ARC Book Review: An Heir of Frost (A Trial of Sorcerers #4) by Elise Kova

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 413 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: February 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The fate of five kingdoms teeters on the knife’s edge, and Eira’s destiny is in the icy grasp of the Pirate Queen.

After a narrow escape from the brutal end of the Tournament of Five Kingdoms, Eira and her friends find themselves prisoners of the legendary Pirate Queen Adela. To most, death follows shortly after the pirate queen’s icy stare. But for Eira, those all too familiar eyes hold long-sought truths.

As she and her friends dive deeper into the pirates’ world, their magic is pushed to the brink. Morals are tested. Old passions reignite, and fresh desires spark. But love can be the deadliest vulnerability.

Amidst high-seas action, close-call escapes, and unraveling the twisted political machinations that happen in the shadows of their world, a haunting question looms larger and larger:

How much are they prepared to sacrifice for what they believe in?

An Heir of Frost is the fourth book in A Trial of Sorcerers, a young adult, epic fantasy series intended for readers who love stories involving: 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, and A Tournament of Crowns before starting An Heir of Frost.

Thank you to Elise Kova for an eARC and ARC.

WHERE IS BOOK FIVE.

I CAN NOT. I need the conclusion to this series ASAP. Ahhhhh Elise Kova writes some of the best cliffhangers I’ve ever read and this was no different. There’s so many unanswered questions (in the best way) and I can’t wait for the epic finale.

AND TO SEE WHERE THIS LOVE TRIANGLE GOES.

I have thoughts and implications and I swear if I’m wrong I will probably feel some intense rage so let’s hope that goes well. Because gosh dang those were some FIERY kisses and I was here for every moment. Even caught myself conflicted a few times.

Eira is just my favorite. I LOVE the character growth over the whole series. From naive and not open about trusting and her plans, to learning to lean on others and work together all while strengthening her own powers is next level. I love this found family group and the ups and downs that they go through. It brings all the feels. And now I’m also in love with Adela??? The pirate queen is exactly the type of character I was hoping she’d be and was the perfect figure for Eira at this point in her life. I love where this is going.

The whole book was a ride. I found myself inhaling the pages and did not want to put it down. I love love love being back in the Air Awakens universe (have you read that yet because YOU SHOULD). Not so casually waiting till I can get my hands on book five.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: vague almost love scene; otherwise heated make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, loss of loved ones, weapons/magical/physical violence, torture

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Book Review: These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom #2) by Tahereh Mafi

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: February 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

With the heat of a kiss, the walls between Alizeh, the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom, and Kamran, the crown prince of the Ardunian empire, have crumbled. And so have both of their lives.

Kamran’s grandfather, the king of Ardunia, lays dead, the terrible secret of his deal with the devil exposed to the world. Cyrus, the mysterious copper-haired royal, has stolen Alizeh away to Tulan, the neighboring kingdom where he rules. Cyrus has made his own deal with the devil—one that would require Alizeh to betray her feelings for Kamran if she’s to reclaim the Jinn throne.

Alizeh wants nothing to do with Cyrus, or his deal with Iblees. But with no means of escaping Tulan, and with the tantalizing promise of fulfilling her destiny as the heir to the Jinn, she’s forced to wonder whether she can set aside her emotions—and finally become the queen her people need.

Kamran, meanwhile, is picking up the pieces of his broken kingdom. Facing betrayal at every turn, all he knows for certain is that he must go to Tulan to avenge his grandfather. He can only hope that Alizeh will be waiting for him there—and that she’s not yet become queen of Tulan.

WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO FEEL.

This book left me feeling super conflicted.

If I think about the romance in one context, I don’t necessarily mind it, I can see where it could work. Morally gray is my wheelhouse and romantic switch ups are fantastic. Lets do it.

Buuuut if I’m supposed to be thinking about it in a different way on the other side of the love triangle I didn’t realize was occurring then why were they separated the entire time??????

