Reviews

Alchemy of Souls 2: Light and Shadow – Review

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Title: Alchemy of Souls 2: Light and Shadow

Language: Korean

Episodes: 10

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genres: Action, Historical, Romance Fantasy

Objectionable Content: Violence

Summary (from mydramalist): Jang Uk returns from death, and three years later, the story of the mages unfolds anew. Jang Uk becomes a hunter of the soul-shifters when a young woman, a prisoner in her own home, seeks his help to reclaim her freedom.

My Review of Alchemy of Souls 2: Light and Shadow

**note that this review will contact huge spoilers for the ending of the first season of Alchemy of Souls.**

So, I started watching this extremely eagerly after I finished the first season. In the final episode of Alchemy of Souls, Mu Deok was being controlled by Jin Mu and forced to kill several people. When the mages from Songrim confront her, Janu Uk protects her and she stabs him in the heart. She comes back to herself long enough to realize what she’s done she see him die. Jin Mu’s control takes over again and she goes to the Lake and jumps in.

Jangu Uk’s funeral pyre is held and the power of the ice stone brings him back to life. Two unknown people are seen pulling Mu Deok’s body from the Lake and the episode ends.

I was expecting (hoping) that season 2 would pick up from this point. Annoyingly, there’s a three year gap. Jang Uk has only been allowed to keep the ice stone if he uses his power to kill soul shifters and no other reason.

I have a suspicion that the writers of the show had different intentions from the beginning and that, perhaps, Netflix didn’t give them the green light right away so when they finally did get the go ahead for a second season, the lead actress, Jun So Min, was probably unavailable to reprise her role. Instead, they had to come up with another way to continue the story.

It’s extremely unfortunate that it worked out the way it did. Three amazing relationships were ruined by the ending of season one. This show could have ended with a beautiful happy ending, with all the characters in the relationships that were built up over 20 episodes. Instead, we got…this.

I don’t know if I enjoyed it as I was also annoyed with how it had that three year gap and so many things weren’t explained. The actors all did a great job with what they were given so I can’t fault them for that. Overall, there was this overwhelming sense of sadness through the whole thing. I kept watching because I wanted to know how it would all end and it was only ten episodes.

More or less, I feel more like I want to rant than give this show a proper review. I kind of want to pretend that the last half of the last episode of Alchemy of Souls didn’t happen and that everyone got to have their happy endings.

My rating for Alchemy of Souls 2: Shadow and Light is 3 out of 5 stars. I don’t know that I would necessarily recommend it though if you have season one you’ll probably want to know what happens after. Just try not to have high expectations like I did.

Have you seen Alchemy of Souls? Please let me know what you thought.

As always, thanks for reading!

Alchemy of Souls – KDrama Review

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Title: Alchemy of Souls

Language: Korean

Episodes: 20

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genres: Action, Historical, Romance Fantasy

Objectionable Content: Violence

Summary (from MyDramaList): In the fictional country of Daeho, young mages struggle to overcome twisted fates caused by the forbidden “alchemy of souls,” a spell that swaps souls between bodies. Naksu, an elite assassin, finds her soul trapped in the weak body of Mu Deok, a servant to the noble Jang Family. Jang Uk, the young master of the Jang Family, harbors a dark secret about his birth and seeks Naksu’s help to change his destiny.

My Review of Alchemy of Souls

Right of the bat, this drama has a little bit of everything: action, magic, romance, forbidden love, and even a little comedy. It’s one of those few shows that manages to capture all those little elements without losing the plot. The set designs are fabulous, the magic looks real and the costumes are fantastic.

Honestly, when I initially started watching Alchemy of Souls I wasn’t really into it. I watched a couple of episodes then stopped. I recently restarted it and must have been more in the mood for it, but I loved it. I devoured it and cursed every time I had to stop watching to do things like sleep.

One thing I really prefer about Asian dramas as opposed to American made shows, is the character and relationship development. I find that Asian dramas focus on that much more, even when the show is a romance. It’s very rare to see the main characters even kiss until like 10 episodes in. There are many relationships in this show, some new, some long established, that go through so much change and development. Between the leads in particular, their relationship starts out very rocky. They each have their reasons for needing one another. At first, their relationship is more of a business contract, but it develops into much more over time. The lengths these two will go to protect one another is extensive and heartwarming.

