Book Review: The Kinder Poison (The Kinder Poison #1) by Natalie Mae

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Young adult fantasy
Length: 416 pages
Author: Natalie Mae
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 16th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Holly Black, this enthralling fantasy adventure follows a teenage girl chosen to be the human sacrifice in a deadly game between three heirs who will do anything for the crown.

Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she’s only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.

All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing: a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey’s end—will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities.

With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing’s human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

WOW, HERE FOR THIS.

Don’t sleep on this book guys. I picked it up on a literary whim and it turns out I loved it! It’s a pretty standard YA fantasy, but had that little something else that kept me intrigued and invested.

It was an enthralling adventure. For a mostly traveling book I didn’t feel like it took away from the sibling rivalry saga. There were enough changes in location, action scenes and quiet moments that made the whole journey come alive. I’m curious about the larger expanses of this land, but enjoyed what been initially given.

Okay, the romance. Yes, there is a tiny bit of a love triangle here. I wasn’t too phased by it though because it’s pretty clear what’s going to happen. I liked the lead-ups and steady rising chemistry between them. I found the relationship sweet by the end so I’m satisfied with it. We’ll see if book two ruins this though (why does this keep happening in sequels?!).

The magic system is still a touch undefined, but they’re a lot of cool powers running around. I liked learning more about them and how everyone fit into the nation’s hierarchy. This is something else I hope that gets expounded on in the sequel!

The ending has me gasping for some straws as to what happens next. It’s not a wild cliffhanger, I just definitely didn’t see it all coming. I like what was left open and can easily see another book for this installment (rather than thinking it should just stay as one).

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs
  • Violence: murder, poison, physical, animal attacks, magic, swords/knives/arrows; not overly gory

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: April 2021

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Almost summertime! And another big month of reading. I love a good mash-up of all the genres and just choosing what fits my mood. I always feel like I read more that way!

Favorites: The Temporary Roomie, Life’s Too Short, Cast in Firelight, The Cruelest Mercy, All Rhodes Lead Here, Furia, Charming as a Verb, To Sir, With Love

Least favorites: Daughter of Sparta, An Unexpected Peril, The Crown of Gilded Bones, Once Upon A Quinceañera

  • [ARC] Daughter of Sparta (Daughter of Sparta #1) by Claire M. Andrews – (☆☆☆)
  • Temporary Roomie (It Happened in Nashville #2) by Sarah Adams – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Rule of Wolves (King of Scars #2) by Leigh Bardugo – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Lore by Alexandra Bracken – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Life’s Too Short (The Friend Zone #3) by Abby Jimenez – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • [Graphic Novel] The Okay Witch (The Okay Witch #1) by Emma Steinkellner – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Storm from the East (Glass Alliance #2) by Joanna Hathaway – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Cast in Firelight (Wickery #1) by Dana Swfit – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Carry the World by Susan Fanetti – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Falling for Your Best Friend’s Twin (Love Cliches #1) by Emma St. Clair – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • An Unexpected Peril (Veronica Speedwell #6) by Deanna Raybourn – (☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] The Cruelest Mercy (The Kinder Poison #2) by Natalie Mae – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #2) by Holly Jackson – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • [Graphic Novel] Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story by Lauren Myracle – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout – (☆☆☆)
  • World’s Worst Boyfriend (Fake it #3) by Carina Taylor – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Rustic Hearts (Poplar Falls #1) by Amber Kelly – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira – (☆☆☆)
  • [Graphic Novel] Paper Girls Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne – (☆☆☆☆☆)

How was your reading month? Lets talk in the comments!

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ARC Book Review: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 4th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this rom-com about rom-coms, in the spirit of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, a hopeless romantic teen attempts to secure a happily-ever-after moment with her forever crush, but finds herself reluctantly drawn to the boy next door.

Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar—and maybe snag him as a prom date—even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love—and rethink her own ideas of what Happily Ever After should look like.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own!

ADORED THIS.

Whole-heartedly. Such a cute young adult contemporary romance y’all.

This was utterly full of romantic cliches and I didn’t mind one bit. It was written beautifully and conveyed everything so well that I leaned into all of the obvious platitudes and felt myself breaking out in continual smiles over Liz and Wes.

Ohhh Liz and Wes. What chemistry from the get-go. You knew exactly where things were going and I appreciated the ride. Their witty banter, and soft moments made my heart flip and I love how things worked out for them. Liz definitely grew over the book and anything I was frustrated with her about was resolved. It made for a very quick read, I suprised myself at how fast I devoured this because the story kept making me want more.

I love the addition of movies and music. It was fun picturing this book with a movie flair and I think it’ll be fun to look up some of the songs mentioned throughout. I’m such a lover of love and the childhood friends / enemies to lovers vibe was perfect here. This is a happily ever after you should add to your TBR if you’re looking for something to give you warm fuzzies.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult contemporary romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses and make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent by car accident

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Book Review: Fire Study (Poison Study #3) by Maria V. Snyder

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: New adult Fantasy
Length: 441 pages
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: February 26th, 2008
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The apprenticeship is over—now the real test has begun.

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena’s unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena’s fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before…

Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear.

IT WAS FINE.

Not gonna lie. I’m glad I can be finished with these books (yes, I know there was more added and a spin-off series as well, I’m stopping here though). I just, struggled with these y’all!? It’s okay, it happens.

I fell more out of love with Yelena this time. Her character growth happens so late in the book that I’m no longer enamored with the concept. I was tired of her shoving others away to “protect them,” instead of allowing them to help her. Yelena also continually ran off to danger without a second thought. There comes a time to be brave and then just reckless and repetitive.

But don’t worry, our elusive love interest shows up in the nick of time to save her time and time again. Yet also, where was he for the first 200 pages again?! I hate that. Don’t introduce a love interest and then not even utilize him for the story. Ugh.

I enjoy the writing and the world itself. The plot may still be confusing to me (where’s the endgame here?), but there’s a lot here about recovering and working towards a place a peace after awful things have been done to them. I liked these aspects and how it was approached.

Maybe this series wasn’t for me, but I know plenty who enjoyed them. They’re a bit older, so could be a good backlist title!

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses; a closed door scene
  • Violence: swords, magic, physical altercations, fires, torture

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