This book is rough and earie to read because it was written in 1993 but some of the things it talks about at the start are so relevant to now and the This book is rough and earie to read because it was written in 1993 but some of the things it talks about at the start are so relevant to now and the book is set in 2024-2026. Like the missions to mars and wanting to colonize it and the rhetoric of the politicians and it just shows that history is just ever repeating itself. It makes you wonder if we as a human race ever going to get our shit together and break the cycle especially before all the bad shit really comes along. And coming it is I mean we are already seeing the start of the climate crises in today's weather with the floods in some areas and droughts in other areas and the breakdown in laws like environmental protection laws, protections for workers' rights, women's bodily autonomy and so much more.
A big theme in this book is about humans and how we react to things. Do we acknowledge what is happening and the natural progression of things and try to stop it, change it or prepare for it or do we stick our heads in the sand and think of the good old days and how they will be back eventually because it just has to. You see the difference in mindset when it comes to the older generation who experienced what I would call the before times who refuse to really see where they are and what is only going to be the natural progression. They do the bare minimum of preparing because they don't want to scare others so to avoid that they refuse to change and adapt and, in the end, they are left behind or killed for their inaction and lack of preparation. But it's not just the older generation but for the younger generation they didn't have the old days to look upon as a template as to what should be. They only know how the world is now and for some they will trade so much of what little freedoms they have to have someone else give them safety rather than doing the work themselves to try and keep themselves safe or to bring about change. Because change is inevitable and it is coming and those who truly see that with the way things are going that the change coming is not good and it is only by being prepared that they have a chance of surviving to fight another day. But that is not the only point this book is trying to make that change is inevitable and we must accept and be prepared and adapt to when it comes but that we must also do it as a community because we are stronger together than we are divided.
Really this book was just eerie with it touching on life crushing debt, what switching from public services to privatization look like, corporations becoming so powerful they effectively bring back a combination of company towns combined with flat out slavery/indentured slavery or provide essentials that only the rich can afford and so many other things that could come our way if we don't change. Again, some of these are things we are already seeing and are heading towards if people don't wake up and trying to change things before it's too late.
This is a book equal parts had me turning the pages but also putting it down to sit and think about what I just read to absorb it. I will say this book at times makes me feel bleak for our own future because I don't know if we will be able to change things or if we do if it will be too late. All I can do is hope and try to do prepare and bring about what changes I can to hopefully be for the better because as this book points out change is inevitable question for me is will it be good change or bad change.
This book is based in 2024 where Lauren lives in a world that has effectively descended into madness and anarchy due to the climate crises and rising ineffectiveness of the movement. Lauren and her family live in one of the few "safe neighborhoods" in LA due to the fact her neighborhood has walls. These walls allow them and their neighbors to try and salvage what is life of their civilization while everything around them falls to ruin due to disease, war, water shortages and drugs. Lauren's father a preacher is trying to help lead the community to stay on a righteous path in the midst of all the chaos around them. However, one night the chaos comes banging on their walls leading to the destruction of their community and Lauren is all alone in a world where danger and pain is all around her. That would be horrible for anyone but for Lauren she struggles with Hyperempathy a condition that makes her hypersensitive to the pain of others. Something that could put her in real danger in a world where everyone is suffering. With no ties left she and a few other refugees decide to make their way north. While they have to be careful of who they trust they still manage to find others to join their group along the way as there is safety in numbers. As they try to survive their journey north the idea of Earthseed which is an idea that has always been planted in Lauren's head starts to grow and with its growth could come a way that may mean salvation for all of mankind. ...more
I honestly wasn't sure going into this book if it was going to top what I felt after the first one and it did. I had to put down the book at times jusI honestly wasn't sure going into this book if it was going to top what I felt after the first one and it did. I had to put down the book at times just to absorb what I just read or to take a moment because my stomach was in knots over what I just read. I am once again struck by how history just rinses, recycles and repeats because some of the passages from the book remind me so much of what is going on now economically and politically especially with this administration and this book was written prior to his first term. Like within in the first couple pages, they were talking about how the presidential candidate Jarret was using the slogan Make America Great again and now I know this 2016 or 2024 are not the first times this slogan was used, and it's been used in the past before but that just proves my point about rinse, recycle and reuse. Also, the same feelings as to why people voted for Jarret in the book are why some people voted for this administration outside of misogyny for a female candidate. Honestly when I think of the future and what could happen this if we don't course correct this is what I think of what our future could be. But also, the reasons why in the end it was just a terrible time at least with the presidency in this book give me hope for our own situation we just have to keep pushing back and fighting because we are in a better spot as a country now to fight back. Heck there was even a war with Canada in this book and that just made me think of this 51st BS.
There are so many things that caught my attention because of the overlaps with what is going on today. For example the privatization of everything in this book which people are trying to do today or have you pay a subscription for and in this book you couldn't even get any news let alone accurate news unless you paid a subscription and they talk about missing free broadcast radio and how today they are trying to get rid of PBS and NPR. The reasoning is anything worth doing should be done for profit and should not be on the burden of the taxpayers but like so many things a society needs they shouldn't be done for profit and just for the betterment of a taken care of and educated society.
I think the most impactful part however was chapter 11 at the start of the Earthseed passage and how it talks about leaders. Don't know if I can post it here bc of copywrite but if you read the book, you know which passage I am talking about and if you haven't, I hope it resonates.
Honestly, there is so much I could talk about this book, but this is a review and not a dissertation, but I highly recommend this book/series.
This book continues the story of Lauren Olamina in the 2030s California where socially and economically the country is collapsing. She and her like-minded followers have built Acorn, a community that is slowly growing as they take in few members and built around her Earthseed movement so that they can prepare to survive this time and one day colonize the stars. But as everything continues to deteriorate within the country it responds by electing President Jarret whose America First and Make America Great rhetoric along with the Christian American church have given rise to fanatics and the Jarret Crusaders who are going after everyone the deem to be heretics or criminals and either burning them or enslaving them until they have been deemed to have been properly converted. And a small community built about a religion no one else has ever heard of and not their almighty God is why their community ends up being targeted by the Crusaders that has the older members collared and enslaved and all of their children taken away from them and to be sent to live with good Christian American families to be raised property. But in Earthseed, God is Change and change can be redirected so now Lauren must fight back to bring about change so that they can save themselves, their community and their future. ...more
I found this book to be really eye opening. It's one thing to know the police are militarized, policies that claim to be "color" blind are really usedI found this book to be really eye opening. It's one thing to know the police are militarized, policies that claim to be "color" blind are really used to target black and brown communities over the white communities and the economies built around these private prisons but to hear each policy and how it's used and the legal methods they have chipped away systematically at the protections put in place to fight this kind of abuse is just... I don't have words. Any word I come up with just doesn't seem enough to describe how I feel about it. I will say growing up I was told we must all be color blind but as I got older, I knew that in fact we need to see color and listen to and recognize people's stories because by being color blind we are ignoring their lived experience. But I was also someone who saw the election of Obama as the changing point that while America is/was a racist country that this turning point showed a shift in the culture and how now the real work could be done especially at a policy level to really progress things forward. I see now that was silly to say the least of me to believe because you can change policy, but you can't change people, and it has to on both ends usually at a grassroots level because policy is one thing but it is people who enforce that policy that if left unchanged will twist those policies in a way where they will have racists effects. Then the reason it has to be done on the grassroots level is that these major civil rights organizations are run by lawyers who sometimes rather than just fighting the fight will instead wait for the perfect case or client to really just appeal to white people so that they can then get on board with a moment and feel comfortable. But that is hard to do on so many levels because not only are people complicated and not perfect but with policies in place meant to target the youth that they will rarely be that perfect client so no progress is moved and with the chipping away of laws and protections to be used to prove racism now make it impossible to do so it will also be nearly impossible to have a perfect case. That is not to say we don't need the civil rights organizations/lawyers and policy changes, but it also needs to happen at a grassroots level to change the people as well as they are the ones enforcing those policies. It can seem overwhelming especially when you have whole local economies structured around private prisons that are very motivated around the current system and even want to expand it. It was just a very eye-opening book when you start to put everything together. ...more
Quick, Short and to the point with great tips on how to push back against tyranny. It gave me chills the examples he used to back up his points and itQuick, Short and to the point with great tips on how to push back against tyranny. It gave me chills the examples he used to back up his points and it's given me some ideas. I am buying a physical copy for myself (I listened to the audio book), buying a copy for my friends and heck I might send it to my politicians and push them to get off their butts and do something before it's too late which honestly it might be....more
This was an eye-opening book for me. Like many and like the book points out at the start I thought the women in the south at this time could not own pThis was an eye-opening book for me. Like many and like the book points out at the start I thought the women in the south at this time could not own property and were under their husbands' thumbs, so they had to real part in the buy/selling of enslaved people and had no real say over what happened to them. In a way infantizing them because they were just so helpless under this system and not only had no say but never truly saw the horrors of slavery because as women it wasn't their place in this society.
But as with a lot of things in life wealth means one set of rules for one set of people than it does for others because as this book goes to point out this actually may have been one of the few areas where women had control and power and could amass their own wealth without their husbands in fact this was one of the few areas where they could exert power over their husbands. What that could mean is that in the home the wives could tell their husbands to leave their enslaved people alone and to not have a part in their care or discipline. There are even records of different quarters for the husband's enslaved separate from the wives. And if there instances of where the husband did not listen and overstepped then the wife could actually take him to court to seek damages which I think is the part that boggled my mind the most. Because the courts would recognize the woman's authority over her "property" which would usually mean there was a contract but even in instances where there was no contract the courts would seek out means of verifying and ensuring that the wife's "property" rights were protected. One way this was done was the courts investigating which could mean talking to the enslaved person(s) in questions to see how it was communicated to them who their owner was. Courts who normally didn't recognize enslaved people's testimony because they didn't recognize them as people could be taken in these instances all to protect women's property. Other instances show where women were women's power and authority when it came to their enslaved was when there was a runaway enslaved person the reward posters or slave catchers usually listed or delt with the female owner as who to contact for information or the reward.