The other characters were also interesting. I don’t think there was anyone I didn’t like. They all had their roles and did them well. It never really felt like there was an outright villain, like all the things that happened were a domino affect from one well meaning decision. Everyone wants to protect someone, but keeping secrets leads to misunderstandings and unintended consequences.

The last episode is so heartbreaking. Everything comes to a head and so much shit happens. Naturally, it ended on a huge cliffhanger. I’m very glad that I waited to watch Alchemy of Souls so that part two is already available. I will absolutely be starting it asap.

My rating for Alchemy of Souls is 5 out of 5 stars and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good fantasy drama with action and romance, or any combination there of.

Have you seen Alchemy of Souls? I’d love to know what you thought!

The Bride of Habaek – KDrama Review

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Title: The Bride of Habaek (or The Bride of the Water God)

Language: Korean

Episodes: 16

Where to Watch: Roku Channel, Tubi

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Drama

Objectionable Content: Suicide

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): What would you do if you had to continue a strange family legacy? Yoon So Ah is a pragmatic neuropsychiatrist who carries a tremendous financial burden to run her own practice. Her family has been tasked with serving Ha Baek, a reincarnated water god, for many generations, and So Ah is forced to do the same. Ha Baek starts to develop feelings for So Ah, but he has competition for her heart from Hoo Ye, the CEO of a resort company, who clashes with So Ah over a piece of land but then falls in love with her. Moo Ra is a goddess from the Water Kingdom who has been living on Earth for hundreds of years. Working as an actress, Moo Ra loves Ha Baek and doesn’t appreciate So Ah stealing him away from her. Meanwhile, Bi Ryum is a wind god who has always had a one-sided crush on Moo Ra despite knowing her feelings for Ha Baek. Can a relationship between a mortal female and a god have a future?

My Review of The Bride of Habaek

The Bride of Habaek is supposed to be an adaptation of the manwha The Bride of the Water God by Yoon Mi Kyung. I say “supposed to be” because other than character names, the most basic premise of a water god falling in love with a human woman and a few small details, the two properties are completely different. I had considered doing a comparison post of the drama vs the manwha, but considering how little they have in common, I decided against it. Instead, I will probably do a reread of the manwha and review it separately. For this review, I will be mentioning the drama only and do my best not to mention the manwha.

Alright on to the actual review.

Habaek, the water god, was born to be the king of the gods. The appointed time has finally come and in order to ascend the throne he must retrieve 3 scared stones from the human world. He’s given a map to find the guardians of the stones, and a seal that will awaken a human servant of the gods. With only that and his trusted servant Nam Su Ri, Habaek travels to the mortal realm. Unfortunately, when he arrives he’s lost everything including his clothes and his powers.

Yoon So Ah is a psychiatrist with some pretty severe financial problems. The last thing she needs is a crazy person claiming to be a god following her around, insisting she’s his servant.

At it’s core, Bride of Habaek is a romance, just not a very good one. From the very beginning, Habaek is arrogant, demanding, and basically insufferable. He is a god who has always had his every whim catered too in the past, so he doesn’t know how to behave like a normal human being, or how to treat others. So Ah mostly seems to put up with him because she doesn’t have much choice. He won’t leave her alone and she’s just sort of bullied into dealing with him.

This is one of those dramas that I wish would break away from the mold. It’s so unfortunate that the male lead and female lead will inevitably end up together. I was rooting far more for Hu Ye, who is actually nice to her and wants her to be happy. Habaek just gets jealous constantly, but more because, in my opinion, he views So Ah as belonging to him than actual love.

Hu Ye is probably the most interesting character of them all. He’s neither god nor human, but a mix of both. According to the other gods, he shouldn’t exist, and therefore they hate him. The guy made one mistake as a child and he’s branded as evil. As an adult, he’s kind of a saint. He fears his own powers and what they can do so he tries to compensate as much as possible. He does actual good in the world. I very much wanted So Ah to choose him.

