Category: book review

Arc Review: Dream Keeper (The Dark Dreamer Trilogy, #1)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Amber R. Duell

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 288

Categories: Death, Dreams, Urban Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**


The Sandman is seventeen-year-old Nora’s closest friend and best-kept secret. He has to be, if she doesn’t want a one-way ticket back to the psychiatrist. It took her too long to learn not to mention the hooded figure in her dreams to her mother, who still watches Nora as if she’ll crack. So when Nora’s friends start mysteriously dying gruesome deaths in their sleep, she isn’t altogether surprised when the police direct their suspicion at her. The Sandman is the only one she can turn to for answers. But the truth might be more than she bargained for…

For the last five years, the Sandman has spent every night protecting Nora. When he hid the secret to the Nightmare Lord’s escape inside her dreams, he never expected to fall in love with her. Neither did he think his nemesis would find her so quickly, but there’s no mistaking his cruel handiwork. The Nightmare Lord is tired of playing by the rules and will do anything to release his deadly nightmares into the world, even if that means tormenting Nora until she breaks.

When the Nightmare Lord kidnaps Nora’s sister, Nora must enter enemy territory to save her. The Sandman is determined to help, but if Nora isn’t careful, she could lose even more than her family to the darkness.

(Please note: This story contains vivid death scenes.)

Thank you to The Parliament House and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eArc.

I didn’t have a specific expectation for this book. I’ve been following The Parliament House Instagram account and was intrigued by their posts. Their books seem dark and I decided to satisfy my curiosity by finally requesting their books on NetGalley.

I love the cover of this book! Now if only the story I read was as enchanting and mysterious as the cover. The story was creative but as I got to know the characters, it felt like the writing was targeting a younger audience. I get that I’m an adult, reading a YA book, but for a story set in a dream world with a character called The Weaver who is the Lord of Nightmares – I was hoping for darker aspects to the characters. The Weaver is pretty villainous but I was hoping for a hint of it in The Sandman.

The Sandman came off like a sweet teenage boy! He is immortal and stuck in his seventeen year old body but with all the power of dreams at his fingertips, I just wanted him a bit more haunting and mysterious..

Nora is our main character and right away in the book there is action. People start dying around her. And the deaths, are bloody and descriptive. It’s a dark story in that aspect. It reminded me a lot of Nightmare on Elm Street, yes…I’m an 80’s child. Anyway those movies freaked me out as a child! Nightmares indeed! Dream Keeper is creepy and scary in that the deaths in the book are pretty horrifying.

So The Sandman helped people sleep, the Weaver gives nightmares and he wants to bring his Nightmares to life in the Day World (the real world). Nora is needed for this to happen so he goes after her and the people she loves.

Now this is a quick read, it’s under 300 pages so it’s a fast read and the writing is actually really good. It flows nicely, and the author drew me into this fascinating dream world. But in the last few chapters of the book we get introduced to new characters! I’m sure they will appear in the second book, but I wish they made an appearance in the middle of the book at least. It threw me off just a little.

And the romance…well…for me at least, it wasn’t believable. The Sandman has been protecting Nora since she’s been twelve and she’s seventeen now. He tells her he fell in love with her a year ago…why? What is it about Nora that he loves? I just didn’t believe their love story.

I think the story is promising, and I loved the creepy/mild horror nightmare scenes. I’ll definitely pick up the second book and read it in the Fall around Halloween maybe – because this would be a perfect mood reading kind of book. I just wanted a bit more depth with The Sandman and Nora, other than I liked it.

Get it here: Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost for you. Thanks!

Book Review: On The Come Up

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Author: Angie Thomas

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 447

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Family

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.

On the Come Up is so good! I love hip-hop. I grew up on it because I lived with four older male cousins who constantly listened to it. I grew up in the 80’s so they were all into break dancing and hip-hop music. I remember the first ever cd I bought when I was like 13 or 14 with allowance money, was Dr. Dre – The Chronic, at Sears of all places! 😅 So this book reminded me of my love of hip-hop. I love how lyrics and a beat can make a statement, it can change a mood, and it can even start a movement.

Bri, wants to be a rapper and she is talented. She just needs a chance to show her talent. Her mom Jay is a recovering drug addict. Bri’s brother Trey had to drop out of college to help his mom make ends meet. Her dad was an up and coming rapper but died after getting caught up in the wrong crowd. Bri sees her family struggling and she just wants to help them survive.

