Tag: fantasy

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Drowned Woods

Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 346

Publication Date: 8/15/22

Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Welsh Mythology, Heist, Magic

Once upon a time, the kingdoms of Wales were rife with magic and conflict, and eighteen-year-old Mererid “Mer” is well-acquainted with both. She is the last living water diviner and has spent years running from the prince who bound her into his service. Under the prince’s orders, she located the wells of his enemies, and he poisoned them without her knowledge, causing hundreds of deaths. After discovering what he had done, Mer went to great lengths to disappear from his reach. Then Mer’s old handler returns with a proposition: use her powers to bring down the very prince that abused them both.

The best way to do that is to destroy the magical well that keeps the prince’s lands safe. With a motley crew of allies, including a fae-cursed young man, the lady of thieves, and a corgi that may or may not be a spy, Mer may finally be able to steal precious freedom and peace for herself. After all, a person with a knife is one thing… but a person with a cause can topple kingdoms.

The Drowned Woods—set in the same world as The Bone Houses but with a whole new, unforgettable cast of characters—is part heist novel, part dark fairy tale.

Content Warning: violence

The Drowned Woods is a story inspired by Welsh mythology and I thought this was a fascinating story because of it. Here is what I liked and didn’t like:

+ Welsh mythology is so very interesting especially because it ties into the Fae. I could definitely feel the magic in the setting of the story. We have the last water diviner, Mer, and we know the land that was once so infused with magic – it’s still there, but not many have magic anymore. There are a few mythical creatures that show up in this story which was nice to see and learn about it.

+ This is a heist story and that was unexpected to me. Mer is propositioned to help someone steal the kingdom’s jewels and take down the Prince’s power. And she does to help take down the Prince after what he made her do as his water diviner in the past. The story introduces people into the group along the way but my favorites were Mer, Ifanna and Fane. Oh and Trefor the dog, of course!

+ The ending is great and I’d say it’s my favorite part of the book because the pace picks up and it’s a great conclusion.

~ The story starts off well but it started to lose me a bit in the middle. I can’t quite put my finger on why. I liked meeting Mer and Fane and eventually Ifanna but the rest of the group didn’t do much for me. Maybe it was the time putting the team together that was too slow for me? I wanted more action but we definitely get it at the end.

~ I think I also wanted a bit emotion in the story, maybe between the characters? I felt like it was lacking a connection between the characters and it turn I wasn’t connecting to them either. Especially for a heist story.

Tropes: heist, mythology

Spice Level:

Why you should read it:

  • Welsh mythology
  • it’s a heist story – and the ending is very good
  • Mer and Fane have powers and it was cool to see them use it

Why you might not want to read it:

  • kind of loses steam in the middle

My Thoughts:

I think I went into this one with higher expectations since I like this author’s work. I did enjoy it for the most part, but the middle of the story is what made me lose interest. I liked Mer, Fane, Ifanna and Trefor and the ending is great. The Welsh mythology is always fascinating and I like that this author writes stories inspired by it. I would have liked to connect to the characters more but other than that I still look forward to reading more books from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Bones Houses by. Emily Lloyd-Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hearts We Sold by. Emily Lloyd-Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingdom of the Feared by. Kerri Maniscalco | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Kingdom of the Feared (#3)

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 393

Publication Date: 9/27/22

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Supernatural

Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.

When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.

Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.

Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.

Two curses.
One prophecy.
A reckoning all have feared.

And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell.

Content Warning: sex, violence

Okay everyone, they should have stopped marketing this as YA since the last book. If you thought that was steamy…oh boy…this one takes it to the next level. Let’s dive into this book and see what did and didn’t work for me:

+ Wrath and Emilia are back and forget all the teasing and tension in book two. This is a book of full on Wrath and Emilia smut. Now they get to release their passions on one another and they sure do! They are horny for one another and show it everywhere it seems. 😅 I do admit, at some later points of the book I was skipping the sex scenes to get to the story. I love them together though. This book is as sinful as these princes of Hell.

+ This is Wrath and Emilia’s story basically told by Emilia, but really, it involves so many other characters. It’s a tangled web of secrets, curses and betrayals. I love the reveals in the story, especially because yay, finally we know what the heck is going on with Vittoria, the werewolves, the curse, and Emilia’s powers. It is ALL revealed! There was so much to unpack and I think the story did a great job at tying up loose ends and leaving some open for a spin-off.

