Book Review: The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

November 23, 2024September 6, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Mystery
Length: 336 pages
Author: Kara Thomas
Publisher: Delacorte
Release Date: April 19th, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Darkest Corners is a psychological thriller about the lies little girls tell, and the deadly truths those lies become.

There are ghosts around every corner in Fayette, Pennsylvania. Tessa left when she was nine and has been trying ever since not to think about it after what happened there that last summer. Memories of things so dark will burn themselves into your mind if you let them.

Callie never left. She moved to another house, so she doesn’t have to walk those same halls, but then Callie always was the stronger one. She can handle staring into the faces of her demons—and if she parties hard enough, maybe one day they’ll disappear for good.

Tessa and Callie have never talked about what they saw that night. After the trial, Callie drifted and Tessa moved, and childhood friends just have a way of losing touch.

But ever since she left, Tessa has had questions. Things have never quite added up. And now she has to go back to Fayette—to Wyatt Stokes, sitting on death row; to Lori Cawley, Callie’s dead cousin; and to the one other person who may be hiding the truth.

Only the closer Tessa gets to the truth, the closer she gets to a killer—and this time, it won’t be so easy to run away.

Thank you GetUnderlined for the gifted copy!

NOT TOO BAD.

Another Kara Thomas book down and I liked this one too! It’s another fast paced read with some good drama with betrayals and twists I didn’t see coming. I didn’t get as involved with this story though. I don’t know why, just missing something. I would still recommend this book! I think the writing is fantastic and there is this quality of reading that draws you in. I love the complex characters and relationship dynamics that leave me guessing in the best ways.

It all came together well and I liked how things wrapped up. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

Overall audience notes:

YA Mystery
Language: low
Romance: none
Violence: moderate
Content Warnings: murder, death, kidnapping, abuse, drugging, gun violence, underage drinking, suicide, false imprisonment

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Book Review: Lake of Glass (Archives of the Warden #1) by V.K. Dixon

November 22, 2024October 24, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Mystery
Length: 346 pages
Author: V.K. Dixon
Publisher: Xenia House Press
Release Date: October 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An inheritance they never expected will change their lives, reveal long-held secrets, & expose a world they didn’t know existed….

Brothers and co-authors, Peter and Spencer Collins, are living the life of the struggling artist. When their estranged Great-Aunt leaves her house and extensive inheritance to them in her will, it seems their dreams can come true. Picking up their whole lives, the brothers move to the tiny town of DeVerre, WA, to become full-time authors. But as strange occurrences and a string of animal attacks arise in the town, the brothers begin to feel as though they’ve stepped into one of their own mysteries.
Questioning their choice to uproot their entire lives, Peter and Spencer find themselves thrown into danger they never expected as secrets and conspiracies are uncovered in DeVerre — along with a link to the supernatural.
The brothers must decide if the success of their career and the truth behind these life-changing secrets are worth potentially risking their lives as they are drawn into a mystery filled with the ghosts, phantoms, and beasts of the spirit world.

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.

The cover of this book gave me some haunted gothic mansion vibes. And while that was there a little bit, ultimately this book wasn’t what I thought and didn’t keep me interested enough to want to read book two.

What this mostly consisted of were two brothers getting to know this tiny town that had “secrets.” And all of the townspeople kept repeating the same phrases of just get to know us and I’m sitting here thinking I still don’t know them. There were some convoluted family lines and bad blood scenarios and Spencer and Preston naively walked in thinking they could fix it all???

Not to mention the whole shadow plane + religious aspects didn’t pan out either. I was fine with the combination but the execution was lacking. I thought some thoughts didn’t quite work and pulled me out of the story.

This wasn’t a hate read by any means, just a not for me book that saddens me because I have been looking forward to picking this up for the fall.

Overall audience notes:

Mystery
Language: a little
Romance: flirting
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, near death experiences, ghost encounters

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ARC Book Review: The Myths of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #4) by Nicole Platania

November 21, 2024November 20, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 686 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 21st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Constellations may fall,
but perhaps all the myths are alive.

Ophelia has survived warfare, curses, and betrayals. Now, as the Revered of the Mystique Warriors and the Chosen of the Angels, she faces an unprecedented threat: The bloodthirsty Queen of the Fae sails for the shores of Gallantia. To ensure the safety of her people, Ophelia is forced into a deadly bargain.

As the hunt for the remaining two Angel emblems continues–now with newfound allies–Ophelia’s chosen family is thrown into peril and prophecies. Fates are questioned, magic seeks to kill, and each day, the Angels try to bend Ophelia further to their will.

But she is born of myths and legend, and she will scorch the deities before they pull her strings. Can Ophelia discover the remedy to the Angelcurse and harness her newfound power, or will centuries-old secrets rip her apart at the seams?

The Myths of Ophelia is book four in the Curse of Ophelia series, a new adult epic romantic fantasy with inspiration from Greek Mythology. It’s a high-stakes warrior adventure filled with bantering found family, meddling gods and Angels, and multiple slow burn romances, perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Sarah J Maas, and Chloe C. Peñaranda.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

DEVASTATION.

I’m back for another review for this series and once again in desperate need of more people to pick it up!! If you’re looking for something with Throne of Glass vibes (but is its own story!!) then you have to try TCOO.

I’ll be brief for lack of wanting to spoil anything for anyone who’s reading this without having read the other books. BUT essentially, there’s more of everything. The world building is continually expanding, I love seeing where the magic system is going and the mythical creatures that are popping up are my favorite.

I love how many POV’s are present and how this also adds more romances (and I think I spotted another one that I’m already obsessed with). I love this entire cast. I love how the different strengths and weaknesses in this found family have come together to work towards the greater good of their lands. I am anxiously waiting for the next (and I believe last?) installment. It’ll gut me, AND I’M READY.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate – high
Romance: multiple open door (plot > spice though)
Violence: high

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ARC Book Review: A Queen of Ice (A Trial of Sorcerers #5) by Elise Kova

November 21, 2024October 29, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 420 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: November 21st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The epic conclusion of Eira’s journey of love, loss, and power.

A pirate does not ask…they take.

Five kingdoms at the brink of war, an Empire ready to capitalize on the chaos, a pirate queen terrorizing the seas… And one young woman with a score to settle.

Eira is done playing by the rules. Done limiting her magic and her heart. Done doing what she’s told by people in power. She’s going to show the world exactly why they were right when they called her “dangerous.”

A Queen of Ice is the fifth and final book in A Trial of Sorcerers, a young adult, epic fantasy series intended for readers who love stories sorcerer competitions, slow-burn romance, adventures to distant lands, good triumphing over evil, and elemental magic.

Don’t miss a single book in the A Trial of Sorcerers series. Readers should first read A Trial of Sorcerers, A Hunt of Shadows, A Tournament of Crowns, and An Heir of Frost before finishing the series with A Queen of Ice.

AHHHHHHH.

That’s how I felt about this book. It took me on a journey. The series took me on a JOURNEY. I love this world so much and I am so happy to have another completed series from Elise Kova. She is one of my favorite fantasy romance authors for a reason.

One of the big things for me was how the romance was handled. I’m pretty sure it’s something I haven’t read before and I loved the way it just made sense. I’m learning I can be convinced of different iterations of tropes and I love that for my reading journey.

The plot is epic and I loved the pacing. There’s not a moment that doesn’t fit, not a moment that doesn’t have you begging to know what happens next. I loved this entire cast and found family. And even the characters I wasn’t expecting to love wormed their way in. The ending is beautiful, the emotions are intense and the voyage is worth it.

Overall audience notes: