Eleven Houses by. Colleen Oakes | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Eleven Houses

Author: Colleen Oakes

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 10/22/24

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Zombies, Paranormal

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

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Midnight Mass meets The Vampire Diaries in this epic romantic tale of a mysterious island and the houses who have stood for centuries to guard against the dreaded nightmare of beings waiting to strike from the ocean’s depths.

On a forgotten part of Nova Scotia, there lies an island.
On that island are Eleven Houses.
In those houses sit eleven ancient families.
And they are waiting…

Mabel is one of the last surviving members of House Beuvry, one of the eleven houses on the haunted island of Weymouth. Her days, like all the other teens on the island, are spent readying her house for The Storm: a once-a-decade event that pummels the island with hurricane-level wind, water, and waves. But that’s not all the Storm brings with it—because Weymouth Island is a gate between the world of the living and the dead.

When Miles Cabot arrives on Weymouth Island after the death of his mother, he realizes quickly it isn’t like other places—and Mabel Beuvry isn’t like other teenagers. There’s an intense chemistry between Miles and Mabel that both feel, yet neither understand—nor the deadly consequences that will come with it.

With the suspicious death of an island elder, a strained dynamic with her younger sister Hali, and the greatest Storm in years edging ever closer, Mabel’s life is becoming as chaotic as the weather. One thing becomes clear: if the fortified houses of Weymouth Island can’t stand against the dead, then she—and everyone she loves—will pay the price.

Fares Well the House That’s Ready.

Content Warning: violence, grief, death, alcoholism

I thought the synopsis of this book was really intriguing. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ There is some history about Nova Scotia which I like because I don’t know much about that place. There are only 11 families on this island and these families have to stand up to storms that kill people because in those storms are the dead – like zombies! I like the different families and the history we get from diary entries from storms in the past. I like the mysterious vibe of the story and that kept me reading so I could find out more. There is also a lot of action in the second half of the book.

+ Mabel is the main character and she is from the last house. She has a best friend Norah and I love their relationship. A new boy Miles comes to the island and learns what goes on there and a romance between him and Mabel grows. I also like her growth as a character.

+ There is a twist in the story that I didn’t expect but I did like how the story dealt with the theme of grief.

Dislikes:

~ I had to suspend reality for this one a bit because only 11 families on one island to protect…who? The world? I’m not sure…but there is a big deal about the storms and the dead and protecting the island from the dead. But I didn’t quite believe all of it and just needed a lot more world-building. By the middle of the story I was questioning everything but I shifted focus to the romance story.

~ The romance between Mabel and Miles is insta-love but I still don’t understand why the two of them getting together made the storm more volatile. Again, I think that’s due to lack of world-building and explanation about the magic system.

~ The synopsis boasts “Midnight Mass meets The Vampire Diaries” and I don’t know what Midnight Mass is but I was an original fan of the original The Vampire Diaries by. L.J. Smith. And I actually didn’t see how The Vampires fit into this story at all so it’s not a good comparison. I’d say The Circle by. L.J. Smith fits more because that was about different families fighting evil.

My Thoughts:

This was an interesting read and good for spooky season if you want to read about a mysterious island and dead rising in these storms. The romance was a bit insta-love and I needed a lot more world-building to be invested in the story but I did like the main character’s journey through grief. This one would appeal to teen readers.

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The Games Gods Play by. Abigail Owen | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Games Gods Play (The Crucible, #1)

Author: Abigail Owen

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 634

Publication Date: 9/3/24

Categories: Greek Mythology, Romance, Fantasy, New Adult

Percy Jackson for adults meets The Hunger Games with a slow burn romance between a contestant and Hades himself.

Every hundred years, the gods toy with us mere mortals.
And we let them.

The gods of myth are alive and well.
Once every century, they select a new ruler in a cutthroat competition, pushing mortal players to the limit. But this year, Hades is done sitting on the sidelines. And he’s picking a champion no one expects—in this modern mythic romantasy, she’ll fight for her life…
for the god of Death.

