Book Review: House of Eclipses (House of Eclipses #1) by Casey L. Bond

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 380 pages
Author: Casey L. Bond
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 31st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Capture his heart.
Steal his crown.

Noor is the unwanted, unloved third born of the Aten, chosen vessel of the sun goddess, Sol. While she has no chance at inheriting her father’s title, what she truly longs for is peace from his unrelenting hatred. Hope builds that she may finally be able to claim that reprieve when a missive arrives from the House of the Moon.

The new Lumin, chosen of the moon god, Lumos, seeks to broker peace with the Kingdom of Helios for the first time in ages. He envisions open trade routes and an end to archaic rivalries. His dedication to this cause extends to visions of a union between the two families by marrying one of Aten’s daughters, if one of the matches is a fit.

Driven by his own twisted agenda, Noor’s father is willing to sacrifice his daughters as pawns to steal the crown for him to further his despotic reign, pitting sister against sister in a brutal battle for power. But Noor must come out the victor, either by capturing the Lumin’s heart or stealing his crown. For whomever wears the crown of moonlight, holds the power of the moon itself. With such strength at her command, she could finally defeat her tyrannical father.

Yet this endeavor cannot be accomplished without great sacrifice. As Noor learns more about Lumin Caelum, guilt over her betrayal consumes her, burning hot as the sun itself. If only he wasn’t kind, and selfless, and exactly what she wanted. If only she had greater dominion over her heart…

Can Noor carry out her plan and end her father’s vile reign? Or will unlikely alliances allow a new day to dawn?

NOT FOR ME.

I would have DNF this book pretty quickly if it wasn’t a book club read that I knew I had to get through.

The romance was lackluster and dry. It was very insta-lovey and not in a way I could get behind. It all felt too easy and there was no true conflict or anything between them. I’m not saying I need a third act breakup but I do want to see some tension and working to be with one another.

I also hated Noor’s sister. She was whiny, pointless and over the top. Moving on.

The plot was boring. I spent a lot of time skimming over things and hoping to see some true action and FANTASY elements. Instead I had the love interest throwing Noor a surprise birthday party that did not fit the tone of the novel.

This was my second, and last book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical abuse

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Book Review: Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Rachel Griffin
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: August 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat. Tana’s coven has appeased those who fear their power for years by releasing most of their magic into the ocean during the full moon. But when Tana misses the midnight ritual―a fatal mistake―there is no one she can turn to for help…until she meets Wolfe. Wolfe claims he is from a coven that practices dark magic, making him one of the only people who can help her. But he refuses to let Tana’s power rush into the sea, and instead teaches her his forbidden magic. A magic that makes her feel powerful. Alive. As the sea grows more violent, her coven loses control of the currents, a danger that could destroy the alliance as well as her island. Tana will have to choose between love and duty, between loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart. Marrying Landon would secure peace for her coven but losing Wolfe and his wild magic could cost her everything else.

OHHH SO GOOD.

Can confirm. This is my new favorite book of Griffin’s. I was absolutely wrapped up in the forbidden romance between two witches who both wanted better for their groups.

I thought the pacing of the story was enchanting and oh my gosh it gave me ALL of the autumnal vibes. I love the aura of Griffin’s writing and how captivating it becomes. I loved watching Wolfe and Tana come together. THE SWOON. Catch me talking out loud to my audiobook because I could not keep my squeals and stop it right now‘s inside.

A gorgeous story. I loved the themes and romance. I loved the characters and energy of the whole book. I loved all of the witchy drama. READ IT. And the audiobook was amazing too!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one vague fade to black
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: near death experiences

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Book Review: A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Holiday Fiction
Length: 413 pages
Author: Jenny Bayliss
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Three bickering half sisters.

One unique antiques shop.

The coziest holiday season of their lives.

Wildly different half sisters Maggie, Simone, and Star have hardly seen one another since their sprightly summers at Rowan Thorp, their eccentric father Augustus’s home. Known for his bustling approach to the knick-knack shop he ran, Augustus was loved by all and known by none, not even his daughters.

Now, years later, the three estranged women are called upon for the reading of Augustus’s will and quickly realize he’s orchestrated a series of hoops through which they must jump to unlock their inheritance—the last thing any of them want to do. But Maggie and Star desperately need the money. And who would Simone be to resist? 

Through hilarious goose chases, small-town mishaps, and one heart-warming winter solstice celebration, love is in the air, if only the three sisters can let themselves grasp it.

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

Y’all know I rarely read anything that doesn’t have some kind of heavier romantic plot, and I picked this up on a whim thinking it did. While it did NOT (there was still a little romance here and there) it was an absolutely charming holiday read and I would easily recommend it to those looking for something less romantic but full of siblings, holiday shenanigans and reconnection.

I loved how different each sister was and getting to see their changes throughout. There’s ups and downs and that messy middle where you know you love your sibling, but also, WHY ARE YOU ACTING THIS WAY. I loved that authentic nature and how real everything felt. I was emotionally invested in Maggie, Simone and Star working things out and finding that place where they could be the sisters they wanted to be again.

Each separate POV was easy to distinguish and I liked how seamlessly the larger plot wove into each sister’s dynamic. An enjoyable audiobook and a great heartfelt read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Fiction
  • Language: light
  • Romance: closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, loss of a spouse (recounted), discussions of infertility and miscarriages, abortion (recounted)

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Book Review: Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales #1) by Olivia Atwater

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical + Fantasy Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Olivia Atwater
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: April 5th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you’re a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment – a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season – but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.

If Dora’s reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.

Bridgerton meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.

Pick up HALF A SOUL, and be stolen away into Olivia Atwater’s charming, magical version of Regency England!

PROGRESSIVELY ENCHANTING.

I do admit to this getting off to a bit of a slow start. But, gratefully, I super enjoyed this by the end.

I loved the combination of genres here! I loooove fantasy books and I loooove regency books. Why aren’t they put together more often?! I need more of this ASAP. The plot was unique to me and I loved the half a soul concept.

Dora was a great character and I loved her relationship with her cousin. Even knowing that she was missing part of herself that didn’t stop her from taking care of things that needed to be done and even falling in love. Her perseverance was inspiring.

The romance turned out to be so sweet!! Elias and Dora started from reluctant acquaintances to teammates saving children for the faeries. The ballroom scene was one of my favorites and I’m glad they had some good swoony moments too.

It turned out to be a much faster read than I thought and I did like the balance of action vs. quiet that worked well for the setting. I adored this combination and look forward to more books by this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical + Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping of children, brief war themes

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