Book Review: Firebrand (Green Rider #6) by Kristen Britain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 816 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: February 28th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Magic, danger, and adventure abound for messenger Karigan G’ladheon in the sixth book in Kristen Britain’s New York Times-bestselling Green Rider epic fantasy series.

Zachary Davriel Hillander, High King of Sacoridia, rues how much he has had to give up to lead his realm, including the freedom to live and love as he chooses. When an embassy from Eletia arrives to propose a joint venture between their realms to seek out an old ally in the north, he is dismayed to learn that the one Sacoridian they have in mind to accompany their guide is the woman he truly loves but cannot have: Green Rider Karigan G’ladheon.

Karigan has only just returned from a dark future where Sacoridia has been conquered and is ruled by a despotic emperor, and she has not recovered in heart or mind. As if that is not enough, the castle ghosts won’t leave her alone. Though Zachary is loath to part from her so soon after her return, he knows she is the best choice to undertake the mission to the north.

Each step on their journey places Karigan and her companions closer to enemy territory and danger, for northward lie the forces of Second Empire, Sacoridia’s longtime foe, and Grandmother, the necromantic leader of Second Empire, has not been idle. She uses her magic to summon a wild elemental spirit to wreak havoc upon Zachary and his wife, Queen Estora.

At first the Sacoridians succeed in fending off the creature, but it so covets Estora that it can’t stay away. It abducts Zachary, assuming his form and his place at Estora’s side–but when it is finally ousted, Zachary is still missing. Estora, alone and heavy with twins, must prepare her realm for the coming conflict from the confines of her bedchamber.

Meanwhile, the danger only deepens for Karigan and her companions as they journey north. When she finds herself caught in the midst of a clash between forces, Karigan must rescue and protect her king before she falls into a trap set by Grandmother–a trap that could give Second Empire the power to control the dead and all the demons of the hells.

VERY MUCH CONFLICTED.

I jumped back into this series on a whim and woooooo boy I am CONFLICTED.

The romantic plot lines of this series will be the end of me. I’m at this point of having invested too much time not to see this through, but also I’m going to be enraged if things don’t follow through for Karigan. She is getting the short end of the stick EVERY DANG TIME. In, seriously, everything. Her moments of peace are few and far between and I feel for her in having to pick herself back up over and over again. I would want to stay down for a bit too.

The action and politicking stayed steady. I liked the flow of action and where The Second Empire drama continued on. There were some characters missing, but the ending led me to believe it’s going to come full circle in the next book? Which makes sense and I will be picking up ASAP.

I am also incredibly conflicted about King Zachary. While a good King, he is a bit wishy washy for me as a man. He wants to make every decision correctly but after deciding does not commit fully and the wake being left behind is hurting my heart. I did love that we got his POV much more in this installment and his understanding and choices at least were easier to understand. I love the multi-POV and the writing style. It is perfect as an audiobook.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: PTSD (from torture), torture, whipping, near death experiences, cheating/infidelity, loss of loved ones, loss of life

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Book Review: Lovely, Dark and Deep (Fallow Creek #1) by Claudia Cain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Mystery
Length: 300 pages
Author: Claudia Cain
Publisher: Black Sheep Books
Release Date: November 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s a beautiful day in autumn, and a little girl has gone missing…

She’s not the first.

Hannah Hendricks is the fourth child to disappear from the small town of Fallow Creek in the past two months. Search parties comb the woods and vigils are held, yet there is no trace of the missing children, as if they have vanished off the face of the earth.

Cassandra Reilly is certain there is magic involved, but few people trust the word of a witch, and fewer still want her help. As an outsider to the rest of the town, it seems there is little she can do – until Hannah’s parents arrive on her doorstep, begging for magical aid.

Cass is tired of doing nothing, but agreeing to help is more dangerous than she knows. Something evil is at work in Fallow Creek, and if she isn’t careful, she’ll lead it back to her own door…

Content warnings for this book can be found on the author’s website.

Thank you to the author for the gifted Kindle book.

SPOOKY.

Well this will give you the hibbie jibbies REAL FAST. This was outside of my usual genre choices but added in a lot of things I always love reading about for an eclectic and fast paced book. I was real excited when a snarky Fae showed up to hunt down the terror in the woods. I thought he and Cass had great banter and there’s definitely some slow build romance happening here.