Content Warning: violence, death

I’ve wanted to read this book since it came out but for some reason – maybe the reason being I have to get into a MOOD to read anything inspired by Greek Mythology – it took me to get into this one but I finally pushed through and finished! Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ The Gods hold a tournament called a Crucible every one hundred years and they each pick a mortal to represent them in the games. Lyra is picked by Hades but one thing about Lyra is she’s been cursed by Zeus to be unlovable. Lyra is pretty capable because she is a thief and a somewhat good one. There are a lot of Labors – that’s what each tournament is called, each God creates their own Labor and winner gets a prize to help them in the next Labor. I thought the Labors were interesting and entertaining, the action was good!

+ The Gods are hot, of course. And who doesn’t love the story of Hades and Persephone though I thought it took an interesting twist in this story that works for me. There is no denying an instant attraction between Lyra and Hades and it’s a very slow burn, especially with this book (at least the ebook version) is over 600 pages! There is a spicy scene between them but it’s almost at the end.

+ I did enjoy the cast of characters like the Gods and the mortals fighting in the tournament. Alliances have to be made but who can Lyra really trust? I loved Cerebus of course, since he’s basically a 3 headed, scary dog.

Dislikes:

~ For some reason, throughout the story I kept asking myself why is Hades obsessed with Lyra so soon? What is it about her that is amazing to him? It’s a bit of insta-love, or more like insta-attraction. She’s a thief and yes she helped out the other mortals throughout the Labors which shows she has a good heart but other than that, I was left wondering. I didn’t really connect to her, I thought she was okay as the MC – she’s unlovable, which is sad, but it’s made her close herself off to people and it shows. Not even her relationship with Boone showed more of her personality and I think that’s what was missing. I needed more from Lyra and also I kept thinking she was a teenager but she is 23!

~ I think I had a hard time really getting invested in the book at first because of the massive cast of characters. Once I made myself buckle down to keep reading and learn the characters, I did get more invested but still – so many characters between the Gods and mortals.

~ This book needed to be a bit shorter. There are so many Labors and maybe some of them could have been showcased in book two? But I get how the ending of the book is setting up book two to get in the next direction. Still, it could have been shorter.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this was entertaining despite the issues I had with it! I think I’ll read book two, if I’m in a Greek Mythology kind of mood and hopefully it’s a shorter book.

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Other Books I’ve Read from This Author:

The Liar’s Crown by. Abigail Owen | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Stolen Throne by. Abigail Owen | Book Review ⭐️⭐️💫

The Fate of Magic By. Sara Raasch and Beth Revis | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Fate of Magic (Witch and Hunter, #2)

Author: Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 10/29/24

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

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

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

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The breathtaking sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller Night of the Witch culminates with a sweeping romance and an epic battle to determine the fate of magic…and the world.

Fritzi is a champion. After escaping the clutches of Dieter Kirch, the sadistic leader of the witch hunters, Fritzi and Otto have taken refuge among the witches of the Black Forest. Fritzi is finally ready to assume her place on the council as the coven’s goddess-chosen champion. Plagued by distrust and self-doubt, Fritzi throws herself into her duty to serve the goddesses . . . until she uncovers a powerful secret that could mean the very undoing of magic itself.

Otto is a warrior. He swears himself to Fritzi as her bonded protector, certain the peaceful unity of a witch and hunter will heal the wounds he helped make. But as the horrifying plot that threatens the Black Forest’s magic comes to light, Otto will have to face his both his past and what it means to bind himself to a magic he does not fully understand.

Shadows loom. Truths are revealed. And as dangers new and old arise, Fritzi and Otto must stand together against everything that threatens magic—even if the biggest threat might be the very bond they share.

