11/21/2023

Dark Sigils-Wie Die Dunkelheit Befiehlt by Anna Benning

I might not be as thrilled about the story and plot, but the wonderful cover design thrills me very much. This time the story was successful for me only in places. It was average, mixed with some enjoyable reading. Some characters were convincing while others were not. And as far as Adam is concerned, it can't get any colder. A pity.

Dark Sigils-Wie Die Dunkelheit Befiehlt*

by Anna Benning
Dark Sigils Trilogy #2
Publisher Fischer KJB on May 24, 2023
Genre Urban-Fantasy
Pages 489
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
✶✶✶½

The Dark Sigils are the most powerful artifacts ever forged. But in exchange for their magic, they take everything from us - our own freedom and the chance to love who we want. My only hope is to join the rebels in reaching the mysterious eighth Dark Sigil. Only with his help will I be able to determine my own life. But the path there is dangerous... and I don't know if Adam will let me go. For he knows the darkness that will take over the world if the sigil bearers resist their fate. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Rayne wants to be free from her Dark Sigil. She wants to decide how to live and whom she can love. Not an ancient artifact. But Adam wants the world to remain the way the world always was. And if that means leaving Rayne in the cold, so be it.

Style

From the start, the story was a bit boring. I couldn't befriend the ice-cold Adam, and everything remained strangely distant. Anna Benning's writing style was clear and easy to read, but the amount of filler was a bit too much for me. The novel would have clearly gained more with significantly fewer pages. And what is suggested at the very end, that Adam no longer has a connection to Rayne and that she is supposed to become something that she doesn't actually want, seemed artificial to me. And yet I felt a strange pleasure while reading it. One or two chapters were quite entertaining.

Characters

This time I didn't warm to the characters. Adam is cold-hearted, Rayne clearly struggles with this and when Adam finally brutally loses his connection to Rayne during the plot and another character appears on the field, I am a bit confused. The fact that Adam has his own plans for Rayne and himself at the very end also didn't make sense to me.

Conclusion

I oscillate between a strange enthusiasm for reading and slight disappointment. It was a strange mishmash of confused story, ice-cold characters, and a plot that didn't entirely make sense. And I absolutely didn't like what the author did with Adam and Rayne.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. The book was at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Von Beginn an war die Story etwas langweilig. Ich konnte mich mit dem eiskalten Adam nicht anfreunden und alles blieb auf eigenartige Weise auf Distanz. Der Schreibstil von Anna Benning war zwar klar und einfach zu lesen, aber das viele Füllmaterial war mir eine Nummer zu viel. Der Roman hätte mit deutlich weniger Seiten eindeutig mehr gewonnen. Und was sich ganz am Ende andeutet, dass Adam keine Verbindung mehr zu Rayne hat und sie etwas werden soll, was sie eigentlich gar nicht will, das kam mir künstlich vor. Und dennoch hab ich beim Lesen ein seltsames Vergnügen verspürt. Das eine oder andere Kapitel war dann doch recht unterhaltsam.

Charaktere

Diesmal bin ich mit den Figuren nicht warm geworden. Adam ist kaltherzig, Rayne hat damit sichtlich zu kämpfen und als Adam im Handlungsverlauf schließlich die Verbindung zu Rayne auf brutale Weise verliert und eine weitere Figur auf dem Spielfeld auftaucht, war ich etwas verwirrt. Auch die Tatsache, dass Adam ganz zum Schluss sehr eigene Pläne für Rayne und sich hat, war für mich nicht ganz logisch.

Resultat

Ich schwanke zwischen seltsamer Lesebegeisterung und leichter Enttäuschung. Das war ein eigenartiger Mischmasch aus konfuser Geschichte, eiskalten Figuren und einem nicht ganz logischen Plot. Und was die Autorin mit Adam und Rayne gemacht hat, dass hat mir absolut nicht gefallen.

Anna Benning

Anna Benning was born in 1988, the youngest of three children. While studying literature, she wrote book reviews for a magazine and also worked in a bookshop. She has been a publisher's editor since 2013. One day she took heart and put her own stories on paper. "Vortex" is her debut.

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11/20/2023

Solartopia-Am Anfang Der Welt by Victoria Hume

It was the cover design, that had caught my eye from the beginning. And with the combination of an interesting-sounding summary, I asked for this book. I can´t tell you what my expectation was, besides of getting a good story to read. But while reading it, I discovered that I didn´t get emotionally involved with neither the plot nor the story itself. But as always, read the novel yourself and see how you think about it.

