“I’m a grown woman. Princess of Hell. I will not run from imaginary ghosts.”
WE ARE BACK into the world of Gothic Grove. This time around we follow Ava“I’m a grown woman. Princess of Hell. I will not run from imaginary ghosts.”
WE ARE BACK into the world of Gothic Grove. This time around we follow Ava, Shadow and Drago, who were side characters in the first book, and now they got their own story.
Even though each book (so far) follows different pairings, you should still read them in order because otherwise the plot might not make total sense. Characters from book one make cameos in this one too, so it would be better if you already met them beforehand.
Much like book one, this one is a bit heavy on the mental health aspect, maybe even more so. We see all three main characters struggling, but poor Shadow struggled the most, I feel so bad for him.
We get PoVs from all of them, and I like that most of the book focused on just the three of them, before adding the other characters' PoVs back in.
The book is split into three parts, the first covering events before Gothic Grove which was much needed!! Now we finally know why everyone was so awkward at the start.
Part two picks up immediately after Gothic Grove, and part three just continues the story from part two with no time skips.
Now that last part was the MOST stressful part of the book. You can feel it coming near the end of part two, but you really aren't ready for what's to come. The closer and closer I got to the end, the higher my anxiety spiked and then chapter 46 did me in. THAT WAS SO CRUEL! AND FOR WHAT??
The epilogue helped...kinda. I'm still not over it.
I had soo much fun reading this though, despite the stress. It was a super fast read yet again. I love how smooth J. A. George's writing is, and how much Shadow, Drago and Ava developed from the start of the series until now. I'll be seated for book three, I wonder who the main characters will be there *cough*Kallen please *cough.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
"Bending down, our mouths connect, and like Tesla’s coil, my skin ignites with an electrical charge."
What kind of Serb would I be if I didn't put that"Bending down, our mouths connect, and like Tesla’s coil, my skin ignites with an electrical charge."
What kind of Serb would I be if I didn't put that specific quote at the top of my review, even though this had a bunch of cute ones I could've used instead? Exactly. Anyway, Y'ALL ARE SLEEPING ON THIS BOOK/SERIES/AUTHOR!!!!
I don't remember what I was looking for when this popped up, I think I was searching up something completely different and Amazon decided to recommend Eyes Like a Hurricane to me, and it's been living in my head rent free ever since.
I'm a huge fan of small town romances, so this definitely caught my eye, but it was mainly the author's last name that made me prioritise it. I'm not sure if she's Serbian, or married to someone who is, but either way we support our own in this house!!! I see a Serbian name, I click read, simple.
Having finished it, I'm so glad there's going to be at least six books in the series, because I fell in love with the world and its characters and need to see more of them. I actually would've read this back in February when I found it, but I knew I'd love it and wanted it to be closer to book two and three so here we are.
I like that the book starts with a little steam guide, so if you want a spice free read, you know exactly which pages to skip. The playlist was maybe 80% to my taste which is always a plus (extra extra points for Warren Zeiders), I went and saved it on Spotify, along with the other two.
It's a bit of a slow burn at first, but I was still surprised at how fast they got together, because the beginning made it seem like it would stretch out a bit more. There was a lot of anticipation, like when they'd finally meet again etc, it gave me butterflies. And then they saw each other in that bar and that was IT, they were smitten.
I was wondering if the rest of the story would be interesting, what else could happen if they got together so soon into the book, but fear not friends for it definitely kept my attention.
The book is told in dual PoV, but we also got the PoV of the villain. As much as I didn't like him, I liked reading what he was up to. It gave him some depth beyond the overly attached ex boyfriend. We got to see how his mind worked, and that he was, indeed, a bit coo coo.
I also like that the main conflict was driven by said villain, and not a typical third act breakup, it was refreshing.
The romance was super sweet, you could feel the sparks from their very first meeting and they never went away. They may have fallen in love in a month, but it was believable.
Both Lachlan and Aislinn are animal lovers which is a big theme throughout the book. They each have a floofy baby and I hope we get dog updates too, I gotta know if those two will have cute little puppies!!! Also, the alpacas dunking them...yes.
The side characters were just as engaging, I can't wait to read their stories. The ending for this one set up the next one which I'm assuming will be a recurring theme.
You can just feel the love the author put into this world, and the story of how it came about just makes me wish for this series to blow up ASAP. So if you like small town romances with a fun cast of characters please give the Topaz Falls series a try.