The book also points out that women were well aware of the horrors going on because it was happening in their homes, on the plantations and that they were in fact participating at times and their actions were sometimes just as bad if not worse than their husbands. So just because they were a woman didn't mean they were a softer owner. As well as we have to remember that slave traders were these women's husbands, fathers, brothers and other family members so they were more than aware of what went on at the auctions. Especially since some plantations held auctions at their own homes.
This book just pointed out so many instances to disprove that southern women were blind or powerless when it came to slavery but in fact this is one of the few areas where they were allowed power and control even over their husbands and the courts and other systems in place recognized that power and helped maintain it. It's probably why so many white women flourished and uphold the patriarchy because they their wealth isolated them their husbands having complete control over them. In my opinion I think this might be one of the reasons why white women even now are so comfortable with calling the police or going the court route when it comes to so many things because even at their most "powerless" times the courts and cops would protect them and see to their comfort especially when it comes to people of color. Just a very eyeing book. ...more
I really really loved this story. It is a comedy why choose romance with FAE characters and otherworldly creatures like the FMC who is a Cupid. This bI really really loved this story. It is a comedy why choose romance with FAE characters and otherworldly creatures like the FMC who is a Cupid. This book starts off with Emelle going after the Genfins Convoy that was taken from their banishment island to compete in the trails where they will be released from their banishment, or they will die in the trials. This means Emelle has to go to the High Fae court/Island where the prince is actively looking for her as she "attacked" him in the last book. She is found by the Princess who hates her husband the Prince. The princess promises to help Emelle get in contact with the Genfins as being separated from them is causing parts of her to disappear until she will fully disappear into the veil and all Emelle has to do is spy on the prince as the princess is part of the rebellion to overthrow the prince and his father the king. However, as parts of her are disappearing the princess assigns a trusted guard to watch over her so that they can monitor the situation. This guard Okot turns out to be her mate! He is such a sweet and kind character her. I really loved how sweet he was in comparison to the Genfins who weren't always the kindest welcoming bunch to her. Okot also comes to find out that she is to be mates with the Genfins and he respects that she loves them and will respect their bond and will not make her choose. He eventually gets her into see the Genfins briefly so that her disappearing parts come back, and she isn't in too much danger of returning to the veil. However, then the trails have to begin and the Genfins must survive this so that they can form a mating bond with Esmelle and be allowed to go free.
I really loved how sweet Okot was and how sweet, naive and funny Esmelle was in this book. This book had me smiling and laughing out loud while reading it. Especially, how Esmelle is forced to communicate at one point with lust breath and flirt touches with the Genfins as she has crossed into the veil and is stuck.
There were also several side characters who I enjoyed while reading and their interactions with the main characters. There is spice in this book especially during the separate mating ceremonies and it was really well done. There is also a good plot in this book with battles from the trials and the obstacles everyone has to overcome. Like I said it was a sweet, funny and spicy story with a good plot to help the story move along. I am excited to see how the next one in the series goes. ...more
This a novella for the heart hassle series which takes place a few years after the battle where the rebellion won against the evil prince. They now haThis a novella for the heart hassle series which takes place a few years after the battle where the rebellion won against the evil prince. They now have a winged genfin daughter who is 2 years old, and she is currently pregnant about to have another baby. She is just living life with her mates who seem to have adjusted to life after the war to family life. That is except Ohkat who sometimes has flashbacks and regrets what he did to Emelle when he was under the prince's control. Emelle is still head of cupids and has adjusted to her roll and the more responsibilities though lately they have been made more difficult as her assistant Lex hasn't recovered from the loss of the horned hook. This means that more duties are falling on Emelle like training the reject cupids. It is during this training that Emelle has to prepare for a dinner with her in-laws one of who really dislikes her and accuses her of using her cupid powers to trick her son. But Emelle is trying to work her charm to win her over. The rest of the book has Emelle helping out the Genfin community with the help of her cupid rejects and she goes into labor which has more than a few surprises. This book as all the others is a fun read with great spice. One thing I appreciated is due to limitations within the stories of the last books we never got a spicy moment with all the mates and this book has that. I enjoyed reading about all the old and new characters and would 100% recommend the series. ...more