Content Warning: violence, possession

I read Night of the Witch last year, which is book one of this series. So I decided to read book two and here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ Like the first book, I thought there was good world-building. This is set in Germany when witches were being burned so I always like a little historical fiction in my fantasy books, and this particular part of history is one that I don’t know much about.

+ There are new challenges Fritzi and Otto have to deal with like the return of Dieter who can take possession of Fritzi. But I love how Fritzi and Otto’s bond has really grown and though there is romance, I feel like it wasn’t the main focus. They are a pretty solid couple with no drama between which was kind of nice!

+ Even thought this is a dark book, I love the humor some of the secondary characters brought into the story like Liesel, she such a fun character always checking up on Fritzi and Otto.

Dislikes:

~ I felt like this book was slower for me to get into. For a minute I had to get my bearings and remember what happened in book one but once I did, I thought not much was happening like in book one.

~ The ending felt rushed.

My Thoughts:

I think this was a solid conclusion to the duology and overall an interesting series if you are into witches, history, romance, magic and fantasy!

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Night of the Witch by. Sara Raasch and Beth Revis | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wisteria by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Wisteria (Belladonna, #3)

Author: Adalyn Grace

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 419

Publication Date: 8/20/24

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Enemies to Lovers, Gothic, Young Adult

#1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace delivers a sensational conclusion to the deathly and decadent Belladonna trilogy, with dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers’ hearts ablaze.

Blythe Hawthorne has never let anyone tell her what to do—not society, not her overprotective father, and certainly not the man she’s bound herself to, no matter how rude and insufferable he is. In fact, she’s determined to be a thorn in his side for the rest of her days, even as he ensures that her life in his palace is anything but a fairytale. But as Blythe discovers a new side of herself linked to his past, she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to let an unexpected spark ignite…and to discover the truth about who she really is.

I really enjoyed the first two books of this series and definitely wanted to continue the story. Also how could I resist this book cover? It’s one of the prettiest book covers this year! I finally finished the book and here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ Blythe and Aris take center stage in this story. There is so much animosity between them, it’s amazing they both can stand to be in the same room together. Aris is such a grump though, I could see why Blythe was frustrated with him all the time.

+ The story is beautifully written – from the world building, the setting and just how the characters are fully fleshed out. We already know Blythe from when she was introduced in the other books but this is her story. I love how strong her character is even with an illness.

+ The love story is tragic and bittersweet. There are some moments of heat between them but very few.

Dislikes:

~ I think their love story is too tragic, which is fine – I mean the love between Fate and Life is sad. But I wanted more romance between Blythe and Aris since they spent most of the book fighting and hating one another. Especially because I love how much they hated one another – I wanted the payoff but I didn’t feel satisfied.

~ I didn’t love Chaos but that is what “chaos” does, it disrupts everything but still, I just didn’t love the ending.

Final Thoughts:

I’m a little bummed this one fell short of my expectations but I think the whole series overall is great. Blythe and Aris deserved a story and I think that Fate and Life finding each other again and again is beautiful and bittersweet.

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Book Links:

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Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

Belladonna by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Foxglove by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Wren in the Holly Library by. K.A. Linde | Book Review

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Wren in the Holly Library ( Oak & Holly Cycle, #1)

Author: K. A. Linde

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 495

Publication Date: 6/4/24

Categories: Romance, Urban Fantasy, Romantasy, LGBT+

The instant New York Times bestseller

Can you love the dark when you know what it hides?

Some things aren’t supposed to exist outside of our imagination.

Thirteen years ago, monsters emerged from the shadows and plunged Kierse’s world into a cataclysmic war of near-total destruction. The New York City she knew so well collapsed practically overnight.

In the wake of that carnage, the Monster Treaty was created. A truce…of sorts.

But tonight, Kierse—a gifted and fearless thief—will break that treaty. She’ll enter the Holly Library…not knowing it’s the home of a monster.

He’s charming. Quietly alluring. Terrifying. But he knows talent when he sees it; it’s just a matter of finding her price.