P. S. Dr Tomasevic (Tomašević) needs another appearance!!! For no reason other than I like subtle Serbian rep okay? Okay....more
HELLO YES, Heirs of Destruction was such a lovely and creative book, I loved it so much.
From the second you open it, you're greeted with trigger warnHELLO YES, Heirs of Destruction was such a lovely and creative book, I loved it so much.
From the second you open it, you're greeted with trigger warnings, a cast of characters & their houses, months and days of the week, and at the end of the book there's translations for the two featured languages. Now, I don't know about you, but this made it so much easier for me to get into the world and know when things are happening.
So often in books I feel like authors name their months or days differently and I have no idea when anything is because they just don't explain!! Not T. N. Vitus though, if no one's got us, I know they do.
But that's not all, from the start it was clear how much thought was put into even the tiniest things, with how developed the world, the characters and their relationships are. When Vitus said this is the book of her heart in the acknowledgements, I knew it was true because it definitely came through. All the love they have for this world shows, and there's a reason for every character interaction.
If you're big on politics, you're in luck, Heirs has that in abundance, and it's really well written. But my fav thing, by far, are the characters.
I simply adore Rhaella and Virgil, both individually and together. Any time they couldn't be together because of things we won't be spoiling ahem ahem, I WAS IN PAIN! Like, I needed them to run away together sooo bad.
I wanted to scream at certain lines, they were swoon-worthy, these two have so much chemistry, it leaps off the page. I can't wait to get more of them in future books.
Asriel and Aida were also great characters, but the former got on my bad side because of something he did (he knows what), still though, I liked his PoVs and his interesting dynamics with both Freya and Barrett.
There's this order in the book that gives Bene Gesserit vibes, and as a Dune fan, I approve. I can't speak for the GOT comparison as I have neither read nor watched it, but I feel like it's true? You be the judge.
The storyline was unpredictable (especially that ending!!!) and I loved every second of it. The writing was so compelling and magical, it drew me in like a moth to a flame.
In short, Heirs of Destruction is a brilliant book you should check out RIGHT NOW, don't make me tell you twice!!
*Thank you to the lovely author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
FINALLY A BOOK WITH A BLOND LOVE INTEREST, WE CHEER!!!! I have nothing against non-blonds, it's just that the dark haired ones are so common, so this FINALLY A BOOK WITH A BLOND LOVE INTEREST, WE CHEER!!!! I have nothing against non-blonds, it's just that the dark haired ones are so common, so this feels like a breath of fresh air. And, since he's a vampire it's a double win for me.
But fear not, one of the side characters who's going to be a main character in the next book isn't blond, so you have zero excuse not to read this now!!
So, I kind of randomly decided to read this after seeing it on booksta and I'm really glad I did. It was a very fun read that I tried to stretch as much as I could because I joined a readalong with the chapters planned out week by week.
I finished it too fast, but it's not strict so feel free to go and join if you want, it's still going for 5ish more weeks if my math is correct.
It was cool doing it that way, floating theories around, sharing cool quotes, and now I'm so excited for the sequel (coming next month, sooo you might wanna get to reading).
Gothic Grove is a fast paced read so you could finish it in one sitting if you wanted to. The tension builds more and more the further you go along and it's very hard to stop reading, you just NEED to know what's going to happen next.
The story is compelling and unpredictable, there was even a twist I couldn't have seen in my wildest dreams. I love how J. A. George kept us all guessing until the last second.
The characters are the stars of the show, I love them all equally. We mainly follow Astrea & Ciaran but we also get PoVs from Shadow, Drago, Ava and Kallen.
There's PoV switches in every chapter, multiple times per chapter, and sometimes there's flashbacks too so we get to know the characters a bit better. It took me a sec to get used to that, especially at the start, but it mellowed out eventually.
We also have a fox familiar!!!!!!!!! She's the cutest bestest girl, I hope we'll see more of her in the sequel too.
The ending is a cliffhanger, and a good one at that. It kinda made me want to scream that there were no more pages left to read. Who knew I'd be so attached to that character and their mate? Not me.
Bonus points for including Falling in Reverse on the book playlist!!!...more
This was a very heavy read, I had to take several breaks while reading for that reason. I'm also not sure how to rate it, because overall I think it wThis was a very heavy read, I had to take several breaks while reading for that reason. I'm also not sure how to rate it, because overall I think it was a good read, but at the same time I didn't really need to read from the PoV of a rapist as he's committing the rapes in great detail...and he's one of the main characters.
Also, I'm pretty sure this book gave me the nightmare I had last night when I was reading it before bed, so it has that going for it too.
But yeah trigger warnings for SA, CSA & domestic violence in particular, please please please be mindful of that going in and stop whenever you need to! There's also themes of grief, dealing with losing a parent, addiction, trauma...and we can't forget homophobia either (but if it makes you feel better, the homophobic character learns to accept the lgbt character eventually).
As far as characters go, I think that's where this book shines. Other than the serial assaulter *cough* John *cough*, everyone seemed like a real person with real problems. It was so easy to jump into their lives and care about them.
I also really liked the writing and the mythology woven in, the Cree language as well. If only I'd been smart enough to get the audiobook I could've listened to the author pronouncing all of that! Silly me. Next time though (I could just skip John's chapters then, save my sanity the second time around).
This is the first indigenous book I've read this year, I'm planning on doing at least 20, maybe even 36 (the numbers aren't random, that's just some Storygraph challenges I found so I figured it was easier to keep track of them that way), so while this probably would've been left for later in the year had I known how heavy it was, I'm still glad I gave it a chance....more
I love RH books, I do. And the thing I love most about them is the depth of the main character's relationship with each of her men. That was nonexisteI love RH books, I do. And the thing I love most about them is the depth of the main character's relationship with each of her men. That was nonexistent here. Everything is just so fast paced for no reason at all. The book is almost 600 pages long, there was definitely space to flesh out the relationships.
This is one of those insta love cases, where she sees a guy, immediately falls for him and he for her, and rinse and repeat 4 times. To be fair, there was double insta love at the start, where she meets Finn and Jensen, and the other two guys were individual, but still.
There was barely any plot, which I don't mind when I like the characters, but I didn't end up liking anyone here. It's weak at best, it's there just to fill up some time between romantic scenes.
And then there's Maeve's training, or lack thereof. There's one distinct scene I remember, it was over too quickly, and the point in the book it first appears is a bit strange. You'd think she'd want to train the very second she sees she has powers, especially since she seems so concerned about hurting her mates, but no.
I don't think this author is for me, since this is now the third book that I either don't like or don't have strong feelings for. But I am going to read The Mate Games anyway, it should be more to my taste since it's a collab with another author I love.
Finally, the short story at the end deserves a mention. It was so much better than the main book and I think getting through 500+ pages just to get to it was worth it. I wasn't even going to read it, but I'm glad I did. If there was a story with those two characters, like their own spinoff, then I think I'd give K. Loraine another chance.
4 stars for the short story, 2 stars for the main story, so I'll be nice and give it 3.
Merged review:
I love RH books, I do. And the thing I love most about them is the depth of the main character's relationship with each of her men. That was nonexistent here. Everything is just so fast paced for no reason at all. The book is almost 600 pages long, there was definitely space to flesh out the relationships.
This is one of those insta love cases, where she sees a guy, immediately falls for him and he for her, and rinse and repeat 4 times. To be fair, there was double insta love at the start, where she meets Finn and Jensen, and the other two guys were individual, but still.
There was barely any plot, which I don't mind when I like the characters, but I didn't end up liking anyone here. It's weak at best, it's there just to fill up some time between romantic scenes.
And then there's Maeve's training, or lack thereof. There's one distinct scene I remember, it was over too quickly, and the point in the book it first appears is a bit strange. You'd think she'd want to train the very second she sees she has powers, especially since she seems so concerned about hurting her mates, but no.
I don't think this author is for me, since this is now the third book that I either don't like or don't have strong feelings for. But I am going to read The Mate Games anyway, it should be more to my taste since it's a collab with another author I love.
Finally, the short story at the end deserves a mention. It was so much better than the main book and I think getting through 500+ pages just to get to it was worth it. I wasn't even going to read it, but I'm glad I did. If there was a story with those two characters, like their own spinoff, then I think I'd give K. Loraine another chance.
4 stars for the short story, 2 stars for the main story, so I'll be nice and give it 3....more
“Sword-fighting isn’t your calling, little mouse. Perhaps you’ll best me in something else some day?”
Would you believe that, out of all the quotes I c“Sword-fighting isn’t your calling, little mouse. Perhaps you’ll best me in something else some day?”
Would you believe that, out of all the quotes I could've pulled, I picked one of the villain's? Because, and I'm sorry (not sorry), he's highkey hot, KC WHAT HAVE YOU DONE??? I was just minding my own business, then in comes Guy of Gisborne to steal the show...how rude.
