Author: Maria Dahvana Headley
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: ebook
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Source: egalley received from publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: 4 Stars
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***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***
Synopsis
from Goodreads:
Aza Ray is drowning in
thin air.
Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live.
So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn't think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.
Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found, by another. Magonia.
Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?
Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live.
So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn't think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.
Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found, by another. Magonia.
Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?
My
Review:
Magonia was one of the
most unique books I've ever read. About a girl who can't breathe on Earth. A
girl who is dying. Who finds as ship floating in the sky and learns there's a
whole world up there. A world where she can breathe, a world where she can
sing.
I absolutely loved this
idea of ships sailing in the sky. The creatures that inhabited the ships, the
Magonians, the Rostrae, the animals were all so interesting. I loved learning
about what they could do. The magic was unique and fresh. I loved how song was
woven into it, partnerships and bonds between Magonian and Canwr (birds). It
was just so different and fresh.
Something that I loved
about this book was that it grabbed me from the start emotionally. I was crying
in the first 30% of the book. I was extremely attached to the characters. I
loved Aza's family and Jason. They were all so supportive of her and unique.
Jason especially stole my heart. He loved facts, he was brilliant, he was
wholly his own person, completely different from everyone else, but absolutely
perfect. I have never met another character quite like Jason.
My problem was, once
Aza was in the sky with the Magonians, I started to feel a disconnect. I just
didn't feel that emotional connection with the new characters that I did with
her family and Jason. And that was disappointing seeing as how she was in the sky
for the majority of the book. I craved that emotional connection the whole time
and the only time I felt it was when we were back on Earth every few chapters
with Jason. I just really didn't care about any of the Magonians even the ones
I thought I was supposed to care about.
My other complaint is
the world building. There's a lot going on in this book, a lot of new and
unique things. The author does give explanation, but I thought some of it was
either too brief or confusing. I found myself getting a little lost on the
details and I wish that it could have slowed down for a little so I could
better understand this amazing world she created.
And lastly, I thought
the ending was a little rushed. The book is actually a pretty steady pace, not
too much action, but then at the end everything went really fast and I felt
like there was no suspense because of that. I wanted more build, more edge of
my seat freaking out and I didn't get that. Still, I really enjoyed this book
and I will definitely be continuing with the series. A unique world with a
mostly amazing cast of characters. If you like fantasy and are looking for
something completely different I would definitely recommend Magonia.
Have you read this one yet? What did you think?
I waited to read your review until after I had read and wrote my review (it's scheduled for Friday, I think), but we basically felt the exact same about this book. Jason. Loved Jason! Loved Aza and her sarcastic voice. Loved her whole family. Then the sky people…not so much. Just wasn't feeling it, for any of them and I had such a hard time figuring out what they looked like. But with the way it ends, I have a feeling I'll like the next book more because hopefully Aza Ray and Jason will be working together, etc. Great review! ~Pam
ReplyDeleteI love when that happens. When I read another review and I'm all like YES! Jason was definitely my favorite character. He was just amazing. I agree about the next book. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where this series is going. :)
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