that I was not particularly interested in. So I would say, I've been doing great in this area.

Goal 2: Read 80 books in 2019
As of the end of June, I've read 50 books so I am definitely on track to meet the overall goal for the year. I do, however, have plans to read some large books in the second half of the year.

Goal 3: Read more classics.
For this goal, I have 12 specific challenges to help make this goal more achievable, and I have so far met 7 of them (and read 7 classics!). Here is the full list of challenges and progress to date:
1. 19th century classic - not yet
2. 20th century classic - DONE, Jack London Call of the Wild (1903)
3. Classic by a female author - DONE, Elizabeth Gaskell North and South
4. Classic in translation - DONE, Charles Dickens Great Expectations (I read it in Russian)
5. Classic comedy - not yet
6. Classic tragedy - DONE, Alexander Kuprin Olesya
7. Very long classic - no yet
8. Classic novella - DONE, Alexander Kuprin The Garnet Bracelet
9. Classic from the Americas (includes Caribbean) - not yet
10. Classic from Africa, Asia, or Oceania (includes Australia) - DONE, Miles Franklin My Brilliant Career (Australia)
11. Classic from the place you've lived - DONE, Alexander Grin The Scarlet Sails (USSR)
12. Classic play - not yet.

"Spin the Dawn" by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn is the start of a new Chinese-inspired YA fantasy series (US publication date is 7/9/2019). The main character Maia Tamarin is the youngest child of a famous tailor. Her three older brothers are not really interested in sewing and besides all three of them end up going to war. Two never return and one comes back injured and unable to walk. Maia is a talented seamstress, but unfortunately, in her world, girls do not become tailors. So when a representative from the imperial court arrives to summon either her father or brother to sew for the emperor, Maia dresses up as a boy and journeys to the capital to compete with other famous tailors for the title of the Imperial Tailor.

I was skeptical about this book. So many YA novels are filled with tropes and are basically variations of the same rags-to-riches/nobody-to-a-hero story. Spin the Dawn does have the same overall theme, but it had several elements that I like in YA books and that instantly drew me in. First, it reads like a fairy tale, and is filled with luscious descriptions of exotic settings. Second, the main character is a spunky female who perseveres no matter the odds and always insists on making her own decisions. Third, it is a very fast read. At just over 400 pages, I finished it in less than 3 days. Finally, it has a slow-burn romance that many readers will appreciate.

If I have to pick a thing that I did not like about the story, it will have to be the ending. To me, the final resolution felt rushed and a bit illogical. If Maia was going to put a request in front of a powerful goddess, why didn't she word it in a way that would make her happy? Instead, the wish that was granted to her led to much bigger problems.... I am definitely curious to see what happens next, but am very worried about the direction the novel is taking. I think I would have been happy with a well-rounded stand-alone.

A very enjoyable read overall. 4 out of 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.