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| Brom
*
| 1250622026
| 9781250622020
| B0CQHL43VF
| 4.00
| 421
| Sep 17, 2024
| Sep 17, 2024
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liked it
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2.7 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Devil wants me in his belly like a 2.7 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Devil wants me in his belly like a wiggle worm. Evil in Me started off on a fast chaotic note, Adam is trying to fight the voice in his head telling him to kill. He's powerless as he watches himself burn down a synagogue and stab the Rabbi and his wife to death. Readers are let in that it's a ring that has clamped itself onto Adam's finger and is feeding him these urges. As Adam hacks off his fingers trying to get the ring off, it just keeps spider crawling back onto another one until Adam takes his own life. The story then jumps from 1951 Brooklyn to 1985 Enterprise, Alabama and twenty-three year old Ruby. “I am Lord Sheelbeth...your savior, your master.” The flames flared as she spoke. One of my favorite parts of this story was how the author took the time to develop the supernatural background. Taking from religious mythology and giving it some spin, Brom gives us the ring's story. It's from a time when gods ruled and Lord Sheelbeth was in her heyday, until the Baalei Shem cut the ring off Sheelbeth's finger, cut out her eye, tied her to the ring, and imprisoned her in a hell. While Sheelbeth can weave urging magic into songs sang by the souls she has taken throughout her life, that are manifested as worms in her belly, she can't force anyone to act on these urges. This is done by Beel, a shedim (one of god's unfinished souls), who Sheelbeth had previously imprisoned and can possess the body of the ring wearer, controlling their body. I wasn't well versed in these religious stories, so don't fear if you aren't either, I had no problem understanding everything. We get povs from Sheelbeth, Beel, and later another demon, Vutto, controlled by Sheelbeth, to expand their characters and even though they come from a hell, don't be surprised if you start to feel for them. With the beginning giving us the introduction to the ring, it sets-up a great foreboding feeling as we get to know Ruby. She's on her last week of community service, stopped taking her medication for bi-polar, and just trying to white-knuckle it and not lose it over how everyone aggravates her. Listen, she had some legitimate reasons to. When she heads over to Mr. Rosenfeld's home, the same last name of the previously murdered Rabbi, you know things aren't going to go well for her. Sure enough, the ring ends up on her finger and then we're on a ride to save her life. Josh was the Rabbi's brother and manages to give Ruby a heads-up on what's happening, even manages to douse the ring in red powder (angel's blood) to cloak Sheelbeth's power, while they try to find a way to get it off Ruby's finger. While the ring is cloaked, Ruby is still possessed by Beel, but he's been looking for a way to get from under Sheelbeth's control and helps as much as he can with finding a way to break the ring's grasp. I got . . . bored. Help is to be found in Atlanta where Josh knows a Dr. who specializes in ancient Hebrew mythology and theology. There, they learn that if Ruby sings a song from the heart, with the help of many souls, they can compel the ring off. Which is perfect, because Ruby used to be in a punk band and her ex-bandmate just happens to be in Atlanta. The second half gives us ghosts, demons, murder, redemption, and a serial killer. I wasn't really a fan of the Richard serial killer addition, his pov and addition felt clunky added on and honestly the story would have been better without it, wanted kick him out of the band. Along with Richard, Ruby's almost step-father had a story arch that made me think there can be too many musicians in a band, Ruby was the lead singer and could carry this story without those two. The ending was a wild ride and had some of that chaotic punk music feel but like Ruby's band The Night Mares, this story needed a drummer to anchor it, Ruby had enough characterization for lead singer and Sheelbeth and Beel easily could have anchored but they got pushed and rushed aside too much by those characters I wanted cut-out; the story threads were riffing all over the place without a solid connecting feel. This was a supernatural story that had horror, punk music and satanic panic '80s highlighting, and heart from some unlikely places, fun but off the tracks at times. (The author also did a really cool collaboration with a punk band, The Maxines, to produce some of the original songs created in this, make sure to check those out!) ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 12, 2024
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Sep 25, 2024
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Jun 17, 2024
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ebook
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| 0063371367
| 9780063371361
| 0063371367
| 3.60
| 421
| Oct 29, 2024
| Oct 29, 2024
|
liked it
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2.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review What was a hero's purpose after the 2.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review What was a hero's purpose after the villains were vanquished? This Will Be Fun was a fantasy story about the emotional cost to saving a realm. The story starts from Galwell the Great's point-of-view as he's in his own head watching his three friends the night before they take on the dark powers Fraternal Order in a final battle. There's his sister Elowen who has Heart magic (ability to read people's emotions), and his friends Beatrice, who has Head magic (can “visit” memories), and Clare, a mercenary who keeps silent on what his magic is. They've been battling to save the realm of Mythria and it's the night before they reach the capital Queendom, where they'll hopefully rescue the land and the princess Galwell is betrothed to. After we get this quick introduction to the world and characters, the story then jumps ten years. Fame, and guilt. With alternating chapters from Beatrice, Clare, and Elowen's pov, readers learn what happened that final battle and the emotional fallout. They're heroes for saving the realm, celebrated each year with The Festival of the Four, but they haven't spoken to each other since that night ten years ago. Elowen keeps herself isolated in a tree house, Beatrice married a noble but is currently getting divorced, and Clare travels around the realm taking all the lauding the citizens want to heap on them. It's when the princess they saved is finally getting married that they must come together again. By thirty percent they're all together again, with added reformed assassin Vandra who now works for the princess. Beatrice's guilt, the horrible fight that broke up the friendship between Beatrice and Elowen, and the love that has been buried under hurt and anger between Clare and Beatrice bubble around them and keep the relations tense. When they get to Queendom and realize the princess', now queen, fiancé has been kidnapped, they realize they'll have to do one more quest. It was amazing how she'd helped save the entire realm and she'd come out of it as nothing but a loser. The searching for the fiancé sends them all out to travel around the mid-way point of the story, which I was kind of glad because while I was interested reading about the deep turmoil of what these characters had been through, it honestly got a bit slow and repetitive as the characters sat in their emotions. I think the lack of more solid character development, we get such a brief first introduction to them, and the immediate plunge into “I want to shun everything and everyone”, kept me from really getting into the characters; I didn't know them enough yet to feel for them. Being together was only a reminder of who they'd lost. As they travel, it's Clare and Beatrice, Elowen and Vandra reaching and pulling away from each other for two second chance romances. I felt like the issues between the two did some repetitive saying their issue until suddenly, abrupt 180 into physical scenes. I missed more of seeing and feeling a working through to get to that awesome fireworks moment, there wasn't enough of building up for payoff, for me. The romances didn't quite deliver what I wanted and while the worldbuilding started off intriguing, it never developed enough for me either. The magic people are endowed with is relayed but not really woven into the world, plus Clare's magic reveal just felt quickly thrown out. I didn't mind the modern meshing, coffee shops, soap operas, face-timing, Uber, added in with a bare Medieval cloaking but I can see this as a your mileage may vary additive; kind of gave me movie A Knight's Tale vibes. “Each of us needs to face the Order.” He stared right into Beatrice's eyes, reminding her of their conversation. “For peace.” He looked next to Elowen. “For revenge.” He rounded, facing the queen. “For Galwell and for Hugh.” The first half felt dragged out to me and then the later second half ending felt rushed from jumping to resolution to resolution with half-explained, developed, magical moments (Sword of Souls, Beatrice's “new” magic) and romances that felt abruptly come together, I wanted more developmental work to feel those emotional payoffs. The characters were thirties and while I didn't get YA fantasy vibe, I'm not sure I felt their maturity either, the lack of character development. Even though there wasn't enough delving into the characters and world building for me, if you're looking for a first half that addresses hero emotional fallout and a second half that has them quest traveling, with magic and some cloaked modern additives, this would be a lighter fantasy to think about. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 24, 2024
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Sep 12, 2024
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Jun 08, 2024
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Paperback
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| 0063291789
| 9780063291782
| 0063291789
| 4.08
| 1,106
| May 14, 2024
| May 14, 2024
|
liked it
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review She hated the very sight of him. The Amethys I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review She hated the very sight of him. The Amethyst Kingdom is book five in The Five Crowns of Okrith series and brings us the conclusion. As it's the last book, I do not suggest jumping in here, you'd be extremely lost. If you're a reader of the series, then you're probably anticipating the last kingdom crowning their ruler and the violet witch that has been plaguing Okrith through the whole series, getting her comeuppance. As has been the style of this fantasy series with humans, Fae, and witches, each book centers on characters working out a romantic relationship and here we have Lady Carys and Lord Ersan, two Fated mates who were separated when Carys saw his keeping a secret from her as lying and have spent the last couple years apart. Last we spoke. She hated the way he said it. He made it sound like they were old friends who'd simply lost touch and not Fated mates who were split apart in a brutal breakup by his lies. This pretty much starts up right where book four left off, The Eastern Court trials to pick who will wear the crown for the Eastern Kingdom are about to start. The trials work to bring Carys and Ersan together, Carys has been in the East working to stabilize their kingdom and is all but their queen already but must go through their tradition. Ersan shows up to compete in the trials, claiming he just wants the crown, even though he is a Lord in the Southern Court. As this was all told from Carys' point-of-view it was extremely hard to get to know Ersan, he's definitely more to the side in the first half. All the reader really knows is that at the bequest of her father, he never told Carys about her halfling (half human, half Fae) sister and refuses to fully explain why he, in Carys' eyes, lied to her. The first half has two of the trials performed and the lingering danger of Monroe, the violet witch, but it felt a little slow going as I knew this was the book to wrap up the whole series and the build up of Monroe finally making an appearance and pretty much zero movement on the romance front, felt glacier moving. That's who they'd always been to each other---swinging between light and dark, love and hate. The middle had Monroe getting captured, creating a very anti-climatic feeling but finally movement on the romance front with Carys and Ersan being paired up on the trials and going out on the road together. While they finally spend some time together, Ersan's character still didn't get flushed or felt out to me, as it was a constant Carys being mad that he won't tell her why he lied and him just gritting his teeth and not talking; this was the epitome of if they'd Just Talked/Big Misunderstanding. The reasoning gets more flushed out towards the end as both talk about their past selves when younger and how spoiled and self-centered they were and Carys mental health issues, struggling with depression, get worked into the reasoning but it honestly got dragged out far too long for me. It was time to kill that witch once and for all. The later second half ramps up the action when past characters all come back to the Eastern Court and Monroe makes her final move to have violet witches take the crown. It was great to see past characters, there were some battle scenes to deliver action and emotion and while initially Monroe's appearance felt anti-climatc, there was a final scene to deliver the emotions you'd want after reading five books leading up to this battle. His eyes dipped to her mouth. “Some might call it Fate.” This would probably be the one where I thought the romance was the weakest, I never felt Ersan showed up enough here, but it had multiple open door scenes in the second half if you're looking for more physical over emotional (I typically need to feel their emotional connection so I can feel the heat in their physical). The first half was pretty slow going with the trials feeling like something they didn't necessarily need to be focusing on when the big villain of the whole series, Monroe, was directly in the picture and in fact, the trials get pretty much forgotten in the end in favor of the final Monroe showdown battle. A must read if you've followed along on this journey for the battle of the Okrith kingdoms but just prepare for slower going until the final showdown. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 24, 2024
