A Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

 

I finally got a chance to read through Sarah J. Mass's A Court of Thorns and Roses.  If you need a book to just take you somewhere else for a bit, this is it.

Summary: 

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.

At least, he’s not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Tamlin in his shape shift form.

Art Credit: BlogTealDeal on Tumbler

Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book.  I couldn't set it down.  It was a wonderful escape, and a story that captivated me from the start. The book flowed well, the world building was easy to follow and slowly unfolding throughout the story. The romance between Feyre and Tamlin developed slowly, and in a way that I could relate to, even in a fantasy type sense.  

I really love Feyre, she is intelligent, innovative and doesn't wait for someone to rescue her.  When her family hit rock bottom she taught herself to shoot a bow and arrow, and to track and hunt for food. She was not the eldest sister, but she took care of her father and her sisters. When she moved in with Tamlin, she challenged him.  She wasn't an easy guest initially, often disobeying rules that he established for her.

If you were curious about fantasy books, but haven't ever felt pulled towards high fantasy (think D&D), then this world may be a good starting place for you.

Spice Rating 4/10: There is sex, it's mildly graphic.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is available for purchase here.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book on my own, and reviewed it all on my own. If you appreciate the review and would like to purchase please consider using one of the links here as I get a small monetary kick back that helps keep this blog going. 

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A Review: Flame and Crystal Thorns

If you loved  A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJM, you'll love Flame and Crystal Thorns.

Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody  is the first book of a fantasy novel series spin off from her original series the Fae of Bitter Thorn. If you want to start from the beginning of everything stop right now, and get A Court of Bitter Thorn. 

Summary:

We follow the story of Chloe, a town healer as she discovers people in her town are getting sick with an illness not usually seen.  Quintus, a fae from her past mysteriously shows up and tells her she needs to return to Faery she initially refuses.  Being the town healer she feels she cannot leave when the town needs her the most, but when she realizes her sister is in danger and by saving Faery she saves her town, she agrees to go.

Thoughts:

The story picks right up with a fast paced introduction.  We immediately see Chloe doing what she does best, working as a healer to save her townsman from a mysterious illness. We learn quickly she has a kind, compassionate heart when it comes to the people of her town. There are connections to characters from the previous series right off from the bat, so I strongly feel that this book should be read after you read her Fae of Bitter Thorn Series. This is not what I did (learn from my mistake, ya'll!), because I was frustrated there was a story and a connection that really wasn't well explained.

The chemistry between Chloe and Quintus evolved throughout the book.  Initially neither seemed glad to be with the other, but slowly they both let down their guard. While Chloe was devoted to her healing craft, she was fearful in battle. Quintus knowing how she responds to battle was very protective and was often her rescuer. Chloe's character development though seemed very simple though, going from being so self sacrificial to putting herself higher on her own priorities.   I hope that in the second book we see her develop even further.  I would love to see her become a badass of her own making. Overall,  I really loved this book, to the point where I really couldn't set it down. If you enjoyed ACOTAR and other Fae Court type novels you would enjoy this book. 

Heat Index: Zero: There is no sex, implied or otherwise in this book.

Flame and Crystal Thorns will be available for purchase beginning May 10, 2022. 

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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Clairvoyants: The Fifth Strain -- A Review

Fans of  X-men, Avengers,  or Teen Titans are going to love Clairvoyants: The Fifth Strain.

Summary: 

Clairvoyants: The Fifth Strain is book two in the series Clairvoyants by Brady Moore.  We follow the story of Rion Greane, a kinetic, which is the type of clairvoyant who can move things with his mind. Clairvoyants are people with special abilities.  The four known types of clairvoyants are kinetics like Rion,  readers who can read minds, aurals who can transfer their consciousness into other bodies, and prophets who get visions of the past, present or future. There is a rumor of a fifth type, but no one seems to know who or what that is just yet.

 A government agency called Psyriin wants to eradicate clairvoyants. Psyriin is using other calirvoyants to hunt them down. The group of clairvoyants has been split up with some are in hiding while others are missing. Rion hopes to find his mother, and the other missing clairvoyants with out being caught by Psyriin.

Thoughts:

This was a well paced book, and even though I didn't read the first one the author did a brilliant job on filling me in without the dreaded info dump. He carefully laced in bits and details so I was able to follow the story...however, I wish I had read the first novel and suggest you grab it if you're able. There was a great story there, and I do feel the second book would have made my connection with the characters deeper.  

