Tag: fantasy

April Wrap Up!

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Hello again, friends!! It is already the last day of April and I lament the end of this month that was almost completely spent indoors, whether at work or at home. I have never been a huge outdoors person, but my body is desperately missing the ability to go places and just hang out. I also seem to be going through a bout of insomnia, which the internet says could be due to a lack of natural light… but the weather’s been so bad here that I haven’t been able to spend time outside! I am yearning to take a chair outside and read but nooooope not fun in almost daily rain.

Anyway, that’s how my month has been going. I’ve been reading, but it’s been a struggle and I haven’t wanted to read anything I planned to read. (Spoiler alert I did not read everything on my April TBR!) I did however manage to read 18 books this month, but 6 of them were very short, fluffy, Kindle Unlimited books – because it’s what I needed in my life at that time.

PHYSICAL BOOKS

  1. The Wife Between Us, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen – 4/5 stars
  2. Magic For Liars, Sarah Gailey – 3.5/5 stars
  3. Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #1), Laini Taylor – 5/5 stars
  4. House of Salt and Sorrows, Erin A. Craig – 4/5 stars
  5. Well Met, Jen DeLuca – 5/5 stars

NETGALLEY EARC’S

TBH I really only wanted to read books on my phone/iPad this month for some reason… I wasn’t interested in physical books at all! So strange for me, because it’s normally always the opposite! Oh well, it was good for my Netgalley ratio!

  1. The Girl with the Whispering Shadow (The Crowns of Croswald #2), D. E. Night – 4/5 stars
  2. Chasing Lucky, Jenn Bennett – 5/5 stars
  3. What Lies Between Us, John Marrs – 4/5 stars
  4. By the Book, Amanda Sellet – 3.5/5 stars
  5. A Taste of Sage, Yaffa S. Santos – 4/5 stars
  6. The Circus Rose, Betsey Cornwell – 4/5 stars

EARC FROM AUTHORS

  1. Last Memoria (Memoria Duology #1), Rachel Emma Shaw – 5/5 stars

KINDLE UNLIMITED

  1. Love at First Fight (Geeks Gone Wild #1), Maggie Dallen – 4/5 stars
  2. My Virtual Prince Charming (Geeks Gone Wild #2), Maggie Dallen – 4/5 stars
  3. Once Upon a Comic-Con (Geeks Gone Wild #3), Maggie Dallen – 3.5/5 stars
  4. Playing the Enemy (The Trouble with Tomboys #1), Maggie Dallen – 4/5 stars
  5. Play to Win (The Trouble with Tomboys #2), Stephanie Street – 4/5 stars
  6. Playing the Field (The Trouble with Tomboys #3), Christina Benjamin – 3.5/5 stars

So that’s that! All 18 books I read this month! I have also revamped my plans for my TBR moving forward, but I’ll leave that for tomorrow’s post!

Happy reading folks!

April Haul!

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Holy cow, how is it already the end of April?! Time in quarantine is really flying now! I hope all you lovelies are getting through quarantine and isolation in the best way you can. I certainly find it hard to hold on some days, but I’ve taken to trying to create a routine and doing a bit of cleaning every day to get my house in order. It’s really a long time coming, you would understand if you could see my house! Of course, I’m doing some reading as well, just not as much or exactly which books I wanted to.

So without further ado, my whole haul is below. I treated myself a bit to an extra BOTM book and bought two backlist sequels that I’ve had my eye on in order to support a local bookstore. I will likely cut back again next month and resume my ban!

SUBSCRIPTION BOXES

  1. Beach Read, Emily Henry – Book of the Month
  2. The Guest List, Lucy Foley – Book of the Month
  3. Ruthless Gods, Emily A. Duncan – Owlcrate Special Edition (thanks fiance!)

THE IVY BOOKSHOP

  1. A Heart So Fierce and Broken, Brigid Kemmerer
  2. These Divided Shores, Sara Raasch

My Owlcrate monthly book box has not arrived yet, thanks COVID, so that will be added in next month’s haul!

Let me know in the comments what books you hauled this month!

Happy reading, folks!

Book Review – Ember Queen

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“There’s no shame in breaking…You just have to put yourself back together again.”

