Thornwood Academy: Never Say Die by. L.J. Swallow | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Thornwood Academy: Never Say Die #1

Author: L.J. Swallow

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 212

Publication Date: 2/8/23

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Prep Academy, Mystery, Supernatural

I’m a vampire-witch hybrid with a fondness for necromancy.
Excuse me if I’m a little dead inside.

I tried to attend a human school, but they didn’t appreciate my behavior. Personally, I found biology class more interesting when the dissected animals fought back. The school didn’t.

My parents searched for somewhere new to send their deviant daughter, and doors open when your father is Dorian Blackwood. Then they close firmly behind once he dumps you inside an exclusive supernatural academy, along with instructions to become ‘a touch more amiable’.

Says the guy who spent his teen years tearing throats out. Luckily, I’ve inherited my father’s sociopathic tendencies and my mother’s magical skills, a lethal yet useful combination when navigating academy life.

Thornwood Academy. Home to the elite who strive to excel—and now me, who strives to leave. Since the supernaturals revealed themselves to the world, the unluckiest human kids join the vampires and witches at Thornwood. Hopefully, the humans aren’t dissected in this biology class.

I don’t care that nobody trusts me, but when the headmaster’s son is found unalived, fingers point at Dorian’s darkling daughter. Ridiculous. I would’ve reanimated the bullying asshole and demanded he perform tricks. Such a wasted opportunity.

If I want help clearing my name, I need to become ‘a touch more amiable’ to the three guys who seem oddly fascinated by me. Somebody doesn’t want the accords between humans and supes to last, and I’m not taking the blame just because I’m a Blackwood.

Looking for an academy read with Wednesday vibes? Meet Violet Blackwood: half-vampire, half-witch, smart, sarcastic, and slightly unhinged.

Never Say Die is the first in a new supernatural academy series from LJ Swallow,author of the Nightworld Academy books. The Thornwood Academy series features a girl who isn’t afraid to use her dark side, a magic school where humans mix with vampires and witches, and three guys with secrets in a town stalked by a serial killer.
Thornwood Academy is also a slow-burn romance… almost as glacial as our slightly psychotic heroine.

Content Warning: bullying, violence, death

I was in the mood for a prep school, bingeable book and picked this one up on Kindle Unlimited and this is what I thought:

+ I was reading the story and realized right away that Violet, our MC, is a dead ringer for Wednesday Adams from the show Wednesday on Netflix. And I LOVE that show. So I was enjoying Violet also since they are basically the same person, even though they look different. Violet has blue eyes I believe. Anyway so this reads like a Wednesday fanfic.

+ This is a SUPER short book, at only 212 pages – so it’s definitely bingeable, and clearly it’s a series but yeah I read this one quick.

+ I like the mystery and investigation – it keeps the story moving and once again, reminiscent of Wednesday.

~ I don’t mind Wednesday being an inspiration because I am obsessed with that show but there are too many similar things to the show. Violet investigates a murder and she sees a therapist in town – sound familiar? She even goes to the morgue just like Wednesday did and then the love triangles with the boys. Violet has a few more boys on her list but it still felt so similar to Wednesday. Violet’s whole personality is Wednesday Adams. Even her roommate – okay she’s not a werewolf, she’s a bubbly, optimistic personality though which is also reminiscent of Wednesday’s roommate in the show.

~ This is a spin-off to another series, I believe because I’m pretty sure Violet’s parents had their own series. I never read it though and I don’t think you need to read it to be able to read this one.

