Zhara by. S. Jae-Jones | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Zhara (Guardians of Dawn, #1)

Author: S. Jae-Jones

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 8/1/23

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Magic

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!

Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

Magic flickers.
Love flames.
Chaos reigns.

Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.

Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appease her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.

In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.

Content Warning: violence

I was absolutely drawn to this book because of that gorgeous book cover. It’s one of the prettiest book covers I’ve seen this year. I was also intrigued with the synopsis saying it’s Sailor Moon meets Cinder but as I read the book I felt like it didn’t deliver on any of those fronts. And I watched Sailor Moon this summer so that’s fresh in my head while I read this book and there were some similarities. I think Zhara has the personality of Usagi (Sailor Moon) in some aspects, like she giggles around good looking people, she’s bubbly but cares about helping others.

Story wise it was easy to follow. There is something going on, monsters are reemerging and the need for the mysterious society called the Guardians of Dawn are needed for their magical skill. I guess that’s another thing related to Sailor Moon, the Guardians. But it’s very different from the Guardians in Sailor Moon.

Zhara has magic that she is trying to keep secret. She’s a little bit of a Cinderella, and her evil step-mother treats her and her sister horribly. Zhara meets the royal prince, Han, who’s undercover and looking for the Guardians also. I thought their interactions were cute and fun. There is a lot of sexual innuendo because of some books they discuss but it all feels very innocent. My favorite character I think is Xu, who is Han’s best friend. They are Han’s closest companion and really came through for him when he needed them. I felt like Xu kept Hu in line as much as they could.

I was okay with the build up of the story but somewhere along the way the story wasn’t holding my attention. I think maybe this would work better for younger readers. It read a little too young for me, or I’m just too old for it, but I couldn’t connect to the story.

Why you should read it:

comparison to Sailor Moon and Cinder, it has magic and Guardians, and a sweet romance

Why you might not want to read it:

might read too young for some adults

My Thoughts:

I wish I could have connected to this story more because I really do love that book cover. I also could have been comparing it hard to Sailor Moon since I spent the summer watching the series on Netflix. Overall, it was an okay read with some funny moments but I think it’s not for me. I do think it would appeal to younger YA readers though.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cursed Crowns by. Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Cursed Crowns (Twin Crowns, #2)

Author: Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 4/28/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Witches, Twins, Adventure

Bestselling authors and real-life sisters-in-law Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber join forces on a compelling YA fantasy bursting with high-stakes adventure, romance and humour. Two queens, one throne. What can possibly go wrong . . .?

Twin queens Wren and Rose have claimed their crowns . . . but not everyone is happy about witches sitting on Eana’s throne.

Cool-headed Rose sets off on a Royal Tour to win over the doubters, but soon finds herself drawn to the Sunless Kingdom. Here secrets are revealed about those closest to her, and Rose finds her loyalties divided.

Meanwhile rebellious Wren steals away to the icy north to rescue their beloved grandmother, Banba. But when she accepts King Alarik’s deadly magical bargain in exchange for Banba’s freedom, the spell has unexpected – and far-reaching – consequences . . .

As an ancient curse begins to arise from the darkness, the sisters must come together and unite the crown. Their lives – and the future of Eana – depend on it.

Break the ice to free the curse,
Kill one twin to save another . . .

Content Warning: violence, self harm for blood magic

I found this ebook ready to borrow right after I finished book one of this series, Twin Crowns. With everything still fresh in my head, I continued on this journey with Rose and Wren as they figure out how to unite the people and witches of Eana. There is a lot of pushback from the non-witches and Rose needs help quelling a rebellion but Wren is pulled to Gevra, where Banba, their grandmother is being imprisoned by King Alarik.

The story is told from both POVs. Rose, I feel, is more invested in being Queen of Eana, even though she shares the throne with Wren. When Rose and Shen get pulled into a quest to find the Sunkissed Kingdom we get to know more about Shen which I loved. The Sunkissed Kingdom is a magical place and fitting for Shen. But finding out about Shen’s past causes a big conflict between him and Rose. I didn’t think the two of them could ever fight about anything but I was wrong! Still, their romance is the sweetest one in the book and I knew things would work out between them. They both have to grow and they do.