Title: Ember Queen (Ash Princess #3)

Author: Laura Sebastian

Publisher: Delacourte Books for Young Readers

Publication date: February 4th, 2020

512 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

The thrilling conclusion to the series that began with the instant New York Times bestseller “made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir” (Bustle), Ember Queen is an epic fantasy about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people.

Princess Theodosia was a prisoner in her own country for a decade. Renamed the Ash Princess, she endured relentless abuse and ridicule from the Kaiser and his court. But though she wore a crown of ashes, there is fire in Theo’s blood. As the rightful heir to the Astrean crown, it runs in her veins. And if she learned nothing else from her mother, she learned that a Queen never cowers. 

Now free, with a misfit army of rebels to back her, Theo must liberate her enslaved people and face a terrifying new enemy: the new Kaiserin. Imbued with a magic no one understands, the Kaiserin is determined to burn down anyone and everything in her way. 

The Kaiserin’s strange power is growing stronger, and with Prinz Søren as her hostage, there is more at stake than ever. Theo must learn to embrace her own power if she has any hope of standing against the girl she once called her heart’s sister.

Review

You aren’t useless. You have your mind, you have your determination. 

ember queen, laura sebastian

I have waited for the conclusion of the Ash Princess series since 2018, ever since I first read Ash Princess and fell in love. Theo is one of my fave characters all time, and I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion to the trilogy. Ember Queen is a great conclusion that wraps up the story line but still throws some fun twists in for the readers along with extending the plot line from Lady Smoke.

Ember Queen continues Theo’s story of trying to regain her family’s throne in Astrea, that was overtaken by the Kalovaxian Kaiser many years ago. Theo is strong and capable, while trying to be a fair and just ruler. Her rebellion is going strong, but there are some kinks that need to be worked out. The real issue is of the Kaiserin, who has some new powers that no one really understands. Theo must use all of her wits and powers to make her rebellion a success.

It’s hard to write a review for an end book without giving away and spoilers! So, this is the best I can do. I enjoy where Theo’s romantic relationship ended up. It seemed like a fitting end for her romance throughout the books, and is something that isn’t too easy. The writing is as wonderful as the others, and this series will just continue to be one of my favorites.

I am very excited to read more of Laura’s work, both adult and YA. Can’t wait!

Happy reading, folks!

Book Review – The Girl with the Whispering Shadow

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Title: The Girl with the Whispering Shadow (The Crowns of Croswald #2)

Author: D. E. Night

Publisher: Stories Untold LLC

Publication date: January 23rd, 2019

384 pages

4/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Even a secret town cannot protect Ivy from a mysterious darkness…

Only hours after Ivy Lovely discovers that she is the fulfillment of the Moonsday promise, she is whisked away from her beloved school to Belzebuthe, a secret town for only those with magical blood.

Ivy sets out on a mission to uncover the second facet of the Kindred Stone while eluding the Dark Queen’s wrath. But even when she’s supposed to be safe, something is shadowing Ivy. She will need all her natural-born magic and more as she battles to find the rest of the Kindred Stone and return to the Halls of Ivy.

Before it’s too late…

Review

**Thank you to Netgalley, Stories Untold LLC, and D. E. Night for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

Sequel to The Crowns of Croswald, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow picks up right where the first left off with Ivy and friends. The school year is over and everyone is looking forward to summer break, but the Dark Queen being on the hunt for Ivy puts a damper on everything. But Ivy knows what her mission is, and will fulfill it no matter what the consequences.

Truly, this series is so magical and whimsical. If you are looking for a more light-hearted, genderbent Harry Potter than this is the story for you. The magical creatures and magic system are so much fun and the characters are just adorable. Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca are are great friends and each bring something different to the table. It’s an easy read and worth the time.

One thing I will say is that is is VERY close to Harry Potter and the dialogue isn’t the best. The descriptions and writing are beautiful, but the dialogue is very stilted and has far too many !’s. However, this is more of a middle grade book so this could make sense. I also think the similarities to Harry Potter are just a bit much, almost too close for comfort.

Overall, I find this series to be very good and am excited to continue it with The Words of the Wandering, releasing in May 2020!

Happy reading, folks!

eARC Review – The Night of the Dragon

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Title: Night of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox #3)

Author: Julia Kagawa

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Publication date: March 31st, 2020

384 pages

4.5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Master storyteller Julie Kagawa concludes the enthralling journey into the heart of the fantastical Empire of Iwagoto in the third book of the Shadow of the Fox trilogy. As darkness rises and chaos reigns, a fierce kitsune and her shadowy protector will face down the greatest evil of all. A captivating fantasy for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Sarah J. Maas and Marie Lu.

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has given up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers in order to save everyone she loves from imminent death. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must journey to the wild sea cliffs of Iwagoto in a desperate last-chance effort to stop the Master of Demons from calling upon the Great Kami dragon and making the wish that will plunge the empire into destruction and darkness.

Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko and their companions to stop a madman and separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that had trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.

But even with their combined skills and powers, this most unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.

Review

**Thank you to Netgalley, Inkyard Press, and Julie Kagawa for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

In the thrilling finale of the Shadow of the Fox trilogy, Yumeko and the gang are still working on stopping the Wish from being made to the Great Kami Dragon by the evil Master of Demons. Night of the Dragon is action-packed, more so than other books. The action really started at the halfway mark and did not stop until the very end. I finished this book all in one day and it just flowed so easily.

By this point, I love all the characters. This group of fighters mesh so well and each bring something different to the table. They all have their own skills and abilities, while working together seamlessly to achieve their goals. I also love the ships that sail during this book, but no spoilers as to which ones!

The plot of this series was really top level, and it culminated in a very well scripted final action scene… which basically was the last half of the book. The ending made me feel so many emotions, all at the same time. I even cycled through several emotions a few times. It was back and forth, give and take, with so many twist and turns. The epilogue was SO needed and continued the emotions.

Seriously, read this series if you love Asian inspired fantasies such as Wicked Fox and Descendant of the Crane.

Happy reading, folks!

eARC Review – Between Burning Worlds

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Title: Between Burning Worlds (System Divine #2)

Authors: Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication date: March 24th, 2020

688 pages

4.5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Les Misérables meets The Lunar Chronicles in the out-of-this-world sequel to Sky Without Stars that’s an “explosion of emotion, intrigue, romance, and revolution” (Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series).

A thief.
An officer.
A guardian. 
All from different backgrounds, but sharing one same destiny…

The planet Laterre is in turmoil. A new militant revolutionary group has emerged calling themselves “The Red Scar” and claiming responsibility for a spate of recent bombings. The infamous rebels known as the Vangarde believe that in order to bring about a peaceful revolution, their charismatic leader, Citizen Rousseau must be freed from prison right away. Otherwise the bloodshed will only escalate.

Soon Marcellus, Chatine, and Alouette all find themselves pulled into battle with extreme consequences.

Marcellus is determined to uncover his corrupt grandfather’s plan to seize Laterre—even if that means joining the Vangarde.

Aloutte, trying to unearth the truth about her past, becomes a captive of Marcellus’s grandfather, the general.

Chatine, who is serving time on Bastille, hopes to escape the brutal and horrifying reality of the prison moon.

But the failed attempt to break Citizen Rousseau out of prison launches Aloutte, Chatine, and Marecellus into the middle of a dangerous war for control of Laterre. And in the midst of it all is the legend of a secret and dangerous weapon that could mean complete and absolute power to any that wields it.

Review

**Thank you to Netgalley, Simon Pulse, and Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

Sequel to Sky Without Stars, Between Burning Worlds picks up pretty much where Sky left off. Our main characters have themselves in whole heaps of trouble, and their ingenuity is the only thing that could possible save them. Without giving too much away; Chatine, Marcellus, and Alouette are separated and on their own paths to start the book. Each trying to find out more about themselves, in different ways. But what they find won’t always be fulfilling or satisfying…

I found Between Burning Worlds to be a satisfying middle book. I don’t think it fell victim so much to the middle book syndrome. The world and plot was pretty much built in Sky, so Between Burning Worlds just continued the action. I liked the new characters who were added to bring extra suspense and drama. However, Chatine is still my favorite character and always will be.

The writing is very good in this book. I love the twists and turns and how you can never tell what really is true and what is just a smoke screen. I love a book that keeps me guessing until the end. Speaking of the end, the CLIFFHANGER y’all. I must know what happens…

Between Burning Worlds continues the Les Mis adaptation of Sky Without Stars. If you loved Les Mis and enjoy science fiction books set in space, this series will be for you.

