Book Review: Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities #4) by Shannon Messenger

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 672 pages
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: November 3rd, 2015
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BOOK SUMMARY:

Sophie is ready to uncover the truth behind her telepathy in this adventure-filled fourth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.
Sophie Foster is on the run—but at least she’s not alone.

Her closest friends from the Lost Cities have gone with her to join the Black Swan. They still have doubts about the shadowy organization, but the only way to find answers is to start working with them. And as they settle into their new lives, they uncover secrets far bigger than anything they’d imagined.

But their enemies are far from done, and unleash a terrifying plague that threatens the safety of an entire species. Sophie and her friends fight with everything they have—with new allies joining them—but every choice has consequences. And trusting the wrong person could prove deadly.

In this game-changing fourth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must question everything to find a truth that will either save her world—or shatter it.

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

Long series always seem to have one book that’s eh, okay. And I think that’s Neverseen.

I liked the beginning and take-off into learning more about the Black Swan group. Though I feel like I still don’t know them well enough?? Or the group Neverseen? Everything is shrouded in mystery that feels drawn out (with 700 pages of reading).

Sophie is evolving and growing. She’s impulsive and a bit hot-headed. But I enjoy the counter balance of her actually feeling like a 14 year old without the dramatics that cause eye rolls. Sophie’s learning and I love a good character arc.

The middle was looooong. Going to a different school and a few other scenes didn’t seem necessary. They sort of pushed the plot, yet could have been left out and I would have been none the wiser. I liked the ending and the set-up for the next book. I think there’s a lot more going on then we’ve been led to believe at the moment and I’ll continue the series for now.

Overall audience notes:

  • Middle grade fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: physical and magical altercations, some near death experiences

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ARC Audiobook Review: In the Weeds (Lovelight #2) by B.K. Borison

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 410 pages
Author: B.K. Borison
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: April 18th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget.

Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings. He knows how it goes. But Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck.

Also, her eyes. And her legs.

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is … confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon: social media influencer Evelyn St. James. When she disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally forget her and move on.

But Evelyn St. James has a problem.

Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, she’s trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy, Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.

Nothing at all.

In The Weeds is a sweet and steamy second-chance romance about finding your happiness. It features a grumpy farmer, a no-nonsense social media influencer, a small town of busybodies, and four very cute kittens. In The Weeds is a standalone romance and is part of the Lovelight series.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the audiobook ARC.

I LIKED SOME OF IT.

I didn’t like the original book in this series, Lovelight Farms, but I wanted to give the author another chance. And maybe it’s okay to say now that we don’t totally click. That’s okay too!!

Audio narration wise it was GREAT. I loved the narrators and the way the read the story. I could listen at 3x speed with no issues and I have zero complaints in that regard.

Story wise it got off to a start with a one night stand, which can be a hit/miss for some. It was okay for me as I was prepared for it and knew more story was coming. I liked the initial moments of Beckett and Evelyn reconnecting. I also loved the theme surrounding Evelyn in disconnecting from social media and finding some happy each day.

Beckett was the sweetest and I liked a lot of moments surrounding him too. There was a good emphasis on his background and I enjoyed knowing more of his story.

I did think the pacing was my biggest issue. It started off well then slowed down so much I was wondering if anything was actually going to happen. Playing house was fun and sweet, but there needed to be something else happening too.

All in all, I truly gave this book a chance and I wish I had loved it more, but the audio was an easy listen and I appreciated that aspect.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; medium explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: social anxiety

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Book Review: Blackveil (Green Rider #4) by Kristen Britain

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 672 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: Daw Books
Release Date: February 1st, 2011
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The long-awaited sequel to Green Rider, First Rider’s Call, and The High King’s Tomb.

Once a simple student, Karigan G’ladheon finds herself in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand when she becomes a legendary Green Rider-one of the magical messengers of the king. Forced by magic to accept a dangerous fate she would never have chosen, headstrong Karigan has become completely devoted to the king and her fellow Riders.

But now, an insurrection led by dark magicians threatens to break the boundaries of ancient, evil Blackveil Forest-releasing powerful dark magics that have been shut away for a millennium.

HOW DARE YOU.

I feel personally victimized by this love triangle. VICTIMIZED. Yeah yeah yeah, this book isn’t even about the romance the majority of the time but my romance loving heart wants it all. I guess I’ll have to keep reading to find out what happens next with my fates lovers.

ANYWAYS. Some other commentary. I LOVE these as audiobooks. LOVE. This was entrancing and the narrator does an excellent job of voices and reading. I also feel completely taken into the world and love this for me. The ever changing POV and moving to different parts of the world are continually interesting. I appreciate getting different sides to figuring out what is going on in Blackveil. I am becoming really attached to many of these characters for a variety of reasons.

I thought the pacing was steady and the action took me by surprise. I love a good gasp face while running down the road listening to this. I am anxious to read the next book already and see where Kerrigan has ended up. I love her as a main character. She feels authentic with more than one layer to her. Trying to remain loyal, but also having a heart that wants to love too. Being strong in the face of evil and so much more. Yay for heroines that are worthy of cheering.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: physical and magical altercations, battle scenes, weaponry (arrows, swords, etc.), loss of loved ones, attempted murder & murder, executions, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: A River Enchanted (Elements of Cadence #1) by Rebecca Ross

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Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Fantasy + Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Rebecca Ross
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: February 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

House of Earth and Blood meets The Witch’s Heart in Rebecca Ross’s brilliant first adult fantasy, set on the magical isle of Cadence where two childhood enemies must team up to discover why girls are going missing from their clan.

Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the mainland university. But when young girls start disappearing from the isle, Jack is summoned home to help find them. Enchantments run deep on Cadence: gossip is carried by the wind, plaid shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can instill fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, and she hopes Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing girls.

As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all.

With unforgettable characters, a fast-paced plot, and compelling world building, A River Enchanted is a stirring story of duty, love, and the power of true partnership, and marks Rebecca Ross’s brilliant entry on the adult fantasy stage.

NEED BOOK TWO.

This was one of those BIG HYPED books that I took a chance on because I trusted my reading friends. NOT disappointed in the slightest. This is worth the hype and you should get your hands on it ASAP. Highly recommend the audio too because it is FANTASTIC.

I looooved the slow weaving of this tale. It is not fast paced. There’s an incremental build that leads to some devastating blows. And also, incredible reveals. I did not see many of them coming and love a good *gasp* moment as the pages wind down.

Multi-POV books are my jam and this is no different. Starting out with just two, and then increasing as more players came into the story I was enraptured. Each took on a role I wanted to know more about and added history to the lay of the land. I liked the addition of the elemental spirits and the easy understanding of the world and magic system.

ROMANCE. I adored both of the main romances happening amongst the cast. Jack and Adaira were my favorite and even though it’s a sub plot, I was very much attached to them. I am shocked by the ending and can’t wait for the next book. What a fantastic fantasy adult debut!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: mild blood
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping of young girls, physical altercations, weapons use, loss of loved ones, assault

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