Lakesedge by. Lyndall Clipstone | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Lakesedge (World at the Lake’s Edge, #1)

Author: Lyndall Clipstone

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 9/28/21

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (BYR)

Categories: Gothic Fantasy, Young Adult, Dark Romance

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

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. (BYR) for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A lush gothic fantasy about monsters and magic, set on the banks of a cursed lake. Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Brigid Kemmerer.

There are monsters in the world.

When Violeta Graceling arrives at haunted Lakesedge estate, she expects to find a monster. She knows the terrifying rumors about Rowan Sylvanan, who drowned his entire family when he was a boy. But neither the estate nor the monster are what they seem.

There are monsters in the woods.

As Leta falls for Rowan, she discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, the sinister death god lurking in the black waters of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn…

There’s a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name.

Now, to save Rowan—and herself—Leta must confront the darkness in her past, including unraveling the mystery of her connection to the Lord Under.

I had to request this book because of that cover! It’s gorgeous and dark, it gives off gothic vibes right away.

Lakesedge is really in its gothic element with the setting of Lakesedge estate and the owner Rowan who is thought to have drowned his whole family. The lake is black and creepy, the estate is large and old, but empty. Then there is sister and brother, Leta and Arien. Shadows haunt Leta’s brother Arien and you just know something isn’t right in this town – but what is going on? What are these shadows and why does Rowan want Arien and his shadows so much?

Rowan has hired an alchemist, Clover, and now needs Leta’s brother as well to help get rid of the darkness and blight that is overtaking Lakesedge and neighboring towns. Rowan is a brooding, tortured character at first but he does open up to Leta who is his opposite. She is light, stubborn, equally as damaged but her love for Arien eclipses everything. We learn about Rowan’s mysterious past and his deal with Lord Under, and his dangerous blood tithes. But then Leta has a secret too and it throws Rowan’s plans off course.

Rowan and Leta’s love is surrounded in darkness. It is bleak, it’s filled with longing, but steamy nonetheless! Leta is not afraid of him even when she should have been, his monster side should have made her afraid. But also, what is up with Lord Under? I got Persephone/Hades vibe with him and Leta. Is there something between them or is this purely business on Lord Under’s part? I don’t know.

I enjoyed the side characters, Arien because he is a sweet boy and Leta’s only family and I wanted to see him saved. And the alchemist, Clover, was fun, an LGBT rep and she brought a light-heartedness to the crew that was missing, I also liked learning how she used alchemy.

Triggers: self harm, abuse by a parent, grief, drowning, death, suicidal ideation

This is a dark story so there is self harm with Rowan’s blood tithes to the Corruption and other situations that might be triggering.

It has a cliffhanger ending – to the point I was confused. I was frustrated that it ended that way especially not knowing if there was a sequel or not. So be aware – cliffhanger ending!

There is a steamy scene between Rowan and Leta but it is beautifully written.

Why you should read it:

gothic vibes get you into the Halloween/fall/dark mood
dark romance: very broody, lots of longing, emo, sexy and with teeth (haha)
Lord Under – just to find out what is going on with him and Leta

Why you might not want to read it:

dark story
cliffhanger ending

My Thoughts:

This one sucked me in with Arien’s mysterious dark shadows and rumors about Rowan drowning his family in the lake! I read it in one sitting because the writing lured me in but that cliffhanger totally frustrated me because I wasn’t sure if it was being set up for a sequel. Overall this got me in a dark, gothic mood and it hit the spot. This would be a perfect read for spooky season or for whenever you to read a dark fantasy romance. I look forward to reading the next book.

📚~ Yolanda

The Boundless by. Anna Bright | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: The Boundless ( The Beholder, #2)

Author: Anna Bright

Format: Hardcover (own)

Pages: 491

Publication Date: 6/9/20

Publisher: HarperTeen

Categories: Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Political Intrigue

When Selah found true love with Prince Torden of Norway, she never imagined she’d have to leave him behind. All because the Beholder’s true mission was a secret Selah’s crew didn’t trust her to keep: transporting weapons to the rebels fighting against the brutal tsarytsya, whose shadow looms over their next port of Shvartsval’d. A place Selah hoped she’d never go.