This is a 4.75 rounded up. Going in I always knew the bible had been altered to fit the narratives, motives and times of the writers. So, listening to This is a 4.75 rounded up. Going in I always knew the bible had been altered to fit the narratives, motives and times of the writers. So, listening to this book and the clues and actual facts of the state of things of when these stories happened as opposed to when they were written was very interesting especially when you string all of them together and start to see the picture form. I think the chapter I liked most was chapter 7 because I am not the most familiar with the Old Testament as I am with the New Testament, so this chapter was easier for me to grasp because the base knowledge was there. Plus, like so many other people in my generation it was the Brown's DaVinci Code that started us down the path of questioning the church and its teachings. Overall, it was interesting book, and I enjoyed listening to it and seeing all the clues laid out. ...more
This was such a good book to read! I love ND Jones writing styles and the stories she creates. This is the 2nd book of hers that I have read, and I waThis was such a good book to read! I love ND Jones writing styles and the stories she creates. This is the 2nd book of hers that I have read, and I was not disappointed at all. Along with an amazing world and characters she built you could really see and understand the underlying message in the book which was about fear and what people do when they are scared. Everyone in this book was scared. Witches were scared of the men/werewolves but not just adults but their own sons even and the harm they could do to the witches because they crave the taste of a witch's blood & magic. Men/werewolves were scared of the harm they could do their mothers, wives and daughters if they were to ever lose control and how some to keep their families safe would be forced to leave ether for periods of time or permanently. And it is because of that fear that you see people clutch to these systems that are put in place to yes protect some of the population but at the same time to oppress another part and any attempt to progress is an attack and must be dealt with and for some characters that even meant treason. For other characters even though they were scared they saw how they benefited from these systems and that there just has to be a better way, and they have to change things so EVERYONE is safe and treated equally but how fast can they bring about that change and how slow can they go for some peoples comfort before it just means standing still and doing nothing. Unfortunately, this sentiment isn't new in the world and is still relevant in this day and age, but it was still an important point to drive home wrapped in an amazing story, world and characters.
This is set up in a flashback sort of setting which I don't always enjoy but it made sense for this book, and it only happened at the start where we get this big event and then the story starts years in the past and how we got to that point and then finishes out the story. It made sense and I enjoyed it and I shed a few tears at the end of the book with the ending.
Recommend this book 100%.
This book is about Oriana Matriarch of Steelcross and a Crimson Hunter. She lives in a society made up of witches, werewolves and humans. But there is a problem with her society following the War of Eternal Hunger where witches were able to reclaim their freedom from under the rule of the patriarch of werewolves. But things have swayed in the other direction in where their society is now a Matriarchal one where witches are at the top and restrictions are placed on werewolves for the safety of all. Restrictions such as rage disrupter collars to help keep their anger in control because if a werewolf were to lose control the witches closest to him would be in danger as werewolves crave the taste of a witch's magic and blood. What are these two parts of society that need one another supposed to do when one side fights the temptation to hurt you, and another side has built cities and armed themselves with weapons targeting werewolves. Now Oriana is a young Matriarch that wants to do something to make society equal for everyone and not just benefit some. With her mate Marrok from the Clan of the Black Moon werewolf at her side to help her they will look to the past as they try to bring about a more equitable future for all. But there are those who are plotting against them due to fear of what that future might hold for witches. Will the future look bright for all or are they naive in their hope?...more
This was a rough listen. I have two boys and one of my biggest fears is them ending up on the far right, red pill or incel culture so I thought listenThis was a rough listen. I have two boys and one of my biggest fears is them ending up on the far right, red pill or incel culture so I thought listening to this would give me some insight as to what I could do. I admit even though I know about MR, incels, toxic masculinity, rise in YT supremacy/YT Nationalism in politics I honestly never really thought to connect all of them. I mean I knew they were connected by a base of core values but thought of them as separate entities. But listening to this connected all the scary dots.
Listening to it definitely brought on a hopelessness bc how do we counter this when we have yet to tackle the patriarchy and still cater to the feelings of YT men mostly without calling things what they really are. Like when a crime happens where obviously the targets were women because they were women the media and everyone will call it anything but what it is like misogyny, hate crime against women even terrorism because those usually doing the crime are YT men.
How politicians and the media and social media give legitimacy to these groups because everything is based on algorithms, click or rage bate because it causes engagement which will drive up revenue or fundraising all because in the end we live in a capitalistic culture and bend the knee to the almighty dollar.
How equality can feel like persecution when you have been at the top of the food chain and rather than evolve and grow you blame those around you trying to make for a more equitable system even as under that current system while you may flourish in some ways trying to uphold those toxic systems hurt the men in the process as well but at least they are at the top so who cares.