Solartopia-Am Anfang Der Welt*

by Victoria Hume
Solartopia Dilogy #1
Translation Katrin Segerer
Original Title Turris
Publisher Fischer KJB on October 25, 2023
Genre Future Fiction
Pages 307
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
✶✶✶½

For as long as she can remember, sixteen-year-old Nova has lived with her best friend Finn in Turris, a huge, once luxurious high-rise building. Far below there is nothing but toxic smog. At the top of the tower, however, they are self-sufficient thanks to their roof garden. But when the toxic fog creeps up the tower and Nova's garden begins to die, she knows: they must leave Turris. On a life-threatening journey, Nova realizes that what she knows about the world is not true. She and Finn discover Solartopia, a futuristic metropolis where people seem to live in harmony with technology and nature. Together with the young pilot Jett, they uncover the secret of Solartopia - and unleash a battle that could destroy the last remnants of humanity.

Story

Nova can hear plants and flowers. She knows exactly what they need to flourish and does everything to keep them alive and in a good relationship with her. But then, the toxic smog starts to come closer, and Nova has to leave the high-rise building, she calls home. And gets to know the world in a way, she had never thought she would.

Style

The story has a very long run-up before anything actually happens. And so, I didn't get emotionally into the novel for a long time. Sure, the idea of botany and how Nova lives with plants and uses her unusual gifts is fascinating. But the plot didn't really blow me away. It's only in the last third that the author practically opens up her bag of tricks and sets off a firework display of action and great ideas that really excited me. I am only mentioning the home, where Euly lived. That scene was a blast. If the author had done this from the beginning, it would have been an absolute top rating. So, my opinion is only a bit above average, no matter what I think about the environmental component, the author brings toward the end of the story and plot.

Victoria Hume's language style is sluggish and creates a very gloomy mood, despite the protagonist's cheerful singing. The writing style is easy to read and kept simple, but unfortunately, it doesn't really captivate you.

Characters

The author plays with the reader for a long time when it comes to the character of Finn. Only in the last third of the novel does it become clear that Nova is struggling with her psyche and has literally gotten herself into something because of sheer loneliness. This was presented very well for the twelve-year-old age group and the topic was well resolved.

Conclusion

I feel like many other readers of this novel. The story isn't really mine, but it doesn't really leave me alone either. A lot of things don't make sense for a long time before the author literally sets off a fireworks display of action and events in the last third, and all of a sudden, all hell breaks loose. Even now, as I type these lines, I'm not sure whether I found that to be a good thing or not. But one thing I do know is that the environmental component that Victoria Hume addresses here is incredibly interesting.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Die Geschichte hat einen sehr langen Vorlauf, ehe überhaupt was passiert. Und entsprechend bin ich gefühlsmäßig lange nicht in den Roman hineingekommen. Sicher, die Idee mit der Botanik und wie Nova mit den Pflanzen lebt, ihre ungewöhnliche Gabe einsetzt, ist faszinierend. Aber wirklich umgehauen hat mich der Plot nicht. Erst im letzten Drittel öffnet die Autorin praktische ihre Trickkiste und zündet ein Feuerwerk an Action und großartigen Ideen ab, die mich richtig begeistert haben. Hätte die Autorin das von Beginn an gemacht, wäre es ein absolutes Spitzenrating geworden.

Victoria Humes Sprachstil ist träge und erzeugt eine sehr trübe Stimmung, trotz der fröhlichen Singerei der Protagonistin. Zwar ist der Schreibstil gut zu lesen und einfach gehalten, aber wirklich mitreißen tut er leider nicht.

Charaktere

Über lange Zeit spielt die Autorin mit dem Leser, was die Figur des Finn angeht. Erst im letzten Drittel des Romans wird klar, dass Nova hier mit ihrer Psyche zu kämpfen hat und sich buchstäblich in etwas hineingesteigert hat vor lauter Einsamkeit. Das war für die Altersgruppe der Zwölfjährigen sehr gut dargestellt und von der Thematik her gut gelöst worden.

Resultat

Mir geht es wie so manch anderem Leser dieses Romans. Die Geschichte ist nicht wirklich meine, lässt mich aber auch nicht wirklich los. Vieles ergibt über lange Zeit keinen Sinn, ehe die Autorin dann im letzten Drittel buchstäblich ein Feuerwerk an Action und Ereignissen abbrennt und urplötzlich die Hölle los ist. Selbst jetzt, wo ich diese Zeilen tippe, bin ich mir nicht sicher, ob ich das als gut empfunden habe oder nicht. Aber eins weiß ich, die Umweltkomponente, die Victoria Hume hier anspricht, die ist unglaublich interessant.

Victoria Hume

Victoria Hume was named one of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Undiscovered Voices of the Year in 2022. She is an ecologist and can therefore often be found in the wilds of England. Her love of nature gives her stories a special emotional depth. She lives in Brighton with her husband and son. The “Solartopia” two-parter is her debut.