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May 05, 2024
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Mar 15, 2024
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0063326698
| 9780063326699
| 0063326698
| 4.12
| 5,291
| Feb 06, 2024
| Feb 06, 2024
|
really liked it
|
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Tales of the Celestial Kingdom is a compilation I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Tales of the Celestial Kingdom is a compilation of short stories set before, during, and after the first two books in the Celestial Kingdom series. Separated into three parts, Dusk – prequel, Twilight – expands relationships in first book, and Dawn – set after second book, the short stories re-imagine myths and are from different character point-of-views. As I've not read the series yet, I only read the Dusk prequel section to begin my journey into this world. I plan on coming back and updating this review as I read each section as I make my way through the series. Dusk He was a hero of the people, a legend of our realm...but for today, I just wanted him to be my husband. If you have already read the first book in the series, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, you'll soon realize that this is the re-imaging of the Chinese myth the ten Sunbirds and is about the parents of Xingyin, the female lead character of DOTMG. Switching from both Chang'e and Houyi's povs, readers learn that the land is on fire and dying because all ten of the Sunbirds have decided to stay risen in the sky. Houyi is the Emperor's General and thus, taxed with getting the Sunbirds to set. Chang'e is pregnant and not wanting Houyi to leave her and possibly die. Houyi was visited in a dream and given an amulet to protect himself but he still is leery of taking on the gods. We travel with him as he confronts the Sunbirds, who at first come off as unruly adolescents. Things don't quite go as Houyi wanted but the land is given reprieve and returns to one Sunbird that rises and falls. He returns home a hero and is gifted an elixir of immortality. Months later we return to a Chang'e who's about to give birth a month early and all alone at the moment. Panicking she ends up taking the elixir, giving herself and her daughter immortality while leaving behind a betrayed look on his face Houyi, as she ascends to the heavens to be with the other immortals. There were three illustrations that complimented the story and helped readers to visualize the world. For a story only around forty pages, the emotions, the love between Chang'e and Houyi, was intensely felt. I was drawn into this mythological world and after reading about Xingyin's origins, I can't wait to start her book. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 17, 2024
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Feb 18, 2024
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Jan 06, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 1250866901
| 9781250866905
| 4.21
| 119,660
| Feb 20, 2024
| Feb 20, 2024
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really liked it
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3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Because wherever Rune Winters went, 3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Because wherever Rune Winters went, her carefully crafted reputation came with her. She was an informer. A witch hater. A darling of the New Republic. Rune was the girl who betrayed her grandmother. The Crimson Moth series is a planned duology (so brace yourself for that cliffhanger) about a fantasy world where witches once ruled but two years ago, there was a revolution by the Blood Guard and the ruling three witch queen sisters were killed. Now, The New Republic has outlawed witches and the Blood Guard have hunted them to the point that very few are ever seen, identifiable by their scars cut into their bodies to supply the blood they need for their spells. Rune was sixteen when the revolution happened and forced into an impossible situation that had her surviving but drowning from guilt. She also gets a shock when, as a later bloomer, she gets her menses and it's revealed she's a witch. Knowing her survival depends on staying hidden, she uses her aristocrat lineage to pretend to be an empty headed society miss, but wanting to fight back, Rune also becomes the Crimson Moth, a vigilante that rescues captured witches and ships them away to freedom. Gideon Sharpe. Rune’s lip nearly curled at the name of Alex’s older brother. Devoutly loyal to the New Republic, Gideon was a ruthless, bloodthirsty witch hunter who’d sent more of Rune’s kind to the purge than any other member of the Guard. He’d also famously helped assassinate the Sister Queens, sparking the revolution into a blaze. The older brother of Rune's bestfriend, Alex, is Gideon a captain in the Blood Guard and helped start the revolution but killing two of the witch queens. When they were kids and Rune met him for the first time, she had a crush on him, until he was rude and dismissive to her. Now that she's eighteen and he's twenty, Rune tries to avoid him as he could be the cause of her death if he ever found out what and who she is. With chapters that alternate giving us Rune and Gideon's point-of-view, we get a good luck at Gideon's character and learn important information about his past, thoughts, and feelings. His family was poor until the queens favored his parents for their dress designs and while that should have made things better for their family, it was their downfall. Gideon catches the eye of the youngest queen, Cressida, and from there he's forced into a relationship that he initially wanted but then can't escape as she becomes murderously jealous and Gideon can't escape people knowing about his relationship with the witch queen and knows he has to stay with her for his remaining family member, Alex's, safety. Gideon has reasons to hate the witch queens and when Nicolas, the commander of the Blood Guard, lays out a way to get his revenge, he takes it. He was a witch hunter. He suspected her. He was closing in on her even now. And yet. I flew through the beginning first half of this, the world-building that was starting to be laid out with Rune having to remain hidden for her survival but having two friends, Alex and Verity, a girl Rune becomes friends with after Verity tells her the story of how she's not a witch but her two sisters were and her mother turned them in, set-up magic, danger, and then intrigue when Gideon came into the picture. Verity pushes Rune to find someone to court and then marry who has access to information so they can safely rescue even more witches, but does think Gideon could be too dangerous. Alex also has tried very hard to never betray his brother and refuses to completely side with Rune against him. However, since this is romance along with fantasy, Rune has a little bit of that drawn to Gideon and tells herself and friends that she's only going to use Gideon for information. Since we get Gideon's povs too, readers also know that Gideon's friends Harrow and fellow guard Lelia, also encourage him to pretend court Rune for information, when it's found out that Rune's family business of ships helped the last witch escape. So a really great cat and mouse dynamic is set-up with Rune and Gideon trying to use each other but also ultimately developing real feelings. The hunted had fallen for the hunter. The second half slowed down for me some as the romance became more of the focus and it stagnated with rinse and repeat of Gideon feeling he couldn't give into his feelings for Rune because he knows his brother Alex has romantic feelings for her and Rune, rightly so, scared that Gideon would turn her in to be killed if he discovered she's a witch. There was an open-door bedroom scene but I thought the best scenes between the two was when the tension ramped up because both are trying to fight their chemistry and both have some fear, Rune getting discovered and Gideon thinking he could be getting played and wanting to protect his brother. The latter second half also brought in some love triangle that I really didn't like and lead to a component of the ending that didn't quite deliver on the desired emotional impact for me; I'm not sure that character was flushed out enough. She was the Crimson Moth— a wanted criminal, not to mention a witch, hiding in plain sight. The last twenty percent picked up the stagnated pace and we get a rush of movement with a reveal that some will probably guess early at, some battle, and Rune and Gideon more divided than ever. This is tagged as a YA and it has some of that feel in the beginning but by the end I'd say it was more New Adult, the open-door scene and the method of how they kill the witches might be a little gruesome for the lower end of YA (but for YA/NA I loved that Rune used her menses blood for a source of power, using that blood so she wouldn't have to cut herself and have scars signaling she was a witch). There were characters I would have liked flushed out more, The Good Commander had such an impact on Gideon's life that I really missed seeing more scenes of the two together, not to mention Gideon and Alex. As I mentioned in the beginning, this ends with a cliffhanger and while I wanted more depth in some places, I'll definitely be in line for when the second comes out as in one aspect Rune got what she wanted but it may have just put her in danger from another foe and Gideon is going to want revenge even more. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 29, 2024
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Mar 04, 2024
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Nov 02, 2023
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Hardcover
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| 0778305236
| 9780778305231
| 0778305236
| 3.51
| 3,539
| Mar 26, 2024
| Mar 26, 2024
|
liked it
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review No, the question is not whether fox spirits I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review No, the question is not whether fox spirits exist. The question is: If one comes for you, can you resist it? The Emperor and the Endless Palace was a drug and sex fueled Cloud Atlas like story woven from Chinese fables, mythology, and historical fiction. Following three timelines from individual point-of-views, Dong Xian 4 BCE, He Shican 1740, and River Present day, the reader is taken on a reincarnation journey as three souls are forever intertwined. “To put it as simply as possible, our souls are caught in an endless loop. No matter how many lifetimes we endure, we will not be released from an ancient curse. And once upon a lifetime, I made a promise to you that I would break it.” As the reader travels in and out of each time period, commonalities are revealed and a picture of tangled love and a magical force working to interfere becomes apparent. What is not always so apparent is which reincarnated soul belongs to whom and who are the souls that truly belong together. There's some initial good vs. evil going on but I liked how as the story went on, it does murky up some of that conventional thinking and shows the battles of temptations and freedom of will playing their part. Dong Xian, this whole time you thought that you were playing the game, only to realize you are the game. Each timeline, whether it was Dong trying to strategize for power and influence in the Emperor's Palace against the Emperor's grandmother and cousin, He Shican trying to find where he fits in life and escaping his father's disappointment and unrequited from a doctor who took care of him, or River exploring his sexuality and living out for the first time, provided inner workings and deeper layers into these souls. I thought Dong Xian's timeline was the most thought out and worked the best, He Shican's was the most fantastical and River's looped and jumped around a bit too much creating a “does this all make sense?”. And I don’t know how else to describe a bittersweet feeling inside me— in this moment that I meet him, I realize I might be lonely for the rest of my life. His name is Joey. I would consider this at least straddling the erotic line, sex, and drugs, are constantly playing their part. I don't think I could say I felt the, modern conventional, love between the souls but the endlessly drawn to feeling came through. The writing created an easy pace, if not the story always being clear, and I flew through this. If looking for a reincarnation story that plays with temptations and freedom of will, the setting and influence of Chinese fantasy and historical fiction make this an interesting one to pickup. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 16, 2024
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Mar 25, 2024
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Oct 27, 2023
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0553563343
| 9780553563344
| 0553563343
| 3.89
| 3,333
| Feb 01, 1996
| Feb 01, 1996
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it was ok
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'Tristan Lennox – founder, CEO, and primary stockholder of Lennox Enterprises – offers one million dollars to anyone who can prove that magic exist
'Tristan Lennox – founder, CEO, and primary stockholder of Lennox Enterprises – offers one million dollars to anyone who can prove that magic exists outside the boundaries of science.