This book is a hard listen, but it is worth a listen. What it showed me was that we need to keep working on dismantling the patriarchy and centering men as well as tackling our capitalistic culture and instead focus on people. And how we can't assume the more progressive generations are going to automatically lead the younger generations along with them but instead we need to be constantly talking and working with both our sons and daughters and working as hard as these algorithms to prevent our kids from falling down this toxic rabbit hole. It will take hard work, but it is necessary work. ...more
OMG I loved this book. I loved book 1 because it was all about feminine rage and fighting the system that oppressed you and then you have book 2 whichOMG I loved this book. I loved book 1 because it was all about feminine rage and fighting the system that oppressed you and then you have book 2 which is about what happens next after you have taken down those at the top of that government. What do you do next??? For people who need a comparison instead of Katniss in hunger games sitting on a hill enjoying her peace what if she now has to lead the government and change everything. A poor girl with limited education who has been oppressed for so long even by those closest to her who really never thought passed keeping herself and those she loved safe. That is this book and then you throw in a man who you must share power with who is a legend in her time but for him has awaken to a future that is worse than when he left it, and he is now determined to change it by any means necessary. So still, she is under the thumb of some man because society is still not ready to listen to a woman and she is admittedly doesn't have the tools to lead the revolution herself. So, for now she must prove that she is more valuable to have at his side while learning all that she can and plotting for the future and how she can take back control.
I really like this book because I love political intrigue/machinations, and this was dripping in it. With betrayals, plotting and making you question what the proper way is to lead a revolution. For some small changes to allow for those to adjust are the best way but the question becomes how slow is too slow where essentially you are standing still because for some any change is too fast because they don't want it to change. But then there are those who essentially say burn it to the ground and rebuild it and while their goals and ideals might be what you believe sometimes the manner by which they go by is no better or even worse than those who were in charge prior. Like when it came to Qin Zheng policies a lot, I would agree with but then he would do something, and I was oh nooo not that because it would be the signs of an oppressive dictator. So again, this book brings about the question what the right way is to bring about and maintain a revolution as you fight against these oppressive systems that are so ingrained that people don't even realize they are being oppressed from the top to benefit the top. Then there becomes the question in this book who the true oppressors are because of what was revealed at the end of the book 1. So, can you truly fix an oppressive system within an oppressive system and who should you target.
This ends on a cliffhanger which I was a little surprised by as I thought this was a duology, but I am actually happy about that because I need more of those worlds in my life and I can't wait for the next book. I will also admit there were a couple passages where the writing wasn't as smooth as I would like but I was so lost in this world that it didn't fully take me out of what I was reading and enjoying. I did however have to stop at certain points to absorb what I was reading so it took me a little longer to get through it, but I don't mind because that means I am absorbing and processing something I am really enjoying.
So, this book is about Zetain finding herself in control of her government after she took down the sages that were plotting to kill her as she had become too much of a liability. But with the revelations about the "gods" still fresh in her mind she is shaken to say the least. So, for now she has decided to share power with Qin Zheng a legend of an emperor in her time but who is now back to right the country that he sees as being worse off from when he left. So together they must deconstruct this system built on corruption, misogyny and the exploitation of those for the gain of others. But as they work to change this system there are those who will target them to maintain it. But as they worry about those threats, they must also keep in mind the "gods" who have their own plans and ideas for the Zetain, Zheng and their country and if they step out of line, they or their remaining loved ones will pay the price for it. ...more
This was an eye opener for me as I learned more about how white women center themselves usually taking over movements from women of color usually blacThis was an eye opener for me as I learned more about how white women center themselves usually taking over movements from women of color usually black women and usually end up leaving women of color behind or changing the movement to suit their needs as they are not willing to do the hard work. The hard work of not upholding patriarchy and white supremacy as they have not identified their internal misogyny and racism. It also showed how western ideals of civility when imposed on other cultures without understanding those cultures and their needs and even the reasons for why things are done do more harm than good and it is usually rooted not in progress for the women and their needs but instead in furthering colonial imperialism especially capitalism.
I think for many who are starting their journey in deconstructing all their internal issues are going to be made uncomfortable and I think that is a good thing. By staying comfortable and avoiding discomfort we are only maintaining the systems and we will never achieve real change in ourselves and our society as well. We also have to recognize that as White women we have to stop centering ourselves and listen to those whose experiences are different than ours and by listening and asking how they would like to see things changed do our best to bring about that change. Because by centering ourselves and doing things that make us comfortable those changes usually will only benefit us and other white women leaving women of color behind as usual....more
This is a 4.75 for me rounded up. I really really enjoyed this book. I don't know what it is about Jasmine's writings, but I just zoom through them anThis is a 4.75 for me rounded up. I really really enjoyed this book. I don't know what it is about Jasmine's writings, but I just zoom through them and can usually finish them in a day if I start them early enough. Her books are just such fun page turners that it's so easy to get lost in them. One thing you know when you are reading a Jasmine Mas book is that there will be sarcasm, banter and self-deprecating humor and all of which I love. So many of the lines and situations had me giggling like whenever Sadie tries to run and acts like it is torture because same, I hate running. I would say this is more bully than enemies to lovers though they certainly don't like one another or at least they like to think they don't, but all the MCs are drawn to one another in a way that shows they are just fighting their feelings so there is a lot of tension build up to go along with this being a slow burn. But anyone who doesn't love slow burns I would totally recommend this one because I think you will enjoy it because again the way Jasmine writes its doesn't feel like a long, drawn-out ordeal but rather it just fits best with the story and what is going on. Now this was actually a reread for me as I read this when it was indie published and I had just as much fun reading it now as I did then. Which shows me that this book and author are well on their way to being not just an auto buy author for me (which they already are) to also being one of my comfort authors/books. Now for the characters you first have Sadie who has been abused her whole life, and you can see it not only on her body from the scars but also in the way her mind works. All she really thinks about was surviving and taking care of her sister and that was before her ALPHA designation revealed itself so rather than just trying to survive her abusive situation, she now has to survive literal monsters that she is expected to fight. While her alpha form is very powerful and up for the task her regular self.... let's just say it needs work, a lot of it. But thankfully she has the 3 MCs there to help and support her... sort of. I really enjoyed the MCs who are not only fighting their feelings for her but also 2 of the men are together as well. I loved all three for different reasons, but my favorite is as always, the more psychotic of the men which is Cobra who is also the shiniest and I also love shiny things. I am so excited to reread this series and fall back in love with these characters and even though I know what happens next, I am again excited to read the next book as this one leaves on a great cliff hanger.
