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A review by nclcaitlin
Nine of Swords by Brooklyn Quintana
2.5
This is like if Harry Potter was medieval with Kings and Princes with survival classes rather than magic!
Prince Fynneas Fog, fourth in line to the throne, is sent to Morancy Academy of Military Arts after facing tragedy and rising tensions at home. Morancy is much more dangerous than Fynn could ever have imagined and he and his fellow classmates must survive deadly games, gruelling training, and face more than sea monsters lurking around the island.
Fynn is like a lot of YA protagonists: impulsive, naive, abnormally energetic and friendly, and impossibly brave. This created a certain nostalgia for me, throwing me back to 2010-2016 when my YA fantasy and dystopia kick took off.
This book is thick. Yes, I do think there are things that could have been cut, however, it really just created a normalcy and routine in a fantasy book. It reminded me of those cozy moments you would find in Harry Potter as Harry would spend the start in the mundane world, quieter moments in the common room, and in the dinner hall.
There’s insane mentors, great camaraderie, loathful bully cousins.
There’s also dream-calling, a weird book, magic fire, and a man with a peeling face.
Finally, there’s a cute fox called Skulduggery (Dug), and a bat called Buttons.
“You're such an idiot." Hollyn smiled.
Fynn shrugged, smirking all the while. “I know. But I’m your idiot, don’t you remember?"
However, I have to admit to considering putting it aside after 50%. It was just fight after fight, and Fynn getting grievously injured and then miraculously recovering from a deadly injury. Or another character getting injured.
The outcomes were very predictable (it’s YA), and I felt myself getting bored with veryyyy slow progression on the mystery aspect.
Some good writing, funny interactions, good camaraderie and relationships, great settings, yet bogged down with repetition.
”People don't change, Hollyn. Circumstances change people. Tragedy changes people. Triumph changes people. People don't just change for no reason."
Prince Fynneas Fog, fourth in line to the throne, is sent to Morancy Academy of Military Arts after facing tragedy and rising tensions at home. Morancy is much more dangerous than Fynn could ever have imagined and he and his fellow classmates must survive deadly games, gruelling training, and face more than sea monsters lurking around the island.
Fynn is like a lot of YA protagonists: impulsive, naive, abnormally energetic and friendly, and impossibly brave. This created a certain nostalgia for me, throwing me back to 2010-2016 when my YA fantasy and dystopia kick took off.
This book is thick. Yes, I do think there are things that could have been cut, however, it really just created a normalcy and routine in a fantasy book. It reminded me of those cozy moments you would find in Harry Potter as Harry would spend the start in the mundane world, quieter moments in the common room, and in the dinner hall.
There’s insane mentors, great camaraderie, loathful bully cousins.
There’s also dream-calling, a weird book, magic fire, and a man with a peeling face.
Finally, there’s a cute fox called Skulduggery (Dug), and a bat called Buttons.
“You're such an idiot." Hollyn smiled.
Fynn shrugged, smirking all the while. “I know. But I’m your idiot, don’t you remember?"
However, I have to admit to considering putting it aside after 50%. It was just fight after fight, and Fynn getting grievously injured and then miraculously recovering from a deadly injury. Or another character getting injured.
The outcomes were very predictable (it’s YA), and I felt myself getting bored with veryyyy slow progression on the mystery aspect.
Some good writing, funny interactions, good camaraderie and relationships, great settings, yet bogged down with repetition.
”People don't change, Hollyn. Circumstances change people. Tragedy changes people. Triumph changes people. People don't just change for no reason."