e-Audio, 10:31:38
Narrated by: Patricia Allison
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Published by: OrangeSky Audio
Read from: April 27-28, 2023
Forge & Fracture Saga, #1
Source: Library’s Libby
TW: Racism, Racial Slurs, Violence, Misogyny
For Readers Interested In: Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Shakespeare, London, Historical Fiction, YAA stunning YA fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Holly Black and Justina Ireland, about a Black girl (and sword expert) fighting a Fae uprising in Shakespearean London
Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a gifted craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company, The King’s Men. Joan’s skill with her blades comes from a magical ability to control metal—an ability gifted by her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her whole family is Orisha-blessed, the Sands family have always kept tabs on the Fae presence in London. Usually that doesn’t involve much except noting the faint glow around a Fae’s body as they try to blend in with London society, but lately, there has been an uptick in brutal Fae attacks. After Joan wounds a powerful Fae and saves the son of a cruel Lord, she is drawn into political intrigue in the human and Fae worlds.
Swashbuckling, romantic, and full of the sights and sounds of Shakespeare’s London, this series starter delivers an unforgettable story—and a heroine unlike any other.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Y’all KNOW I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction, so of course I was a bit hesitant to read this. But when I saw the cover I knew I had to at least try it. I can and will read anything that has a Black girl on the cover. They KNEW who they were giving this to lol
When I finally read it, I liked it well enough. The Shakespeare plays and seeing her being able to take part in them (and showing them up by the way!) was pretty cool. I also thought it was cool to see Shakespeare as an actual character? I don’t think I’ve ever read him as an actual person who had quotes or whatever in the book. It was pretty weird. The other things dealing with the historical fiction were the same things that I don’t normally like in historical fiction lol Like the way they degraded women and Black people. I usually get way too angry when I read these things in books, but when it’s YA I usually let it ride because I still like to read them for my job. Also, I like that it wasn’t really history heavy. Like it wasn’t teachy heavy? It did have some information in the back of the book, but not during the story.
The plot was a little all over the place tho. There was fae, Orisha, magic, and all of it was wrapped up together. It also had some racism and misogyny mixed in. And it was a lot going on. And the Orisha taking over people and man. I liked it even though it was really out there. And the sword fighting and the bending metal and the plays and everything was pretty cool. It just seemed like too much. So much so that some things weren’t fully developed and fell flat? Idk, maybe it’s just me.
The world building was a little confusing tho. It wasn’t ever really explained? Like Joan had some metal bending powers and there were other people who also had powers, but it was just mentioned that they had them? Never really said anything about the beginning and where they came from. The rest of the world having them or not having them or anything like that. I’m the type of person that needs the backstory and all details and info. And this had none of that.
This was just ok for me. Sucks because I had built it up so much in my head. Especially since it was a historical fiction book. I was really hyping it up to make myself read it. And tho it wasn’t really my taste, it was still ok. I’d still recommend it to others and those at my library looking for fae and fantasy.
Overall, I’d give this
