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This book is absolutely incredible in so many ways I’m kind of at a loss of where to start, so let me start with the characters. Áed is amazing. He’s so easy to root for, and he, as well as all the side characters, feel fully fleshed out. All he and his partner really want is to give Ronan, the boy they’re raising, a better life than either of them had. It’s not much but it’s a goal. Áed is disabled and he’s gay, neither of which define him or drive his main conflict, which is really refreshing. Instead, his found family accepts him for who he is and loves him for who he is, facing the battles that do come at his side.

And the battles that come his way are hard to describe without spoiling anything because this is a book about self-discovery, as Áed learns about himself. It’s dark, it’s brutal, it’s touching, and it’s heartwarming. It makes you feel all the feels, and that’s why I love it so much. The author did an absolutely brilliant job and I’m going to be a little annoying about this book for a while because it’s just that good. Don’t forget that besides reading indies, another good way to support great authors is to ask your library to get the book (if your library takes purchase suggestions). And, of course, telling all your friends like I’m doing now!

If you’re a fan of dark fantasy, found families, (ooh, there’s more tropes I could list but I don’t want to spoil things), or of authors like Robin Hobb, then try this book!

My one complaint is that the worldbuilding was so cool, it could have gone even deeper (but really, it was about on Robin Hobb’s level, and about that level for dark and gritty).

This is a really well put together book that’s part mystery and part adventure. Elia’s point of view was really interesting to me because she’s a really refreshing Queen PoV. Rather than politics and drama and chess, she’s studious and an enormous history nerd. Being a huge geek myself, I loved that. I enjoyed her interactions with her few friends and her stubbornness. The romance was really light, which I liked, but if you’re a romance fan that might not work for you.

I loved learning about what really happened vs what was written down in the history books, and I loved the build up to the final showdown. The piece about Syllian’s father didn’t fit for me, but it didn’t bother me too terribly. I enjoyed the friction within the fire mages order and the trouble between them and the druids, especially with Syllian’s involvement in all of that-- that was really well done, I thought.

And another thing I loved was the worldbuilding--I know, no one who knows me is surprised. From multiple moons to multiple suns, the worldbuilding details are slipped in with finesse so that the reader is reminded often that we’re not on Earth. The immersion was handled with skill, so that at no time did I feel too daunted, and yet the intrigued constantly pulled me farther in.

If you love historical mysteries and second world fantasies with just a little light romance, this book is for you!

I haven’t read much West African mythology, but from playing Capoeira, some of it was instantly recognizable to me. TJ is a fantastic character, and I was really invested in his struggle to master his magic, limited as it was. I absolutely adored the concept of his true power being to encourage others (this isn’t really a spoiler, don’t worry). The real spoiler attached to that though blew me away and I did not see that coming. It was excellent!

I loved the way the real world and the fantastical merge and meld in this, but I also loved how diverse the characters were, from a range of backgrounds. And each of the side characters felt fully developed and real, and I could root for them all, though I really enjoyed Joshua. I loved the way the book handled grief too. It was such an honest, respectful way to deal with it, and TJ deals with his sister’s deal through most of the book, because it’s not something that you just get over. But he gains friends and he gains knowledge of himself and his true power as who he is--even discounting magic--and that’s something any kid could use. I highly recommend this book!

Fans of Black Panther and Percy Jackson or Harry Potter need to read this book.

I received an ARC through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Never Say Never is an imaginative contemporary fantasy with a cast of memorable characters and a healthy dose of YA snark. Justine Manzano's signature sass comes through just as clearly in this, her latest book published through Sword and Silk Books, as it did in her debut, The Order of the Key. Brynn has a lot of Jaclyn's attitude, though she's her own character, and she was entertaining to read along with.

Brynn has sworn off love. Too bad her friend Val turns out to be the goddess Aphrodite--and she takes that as a challenge. Amidst the emotional storm of discovering her mother's affair and weathering her parents' divorce, Val's incessant, embarrassing attempts to set her up with every possible guy their age wear on Brynn. Val's boyfriend Adam ends up being a source of solace, and when Brynn realizes she's uncovering feelings she really shouldn't have for her friend's boyfriend (even if that friend wasn't a jealous love goddess), she back pedals as fast as she can.

I really loved the diverse cast of characters and the strong friendships shown here, especially between Brynn and Nina, although I'm not a huge fan of Greek mythology in real life. That just means this book wasn't written for me, and that's ok! It's still a solid book and the ending ramped up the tension like crazy. It was a quick read, and the characters stuck with me between readings, too. I love Nina's family-- they're so wholesome, and I love seeing examples of wholesome families in literature. Brynn's family dynamics felt real to me too, and her motivations made sense even when I disagreed with her actions.

Overall, if you're looking for a cast of vibrant characters that feel alive, especially if you love Greek mythology, you should definitely try Never Say Never.

Indie Story Geek review: indiestorygeek.com/story/662