But gone is the girl who departed Potomac filled with fear. With a stockpile of weapons belowdecks and her heart hanging in the balance, Selah is determined to see the Beholder’s quest to its end.

This has been sitting on my shelf for a good year. I bought it during the pandemic on clearance and only picked it up to read now. The covers for this duology are really beautiful. Now the story itself is very interesting – I did enjoy the first book in the series, The Beholder, although it was a like mix of fairytales, historical fantasy and the bachelorette combined! Fascinating mix right? Well in this conclusion, Selah had found her true love… or has she? And can she finally help her crew do what they had planned to do (without her knowing) and finally go home?

I’m glad Selah had different challenges in this one – other than having guys fall for her and trying to decide who she loves. I mean…yes I can see that being a problem since she has to wed, but with everything else going on – she has bigger problems to fix. And Selah gets into it with Baba Yaga herself – a cold hearted killer who has taken a liking to Selah.

Obviously Selah found her true love in Torden – but why was Lang now a prospect? Out of sight, out of mind? Come one Selah – I wasn’t happy with Selah about this but I like Lang a lot. Or I like how he doesn’t cave into her demands. The secondary character came shining through in this one. Cobie is awesome and so loyal, Selah is so lucky to have her. I also loved seeing more of Anya as well. Aleksei surprised me and had some growth so that was promising.

I think the fairy tale infusion is what kept me reading. I love the reference to the 12 Dancing Princesses and of course Hangel and Gretel. thought the world of Baba Yaga was appropriately, cold, harsh and scary. Selah went through a lot being imprisoned there with her friends but it was good to see her rise to all the challenges.

Triggers: violence, abuse

My biggest issue with this book and it’s definitely a me problem is that Selah and Lang have a moment. I don’t remember her being with Torden much – I know she fell for him hard but honestly, I was liking the friction/attraction she was having with Lang. But she doesn’t deserve him – how did she get mad at HIM for not being right there to rescue her when he was helping the tribes and doing other things in the fight/rescue mission. I mean…🙄. I’m glad she now knows what she wants is someone selfishly in love with her (Torden) but come on…to be mad at Lang about that? He deserves a happy ending, poor guy.

Why you should read it:

if you liked The Beholder – definitely pick this one up
it mixes fairy tales and historical fiction, fun world building
if you are team Torden then you will love this one

Why you might not want to read it:

if you are team Lang haha – like me
not into love triangles
not into Selah flip flopping between boys

My Thoughts:

Selah – you boy crazy teenager, you! She was so frustrating haha but young and hey I remember being unsure about a guy. What I really like about this series is the creativity with the mix of fairy tales and historical fiction. I thought it worked in a strange way (they travel by wooden ship but have radios…🤔). Overall I was entertained by this series, I just didn’t like who Selah ended up with but I guess he was the best choice for her.

📚

A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic #2) by. Elise Kova| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic, #2)

Author: Elise Kova

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 374

Publication Date: 8/19/21

Publisher: Silver Wing Press

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Fae

She knew her hand in marriage would be sold. She had no idea a fae prince was the buyer.

Katria swore she’d never fall in love. She’s seen what “love” means through the cruelty of her family. So when she’s married off to the mysterious Lord Fenwood for a handsome price, all Katria wants is a better life than the one she’s leaving. Feelings are off the table.

But her new husband makes not falling in love difficult.

As their attraction begins to grow, so too do the oddities within her new life: strange rules, screams in the night, and attacks by fae that Katria never thought were real. When she witnesses a ritual not meant for human eyes, Katria finds herself spirited away to the land of Midscape.

Surviving the fae wilds as a human is hard enough. Katria must survive as a human who accidently pilfered the magic of ancient kings – magic a bloodthirsty king is ready to kill her for in order to keep his stolen throne – and her new husband is the rightful heir in hiding.

The power to save the fae is in her hands. But who will save her from a love she vowed never to feel?

