First Tate James book, and it didn't disappoint. I think I would've liked it even more on audio, but reading it myself was also nice.
The secret societFirst Tate James book, and it didn't disappoint. I think I would've liked it even more on audio, but reading it myself was also nice.
The secret society aspect was the most interesting, especially with those developments at the end...what's really going on??? I need to know.
I have a theory about that whole thing, could it be (view spoiler)[Mr Fox? Because yeah he's a psychologist, but who says he's not a hypnotherapist as well (hide spoiler)]? Food for thought.
Then again, what if it's (view spoiler)[Abigail who isn't even dead, and she's controlling them behind the scenes to get her revenge (hide spoiler)]?
I may or may not have a favourite, and it's Carter. I thought it'd be Heath based on his introduction, but we never got THAT Heath back, he was really tame the rest of the book which is fine, but it felt like a character switch.
Then Royce who's really funny when he wants to be, then Heath and then Nate at the very bottom, just because he started the whole smear campaign against Ashley.
Ashley did okay as a main character, though personally I think she should've (view spoiler)[left the society as soon as the gala was finished, because she had the option to, according to the elders (hide spoiler)].
But yeah I had fun, and I'm glad I don't have to wait for book two after that cliffhanger.
That ending rocked my world, it was something I was hoping would happen, but even when I was expecting it, I still ended up being surprised at how it That ending rocked my world, it was something I was hoping would happen, but even when I was expecting it, I still ended up being surprised at how it came about (thanks to that bonus content).
If I could be a fly on the wall (or better yet, Merri) right now...
Anyway, there are a few things I'd like to focus on, first and foremost, PUFFINS!!! That was the cutest thing everrrrr, now I need them to appear outside of a dream sequence, and for Asher to adopt one. I'm not asking for much, I swear. And the Operation Puffin scenes were brilliant, as always. PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE IT, I NEED MORE TRANSMISSIONS LIKE I NEED AIR!!!
This leads me to the biggest crossover so far, with pretty much everybody from the past series meeting face to face. My life? Made.
What makes it even better is that we got to see my favourite book man, Nord, in there too. I missed him and Lina so much. That quote at the start about him being so hot he could melt the polar ice caps had me hollering. It's so true.
Next up Malice, who finally got his time to shine, and Grim, who delivered well beyond my wildest dreams. Horseman favorites list: secured. The hottest scenes in the book were theirs, hands down.
All four of them got a lot of relationship development, getting to an interesting (and logical) point, until one of them decided to open his big mouth...
I'm not that mad though!! Solely because of where the book ended, in any other timeline I'd be extremely upset. Like, you guys didn't see the signs? Not one of you? It took Merri pointing it out for y'all to put your thinking caps on? My word.
No wonder Luc is my fav, that man knows how to PLAN. I admire his commitment to fulfilling his destiny, honestly. I wish he had even more chapters. Mayhaps we'll get some more in book four, it would be the perfect time.
One character I also wish we got more of, is Andi. It makes sense why we didn't see her for most of the book, but I'm gonna need Merri to make things right between them STAT. If there's one thing she needs in her life right now, it's a ride-or-die best friend.
But yeah, I have never wanted to throw a bag of marbles on the floor and watch certain characters scramble as much as I have in that scene where Death said what he said. AND, he'd have to pick up all the marbles afterwards, that would teach him. Hmph.
The wait between books 2 and 3 was gonna end me, I was suffering. Please don't make us wait that long for book 4!!! Especially with that juicy cliffhanger you left us on, okay? Okay.
As for you, reading this review, don't ask any questions, just go get all the audiobooks and come back here when you're done. You haven't listened to a better cast in your life, they'll make the story feel so alive. Go do it now!!!
*Thank you to the authors for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
What do you mean I finished this book feeling bad for a certain villainous side character?? She better not be who I think she is or I'm gonna have to What do you mean I finished this book feeling bad for a certain villainous side character?? She better not be who I think she is or I'm gonna have to eat these words...
I honestly didn't think the girls would warm up to each other at all, I was expecting this series to end with Quinn riding off into the sunset with her guys while the other maidens are stewing off in the distance, but you know what...maybe it's okay if it ends with them being friends. Or maybe that particular evildoer is incapable of that, we'll see.
As for who I think she is...that final chapter we got? I could be wrong, but it's giving her. Alternatively another maiden with a grudge against Quinn. But somehow more the first one? Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing how that's gonna develop.
In The Diamond's Consort we finally got some nuggets of information, about the Court itself and about Kingston and Landon's past, as well as a teeny tiny bit about Max's. Silly me, I thought we'd get all the answers at once.