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12/15/2022

Prinzessin Undercover-Versprechen by Connie Glynn

After reading the first four books of the Rosewood Chronicles, I of course had to read the last installment, to see how things would end. Well, I am still not sure how to describe it. But not only was this last book way darker than the others have been. It also turned out to be a book where the author dug deep into the cliché box. Too deep. Less would have been way more here. Sad, but I don´t think that it is a well-written end to the series. From my perspective, it is quite the opposite. Yes, it is sad, because the first books have been a great reading experience. Not this one…

Prinzessin Undercover-Versprechen

by Connie Glynn
The Rosewood Chronicles #5
Translation Maren Illinger, Marlene Frucht
Original Title The Rosewood Chronicles-Princess Ever After
Publisher Fischer KJB on August 31, 2022
Genre Children 12+
Pages 326
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
✶✶✶

Ellie is the princess of Maradova who has finally made the step into the public eye. Lottie has acted as Ellie's double for years, but who is she when she's not playing princess? Jamie, Ellie's bodyguard, is a prince himself and loses his mission. Everything that formed the bond between Ellie, Lottie, and Jamie is a thing of the past. After pushing her friends away, Ellie finds herself in the spotlight - and more alone than ever. Can the three reunite and lead the Crown of Maradova into a new age?

Story

Lottie is missing her best friend Ellie. But the princess of Maradova has made it quite clear to her, that she is no longer needed. So, Lottie must find a solution to stop the evil plan on her own. But how warn someone if that someone doesn´t want to meet you?

Style

From the first sentence, the story is written in a very dark tone. Too dark for my taste. The once bright and amusing novels have turned into a somber muddle that is not only boring to read on some pages but also contains some very pale characters. Yes, it's nice to see how some of the characters have changed throughout the series. How they found their inner strength, how they found out what is important to them. But in the end, I was disappointed. Some pages were obviously just filler to stretch out a story that was already finished. Most parts of the story were predictable and that made it boring. Other pages were filled with interesting thoughts, scenes, and dialogue that gave the book a new tone and style. Something I didn't think the author needed. She's better than that.

Characters

Unfortunately, the last book of the Rosewood Chronicles didn't really convince me when it came to the characters. No question, the author shows the change that Lottie has gone through since the first part, here in its perfection. And that was wonderful to follow for me as a reader. But at the same time, Connie Glynn, unfortunately, overdoes it and lumps everything together. That was completely unnecessary, at least in my opinion. The fact that the author had to dig deep into the cliché box was an additional not-to-be. The very dark tone of voice and the grim events didn't make things any better. Only a few scenes and dialogues came across as amusing and wonderfully entertaining. Unfortunately, not the rest.

Lottie is still my favorite character. She is no longer part of the royal family but still feels responsible for them. Especially for Ellie. It was wonderful to watch how she goes about things, and how she does everything in her power to keep them safe and healthy. She's smart and sees things others don't, and her special magic with Rosewood is a huge plus to the story. It would have made perfect sense to me if she had been the only person keeping evil at bay. But this story isn't about a single fighter. Lottie fights the final battle with the help of her friends. And that was perfect.

Conclusion

Not a worthy conclusion to the otherwise very entertaining and beautifully written Rosewood series. Sorry, but I can't put it any other way. The cover art is almost the best here, despite some wonderfully readable scenes and dialogue. But I'm glad I was able to read this last volume. He still rounded out the story, albeit in a very cheesy, dark, and odd way. But he completed everything.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Vom ersten Satz an ist die Geschichte in einem sehr dunklen Ton geschrieben. Für meinen Geschmack zu dunkel. Aus den einst hellen und amüsanten Romanen ist ein düsterer Wirrwarr geworden, das sich auf manchen Seiten nicht nur langweilig liest, sondern auch einige sehr blasse Gestalten enthält. Ja, es ist schön zu sehen, wie sich einige der Charaktere im Laufe der Serie verändert haben. Wie sie ihre innere Stärke gefunden haben, wie sie herausgefunden haben, was ihnen wirklich wichtig ist. Aber am Ende wurde ich enttäuscht. Einige Seiten waren offensichtlich nur Füllmaterial, um eine bereits fertige Geschichte noch etwas zu strecken. Die meisten Teile der Geschichte waren vorhersehbar und das machte es langweilig. Andere Seiten waren gefüllt mit interessanten Gedanken, Szenen und Dialogen, die dem Buch einen neuen Ton und Stil verliehen. Etwas, von dem ich dachte, dass die Autorin nicht nötig hat. Sie ist besser als das.

Charaktere

Das letzte Buch der Rosewood-Chronicles hat mich leider, was die Figuren angeht, nicht wirklich überzeugen können. Keine Frage, die Autorin zeigt den Wandel, den Lottie seit dem ersten Teil durchlaufen hat, hier in seiner Vollendung. Und das war wunderbar mitzuverfolgen für mich als Leserin. Aber zugleich übertreibt es Connie Glynn dann leider auch und schert alles über einen Kamm. Das war zumindest in meinen Augen völlig unnötig. Dass die Autorin dabei dann auch noch extra tief in die Klischeekiste greifen musste, war ein zusätzliches Musste-nicht-Sein. Der sehr dunkle Tonfall und die düsteren Ereignisse machten die Sache nicht besser. Lediglich einige wenige Szenen und Dialoge kamen amüsant und herrlich unterhaltsam rüber. Der Rest leider nicht.