I love the other characters we meet in this book like Aunt Pooh who means well but is caught up in the thug life. And her friends like Sonny, Malik and Curtis who got her back. She doesn’t have much girlfriends though. But she definitely has a family that loves her.

When Bri gets a big break after winning a rap battle, she has to come to the realization that her words are important and powerful. Words also have consequences and she experiences a few of them after she records a demo that goes viral. Words can cause violence, words can be misconstrued, but they can also instill so much hope in the people that listen.

One of my favorite characters in this book is Bri’s mom, Jay. She’s made mistakes but is on a path on trying to right her wrongs. Yet she has so many obstacles and challenges along the way. Jay doesn’t give up though – and she especially doesn’t give up on her kids. ❤️

This story is not only an homage to hip-hop but it’s a story about the love of family too and how Brianna has a support group that will try and keep her on the right path, no matter what mistakes she may make. It is an inspiring book and I was cheering Bri and her family on. I love how the story ends, with Bri doing things, her way.

Get it here: Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost for you. Thanks!

Book Review: Legendary (Caraval #2)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Author: Stephanie Garber

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 416

Categories: Magic, Game, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister, Scarlett, from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice, but now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever…

I’m not sure why I wasn’t ready to read this last year when it came out – maybe I needed a break from fantasy books? I know I borrowed it and didn’t finish it. Well, I was ready now! Especially because I borrowed it again and saw I only had a few days left – I was determined to read it.

I vaguely remember book one, Caraval. I know I loved that book. This time it isn’t about Scarlett. Legendary is about her sister, it is Donatella’s story.

Not only do I love her name, but I could relate to Tella. She’s spunky and brave, always throwing caution to the wind. Tella likes to seem unaffected by the boys she dallies with, not trusting the concept of “love”. She has a more pressing issue she’s passionate about, finding her mother, Paloma. Tella enlists the help of someone in secret but in truth she’s basically signed her soul to the devil.

This book drew me back in right away to the very mysterious, enchanting and almost sinister world of Caraval. Caraval is a game masterminded by someone called Legend. No one knows who he really is, just that he has powerful magic that peaks during Caraval. He creates a game with players, clues and fascinating locations, but the game sometimes gets a bit too real. Deathly and scarily real, as Scarlett learned in the first book. This time, Tella plays the game and once more it blurs the line of reality and what isn’t real. The winner of Caraval gets to meet Legend in person, and Tella owes someone payment for their help. She owed them the identity of Legend in order to free her mother. Tella needs to win or she will die.

The story is in every sense magical from the description of the location, the people who work for Legend, to the lavish dresses and costumes that Tella and her sister adorns every night. The writing is lyrical and delicious, in a decadent way. I swear this story is so scrumptious, I ate it up! I ate it up quick.

We learn about the Fates in this story and more about a certain cursed deck of cards. I really enjoyed that part of the story because it really put Tella in a dilemma. She has an impossible choice and I wondered what path she would take. Also, we learn more about who Legend is in this book, finally! I was beginning to think he was every hot guy we encountered in the book. I didn’t know who to trust or believe! And can we speak about the guys? Even the villains and irritating guys are handsome and I thought, no wonder Tella has fun kissing whoever she wants with so many attractive guys around. 😅 But there is romance in here ladies and gents…but we will see where it goes in the next book!

I started this book yesterday and finished it BEFORE midnight! I couldn’t stop, it was so good. I did find some parts slower than the first book …or maybe because Caraval was new and exciting it went by quicker. Also, do we get to see more of The Prince of Hearts in Finale? Because he sort of dropped off in an anti-climatic way. 🤔 Of course now I’m ready to read Finale, and I don’t have a copy.

So that will be my goal today – finding Finale. 😅 I need to know how this ends.

Get it here: Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost for you. Thanks!

Arc Review: Heartwood Box

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Author: Ann Aguirre

Format: eBook (NetGalley eArc)

Categories: Mystery, Time Travel, Paranormal, Romance

Pages: 336

Publication Date: July 9, 2019

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

In this tiny, terrifying town, the lost are never found. When Araceli Flores Harper is sent to live with her great-aunt Ottilie in her ramshackle Victorian home, the plan is simple. She’ll buckle down and get ready for college. Life won’t be exciting, but she’ll cope, right?