+ I love the different princes, and I think this series has the potential for so many spin offs. Now I want to know about Pride and Vittoria…and what about Envy? Greed also has potential for his own story with a certain werewolf/demon. So many characters, so many more stories to tell? But this time it can’t be marketed as YA…just give it to us straight NA or Adult Fantasy…and throw in all the sexy scenes you want. I doubt we could handle a book about Lust. 😅 I also want to know more about Claudia! There is just so much potential and that mostly happens because there are characters we care about in the book. And that series definitely made us care about the characters.

+ Emilia really grows in this final book. She opens her eyes to the truth, no matter how much it hurts (physically and emotionally) and she makes some really hard choices. But I did admire how she found a way to keep Wrath….and her sister. She wanted it to work for her blood family and her new family.

~ I enjoy smut but I feel like they marketed this whole series wrong. It started off YA in book one…but clearly isn’t been NA since book two. I’m glad they are together and have good sex. I knew they have their happily ever after so my mind wanted to just get to the other threads of the story like Vittoria! So if you like smut, you will love this book. If you don’t – you will not enjoy this book.

~ The truth made me kinda sad…especially about Emilia and Vittoria’s upbringing. I can understand why it happened but just knowing how a person in their childhood really feels about them. I felt like that resolved too quick (at least for me). It was a betrayal that is heartbreaking.

Tropes: curses, good twin/evil twin, secret powers, fated

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

  • you want some Wrath and Emilia smut
  • so many reveals about Vittoria and Emilia, the werewolves, and all the side characters are unique
  • an entertaining, solid conclusion that leaves the doors open to potential spin-offs

Why you might not want to read it:

  • not into smut

My Thoughts:

This whole series is entertaining and I think this is a great conclusion to this trilogy. I loved the world building, the characters and we get all the secret reveals! This book in particular has the smut we have all been waiting for and knew it was leading to. But I do wish this was marketed properly in the beginning of the series. I would have loved it too as a YA novel with less smut but strategically placed sexy scenes. But if you want spice – you get it in this book! Emilia and Wrath get their happily ever after and we get some things left open for potential spin offs. If that’s the case I need a few because there are many characters who deserve their own story. I look forward to seeing what this author writes next!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other books by this author that I have read and reviewed:

Kingdom of the Wicked by. Kerri Maniscalco – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingdom of the Cursed by. Kerri Maniscalco – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You are kerosene. Volatile. Noxious.”

~ Kerri Maniscalco, Kingdom of the Feared

And he is her fate. ‘As above, so below’. They are the balance. Lights and dark. One fallen from above, and one created in the underworld below.”

~ Kerri Maniscalco, Kingdom of the Feared

This Vicious Grace by. Emily Thiede | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: This Vicious Grace (#1)

Author: Emily Thiede

Format: Hardcover (own)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 6/27/22

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, Series

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.

Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?

Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Content Warning: violence, suicidal ideation

I finally read this book and you know I will blame my eyesight. I don’t use glasses (but I think I need them now) and the print in the hardcover copy is smaller than other fonts – so basically I should’ve gotten the ebook for this. Anyway, I finished it and Dante and Alessa are everything! Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ The world building is interesting. Alessa is a Finestra – she basically has the power of death, and she is going to lead an army to find a demon horde coming their way. But in the scriptures, apparently Alessa needs a Fontes, a partner in crime, someone with power as well. But it’s a problem when she kills her Fontes. The search for a new one begins but Alessa is scared she might kill another person. The world felt Italian-inspired, but there were diverse cultures represented as well when they had big events in the town like Carnivale.

+ My favorite part of the story is Alessa and Dante. Their banter and flirting is so good! I loved her naughty banter and seeing how he reacts to it. They are too cute together! She’s the chosen one and he’s some random fighter she picked off the street to be her bodyguard. He’s a bit snarky but she really vibes with him. They play off one another until the attraction builds up to something they cannot deny. The two of them do get into some heated moments but nothing too descriptive. But I think they can be added to my favorite book couples list.

+ Alessa is a fun character. I like her attitude about everything, even when she finds herself back into a corner – she’s fighter. She loves her city, love her people and she loves life even though she causes death. I especially love when her personality shines through when she’s with Dante.