As for Wren. Oh Wren. Wren is the twin who is bold, fearless, and not afraid to speak her mind and I like that about her but she is tested in this sequel because of the length she would go to save Banba. Wren makes some bad choices and the consequences are dire but it definitely forces her to think about her actions. And there is an unexpected love triangle and in a way I was intrigued by it because Tor is still a mystery but so bland. He does nothing for me. We don’t learn anything more about him except that he is pretty good at staying away from Wren. So I actually liked the new development with Wren and Alarik because it’s an enemies to lovers trope but how will it play out in book three? I’m not sure. I did sympathize with Wrens love for Banba and not wanting to let her go and I like that it paralleled Alarik’s fear of letting Ansel. It’s why I’m rooting for them. I feel like Wren and Alarik have that darkness in them, the grief inside them that helps them understand one another.

The sisters also now have to deal with their ancestor Oonagh Starcrest who has been revived from her slumber and about to wreck havoc on their world, so book three should be interesting. I’ll definitely read it to see what happens with Alarick and Wren.

I did enjoy this sequel but I did feel like I was more interested in Wren’s POV than Rose’s, whereas book one felt more even and seamless. Also the sisters are separated for most of the book again. I’d love for them to be together in book three.

Tropes: twins, love triangle

Why you should read it:

you liked book one
both sisters have more character growth in this one

Why you might not want to read it:

might feel like for a younger audience

My Thoughts:

I’m sad I have to wait for book three but I have high hopes that book three will tie up all the loose ends and these sisters can finally spend time together in a united kingdom.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Review | The Storm Keeper’s Island ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Twin Crowns by. Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Twin Crowns by. Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Twin Crowns (#1)

Author: Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 5/17/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Witches, Twins

Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to return to the place of her parents’ murder and usurp the only survivor, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Or she would, if only a certain palace guard wasn’t quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic didn’t have a habit of causing trouble…

Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility. Marriage into a brutal kingdom awaits, and she will not let a small matter like waking up in the middle of the desert in the company of an extremely impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her royal duty. But life outside the palace walls is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never knew she was missing.

Two sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better. But as coronation day looms closer and they each strive to claim their birthright, the sinister Kingsbreath, Willem Rathborne, becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

Content Warning: violence, kidnapping

I wanted to read this book because Catherine Doyle wrote the Blood for Blood series which I was obsessed with back in 2015! So I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Twin Crowns and also not super surprised because she was part of the writing duo. And I’ll just point out that I don’t love books about twins but maybe because it always feels like the same trope. In Twin Crowns, we get the twins who were separated at birth trope and one sister is coming for the crown that the other one is supposed to have. Sound familiar? Yes, because that’s what usually happens in twin stories so I was over it a few years ago.

I went in with low expectations, but I ended up reading this book in one day! There are two clashing sides: witches and non-witches. Wren was raised with the witches and Rose was not, she was raised on the side that killed witches. Wren is trying to take the Queendom back from a man called Rathborne, who killed their parents. But Rose still wants her throne and tries to fight for it. It’s a really fun story, even though Rose can be annoying because she’s the pampered princess. However, I felt like she had the dashing and charming Shen Lo (love him) to balance her out. He brought her out of her comfort zone, which I loved. As for Wren, I like that she is feisty and a strong character. Wren’s romance with Tor had more heat which I liked but I’d love to know more about Tor. I don’t think we know much about him at all. I think the sisters being separated and going through their own challenges kept the story moving and I liked that it was seamless despite it being told in two POVs.

One thing bothered me about the story – how did Wren know Rose’s routine and all of the people at the palace? Was she studying her for that long? I don’t think it ever says in the book unless I missed it and so at times it felt unbelievable that Wren would automatically know all the staffs’ names. I just went with it. At least she had magic to make her look exactly like Rose. I did like the times she slipped out of character though, just to see if anyone would catch her.