Wrong. From the start, things are very, very wrong. Her great-aunt still leaves food for the husband who went missing twenty years ago, and local businesses are plastered with MISSING posters. There are unexplained lights in the woods and a mysterious lab just beyond the city limits that the locals don’t talk about. Ever. When she starts receiving mysterious letters that seem to be coming from the past, she suspects someone of pranking her or trying to drive her out of her mind. To solve these riddles and bring the lost home again, Araceli must delve into a truly diabolical conspiracy, but some secrets fight to stay buried… 

Thank you to MacMillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eArc.

Heartwood Box is a mystery story that builds slowly in the beginning and packs a punch at the end with an ending that is somewhat bizarre but it works. I thought it was creative and different. My reaction was more like, what?……🤔

While reading this book, I was wondering if this was a ghost story but some things didn’t add up especially when there are people going missing in this strange town. I mean if it was just haunted, why would people go missing? Also, this is the second book I’ve read this month with references to World War I! That’s pretty cool since most people are engrained in World War II history, so I like having the spotlight be on WWI.

I enjoyed the diversity represented with the characters. Araceli is a strong young lady who grew up abroad in Central and South America, so she’s seen a lot of things, especially with parents who are investigative reporters. But this town is something different and she has a challenging time figuring things out.

I thought the ending was a nice twist and a bit strange. But I still enjoyed it because the story is well written. It flowed nicely from a slow mystery, which took me a few days to get into and then it took a turn with full on action and time-travel in the last part of the book. Yes, it did that.

Overall, I like this book! It’s not usually the type of genre I read but it was a nice change of pace.

Get it here: Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost for you. Thanks!

Mini Book Reviews: The Culling Trials (Shadowspell Academy) Book Series

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: The Culling Trials (Shadowspell Academy 1-3)

Authors: K.F. Breene & Shannon Mayer

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: Book 1 – 238 ; Book 2 – 242 ; Book 3 – 186

Categories: Young Adult, Adventure, Trials, Magic, Supernatural, Friendship, Cliff Hanger Endings

Book 1 Blurb:

You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You. 

I had no idea how those words would change my life. Or how they’d changed my life already… 

Until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence. 

In an invitation. 

My younger brother has been chosen for the prestigious, secret magical school hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place so dangerous, they don’t guarantee you’ll make it out alive. 

If he doesn’t go our entire family will be killed. 

It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—the same place he mysteriously died. 

The academy has already killed one sibling. I’ll be damned if they take another. 

I do the only thing an older sister can: chop off my hair, strap on two bras to flatten the girls, and take my brother’s place. 

Magic and monsters are real. Assassins are coming for me, and the dead are prone to rise. What’s a girl faking it as a boy supposed to do? That’s right—beat the academy at its own game. 

Or die trying.

MY REVIEW

The first book of The Culling Trials we are introduced to Wild. She works on a ranch, looks like a boy and takes her younger brother’s place in The Culling Trials. Of course she doesn’t know anything about supernatural creatures and magic – her parents didn’t tell her about it and she gets thrown into the trials, lacking in knowledge. But she makes up for it with strength, confidence and instincts. I love Wild, she’s badass and doesn’t take b.s. but she’s a nice person too.

In book one she meets other supernaturals, learns about the Houses: Shade, Wonder, Unmentionables, Night, and Claw. The Culling trials is a test to see who will be chosen for each houses.

The book is fast paced, short and ends with a cliff-hanger. It is filled with lots of action. Her unusual team needs to pass each trial for each of the houses. But something isn’t right and it all points to Wild. She’s undercover as a boy to protect her family, and she’s learning she has powers she never knew she had. She seems to be a target, but who is targeting her? Wild needs to find out before something drastic happens. I enjoyed this first book as it sets up us for more action in book two.

Book 2 Blurb:

Being accepted into an elite school of magic, monsters, and assassins was not my idea of higher education. But here I am, fighting my way through the Culling Trials to claim my right to be taught. 

As if the gauntlet-type physical and mental tests aren’t enough, people are going missing. 

People that are my friends. 

In a dangerous world where no one is as they seem, the golden rule is simple: Trust no one. They think we should just look out for ourselves. That we should leave the fallen behind and ask no questions. 

They clearly think we’re idiots. I got this far by trusting my instincts, and I’m not going to back down now. 

Those kids won’t be left to die. 

Not on my watch. 