This book is about Sadie who is an indentured servant just trying to survive as best as she can. She is abused by the man (Dick) who took her in and has been since she was a child. She is just trying to survive the next two years when her adopted sister will finally be home from school, and they can run away together. But one night during a violent confrontation with Dick another man breaks in and takes her to the mystical lake. This lake is used for testing people when they come of age to see if they are an Alpha, Beta, Omega or a Null. It is when this stranger test her blood in the lake that it is revealed that Sadie is an ALPHA! And not just any alpha but she is the first female alpha ever recorded. But that little fact doesn't save her from what happens next. Because alphas are immediately consigned to fight against the monsters that comes through the portals because alpha's have the special ability to shapeshift into powerful monsters capable of fighting back. With these results she is dumped at bootcamp where she comes under the care of the three other alphas that are in charge on this facility. These alphas are not just her trainers but her roommates as well and they are not what you would expect. As they as one is covered in tattoos, the other literally has jeweled skin and the other one has HORNS! But the one thing they have in common is that they are super powerful and super arrogant and they don't think she belongs because not only can she not fight but she also can't shift yet so she should just get out of the way and leave. But she is about to prove them wrong and when they hear her roar, she is going to make them eat their words.
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review....more
I loved the book and gave it a 4.75 but now having listened to the audio book took it to a 5 for me. All the things I loved about the physical copy weI loved the book and gave it a 4.75 but now having listened to the audio book took it to a 5 for me. All the things I loved about the physical copy were just amplified now that they were being described by voice actors. The humor and banter just hit so much harder when there is a real person delivering them and the scenes really came alive. This book has 4 narrators! And they each did an amazing job, but I have to say my favorite actor is the one who did Cobra's voice (sorry I don't know which actor it was) but he just seemed to embody Cobra, and I hope with the next book if they do another audiobook, they bring him back bc he gave me chills. I loved this as a physical, but the audio was just the cherry on top.
I received this as an ALC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The hype is real and if you love dragons this book is for you. I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I finished it in 3 days (I have kThe hype is real and if you love dragons this book is for you. I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I finished it in 3 days (I have kids and responsibilities otherwise I would have finished it sooner. silly kids). I really enjoyed that the FMC has a hidden disability/illness that should disqualify her or prevent her from joining this dragon rider academy, but she is voluntold by her general mother to join. Even with her disabilities and limitations she works hard to not only overcome them but find clever ways to survive her "studies".
One of the main male character Dain who is supposed to be her friend really annoyed me because he was constantly "doubting her" and "worrying" about her and trying to "protect" her but in so many ways that just made her doubt herself when he should have helped her and encouraged her. One of my favorite tropes are villains who would burn down the world for his queen while the hero would sacrifice the girl for the world/rules and Dain is very much sacrifice the girl a point which is drive home at the end which was defiantly an OH SHIT moment for me and there were actually a few in this book which I don't often get as an avid reader these days.
Now the other MMC Xaden whose father led the rebellion and was put to death by Violet's mother is made to be the bully in the book especially because of the connection between the two with the death of his father by her mother but also the death of her brother at the hands of his father. As you go on reading you the book you see his attempts as really him believing in her and pushing her to so that she can survive. It's funny that her best friend doesn't believe in her but her "bully" does and is also there to not just encourage and push her but also protect her when he can by bending the rules as much as he can to protect her.
I would say this book is not a true enemy to lover or even really a bully to lovers. I would say that this is a school that is broken up into 4 schools and while they mention them 2 of the 4 schools are barely mentioned with a skim mention of the Scribes school as this is where violet originally intended to go. The world of this book is mostly centered around this college, so the world building is not that extensive. I do hope there is more exploration and explanation into these areas in the next book which I am really excited to read especially with the Suprise at the end which I knew something was coming but I personally didn't see that coming. ...more
This is not a morally grey MMC CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS The MMC is a morally black serial un@liver and is not one who does it with some moral code like takiThis is not a morally grey MMC CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS The MMC is a morally black serial un@liver and is not one who does it with some moral code like taking down bad guys who escape the system or what not. He chooses whoever he wants mostly women to un@live and does unspeakable things to them. I just want to make sure anyone who reads this understands this is not a book for the faint of heart and the author also stresses to check the trigger warnings in her book and on her website.
Now that we have that out of the way I loved this book. It was so dark and twisted that it really will test your personal morals when reading it. I loved how even though Cain didn't feel emotions the way most people do his obsession and observations of Kirby lead him to know more about her than any person in her life. Heck, I think we all hope the people in our lives took the same time and care to get know us as well as he knew her. I will also say even at the start when he wasn't sure if he was going to let her l!ve he was in some ways gentle and sweet with her and wanting her to be as well as to be expected. At least when you consider what he does to other people who he un@lives. I really enjoyed reading him grow and change or at least as much as someone like him can change.
I love Kirby who is really just a girl stuck. She is being controlled by her mother who is a snake of a b!tch and she wants to break up with her jerk of a BF but doesn't because she just feels stuck and would rather stick with the evil, she knows than deal with what else is out there. That is until Cain steps into her life and takes her away from everything into his "care" by holding her c@ptive in his basement. After some time with Cain and seeing how much he cares for her and how much time he has taken to get to know her and wants to bring out the buried feelings and thoughts she starts to change herself. Let me be clear Cain doesn't hide who he is or his proclivities from her. He is honest and upfront about who and what he does. But the obsession and care for Kirby is next level and something she has never experienced before and is coming to find that she really likes the way he makes her feel.
This book is really about the villain becoming obsessed with his queen and I pity anyone who tries to get between him and his queen because he will take care of them permanently. I am excited to read the next book which is about his twin brother.
This book is about Cain and Able (twins) who were not born "right". They are different sides of the same coin. They are both serial un@alivers but Cain is cool and methodical while Able is erratic and derange. Cain has an obsession with eyes and likes to collect them. One night he is driving along a road when he is able to catch a glimpse of the eyes of a passenger in another car. Beautiful, rare purple eyes that have him captivated and he will do anything to add them to his collection. Kirby is stuck in a life she doesn't want to go to school at Quantico to become an FBI investigator to please her mother as well as dating a man she can barely stand. As she settles into school, she starts to feel like someone is watching and following her but that is crazy because who would follow an FBI trainee. Well one night after a series of events she ends up on the side of the road and ends up being rescued by a tow truck driver. Or so she thought.... because getting in that car will forever change her life...if she survives that is.
I loved this book and could not put it down and I can't wait to read the next book. ...more
This was a super powerful book meant to look through the eyes and experiences of a girl/people who have been invaded and are on the brink of an all-ouThis was a super powerful book meant to look through the eyes and experiences of a girl/people who have been invaded and are on the brink of an all-out war that could finish the job for her people. She is of a race of Magic wielders while the Romans who invaded are ruled by science. When the invasion came through the portal the war didn't last years, months, weeks or even days; it was all done in one day. With that kind of power, it just feels like it is only a matter of time before they finish the job. What would you do to protect your family, so they are safe and to put food in their belly. What choices would you make and what lies would you tell yourself and believe in order to live with your choices. What good are you willing to "see" or believe in order to trust in your enemy when he claims he wants to help your people. What would you do to prolong the illusion of peace against those who could wipe you out in a blink of an eye. And what would you do when you are finally forced to confront the truth of the situation and the choices you made?
One of the promotional tropes of this book is that everyone is morally grey, and I think that is so true with this book. In this book everyone is trying to make the best choices they can for the people they care about and have to live with the bad choices they make but that they think will help their people in the end.
I just found this to be a powerful book to read from the eyes of someone who has been invaded and what impossible choices they would make, and it left me to wonder what choices I would make in the same situation.
Was the writing style and everything perfect; no but the effect it left on me really made an impact.
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more
OMG I loved this book!!! Not only am I giving it 5 Stars but I honestly think this is top 5 books I have read this year. I loved it so much. This bookOMG I loved this book!!! Not only am I giving it 5 Stars but I honestly think this is top 5 books I have read this year. I loved it so much. This book was a big one but it was done so well with each character so well thought out with their backstories and all the characters having some growth or development in the book as well. Some smaller than others but every character grew in this story that added to the story. Sometimes with some books as big as this one there can be parts that you wonder why they are in the book as they add nothing to the book other than to add to the page count. This DID NOT HAPPEN with this book. Everything in this book was well written and mattered to the story line. There was no dead spot. I loved all the mates each for different reasons though I think Fenmire is my favorite though Wexton is a close second. This book also had so many well-done representations with the LGBTQIA+ community with a Non Binary/Gender Fluid Main Character and other supporting characters as well. There was also disability representation and mental health issues all that were done well and didn't seem to be done to check a box. This book was spicy and heartwarming and even made me shed a few tears.
