@37%: I feel like I'm missing some heavily implied things. Reviewers recommended reading The Covenant of Steel series first. I think I'll skedaddle to@37%: I feel like I'm missing some heavily implied things. Reviewers recommended reading The Covenant of Steel series first. I think I'll skedaddle to the bookstore to get my hands on The Pariah - fabulous excuse to buy a book I've been eyeing every time I browse my favorite bookstore!
Being mates/mated has been a focal point in every book where a changeling is one of the main characters. But RiaCan love be stronger than fated mates?
Being mates/mated has been a focal point in every book where a changeling is one of the main characters. But Riaz is devastated because he found his mate happily married to someone else. So between him and Adria, who is mentally and emotionally bruised, battered, and suffering from a previous relationship. Having these two broken changelings dealing with what was lost, what could and should have been is heartbreaking. It is glorious! Well, not all the pain and suffering, but how Riaz and Adria slowly find each other in spite of their pasts.
The overall plotline with Psy and Silence is crazy, so much is happening, and so many couples have been introduced that there are several changing POVs to really get around in Singh's intricate Psy-Changeling universe and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.
Throughout the previous books we get snapshots of Riley'a and Mercy's interactions so I was really looking forward to Branded by Fire. I think,3 stars
Throughout the previous books we get snapshots of Riley'a and Mercy's interactions so I was really looking forward to Branded by Fire. I think, I build it up in my head, too high for it to meet expectations. I think I got too invested in something that in the end didn't pan out.
I liked the background story better than I did the romance aspect. Compared to the previous books I didn't feel the chemistry here. The wolf shifter and leopard shifter had worked together for years, and all I really got out of this was sexual frustration finally boiling over. I skimmed sex scenes so often I felt like there was AT LEAST twice as many as usual.
Also, Mercy gave me so much whiplash I had to put the book down several times to get a breather.
If Riley and Mercy's hot'n'cold actions are put to the side, I really like how the Psy-Changeling world is progressing. It is by far my favorite part of the book! ...more
16th July 2025: I have been living under a rock! I only just found out this book is a rewrite of a Dramione fanfic. First of, I love fanfic but I'm sh16th July 2025: I have been living under a rock! I only just found out this book is a rewrite of a Dramione fanfic. First of, I love fanfic but I'm shipping another fandom, so I wasn't aware that Brigitte Knightley wrote in the Dramonie fandom. I don't as much mind that a fanfic author is getting published, since I've honestly read fanfic better than some published works, if the story is rewritten into an original story. My problem is that any new book is marketed in any connection with Harry Potter and J. K. Rowling. JKR is a major problem and menace to society, who is actively working on hurting and promoting hate towards transgender people. She should have kept her opinion to herself and lived off of royalties.
I wanted to make my opinion on this matter known, as I was unaware of any connection between this novel and JKR. I do not condone anything JKR does or stand for and had I not received this book as an ARC I would take my review down.
I would not have read this book if I knew it was even tangentially connected to she-who-I-will-not-name. She is already so deeply entrenched in our vernacular and culture that I don't feel the need to add more of it to my life. I feel hoodwinked so I'm joinking a star from my original rating.
25th May 2025: Omg this was hilarious! I was grinning through basically the entire book.
Osric Mordaunt, is an assassin of the Fyren Order, who is sick and is in desperate need of some superior healing. That is were Aurienne Fairhrim, a scientist of the Haelen Order comes in. The banter between these two characters was on point. They are diametrically opposites in every way and it's so masterfully done!
The magic system is interesting and an integral part of the story, since it's both the reason behind Osric's deterioration but also a way of life depending on a choice the characters take. So, Osric chose death (assassin) and Aurienne chose life (healer) and that cannot make them anything but enemies.
Osric and Aurienne ends up in the most ridiculous scenarios that forces them to help each other out, and it's so hilarious. So many pearls are clutched along the way.
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It's amazing how perception can change the enjoyment of a story. I haven't really read many comedy stories before, so I had a hard time getting into it, but I read it wrong so to speak. (Don't ask me why with a title like that.) I had to readjust my frame of mind before I got any enjoyment out of this work of art, but as soon as I changed my mind from reading it as a serious story to a comedy one it made my frown go upside down. And omg I'm so happy I did that instead of giving up because this books is a gem.