A Dance with the Fae Prince is a complete, *stand-alone novel*, inspired by the tales of Psyche and Eros, as well as Cinderella, with a “happily ever after” ending. It’s perfect for romantic fantasy readers who enjoyed of A Court of Silver Flames and An Enchantment of Ravens. A Dance with the Fae Prince features a slow-burn romance, swoon-worthy couple, and steaminess that ranges from simmering to sizzling.

I am really loving this series of stand-alone novels set in this fantasy world infused with romance and fairytale and mythology references. Elise Kova is on a roll with these books!

What’s not to like in A Dance with the Fae Prince? We have a girl, Katria, who is basically Cinderella and has an abusive step-mother and step-sister. She is given to a mysterious Lord as a bride in exchange for a book her late mother owned. But this mysterious Lord is no human lord at all but a Fae Prince trying to become king.

We are transported to the land of the Fae. If you read the first book in the series, A Deal with the Elf King, you do get some of the background of how the lands were split. We get Fae history, world building, an explanation of what powers they have and how they work their ritual magic.

Katria is basically Cinderella who doesn’t believe in love, or who believes love is harmful. She is sheltered but with a wild spirit that years to run free. She finds herself falling in love with Midscape and the people, finally feeling like she belongs – but all she thinks Davien wants is the magic inside her so he can be king. Davien isn’t an aggressive alpha male, he doesn’t know how to rule and lead but he is learning. He grew up away from the the fae world so he himself is trying to find his place. But he is patient with Katria, Slowly and surely, they find their places with one another. I enjoyed their slow burn romance because they get to know one another and in a stand-alone book, that’s hard to do sometimes.

The secondary characters were great also, I loved Shaye and Raph. I was rooting for Davien and his friends to win and the twist in the end was sweet even though I suspected it all along.

Triggers: abuse

Katria is abused by her stepmother and stepsister. Even her dad had watched her stepmother do something to her which was why she couldn’t understand what love was without pain. The Fae at Midscape give her a glimpse of what love between friends, family and lovers could be like. It is a very emotional and eye opening journey for Katria.

Why you should read it:

lovely slow burn romance
great world building
a very complete stand alone novel

Why you might not read it:

it’s a stand alone but set in the same world as the other book in the “series”
you are not into slow burn, fantasy romance

My Thoughts:

So far I’ve really love the books in this series even though they are stand alone novels. I think because the stories are set in the same world, there is a continuity to them, but they are different enough to keep it interesting. I love romance in my fantasy books so this series is perfect for someone like me. I’m already looking forward to the next book!

📚~ Yolanda

Defy the Night by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Title: Defy the Night

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Format: eBook

Pages: 496

Publication Date: 9/14/21

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Kingdom Politics

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

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

From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes a blockbuster fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.

The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents’ shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King’s Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion–it’s the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most–but it’s still not enough.

As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King’s Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it’s even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.

Set in a richly imaginative world with striking similarities to our own, Brigid Kemmerer’s captivating new series is about those with power and those without . . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to imagine a new future.

When I saw Brigid Kemmerer’s name on this book, I had to request it. I’ve read most of her contemporary works and I just finished the Cursebreakers series. I am a fan.

There is an illness ravaging the kingdom of Kandala and the king and prince who rule, try to do so by punishing anyone caught committing a crime, regardless of why they commit the crime in the first place. Tessa is someone breaking the law to help people survive this deadly illness, but if caught, it doesn’t matter that she’s doing this out of the kindness of her heart – she would be punished like the many who line the castle walls, dead and on display of their transgressions.

I liked how each character had very distinct voices, Corrick’s especially. Tessa is the bleeding heart, helping who she can. King Harristan is the young king, who was sickly as a child and his brother, Prince Corrick – he is the star of this whole show. Out of all of them he is that morally grey character, he wears different faces, he is harsh, he has the reputation of a prince who is always seeking death…but is he really that way?

We know where Tessa stands, and where King Harristan has to stand, but Prince Corrick is the one who carries out the dealings of the kingdom and it’s because of him and Tessa that the tides turn in Kandala.