YES I WILL BE IGNORING HIS EVIL DEEDS HE DID NOTHING WRONG NOT ONE THING!! Now if KC has me simping over the Sheriff of Nottingham too, well then we'll have a problem. So far so good though *knocks on sher-wood*. Ba dum tss. That was gold and you know it.
So, this (if it wasn't already apparent) is a gender-bent Robin Hood retelling, in which Robin gets kidnapped by the Merry Men after a carriage robbery and slowly burrows her way into their hearts (and pants).
I loved watching her grow from a somewhat naive noble girl into the strong woman she was meant to be. She's not at the legend level yet, but she'll get there.
She fell for the men pretty fast and I can't fault her for it, they are really cool. My favourite is probably Will Scarlet, but Alan a Dale is close behind. You know how he has a lute? Yeah, I was wondering if we'd get another lute scene somewhere in there. Bit of KC lore for you, you're welcome, and if you're curious about what I'm referring to, then you should go read the Camelot Untold trilogy, it's unforgettable.
But yeah, while all the men were fierce when it came to protecting Robin, Will was kind of a chaotic menace all around, I have no other option but to stan. He kind of reminds me of an angry hamster, but in a good way, I can't explain.
Alan we don't know much about, I think he got the least page time out of all the men which will be rectified in the future, I know. He's the softest and sweetest and swings all the ways AS HE SHOULD!!
Little John comes next in my line of faves, though the salt and pepper hair would normally place him higher, so this is subject to change. I feel like we know him, but we also need to get to know him, if that makes sense. With that cliffhanger I think we will.
Friar Tuck is last for a big cartoon shaped reason. That's what I've been imagining the whole time, I'm trying so hard not to and I'll hopefully succeed by the end of the series. He's sweet too, and can be very kind, it's just...I see a badger.
Maid Marian also gets a mention, I knew she'd be trouble from the start, just wasn't sure how much. She's rotten to the core and I wonder who she'll join forces with next.
I never doubted the ending would be a cliffhanger, but I am even more anxious after that last twist. I thought something along the lines might happen BUT I DIDN'T WANNA BE RIGHT. I WANT ANSWERS AND I WANT THEM NOW!!!!
P. S. Sir Gregory could get it too, I don't discriminate.
*Thank you to the amazing author who provided me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
Okay, I feel like I was expecting something completely different based on the cover, blurb and the Confessions in B-Flat comp. This looks like a thrilOkay, I feel like I was expecting something completely different based on the cover, blurb and the Confessions in B-Flat comp. This looks like a thriller, but it wasn't (still an amazing cover though), and originally I wasn't really seeing where the comp came into play, but by the end I think I can kind of see it.
Now mind you, Confessions is one of my favourite books, so that made Tainted Liberties one of my most anticipated reads of the year by default. But I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.
First off, the book goes from 0-100 in chapter one. My eyes bugged out of my head when I read certain lines that I absolutely was not prepared for. My brain was like "what did I pick up" and had to double check I was reading the correct book.
I read on and it just kept getting wilder and I couldn't understand why we needed Mark's PoV at all, because he was racist & homophobic and he did NOT hold back in his bigotry, it was disturbing to read. I did not like the inside of his head, I hated when the PoV would switch to him, it was awful, awful, awful.
Having finished the book, I do understand why his PoV was necessary, but that doesn't make it any easier to get through. So be prepared going in that you're going to read some disgusting things coming from him (and his father too).
The other characters aren't likable either, except maybe the kids, but I think that's kind of the point. They're all horrible with their own problems, and boy, do they have a lot of them. I won't be spoiling anything because it's best to find out on your own, but if you're looking for a read with a lot of drama, this is it.
Despite the language used, this still ended up being a quick read for me, I wanted to know what would happen next and if Mark would finally get punched.
I'd like to highlight the rage I felt, because, in the acknowledgements, the author explained why she chose to write this. She managed to package that hate perfectly and put it into a book, causing her readers to become angry at the text as a result. I like when books make me feel something, even if it's negative emotions like this one.
But I also know this book won't be for everyone, so please do check the disclaimer before going any further. It lets you know the type of content that's in the book, but really think it through, because I promise, you're not ready even with that warning.
Another thing to think about, is the questions at the end of the book. Some seem like no brainers (would you accept your LGBT kid if you were a parent - duh), others might be really interesting to discuss.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH, it was everything I wanted and more. I read My Fair Brady recently, loved it, and it just made me even more excited to get to thI LOVED THIS SO MUCH, it was everything I wanted and more. I read My Fair Brady recently, loved it, and it just made me even more excited to get to this which sounded like it would be right up my alley and it was.
