ARC Book Review: Legends and Liars (Echoes and Empires #2) by Morgan Rhodes

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This riveting sequel to Echoes and Empires sees Joss and Jericho team up with some of their greatest enemies—including two of the most powerful mages in the world—to bring an end to the queen’s empire of lies, from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes.

Josslyn Drake is in over her head—again. After fleeing the Queen’s palace with Prince Elian in tow, she’d hoped to finally find a way to solve both of their magical problems in one fell swoop, with the help of criminal-turned-ally Jericho Nox. But Valery, Jericho’s boss—and a notoriously powerful mage—has other plans.

It soon becomes clear that Valery can’t, or won’t, provide assistance. And with her relationship with Jericho more confusing than ever, Joss realizes that she’ll have to find her own way out of this magical mess, with or without help from those around her.

Amid high tensions, Joss sets out to learn to control the memory magic—along with her own natural powers. As the struggle between Lord Banyon and the Queen threatens the people Joss cares about, she stumbles onto hints of a monumental royal secret. Her unwanted power just might hold the answers she needs to solve all her problems—but she’ll have to work quickly, because the fate of an empire hangs in the balance.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

I AM FEELING LET DOWN.

I LOVED the first book, Echoes and Empires. Clearly that meant I went in hoping for a great conclusion and instead I feel like I got this meandering story that had lost its charm and ended too simply.

Where did the romance go?! I loved that Jericho and Joss worked together and there weren’t any undue separations. Yet, the snark and banter and tenderness that I saw in the first book was hardly here. I lost that connection with them.

I also don’t think much happened? There were a lot of little plot lines that did come together (and were wrapped up way too neatly in a bow) yet the progress to fixing the problems in the world and figuring out the magic system hardly occurred.

And the big secret that Joss took the whole book to figure out??? That was a joke. And the ease of which the ending happened had me wanting more rather than feeling satisfied.

The book is written well and I do love the main characters. The world is an interesting mix of fantasy & urban which I liked too. I’m not UPSET I read this, I was just hoping for a more comprehensive conclusion.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: a little mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: weapons violence, physical altercations, kidnapping, near death experiences, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 338 pages
Author: Kat Cho
Publisher: Disney
Release Date: May 17th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school.

Elena Soo has always felt overshadowed. Whether by her more successful older sisters, her more popular twin brother, or her more outgoing best friend, everyone except Elena seems to know exactly who they are and what they want. But she is certain about one thing – she has no interest in going to prom. While the rest of the school is giddy over corsages and dresses, Elena would rather spend her time working to save the local community center, the one place that’s always made her feel like she belonged.

So when international K-pop superstar Robbie Choi shows up at her house to ask her to prom, Elena is more confused than ever. Because the one person who always accepted Elena as she is? Her childhood best friend, Robbie Choi. And the one thing she maybe, possibly, secretly wants more than anything? For the two of them to keep the promise they made each other as kids: to go to prom together. But that was seven years ago, and with this new K-pop persona, pink hair, and stylish clothes, Robbie is nothing like the sweet, goofy boy she remembers. The boy she shared all her secrets with. The boy she used to love.

Besides, prom with a guy who comes with hordes of screaming fans, online haters, and relentless paparazzi is the last thing Elena wants – even if she can’t stop thinking about Robbie’s smile…right?

WELL.

I didn’t love this y’all. An auspicious start with the whole, I don’t like Prom, kind of vibe and then when the love interest showed up and was a bit of a punk. I was seeking out better grass on the other side.

And things did get marginally better. There were some sweet moments between Elena and Robbie. I loved the K-Pop aspects and a bunch of the background that occurs within those circles.

I think most my issues stem from the general plot. There’s a LOT going on for a 300 page book and not enough time to truly dive into many of those. There was a good discussion about the community center. Talks about reconnecting with friends. Dealing with difficult parent situations. And a looooot of room for growing up. Each of these were approached yet I don’t think I ever felt satisfied.