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4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Brigitte Knightley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review....more
Nalini Singh has created a world that stuck with me for decades. As soon as I opened the book I was fully emerged in the feeling of rereading a beloveNalini Singh has created a world that stuck with me for decades. As soon as I opened the book I was fully emerged in the feeling of rereading a beloved book and loved experiencing the story and characters all over again.
Also, I like this one better than the first one. Is it because the world is established and expanded upon, the widening of the magnitude of what DarkRiver changelings are facing, or the main couple? I don't know, but I love Faith and Vaughn
Short book to introduce the new baseline for this new series.
I have a general idea of where this is going after having consumed almost everything HeaShort book to introduce the new baseline for this new series.
I have a general idea of where this is going after having consumed almost everything Heather G Harris has written.
Contains:
✅ FMC who has low-level powers (seemingly) ✅ Smarter than average canine companion ✅ Violent/traumatizing past ✅ Job as private investigator ✅ Magical creatures
Oh my, that was so good! Robinson and McKenna are back and fighting against greater powers than them from every side!
In book 1 The Invisible CollegOh my, that was so good! Robinson and McKenna are back and fighting against greater powers than them from every side!
In book 1 The Invisible College McKenna and Robinson fight against the immortal enemy, the Aesir, head on, but in this book it's all about subterfuge. It's fighting dirty, it's testing ties, it's figuring out who to trust, all the while preparing for winter where the tangible enemy awakens with their plagues and frontal attacks. Even as a reader you are suspicious of everyone, since we learned in book 1 that a narrator can be unreliable.
Who do we trust as the reader? Who will gut us or stab us in the back in the next book?
Jeff Wheeler is an amazing storyteller to provoke these emotions and sense of paranoia.
And that cliffhanger? Oh dear....
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Thank you to NetGalley, Jeff Wheeler, and 47North for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
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Happy release day!
Oops, didn't read it in time [image]
RTC when I finish it! The available reviews are making me even more excited!...more
A picture says more than a thousand words and the front cover is pretty standard, a woman with flowing hair, a mystical glow, and a canine companion. A picture says more than a thousand words and the front cover is pretty standard, a woman with flowing hair, a mystical glow, and a canine companion. Yet, the story has a different twist to it than other stories with similar covers.
Enid sees ghosts and it's nothing but a pain for her. She tries her best to ignore them, because ghosts gossip when they find out she can see them, and they pester her and messing up her life. The only thing she can do is move far away and start over again, which is where the story begins.
Enid is working as a waitress and sleeping on her cousin, Lexi's, couch in quiet, ghost-free Peach Grove, Atlanta. Until Ollie shows up at her workplace. He tricks her into helping her, and from there the snowball starts rolling, dragging Enid into the dark underbelly of a seemingly regular small town.
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Bad Beginnings isn't the usual 300+ pages book and I like that! The author told the story without all the boring filler other books have a tendency to contain. It's a slow pace while going through the drudgery of everyday life, but the pace increases to match the severity of the situation Enid finds herself in.
I wasn't wow'ed by the story but I was entertained, and will likely read the next installment to see which shenanigans Enid, her dog, and Ollie get into next.
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley, Jen Bair, and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a review....more
The Dragonhart blurb dragged me in. I mean, I'm a sucker for books with dragons, especially dragon rider books. Who wouldn't want to have a companion The Dragonhart blurb dragged me in. I mean, I'm a sucker for books with dragons, especially dragon rider books. Who wouldn't want to have a companion that could breathe fire, fly you into the sky and take you where ever you want, and would know you like no one else could. That's pretty dope!
Arla Reinhart is our FMC, the King's Assassin, who is destined to be a dragon rider and I was so looking forward to read a new story, promised to be the newest most awesome book with the tropes we have been force-fed lately. Arla's past trauma is definitely a heavy one that influences her greatly, which is understandable, but it turned her into a one dimensional character. Everything is black and white to her, and while reading this my internal commentary was: "you need some intensive therapy, honey!" She's young enough that her brain isn't fully developed so I'm willing to give her some grace, despite my jaw ache from grinding my teeth.
She swung from this
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To this
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Which was quite eye roll worthy. But again, young adults are like that according to YA novels these days.
The tropes 'forced proximity', 'FMC seeking revenge', and 'enemies to lovers' I can stomach when they are done right, but they were a bit wishy-washy here but definitely crafted better than other books I've read lately.
The enemy in the enemies to lovers trope, Hark Stappen is a real enemy - ambassador for the country is the reason behind Arla being an orphan, the consequent trauma, and the need for revenge. "He is arrogant, but handsome" and by the color of his blood he is hated on principle (the invisible line decided by humans on a map determines the color of blood, apparently).
They want to kill each other so which makes them enemies in my opinion, unlike how "bully and victim" is portrayed as "enemies to lovers" nowadays. Why oh why is bullying being romanticising?! It's not sexy, it's traumatising! You can't change my mind on that! Sorry, pet peeve rant over...
The promised dragons showed up late in the book but the build-up was necessary, and since it's a series I will be enjoying my favourite fantasy creature (hopefully) from page one in book two!
There's nothing groundbreaking in this book, or nothing I haven't read before, but it was still a decent read. Dragonhart is a debut so hopefully the annoyances I had with this book will be smoothed out, and shades and dimensions will be added, as Abbie Eaton progresses in her career.
2.75 stars rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are my own
Fun fact: "Arla Foods" is a Danish-Swedish multinational co-operative, the fifth biggest dairy company in the world, and main producer of dairy products in Scandinavia. I could not get that fact out of my head! It was a bit distracting!
Okay, so this was a perfect take on dark academia. In every dark academia book I've read its a student MC, and they are super confident in their abiliOkay, so this was a perfect take on dark academia. In every dark academia book I've read its a student MC, and they are super confident in their abilities even though they have not finished their schooling. They survive by sheer luck or are saved by a teacher or some kind of experienced adult. In this book the FMC, Doctor Walden, is the undeniably best backup you could get. She has decades of experience behind her and the power to show for it. She loves being a teacher, making sure the academy itself doesn't slide into a demon realm, and saving students from themselves.
It's original, it's exciting, and the frustration I've felt from YA MCs having a teenage fueled response based on an inflated ego due to a superiority complex is nonexistent. It's such a relief to read about Doctor Walden who actually has the life experience and knowledge to deal with malevolent forces attempting to kill everyone and destroy everything.
I can't recommend this enough! I want to yell from the rooftop how much I love this book!
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I think I need to go through my ratings and round down my 4.5 ⭐ because this is standing out from my other 5 stars! I'd give this book 6 stars if it were possible.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the eArc in exchange for an honest review....more
Lily Yu is back, now bonded to the werewolf Rule and I'm here for the continuation!
I'm digging the show don't tell writing style, but this book had mLily Yu is back, now bonded to the werewolf Rule and I'm here for the continuation!
I'm digging the show don't tell writing style, but this book had major tell don't show. I mean, I would have loved to have experienced the big fight between some of our side characters against demons and dragons, not a simple 'oh we fought our way across a battlefield between so-and-so. What have you been doing?' ...more
Ever wondered what it's like to be a dragon? Well, this book takes you through the trappings of being a dragon, but with a twist. The entire book takeEver wondered what it's like to be a dragon? Well, this book takes you through the trappings of being a dragon, but with a twist. The entire book takes the piss out of the trope, through a Drunken Dragon's POV.
Being a dragons isn't what it seems, and this book gives a take on not judging a dragon by its scales, through Draco Mundani's POV. Though the story is full of satire and has a light-hearted approach to the life of an "ordinary dragon" (literally the Latin translation of our protagonist name), it has an undercurrent of how tough it actually is to be a magical creature, especially one as feared, admired, and hated as dragons.
Personally, I have always thought that being near immortal won't be all fun and games, because it leaves you with a long memory of all the terrible things that can happen in life over and over and over again. In this story the dragons have taken to alcohol to dull the emotions from a life of strife and misunderstandings, they otherwise don't know how to cope with.
I recommend this book to everyone who likes to read about dragons, to those who likes reading a a beloved trope turned on its head, and to those who likes stories that tackles heavy subjects (alcoholism) in an satirical fashion.
This book redefined my perception of dragons, and I'm going to go read more dragon stories with this book in mind!
4.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley, Tennin Books LLC, and George Morrison for the free copy in exchange for an honest review....more