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belleand_books's review
3.0
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the way this book picked up BUT it picked up way to late for me. I had a hard time getting into this story for about 70% of it and I just couldn’t let that go when it finally got super exciting. My first few problems are the Spares. Honestly the whole thing was so confusing and then it just hit as a huge plot point. It would have been fine but, nothing led up to it, and it was also super obvious to figure out once the whole “turning point of the novel” happens. Considering that the whole government and world in general was just not very well explained didn’t help when it came to figuring out the “rot”.
Also, let’s talk about how Lower Sacara knows so much comparatively (cooking mushrooms) but can’t figure out how to clean to keep lower city free from rot? I just… how even does that work out? It seems like a weird plot hole to have.
Speaking of plot holes, I’m still unsure how killing someone makes you homicidal? That was never explained and I felt like the end of the book was just used to further engage the reader. I’m sure it’ll be explained soon, but a hint would have been great.
I really loved the use of mushrooms in this, it’s a great way of comparing government neglect to a natural cycle and I’m just super interested to go further with this series.
I really liked the way this book picked up BUT it picked up way to late for me. I had a hard time getting into this story for about 70% of it and I just couldn’t let that go when it finally got super exciting. My first few problems are the Spares. Honestly the whole thing was so confusing and then it just hit as a huge plot point. It would have been fine but, nothing led up to it, and it was also super obvious to figure out once the whole “turning point of the novel” happens. Considering that the whole government and world in general was just not very well explained didn’t help when it came to figuring out the “rot”.
Also, let’s talk about how Lower Sacara knows so much comparatively (cooking mushrooms) but can’t figure out how to clean to keep lower city free from rot? I just… how even does that work out? It seems like a weird plot hole to have.
Speaking of plot holes, I’m still unsure how killing someone makes you homicidal? That was never explained and I felt like the end of the book was just used to further engage the reader. I’m sure it’ll be explained soon, but a hint would have been great.
I really loved the use of mushrooms in this, it’s a great way of comparing government neglect to a natural cycle and I’m just super interested to go further with this series.
glimnore's review
5.0
I found myself enthralled by a brilliant world unlike any that I had ever experienced before. It was a dark and cold place, but there were flickers of warmth throughout it.
Sacaran Nights is the first book of Rachel Emma Shaw's (who will now be known as RES) Masques Duology. It is a deep and enthralling read that examines the concept of grieving within a society with a rare, very original, mushroom-inspired aesthetic. (I feel the need to say something along the lines of Shroompunk or something of that nature).
Her worldbuilding is superb. RES doesn't pull a single punch when bringing us into the profoundly intricate realm of Sacara. With a 'magic system' that is intricately woven into the setting and plot of this story, Sacaran Nights shines as both brilliantly conceived and executed. The story twists and turns unexpectedly and rewards the discerning reader with excellent plot-pay-offs and curious implications.
Our main character and our supporting cast develop significantly, and all have a chance to shine at excellently spaced intervals throughout the novel. Every character feels distinctly different from the other. Their personalities, quirks, and motivations are all wonderfully unique.
I am incredibly impressed with RES' work here. She has captured me as a life-long reader. Her world is hauntingly beautiful, her prose is clean and precise, and the emotions she evokes are deep and fulfilling.
Just a fun note:
To Rachel Emma Shaw, who has created a fantastic story, I think I caught the easter-egg you had inserted at the beginning of the novel regarding your other work! ;) Nice one.
Sacaran Nights is the first book of Rachel Emma Shaw's (who will now be known as RES) Masques Duology. It is a deep and enthralling read that examines the concept of grieving within a society with a rare, very original, mushroom-inspired aesthetic. (I feel the need to say something along the lines of Shroompunk or something of that nature).
Her worldbuilding is superb. RES doesn't pull a single punch when bringing us into the profoundly intricate realm of Sacara. With a 'magic system' that is intricately woven into the setting and plot of this story, Sacaran Nights shines as both brilliantly conceived and executed. The story twists and turns unexpectedly and rewards the discerning reader with excellent plot-pay-offs and curious implications.
Our main character and our supporting cast develop significantly, and all have a chance to shine at excellently spaced intervals throughout the novel. Every character feels distinctly different from the other. Their personalities, quirks, and motivations are all wonderfully unique.
I am incredibly impressed with RES' work here. She has captured me as a life-long reader. Her world is hauntingly beautiful, her prose is clean and precise, and the emotions she evokes are deep and fulfilling.