Why you should read it:

you love Wednesday (on Netflix) because basically this is the book version with very few differences
it’s quick and bingeable, entertaining

Why you might not want to read it:

its too similar to Wednesday

My Thoughts:

Am I going to continue the series? Yes because I need more of Wednesday and can’t get any more until they release Season 2 lol…so this series will have to suffice. Do I feel like the story could have been inspired and used less of what was in the show? Definitely yes. I love a character like Wednesday, but maybe not copy the scenes from the show and the secondary characters? I’m giving it a three because I still read it in one sitting and will definitely see how this reverse harem will work out. I mean, will it? She doesn’t even like being touched! So I’m curious to see what happens in book two and I hope it’s a little more original and not follow the Wednesday show.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

The Sweetest Betrayal by. Natalie Mae | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Sweetest Betrayal (#3)

Author: Natalie Mae

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 394

Publication Date: 2/14/23

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Series, Magic, Adventure, Romance

In this heart-pounding conclusion to The Kinder Poison trilogy—which People magazine proclaimed a “delicious high-stakes adventure”—war looms over Orkena, but can Zahru save her people without losing herself?

War has come to Orkena.

Zahru has risen as Mestrah, and she is determined to peacefully end the escalating tensions with Wyrim, her country’s long-time enemy. Yet diplomacy proves to be futile, and when Zahru turns to Orkena’s allies for help, she finds that none are willing to come to her aid—not without Kasta ruling at her side.

As Wyrim advances on the capital, Zahru is desperate to protect her people, even if that means accepting Kasta’s help. But her enemy is merciless. And as ambushes and betrayals push Zahru to increasingly dark tactics, she wonders if perhaps Kasta had it right all along: maybe peace was never an option … and maybe she was never meant to do this alone.

Can Zahru spare her enemy without sacrificing her kingdom? Or will Orkena’s salvation only come if Zahru becomes the monster her people need?

Content Warning: violence, kidnapping

This is one of my most anticipated reads for 2023 and it did NOT disappoint. And the covers for these series – absolutely stunning. Simple and stunning and I will be adding this to my bookshelf for sure. Here’s what I thought:

+ Things carry on right away from the ending of book two and boy does Zahru have a lot to answer for and face in this last book of the series. She goes through some things! But she has to in order to grow. She has major trust issues especially when it comes to Kasta. But also she doesn’t know if she can even trust herself with this god-like power. Is she a good person? Is she bad? Is she a good leader? She has a lot of growing up to do if she wants to prove she can be Mestrah.

+ One reason I love this series? The characters! From our main ones like Zahru and Kasta to all her friends her found family of sorts, they are all different, complex and amazing. They fight, argue, have fun together, support one another – intervene if need be. I love this group of characters. Hen is my favorite! I want her as my bestie.

+ Zahru and Kasta are off the charts and I didn’t even know if they would make it in the end! I didn’t even trust him for most of the story. 😅They had me anxious, eyes wide, palm over my mouth when some things happen. But wow the tension between them is so good and then also wondering as a reader if they are even good for one another made me question a lot of things but honestly and I don’t know if it’s my hormones but I teared up in some places of this book. I love them so much. They are the perfect couple in all their imperfections and I love that ultimately it was about them finding their way to trust one another and forgive. I can go on but yeah…I found a new favorite couple. They have a few steamy moments but what I love about it is it’s quick, not super detailed but you still feel the heat, maybe because it’s a long time coming and it comes as a relief that they finally stop fighting one another.

+ Wonderful story telling! It has humor, romance (and not only between Zahru and Kasta), friendship, battles, danger, adventure and more. I read this in one day without expecting to! And I wrote this review after I finished because I was feeling so much things about this book.

+ A perfect ending to a great series!

~ Some of the young characters sounded like the spoke in modern day speech which sometimes threw me off but I went with it and laughed a lot when it happened because it was mostly between Zahru and her friends. I didn’t mind it at all but I don’t remember if the previous books had the characters talking this way. I’ll have to re-read the whole series and I most definitely WILL since I loved this conclusion so much.