MY REVIEW

The action never ends in this second book! I love Wild’s team, made up of kids with different powers. It’s not usual to have a mix in a team, but Wild is a natural leader and seems to have an affinity for each house. She brings out the strength of each teammate and even if some annoy her, she still manages to get along with them somehow.

There is no real romance in this series yet, there is a hint of something and some flirtation, but that’s all and I’m totally okay with it! I like Wild and her blooming friendship with her teammates. But someone is trying to take her out of the trials. Who can she trust? The trials are getting harder, will her team survive? Also, there are kids going missing, one of them is her goblin teammate and she’s on a mission to figure out what’s happening to them.

This is another fast-paced book in the series. It’s a quick read and so enjoyable. I’m glad the cliffhanger endings don’t leave you waiting for too long between the books. I think the books could’ve been combined to make it a duology instead of a trilogy. On to the next book!

Book 3 Blurb:

The last of the Culling Trials is here. I foolishly thought I’d survived the worst. 

My team is falling to pieces around me and my heart is shattered for the losses I’ve endured. But I can’t stop when I’m so close to the end. There are too many people depending on me. 

I foolishly thought there wasn’t much more I could lose…until the nature of my bloodline comes to light. 

I’m not what I thought I was. Not what anyone thought I was. 
But to tell people the truth would be to kill us all. 

To fail the trials will mean death, but to succeed might damn me for life. 

MY REVIEW

This final book is shorter than the other books but once more we see Wild and her team surviving the worse of the trials. Also, her gender has been revealed and she still hasn’t been kicked out for lying, which is a good thing, right? Wild is such a rule breaker, she’s a fun character and loyal. This last book puts Wild through her toughest trial yet and she’s not about to let anyone die on her watch.

Even thought it’s the last book it left some things open, maybe for another series? I’m still curious about a few things, like the Sandman’s history, the Shadowkiller and Rory. I feel like even though the series came to an end, there is more to cover with those characters and I hope these authors come back and start another series.

This was a super-fun series if you like Academy trope books (I’m a bit addicted to them). It doesn’t have romance, just minor flirtation but so much action and some awesome friendship bonds that I hope we get to experience again soon!

Book Review: The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch, #3)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Author: Rin Chupeco

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 449

Categories: Family, Romance, Fantasy, Young Adult

Book Blurb:

Tea is a bone witch with the dark magic needed to raise the dead. She has used this magic to breathe life into those she has loved and lost…and those who would join her army against the deceitful royals. But Tea’s quest to conjure a shadowglass—to achieve immortality for the one person she loves most in the world—threatens to consume her heart.

Tea’s black heartsglass only grows darker with each new betrayal. And when she is left with new blood on her hands, Tea must answer to a power greater than the elder asha or even her conscience…

MY REVIEW

The conclusion to The Bone Witch series made me cry – it shattered my heartglass. The Shadowglass continues right after The Heart Forger with it’s past/present storytelling style. Tea is telling the past and the Bard is telling the present. We’ve learned so much about what happened with Tea and why she wants to make shadowglass but this book was so much more. The story comes together as it pieces scenes from Tea’s past and present. All the characters are back except for ones we’ve lost along the way. We meet more characters from other kingdoms and daeva too. I really liked the kingdoms or Yadosha and Istera.

Tea is constantly debating the real reasons why she wants to make shadowglass, and thank goodness for that. If she wasn’t tested and constantly questioned about her motives would she have been tempted by the power of the Dark? I tried to put myself in her place and honestly, I don’t know if I could do what she did but she at least was honest about her goals.

A lot of what takes place in The Shadowglass made me mad at everyone for doubting Tea, especially her brother, Fox. Their distrust comes because she is a Dark asha, but I wish more people had helped her in her darkest moments. Thank goodness for Kalen, Khalad, Likh and her azi. If it weren’t for them, she would have been an evil force to be reckoned with driven by pain and revenge. Yes, she was driven by revenge, but also love and guilt for her brother, Fox. She was blessed with Kalen’s love to keep her grounded. But I was so annoyed with Fox, though I understood his behavior. If I was him, I would have acted that way also.

Tea and Kalen’s love story is so beautiful. They will be added to my list of favorite book couples of all time. I tear up just thinking of the ending. He loves her at her worst and let’s her be strong. She loves him for helping her and loving her no matter what. 😭 I’m still heartbroken this series is over -the ending is bittersweet and perfect.