Sadly, this is a romantic Korean drama and Hu Ye was not the lead male character so he never stood a chance.

The ending is satisfying enough. The couple get to be together, random loose ends are wrapped up.

My rating for the Bride of Habaek is 3 out of 5 stars and I’d recommend it to anyone who just wants a predictable romance to sit back and not really have to think about.

Have you seen the Bride of Habaek? Let me know what you thought!

Den of Thieves – Ancient Blades #1 by David Chandler

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Title: Den of Thieves

Author: David Chandler

Series: Ancient Blades

Sexual Content: None

objectionable Content: Violence

Buy Now From: Amazon

Synopsis (from Amazon): A thief must steal a crown to join a guild, but it comes at a catastrophic cost in this epic high fantasy trilogy debut.
Born and raised in the squalid depths of the Free City of Ness, Malden became a thief by necessity. Now he must pay a fortune to join the criminal operation of Cutbill, lord of the underworld—and one does not refuse the master . . . and live.
The coronet of the Burgrave would fulfill Malden’s obligations, though it is guarded by hungry demons that would tear the soul from any interloper. But the desperate endeavor leads to a more terrible destiny, as Malden, an outlaw knight, and an ensorcelled lady must face the most terrifying evil in the land.

My Review of Den of Thieves

Malden was born the son of a prostitute in a brothel. As such, he had little chance in life. With circumstances stacked against him, he became a thief to survive. Now, the leader of the Guild of Thieves has offered Malden a place in the guild, which would grant Malden certain protections. The problem? The entry fee. So when a impossible job comes his way that he would normally never even consider, he accepts with the entry price to be his reward.

Soon, Malden is twisted up in a plot that goes deeper than he knows. The consequences of his job now see him trying to steal the item he already stole, but this time from the most powerful sorcerer in the city. With the help of an incorporeal card sharp and a knight with a very high sense of honour, Malden will have to devise the most clever scheme he’s ever come up with, though he may die achieving it.

I liked Malden from the very beginning. He comes from very humble roots with very little going for him. Despite this, he’s extremely clever and to an extend, optimistic. Though he’s aware the life he lives isn’t the most respectable, he hasn’t lost himself to depression or in drinking. In comparison,, Croy feels almost comical. From the moment he appears in the book and every moment after, he just feels like a caricature of a stereotypical knight. I admit though, he does stick to his principles when push comes to shove. He won’t give up his honour or morals even if it means his death.

Cythera is the glue that holds them together. Both have feelings for her and want to free her from her imprisonment. Saving her might be more motivation for Malden to steal back the object than saving his own skin. She is an interesting character. She is magically trapped with the sorcerer Hazoth, but somehow hasn’t given up all hope. Her life is miserable, she’s constantly tortured while her mother is held captive as well. Thankfully, despite being beautiful, she doesn’t try to use her “feminine charms” to entice Malden to help her. In fact, she tries to deter him from doing so at first.

The story was enticing as well. It kind of feels like a heist movie, leaving the reader wondering how Malden is going to get out of increasingly impossible situations. I really like that it was just “oh by the way, this,” no there’s evidence through the story, foreshadowing, towards just how clever Malden really is and the different scenarios he’s thought through.

The ending was satisfying, wrapping up most things. However, this is the first book in a trilogy, so I look forward to the next installment. I have a feeling I know what may be coming next. I won’t spoil this of cours.

I can’t think of anything I particularly disliked about Den of Thieves. It was a good and satisfying read. It didn’t end on a cliffhanger but I still want more of Malden and his story.

My rating for Den of Thieves is 4 out of 5 stars and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a heist-like book with a fantasy setting, a bit of romance and a few freaky demons thrown in.

Thanks for reading!

The Early Spring – Review

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Title: The Early Spring

Language: Chinese – Mandarin

Episodes: 24

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genres: Romance, Life, Drama

Objectionable Content: Suicide, Toxic Relationship

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): Shang Zhi Tao, a determined recent graduate from an ordinary background, unexpectedly lands a job at a prestigious, top-tier global advertising agency in Beijing. Stepping into the corporate world as a complete rookie, her first day begins with a harsh wake-up call when her brilliant yet ruthlessly sharp-tongued boss, creative director Luan Nian, bluntly tells her to resign. Undeterred by the fierce environment and intense professional pressure, Shang Zhi Tao pushes forward, determined to grow through the challenges and prove her worth as a capable professional. What starts as an uphill battle against a demanding mentor gradually evolves into a complex, hidden workplace romance. As intense career ambitions, personal choices, and underlying misunderstandings pull them in different directions, the two are forced to navigate the heavy costs of love and success.

My Review of The Early Spring

Where do I even begin with this drama? Watching The Early Spring brought to mind when I first watched Boys Over Flowers. I wanted so much for the female lead in that to come to here senses and see that the better guy had been beside her all along. In The Early Spring, I just wanted this girl to grow a spine and stand up for herself, to realize she deserved so much better and finally kick this guy to the curb.

In the beginning of The Early Spring, Shang Zhitao is fresh out of college when she lands her dream job at an advertising company called Lime. From the first second, the manager, Luan Nian or Luke, is harsh with her, telling her to quit and that she’s not good enough. To give Zhitao credit, she doesn’t cave to his rudeness and works hard to prove herself and show she deserves to be at the company.

What makes very little sense to me, is why Luan Nian suddenly becomes enamored of her. He looks down on, insults her, and belittles her constantly yet starts to show jealousy whenever someone of the male gender gets close to her. I can somewhat understand why Zhitao might be attracted to him. She’s a prodigy of the company, someone who’s approval she would naturally crave, and he is handsome.

The first time they get together was so annoying. Zhitao is drunk at a bar, when Nian steps in to take care of her. Not knowing where she lives, he takes her to his apartment to sleep it off. When she wakes up, she basically sober and he pretty much tries to seduce her pretty quickly. This guy cannot take a hint. She literally covers her mouth with her hands the first time he tries to kiss her. Then, he does it anyway. Despite, her obvious discomfort and feeble attempts to say no, he persists. In the end, she does give in and chooses to stay and sleep with him.

Afterwards, she tries to draw a line between them, to keep things professional at work and stop whatever relationship is starting. Again, Nian will not take no for an answer. No matter how many times she tries to push him away or keep her distance, he repeatedly comes back and seduces her.

I feel like he took advantage of her from the very beginning. Using her youth and naivety to get what he wanted from her. For someone who was at least 30 at the beginning of the show, he had no emotional maturity to speak of. Anytime he felt like she wasn’t paying enough attention to him, or someone was paying attention to her, he would get jealous and throw a tantrum like a toddler. At one point he even tells her not to wear certain clothing because he doesn’t like other men looking at her. He constantly insults her and acts like she should be grateful that he’s even with her.

They do show some growth throughout the run of the show. Zhitao especially become more confident in her works, earning her way up in the company and getting promotions. Miraculously, Nian does recognize her hard work and dedication, not giving her any special treatment because of their relationship. I wish I could say that he became a fully developed person by the end, who understood Zhitao and her feelings, but he doesn’t. He gets better, but he’s still a jerk.

When the show wasn’t focused on the relationship between the two leads, it was a good show. I enjoyed the dynamic between Zhitao and her roommates. I also like when the focus was more on Zhitao excelling at work and earning her own place in the world.

I wish so much there had been an alternate love interest for her, someone who would have treated her the way she deserved instead of like a toy. Although, had that been the case, I’m sure I would have been even more frustrated when in the end she still chose Nian. As I learned from Boys Over Flowers, the leads will end up together no matter how unsuitable they may be for one another.

My rating for The Early Spring is 2 out of 5 stars. Only the stuff that didn’t focus on the main relationship saved it from being one stars. I wouldn’t really recommend this drama unless you enjoy toxic relationships where the woman is a push over and the man is domineering.

If you have watched The Early Spring, I’d love to know what you thought.

Thanks for reading!