Happy reading, folks!

eARC Review – The Electric Heir

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Title: The Electric Heir (Feverwake #2)

Author: Victoria Lee

Publisher: Skyscape

Publication date: March 17th, 2020

480 pages

4/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

In the sequel to The Fever King, Noam Álvaro seeks to end tyranny before he becomes a tyrant himself.

Six months after Noam Álvaro helped overthrow the despotic government of Carolinia, the Atlantians have gained citizenship, and Lehrer is chancellor. But despite Lehrer’s image as a progressive humanitarian leader, Noam has finally remembered the truth that Lehrer forced him to forget—that Lehrer is responsible for the deadly magic infection that ravaged Carolinia.

Now that Noam remembers the full extent of Lehrer’s crimes, he’s determined to use his influence with Lehrer to bring him down for good. If Lehrer realizes Noam has evaded his control—and that Noam is plotting against him—Noam’s dead. So he must keep playing the role of Lehrer’s protégé until he can steal enough vaccine to stop the virus.

Meanwhile Dara Shirazi returns to Carolinia, his magic stripped by the same vaccine that saved his life. But Dara’s attempts to ally himself with Noam prove that their methods for defeating Lehrer are violently misaligned. Dara fears Noam has only gotten himself more deeply entangled in Lehrer’s web. Sooner or later, playing double agent might cost Noam his life.

Review

**Thank you to Netgalley, Skyscape, and Victoria Lee for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

The Electric Heir, the sequel to The Fever King, picks up with Noam and Dara a few months after TFK ends. The resistance against Calix Lehrer continues with them at the front lines. The Electric Heir is a solid ending to a truly magical and diverse fantasy world of the future USA.

This sequel continued all the magic and action that I loved from The Fever King. The amount of diversity in this world is totally amazing and made me love it even more. The Electric Heir is jam packed with fights, political intrigue, backstabbing, and magic gone awry. There’s murder and double-crossing. There’s also talk of eating disorders and sexual abuse – so TW for that.

I love the characters in this book so much because they are so tragically messed up and not redeemable but in the best way. Noam and Dara are the cutest together but they have such a hard path to overcome. Ames is a complete mess but is so strong and unapologetic about anything. The camaraderie between the characters in Level IV is what you’d look for from a great team.

One part that took a star away from this book for me was the ending. I was expecting so much more. It was actually kind of anticlimactic in my opinion, and happened way too quickly. Like, I was 97% in and the ending was just gearing up – that’s not enough time for the ending this duology deserved.

The Electric Heir is the conclusion to the Feverwake series and if you are a fan of the Red Queen series, you should check it out.

Happy reading, folks!

Book Review – Wicked Fox

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“Just because something doesn’t seem right to most, doesn’t mean it’s not right for you.” 

Title: Wicked Fox (Gumiho #1)

Author: Kat Cho

Publisher : G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Publication date: June 25th, 2019

429 pages

3.5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

A fresh and addictive fantasy-romance set in modern-day Seoul.

Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret–she’s a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt.

But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead–her gumiho soul–in the process.

Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl–he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to humans. He’s drawn to her anyway. 

With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon’s.

Review

When you’re constantly treated as a pariah and labeled bad, you might begin living up to that expectation.

kat cho, wicked fox

Welcome to present day Seoul, where Miyoung and Jihoon are two teenagers fated to meet under less than fantastic circumstances. Miyoung is a gumiho, a nine tail fox who must kill someone at least once a month in order to stay alive. Jihoon is a normal human who accidentally comes across Miyoung while she’s being attacked by a demon – everyone knows to stay away from gumihos BUT Jihoon can’t help but be drawn to her.

I have been working on reading more Asian inspired fantasies because it’s subgenre I don’t have a lot of experience with. Wicked Fox seemed interesting because of the gumiho plot – I loved Shadow of the Fox and the main character is also a magical fox. However, Wicked Fox fell a bit flat for me.

I think I enjoyed the beginning and end of Wicked Fox, but wasn’t interested in the middle. It was a slog to get through, and the only reason I got through it quickly is because I was on a plane with not much else to do. It just felt like not much was happening and it was all filler. The main “event” was kind of annoying because nothing good came out of it – it was all negative outcomes.