At times the story felt like it was meant for a younger YA audience but I think maybe because the whole story has a fun vibe to it? Anyway I was confused about how I felt about that but I guess I didn’t mind it since I finished it in one day.

Tropes: twins separated at birth

Why you should read it:

you like stories about twin sisters
Rose and Wren both have their own romances – I love Shen Lo
a fun story

Why you might not want to read it:

might feel like for a younger audience

My Thoughts:

This one was a fun read and I’m already reading book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Review | The Storm Keeper’s Island ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by. Heather Fawcett | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries (#1)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Narrators: Ell Potter, Michael Dodds

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 1/10/23

Categories: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Romance, Fae

A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love, in this heartwarming and enchanting fantasy.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.

Content Warning: violence

I finally got to finish this book by listening to it as an audiobook. I actually enjoyed reading it but I felt like it was going slowly and not in a bad way. I think because it’s such a cozy, slow moving story which I don’t usually like and I was getting bored reading, but not bored with the story. I just felt like if someone read it to me, it would hold my attention more and it sure did. The narrators are fantastic in this audiobook and definitely sounds like how I imagined Emily Wilde to sound like.

I found her interactions with Wendell so funny because they are such opposites. She’s driven, stubborn, headstrong and ambitious to complete this Encyclopedia of Fairies and Wendell is not. But Emily gets into some situations that become dangerous and she realizes she needs help.

The romance between Emily and Wendell is a slow burn and I thought it was cute when they both finally acknowledge their feelings for one another.

I do feel like there was more action in the end of the book so I enjoyed the second half much more than the first.

Tropes: slow burn

Why you should read it:

great narration
Emily’s investigations and researching of the Faerie world
Emily and Wendell’s slow burn

Why you might not want to read it:

might be too slow and boring for people not into cozy reads

My Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this one more as it was read to be through an audiobook. I actually got 20% into the ebook before I put it down because it was too slow, even though I enjoyed Emily and her adventures learning about the fae. I had a feeling it would work out better for me as an audiobook and I was right. The narrators did a fantastic job and I was much more engaged in the story and even finished it. I adored Emily and Wendell together. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading the sequel but if I am in the mood for a cozy read, then I’ll pick it up.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Even The Darkest Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: All The Wandering Light (Even The Darkest Stars Book 2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bring Me Your Midnight by. Rachel Griffin | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Bring Me Your Midnight

Author: Rachel Griffin

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 8/2/23

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Categories: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Witches

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 Fire for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was born: she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat.

Tana’s coven has appeased those who fear their power for years by releasing most of their magic into the ocean during the full moon. But when Tana misses the midnight ritual—a fatal mistake—there is no one she can turn to for help…until she meets Wolfe.

Wolfe claims he is from a coven that practices dark magic, making him one of the only people who can help her. But he refuses to let Tana’s power rush into the sea, and instead teaches her his forbidden magic. A magic that makes her feel powerful. Alive.

As the sea grows more violent, her coven loses control of the currents, a danger that could destroy the alliance as well as her island. Tana will have to choose between love and duty, between loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart. Marrying Landon would secure peace for her coven but losing Wolfe and his wild magic could cost her everything else.

Content Warning:

I love stories about witches and this author seems to be writing about only witches. I read The Nature of Witches but haven’t read Wild is the Witch yet. I decided to give this one a chance because I thought The Nature of Witches had so much potential but I just didn’t totally love it.

I like the concept of Bring Me Your Midnight. The story is full of magic, romance, and a difficult choice that Mortana (Tana) has to make. I thought the world building was very interesting and I liked how the townspeople had their own magic that they used for their trade of business. Mortana’s family made perfumes and her best friend Ivy made tea infused with magic. I like how their magic was useful.

Mortana is the chosen witch who is supposed to unite the mainlanders and witches into a unified front by an arranged marriage. Landon seems nice enough but through this book we really don’t get to know him at all. Mortana is a nice girl, a good girl, who falls for a mysterious, handsome boy. It’s a forbidden love she has to give up if she wants to be a dutiful daughter to her parents and her community.