Now she’s locked into a dangerous bargain with a creature unlike any other. She’ll sacrifice her freedom. She’ll offer her skills. Together, they’ll put their own futures at risk.

But he’s been playing a game across centuries—and once she joins in, there will be
no escape…

Content Warning: violence, abuse, being drugged

I bought this because of the beautiful cover and sprayed edges. For some reason I had a hard time reading the hard cover – maybe because I’m just used to ebooks right now. So when I saw it was on Kindle Unlimited I borrowed it and I read it much faster. Here are my thoughts :

Likes:

+ I enjoyed the urban fantasy world building. The story is set in a sort of dystopian NYC, where now monsters live among humans. There are turf wars with different monsters and humans and Kierse is a thief who takes jobs to make money. She takes one job that changes the course of her life forever. I liked meeting all the different characters and monsters and some of their back stories. Graves is a very interesting character, but very mysterious until the end.

+ The magic system is interesting and I liked how we got to see how Graves and Kierse used their magic to train for the job. I like an urban fantasy with different creatures living in it because of all the different powers everyone has.

+ I liked learning about Kierse and her found family of friends. She’s had a tough upbringing, but mostly everyone in the book has a story to tell. I did like her bond with her friends, I just wish they were featured more in the story.

+ Everything was going great until 30% into the story. But I did like the LGBT+ representation

Dislikes:

~ One moment I was invested in the world building and then everything got stagnant. Kierse was training to do this job of retrieving a spear for Graves but I wish there was more fight in her. I thought she was too nice, after her friends was targeted and almost killed. I just needed more from Kierse.

~ Speaking of needing more – the romance was not something I loved either. There was hardly any chemistry built up between Kierse and Graves and so when they finally do get together, it’s spicy but I felt nothing. And is there a love triangle brewing? I don’t know. I guess I’m not very sure about how Kierse feels.

~ For the second half the book, the writing was just not working for me and I had to push through.

My Final Thoughts:

There was great world building with this one but it left me wanting way more from the characters from the second half of the book. I think there was too much going on in the story. I also didn’t love the romance, even though this is the type of story where I would be devouring a romance such as this. I didn’t feel it between Kierse and Graves. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading book two but this one did have potential, I’m just bummed it fizzled out for me in the end.

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Reckless by. Lauren Roberts | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Reckless (The Powerless Trilogy, #2)

Author: Lauren Roberts

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 396

Publication Date: 7/2/24

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s UK

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Enemies to Lovers, Kiss or Kill, Young Adult

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King, and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts – and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

Be swept away by this kiss-or-kill romantasy trilogy taking the world by storm.

Content Warning: violence

Here is book two of The Powerless Trilogy and I didn’t love book one, I thought it was okay. But I did love the novella that was published before Reckless. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ Paedyn and Kai get a lot of time together in this sequel. With the way things ended in book one, they are back to threatening to kill each other but of course that’s never happening since they want one another so bad. If you loved them in book one, you will love them in this book also.

+ Kitt is turning into a villain after Paedyn killed his dad and it sucks to see it but also, this story kind of needs the villainy, otherwise there is nothing happening with the story.

+ It’s fast paced even though the story barely went anywhere.

Dislikes:

~ The story barely went anywhere! It was Paedyn and Kai traveling, since his mission is to capture her and bring her back to Kitt. And in between the traveling and getting injured, we have Kitt losing his mind as he waits for news about them.

~ I still don’t love the writing. And Kai and Paedyn do nothing for me. I actually enjoyed Adena’s story in the novella better than this book, which is very surprising.

Final Thoughts:

I think this one was okay. It started off interesting but I got bored with the travel and even skimmed the last 20% of the book. I don’t really love Paedyn and Kai as characters but I’m glad they got their romance moment in this book. I don’t think I could have read it if there was more slow burn romance between them. I think the strength of this story is when things get super messy between the characters, because I’m here for the drama. So I’ll definitely read the next book just to see how it ends after that cliffhanger.

