Hey everyone! Today I’m excited to participate in the International blog tour for Reign of the Fallen and Song of the Dead by Sarah Glenn Marsh, hosted by Penguin Random House International! This epic YA Fantasy duology is full of magic and adventure and omg, I loved it! Read of for my reviews! Almost spoiler-free, however, beware just in case! Happy reading!!!
Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh Published by Razorbill ISBN: 9781984836397
on January 23, 2018
Pages: 375
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Source: Author
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.
A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?
The Reader’s Review
Gosh, I cannot believe the duology is now over! It seems like only yesterday that we were introduced to a series about a Master Necromancer whose life is turned upside down when all of the sudden, the dead are being turned purposefully into powerful Shades (raised corpses whose shrouds have been lifted) and they break havoc in the Deadlands, as well as in her own country, Karthia. Odessa’s ability to raise the Dead is not an easy task, and being a Master Necromancer gives her the responsibility to deal with the Shades, even if it means that if she were to die in the Deadlands, she’d give up passing on to the afterlife like normal humans.
Reign of the Fallen is all about loss and friendship. Reaching a point around page 100 made it perfectly clear. And… despite it hurting me and feeling a big sense of loss (mirroring the feelings of the main character), I just loved reading about it. It was brutal to see a loved main character fall, but pretty inspiring to see her rise. Odessa not only suffers several losses, but also has to deal with a big problem and big changes to her own fate, one she thought was all planned out.
And at the end of this book, everything about this world where magic and powers exist based on the color of your eye, has changed.
Beware spoilers for book 2.
Song of the Dead by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Published by Razorbill ISBN: 9780448494401
on January 22, 2019
Pages: 416
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Source: PRH International
I received this book for free from PRH International in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Dead must stay buried.
Karthia is nothing like it used to be. The kingdom's borders are open for the first time in nearly three hundred years, and raising the dead has been outlawed. Odessa is determined to explore the world beyond Karthia's waters, hoping to heal a heart broken in more ways than she can count. But with Meredy joining the ocean voyage, vanquishing her sorrow will be a difficult task.
Despite the daily reminder of the history they share, Odessa and Meredy are fascinated when their journey takes them to a land where the Dead rule the night and dragons roam the streets. Odessa can't help being mesmerized by the new magic--and by the girl at her side. But just as she and Meredy are beginning to explore the new world, a terrifying development in Karthia summons them home at once.
Growing political unrest on top of threats from foreign invaders means Odessa and Meredy are thrust back into the lives they tried to leave behind while specters from their past haunt their tenuous relationship. Gathering a force big enough to ward off enemies seems impossible, until one of Queen Valoria's mages creates a weapon that could make them invincible. As danger continues to mount inside the palace, Odessa fears that without the Dead, even the greatest invention won't be enough to save their fates.
In this enthralling, heartrending sequel to Reign of the Fallen, Odessa faces the fight of her life as the boundaries between the Dead and the living are challenged in a way more gruesome than ever before.
The Reader’s Review
If you loved Reign of the Fallen, you will LOVE Song of the Dead.
This book picks up right where Reign of the Fallen ends. Odessa is on board a ship to visit as many places as possible in honor of Evander, her former boyfriend and friend who died at the hands of a shade. Karthia now has a new ruler (the amazing Valoria who is an Inventor!), but the rest of the world still thinks that Karthia is closed off and that its former ruler still won’t allow his people to travel into the world.
Odessa soon finds out that traveling into foreign places may not be the easiest of experiences. Meeting new places and new people not only makes her aware how different things can be from Karthia, but also how prejudices might follow and challenge who and what she is.
The challenge they must face now is a group of people who are visiting these lands, destroying everything they find and taking away their most valuable possesion. Not to mention that Odessa and Meredy eventually must go back to Karthia, and face the wrath of their friends who they left behind without saying goodbye.
However, Odessa is such a fierce heroine and she plunges through it all. Her growth from book 1 to this book is noticeable, and despite her flaws, I really can say that she’s one of my favorites. But I must say that danger follows this girl around and it’s honestly quite hilarious, in the best possible way! Also, having Meredy (I love her too!) who is fierceless just like Odessa just makes them draw in danger like a magnet! And Nipper!!! Omg, what an awesome baby dragon! ♥
About Sarah Glenn Marsh
Sarah Glenn Marsh writes young adult novels and children’s picture books.
She lives, writes, and paints things in Virginia, supported by her husband, four rescued greyhounds, three birds, and many fish.
If she could, she’d adopt ALL THE ANIMALS.
Oh, and she’d love to be your friend here on Goodreads, or over on Twitter http://twitter.com/SG_Marsh!
I kind of dig duologies. They give me something to look forward to but I don’t have to be bogged down with the responsibility of a series. This doesn’t sound half bad. Great reviews, Mel.
Me too! They are a perfect kind of length!