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BOOK REVIEW: Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
A book review by Mina Nguyen
A man who has the capabilities to burn kingdoms to the ground is raising an army
containing unimaginable beings. With a stolen sword and a newly wedded queen, he is set on
destruction and power. Corayne an-Amarat can feel it; there is a strange darkness. An immortal
and an assassin knock on Corayne’s door, urging her to save the world as the last of an ancient
lineage. Corayne finds herself on a journey completing unusual tasks to prevent all-out war as
she also navigates a world she’s never been accustomed to.
This book has a lot of world-building. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, but the
world-building is complex and there are a lot of factors at play for a young adult fantasy. I was
pretty confused until the first 100 pages because a lot of it is left to mystery, which sets it up to
be further explained in future chapters. I would even say that within the first book, the
world-building hasn’t been fully set, which I think was slightly aggravating since it is 500+ pages
of setting up the plot and developing the villains and heroes. The descriptions could be more
vivid for how intricate the world-building is. As a fan of the Red Queen series, I was interested in
what Realm Breaker had to offer. While I don’t think that Realm Breaker is better than Red
Queen, there are technically two other books to read. I did really enjoy the characters, especially
Sorn, the assassin. The entire book is told through six characters, but not everyone whose
perspective gets read is the hero, which was interesting to read. I liked the connection between
all the characters and their povs. Seeing a character in a different character’s pov helps build and
develop their personality. I also really liked how realistic Corayne’s skills are. Initially, she’s
really sheltered, so she lacks a lot of survival skills needed. I liked that Aveyard made it
incredibly known that Corayne’s skills were not fully developed, and she was still a beginner. She
didn’t pick up anything fast, but she took the time to learn. It’s so much more realistic than
becoming a master at the sword within two weeks, and I enjoyed watching the process unfold.
Additionally, the politics are what really comes to light in this book. In Red Queen, it was the
love triangle and the premise was developed around those three main characters; however,
Realm Breaker has very little romance and sets up the political drama with a few hints of
romance. While I don’t think that this book is for everyone, I would definitely recommend it for
readers who enjoyed all the books within The Red Queen Series or those who want more politics
than romance with heavy world-building!
Books similar to Realm Breaker:
● Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
● A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
● A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab
● City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
● The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Put “Realm Breaker” on hold today
BOOK REVIEW: 1984 by George Orwell
1984 by George Orwell
A book review by Mina Nguyen
Big Brother is always watching. In a totalitarian future society, everyone must be careful
of the way they act. They must fully dedicate themselves to the revolution under Big Brother.
Winston Smith’s job is to rewrite history, but he doesn’t necessarily dedicate himself to the
cause. He strays further away after meeting Julia, who changes his perception. In an attempt to
rebel, Winston further puts his identity up for risk, making him and Julia a bigger liability to Big
Brother and others also dedicated to the cause.
I am not a person who opts for a classic. I typically find the language to be dated, and it
takes me a while to get into. I have attempted at least twice to get into 1984, but I always end up
falling asleep within the first twenty pages, but I decided to give it one last attempt, and I
definitely enjoyed it way more. I did enjoy Animal Farm when it was a required read in high
school, but I’ve never reached for a George Orwell novel besides 1984. I will say that reading
1984 now more than when I was younger made me enjoy it more because I’ve had more
experiences in forming my own thoughts and opinions outside of my peers and family. I found
the writing to be very addictive. Orwell writes from a narrative that is extremely detached. You
want to feel empathy for the characters, but Orwell is so meticulous in the way he writes that you
feel no sympathy for any of what the characters are going through. It reads like a statement or
fact. Additionally, I like that 1984 is extremely predictable. When reading this, the inevitable will
happen. It sheds light on how certain events are predictable in reading but are not as clear-cut in
real life. It is extremely fascinating to see how society is so aware of certain events and how it’s
portrayed through reading but will sometimes be oblivious to current events, which is why it’s
extremely important to be reading books like this. Books like this force readers to challenge what
they’ve thought growing up and allow them to reflect on their character and their belief system.
While I wouldn’t necessarily pick this book up for a second read, I would definitely recommend
it as a book everyone should read once in their life. Some books are only meant to be read once,
and 1984 is one of them!
Books similar to 1984:
● Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
● 12 Angry Men by Reginald rose
● Lord of the Flies by William Golding
● We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
Put 1984 on hold today
BOOK REVIEW: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
A book review by Mina
Taking place in Afghanistan, 1952, Abdullah and his sister, Pari, live with their father and stepmom in Shadbagh. Their father is constantly searching for work, living in poverty and extreme winters. The connection between brother and sister is extremely strong; Abdullah would do anything for Pari. One day, the siblings journey across the desert to Kabul where their father would separate the pair, tearing their lives apart. Told through interconnecting stories of separate characters, the story of Pari and Abdullah unfold, hoping that one day Abdullah will find his way back to Pari.
I have loved every Khaled Hosseini book. His writing is extremely moving, emotional, and reflective. It’s completely raw and eye-opening. There is never enough praise for Hosseini. I particularly enjoyed the way this was narrated. It was told and divided through the narrative of different characters and how all those characters were connected. So while a character’s story is over, readers can still see the development of each of the characters through the lens of another character being written about. This book feels like a collection of short stories rather than a novel. Everything kind of comes full circle, and it was a great way for it to be written. Initially, I was confused about the switching characters, but Hosseini clears it up really fast through his vivid descriptions that create unique characters. I didn’t mix up any of the characters, nor their storylines. He writes incredibly distinct characters and associations. I teared up multiple times reading the interconnectedness of it all. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book out of other Hosseini books, it’s very well-written and explores such intense emotions and the nuances of humankind’s actions. Hosseini doesn’t write characters that we’re supposed to love, but he writes characters that are human who do human things. Readers see everything played out, and it’s hard to decide whether we like them or are indifferent because it’s so raw to what we do as people in society; it makes us reflect. I will never have enough praise for this book. If you’re looking for something that is beautiful, moving, and raw with tears, I would recommend this book a hundred times over. It is an unforgettable book, and it is a book that needs to be read at least once. It presents a concept that, regardless of what country or heritage you are, family and love is the greatest match to humanity.
Books similar to And the Mountains Echoed:
● The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
● As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
● One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel garcia Marquez
● The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Put And the Mountains Echoed on hold today