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Book Links:

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Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

Powerless (#1) by. Lauren Roberts | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Powerful (#1.5) by. Lauren Roberts | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Blood Orchid by. Kylie Lee Baker | ARC Review

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Title: The Blood Orchid (The Scarlet Alchemist, #2)

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/22/24

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Chinese Mythology, Alchemy

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

Thank you to Inkyard Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Since Zilan entered the world of royal alchemists, she has learned that alchemy comes at a price. She has lost loved ones in her search for broader justice against the evil Empress and all she wants now is to find some way to bring them back. Resurrection is her specialty, after all.

In search of the myth of Penglai Island, where it’s rumored life can be fully restored, Zilan starts a new adventure. But when old threats come back to haunt her and the path to Penglai Island means facing down unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, alchemists, she wonders just how high of a price she may be willing to pay.

Content Warning: death, violence

I loved the first book in this duology, The Scarlet Alchemist. So I was so excited to get an arc for The Blood Orchid. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

Zilan is on a mission to find a way to bring back her beloved, Hong, after the major sacrifice that occurred in book one. She is on the road with her brother Wenshu, who is in the body of Hong. The pressure to save everyone and fix everything is always on Zilan’s mind but with the help of her brother and an unlikely friend, she accomplishes what needs to be done.
Who knew Zheng Sili, Zilan’s enemy turned frenemy would grow on me? The two of them arguing and bantering was making me laugh so much throughout this story – it was refreshing!
Zilan’s mission to find this secret place, Penglai Island, introduces us to some Chinese mythology which is explained more in the author’s note. But I loved meeting all these different alchemists and seeing what happened when they were on the island.
The ending is bittersweet but I liked it. I love the world building of this whole series.

Dislikes:

Of course I wanted more of Hong because he and Zilan were amazing in book one. But he’s waiting for her in the in-between and though they had a few moments together, I understood Zilan had to focus on her mission.

My Thoughts:

This was a great conclusion to the series. I love this world of alchemists in historical China. The story got me hooked from book one with the wonderful world-building and fantastic characters. I love that it had so much humor in it! I can’t wait to read what this author writes next!

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Book Links:

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The Scarlet Alchemist by. Kylie Lee Baker ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

BLOG TOUR} The Empress of Time by. Kylie Lee Baker ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

BLOG TOUR} The Keeper of Night by. Kylie Lee Baker ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Storm of Ink and Blood by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Storm of Ink and Blood (The Nightfire Quartet, #3)

Author: Nisha J. Tuli

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 469

Publication Date: 10/4/24

Publisher: Second Sky

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

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

Thank you to Second Sky for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Dark magic courses through Zarya’s veins—magic that could save countless lives… or doom her world.

Shattered by Rabin’s betrayal, Zarya vows to leave all thoughts of him behind. In the dangerous city of Ishaan, she joins an ancient struggle for freedom.

Ishaan is a city of violent contrasts. Nobles and scholars live in golden luxury. But thousands of vanshaj workers are born into magical slavery—in punishment for a crime forgotten centuries ago.

Zarya is outraged, and certain that the fate of the vanshaj is linked to her own forbidden magic. She joins a band of rebels battling for their freedom, and with Yasen at her side she throws herself into the fight.

On a deadly raid, Zarya uncovers the key to freeing the vanshaj for ever. But to use it, she must harness a power that could tear her apart.

Only one person can give Zarya the strength to reach her destiny. The one who ignited her magic. Who brings her more pleasure and more pain than any other. The last person she wants to see right now. Rabin.

With searing chemistry, a stunning world, and heart-racing action, The Nightfire Quartet is a fast-paced and addictive fantasy romance that’s perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Carissa Broadbent, and Rebecca Yarros. If you love slow-burning passion and razor-sharp banter, dive in to discover your new fantasy obsession.