Kingston sure knew how to tease the information drop, right when Quinn (and I) thought he was going to share something, he'd be like "I'll tell you soon". Kingston baby, the time for soon has passed, soon is NOW!!
While we're at Kingston, this was definitely HIS book, he got so much more page time, and it wasn't all about him being nice and kind and holding back. We got to see a lot more than kisses, and more of his love for Landon too.
There was even a lil moment between Landon and Max, but I don't think that'll develop at the same speed.
The stuff we learned about Landon made me want to give him a hug. Honestly, everyone in this series deserves one.
Max is still my undisputed fav, but I love how Quinn is balancing all three of them, giving them an equal amount of attention, making sure they're all included and don't feel forgotten.
Though, Max can be frustrating at times too, he was finally opening up and then something happened and he's back to sour wolf mode. Boo.
My favourite thing about him is his protectiveness of Quinn, all three of them are, but I just feel like he's on a completely different level. Like, he can do things the other two can't (not their fault), which makes me love him even more.
There was a scene where one of the three is revealed to have a motorcycle, and it's not who you'd expect. So I would like to start a petition to get *ALL* of them motorbikes, for the aesthetic or otherwise, please and thank you.
It actually reminded me of Knightriders, the 1981 movie, I was fully expecting them to hold a jousting tournament on bikes at some point. It's not too late to write that in Elle!!!
I loved the challenges this time around, particularly the clue solving one, that's something I'd love to do myself. It was funny seeing SOMEONE failing, and badly at that.
You can tell the ending was a cliffhanger, Parker has me so scared about what's going to happen to Quinn, so I NEED book four to come out this year. I mean, I need it tomorrow, but I'll settle for this year instead of next. I love this story.
4.5
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
HELLO NEW VAMPIRE BOOK JUST DROPPED!!! But more importantly, the heroine is tall, we cheer!! (It's me, I'm cheering)
From the get go, I had trouble putHELLO NEW VAMPIRE BOOK JUST DROPPED!!! But more importantly, the heroine is tall, we cheer!! (It's me, I'm cheering)
From the get go, I had trouble putting this book down, it's very easy to read and you just want to find out what happens next.
Stephania starts off chronicling her life, and it does go into some dark places, but I wouldn't say this is darker than some of KC's other series.
As a revenge trope connoisseur, I got FED. Almost everyone who has ever wronged Stephania, or one of her friends, met their end. As they should!! Although, I was kinda hoping a certain character would get a redemption arc instead. They were actually my favourite - my problematic fav, if you will.
The sections where Stephania was growing up and training to become a lean, mean, muscle machine were my absolute faves. Lukain may or may not have had something to do with that. If I said he was my second fav...
The book slows down a lil when some stuff goes down and Stephania ends up in the hands of someone she didn't expect. I didn't expect that either, truth be told.
From that point on, we have three main love interests, and yes, I already picked favourites, Garro is in first place. It's really only because he and Stephania had some history I thought was cute. Then Skar, and then Vallen.
But the focus isn't on the romance, they basically come together (haha) and then it's all plot plot plot for the rest of the book.
My spidey sense alerted me that (REDACTED) wasn't truly gone, so when they popped up again I was like "AHA, I KNEW IT". But then I didn't see some of the other twists, like the one that starts with J. Now I feel like I need to go back and check if anyone was looking at x character funny because of that.
Which brings me to the ending, did I think the "painting" would come in to play? Absolutely not. So that was another thing that surprised me.
I really wanna see where the whole Loreblood thing goes from here, it's such an interesting concept, so KC please give us book two soon ok?
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
Arborable took tree-hugging to a whole different level and I'm all for it.
I'm used to Ellen Mint's books being hilarious and creative, and this one waArborable took tree-hugging to a whole different level and I'm all for it.
I'm used to Ellen Mint's books being hilarious and creative, and this one was no different. So much thought was put into the dryads and their world, from their names to how they look, speak, move, eat, reproduce, and how they came to be (they don't all get "born" the same way or in the same place).
The story was extremely compelling, I didn't want to put it down, I literally had it downloaded on two devices so I could switch back and forth while one of them was charging, I was THAT invested.
Now, you might look at this book and think it's just a silly dryad romance, but!! It's not all sunshine and daisies for dear Trish, she's suffering from cancer and doesn't have long left to live, which makes getting kidnapped by dryads who want to sacrifice her to a giant tree extremely inconvenient.
Luckily, there's a devilishly handsome rogue dryad who rescues her, and takes her under his wing, or should I say...bark?
He also happens to ride on a giant fox called Valpuri, who is just the cutest not-so-little thing. More Valpuri in the sequel please!!
Linden teaches Trish how to fight, which is something she desperately needs, and it serves her well on many occasions. I love how she refused to give up, even if she was missing a core part of herself, she still got back up to try again.
Romance wise, I'm in love with both Linden and Hickory, and really like Willow and Ryder (from what we've seen of them so far). I'm glad we got to see Trish with Hickory in this book because I don't know if I would've survived till book two, hah.
I have to mention the pollen!! I'm of the firm belief that (REDACTED) would've pollinated (REDACTED) if they weren't already...you know. I'm curious about that storyline, and what will happen to the child when it arrives.
Speaking of children, Ash is one of my favourite characters, she's such a pure soul, I hope she made it out and we'll see her in book two.
There's also some secrets that will hopefully be revealed, like more of Linden's past and why he said what he did about Trish going back to the human world.
And then there's that ending...I had a feeling something like that would happen, it was an excellent cliffhanger. I can't wait to know more.
Pleaseeee pick up this swashbuckling dryad romance today, you won't regret it.
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
BREAKING NEWS, EIRIK WASN'T USELESS IN THIS ONE?? GASPPP. There was *something* that happened, and I was like "of course it would happen to him and toBREAKING NEWS, EIRIK WASN'T USELESS IN THIS ONE?? GASPPP. There was *something* that happened, and I was like "of course it would happen to him and to [REDACTED]", but you know what, he pulled through at the end when it mattered most, and I respect that.
I'd almost go as far as to say I'd like a short story about him and his little group, my opinion of him has definitely improved. Can't say the same for Damon though.
So, Ravinica and her mates have some real trouble at their doorstep, and we finally find out the answer to the biggest secret of all (and no, I'm not telling you what it is, go read the books).
Can I just say...I had a theory about that and it was correct, but I was still surprised when it played out that way. I was highkey expecting that character to stay nice and then they had to ruin it. AGH.
If anyone's seen Ghibli's Castle in the Sky, said character gave me huge Muska vibes, if you know, you know.
Aside from the many glorious battle scenes, we also got numerous twists that I wasn't expecting.
Like say, the large table scene, the shady new leader election (I saw it like a second before it happened), that one character who you never knew which side they were on finally picking one, and a certain other character receiving the recognition they deserve (was scared for them for a good minute there, when they were in enemy clutches).
I loved all the forgiveness we saw, like when Sven and his siblings put aside their differences for the greater good, and how Lindi went without mentioning the secret mission again, but to be fair...she didn't have the time. In any case, I know they're all good now.
I also loved the ending, I feel like it was very fitting for the series, and can believe that the elves and humans (and other creatures ahem) will finally live in peace. Unless if SOMEONE decides to come back and ruin it, I like that we have that option floating around.
The door is open for a potential spinoff, so I'm obviously going to campaign for a crossover between Vikingrune and Shadowblade once again, mayhaps they can team up to help another academy with their own troubles? I wouldn't say no to another Dawn.
BEFORE I FORGET, we got to see the men interacting with each other in some interesting ways, even more than before, so if you love sword crossings in your RH you'll love this series.
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
That second to last chapter had me ready to screech and throw my phone at the wall. I'm not saying I want Mr Big Bad to succeed...but...but...he's hotThat second to last chapter had me ready to screech and throw my phone at the wall. I'm not saying I want Mr Big Bad to succeed...but...but...he's hot, you can't blame me.
I know that *if* we ever get to see them together, the payoff will be so worth it, so I'm (not so) patiently waiting, paying extra attention to all of Luc's chapters for any clues, and now I think one of my theories is more likely to be true than not. So we'll see, fingers crossed I guessed correctly.
I'm honestly dying to see if she actually does what he suggested in the next book, imagine the pain the rest of them would be in if she did, and how they'd rip the (already ending) world apart to find her. Ahh. GIVE IT TO ME PLEASE, I CRAVE CHAOS.
Ba dum tss.
No, we cannot get through a single review of this series without a Chaos joke in there somewhere, get used to it.
So, Chaos was more character development than plot, not a lot happened, but relationships sure evolved.
If you know me, then you know I'm a fan of dream magic, in this case dreamwalking. I loved seeing Merri visit the guys in their dreams, those were some of my favourite chapters (along with the Luc ones, ahem ahem).
We got a bunch of steam to go with, and I might be just a little obsessed with that one scene with Sin (you know which one) and that pillow scene near the end. But just a little (a lot).
I love the Dreamwalking for another reason too, and it involves a certain Horseman who can't touch Merri in the real world because we all know what could happen if he did.
And then when she pulled back from them, I was like NOOOO MERRI NOOO, DON'T LISTEN TO [REDACTED], GO GET YOUR FILL.