Tropes: enemies to lovers

Why you should read it:

Zahru and Kasta 🥰 – angst, bickering, tension, enemies to lovers and a very happy ending
great cast of characters – Hen is amazing
great story-telling, action, adventure, politics, romance

Why you might not want to read it:

My Thoughts:

I loved this conclusion – it had everything I wanted and really exceeded any expectations I had. I just wanted it to be as amazing as the cover and I can say it did it’s job in making me happy and satisfied at the end. Great series that I will be re-reading again hopefully soon! I want Natalie Mae to be working on her next series now with more enemies to lovers please 😅. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Kinder Poison | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Cruelest Mercy by. Natalie Mae | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sisters of Sword and Song by. Rebecca Ross | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Sisters of Sword and Song

Author: Rebecca Ross

Format: paperback (own)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 6/23/20

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Family, Mythology

From the author of The Queen’s Rising comes a thrilling YA stand-alone fantasy about the unbreakable bond between sisters. Perfect for fans of Ember in the Ashes, Sky in the Deep, and Court of Fives.

After eight long years, Evadne will finally be reunited with her older sister, Halcyon, who has been proudly serving in the queen’s army. But when Halcyon appears earlier than expected, Eva knows something has gone terribly wrong. Halcyon is on the run, hunted by her commander and charged with murder.

Though Halcyon’s life is spared during her trial, the punishment is heavy. And when Eva volunteers to serve part of Halcyon’s sentence, she’s determined to find out exactly what happened. But as Eva begins her sentence, she quickly learns that there are fates much worse than death.

Content Warning: whipping, violence

I am a fan of Rebecca Ross and when I saw this on an online bookstore and learned that it was a standalone, I bought it. Here is what I thought:

+ It’s a compelling story about two sisters, one a warrior, the other who has a bad leg – both very loved by their family. When Halcyon, the warrior, finds herself in big trouble with her command, her sister, Evadne tries to save her. But then Evadne gets embroiled with a secret, dangerous mission. Evadne and Halcyon are the key to this mission.

+ I love Evadne and her family. I could feel the love in their family from beginning to end and it was touching how she wanted to help her sister and the cost of being a slave. The other family is Straton who is Halcyon’s commander in the Legion she served. Though he comes off as a villain in the beginning, as the story unfolds I saw how much he really did care for Halcyon. I loved that both families had to work together to stave off a rebellion.

+ This story has everything! It has mythology, magic, politics, betrayal, love, romance, and friendship. The mythology feels like it’s inspiration is taken from Greek mythology.

+ Evadne has a romance with Damon and though it seems like something so mild as they work alongside one another, by the end my heart melted when they finally got a chance with one another.

~ I thought this story could have been darker and more intense. The magic and mission was very dangerous and what Halcyon is accused of is really so devastating for everyone involved. But I did feel there was a lightness to this story, very much a presence of hope throughout it all – maybe because of Evadne? Halcyon did have a darker journey though but I think I wanted to be fearful for the sisters, but I wasn’t. But also, I think it works and is perfect for teens and young adult…just for me as an adult reading, I wanted it darker.😅 Because it really is a great story.

Why you should read it:

it’s a standalone
you like books by Rebecca Ross, it’s great story-telling
the relationships are really amazing – the romance, the sisters, the family dynamics

Why you might not want to read it:

kind of wanted more in intensity

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining with the world building, the magic, and the dangerous mission. What I loved most though was the relationships between the characters. The romance between Evadne and Damon is the sweetest. The bond between Evadne and Halcyon is heartwarming. I read this one slowly mostly due to a busy week, but by the end of the book it really melted my heart – especially Damon’s journal entries. 🥺 Great story and I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A River Enchanted by. Rebecca Ross | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: The Queen’s Rising ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Where Darkness Blooms by. Andrea Hannah | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Title: Where Darkness Blooms

Author: Andrea Hannah

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 2/21/23

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery, LGBT+, Horror, Magical Realism

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

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

Andrea Hannah’s Where Darkness Blooms is a supernatural thriller about an eerie town where the sunflowers whisper secrets and the land hungers for blood.

