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Book Review: Winter’s Heart (The Wheel of Time #9) by Robert Jordan

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 705 pages
Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: November 7th, 2000
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Rand is on the run with Min, and in Cairhein, Cadsuane is trying to figure out where he is headed. Rand’s destination is, in fact, one she has never considered.

Mazrim Taim, leader of the Black Tower, is revealed to be a liar. But what is he up to?

Faile, with the Aiel Maidens, Bain and Chiad, and her companions, Queen Alliandre and Morgase, is prisoner of Savanna’s sept.

Perrin is desperately searching for Faile. With Elyas Machera, Berelain, the Prophet and a very mixed “army” of disparate forces, he is moving through country rife with bandits and roving Seanchan. The Forsaken are ever more present, and united, and the man called Slayer stalks Tel’aran’rhiod and the wolfdream.

In Ebou Dar, the Seanchan princess known as Daughter of the Nine Moons arrives–and Mat, who had been recuperating in the Tarasin Palace, is introduced to her. Will the marriage that has been foretold come about?

A BIT CHAOTIC.

I will admit that this one was easier to get through than book eight. But the same glaring issues continually popping up just holds me back from really connecting with the story (and I have put myself in for the long haul of finishing this series to read all of Sanderson’s books).

The romantic sub plot is a dumpster fire I can’t look away from. Rand is not all that and these women need to find someone more consistent in their lives. I don’t even know what to do with it all other than just jump on the train to see what wild thing happens next.

I wish there was a better balance between the POV’s. Staying in one story line for so long gets me in the groove and then changing to someone else’s kind of throws me off. Wash and repeat the entire book. I’m still trying to figure out why these books were so popular.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: hallucinations, battle themes, loss of life, weapons and magical altercations

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ARC Book Review: Summer in the Highlands by Nichole Van, Heidi Kimball and Michele Paige Holmes

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance Novella Collection
Length: 360 pages
Author: Nichole Van, Heidi Kimball & Michele Paige Holmes
Publisher: Mirror Press
Release Date: May 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the publisher of the USA Today bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series, comes Summer in the Highlands, with three Victorian Romance novellas by Nichole Van, Heidi Kimball, and Michele Paige Holmes.

Remnants of Love by Nichole Van
Mrs. Christiana Newton—Chrissi to her closest friends—has two simple goals in life. One, earn a living through her archaeological expertise. And two, forget that Alistair Maclagan, her traitorous former betrothed, still walks the same planet as herself. Alistair Maclagan, Lord Farnell, has resolved to move on from his broken engagement to Chrissi nine years ago, to forgive himself for shattering the trust between them. But when Fate drops Chrissi, quite literally, into a muddy bog on Alistair’s Highland estate, the two are forced to confront their romantic past. Despite heartbreak, betrayal, and the passage of years, can Chrissi and Alistair forge love anew?

Of Kilts and Courtship by Heidi Kimball
Consigned to spend three months in the Highlands of Scotland with a grandmother she’s never met and an accent she cannot understand, Arabella Hughes has every reason to believe it will prove to be the worst summer of her life. And after meeting the infuriating and unchivalrous Gavin McKenzie, she becomes certain of it. As the summer progresses, however, and her prejudices and preconceptions about both Scotland and her grandmother are turned on their heads, Arabella remains determined to keep a certain Scotsman at bay. Yet every time they meet, Mr. McKenzie teases her, provokes her, and confronts her—challenging the way she thinks and forcing Arabella to consider what she truly wants for her future, even if what she wants turns out to be the last thing she ever expected.

Into the Light by Michele Paige Holmes
Theodore Hughes seeks a summer of refuge and healing in Scotland’s Highlands, as he recovers from both physical and emotional wounds sustained in the Crimean War. He’s also looking forward to becoming reacquainted with his fiancée, Violet. But when the wrong woman arrives on his doorstep, his plans are thrown awry and his tenuous hold on the future seems to be slipping away. Beatrice never wanted to come to the Highlands, to witness her undeserving cousin being doted upon by a man she neither loves nor appreciates. But Beatrice never would have intentionally injured Lord Hughes’ heart, no matter what he believes to the contrary. Thrown together, both victims of Violet’s mischief, Theodore and Beatrice navigate a hostile beginning to a tentative friendship, then to trust and ultimately love. But Beatrice hasn’t been entirely honest about the past. And her deceit may be her undoing when Violet returns to claim Theodore as her own.

Thank you to the authors for my gifted copy!

LOVED THEM ALL.

Remnants of Love
Nichole Van can do no wrong in my opinion and so it should come as no surprise that I loved this second chance, ANGSTY tension filled romance. I loved the re-meet cute and the push and pull between Chrissi and Alistair. There’s just the right amount of flashback chapters to connect to the past and I loved the pacing of the present. It’s swoony and heartfelt and fills your soul.
Content Warnings: mentions of a miscarriage

Of Kilts and Courtships
I also love Heidi Kimball’s stories and this one was amazing!! Such a great use of a quick timeline and love story. I never felt like things moved too fast. I was invested with the heated enemies banter and all of the swoooony moments that brought Gavin and Arabella together. I loved the coastal Scotland setting and passionate tale. It ended at just the right spot too.