So, this book was goofy as hell, but probably obviously when it's about a twenty year old woman who is being tried as a witch and then gets transported to the futuristic 1996. Arian has been shuffled around all her life, she never knew her father and her mother was a courtesan in King Louis IV court. When her mother marries a Puritan, the natural next step for a courtesan from Versailles, Arian is forced to be sent away from her grandmother and travels to America to be with her mother. Except her mother has died but the stepdad didn't get the romance genre memo about being wicked and isn't a bad chap, except he's a Puritan. So whoopsie, Arian now has the devil in her and is thought to be a witch. But hold on, Arian did make candlesticks dance around the dude's head, so saints preserve me, I had to kind of side with stepdad at this moment. Before Arian's mother left one of her johns, she stole an emerald amulet and gave it to Arian. Whenever Arian clutches the amulet, whatever she wishes to happen, happens! Arian thinks she is a witch! But, Arian, my gal, it's 1680ish Witch Hysteria, let's be a little more careful. However, Arian did get the romance genre '90s memo about hot blooded heroines and she clutching that amulet for all she's worth. Puritans always get the memo and the new Reverend in town is ready to drown a witch. Shocking, it's made out that he seems to have the hots for Arian and if she agrees to stay with him in his attic Red Room, he'll save her soul (I want you all to keep this hovering in your mind). Arian not about him and while they throw Arian into the lake to drown, this random Scottish woman (seriously, the most random character) steals back Arian's amulet from the Reverend and throws it into Arian's hands as she's drowning. Arian thinks a goofy rhyme/spell. Arian's now in 1996 flying on a broom in the sky. Bring in our billionaire who has put out a challenge to prove that magic is real with a prize of 1 million dollars. Arian shows up on her broom and crashes his party. The rest is probably obvious with 1600s Arian saying and doing goofy things when she doesn't understand 20th century things and slowly warming the heart of the cold cynical billionaire. There was some funny cute moments from this aspect. He groaned. Christ, it was worse than he thought. He wasn't dying of a heart attack. He was falling in love with a witch. He didn't need a cardiologist. He needed an exorcist. What wasn't predictable was the tie-in billionaire Tristan had with the amulet and a certain Reverend. I'm going to put the tie-in stuff in spoilers, so skip if wanting to be clueless going into reading (view spoiler)[Tristan made his bills as a tech genius inventing some super computer but has a cloud over him after his partner disappeared years ago and Tristan was found with blood on his hands. The partner's dad has tried forever to get him convicted but no body, no crime. The partner's dad is a ̶m̶a̶g̶i̶c̶i̶a̶n̶ illusionist (Michael!) randomly and lurks around being creepy. Somehow he knew the amulet around Arian's neck is...The WARLOCK!!!! Warlock was an invention by Tristan that would give you whatever you asked for while holding it. It disappeared with his partner the night his partner tried to kill him for it. Why Tristan started the magic competition, to lure his partner with Warlock out. Tristan has fallen in love with Arian but now he thinks she's in cahoots with his partner to take over his business and Arian goes through it as she realizes she's not a witch. It gets revealed that Arian's father is Tristan's former partner....AND THE REVEREND. Did you keep what I told you to in your mind??? I thought Reverend/partner didn't know he was her dad but when Arian gets sent back to 1600s, he reveals he knew??? And when Tristan time travels back to save Arian, Reverend/partner taunts he was going to go to the future with Arian and live as man and wife spending Tristan's money????? I don't know, y'all. (hide spoiler)] I can not write a coherent review of this book, I feel like only over mimosa brunch could I get out everything there was to ̶q̶u̶e̶s̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶d̶l̶y̶ talk about this story. After the middle falling in love, rinse repeat of Tristan feeling betrayed then loving Arian, time traveling, and REVEREND WEIRDNESS, there was the eventual HEA. And a little thrown out maaaaaybe about Arian's witchy possibilities. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 13, 2023
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Oct 24, 2023
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Oct 13, 2023
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1460763041
| 9781460763049
| 1460763041
| 3.53
| 1,029
| May 2023
| Apr 02, 2024
|
liked it
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Snuffing out the voices of women. It was how I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Snuffing out the voices of women. It was how they set up the game so that we would lose, even as we convinced ourselves that it was our fault. If we could shout for help, then we might take the hands of our sisters, swim ashore, and manage to win. Orphia and Eurydicius was a gender swapped Orpheus and Eurydice myth reimagining that had Orphia battling her father Apollo, men (gods and human), and systematic sexism. The beginning shows us an early twenties Orphia as she was taken by her father and placed on the Whispering Isles to learn combat and battle the men. This has lead to Orphia being looked at with some sneer in regards to, what is perceived in their society, as a more man like build, features, and mannerisms. Told she won't be able to leave until she beats the Prince, Orphia does have one friend Jason, who then introduces her to Eurydicius, a shield maker. What I was looking, I realised, was a man who appreciated my manner. The desire in his eyes mangled with awe and something surprisingly soft. Respect. That was the word. It's instant attraction between the two and he gives Orphia some confidence to explore her wanting to burst free poetry side. Even though it's one of her father's powers, Apollo has forbid Orphia to take up the lyre, so when she does, she understands the danger but can't contain that part of herself any longer. Apollo, of course, finds out and it's godly anger, he whisks Orphia away to Mt. Olympus and destroys the Isle, leaving Orphia to think Jason and Eurydicius are dead. With a new setting of Mt. Olympus, numerous gods and goddesses come into scene and it becomes apparent that the goddesses also live in a sexist world, their stories, only told by men, are skewed and told through a lens of sexism. Orphia learns her mother is Calliope, Chief of the Muses and Orphia was not given up by her but taken. With some help from Hera, Orphia gets her wish to tell poetry and goes to live with the Muses. The thrill of expressing myself had driven me into fresh imaginings, until I could not see the risk I took. The middle of the story was a lot of Orphia spending time with different Muses and learning from them, always discussing how sexism comes into play. It's then learned that Jason and Eurydicius did not die on the Isle and we get some romance interludes, focuses on how Eurydicius likes to be lead by Orphia, exploring the general societal gender swapping, which eventually leads to them quietly and hurriedly married. While the story was mostly focusing on Orphia and introducing other characters through her journey, the second half begins with Orphia being betrayed into going with Jason on his quest (Argo, Golden Fleece) and separating from Eurydicius. I thought some of this veered a little bit too much into “see how much mythology research I did” and it felt less like Orphia's story. I wanted to tell stories of men who were soft when they were supposed to be hard; of women who were loud when they were supposed to be docile; of people of every nature who felt scarcely visible, and wished to make themselves whole through my stories. The ending brought us back to more of the love story and we get Orphia trying to rescue Eurydicius from the Underwold, the Underworld providing some good atmospheric setting. The vast majority of this followed the traditionally known myths, some events mixed around here and there but all told through a focus on sexism. A gender swapping adds some new angles and layers to this myth and if you're interested in some goddesses getting their due, some righteous anger, and challenging of sexist norms, then this could be a new one to pick up. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 16, 2024
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Apr 12, 2024
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Oct 11, 2023
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Paperback
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| 125089283X
| 9781250892836
| 125089283X
| 3.52
| 18,532
| Jan 02, 2024
| Jan 02, 2024
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it was ok
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review “She is common, but she is divine-blooded.” I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review “She is common, but she is divine-blooded.” A Fragile Enchantment was a fantasy re-imagining of the historical way the United Kingdom treated Ireland that lead to the Great Famine in the 1800s. Niamh Ó Conchobhair is an eighteen year old Machlish (Irish) girl who was born with the magical ability to infuse the clothes she sews with emotions. When a dress she sews for a common girl is seen to help her capture a member of the nobility for her to marry, Niamh's designs become popular. So popular, the Prince Regent of Avaland (England) invites her to come and sew the wedding clothes for his younger brother's wedding. Niamh sees herself responsible for her grandmother and mother's well-being and knows this to be the opportunity to make enough money to secure their futures. However, the more Niamh uses her magic, the more life force drains from her but Niamh is a martyr and thinks it's her duty to sacrifice herself for her family, the way her ancestors fought against Avaland's rule. She had grown up on horror stories of the Avlish royal family’s power. How it had caused the Blight by depleting the soil. How during the War of Machlish Independence, briars had torn from the earth and skewered men like living bayonets. Niamh had always suspected those legends were exaggerated. Now, she wasn’t so certain what the Carmines were capable of. When Niamh gets to Avaland, she's amazed at the opulence (it's a very Regency England setting) but realizes quickly that something itsn't quite right. The castle seems to be running on a skeleton crew and there's obvious unrest with the working class protesting and demanding reparations for how the Avlish have treated the Machlish. There's also the obvious arranged marriage feeling with the Prince Christopher (Kit) sullen and angry that he is being forced to marry the Princess Rosa. The Prince Regent, Jack, seems to constantly be harried and keeps refusing to meet with Helen, the leader of the protesters. It's a tense situation and it gets complicated more when Niamh and Kit start to notice each other more. He had chosen her not for her skill or her craft, but to make himself look enlightened. To slither out of any accountability. She was nothing more than a novelty to point out to her fellow countrymen and say, Look, not all of you suffer here. Since the world-building borrows and relies heavily on Irish and English historical relations, it's kind of already built in, as long as you the reader are knowledgeable about such things. The magical components also borrows some from Irish mythology, which was a fun additive but Niamh's personal plot of her magic draining her life force didn't feel quite filled out right. Without scenes with her grandmother and mother, we have to go on her word that she's forced to do this and the reasoning never had me truly buying into it. Since she's a seamstress, I thought there would more scenes of her sewing and fabric descriptions but they were fairly few, even though the story