There is political intrigue – sectors vying for control of the kingdom and using the Moonflowe medicine to their gain. The more Moonflower that grows in a certain sector, the more power they seem to have and the King has to give in but the people are dying while the elite play politics. The people are fed up and a rebellion grows, but who is the leader of it? Tessa and Prince Corrick try to find out before it’s too late.

The story moves along quickly! I didn’t realize it was 496 pages, it seemed shorter. I was invested in the relationships between the royal brothers and of course with Tessa and Prince Corrick. There is an enemies to lovers romance, a sweet one that gets quite complicated but all the same it made me root for them. I really came to care about the characters.

Triggers: illness, death, violence, torture

It says this is a series, but I do feel like this was Tessa and Prince Corrick’s story and it has a resolution at the end. So I wonder if the next installment will focus on King Harristan?
I’d like to see Tessa grow more and learn her apothecary art. It seems like we only get a glimpse of her knowledge because this was a fast paced story with lots of action, so we only saw a few scenes where she is actually using her own knowledge to make tinctures. We do get the sense she learned a bunch from her dad who has passed so maybe we’ll get to see more of his notes in book two.

I read this in one sitting which means it caught my attention good- especially since I’m trying to finish a bunch of other books at the same time. I loved the action and pace of the story, and the characters made me want to know more about them. This is a wonderful start to what I hope is an amazing new series!

📚 ~ Yolanda

Where Dreams Descend by. Janella Angeles | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards, #1)

Author: Janella Angeles

Format: Hardcover (own)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 8/25/20

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Magicians, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost

The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told

The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide

Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

First off, the book cover is gorgeous! I love the reds and golds and the font too – it just looks so good.

This book definitely gave me some Phantom of the Opera vibes with Jack, this master magician being so mystery and some Moulin Rouge because of Kallia. Kallia is a showgirl but a magician as well who wants all eyes on her and is very unapologetic about it. This girl knows she’s a star and it comes through in her personality. Demarco is another mysterious magician, who has a past that is revealed when he starts getting close to Kallia. The tone of the book is dark, very much like the stage is set for something dire or spectacular…or both?

Kallia is a bold character and I did like that about her. She wanted more than being a showgirl, she wanted to be the main girl on stage because she loves the applause. Kallia is the only female magician in this competition so she really has to do everything to outshine the guys. I did like how she made friends with the Conquering Circus, and the other bold women that was a part of the circus.

Kallia and Demarco’s relationship starts off slow but it heats up. Obviously there is attraction, but Demarco is a judge and Kallia is a contestant so that wouldn’t look good to onlookers if they were to get together. It’s inevitable though but Demarco is hiding a secret and of course Jack doesn’t miss an opportunity to warn Kallia. I did think it was cute how Kallia and Demarco didn’t get along and then they started to become friends because anything more. But can Demarco take on Jack who seems like a way more powerful guy?

Triggers: toxic relationships, misogyny

It took me a few days to finish this book. It was a little slow and I was interested in Kallia and her magic but there is way too much mystery about Jack. More is revealed at the end but it’s a 460+ page book and I wanted a little more information a bit earlier about Jack, other than the fact he is obsessed with Kallia. Clearly she doesn’t want anything to do with him so he was being creepy.

Though Kallia is a powerful young woman, I couldn’t really connect to her. Maybe that’s where my interest lagged because I didn’t care too much about her journey becoming a star on stage. Maybe I’m just not into magician stories? I don’t know.

I hope there isn’t a love triangle because Jack is obsessive and manipulative. If he’s doing for some reason we don’t know then maybe I’ll change my mind when I know more information. Although Kallia and Demarco have something going on, there is drama at the end so we shall see how that goes.