Rion and the other clairvoyants have formed a close-knit family group.  They often showed how deeply they loved each other as a family, and our author is not afraid to express these emotions in his characters.  Rion even remarked early on that losing one of their group was like losing a limb. It was obvious to me that many of these relationships began in the first book and must have continued in their depth in this book. This was a tight group of people who would sacrifice themselves for the group with out pause. As the story unfolds they learn how to work together with their individual powers to keep each other safe from Psyriin.  

It was easy for me to get caught up in this book just after the halfway point, and it became one of those "just one more chapter, just one more chapter" until I reached the end.  There was fighting, and action, and narrow escapes.  Rion stopping a spray of bullets with his mind like a badass? Yes, please..

There were a few metaphors I scratched my head at early on...like an ocean of sweat, or a geyser of saliva. Those moments were far and few between though, and overall the book well was written and easy to read. The characters were relatable and lovable, specially when you can see how much they care for each other. If you're a fan of the Avengers, X-men or Teen Titans you will love this book. 

**Warning** The book ends on a cliffhanger that sets us all up for the next book.

 Clairvoyants the Fifth Strain is available now for pre-order and will be released May 5, 2022.

You can follow Brady Moore on Facebook here or on Instagram here.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Review: One Day I Shall Astonish the World

This may be my first case of Bookstagram made me do it.  I've seen Nina Stibbe's name float around from time to time.  Her novels are known for their humor, which I definitely found in her newest book One Day I Shall Astonish the World.

Summary: 

In this story we follow Susan and her life long friendship with Norma. Stibbe tells the story of both Susan and Norma's lives and their marriage, career and family life. As is her style, Stibbe delivers this story with humor and clarity.  The relationship between Norma and Susan is complex, and deeply real and one I can relate to having a lifelong best friend.

Thoughts: 

It's been a long while since I've read a story of this style.  Stibbe artfully tells Susan's story from young adulthood starting in the 90's all the way to 2020 with the onset of covid.   This is the type of book that I would turn to in between intense books just to have something calm to read, but I would likely read it for a bit, set it down, read something else and then come back to it. This book's focus was more on personal development and the lifetime relationships instead of a plotline. If you're looking for a calm gentle read, add this to your TBR list. 

Additionally, I also listened to the audio version of this book. I found the narrator to be easy to understand and listen to.  Her pacing and enthusiasm was perfect.  

One Day I Shall Astonish the World will be available for purchase beginning May 3! 

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was one of the first books I received from the Book of the Month Club. If you're interested in trying it out, your first book is only $5 if you use my link, and I get credit towards more books (yay...thanks!!).  So far I've found it to be a very practical way to get your hands on some REALLY good books.  Click here if you'd like to try it!

Summary:

It's 1714, the worth of a woman for the most part is who she will marry and how many children she will have for her husband. This is not the life Addie LaRue wants for herself.  She doesn't know what the whole world has to offer her yet, but she knows she wants to be free to find out.  She prays, and leaves offerings to any god that will hear her, with a warning never to pray to the gods of the night. In her despair, she ends up doing just that and makes a Faustian bargain...for the freedom to live the life of her choosing until she is finished with it, she will give her soul. The catch to this bargain: no one remembers her. 

Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book. Easily a five star review.  The story mainly stays from Addie's perspective, and while she initially bit off more than she can chew, she adapted and overcame her situation and eventually thrived in what Luc hoped she'd quickly fail in. She did it all on her own. There is a bit of romance near the end that I don't want to give any spoilers about so I will just leave you with a heat level. This is a story of desperation, regret, loneliness, and perseverance. 

Heat Rating: 5/10  -- There was sex in this book, but the sex was not steamy or detailed. 

Disclaimer: I purchased this book on my own to read and review. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Review: The Curse of a Faeblood

Summary:

The Curse of the Faeblood by MK Lorber follows Ember, a young woman who carries the gift of healing marking her as a faeblood.  She lived most of her life with her mother, also a healer taught her how to use and control her gift.  Ember and her mother never stayed in one place long due to their gifts, as faebloods outside the ruling class were usually hunted and killed or imprisoned.  The beginning of the story we find Ember alone, her mother just having died protecting her secret, and Ember on the run. 