has Kit constantly telling her not to overwork herself. I just felt it needed to be a bigger discussion that while she sews, she's taking years off her life?? A girl like her wanting Kit Carmine would not—could not—end well. This is all told from Niamh's point-of-view and I thought it took until closer to the midway point for her and Kit to show anything of their relationship. They share a kiss in the second half and get a closed door scene but I'm not sure I really felt or understood the claim that they have a burning romance, the emotions just weren't there for me. This does read Young Adult, with the occasional curse word and even though it's historical fantasy, the vernacular reads modern (leading to an uneven feeling with the supposed to be Regency England). The angst comes from Jack making Kit marry, for political reasons, but Kit and Niamh starting to want to be together. There's some secondary character friends on the side, helping and hurting the cause, a quick jaunt to a country house of the royal's that felt added in for the requisite country house scenes, and a little political intrigue. “I am so afraid, Kit. I am afraid that I will fail, despite all the pains I have taken. I am afraid I will let everyone down. And deep down, I am afraid that I am horribly, irredeemably selfish because I am so afraid that I will die without having let myself live at all.” I read an early ARC copy and I hate to say it, but it read more like a beta, Niamh's magical story thread needed more shoring up as it only seems to get weaker and weaker as the story goes on. The ending gave a last thirty percent third act breakup, and again, not fully constructed right with the stopping a wedding, a duel that felt madcap thrown in, and revelations that were a bit obvious regarding the political aspects. It all wraps up with a HEA and relations between the countries hopefully taking a right step toward working together. The elements were there but lack of refinement had this more of a struggle to get through than enjoyable. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 15, 2023
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Nov 25, 2023
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Jul 26, 2023
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Hardcover
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| B0BXLHJF8F
| 3.65
| 3,684
| Dec 05, 2023
| Dec 05, 2023
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liked it
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3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Rumors had swirled for years that t 3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Rumors had swirled for years that the last of the Gold Wolf line yet lived, that the Marriel princess named Briar had survived the fateful night of her birth . . . but no one whispered about another named Calla A River of Golden Bones begins the trilogy about Aotreas, a land ruled by four Wolf Kingdoms. With a little bit of Sleeping Beauty inspiration, the story is told all from Calla, the secret twin sister of the Crimson Princess. Hidden in a small-town with a faery, backed by the power of their mother's dying wish, Calla has grown up learning to fight and protect her sister, who is betrothed to the Prince of the Silver Wolves, Grae. Calla and Grae were childhood friends until he had to leave for school and stopped writing her letters but he's back now that the sisters will be turning twenty and his marriage with the Crimson Princess is to take place. With the marriage, Grae's father says they'll help fight to take back the sister's Golden Wolf Kingdom from the evil sorceress Sawyn, who killed their parents and have been hiding from, and announce Calla's existence. I was meant to pledge my loyalty to King Nero that night, but I ran. If Grae came with me, he’d be picking sides. I’d take away his family, his pack, and ultimately his life. When the sisters get to Grae's kingdom, it becomes apparent that the king hasn't been fully honest and doesn't plan on helping them take back their kingdom but instead mine the gold on the boarder to enrich his own kingdom. The night of the wedding ceremony also throws all kinds of wrenches into everyone's plans when it's revealed that the Crimson Princess has a fated mate that is not the prince, along with Calla and Grae learning that they are fated mates. Wolves are a traditional society and messing with fated mates is frowned upon but while everything is in chaos, Sawyn makes an appearance and puts a sleeping curse on Calla's sister and takes the Crimson Princess' fated mate hostage. Calla wants to immediately go and fight Sawyn to free her sister but the king now wants to use Calla in her sister's place, leaving Grae in the middle and worried for Calla's safety. Concerned only for her sister, Calla runs away to travel to her home kingdom and fight Sawyn. Before, my destiny had just been daydreams, and now, it was real and raw and vicious. The vast amount of the story then becomes a road adventure where Calla joins up with a musical troop and learns that humans aren't everything wolves have made them out to be. Grae, along with two friends of his royal guard, meet up with them and Calla struggles with accepting to be his mate and how that fits into who and what she wants to be and get out of life. Some soldiers of Sawyn, Rooks, and Silver Wolf guards sent by Grae's father to bring them back, make appearances for some danger and battle scenes, while the push and pull Calla feels toward Grae has them working to develop their relationship, along with kissing for some romance. However, while the distant looming of Sawyn is always there, I would say this story is mainly about Calla and her struggling to learn how she wants to define herself. Wolves clung to tradition and, for some reason, I’d thought those traditions would keep us safe. Yet as soon as I stepped outside of that world, I realized how hollow it all was. It wasn’t for safety. It was for power. And not my power. With the help of the troop's leader, Ora, Calla gains some vocabulary and thought from humans, that the wolves' society didn't come equipped for her and Calla begins to gain knowledge, confidence, and strength in how she defines and views herself. This personal journey really felt like the main focus of the story and while the road adventure part helped flush out the worldbuilding for the continuing series, I did feel the middle of the story's pace dragged. The personal journey aspect did give this a little bit of YA vibes and I can see why some have tagged it as such but the romance that heats up hot in the latter second half (instead of open door bedroom you get open door wood scenes) would have me labeling this New Adult. There wasn't quite the adult intimacy in those scenes but straight to the raw; if you're looking for this would be awkward to read in public steam, they'd probably work but I like some deeper emotion in my romance. The aspect of the fated mates kind of took some of the journey of depth of emotion from these two and forced them to be together. Calla's constant misjudging of Grae's actions/emotions also started to strain and feel a bit forced to keep them apart. “Who knows who we could have been,” Grae whispered, the candlelight dancing in his eyes. “But I’m grateful for who you’ve become.” The last twenty percent has the group making it to Olmdere and the battle standoff with Sawyn. The ending does give a happily ever after for our main couple and their romance and since this author's previous series (The Five Crowns of Okrith) had each book showcasing a different romance couple but with a continued overarching world plot, I'm going to guess this is how this trilogy is going to go. There were two couples that seem like potential possibilities, two of Grae's wolf guards with humans from the troop. The fight to recapture Calla's kingdom may be over but to keep it seems to be the next battle as Grae's father and other wolf kingdoms might not like how Calla plans to rule with humans. If you're looking for more of a story about self-discovery than romance or fantasy but set in that world, this would be one to pick up. “I think we’ve just started a war.” ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 13, 2023
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Oct 22, 2023
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Jul 26, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1538725266
| 9781538725269
| 1538725266
| 3.77
| 220
| Sep 19, 2023
| Nov 07, 2023
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liked it
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Since Alyssa roused from a two-month coma a I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Since Alyssa roused from a two-month coma a year ago, the only discernible thing she’s said is “King. Queen. In the forest.” The Princess of Thornwood Drive was a debut fantasy novel about two sisters, one who survived a car accident that killed their parents and the other who now takes care of her. Laine is the older sister and feels immense guilt, blaming herself for the accident, and now along with all the medical bills and stress of trying to take care of Alyssa, who was left paralyzed and nonverbal, she's battling panic attacks. Dropping out of college, she works as a barista and part-time gives horse riding lessons, trying to keep afloat with enough money to keep her house. A house that her uncle wants and is just waiting for her to sell to him before foreclosure. Getting a small break, Alyssa qualifies to be sent to an adult care center for free during the day, called Lake Forest. There they seem to take care of Alyssa and Laine is delighted when it seems to be helping her and Alyssa has a break-through, saying “Go” when Laine is trying to decide if she should go on a date with a doctor there. “Evil runs rampant here. Most of us who come never leave,” Veranda says matter-of-factly. Told in alternating point-of-views, Laine's is set in the real world and when it's Alyssa's chapters, we get the fantasy. In Alyssa's mind, she's a princess in a land called Mirendal and their parents were kidnapped while Alyssa was cursed on their way to visit Laine. Alyssa is now a changel and can't physically or verbally communicate with others, unless they are also changels. When Alyssa is at the healing tower for changels (Lake Forest) she can telepathically talk with the other patients. Here is where the ominous tone creeps in and the other patients warn her of the “Dark Prince” and a chamber where you go to be punished. The chamber comes into play pretty quickly and it sends Alyssa to another plane of reality where she can be physical and verbal. She meets another patient there named Wren and he helps her navigate the world as they meet goblins, fairies, mermaids, and other beings on their journey to find a way to help Alyssa communicate with Laine. “There are two mortals of interest who have walked into your life. One set your heart bitter, unhinged you. The other is a scholar with much power.” Judging by the way Laine’s eyes widen, Marcella is onto something. “What else?” she asks. “What else did you learn? “You will love both in time, but you must be very careful. One of them is a wolf. He will try to destroy you.” I thought the switching of realities was done well, it's pretty much a straight timeline, the driver just changes from Laine's reality pov to Alyssa's fantasy pov but the car never stops, there were some cool additives I liked, Laine talking about Alyssa before the accident and how she liked Harry Potter and studied some Latin (gives depth to the creation of fantasy world), and the “Oz-ness” of the characters, same characters in both the sister's realities but dressed up different. There was also some added Trinidadian folklore with Laine “communicating” with a jumbie always sitting on her shoulder and I liked how it brought a little bit of fantasy to her pov to meld the story together even more. There were hints that I started to catch and as I read this as an arc, I don't want to give too much away but readers should also be warned that I thought this read thematically pretty closely to The Lovely Bones. Alyssa is eighteen in this story but sexual assault (readers don't “see” it) is definitely a content warning. If I hadn't already read the aforementioned Lovely Bones, I'd probably be a little more fascinated with how the author incorporated details and melded the plot, with how Alyssa lost in her mind could look like and the journey to communicate with Laine. I thought at times some of the dialogue didn't feel quite natural, the middle slowed in pace some, and the light romance with Alyssa and the character of Wren ended up feeling not needed to me. The ending did pack a few punches with some thriller and emotion that will bring a lot of tears. If you're looking for speculative fiction that incorporates some interesting new elements and takes you on an emotional ride, this debut would be one to pick up. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 24, 2023