Why you should read it:

if you like magician and circus stories, you will enjoy this
has Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge vibes
story about a girl wanting more in her life

Why you might not want to read it:

slow start, book got interesting in the end
might be a love triangle brewing
needs more world building or explanation about magic system

My Thoughts:

I was really wowed by the book cover but for me the story didn’t live up to my expectations of it. I did enjoy the Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge vibes but I need to know more about Jack. I did enjoy the dark tone of the story and how Kallia is a girl who wants more in her life and takes it by the handful – she’s hard worker, stubborn, bold and yes she is a star. I’ll be reading the next book because I have the arc in NetGalley but if I didn’t, I don’t think I’d have picked up the sequel.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Forest of Souls by. Lori M. Lee | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Forest of Souls (Shamanborn, #1)

Author: Lori M. Lee

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 6/23/20

Publisher: Page Street Kids

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy

Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. After years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend Saengo.

And then Sirscha, somehow, restores Saengo to life.

Unveiled as the first soulguide in living memory, Sirscha is summoned to the domain of the Spider King. For centuries, he has used his influence over the Dead Wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. Now, with the trees growing wild and untamed, only a soulguide can restrain them. As war looms, Sirscha must master her newly awakened abilities before the trees shatter the brittle peace, or worse, claim Saengo, the friend she would die for.

I finally got my hands on this book and I’m so glad. There is so much I enjoyed about this book. Sirscha Ashwyn is a human orphan, or so she thinks and is trying to make something of herself. She becomes entwined in a web of kingdom politics between shamans and humans. But then she is revealed as a soulguide shaman as well, so who is she really? Ronin the Spider King is keeping the fragile peace right now between the kingdoms and keeping the Dead Woods someone sated, but is he losing his power? A soulguide would be able to help control the Dead Woods but Sirscha doesn’t know much about her powers yet and suspects Ronin of something shady. Who’s side is Sirscha on?

First off I love the world building – it is very detailed. We learn about different the three dominant races in Thiy – there are humans, shadowblessed and shamans. I love the magic system and the darkness of this story. It has the scary Dead Woods that are creepy as hell and basically you have to run like crazy through it to survive. There are spiders…yuck, but pretty cool. And the fight scenes are so good, I loved it, that was maybe my most favorite part of this story.

Speaking of fight scenes, Sirscha Ashwyn is a deadly fighter and also a soulguide. She is an orphan who is trying to make a name for herself. I understood her need to be enough for someone, not knowing who she is because she never had anyone in her life except for her best friend Saengo by her side. Sirscha is always trying to prove herself but she makes some mistakes, which is fine because I want to see her grow from them.

I loved the other characters like Saengo, Theyen (he’s pretty arrogant but such a great character), and the King of Spiders, Ronin is pretty villainous – or is he?

Triggers: physical abuse, violence, death

There is a lot of abuse in this one – physical abuse, because Sirscha is training to be a shadow, but she’s a wyvern first and training is tough. Do something wrong, you basically get tortured and beaten. Yikes and Sirscha takes it as someone who has been abused a lot – so that could be triggering.

I love romance in my fantasy stories and wish this had some but it was still fine as is.

For all the details presented to us in the book about this world…where is the map? I so wanted a map. This series needs a map.

Why you should read it:

great world building
awesome fight scenes
strong main character who has room to grow

Why you might not want to read it:

you hate spiders
want romance because this has none

My Thoughts:

I found Forest of Souls entertaining especially because Sirscha is a fighter, a no one who is trying so hard to be somebody – the fight scenes are so good. I loved the creepy Dead Woods and Ronin the King of Spiders and his backstory. The ending makes me want to read the sequel to find out the consequences of Sirscha’s actions. Overall I enjoyed it a lot!

📚 ~ Yolanda

Red Tigress by. Amélie Wen Zhao | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Red Tigress (Blood Heir, #2)

Author: Amélie Wen Zhao

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 3/2/21

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Monarchy, Rebellion, Romance

Ana Mikhailov is the only surviving member of the royal family of Cyrilia. She has no army, no title, and no allies, and now she must find a way to take back the throne or risk the brutal retribution of the empress. Morganya is determined to establish a new world order on the spilled blood of non-Affinites. Ana is certain that Morganya won’t stop until she kills them all.

Ana’s only chance at navigating the dangerous world of her homeland means partnering with Ramson Quicktongue again. But the cunning crime lord has schemes of his own. For Ana to find an army, they must cross the Whitewaves to the impenetrable stone forts of Bregon. Only, no one can be certain what they will find there.