~ The story follows Alessa who needs to find a new Fontes before the demons arrive. She has about 30 something days and it was nice to get to know the Fontes candidates and check out their powers but I did wish there were some more information about the enemy. Maybe more tension leading up to it so we get the high stakes feeling of the situation? We only get to see the battle in the last part of the book and though it’s written like an epic fight it felt anti-climatic even though a lot is happening in the battle.

~ Thought the world building is fascinating, I wanted more from it. I wanted to know why the demon horde was coming ~ they are supposedly evil but I swear Alessa own blood brother was evil. So maybe we get to learn more in book two?

Tropes: chosen one, grumpy/sunshine, bodyguard interest, forbidden love, close proximity, found family

Spice Level: 🌶 🌶

Why you should read it:

  • Alessa and Dante – their romance is my favorite part
  • interesting world building inspired by Italy, and a fight against demons
  • there is a group of Fontes we get to know, but I hope we get to know more about them in book two

Why you might not want to read it:

  • not into YA fantasy ~ ending was a bit anti-climatic

My Thoughts:

I fell in love with Alessa and Dante. They really are what makes this story great. I love that they leaned into their attraction because their flirting was everything. Story-wise I did find the world building interesting but I do want to know more maybe about the enemy? I like how Alessa went about finding her next Fontes and made new friends or a found family. I wonder what will be happening in the next book after some events that take place at the end of the book. I’ll definitely be reading book two to get more of Alessa and Dante.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Ballad of Never After by. Stephanie Garber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #2)

Author: Stephanie Garber

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 9/12/22

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, Series

Not every love is meant to be.

After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she’ll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can. . . .

Content Warning: violence

I’ll just get this off my chest – but I’m mostly here for Jacks lol…

+ Jacks wants the stones, Chaos and Lala wants Eva to open the Valory Arch, and Eva wants the curse on Apollo and her to be lifted. EVERYONE wants something in this book and it’s about getting what you wish for but having consequences. The consequences are big in this sequel.

+ Jacks, Jacks, Jacks…you most awful of bad boys. I’m here to see him protect Evangeline and entice her and break her heart all over again…just because I know his heart is breaking too. 😅 They both suffer! He’s so toxic and yet addicting – poor Evangeline falling for a bad boy like Jacks. And Jacks for falling for someone who isn’t the “right” one for him. We get a good moment with Jacks and Evangeline when they sort of put down their walls…it’s a lovely moment too. But nothing happy seems to last forever in this series!

+ Chaos…the other bad boy but he isn’t as cold as Jacks! I swear this book has all the kinds of bad boys I like – the cold and calculating kind (Jacks) and the vampire kind (Chaos). I liked his storyline and learning more about the Valors. Speaking of vampires, I thought Luc was so funny.

+ The ending twist is very interesting and unexpected and makes me wonder what in heck is going to happen in book three. As if Evangeline and Jacks need to be tortured enough…

~ Evangeline, our heroine, gets on my nerves. She is so naive and I get she is Jack’s opposite. She’s the dreamer…he’s the one that is blunt and cuts to the chase. They are attracted to each other because of it…but she is hunting for love. And every guy who shows her attention is a potential for this great love she is searching for (since Jacks is bad news and she should…really should not even go there….not that she can help herself). But she’s still married to Apollo, and obviously she wants Jacks. 😅 Like girl…pick someone! Whenever Jacks comes into play he makes the girls look both ways! lol…

~ I want more. I get that this series is staying fairly clean but it’s Jacks – give me some sexy scenes with him! This is a slow burn but Jacks is the personified broody, snarky, sexy, bad boy. I like the almost kisses and there is some touching but they need to fight and make up or something. Like I need an intense scene between him and Evangeline because I want to see how wicked he can get without killing her. 😅 They don’t have to go all the way, but half the time I was thinking nah, Evangeline is so wrong for him – he needs someone with a little more fight in her. Maybe I’m comparing her to Tella? I don’t know…but maybe I’m wrong and it’s the naive girl that is perfect for Jacks. I’m not totally convinced though.

~ I have some questions about Apollo at the end….

