Book Review: Reign of Darkness (The Fallen Kingdoms #2) by K.B. Benson

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 540 pages
Author: K.B. Benson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Darkness is a vicious evil no mortal can escape. But I’m no stranger to darkness, and I never intend to be free.

With new, unfathomable power, Ari won’t rest until she gets her revenge. But she is blinded by her vengeance, and when Caelum arrives in Eida, she never imagined he’d take it for his own.

Blood fills the streets. Death lingers in the air. Caelum has come to steal Ari’s power and build an army filled with monsters and magic. An army he has every intention of unleashing on the human world.

Unless she stops him.

Fiercely loyal to the realm he calls home, Graeden will do whatever it takes to protect it. But as an insurrection forms against the Starfallen’s new queen, Graeden finds his loyalty is no longer fixed firmly on the realm or the crown.

Unable to douse the fire Ari stirs within him, Graeden finds it isn’t enough to protect her. He wants her. All of her. The one person in the entire realm he can’t have.

As Caelum pushes the realm toward its destruction, there is only one way for Ari and Graeden to keep those they love safe, and they must both decide what they’re willing to risk … and who they’re willing to kill.

Reign of Darkness is the second book in KB Benson’s The Fallen Kingdoms series, an upper YA high fantasy. If you like slow-burn romance, action-packed battles, dragons and monsters, and unique magic systems, then you’ll love this fast-paced, page-turning series. Grab your copy and reenter Eida!

PACING ISSUES.

I really enjoyed book one and have been excited for this continuation. Unfortunately I feel like this severely lacked in plot movement and over the course of 500 pages, not a lot happened.

Ari spent most of the book arguing with Caelum and almost taking him out, but not yet. Rinse and repeat. Graeden and the romance were on the sideline too. There was a fantastically steamy make-out scene, but it almost felt out of left field after Ari and Graeden hadn’t spent much time together.

I don’t know now if I want to pick up book three. It is written well, it’s more a plot choices that were frustrating.

Overall audience notes:

  • New Adult Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very low
  • Romance: make-out
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: The Sword of Kaigan by M.L. Wang

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 631 pages
Author: M.L. Wang
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 19th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

On a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful fighters in the world, warriors capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For centuries, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire’s enemies at bay, earning their treacherous spit of land the name ‘The Sword of Kaigen.’

Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always know his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru ralizes that he might not have much time before he has to become the fighter he was bred to be. Even worse, the empire he was born to defend might stand on a foundation of lies.

Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of invasion looming on the horizon, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface.

When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies ever reach their shores?

THIS BOOK TORE ME UP.

I was not expecting the devastation this book brought me. OHMYGOODNESS. I can’t even speak to it as well as I want to because it would spoil things and I need y’all to go read this book and then come find me so we can cry together.

This also had one of the best character arc chapters I have ever read (IYKYK). The fighting and emotion and being at your absolute lowest that brought this character to finally shape up and DO SOMETHING. I will constantly be coming back to this scene.

And I loved loved loved Misaki. This book really showcased the strength of being a woman and mother. The way so many themes were tackled were hard hitting and raw. I could not put this book down. I thought the writing and pacing was incredible. This book made me think, cry, rage and contemplate all the things.

Hands down a new favorite in the fantasy genre for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: this isn’t a romance book but there are some discussions around sex
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: miscarriage, suicide, war themes, loss of loved ones, graphic deaths/violence, attempted murder of a baby, r*pe, post partum depression

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Book Review: ASAP (XOXO #2) by Axie Oh

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Axie Oh
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh’s ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.

Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?

VERY FRUSTRATING.

I adored XOXO and this was a big letdown. I felt like a lot of this book happened around the main character and she was on the sidelines. Sori was helping everyone else and doing things for other people while she was standing still. I would have loved to see her more involved in the plot.

And the second chance romance was on the eh side too. The third act conflict about had me throw my phone across the room. The level of unnecessary drama to drag out the story made much of it feel like filler plot lines rather than a cohesive novel.

The audio narrator was fantastic and that had me holding on. Otherwise this book left a lot to be desired for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door

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Book Review: We Redeemed the Rain (Meadowbrook Ranch #1) by Ashley Dill

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 438 pages
Author: Ashley Dill
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“Everyone should find someone to share their story with.”

Exhausted and burnt-out, singer-songwriter, Bea Thompson, needs a break and some space from her once-promising career as an indie musician. Seeking refuge from the crushing pressures of the industry, she books a last minute stay at a special childhood sanctuary, the birthplace of her most treasured friendship, Meadowbrook Ranch. She only hopes the boy she found in the hayloft all those years ago still lives there.

Over the years, lone cowboy, Samuel Taggart (Tag), has built a name for himself as a stock contractor for the rodeo circuit. Shackled by the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, he’s resigned himself to a life of solitude at Meadowbrook Ranch, working around the clock for the only family he’s ever been able to count on—the horses.

But one stormy night, an unexpected visitor upends his quiet life. The girl from the hayloft—his long term pen pal—is back, covered head to toe in mud, and excited to see him.

After spending years pouring his heart out through letters to Bea, finally seeing her again face-to-face sends his heart into lockdown.

Will he trust his old friend with the painful storms of his past, or will the rain prove that some souls are too far gone for love?

We Redeemed the Rain, is a contemporary romance set in Central Texas and the first installment of Meadowbrook Ranch—an emotional series about trauma, healing, and love amid crisis.

BEAUTIFUL READ.

This was a heavy hitter and an emotional read that also brought the infused sense of hope and healing. I thought the tough conversations and themes were handled with care and were genuine to the story and creating a beautiful romance between two people who deserved each other.

I loved the Texas ranch setting. Going to rodeos, riding horses and taking care of all of the things that pop up in-between. I enjoyed seeing Bea and Tag work together and how Bea constantly met Tag where he was, yet also let him know she was a safe place to land. This was one of those reads that had me shouting for them to kiss. The near moments were tangible and I loved loved loved the way the slow burn was crafted around needed conversations and rough and tender moments.

Incredible writing, all the cowboy content, and just a book I could NOT put down. I loved everything about this story and the message it created. I could comment on so many little plot decisions that made this book sing. It’s those small moments that bring a story home for me and gosh dang, I love Tag and Bea.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: mild – moderate
  • Content Warnings: child sexual assault, child abuse, PTSD (including dissociative episodes), suicide attempt (recounted), substance abuse

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