A dark power has risen. Will revolution bring peace–or will it only paint the streets in more blood.

I was excited to find this book at my local library and forgotten that it was even out. We are back with Ana and Ramson as they try to gain allies for Ana to retake the throne from Morganya and Ramson is trying to find out his nemesis’ plans. It all leads to Bergon, the kingdom where Ramson is from but the journey there like anything else that has occurred in this book, is not easy.

Ana and Ramson are an unlikely team, the conman and the princess in hiding but that’s why I like them together. There isn’t much time for romance between them in this sequel but they do finally share a kiss. Still – I hope things work out for them in the next book. They both have unfinished business – Ramson hunting down Kerlan’s people and Ana going to take her throne back. I like that we get to know more about Ramson in this one.

I really like the element of the rebellion, the Redcloaks, led by Ana’s ex-friend (it seems now), Yuri. He has a cold killer warrior on his side though, Seyin, and I wonder how he comes into play later. I don’t trust him.

This book has awesome side characters, one of them being Ana’s friend Linn. She kicks ass with all her affinities and fighting ability. She’s also loyal to the death – I love her. Kais is an interesting character, he was an enemy in book one and now…is he trustworthy? Also…Sorsha – oh wow, this girl is psycho but she was sadly made that way and she definitely added a lot of danger to this story. I don’t like her but as an enemy she will be an exciting foe to defeat.

This story moves fast and had so much action – and it got pretty bloody at times too. There were a lot of things in play, Yuri and the rebellion, the kingdom of Bergon and it’s secrets and people finding out the princess is alive so I was definitely invested in the story.

Triggers: death, violence, human trafficking

I wanted more of Ransom and Ana together but I get they had their own business to take care of. Obviously they care for one another and I just hope in book three they can have their happy ever after.

Why you should read it:

great world building and magic system
fast paced with lots of action
characters you can root for – get to know more about Ransom

Why you might not want to read it:

if fantasy isn’t for you

My Thoughts:

I think this was an entertaining sequel to Blood Heir. Only thing I wish it had more of was the Ana and Ransom scenes I enjoyed in book one. My favorite character from this book is Linn though – she was strong, such an amazing fighter, and a good friend. I like how there are different factions in play and that Ana not only has to fight her aunt for the throne, but Yuri her ex-friend and rebel leader. Add in Sorsha who is scary psycho – she loves pain…I mean, how do you fight someone like that? I think book three will turn out to be very exciting and I hope Ana and Ransom can come together again.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Bone Crier’s Moon by. Kathryn Purdie | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Bone Crier’s Moon (Bone Grace, #1)

Author: Kathryn Purdie

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 3/3/20

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Bone Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.

Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.

I was excited to finally get this one from my library but I didn’t love it like I was hoping I would. Here are some things I did like about the story.

I liked the story about the Leuress or Bone Criers – they are a group of woman who ferry dead souls to the afterlife. These women acquire bones from animals they hunt and fashion them into pendants they can carry. When they have the bones with them they can use the power of the animal bones. I liked the world-building and thought it was really creative.

Ailesse and Sabine are the two perspectives we have in this story and I love their bond. You know they love one another and they will do anything to help one another. Sabine is the one doing a lot to try and save Ailesse in this book and she really does her best to help her friend. I feel like she is the only character that was fleshed out.

There is a twist at the end that made me much more curious about where this story will go.

Triggers: animal hunting

I wasn’t feeling the fated love story. Ailesse lures her amoure to kill him, it’s tradition as a Leuress, but the amoure that shows up is Bastien – this boy who has been training to kill Bone Criers since he saw his dad murdered by one. What could have been a really good enemies to lovers romance fell short for me. They both planned to kill one another and then immediately during some crazy events that take place, they are suddenly in love with one another? Where was the build-up? I didn’t buy it and I usually love enemies to lovers romances. I think I needed more from Ailesse and Bastien, more character depth or something.