Besides Tea and Kalen’s story, I loved seeing Likh’s transition. Likh has been evolving throughout the whole series. Likh learns to be an asha, because she had natural powers though she was born in the wrong body. She also falls in love and learns to navigate that as well. I’m glad Tea had her as a traveling companion. Likh was always there for Tea and they both needed each other.

And because I was angry at everyone on Tea’s behalf, I had to try to forgive them too when she does. Lie, I’m still a little mad at them – haha! I knew this book would break me, but honestly while reading this book, I kept saying: okay…I’m okay (in the beginning)…I’m okay (in the middle)…I’m going to be okay (almost to the end) and then boom. Waterworks. This book made me feel all kinds of emotions.

This has become one of my favorite series and I can’t believe I was going to give up on it because book one was a struggle to get into. It’s definitely not a series for everyone. If you don’t like stories that tell the past/present (and I usually don’t!) – this may not be for you. I’m glad I pushed on and came to the end. I think it speaks to the author’s writing that she made me come back for book two and three and made me cry. 👏🏼 I need to buy a beautiful boxed set to add to my shelf, so I can revisit this lush fantasy world again. ❤️

Get it here: Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost for you. Thanks!

To read my review of The Bone Witch and The Heart Forger, click HERE.

Book Review: The Lovely War

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Author: Julie Berry

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 480

Categories: War, Gods, Romance, World War I

Book Blurb:

They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past. Their story, as told by goddess Aphrodite, who must spin the tale or face judgment on Mount Olympus, is filled with hope and heartbreak, prejudice and passion, and reveals that, though War is a formidable force, it’s no match for the transcendent power of Love.

MY REVIEW

The Lovely War, is amazingly written and I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into when Aphrodite starts narrating this love story. I was afraid the narration would take me out of the story and maybe sometime near the ending, it did just a smidge – because it was wrapping up the story lines and felt a little rushed. But other than that, this book is really fantastic.

“Let them start their dreadful wars, let destruction rain down, and let plague sweep through, but I will still be here, doing my work, holding humankind together with love like this.” – Aphrodite

The Lovely War by. Julie Berry

The story is a combination of mythology, history, music history and romance. Romance is what drives the story but it also explored prejudice and racial divides of the American troops especially when the black regiment is sent to fight in World War I. I will admit this, I know so much more about World War II because there are many movies, tv series and books about it that World War I is sort of lost on me. I know it happened, I learned about it in history class twenty plus years ago, but no one continues to talk about it as much as WWII. So this book was engaging and I kept highlighting passages in the book to make sure I do some research on it later. But the author goes into more depth with historical notes after the story ends and also added a selected bibliography list. Thank you to the author, Julie Berry, for that!

Aphrodite’s purpose for telling this particular story is due to the fact she is being put on “trial” by her husband Hephaestus for infidelity. The story of Hazel and James, and Colette and Aubrey is her evidence of some of her greatest work as the goddess of love. Their beginning is sweet and appropriate as it was in that era but I was afraid of a sad ending for all them. I love Colette, she is so strong. I adore how she and Aubrey come together through their trials in life and love of music.

Aubrey’s story portrayed the prejudices he and his regiment experiences being an American soldier, well not quite soldier, he’s a musician. Aubrey, being from progressive New York City has much more opportunities there but as he points out, it was still segregated. Racism was everywhere in America and it shows us how far we’ve come and how much more we have to go. Another interesting aspect of his story is the introduction of rag-time and jazz music in Europe! I learned so many things in this book.

When James goes to war, I know it’s inevitable but it still broke my heart. I thought the war scenes were intense but it really moved the story along. And it gave me a sad feeling in his happily ever after with Hazel, just knowing their children will come to experience WWII. We also get a glimpse of James suffering from PTSD and how he deals with it. And I learned a lot about the roles of women back in WWI, since they weren’t allowed to fight. Hazel and Colette worked with the YMCA and the Red Cross. Because I was raised on stories of WWII, the iconic image of women helping in the war was Rosie the Riveter. So shining a light on the women of WWI was a nice change.

Now the gods were great characters in the story as well, Hades being my favorite. We see death as something depressing and scary, but Hades’ narration was a lovely way of showing how even though our loved ones are gone, they are watching us from beyond.