Also, Miyoung and Jihoon aren’t really great characters. They felt flat as characters, without much substance. Jihoon had more interesting characteristics and back story, but Miyoung was definitely not given enough to be captivating. Every time I wanted her to stand up to her mom, she didn’t – even though she seemed to have a strong personality. There was just a disconnect there.

I liked the overall lore with the magical creatures living in the present day and trying to stay unnoticed by humans. The ending scenes were quick and substantive, with a decent cliffhanger to keep me interested for the sequel. There was a plot twist I did NOT see coming at all, which drastically improved how I felt about Wicked Fox by the end. I love being thrown for a loop while reading – and having no idea a twist is coming.

Overall, it was a meh read for me. I do plan on reading the sequel, but I may not purchase it. It screams library haul to me.

Happy reading, folks!

Book Review – The Shadows Between Us

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“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.” 

Title: The Shadows Between Us

Author: Tricia Levenseller

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication date: February 25th, 2020

326 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

All the time in the world is worth nothing if I don’t get to spend it with you.

tricia levenseller, the shadows between us

Review

So, I love everything Tricia Levenseller writes and will always read her books, but I was even MORE sold when I read the synopsis. Like, this book seemed right up my alley and I WAS RIGHT.

Alessandra is a strong, female character. Is she completely moral and a good person? Ehhhhh, not particularly seeing as she killed someone. BUT. She is unapologetically herself, which is something I respect in a character. If you’re going to make a heartless and morally gray character, then SELL IT TO ME. And ya’ll, Tricia did. Alessandra really only cares about herself (with a few exceptions) and is only looking out for her interests. She wants power and wants to be Queen, without having to bow to a King.

I love Tricia’s characters. Even the side characters had their own arcs and growth throughout the book, which I always find impressive in a standalone. Each character got an “ending” that made sense and mostly in line for what they were looking for. The Shadow King character was dark and mysterious, but I do wish his powers and magic had been explained a touch more thoroughly.

I enjoyed the plot twist. I saw about half of it coming. Like, I knew *who* it would be about but didn’t see the details coming. This is a bonus in books for me. I don’t mind being able to predict what happens, but I love when books throw me for a loop.

Overall, I loved reading The Shadows Between Us and Tricia Levenseller continues to be an auto buy author for me.

Happy reading, folks!

eARC Review – The Shrike & the Shadows

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Title: The Shrike & the Shadows

Authors: Chantal Gadoury & A.M. Wright

Publisher: The Parliament House Press

Publication date: March 3rd, 2020

365 pages

3/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Men have gone missing before.

The village of Krume is plagued by a haunted wood and a hungry witch. It’s been that way for as long as Hans and Greta can remember, though they have never seen the witch themselves; no one has. 

When men start to disappear once again in the cover of night – their bloody hearts turning up on doorsteps – the village falls into frenzied madness.

Hans and Greta, two outcast orphans, find themselves facing accusations of witchcraft and are met with an ultimatum: burn at the stake, or leave the village forever. 

With nowhere else to go, they abandon their only home. 

As they venture into the strange forest, their path is fraught with horrific creatures, wild and vivid hallucinations, and a mysterious man tied to the witch’s past.

The Shrike is watching, just beyond the deep darkness of the woods.

Review

**Thank you to The Parliament House Press, Netgalley, and the authors for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

The Shrike & the Shadows gives us different version of Hansel and Gretel than we may be used to. Twins Hans and Greta are orphans living in the village of Krume. Their mother died from going into the woods, and their father died shortly after. The village thinks Greta is a witch and they are eventually cast out in to the woods for her ‘crimes’. The downside? There is a mysterious woman called ‘The Shrike’ that torments men in the village by seducing them and ripping out their hearts to put the outside their family’s house. The woods hold terrors the twins can’t even imagine, and the ending will be surprising.

I have never been a huge fan of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, and I didn’t like it much more in this book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the characters were more interesting and redeemable. Hans screws Greta over from start to finish and Gretel is a doormat. She lets everything happen to her and her ‘innocence’ feels more like blank slate. I think her character should have been fleshed out more.

There was a level of dark and twisty to this book that was refreshing. It didn’t pull punches in that way and the terrors that Hans and Greta experience were interesting. Overall, this book wasn’t quite for me but if you like Hansel and Gretel, retellings, and dark & twisty than definitely check this out!

Happy reading, folks!