Hello my lovelies! I apologize for the two months in between my last review post and this one! I've been running myself absolutely ragged at work (I'm a scientist ) and have barely had time to breathe. But, I recently got my hands on an eARC copy of the second book in Rachel Schade's Cursed Empire Series and just had to tell y'all about these books. This series has quickly rocketed up into my favorites for me. The first book? Awesome. The second book? ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING. Like seriously, I can't stop thinking about these books. We have four different POVS in this story--two badass heroine and two broody, sexy men. (I <3 Caesiem) Though we are seeing two different stories here, it is amazing how in reality, we are getting two sides to the same story. I am 100% obsessed with the series, but I wanted to break my reviews down into two sections to prevent any potential spoilers! So here it goes... Empire of Dragons (#1) Review: When I first saw the cover for Empire of Dragons, I knew it was a book I would have to read. Just take a moment and look at it! It is unbelievably stunning. Don't worry, the story was just as amazing as the cover! Rachel Schade created a book with wonderful, dynamic characters that sucks you in right from the beginning. Also, I am actually so appreciative for the pronunciation guide included at the beginning of the book, I love knowing that I am actually saying the names and such the way the author wanted! Empress Jaliana is a very intriguing character to me. As technically a political prisoner, it is very interesting to see how she handles herself and her situation with her Forwyn captures. She has such a strong personality and enjoyed seeing her standup for herself even as a prisoner. The chemistry and banter between her and Kovi is so incredibly written. The forbidden fascination between the two of them was so much fun to read! Even I might have a little crush on Kovi right now! He was such an incredibly insightful character throughout the book and seemed to just have such a thoughtful head on his shoulders. "𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶?" "𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓼𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓲𝓮𝓻𝓬𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰?" While I loved Jaliana and Kovi, I was definitely a little bit more invested in Lo'laeni's story! Lo started as a slave in the Alrenian palace, was put in the position to kill the cruel empress, and then ran off and became a nun. Like this girl is crazy and I freaking loved it. After killing the empress, she has become a sort of legend in the Forwyn community, yet in reality, she was just a girl who needed to save her own life. I absolutely adored Caesiem and thought that he brought out a strong side of Lo that she didn't really think truly existed. The attraction between the two of them is so beautifully forbidden (given she is literally a nun) that I just loved it and them. Their interactions were all so entertaining and kept me smiling. I am seriously so excited to see what happens with these two as the series goes on. "𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓷 𝓲𝓶𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓼𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓵 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓷 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓷𝓲𝔃𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓾𝓲𝓽 𝓪 𝓷𝓾𝓷." I am giving this book a well earned 4.5 stars. I loved the story, the writing style, and the characters. Rachel Schade really created something awesome with this book and I am already anticipating where she takes the series! Empire of Traitors (#2) Review: WOW! If you, like me, loved Rachel Schade’s book, Empire of Dragons, you have probably been anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. This book! Let me just say, I really liked the first book in this series, but I was BLOWN AWAY by Empire of Traitors. Absolutely blown away. I couldn’t put this book down — it is seriously so amazing and a great sequel. I am so excited for the next book in this series, I am so invested in these books and absolutely in love with the story Rachel has created here. Enemies to lovers, forbidden love, empires at war, everything you could ever need is in this series. Lo and Caesiem are pretty much my obsession — one of my favorite book couples right now. I absolutely loved their development in this sequel, the war raging between them is just amazing and gives me all the fells. "𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓼 𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝓮𝓻𝓬𝓮. 