What the book is about is Eve/Evan/Evangeline is a the Non Binary/GenderFluid MC who is struggling in their villiage to live their authentic self. The only ones who support them is their dad and their best friend will who has secrets of their own. However, the pastor's son has set his eye on Evangeline (the only way Elias will acknowledge them) and thinks they can make them into a proper wife and maybe allow concessions in private. However, eventually E turns them down and in retaliation Elias leads a band of townsfolk to make them part of the monthly offerings given to the beasts that hide in the woods who are to be appeased so they don't attack the village. However, it is among the beasts that E finds themselves and finds their true purpose. ...more
Minor spoilers OMG I loved this book!! It was originally going to be 4.5 stars for me because it was a great book but then the last couple chapters hadMinor spoilers OMG I loved this book!! It was originally going to be 4.5 stars for me because it was a great book but then the last couple chapters had my heart pounding!! This book starts off with the Empress of the kingdom on the run with her youngest child as they are being hunted and her children are being un alive. 5 of her older children have already fallen victim to this fate and she is doing everything to save her youngest. However, She and her child are able to survive this horrible night. We then skip forward in time to 2 of the FMC's Iliana and Selene who are powerful mages in their own right Iliana a metal mage and Selene a poison mage. However, in their kingdom the top of the Foodchain when it comes to mages are those with elemental magic and this is why Selene and Iliana were castaway not just because they were illegitimate but also because they were not elementals. But casting them out was not enough for their noble fathers they also tried to get rid of them permanently. That is until they send bounty hunters finally catch up with them and instead take them hostage to their fathers. The reason being is that the prince now older and basically in charge of ruling the kingdom has decided to host the bride show which is essentially all the noble women brought before to meet the prince and other nobles in hopes of making a match. However, the reason has brought back this old tradition when he is trying to move the country forward is that he suspects some of his top nobles of being traitors to the crown and may have performed an illegal and corrupted ritual to steal magic most likely from their daughters hence why he wants to see who of the daughters may have had the ritual performed on them. Which is why Selena and Iliana were captured and taken to their fathers. To impersonate their half-sisters who are "unable" to appear at court. However, it is under threat of their fathers of great harm to them or others if they do not present themselves at court and take attention off their other sisters who are "different". So, off these women go to court to try and survive the task their fathers have given them and also survive being at court.
This book was for me the perfect blend of fantasy, palace intrigue, magic systems and romance. I will say it is light on the spice, but I did not notice as there was so much chemistry between the main characters. This book is multiple POV which usually I don't like as it gets confusing, but I didn't notice and didn't feel confused about the switching of perspectives. Infact, I enjoyed seeing some of the side character's POVs. I loved Selena who is a trickster poison mage which was such a fun play on the grumpy/sunshine trope with her MMC being a very serious gentleman. This was a very enjoyable fantasy read that made me smile and had my heart pounding at times wondering what was going to happen next. TOTALLY RECCOMEND AND CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ONE!...more
Minor Spoiler So, for most of this book it was a 4 for me I liked the characters and the plot and the story line. But omg the end of the book really tMinor Spoiler So, for most of this book it was a 4 for me I liked the characters and the plot and the story line. But omg the end of the book really took it to a 5 for me because that is when all the feels really really came out for the characters. As I said I loved the characters the Main characters Lucy a human who has lived through a lot of tragedy in her life having been made a widow and having suffered a miscarriage that certainly left its mark on her and Sebastian who is a half angel/half demon who should not exist and his guardians Esther and Bravas who were just as loveable and such enjoyable characters that I didn't really consider them side characters. You really feel the found family vibe in this book and it was so sweet because Lucy and Seb are broken in their own ways. As I said the last part of the book was when all the feelings came together for me when Lucy was kidnapped and tortured. It forced Sebastian to confront his feelings and his nature so that he could work towards getting her back and helping her to feel safe once he found her to help her heal. I can't wait to read the next book and see what happens next in this world. The book is about Lucy who is a therapist who has suffered lots of tragic losses in her life. One night after hearing a mysterious voice in her house and she runs screaming into the night and eventually ends up in the hands of the Guardian elite which is a secret organization of paranormal that slays demons which is what chased her out of her home that night. Well, that demon was so powerful they had to call in their most powerful agent who also help start the organization, Sebastian. Against his better judgement he takes her home to keep her safe while they try to get rid of her demon problem. While he tries to keep her at arm's length, he is not only fighting his attraction for her but also his dual selves (angel & demon) are fighting him as well for their piece of her. All he can hope if that he is able to fight this attraction for her while also fighting her demon problem before it can hurt her. How long will he resist? Will He beat this powerful demon? Read to find out. You won't regret it....more