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Oct 27, 2023
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Jul 26, 2023
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Paperback
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| 0063291746
| 9780063291744
| 0063291746
| 4.02
| 2,001
| Jun 13, 2023
| Jun 13, 2023
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review They couldn't marry him. Picking up 4.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review They couldn't marry him. Picking up right were The Rogue Crown left off, we have Talhan Catullus winning the hand of Neelo Emberspear after a duel set up by Neelo's mother, the Queen of the Southern Court. This series is set in a fantasy world where fae, witches, and humans live in five kingdoms. Each book stars a different main couple but also continues the storyline of the battles and politics happening in the fictional Okrith, with a progressive plot of some mysterious enemy behind all the disruption in each kingdom. While I thought it would be challenging but possible to jump into the series like I did with book three, I think this fourth addition would have a lot of newcomers too lost to start here. A faceless storm was coming for their court, and they needed to unmask it before the South befell the same fate as the assassinated Western Court Queen. Growing up in the pleasure seeking Southern court, Neelo, who is nonbinary and has social anxiety, never felt comfortable with the sexual pleasure seeking and free use of drugs society their mother encouraged and actively participates in. They dress in black baggy clothes to try and not be defined by their body and always carries a book/s with them to be able to disappear in when they get overwhelmed. With their mother fading even faster because of a new tea brew that seems laced with an even more powerful drug than usual, the time for them to take the crown and rule is here but they don't want it. Their solution is to try and find out who is supplying the tea and get deliveries stopped to save their mother, but this leads to them uncovering a plot that ties into the book series continuing plot of kingdoms being upheaved and finally uncovering who is behind it all. Neelo immediately relaxed their jaw. “Maybe you just make me nervous,” they muttered. “Maybe.” Laughter tinged Talhan's voice. “Maybe being nervous in this case is a good thing. Maybe you make me nervous too.” If you've read the previous books, the name Talhan Catullus “The Golden Eagle” will sound familiar. He's the fae's best warrior and fought in a big previous battle that almost left him dead. He's the twin brother of one of the female lead characters in book three and he was childhood friends with Neelo before they were separated by the wars starting. It's pretty obvious from the beginning that he loves Neelo and is just gently but stoutly never going to leave their side and simply waiting until they trust in his feelings and work through their emotional issues of self-worth. This is a slow burn romance that I could see some tapping their watch for Neelo to finally relent but there were enough cracking scenes from Neelo that I thought there was enough burn scenes to carry it to the finally giving in end. I mean, we get a library desk scene, steamy bath house, and others to tide readers over. “You know I'm not here for a crown or a title,” he whispered. While the first half had me highlighting passage after passage and I loved how Neelo and Talhan's relationship was developing, you're going to have to want to focus on that romantic plot pretty fully for some duration. I know some fantasy readers want action but that doesn't come until the latter end of the book. I did find the story slowing some in the second half with the slow part of the burning dragging out for some pages too many and the tie-in continuing plot of discovering who is behind the disruption of kingdoms also taking one too many scenes to finally get to. They dropped their eyes and Talhan reached out to bracket their cheek with his hand. His thumb slid under Neelo's jaw and tipped their chin up to look him in the eyes. “I'm not going anywhere,” he said. “Not even if you tell me to leave. That's just one more thing we'd have to disagree about. If I have to chain myself to a bookshelf to prove that, I will.” He lifted Neelo's chin higher and they smirked. “That's how much I belong with you.” Neelo shuddered and Talhan hummed. “Keep reading.” The latter second half brought in almost all the previous characters from the earlier books and we get a few action scenes. Since I haven't read the first two books in the series yet, I'm not sure if they were more action heavy and these middle two books have slowed down before the series ramps back up again with a last big battle but if you're looking for less battle heavy fantasy with a starring main romance couple, this would definitely be for you. I liked the interaction and relationships all the characters seem to have and while I enjoyed how much we got of Neelo and Talhan, I would have liked to have these previous characters show up more because of how well they work as an ensemble. “You are mischief, Neelo Emberspear, and I love it. No one else gets to see it: the boat-commandeering, book-stealing mischief-maker you are. But that's who you've always been around me and you never have to change.” His footsteps didn't pause as if he was just casually chatting, but his words made Neelo feel like they were free-falling. They were mischief...and he loved it. There was something about them that Talhan Catullus loved. This was told all from Neelo's point of view but, like I said, Talhan's feelings were obvious from the beginning. I loved how quiet, reserved, kind of grumpy Neelo paired with outgoing, gregarious Talhan and how Talhan especially saw Neelo for who they were and liked them because of it and treated them the way they wanted to be treated, all while just waiting for Neelo to finally be able to grow to a place that they could accept Talhan's love. There were times of frustration by Talhan, but he was always there in the ways Neelo needed him to be. “There is only one person who can wield this magic over me.” His eyes pinned Neelo with a heated look. “You are a magic all your own, Neelo Emberspear. I've known it my whole life.” Along with Neelo finally accepting the love from Talhan and taking their rightful place in the Southern Court, the ending names the villain and gives the reason for why they're doing what they're doing. It's clear that the battle for the Eastern Court is next and I have a feeling Talhan's sister Carys and a certain Southern Court Lord of Arboa, Ersan, who once broke Carys' heart might be the main couple of that story. I'll be curious about that second chance love story, if a reappearing past villain will become King of the Fae, and if a violet witch will make do on her revenge. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 18, 2023
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Jun 27, 2023
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Jun 10, 2023
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Paperback
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| 0063112620
| 9780063112629
| 3.46
| 1,846
| Aug 08, 2023
| Aug 08, 2023
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liked it
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Èrù jé ògá àjèji. Ó si leso aláimòkan èdá di I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Èrù jé ògá àjèji. Ó si leso aláimòkan èdá di ehànà. Fear is a strange master. It makes monsters from the simplest of men. The first in a duology, Forged by Blood is the first person pov story told by Dèmi, a girl living in Ifè (a fictional Nigeria created from a blend of fantasy, magic, and realism). The story starts off with an eight year old Dèmi helping her mother try and save a boy who has been poisoned. Dèmi and her mother are from the western land of Oyo and are considered Oluso, they have magical abilities. Currently, Oluso are hunted and enslaved because of a war that happened nine years ago and King Alistair Sorenson, from the northern land of Eingard, took power. The Aje, nonmagical people, fear the Oluso but they also come to them for help. So while it's dangerous for Dèmi's mother to help the poisoned boy, she does so but sets off a destiny changing chain reaction. The magic that sings through our veins and weaves its strings tightly around our hearts is the very reason violence seems to find us. My mother thought she could escape it if she put me in a cocoon, raising me with only little bits of knowledge about what I am. But I know better now. After a beginning that brought danger and emotion, the story then jumps ahead to Dèmi at age seventeen. I would consider this young/new adult as this felt more like that, Dèmi figuring out herself, a love triangle, and just overall fitting in that genre's general tone. Dèmi now lives with friends and family that have helped nurture her magical abilities and told her a little bit about her father but she still lives with wanting vengeance for what happened to her mother. When a Lord Ekwensi comes to her with a plan and blackmail, claiming that if he can be appointed regional lord of Oyo, he'll help the people, but he needs her to kidnap the King's nephew, Dèmi can't help but jump at the chance. Her friend Colin, who definitely has feelings for her, insists on coming with her and when Dèmi realizes who the nephew she is supposed to kidnap is, we have the start to the next step of Dèmi meeting her destiny. I know then, what Jonas is. I enjoyed the first half of this, with being brought into a world that weaved in Nigerian mythology and history (tree spirts, imperialism) and a girl with magical abilities and will to fight and change the system but then I thought the second half got a little haphazard with throwing in parentage reveals that I think were supposed to rock the boat but didn't seem to change much. I'm personally not a big fan of love triangles and because it was fairly weak and not too disruptive, it didn't feel needed here. The romance between Dèmi and Jonas (king's nephew) was YA toned, with fated mates and “I'm drawn to you” kisses. The latter half delivers a bit of action when Dèmi has a showdown fight and some magical reveals. I won't allow my fear to keep me from fighting. The setting was interesting and especially incorporating some Nigerian mythology but the magic and blood mates can be found all over in YA fantasy. This was also more sedately paced, which was good in some places to sink into some fantasy elements (when Dèmi and her friends stay with the tree spirits) but also muted some emotions of danger of urgency. Some of the reveals ended up feeling jumbled and not quite hitting their importance but there is obviously some magical ones that will probably play a bigger importance in the second book. This had Dèmi dealing with emotional upheavals, romance, learning how to control her magical abilities, and figuring out if and how she's going to fight for the world she wants to see. One enemy gets dealt with here but there's also a creation of another, with others possibly in the wings, as Dèmi and Jonas try to carve out their way. With the world building laid out here and Dèmi learning a possibly big secret about her birth and making a deal with the tree spirits, I expect the second to be full of more emotion and action. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 24, 2023