𝓗𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓾𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓯 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼. 𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓶𝓮, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻." I love Kovi and Jalie too! (Though I will admit I am a wee bit more invested with Lo and Caes, but They’re all amazing) "𝓦𝓮 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝔀𝓮 𝓴𝓷𝓮𝔀 𝔀𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓹𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓭." The ending is crazy intense. Honestly most of the book is! But it is amazing!!! I can’t wait to see where the story goes next. Thank you to Rachel Schade for my review copy of this book. This in no way impacted my review. When I first saw the cover for Empire of Dragons, I knew it was a book I would have to read. Just take a moment and look at it! It is unbelievably stunning. Don't worry, the story was just as amazing as the cover! Rachel Schade created a book with wonderful, dynamic characters that sucks you in right from the beginning. Also, I am actually so appreciative for the pronunciation guide included at the beginning of the book, I love knowing that I am actually saying the names and such the way the author wanted! Empress Jaliana is a very intriguing character to me. As technically a political prisoner, it is very interesting to see how she handles herself and her situation with her Forwyn captures. She has such a strong personality and enjoyed seeing her standup for herself even as a prisoner. The chemistry and banter between her and Kovi is so incredibly written. The forbidden fascination between the two of them was so much fun to read! Even I might have a little crush on Kovi right now! He was such an incredibly insightful character throughout the book and seemed to just have such a thoughtful head on his shoulders. "𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶?" "𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓼𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓲𝓮𝓻𝓬𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰?" While I loved Jaliana and Kovi, I was definitely a little bit more invested in Lo'laeni's story! Lo started as a slave in the Alrenian palace, was put in the position to kill the cruel empress, and then ran off and became a nun. Like this girl is crazy and I freaking loved it. After killing the empress, she has become a sort of legend in the Forwyn community, yet in reality, she was just a girl who needed to save her own life. I absolutely adored Caesiem and thought that he brought out a strong side of Lo that she didn't really think truly existed. The attraction between the two of them is so beautifully forbidden (given she is literally a nun) that I just loved it and them. Their interactions were all so entertaining and kept me smiling. I am seriously so excited to see what happens with these two as the series goes on. "𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓷 𝓲𝓶𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓼𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓵 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓷 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓷𝓲𝔃𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓾𝓲𝓽 𝓪 𝓷𝓾𝓷." I am giving this book a well earned 4.5 stars. I loved the story, the writing style, and the characters. Rachel Schade really created something awesome with this book and I am already anticipating where she takes the series! Thank you Rachel for my review copy of the book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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A must read for the girl who dreams of adventure and lives a thousand lives through books. Okay let me just saw WOW! I was excited to read this book, but I could not have predicted just how invested in it I would become! I am honestly in a bit of a reading slump after reading this book because I loved it so much. It has been a hard act for my other reads to follow! This book is definitely 5 stars for me. Honestly, I'd probably give it even more if I could. A story of power, betrayal, and secret identities? Yes please! If I didn’t already know this book is the author’s debut novel, I never would have guessed. It reads like that of an author who has spent years honing their craft! I found myself comparing the writing to my favorite author, Jennifer L. Armentrout. Sara seriously blew me away with the easy, beautiful way this book flowed. I can get pretty easily distracted sometimes, but this was a book that I really could not put down! I had to force myself to go to bed so I wouldn't stay up all night reading it! Issaria is an incredible protagonist. I really loved her character development from demure princess to strong, badass warrior princess. I loved the devotion she had to her people and her moral compass throughout the book. Elon is adorable and has wonderful boy next door vibes. His protective instincts and love for Issa are so wonderful. I really enjoyed his character development. I really can’t wait to see where his character goes! Prince Calix may be one of my new book boyfriends. He reminds me of the bad boy with a heart of gold, I just love it. Issaria and Calix also have the best first meet. I am 100% obsessed with their chemistry, it seriously feels like it is flowing off the pages! I could fan myself at the amazing natural heat between these two! This book is full of action and adventure, but it also takes many unexpected turns. I am so excited for the next book in the series! I think this book should be a must read for fans of Jennifer Armentrout, Sarah J Maas, Elise Kova, and Danielle Jensen. Thank you Sara for my eARC of the book. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Synopsis: Before the Timeline divided Ellorhys between day and night, the Imperial Emperor and Empress ruled justly and with great love for all the kingdoms in their realm. Under eternal night skies, Imperial Princess Issaria Elysitao is reared by her only remaining family. With Aunt Cate's guidance, Issaria is urged toward conquest of the Daylight cities responsible for the regicide, but she cannot help to wonder if the curse meant to protect her was not the very thing her parents banished long ago. As Issaria tests the restrictions set forth by the Empress Regent, it becomes obvious that there is more to her magic than even she realized. Something strange lurks within, making her powers unstable. As she approaches her eighteenth birthday, it speaks to her and promises more than vengeance. North of the Timeline, Prince Calix prepared to inherit Hinhallow from his warlord father on one condition: he must eliminate the growing threat of the Imperial Princess before she can receive her crown from the Evernight Witch and unleash darkness upon the rest of Ellorhys. Worlds collide and Issaria is forced to flee across the continent. With deadly foes on the horizon, Issaria is left with no options and less time. She must find the origin of all magic, the fabled Vera Caelum, and awaken her powers before she loses herself entirely. So I just finished reading They Stay and that ending has me shook! (But in the best way) I’ve never read a YA thriller before actually. I’ve loved adult thrillers and mystery books in the past, but now I feel like I’ve been missing out on an awesome genre. I gave this book four stars! They Stay us extremely well written and sucks you in! This book made me stay up way too let reading because I just HAD to know what was going to happen. It was pretty addicting! It does touch on some sensitive topics such as domestic abuse and drug addiction, but I think they are handled beautifully. These topics don’t tend to be very present in a YA novel, but here, I really think an important depth was given to the characters with them. I really adored Francesca’s character. Though she is the social pariah and the “psycho”, I found her so charming and beautifully vulnerable throughout this book. Many of the quotes I highlighted were from her. I am excited to see where her character goes in the next book. Shiloh is a character that really did an amazing job accurately portraying a victim of domestic abuse, and I thought her character development and empowerment was so wonderful and inspiring. But, it also just felt very real. Not sugar coated, but a real, dirty journey. The spook factor isn’t too intense in this book, but I loved the ghost and necromancy presence. I think this book was very unique. I’ve read similar books about missing/murdered boys in a paranormal context, but have never read one quote like this! I am excited to read the next book in the series when it is released. My one sort of dislike (not reaaally a dislike), but I would have loved to see more from Jonah’s character. We get one chapter from his perspective in the middle of the book and I wish there were more. I found him to be a very intriguing character and just wanted a little more! Thank you to the author for my review copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Synopsis: Nothing is as important to sixteen-year-old Shiloh Oleson as her little brother Max. So when the six-year-old goes missing without a trace, a heartbroken Shiloh refuses to believe nothing can be done and sets out to find him. When one of Shiloh’s classmates says she knows where Max is, Shiloh hesitates to believe her. Francesca is creepy. She says she can see ghosts, but everyone knows ghosts aren’t real … right? But Francesca says that Max is going to be murdered. And a ghost told her where he is. As the line between the dead and living begins to blur, Shiloh starts to think Francesca might not be as crazy as she believed. One thing is becoming clear. Someone has gruesome plans for Max, and Shiloh must confront her worst nightmares to find him before it’s too late. THEY STAY is the first book in the They Stay Series, a thrilling supernatural adventure for young adults. Hey Book friends! Okay, so I have contemplating this review for a few days now. It is probably one of hardest times I've ever had writing a book review. So, I don't normally include spoilers in my reviews because I want people to make their own decisions and have their own opinions, but for this one, I need to because I think it is the only way for me to really talk out my thoughts here. *Spoiler Alert* So just keep that in mind! For me, I had to go with 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3. First