We also got some answers, more Operation Puffin goodness, Andi being a hilarious friend, Christian being pretty interesting (I'd like to know more about him, I could see a spinoff happening with the whole Hecate thing), and another Crombie cameo, what's not to love?
So far, I think this series is a bit slower with the action than the others, but that's not a bad thing, we just get to see more of the characters bonding, the Apocalypse can wait, mhm.
*Thank you to the authors for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
As a lover of all things Arthurian, I obviously had to give this book a read. It's set in the modern day, and has enough secrets to fill Merlin's bearAs a lover of all things Arthurian, I obviously had to give this book a read. It's set in the modern day, and has enough secrets to fill Merlin's beard. They drove me a bit bananas, not gonna lie. I know we'll get answers at some point during the series, but I want them NOW!!
It's also not a bad thing to learn things as we go, I'm just upset that I can't figure everything out, hah. Like, I kinda get the point of The Quest, but also...not. Everything about it is so mysterious, and it seemed like we'd finally get to know more about it, and then BAM, cliffhanger ending.
When I tell you my gasts were flabbered because WHAT???? I was not expecting that at all. And I need to know what happens next, I can't wait for May!!
But anyway, The King's Maiden was a really easy read, I had no trouble getting into it, and I knew from the prologue that I'd like it. I didn't want to put it down, it's kind of addicting.
Elle Parker's writing is so smooth for a debut author, and the jokes were pretty funny too.
The Arthurian lore wasn't featured as much as I was expecting, but the references were there. I'm hoping more vibes will come into play in the next installments.
Now for the romances, out of the three, I can't tell which I like most. We spent the most time with Landon, but I can definitely be swayed Kingston's or Max's way in the future, especially since Mordred is my baby.
Speaking of, Vivian!!! I need her OUT, she's such a menace. I could literally hear her shrieks through my screen!!
Adding Elaine was a nice touch, I feel like she acted true to her character. And Gia was a great best friend, I need to see her set up with a Knight of her own.
And of course Quinn, our lovely main character, I love how she kept poking at everyone, trying to get a rise out of them, instead of doing what was expected of her. It only made me like her more. Her banter with Max in particular made my day every time it happened.
One thing that bugged me is the bathroom scene, the steamy one. Yes, only because of hand washing, and I hate that I noticed it, but I did. I saw another person mention it in their review so it wasn't just me.
On a lighter note, we got the dance scene to compensate. It was probably my favourite scene in the book, more of that please and thank you.
Now gimme book 2!!
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
“One day…when all this is over, I don’t think I’ll be able to do that, you know?” “Let me go?” “Yes.” “Good.” I pushed up on my tiptoes to kiss him. “Bec“One day…when all this is over, I don’t think I’ll be able to do that, you know?” “Let me go?” “Yes.” “Good.” I pushed up on my tiptoes to kiss him. “Because I’m starting to think I don’t want you to, either.”
After this book, I have a hard time believing Kingston or Landon will take the number one spot away from Max, because he's a dream.
I was living for every single interaction he had with Quinn, they were perfect together. Like, if this wasn't a whychoose book, I'd pick Max so fast, there'd be no contest.
Which is interesting because I felt like all three were perfectly balanced in the first book, but Max definitely got his chance to shine in this one and he took it!!
We got to see a different (and incredibly sweet) side of him, and I'm afraid he's completely won me over.
That's not to say that Landon and Kingston didn't have their moments too, through I definitely held a little grudge against the former for what he did to Quinn for the majority of the book. I started to like him again during a very specific scene where he wasn't the only participant. You know which one.
But generally, I loved seeing how safe Quinn felt when he was around, showing us that she still trusted him deep down, despite what happened. And I do feel bad for him, because there's something very clearly eating him up inside and he can't share what it is.
As for Kingston, I feel like we've been waiting an eternity for that kiss, I require even more Kingston content!! He's the one we know the least about, and he keeps holding back. I'm sure there's a very good reason for it, probably something to do with the big bad on top of the food (Court) chain, hopefully we'll learn more about it in book three.
But he was present when it counted, which is really all that matters. I also liked the very subtle, but noticeable, hints at something going on between him and Landon, and likewise something brewing between Landon and Max. I know Quinn will have a field day when they all admit their feelings.
And of course our girl, Quinn, who's been dealing with so much stuff from the start of the series, that she deserves an all-inclusive paid vacation somewhere peaceful, WHEN she wins The Quest, which she will!!
She does a lot of growing in The Viper’s Lady, being allowed to process her emotions really does wonders for her. She knows what she wants is within reach and she's ready to grab it with both hands.
But it takes her a bit to get to that point, so Gia's encouragement throughout her journey (even if they couldn't communicate for several days) was needed.
