Book Review: The Queen of Days by Greta Kelly

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Greta Kelly
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For Balthazar and his family of thieves, stealing a statue during the annual celebration of the god Karanis was just a good bit of fun…or a way to stick it to the governor who murdered his parents. And yeah, the small fortune in reward doesn’t hurt—even if his boss also hired the mysterious Queen of Days to join the crew as “the weapon of last resort…”

Whatever that means.

But Bal doesn’t know the ceremony isn’t simply empty words and dusty tradition; it’s true magic. The kind of magic that rips open a portal for the god himself. Only the idol that Karanis planned on using for a body now lies broken at the Queen of Days’ feet. And half of it is missing.

With the aid of a lovable brawler, a society lady turned bomb maker, a disgraced soldier, and a time-eating demon, Bal must hunt down the missing half of the statue if he has any hope of earning his money, keeping his crew alive…and perhaps even saving all of humanity. But as his journey sends him racing through the city—and across realities—he discovers that doing all this might just doom the city.

The city be damned. It’s time to kill a god.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Bibliolifestyle for the gifted copy.

GREAT STANDALONE.

I looooved how fast paced this was. It really added to the intensity of the heist and I had a hard time putting this down because I just wanted to know what would happen next. This is my first book by this author and I am very much intrigued to read more now!

What helped me too was knowing that there isn’t any romance. It’s focused on the found family and finding a way to survive when meddling gods start to cause chaos and threaten where the crew lives. I loved the push and pull and highs and lows this group went through to find a way to end things.

I loved that it was dual POV and we got to see Tass and Balthazar’s views. They both gave great insight into thoughts and maneuvers from opposite angles. I loved the growth in Tass and seeing her find a new place to land.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Violence: moderate-high

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Book Review: A Vision in Smoke (Until the Stars Are Dead #2) by Allyson S. Barkley

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 522 pages
Author: Allyson S. Barkley
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Release Date: January 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After weeks of travel and several narrow brushes with death and capture, Ari and Ely are finally nearing the end of their unwanted adventure. But Ari let her secret slip to save them and suddenly the stakes of their journey are so much higher. Thrown into the middle of the war Ari has tried to avoid for so long, they are forced to confront long-forgotten ghosts, painful betrayals, and dangerous truths. Will Ari and Ely’s unsteady bond be enough to brave these oncoming battles, or will the past and its secrets tear everything apart?

A Vision in Smoke draws us back into the world of Until the Stars Are Dead with a host of new characters, exciting twists, and gripping action.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

WELL.

This didn’t go as I hoped. I had mixed thoughts on book and it kind of spiraled in book two.

Once again Ari and Ely are traveling and traveling, and traveling. After getting to a war camp, most of the book is spent there without anything really happening. Some war councils, a few practice sessions, etc. Aaaand that was mostly it until at the end there was at last, some true action.

There was a dash of romance in here but it came from a different angle than I was expecting and I wasn’t wholly invested. And with how some of those last scenes shook out I am very much disappointed.

I think there was a lot of potential and the core ideas are there. I’m missing the connection to it I need to love it, but I’m sure others will.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical altercations, battle themes, loss of loved ones

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ARC Book Review: Falling for Your Brother’s Best Friend (Love Cliches #3.5) by Emma St. Clair

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Novella
Length: 183 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Older brothers are the worst. Older brother’s best friends, however, are the BEST. Except when they don’t seem to return your feelings… My crush on my brother’s best friend, Mason, has grown into something totally unmanageable over the years. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s not a crush at all, but something bigger I’d rather not name.And while I know Mason cares about me, I don’t think he cares the way I WISH he would.That is, unless my overbearing and uber protective brother has been standing in the way.When Mason and I find ourselves sharing my brother’s loft while he’s gone, the dynamics start to shift. Sharing a space with your (possibly) unrequited crush is its own special kind of challenge.But just maybe while the cat (aka my brother) is away, the mice (aka Mason and me) will finally get a chance to play???Falling for Your Brother’s Best Friend is a grumpy sunshine, roommates romcom that takes place in the Love Clichés world, right alongside Falling for Your Best Friend. You’ll find characters to love, sizzling chemistry, and closed door romance.

Thank you to the author for the eARC.

A SWEET READ.

This is an update to the original version of Falling for Your Brother’s Best Friend. With a few more chapters, slight modifications, and still all the swoon. This is a great read for the holidays and will bring a smile to your face.

I thought the story line was fun and light. There’s some depth mixed in but the overall tone is one of two people who’ve always cared for each other realize just how deep those real feelings go. I loved all of the holiday content, seeing some of the other Love Cliche characters and the whole atmosphere of the novella.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance Novella
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: a mother with an addiction

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Book Review: Hold Back the River by Ashley Dill

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 385 pages
Author: Ashley Dill
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Three lives shattered by trauma. Two fatal decisions. One new beginning.

Returning to his empty childhood home by the river is harder than Patrick Moore expected. His memories of the riverbank were tainted the night he was arrested and his high school sweetheart went missing. After a fourteen year prison sentence, he searches for her, hoping to find companionship and a normal life.

Julia Collins is an adrenaline-junkie with one mission: outrun grief or die trying. After being furloughed for her mental health, she’s forced into sobriety and must navigate life without her poisons of choice — tequila and her job. That’s when she hits it off with the mysterious Patrick at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Fresh hope dawns in her heart, and she wonders if she can thrive despite her secrets and enjoy life again.

But it isn’t long before currents of regret rip them apart.

Can Patrick and Julia outlive the past? Or will they succumb to the river’s fury?

Hold Back the River, a contemporary romance set in Middle Tennessee, is a heart-rending story about how a lonely soul, a guilty conscience, and a broken heart find healing together at the river.

WELL.

I think, unfortunately, this was a little over hyped for me. I very much enjoyed it, but there were some issues too. In the end I do think this was a solid debut and I would absolutely read another book by this author.

I ADORED Patrick. I loved his soft and resilient nature and when offered a second chance, gave it the best chance he could. I loved watching him fall in love, get to connect with those around him and bury the trauma of his past.

Jules, I struggled a little more with. I understood the pain she was going through and I only wish that there had been more focus on her getting the help she needed. It’s a lot more glossed over and I was missing that bit to connect with her arc.

I enjoyed the multiple POV and the heartfelt nature of the story. At times, I didn’t know where the focus was supposed to be, there was a LOT thrown in and some small plot holes popped up as a result, but its a pull at your heartstrings story at its core that I did like.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: drug use, loss of a loved one, giving up a baby for adoption, false imprisonment, child abuse, suicide attempt and ideation

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