The enemies in this story were Chained souls who didn’t want to go to their afterlife because they will be punished basically for eternity. And I thought okay cool…until Bastien and anyone not a Leuress couldn’t see them. So Ailesse would direct Bastien where to fight but he was fighting something invisible. Even when Ailesse lost her grace bones she couldn’t see the enemy, so there were these interesting blind fighting moments that I was not feeling. I guess I found the visual in my head pretty funny, Bastien fighting an invisible ghost.

Why you should read it:

cool magic system with the grace bones and ferrying the dead
there is a lot of action

Why you might not want to read it:

lacks character depth
no build up to romance
creative world building concept but some parts were vague

My Thoughts:

I had high hopes for this one because I love the cover so much and the concept was intriguing. The magic system is cool and that’s what I give most of the stars for because I liked the grace bones and ferrying dead souls but the romance was a no for me and the lack of character depth for Bastien and Ailesse. I just needed more from those two. I think Sabine carried the story for me. There is a twist at the end though that makes me curious as to what the direction will go but I’m not sure if I will be reading the sequel.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Strange the Dreamer by. Laini Taylor | Book Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Strange the Dreamer (#1)

Author: Laini Taylor

Format: Audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 3/27/17

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Audiobook

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep.

For some reason I had a hard time getting through the beginning of this book when I was reading it as a physical book. I don’t know why! So while I was making my daughter a plushy I said, okay, I’ll give audiobooks a try again since I need something to listen to as I craft and chose to listen to this book. I am not sure what I was thinking but…I got through it and I’m not a big audiobook fan.

As for the narrator, Steve West, he did so good! His voice is mesmerizing, which is perfect for the author’s prose. I did giggle when he had to do some of the female dialogue but for the most part – it was his voice that kept me invested in this story. It’s a 500+ paged book and 67 chapters – I really didn’t think I’d survive the audiobook version, but I found myself wanting to hear the narrator speak.

Laini Taylor is a master at world building, imagery and magical prose. This story comes to life in this audiobook, and one word kept standing out to me, sumptuous. Every description of this world is so lush, detailed, beautiful even when it is a nightmare. The story building is wonderful as we meet Lazlo Strange and his obsession with stories of a place called Weep. Everyone thinks it’s a fairytale, a story not real until…it is real. We go on this adventure with Lazlo as he travels to the Citadel to uncover the mysteries of Weep and it’s history. We also meet Sarai, a godspawn being, half god, half human and forgotten until she is found. I cared about all the characters, humans, gods, godspawn and even the ghosts.

What we find is a story of gods and humans, of massacred babies, ghosts who want peace and revenge, and godspawn half human/half god children who were forgotten and reviled. It’s a sad story, a complicated story, a heartbreaking one of choices made, and consequences of those actions and choices. It’s a story also about love and falling in love, the learning of kisses and emotions, of longing and pleasure.

I enjoyed the puzzle of Weep and Lazlo’s patience in piecing everything together. He really grows as a character from an orphan, library apprentice to finding out who he really is.

Triggers: death, violence, violence against children

Because it was an audiobook I felt like there were a lot of repetition in the story like when it came to describing life as a godspawn or even just the kissing scenes (which are beautiful) but Minya is about to kill everyone and the Godslayer is about to do something also…I wanted all that action! Would I have read through these areas faster? Maybe. There was a few parts in the beginning where I felt like things could have moved faster but there is a lot of describing going on! It is almost a 600 page book and although I love the flowery prose, at times I wanted to get to the point. Once again – this might be because I was listening to it as an audiobook, I’m not sure? I had to listen while my kids talked to me or had Roblox playing in the background haha. It was a challenge!

Why you should read it:

Intricate, unique world and story building, beautiful imagery
Amazing characters
Emotional story about love, hate, war

Why you might not want to read it:

Overly descriptive prose, sometimes repetitive and not a lot of action
Flowery prose is not your thing
Slow beginning

My thoughts:

This book was hyped up years ago and though I LOVE this author, but I couldn’t get into the story until now…4 years later! And only through audiobook I could get through the beginning because it is so slow. I just borrowed Muse of Nightmares as an ebook just in case there are slow parts again that I can speed through, I hope. Underneath all the fluffy and sumptuous words, is a beautiful, creative story about gods, humans and godspawn. I need to know what happens next and I hope it’s good.