The East Palace – Review

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Title: The East Palace

Language: Korean

Episodes: 8

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genres: Historical, Action, Mystery, Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror

Objectionable Content: Violence, Death

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): In a fictional kingdom haunted by strange and terrifying events, the king secretly summons Gu Cheon, a proud and powerful ghost-slayer who can transform into a spirit and traverse the spectral realm, and Saeng Gang, a court lady cursed with the ability to hear and communicate with the dead. Tasked with investigating a sinister force lurking within the Crown Prince’s East Palace, the unlikely pair uncover long-buried secrets hidden behind the royal walls. As they venture deeper into a world where the living and the dead intertwine, they must confront vengeful spirits, dark conspiracies, and an unimaginable evil that threatens the palace from within.

My Review of the East Palace

Gu Cheon drowned as a child and was revived. Afterwards, he gained the ability to see spirits and traverse the Realm of Gwi (the realm of the dead). When the princes in the palace start dying in the same way they did 30 years ago, the king summons Gu Cheon to the palace to find the spirit responsible, destroy it and save the last remaining prince. Having little other choice, Gu Cheon works together with, Saeng Gang, the king’s only daughter, to rid the palace of it’s curse and hopefully save his own life.

Gu Cheon is a reluctant kind of hero. He complains about how bothersome it is to fight spirits and banish them, but he also does what needs to be done in order to protect innocent people. Saeng Gang is headstrong and curious, constantly asking questions of Gu Cheong despite him getting annoyed with her. They make an unlikely pair, but form a bond quite quickly.

The East Palace is definitely a supernatural horror at it’s core. From the first second of the first episode, a very dark and spooky atmosphere is established. Within the first 10 minutes we see a child getting possessed and trying to kill himself with a pair of scissors. I was completely hooked from the beginning.

There is a good balance here between the suspense and revelations. Shows like this sometimes try to be too mysterious and don’t really reveal anything, making it feel needlessly dragged out. I didn’t feel that way with the East Palace. However, I do feel like they tried to a few too many twists in there. You’d think you knew what the mystery was, who the culprit was, and then it would twist again and the narrative would sort of reform. There’s nothing wrong with this, but do it too many times and it’s no longer shocking.

The visuals in this drama, I think, were particularly stunning. The Realm of Gwi made me think of the Upsidedown from Stranger Things, but with more red. The editing showing the juxtaposition between the real world and the world of the dead was spectacular.

Then there is the true scene stealer of the show. This little thing called a ggeomeoksali. Gu Cheon is terrified of this adorable creature at first because it feeds on Yang energy. It could potentially kill him if it were to drain his energy. However, it attaches itself to Gu Cheon and starts following him around the palace, and even protecting him.

The ending of the show did leave things open for a possible second season, but I don’t think one has been announced yet.

My rating for The East Palace is 4 out of 5 stars and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a spooky, unsettling watch.

Have you seen The East Palace? What did you think?

Pursuit of Jade – C-Drama Review

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Title: Pursuit of Jade

Language: Chinese – Mandarin

Episodes: 40

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genres: Historical, Romance, War, Mystery

Objectionable Content: Violence, Death

Buy From: Amazon

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): It follows Fan Chang Yu, a butcher’s daughter, and Xie Zheng, a fallen noble seeking revenge. Their fake marriage turns into true love, but war tears them apart. Determined, Fan Chang Yu wields her butcher’s knife on the battlefield, searching for justice and her husband. Meanwhile, Xie Zheng reclaims his title, fighting to protect his country and love. Reunited in battle, they stand together, defying fate and uncovering the truth.

My Review of Pursuit of Jade

This drama came across my Netflix feed a few times, but I passed it by due to the number of episodes. At the time, I wasn’t in the mood to commit to such a long drama. So when I had some time off work, I decided now was the time. Honestly, I wished I’d watched it sooner but at the same time I’m glad I waited til I was on vacation because I ended up staying up til 4 am because I just couldn’t stop watching.

At Pursuit of Jade begins, Fan Chang Yu has just lost her parents. In order to support herself and her young sister, she takes up her father’s trade: slaughtering pigs and selling the meat. She finds a young man in the snow, gravely injured, and against her better judgement, saves his life. Initially, he gives her the name Yan Zheng, in order to hide his identity. When Chang Yu’s uncle tries to take her house from her, Yan Zheng, agrees to a live in marriage so she doesn’t lose everything.

