Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Anthologies in Fantasy should be everywhere

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore

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This is a fantasy series that focuses on a different story and characters each novel. Some characters may cross over and be the main for more than one but the situation would be drastically different. I absolutely love this way of storytelling and think it allows for fresh and fun ideas, vastly different aspects of a fantasy world, and new and fun romances almost every story (if you are into that kind of thing!). Here are my reviews for each individual novel which star rating […]

Sadly, a rather disappointing follow-up to two very good books

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

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#CBR12 Bingo: UnCannon (YA fantasy, written by a woman, about dark-skinned heroine, with several queer characters as supporting cast) Official book description: Eight years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue, and her country were saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and her land is at peace.   But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck’s death, believe in a forward-thinking […]

Not all Monsters are evil

Fire by Kristin Cashore

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Official book description: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men. This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her […]

Much darker than I remembered

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

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Katsa lives in a series of kingdoms where a small percentage of the populations have a unique ability or grace. These people are known as Gracelings, and the abilities can be benign and useful, like being extremely skilled at baking, cooking, sewing, or in one case, being able to smell exactly what the person in question wants to eat or drink. They can also be dangerous, like Katsa’s extreme fighting ability, which was discovered when she accidentally killed someone in self-defense when she was only […]

Discovery of Dante’s Undiscovered 10th Circle of Hell Takes a Detour to a Much-Deserved Vacation In a Multi-Verse Land

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I was in a bit of a reading slump. I didn’t exactly avoid cracking the spine of the long, long autobiography I’d been carefully wading through; I’d find other things I needed to do instead. When laundry, cleaning the bathroom, and a trip to the Swedish furniture superstore/newly-discovered 10th circle of Dante’s hell were all excuses NOT to read it, though, it was obvious that I needed a break. I had to find another (very specific) book. My search for a literary boost—the book to […]

Parts of this made me angry

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This review is full of spoilers. Sorry.  And foul language. Also sorry.   Gracelings are people who have a special ability, and they are identified by having two different colored eyes.  Someone could have a Grace for cooking, or swimming, or dancing. Katsa learns at a very young age that she has the Grace of killing.  So her uncle, King Randa, uses her as his personal executioner, starting from when she is just 10 years old. As she gets older and more of a mind […]



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