Book Review: The Bronzed Beasts (The Gilded Wolves #3) by Roshani Chokshi

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: September 21st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In love they breathed. In destiny they believed. In the end, will divinity be their demise?

After Séverin’s seeming betrayal, the crew is fractured. Armed with only a handful of hints, Enrique, Laila, Hypnos and Zofia must find their way through the snarled, haunted waterways of Venice, Italy to locate Séverin.

Meanwhile, Séverin must balance the deranged whims of the Patriarch of the Fallen House and discover the location of a temple beneath a plague island where the Divine Lyre can be played and all that he desires will come to pass.

With only ten days until Laila expires, the crew will face plague pits and deadly masquerades, unearthly songs and the shining steps of a temple whose powers might offer divinity itself… but at a price they may not be willing to pay.

Returning to the dark and glamorous 19th century world of her New York Times instant bestseller, The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi dazzles us with the final riveting tale as full of mystery and danger as ever. 

NOT ALL I HOPED FOR.

Do you ever sit on a review because you’re not sure what to write?

That’s how I feel here.

I wanted to love this desperately because I’ve enjoyed the whole series, but something ultimately did not click for me here. I didn’t feel as connected to the characters, the story seemed repetitive and very slow moving, and the ending? *sigh*

I missed this groups usual nature around each other. I know things have changed. So much changed though that I felt like I was looking at a new cast at times. I wanted more puzzle solving and quiet antics. I needed more of them together and working together too.

The ending left me really shrugging my shoulders. Since my emotional connection had dissipated I found I was more vexed than anything about what happened. It left a few things open and another thought or two that I think would spoil if I said. The epilogue was incredibly generic and I’m still in a twist about it.

It was nice being back in this world and getting to read the last tale of The Gilded Wolves. The interesting historical fiction + fantasy combo worked for me (even if it didn’t always make sense). I’m hopeful to read whatever Chokshi writes next.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fiction + Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: physical and magical altercations, murder, explosions, some blood depiction

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Book Review: Lucky Witches (Riddler’s Edge #3) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 257 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: June 26th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Just because Detective Quinn is on holiday does not mean that the rest of Riddler’s Edge gets to take a break.

And it definitely doesn’t mean that Aisling misses him.

But even if she did miss him – ever so slightly, mind you – she has far more urgent things to worry about. Like the fact that every single person the detective asked to look after his lighthouse has met with an unfortunate accident. Or the fact that a mysterious casino has appeared overnight – and instead of winning money, the gamblers are winning wishes.

These wishes are not all they seem, and as violence and chaos break out, it’s becoming ever more likely that the detective’s lighthouse is keeping a secret of its own.

ANOTHER GREAT READ.

Flying through these and loved this one too. I love how each mystery is unique to the town and yet brings out more to the larger plot. I loooove Aisling and her banter and wittiness. Her inner monologue makes me laugh and this was no exception.

I felt the only thing missing was a bit for Dylan. He wasn’t there for good reasons though so I’m curious how that comes into play in the next book. I love getting to know all of these side characters too. Everyone is well thought out and adds another layer to this quick mysteries.

Overall audience notes:

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

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Book Review: How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Denise Williams
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: December 1st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One daring to-do list and a crash course in flirtation turn a Type A overachiever’s world upside down.

When her flailing department lands on the university’s chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Check…almost.

Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship—except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career.

Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she’s finally living again.

REALLY GREAT READ.

I thought this book was fantastic. It covered a very heavy topic that was difficult to read about, yet the infused sense of hope and strength from the main character gave this book shining colors.

Naya and Jake really do hit it off pretty well. Some cringe-worthy awkward scenes to get you going and then some truly sweet moments to make you swoon. I looooved Jake. The amount of support and communication he gave right off the bat was amazing. It allowed Naya to open up to him as she was ready and to explore herself dating again. They were goofy together and the banter was on point. Steaminess was too much for me, but past those scenes is a story worth reading.

There’s a lot of series subject matters discussed. It’s not a fluffy and light romance. Naya struggles to balance the aspects of work, and her previous abusive ex. I loved her determination to find her happy ending. The miscommunication that generally arises between the couple didn’t send me into a tailspin because it fit into the story. Naya had a lot to hold on too, and fighting to figure out where Jake fit of course led to some complications.

This was a strong debut and I look forward to what the author writes next. I loved the hopeful aspects at the end. Moving on, seeking therapy (and self defense classes!), getting to be with a partner who values and treats you as they should. It was all very rewarding.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: very open door scenes
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: partner violence (physical, emotional, and verbal) — there are detailed flashback scenes; gaslighting, attempted sexual assault, blackmail (specifically revenge porn)

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Book Review: Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Contemporary + Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Ashley Schumacher
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: February 16th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sparks fly between two teens as they grapple with grief, love, and the future.

Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia’s father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It’s the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.

In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesn’t, the two have a blowout fight like they’ve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.

When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Amelia’s and Jenna’s fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.

THIS WAS BEAUTIFUL.

I’m talkin’ made me tear up multiple times. Wanting to hug this book and give every ounce of love to these characters. Intensely poignant, yet hopeful and kind. Wow this is a read that I will be recommending to everyone!

The writing is what made me really love it. It was enchanting. Somehow taking the worst parts of someone’s life and combining them with the hopeful new beginnings of young love and starting over. The discussion of the healing powers of books/reading made me remember all too well how true that statement is for me.

I loved seeing Amelia grow through her trials and finding her footing in a new [to her] world. There’s many explorations of grief, loss, depression and more. I appreciated how these topics were discussed and how I was still able to love these characters and the story and not feel dragged down by the weight. Sometimes these types of reads can be too much for me, but this hit perfectly in many aspects.

This whole cast was top notch. Every character brought something to the story. Every character helped Amelia learn more about herself and her place in life. The romance was insta, but he way Schumacher portrayed it was everything I needed to enjoy such a quick intimate relationship. It was two people brought together through grief and the bond between them was tightly woven.

Read this book. I loved it all.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult contemporary + romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: depictions of grief and depression after loss, losing a best friend, losing siblings, parental neglect, anxiety and panic attacks, drowning, car accident

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