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Jul 31, 2023
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May 26, 2023
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Hardcover
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| 0063058480
| 9780063058484
| 0063058480
| 4.10
| 7,148
| Apr 05, 2022
| Apr 05, 2022
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really liked it
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3.5 stars "I am Verne Amari's granddaughter. I won't break." You really have to hit the ground running to keep up with this story. It's got magic, g 3.5 stars "I am Verne Amari's granddaughter. I won't break." You really have to hit the ground running to keep up with this story. It's got magic, gods, wars, scifi, fantasy mish mashed all into a New Adult tone. You only get a sense of the world through the characters mentioning things, no solid grounding explanation to the structure of this world. It's all told from a first person pov from Ikenna, a nineteen year old who's grandfather just died. Racism and sexism are prevalent in this world and therefore mentioned, acknowledged, and raged against. Ikenna's that her grandfather, who was born of Mareen (dominantly white country) and Khanaian (dominantly Black country) parents and was a Tribunal because of how he won the war for Mareen, didn't just die of a heartattack but was assassinated. This motivates her to go through the Trials, a Hunger Game-ish, SEAL Hell Week like war games that weed out/kill the weak for the strong so they can go on to become Praetorian Guards. Ikenna wants to become a Praetorian so she can get closer to the people in charge and find out who gave the orders for her grandfather to be killed. The bulk of the story is the Trials and Ikenna trying to fight through her act first think later rage and discern friend from foe. The first 70% read super fast as you're just trying to keep up with Ikenna and hope for her survival. The last bit ends the trials and then more of the world politics comes into play and it really slowed the story down for me as I still wasn't fully immersed into the world and the moving bits now coming into play. Ikenna's also dealing with Blood Magic, it's apparently a power bestowed upon people by the Gods, but the Blood Emperor is who Mareen fought the war against (Ikenna's grandfather won the war for them but his daughter, Ikenna's mother was killed by the emperor). So, Ikenna is trying to hide this part of herself to not be killed as assumed a traitor. There's, obviously, a lot of moving parts and elements, but having most of the story centered around Ikenna helped, it was when the outside world that hadn't been flushed out too clearly came in, that I struggled. This ends on a cliffhanger and I'm going to dive right into the second because I'm very curious to see how it all ends up. If you can handle some worldbuilding pushed to the side, want some scifi and fantasy elements, a step above YA, and want to see a lead character not hold back their anger/rage (it did get frustrating at times as I wanted Ikenna to stop, take a breathe, and think), then this would be a hold onto your butts one to pick up. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 02, 2023
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May 09, 2023
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May 02, 2023
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Hardcover
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| 0063051117
| 9780063051119
| B0B93XWLCF
| 3.76
| 2,634
| Jun 20, 2023
| Jun 20, 2023
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really liked it
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3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review The man in front of me tilted his h 3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review The man in front of me tilted his head, and I caught a glimpse of a familiar one-sided smile. My breath caught. It couldn't be. The third and conclusion to the Starlight's Shadow series, Capture the Sun gives us the ship's wild card recovery specialist Lexi and the Valoff that once betrayed her, Nilo. This would be much better read as a series instead of standalone, book 1 (Hunt the Stars) lays the foundation for the space opera world. Heavy on the politics of the world, you'd be pretty lost, especially in the second half, as all the plot threads laid through out the first two come to a conclusion here. The first half focused more on the relationship between Lexi and Nilo, they get to spend a good amount of time alone without the distraction of all the other crew members and Valoffs. Book one alluded to Lexi and Nilo having previously met and we get the full background story here where Lexi feels Nilo only flirted with her to take a job from her and while accurate, there was truth behind Nilo's attraction. I missed seeing these two in book 2 (Eclipse the Moon) and I think that would have helped me have more of feeling an emotional connection between these two. While they spent good alone time together, I'm not sure I felt all those emotions that has me loving a couple. “Starlight's Shadow disappeared.” While some of the emotional foundation and depth was missing for me between Lexi and Nilo, I did think this third installment married the blend and pace of romance and space opera together the best of the series. It gave us a first half of romance, where I could spend time with Lexi and Nilo and then a second half of space adventure and bringing in all those characters the worldbuilding had previously got me to care about; this author is really great at managing a bigger character list. If you've read the first two, you'll know about how the Starlight's Shadow crew had fought in the previous big war between the Federated Human Plants and the Valoffs, leading to some initial distrust between our humans and Valoffs but oops, they're falling in love with them and uncovering what looks like some chaos agents trying to destabilize the fragile peace between the FHP and Valovian Empire. At the end of book two, there's strong hints as to the whos and whys but they need the proof. So our crew sets out to rescue a Commodore Morten from the Empress of Valovia and bring him back to an Admiral they know they can trust. This will hopefully lead to a trial with Morten and out who's trying to start the war. Lexi and Nilo are a little outside this but they come in when the Empress makes a play for Lexi to use her for leverage and Nilo rescues her. As they get reacquainted for some romance in the first half, it becomes apparent that something has happened to the Starlight's Shadow and her crew. Nilo had somehow wormed his way into my heart, and I wasn't above trying to steal his in return. The second half was full of planning, rescuing, and battles, bringing in all those humans and Valoffs we have grown to care about throughout the series and their antagonists, Morten, Sura Fev the Sun Guardian (Special Forces, elite soldier for the Valoffs) herself, and other Valoff fodder soldiers. The battle and danger scenes, for the most part, kept up the pace (I feel like one or two could have been cut or shortened) and tense tone to leave me fearing for the characters and wondering how it was going to wrap-up. “What do you want, Lexi?” he murmured. You, just you. Like I said, I did think this one blended the romance and space opera elements the best out of the series but I just couldn't feel the depth of emotion between Lexi and Nilo. Told all in Lexi's point-of-view, I enjoyed her character, but with the romance, Nilo came off feeling flat to me; I just didn't feel the vibrancy from him the way the other aspects of the story hit. They were just kind of attracted to each other without the emotions and Nilo seemed all in from the beginning, what they had to work through was Lexi's PTSD from the war (not trusting/fearful of Valoff's and their powers) and her not feeling good enough, always ruining relationships. I will say it did have some hit nice steamy open door scenes, especially towards the end. If you're looking for a space opera with some romance and manageable at only three books to the series, this was a fun one. Each character was memorable some way to me and the space world captured my interest and was plain fun to get involved with, can't wait for the next world and adventure the author has planned. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 05, 2023
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Jun 16, 2023
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Apr 24, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 0063058537
| 9780063058538
| 0063058537
| 3.65
| 2,528
| Apr 18, 2023
| Apr 18, 2023
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really liked it
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3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I will burn the world down, I promise 3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I will burn the world down, I promise Reed and myself. I will annihilate the world for him, for us, for the team if it comes to that. Picking up where The Blood Trials ended, this continues the story of Ikenna and her quest to avenge her grandfather while also fighting for her nation. This is a duology, you can't just dive in here as you'd miss how the chess game started. It's a scifi fantasy world with war, gods, magic, and power hungry individuals. Ikenna's grandfather was a Legatus for Mareen, she finds out that he was murdered by other tribunals and this sets her off on becoming a Praetorian (Mareen fighting elite) to get access to investigate who was behind the murder. In book one, enemies and friends were made and lost and it ended with Ikenna being made to, slash, deciding to go on her own, along with five other friends she made along the way. She knows who was behind her grandfather's murder, and for the most part, has gotten her revenge, but now it's about once again trying to put a stop to The Blood Emperor. We're literal children of war, born and bred to fight. To do battle. So that's what we do, and we take the punches that come with it and keep going. Children of war don't have the freedom, or the luxury, to do anything else. The first was very fast paced, this started off giving Ikenna and Reed, a Praetorian who trained her in the Blood Trials and her grandfather's protege, a breathing moment to explore and define their developing romance. I appreciated this pause to sit with the characters more and how Reed calms and centers Ikenna. Ikenna has a lot of rage from her grandfather's betrayal, the racist and sexist society of Mareen, and just general stress and conditioning that comes from a society at war. Her feeling and not swallowing her rage endured her to me and added some thrilling get it action but it also crosses over into frustration at her not stopping and thinking for a moment. I would have liked to have seen more growth from Ikenna here, it made her character seem childish as times, especially later in the story when Ajani comes in and you compare and contrast the characters. As if in answer, my nausea ticks up as I wonder: What did the goddess do to me? What precisely did Amaka make me evolve into? What does becoming her Chosen and Blood Daughter entail? The alluded to danger of the Blood Emperor from the first comes into play here, as he's actually gathered some allies and is attacking Mareen. Ikenna and her friends get taken by some Accacians (Blood Emperor's people) and brought to the Emperor's second in command, Ajani. This starts off another journey of plans to defeat the Emperor and who can't they trust and who can they, as Ajani comes to Ikenna with a plan to kill the Emperor. This whole plot was intriguing and had just enough of suspense to keep me on my