Just a fun note:
To Rachel Emma Shaw, who has created a fantastic story, I think I caught the easter-egg you had inserted at the beginning of the novel regarding your other work! ;) Nice one.
tabatha_shipley's review
4.0
What I Didn’t Like:
-All the different fungi were impossible to keep track of, even with the helpful guides at the beginning of each chapter. I found myself struggling to imagine and picture each one as they came up in the book.
-Slightly confusing start. This often happens when you’re tossed into a fantasy world and have to follow the characters who live there, so it’s something avid readers of the genre likely won’t have a problem with. You spend some time feeling off kilter as you try to navigate the world of Sacara.
What I Did Like:
-Worldbuilding. A lot of detail went into creating this fungi journal and the details that make up the world of Saraca. I appreciate the work that went into this and I’m seriously looking forward to uncovering more of the details in the second book.
-Characters. Dagner is amazing. I want only good things for him and I want him to succeed. I loved him in all aspects of his character arc and I am excited to see what comes next for him.
-Big lessons. There are HUGE messages to draw from here in relation to letting people go, grieving, and learning from ancestors. I felt those messages loud and clear throughout the book and was ECSTATIC to see the message from the author at the end of the book confirming that was her intention all along.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans. This is a world you can get lost in. I mean, literally, with the lack of light you could get lost there! But also it’s a world full of new dangers and excitement where honoring your ancestors is the most important thing they claim to do. Fascinating and amazing for fantasy fans.
My Rating: 4 Stars. Fantasy fans will not want to miss this unique world.
-All the different fungi were impossible to keep track of, even with the helpful guides at the beginning of each chapter. I found myself struggling to imagine and picture each one as they came up in the book.
-Slightly confusing start. This often happens when you’re tossed into a fantasy world and have to follow the characters who live there, so it’s something avid readers of the genre likely won’t have a problem with. You spend some time feeling off kilter as you try to navigate the world of Sacara.
What I Did Like:
-Worldbuilding. A lot of detail went into creating this fungi journal and the details that make up the world of Saraca. I appreciate the work that went into this and I’m seriously looking forward to uncovering more of the details in the second book.
-Characters. Dagner is amazing. I want only good things for him and I want him to succeed. I loved him in all aspects of his character arc and I am excited to see what comes next for him.
-Big lessons. There are HUGE messages to draw from here in relation to letting people go, grieving, and learning from ancestors. I felt those messages loud and clear throughout the book and was ECSTATIC to see the message from the author at the end of the book confirming that was her intention all along.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans. This is a world you can get lost in. I mean, literally, with the lack of light you could get lost there! But also it’s a world full of new dangers and excitement where honoring your ancestors is the most important thing they claim to do. Fascinating and amazing for fantasy fans.
My Rating: 4 Stars. Fantasy fans will not want to miss this unique world.
the_ya_book_talk's review
4.0
The world of Sacara revolves around legacy. Few people live to inherit, and those who do live their lives to keep the dead alive. They protect their ancestor's ghosts by fighting the corruption always on the verge of taking over. Dagner is one of the few who will live, but he doesn't wish to stay in Sacara. An explorer at heart, he wants to leave the only place he has ever known, but his chances at that were lost when he gained an inheritance he was not supposed to have. Realizing he is trapped, he dives into his role. Someone from his past reemerges to claim the legacy Dagner has become adamant to protect though, forcing Dagner to choose between making his own path that he has always desired and sacrificing everything to save Sacara.
Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion, and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this book as a free advanced reading copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:
I enjoyed this book a lot, but there were a couple of more minor things that I thought could have been improved a bit. I'll start with those and then go into some well deserved praise. First, I recommend not going into the novel with the expectation that you will be able to keep track of all of the fungi. There are a couple of notes that go with the downside though. I don't necessarily think you are meant to do this. It is not the purpose of the novel; it just would have been nice if you could learn them. Another note is that Shaw does do a great job at creating the journal that is a large part of the book that Dagner uses to keep tack of the fungi. The journal entries that are found before each of the chapters are helpful and also very fun to look at. I personally really enjoyed the drawings because it allowed me to imagine the world better. Now back to the original point. There are just so many fungi (because the world of Sacara revolves around them) that it is near impossible to keep track without going back a lot.
The other minor negative is similar to the first in that it really is only a partial negative. For hardcore fantasy readers like myself, it will most likely not be a big deal because we are kind of used to this happening. A lot of fantasy books work out like this. However, if you are new to fantasy or simply don't read too much of it, the beginning of this book may confuse you for a bit. While the issue is resolved and the world explained, the story is confusing for the first couple of chapters. High fantasy worlds such as that of Sacara are completely different from the real world, so it can be puzzling to be thrown into a story not knowing anything about the world but following characters who know everything about it because they live in it. Like I previously mentioned, though, Shaw does a wonderful job of explaining the world, and I can safely promise you that you will understand everything fairly fast.