“I am so often moved by souls whose first concern is not for their own lost years, but for the grief their passing will cause to those they love.” -Hades

The Lovely War by. Julie Berry

With all the love stories being told, you’d think I would have been attached to the main characters. And the gods have their own love story too. But the story that finally got me was the moment James talks to Frank Mason’s wife. That’s the moment this book almost brought me to tears. 😢 The Masons scenes were brief but so impactful. I think all the sorrow, stress, fears and anxiety culminated it in that point for James and the whole story. That moment was a big exhale, a very pivotal moment for the characters to choose to go on living.

After everything these characters go through with this war and how it brings them together, tears them apart and for some together again, there is still love. There is hope and forgiveness also. This story moved me in so many ways. It is an emotional and beautiful homage to part of our history and the people that lived through it. It also reminds us that love is always worth fighting for.

Get it here: Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost for you. Thanks!

Book Review: The Storm Crow

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Author: Kalyn Josephson

Format: E-book

Pages: 368

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Romance

Publish Date: July 9, 2019

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Book Blurb:

In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life…until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.

That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother’s death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.

But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.

MY REVIEW

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the book blurb for this story, the thing that caught my attention were the words “elemental Crows”. I thought, I must have it. I was very excited to be allowed to read this from NetGalley.

This story grabbed me at the first page. The writing is beautiful. I am introduced to Thia on top of a crow, flying above her beloved home, the Kingdom of Rhodaire in Aris. I felt like I was flying with her or at least I wished I was her. I wanted to belong to this kingdom. I wanted to be a crow rider! We are drawn into this magical kingdom with a lush setting, where there are crows in every aspect of their world.

But Thia’s beautiful world is turned into chaos and turmoil when the Illucian empire invades them in a calculating move. Thia is in a haze of grief and depression for most of the beginning of the book. I could relate to her trauma and grief on every level. I felt it, I’ve been through that same tunnel of grief before. Everyone deals with grief differently, some like Caliza can put it behind them quickly and keep moving forward. Some are like Thia, who can’t get out of bed. Depression can be debilitating, yet many people chalk it up to cowardice, like some do in the story. But I was cheering Thia on, with every step she took in the book. I admired her courage to try and move forward, even if some days were bad days.

Thia is forced to marry her enemies’ son, Prince Ericen, to save her kingdom from utter ruin. They do not get along at first but try to tolerate each other’s company. The only part I didn’t quite enjoy about this story was the romance aspect to it. It’s not a love triangle…yet, and maybe it won’t become that but I wasn’t quite convinced of her choice in this book. Will it change in book two? We shall see!

And then there is her friendship with Kiva. I loved their banter and love for each other. Kiva and Thia together are friendship goals.

This is a wonderful debut filled with magic, intrigue, friendship, courage, love and a twist in the end that left me with hope for Thia’s future. Hopefully the next book in the series, which I am anxious to read, will have even more crows to fall in love with!

Weekly Wrap-Up: Blogging, Reading, Bookstagram

Aloha everyone – it’s finally the weekend!

I have been tinkering with this blog the past two days, trying to make it look the way I want and getting frustrated. I also debated on whether to take it to wordpress.org, pay for hosting, to give me more freedom, etc…and I did. I “created” a site last night and wasn’t liking it. And I might give up on it (after one day 😂), so much to freedom. To think I built my own website, Freshman year in college, from scratch ugh…my friend pointed out that was 20+ years ago. Thanks friend. 😘 Guys and girls, I suck at it. Or I just don’t have the patience for it anymore lol – these templates and widgets are so convenient!

Image via Giphy

I’ll let that website simmer and stew…until I figure out what I want to do with it!

What I Read This Week:

What I’m Reading Right Now:

  • The Shadow Glass (The Bone Witch #3) by. Rin Chupeco
  • The Lovely War by. Julie Berry
  • On The Come Up by. Angie Thomas

On My TBR List:

  • Nocturna by. Maya Motayne
  • Girl of Glass by. Megan O’Russell
  • Ivory and Bone by. Julie Eshbaugh
  • Crown of Feathers by. Nicki Pau Preto
  • The Gilded Wolves by. Roshani Chokshi

On My NetGalley TBR List:

  • Heartwood Box by. Ann Aguirre
  • The Lady Rogue by. Jenn Bennett
  • The Grace Year by. Kim Liggett

Let’s hope I finish reading all of these books! Sometimes I’m too ambitious. Lately I’ve been reading while working out on the elliptical machine in my room. I need to exercise (ain’t getting any younger and my blood pressure keeps getting higher 😫) and reading while I exercise makes the time go by much faster, thank goodness. ❤️

📷 Do any of you bookstagram?