The town of Bishop is known for exactly two things: recurring windstorms and an endless field of sunflowers that stretches farther than the eye can see. And women—missing women. So when three more women disappear one stormy night, no one in Bishop is surprised. The case is closed and their daughters are left in their dusty shared house with the shattered pieces of their lives. Until the wind kicks up a terrible secret at their mothers’ much-delayed memorial.

With secrets come the lies each of the girls is forced to confront. After caring for the other girls, Delilah would like to move on with her boyfriend, Bennett, but she can’t bear his touch. Whitney has already lost both her mother and her girlfriend, Eleanor, and now her only solace is an old weathervane that seems to whisper to her. Jude, Whitney’s twin sister, would rather ignore it all, but the wind kicks up her secret too: the summer fling she had with Delilah’s boyfriend. And more than anything, Bo wants answers and she wants them now. Something happened to their mothers and the townsfolk know what it was. She’s sure of it.

Bishop has always been a strange town. But what the girls don’t know is that Bishop was founded on blood—and now it craves theirs.

Content Warning: rape, violence

I wanted to read something creepy and look at this cover – it’s totally creepy. This is what I thought of the story:

+ I like the four different main characters. Four girls, who’s mothers are gone/missing or dead – the town assumes they are dead. So these four girls: Bo, Whitney, Jude and Delilah all live together and basically are trying to move on with their lives. They had distinct personalities and their lives are intertwined with certain events that culminated at a bon fire party. There is a big mystery in this story and these girls are the ones trying to figure out what is going on. I like the feminism theme in the story

+ The town of Bishop is strange. Women and girls go missing or end up dead every few months – but why? There is no “hospital” even though one of the girls had to be brought to one. There are the Harding boys who seem like they are the popular boys in school who can get whatever they want, but what they is to mess with these girls. There are these random storms or tornados but they are in a small town so that doesn’t seem totally mysterious…or is it? And what’s with the sunflowers?

~ A few things didn’t work for me – I was thrown into the story and left to figure things out. And it took me awhile to care about what was going on in this town. All I knew was that the boys were awful and two of the girls were in love with one of these awful boys, and that sucked. I knew right away this town was killing it’s women, but why? And why didn’t anyone else in town care about missing women?

~ I’ve read a few books similar to this but I don’t think I enjoyed the execution of this one. Everything is a big mystery but it didn’t creep me out as much as I wanted it to and it had all the potential to do so. I didn’t know what the connection was to the tornados, sunflowers and missing women and when the mystery is revealed I wasn’t super surprised. I wanted to know more about the town and get a better feel for the people, even the villains. I just wanted more from the story and I wanted to be spooked. Sunflower fields and a strange, small town with missing women has such a big potential to scare me, but this didn’t.

Why you should read it:

you like lite-horror and magical realism
the feminism message in the story

Why you might not want to read it:

didn’t scare me enough
slow start

My Thoughts:

This one didn’t work for me. I liked the concept and I like the creepy town, and the sunflowers fields, but it wasn’t as scary as I was expecting. I also feel like the story just didn’t flow easily. The bright spot for me in the story is the one about the girls working together to figure out why the women were going missing. The girls survive what is coming for them together, which is awesome, especially because it is such a dark story.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by. Sajni Patel | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding

Author: Sajni Patel

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 4/19/22

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Teens, Indian Wedding, Family, Coming of Age, Contemporary

A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding

Zurika Damani is a naturally gifted violinist with a particular love for hip hop beats. But when you’re part of a big Indian family, everyone has expectations, and those certainly don’t include hip hop violin. After being rejected by Juilliard, Zuri’s last hope is a contest judged by a panel of top tier college scouts. The only problem? This coveted competition happens to take place during Zuri’s sister’s extravagant wedding week. And Zuri has already been warned, repeatedly, that she is not to miss a single moment.