To explain, as I had to look it up myself, a “live in marriage” or “live in husband” is where the man marries into the woman’s family. This means, that instead of the woman moving into the man’s family home, taking his name and basically become subject to him, the man agrees that the woman is the head of the household. This is important because during this time period, women couldn’t inherit property, only a male heir could. After Chang Yu’s parents die, the only male relative is her uncle, who tries to take her house from her in order to pay off his gambling debts. By Yan Zhang marrying in to Chang Yu’s family, the Fan family now has a male heir and Chang Yu is able to keep her house.

Initially, this agreement is one of convenience. It’s a way for Yan Zheng to repay Chang Yu for saving his life. They both know the marriage isn’t real and that when he is well again, he will leave. We soon learn that Yan Zheng is actually a nobleman who nearly died in battle and the time comes for him to leave and return to his responsibilities.

From the moment they meet, Chang Yu and Yan Zheng have amazing chemistry. Yan Zheng is fairly reserved in the beginning, being unsure of the people around him and his identity being revealed. Though he rarely smiles, he’s never rude or mean to anyone (unless they deserve it) and he quickly becomes protective of his new found family.

I honestly loved every moment of this drama. The couple is so sweet together, gradually falling deeply in love. Even when they’re separated, you know they’re thinking of one another and doing everything they can to be together again. There’s a lot of funny moments too, though not outrageously so. The comedy doesn’t deflect from the mood. The acting is perfection from all the characters, even the psychotic ones can evoke some sympathy while the so called “good” ones can be bad. The costumes are beautiful and the sets spectacular.

The blood effects are a bit lacking for the amount of death and war there is. However, the show is rated 14+ so it makes sense the gore would be minimized.

I will admit that I had some trouble following the political intrigue. There are a lot of names, places and titles being said, some being used interchangeably that I found it hard to follow. This is totally on me and no a criticism of the show.

My rating for Pursuit of Jade is 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a nice dash of comedy, action and mystery.

Have you watched Pursuit of Jade? I’d love to know what you think!

The Griffin’s War – The Fallen Moon #3 by K.J. Taylor

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Title: The Griffin’s War

Author: K.J. Taylor

Series: The Fallen Moon

Sexual Content: Minimal

objectionable Content: Violence, Racism

Buy Now From: Amazon

Synopsis (from Goodreads): After promising his allegiance to the Night God, Arenadd Taranisaii escapes death for the second time and vows to free his people. With the dark griffin Skandar by his side, Arenadd begins to gather an army and prepare for war using the power gifted to him by the Night God to move through the shadows.

But even as Arenadd’s strength grows his nemesis sets out for the Island of the Sun, seeking the one weapon that can truly kill Arenadd, the man without a heart.

My Review of the Griffin’s War

Once again I find myself at a loss of just how to review this book. To say that I loved it, while true, is also pretty vague. I think there’s just something in the way it’s written and the chosen main character.

Had the first book started from Erian’s point of view, following him from his childhood, or even just coming to Eagleholm, he would have been seen as the hero of this story. I think I said this in my review of the Griffin’s Flight. It feels like Erian is on the traditional Hero’s Journey while Arren is going down the path of becoming a villain. Had the story been told in that way, the audience would definitely have backed Erian as the hero and rooted for him to succeed.

This review is seriously lacking and may the shortest I’ve written. Please just know that The Griffin’s War and it’s predecessors are amazing and truly worthy of a read. I wish more people knew about K.J. Taylor and her books.

I was also happy to learn that there is a sequel trilogy, which took some digging to get my hands on but I have them now.

My rating for the Griffin’s War is 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it!