I love the book community on Instagram because I learn about a lot of new titles that way. Plus some people just have skills with a camera! I wish that was me, I love the book photos. 😊 I’ve been lazy about taking good photos but I’m going to try my best and step up my game. It’s fun finding props to use and it gives me an excuse to buy a bouquet of fresh flowers for my dining table. I use those blooms for my book photo shoots so it’s a win-win! Follow me on ig @ylmpastmidnight to check out my bookstagram photos and leave me your ig in the comments below so I can follow you too!

And that’s all I got for today ~ what are you reading? Do you have trouble making your blog look the way you want, like me? 🤔 I hope you all have a wonderful relaxing weekend. Happy Reading! 😘

Book Review: Enchantée

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Gita Trelease

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 449

Categories: Historical, Young Adult, Magic, Romance, Fantasy

Book Blurb:

Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries—and magicians…

When smallpox kills her parents, Camille Durbonne must find a way to provide for her frail, naive sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on petty magic—la magie ordinaire—Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy the food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille must pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

With dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into the ‘Baroness de la Fontaine’ and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for la magie. There, she gambles at cards, desperate to have enough to keep herself and her sister safe. Yet the longer she stays at court, the more difficult it becomes to reconcile her resentment of the nobles with the enchantments of Versailles. And when she returns to Paris, Camille meets a handsome young balloonist—who dares her to hope that love and liberty may both be possible.

But la magie has its costs. And when Camille loses control of her secrets, the game she’s playing turns deadly. Then revolution erupts, and she must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, freedom or magic—before Paris burns… 

MY REVIEW

This book is true to it’s title, Enchantée – it is truly enchanting! The story is a mix of fantasy and history. It is set in the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette so just knowing that brings visions of excess and debauchery to mind. There wasn’t much debauchery in this book though, but there is romance.

I visited Versailles a few years ago and so I knew I had to read this book. Just mention of the Hall of Mirrors in the story reminded me of walking down that hall myself, envisioning Marie Antoinette and her courtiers. The grounds are so grand.

Image via Giphy

Enchantée, is ultimately a story of orphans Camille Durbonne and her sister, Sophie, who is recovering from small pox. Their brother Alain, is a drunk and has become violent towards them. They cannot rely on him to make money so they work to make ends meet.

France is on the verge of a revolution. The poor are starving and the rich keep on living their life of excess. Camille comes from a family who has had magic in their blood so she uses her skill to cheat at cards, gambling her way to wealth in Versailles. But things are not what they seem there and she must be on guard. When she is not at Versailles playing a dangerous game, she is just Camille who has fallen in love with a balloonist.

I enjoyed the writing, it wove it’s spell on me and the pages went by quickly. Camille is a strong character. She knows her brother is lost to his demons so she does her best to move on and protect her sister. But using magic and gambling in a way becomes her own addiction. There is intrigue at Versailles and she gets caught up in it. I loved the lore about Versailles being created by magic! I can so believe that.

I tried my best with pronouncing the french words in my head as I read the book. But I can’t say I was successful haha. There is a glossary of French terms in the back of the book which is a nice touch for us non-french speaking readers.

The romance was so sweet and the balloonists and inventors that Camille befriends was a part of the book I didn’t know I needed. It gave Camille balance and a way to ground her character. I liked seeing the contrast of her in disguise going to Versailles being among gamblers and aristocracy versus being herself hanging out with young people with ideas. At Versailles, they pass the time in boredom squandering their money away or playing hide and seek. Whereas these balloonists are experimenting and inventing a hot air balloon which in the book stood for hope. It’s where Camille feels the freedom to be herself.

There is mention of the revolution but it is in the background. Camille lives both sides of the story, the rich and the poor life. I like that she can stay true to herself throughout the story.

Strangely enough, the magic in the story didn’t quite grab me or the villain and his storyline. He didn’t come off sinister enough for me. I say strange because most of the book is about magic and the illusions it can create. The story doesn’t delve into the history of magic or what she does to create it. It’s just there in her bloodline. I did like learning she needed sorrow to create magic which makes sense since there is a cost to using it. We see the cost of magic use in other characters as well. But yes, I wish there was more about the magic and how it worked.

Overall, Enchantée is a truly enchanting, imaginative and enjoyable story that tells a tale of love, magic and hope.

Get it here: Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost for you. Thanks!