In the midst of the chaos, Zuri’s mom is in matchmaking mode with the groom’s South African cousin Naveen—who just happens to be a cocky vocalist set on stealing Zuri’s spotlight at the scouting competition. Luckily Zuri has a crew of loud and loyal female cousins cheering her on. Now, all she has to do is to wow the judges for a top spot, evade getting caught by her parents, resist Naveen’s charms, and, oh yeah . . . not mess up her sister’s big fat Indian wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

Check out this book cover! It is so vibrant that it caught my eye and I had to borrow it. This is what I thought:

+ This is a coming of age book set around Zurika’s older sister’s wedding. Zurika is thinking about college, thinking about her love of music and trying not to disappoint her family.

+ I love that this is set around an Indian wedding! I love weddings and I love learning about other cultures and how they celebrate weddings. I could just picture the colors of the celebration and the food. I think it’s beautiful how an Indian wedding is centered around tradition and family.

+ Outside of Zurika’s coming of age challenges, this story is about family. Zurika has cousins who help her try to get to an audition and encourage her musical talents. Her parents and the elders of course want her to pursue law or medicine but eventually they let her make her own choices with the help of Zurika’s sisters standing up for her. I love that her family is complex and relatable. I love how much fun she has with her cousins!

+ The romance between Zurika and Naveen is super sweet! They go from strangers, to friends, to a little something more and it’s cute.

~ So the wedding celebrations take place in the span of one week, and so this is a bit of insta-like. I won’t say love because clearly it’s not there…yet.

Why you should read it:

you get to learn about Indian weddings and the fun they have with all the celebrations leading up to the actual wedding
a sweet romance
perfect for teens – Zurika is relatable

Why you might not want to read it:

I think it’s more geared towards teens – but it’s still a cute story

My Thoughts:

I think this is a cute story with some Indian wedding celebration fun and a sweet romance. I love that it centers around family and it’s got a beautiful book cover.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cool for the Summer by. Dahlia Adler | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Cool for the Summer

Author: Rachel Gillig

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 272

Publication Date: 5/10/21

Categories: Young Adult, New Adult, LGBT+, Romance, Coming of Age

Lara’s had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He’s tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he’s talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe…flirting, even? No, wait, he’s definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara’s wanted out of life.

Except she’s haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the school to see Lara and Chase chatting it up in front of the lockers.

Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she’s finally got the guy, why can’t she stop thinking about the girl?

Cool for the Summer is a story of self-discovery and new love. It’s about the things we want and the things we need. And it’s about the people who will let us be who we are.

This is one of the books I’ve been waiting to read and I’m surprised I actually listened to the full thing as an audiobook (I usually cannot finish an audiobook) but this one was short, under 300 pages so this was definitely doable. This is what I thought:

+ I like how this is a coming of age story about Lara and her finally getting the crush of her dreams to look at her, popular boy, Chase – but yet harboring a secret summer affair with a girl, named Jasmine.

+ Apparently this has a Grease inspired vibe to it, but queer. I thought it was cute! “Summer lovin’, had me a blast!” Lara definitely had a blast with Jasmine and then she shows up up Lara’s high school and she has to figure out how she feels about both Chase and Jasmine. And I do like how it was okay for Lara to try to figure things out, even though if it got a bit messy, I like that as a character she was allowed to feel all her chaotic feelings about Jasmine and Chase. She’s a teenager, she’s not going to know herself overnight.

+ I do think this leans more towards new adult mostly because of Lara’s sexual experiences with both Jasmine and Chase. It’s not super graphic, but it does get hot and heavy.

~ I had to pay more attention to the story of course because it was an audiobook and maybe I missed some things but I think I got the gist of things. Lara is always in her feelings about Jasmine and Chase, so we are in her thoughts a lot. There’s a lot of angst. And at times I was impatient with her back and forth feelings but mostly because it was an audiobook. So that’s on me.

~ The flashbacks had me paying attention hard to this audiobook, because if I didn’t, I would think it was all in the present.

