The Hawthorne Legacy by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games, #2)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Format: eBook (own)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 9/7/21

Publisher: Penguin

Categories: Young Adult, Inheritance, Puzzles, Riddles, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary

Intrigue, riches, and romance abound in this thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Inheritance Games perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.

The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions – including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons.

Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture – by any means necessary.

With nonstop action, aspirational jet-setting, family intrigue, swoonworthy romance, and billions of dollars hanging in the balance, The Hawthorne Legacy will thrill Jennifer Lynn Barnes fans and new readers alike.

Well, well, well…the twists keep on keeping in this series, doesn’t it? Avery, the Hawthornes and friends are on the move to break the case of Toby Hawthorne and how Avery fits into the inheritance Tobias Hawthorne left her. So did they figure it out?

I love the puzzles and riddles of course and it’s what made me love the series in the first place. We get more of it here, but more like a scavenger hunt because they have to travel places to find things. This book is fast pace – by the end of it, I was like wait…is it over? Book three can’t come soon enough.

I love Max! Max is Avery’s best friend and honestly I’m so glad she was here for book two. I love her humor and penchant for substituting her curse words. Speaking of friends – Libby who is Avery’s sister doesn’t have a huge role here but I still love that she is Avery’s only family really.

We do get to know more about Toby’s past which is great! There is a whole backstory there and this is the sequel to tell it.

My team Grayson standing did not go well for me in this book! 😔 But that’s okay – I felt like Avery was busy finding clues than concentrating on romance which is understandable. Jameson is fine, but yeah I was over the love triangle between Avery and the brothers in this one. I don’t mind love triangles but when there is two brothers involved? It sucks! Also I didn’t feel like Avery had much a connection to either them, almost like either them will do – until the end, of course.

There was too much going on. I felt like there were too many characters to keep up with and plot points! I think in book one, we were being introduced to them so I could keep it straight but add Toby’s back story and I need a white board and pen to make some diagrams on who is connected to who! There were so many twists ad turns, I got a bit dizzy.

How many times are they going to talk about invisible ink? Haha…that was super repetitive.

Why you should read it:

if you read the first book, read this one to learn more about Toby Hawthorne
To find out who will win Avery’s heart
To get more time with Max because she’s fun

Why you might not want to read it:

love triangle with brothers
too much filler, too much going on

My Thoughts:

Even though I had my little issues with the book, it’s a second book in the series and I’ll let it slide because I was still entertained. I still flew through the book quickly and I’m looking forward to book three!

📚~ Yolanda

Luminous by. Mara Rutherford | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Luminous

Author: Mara Rutherford

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/5/21

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, 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 Inkyard Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

From the author of Crown of Coral and Pearl comes an immersive new fantasy about a witch who must learn to harness her power–or risk losing her loved ones forever.

Liora has spent her life in hiding, knowing discovery could mean falling prey to the king’s warlock, Darius, who uses mages’ magic to grow his own power. But when her worst nightmare comes to pass, Darius doesn’t take her. Instead, he demands that her younger sister return to the capital with him. To make matters worse, Evran, Liora’s childhood friend and the only one who knows her secret, goes missing following Darius’s visit, leaving her without anyone to turn to.

To find Evran and to save her sister, Liora must embrace the power she has always feared. But the greatest danger she’ll face is yet to come, for Darius has plans in motion that will cause the world to fall into chaos–and Liora and Evran may be the only ones who can stop him.

I definitely requested this from NetGalley because of the cover. It’s not colorful, but I love the aesthetic of it. Also the premise of the story sounded so unique!

Liora has a very interesting and unique power, she is as bright as a star but she doesn’t know much about her powers at all. Her family has kept her hidden to keep her out of danger though so she is very sheltered. The warlock Darius though recognizes her for who she is and interestingly enough, he is the one who can give her clues about her power and it’s origin.

I think the most fascinating thing about this story was Margana, the weaver. She created the Queen and Prince with her powers. That’s pretty amazing and unique. I could see why Darius kept her under his thumb.

I did like the theme of family. Liora did everything to help save her family from Darius’ threats. Evran, Liora’s love interest and Margana’s son, did his best to try and save his mother. So the theme of family is strong in this story.

The romance is sweet, Liora and Evran were friends that turned into lovers.

Triggers: violence

I did not connect to Liora. The most fascinating character for me was Margana because her powers were so unique. Liora is very sheltered and doesn’t know much about the world outside her town – she does grow a bit because she has to save Evran and deal with Darius but I felt like I needed more from her.

Why did Darius remind me of the Darkling from Shadow and Bone? Maybe because he’s lived for a long time, and Liora’s power is light and he wants her for that? Anyway, it kept giving me images of the Darkling.

I wanted more world-building and explanation of the magic system. Evran doesn’t know much about his power, Liora doesn’t either so I just felt like it was vague at times. The ending felt like it was making room for a sequel, but I think this is a standalone.

Why you should read it:

Shadow and Bone fan – this has similar themes and villain/Darkling traits
easy, quick read – perfect for teens
cool magic (my favorite is the weaving)

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s a standalone and I think the ending felt like it was left open
it’s too similar to Shadow and Bone
needs more world building and explanation of magic system

My Thoughts:

I thought this was a fairly enjoyable fantasy despite the issues I had with it. I wish I had connected more to the characters but I thought Margana’s magic was very cool. I think it’s a fantasy that young adults and younger can enjoy because the romance is sweet and the themes center around family.

📚 ~ Yolanda

As If on Cue by. Marisa Kanter | ARC Review

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Title: As If on Cue

Author: Marisa Kanter

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 9/21/21

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Teen, Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Contemporary

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

A pair of fierce foes are forced to work together to save the arts at their school in this swoony YA enemies-to-lovers romance that fans of Jenny Han and Morgan Matson are sure to adore.

Lifelong rivals Natalie and Reid have never been on the same team. So when their school’s art budget faces cutbacks, of course Natalie finds herself up against her nemesis once more. She’s fighting to direct the school’s first ever student-written play, but for her small production to get funding, the school’s award-winning band will have to lose it. Reid’s band. And he’s got no intention of letting the show go on.

But when their rivalry turns into an all-out prank war that goes too far, Natalie and Reid have to face the music, resulting in the worst compromise: writing and directing a musical. Together. At least if they deliver a sold-out show, the school board will reconsider next year’s band and theater budget. Everyone could win.

Except Natalie and Reid.

Because after spending their entire lives in competition, they have absolutely no idea how to be co-anything. And they certainly don’t know how to deal with the feelings that are inexplicably, weirdly, definitely developing between them…

Talk about enemies to lovers….Natalie and Reid are straight-up hating one another. At least that’s how we see it through Natalie’s perspective. Natalie and Reid have been rivals since they both started being clarinet pupils under her dad’s tutelage. The competition between them became so fierce that it included pranks and then rules to curb their behavior. Now they are both in high school and their relationship is beyond tense.

I enjoyed how this story was written – it flowed so well and the characters were really fleshed out and strong. I loved Natalie’s friends, Henry and Fitz who are amazing. Natalie and Henry’s platonic best-friend relationship is super sweet and Fitz is just fabulous, bi and a fashion trendsetter. When Natalie’s in her core group, we see her shine even when she doesn’t feel like she has a voice. There is a lot of growth to her character especially when she is forced to turn the play she has written into a musical. She is pushed past her comfort zone, and becomes aware of how intense she can be. This whole venture also makes her confront the issues she has with her dad.

The part I had fun reading about was the making of the musical, Melted. We see all the hard work that these teenagers go through with making music, auditions, and just all the effort they put in because they love the arts (music, performing, etc…). I loved how the story progressed as we get to opening night.

I really connected to the message the author was trying to convey about Natalie not knowing what to do after high school. She’s still a Junior but already she’s wondering if pursuing a passion (for example the arts) and giving it your all is a bad thing because she sees her mom, a writer, struggle with writer’s block and the emotions of trying to put out work to help pay the bills. Her dad is a music teacher and that doesn’t pay well either plus all his time seems to be devoted to the band and Reid. Natalie weighs the options of pursuing a passion or doing what other people do and find something stable and play with your passion on the side. Everyone has their own path but Natalie really struggled with her vision of the future.

Triggers: microaggressions, antisemitism

I love an enemies to lovers romance, it’s my favorite trope but Natalie and Reid take it too far. I will say, Reid didn’t do anything for me in the beginning of the story, because I was getting Natalie’s side of this story. I did not like him and even blamed him for coming in between Natalie and her dad – I was wondering what was his deal? Like lay off the animosity buddy…but then we learn more about Natalie. She’s intense, she doesn’t listen to others and she distrusts Reid. Natalie does something in my opinion, that isn’t forgivable and the fact that Reid does forgive her…he must love her a lot. But I was not impressed with her actions, though I’m glad she fixed the problem.

