Sophie Reads YA: Julie Eshbaugh

Waiting on Wednesday: Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh

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ARC Review: Obsidian and Stars (Ivory and Bone #2) by Julie Eshbaugh

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Obsidian and Stars
Series: Ivory and Bone #2
Author: Julie Eshbaugh
Published June 13th 2017 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Synopsis
In the sequel to Ivory and Bone—the prehistoric fantasy novel that New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman described as a “richly crafted world of life-and-death stakes”—the story shifts to Mya’s viewpoint as vengeful adversaries force her to flee the life she once knew.

After surviving the chaotic battle that erupted after Lo and the Bosha clan attacked, now Mya is looking ahead to her future with Kol. All the things that once felt so uncertain are finally falling into place. But the same night as Kol and Mya’s betrothal announcement, Mya’s brother Chev reveals his plan to marry his youngest sister Lees to his friend Morsk. The only way to avoid this terrible turn of events, Morsk informs Mya when he corners her later, is for Mya to take Lees’ place and marry him herself.

Refusing to marry anyone other than her beloved, and in an effort to protect her sister, Mya runs away to a secret island with Lees. And though it seems like the safest place to hide until things back home blow over, Mya soon realizes she’s been followed. Lurking deep in the recesses of this dangerous place are rivals from Mya’s past whose thirst for revenge exceeds all reason.

With the lives of her loved ones on the line, Mya must make a move before the enemies of her past become the undoing of her future.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Following the first book, Ivory and Bone, I knew I needed to get a hold of this book, and boy was I glad when a copy dropped through my letterbox from the publisher. Now that Mya and Kol are betrothed, and coming to terms with the attack by the neighbouring tribes, they think life is back on track. However, Chev, the new leader of their tribe, has announced that their youngest sister, Lees, is to marry Morsk, something that she really does not want. The only way to save Lees, is for Mya to marry Morsk instead, something she has absolutely no intention of doing. Rather than either of them being forced into a marriage they don't want, Mya and Lees run away to a secret island, hoping everything will soon blow over, and they will eventually be able to return, and marry those they love. Obviously, this would lead to a boring book, and Mya realises she's being followed, and has to use all her wits in order to save herself, and her sister.

I really did enjoy this book, but do think I preferred Ivory and Bone. Seeing as book 1 was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, I was bound to love that, and the way the prehistory was woven in, was fantastic. For Obsidian and Stars, however, the plot was a bit slow, in my opinion, as it had to pad out a story that probably would've taken less than half the pages to be completed. The plot, what was there, was really enjoyable, but like I said, it could've been much shorter - and, if I'm honest, there didn't really need to be a book 2.

Kol and Mya's romance, following the turbulence of Ivory and Bone, was extremely sweet, and because of that, that's the main reason I've rated the book so highly. I know it's been a while since I read the book, so maybe hindsight is making me reconsider my original feelings, but I ca't really remember all that much from the book, and what I can remember, was that any of the issues were mainly caused by the lack of communication, or bad choices made by the main characters. I've heard that this series was originally planned as a trilogy, but became a duology, and I'm glad, because I don't know if a book 3 would've added anything to the series, or instead, ruined the good work of book 1. Maybe this book fell into the sophomore slump you find of so many second books, I don't know, but I wish there was just something more to this!

Dates Read:

April 23-27, 2017

Rating
4 Stars

Julie Eshbaugh

Waiting on Wednesday: Obsidian and Stars (Ivory and Bone #2) by Julie Eshbaugh

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2016 Debut Author Challenge

ARC Review: Ivory and Bone (Ivory and Bone #1) by Julie Eshbaugh

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Ivory and Bone
Series: Ivory and Bone #1
Author: Julie Eshbaugh
Published June 7th 2016 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Summary
A prehistoric fantasy—with allusions to Pride and Prejudice.

Hunting, gathering, and keeping his family safe—that’s the life seventeen-year-old Kol knows. Then bold, enigmatic Mya arrives from the south with her family, and Kol is captivated. He wants her to like and trust him, but any hopes of impressing her are ruined when he makes a careless—and nearly grave—mistake. However, there’s something more to Mya’s cool disdain…a history wrought with loss that comes to light when another clan arrives. With them is Lo, an enemy from Mya’s past who Mya swears has ulterior motives.

As Kol gets to know Lo, tensions between Mya and Lo escalate until violence erupts. Faced with shattering losses, Kol is forced to question every person he’s trusted. One thing is for sure: this was a war that Mya or Lo—Kol doesn’t know which—had been planning all along.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

When I first saw ARC reviews for this book, I was immediately intrigued. You probably already know how much I love any form of Pride and Prejudice retellings, and learning that there was a new one, and one set in prehistoric times, too, I knew I needed to get my hands on it.

In Ivory and Bone, we follow Kol, the eldest son of the clan leader, who knows that there are hard times ahead. There aren’t many women about that he can marry, and continue the clan, and food supplies seem to be dwindling. When members of another clan appear, Kol’s mother thrusts him in the path of the stubborn Mya, who seems to want nothing to do with him. Then, when another clan appears, and the daughter of that clan’s leader, Lo, appears really interested in Kol, Kol doesn’t know what to do. As the tensions between Lo and Mya become apparent, and the real issue of lack of food makes itself known, the whole situation becomes troubled.

I’ve never read a book like this before. Set in prehistoric times, I found myself feeling as if I was actually there, because Julie has an amazing technique for description. Also, the book is written in second person, which when I’ve them before, I’ve hated, but in this case, it really suited the story.

The way that it was a gender-bend P&P retelling was something new for me too. Kol was the Elizabeth Bennet character in this case, and I could see it perfectly. His whole family just spoke of the Bennet family, especially Kol’s mam. Mya was a wonderful Darcy character; as was Lo with Whickham. Considering the era its set in, I wasn’t sure how the story would translate, but Julie managed to do it expertly.

Initially, I’d thought this was to be a standalone, but I’m overjoyed it’s a series, because I need more of Kol and Mya’s story! An amazing debut from Julie Eshbaugh!

Dates Read:

June 13-14, 2016

Rating
4 Stars