As much as I hate to see Quinn suffer, I like that she didn't just brush off what Vivian and her minions did to her, no, she's reliving her trauma over and over in her dreams, showing us that you don't have to be strong all the time, and that it's okay to not be okay for a while after experiencing something like that.
It's a lot more realistic that way than having her pretend like nothing ever happened. Healing is a slow process, luckily Quinn now has a support system of four, (or maybe five if we count Izzy) individuals to help her get through it.
Story wise, this was even more captivating than The King's Maiden, we got a few answers here and there, but there's still so much left to be uncovered. It's one of the things I love most about this series, it keeps me guessing.
Like, there's something that happens to a certain character, and I have two suspects, but one of them feels too obvious, but it also might not be the second one either, it could be someone I haven't even considered.
That ending left me going "What? No, they can't do that???" but apparently they can!!! I hope it doesn't come to pass in the way I'm thinking, if it does I'm going to jump into the book to protect Quinn myself, I swear.
On a lighter note, Gia is getting her own novella!! Three cheers for Gia and her totally sane and mysterious beau!! I need that beau to be a Knight sooo bad, please let him be a Knight. I can't wait for that, or for book three, I'm so excited.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
Read this for the pet gator & the accents. It was fun, though I'm not 100% sold on continuing the series (if more books come out, that is). It's possiRead this for the pet gator & the accents. It was fun, though I'm not 100% sold on continuing the series (if more books come out, that is). It's possible I won't be able to resist, since reads like this are normally up my alley, but we'll see....more
The Hills Have Eyes...but in the bayou? Sold!! These are exactly the vibes I expect from my horror & thriller books, and they were on point in Wicked The Hills Have Eyes...but in the bayou? Sold!! These are exactly the vibes I expect from my horror & thriller books, and they were on point in Wicked Games, down to the Cajun accents Wilder and Ollie had. That was undoubtedly my favourite part of the book, the rest left a little to be desired.
So, this is a novella, but I wanted Marlowe to be more than just a cardboard cutout of a character, she went with the flow a little too much, let the twins get away with some things they shouldn't have (view spoiler)[like killing her brother (hide spoiler)], and it was hard to connect to her.
The twins I liked to an extent, I would've liked them better had they only (view spoiler)[killed the stepmother without assaulting her (hide spoiler)]. But I would say they're more fleshed out as characters than Marlowe is.
Plot wise, there isn't much going on, but the ending does leave room for a possible continuation. I know there's a Christmas novella out, and I might give it a try to see how the story ends (or continues) aaaand also to read about a pet alligator....more
AAAAAAH THE LAST MATE GAMES SERIES IS FINALLY UPON US FRIENDS, AND THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER!!
First thing's first, Operation PUFFIN. Yes. BIIIGAAAAAAH THE LAST MATE GAMES SERIES IS FINALLY UPON US FRIENDS, AND THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER!!
First thing's first, Operation PUFFIN. Yes. BIIIG YES. Possibly the funniest chapters in the book, and we got to see the other players as a cherry on top. The first two recording sessions, I didn't think we'd see more than a few total, but the third one really blew me away, my heart is full, I missed them all so much.
Second, SHANE EAST. The narrator who became my fav the moment I first listened to Meg Anne's solo books has a main role in this epic series??? To say I'm happy would be an understatement. He's the perfect addition to the Mate Games cast, so it's no wonder I've been favouring a certain character.
Third, Crombie. You already know I love him and he'll get a shoutout any time I see him. I love his dynamic with Lilith AND Sinclair. He'll never fail to make me laugh.
Ok now, the actual stars of the show, Merri and the infamous Horsemen of the Apocalypse!! I feel like I've been waiting to meet the four Horsemen forever and now that I have...I'm in love with all of them. Oopsie.
Am I jealous of Merri? Yes. Would I take her place in a heartbeat? Also yes.
The Horsemen are tasked not only with protecting Merri, but also with preventing someone else from sinking their claws into her. But you know, after those beach dreams, I wouldn't blame Merri if she fell for his charms.
Merri is such a great character to follow, because she's a succubus with a ravenous appetite, raised by auntie Lillith, who cams in order to feed. So what's gonna happen when she's stuck in a penthouse with her new "bodyguards" you ask? Chaos. Hah, I had to.
The tension was perfect, and the scenes where the Horsemen "helped" our dear girl to feed were simply delicious.
I said I love all four of them, but Grim is my fav, surprise surprise. I am also partial to Luc. Yes, look at me, falling for the bad guy (again). Even if Merri doesn't somehow end up with all five of them (or six, Cole, anyone?), I'm along for the ride.
