Is Blade of Secrets Worth Adding to Your YA Bookshelf? | Spoiler-Free Review

[@apoetreadstowrite]

Fabulous cover, I love it when publishers honour a manuscript with really good book design & production quality, a grand reading experience. Fantasy is one of my favourite genres, so this looks terrific to me, you have me very curious, though you're a little underwhelmed by it? Maybe I'll search this one out. Thanks for a wonderful review video.

[@Hasan_mahmud50]

I appreciate your honest take on whether it stands out in the YA fantasy genre.

[@TedReadInstead]

Thank you.

[@Maeve_Ever_Books]

I really enjoyed this duology mostly because of the relationship between the sisters and the mental health rep. Definitely isn’t for everyone but, I like them. 😊

[@TedReadInstead]

I should've mentioned the sister relationship! I think it was very well done. Not too sappy, but realistic! :) And yes... as I mentioned the social anxiety element was really refreshing to see. She didn't play it up like it was a tremendous flaw, but still had it there and we got to see Ziva battling it. Nicely written.

[@Maeve_Ever_Books]

@ Agreed.

[@apoetreadstowrite]

Don't think I've ever read a YA romantasy novel, think I'll give this one a go & see what I think, maybe...

[@TedReadInstead]

If you read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it! As I said, I enjoyed some aspects of it. This isn't the first YA book I've read. I did a review on the Renegades trilogy. I think I have the videos on this channel. I mentioned the same thing. And I'm sure that not all YA books have this formula. Please share your thoughts if you choose to read it. It's a fairly fast read.

[@apoetreadstowrite]

@@TedReadInstead: I'll definitely let you know what I think. Thanks, Ted.

[@SeaninsShelf]

I'm always a bit disappointed when I don't feel like reading the second book in a series but there's no point forcing myself ya know. YA books I feel can be very hit or miss and I generally just don't see myself as the audience so I don't read them anymore. In fact maybe if YA books were generally better I might have read more in high school lol.

[@TedReadInstead]

Haha, that's a very good point. Perhaps the goal audience is more for females.

[@darlenefraser3022]

Some young adult fiction can be good. Unfortunately, I find that the vast majority are in the “romantasy” variety which I never liked even when I was a youth. Then you get older and they just go harder core on the “romance”. Yuck. 🤮 I call these books the “Harlequin Romance” of fantasy. Cheap and easy to churn out.

[@TedReadInstead]

Thanks for commenting, Darlene! :) I always appreciate it. Yeah... I have to believe there is some YA that perhaps has a BIT of romance (I don't mind it in small doses). Or perhaps it's time I write one! ;)