There were good twists too. Especially about a certain character (!!). I love being taken by surprise and I think it helped build Cass’s character too knowing her decisions from the past. I didn’t love her sister, Pen, who felt like she was 11 instead of 17. But I did adore Theo.

This is absolutely perfect for the fall and with the addition of witches gives all the vibes you could hope for. Occasionally I would find some of the information repetitive (as in, it was just touched over, but is being repeated by a different character on the next page). Besides that I don’t have any major complaints. I loved the pacing, the need to know what happens next and seeing all of the spooky things that go bump in the night. After that ending I’m excited to see how this story further unfolds!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal mystery
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: missing children, loss of life, physical and magical altercations, creature attacks, near death experiences, loss of a parent (off page, prior to book)

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Book Review: The Earl’s Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed (A Romance of Rank #2) by Esther Hatch

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Esther Hatch
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 30th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

If there is one woman Samson Rutherford, Earl of Riverton, can’t abide, it is his meddling sister. He has spent his whole life being a pawn in her plans and tricks, but when one of her schemes leaves him dressed in women’s clothing, he has finally had enough. He cannot beat her at her games, or even say no to her, his only option to save his sanity and pride is to run away–and fortunately, his solicitor knows just the place…

Catherine Wallace wasn’t born to be a governess, but with her family’s fall from grace, she has become one. A good one. However, when the chance arises to stay at her uncle’s home so she can care for his horticulture project while he is absent, she jumps at the chance. Leaving her position, she plans to gather her sisters together so they can be a family again–even if it is only for a little while.

But the last thing Catherine expected to find upon her arrival was her childhood friend. Samson has sequestered himself at the cottage and claims to have been invited to watch over her uncle’s business while he is away. But Catherine insists that’s what she’s been asked to do. The quiet retreat is what they both need, but who will get to stay?

Not Samson, because he has never gotten the better of a woman, not since… well, not since Catherine let him kiss her years ago…

Come to think of it, perhaps it is time for Samson to win after all.

CINNAMON ROLL SWEETNESS.

I think it’s been a minute since I’ve noticeably read a more cinnamon roll/beta hero and I HAVE MISSED THIS. Samson was the absolute sweetest and just wanted a moment for himself but that turns into a wonderful second chance / childhood friends romance.

The cottage setting brought about the perfect dose of forced proximity (my favorite). I do think it slowed down a little in the middle with continuous talks of learning plays and such, but that’s my only minor complaint.

I looove the way Esther Hatch writes her characters. They’re all someone I want to be friends with and are filled with strengths and weaknesses that are worked through by the final pages. This book was light and made my heart just feel happy. Hatch’s regency romances are some of my favorite and can’t wait for what’s next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 400 pages
Author: Emily X.R. Pan
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: April 12th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hunter Yee has perfect aim with a bow and arrow, but all else in his life veers wrong. He’s sick of being haunted by his family’s past mistakes. The only things keeping him from running away are his little brother, a supernatural wind, and the bewitching girl at his new high school.

Luna Chang dreads the future. Graduation looms ahead, and her parents’ expectations are stifling. When she begins to break the rules, she finds her life upended by the strange new boy in her class, the arrival of unearthly fireflies, and an ominous crack spreading across the town of Fairbridge.

As Hunter and Luna navigate their families’ enmity and secrets, everything around them begins to fall apart. All they can depend on is their love… but time is running out, and fate will have its way.

Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology in this magical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Astonishing Color of After

EH.

I mostly felt like this book was trying to hard. There’s a lot of different angles for the story and the mythology + Shakespeare vibes were a lot to undertake in a short read. I think the focus one way or another would have been more effective.

The romance between Hunter and Luna was sweet. It was a gentle take on first love and choosing that love. They had an undeniable connection that clearly played out by the end of the book.

The mystery aspects were what kept me reading most. Every time a certain POV chapter popped up I was curious how the story was going to continue. There’s a nice and slow unveiling of facts and backgrounds that lead to the reason Hunter and his family are in hiding. I thought that there would be too many points-of-view (there’s 5+ if I remember correctly) but it did enhance the story and give necessary background information to understanding everything that was happening.

Magical realism isn’t my favorite. I know there’s always a book out there to make me think otherwise, this wasn’t it unfortunately. I do think the audio was narrated really well and would recommend that avenue for trying this book out.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: fade to black; closed door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, domestic abuse

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