📚~Yolanda

A Lair of Bones (Curse of the Cyren Queen #1) by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Title: A Lair of Bones

Author: Helen Scheuerer

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 304

Publication Date: 7/13/21

Publisher: Alchemy

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Sirens

A deadly contest. A vaulting ambition. How far will one cyren go to win?

Mighty cyrens have ruled the ancient lair of Saddoriel for centuries. A cavernous fortress, a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and levels, powered by magic and music…

From the moment she was born, Roh, the daughter of an infamous criminal, has been despised by her own kind. Restricted to the Lower Sector and forced to work as a common bone cleaner, she has always believed she belongs above: where lies adventure… and power.

Opportunity arises in the form of the Queen’s Tournament, a treacherous set of trials that could see the victor crowned ruler of the entire lair. Up against the most cunning, dangerous cyrens in all the realms, does Roh stand a chance?

A Lair of Bones is the first gripping book in the dark fantasy quartet, Curse of the Cyren Queen.

I went into this story kind of blind. I love how dark and ominous the cover looks and I don’t usually read many books about Sirens or Cyrens as they are spelled in this series, but I was needing something different and I’m glad I borrowed this one.

Rohesia, or Roh is the daughter of a criminal so it’s only natural that she wants to know why her mother did what she did, what really happened, and to do anything to get out of the Lower Sector. She can do all these things if she joins the Queen’s Tournament and wins it all – the winner becomes Queen. But the trials are not easy and she is assigned a human to keep alive at the same time. But Roh has it in her to win, even if she has to hurt the people she loves to do it.

Roh is a morally gray character – do I like her? I like the reasons for her ambitions but I also worry what power will do to her as well. I don’t know if I quite trust her fully to do the right things, since she shows she’s willing to do some wrong things to get her way. Her ambition stems from how she was brought up, at orphan, despised, marked and kept down in the lower sector. She wants more than that…as she should. The way she goes about it is suspect though but I’m hoping for more character growth…she’s already starting to get there with Odi, her human by her side. They have an interesting relationship and I want to see what happens with them and I don’t mean that in a romantic sense – there is no romance in this book, but if there somewhere in the next book, I won’t mind at all! Usually I need romance in my fantasy novels but I like this story as is right now.

I love the characters we meet in this story from Roh’s mom, her best friends, Odi, the Queen and even Roh’s foes. It just makes the story so interesting.

The story itself is creative and I enjoyed the world building of this world of Cyrens. I love how music was incorporated with the Cyrens kidnapping human musicians. I was engaged with how Roh was going to carry out her plans and see if her ambitions would make her do whatever it takes to win or she would learn other ways to accomplish her goals.

Triggers: death

Roh is a morally gray character so you either like her or you don’t. She is ambitious, but she has a fascinating backstory, or at least her mother does and I really know what Cerys’ story is. Odi seems to be changing Roh in some ways, softening her up when it comes to human interactions at least. Will she able to mend her friendship with her best friends though? I hope so.

I liked the trials of the Queen’s tournament but I think there could have been more intensity to it. At least with the first two. I did like the twist of the second trial, but the third was the most action packed of them all. I hope the series gets more intense with the second book and the next quest Roh embarks on.

It would be nice to have some kind of romance? But that’s a ME issue haha, because I love romance.

Why you should read it:

fascinating world of Cyrens (Sirens), detailed world building
a tournament to win the throne, competition
interesting characters
morally gray character

Why you might not want to read it:

no romance
some trials lacking in intensity

My Thoughts:

This is a really great start to a series and I’m surprised I loved it even with no romance in it. Roh’s journey is not over and I hope we get to learn more about the other characters in the book. They all stand out in their own way and I love that about the stories. I especially love this dark world of the Cyrens that the author has created and I eagerly look forward to reading the sequel.

📚 ~ Yolanda