Tropes: slow burn, naive heroine, good girl/bad boy, pining/longing, a kiss would kill, curses

Spice Level: 🌶 (some heated glances, some touching, almost kisses)

Why you should read it:

  • some good twists in the story
  • Jacks
  • more information about the Valors

Why you might not want to read it:

  • Evangeline to me is the weakest link in this book – she’s naive and frustrating at times

My Thoughts:

I think this was a solid sequel and we get more of Jacks and some moments when he lets down his guard. ❤️ I liked getting to know more about the history of the Valory Arch and the cursed books were interesting. There is always a mystery and it’s never one that’s easy to figure out. The clues include stories, ballads, and never all the information given at once. What I love about the series is Jacks – he is such a dark, cold, mysterious character. He shouldn’t be likable but just like Evangeline, we all can’t stay away from him. I don’t blame her for the attraction but that girl is a little too naive for my taste. The ending was not what I was expecting and makes me eager to see what will happen in book three. Will Evangeline get her dream happy life? Will Jacks ever find the love he can’t kill? I think we all want to see Jacks in love with someone that won’t die because of him…and happy.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Serpent and the Wings of Night (#1)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 532

Publication Date: 8/29/22

Publisher:

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Content Warning: violence, sexual assault

I love it when I pick a book I know nothing about – I chose it because of the cover and interesting synopsis and the book turns out to be everything I’m craving for at the moment. I wanted vampires…and I got it! Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I wanted a book about vampires and I got it! I thought this world building of different vampire houses living among humans was very fascinating. Different types of vampires had characteristic to show what kind of vampires they were – and some of them have wings, which is great. I love me a vampire with wings! There is some good world building and would love to learn more about the other Houses. The action in the trials are so good too. I also love the twist in the end.

+ I like Oraya. She’s human, but raised by the ruthless vampire king Vincent. She’s been protected by him but also is aware at how human and vulnerable she is. Oraya never forgets she is human but she longs for vampire powers just so she can stop feeling so powerless. Oraya has gone through some trauma in her life and have learned to survive in her own way. I also like Raihn who is protective, always wears a smirk and at odds with Oraya most times but he loves it.

+ Raihn and Oraya are everything I want in a romantasy couple. They meet and have secrets, they can’t trust one another but Raihn has a way of befriending Oraya and getting under her walls. It’s a slow burn but not too slow – which I love. I don’t have to wait for book two for some steamy scenes – I felt like it came in the right time for Raihn and Oraya. I like how they become allies and partners to pass these trials, they learn more about one another and soon their attraction is undeniable.

+ The side characters like Mische did a lot to help show Oraya there were different kinds of vampires out there. There are the ones who are born and the ones who are Turned. She only grew up vampires who barely showed expression except when fueled by blood. Mische and Raihn were turned and still have a bit of their humanity to them which helps Oraya come to terms with her humanness.

~ Vincent! He was a character you didn’t to love or what until the end. I hope we learn more about Oraya’s background because it was quite a mystery.

Tropes: slow burn, survive the trials, rivals, vampire and human romance

Spice Level: 🌶 🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

  • slow burn romantasy ~ I love Raihn and Oraya together
  • lots of action, and some good twists
  • nice flow to the story, I read it in one day even though it was over 500 pages

Why you might not want to read it:

  • you don’t like romantasy
  • maybe you should wait to binge the series

My Thoughts:

This has everything I wanted in a book right now. It’s a romantasy so we get the fantasy, vampires, and we get some steamy romance. I love that nothing was rushed or too slow and it was paced so well it kept my attention. I wanted to read book two right after I read it but I can’t because it’s not out yet! I want to see what happens to Raihn and Oraya and if we find out more about Oraya’s background. I want to see what happens with the House of Night and what the House of Blood has up their sleeve…I can’t wait to read book two and hope the wait isn’t too long.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Curse of Queens by. Amanda Bouchet | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Curse of Queens (#4)

Author: Amanda Bouchet

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 496

Publication Date: 10/4/22

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Categories: Greek Mythology, Romance, Adventure, Fantasy, Series

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

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

The queen has been cursed, and no one knows who’s behind the plot to threaten the realm’s fragile peace. Desperate to help, Jocasta hatches a plan to find Circe’s Garden, a fabled island where she hopes to discover an antidote. But she can’t do it alone. She needs the strong arm and unflinching bravery of the warrior she’s loved since childhood—her brother’s right-hand-man and captain of the guard, Flynn of Sinta.