off, let me say something I loved. The Lord of Chao's name is Orion! Orion is actually my FAVORITE name for a male love interest. I blame Caroline Peckman and Susanne Valenti's Zodiac Academy series, but now, if I read a book with the love interest being Orion, I always get little tummy flutters. I just find it the seriously sexiest name ever. This story is really intriguing and I flew through it in about a day in a half, so I in no way hated this book or anything, but there were a few things that I found very triggering. Rowan and Orion have a pretty complex relationship. She is this awkward human and he is this confident, powerful demon. I would have loved that dynamic if that was the true development for the love story, but in pretending to be Moltana, Rowan completely changes into a different character. It isn't what I would necessarily call character growth and development, it was more along the lines of it seemed that Rowen completely lost track of who she is. And Orion seemed to like her for the person she turned into, not who she ultimately was on the inside. There also wasn't really any transition for them to go from their angry, lusty relationship into Orion suddenly being this insanely sweet and caring man. Within a few pages, he was still being a d***, and then was suddenly saying sweet nothings and everything. It just didn't fit his character at all to me. He had never been at all vulnerable and then it felt like a complete 180. I also had trouble with Rowen's loss of focus on her task. She started out as this determined girl who wanted to find her mother's murderer, but this became such a background plot that is seemed like it really wasn't that important to her anymore. That sort of goes with how I feel that Rowen's character completely changed throughout this book. Will I read the next book in the series? Maybe. Honestly, I'm not sure. Plenty of people really loved this story and I understand why, but for me, it was just a bit too problematic. Even writing this review, I am still so conflicted over how I feel about the book. I will likely be contemplating it for a little while, honestly. Thank you to the author for my eARC of this book. This in no way affected my overall review. Synopsis: I never thought I'd be singing happy birthday to myself in a dungeon. And yet when a sinfully sexy demon crashes happy hour, that's exactly what happens. He’s known as the Lord of Chaos, and he’s mistaken me for my succubus doppelgänger. Happy birthday to me. When he tastes my blood, he finally understands I’m mortal. And I realize we have something in common: we both crave revenge. So we make a deal: I can stay in the forbidden city to hunt for my mom's killer. In return, I’ll help him get the vengeance he craves. I just have to pose as a sexy succubus. One problem--he's my number one suspect. And that’s increasingly hard to remember as he teaches me my role: seduction. With each heated touch I drift further into peril. And if I fall under his seductive spell, death awaits me. "I flew through this book... Hot demon lord—check. Action—check. Romance—check. And there's spice! If you love my books, you definitely want to read this one." —Laura Thalassa Hi book friends! Today, I am so excited to tell y'all about the vamp-tastic YA fantasy book I had the pleasure of being on the ARC team for. I just fell completely in love with An Absolute Bloody Disaster by Lindsey Clement (You may know her as the amazing @novelitica on instagram!) “Humanity is a glorious mess” An Absolute Bloody Disaster was absolutely bloody brilliant! (Yes, I am cheesy, but I am embracing it) I give this book 5 stars! I have been following and loving Lindsey's bookstagram account ever since I joined bookstagram! When she announced her debut novel, I was already pretty invested in reading it. I am so happy that I did because I was not disappointed! I would like to start out by saying that my love of snarky, beautiful vampires will never die. An Absolutely Bloody Disaster took all of the things I’ve loved about YA Fantasy books—vampires, a murderer mystery, a forbidden romance, and a snarky heroine—and created one big masterpiece! Our heroine, Charlotte is over 200 years old, and has all the sarcasm I need to feel right at home with her! I loved her personality, her total badassness, and pretty much everything about her. I really loved how Lindsey humanised Charlotte while still giving her the perfect vampire personality. I loved the intense, sassy nature of Charlotte's brother Xander and his protective nature of the whole gang. Honestly, I adored the entire vampire gang in this book! They reminded me of the crew in the Vampire Diaries, but with a more comedic tone! Nik is the broody, gorgeous vampire who spends his time submerged in a world of alcohol and sex. Rose is the sweet but spicy vampire who is an amazing baker. Pippa is our crazy, sexy vamp with an amazing wild side. Victoria is basically the sassy housewife. Honestly, she reminded me of my own mother so I had to love her! Oh, and we can't forget Kaleb. He gave me total Klaus