A few years ago, I was busily lamenting the lack of clean yet imaginative fantasy while browsing through the public library. And then, suddenly, in an instant, I found it: Laini Taylor's The Blackbringer.
I would definitely have to rank it among my favorites in modern fantasy. It's humorous, with a spunky main character reminiscent of something from Gail Carson Levine. It's also very creative, with a cohesive world that's similar to ours yet different, as with a fairy tale. It's also clean, with no improper romantic elements *huge sigh of relief*. Also, it has one of the most convincing, and surprising, villains {or powers of darkness} that I've read in recent fantasy literature.
My one comment about it is that it's not Biblical; the "creators" of the world are these creatures called djins {different from Arabian tales}. It's not as though they act as "gods" and I didn't think they were worshipped, either, though. So that's good.
Anyway, has anyone read it? What do y'all think?
{P.S. There is now also a sequel called Silkslingers out, which is similarly fantastic. It's a little bit older in terms of content (teen rather than preteen
), but it's still amazing.}
I have never read much fantasy at all. My list is getting longer and longer. 