I usually love a good witchy romance story, but I found this one just okay. I wanted more from the characters and I didn’t feel like I connected to anyone except maybe for Tana’s best-friend Ivy who had a really strong voice. There was a lot of angst and longing between Tana and Wolfe but I just felt like something was missing intensity and I just couldn’t get invested in them.

Tropes: forbidden love, duty or love, enemies to lovers

Why you should read it:

you like witches and forbidden love

Why you might not want to read it:

I wanted more from the characters, felt like it was missing something

My Thoughts:

I was excited to read this one because the cover is beautiful and I love stories about witches but this one was just okay for me. I like the concept of the story but I wanted more from the characters. I found it hard to get invested in their story. I did like how Tana had to face a hard choice between duty and love because we get to see her struggle and grow. She also stands strong in trying to get the truth from her mother about their magic, powers and history. So I thought it was nice to see her grow and be able to choose love in the end. This may have fallen a little flat to me but I think a lot of other people will love this story.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Nature of Witches by. Rachel Griffin | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Painted Devils by. Margaret Owen | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Painted Devils (Little Thieves, #2)

Author: Margaret Owen

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 512

Publication Date: 5/16/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, LGBT+

Let’s get one thing straight—Vanja Schmidt wasn’t trying to start a cult.

After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family… and if they would welcome a thief. But in her search for an honest trade, she hit trouble and invented a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to scam her way out. Now, that lie is growing out of control—especially when Emeric arrives to investigate, and the Scarlet Maiden manifests to claim him as a virgin sacrifice.

For his final test to become a prefect, Emeric must determine if Vanja is guilty of serious fraud, or if the Scarlet Maiden—and her claim to him—are genuine. Meanwhile, Vanja is chasing an alternative sacrifice that may be their way out. The hunt leads her not only into the lairs of monsters and the paths of gods, but the ties of her past. And with what should be the simplest way to save Emeric hanging over their heads, he and Vanja must face a more dangerous question: Is there a future for a thief and a prefect, and at what price?

Content Warning: parental abandonment, violence, parental abuse

I loved the first book Little Thieves so I had to read the sequel. My favorite part of this story is Vanja and Emeric and their journey with one another in the relationship they have which is wrought with trust issues, insecurities, sexual exploration but done with such patience, care, and both of them really falling in love with one another. They are definitely one my new favorite book couples.

The story telling is wonderful, just as it is in book one, I got swept up into the adventures of this dark fairytale life that Vanja lives. And Vanja is my favorite little thief. I love how she is a survivor, a child abandoned by her mother who had to do what she had to do to survive in a cruel world. She’s clever, brave and funny, and all she needs is love and she gets it in this sequel which made my heart melt for her. The story is emotional also because Vanja is letting people in, it made me heart happy for her.

The adventures and challenges that Vanja go through is something she things she has created, but after a lot of investigating, then end reveals a bitter and sad truth. I think because there was a bit of mystery to uncover, the book moved slower for me than book one did but I felt like there was enough Vanja and Emeric content to keep me happy. I did like the investigation but there are a lot of things going on with it and I had to concentrate to keep up. It took me a few days to read.

Favorite quotes from the book:

“There’s a saying here in the north: ‘A child’s eye fears the painted devil, but an elder wields the brush.’ We fear what we’re taught to fear, not necessarily because it’s worth fearing.”

Tropes: found family

Why you should read it:

You loved Little Thieves and want more of that dark fairy tale world
Vanja and Emeric and the journey of their relationship
Vanja’s personal journey and her finding her worth

Why you might not want to read it:

There is a lot going on with the investigation so the story feels slower than book one.

My Thoughts:

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this sequel but I did go in with lower expectations absolutely loved all the time Vanja and Emeric had together in this book. We see them grow in their romantic relationship and as partners in an investigation. I thought the characters in the story were full of personality and it’s got that dark fairy tale vibe that was present in the first book. There was a lot going on in the story and it took me a few days to finish but I still enjoyed it. It was an emotional journey for Vanja and I look forward to book three and hopefully the happy ending that she deserves.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Little Thieves by. Margaret Owen | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by. Ellen O’Clover | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Seven Percent of Ro Devereux

Author: Ellen O’Clover

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 1/17/23

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

A clever, charming, and poignant debut novel about a girl who must decide whether to pursue her dreams or preserve her relationships, including a budding romance with her ex-best friend, when an app she created goes viral.