Speaking of Cole, I do have ~ theories ~. I don't think he'd have as much interaction with Merri if he wasn't important, or someone we'll be introduced to later. Or maybe it's someone we already know? Either way, he's suuuper sweet, I'd love to see more of him. Also, I feel bad for him because at least twice, from what I remember, his private session with Merri was cut short. Let my man live!!
But other than that, I don't know which of the Horsemen is going to succeed in their "mission" and stop the Apocalypse, I can't predict it. Maybe it'll be all four, wouldn't that be something? They are supernaturals, after all.
Bonus points for Andi, who seems like a true gal pal, and that Cerberus cameo, I DIED, I WAS LITERALLY ON THE FLOOR, I wasn't expecting that. It's actually even funnier when you remember whose voice Sin was imitating that one time. Full circle moment.
The ending was obviously a cliffhanger, I am panicking as we speak. What a way to leave us hanging, you gotta love Kim and Meg.
Lastly (because I saw a few people read this book only), please go back to the first Mate Games book, and read the whole universe from the beginning. It's so much better to start there and have all the context rather than just jumping into this one.
*Thank you to the authors for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
“You don’t understand. A world without you in it is my hell. I would rather fall with you than live a million years without you.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THI“You don’t understand. A world without you in it is my hell. I would rather fall with you than live a million years without you.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THIS BOOK AND TO MEEEEE!!! We both came into the world on November 5th, so I couldn't pass up a chance to wish us both the happiest of birthdays. It's also very fitting that one of my ultimate fav series is ending on my birthday.
(We will ignore the fact that this was posted on the 6th, it was mostly ready on the 5th which is what counts ahem)
In the *FINAL* book in this epic series, Layla and her guys have to stop the world from ending once and for all, while everything is working against them. Will they make it out alive? Are more betrayals on the way? Will Ink finally say the three magic words? And what about the little life growing inside our favourite witch? All questions that will be answered when you read this lovely book.
I can't believe it's overrrrrrr. I'm literally sitting here, having followed this series since the start, and I don't know what to do with my life now that I have no more Coven of Desire books to look forward to.
Mint delivered on that ending though, we got to see everyone happy and thriving, the world changed for the better, AFTER putting us through a lot of stress, not being sure how things would go until the very last moment.
The most stressful part was Layla being held captive with her men unable to reach her. I kept rooting for a certain someone to save her, and wouldn't you know it...they did!!
I was mad at Daniel for a good chunk of the book, you know why. I forgive him now though, we're all good. That scene with him and Izzy at the end was so precious.
Speaking of precious...INK SAID I LOVE YOU, I REPEAT, HE SAID I LOVE YOU AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! It only took him 10 books and a few novellas, but HE. SAID. IT. I'm so happy. I could flyyyy.
But anyway, I was truly convinced the world was gonna end for a good second there, and the way they all worked together to fix it was just *chef's kiss*. We got to see the results of their efforts months and years down the line, which is almost like we got a few different epilogues in one.
Ellen Mint is so creative, I love the world she created so so much, I want to live inside it. PLEASE LET ME IN, I WILL BRING BURGERS OF CHEESE!!!
And the way she can bring humour to even the direst of situations, makes this series extra unique.
I laughed and cried with these characters over the years, and my only hope is that CoD gets super popular so everyone else can find as much joy in this amazing series as I did.
Pleaseeeee go and start CoD by reading Ink, I promise you'll have a banger of a time (and fall in love with the most fabulous incubus known to any realm, don't say I didn't warn you!!).
Oh, I liked that little nod to the novella that started it all too, by the way. And everyone's costumes, especially little Izzy's, she's so real for that.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go drown my sorrows in a salad of various greens one would feed to a giraffe. Sniff sniff. I'm going to miss Layla, Ink, Cal, Daniel, Garavel, Raul and now Izzy so much. In a just world, there would be an infinite number of Coven of Desire books, but the good part is, I can reread them anytime I want.
*Thank you to the author and StoryOrigin for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
Blood of Ancients started off a bit slow, and I was wondering if it was going to be more of a filler book, but it picked up around the middle and the Blood of Ancients started off a bit slow, and I was wondering if it was going to be more of a filler book, but it picked up around the middle and the plot was plotting folks!!
Do you guys remember what I said about Ravinica's origins in my last review, the guess I had? Well, I was wrong. But, we found out exactly what she is now, and how it all came to be and I'm very satisfied with the answers.
We also got to learn more about a certain mate's past, 100% did not see that coming. I'm glad the gang has another person on their team now, and one who's pretty cool to boot.
I actually didn't pay as much attention to that character previously, but they really grew on me during the course of the book. If anything happens to them in the next one, I fear I may cry.