Together they can do the impossible. Yet with treachery brewing on Mount Olympus, one thing is clear: Thalyria and its new royals are still pawns in an epic game of power—one that might end in a War of Gods.

Content Warning:

I read the last Kingmaker Chronicles book when it was published back in 2018 so I advise anyone who hasn’t read them to read it first before this one because you will be very lost. I actually didn’t realize this was a book four of that series. I saw the author’s name, and the cover and requested the book. As I read it I vaguely remembered these characters but not having read the last book in four years meant that I got lost a bunch of times!

What’s fun about this series is the Greek Mythology, plus I loved the series because of the romance. Once more the romance shines here with Jocasta and Flynn. It’s a very slow burn though but they have history. Jocasta has always been in love with Flynn and it’s the same for him but he’s had to deal with some traumatic situations in his life that has scared him off the idea of marrying and having kids.

Jocasta’s character really goes through some challenges and transformation in this book. She starts off as the daughter who is pretty much forgotten since she isn’t much of a warrior. She is a healer and sometimes overlooked in her family. But by the end of this story she is the heroine.

There are a lot of characters in this series and this being book four, it was hard to get situated and remember what happened to certain ones in past books. I had to just push through though. Also there is so much Greek Mythology characters alongside the human ones, there was just many times I wished I had reread the first three books.

The fun parts of the book are the adventures Jocasta and her little crew go on to get to Circe’s island. Carver, Jo’s brother is always arguing with Bellanca. I think their story would be less slow burn and lots of burning haha so I’m excited to see how their story ends up.

Why you should read it:

  • a slow burn romance
  • Greek mythology
  • lots of adventure and battling Greek Gods

Why you might not want to read it:

  • you haven’t read the previous three books in a while or ever…(I recommend you read them!)

My Thoughts:

I would have enjoyed this book more if I had reread the other books in the series. The parts I did enjoy was the adventure to Circe’s island and watching Jocasta and Flynn push and pull towards one another. It’s a slow burn romance but I did like both characters and they deserve their happy ending. I am interested to see what happens to Jo’s brother Carver and if he can get a happy ending as well.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Soul of the Deep by. Natasha Bowen | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Soul of the Deep (Skin of the Sea, #2)

Author: Natasha Bowen

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 304

Publication Date: 9/27/22

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Series

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

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

One life.
One choice.
One sacrifice.

To save those closest to her, Simi traded away everything: her freedom, her family, and the boy she loves. Now she is sworn to serve a new god, watching over the Land of the Dead at the bottom of the ocean.

But when signs of demons begin to appear, it’s clear there are deeper consequences of Simi’s trade. These demons spell the world’s ruin . . . and because of Simi, they now have a way into the human realm.

With the fate of the world at stake, Simi must break her promise and team up with a scheming trickster of a god. And if they succeed, perhaps Simi can also unbreak her heart along the way, and find herself again.

Content Warning: violence, slavery, death

When I saw Skin of the Sea had a sequel I needed to read it. I will say this duology has the most beautiful book covers – take a look at this one! Here is what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I loved Simidele in book one and I love her here again in book two. I love her bravery, her grace, and she’s always giving of herself to do the right thing. She loves taking care of people. Here in book two she tries to help an imprisoned orisha, the trickster, Esu and in turn he would help her. The sequel has a few beautiful, emotional scenes and once again, I really appreciate how we are shown how the dead are respected and sent off in this story. It really touches me especially knowing that many of the dead in the sea are due to the slave ships. This author has a way with words that can break through to my emotions.

+ The story is rich in West African mythology – there are a lot of orishas (gods/goddesses) involved in the life of people.

+ It’s filled with so much action. There is a quest, there is the problem with the other tribes and just a lot going on and makes it a quick read. Simi is a fighter in this sequel.

+ I love how Simi and Kola has a slow burn romance but one that is left open ended. It’s not rushed at all and it shows Simi has to do a few things before being with Kola. But I think it’s safe to say that they love one another – I mean Simi did sacrifice a lot for him. So I’m glad she’s going to take some time for herself!

~ The one thing I do wish this book had, is a glossary. There are so many words I didn’t know and had to guess at their meaning. Also a list of the orishas would be fantastic too! There are so many characters in this book, it can be hard to follow.