Ro Devereux can predict your future. Or, at least, the app she built for her senior project can.

Working with her neighbor, a retired behavioral scientist, Ro created an app called MASH, designed around the classic game Mansion Apartment Shack House, that can predict a person’s future with 93% accuracy. The app will even match users with their soul mates. Though it was only supposed to be a class project, MASH quickly takes off and gains the attention of tech investors.

Ro’s dream is to work in Silicon Valley, and she’ll do anything to prove to her new backing company—and the world—that the app works. So it’s a huge shock when the app says her soul mate is Miller, her childhood best friend with whom she had a friendship-destroying fight three years ago. Now thrust into a fake dating scenario, Ro and Miller must address the years of pain between them if either of them will have any chance of achieving their dreams.

Fans of Emma Lord and Alex Light will love this stand-alone contemporary novel with a masterful slow-burn romance at its core.

Content Warning: parental abandonment

I saw really good reviews of this book earlier this year when it first came out. I saw it on sale on Book Outlet so I got it and decided to read it by the pool and I was hooked!

I love the childhood best-friends to lovers trope in this one especially because Ro and Miller knew each other so well before something came between them. I love the fake-dating trope that brings them together. I had all the teenage romance feels with this book.

And this isn’t only a romance because Ro is dealing with a few things like her grandmother dying from cancer, her mom who left and never bothered to build a relationship with her, and the biggest thing – making an app that goes viral and trying to capitalize on it. Ro has lots of emotions to deal and tries to bury it all by keeping busy but she eventually realizes she can’t do things alone. Miller is there, her best friend Maven is there, her dad and Vera are there – she is not alone and when she realizes that, she grows.

Speaking of her app, I love how this story explores the role of choice and free will during a person’s life. Ro’s app finds your match but not only in love but also in life overall like your future career and how many kids you will have. But are we supposed to let an app decide our lives? The story reminds us that just because we think we love something or will be one thing or see one path forward, it is never absolute.

This book even made me shed a tear. I wasn’t expecting this book to take me on an emotional ride, but it did.

Favorite quotes from the book:

“I hope you’ll remember that the brain is malleable. That your answers to the survey questions will change, because what you love, and what you want, and who your are will change, too. These unpredictable shifts are supposed to happen. They are the good kind of scary.”

“Usually, when we think no one sees us, we’re still looking at each other…”

“The not knowing is the pain and the joy and the whole damn thing of it. We were never, ever supposed to know.”

Tropes: friends to lovers

Why you should read it:

this one tugged at my heart strings
Ro and Miller ❤️
great coming of age story and questions about our future/paths in life

Why you might not want to read it:

My Thoughts:

I loved this one and I’m glad I went in without knowing what to expect. It’s kind of got everything I want in a young adult contemporary book: a thoughtful and meaningful coming of age story that has emotion, depth and romance. I’m definitely going to be looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

House of Roots and Ruin by. Erin A. Craig | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: House of Roots and Ruin (Sisters of the Salt, #2)

Author: Erin A. Craig

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 7/25/23

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Mystery, Romance, Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Young Adult

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 giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed.

Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia.

When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it.

Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and—with nowhere else to turn—makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn to charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance . . . blossoms.

But it’s not long before Verity is plagued with nightmares, and the darker side of Bloem begins to show through its sickly-sweet façade. . . .

Content Warning: violence, death, gruesome experiments

We are back with Thaumas sisters but mostly one in particular, Verity. I will note that only Verity and Camille are present in this story though the other girls are mentioned. But that’s totally okay because this is Verity’s story and what a story it is.