This is the second book I’ve tried a book by this author and it was once again only okay.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: death of a father in a car accident

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Book Review: Wildheart (The Starchaser Saga #7) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 534 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Help has come to Talheim—but at a cost.

For a year, the Middle Kingdom and their Valgardan allies have followed Princess Cistine and Chancellor Thorne in battle against King Jad and the armies of Mahasar, waging the war none of them ever wanted to fight.

But it’s more than a war…it’s a game that’s entering its final stages.

The balance tips with the arrival of a mysterious Mahasari woman offering peace for a price—one the royal family is reluctant to pay. With their people in peril and the future unsure, the cabal divides on clandestine missions, fighting to weave a strategy that will save the kingdoms they love.

Spirits must be awakened. Schemes must be thwarted. Captives must be set free. And all the while an unseen danger stalks their heels, threatening to turn the tide in the enemy’s favor through one dark, fatal truth.

Winning the war between the Three Kingdoms may mean playing directly into Jad’s hands, pushing his game to a deadly and epic conclusion—one that will alter the course of Talheim’s destiny.

BEAUTIFUL CONCLUSION.

I can’t believe I finished this series!! It’s so satisfying to do so and I’m also going to miss all of these characters.

This cast was full of the found family love that I enjoy so much. I loved watching more arcs continue through them and to even see some characters get the ending they deserved too. I can’t talk a lot about it because I want everyone to go read this series and report back. But this group is easily one of my favorites of recent fantasy book memory.

If I was being a little nit picky I do wish one plot point was resolved a bit sooner. That’s just me and my romantic heart wanting more from that angle.

Otherwise, epic conclusion. Action packed and everything is wrapped up well. I was able to close the book on the story and I have loved the thousands of pages covered over all SEVEN of these books. I know the number may seem daunting, trust me it’s worth it!

Overall audience notes:

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

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Book Review: Mischief, Mayhem, and Marriage (Supposed Scandal #2) by Rebecca Connolly

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 248 pages
Author: Rebecca Connolly
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: November 29th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One good scandal deserves another…

Lady Alexandrina Lawson has never minded her widowhood. After the disaster that was her first marriage, she found it rather enjoyable, despite the pity she received. What the public saw as devoted mourning to a respected man was, in fact, a complete disinterest in participating in anything Society could offer her ever again. When an invitation to a cousin’s London event proves disastrous for Alexandrina, her reputation, and that of her child, her choice becomes simple: rescue or ruin.

Enter Taft Debenham, Earl of Harwood.

Taft could not have less interest in Lady Lawson or her cold manner, but neither could he stand by and let her suffer a forced marriage to a drunken idiot. Sacrificing himself on the altar of Society, thinking how his own reputation might benefit, he provides a rather clever solution: marry the woman himself, and claim outrage for the offenses against her. Over the protests of his bride, and those of his own sanity, Taft begins the greatest scheme he could ever imagine. Nothing surprises him more than beginning to discover that his wife has a heart beneath her icy exterior.

And that he would do almost anything to claim it.

Mischief, Mayhem, and Marriage is a sweet Regency romance and can be read as a stand-alone or as the sequel to s Rebecca Connolly’s previous novel, The Rivals of Rosennor Hall.

It is also part of the upcoming Supposed Scandal series.

SMITTEN.

ABSOLUTE HEARTTHROB ALERT. I loved Taft so much. He was one of those main characters that sweeps you away with his true and kind gestures along with his assurances straight from his heart.

Alexandrina was the other half of this dual POV that was fantastic too. She was jaded and shut in, but not immune to Taft’s charms. I liked her slow unveiling and Alix learned to love again and realizing that they’re good men out there.

These two together were SO FULL OF SNARK. I loved it x100000. The banter was amazing. It was executed perfectly and made me smile and swoon when you could see the sparks start to ignite. They kept each other laughing and learned how to relax and lean together.

I just wholeheartedly enjoyed this story. It’s a fast paced regency that was exactly the sweep away from reality I needed.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: infidelity (with a previous spouse, mentioned and discussed often), child/parent separation

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