Lottie ist immer noch meine Lieblingsfigur. Sie ist nicht mehr Teil der königlichen Familie, fühlt sich aber immer noch für sie verantwortlich. Vor allem für Ellie. Es war wunderbar zu beobachten, wie sie mit den Dingen umgeht, wie sie alles in ihrer Macht Stehende tut, um sie sicher und gesund zu halten. Sie ist schlau, sieht Dinge, die andere nicht sehen, und ihre besondere Magie mit Rosewood ist ein großes Plus für die Geschichte. Es hätte für mich absolut Sinn gemacht, wenn sie die einzige Person gewesen wäre, die das Böse in Schach gehalten hätte. Aber diese Geschichte handelt nicht von einem einzelnen Kämpfer. Lottie kämpft den letzten Kampf mithilfe ihrer Freunde. Und das war perfekt.

Resultat

Kein würdiger Abschluss der ansonsten sehr unterhaltsamen und schön geschriebenen Rosewood-Reihe. Traurig, aber ich kann es nicht anders sagen. Das Cover ist hier fast das Beste, trotz einiger wunderbar zu lesender Szenen und Dialoge. Aber ich bin froh, dass ich diesen letzten Band lesen konnte. Er rundete die Geschichte dennoch ab, wenn auch auf eine sehr kitschige, düstere und merkwürdige Weise. Aber er hat alles vervollständigt.

Connie Glynn

Connie Glynn lives in London, England, and loved writing stories as a little girl. With almost a million followers, she is one of the most successful princesses on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram today. In her other life, she is a writer and writes right into the heart of the princess who lives in each of us. Her five-volume series “Princess Undercover” appears in over fifteen countries and made Connie Glynn the UK´s best-selling youth author in 2017.

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11/11/2022

Dark Sigils-Was Die Magie Verlangt by Anna Benning

One thing is for sure, there is still a lot of room for improvement here in terms of plot and storyline. A lot reminded me of other novels in this genre. What excited me even more about it is the presentation. The colored body of the book, the mixture of gold and different shades of blue – great! In terms of content, I found it rather average. Unfortunately. Yes, the story is entertaining, to some extent, and it was fun to watch the main figure cope with everything and how she was dealing with the Mirrorlord and the Dark Sigils. But other than that?

Dark Sigils-Was Die Magie Verlangt*

by Anna Benning
Dark Sigils Trilogy #1
Publisher Fischer KJB on August 31, 2022
Genre Urban-Fantasy
Pages 489
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
✶✶✶½

Magic used to exist only in our dreams. She was a mysterious good force that works miracles. But magic is not like that. True magic is dark and alluring, a shimmering blue liquid more valuable than gold and more addictive than the most potent drug. It's been fifteen years since magic came into our world. Today it is everywhere, on every continent, in every country, and in every city. Killing people to possess them. People die because they do. And other people, like me, fight with her to survive. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Rayne´s life is a special kind of hell. She´s forced to do things she doesn´t want to do. Except for the fights at the heptagon dome. There, she feels at home. As if she belongs there. But outside life is one constant fight for survival. Rayne knows that she´ll only need one win to free herself and her best friend Lily. Her plan is simple. Fight, win, take the money and run. Sounds simple, but how fast are Rayne and Lily able to run?

Style

As good as this novel is to read, I particularly like the fast-reading pace, I don't like how constructed it all seems. How artificial. In the beginning, the scenes and dialogues are still provided with momentum and a pinch of panache, and the plot has a good structure. Sure, I often couldn't shake the feeling that I'd read it all somewhere else before, and at some point, the penny dropped. But frankly, that didn't bother me at first. But as the story progressed, it became more unstructured, slower, and more predictable. There's no question that the author did a good job of showing the differences between the two worlds in terms of the individual characters, but there's no clear arc of tension. Events jump here and there. This is where opponents come into play, who artificially create a connection to another plot point, which is more irritating than exciting when reading. Too bad, but there was somehow the worm in there...

Characters

In general, many of the characters presented here are too stiff, too controlled, and far too stereotypical for me. There is no merging with the plot. The main character, Rayne, has a such quick wit, precision, and power that she almost seems like an underdog and at first, she probably is. But then the tide turns, which the reader unfortunately only finds out towards the end of this volume.