~ The beginning was slow but once the action kicks in the story moves faster.

Tropes:

Why you should read it:

  • story filled with West African mythology and lots of action/fighting scenes
  • you enjoyed the first book
  • the emotional aspects of the story when it comes to death, sacrifice, and love

Why you might not want to read it:

  • you didn’t enjoy the first book

My Thoughts:

I didn’t re-read the first book so I jumped into this one right away trying to get acclimated with all the names of the orishas, and the big cast of characters. Once I started remembering a few things, the story moved quicker for me – plus there is a lot of action in this book so that also made the story move along. What I love about this book and the series in general is Simidele who was human and turned into a mermaid, but she never forgets her humanity and caring for others. I love that about her and I’m glad there was a good ending for her. This is a solid conclusion to the series and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here are other books by this author that I have read or reviewed on this blog:

Skin of the Sea by. Natasha Bowen | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Defend the Dawn by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night, #2)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 9/13/22

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, 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 USA Children’s Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

To save their kingdom, they must embark on a dangerous journey…

The kingdom of Kandala narrowly avoided catastrophe, but the embers of revolution still simmer. While King Harristan seeks a new way to lead, Tessa and Prince Corrick attempt to foster unity between rebels and royals.

But the consuls who control the Moonflower will not back down, and Corrick realizes he must find a new source for the lifesaving Elixir.

When an emissary from the neighboring kingdom of Ostriary arrives with an intriguing offer, Tessa and Corrick set out on an uncertain journey as they attempt to mend their own fractured relationship.

This could be their only chance to keep the peace and bring relief to the people of Kandala, but danger strikes during the journey to Ostriary, and no one is who they seemed to be. . .

Content Warning: violence

I have to say this series is addictive! I loved book one and getting to know Corrick and Tessa – there was so much political intrigue in that one. It continues here in book two:

+ I didn’t mean to finish this book in one night, but I did. The writing is tight and flows well, it moves quickly even though parts of the book feel more like a filler. It doesn’t matter because I think there was enough new elements to make this feel like the story was moving – I was hooked!

+ The story picks up right after events in book one but I love that we have new characters, and one very intriguing Captain Blackmore/Rian. I was like, move aside Corrick…Rian is confident, he is a leader, and patient, which I love. I need more of Rian. I also love the twists in this story.

+ With the new characters come a new set of problems and political intrigue/suspicions for Harristan and Corrick. Can they trust this Rian who claims to have enough Moonflower to trade with them for Kandala steel. I love the way Rian questioned how Kandala’s people were being treated, making Corrick and Tessa do some inner reflection on a few things. The story also moves to sea, on Rian’s ship heading to Ostriary which for me was so much fun. Harristan has his own problems back in Kandala though.

+~ Tessa and Corrick are so frustrating. They are hot and cold! I understand his desire to put Kandala first and I understand how she feels like there is no future for them if it’s always first. Most of this book was Tessa questioning Corrick and trying to find out if he is the person she fell in love with before. But Corrick was also coming off as a jerk at times, especially when dealing with Rian. I did like all the suspicion though, it kept me on my toes! The tension throughout the story is fantastic.

~ Tessa – I liked the suspicions because it kept me engaged but I could not stand Tessa’s back and forth about Corrick. They have some issues to resolve. And it’s a slow burn, they only get as far as kissing. There was almost a love triangle brewing and honestly I was into Rian more than Corrick. I was even hoping something with Tessa and Rian would happen. BUT…then I realized Corrick and Tessa deserved each other haha. Let them have their hot/cold relationship ugh…those two. Give Rian a stronger woman please! Tessa is a good person, but I think Rian needs someone with more of a backbone. She just came off naive at times and

~ + It has a cliffhanger ending…of course! 😆 Looking forward to book three.

Why you should read it:

  • this series is addictive! Tessa and Corrick has to deal with a lot of problems in their relationship but I like how they aren’t perfect
  • Rian, the new character
  • having most of this story be on a ship was fun, plus there are some great twists!

