Book Review: Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames #1) by Olivia Rose Darling

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 586 pages
Author: Olivia Rose Darling
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: November 19th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Princess. Prisoner. Runaway. Queen.
Elowen Atarah, Princess of Imirath, came into the world like a firestorm made flesh. A princess with a link to five dragons should have been a blessing to her kingdom, but her blessing became her curse. The little girl in shackles became a knife wielding woman with a thirst for retaliation.
Now, Queen of Aestilian, a secret kingdom she forged through strength and survival, Elowen needs a way to feed her rising population. She never thought she would have the force to take on Imirath, but when the snarky Commander Cayden Veles of Vareveth, her father’s enemy kingdom, offers her a deal she’s been dreaming of for years, how can she not take it? Even if he ignites her temper like no other, nothing unites two begrudging allies more than a common enemy.
The pair of them, along with three accomplices, will navigate their partnership, politics, and attempt to pull off the greatest heist their world has ever known. Five people, all united through revenge, will have to transcend the odds stacked against them and infiltrate “The Impenetrable Castle” if they want to reap their rewards before someone reaps their souls. Putting aside their differences to accomplish a common goal because everyone knows…vengeance is a promise signed in blood.

WHAT A DEBUT.

I have been waiting to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved this.

For a book that does have a good bit of violence the romance was SOOOOFT. And I loved it!! It was this great contrast against the larger story. I loooved Cayden and his protective ways while always making sure Elowen saw her worth. Elowen was an amazing character on her own. I loved that she was infallible and demanded communication. She strove for support and the loyalty she has to revenge the wrongs done to her. Top notch chemistry between the them and an awesome storyline.

And I LOVED the friendships!! They added such depth to all of the characters and I loved how they worked together towards their goals. All the action and politicking, twists and turns. I did not want to put this down.

The dragons are a slow burn aspect on this one (but will be present in the next book much more!!). I look forward to seeing where this series goes.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, battle and war themes, torture, mentions of sexual assault (recounted), torture, physical and weapons violence

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Book Review: All Tricked Out (Wayfair Witches #13) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 254 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 4th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When a white rabbit asks for Wanda’s help, she’s hoping for an easy case. It’s just a missing magician, after all. But things in the Magic Hat aren’t all that they seem.

Soon, Wanda is not only trying to track down the rabbit’s lost magician, but she’s also trying to solve a murder.

The Magic Hat is a club on an unusual street, a street with no name. This unnamed street isn’t in a magical enclave, and yet it feels incredibly special. Are the residents human, or are they supernatural? And can the answer to that question help Wanda and her team solve the case?

MISSING SOMETHING.

As always, I do enjoy this series. This had a lot of talking bunnies and magic tricks galore. Fun aspects, especially added with the Queen of the Fae. I think there’s something building here that I need more of!

What was a bummer was that there wasn’t any outside focus on the series arc. This felt very inward about this ONE murder mystery and not on Wanda’s larger story. And I’m always looking for that because it’s one of my favorite tidbits (is it bad I’m still team Will????).

ANYWAYS. Quick read, finished in a day and got a few good smiles out of it. And a big craving to make an apple tart.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Cozy Mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium

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ARC Book Review: Bonesmith (House of the Dead #1) by Nicki Pau Preto

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Author: Nicki Pau Preto
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date: July 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Gideon the Ninth meets the Game of Thrones White Walkers in this dark young adult fantasy about a disgraced ghost-fighting warrior who must journey into a haunted wasteland to rescue a kidnapped prince.

Ready your blade. Defeat the undead.

In the Dominions, the dead linger, violent and unpredictable, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from its earthly remains. For bonesmith Wren, becoming a valkyr—a ghost-fighting warrior—is a chance to solidify her place in the noble House of Bone and impress her frequently absent father. But when sabotage causes Wren to fail her qualifying trial, she is banished to the Border Wall, the last line of defense against a wasteland called the Breach where the vicious dead roam unchecked.

Determined to reclaim her family’s respect, Wren gets her chance when a House of Gold prince is kidnapped and taken beyond the Wall. To prove she has what it takes to be a valkyr, Wren vows to cross the Breach and rescue the prince. But to do so, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the kidnappers—a fierce ironsmith called Julian from the exiled House of Iron, the very people who caused the Breach in the first place…and the House of Bone’s sworn enemy.

As they travel, Wren and Julian spend as much time fighting each other as they do the undead, but when they discover there’s more behind the kidnapping than either of them knew, they’ll need to work together to combat the real danger: a dark alliance that is brewing between the living and the undead.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

LOVED THE MAGIC SYSTEM.

This book was a great young adult fantasy series starter. I love Nicki Pau Preto’s previous series (Crown of Feathers) and I can see how Bonesmith will be setting up for its own epic tale.

I loved Wren as the FMC. She’s filled with strengths and flaws that we get to see play out over the book. I like when characters don’t always make the right choice and you get to see the repercussions and reparations made. There were a lot of good reveals as the ending pages concluded and it makes me all the more excited to see what book two holds.

The romance with Julian was a lot less angsty than I was thinking it would be, BUT it really grew on me and I thought it was sweet. There’s so much more to their dynamic and relationship in general that had me enjoying them from start to finish.

For the plot, consider me INTRIGUED. I love this magic system with all of the different smith’s and how those actions have played into the present situation. I think it’ll be really cool to see more of the smith’s in book two and how could I forget? ALL OF THE GHOSTS. The ghosts were their own compelling little side plot that was super interesting.

Really looking forward to the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young Adult Fantasy
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and magical altercations, blood depiction, near death experiences, loss of parents, war themes

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Book Review: The Reigning and the Rule (Surviving Time #2) by Calia Read

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 479 pages
Author: Calia Read
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 17th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Étienne Lacroix and I had a fire I thought would never die.
Our love was timeless.
An irreversible decision sent me back to the present day with a family I barely recognize, but I am determined to find a way back to Étienne.
I can survive time. But I can’t survive life without him.
Time bends to no one’s demands, so I must fight with everything I have to return to the past. However, I am terrified that the past I once knew might not look the same, and the man who once called me his surviving trace will no longer be waiting for me.

Time bends to no one’s demands but sometimes love does.

OH THE DRAMA.

I still stand by this series could have probably been one book, maaaaybe two. But I just finished book two and I’m invested enough to see this through to the end.

This did once again, go outside my spice comfort level (didn’t affect my rating but wanted to note). Things once again get steeeeammyyyy. So if that’s your thing, here ya go!

I liked that there was a bit more explanation behind the magic working with Serene as she goes back and forth between time. I like having a general explanation of the rules of the world and this gave me more answers I was seeking. I love the historical aspects and seeing how things continue to change as Serene makes life changing decisions around and around.

That ENDING was wild. I have a million plus questions and NEEEEEED to know where it goes so I’m hoping to get back to finish this series ASAP. This book is a bit long, yet it does have a decent pace that will keep you moving. And if you love high angst moments, this delivers on them.

Ovearll audience notes:

  • Time Travel Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; high explicit
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, near death experiences, loss of life, mentions of domestic abuse

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