toes as Ajani stays mysterious enough to wonder if Ikenna can trust him. But what I can do as long as I've got breath left to breathe and blood in my body is what I've always done best: fight. Ajani comes to Ikenna because he thinks she is the only one who can kill the Emperor, he's heard about the gold in her blood. Questions I had in the first about Ikenna's magic get answered here and the Gods fantasy part of the duology gets flushed out more. There's more explanation of how the Pantheon gods were chased out of Ikenna's world but how they can still bestow gifts on people, like Ikenna. We get to meet the God of War and Ikenna's patreon goddess and learn the gods have their own whole story going on in the background to Ikenna's world. This storyline was fascinating to me but, as you can tell, there was a lot going on in this book, probably too much. I do think some could have been cut out, like Ikenna traveling to a Queen to get an ally. I liked the Queen character and her story but that thread never really got utilized and in the end, only made the story feel cluttered as it took away from other more interesting or important threads. I'm a warrior first and foremost. We all are. Always have been. Always will be. So let's warrior the fuck out. The built up and looming danger of the Blood Emperor makes his appearance halfway through the book but by 70% Ikenna pretty much dealt with it and I ended up being a little disappointed by how it felt too here and gone (a little of The Night King from GOT feelings). The last thirty percent deals with and reveals if Ikenna's trust was misplaced in Ajani, the future of Mareen, and a new looming threat. Ikenna also had to take on another opponent and I thought this was rushed even more than the Blood Emperor. We will do this because we love one another. The Blood Gift gave me more of the world flushing out I was missing in the beginning and I'm definitely fascinated by the Gods aspect of it. I cheer on Ikenna's warrior attitude but do get frustrated when her rage has her blinded to reason and would like character experience and maturity to show growth. With a new enemy on the horizon, a frenemie in the wind, and a country to stabilize, Ikenna and her crew definitely have material for a new adventure. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 02, 2023
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May 15, 2023
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Apr 20, 2023
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0008603162
| 9780008603168
| 0008603162
| 3.44
| 2,302
| Feb 23, 2023
| May 02, 2023
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really liked it
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3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The figure extended a graceful han 3.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The figure extended a graceful hand. 'Join the dance.' It's 1919 and while the War has ended, the danger and threat of the Spanish Flu still lingers. Moira Jean's little village in Scotland keeps dwindling as boys and men were lost to the war and others to the lure of more opportunities in the cities. Moira Jean and her six friends toil as tenets to a rich family that hasn't even visited their estate in years and always with the threat of eviction hovering. When they decide to let off some steam in the woods, drinking and carrying on, a new danger reveals itself. Now Moira Jean must deal against The Dreamer, trying to get her friends back and keep herself and the rest of the village safe. 'Careful, Moira Jean. You are safe if you are ignorant. Do not stray too close to that which you do not understand.' The Thorns Remains was a magical realism and fantasy story that brought back all the reasons why people line their windows and doorways with iron. I loved how all the different kinds of fae folk were added in, kelpie, brownies, changelings, glaistig, etc and The Lord of Land Under the Hill, a.ka. The Dreamer, didn't sparkle so much as be painful to look upon because of his beauty that bordered on and could shift to grotesque. Dying from the flu as he was trying to make his way back home, Angus, Moira Jean's fiance, has her weighed down with grief and wearing his Victory Medal. A medal that has just enough iron in it to keep her from completely falling under The Dreamer's spell when he starts the music up, after he catches her and her friends in the woods. Moira Jean sees the creatures for what they are, antlers coming out of eye sockets, vines coming out of mouths, and refuses to keep dancing and follow everyone to The Dreamer's halls. She wakes up in the morning at home with an awful hangover and no one in the village missing the six friends as they're under a spell thinking their kids are just somewhere else. This leaves Moira Jean to return to the woods and make deals with The Dreamer to get her friends back. 'Of course we are equals,' he said, his voice low, 'but that does not make you any less mine.' The Dreamer is just intrigued enough with Moira Jean to bargain with her and the story starts to get a Tam Lin essence to it, until Moira Jean reads the actual story to The Dreamer and then we spin a different direction. Moira Jean bargains one of her letters from Angus to The Dreamer for one of her friend's return and we see The Dreamer be fascinated with human emotion. The story then has The Dreamer acting as if he is starting to feel love for Moira Jean and this could have easily spun into a romance but I loved the direction this took with instead having Moira Jean eventually recognizing all the ways The Dreamer had been manipulating her and how it was selfish, obsession, and controlling and not love The Dreamer was feeling for her. Brudonnock was alive with unseen things, and she could see them all. While I enjoyed how we got to know the townspeople and Moira Jean's relationship with her mother, so we could get a feel for the community Moira Jean was living in, this story was four hundred pages and a good chunk of her working, doing chores (so much laundry washing!) could have been edited out, it dragged the middle and beginning second half down so much. There is a deadline to the bargains Moira Jean is making with The Dreamer, Beltane, and that is six weeks away. Instead of a steady pace of her trying to come up with ways to get her friends back, the pace slows and feels meandering as she has to do chores. I don't think streamlining this would have cut out any feelings and instead would have vastly improved the pace and therefore story. She stepped into the Land Under the Hill. The latter second half speeds up as Moira Jean stands up to the The Dreamer and his warnings of a “tithe” and The Queen come to fruition. We get fascinating fantasy scenes in The Dreamer's world and danger from The Queen. This was told in five parts, no chapters, with a writing style that pulled me into the story and if Moira Jean had focused a little more on getting her friends back with less scenes showing her doing her chores, the return to fae being something to fear would have this a favorite read of the year, but I still did enjoy the places this went. He wanted her afraid, uncertain – it was how he'd always wanted her. But she had finished giving him what he wanted. The exploring of Moira Jean's grief, touching on how culture can be stripped from a people (Mrs. Iverach), economic opportunities, and how all love isn't good love were themes all explored in this magical realism world. The ending could easily be the last we see of Moira Jean but I can't help thinking that her last glance at the dock could lead to a sequel and I'd definitely sign up for more from the woman with iron in her soul. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 21, 2023
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May 02, 2023
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Mar 26, 2023
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1250873010
| 9781250873019
| B0BQGHKG2D
| 3.49
| 3,610
| Sep 19, 2023
| Sep 19, 2023
|
it was ok
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review “Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review “Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die.” Grimm's Hollow was cursed when someone made a wish for murder on the Sortes Fortunae (Book of Fortunes). Sixty-six people from the village have walked into The Forest Grimm and never returned, The Lost Ones. The first Lost One was Clara's mother and Clara's determined to be picked in this month's Devotion Day. Once a month the village holds The Lottery, once someone turns sixteen their name is written on a piece of paper and put into a goblet, which then is drawn from. If your name is picked, you're allowed to try and enter the Forest to search for the Lost Ones. For three years people have been missing and going missing but the Forest has yet to allow anyone from the lottery to enter. Clara decides to try and rig the system, adding more than one piece of paper of her name but her friend Axel is chosen instead but narrowly misses being killed when the Forest rejects him. I’ve done the forbidden. Crossed the line without the sanction of the lottery. I don’t turn back. The Forest Grimm was more story driven than character and the beginning really focuses more on giving you the story about what has been happening in Grimm's Hollow. Even though its all in first person pov from Clara, I still felt we didn't get a strong feeling for her character. We learn that her grandmère is a fortune teller and is scared for Clara as her cards delivered the message that she will die. Constantly thinking she is going to die, Clara kind of develops a personality of living for others and is why she is so willing to sacrifice herself to the Forest to try and save her mother. Eventually, Clara learns that a red cloak made by her mother, will protect her from the Forest and allow her to enter. Figuring out that its the red rampion plant that dyed the cloak red, she shares a scarf with her friend Axel as he joins her in the search. “Because fate never lies.” When Clara enters the woods, the story then becomes a mish-mash of altered fairy tales, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, and etc. As Clara, Axel, and her other friend Henni who joins in later, encounter village people that have gone missing, each then represents a fairy tale. It's not a bad concept but none of this ever seems to come together and gel. Clara entered the woods to mainly look for the Book of Fortunes because, even though she's already made her one wish you get, she plans on making a wish that will somehow save the village and her mom. The Book had disappeared and left a cryptic message for how to find it when the unknown person wished for a murder. While the Forest is constantly changing, disorienting them when they wake up, there still didn't seem to be much organized searching for the book, it's more of in sections surviving the fairy tale villagers, Clara constantly saying she has to save her mom, and then a friends-to-boyfriend/girlfriend. This is the story of how I save my mother. And, as it has been from the beginning, this remains the story of how I die. This is tagged as YA (Clara is 17 and Axel 19) and I definitely think it fits it, the romance consisted of Clara ogling Axel's looks/chest and longing looks from Axel towards Clara. They have some kisses but it's definitely more in the sweet blush of kid's first romance. There was a decent amount of focus on their relationship, as Axel was engaged to be married but his fiancee became one of the Lost Ones. He's in the woods to search for her but it's obvious that there is more to the story of why he feels the need to search for her and Clara needing to open her eyes. “Sortes Fortunae, hear my voice,” I say. “Understand my heart and its deepest desire. My name is Clara Thurn, and this is my one wish.” Eventually, Clara finds the book and her mom and we get a mini little battle scene where suddenly there was shapeshifters and vampires (a ghost is also in the story). Like I said, the concept was there but the elements were jumbled together and the story lacked some cohesiveness. With this being more story driven and the plot needing some more working out, the lack of fully connecting to the characters hurt my enjoyment. The ending does have a continuing the story thread cliffhanger, as the curse on Grimm's Hollow hasn't fully been lifted yet and Clara needs to venture back into the woods. If you won't mind lack of cohesiveness and just want to read some new spins on old classic fairy tales, this would give you that this Fall season. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 10, 2023