Why you might not want to read it:

  • the back and forth between Tessa and Corrick can be a little frustrating but that’s their relationship

My Thoughts:

Brigid Kemmerer is a must read author for me, even though I didn’t care for how Rhen changed in the Cursebreaker series but I will say this author really does a great job with writing about complicated relationships. I think that’s why I’m so drawn to her books, the characters aren’t perfect but readers can relate in some way. I was scared Corrick was going to be another Rhen situation but Corrick at least was always morally gray. We get to see all the imperfect sides of him and try to decide, like Tessa – if we like what we know and see. Defend the Dawn has lots of tension, which I love in a story, because there are trust issues everywhere! Harristan and Corrick can’t trust Rian, Tessa doesn’t know who to trust (which was the most frustrating), Karri and Lochland don’t trust Corrick but the twists are wonderful. I love the addition of Rian and want to see if finally Corrick and his brother can get some help with their own kingdom. The story was fast moving and I want the next book in the series! It’s a great series so far and I hope it ends on a high note!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Forging Silver into Stars by. Brigid Kemmerer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Defy the Night by. Brigid Kemmerer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by. Brigid Kemmerer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Duel with the Vampire Lord by. Elise Kova | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Duel with the Vampire Lord (Married to Magic, #3)

Author: Elise Kova

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 536

Publication Date: 8/17/22

Publisher: Silver Wing Press

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

On the night of the blood moon, the Vampire Lord must die.

Floriane’s position as the forge maiden of Hunter’s Hamlet is one of reverence, for it is her skill that arms and protects the vampire hunters. She knows her place and is a faithful servant to the Master Hunter and her community… until the night of the blood moon. Until her brother is dying at the hands of the Vampire Lord Ruvan.

Wanting to defend her home at all costs, Floriane fights the vampire lord, ready to give her life if it means taking his. But Ruvan doesn’t want to take her life… he wants her.

Kidnapped and brought to the vampire castle, Floriane is now blood sworn to the vampire lord. She is bound in mind and body to her worst enemy. But Ruvan isn’t the fiend she thought he was. She learns the truth of the vampires: They are not mindless monsters, but a proud people, twisted and tortured by an ancient curse.

Ruvan believes that Floriane might be the key to ending his people’s suffering. All Floriane wants is to defend her home. Loyalties are tested and the lines between truth and lie, hate and passion, are blurred.

When her dagger is at his chest, will she be able to take the heart of the man who has claimed hers?

Content Warning: violence, self harm

I’ve read all the other books in this series and this one has to be my least favorite, yet my most highly anticipated, so my expectations were high because – vampires! I love vampires. Let’s see what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I love that Floriane is a smithy. She’s got a stubborn personality to match but I feel like that matches for someone who takes molten metal and shapes it into what they want. I thought she matched up with Ruvan wonderfully since he is a powerful vampire lord. There was a lot of action fighting vampires and Floriane really held up her own!

+ Once again I like that it connects to the other stories within this series even though it’s a standalone. The secondary characters are great too – we get a good sense of the Vampir people, their history and the curse that binds them.

+ I like that this is an enemies to lovers romance where they really are enemies and are conflicted about it. Vampires and humans have been killing one another for ages and I love that they are trying to break the curse so maybe the killing can stop. But Ruvan and Floriane really have to work through generational teachings about one another, they have to break this wheel of fear and hate. I’m glad it didn’t go away just because they started having feelings for one another. When they finally admit their love, it’s sweet and touching.

~ I felt like there was a lot of info-dumping in this one, and it is 536 pages where the others were in the mid 300’s or a little bit over. There is a while mystery about the curse and finding the source and how to break it was quite interesting but like I said – a bit of info dumping at times.

~ Because this is a vampire and human couple I wanted heat, but this slow burn was way too slow for me. It was a little too tame for me. Ruvan is this frightening vampire lord on the outside but a cinnamon roll on the inside, which is cute, but I wanted more spice between them. There is a lot of confusion about their feelings, and some back and forth because of their enemies to lovers status.