Rayne only knows what it feels like to have been abandoned. It's what made her strong. She wants to get away to a better future and finally find out what it's like to be wanted, to be loved. And she wants answers to many questions. But what she finally begins to understand isn't necessarily what she expected, let alone hoped for. I really liked how she refuses to be forced into a mandatory corset. How she deals with the knowledge that pours into her. She's unconventional and so very different from the rest of the Dark Sigils.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, this novel is just average for me. I was missing that certain something. There's no question that it's going to be intense, but it's all far too predictable. The only surprise was the ending. Suddenly there was a pep in it and a dark premonition for the second volume. Now all that remains is to hope that the author can also implement these suggestions well.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review. The book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

So gut sich dieser Roman auch liest, da gefällt mir besonders das zügige Lesetempo, so wenig gefällt mir, wie konstruiert das alles wirkt. Wie künstlich. Zu Anfang sind die Szenen und Dialoge noch mit Schwung und einer Prise Elan versehen und die Handlung hat eine gute Struktur. Sicher, ich konnte mich oft nicht des Gefühls erwehren, das alles schon mal woanders gelesen zu haben, und irgendwann fiel dann auch der Groschen. Aber das hat mich, offen gesagt, am Anfang nicht gestört. Je weiter die Handlung dann aber voranschritt, umso unstrukturierter, langsamer und vorhersehbarer wurde es. Keine Frage, die Autorin hat es gut verstanden, die Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Welten, was die einzelnen Figuren angeht, zu zeigen, aber es ist kein eindeutiger Spannungsbogen zu erkennen. Da springen die Ereignisse mal hierhin und mal dorthin. Da kommen Gegner ins Spiel, die auf künstliche Weise eine Verbindung zu einem weiteren Handlungspunkt herstellen, was beim Lesen aber eher irritiert als Spannung zu erzeugen. Schade, aber da war irgendwie der Wurm drin…

Charaktere

Allgemein gesehen sind mir viele der hier präsentierten Figuren zu steif, zu kontrolliert und viel zu stereotyp. Da gibt es kein Verschmelzen mit der Handlung. Die Hauptfigur Rayne hat eine Schlagfertigkeit, eine Präzision und Kraft, dass sie fast wie ein Underdog erscheint und anfangs wohl auch ist. Doch dann wendet sich das Blatt, was der Leser leider aber erst gegen Ende dieses Bandes erfährt.

Rayne kennt nur das Gefühl, wie es ist, verlassen worden zu sein. Es ist das, was sie stark gemacht hat. Sie will weg in eine bessere Zukunft und endlich erfahren, wie es ist, gewollt zu sein, geliebt zu werden. Und sie will Antworten auf viele Fragen. Doch was sie am Ende beginnt zu verstehen, ist nicht unbedingt das, was sie erwartet, geschweige denn sich erhofft hatte. Mir gefiel es sehr, wie sie sich weigert, sich in ein vorgeschriebenes Korsett zwängen zu lassen. Wie sie mit dem Wissen, das auf sie einströmt, umgeht. Sie ist unkonventionell und so ganz anders als der Rest der Dark Sigils.

Resultat

Leider ist dieser Roman für mich nur Durchschnitt. Da fehlte mir das gewisse Etwas. Keine Frage, es geht hoch her, doch alles viel zu vorhersehbar. Die einzige Überraschung, das Ende. Da war plötzlich Pep drin und eine dunkle Vorahnung für den zweiten Band. Jetzt bleibt nur noch zu hoffen, dass die Autorin diese Andeutungen auch gut umsetzen kann.

The first edition was published with sprayed pages.

Anna Benning

Anna Benning was born in 1988, the youngest of three children. While studying literature, she wrote book reviews for a magazine and also worked in a bookshop. She has been a publisher's editor since 2013. One day she took heart and put her own stories on paper. "Vortex" is her debut.

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11/09/2022

Waiting On Wednesday #199 – Dark Sigils-Wie Die Dunkelheit Befiehlt by Anna Benning

is a weekly event that was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy. There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

A few days ago, I just finished the first volume of this new trilogy by German author Anna Benning. Dark Sigils is an Urban-Fantasy story with two worlds in it. One world is the one the protagonist Rayne was born into, and the other one she can see hanging in the skies, like a mirror.

I like Anna Benning's sort of fantasy. Although sometimes I can´t get rid of the feeling that I´ve already read that scene here or this one there. I just can´t put a finger on it. So, with every new book, she gets published, I hope that there will be something completely new in it. Maybe this one is the one.

Dark Sigils-Wie Die Dunkelheit Befiehlt

Author Anna Benning
Dark Sigils #2
Publishing Date May 24, 2023
Publisher Fischer KJB
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

“Your magic will decide which way the scales tip.

light or darkness. The choice is in your hands.”

The Dark Sigils are the most powerful artifacts ever forged. But her magic takes everything from the sigil-bearer Rayne - her own freedom and her love for Adam, the Mirrorlord. In desperation, Rayne sees only one option: she joins the rebels to get to the mysterious eighth Dark Sigil. Not only does she have to face an unknown adversary, but also Adam himself. For he knows the darkness that will take hold of the world if the sigil-bearers defy their fate...