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Sep 17, 2023
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Mar 12, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 9798987112212
| B0BTJ6JS76
| 4.41
| 378
| unknown
| Feb 06, 2023
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it was ok
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2.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. My knowing's neither good nor evil 2.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. My knowing's neither good nor evil...it just is. All her life, Madeline has gotten tingling sensations from certain items that lead to intuition that turns out to be eerily accurate. When she buys a box with trinkets from a local estate sale, she suddenly starts to have dreams about a Puritan girl from the 1710s. With the encouragement of her aunt Phoebe and friend Chelsea, she enlists the help of a History professor she had a connection with at a bar one night, Evan, to try and find out who this Maria girl was, and a mysterious old sailor, Noah, helps her explore her unearthly talents. Normal was a boundary I'd worked hard to live within because it meant being accepted by society and loved by my mom. Sea Magic started off as an intriguing fantasy mystery, mentions of the Penbrook Mermaid, Madeline's dreams that start off more watching a film observant but morph into time travel, veered into Historical Fiction, and then ended in the metaphysical. I liked the beginning mystery aspect of searching out who Maria was for Madeline. I am someone who went through a Golden Age of Piracy phase, so when Maria's full name (Hallett) popped up, I got my own tingling sensations and then when her suitor introduced himself as Samuel Bellamy, I knew all the spoilers. I still enjoyed Madeline working with Evan to put the puzzle pieces together and the tidbits about the Whydah incorporated into the story. However, at the midway point, that whole puzzle is parsed out and the second half went more into the metaphysical and began to lose me. What was it about a woman's power that made men vilify her, turn her into something dark, dreadful? There was a lot of co-opting different cultures spiritual practices (Evan's totem is a mermaid, Madeline does Shamanic conscious dreaming) along with characters adopting pseudoscience (astrology). The second half and especially the last 20% went metaphysical with Madeline's goal shepherding Maria's wandering soul into the afterlife, guided by Noah. It tied into Madeline's magical gift of intuition but not really the first half tone of searching out who Maria was mystery. The story was told from Madeline's point-of-view (the dreams start off from Maria's) making her the most filled out character but I felt all the other characters needed to be flushed out more, especially Evan since he had a romance with Madeline. The romance ended up feeling underdeveloped because it was pushed to the side and Evan's character just never developed for me. They kiss and have an open-door scene but it was dry more than emotional. I enjoyed the historical fiction aspects with the Whydah (Screecham sisters get a shout-out, too) and the connection to Madeline searching out the mystery of who Maria was but the romance didn't evolve the emotions I was looking for and the metaphysical turn at the end lost me. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 15, 2023
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Feb 22, 2023
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Feb 13, 2023
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Paperback
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| 9781492683865
| 3.21
| 1,254
| Apr 11, 2023
| Apr 11, 2023
|
liked it
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. He was different, like her. Someone who mig I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. He was different, like her. Someone who might look human, but was distinctly not. Peeraphan has always known she is different, a Thai mythological kinnaree born in a family of humans. Hiding from outsiders what she is, has made her feel that she can never truly be herself and allow herself to shine. Dancing has been an outlet and when her frenemie Sirin offers her a pair of beautiful red shoes, she wonders why Sirin is being so generous but is compelled to try them on. Bennett is a centuries old vampire and a member of the Darke Consortium, supernaturals and humans who search out magical items to collect and safe guard them. When he arrives too late to stop the red shoes that make their victims dance to their death from being worn, he deadens any feelings he might have for the dancer he can't take his eyes off of. When the dancer manages to stop dancing, Bennett is shocked and is thrown into a battle against an old enemy vampire, while growing closer to the one he's trying to save. “The wearer might be doomed, but at the same time, only the wearer has the chance to break the curse of the red shoes with a true acknowledgment of everything they are, everything they have ever done, everything they have the potential to do. Such honesty would counter pride and vanity and set you free.” With a gorgeous cover that centers the female main character, Peeraphan, Wings Once Cursed and Bound begins the Mythwoven series. To me, this was more of an urban fantasy story that had a romantic element in it, integrating a lot of cool mythological, supernatural, paranormal, and folklore. Peeraphan knows she's kinnaree but not all that means, as far as her abilities and origins. At the end of the book, after the story, there was a Field Notes on the Supernatural and Paranormal and while I liked how it summarized all the beings introduced, I wished more of the kinnaree could have been explored in the story; I liked and cared for Peeraphan and wished this important aspect of her had been filled out more. Through Bennett, we learn that vampires can be made and born, he's born, and some other trademarks but, like with an aspect of Peeraphan, I wished we could have explored more of his background. If this is supposed to be romance genre, I want my two main characters to have more of a center stage for their romance, this felt more like a fantasy story with Peeraphan leading us into this newly discovered world. She needed help to save her own life. As far as world-building, I thought this focused on the right part, all the different supernatural characters and their characteristics. Like I said, I considered this urban fantasy, so the world is as we the reader know it, the fantasy component is through all the different beings existing in the reader's world. We learn that the Darke Consortium is actually one of many groups around the world, they're the good guys with trying to protect humankind by collecting the intentionally dangerous magical artifacts. Bennett's enemy, Francesco is the bad guy and as the story goes on, we learn that he's also tied to a “Babel”, a single or group trying to cause havoc or gain for evil purposes from the artifacts. When Bennett brings back Peeraphan to the sanctuary of the Darke Consortium , we see they have an attraction to each other that could grow and the world gets filled out as we're introduced to all the Darke members, one including a distant cousin of Peeraphan. “I am kinnaree.” There were two really great scenes that stuck out to me, Peeraphan and Bennett dancing in the air and then the sponsor of the Darke turns out to be a dragon and when Peerphan first meets the dragon, it will suck you right in. The dragon informs Peeraphan and Bennett that there is a way to save Peeraphan's life and get the red shoes off, a cave of truth and around the mid-way point, we get a journey to the cave. It was after the cave and Peeraphan doing what needed to be done to save herself, that I thought the story slowed some for me. This was mostly told in Peeraphan and Bennett's pov but we get some from Thomas (Peeraphan's cousin) and a witch named Marie that works for the Darke and while I liked those characters, I did think it slowed some of the momentum as it stole away from Peeraphan and Bennett's romance; first in a series issues. For the first time in not just days, but years— maybe the majority of her life— she had something she wanted to do that was bigger than just herself and the expectations of her immediate family. This felt like a purpose. The last 30% gives a climax scene between Peeraphan, the Darke members, Francesco, and “Babel”. It was after the battle that I thought even more steam was lost, unfortunately, it's when we get back to the romance. Bennett deals with his feelings of possibly outliving Peeraphan (there was some filling out of his character with having loved and lost before), each declaring their love, and then two bedroom scenes. I thought the fully intimate scenes felt both tagged on the end and since their romance didn't have the depth I was looking for, they didn't hit me they way they were supposed to, that tagged on feeling. This is an adult fantasy, Peeraphan is early thirties, but it also had a tone of YA to me at times, the way her learning about herself journey was relayed and most of the romance tone between her and Bennett. To me, this was a good urban fantasy story that just happened to have a little romance in it. I did like how the writing style had a leading me into the story, instead of pushing, feel and with all the cool different supernatural and mythology incorporated, I can see these elements and plot sustaining a series. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 06, 2023
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Mar 23, 2023
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Feb 07, 2023
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Paperback
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WhiskeyintheJar
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Mar 15, 2024
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|||||
|
| 4.12
|
really liked it
|
Feb 18, 2024
|
Jan 06, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 4.21
|
really liked it
|
Mar 04, 2024
|
Nov 02, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.51
|
liked it
|
Mar 25, 2024
|
Oct 27, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.89
|
it was ok
|
Oct 24, 2023
|
Oct 13, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.53
|
liked it
|
Apr 12, 2024
|
Oct 11, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.52
|
it was ok
|
Nov 25, 2023
|
Jul 26, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.65
|
liked it
|
Oct 22, 2023
|
Jul 26, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.77
|
liked it
|
Oct 27, 2023
|
Jul 26, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 4.02
|
it was amazing
|
Jun 27, 2023
|
Jun 10, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.46
|
liked it
|
Jul 31, 2023
|
May 26, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 4.10
|
really liked it
|
May 09, 2023
|
May 02, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.76
|
really liked it
|
Jun 16, 2023
|
Apr 24, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.65
|
really liked it
|
May 15, 2023
|
Apr 20, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.44
|
really liked it
|
May 02, 2023
|
Mar 26, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.49
|
it was ok
|
Sep 17, 2023
|
Mar 12, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 4.41
|
it was ok
|
Feb 22, 2023
|
Feb 13, 2023
|
|||||
|
| 3.21
|
liked it
|
Mar 23, 2023
|
Feb 07, 2023
|
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