A perfect little story to connect the events of Grave Importance to move towards Strange New World, this novella gave me everything I love in this serA perfect little story to connect the events of Grave Importance to move towards Strange New World, this novella gave me everything I love in this series in a small bite-sized portion. I, unfortunately, wound up reading Strange New World before this novella, and while there were some references to this in the book, it was all explained through the text where you wouldn’t lose any understanding.
However! Why would you want to miss this? We are given a glimpse into how Greta has been living at Dark Heart along with a closer look at Dracula, as well as those creatures living on the land. Lucy is a delightful child and we feel for her circumstances, and it was fun to see the foreboding and untouchable Count Dracul and his wife be suddenly inundated with questions from an inquisitive 10 year old - as well as how the wider vampiric society works. We get a closer look into Ruthven and Grisaille’s lives, as well as a glimpse into Ruthven’s inner thoughts and how he became the vampire he is today.
All in all, I think anyone who enjoys these novels will have a blast revisiting these characters in this novella, and be excited to see where the story continues from this point in the next novel.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Orbit for providing this digital copy....more
This is one of my all-time favorite series I have read, and this book is no exception. This fun and quirky urban fantasy with down-to-earth charactersThis is one of my all-time favorite series I have read, and this book is no exception. This fun and quirky urban fantasy with down-to-earth characters and out-of-this-world conflicts is such a delight to read, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book as much as the other three in this series.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but if you loved the other novels in the Dr. Greta Helsing novels you’ll love this one as well. Dealing with the issues felt with the literal apocalypse in the last novel, we follow our main cast - with a few new characters - as they try to navigate the consequences of those actions. I loved the insight into Heaven and Hell’s politics, and how the different styles of operation affect those living in both of those realms. I also just loved how Greta and Varney now being married and their interactions with each other were so cute and domestic, I love them both so much.
I know this says it’s the conclusion to this series, but in all honesty this book felt like it could have set up for further books in the future, and I desperately hope that is the case. I thought the last book was the end (and that this series was actually a trilogy) and so I hope that I’ll have a similar happy surprise sometime in the future.
(There was also some chemistry between two unexpected characters that - if this series does continue - I need to see resolved in some way. And the fallout of that, because it would blow the politics of Heaven and Hell apart, which would be an absolute delight to read. I won’t spoil it with who, but I refuse to believe they don’t have something between them.)
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Orbit for providing this e-ARC....more
Filled with wild folklore, death magic, and a sapphic romance that will keep you wanting more, this book feels like a spiritual successor to The Bear Filled with wild folklore, death magic, and a sapphic romance that will keep you wanting more, this book feels like a spiritual successor to The Bear and the Nightingale.
We follow our main character, Hellevir, a woman who can speak to animals and see spirits in nature that others are blind to, as she discovers she has the power to enter Death and bargain to bring the newly deceased back to life. Every toll has its price, however, and soon she is trapped with a bargain with Death itself to keep from cutting herself into smaller and smaller pieces to save those around her. When she saves the princess herself from Death, knowledge of her skills go far beyond her and force her into serving the Crown - no matter the cost to her, or those around her.
The imagery in this book is beautiful, as we travel with Hellevir as she speaks with spirits in the trees in lakes, to the strange place she goes when she enters Death. Everything evokes a kind of wonder in the reader as they can see the beauty in the world through the main character’s eyes. However, not everything is wonderful, as the more and more she travels into and bargains with Death, the tighter the binds around her begin to close in as she becomes entangled in a political mess where no one will leave unscathed.
The romance in this book - mild as it is - I felt really strongly added to the tension and the stakes present. Hellevir is forced to contend with what she believes she knows about Sullivan with what Sullivan (and her grandmother) are actually doing. With parts of her soul given up each time she resurrects Sullivan giving them a connection neither can break or understand, she has no choice but to follow both her heart - and the threats - even when she wants nothing more than to escape back to the small village she left.
Perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Ava Reid and Naomi Novik, The Gilded Crown will captivate you from the first page and keep you wanting more even after you finish reading.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this e-ARC....more
With the beautiful storytelling and political climate in Fathomfolk, I was really excited to see how this duology would end in Tideborn and unfortunatWith the beautiful storytelling and political climate in Fathomfolk, I was really excited to see how this duology would end in Tideborn and unfortunately, I was left extremely underwhelmed. In many ways I felt like this book was written as if it was intended to be the second book in a trilogy, and not a duology, as it focused on small inconsequential details that did not go anywhere, and included a journey that felt rushed to complete at the end. Up until the about 80% mark the book meanders throughout its storytelling, and then suddenly everything is wrapped up in a weird nice little bow as everything resolves itself because the author remembered this book was the ending and not the middle.
I also noticed how inconsistent the characterization was throughout. For instance, Kai’s mother, Jiang-Li, was constantly fluctuating on her treatment of Mira. She would treat her poorly for not being “pure folk” and for marrying her son and being the cause of his death - but then, the next chapter she would be silently supportive or openly friendly with her. I kept mixing up this character with someone else as I was reading because her characterization was so inconsistent that I kept thinking “no, surely this is some other dragon matriarch” because that made more sense than her character simply…doing whatever was needed to move the plot forward. In the same way, Cordelia randomly decided to take “revenge” on Mira randomly throughout the book, but her reasoning was flimsy at best, and she would be doing this while also being friendly and helpful to her. It made absolutely no sense.
I also felt like the author focused too much on keeping the same POV characters from Fathomfolk, as Cordeilia’s entire subplot with her daughter and drug-smuggling had no point to it. Instead, we have her son Gede having - apparently - a TON of growth and characterization that we never see happen! It’s just there! He is the character I found the most interesting, and we never get any chapters focused on him, or his thoughts.
Nami’s entire plot also did not go anywhere at all. To avoid too many spoilers, her character arc was clumsily done and Firth only showed up to force her hand into actually developing as a character. However, the journey that she goes on, that is so important for her to do? Meaningless. Absolutely nothing comes from it, and her entire goal fails entirely. She’s supposed to find the other titan and try to keep it from destroying Tiankawi - but when she fails at doing this spectacularly, she acts like Jiang-Li’s plan to use her pearl to destroy the titan is the worst possible thing that could happen. And I’m reading this like, well? Okay, then? What’s your plan, because otherwise only one of you isn’t killing everyone in the city, and it’s not you!
This book was too ambitious, had too many unconnected plots, and doesn’t solve any of them - but rather, just…ends. The book ends and everything is “resolved” because this is supposed to be the ending to a duology, and so this story has to be resolved. I was left extremely disappointed, because - while I did have some issues with Fathomfolk, I could see the potential and was hoping this ending would deliver. Instead, it meandered, focused on unimportant characters and plots, and then suddenly ended without warning.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing this e-ARC....more
While I expected more of a ghost story with a haunted ghost ship, what I found within this book was a compelling narrative that tackles the insidious While I expected more of a ghost story with a haunted ghost ship, what I found within this book was a compelling narrative that tackles the insidious creeping nature of racism and xenophobia that turns once loving neighbors into those who would turn their backs on you while you were being assaulted in the street. I was hooked from the first page, and the rest of this book kept me riveted in my seat until I finished reading this in one single sitting.
The worldbuilding in this book is compelling and intricate, and leaves the reader wishing for more when the last page is finally read. We are given glimpses into the world of these characters, and information is sprinkled along like breadcrumbs every time something new happens, and we - as the reader - need to connect the dots and fit together the puzzle.
The characters are compelling, and I enjoyed getting into the minds of those within this book. Figuring out their struggles and goals, while never explicitly telling us in a 1-to-1 fashion, instead allowing the narrative to tell the story and for the book and their actions to compel the reader into wanting more.
A brilliant introduction into this world, I cannot wait to read what happens next on their journey and to find out more of what - exactly - occurred on their father’s ghost ship. Or why it mysteriously showed back up - empty and unharmed - 9 years after his disappearance. Without giving too much away, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories with a shifting political landscape and characters trying to keep their heads above water at all costs, where their circumstances have forced their hands into choosing uncertainty over certain death. Hull and Fire almost feels like an alternate reality historical fiction tale, with a world and characters that feel both real and realistic - and where the reader can see the similarities reflected within our own society, as well.
A huge thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing this e-ARC. ...more
What do you do when you have magic but can’t do anything about it? That question haunts our main character Naila - called the “Hollow Mage,” using an What do you do when you have magic but can’t do anything about it? That question haunts our main character Naila - called the “Hollow Mage,” using an insult towards those without magic, she is one of the oldest students still taking her class - and she still can’t perform even the simplest of spells. The problem is - she has magic, and if she never learns how to control it one day it’ll consume and destroy her. But when she finally finds out where her power lies, it might just be the thing causing destruction in her home.
Filled with political tension, magical bigotry, and an overarching plot connecting multiple different perspectives together, The Outcast Mage is perfect for fans of intense fantasy worldbuilding and multi-POV stories. While it takes a while for the reader to fully understand everything going on in this story, dumping us into the world with little buildup - as the novel progresses you’re able to begin to piece together the larger puzzle.
I loved the characters within this story, and there were even a few that surprised me with how much I grew to love them, but every character had a reason for their perspective to be included and I never found a chapter lacking or like a character could have been removed without losing any of the plot.
My biggest issue was only that sometimes when a chapter would end and the next would start, we would be shoved further in the story than we had left it, and had to figure out what exactly happened in the meantime. It wasn’t always entirely jarring, but there were a few times where (Naila especially) would be in a situation and the chapter would end, and then the next chapter shows her already having resolved that same issue.