Content Warning: violence

This is book three in The Nightfire Quartet and here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ Zarya and her bestie Yasen are back and bringing the humor. I love their friendship and love that they would still follow each other anywhere even if Zarya has her Rabin.

+ Zarya is in a new city and helping a rebellion so it’s a new adventure for her. She gets a glimpse and some interaction with her half-siblings and it’s not the kind of reunion she was expecting. She’s also working on her powers to break the tattoo collars on the people who have them. I did like that they were somewhere new and we get to meet new characters.

+ The romance was rocky at the end of book two and so Rabin and Zarya needed to try again to make things work. Thing is Rabin has to get past her defenses and make it up to her. He is patient with her and they do have a few spicy scenes but I’m worried that her father will test their new found bond again. It does seem like this time they have really let each other in and they took steps to solidify their bond as best as they can but I am still suspicious about her dad and I question Rabin’s loyalty to him.

Dislikes:

~ This one might have been a tad bit too long. Zarya spends a lot of time trying to work on her magic and trying to break the tattoo collars and for the first few time it’s interesting but it got repetitive.

~ There were times I thought Zarya was just so naive about things and wish she had a little more growth.

My Thoughts:

I thought this was a good third book and I can’t wait to see how it ends.

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Book Links:

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Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

Fate of the Sun King (Artefacts or Ouranos, #3) by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rule of the Aurora King (Artefacts or Ouranos, #2) by. Nisha J. Tuli | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts or Ouranos, #1) by. Nisha J. Tuli | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dance of Stars and Ashes (The Nightfire Quartet, #2) by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heart of Night and Fire (The Nightfire Quartet, #1) by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Wild Huntress by. Emily Lloyd-Jones | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Wild Huntress

Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 10/1/24

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

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

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Dive into a lush, standalone fantasy, set in the same world as The Drowned Woods and The Bone Houses, about a deadly competition—perfect for fans of Holly Black and Erin A. Craig.

Every five years, two kingdoms take part in a Wild Hunt. Joining is a bloody risk and even the most qualified hunters can suffer the deadliest fates. Still, hundreds gamble their lives to participate—all vying for the Hunt’s life-changing prize: a magical wish granted by the Otherking.

BRANWEN possesses a gift no other human has: the ability to see and slay monsters. She’s desperate to cure her mother’s sickness, and the Wild Hunt is her only option.

GWYDION is the least impressive of his magically-talented family, but with his ability to control plants and his sleight of hand, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his cruel older brother from becoming a tyrant.

PRYDERI is prince-born and monster-raised. Deep down, the royal crown doesn’t interest him—all he wants is to know is where he belongs.

If they band together against the monstrous creatures within the woods, they have a chance to win. But, then again, nothing is guaranteed when all is fair in love and the Hunt.

Content Warning: death, violence, illness

Emily Lloyd-Jones books are an auto-read for me so I couldn’t wait to read this one. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ I was engrossed in this story right away. I love the storytelling and how we have three compelling characters with different backgrounds, talents and very different goals. Branwen wants to cure her mom’s illness, Gwydion wants to put his sister on the throne and Pryderi is heir to a throne but doesn’t want it. These three come together and join in the Wild Hunt so they can win and get any boon they want. Also, there is a very lovable and moody cat! I love how complex each character is.

+ The world-building is wonderful and magical. I was really immersed in the setting. It’s a world where humans and otherfolk live together so it’s filled with scary creatures, beasts and lots magic. There is political intrigue and drama as well.

+ The Wild Hunt section of the story was action packed. The three characters become a found family which was fun to see. But there are a few twists in this story that kept me on my toes. The story took me on an emotional rollercoaster.

Dislikes:

+ The romance isn’t the main part of this story but I was rooting for it until things fell apart. It resolves in the very end but for me, I did not agree with it. It really is heartbreaking what happens to these three characters on this quest.