Why you should read it:

coming of age book about trying to figure things out, Lara trying to figure out if she likes girls, boys or both

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s one of those stories where a lot of things could be cleared up if the main characters would actually talk to one another

My Thoughts:

The best thing about this book for me was Lara’s coming of age story and trying to figure out who she is and who she likes and being okay with all of that, which is a great message for readers.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Stardust in Their Veins by. Laura Sebastian| ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Stardust in Their Veins (Castles in Their Bones, #2)

Author: Laura Sebastian

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 576

Publication Date: 2/6/23

Publisher: Delacorte Press for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Series, Political Intrigue

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

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

Immerse yourself in the second book in a fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Pricess series. The sequel to Castles in Their Bones is the story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.

Princesses Beatriz and Daphne have lost their older sister, but their mother’s grand scheme of taking the continent of Vesteria is far from complete. With the country of Temarin now under the Empress’s control, only the nations of Cellaria and Friv remain free from her rule. What’s worse, an ominous prophecy has begun to shine through the constellations: the blood of stars and majesty spilled.

Usurped by conniving cousins Nico and Gigi, Beatriz fears for her life, while in icy Friv, Daphne continues her shaky alliance with the rebels even as she struggles to stay a step ahead of them. But when an unlikely ally offers Beatriz a deal, she finds herself back in her mother’s sights.

With enemies around every corner and the stars whispering of betrayal, Daphne and Beatriz can’t trust anyone–least of all each other. If they’ve learned anything, though, it’s that the Empress’s game is constantly changing. And the arrival of surprise visitors from Temarin just might tip the scales in the princesses’ favor . . . if they manage to avoid meeting their sister’s fate before they can make their next move.

Content Warning: kidnapping, poisoning, grief

Stardust in Their Veins is the sequel to Castles in Their Bones, which I read last year and found very unique and intriguing. The story continues in this story filled with political intrigue – this is what I thought about the book:

+ One sister is gone, and two are left. I did love Sophie’s story in book one. I feel like Beatriz is the beauty and Daphne is the brains but Sophie was the heart between the three of them. So I was sad she wasn’t in this story but I think it was time to get to know Daphne much better. There is more time in this book to get to know both sisters actually and surprisingly the stories adds a third voice, Violie.

+ There is a lot of political intrigue going on in this story because of the different kingdoms and how Daphne’s mother wants to rule them all. The remaining daughters now realize they need to team up and take their mother down – but what will it take?

+ I liked Beatriz’ story in this sequel because we get a better idea about how they were created and the whole magic about the stars and constellations. I’m curious to see how Beatriz’ power helps or hinders their mission in the next book. Daphne was never my favorite because I felt she was the last one to break from her mom but I think there is a lot of growth in her in this sequel.

~ It took me awhile to get into the story. I think it lags in the middle but starts to pick up a lot closer to the end – and of course it’s another cliffhanger ending.

~ There is no romance in this one. Bairre and Daphne are going through some things and Beatriz and Pas was on the run, plus Pas is with Ambrose. I think there will be more in the next book maybe? But this one had nothing.

~ Did they really have to change the cover style? I feel like the first book and this one do not match at all!

Tropes: sisters trying to take down their evil mother

Why you should read it:

you enjoyed the first book in the series
I think the magic with the stardust and how the girls were made is very interesting and unique
the bond between sisters

Why you might not want to read it:

didn’t like the first book

My Thoughts:

The story continues with more political plots to foil and not knowing who to trust. Can Beatriz and Daphne outsmart their own mother? We get more time with Beatriz and Daphne and see their characters grow. I miss Sophie but now there is another voice in the mix, Violie. I’m definitely interested to see how this story ends and I hope there is a bit more romance in the next book as well. Despite the lag in the story in the middle, I still found it entertaining and look forward to book three!

Book Links:

Goodreads

Castles in Their Bones by. Laura Sebastian | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Wildblood by. Lauren Blackwood | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Wildblood

Author: Lauren Blackwood

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 2/7/23

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Contemporary, Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult, 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 Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Eighteen-year-old Victoria is a Wildblood. Kidnapped at the age of six and manipulated by the Exotic Lands Touring Company, she’s worked as a tour guide ever since with a team of fellow Wildbloods who take turns using their magic to protect travelers in a Jamaican jungle teeming with ghostly monsters.

