Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Harper Collins via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Magonia
Author: Maria Dahvana Headley

Paul's Pre Reading

Upcoming Release Date: April 28, 2015


Synopsis: Aza Ray is drowning in thin air. 

Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live. 

So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn’t think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.

Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found, by another. Magonia. 

Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie? 

------------------------------------------------------------

Review: I haven't read much YA Fantasy that takes place in a contemporary setting. I often find them unbelievable with a whole magical world existing right under the surface of our real world. This book, though, made me believe. The world building in this book is excellent. There is enough that is left unanswered and only hinted at that a world above us between the clouds is somehow believable. Even STORMSHARKS!

Not only is this a great Fantasy book with an awesome world, but the writing is beautiful. The relationship between Aza and Jason is written so realistic. And intelligent. 

Less than a quarter into this book, I was completely hooked. This book sucked me in from the very beginning. The first chapter was excellent. I also loved the casual mention of a same-sex couple.  

Since this book does have a contemporary setting, I enjoyed the actual acknowledgement and use of modern technology like Google. The other nerdy bits also really got me going. Pi and cephalopods both are featured. 

The way this book is written, everything comes together wonderfully. I enjoyed the references throughout the book, like the squid video. 

This book is a strong 5/5 for me. The first quarter is perfect. There are some lower points, for me, later in the book but overall it came together. I highly recommend this to all fans of YA. If you don't usually read fantasy, I think you'll still enjoy this. If you don't usually read contemporary, you'll enjoy this too. Go read this book!


--PAUL