Those were really the two biggest negatives I noticed, so it's time to move into all of the good things about this novel. Perhaps my second favorite thing about this author is her originality. Not one thing I have read from Shaw (and I've read it all to my knowledge) has felt similar to any other fantasy book I've read (and I'm an avid fantasy reader). I will confidently say that I highly doubt you will have ever read anything even close to the concept of this. The fungi was a really cool, unique center-point.
One thing I have noticed about this particular author that I thoroughly appreciate is her ability to weave valuable lessons throughout her writing without readers even realizing it until the end of the story when it really hits. This is my favorite part of reading Shaw's work. Her stories, at least thus far, are always very dark fantasy. The first book I ever read by her was so dark, in fact, that it was almost hard to get through at certain parts even though I loved the book; however, I would encourage you to stay to the end if you can because there is always a light that you see after in the form of a valuable lesson or two. This book, for example, teaches wonderful lessons about the grieving process that everyone should learn.
I believe that Shaw did a good job with the worldbuilding. Although confusing at first, the world unfurled nicely, and I had a thorough understanding of it. Shaw excellently incorporates plot twists relating to her world that I, at least, did not see coming. These were very enjoyable and built on the story well.
For the most part, I enjoyed the characters. I liked Corenn in particular as his personality was nice comic relief at times, but he also balanced himself out well to fulfill multiple roles in the story beautifully. The antagonists of the story were written well; I truly felt disgust towards them which is just evidence of Shaw's skill in writing character development. I did have slightly mixed feelings on Dagner. I liked him, but he felt a tad repetitive at times. There were a couple of times when he would go back to a subject and my thought process went to Didn't you move on from this already???. Other than that, though, he was a strong protagonist. As far as Merany and Tytus go, I loved all of the twists that accompanied them; they were some of my favorite in the book.
Overall, the book is very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who likes unique dark fantasy that teaches you important life lessons. There were a couple of flaws, but they are made up for by the pros of the story, and they also may not apply to everyone. I am definitely looking forward to the release of book two!
Thank you to the author, Rachel Emma Shaw, for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for this review!
Rating: 4/5 stars
Author: Rachel Emma Shaw
# of Pages: 296
Genre: YA, Dark Fantasy, Thrillers
Series: Masque Duology (Book 2)
Publication Date: May 10, 2021
Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion, and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this book as a free advanced reading copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:
I enjoyed this book a lot, but there were a couple of more minor things that I thought could have been improved a bit. I'll start with those and then go into some well deserved praise. First, I recommend not going into the novel with the expectation that you will be able to keep track of all of the fungi. There are a couple of notes that go with the downside though. I don't necessarily think you are meant to do this. It is not the purpose of the novel; it just would have been nice if you could learn them. Another note is that Shaw does do a great job at creating the journal that is a large part of the book that Dagner uses to keep tack of the fungi. The journal entries that are found before each of the chapters are helpful and also very fun to look at. I personally really enjoyed the drawings because it allowed me to imagine the world better. Now back to the original point. There are just so many fungi (because the world of Sacara revolves around them) that it is near impossible to keep track without going back a lot.
The other minor negative is similar to the first in that it really is only a partial negative. For hardcore fantasy readers like myself, it will most likely not be a big deal because we are kind of used to this happening. A lot of fantasy books work out like this. However, if you are new to fantasy or simply don't read too much of it, the beginning of this book may confuse you for a bit. While the issue is resolved and the world explained, the story is confusing for the first couple of chapters. High fantasy worlds such as that of Sacara are completely different from the real world, so it can be puzzling to be thrown into a story not knowing anything about the world but following characters who know everything about it because they live in it. Like I previously mentioned, though, Shaw does a wonderful job of explaining the world, and I can safely promise you that you will understand everything fairly fast.
Those were really the two biggest negatives I noticed, so it's time to move into all of the good things about this novel. Perhaps my second favorite thing about this author is her originality. Not one thing I have read from Shaw (and I've read it all to my knowledge) has felt similar to any other fantasy book I've read (and I'm an avid fantasy reader). I will confidently say that I highly doubt you will have ever read anything even close to the concept of this. The fungi was a really cool, unique center-point.
One thing I have noticed about this particular author that I thoroughly appreciate is her ability to weave valuable lessons throughout her writing without readers even realizing it until the end of the story when it really hits. This is my favorite part of reading Shaw's work. Her stories, at least thus far, are always very dark fantasy. The first book I ever read by her was so dark, in fact, that it was almost hard to get through at certain parts even though I loved the book; however, I would encourage you to stay to the end if you can because there is always a light that you see after in the form of a valuable lesson or two. This book, for example, teaches wonderful lessons about the grieving process that everyone should learn.