ALSO, loved that Shadowblade Academy shout out. So then they *ARE* in the same world? Excuse me while I go get ready for a crossover. I'm kidding, but I like knowing it's a possibility.
I am now thinking back to the series, wondering if there were any clues even back then...
Anyway, my absolute favourite parts of this book were set on the other side of the portal (oh yes, they went there). I too would like to visit a spring-hold, thanks.
The way that realm was described sounds so magical, I'd love to live there. Preferably in the forest though, something tells me the elves who dwell there are the coolest.
That was also where Ravinica changed, in so many ways. I'm a lil obsessed with the Folkvang scene/chapter, IT WAS SO PRECIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL, literally my fav in the whole book, and such a fitting end for that character.
Speaking of endings, when those rumbles started and Ravinica was like "oh I thought nothing of it" I was like I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS!!! And boy, was I right! I can't wait to see how they'll deal with this threat, and then hopefully bring peace to all the realms?
No but, I was hoping these specific creatures would make an appearance sooner or later, so I'm STOKED we're finally getting to see them.
LASTLY, I do forgive Arne. Kinda, sorta, a lil bit. I'm anticipating I will have fully forgiven him by the time book four is out.
Oh, and we still don't like Eirik, just throwing that in there for good measure.
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
The Demons They Forged is a novella that bridges the gap between books 2 and 3 of the Gothic Grove series, giving us a peek into Kallen's head, and loThe Demons They Forged is a novella that bridges the gap between books 2 and 3 of the Gothic Grove series, giving us a peek into Kallen's head, and lots of steam to make up for the time she's been away from her mate(s).
You do have to read the series in order, this one happens around the same time as book two, but it's Kallen's side of the events. It doesn't feel repetitive, just gives us some little nuggets of info we've been missing.
I love how she's creating her own "coven" of sorts, with Demon, Dios, Jax and possibly Harrow? Fun times are ahead!! There's steam in almost every chapter, so it's the steamiest book yet.
I do wish it was longer though because I haven't had enough of Kallen!! She does what she wants, whenever she wants, and has zero regrets. She's my kind of girl.
I can't wait to read the next book, which is coincidentally out on Orthodox Christmas soooo it's like a Christmas present for me from JA George woop woop.
If you haven't started this series yet, you should, it's perfect for spooky season....more
I have no idea where to begin, so much happened in this book and I desperately need the next one to be out so I can continue the story.
This time arouI have no idea where to begin, so much happened in this book and I desperately need the next one to be out so I can continue the story.
This time around we follow Jax, Arcanna and Dios, as they explore their feelings for one another while trying to stop the world from ending, one day at a time.
As is almost customary in JA George's books, the first part of Ruined Kingdom is told through past chapters. There we follow a different pairing, Oisin and Harrow, and see what led to Harrow having a mask over her face.
I gotta say, Harrow was my absolute favourite character in this book, and Oisin my most hated. In my mind, she could do no wrong, even when she did, literally, do something terrible. That's my baby though, I won't let anyone criticise her.
Oisin meanwhile...every single thing he did gave me the creeps. I hated the control he he had over Harrow and I kept hoping she'd break free of it. Even more so when my second favourite character, Luz, stepped onto the scene.
Luz is a serious contender for my favourite male character in the whole Gothic Grove universe! And we all know how great the rest of them are, but Luz...something about him is scratching my brain just right.
I hope he's Harrow's mate, in fact, I NEED him to be her mate. He was the one who was there for her and who took care of her when she needed it most. I'm only sad she had to meet Oisin first, and I really felt her sorrow and longing as if it were my own.
Now for the infamous trio, they were a hoot. Yes, they did drive me a bit bananas when they couldn't agree on the mating *cough* looking at you Dios *cough*, but the love they had for one another was apparent, even without the bonds being properly in place.
Plot wise, this was chaos, complete and utter chaos, and I loved every second of it. Well, except for Oisin continuously gaining power, duh.
I also loved seeing Shadow, Drago, Ava, Ciaran, Astrea, Kallen & Demon making cameos, and joining the fight. But even with all of them combined, the battle hasn't been won yet.
I am sooo excited to see what's next for these characters, especially the ones the epilogue decided to shine a light on. I'm wondering if their story will be next, or if Harrow and Luz's will get a continuation, or even if we'll see more of Rhea and Reaver. I'll be happy with whatever we get, I hope this series never ends.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
YES so, I was so excited to jump back into this because of the way the first book ended. If you haven't read book one then please go back and do so beYES so, I was so excited to jump back into this because of the way the first book ended. If you haven't read book one then please go back and do so before reading my review because I will be mentioning some stuff that happened at the end, okay? Okay.