The issue with Natalie and her dad is a big thing to Natalie and her dad seems oblivious. Again, I didn’t like how her dad seemed to say brush off her concerns. Natalie isn’t good at communication with Reid and her father. She just wanted her dad’s attention, outside of anything to do with the clarinet/band and I can see why Natalie hated Reid for that. Natalie had to do some serious soul-searching to do on the issue and tell her dad, which she eventually does.

When all is said and done and Natalie and Reid finally communicate is when they were the best together. The pranking, the miscommunication, the distrust caused some major problems between them to the point I thought they were not a good fit for one another. It caused great tension though which is a must in an enemies to lovers romance. I did enjoy the message about career paths and fighting for the things you love and believe in. My favorite parts were just reading about the whole crew trying to turn a play into a musical, that was fun! Overall, I enjoyed the story and read it in one sitting.

📚 ~ Yolanda

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.

📚

The Jasmine Project by. Meredith Ireland | ARC Review

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Title: The Jasmine Project

Author: Meredith Ireland

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 9/7/21

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books For Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Family, Coming of Age, Contemporary

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 eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jenny Han meets The Bachelorette in this effervescent romantic comedy about a teen Korean American adoptee who unwittingly finds herself at the center of a competition for her heart, as orchestrated by her overbearing, loving family.

Jasmine Yap’s life is great. Well, it’s okay. She’s about to move in with her long-time boyfriend, Paul, before starting a nursing program at community college—all of which she mostly wants. But her stable world is turned upside down when she catches Paul cheating. To her giant, overprotective family, Paul’s loss is their golden ticket to showing Jasmine that she deserves much more. The only problem is, Jasmine refuses to meet anyone new.

But…what if the family set up a situation where she wouldn’t have to know? A secret Jasmine Project.

The plan is simple: use Jasmine’s graduation party as an opportunity for her to meet the most eligible teen bachelors in Orlando. There’s no pressure for Jasmine to choose anyone, of course, but the family hopes their meticulously curated choices will show Jasmine how she should be treated. And maybe one will win her heart.

But with the family fighting for their favorites, bachelors going rogue, and Paul wanting her back, the Jasmine Project may not end in love but total, heartbreaking disaster.

This one is cute! It definitely gave me Jenny Han vibes and I love Jenny Han so this was definitely up my alley.

Jasmine Yap is Korean and adopted. Her adopted mom is Italian-American and her father is Filipino-American which makes for a big family. I can relate to the big Filipino family – I have so many first cousins, it’s not funny! I loved the big family parties in the story, and the family meddling and drama is on point, too.

So Jaz is at a crossroads. She’s graduating high school with plans on going to community college and follow in her mom’s footsteps to become a nurse. Also, Jaz is supposed to move in with her high school boyfriend, Paul, until plans change and he gets caught cheating on her. Jaz’s family, and I mean all of them, decides it’s time for her to start dating other guys – guys who would actually show Jaz she’s special.

I could relate to Jaz on the family side of things and going after a dream that seems unattainable. She wanted to stay safe and surrounded by family and I know that feeling because I grew up with so many people around me, it was sometimes scary to leave that. But Jaz grows a lot from dating the other guys, having conflict with the family and resolving those issues. By the end, she’s ready to spread her wings and fly.

As for the dating show part of the story, yes she is dating these boys but she doesn’t know the whole story about how they came into her life. Right off the first meetings I felt the sparks between her and Eugene! He was my choice for her all along for sure. They have a love of food and cooking and he really brought her out of her comfort zone.

Triggers: bullying, low self-esteem, toxic relationship, cheating

Jaz had low self-esteem when she was with Paul. She seemed to go along with everything he wanted, just to please him and it was nice seeing her find out what she wanted and go for it without him in the picture.

Jaz was rightfully mad when she found out what her family did – especially her sister, who had a chance to stop the podcast she made about it. Jasmine really is a sweetheart for taking time to realize why they did it (out of love for her) and forgiving them. I don’t know if I would have been so easy to forgive that quickly.

I couldn’t put this book down because it was entertaining and I related so well to Jasmine. This is a wonderful, heartfelt coming of age story that has a sweet romance, friendship, family and food – so much amazing food that it made me hungry! So if you like food and romance, you will definitely enjoy this one.

📚 ~ 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