I believe that Shaw did a good job with the worldbuilding. Although confusing at first, the world unfurled nicely, and I had a thorough understanding of it. Shaw excellently incorporates plot twists relating to her world that I, at least, did not see coming. These were very enjoyable and built on the story well.
For the most part, I enjoyed the characters. I liked Corenn in particular as his personality was nice comic relief at times, but he also balanced himself out well to fulfill multiple roles in the story beautifully. The antagonists of the story were written well; I truly felt disgust towards them which is just evidence of Shaw's skill in writing character development. I did have slightly mixed feelings on Dagner. I liked him, but he felt a tad repetitive at times. There were a couple of times when he would go back to a subject and my thought process went to Didn't you move on from this already???. Other than that, though, he was a strong protagonist. As far as Merany and Tytus go, I loved all of the twists that accompanied them; they were some of my favorite in the book.
Overall, the book is very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who likes unique dark fantasy that teaches you important life lessons. There were a couple of flaws, but they are made up for by the pros of the story, and they also may not apply to everyone. I am definitely looking forward to the release of book two!
Thank you to the author, Rachel Emma Shaw, for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for this review!
Rating: 4/5 stars
Author: Rachel Emma Shaw
# of Pages: 296
Genre: YA, Dark Fantasy, Thrillers
Series: Masque Duology (Book 2)
Publication Date: May 10, 2021
books_with_lotte's review
4.0
ARC REVIEW
Revana wasn’t a spear of sunlight, she was a blaze of it. One that could eat up the night and easily keep my dreams of the sun at bay. - Rachel Emma Shaw
Join us in Sacaran, a place without sunlight where all different kind of fungi have taken over the place and where our main character Dagner is heir to the longest line of descendants in the city. But he was not born the heir, and fears that his forefathers will not recognize him as a worthy heir. When a figure from his past reappears, Dagner's life as he knows changes completely and he has to fight for his life and everyone he has ever loved.
I'm not going to lie, it took me a while to really get into this book. It was a bit confusing at first, but after a few chapters, I was hooked! I liked the whole world in darkness thing and how the fungi were incorporated throughout the entire story. Next to that, I also liked how we saw Dagner develop through the story.
I look forward to the second one!
Revana wasn’t a spear of sunlight, she was a blaze of it. One that could eat up the night and easily keep my dreams of the sun at bay. - Rachel Emma Shaw
Join us in Sacaran, a place without sunlight where all different kind of fungi have taken over the place and where our main character Dagner is heir to the longest line of descendants in the city. But he was not born the heir, and fears that his forefathers will not recognize him as a worthy heir. When a figure from his past reappears, Dagner's life as he knows changes completely and he has to fight for his life and everyone he has ever loved.
I'm not going to lie, it took me a while to really get into this book. It was a bit confusing at first, but after a few chapters, I was hooked! I liked the whole world in darkness thing and how the fungi were incorporated throughout the entire story. Next to that, I also liked how we saw Dagner develop through the story.
I look forward to the second one!
popthebutterfly's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Sacaran Nights
Author: Rachel Emma Shaw
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Asexual side character
Recommended For...: dark fantasy, dystopian, new adult readers
Publication Date: October 28, 2021
Genre: NA Dystopian Dark Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore, parental death)
Explanation of CWs: Some violence and gore. There’s also death
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 330
Synopsis: Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.
Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead.
Review: I really liked this book overall. The book had well developed characters and world building. The book is unique and something I don’t think I’ve read before. The book is also well plotted and the book hooks you in within a few chapters.
However, I did think that some of the book was confusing. There’s a lot of information about the fungi and it gets confusing to keep them separated in your mind without using the guide. The beginning is also a little off-putting as it’s very confusing and chaotic.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Sacaran Nights
Author: Rachel Emma Shaw
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Asexual side character
Recommended For...: dark fantasy, dystopian, new adult readers
Publication Date: October 28, 2021
Genre: NA Dystopian Dark Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore, parental death)
Explanation of CWs: Some violence and gore. There’s also death
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 330
Synopsis: Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.
Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead.
Review: I really liked this book overall. The book had well developed characters and world building. The book is unique and something I don’t think I’ve read before. The book is also well plotted and the book hooks you in within a few chapters.
However, I did think that some of the book was confusing. There’s a lot of information about the fungi and it gets confusing to keep them separated in your mind without using the guide. The beginning is also a little off-putting as it’s very confusing and chaotic.
Verdict: It was good!