The first edition has sprayed pages

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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3/30/2022

Waiting On Wednesday #182– Dark Sigils by Anna Benning

is a weekly event that was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy. There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

I know the author from her Vortex trilogy and kind of like the fantasy world she had created there. This one sound completely different and I am more intrigued by the awesome cover than the actual summary.

Dark Sigils-Was Die Magie Verlangt

Author Anna Benning
Dark Sigils #1
Publishing Date August 31, 2022
Publisher Fischer KJB
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

“They gave us magic. We gave them everything we had.”

Magic used to exist only in dreams. She was a mysterious force that works miracles. But that's not how magic is. Rayne knows that better than anyone. Dark and dangerous, true magic is Rayne's only chance of surviving in the slums of London. Through special artifacts, the sigils, she has learned to use the shimmering blue liquid... and to fight with it. But when the magic spirals out of control, only one boy can help Rayne. He reigns over the most powerful sigils in the world and gives them a choice: either the magic in Rayne's veins will kill her - or she binds her life to the Dark Sigils. Forever. (Personal translation ©Vi at Inkvotary).

The first edition has sprayed pages.

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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10/28/2021

The Sprite Sisters: How It All Began - Marina And The Power Of Water by Sheridan Winn

The actual series, The Sprite Sisters, is a fantastic read. This book belongs to the series that is being published after the actual series. In the How-It-All-Began series, the author shows how the four sprite sisters gain their powers and what happens while they learn how to control them. So, if you are curious to discover how it all started, this one is a good opportunity to discover it.

The Sprite Sisters - Marina And The Power Of Water*

by Sheridan Winn
The Sprite Sisters: How It All Began Series #2
Translation Katrin Weingran

Publisher Fischer KJB on March 21, 2018
Genre Children 8+
Pages 200
Format Hardcover
Source Library
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

It´s her ninth birthday and Marina is thrilled: She can do magic! The power of water is a wonderful gift and Marina can´t wait to finally use it. But then everything is not so easy, because firstly, Marina has to keep her magic a secret, secondly, she has to learn to control it, and thirdly, water is not as harmless as she thought! (Personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Marina´s ninth birthday is almost over when she discovers a strange feeling in her fingers. She has no clue what is happening but knows instinctively that something magical is about to happen. Together with her grandmother and her sister Flame she discovers her power of water and has to repair a lot of things she´s damaged while learning how to control her new power.

Style

The soft style and the lovely way how Sheridan Winn describes her figures, the scenes, and how the Cantrip family lives and does things is always wonderful to read. Even when bad things happen, it is nicely age-appropriate written. I really enjoyed reading this novel. This book contains some very hilarious scenes and dialogues, and it was fun to watch Marina how she gained control over her power of water. And yet, I missed something and have to say, that it was not as fantastic as the other books have been.

Characters

The author creates with only a few words her figures and gives the reader a wonderful picture. Marina is getting her power of water in a different way than Flame experienced her big moment. No wonder that Marina does everything while enjoying her birthday to get away from her sister. Oh yes, she loves Flame, but is it really necessary to have her sister literally glued to her feet? The way how Marina gains control over her new power, how she learns to use it, and what she should better not do with it is shown to the reader in a wonderful and nice way.

Conclusion

All in all, I had my reading pleasure with it. Good, it didn´t thrill me as much as the other books were able to but, in the end, I enjoyed my reading time and shared some laughter with the figures. If you are looking for an easy-to-read novel, this could be a good choice for you.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language. Unfortunately, I cannot provide you with a publishing date for the English edition.

Sheridan Winn

Sheridan Winn lives in Norwich, England. She is a freelance journalist and divides her time between freelance work and book writing. When she was six years old, her family moved to a big, rambling house in the country. Littlewood House became the inspiration for Sprite Towers. She worked for The Times, The Guardian and became 2012 a self-publisher when she bought back the rights for her series The Sprite Sisters. The author has two grown-up children and a granddaughter. She has a keen interest in the Arts, film and finds walking in the countryside a good way to think up ideas.

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6/29/2021

Vortex Die Liebe Die Den Anfang Brachte by Anna Benning

The last part of a well entertaining trilogy. And a wonderful end to the story of Elaine and Bale. Good, the cover is not really mine, but it is the story itself that counts, isn´t it?

Vortex Die Liebe Die Den Anfang Brachte*

by Anna Benning
Vortex Trilogy #3
Publisher Fischer KJB on May 26, 2021
Genre Fantasy
Pages 535
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
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The first vortex was the beginning of our world. Now it could be our end. As the war rages and the armies of the Red Storm advance, I know who the real threat is. The boy I love. Bale. I have to save him – at all costs. I need to remind him who he is – and what he means to me. Because if I don´t. then he´ll put us all into the abyss … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Elaine does everything to save Bale. Bale is controlled by Hawthorne and does whatever Hawthorne wants him to do. Even if that means to kill his own. But Elaine knows that not all want the war. That there is still a chance to avoid it and get people together anyway.

Style

The story is very action-packed from the start, and it quickly becomes clear that there is a lot more at stake here than the end of volume two suggested. The reading speed is wonderfully quick, and the plot is varied. The author is faithful to her writing and language style and answers almost all open questions as the story progresses. Unfortunately, from about halfway through, the story began to weaken a bit, which in my opinion cost a smooth star. Still, the novel is entertaining and has a dash of drama.

Characters

Elaine has developed a lot. At some point in the course of the story, she realizes that things are turning out the way they should be. That neither she nor Bale can do anything about it. And so, she begins to accept things, relying entirely on her instinct and conscience.

With this protagonist, the author has created a fantastic figure who completely thrilled me in this last volume.

Conclusion

Well, of the initially five-star rating, only four remained in the end. But still, solid entertainment is provided. The author fully exploits the range of emotions for the reader as well as for the individual characters and the plot itself really goes into full force again. At least up to half of the novel. I was happy with the end, even if it turned out differently than expected.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language. The book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Von Beginn an ist die Geschichte sehr actionreich und es wird schnell klar, dass hier viel mehr auf dem Spiel steht, als es das Ende von Band zwei vermuten ließ. Das Lesetempo ist herrlich zügig und die Handlung abwechslungsreich. Die Autorin ist ihrem Schreib- und Sprachstil treu geblieben und beantwortet im weiteren Verlauf der Handlung so gut wie alle noch offenen Fragen. Leider fing die Geschichte ab etwa der Hälfte dann an etwas zu schwächeln, was sie in meinen Augen dann einen glatten Stern kostete. Dennoch ist der Roman unterhaltsam und mit einem Schuss Drama versehen.

Charaktere

Elaine hat sich gewaltig weiterentwickelt. Irgendwann im Handlungsverlauf begreift sie, dass die Dinge sich genauso entwickeln, wie es sein soll. Das weder sie noch Bale daran irgendetwas ändern können. Und so fängt sie an, die Dinge zu akzeptieren und sich ganz auf ihren Instinkt und ihr Gewissen zu verlassen.

Mit dieser Protagonistin ist der Autorin eine fantastische Figur gelungen, die mich in diesem letzten Band restlos begeistert hat.

Resultat

Gut, von der anfänglich begeisternden fünf Sterne Bewertung sind am Ende nur noch vier übrig geblieben. Aber dennoch, für solide Unterhaltung ist gesorgt. Die Autorin schöpft die Gefühlspalette sowohl für den Leser als auch für die einzelnen Charaktere voll aus und der Plot selbst geht auch noch mal so richtig in die Vollen. Zumindest bis zur Romanhälfte. Mit dem Ende war ich zufrieden, auch wenn es anders kam als gedacht.

Anna Benning

Anna Benning was born in 1988, the youngest of three children. While studying literature, she wrote book reviews for a magazine and also worked in a bookshop. She has been a publisher's editor since 2013. One day she took heart and put her own stories on paper. "Vortex" is her debut.

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12/16/2020

Prinzessin Undercover-Hoffnungen by Connie Glynn

I am in LOVE with the cover! The color combination, the motive, and the atmosphere – fantastic. The story itself is very dark, contains an almost depressing mood, and tells a story that lies somewhere between the break-up feeling of a relationship and a new beginning. 

Prinzessin Undercover-Hoffnungen*

by Connie Glynn
The Rosewood Chronicles #4
Translation Maren Illinger, Marlene Frucht
Original Title Princess At Heart-The Rosewood Chronicles
Publisher Fischer KJB on December 16, 2020
Genre Children 12+
Pages 378
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶ 

Ellie is a real princess, who wants nothing more than to lead a normal life. Lottie is a normal girl who wants nothing more than to be a princess. So, they secretly swap the roles … More than two years have passed since Lottie came to the exclusive Rosewood Hall boarding school and took on the role of Princess of Maradova. Lottie and Ellie have narrowly escaped attacks by the secret organization Leviathan on several occasions, and Lottie is gradually realizing that there must be a dangerous connection between Leviathan and the royal family. What role does her bodyguard Jamie play in reality? Lottie and Ellie can only hope the revelations don´t destroy their friendship … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Lottie is still shaken up by what had happened in the woods around Rosewood Hall a short time ago. She wants to warn Jamie, but she must obey Ellies´ wish not to tell the royal family or anybody else about Haru and where he belongs. A situation that becomes worse by the day and when Haru tells Lottie after what rules they are playing and that she has no other choice but to follow them – things start to change forever. 

