So as I am sure you are aware, this was one of my most anticipated releases of this year and I finally got my hands on a copy. Not only did I pre-order and get a few awesome goodies too but I was lucky enough to have been contacted by Penguin to participate in the tour! I have for you today a review of the book and a picture or two as well.
My Review of The Reader
Synopsis: "Having barely escaped the clutches of the Guard, Sefia and Archer are back on the run, slipping into the safety of the forest to tend to their wounds and plan their next move. Haunted by painful memories, Archer struggles to overcome the trauma of his past with the impressors, whose cruelty plagues him whenever he closes his eyes. But when Sefia and Archer happen upon a crew of impressors in the wilderness, Archer finally finds a way to combat his nightmares: by hunting impressors and freeing the boys they hold captive.
With Sefia’s help, Archer travels across the kingdom of Deliene rescuing boys while she continues to investigate the mysterious Book and secrets it contains. But the more battles they fight, the more fights Archer craves, until his thirst for violence threatens to transform him from the gentle boy Sefia knows to a grim warrior with a cruel destiny. As Sefia begins to unravel the threads that connect Archer’s fate to her parents’ betrayal of the Guard so long ago, she and Archer must figure out a way to subvert the Guard’s plans before they are ensnared in a war that will pit kingdom against kingdom, leaving their future and the safety of the entire world hanging in the balance."
My Review: I loved the first book in this series, The Reader, and was so excited to read this book, but once I had it in my hands it took me a while to pick it up. I think I was nervous because I had such high expectations for this one, luckily Traci Chee delivered yet again with this book. I really enjoyed how this book really developed the various story lines that were introduced in the first book, it also helped to define the lines between those plots. The characters also developed a lot more in this story and I have grown to love them each all the more. What I think I loved most about this book is how Chee really plays with the theme of doing bad things to do good, there is always something happening that seems wrong or evil at the time but may actually be for the good as a whole, the character are always walking that line of right and wrong, often jumping back and forth over it as decisions are made and they develop. Now I just have to anxiously await the next and I believe final book expected sometime next year!
With Sefia’s help, Archer travels across the kingdom of Deliene rescuing boys while she continues to investigate the mysterious Book and secrets it contains. But the more battles they fight, the more fights Archer craves, until his thirst for violence threatens to transform him from the gentle boy Sefia knows to a grim warrior with a cruel destiny. As Sefia begins to unravel the threads that connect Archer’s fate to her parents’ betrayal of the Guard so long ago, she and Archer must figure out a way to subvert the Guard’s plans before they are ensnared in a war that will pit kingdom against kingdom, leaving their future and the safety of the entire world hanging in the balance."
My Review: I loved the first book in this series, The Reader, and was so excited to read this book, but once I had it in my hands it took me a while to pick it up. I think I was nervous because I had such high expectations for this one, luckily Traci Chee delivered yet again with this book. I really enjoyed how this book really developed the various story lines that were introduced in the first book, it also helped to define the lines between those plots. The characters also developed a lot more in this story and I have grown to love them each all the more. What I think I loved most about this book is how Chee really plays with the theme of doing bad things to do good, there is always something happening that seems wrong or evil at the time but may actually be for the good as a whole, the character are always walking that line of right and wrong, often jumping back and forth over it as decisions are made and they develop. Now I just have to anxiously await the next and I believe final book expected sometime next year!
My Rating: This was really a fantastic book, the world and plot and characters have so much depth that you can't help but be completely immersed in the world. I will say that it is a rather complex series that may not appeal to all readers, it is a slower moving story with a lot of moving parts, but if you take the time you will really be rewarded! I give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!!
Traci Chee is the New York Times bestselling author of The Reader. An All-around word geek, she loves book arts and art books, poetry and paper crafts. She studied literature and creative writing at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and earned a master of arts degree from San Francisco State University. Traci grew up in a small town with more cows than people, and now feels most at home in the mountains, scaling switchbacks and happening upon hidden highland lakes. She lives in California with her fast-fast dog.
You can find out more about Traci Chee on her Goodreads Page or Website.
The Speaker was just released on November 7th and you can now obtain your own copy in print, digital or audio book (though I highly urge you to get the print copy for all the hidden easter eggs throughout). You can get a copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or your favorite local bookstore (if they don't have it on the shelves just ask and they will probably be happy to order it for you).
While this is the last stop on the Tour, you can still go back and check out the other posts . .
October 30 – Ex Libris – Review
October 31 – [betteha.com]Bette’s Pages – Review with photos
November 1 – Never2Many2Read – Review
November 2 – ButtermyBooks – Review
November 3 – YA Wednesdays – Favorite Quotes
November 6 – [flyleafchroniclesblog.com]FlyLeaf Chronicles – Review
November 7 – The Fox’s Hideaway – Review
November 8 – In Wonderland – Review
November 9 – Book Reviews Express – Review
November 10 – [Helloobsessedbilbiphile.blogspot.com]Brianna Book Binding – Review
November 13 – Readers Live A Thousand Lives – Excerpt and Review
November 14 – Good Choice Reading – Review with Photo
November 14 – Love Is Not a Triangle – Review
November 15 – Dazzled by Books – Review with bookish Candle
November 16 – A Belle’s Tale – review and Spotlight
November 17 – MelihYoutuber – Review
November 20 – The Blonde Bookworm – Review
November 21 – Seeing Double in Neverland – Review
November 22 – [bookshelvesandpaperbacks.com]Bookshelves and Paperbacks – Author Interview
November 23 – [Acrossthewords.com]Across the Words – Review
November 24 – Eastern Sunset Reads – Review
Here are the goodies for pre-ordering The Speaker
How could you not want these two books on your shelves?!
All your raving for this series definitely has me intrigued. I’m glad this one didn’t fall into the dreaded second book syndrome.
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