The King Slayer By Virginia Boecker

The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker
Release Date - June 14, 2016

Publisher Website - Hachette/Little Brown
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 368 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

**spoilers for The Witch Hunter**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

“I think, in time, you’ll either be my greatest mistake or my greatest victory.”

Former witch hunter Elizabeth Grey is hiding within the magically protected village of Harrow, evading the price put on her head by Lord Blackwell, the usurper king of Anglia. Their last encounter left Blackwell ruined, but his thirst for power grows stronger every day. He’s readying for a war against those who would resist his rule—namely Elizabeth and the witches and wizards she now calls her allies.

Having lost her stigma, a magical source of protection and healing, Elizabeth’s strength is tested both physically and emotionally. War always means sacrifice, and as the lines between good and evil blur once more, Elizabeth must decide just how far she’ll go to save those she loves. 

The Witch Hunter offered up a more quiet, historical feeling fantasy novel. I anticipated more of the same with its sequel. Instead, The King Slayer, offered a tension filled, action packed, blood drenched sequel that manages to retain all of what you loved about the first and more.

The title of this novel, much like the first, is a straight forward label for the main character. Elizabeth intends on being a king slayer. This sets up the plot of this novel, and much of Elizabeth's motivations. This sequel is filled with more political intrigue, strategic maneuvering and thrilling battle sequences. Anyone who wanted more action from the first novel will find that within these pages. These scenes, however, progress the story in very real ways. The story, including the battle sequences, is very character driven. The characters are all given their own motivations, and this ensures a complex set up leading into the final confrontation. Secret plans, double crosses, and hidden agendas all serve to make this novel a gripping one from start to finish.

Elizabeth is strong in her own way. She is weaker, physically at least, as she no longer has her stigma that there is a strength of character that shines through. She is willing to sacrifice everything, including her life, for those she cares about. She's an impressive heroine and one who remains steadfast when her entire life has been shifted. She's the type of character that you effortlessly care about simply because of her tenacity and inner strength.

The romance was one of my favourite parts of the book. It plays a quieter part of the story, but is also vital. It's not showy or filled with bold declarations but there is a underlying certainty that both of them would do anything for the other. It is not an easy romance. There are times where it is messy and intense. There are plenty of trials that they face but the relationship itself is one of the bright spots in the novel.

There is plenty of bloodshed in this, possible, finale. Virginia Boecker ensures that we don't feel relaxed within the story. Everyone is in danger, and the threat is very well. It ensures a taunt tension that only tightens as the ending approaches. Nobody leaves this novel unscathed and only ensures to create a feeling of high risk and consequences. It's the type of story that surprises you, makes your heart skip a beat, and at times leaves you on edge because you've come to care about these characters.

A satisfying ending to this story with enough of a opening for Elizabeth's story to continue if Virginia Boecker is so inclined. This is a story of consequences and actions. It is a story of coming to terms with having your world turned upside down, and the lengths someone will go to out of a feeling of responsibility and love. It is also a story of forging your own path to happiness and grabbing it for yourself. I am sure that I am not alone in waiting eagerly for whatever Virginia Boecker writes next. 

Anne and Henry by Dawn Ius

Anne and Henry by Dawn Ius
Release Date - September 1, 2015
Publisher Website - Simon and Schuster
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In this wonderfully creative retelling of the infamous—and torrid—love affair between Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, history collides with the present when a sizzling romance ignites in a modern-day high school.

Henry Tudor’s life has been mapped out since the day he was born: student body president, valedictorian, Harvard Law School, and a stunning political career just like his father’s. But ever since the death of his brother, the pressure for Henry to be perfect has doubled. And now he’s trapped: forbidden from pursuing a life as an artist or dating any girl who isn’t Tudor-approved.

Then Anne Boleyn crashes into his life.

Wild, brash, and outspoken, Anne is everything Henry isn’t allowed to be—or want. But soon Anne is all he can think about. His mother, his friends, and even his girlfriend warn him away, but his desire for Anne consumes him.

Henry is willing to do anything to be with her, but once they’re together, will their romance destroy them both?

Inspired by the true story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Anne & Henry beautifully reimagines the intensity, love, and betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time. 

Modernizing has always been a favourite way of retelling classic stories for me. There is something about turning something historical on it's head and twisting it with modern influences to make it feel like something entirely new. This novel is, pretty much, the literary equivalent of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. Loud, vibrant, sleek, modern, and delicious.

It should be obvious from that opening that this retelling is more a situation of being 'inspired by' than a straight retelling. Those looking for a historically accurate retelling will not find that within these pages. However, the large, important pieces of this doomed romance are represented, and the feel of the story is intact. The unfairness of Anne's real life fate, the combustible nature of their feelings, and the pressure they both felt, is all included here. Dawn was respectful of the true story she was pulling inspiration from, while allowing herself a freedom to tell her version of the story.

The changes made to the story were necessary for the modernization of the plot. Henry, for instance, may be the king of the high school in this interpretation, but he's not an actual king. This means his power, and what he could get away with, would have to be diminished. Some of the elements would not lend themselves to modernization, but in adapting the story where needed, Dawn Ius has successfully modernized something that feels like it shouldn't work in modern times.

This novel may be titled Anne and Henry but make no mistake - this is Anne's story. This Anne joins the ranks of some of my favourite interpretations of her, and deservedly so. This Anne has some seriously sexy swagger. She owns her sexiness, even when others try to use it to humiliate her. She has the quick wit, and intelligence that the real life Anne was known for. She displays a heartbreaking recklessness and fierceness that is unstoppable. Equal attention is paid to Henry, and one cannot exist without the other, but it's Anne who steals the spotlight (and in the process the reader's heart).

The dual narration worked for this story, and ended up making it feel complete. As mentioned, one cannot exist without the other and that includes the narration. The voices both feel unique and vivid along with being vital. Each of these characters came to life through the author's writing. She embraces both the positive and negative aspects of their personalities to create fully developed characters. This Anne is both reckless, and passionate. She's intelligent, and self destructive. She's sharp tongued, and broken. This Henry is charming and fickle. He's steadfast in his convictions, but easily swayed. He's disloyal, but enticing. They both are full of complexities and nuances that bring their characters to life. It's the characters, and the chemistry between them, that make the story work. There is plenty of sexual tension and you feel how dangerous these characters are together.

The ending, particularly the last few lines, are like a lightening bolt. It's filled with cinematic flair, and drama. It is the exclamation point on a stunning debut and something you'll long to discuss with anyone who has read it. It's bold, unforgettable, and the perfect way to close out this Anne's story.

Dawn Ius has shown herself to be a new talent to watch. Sharp writing, careful characterization and a knack for the killer ending lines, she shows that she's only just getting started. I, for one, cannot wait to see what she writes next. 

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

I Was Here by Gayle Forman
Release Date - January 27, 2015
Publisher Website - Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  288 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

There is a reason Gayle Forman makes use of the "All.The.Feels" tagline. Her books deliver just that. All of the feelings you can imagine, and often all of them are experienced all at once. I Was Here is no exception to this. It is a brilliant, important, satisfying read that left me emotionally drained, and surprisingly hopeful.

Gayle Forman makes writing appear effortless. Her words come together in such a cohesive, natural way. This talent, however, is the mark of a great writer, and hard work. She makes something so layered and nuanced look easy. She is able to create emotions, and atmosphere with a simple turn of phrase. It's not just enjoyable to read, but inspiring.

Anger and guilt are felt through every interaction, every scene, every sentence of this novel. There is so much anger and guilt for everyone involved. There is anger and guilt because of that anger. Gayle Forman captures what it could feel like to be a 'survivor of suicide'. By this, I am referring to those left behind. There is, often, a massive need for blame for those left behind. Gayle captures the feeling of being angry at the person who died, but feeling guilty that you are angry and so you want to take that anger and shove it onto someone else. You want to blame someone else. They perhaps feel like they should have known and are partially blaming themselves deep down. It creates this perfect storm of feelings. All of this swirls around inside these characters reeking havoc on their emotions and choices. The 'what ifs' plague every single person in Meg's life and it's heartbreaking to see them go through the steps needed to mourn and grieve.

Ben McAllister is a pretty eyed, guitar playing, sneering mess and you will absolutely love him. He is the stuff of book boyfriend dreams and is entirely swoon worthy. His connection to Meg allows for this bond to form with Cody that is entirely mesmerizing. He is wrestling with his own demons, and it makes the progression of the relationship with Cody all the more fulfilling. They understand each other, and offer something that the other needs. The romance aspect of the novel is classic Gayle Forman in all it's messy imperfect perfectness.

Meg comes to life through the other characters. She is told in memories and stories. She burns so vivid and bright during these moments that you truly get to know her. She feels like a vital part of the novel and not just created for plot advancement. She is a fully fledged character and her relationship with Cody is nuanced and rich. We see all the elements of their friendship, including the not so perfect parts. It's this type of characterization that Gayle Forman excels at and she does not disappoint here.

The mystery element of the computer file is just icing on an already delicious cake. It serves to showcase the true plot of the story which is not this mystery but the human emotions behind grief, forgiveness, and strength. She manages to eloquently weave together all of these aspects into an engrossing story.

You won't leave Meg and Cody's story untouched and they'll haunt you long after you've finished reading the final page. This is one I am having a hard time moving on from. I want to mourn a little longer, fall a little bit more in love, and stay with these wonderful characters. A beautiful, sad, hopeful, messy story of grief, death, and most importantly, life. This novel will break your heart, it just happens to also mend it along the way.