Author: GoodeyReads

Book Review: Bloodsinger (The Starchaser Saga #5) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 431 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 7th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

And so it comes to war.

For months, Princess Cistine Novacek of Talheim has contended with the threat looming over her home and secured an alliance that brought peace to the Middle Kingdom at last. But calamity has caught up with her nonetheless – not in her own land, but in the treacherous North. With Talheim spared from a horrific fate, Cistine faces the choice between peace in her homeland or war alongside her new allies.

The princess chooses war.

Now with a ruthless enemy hunting them for the blood they shed and the weapons they carry, Cistine and her allies will fight harder, risk greater, and journey farther than they ever have before, seeking to save everything they love. Even if salvation means paying a cost beyond their darkest dreams.

For on bloody battlefields, in dark mountain halls, in the ancient bones of the world and deep in their own spirits, the battle for Valgard – and all the kingdoms of the world – will be waged.

THE PAIN.

Oh my gosh this book was so good. There’s your review.

I am absolutely in love and wholly invested in every single one of these characters and I swear if we lose someone or there is not a happy ending I will RIOT. Though I have faith things will be fine. I hope. There’s copious amounts of intense, page turning action. Injured love ones, grief, coping with loss, and all the emotions. Balanced beautifully with moments of quiet kisses, communication over past grievances, and pushing forward as best as possible.

This series doesn’t cease to impress me. I loved the pacing on this one and it might be my new favorite of the series. I liked the reveals, the connections and seriously everything about it.

I’m trying to maintain vagueness because this far into a series I don’t want to spoil for everyone. So just know, I LOVE IT AND WANT YOU TO READ IT TOO.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle themes, loss of loved ones, physical and magical altercations, near death experiences

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: December 2022

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It’s the end of 2022! And there were plenty of amazing reads this month. I loved my rereads and the many new books I came across too.

Favorites

Least Favorites

  • Morning Star (Reread)
  • Lightfall
  • ACOTAR Series (Reread)
  • A Holly Jilly Christmas
  • Sisters of Sword and Song
  • Before I Let Go
  • Fractured Sky
  • The Co-Op
  • Bloodsinger
  • Dear Emmie Blue
  • A Heart Worth Stealing
  • You Wouldn’t Dare
  • The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
  • A Wilderness of Stars
  • Beauty Reborn
  • The Syren’s Mutiny
  • Just My Type
  • Cotswolds Holiday (Christmas Escapes #1) by Kasey Stockton
  • [Reread] Morning Star (Red Rising Saga #3) by Pierce Brown
  • [ARC] You Wouldn’t Dare by Samantha Markum
  • Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg
  • Lightfall (The Starchaser Saga #4) by Renee Dugan
  • [Reread] A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC/Novella] A Holly Jilly Christmas (Sheet Cake Love Stories) by Emma St. Clair
  • The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis
  • Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross
  • Fates Illuminated (Call of the Norns #1) by Aimee Vance
  • Before I Let Go (Skyland #1) by Kennedy Ryan
  • [Novella] Visions of You (Lost & Found #0.5) by Catherine Cowles
  • [Novella] Snowbound (Tattered & Torn #2.5) by Catherine Cowles
  • A Vision in Smoke (Until the Stars Are Dead #2) by Allyson S. Barkley
  • Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5) by Catherine Cowles
  • [ARC] Never Vacation With Your Ex by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
  • [Reread] A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • To Bleed A Crystal Bloom (Crystal Bloom #1) by Sarah A. Parker
  • [ARC] The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
  • Let it Snow by Michelle Stimpson
  • [Novella] A Very Merry Christmoose (Deadlights Cove #2.5) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
  • Esperance (Esperance Trilogy #1) by Heather Frost
  • [Reread] A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw
  • The Co-Op by Tarah Dewitt
  • Children of Ragnarok (The Runestone Saga #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
  • Two Wrongs Make a Right (The Wilmot Sisters #1) by Chloe Liese
  • Lord of Gold and Glory (Fae Isles #2) by Lisette Marshall
  • The Holly Dates by Brittainy Cherry
  • [Reread/Novella] A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOTAR #3.5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [Novella] Christmas Presents by Tarah Dewitt
  • 50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover (Bower Boys #1) by Kelly Siskind
  • Let Love In (Canyon Cove Love Stories #3) by Marie Soleil
  • Bloodsinger (The Starchaser Saga #5) by Renee Dugan
  • [ARC] Beauty Reborn by Elizabeth Lowham
  • [ARC] Off the Map (Beck Sisters #3) by Trish Doller
  • [Reread] A Court of Silver Flames (ACOTAR #4) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Just My Type by Falon Ballard
  • [ARC] The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
  • The Syren’s Mutiny by Jessica S. Taylor
  • Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
  • [Novella] Falling in Somerset (Lost Story Bookshop) by Jenny B. Jones
  • [ARC] A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker

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Book Review: How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Sophie Sullivan
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: January 18th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Interior Design School? Check. Cute house to fix up? Check.

Sexy, grumpy neighbor who is going to get in the way of your plans? Check. Unfortunately.

Grace Travis has it all figured out. In between finishing school and working a million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree and her dream job. Most importantly, she’ll have a place to belong, something her harsh mother could never make. When an opportunity to fix up—and live in—a little house on the beach comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door.

Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. As a real estate developer, he knows when he’s found something special. Something he could even call home. Provided he can expand by taking over the house next door–the house with the combative and beautiful woman living in it.

With the rules for being neighborly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes, your nemesis can show you that home is always where the heart is.

FRUSTRATING.

If you’re going to call a book enemies to lovers, you better give me some enemies. This was NOT THE CASE. The forgiveness/kiss came waayyy to soon and then I was left upset with the rest of the book.

Within the rest of the book were some sweet moments. I’ll give it that. I liked most aspects of the relationship and interactions. There’s my good thing. Oohh, I did also love the design aspects! That was a nice plot point and I loved learning about things through Grace.

The rest was a slow slog to the standard conflict and eh reconciliation. Some of the drama worked well and other parts of it seemed childish and soap opera like through the altercations. Just a lot here that I couldn’t recommend. Moving on.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gaslighting, strained mother/daughter relationship

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Book Review: Heart of the Sun Warrior (The Celestial Kingdom Duology #2) by Sue Lynn Tan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy + Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: November 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After her perilous quest to free her mother, Xingyin thrives once more in the tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a treacherous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation–to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love… even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin–the daughter of Chang’e and the mortal archer, Houyi–as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope.

NEW FAVORITE DUOLOGY ALERT.

Not me going from “this book will be thrown across the room if what I think is happening happens” to crying while hugging this beautiful book that broke my soul and mended it.

THIS WAS INCREDIBLE. MAGNIFICENT. Sue Lynn Tan has cemented herself in my auto-buy column after this read. I never wanted to put it down. I love the writing and pacing style that keeps things moving (slow and fast) while adding in the soft and action with ease.

Xingyin is one of the best female protagonists I’ve read in awhile. She is strong, capable and full of self reflection. I love that she can make mistakes, apologize, and hold her ground all in the same story. Complex characters are my lifeblood and Xingyin is someone I would desperately love to have on my side.

THE ROMANCE THOUGH. I want to keep this paragraph pretty vague because spoilers will ruin this for y’all. But I will say, it went different than I expected, but still gave me everything I hoped for when I started reading HOFSW. I don’t think [hope] you’ll be disappointed either. BECAUSE IT BROUGHT ON ALL THE TEARS.

I felt every emotion. Enjoyed every page. And was blissfully satisfied with this conclusion.

I love this book y’all. READ IT PLEASE. THANK ME LATER.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: med-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a loved one, battle themes, physical and magical altercations, loss of life

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