Ambrosia by. C.N. Crawford | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Ambrosia (The Frost and Nectar, #2)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 350

Publication Date: 2/20/23

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Duology, Faerie, Urban Fantasy

After the Seelie king Torin nearly froze me to death, I plunged through a portal into my true home. Turns out, my hometown is a wild Unseelie kingdom known as the Court of Sorrows. When Torin follows me and sees my new horns, he quickly realizes that his intended bride is an enemy of his realm. In fact, his name for my kind is “demon.”

But even if I have the horns of an Unseelie, I’m not welcome here, either. Queen Mab and her monstrous soldiers are delighted to torment us, accusing me of being a traitor. If we want to get out of the Court of Sorrows with our lives, the only hope we have is to stay as close to each other as possible–even if it means fleeing in horseback and sharing a bed. Every moment is bittersweet, since it could be our last–and Torin is condemned to kill anyone he loves.

Content Warning: violence

This was one of my most anticipated reads for February and I finally got a chance to read it. Here is what I thought:

+ A lot happens in this story because the series is only a duology. Ava has fallen into the world of the Unseelie and she is not herself. She learns more about herself and that she has powers and why.

+ Torin and Ava finally get to have a steamy scene together which is what I’ve been waiting for.

+ There is a lot of action in this one, especially at the end.

~ Unfortunately I was less connected to the characters in this one and I think it’s because everything was so fast paced and it felt rushed. I think the whole series altogether feels rushed.

~ I actually wanted to learn more about the villains but again, everything came so rushed at the end.

~ Shalini, Ava’s best friend, actually gets more of a part in this book but I wasn’t expecting her POV and was thrown off and I didn’t even remember who she was only because the book focuses on Ava and Torin. I’m glad she has a happy ending also but it was unexpected.

Why you should read it:

you read book one
into Faeries
Ava and Torin finally get a steamy scene

Why you might not want to read it:

the whole series feels rushed

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed book one and was interested in seeing where the story would go and even though it was rushed, there were entertaining moments. I think this story had so much potential, I just needed more from it like maybe a third book. Even though I didn’t really love it, I know others will enjoy this book.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

Frost by. C.N. Crawford | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Garden of Serpents by. C.N. Crawford | Book Review ⭐️⭐️💫

Lord of Embers by. C.N. Crawford | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

City of Thorns (The Demon Queen Trials, #1) by. C.N. Crawford | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Mini Reviews | Hades Castle Trilogy by. C.N. Crawford ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mini Reviews | Institute of the Shadow Fae Series (Books #1-4) by. C.N. Crawford ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Mini Reviews | Court of the Sea Fae Trilogy by. C.N. Crawford ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Blood & Steel by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Blood & Steel (The Legends of Thezmarr #1)

Author: Helen Scheuerer

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 504

Publication Date: 2/16/23

Categories: Fantasy, Romance

With her death foretold, Althea Zoltaire only has three years to become what she’s always dreamed of being: a warrior legend.

Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with the protection of the five kingdoms.

The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone.

All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms.

Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts?

If you like fierce sword-wielding heroines and brooding, tortured heroes, you will devour this sexy, addictive fantasy adventure.

Perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom, From Blood and Ash and The Witcher, BLOOD & STEEL is an epic romantic fantasy with enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn spice, found family, and a sprawling world of magic and monsters. Blood & Steel is the gripping first book in the heart-pounding, epic romantic fantasy series, The Legends of Thezmarr.

Content Warning: violence, bullying, hazing

I was in the mood for a romantic fantasy and saw that one of my must-read authors Helen Scheuerer came out with a new book series. So I borrowed it on KU and this is what I thought:

+ I enjoyed this author’s past series, but I still have to finish book 4 from the last one. I always enjoy the world-building and it’s no different with this one. Set in a world where kingdoms are trying to combat evil monsters coming through a rift in the Veil, there is action, legendary warriors, monsters and romance.

+ I like my romantic fantasy with all the tropes and this one has a few: enemies to lovers romance, girl with a secret past/power, sibling bond, found family, a young woman training among young men, mentor/mentee romance and I think it all fits nicely together. It’s what I look for and when I get it in one book, it’s wonderful. It may be predictable but that’s why I like it.

+ Speaking of romance. Althea or Thea is the young woman who wants to be a warrior but there is a rule that women are not supposed to carry weapons because of a prophecy. But she breaks the rules and who’s there to teach her how to fight – but reluctantly? The grouchy, cold hearted Wilder Hawthorne, one of 3 legendary Warswords, a menacing warrior who has no time to be Thea’s babysitter but can’t seem to stay away. It’s a slow burn, but it’s clear they are attracted to one another and they have one steamy moment.

+ I love the found family Thea has with Kipp and Cal, two guys she befriends in training. And I love that she also has her sister to help keep her on track at times even though they butt heads a lot.

+ Story-wise I am intrigued to see what happens after that cliffhanger ending. Will Thea learn more about her past and powers and learn to use it for good? I did love all the action and fighting scenes in this book, I think it is very entertaining.

