Saturday, July 11, 2020

An Unexpected Protagonist: The Wysman by Dorothy Winsor


*** Thank you Inspired Quill for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

Just the facts:

Overall Rating:  3 Stars

Addiction Level:  I read it when I had spare time. (I ignored the hubby and puppies during the last few chapters.)

Believe-ability:  The setting is believable.

 

I was looking for a different read when the opportunity to read The Wysman by Dorothy Winsor came up. I was intrigued by a differently abled protagonist, so I said to yes to the book!


What I liked:
• Jarka is an unlikely protagonist, because he is a street kid with a lame foot who uses a crutch. This reminds me of Peadar Ó Guilín's The Call where the protagonist uses crutches.
• I enjoyed the mystery she presented. There were enough clues to for the reader to solve it first or enjoy Jarka’s discovery of the truth.
• Winsor does a good job of developing the characters and playing with “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Because of his disability and life circumstances, Jarka is able to see people’s true nature.
• Ellyn is one of the overseers of the children’s refuge, and she carries a knife on her belt. I love this fierceness of her character and that Jarka admires her for it too.
• A Wysman’s job is to advise the king. In Adrya and Jarka’s discussions, the reader can see the tension between doing what is best for the whole kingdom vs the individual. Winsor also raises the question of duty vs happiness. Can anyone have both? Lyssa marries Clovyan to provide for her daughter, yet her husband is a monster. Prince Beran and Lineth want to marry, but marrying off Lineth would create a valuable ally for the kingdom.
• The ending was satisfactory as the wrong-doers must live with the consequences of their actions as doled out by the Powers.
• The following passage reminds me of finding the good in tribulation. What might seem as a curse can often be a blessing as circumstances create growth and bring blessings. “I had a sudden, vivid memory of my mother telling me my crooked foot was a gift from the Powers, a challenge that would make me a deeper person who saw the world more truly. I could read the wind, compensation from the Powers for what they’d withheld. I wondered if I could persuade Lineth to see her father’s treachery as a gift. It was a gift for the kids at the refuge, for sure.”

What I disliked:
• I believed Jarka was a distrustful, street kid, but I did not believe he was male.
• Winsor did a good job of developing the characters of Jarka, Lineth, and Ellyn. Developing Adrya’s character would have added more fullness to the story. It would be assumed that Adrya was trustworthy because Jarka was her apprentice. Yet, there is constant tension. Is this because Jarka distrusts everyone?

Final Thoughts:
• This was an interesting read. When I first started the book, I was intrigued by some of the life questions Winsor explores. I found myself somewhat impatient as the mystery seemed to spiral without an ending in sight. The last few chapters were exciting, and I read it quickly. The ending was satisfactory with room to expand or close the story.

 

Monday, January 11, 2016

Most Anticipated Reads of 2016



We are bursting at the seams to read these books!


Esso’s

  1. United by Melissa Landers
  2. The Last Star by Rick Yancey
  3. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Rebecca's
  1. The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May – Ah!!! I am anxious to read the sequel to find out what happened at the end. May delivered a dozy of a cliff-hanger, a life-altering ending that changes the course of the whole series. Who will win the battle:  humans or fae?
  2. Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard – It took a few chapter to enter the story world of the Red Queen series. As the reviews stated it is like Graceling meets The Hunger Games. I am interested to see what the rebellion can do against the Silver blooded power-hungry royals.
  3. Throne of Glass #5 by Sarah Maas – Queen of Shadows was very exciting with many plots coming to a resolution, but I am excited for what’s next. Who will win the war? What side will Manon take? Will magic help or hurt? Will I survive the wait?

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Favorite Reads of 2015





Life has been busy but not too busy to read. These are our favorite reads of 2015. (The stars are based on GoodReads rating scale.)



Esso’s Favorites

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #1)1.  The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (4*)
Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin, #3) 2. Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers (4*)

Dumplin' (Dumplin', #1)  3.  Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (3*)

Invaded (Alienated, #2)  4. Invaded by Melissa Landers (3*)

Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)  5. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (3*)

Rebecca’s Favorites

Alienated (Alienated, #1)  1. Alienated by Melissa Landers (5*) – I enjoyed this book because it made me laugh out loud. The storyline was interesting and different from what I usually read.

The Falconer (The Falconer, #1)  2. The Falconer by Elizabeth May (5*) – This book was amazing!!!  It had mystery, intrigue, fighting, life vs. death, faeries, action, strong female protagonist, and a little bit of romance. What’s not to love?!?!? The only downfall is waiting for it to be released in the U.S…in June of 2016!

Skink--No Surrender (Skink #7) 3. Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen (5*) – This book feature Skink, a retired, believed-to-be-dead ex-governor vigilante, who saves and helps the helpless. It was funny and also taught a lesson about the necessity of internet safety and parents’ involvement.

Image result for throne of glass series4. Throne of Glass Series by Sarah Maas (4*) – The first book starts off a little slow, but books three (Heir of Fire) and four (Queen of Shadows) quickly pick-up the pace and the story becomes more developed, and I, the reader, became more invested. Maas builds an elaborate story world with evil characters, weak characters who become strong, and characters who come into their own and fight for what they believe is right. It is a good vs. evil (the depths of the evil seem to have no end) story where I rooted for many characters. It is a shame that I have to wait for the next two books!
Image result for Dusk Gate Chronicles series
5.  Dusk Gate Chronicles by Breeanna Puttroff (4*) – I delayed reading the first book in the series for two years but quickly found myself hooked on the series. And my best friend kept buying the books for me, feeding the habit. It is an interesting thought that a world exists simultaneously as the current one, yet it is so different from ours. I enjoyed the adventure and romance. 

What were your favorite reads of 2015? Let us know in the comments!