It reminded me a bit of Every Time You Hear That Song, one of the twists is exactly the same in both books. I'm not sure which of them came first or if they were inspired by each other, but they're both great reads.
If you love country music, theme parks named after a big star, a sweet YA romance and amazing characters, pick this book up now!! ...more
EXCUSE ME WHAT WAS THAT TWIST??? Maybe it's because I've been listening to this series instead of reading that I didn't catch it earlier, I was like "EXCUSE ME WHAT WAS THAT TWIST??? Maybe it's because I've been listening to this series instead of reading that I didn't catch it earlier, I was like "whaaat?".
So, most of A Vicious Game felt like a filler book, it only picked up in the last third. That portion would've gotten five stars, but during the rest of it, there were moments where it was hard for me to stay focused on the story, so I'll be giving it four instead.
Don't get me wrong, I still loved it, but it felt slightly dragged out. You can kinda tell it was supposed to be a trilogy and then suddenly wasn't.
About the twist, I'm actually glad that (view spoiler)[Keera forgave him so quickly, because I can't stand to see characters I love being separated, and this could've led to them not speaking for a billion years (hide spoiler)].
There was another twist at the end, but I loved that one, I'm a sucker for the (view spoiler)[chosen one trope (hide spoiler)] soooo. Hah.
I'll be jumping into book 4 immediately, I gotta know how this ends....more
When I started this yesterday I wasn't expecting to love it so much that I had to finish it that same day. I thought I'd comfortably stretch it to twoWhen I started this yesterday I wasn't expecting to love it so much that I had to finish it that same day. I thought I'd comfortably stretch it to two or even three days but no, the book had a mind of its own.
As a former theatre kid I felt so seen, this whole book was very relatable and fun, the characters had great personalities, the writing was excellent, and it's a true YA read, one I'd recommend to teens for sure.
I had no idea that the same author wrote A Little Bit Country which is one of my high-priority titles to check out, but after this I know I'll love that too.
My Fair Brady was such a hug of a book if that makes sense, just a very comforting read, I'm so glad I picked it up and I absolutely loveee the 90s romcom vibes. Also recommend the audiobook, the narrators did a great job!!...more
I started the audiobook yesterday while making food which was a mistake because it had me crying into my sandwich early on. I was not expecting to getI started the audiobook yesterday while making food which was a mistake because it had me crying into my sandwich early on. I was not expecting to get so emotional instantly, but well, this book really sucked me in.
There's a dual timeline, one following a country music superstar from her humble origins up until her death, and the other following one of the star's biggest fans who's from the same small town as her, trying to find her own way in the world.
Both timelines were equally compelling, though I wish we got more of Decklee. Her chapters felt shorter than Darren's (and probably were), and we didn't get to see as much of her and Mickinlee when compared to Darren and Kendall, because she was so career focused.
I didn't really buy the fact that Darren and Kendall developed such strong feelings for each other during a short road trip, but I did enjoy reading about their time capsule hunt. I think they were great as friends, and I don't mind them as more than that, I just wish the book was longer so that it would be more believable.
I saw the main twist coming, and I loved being proven right!! I wouldn't have seen it if it hadn't been for that one scene which I won't mention because then you'll know what to look out for, hah.
But still, it was a very fun listen, I knew I'd have a good time with it....more
When I tell you I nearly burst into tears when Rima appeared like a savior in the dark...that's my girl. I really missed these characters, and now I cWhen I tell you I nearly burst into tears when Rima appeared like a savior in the dark...that's my girl. I really missed these characters, and now I can't believe I have to part with them again until book three.
We still follow Kat and Damant, but we also follow...Tanith!!! I was SO annoyed with her, I don't think I even mentioned her in my review of book one? But yeah we started off with her and I was like "oh no". It took me a while to warm up to her, I won't lie, but her PoV was interesting and added a lot to the story.
The rest of the gang is back too, and more developed than ever. I think that's where this book thrives actually, if you had any complaints about Kat, or the others, you won't after this. So many new layers were added to each character (and the world!), it's a delight to read.
Now what may be a stumbling block for some, is that this series is generally slower paced. I wish I could say it got faster, but not really? In certain parts here and there sure, but it's very similar to book one in terms of pacing. I do think it's worth it though.
The vibes felt a bit different this time around, it could just be the world expansion rocking my sky ship (we couldn't have gotten through this review without a little sailing joke, no sir), or maybe I'm right and something is different, we'll see.