Verity goes to Bloem under the pretense of doing the future duke’s portrait. But she has longed to leave Highmoor for awhile now and live her own life and this is her chance. But Camille tells Verity something about her that is shocking. Bloem is way different than Salaan and Highmoor but it is as gothic a setting as Highmoor but filled with more…flowers.

Without giving any spoilers let’s just say the first part of this story builds slowly like a mystery but the new characters like Alex, Gerard and Dauphine are intriguing. Something is going on at Bloem, and I kept trying to guess what was happening and I will tell you when all was revealed I was in shock. The hits kept coming and I was wondering to what end?! And what an ending it was. I loved the mystery, the gothic vibes of Chauntilalei, the ghosts, the romance (which didn’t really start off with sparks – it’s a slow burn), the creepy experiments and the reason behind it all!

Tropes: girl can see ghosts

Why you should read it:

great storytelling and building up to that ending
gothic vibes, creepy, ghosts, romance, Gods

Why you might not want to read it:

not into Gothic mysteries

My Thoughts:

I was so excited to get a copy of this arc and I can say I was not disappointed. I didn’t know which way the story was going and when I thought it did – it changed on me and in an unsuspecting way. I enjoyed Verity and the gothic estate of Chauntilalei where there are secret passage ways, long, dark hallways and someone or something lurking in the corners. I am eager to read book three!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Review | House of Salt and Sorrows ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Small Favors by. Erin A. Craig | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

All That’s Left to Say by. Emery | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: All That’s Left to Say

Author: Emery Lord

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 7/18/23

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Categories: Young Adult, Grief, Drug Addiction, Romance, Mystery, 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 Bloomsbury YA for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A poignant and powerful story of a grieving girl willing to risk everything, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson.

On prom night, Hannah MacLaren sits in the headmaster’s office in her fanciest dress, soaked to the bone. She is in huge trouble after pulling the fire alarm right as the prom was about to be crowned. But Hannah had her reasons . . .

One year ago, her cousin Sophie, who was also her best friend and the person she loved most in the world, died of an overdose. Drowning in grief, Hannah became obsessed with one Who gave Sophie those pills? Who is refusing to give her family the closure they deserve?

Then she concocted a enroll at her cousin’s fancy private school with a new look and a mouthful of lies, and finally uncover the truth.

But Hannah didn’t expect all the lines to blur. She didn’t expect Sophie’s friends to be so complicated. She didn’t expect to fall for her longtime enemy. Now, she must choose to either let herself really mourn Sophie and move on, or see her search through to its explosive end–even if it means destroying herself.

Content Warning: grief, drug use

I read this book in one sitting even though I thought at times it moved slowly. It’s about a girl, Hannah, and her cousin who is like a sister to her, Sophie. Sophie dies tragically in a drug overdose and everyone is blindsided by it. Hannah’s purpose is to get to the bottom of who gave Sophie those pills but along the way she learns more about Sophie’s secrets and needing to let go of her pain and embrace life and love again.

Hannah is grieving along with her family and Sophie’s best friend, Gabi. When Gabi and Hannah team up to investigate who could have given Sophie the pills at the party they have to confront a few truths about Sophie as well. I really appreciated how the author considered all sides of the situation. Sophie’s access to the drugs, Sophie purposefully seeking out drugs, the consequences that is appropriate for the one who gave her the drugs, and some solutions a community can offer for people struggling with drug addiction. Hannah’s own father is a recovering alcoholic and he gives her some insight into addiction – some insights that Hannah had a difficult time comprehending. But I like that there was a discussion in this book about grief, secrets, drug addiction, and resources.

There is even romance in this story and it was so unsuspecting! I didn’t expect Hannah and Christian’s interactions to have so much chemistry and spark. The two of them are rivals. Debate team rivals so the arguments between them are epic and so sweet when they both cave in to the attraction between them. I love how he’s there for her because he’s gone through grief as well.

Now Hannah is a flawed character. She loves to argue, she likes things to go her way and she can be stubborn. I was bummed when she let things get so bad between her and her best friend Lincoln but I understand she was going through a rough time with Sophie’s death. She does grow as a character though.

