Author: GoodeyReads

Book Review: This Violent Reckoning (The Curse of the Blessed #2) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 276 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: May 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Trio of Fugitives. A Reckless Prince. A Mission for Salvation.

Cast out to sea, Elynor of Bast and her companions embark on a desperate quest.

In order to save Sharek from a cruel death—and halt a war in the making—Elynor, Sharek, and Sylvester are bound for the wilds of faraway Orleth. But far more awaits on the kingdom’s mysterious shores than they could ever imagine; vicious raiders, uncharted wilds, and the depths of desperation, love, and sacrifice lie along the journey. When tragedy befalls and danger abounds, the unlikely trio finds not just aid from strange places, but hidden truths that will alter all they have understood of the past…and the course of their futures.

Prince Jamyson is a royal living impossible lies.

While the kingdom of Erala bows before his infallible father and the Holy Throne, Jamyson knows of the treachery that lives in the halls of his home…and what he knows threatens what he holds most dear. When a mysterious message arrives from his childhood friend just as an unfamiliar face appears in court, spouting accusations and wielding dark schemes, it falls to Jamyson, his loyal servant, and the woman he loves to unravel the plot threatening the heart of their kingdom.
Should any of them fail, it will mean war…and the end of Erala as they know it.

THAT ENDING.

I’m enjoying this series a lot! There’s a good amount of action, I don’t know quite what’s going to happen next and I really enjoy the leads. Elynor, Sharek and Jamyson are all incredibly well built characters and I love how Dugan writes flawed souls while showcasing their strengths.

The antagonist is the only thing that got me a little. I don’t know quite how to pin it other than it didn’t work as well for me. Otherwise, I am excited for this finale. I thought there were good reveals and my jaw definitely dropped at a scene towards the end. These are a bit shorter fantasy books and I think it’s working great for the plot setp-up.

I love Dugan’s writing and story telling.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, a character with a memory condition, executions, near death experiences, kidnapping, torture

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Book Review: Lux (Texas Reckoners #1) by Brandon Sanderson and Steven Bohls

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Dystopia
Length: 480 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson & Steven Bohls
Publisher: Audible Originals
Release Date: July 22nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Texas Reckoners novel

A new team of Reckoners must infiltrate the flying city of Lux to take down the Epic Lifeforce in this audio-exclusive novel from Brandon Sanderson.

When the great red star Calamity appeared in the sky, some believed the end had come. They were right.

Calamity created the Epics: humans with incredible powers they didn’t deserve.

They could have saved mankind. They could have lifted us into harmony and prosperity. Instead they burned. They slaughtered. They conquered. And then they ruled.

Jax has learned all of this the hard way. Orphaned at an early age, he’s spent most of his childhood training to be a Reckoner – determined to find the Epics’ weaknesses, unlock their secrets, and protect those of us who are still left.

But now, the mysterious High Epic Lifeforce has arrived with his flying city, Lux, to plunder what’s left of Texas. So Jax and his ragtag team – the few who remain of the once-mighty Texas Reckoners – must take their battle to this floating fortress of riches – and defeat the invincible.

To avenge what has been lost. And rise anew.

A GOOD SPIN-OFF.

I enjoyed the original Reckoners series and I couldn’t pass up reading all things Sanderson so here we are!

The main character, Jax, was solid. I liked that he had to work through tough decisions, sometimes make the wrong choice, and decide what path was the best for everyone involved. It gave a many layered character that I enjoy seeing. Not to mention, there’s villain points of view??? Wild and never happens so this was fun too.

There was nothing glaring for my rating to be four star, but you know when it’s Sanderson but not? It’s that vibe that just had it missing somethings for me overall.

I thought the ending was good, but there’s room for more??? So I’m confused because I thought this was a standalone. Guess we’ll find out.