The Griffin’s Flight – Book 2 of The Fallen Moon by K.J. Taylor

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Title: The Griffin’s Flight

Author: K.J. Taylor

Series: The Fallen Moon

Sexual Content: Minimal

objectionable Content: Violence, Racism

Buy Now From: Amazon

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Although he was once chosen as a griffin’s companion, Arren Cardockson was reviled, betrayed, and ultimately killed. Brought back to life by a power beyond his understanding, Arren flees for the frozen sanctuary of the North. With the man-eating griffin Skandar by his side, and an entire country hunting him, Arren has little hope of reaching the place of his ancestry and of lifting his curse. But then he comes across a wild woman who may hold the key to making his lifeless heart beat once more.

My Review

*NOTE this review will contain spoilers for the previous book*

I’m not normally the type of person to try to predict how a book is going to go. I like to just read and the let the story unfold before me, but there was no way I could have predicted how this book would go. I am intrigued by this author’s imagination.

As with the previous book, I find I’m struggling review The Griffin’s Flight adequately. Which I’m finding really frustrating because this book is just so good. But calling it “good” just doesn’t do it justice. I will try my best.

The characters feel very rich and real. Not necessarily that I relate to them, as most of them are men, but that their emotions with the situations they find themselves in are believable. They get scared and anxious or confused when it’s appropriate.

Although Arren is the protagonist of the books, his story feels more like a villain arc. Where as, Erian, who is the antagonist feels like he’s on a hero’s journey. It’s interesting to see the different perspectives, not only in how they view each other as enemies, but how other people view them as well. To the people of the South, Arren is a vile murderer and a madman, while the Northerners see him as a hero or a lord to be followed. Even as the reader, it’s sometimes hard to believe that Arren is the good guy here. He appears to be a good person, but then we learn he’s done some terrible things in the past. It really shows how people can be driven to certain things based on how others treat them. How do you not burn with anger when everyone around you treats you differently based on the colour of your hair?

I know this review isn’t an in depth analysis of the book and I’m sorry for that. Just know that despite my ability to give this a proper review, this book is amazing. I’m already devouring the third book.

My rating for The Griffin’s Flight is 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy, or just a good book in general. Read the Dark Griffin first though.

Thank you for reading!

The Dark Griffin – The Fallen Moon #1 by K.J. Taylor

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Title: The Dark Griffin

Author: K.J. Taylor

Series: The Fallen Moon

Sexual Content: Minimal

Objectional Content: Violence, Racism

Buy from: Amazon

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Being chosen as a griffin’s companion has allowed Arren Cardockson to gain a place of status within the land of Cymria. But Arren can never escape the prejudice that comes with his Northerner slave origins. For chained within the Arena where rogue griffins battle to entertain the crowds, there lies another soul crying out to be freed-a kindred spirit that will allow Arren to fulfill his destiny and release the darkness in his heart.

My Review

For some reason I can’t quite fathom, I’ve been avoiding writing this review. Even now, I feel like I’m forcing myself to type. I honestly don’t know why this is, but I am annoyed by it because now it’s been over a month since I finished the book and the details are no longer fresh in my mind. Therefore, I will try to do my best here.

Arren, our main character, is a Northerner. At least, his parents are from the North, which automatically makes him one of them despite that fact that he was born in the South and has never been to the North. The people of the North are considered savages, inherently aggressive, and after the South conquered their country, the people of the North became slaves. The only reason Arren has any status or respect in society is because he was chosen by a griffin.

After Arren is tricked into going on a dangerous mission on his own, betrayed by someone he trusted, his griffin tragically dies. No longer considered to be a Griffiner, he’s now just seen as a Northern and the ingrained prejudice becomes apparent. If he becomes angry about the injustice he’s suffered, that’s his Northern aggression coming out. The amount of societal discrimination ingrained in this book is rampant and made me so angry on Arren’s behalf. Even the people close to him who say they don’t care about his heritage, on some level, feel some sort of prejudice against him.

I feel like this review isn’t doing this book justice, and I just don’t know how to get my feelings about it into words. So please know that I really loved this book. I thought it was fantastic. The world is rich and the characters are relatable. There aren’t a lot of fantasy books involving griffins, so I also really like how prominent they are here.

My rating for The Dark Griffin is 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it to all lovers of fantasy, and even people who don’t necessarily love fantasy.

Thanks for reading and if you’ve read The Dark Griffin, I’d love to know your thoughts.