Also the story is told in two timelines, past and present with the past just being one year ago. So there were times I had to backtrack because I lost my place on which timeline I was in – but that might be how the ebook arc is formatted.

The story was too slow to be a thriller, even when they figure out who it was that gave Sophie the pills. There wasn’t anything sinister about finding who did it, because as it’s stated, Sophie was at fault also. And the person who did it was having their own struggles. Overall it’s a tragic story, and an important one about how the opioid epidemic affects family, friends and a community.

Tropes: rivals to lovers

Why you should read it:

a complex story about grief, love, and drug addiction – it kept me intrigued

Why you might not want to read it:

topics about opioid use and grief

My Thoughts:

I’ve read a few Emery Lord books but I think this is her darkest one with heavy themes. But I love how she wrote the story, making the reader question all the aspects of the situation that has taken place. I love that it sheds a light on the opioid epidemic and how shame and judgment is a big part of how someone might not seek treatment. Overall, I thought it was a good read, if a little slow at parts but I still read it in one sitting.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ARC Review | The Map From Here to There ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Those Summer Nights by. Laura Silverman | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Those Summer Nights

Author: Laura Silverman

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 373

Publication Date: 8/23/22

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

After recovering from a life-changing injury, a teen girl must navigate a new summer job, an ex-best friend, and two surprisingly attractive coworkers in this romp of a rom-com for fans of Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian.

Hannah used to be all about focus, back before she shattered her ankle and her Olympic dreams in one bad soccer play. These days, she’s all about distraction—anything to keep the painful memories of her recent past at bay, including the string of bad decisions that landed her at boarding school for a year.

Enter Bonanza, the local entertainment multiplex and site of Hanna’s summer employment. With its mini golf course, bowling alley, and arcade—not to mention her hot, flirty coworker Patrick—Bonanza seems like the perfect way to stay distracted. Until her boss announces the annual Bonanza tournament, a staff competition that brings her past Olympic nightmares crashing back into her present.

On top of that, the Bonanza staff includes Brie, the ex-best friend she cut off last year, and Ethan, her brother’s best friend who became unreasonably attractive in her year away and who accepts her, even knowing her worst secrets. Under the neon lights of Bonanza, Hannah must decide whether she can find a way to discover a new self in the midst of her old life.

Content Warning: alcohol abuse

I wanted to read something with a summer theme and saw Those Summer Nights at the library so I checked it out.

This story follows Hannah and is told in the present with flashbacks of her last year when she lost her grandmother and also got an ankle injury that killed her soccer dreams. She’s competitive, she’s grieving, she’s not someone I connected to or liked but she does have growth. Hannah made some bad choices while she grieved her grandma and her soccer dreams and now she’s facing the consequences. She’s pushed away her friends, especially her best friend Brie and she turned to alcohol, partying and hooking up with boys.

Now she has to follow a recovery plan which includes staying away from partying, finding a job and finding a new passion. She finds a job at the local arcade where it seems everyone goes to work for the summer including her younger Joey, his best friend Ethan and even her ex-best friend Brie. Hannah makes some new friends, repairs her relationship with Brie and even falls in love.

I didn’t think the story would be so heavy with the grief aspect and Hannah spiraling but I could tell she loved her grandmother very much. As far as the romance goes, she falls for her brother’s best friend – which is a friends to lovers romance. It’s cute and they have lots of chemistry but as a personal preference I didn’t like that he was younger, especially her younger brother’s bestie lol…but that’s just ME.

Tropes: found family, friends to lovers

Why you should read it:

it’s a good teen story about making bad choices and learning how to fix mistakes
there is a fun found family story with Hannah and her new coworkers
cute romance

Why you might not want to read it:

Hannah isn’t the most likable MC

My Thoughts:

Sixteen year old me would have devoured this book. As an adult I was a little annoyed with how Hannah chose to deal with grief over her competition dreams and the loss of her grandmother. Obviously she was turning to other coping mechanisms like hooking up with boys but I think she’s relatable and she has had a lot of growth. I was expecting something more light-hearted but overall a solid read.