Tropes: breaking curses, sacrifice, enemies to lovers, slow burn, found family

Spice Level: 🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

  • you love a sweet, slow burn vampire and human love story
  • it’s a great addition to the Married to Magic series
  • lots of action, story kept me guessing about the mystery of the curse

Why you might not want to read it:

  • wanted more heat between Ruvan and Floriane, because I expect my vampire stories to be a bit spicy lol but this one is a sweet slow burn

My Thoughts:

I think overall this story was entertaining and I did think Ruvan and Floriane’s romance is sweet. It was a little bit too much of a slow burn for me though because I like my vampire stories with lots of spice. I did love how Floriane was a female forger and she really did keep up with the vampires (with the help of some elixir, but still!). If you love the books in the Married to Magic series, you will enjoy this one as well! I look forward to reading the next one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here are other books by this author that I have reviewed on this blog and/or books I have read but never reviewed:

The Cruelest Mercy by. Natalie Mae | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Cruelest Mercy (The Kinder Poison, #2)

Author: Natalie Mae

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 6/14/21

Publisher: Razorbill

Categories: Fantasy, Series, Romance, Young Adult

The magical kingdom of Orkena is on the brink of war, and the only person who can save it is Zahru, the girl they once doomed for death.

After surviving the Crossing, Zahru has sworn off adventures. While crown prince Jet navigates the looming threat of war, she’s content to simply figure out what the future holds for them. But they’re dealt a devastating blow when prince Kasta returns with a shocking claim: he’s the true winner of the Crossing and the rightful heir, and he bears the gods’ mark as proof. Even more surprising–he’s not the only one.

Somehow, Zahru possesses the very same mark, giving her equal right to the throne. The last thing she wants is to rule beside her would-be executioner, but she can’t let Orkena fall into his merciless hands. So Zahru, Jet, and their allies must race against the clock to find a way to stop Kasta, because once he’s crowned, there’s no telling what horrors he’ll unleash to win the war.

Zahru will do whatever it takes to keep Kasta from taking the throne…but to stop a villain, is she willing to become one herself?

Content Warning: violence

Let me first say that I thought this was a duology so I wasn’t sure why this book wasn’t moving “faster” and then I came to the ending and thought WHAT IS HAPPENING?! lol…I was mistaken – there is definitely a book three. And there better be after THAT ending! This is what I thought:

+ I love, love, love the book covers in this series. It’s simple, classy and the bold colors are just everything.

+ I haven’t re-read The Kinder Poison so I vaguely had an idea of what the story was about but when I started reading it, I didn’t feel lost at all. I jumped right in and I remember why I liked the characters so much. Zahru is by Jet’s side now but of course before he can rule, surprise, surprise Kasta shows up – he is clearly not dead, but that doesn’t mean he becomes the ruler either. Zahru has an opportunity to thwart any evil plans Kasta has – because…he is evil right?

+ This story made me suspicious of Kasta, but also made me wonder if Zahru was jumping to conclusions about him. Clearly she should be on her guard with him, but can he change? That’s what was driving me crazy about the story. I don’t know if he was playing her or not. And what about her feelings about him? That was madness…but it was kinda awesome how they were distrustful and yet attracted to one another. So toxic…but kinda fun…also what about Zahru? Is she about to stoop to his level? Does having power corrupt? We shall see…I don’t know if I’m supposed to hate or love Kasta! I feel Zahru’s pain lol..he’s that complex villain you find yourself obsessed with.

+ The epilogue…what?! 😅 That was unexpected and give me book three NOW.

~ This one is a little slower than book one because Zahru has to unravel Kasta’s motives, she has to figure out how to stay a step of him and she can’t trust him. You know who I was also suspicious of? Jet. So book three will be very interesting!

Tropes: slow burn, enemies to lovers, love triangle, peasant becomes a ruler, morally gray characters

Spice Level: 🌶

Why you should read it:

  • for the Zahru and Kasta moments, especially the last one 😳
  • fascinating to see how Zahru deals and changes with power – will she be having a villain era?
  • you liked the first book

Why you might not want to read it:

  • a little slower than the first one but I think it’s worth it to push through, it sets up book three for what I hope is an amazing ending to this series

My Thoughts:

My mistake was thinking this was a duology and wondering why Kasta was coming in too late into this book. The story is just way more interesting with him in it because it throws Zahru off kilter. He makes her feel complicated emotions and I want to see what is going to happen with these two. It really could go either way, will Zahru embrace all of Kasta’s flaws? Will Kasta really learn to have mercy and not let the trauma of his past dictate his actions? Will these two meet half way and fall passionately in love with one another?! Or will they kill one another? 😅 I can’t wait to find out!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here are other books by this author that I have reviewed on this blog and books I have read but never reviewed: