DNF’ed this book early on, it just wasn’t for me. The concept was intriguing, but I wasn’t connecting with the writing and ended up deciding not to finish.

I actually didn't love this book as much for me as I don't think it was for me. BUT it was really good, it was very fast paced, emotional and very interesting. Even though I was not the target audience for this book I think it was very good and would definitely recommend it to teens everywhere, espcially the other urban fantasy readers. I loved the family and sister aspects of this too, that really kept me in the story.

I have a finished copy and will be reading and reviewing that instead of the eARC. I will post my review to goodreads when I am finished.

This was a really fantastic read! It took me a chapter or two to get into, but once I did, wow, did it take off, and I got sucked into this amazing world with this story that I just couldn't put down! I loved reading Rue's story!

So this world of magic, of a group of so-called gods on an island that nobody knows about, was pretty interesting! But that Rue is half human, that her mom was human, and her dad isn't. And that's a culture shock for her, or maybe she's a culture shock to those on Ghazan.

Near the end, I got really frustrated with her friend. She kept making things about herself, kept missing the point that Rue was trying to make. And it's easy to see how that compare to experiences of Black people in the real world, which just all around I wish things were better, that this struggle didn't exist at all, because it's just not fair, and I'm not even the one experiencing it, I can only read accounts like this of those that do.

There were plenty of emotional moments. When we learned about the big twist of this world, about the magic, what happened. Of some pretty tense moments with her dad. And maybe some romance, maybe the beginnings of a love triangle? Or maybe I'm reading into things here...

This was a read that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I can't wait to see where things go in book 2!

I wanted to love this story, but I could not get into it. It was a creative narrative that showcased the strength and love of sisterly bonds, as well as the need to prevent a great evil that was set on destroying a community.

Fantasy and real-world problems and cultures with a badass character? SIGN ME UP

I'm going to be real; I already purchased this book and added it to my library. I couldn't wait to own it!
This story follows Rue, who had a normal life with her mother and sister and their neighbourhood. But when her mother is murdered, her father appears and steals her away to a world of gods and magic -a life she never wanted and all without her sister.
Through the racism that she faces in her father's world, and the darkness threatens to harm the people she cares for back in our world, this story deals with a lot and give the perfect amount of magic but keeps your grounds to real-world problems.

My review is later than usual, but I held off on the last 50 pages or so because I saw when the next book was going to be, and I DID NOT WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG, but of course, I couldn't hold off for long!

Wings of Ebony tells the story of Rue, a Black teen from Houston, who is also happens to be half-god. When her mother is shot dead on her doorstep, Rue learns of her absent father’s heritage – and why he’s been forced to stay away. Soon, and against her will, she’s taken to the magically hidden island of Ghazan, where she’s given the gift of magic, but restricted from ever returning to where she grew up, East Row.

But with the anniversary of her mother’s death approaching, Rue can’t help wanting to go back to her old neighbourhood and check up on her little half-sister, Tasha. So, her and her Ghazani friend, Bree, develop the means for her to leave the island undetected… But things quickly spiral out of control when Rue’s forced to save her sister’s life in a near-fatal accident.

And soon Rue learns her two worlds, that of East Row and Ghazan, are not so disconnected after all.

“Moms raised a diamond. And diamonds don’t crack.”

Before even picking this book up I had HIGH expectations. With a premise that awesome and a cover THAT gorgeous? It’s hard not to.

And let me tell you, wow, did it ever surpass them!

Firstly, I LOVED how this story began right in the middle of the action. A lot of times fantasy books rely heavily on a lot of exposition at the beginning of the story, which is understandable, but can also make it hard to really get into the book early on. Wings of Ebony thrives by breaking this mold.

(Though I will say, because you’re not given a lot of background going into things – especially if you’re the type of reader who prefers to not read the synopsis! – it can be confusing a bit at first, but it quickly becomes apparent exactly what’s going on.)

Similarly, another thing I really appreciated about the way this story unraveled was how instances in Rue’s past weren’t revealed until they were relevant to understand what was happening to her in the present. Rue’s tale relies heavily on flashbacks, and by trimming the exposition down to only the bare necessities needed to grasp the intricate world of Ghazan and it’s magical system, Elle manages to aptly balance the important moments from Rue’s past with the rising action in the present.

Really, there’s just a lot to love about this novel. Rue is such a powerful, strong, brave character, who genuinely reads like a real teenager. The plot is quick paced, action-packed, and very relevant. Wings of Ebony manages to feel both deeply grounded in reality and utterly fantastical. Rue’s story is touching and inspiring, and just such an enjoyable read. One that really resonates, long after you’ve finished it.

Thank you to the publisher, Denene Millner Books/Simon Schuster Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review

Wings of Ebony was an enjoyable novel. It does a good job of setting up this world that mirrors other stories in some way, but rarely does it fall into the same predictable narrative of stories that came before it. We are in this world where we have some people who can do magic. Those who can do magic have a very bigoted idea of those who cannot, and these lines between worlds are very racially drawn as well. Tensions rise when people from the non-magic world began to interact with the magic world.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was how well it was able to challenge my expectations. I had an expectation of how the story would work based on its set up, but I was often proven wrong. It was not the story I was expecting it to be, and I applaud it for that. Overall, it was a positive experience. I still have some problem with it, enough not to continue the series. It does feel like it's meant for YA audiences, and I tend to be pickier with the YA books that I read. I can't say for sure why that is. The topics explored in this book were not immature in the slightest. It covers themes that are very dark and relevant themes in a very nuanced way. While the story was well written, I just don't feel that invested in the end. I've heard some great reviews about this, so it may just be a personal thing. But for me it was just an okay book.

3.5/5 stars

5/5⭐️ to Wings of Ebony by J Elle! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon Teen for early access to the egalley!

I adore YA fantasy, and this was a stunning debut! It does have both fantasy and urban fantasy vibes as the author has created two separate worlds within the book, both of which are impressive. We have our MC Rue’s hometown of Houston where her mother was from and she was born, but there’s also the magic world of her Dad where she lives now: and these two worlds aren’t ever supposed to meet. The magic system is unique and very interesting ~ I love how obsidian was incorporated into it, too! As a character, Rue was complex, likeable, and her emotions translated well across the page and I couldn’t help but root for her! She is really trying to balance and bring her two worlds together when so much she loves is at stake, when she is getting resistance from adults in position of power. There are also events that are threatening both worlds that actually are great commentary on what actually happens to BIPOC communities in the US, Canada, & beyond, and they made me angry. It was a great reminder of the privilege I have, and the responsibility I have as an ally. This is also a great reflection on J Elle’s part that this translated so well across the page with the tension & emotion. There were also some amazing scenes where Rue is learning more about her magical side and the history of her people. I loved how she got to learn this and begin to really appreciate and love this side of her. Ugh, this book was so freaking good, and I absolutely can’t wait to see where J Elle takes this series! I bought a physical copy as soon as I could, and I highly recommend checking it out!!

Now this book is phenomenal, a very exciting and fun YA fantasy with a lot of emphasis on the struggles a black teen faces. I loved the magical realism and couldn’t believe this was a debut novel!

I was granted complimentary access to Wings of Ebony via NetGalley for review purposes. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Rue is a girl caught between worlds. She grew up in a rough neighbourhood called East Row in Houston with her mother and younger half-sister, but when her mother was murdered and her sister placed in foster care, Rue was swept away to Ghizon by her up until that moment absent father. He tells her she belongs in this magical world and this is where she's spent the last year or so skipping magic classes and wishing she could just go back home and be with her sister. When her tech geek friend makes her a gadget that allows her to go home unnoticed, Rue saves her sister from a car accident and accidentally sets off a chain of events that will change the face of both East Row and Ghizon forever.

Rue is an immediately likable, relatable character. I truly appreciate that this teen girl in a teen book thinks like a teen, and Rue behaves exactly as I would expect an older teen in her position to behave. She's stubborn and defiant, she rejects this man who calls himself her father, and she just wants to be reunited with the one living family member she has left from before her world turned upside down. I also love the way her inner voice responds to her Ghizon friend's reaction to the big revelation that involves severe wrongs done against a black civilization in this other world. "It's not my job to unpack that for her" is so beautifully blunt and honest, and I think a lot of teens (and adults) reading this book need to hear that and apply it to their own life.

I really like how the ancestral magic Rue learns to use has so much to do with ancestry and acknowledging those who came before her and how much that contrasts with the magic being taught by the grey leaders in Ghizon who treat it like some basic skill everyone learns to do but some have been forbidden from doing, like holding a driver's license. It's just some mundane, given thing that no one really respects.

I do wish Rue had given Aasim (her father) the time of day a lot earlier than she did. As she learns late in the book, they could have been spending all this time bonding and making up for lost time, and he's much more sorry and heartbroken for being absent than she thought, but I also get it. She's a teenage girl on the cusp of womanhood who spent her whole life in East Row watching her mother and her found family around her struggle to get by and always thought her father didn't want to be her father. That's not something you forgive and forget easily.

There's so much more I want to talk about but I don't want to spoil anything at all, so just let me promise you that this book is worth the read! If you're a fan of fantasy, particularly YA fantasy, or if you're looking for great books that handle #ownvoices issues with unstoppable female leads, read this! I can't wait for the next book!

i enjoyed the story and world building but i had a lot of difficulty getting into it with the internal dialogue

Rue was a wonderful main character. Shes strong willed and determined to stand up for what’s right. I loved how loyal she was to her community and her close bond with her neighbors. Seeing her embrace her fathers side of the family and her relationship with her sister was so heartwarming I wish we got to see them connect more. She has a best friend named Bree who definitely has her faults but tries to be a good friend and true ride or die. I wasnt so sure about her new boyfriend but I liked how things turned out with him. Rue develops a romance towards the end and despite it progressed quickly it still made me sappy. I was happy Rue was friendly with her former boyfriend instead of the usual animosity I’m use to. Rues complicated relationship with her father was an emotional rollercoaster.

After years of being raised by her mother she finds herself suddenly swept away to her fathers home on a hidden island full of magic. When she returns to visit her sister the corruption in her old neighborhood as well as the one within her fathers own community becomes evident. Breaking the rules and making contact with her sister has the leader of the magical island ordering her sisters death. Now she has to keep her sister safe from the magic wielding Ghazans as well as the heavy gang presence in her old neighborhood. The plot gripped me from the start and rarely had any slow moments with all the fighting Rue had to do to protect the people she loves.

The Ghazan general as well as the leader were both such despicable villains I was cheering Rue on to take them down. I could tell at that point just how invested I was in seeing Rue come out on top. The origin of the magic and all the information that was revealed was very impactful. I really enjoyed all the technology her genius of a best friend came up with. The flashbacks added some great backstory to the characters and their relationships without feeling abrupt or slowing down the pace. I enjoyed the blend of fantasy magic and contemporary issues. The conclusion was satisfying and heartbreaking all at once but left enough of threat for an exciting sequel.

I received this eARC courtesy of netgalley but all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this. The story was woven well, the action compelling.

The idea of her embracing her two worlds was just so brilliantly executed and I felt for her the entire way through this book.

I loved all of it but for me the shining light was Rue's love for her family, her friends and her block. The emotion in this novel was so vivid.

I cannot wait for the sequel this book is a gem.

This book was STUNNING and I can see how it's since become a NYT Best Seller. While I expected it to be good based off what I'd read about it and other reviews I'd seen, nothing even came close to comparing to the experience I had while reading it!

There was a lot of hype around this book on my feed, so naturally I had to check it out. I admit, what I was expecting slash hoping for was not there.

From start to finish, this was a very solid debut. It was good. I chose to do the audiobook for this, which I think was the right choice as it gave such a strong voice to the story. The first few chapters blew me away. It was so tightly written and we got to know exactly who Rue was right off the bat. Her mother was shot dead on her doorstep a year ago, and Rue hasn't seen her baby sister since. A sister who didn't even know where she vanished to, but one Rue was going to make sure knew she wasn't forgotten. She is fiercely protective of her loved ones and I adored that about her.

But when it cut back in time to a different world, I struggled to connect with the plot. As the events take Rue back and forth between her neighbourhood in Houston and the hidden magical world of Ghizon, it often felt like two separate stories. Where they overlapped and began to make sense felt like it came too late in the book. A few times I thought it was perhaps written in the wrong order because so much information I found myself receiving too late.

I greatly appreciate the themes of race throughout this. In Ghizon, Rue and her birth father are the only two Black people amongst people who are oddly grey. This of course creates some tension, but not as much as it does in Houston. Black Lives Matter, no matter what, and this was a timely reminder of the differences in privilege we see in the world, and how it can be changed. There was also a touch of colonialism that I thought was really well done in terms of Ghizon. It's another piece I wish had been brought up sooner but it gave the story an extra level of oomph.

I must say I am very glad to see this representation getting so much hype. This book and its main character was unapologetically Black. From the neighbourhood and community, to the people in Rue's live down to the slang, it is a rich and wonderful thing to read. The heart poured into this story by the author is so apparent. There are going to be so many people who will connect with this book. They are going to see themselves on the page, hear themselves in Rue's voice, and that's what matters, really.

Through gentrification, segregation, and all other forms of systemic racism, Ghizon, while existing in today’s reality, is also a mirror to our past, echoing the horrors of colonization, subjugation, and oppressive states. The people of Ghizon that weren’t born with melanin skin, chose to play ball, or simply didn’t know any better, were given no real power in either institutions, or opportunities for self-determination. As for the founders? This systematic oppression also meant the denigration and near erasure of their entire culture, including the appropriation of their ancestral magic.

This is oppression 101 and echoes the more familiar contemporary side of this story, taking place in modern day Houston, which displays all the micro-aggressive forms of racism that come with living in today’s United States. This is achieved by offering poor quality education, a lack of jobs and advancement, and discrimination in ownership of property. And while I believe every act on earth is inherently a political one, this isn’t specifically written as a manifesto but rather an eloquent and poignantly told story about the way things are. But, if this story should also inspire you in some way, I have no doubt J. Elle would very much call that a win/win.

Wings of Ebony is told with near perfection from the point of view of the main character, Rue, the books strong-willed, no time for bullshit protagonist. And like similar titles, J. Elle uses the chosen one idea, throws in some root magic, and creates a lead more than worthy of your attention. As I said, that will fly in the face of a society that wants our Black women “kept”. But not Rue, when she’s being told to fall in line, she blows up f*cking mountains instead.

I’m really just scratching the surface here, especially when it comes to the system of magic J. Elle infuses into this story. It’s both kinetic in its form and kindred in its nature, but, has a stubbornness to it that relies on it’s host to buy into a homogeneous approach. Basically, it’s not always there when you need it, especially if you’re stubborn. And a lot of the drama is manufactured by some bad actors who are constantly scheming and plotting, gassed up on a hate-based ethos. Both are connected in important ways and better left to be discovered.

The bottom line is with weighty themes, and using both contemporary and Afrofuturism sensibilities, J. Elle weaves a beautiful tale with a ton of emotional resonance about not only ancestral magic but finding your way through the darkness. This book touched a nerve with me, and Rue is the reason for that. She has a voice, and you can bet your ass she’ll use it, and she refuses to accept that just because that’s the way things are, is the way they should stay. She’s a fighter, and fighter’s fight. And as someone who isn’t like that but wished they were, I love that about her.

Please see my full review below.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for kindly sending me an eArc in exchange for an honest review!!

Where do I even start, this book was amazing. We follow our main character Rue, who after the death of her mother, is taken away by her father to a hidden, magical land called Ghizon. There she unlocks her true powers. Wings of Ebony was fast-paced and full of amazing, wonderful characters.

Writing:
Wing of Ebony is J. Elle’s debut novel and she showed her talent as a writer in this. One thing I appreciated in this was how she wrote her teenage characters. I find so many times in YA, the characters act like they are in their 20s but this cast acted and talked like real teens do in 2021. She also did an excellent job with worldbuilding. It is set in two different places, Ghizon and Rue’s hometown in Houston, Texas. Both of these places were developed with so much care and you could see Rue’s different views and the different vibes of each place.

Plot:
For a fantasy novel, this book was relatively short and I was a bit wary of it going into it because I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough time for the story to develop but wow was I wrong. Right from the first chapter, you know that this will be a super fast-paced and action-filled story. It starts with a bang and draws you right in. There was never a dull moment, and it was set up perfectly for its sequel which I need to get my hands on immediately. It was full of many important messages and social commentary that I could go on about for hours. I felt like I learned a lot while reading this and it was woven flawlessly into the plot and characters' stories.

Characters:
I fell in love with so many characters in this story, especially our protagonists Rue. She is such a real and raw character that was the perfect fit to tell this tale. She was strong, brave and unapologetically black. She was powerful yet still showed emotions which made her a very likable protagonist. Along with Rue, I enjoyed many of the side characters like Bri, Tasha and Ms. Leola. I adored Bri and Rue’s friendship and near the end, their relationship brought across many strong and important messages. I also loved both Julius and Jamal and I can’t wait to see how this whole love triangle plays out in the next and final book. I’m super excited to see how this cast of characters develops in the next one.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I feel that it is such an important read. I’m so happy that I had the pleasure to read it!!

I absolutely LOVED the book. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet but trust me, you are in for a TREAT! Rue has grown to become one of my favourite book characters, and I will never forget her story, ever. For those who haven't checked "Wings of Ebony" yet, do so NOW!

WINGS OF EBONY was, in many ways, an absolute Force™, a diamond, created under immense pressure, that refuses not to shine.

Without a doubt, the book's greatest strength lies in its protagonist, Rue. Her voice is addictive, blunt and no-nonsense. Calling things as she sees them, Rue is not going to take anyone’s shit. She doesn’t trust blindly, and is always ready to ask questions of the people and systems that hold power in her life.

As someone who learned at a young age that the people you think you can trust are all too often the people that you can’t trust—are the people that you need to question—this part of Rue’s story in particular resonated strongly with me. Rue reminds us that it’s okay to question the answers we are given, and that at the same time it’s okay to be unsure of the answers we think we know. To put it bluntly, Rue is unstoppable. She’s fierce and tough and confident—and if/when she’s not, there’s no way in hell she’s going to let you know. At the same time, though, she carries so much love: for her family, her friends, and her home. I appreciated that for all of the fantastical, mythic, and magical elements in WINGS OF EBONY, the heart of this story resides in Houston’s East Row. It’s the people that Rue was pulled away from, but who are always with her—even if they’re gone.

The moments where Rue would remember her childhood with her Moms especially brought tears to my eyes, because they offered such beautiful pauses in a plot that otherwise plays out at a pace that barely allows you time to breathe. It provides a sense of urgency that holds your attention and keeps you flipping pages, equally eager and worried about what’s to come as the worlds of human and gods begin to intertwine.

While I think there definitely opportunities that could have been taken to better cement the world of Ghazan in the present (most of the Ghazani world-building is accomplished through intermittent flashback moments), J. Elle very adeptly weaves in topics of both racism and colonization. Some instances are more overt than others, (but one that I found particularly effective was through the character of Bri!). It offers a shining and damning example of how people who benefit from oppressive systems are not always aware that they benefit from them. And when they do realize it, the initial reaction is largely always to prioritize—and victimize—themselves, rather than the people who are actually being harmed.

Thankfully, Rue isn’t letting anyone in Ghazan get away with that sh*t. It’s such a rewarding experience as a reader to join Rue on her journey in WINGS OF EBONY as she finds herself, transitioning from reluctant to empowered—realizing that not only does she possess magic, but that she herself is magic. Embracing all the parts of herself, and not being afraid to show them to the world with pride. With excellent BLACK PANTHER vibes and incredible, incredible heart, WINGS OF EBONY is a powerful and promising debut.