A book that sharply reflects the American political landscape, with a central political figure taking more and more power and preaching hatred towards a group of citizens living within their city - blaming them for each and every problem regardless of facts - and creating a group of secret police that follow only him to root out dissension and arresting anyone who isn’t a member of his “in-group,” this book has a refreshing amount of things to say within its pages.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Orbit Books for providing this e-ARC....more
An engaging dystopian YA fantasy that feels realistic and will keep you reading until the last page.
Despite this book essentially dumping you into theAn engaging dystopian YA fantasy that feels realistic and will keep you reading until the last page.
Despite this book essentially dumping you into the center of the world with very little buildup, I found it extremely easy to get a feel for both the worldbuilding,as well as the conflicts within this book. Everything has a sense of realism to it, that makes even the more fantastical elements seem grounded in reality. Once I began reading, I was hooked until I finished a few hours later, and not once did I hit a slow point that made me consider going to bed before finishing this novel. I also love how the ending sets up the conflict for the story to continue, and I cannot wait to see how this story moves forward in the next installment.
Rin is a fantastic main character, and while one might be inclined to believe she is simply “too good” at everything she tries, I never found myself doubting her. I also loved how there was an in-universe explanation that made everything make sense, but that it’s not something obvious from first glance. Her characterization is relatable and realistic, and never once did I not find myself rooting for her success as I read her journey.
I will admit to being the first to not always like the romances placed in these kinds of stories, but Ieuan was such a fantastic supporting character and friend to Rin no matter what, that I found myself rooting for him anyway. Their closeness and romance feels natural, especially when Rin begins the book not fully understanding both his - and potentially her own - changed feelings towards each other. However, I loved how Ieuan cared and loved Rin as a friend first and foremost, and despite not overtly hiding his feelings towards her, he never makes her feel like she has to choose him in a romantic context, or that his help and support is only hinged upon it. I also love how Ieuan uses this trait of his to help the other characters in this story, and that Rin not only recognizes him doing this - she is able to vocalize it to help a fragmented relationship mend as well.
I loved the other supporting characters, as they all felt real and unique. Never once did I have difficulty determining who was speaking, which can be a difficult thing to do when a book has many speaking characters in it and sometimes their narrative voices begin to blend together. While the characters grew and changed, and their interactions with one another grew along with the story, at no point was their characterization lost to move the plot forward.
I also loved how we, as the reader, could determine many of the twists and reveals within the book before the protagonists, at no point did it feel like this information was intentionally left out for the story to progress, or like it was unrealistic for the main character to not have realized these things sooner. I enjoy when I can determine plot twists early on in the novel, as well as when the book has a fantastic foundation for them, and yet I never once questioned Rin herself never realizing these same things.
This is a brilliant addition to the dystopian ya sphere and I believe anyone who enjoys stories with an overlying conflict, an oppressive government, and a small group of oppressed trying their best to save each other would love this novel. Fast-paced with a momentum that never slows down until the last page, I loved The Generation Archives and I cannot wait to read more of this world.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for providing this e-ARC....more
A short mystery novella taking place during the events of The Goblin Emperor, I found this a fun and enjoyable read that made me excited to get back iA short mystery novella taking place during the events of The Goblin Emperor, I found this a fun and enjoyable read that made me excited to get back into this world in anticipation for the third book in the Cemeteries of Amalo. A fairly quick and easy read, this book focuses on a disgraced historian named Ulcetha accused of stealing an artifact, unable to continue his scholarship when unable to clear his name. With the crashing of the Emperor’s airship - and his friend who was the pilot - he’s left mysterious clues that lead him into an investigation with more twists than he ever saw coming.
I found this novella to be fun and entertaining, but I would consider the way this book is written to be more on par with the offshoot series starring Thara Celehar, as opposed to the political court intrigue present in the Goblin Emperor. While this novella is short, and the pieces to the puzzle come together fairly quickly, I enjoyed Ulcetha’s investigation and think he would greatly get along with Thara, if the two were to ever meet. (Forgive me if this character has come up before, but if so I don't remember him - it’s been a while since I’ve read these books.) Both Thara and Ulcetha work to uncover the truth behind the investigation - even when everyone else is against them, and doing so would cause them more strife than anything else. I appreciated his determination to uncover the full mystery, even when the consequences would not benefit him.
All in all, I found this to be a nice appetizer to getting myself back into the world of the Goblin Emperor, and any fan of the series who likes mysteries and investigations I believe would find this to be a fun read. While the events taking place in TGE are present in the background of this book, I don’t believe you need to be overly familiar - or remember them too closely - to understand the timeline in this book. While taking place in the same universe, much like the Cemeteries of Amalo series, this book focuses on our main character as he tries to live the life the world has dealt him, and get to the bottom of the mystery that has landed in his lap.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Subterranean Press for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I’d like to begin with the warning that I would not classify this book to be under dark academia, nor slow-burn enemies to lovers. Yes, our main charaI’d like to begin with the warning that I would not classify this book to be under dark academia, nor slow-burn enemies to lovers. Yes, our main character spends a great deal of time within a school-like setting, but it is not dark academia - in fact, a good portion of this book is barely focused on the academia portion at all. Instead, we spend a great deal of time with our main character trying to decide between her morals and her family, with the work she is doing taking a much-more backseat to the story. As well, her romantic lead and her fairly quickly move to involving themselves with one another, and the closest we get to ‘enemies’ is them having different backgrounds and occasionally disagreeing with them. They are never actually enemies, and the only way I could see this as being “slow-burn” is if you include the fact that they don’t have sex and barely kiss within this novel, which is not what that word means. I feel like this description might have been written by someone who has not read this book, so I would recommend looking elsewhere if that is the only thing about this book that caught your interest as you will be sorely disappointed.
I have not read Fourth Wing, so I can’t speak on any comparisons people have made with that book and this one. I have, however, read Babel and can say I can see where the comparisons come from, but I would say that Babel focuses much more on the actual language/magic learning in the academic setting, while this one has it much more as a background activity to the rest of the novel. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as I found some of the focus on the language in Babel to bog me down a bit, but I do think this book would have benefited from focusing more on the main character being a polyglot - in both human and dragon languages. We are only given a few words in this book that aren’t in English, even during sections where she is not speaking in English, and at times I found it difficult to pick up what language she was speaking until the text explicitly states it. Considering she only speaks to her mother in Bulgarian, and typically switches languages in the middle when speaking with dragons, I think having a bit more focus - and possibly a few words/language learned - would have benefited this story. As it is, there is no difference between this main character being a polyglot and someone who only speaks one language. The closest we get to Robin Swift’s dilemma in Babel about what language he thinks/breathes in, which one is his “first” and “second” language - is at the very beginning where she wakes up thinking of a word in a dragon language that she can’t immediately translate. Otherwise she seems to have no issues speaking over 6 languages and never flubs her words, or mixes up words from the wrong language, which I found to be a bit unrealistic.
It also takes Vivian significantly longer than Robin Swift in Babel to actually choose her morals (about 70% into the book), and yet somehow she was able to make friends and acquaintances have faith in her and trust her with secrets that could get them executed. Her main romantic lead even states that he had faith in her the entire time, despite her telling him over and over again that she would choose her family over the rest of the country. Every single time you thought Vivian was going to (finally) make a decision on who to choose, she’d waffle about it and then choose both and neither at the same time. It got tedious after a while, and I’ll be honest I was almost hoping she’d decide to betray everyone around her to get what she wanted as it would have at least made her character more interesting. Instead, she is allowed to constantly make bad decisions that hurt those around her, but is then forgiven for them anyway. For instance, in the past Vivian had done something that had ruined her former friends life - but when it comes out, it doesn’t take that friend too long to forgive her actions. It also annoyed me that Vivian’s apology kind of felt like she tried to guilt Sophie into forgiving her, by constantly going, “It’s okay if you don’t forgive me, I wouldn't either.” But then she ruins it by finishing with saying that she’d find a way to forgive herself for those actions - apologizing but then telling that person that you’d forgive yourself for hurting them? Surprised Sophie didn't deck you for that one, girl.
Finally, I felt like this book went a bit too far with the implication that every dragon from Bulgaria was a human-hunting evil monster, despite the fact that the main dragon character was Bulgarian and had severe guilt over her actions in the past. Not to mention that we find out that a lot of those previous evil actions were actually orchestrated by a human government who used the feelings of betrayal of those dragons to manipulate them into doing such violence. It doesn’t absolve it, but it does make it seem a bit suspicious that even after finding this out, our main character still sees Bulgarian dragons as untrustworthy. Vivian even explicitly states that, “Bulgarian dragons don’t ally with humans,” despite working with one this entire time.
Overall, I did feel like this book was a strong debut and did fairly well with the issues brought up in this novel, and I am interested in seeing what comes next. If you like political intrigue, betrayals and secret identities, and dragons (although, much less involved than you’d expect given the title), I would recommend picking up this book and seeing for yourself.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for providing this e-ARC....more
A fast-paced and captivating tale that will pull you in from the first page and doesn’t let up until the very end. Filled with romance and political iA fast-paced and captivating tale that will pull you in from the first page and doesn’t let up until the very end. Filled with romance and political intrigue, you can never be too sure who you can trust - or if love can truly outlast even lifetimes.
Somehow, this book caught me even better than Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and I don’t say that lightly as someone who devoured that duology. I cannot even properly explain this book, other than the fact that it kept me entranced from the moment I began reading and once I started I couldn’t stop. If you loved Sue Lynn Tan’s debut duology, then trust me her writing has only (somehow) improved in Immortal, and you need to pick up this book.
The romance was so amazingly well done I spent the entire novel hoping that it would survive against all odds. I am so unbelievably picky when it comes to main romance plots in fantasy novels, and this was so well executed I was hanging on the edge of my seat the entire time. The chemistry between Liyen and Zhangwei was so well done I was rooting for them even when I knew I shouldn't.
The writing in this book is so beautiful I can’t even properly describe it, but the world in this book is so lush and amazing no matter where our characters are in the story. Our main character, Liyen, is a passionate and caring ruler, and I loved sharing her POV throughout this novel. She does her best to help and protect her people, and as I was reading I felt like her betrayals were also my betrayals alongside her.
Sometimes when I love a book too much I find it so hard to properly describe my feelings for a review, and this is one of those books. The time flew by as I was reading this book, and despite the 5-6 hours it took for me to finish this book, at no point did it feel like it was dragging on or did I truly feel the page count.
I know this book says it takes place during the same world as in Daughter of the Moon Goddess, but in all honesty it felt like a brand new story set in the same beautiful landscape - but with entirely new characters and experiences. While I do highly recommend everyone read the Celestial Kingdom duology, in no way would you have to read that first before diving into Immortal. I didn’t find anything in this book that required or expected you to have previous knowledge of her other books, and so if you were looking for a single-book exploration into Sue Lynn Tan’s writing, I cannot recommend this book enough. Immortal is atmospheric and intense, with a romance that will keep you captivated until the last page.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this e-ARC....more
The much anticipated sequel to Faebound - Cursebound - doesn’t waste any time in getting into the action. With the twist that an elf is able to becomeThe much anticipated sequel to Faebound - Cursebound - doesn’t waste any time in getting into the action. With the twist that an elf is able to become faebound to an obeah and another elf becoming the king, tensions are rising within fae society - especially from those who are called “Lightless,” those unable to faebound. In addition to the dangers lurking at home are the dangers present within the elven war, and the revelation that the fae were helping to turn the tide. With the romance between Yeeran and Furi forcing the fae to move out of the elven war, stakes are raised when this risks the fae being exposed.
This book adds another point of view that adds intrigue to the story, and despite Yeeran being separated for a majority of the novel at no point does it feel like an event isn’t necessary. Many times, authors get bogged down with too many pov characters and sometimes we feel like certain perspectives aren’t needed, or sometimes we’ll leave a high-stakes chapter to read one that feels pointless in comparison. None of that happens in this book, at every point I was engaged and felt like everything that was happening was part of the bigger picture - from Lettle’s discoveries, to Yeeran’s capture, to the very present danger lurking around every corner from every character. I also loved how it was almost impossible to tell who, exactly, was behind the assassination attempts - and yet, it never felt like it wasn’t realistic. It all led to a tension-building reveal where it forces the main characters to acknowledge the buildup of problems as tensions rise and the death count rises.
Second books in trilogies are notoriously difficult to do, but I feel like with both of her trilogies Saara El-Arifi is able to improve her world building and raise the anticipation for how this series will end. I enjoyed Cursebound more than I did Faebound (not that I didn’t enjoy Faebound), and I am super excited for the third and final book in this trilogy. This book ends with a highly unexpected plot twist that I cannot wait to see how it will be explored in the finale. If you were looking for a political fantasy with romance, secret assassination plots, and actual conflict between the romantic leads, I’d strongly recommend this trilogy. I cannot wait to see how it ends!
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House for providing this e-ARC. ...more
I really wish I liked this book more than I did, and to be fair - the parts I did enjoy I had fun with! - but the other issues just took me so far outI really wish I liked this book more than I did, and to be fair - the parts I did enjoy I had fun with! - but the other issues just took me so far out of the book that overall the enjoyment was tainted.
Now, I want to be clear. I in no way believe or want to imply that victims of assault cannot see themselves in romance novels, or that they don’t deserve to see themselves finding love and happiness in them. I’ve read romance books where the main character had been assaulted and didn’t end the book feeling as off about it as I did in this one. (The Ice Planet Barbarians book focusing on Tiffany I think does this fairly well in both addressing her trauma and having the physical relationship move in a realistic - and sexy - way.) So, believe me when I say my issues don’t stem from a main character having a specific trauma.
I think the biggest issue with this book is the dramatic tone shifting between Tess’ trauma after her assault - and the schloppy romance “spending days in bed having sex” plots. Having both be directly next to one another feels wrong, and there is a specific scene where Tess relates - in explicit detail - her trauma, and then immediately after her and the guy she’s with have marathon sex where, it’s explicitly stated, she doesn’t have any issues or triggers to avoid. And this book is filled with these wild tone shifts, where it can’t figure out a happy-medium between fun romcom lightheadedness and the seriousness of the assault, and the end result leaves the reader feeling overall uncomfortable even in lighthearted scenes.
Also, I think the scenes where Tess is dealing with her trauma kind of verge from storytelling and flowing in a plot, to “character says the best and most correct thing” here, and in many ways it felt less like a conversation happening and more like “this is a good character because they are saying the correct thing, regardless if this is how a conversation between people works,” type of deal. It wasn’t the biggest issue I had, but it was very noticeable during the conversation where Tess gets with her love interest. He says something to make her think she can’t trust him, and then he barely says anything to get her to trust him, and suddenly she does? And then they’re having marathon sex with no issues? (Also, the sex scene itself was underwhelming, which is fine but I did find it odd that the male love interest has a whole internal monologue about not wanting Tess to think she has to force herself to come, but when she does being like “I’m so happy she trusts me like this.” I will admit to being like, “Huh?” during this part.)
I also felt some of the descriptions to be odd, with similar ones being used for loved interests as well as men who we think may attempt to assault Tess.
These quotes are taken from a digital ARC copy, and may not be in the final product. I had only highlighted them in my copy because the first description made me a bit uncomfortable, which was only confirmed when the second description happened and I was like “Wait, wasn’t this almost exact thing said about a love interest?”
“...with every aspect of this hulking brute of a man. He was easily a foot taller than she was, thick with muscle…” - a scene describing a sexy romp within the world of the books this novel is about.
“He was big - like, linebacker big…” - a scene of a man trapping Tess in a hallway and potentially wanting to force himself on her.
Finally, this doesn’t really mean anything, but the brief interludes of the characters and scenes within the books this novel is about really took me out of the story. The writing style in these books was very Harlequin-style, trashy romance and every scene we were forced to read of this world just made me wonder why on earth these books would be popular. The plots and storylines shown, as well as the writing, in these “books” made the popularity of these books make no sense to me, and I could not understand how the main character not only read all 3 books but regularly re-read them for enjoyment.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and found the plot and romances to be fun and typical within a romance novel - nothing too surprising in one way or the other - and didn’t have an issue with any of it. However, the constant tonal shifts between Tess falling into bed with her love interest for days on end, and then having a complete 180 while she deals with her trauma and it becomes very serious, severely limited the enjoyment I felt while reading. The overall feeling was a kind of lukewarm, mildly uncomfortable mix that made the romance feel weak, and also made it hard to simply accept some of the sillier plot going on in the background. It’s not that this author didn’t handle the assault and trauma with care, but that it felt like an entirely separate book that was simply mashed together, rather than a cohesive story. Also, this is entirely just me, but if I wasn’t already going to give this 3 stars because of the overall mess of the book, I would have had to seriously consider knocking off a star anyway because apparently one character is named for a stupid Taylor Swift reference, and I’d like to go one single time reading an urban fantasy romance without having to deal with a stupid and unnecessary Swift reference. For once.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House for providing this e-ARC....more
A fun and entertaining installment in the Murder and Magic series, this book can be enjoyed both as a standalone, as well as for anyone hoping for morA fun and entertaining installment in the Murder and Magic series, this book can be enjoyed both as a standalone, as well as for anyone hoping for more of this world. While I’ll admit to being a bit disappointed that this book doesn’t focus on Hetty and Benjy like the earlier books in this series, Velma quickly grabbed my attention and I was soon on board with how her adventures would stack up instead. I also loved being able to see some of the characters we had known and loved in the other two books, as well as seeing how the family had grown since we had last been in this world.
While I kind of thought this book had a slower start, once the story kicked off I was invested until the last page. Once Velma and Dillon began their investigation together - snarking at each other the entire time - I was having a blast. The investigation is in-depth and intricate, and up until the pieces started to come together I had no idea how everything would fit. The worldbuilding in these books is also fascinating, as this book expands upon how the 1920-1930s looks with the magical alternate universe - but in a very grounded way to where everything feels realistic and possible.
One thing I always really appreciate with Nicole Glover’s writing is how well the romances are done in her books. I will admit, I was a bit hesitant once I learned that this would be a more of an enemies-to-lovers type of deal, since I find the trope tedious if poorly done. However, I was pleasantly surprised to love every bit of conversation as well as the entire dynamic between Velma and Dillon, and that they felt natural and real as they slowly became closer. While different from how Hetty and Benjy slowly realized they simply just “fit” together, a lot of how naturally the two fit together was the same. I realize some others might prefer heart-pounding and “love at first sight” or much more dramatic romances, but that’s never been something I’ve been able to relate to and I much prefer the natural progression done within these novels.
I really enjoyed this book, and I think it could easily be enjoyed by anyone just getting into the world created by Nicole Glover. If you haven’t read The Conductors I highly recommend it, and if you’ve read her previous duology I highly recommend getting back into that world with The Improvisers. Full of magic, twists, betrayals, murder and just a dash of romance - this book is a great escape into the magical historical fiction fantasy world of Nicole Glover.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this e-ARC. ...more
A riveting and blood-soaked vampire tale set in 1920s Jazz Age Harlem, starring two queer black women who need to overcome their fraught past to try tA riveting and blood-soaked vampire tale set in 1920s Jazz Age Harlem, starring two queer black women who need to overcome their fraught past to try to save those they love most.
As soon as I had read the synopsis for this book, this was INSTANTLY on my radar and I knew I had to snag a copy as soon as I could. The second I started reading this, I was hooked into the story and finished this during only two reading sessions, since I had to know where the plot was going.
We star Elise Saint, the heir to an empire dedicated to eradicating vampires (called reapers) within Harlem, and the world as a whole. And on the opposing side, we have Layla, one of those very same reapers who has sworn vengeance against Elise and her family for being the very cause of her change to a bloodthirsty creature. They have to fight through their past betrayals, current loyalties, and ongoing hatred and feuds to try to uncover a deadly plot that will have far-reaching consequences - not just for reapers, but the United States as a whole.
I loved the descriptions in this book, and really felt like you could get a real sense of the world around the characters. The placement felt real and grounded, and the worldbuilding created was in-depth and had layers. Getting a glimpse into the life of Elise Saint, who has lived her life essentially with a silver spoon in her mouth thanks to the steel her father makes that can kill reapers, and the empire he built around them. This privilege almost protects her from the racism of the world around them, as she has enough money to generally go and do whatever she wishes. On the other hand, we have Layla, who after her violent turning no longer has these same privileges - and yet, her strength as a reaper also, in a way shields her from much of the racist violence in their world. And yet, it’s Layla who is more in-tune with noticing this double-standard, since she can’t simply kill anyone she desires whenever she feels like it.
This novel had a wide array of characters within it, but as a whole I don’t think it was too difficult to keep track of them all. Each one had their own unique characterization and plot, so (as someone who gets easily confused when there’s a lot of characters to keep track of) following along to the plot and each character wasn’t difficult. Also, I was surprised by how much I loved Jamie as a character, and I really hope he continues to be a big supporting character in the next book.
The only pitfall I noticed while reading is that there were a few spots where I thought the conversations between the characters to be a bit rough, as well as a few plot points/character actions that didn’t fully make sense. There were a few times where character conversations felt too much like plot narrations, and not an actual conversation, that when I got to them I found a bit distracting. As well, there were a few times where a character would do something that I didn’t think quite made sense, or where their decision to do such a thing seemed to come out of nowhere as a plot device to move the story along. However, none of these things were overly distracting, and to be completely honest were not any worse than in any debut novel.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Fire for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
A gorgeous and queer retelling that will pull at your heart and make you believe that soulmates exist.
This book is as beautiful as the cover implies, A gorgeous and queer retelling that will pull at your heart and make you believe that soulmates exist.
This book is as beautiful as the cover implies, and that is always a hard thing to accomplish - but this book does it with ease. We follow our two main characters - Xian, a prince searching for a cure for his sick mother, and Zhen, the white snake who accidentally stole that very cure 7 years ago. When their paths cross again, there is an instant attraction between them - but can they overcome their differences and betrayals to find love together?
If you were looking for a book with romance, longing, political intrigue, and a connection that might just save everyone they care about, then look no further! This book drew me in from the first page, and once I began reading I wanted to know what would happen next! Just when you think you know where the story is going, I was hit with a plot twist that was so cleverly done it didn’t even occur to me - and yet, in hindsight, it made perfect sense.
Perfect for fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, The Girl With No Reflection, and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea - The Legend of the White Snake is a beautiful story that will captivate you from the first page.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Love and Hatred. Alliances and Betrayals. Forgiveness and Revenge. A race against time, and a war on the horizon. The heart-pounding sequel to House oLove and Hatred. Alliances and Betrayals. Forgiveness and Revenge. A race against time, and a war on the horizon. The heart-pounding sequel to House of Marionne begins just as intensely as House of Marionne ended, and doesn’t let up until the last page. And just like the first book in this trilogy, it ends on such a jaw-dropping reveal that you’ll be waiting with bated breath to find out what happens next.
“The darkness can’t hurt me. Because I am the darkness.”
With the decision to bind with the dark magic that had been hounding her during her time at House Marionne, Quell is on the run and trying to learn how to harness this darkness - before it consumes her. Hiding in safe houses, avoiding anywhere she might be found by her ex-love Jordan - Quell is determined to master her magic and reunite with her mother. However, betrayal chases her at every turn, and she can never know who she can trust - or for how long.
Tracing her mother’s steps to find where she vanished, Quell is led to House Perl - where her embrace of the darkness is celebrated, rather than hated. Mastering her magic in pursuit of her mother is not all she discovers when at House of Perl, however, and soon Quell is ensnared in a war looming on the horizon surrounding the Sphere. One faction wants to destroy it, and magic forever - the other wants to destroy it to own magic forever. With heartbreak and betrayal on both sides of the coin, Quell must follow her heart and embrace her inner darkness to be able to come through this book alive.
With how House of Marionne ended, I was so excited to find out how Quell’s story goes from there - and this book absolutely delivers on that front. We follow four main POV characters throughout this book, with one character reveal being a huge unexpected twist that I didn’t see coming in the literal first chapter of this book. I tend to find it difficult to pull off multi-POV books, as at many times it seems at least one character seems unneeded - or information is repeated for each POV. However, there was never a time when I was irritated to get to a character’s POV, or where I felt that their chapter was wasted or didn’t provide new information or context to the story. I bonded to all four characters, and desperately wanted them to meet and see eye-to-eye for their journeys to be resolved together.
Also, I will be the first to admit that certain parts of House of Marionne dragged a bit for me. This isn’t an issue with the writing or the book itself, just that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance or the high-society training that took up a large portion of the first book. (Once again, that is a large part of the plot so me not enjoying it isn’t the fault of the author because I knew what I was getting into - just to be clear here). However, Shadows of Perl doesn’t have either of these developments within it, so for me the book felt a lot faster paced. With Quell on the run, even when she is in another house - this one House of Perl - she isn’t attending classes or attempting to blend in with high society. Instead, she is training her magic and trying to remain hidden from everyone around her hunting her down.
I loved how the romance between Jordan and Quell was handled within this book. With the reveal of Quell’s toushana and her binding it to herself, and Jordan choosing his duty over their relationship - both enter into this book feeling betrayed by one another. Hatred and betrayal taints both of their thoughts towards one another, and even when they finally meet face-to-face and are forced to work together, neither is willing to forgive the other for the hurt. All of their interactions felt grounded and real, and I loved the pace the book took and the decisions that had to happen before we ever learned if they could learn to work together without intending to betray the other at the end.
A good portion of this book focuses on Quell’s emotions and her desire for revenge for all those who have hurt and betrayed her. Quell’s emotions in this book are much darker and more focused on finding - and killing - those who have used her trust against her. Neither her, nor the reader, can ever be certain of who she can trust and when those bonds are broken we are on her side with wanting her to be able to enact her perfect revenge on them.
This was a phenomenal sequel and lays plenty of groundwork for the third book in this trilogy, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. This book left me breathless, and the last page has such a huge cliff-hanger that when I got to it and turned the page, I audibly went “Huh?!” when I realized that was truly the end. If the politics and house loyalties and factions of the first book interested you, then the sequel will capture you as well. (However, if your favorite parts were the schooling, the dancing, and the romance then I fear this book might feel a bit lacking in that regard. I still believe you should check out this book to find out what happens with Quell after the events of House of Marionne and see for yourself, though).
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
In a world of fairytale retellings, The Crimson Crown barely classifies in my opinion. We see the easter eggs of the classic of Snow White scattered tIn a world of fairytale retellings, The Crimson Crown barely classifies in my opinion. We see the easter eggs of the classic of Snow White scattered throughout this book, but at its core it’s a new original story almost entirely removed from the original. I believe if I didn’t know this was a retelling for the “Evil Queen” in Snow White, (along with the multitude of hints in worldbuilding), I’d have never guessed what this story was.
That’s not a bad thing, by the way. At no point was I certain where this story was going, because other than knowing our main character was to become a “villain” at the end - everything building up to that pivotal moment was brand new. This story hooks itself into you and takes you along for the ride, until you too are rooting for the villain in this tale. A sincere part of me wishes for a sequel to explore this newfound narrative, and to see if the story continues closer to how we know it - or if we will continue to root for the Evil Queen until the end.
I loved Malice and Misrule, and The Crimson Crown has a very similar vibe to it - by the end, you are wishing for the destruction of everything around the main character so she can take her (well deserved) revenge.
The one thing I found a bit difficult to get into was the romance scattered throughout, between Ayleth and Jacquetta. Much of their romance was built upon a history we were not there to see, so I found it hard to care or relate. That’s not to say that they didn’t have moments, and that I didn’t root for them to succeed against all costs - just that I find it hard to get into “established” romances in storytelling.
If you love villain origin stories, where you get to follow along with our main character as they fall deeper and deeper into a darkness they cannot escape from - until eventually they embrace this part of themselves - then this is the novel for you. Even “knowing the ending,” as it were, there were many twists and turns and I was never certain how our Ayleth became the Evil Queen we know until it finally happened.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Random House Ballantine/Del Rey for this arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Anne (eggcatsreads)
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