My Thoughts:

I was definitely entertained by this story and it took me only two days to read. It has a group of characters that make a found family, a sprinkle of romance, lots of action and magic. I really love this world the author has created which is all part of her other books The Drowned World and The Bone Houses (I loved the Bone Houses a lot) – it would be fantastic to have more books set in this world. I hope to read more from this author!

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Book Review | The Bone Houses ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hearts We Sold by. Emily Lloyd-Jones | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Drowned Woods by. Emily Lloyd-Jones | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Quicksilver by. Callie Hart | Book Review

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy #1)

Author: Callie Hart

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 624

Publication Date: 6/4/24

Categories: Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy, Fae, Vampires, Magic, Alchemy

Do not touch the sword.

Do not turn the key.

Do not open the gate.

In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember.

But a secret is like a knot.

Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares…but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed herself right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him… or her.

Death has a name.

It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate.

His past is murky.

His attitude stinks.

And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home.

Be careful of the deals you make, dear child.

The devil is in the details…

N.B. Quicksilver contains depictions of graphic violence/adult situations and is therefore recommended for readers 17+. For a full list of tropes and TWs, please visit the author’s website.

Content Warning: violence

I’ve been seeing this recommended on my Kindle Unlimited for a few months now and I loved the cover but wasn’t sure about it. For some reason this week, I borrowed it and I read it in 2 days! Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ I love when I go into a book not expecting much (I didn’t read the reviews but saw it had a lot of 4-5 stars), and takes me by surprise. I was here for vibes and it gave me all the romantasy vibes I was looking for: a strong MC, a hot and annoying love interest, villains, found family, a war, magic, plot twists, spice, tension, banter, humor – it really did have everything! It’s over 600 pages but it kept my attention the whole time.

+ Saeris has been living in squalor in the Third sector in Zilvaren, fighting tooth and nail just to keep her, her brother and family friend alive for another day. But she does something that changes the course of her life forever. She is taken to the Fae world of Yvelia where she learns about the Fae and their war, learns about alchemy and creates friendships and finds the love of her life. I love Saeris’ toughness and grit, but also how she cares for her family and those around her. I really liked her gift of alchemy and thought it was so cool she could forge weapons.

+ Fisher is such a menacing rascal who’s role in life was to get under Saeris’ skin but as the story keeps going we find out what’s going inside his head and heart. He turns out to be the biggest softy where Saeris is concerned and I really loved that about him. I, like Saeris, hated and loved him too!

+ The love story between Saeris and Fisher is everything but I love how it was evenly balanced throughout the book and that even when the whole “mate” issue was brought up, I wasn’t turned off. I usually am only because once a “mate” appears in a romantasy…the word is repeated so much that I get sick of it. It didn’t do that to me in this book because I felt like it was just right and not overkill (thank you!). I love the banter, the attraction, the spice and them choosing one another despite everything. I’ll add them to my favorite couples list.

+ The world building is great! I love how we went from the human world, then the Fae world and got a peek into the vampire world – really all the things I love (fae and vampires!). And I also loved the cast of this story from Carrion whose relationship with Saeris is so funny. And then the found family Saeris finds in Yvelia with Fisher’s sister, his best friend and his healer. I’d love to get to know all of them more!

Dislikes:

~ There were typos. So I hope that gets cleaned up for book two.

~ Also I think some parts of the story like when they have to do research to solve a problem, some of that could have been taken out to move the story along better and cut down on the page numbers. Like okay, did all of them have to be in the library doing research? I love libraries and love that they thought to do research but I would think there should be an urgency to things with the vampires trying to kill the Fae and with Saeris trying to get home to help her brother?

My Final Thoughts:

Even with the minor issues I had with this book it honestly hit the spot for what I was craving at the time I borrowed the book. I wanted enemies to lovers, banter/bickering, fun characters, Fae, vampires, spice and magic! This one was fun! It’s an addicting read and I’m looking forward to book two.