~ Thea is a bit impulsive but I understand because of her fate stone and what it means. I can see why she wants all she can get out of life even if that means being reckless at times. But she does learn, especially because a lot of this book is about her training and honing her skills – she eventually learns some sense of control, which is good.

~ The romance is a bit of back and forth, push and pull plus it’s a slow burn, but Wilder keeps fighting it so we shall see what happens in the next book.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, special girl with past/undiscovered powers, found family

Why you should read it:

Thea’s goals of becoming a female warrior even if it is against the law
found family, sibling bond, lots of action fighting monsters
romantic fantasy, slow burn, enemies to lovers

Why you might not want to read it:

it feels young adult even though the MC is 24? Especially when she is training with everyone.
special girl trope

My Thoughts:

This one has everything I want in a romantic fantasy that is bingeable. It has found family, action, monsters, magic, fighting, a sister bond, and a special girl who now is finding out how special she really is to the kingdom. Now only if the other books were already published, that would’ve been much better for me lol. I enjoyed this one a lot and look forward to book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

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

With Dagger and Song by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Fabric of Chaos by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

House of Pounding Hearts by. Olivia Wildenstein | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: House of Pounding Hearts (#2)

Author: Olivia Wildenstein

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 444

Publication Date: 1/29/23

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Crows, Faerie, Fated Mates

I MEANT TO CAPTURE THE PRINCE’S HEART . . . AND ENDED UP WITH A KING’S.

My desire to sit upon the Lucin throne led me to revive an ancient, winged monarch; one I deemed a friend until that friend duped and imprisoned me.

Lorcan claims he’s holding me captive for my own safety, but then he also claims I belong to him. Slumbering for five centuries has evidently given the Crow King severe delusions.

We may share an unfortunate mind-link, but we are still masters of our own destiny, and I intend to steer mine away from the Sky Kingdom and its prophecies . . . away from him.

I quickly find out there is no escaping the possessive male. In all honesty, I’m no longer certain I want to.

Get swept away in the second installment of a slow-burn shifter fantasy series full of heartbreaking deceit, wicked supernaturals, and alpha males.

I wasn’t on planning on reading the sequel in this series because the first one was just an okay read for me. But I was curious about the crows, which came at the ending part of book one, so since I needed a break from reading arcs, I decided to pick this one up. This is what I thought:

+ Fallon annoyed me less in this one. She still acts young-because she IS, but mostly around her friends because she’s fun and wild around her friends. They drink and party a lot, but being in Lore’s world has finally opened her eyes to a few things. He’s the serious one between the two of them and with a lot at stake, he’s trying to keep her safe, break a curse and free his crow people.

+ I adore Phoebus who is not only a good friend to Fallon but super funny too. Fallon has great friends.

+ I liked the political intrigue and that the story was now more about that than Fallon’s love life.

+ Finally Fallon has seen what Dante really is! This book is mostly about Fallon and Lore and this bond that they have with one another and when she will stop fighting it. When they finally get together, it’s hot and steamy times Fallon and Lore!

~ This book is book, just like its predecessor is over 400 pages long. I think it’s a tad bit too long. There was a lot of court intrigue in this one, which I enjoyed but I think we could have done without Antoni pining for Fallon. That was so over when Lore came into the picture.

~ There are a lot of characters in this book so at times I just had to try and remember who was who in Luce…and I didn’t always do a good job at that but I just went with it.

~ I do wish we got to know more about Shabbe but I’m assuming that’s where this story is going in the third book.

Why you should read it:

you liked the first book
Fallon and Lore finally gets some sexy time together
you want to read a romantasy with fated mates and alpha males

Why you might not want to read it:

you weren’t into the first book

My Thoughts:

I actually liked this book slightly better than the first one because I think the crow people are fascinating. Also there is finally some sexy action between Fallon and Lore. I still think the story could be shorter but I’ll read the next one to see what happens.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

House of Beating Wings by. Olivia Wildenstein | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Of Wicked Blood | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thorn Kissed and Silver Chains by. Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Thorn Kissed and Silver Chains (#1)

Author: Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 271

Publication Date: 11/28/22

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Faerie, Reverse Harem

A continuation in the world of Honey and Ice . . .with new characters, new loves, new enemies . . .

Underhill is my ruthless mother. Her realm is my deadly home. The brutal creatures here are both foe and friend.

But the group of fae that just attacked me? They’re all foe. Dragged from my game of hide-and-seek with a dragon, and my home of twenty-one years, I’m thrust into a weak, ugly realm.

Earth.

Something is taking the fae children of the Irish court, and an Oracle has declared I must find them. Nope. Not my problem. Bye. Except a three-year-old girl they suspect is the next Queen of All Fae was taken too. She’s crucial to the success of my mother’s work and the wellbeing of all, including these simpering fae who’ve forgotten who they are.

Now they have my attention.

The child-snatching darkness flickers in and out of sight, spreading in secret, reaching through cracks and fissures to seize and steal the innocent. Yet I earned each breath in my life by understanding that which seeks to kill me. I will learn the ways of this enemy and find its lair, ideally without the Seelie and Unseelie males who only slow me—even if they’re not quite as stupid as most Earth-dwelling fae.

All I’m sure of is that Underhill is testing me. My mother is testing me in her typical, brutal fashion. And I will not fail.