I DON’T KNOW. Honestly, I don’t know how to continue the review. There’s not much true plot movement. It’s mostly spent with Alizeh trying to decide if she should marry someone and Kamran wallowing about his new position. Grateful for an audiobook I could speed up.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Context Warnings: kidnapping, some physical altercations

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ARC Book Review: Wish You Weren’t Here by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Magical Realism Romance
Length: 348 pages
Author: Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Clementine has accidentally freed a British genie from his ancient British teapot, and she’s not thrilled about it.

However, appalled by his living conditions—and grudgingly impressed by his jawline—she vows to set him free. But before he can join the human world, the genie must prove he can live like a human—and he must do it in one month, or he’ll fade away for good. As Clementine and the genie embark on a series of How to be Human lessons, and as they pretend to date in order to discourage the men trying to woo her thanks to a wish gone wrong, the two of them discover that being human is more complex than they expected—and that love can be found between the unlikeliest of pairs.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SO CLEVER.

I absolutely loved this whole entire concept. It was insanely clever and I was busting up laughing within the first few chapters. The dry wit and humor was played well.

I really adored Clementine. The anxiety rep was great and I felt connected to the ups and downs and feeling “boring” and finding where you want to be. Wow did that hit home on many levels of my soul.

The romance with Alaric was sweet. It’s the best kind of slow burn. I was looking for a little bit *more* in the first half, but I adored the way things progressed in the second half. And I found the ending to have a lot of great themes and endearing moments to both characters and what they wanted out of life and how they found a way to do that together.

There’s some cute small town antics and I loved the little oceanside area. This was another wonderful book by Mitchell and I am just easily charmed by the sweetness with a touch of magic her books provide.

Overall audience notes:

  • Magical Realism Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC Book Review: The Catch (The Influencer #3) by Amy Lea

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Amy Lea
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A grumpy lobster fisherman tosses a fashion influencer’s impeccably curated life overboard in the next romantic comedy from international bestselling author Amy Lea.

In a last-ditch effort to rescue her brand from the brink of irrelevance, Boston fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen finds herself in a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada. The only thing scarier than nature itself? The burly and bearded bed-and-breakfast owner and fisherman, Evan Whaler—who single-handedly disproves the theory that Canadians are “nice.”

After a boating accident lands Evan unconscious in the hospital, Mel is mistaken for his fiancée by his welcoming yet quirky family, who are embroiled in a long-standing feud over the B&B. In a bold attempt to mend family fences, Mel agrees to fake their engagement for one week in exchange for Evan’s help with her social media content.

Amid long hikes and campfire chats, reeling in their budding feelings for each other proves more difficult by the day. But is Mel willing to sacrifice her picture-perfect life in the city for a chance at a true, unfiltered love in the wild?

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC.

NEW FAV.

Officially my new favorite book by Amy Lea. What a gem.

I was iffy initially on Mel being a fashion/lifestyle influencer. But I really liked how this was approached and it wasn’t heavy handed. Nor did she act ridiculous about getting content and such. I loved watching Mel realize disconnecting from her phone was doing her soul a lot of good.

And Evan was hella swoony. I adored him. That grumpy fisherman has all of my attention. I loved the opposites attract and the slow burn that ignited between them. I was smitten with all of the little smiles and looks and cute things Evan would do to show he cared and how Melanie learned to being open to and reciprocating those feelings and intentions.

The third act could be a little anger inducing but the longer I sat on it the longer I felt it fit the story. It wasn’t an overblown miscommunication. It was an honest to goodness adjustment that needed some thought before big changes. And I liked that both Evan and Mel had the time to process those ideas.

There were major The Proposal and While You Were Sleeping vibes. I also think if you enjoyed The Simple Wild this would be a winner too. A great fish out of water, broken down inn, rediscovering yourself, spicy read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: recounting loss of loved ones, near drowning

AUTHOR BIO:

Photo credit to Amy Lea

Amy Lea is the international bestselling author of romantic comedies for adults and teens, including Mindy Kaling’s Book Studio selection Woke Up Like This. Her acclaimed works have been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Elle Magazine and has been long listed as a CBC Canada Reads finalist. They have also been optioned for film and sold to over a dozen foreign territories.

When Amy is not writing, she can be found fan-girling over other romance books on Instagram (@amyleabooks), eating potato chips with reckless abandon, and snuggling with her husband and two goldendoodles in Ottawa, Canada.

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