Into the Light
This is my first book by this author! I really liked it. There’s a lot of sweet moments and I loved Theodore and Beatrice’s strength and resilient natures vs. the things they have been through. Once again, I adored the highland setting.
Content Warnings: war injuries and recovery

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Book Review: White Sand Graphic Novels (Vol. 1 – 3) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Graphic Novel
Length: 460 pages (total)
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A brand new saga of magic and adventure by #1 New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson.

On the planet of Taldain, the legendary Sand Masters harness arcane powers to manipulate sand in spectacular ways. But when they are slaughtered in a sinister conspiracy, the weakest of their number, Kenton, believes himself to be the only survivor. With enemies closing in on all sides, Kenton forges an unlikely partnership with Khriss — a mysterious Darksider who hides secrets of her own.

White Sand brings to life a crucial, unpublished part of Brandon Sanderson’s sprawling Cosmere universe. The story has been adapted by Rik Hoskin (Mercy Thompson), with art by Julius Gopez and colors by Ross Campbell. Employing powerful imagery and Sanderson’s celebrated approach to magical systems, White Sand is a spectacular new saga for lovers of fantasy and adventure.

I LIKED THEM.

This is a non spoiler review of the series as a whole.

I’m on a quest to read all of Sanderson’s back list/less common books and it was time to read his graphic novels! I thought the sand magic system was super cool and the inklings of the world building aspects were great too. In a graphic novel system it doesn’t have the same big style that Sanderson’s novels typical has, but I understood the framework enough to still like them.

The characters were pretty interesting too. Occasionally a bit jilted in conversations and such, but there was some good arcs and people I enjoyed seeing. I tend to think of always needing something more from a short book and that was basically the case here. The plot was good, kept me mostly engaged and I did read all of these in an evening so that’s something.

Not upset I read them, but also not a priority type of read either.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Graphic Novels
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: high (and graphically depicted with blood)
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mass loss of life, loss of loved ones, assassination attempts, murder, physical and magical altercations, creature attacks and hunting

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Book Review: When Gods Fall (The Gifts of the Gods #1) by S.E. Bouvier

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 607 pages
Author: S.E. Bouvier
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: November 23rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two sisters. Both destined for greatness. One will rise. One will fall.

In the Freefolk camps, magic is forbidden, and the gods are dead.

Alena has lived in the camps all her life but is fascinated by the Old Lands and their magic.

When her father is injured in a hunting accident, that same magic is his only hope of survival. Alena has no choice but to break Freefolk law to save him—a crime for which she is swiftly captured. Now, only her older sister, Katell, can help her.

But Katell, a Freefolk huntress, discovers she has magical abilities of her own, and in the camps, being Marked is a death sentence. The sisters are forced to leave their home and venture into the war-torn Old Lands in search of answers. Their journey takes a dangerous turn when slavers capture them.

Alena escapes slavery and finds an unlikely ally—a rebel warrior, fighting against the oppressive Rasennan Empire. Katell, a slave, is sold to an arena to fight for the entertainment of the Rasennan crowds. Her life is on the line with each ferocious fight.

Alena vows to rescue her sister, but amidst awakening gods, scheming rebels, and a power-hungry Emperor, the sisters’ bond will be tested, and each must decide how far she is willing to go to save the other.

If you crave strong heroines, elemental magic, ancient Greek and Roman influences, tortured heroes, and a heart-wrenching romance, get ready to dive into this gripping upper YA fantasy.

WHEN GODS FALL is the first book in a new epic fantasy series, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, An Ember in the Ashes, and Air Awakens.

Please note: WHEN GODS FALL is an upper YA fantasy that contains moderate violence, some gore, and mild adult situations.

MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

I love finding indie gems. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. I loved it so much. I loved all of the Greek & Roman inspired dynamics and how those + the meddling gods played into the larger plot. I loved both of these sisters and how much they cared for each other but also how they have to pursue their own paths for now.

I’m also weak for the subtle slow burn romances. The longing glances and heated kisses, good heavens, if I could ask for one thing, MORE of this. I loved both dynamics (each sister has a romantic sub plot). And the reveals??? I kept thinking I had figured something out and then was hit with new information that made me GASP. And tear up, let me tell y’all, things get emotional.

I loved all of the more prevalent side characters. I loved how much action and politicking was involved. I loved seeing glimpses of the emperor and the big journey these characters went on. The magic is really cool, and is one of those thick fantasy books I crave. It absolutely deserves all the love and I need more people to find it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA/NA Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes, loss of life, near death experiences, weapons violence

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