vibes, but in a good way! If I didn’t know this was Lindsey’s debut novel, I never would have been able to tell! She writes like she has been a staple in the YA Fantasy genre for years. I am so excited to see where Lindsey takes this story and to see what she does in the future! Her writing style is amazing and easy to follow! Lindsey Clement is truly an author to watch and An Absolutely Blood Disaster should be on any vamp-loving, urban fantasy obsessed reader’s TBR. Thank you thank you to Lindsey for letting me be a part of her ARC team! This in no way affected my review for this book. Below, you can find the synopsis, the goodreads link, and a link to pre-order! Trust me, y'all aren't going to want to miss out on this one! Synopsis: Charlotte Novik is a typical 19-year-old girl: she has an obnoxious older brother, friends who drive her crazy, a giant mansion overlooking the San Francisco Bay, and a refrigerator filled with blood bags. Oh, and did she mention she’s a vampire? Because that’s kind of important. When Charlotte accidentally kills someone on a busy street in broad daylight, she unwittingly sets off a string of similar murders throughout the city. Not only do these murders seem somehow connected to her, but also to an ancient vampire whose revenge-laden shadow has loomed over her family for centuries. Haunted by her best friend’s death (and, subsequently, her murderer), Charlotte and her derelict family are forced to hunt down the killer before he threatens the exposure of vampire-kind. After all, what could go wrong? Especially with the gaggle of college kids who keep infiltrating their plans, and the golden human boy who can’t seem to leave her alone. Hi Book Friends! I am so happy to team up with Favourite Pages Book Club to bring y'all the tour for R. M. Scott's new young adult fantasy novel, Unseen! Unseen was released back in July and is a wonderful debut for Scott! "We sat arm's length apart, trapped in different worlds, suffering alone, unable to cross the invisible bridge between us." Overall, I give this book 4 stars. It is a very well written young adult fantasy novel with a sweet, clean romance. I think this book could appeal to the middle grade and young adult reader! I've always been interested in the Salem Witch Trials, and that is the vibe I get from this book. In this book, Alaia lives in a village that has been torn apart by the Inquisitor who has taken over the village and executed many innocent women for using witchcraft. Alaia has always been a gifted healer in her village and has been working to take care of her ailing father. Alaia has a sweet friendship with Mateo, but he is the nephew of the bloodthirsty Inquisitor! Alaia must save her family and the village from these evil witch hunts. The story is well written and just lovely. "Next life, Alaia. We will be friends or lovers. Whatever you wish." There is a bit of a love triangle in the book, but I appreciated the love both characters clearly had for Alaia and the sacrifices they were willing to make for the person they love. This was a lovely debut for Scott, I am curious to see what comes in the future for this new author! Synopsis: The Village of Ea, Spain 17th Century Alaia has lived in the shadow of grief since her brother Benin and his friend Txomin died fighting as mercenaries for the powerful Inquisitor Judge of neighboring Navarre. In the two years since, the Inquisitor has taken over Ea and executed innocent women for witchcraft. Now Alaia's father is dying of Ocean Fever, a painful lung disease. Alaia is a gifted healer, however, and can cure him given enough time, but instead she must disappear, because the Inquisitor has accused her of practicing magic and intends to see her hang. Kindhearted Mateo has loved Alaia since childhood and vows to protect her from his bloodthirsty uncle Inquisitor. Together, they flee the coastal village in Mateo's boat, and once they're safe at sea, he shows her the crossbow sensor he designed to prove she is non magical. But, it does the opposite. Confused by his uncle's deceitful teachings about women and witchcraft, Mateo aims the bow toward Alaia, but she plunges into the ocean to save herself. As her life slips away, she receives help from the most unlikely source. Txomin returns from beyond the veil of death to guide and protect her. With the Inquisitor's men on their heels, the pair escapes through forests and towns until they reach their destination-the shrine where the Inquisitor tortures and kills many of his victims. Even as Alaia and Txomin evade capture, the Inquisitor's army gathers women and girls to the shrine. Having learned along the way much about life, death, and magic, the young healer emerges as warrior in a gripping, bloody battle. No longer hiding in the shadows, she now fights openly for a future without fear and persecution-and for the lives of everyone she loves. Can Alaia save her family and village from the dark clutches of the Inquisitor? She heals with her magic, but she must become more to save their lives R. M. Scott has been writing her entire life and absolutely loves dreaming up characters and magical places in her freetime. Her new novel, Unseen, was influenced by Basque country! Below, you will find links to check her out! Hi there book friends! I am happy to be teaming up with Erin Riha and Favourite Pages to bring y'all the blog tour for Erin Riha's new book, Of Wind and Tide. Of Wind and Tide is the second book in Riha's Embers in Wait series, and the sequel to But For the Mountains. First, can I just say how lovely the cover for this book is? It is literally a work of art! So, this series is a bit like a darker version of The Selection series. Personally, I have yet to read the Selection, so I wasn't comparing them too much when reading the book, but based on what I know about The Selection series, I can understand the comparison. This series, however, deals with more serious topics such as sexual assault and physical abuse. Personally, I think Riha took some insanely intense topics and created a strong character in Arden. These sort of topics are often brought into stories but not handled in a way that really symbolizes the impact that they have on people, but in Arden's case, Riha created a true survivor and handled the delicate subject matter with grace. I will say though, due to the subject matter that is ever present in the first book in the series, this series may not be for everyone. Overall, I would give both of the books in this series 4 stars. Personally, I loved the second book, Of Wind and Tide, a little bit more than the first, but that may be because it focused more on Beck (aka my new pirate crush). I just really loved the chemistry between Arden and Beck, and how throughout the books, he teaches Arden how to empower herself and protect herself. He made her feel truly seen and he accepted her trauma as a still beautiful part of her that made her the woman she is. When looking back at my favorite quotes from the book, I'm now realizing they were all said by Beck! Clearly I am a bit infatuated. "You have fire in your blood. Even when the world tries to smother you, you're steadfast. You survive. You're an ember, Capo, a wildfire waiting to burn. You'll change the world, if given the right kind of breeze." "I think the sea calls to you--the crashing waves; the unpredictable weather; the deepest, scariest blues you've ever seen; the sunsets that'll break your heart. It's unrelenting, unfathomable, unknowable... I think you, Arden Thatcher, have saltwater in your soul." "That you're an ember in waiting. That all you need is the right breeze, and you'll ignite the world." Aren't the quotes all incredible? So empowering and just lovely. If you are looking for a series with: - The Selection vibes but darker - a LOVE TRIANGLE - a sexy pirate with a snarky tongue and a drinking problem - a prince-esque man with a heart of gold - lots of adventure - a strong survivor of a heroine Then you need to check out the Embers in Wait series! Synopsis of But For the Mountains: Arden Thatcher wasn’t meant to be chosen. But when her name is announced, she’s presented with something she never thought she’d have: a future away from her abuser. Shuttled off to attend the prestigious National Women’s Institute, Arden will receive Nordania’s highest honor, studying with other elite candidates to become leaders, diplomats, and ambassadors on the world stage. Only, the institute’s not quite what she expected. Paraded around in gown after gown, the tests seem less about educating and more about a different competition, with a very specific prize at stake—the Nordanian Prime Minister’s son. Despite the dean’s protestations that angling for an engagement leads to expulsion, Arden sees the truth. There’s a secret bubbling beneath the institute’s refined surface, and those who refuse to play along may well wind up dead. With the danger escalating, and the return of her abuser on the horizon, Arden’s shiny future becomes a gilded cage. And this time, she’s going to need powerful allies to escape. Political intrigue, swoon-worthy romance, and a dash of dystopian flare, But for the Mountains begs the question, how do you change the world when you’re not allowed to try? Synopsis for Of Wind and Tide: Arden Thatcher is on the run. Adrift in a sea of doubt. Wanted for murder, pursued by bounty hunters, Arden and Beck flee into the obscurity offered by the northernmost reaches of Nordania. The newspapers make it seem as though Declan has moved on, and with the promises of global change fading, Arden starts to wonder if she even wants to go back. It’s only after Declan reappears, reaffirming her as his choice, that a new plan evolves. But to clear her name, and Beck’s, she’ll need the support of the institute’s alumni—the only women in Nordania with the power to vote. Only, they’re scattered like seeds in the wind, and only a small handful ever participate in the role they’ve been given. Determined to protect the freedom she’s fought so hard to earn, Arden is left with a choice: stay in Beck’s world, hidden away, seen and appreciated in ways she’s never had, or return to the institute, to Declan, and the chance to effect change for Nordanian women everywhere. What price would you pay, if changing the world was at stake? Action-packed, poignant, and thrilling, Of Wind and Tide is the riveting sequel to But For the Mountains and the second entry in the Embers in Wait Trilogy. Erin Riha writes young adult fantasy novels about ambitious girls who don’t know they’re not supposed to exceed expectations. She has a law degree and a deep reverence for the power of using exactly the right word in exactly the right moment. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two very loud boys. Thank you to Erin Riha for providing me with copies of the books in this series! This in no way affected my review. Hi book friends! I am SO excited to tell y'all about All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman, a new YA fantasy novel set to release in November. You had better get ready to add this book to your TBR or click the pre-order link, because this isn't a book you want to miss out on! HOLY CRAP ON A CRACKER. THIS BOOK IS SO INSANELY GOOD. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I WOULD. I just finished this book, it isn't even out yet, and I NEED THE NEXT BOOK. I don't understand how Amanda Foody and Christine Herman created something this great. I already know this wait for the next book is going to test my patience. For this book, think of a mixture of the Wizards of Waverly Place sibling magic competition, mixed with the Hunger Games. The magic system developed in this book is insanely interesting--a competition to the death with a champion from each of the seven powerful families decides who maintains control over the region's supplies of high magick. The authors tell this story through four different characters who are all representatives of different families: Alistair Lowe, Gavin Grieve, Briony Thorburn, and Isobel Macaslan. Normally, with this many points of view, I tend to find fault or underdevelopment with at least one of the characters, but that was not the case here! I LOVED all of the perspectives, but I will admit that my favorites were Alistair and Gavin. For a book solely focused on "villainous" characters, I think the authors did an amazing job humanizing the villainous qualities. Every chapter opens with a quote from A Tradition of Tragedy, the anonymously written book that unveiled the story of the tournament to the public. I really, really liked those quotes and if A Tradition of Tragedy was a real book, I would be its first reader! Everything that occurred during the tournament was written so well that I could picture myself really being there, watching it all unfold. I think this book could truly become iconic and I am really happy to have been selected to review it. I was in no way disappointed. Synopsis: The blockbuster co-writing debut of Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman, All of Us Villains begins a dark tale of ambition and magick... You Fell In Love With The Victors of The Hunger Games. Now Prepare To Meet The Villains of The Blood Veil. After the publication of a salacious tell-all book, the remote city of Ilvernath is thrust into worldwide spotlight. Tourists, protesters, and reporters flock to its spellshops and ruins to witness an ancient curse unfold: every generation, seven families name a champion among them to compete in a tournament to the death. The winner awards their family exclusive control over the city’s high magick supply, the most powerful resource in the world. In the past, the villainous Lowes have won nearly every tournament, and their champion is prepared to continue his family’s reign. But this year, thanks to the influence of their newfound notoriety, each of the champions has a means to win. Or better yet--a chance to rewrite their story. But this is a story that must be penned in blood. Thank you to the authors, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This in no way affected my review. Hi Book Friends! Today, I want to talk to y'all about Melissa Winter's new book, Fear the Fall. Fear the Fall is the first book in her new Fallen Hunters Series. If you love paranormal romance, fallen angels, and lots of deception, this is a great book for you. This story focuses around Victoria English, a fallen angel, who spends her time on Earth hunting demons (kicking ass and taking names). Victoria was an extremely powerful virtue angel who committed the greatest misdead. She fell in love with a man during some of her visits to Earth. Now, as a demon hunter, more and more demons are starting to come out during the daytime, showing that something is changing and that a war is truly coming. So, I am giving this book 4 stars! I enjoyed this book and read it in one day (to be fair, it isn't that long of a book). Winters created a fun, steamy story here filled with lies, angst, and action. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this book definitely contains a few INTENSE plot twists that I loved! I love the idea of an angel falling for love, and enjoyed that everything was so messy. We have a bit of a love triangle and some definite enemies-to-lovers action going on, and I just loved it! I liked the character of Victoria, however, I do wish we got a little bit more of the story behind Victoria and her love. We do get some flashbacks and such, but it did seem to happen a little fast. All of the other characters in this book gave me full on angsty feelings at points, and I even found myself getting irrationally angry at them when I was reading. I take that as a sign of a good book, because clearly I got emotionally invested! Would I recommend this book? Yes. It's fun and unique. Would I read the next book in the series when it is released? Yes! This book ended on a big cliffhanger, so I am officially sucked into the story and have to know what happens next. Keep reading for the Blurb, and scroll down for an order link, and the goodreads link! A huge thank you to Melissa Winters and Paper Myths for providing me with a review copy of this book. This in no way affected my overall review. Blurb: From author Melissa Winters comes a paranormal adult romance full of secrecy, lies, and an enemies-to-lovers story perfect for fans of steamy fallen angel stories! The legends are true. The war between good and evil is real. Hell is real. I've seen vampires and demons with my own eyes. They don't show themselves to many, and the unfortunate few who come head-to-head with them rarely live to tell about it. I'm one of the lucky few. But that's only a piece of this story. I'm Victoria English, a hunter living among mortals. More importantly, a fallen angel. Why did I fall? For love. It was all a lie. *This book is suitable for 17+ Hi Book Friends, Today, I want to talk about a fun new book I just read called Leaves of Remedy by Claudia Boon. Boon is an author from the Netherlands, so this will be the first time this book is released in english! If you love all things dragon, coming of age adventures, and multiple points of view, this is a book for you! This adventure tale begins with young Eilika sending a wish for adventure to the Cosmos Dragon. I liked Eilika, she reminded me of a young version of myself, desperate for adventure and escape. In this story, Boon has created an interesting universe where the world is under the care of four types of dragons, earth, water, air, and fire. So, overall, I am giving this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this story and found it a pretty quick read. There were lots of interesting characters that were introduced and quite a few different viewpoints throughout the story. There are quite a few different story lines that eventually find themselves overlapping. I did find myself enjoying Eilika and Aster's points of view and stories more than the other characters though. Not to say that there was anything wrong with the other characters in this story, but these two just appealed to me more. The book is has many good messages in it and took on some interesting tropes. However, some of the more emotional moments could have used a bit more development. I think this book could appeal to readers of many ages, as their is such a diverse group of characters. There is a lot of amazing potential in this book, and I am curious to see where the author takes this story. Below, you will find the link to pre-order your copy of this book, the synopsis, and a link to the goodreads page! Synopsis: The inhabitants of Terram grew up with stories about the Cosmos Dragon, the god of the universe. Once upon a time, he sent dragons to create and protect the world. Hundreds of years ago, things went wrong, and the portal to the realm of the dead was opened. The heroes of old managed to close the portal again, but the darkness had already wreaked havoc. Now that the Earth Dragons are almost extinct, all hope rests on the survival of Nepheda, the last Earth Dragon. However, her health is quickly deteriorating, and Sanct Solix, her guardian and protector, is very concerned. When Eilika, a girl from a small village, finds an Earth Dragon egg, new hope flourishes for Terram. Unfortunately, her find does not go unnoticed, and danger that is lurking begins closing in from all sides. With the help of Ylva; an ice sorcerer from Ísríki, Cieri; a banished night nox, Everard; the arrogant prince of Stormland, and her best friend, Harmen, she travels through Terram to hatch the egg whilst protecting it. But can she trust these strangers? The only one who is definitely on her side is Sanct Solix, and Eilika is determined to get the dragon egg to him. But when a girl named Aster, crosses their path with her earth dragon magic, confusion arises about who really should actually own the dragon egg. Will they all work together for one goal, or are there traitors in their midst? Thank you to Claudia Boon for sending me a review copy of the ebook. That in no way effects this review. |
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About this page:Here, you fill find reviews on books I read. Hopefully these help you get a decent overview of the books and find some new reads! Reviews by Month |