As we all know, Ravinica's powers finally came in, three cheers for her and for Corym who made the whole thing possible!!! Ahem. The first third-ish of the book is spent on her learning how to use them and him teaching her. Not gonna lie, I could read about them training all day and never get bored.
Meanwhile, Grim, Magnus, Sven and the-one-I-still-haven't-forgiven (Arne), are searching for her. I felt their pain at being away from her, I really did. But worry not, they do find her, and all is well. For about five seconds.
It was nice to see her thriving once she got back to Vikingrune, and passing her exams with flying colours too. But of course, all is not as it appears.
How do I say this without spoiling...we learned that someone is related to someone else who is in turn related to a very important person which I actually thought might happen, but not exactly like that. I really want to see it explored more in the next book. Also, the fact that this happened AFTER the visit is criminal, I want my questions answered!!
We also learned that Ravinica might have more to her than everyone originally thought. Now I wanna know what that is AGH. I have some guesses, watch none of them be correct.
There's also the issue of trying to convince people that elves aren't actually the bad guys, but is it falling on deaf ears or are tides starting to turn? We'll have to wait and see.
Now, let's talk about Arne's grovelling. I require more!! That is not enough! But it's a start for sure. I know Ravinica's forgiven him, and okay I do feel a little bad for him because of that thing near the end, but hey, karma. He's still at the bottom of my list.
Sven may have carved himself a permanent spot right next Corym..I have no explanation, it just happened. The rest of the list is the same as it was before.
The ending was another cliffhanger, and I was honestly sitting there thinking it wouldn't be as bad, but then that character appeared and well...when is book three coming KC??
P. S. Eirik is still useless in case anyone was wondering. I'd name him the worst brother, but Ravinica does have one that's undoubtedly worse soooo second worst it is.
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
EXCUSE ME, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BREATHE NOW?? So much stress in the second half, I fear I'll wake up fully gray tomorrow.
Death is the second to last EXCUSE ME, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BREATHE NOW?? So much stress in the second half, I fear I'll wake up fully gray tomorrow.
Death is the second to last book in this series, and it really packs a punch. Right from the start, Layla and her guys are battling creatures and trying to stop the apocalypse from happening, all while arguing with each other (so, business as usual, hah).
Layla is also dealing with losing her mother, but for real this time, and I FELT that sorrow as if it were my own. I want to give her a hug and tell her everything is going to be okay. BUT...IS IT??? IT BETTER BE, OR ELSE!!!!!!
There's this big thing that happened that made me want to throw my phone at the wall. After the last book, where things were finally looking up for this character...I'm sooooo sad. I just want to lay in my bed and cry.
Relating to that, WHY DON'T YOU TRUST ONE ANOTHER? HUH? HUH??? If I could yell at the guys right now I absolutely would. Because, you've been together for how many books now? And you still think one of you would sell the others (especially Layla) out???? No "brown sauce of deliciousness" for any of you. There.
(I had to add that line in somewhere, Ink always makes me laugh)
To lighten the mood a little, I also loved that taco scene, it was so random, but fitting in a tense moment, I couldn't help but laugh at it as well. Aaaand I want tacos now.
Anyway, I can't (well, I can, but I don't want to) believe I'm going to have to wait until the very last book to hear those three words from Ink. We nearly got it, and okay, it wasn't the best moment, but AGHHHH!!! Why must you torment me so???
I have no idea how everything is going to end, literally nobody is safe. Yes, I am slightly panicking, can you tell? I need everyone to make it out alive and I do mean EVERYONE. HINT. HINT. AHEM.
I need even the side characters to make it, I want them all to be one big, happy, dysfunctional family by the end of the series, okay?
Since it's ending on my birthday, I'm choosing to believe it'll all work out. Waving my magic want as we speak. Bibbidi bobbidi boo and all that jazz. Everyone lives, series over, me happy, goodbye.
*Thank you to the author and StoryOrigin for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
Sue me, but I liked the first book so much better. This one had almost zero plot, it was all smut and horror elements which is fine, I just personallySue me, but I liked the first book so much better. This one had almost zero plot, it was all smut and horror elements which is fine, I just personally need more to fully engage with a book.
I found myself rolling my eyes at some of Lux's lines, which didn't happen in À La Folie, so it's safe to say I'm disappointed! Johnny ended up being more entertaining, although his chapters were by far the sickest/darkest.
I feel like Maison De Fous also upped the ridiculous factor, like that bit near the end with the customers in masks and black robes...very silly, but I don't think this book takes itself very seriously anyway.
I'll still read book three, hopefully it'll have just a tiny bit of plot, I'm not asking for much, I swear....more