When the boss denies Victoria an earned promotion to team leader in favor of Dean, her backstabbing ex, she’s determined to prove herself. Her magic may be the most powerful on the team, but she’s not the image the boss wants to send their new client, Thorn, a renowned goldminer determined to reach an untouched gold supply deep in the jungle.

Thorn is everything Victoria isn’t – confident, impossibly kind, and so handsome he leaves her speechless. And when he entrusts the mission to her, kindness turns to mutual respect, turns to affection, turns to love. But the jungle is treacherous, and between hypnotic river spirits, soul-devouring women that shed their skin like snakes, and her ex out for revenge, Victoria has to decide – is promotion at a corrupt company really what she wants?

Content Warning: violence, death, abuse, mention of rape, forced labor, kidnapping

I loved this author’s last book, Within These Wicked Walls, and wanted to see what new world she created with Wildblood. Here’s what I thought:

+ There is a tour in Jamaica that takes people through a magical, dangerous jungle. Only people with magic in their blood or blood science can take these people safely through the jungle. The most powerful person at this tour company is Victoria. I thought this idea of blood science was very unique and creative. It’s basically blood magic, but I guess more modern.

+ The characters are very unique and intriguing. All of the young people working in this tour company have been kidnapped and abused – it’s a pretty awful place to be, but because they have been abused – they feel hopeless in ever leaving. Victoria is our heroine, Dean is a villain but not the only one – but he is the one we get a clear look at what abuse and fear does to a child when they grow up, Thorn is a wealthy man who pays for a tour and sees this blood science for the first time and all the other side characters are fascinating as well! There is betrayal and mistrust throughout the whole story.

+ The setting of this jungle filled with monsters is a character in itself and it heightened the tension in the story. I really enjoyed the unique world-building.

+ I like Victoria’s character growth. She learns to lead and fight back against her abuser. Also the twist in the story is pretty cool, I was not expecting it at all.

~ I don’t mind insta-love but I felt this one is totally rushed. Thorn and Victoria just met and are saying I love you by the end of this tour and story. I did like how it ended because Victoria really needs to learn who she is before settling down but it was definitely a quick relationship. I didn’t quite feel the love between them.

~ There are so many dark themes in this book – these kids have been abused so badly by their boss. Victoria is even raped by him. I’m usually okay with these themes but Dean’s treatment of Victoria was so toxic, I felt ill for her. I felt horrible for Dean too and all of them who worked for their evil boss.

~ I wish we learned more about blood science. Also there was a bit of too much repetition with the phrase “kiss my teeth”.

Tropes: found family

Why you should read it:

dark story, dangerous jungle, blood magic
there is backstabbing, mistrust and an interesting twist in the story

Why you might not want to read it:

insta-love

My Thoughts:

Even though I had some issues with the story like the insta-love and wanting more information on the blood science, I actually read this book in two days because it was unique and intriguing. There are lots of trigger warnings in this one though. It is definitely a story with heavy themes but I like how it turns out in the end. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Within These Wicked Walls by. Lauren Blackwood | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One Dark Window by. Rachel Gillig | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: One Dark Window (#1)

Author: Rachel Gillig

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 9/27/22

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Gothic, Young Adult/New Adult

Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

Content Warning: violence, mentions of children murdered

I have finally read this book and what a book it is! Here’s what I thought:

+ Elspeth is such an interesting character, especially with a Nightmare in her head – who’s been in her head for 11 years! I loved the both of them together because Elspeth is just trying to live her life hiding all these secrets and here is this voice in her head, annoying her at all times. The Nightmare brought the humor!

+ I love all the gothic, dark, horror vibes of this story. I love the uniqueness of the Providence card, the magic surrounding them, the lore and how they were created. I like the quest of trying to find the remaining cards, the riddles and rhymes are fun and I don’t usually like possession unless it’s done right, and I think this one is done great!