LOTS of action, missions gone wrong and moments you won’t see coming. I really enjoyed this as an audiobook (and I actually think it only comes that way right now?) so give it a go!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Dystopia
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mass murder, physical violence, weapons violence, explosions, loss of life, loss of a sibling

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ARC Book Review: Foul Heart Hunstman (Foul Lady Fortune #2) by Chloe Gong

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fiction + Fantasy
Length: 560 pages
Author: Chloe Gong
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion.

Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

DID NOT LET ME DOWN.

You know when you’re waiting for your most anticipated 2023 release and that Netgalley approval finally comes through? THIS IS THAT BOOK FOR ME.

And I loved it. I loved it so much. I am constantly pulled in by Chloe Gong’s writing style and the way she tells a story. Captivated by this spy/agent thriller and all of the relationships in between.

LET ME TELL Y’ALL. The romances are subtle, they are not the main plot, but gosh dang it, I was absolutely smitten with ALL OF THEM (and there’s three so YAY). Every nuanced look or little touch, the glances and swoony confessions and kisses. I ate it all up. Surrounding the romances are such loyal and strong sibling and friendship bonds. I love that this has a found family vibe where everyone was looked after, old friends showed up, and past grievances were resolved.

The plot is entertaining and gasp inducing. I loooove that it’s a multi-POV set up and the flow from character to character. The betrayals and losses, the way my husband asked me if I was going to bed soon and I responded with, I’m at 85% and I don’t know who’s going to survive so NO I AM NOT. My emotions have been invoked, my love for this series is intense and I beg of y’all to give it a chance.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fiction + Fantasy
  • Language: little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, gun violence, weapons and physical violence, bombings, war themes, torture, medical experimentation, amnesia

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Book Review: Dark Night Golden Dawn (The Immortal Orders #1) by Allison Carr Waechter

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Rating: ★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 408 pages
Author: Allison Carr Waechter
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: March 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a city where the elite are powerful as gods, the season is about to begin. The Immortal Orders will gather, pair and create a spectacle for all of Nuva Troi to witness.

Harlow Krane is a sorcière who wants nothing more than to recover from her most recent breakup in peace. When the season begins, her Order needs her help to save their ancestral occult district from being taken over by the Illuminated, the most powerful immortals in Nuva Troi. They offer to back off—if Harlow agrees to pair with their most eligible bachelor, Finn McKay. But Harlow has been burned by Finn before.

Finn McKay is one of the Illuminated. Rich, powerful, and he isn’t afraid of anyone—except for his parents. When they push him towards Harlow Krane, he knows their purposes are sinister at best. For the past seven years, Finn has done everything in his power to stay away from Harlow and he won’t break his resolve now, even if it means defying his parents. As the season begins, it’s clear something is dangerously wrong but besides Finn, only Harlow seems to notice.

With magic behaving strangely, the balance of power between the Immortal Orders and humans grows deadlier by the day. Harlow and Finn must work together to keep ancient grudges from resurfacing and take back their lives in the process. If they can get over their past, the whole world may have a brighter future.

Dark Night, Golden Dawn is Book One in The Immortal Orders Trilogy, a blazing hot fantasy romance, set in a contemporary world of magic, deception, and betrayal. 

WOW THIS DID NOT WORK FOR ME.

I feel like I read a completely different book than everyone else. Nope nooooooooope no.

A nagging issue I had with this, is that it felt like a contemporary romance shoved into a fantasy world? And not as a compliment. Because than the fantasy elements fell flat and I think a lot more world building could have been focused on. It was this weird zone.

It is definitely a romance which awesome. Things moved way too quickly. Was this supposed to be enemies to lovers? Furthest thing from that. Second chance? Yes that trope was efficient. When the couple is already completely back together before the halfway point I have no connection to them. It just turned into a let’s bang everywhere scenario that y’all know I never love.

There’s some sweet family and sister dynamics. Good friendships and connections. I never really liked the FMC either though which played a big part in me skimming way too much of this book.

I won’t be continuing the series.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open door scenes; med-high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: emotional abusive boyfriend (recounted multiple times), depression, gaslighting, suicide attempt, animal cruelty, fatphobia, homophobia

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