What I really appreciate, is how consistently good the writing is, how engaging and creative the story is, and how Mr Ward keeps throwing surprises my way even when I think he's all out of them.
I was once again left on the edge of my seat as I read the final page, only to be greeted with the glossary instead of more pages. Cue crowd boos!!! It was an amazing place to end the story to keep us wanting more, but that doesn't mean I didn't contemplate throwing my phone at the wall for a second there.
The glossary is also very useful, please never stop doing them! I'd even suggest a bit of a recap for the final book, because I feel like so much happened, I'm bound to forget a few things by next year.
As it is Pride Month, I have to mention that the lesbian rep is still good. And generally I also like the way Matthew Ward writes female characters. It reminds me of Richard Swan.
Ok, so, I have a year to think of a ship/sailing pun for book three, and you, yes, YOU reading this, have a year to catch up on books one and two, better make that time count!!!! But seriously, give this series a try, it needs more recognition, I promise it's so good, just listen to me.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
Almost 700 pages binged in two days? Well...yes. It was so compelling I had to. Highkey would've read it all in one day if I wasn't also reading otherAlmost 700 pages binged in two days? Well...yes. It was so compelling I had to. Highkey would've read it all in one day if I wasn't also reading other books at the same time.
I've had this author on my radar for a while, and own most of his books in The Frostmarked Chronicles (which I haven't gotten to yet, don't yell at me I will!!), but this was my very first read by him. I gotta say I'm impressed.
I kinda figured the other series would be more to my taste since it's more ~visibly~ Slavic than this book, but I really couldn't pass up a chance to give this a try too, and I'm glad I did.
It's a really fast paced read that I had no trouble getting into, everything already felt familiar to me, and the names of the characters and places definitely added to that feel.
Now, would I have liked to see even more uniquely Eastern European things inside? Yes, but I can wait to get to the other series for that.
We follow several different characters and each of their PoVs is unique so there's no confusion, not even at the start. Noble gradually adds PoV by PoV so you get to know the previous perspective characters well before he adds a new one to the mix.
My favourite was (no surprise) Kasia, because I'm a huge fan of the revenge trope, and she's 100% justified in her endeavours. Never did a thing wrong a day in her life, no sir.
She actually kind of reminds me of Jagna from Chłopi, just without the husband stealing. But something about her gives Jagna energy and I love it. Just like I will always support Jagna's rights and wrongs, Kasia has me in her corner forever too.
The fact that she still suffers from her past mistakes makes me want to give her a big hug, she doesn't deserve it, leave her alone!!! I loved being in her head regardless of the pain. There were even times when I wanted to smack her a bit, namely in regards to Zinarus who I also love with all my heart.
I want to see them together SO BAD! They're adorable, and Kasia pushing him away, for very valid reasons, made me internally scream. It's a slow burn for sure, but it'll be worth it.
And yes Zinarus, I wasn't sure what to think of him at first, but somewhere, a bit before he and Kasia met, I started to like him, that only grew as the book went on and he's now my second fav.
He's disabled, this is now the second fantasy book in a row that I've read where an author handled their character's disability really well. I'm so happy that 2024 releases seem to be doing amazing on that front.
We also have Radais, Nikoza and Nex, they're about equal for me and I can't really rank them, so let's say they're all sharing third place. I enjoyed reading their PoVs too, and was hoping that they'd all eventually work together which did happen, minus Radais who was away.
I need all five of them in the same spot though, please Mr Noble.
Before I move on I must mention, I tried so hard to not see Vuk as a wolf because that's what that word means in my language, but I have failed. There's always the sequel though, maybe I'll be used to it by then.
Ok next up, the magic system aka my favourite part of the book *cough* that isn't Kasia *cough*. I was enthralled by it and cannot wait to see even more of it. I quite like the word Reacher, and feel like it fits in with the world so well. I don't remember ever reading about a similar system, so it's like a breath of fresh air.
The politics. OKAY, my lovely politics girlies (you know who you are) are going to eat this up, I swear. I know the author has an interest in world politics and it totally shows because everything is so developed, and a large part of the book is focused on exactly that. I love when authors can seamlessly mesh their interests like this.
The worldbuilding was excellent too, grand enough to be magical, but not heavy enough to be headache inducing, a win. It feels contained, even though there's many many realms to explore.
Finally, the art. I was lucky enough to be able to read a version of the book with all the art inside and it made my overall experience so much better. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but the insides too. Fingers crossed the rest of the books will be just as pretty.
Also, Mr Noble? Write the next book fast, mmkay?
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
‘I already told you, my love. I won’t leave you. Not now, not tomorrow. Not ever again.’
Ahhhh, the end of the line...or is it? First thing's first, Mr‘I already told you, my love. I won’t leave you. Not now, not tomorrow. Not ever again.’
Ahhhh, the end of the line...or is it? First thing's first, Mr Alderson, spinoffs WHEN? I specifically require an Aura spinoff, but I'll take whatever I can get. There's so much spinoff material, surely something can be done!!
Ok now, I was looking forward to the war and even more battles which this book delivered. Max and his friends are in a constant state of chaos, and you as the reader never know who's going to make it out alive, considering the author's track record of making Max lose everyone important to him.
And does he? You'll have to read to find out, sorry. But know that I was not ready. That is all.
There were some twists I didn't see coming at all and now I feel the urge to check books 1 and 2 for clues. I was literally so shocked at one that my jaw fell open, if that's not the best endorsement I don't know what is.
The romance was romancing, even during the hardest of times. Simion was so sweet to Max and you can really feel their relationship develop throughout the book. I wouldn't mind a little novella featuring them at some point in the future, if we don't get a longer spinoff.
I liked the time travel aspect since that's one of my favourite tropes. I didn't get the magic system expansion I was hoping for, but I do think I understand it a bit better.
The writing also just keeps getting better and better, so I'm sad that this is the end (for now, ahem).
I'll absolutely be checking out Ben Alderson's other books, and you, the person reading this, can give this a try since the trilogy is now complete, you can binge all three books!!! What are you waiting for? Go and do it!!!
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book, but one thing is for certain - I was not ready for the‘Maximus Oaken. For you, I would risk it all.’
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book, but one thing is for certain - I was not ready for the tears that came with the ending. I was doing so good, I think I teared up once during an earlier scene, but that ending one really got me.
Something that continued from the first book is Maximus's everlasting suffering. THEY JUST WON'T LET HIM BE!!! Everyone wants to use him for their own gain, just when you think things might be looking up - WRONG, they're not.
There was a lot that happened here, from Maximus training, to the Claim, old & new enemies, his evolving relationship with Simion and some old family secrets coming to light. It's definitely just as twisty as Heir to Thorn and Flame.
However, it was a bit slow in parts, and I think that was my main problem with it. I was aiming to finish it much earlier, but didn't manage to because I was travelling, and partially because of the slowness.
Despite me loving the world and the characters, I found myself being less excited to continue reading each time I picked it up, compared to book one. It could just be second book syndrome though, so hopefully book three will pick right back up again.
I also am still not fully feeling the romance with Simion. We did get more of it this time around, and we got some steam too (for all of you that have been waiting for it), but I wanted more development. Or rather more development from Simion, because compared to Maximus he's kind of underdeveloped.
I am really looking forward to seeing how the plot will go from here, we had a lot of build up in this one and it seems like the final battle will be epic (and will hopefully include dragons!! I'm manifesting).
And I know there probably won't be much time to expand the magic system further, but I'd still like some more explanations. Max seems to be the most powerful when he suffers a loss, but I'd like to see him do amazing things outside of that.
3.5
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
I will be the first to admit that this was cheesy as hell and that the writing wasn't the best, BUT! I had a good time while reading it and that's allI will be the first to admit that this was cheesy as hell and that the writing wasn't the best, BUT! I had a good time while reading it and that's all that matters.
Though, you need to be ready for constant character suffering when you pick this up, because Max CANNOT catch a break. If something goes right, two things will go wrong, and our boy will just keep whining while being unable to do anything about it.
As a result, the book is very dramatic and full of twists, some of them you can definitely predict. That didn't stop me from enjoying it though. Sometimes predictable can still be fun.
I wish we got more romance, between either of the two love interests, I don't really have a favourite. I know Simion is the right choice, and probably endgame, but something about him bugs me a tiny bit.
Like Camron has his issues (a lot of them), but somehow it still came across as him wanting for Max to be free to make his own choices, own his powers etc, while Simion was more driven by what he wanted.
Oh, while we're at the two of them, can we just talk about the names really quick? I don't mind Max (Maximus) at all, Beatrice, Julian and so on. But Simion is just Simon, and Camron is Cameron to me I'm sorry. They're too close to real names for me to not see them that way.
Anyway, I'll be jumping into book two immediately and some things I'd like to see are better worldbuilding, more romance, more character development (we didn't get much here), expansion on the magic system as Max learns more about what he can do, and maybe slightly better writing.
I do think that we improve with each book we write so hopefully the sequel will pull through, but honestly the story is entertaining enough for the writing not to be such a huge bother.
Two final things, 1. If you were expecting this to be steamy, it's not. Maybe the next books will be, it's up to you if you want to get through this first to get to that or not, and 2. There are no TWs at the start, but the book deals with some darker themes like SA throughout and there is an attempted SA scene and a flashback SA scene so be aware of that going in....more
From the moment I read the blurb I knew this would be right up my alley, and it really was, but it took it a hot minute to get there. That's really thFrom the moment I read the blurb I knew this would be right up my alley, and it really was, but it took it a hot minute to get there. That's really the only issue I have with this book.
It started off very vague, and I wasn't sure what exactly was going on for the first 20ish %. It was also kind of slow at the start, but eventually it picked up and the whole build up was worth it.
I am a hugeeeeee fan of stories that include dreams in such a way where two characters who haven't met, dream about each other and then eventually find one another in the real world. I will eat it up every single time, I'm telling you.
But here we have a little twist regarding that which I won't spoil. It wasn't explained how that twist "un-twisted" so I'm hoping we'll get some more on that in the sequel.
I loved Lochlen from the start, BUT I loved Alek from the blurb!! I am so sorryyy, he stole my heart first, but Lochlen is right behind him. His history with Aris is painful and makes for a perfect love triangle (another thing I'm a super-fan of).
I can't tell who she'll end up with, but I'll be happy either way, because both of them are wonderful.
Aris, as a main character, is fun to read about. Much like Alek, I too would follow her anywhere in less than a heartbeat. I can't wait to see her grow into her power.
Relating to that, the book happens in the span of around three weeks, so I'm glad that Aris didn't suddenly master her powers in such a short time frame. She still can't do much, and it feels realistic.
The plot was probably my favourite part, and the lore, and the characters...I MEAN EVERYTHING WAS MY FAVOURITE PART OK? No but, the plot was well-crafted, there were some mystery elements too, the lore had its own mythology and tied into existing ones as well, and the characters were of course a found family I'd love to be a part of. So it's hard to pick just one favourite thing.
We also got lgbt rep, Aris's adoptive dads, a non binary character (Jada, using they/them pronouns), and I believe Mirai might be sapphic, just based on the clues. There might be more I missed.
I had a really good time with this book, and I can't wait for the second. Ellie Evaris did such a good job with getting me invested and attached, I immediately went and signed up for newsletter updates because I WILL NOT BE MISSING WHATEVER COMES NEXT!!! I WILL BE SEATED.
As a side note, if you happen to like the Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini, then you'll love this too. Similar vibes.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
I stayed up till 1am to finish this, so this won't be a very long review, I must sleep. Anyway, I enjoyed listening to the audio, and found the story I stayed up till 1am to finish this, so this won't be a very long review, I must sleep. Anyway, I enjoyed listening to the audio, and found the story interesting, even more so because it was inspired by real events.
Some might say Syd is an unlikable character, but I admire her determination to find her sister (by any means necessary). It was a bit unrealistic though, how she claims she's not a detective, but does a better job at finding missing people than actual detectives. But did that hinder my enjoyment? Nope.
I don't mind if thrillers are unrealistic, they just need to be fun!! There are some other scenes here that require you to suspend your disbelief, but it's worth it.
The ending hints at possible future books, for which I'll be seated. I'd really like to follow Syd on more adventures....more
Soulmates with a dash of love triangle goodness? Don't mind if I do.
I know that, logically, Keera is going to end up with Riven, who I want her to be Soulmates with a dash of love triangle goodness? Don't mind if I do.
I know that, logically, Keera is going to end up with Riven, who I want her to be with, but I can't help but love the little moments she has with Killian as well. I knew based on the first book that *something* would come of it and it has.
But the romance isn't a huge focus of the book, it's plot heavy, and we got such a nice world & lore expansion in this one. It was so much, that I couldn't binge it as fast as I did the first book and had to let it settle a bit.
Now, I'm not sure I like all the answers we got (view spoiler)[like the light fae not coming back EXCUSE ME (hide spoiler)], but I appreciate them all the same.
My favourite thing is probably all the character development, not just on Keera's end, but the whole found family too. I love them all to bits, and hope they all make it to the very end.
With that said, the ending was a bit odd. We've been building up towards this one event throughout both books, and then it turned out to be kinda underwhelming? Like, that's NOT how that should've happened, no way.
So for that I'm lowering my rating to a 4.5, but I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to jump into the next two....more