Well, I wasn’t planning on reading this spin-off but I was bored and wanted to make use of my Kindle Unlimited subscription so why not! Plus I did enjoy Honey and Ice series a lot. So here is what I thought:

+ Our main character is nameless until one of her potential love interests names her Silver. She is feral and her mother is Underhill. If you read the Honey and Ice series you would know who/what Underhill is. Anyway, Silver is not anyone to mess with, she is powerful, strong, brave and reckless but it’s fun to see her kicking butt.

+~ There is a reverse harem situation or menage a trois thing going on with Silver, Aaden who is a Seelie Fae and Cormac, who is an Unseelie Fae. Honestly didn’t know this going into the story, because I was definitely rooting for bad boy Cormac but it seems like for now she’s vibing with both guys. Thing is, I’m not the biggest fan of reverse harem but at least there isn’t five guys for her to choose from, two I can deal with. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending of this book yet – but it’s definitely not what I expected.

+ This is a very quick read at under 300 pages long. It’s definitely pure escapism especially if you love the world of Faerie. By the way I loved her bat companion Orry, she’s funny, she’s my favorite character I think.

~ I really need to know what the deal is with the thorns. There are so many questions and no answers yet.

~ Silver is feral and speaks that way. She doesn’t speak in long sentences until later in the book when she all of a sudden does? I kind of felt like that was distracting because then she reverted back to simple speech. That threw me off.

~ If this is a reverse harem/menage give us some steam. This one definitely is only a teaser of things to come. But there was always something stopping these three. Aaden is okay – he doesn’t intrigue me much. Cormac, definitely is the one I wanted her to end up with but I guess the theme of this book is “balance”…so we will see what will happen with this threesome.

Tropes: feral girl, reverse harem

Why you should read it:

you liked the Honey and Ice series
there is a reverse harem romance brewing with a feral girl, alpha male and a sweet male

Why you might not want to read it:

not into any mentioned above

My Thoughts:

I found the start of this series quite entertaining but I’m not sure how I feel about the romance aspect of it yet. I like Silver and her being feral, but it would be nice if she stayed in character especially with her speech. Orry was my favorite part of this book for sure. I’ll definitely give book two a try and see what happens after the cliffhanger ending we got in this book.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Court of Honey and Ash by. Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Throne of Feathers and Bone by. Shannon Mayer & Kelly St. Clare | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Crown of Petals and Ice by. Shannon Mayer, Kelly St. Clare | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by. Sue Lynn Tan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Daughter of the Moon Goddess (#1)

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Format: paperback (own)

Pages: 512

Publication Date: 1/11/22

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Categories: Fantasy, Chinese Mythology, Romance, Adventure

A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

There are two reasons why I wanted to read this book. The cover is stunning and I heard of the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess, from the cute Netflix movie my kids and watched 2 years ago called Over the Moon. We loved that movie and it was my first introduction to Chang’e and I loved her story. This is what I thought about the book:

+ The book cover is so gorgeous.

+ I loved that this was the story about Chang’e and Houyi’s secret child. The story about the couple is so heartbreaking but I loved how this book was about Xingyin, their daughter, and her love for her mother. She loved her so much she would do anything to free her from her punishment.

+ I enjoyed the action and adventure in the story. This story takes place in the Celestial Kingdom so the characters are immortals and there are monsters and even dragons. Xingyin is an amazing heroine who becomes a soldier and a great archer at that. She is away from her mother, and makes her life in enemy territory all with the goal of freeing her mother. I love her focus and determination.

+ The romance between Xingyin and Liwei is so sweet because it starts off as friendship and grows over the years into something more. But of course how can they be together when he is promised to someone else? Their love is full of angst and drama but I do love how their friendship is strong.

~ The romance involves a love triangle and I’m all for a girl keeping her options open after a heartbreak but clearly she wasn’t over Liwei and was rushing into whatever she was feeling with Wenzhi – even though I didn’t really feel it between them. He definitely felt like a rebound. So at the end when Wenzhi expresses how he feels about her, it felt a bit flat. I feel like Liwei will always be end game for her. I’ll have to read book two to find out!

~ For the most part I was engrossed in the story because I wanted to see if she could free her mother. But there are some moments in the middle of the story when I wondered if the story lost sight of the goal or I was wondering when it would loop back into saving Chang’e – and the story eventually gets there but there are a lot of other things in the way. I just felt like the story wasn’t straightforward and it took Xingyin too long to save her mom – I was like…did she forget about her? Clearly she didn’t but it felt that way for a few moments.

Why you should read it:

fantasy and Chinese mythology about Chang’e (but this mostly about her daughter)
romance, adventure, world-building

Why you might not want to read it:

there is a love triangle

My Thoughts:

I’m so glad I finally read this one and I didn’t have super high expectations because I’m reading this a year later so I actually enjoyed this a lot despite some issues I had with it. I don’t like the love triangle but I am convinced she will end up with Liwei. I also wish there was more about Chang’e in the story but in the end it did pull my heartstrings because of Xingyin’s love for her family. Am I going to read book two? Yes most likely since I have the story fresh in my head.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

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.