Style

The tone is very dark. And the more I read the darker it became. The relationship between Ellie and Lottie changes a lot during the ongoing plot and makes it clear to the reader, that not every decision someone takes is good for the other. In the previous volumes, the author used a light tone and a bit of humor when she was describing a dark scene or showed to the reader that a figure was hurt during a dialogue. Not this time. No unexpected surprises or twists and turns during the ongoing story. Instead, you are watching how a former friendship breaks apart only because of the dark secret a royal family is desperately trying to hide. 

Characters

I noticed from the start that Ellie was struggling with the role Lottie was playing in her life and that she was still blaming herself for everything that had happened. The author shows her inner conflict and the way in which she finally decided about herself and Lottie´s future in a well-formulated way. Okay, I don´t agree with the way Ellie handled things in the second half of the novel and I am for sure not happy with the last few scenes in this book. But for the plot itself and the next volume of this series, it seems to be logical. Because otherwise, the story would have ended with this volume. 

It is sad to see that, again, the three most important figures of the story are no longer a team. Every one of them believes that he or she must solve the problems they are facing alone and that each of them must protect the others from any harm or danger. I don´t know why the author showed it here again, but it was already clear to me in the previous volume, that Jamie, Lottie, and Ellie only find a practicable solution when they work as a team. 

Conclusion

This is, so far, the darkest book of The Rosewood Chronicles. Not sure if that is a good sign or a bad one. The main figures must cope with pain, love, hate, and betrayal in an anything but friendly environment. The bright and light tone and of the atmosphere is gone. The boarding school has become a dark and secretive place. If you love dark stories with no happy end and a main figure who is constantly in danger, this is your book. If you want to know more, go, and read the book yourself.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review. 

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Der Ton ist sehr dunkel. Und je mehr ich las, desto dunkler wurde er. Die Beziehung zwischen Ellie und Lottie ändert sich während der laufenden Handlung sehr und macht dem Leser klar, dass nicht jede Entscheidung, die jemand trifft, gut für den anderen ist. In den vorherigen Bänden verwendete die Autorin einen leichten Ton und ein bisschen Humor, wenn sie eine dunkle Szene beschrieb oder dem Leser zeigte, dass eine Figur während eines Dialoges verletzt wurde. Dieses Mal nicht. Keine unerwarteten Überraschungen oder Wendungen während der laufenden Geschichte. Stattdessen beobachtest du, wie eine frühere Freundschaft nur aufgrund des dunklen Geheimnisses auseinanderbricht, das eine königliche Familie verzweifelt zu verbergen versucht.

Charaktere

Ich bemerkte von Anfang an, dass Ellie Probleme mit der Rolle hatte, die Lottie in ihrem Leben spielt und dass sie sich immer noch für alles verantwortlich machte, was passiert war. Ihr innerer Konflikt und die Art und Weise, wie sie endgültig über sich und Lotties Zukunft entschieden hat, zeigt die Autorin auf wohlformulierte Weise. Okay, ich bin nicht einverstanden damit, wie Ellie in der zweiten Hälfte des Romans mit allem umgegangen ist, und ich bin mit den letzten Szenen in diesem Buch sicher nicht zufrieden. Aber für die Handlung selbst und den nächsten Band dieser Reihe scheint es logisch zu sein. Denn sonst hätte die Geschichte mit diesem Band geendet. 

Es ist traurig zu sehen, dass die drei wichtigsten Figuren der Geschichte kein Team mehr sind. Jeder von ihnen glaubt, dass er oder sie die Probleme, mit denen sie konfrontiert sind, allein lösen muss und dass jeder von ihnen die anderen vor Schaden oder Gefahr schützen muss. Ich weiß nicht, warum die Autorin es hier wieder gezeigt hat, aber mir war bereits im vorherigen Band klar, dass Jamie, Lottie und Ellie nur dann eine praktikable Lösung finden, wenn sie als Team arbeiten. 

Resultat

Dies ist das bislang dunkelste Buch der Prinzessin Undercover Serie. Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob das ein gutes oder ein schlechtes Zeichen ist. Die Hauptfiguren müssen mit Schmerz, Liebe, Hass und Verrat in einer alles andere als freundlichen Umgebung fertig werden. Der helle und leichte Ton und die freundliche Atmosphäre sind weg. Das Internat ist zu einem dunklen und geheimen Ort geworden. Wenn du dunkle Geschichten ohne Happy End und eine Hauptfigur liebst, die ständig in Gefahr ist, dann ist das dein Buch. Wenn du mehr wissen möchtest, lies das Buch selbst. 

*The book will be published Princess At Heart by Penguin Books on February 18, 2021 

Connie Glynn

Connie Glynn lives in London, England, and loved writing stories as a little girl. With almost a million followers, she is one of the most successful princesses on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram today. In her other life, she is a writer and writes right into the heart of the princess who lives in each of us. Her five-volume series “Princess Undercover” appears in over fifteen countries and made Connie Glynn the UK´s best-selling youth author in 2017. 

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