She meets a young woman name Jade, who takes her in and puts her to work.  Ember ends up growing close with Jade, and really feeling at home in the town.  Never a good plan for someone who would be hunted and killed by nobility if she were found out. Gavyn, one of the town's protectors doesn't trust Ember initially, but there's no denying the attraction that blossoms between the two of them.

Thoughts: 

The storyline was fantastic, the world building simple and creative.  I'm not sure I always liked Ember, or Gavyn for that matter. I kept waiting for Ember to come into her own, and not need a rescue, or a protector but it never really happened. Ok...maybe once, but then she immediately went back to her dependent self. She was starving on her own, got the help she needed but still needed Gavyn, her possessive protector to save her. Gavyn went from brooding and suspicious to possessive and jealous. Confusingly he wanted to bite her to mark her as his mate...but no where in the story building did that seem to make sense.  The beginning of the book really interested me and I couldn't set it down but I left disappointed when the main characters didn't really show much growth. 

Who would want to read this? Someone who needs a low stress, rescue me romance with some kink that flirts with being smut, but isn't quite smut.  (Please know I use the word smut lovingly....we all need a little smut in our lives)

Heat Index:

7/10: We had some really hot moments and some mild kink. Everything was consensual, but graphically explained.

Overall Rating: 4 stars

The Curse of the Faeblood is brand new and is available now for purchase. 

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Review: The Lenoir Legacy

 

I'm enchanted with The Lenoir Legacy by Cristen Faulkenberry.  I love high fantasy, and this is with out a doubt modern high fantasy writing.

Summary:

We follow the story of Rosealyn, princess of Orda'an, daughter of King Phillipe. The monarchs in her family all have a gift that passes down to the next monarch when the ruling monarch dies.  This gift allows them to see glimpses of the future, present, and past. We can't forget Rosealyn's protector, Charles and all the secrets he has, and then underlying attraction between the two of them. 

Thoughts:

Patience is required with this one, and the unfolding of this story occasionally was bumpy. I felt the beginning was a bit disorganized A few times I almost considered not finishing the book, but I'm glad I stuck this one through, because I really enjoyed this story.  It doesn't really pick up the pace until you're about halfway through, so coffee up, snuggle up and dig in. In the end I really fell in love with this story.  There's dragons, and politics, elves, magic, and a slowest of slow burn romance that refreshingly isn't the center of the book.  The world building gradually unfolds by the end of the book, making for a charming read.  

The Lenoir Legacy was released in March 2022, and is available for purchase now! It's even available on kindle unlimited!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Review: Curse and Craving

 

Finally...I was beginning to lose hope.  A book that made me neglect life.  Ya'll...put this one on your list.

Summary: 

Curse & Craving by Jill Ramsower begins by introducing us to Rebecca who just accepted a job in Ireland as a museum curator. When she arrives in Belfast with her best friend Ashley, life seems to instantly get weird. She sees creatures she's never seen before, some are small and cute...some are absolutely terrifying.  She ends up discovering Fae creatures living under cover in the city, and meets Lochlan who is in charge of keeping the city safe and the Fae out of town. While getting to the root of the problem Rebecca does her very best to keep her relationship with Lochlan professional, but she can't help but feel the intensely attracted to him.

Heat index: 7/10 There is some heat to this slow burn love story, and when the act happens it is detailed. The heat is relevant to the story telling.  ***Trigger warning*** there is some questionable consent laid out in a betrayal type way.  I don't want to give spoilers, but I want to help readers to make informed choices. 

Thoughts:

Absolutely loved this book.  It was the kind of book that made me briefly neglect life, stay up too late, and wake up too early. The world building was artfully laid out.  She beautifully weaves Norse Mythology, with Celtic Mythology, and Arthurian legends and more to give us a deeper understanding of this mysterious world that most people can't see.  The slow burn romance always keeps the pages turning for me, with twists and turns that I did not expect. If you enjoy fantasy romance, strong independent heroines, beautiful world building be sure to add this one to your TBR list.

Curse & Craving is available for purchase 4/4/22!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Review: The Seren Stone

Another book that I think I was not the target audience for, however in my opinion this book really should have been labeled as children's fiction instead of  Young Adult. I don't mind young adult, and there have been quite a few children's novels that I have absolutely loved like Mandy by Julie Andrews or even The Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George.  The Seren Stone missed the mark for me.

Summary: 

Loren, and her siblings Will and Cat find themselves suddenly launched into the future where dragons exist and the world as they knew it no longer exists.  The moon is broken, and the familiar landscape they once knew is covered in water. The book doesn't describe how old the children are, but based off their behavior and other context clues it seems that Loren is the oldest, and behaves as if she is an early teenager, with Will being in the middle and Cat being young, possibly seven or eight. They begin a quest to learn about the necklace that mysteriously brought them to into the future, and to possibly find their way home.

Thoughts:

The imagery Lisa Shambrook provides when describes the dragons, or the scenery is brilliant.  She is obviously a gifted writer. I wanted to like this book. I love the genre, I love reading about dragons and magic, and any book that takes me anywhere is worth a shot. The target audience for this book really should be 10-14 year olds. It's clean, it tells a fun story, and I think if I had read this at this age I would have really loved it. . If you have a child that's into D&D or video games that have dragons in it, they would absolutely love this book.  It also felt very much like the The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, but with a bit less sparkle.

I'm going to gripe here for a second, and I hear another blog post coming shortly about genres. I understand genres are subjective, but there's a widely agreed upon criteria when it comes to Young Adult and this book does not fit that description.  Young Adult stories are typically about YOUNG ADULTS and typically involve a coming of age theme and have major character development.  This book had NONE of this.

Who would enjoy this book?

• Anyone who enjoys reading adventure stories about children.
• Any child (or person young at heart) who enjoys D&D or fantasy based video games.
• Anyone who enjoyed children's stories like The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe,

The Seren Stone is available for purchase beginning April 5!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Review: The Brighter the Stars

This week I dipped my toes into some sci-fi, and I stumbled across an audio book The Brighter the Stars by Bryan Prosek. I don't usually listen to audiobooks, but I may try to add them to my reading more. It's pretty nice the things you're able to accomplish while also listening to a book!

Summary: This story follows Jake, a young Legion soldier who is motivated by revenge after witnessing the brutal murder of his uncle when he was a teen. Jake gets caught up in a bigger political issues of Earth and it's relationship with other planets.  He manages to locate a lost crystal that was stolen, but all the while has to decide whether to follow through with his revenge plans, save the love of his life, or clear his now tarnished name.

Thoughts: This book was well planned, well structured, with clear world building and characters that I could relate to. There's a clear moral conflict that Jake is having to work through all laid out in an exciting well paced book.  Having said that...I don't feel that I was the targeted audience for this book and that's ok! This is the kind of book I was looking for when my oldest son was a young pre-teen and would inhale books so much that he left our librarians scrambling. I didn't really start paying attention until I was about  halfway through, but I don't even think there were any bad words in it.  It's a clean book, suitable pre-teens as well as teens, and more than likely the target audience this book was intended for.

Bryan Prosek also has published A Measure of Serenity which is also labeled YA which focuses on a young girl named Serenity Ashdown. Be sure to check it out!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Review: In a Garden Burning Gold

 

This is the first book I've read from Rory Power, who is the author of Wilder Girls, and Burn our Bodies Down, both Young Adult, horror/suspense/thriller type books.  Rory Power brilliantly takes on a new genre with In a Garden Burning Gold.

Summary:

In a Garden Burning Gold is set in a Greek style fantasy world, with some of the names and food mentioned having a Greek style to them. The story follows Rhea and Lexos are twins that help support their father while he rules their country for the last few hundred years.  Rhea's gift is bringing on the seasons, however to do so she must choose a consort to spend a season with, killing them at the end of the season to bring on the next season. Lexos controls the constellations and the seas.  Together they have to work from a distance using their own gifts and situations to save their family, while it seems the world is pitted against them and hoping to turn them on themselves.

My thoughts:

The book is slow to begin, but really picks up speed about 1/3rd of the way through.  There is a complex world building that I really enjoyed.  There is political discord, family strife, religious zealots and religious control in the area. Both Rhea and Lexos have to work behind their father's back to maintain control over their country or risk losing their lives. The reviews on Goodreads were mixed, so I while I enjoyed the book very much it can be heavy. I would not consider this book a light easy read, but the timing for me was just right and I enjoyed it as a change from what I have been reading lately. 

You will like this book if you enjoy reading about: 

1. Political intrigue, that's somewhat Games of Thrones style.
2. Unique world building.
3. Unique magical style that's based in some religious zealotry.
4. Unexpected twists and turns.

Trigger warnings: Emotional abuse from parent, blood, violence, death

In a Garden Burning Gold is available for pre-order now, and available for purchase April 5!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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