+ The romance is fun, maybe a little insta-love, but I love it anyway. Ravyn is the captain of king’s guard, and Elspeth is the daughter of the former captain. The two are mistrustful of one another until they decide to work together and from there the sparks fly between them. There is a steamy scene but it’s not descriptive at all and over and done with quickly.

~ The only issue I had was it took me a bit too long in the beginning to figure out how the cards work. But once I pushed through and the story went on, it made more sense. I think it’s a cool magic system, especially with the lore tied into it.

Why you should read it:

the enemies to lovers romance, fake courting
the magic system, the lore, the story and the monster
the dark, gothic vibes

Why you might not want to read it:

not into dark reads

My Thoughts:

This one is deliciously good especially if you like the dark, gothic stories! I’m eagerly looking forward to reading book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Stolen Heir by. Holly Black | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Stolen Heir (#1)

Author: Holly Black

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 374

Publication Date: 1/3/23

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Faerie, Series, Young Adult

A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.

Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.

Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black returns to the opulent world of Elfhame in the first book in a thrilling new duology, following Jude’s brother Oak, and the changeling queen, Suren.

Content Warning: violence, child abuse, parental neglect, foster parents

Holly Black is my Queen of Faerie. She was the author who made me love the Fae and will always be hands down the one who will make me want to live in their world and yet make me feel terrified to do it. Here’s is what I thought about The Stolen Heir:

+ Wren. Suren gutted me. Her story is not easy. A foster child who is then taken away by her “true” parents but then abused at the hands of them. A girl who only wants a family, to be loved, and not to be hurt and yet she’s surviving and scavenging the world alone, hurt, afraid and her story broke my heart. I wanted to help her and keep her safe and I couldn’t ~ Wren made me so emotional. She is raw and real.

+ Oak has turned into a golden boy with a penchant for violence! He is honey-tongued and Wren doesn’t know if she can trust him. I want to trust him but he is Madoc’s son and Jude’s sister. He and Wren are really fascinating characters. He’s that boy you love because he makes everyone feel amazing, he really is like a golden light. Is it weird he has hooves and antlers? Nope! I think it lent to the pure fantasy of this book, that’s what I expect from Holly Black. If she’s taking us to Faerie, taking us to Faerie and all the strange creatures there! Yes.

+ I did not come to this book looking for Jude and Cardan. I was happy with their series and didn’t see a need for them to appear and I’m glad they didn’t because this is Wren’s story. But I love that this love story is going to be all Wren and Oak. Their relationship is wrought with mistrust and who can blame either of them, especially Wren. I found Oak becoming his own man very fascinating with the way he was raised – so to see how he has turned out is really amazing.

+ I read this slowly over a few days because I was savoring it. The way Holly Black tells a story about faerie is beautiful, dark, lush, addictive and exactly the way I like it. I like the betrayals, I like the mistrust, I like the backstabbing and imperfect characters. All of them is flawed – isn’t that why Jude made such a compelling character? Even Madoc who is all about violence – Oak is trying to save him even though his dad is a murderer hundred times over. I like all the morally gray characters. I like that Wren can break curses, but she’s afraid of power. I like that she runs when she’s afraid but helps people who shouldn’t be kept prisoner. I like that she’s learning to realize she can learn to use her power.

Why you should read it:

you love Elfhame and the world Holly Black created
you want to see how Oak is, all grown up
Wren/Suren’s story

Why you might not want to read it:

if you are looking for Jude and Cardan, they are not in this book

My Thoughts:

I didn’t have high expectations going in but I can honestly say if Holly Black is writing something about Faerie, I will love it. I loved it when she first wrote Tithe and she made me aware of this world called Faerie and here I am 20 years later loving her world of Elfhame! I can’t even believe I’ve been reading her books for 20 years. ❤️ I can’t wait for the second book!