Book Review: Wrapping Up (Wayfair Witches #5) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 215 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: December 22nd, 2017
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BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – or at least it would be, if one of the most popular witches in Riddler’s Cove hadn’t just been murdered.

When Winnie Wywood is found, strangled by festive ribbon and wrapped up like a present, there are two main suspects.

Suspect number one is the father of Wanda’s boyfriend, which might make the holiday period ever so slightly awkward.

Suspect number two is a woman who seems all too keen to admit to the murder.

Wanda hopes to track down the culprit before the Winter Solstice celebrations get underway. But there might be a little more to worry about than who killed Winnie.

A WINTER MYSTERY.

Why yes, I did finish this book in less than 24 hours because I didn’t want to put it down.

So much is happening in so few pages y’all! I didn’t know how it was all leading up until the mystery started being unraveled. I love how with each mystery the larger plot of the entire series keeps unfurling. I’m not sure where that’s quite leading to, but I am definitely here for the ride. I can’t believe I’m almost to the halfway point [There’s 11 books + 2 side stories].

This one made a few things clearer in regards to Wanda and her love life. And I am totally on board which I feel is why I’m still invested in this stories. It’s kind of hit or miss in that department (as it always is with ships).

I love how themed this was with Christmas and the Winter Solstice. It made it playful and fun even if it did have its usual dash of murder. I’m smitten with these lovable characters and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: murder

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Book Review: Winging It (Wayfair Witches #4) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 298 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: December 1st, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A witch, a weredog and a wizard walk into a bar …

When three unlikely friends kill themselves in a popular weredog bar, Wanda Wayfair is convinced that there’s more to the story. With the coven’s work now in the hands of the Minister’s Peacemakers, an investigation would be ill-advised.

But since when do witches listen to advice?

All of the deaths have something in common – every one of the deceased worked in Plimpton’s Brooms. With the Everest Climb – the biggest broom race in the witching world – about to take place, Wanda hopes to find the answers there. Especially since Everest is also the place where an annoying young witch was last seen in public.

Wanda needs to solve the murders, track down Candace Plimpton and return her to her cute-as-a-button kitten …

And while she’s at it, she might finally find out what her broom has to do with it all.

CAN’T STOP. WON’T STOP.

But really. I can’t stop reading this series.

Not a problem at all.

There’s something compelling about the simplicity of a cozy mystery that has really drawn me in. I love following Wanda on her adventures. Her tenacity to solve the murder mystery, while also supporting those around her just works together beautifully.

I don’t know how I’m supposed to ship Wanda with though! I have somehow caught myself up in a love triangle, that when reading, doesn’t even read as one. BUT I KNOW IT IS. I’ve convinced myself it is at least, because I know where I’m still leaning. It’s at least not annoying me, so yay for a love triangle [maybe] that’s working for me.

I appreciate that this mystery did actually shake up location and story line. Got to take care of a few malicious witches, solve some family troubles, and a whole lot more. There’s plenty packed in to a small amount of pages and I love it. On to the next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: murder (believed to be a suicide, but is found out to be a murder)

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ARC Book Review: Flamefall (The Aurelian Cycle #2) by Rosaria Munda

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 336 pages
Author: Rosaria Munda
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 23rd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Revolutionary flames ignite around Annie, Lee, and a brand new POV character in the second book of the Fireborne trilogy.

After fleeing the revolution and settling into the craggy cliffs of New Pythos, the Dragonlords are eager to punish their usurpers–and reclaim their city. Their first order of business was destroying the Callipolan food supply. Now they’re coming for the Dragonriders.

Annie is Callipolis’s new Firstrider, and while her goal has always been to protect the people, being the government’s enforcer has turned her into public enemy number one.

Lee struggles to find his place after killing kin to prove himself to a leader who betrayed him. He can support Annie and the other Guardians . . . or join the radicals who look to topple the new regime.

Griff, a lowborn dragonrider who serves New Pythos, knows he has no future. And now that Julia, the Firstrider who had protected him, is dead, he is called on to sacrifice everything for the lords that oppress his people–or to forge a new path with the Callipolan Firstrider seeking his help.

With famine tearing Callipolis apart and the Pythians determined to take back what they lost, it will be up to Annie, Lee, and Griff to decide what to fight for–and who to love.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own!

GREAT MIDDLE BOOK.

We all know that sometimes a middle book doesn’t have the same fire as the first. I thought this was a great second book! SO MUCH happened.

This is a high action book. Everywhere I turned there were dragon attacks, a whole lot of fire, backstabbing and betrayals. It was plenty to keep track of and I enjoyed the challenge. I really like the addition of Griff into the story. He was able to provide insight from the other side of the war. I loved his romance sub-plot and how Griff continued to strive for a better solution for his situation and of those he loved.

Getting more of Annie and Lee was the best. I love this push and pull relationship. It doesn’t feel contrived, there’s a lot both characters have to work through. Pain, grief and anger. Lee and Annie had to look within themselves and had wonderful character progression. The tidbits of romance only make me want more and what’s hopefully a long awaited happy ever after!

A high action book filled with tough conversations and reveals. I would definitely lean this towards a darker YA book. There’s war, high loss of lives, and some really twisted individuals. I looooove all of the dragons and this might be one of my top series involving them. I can’t wait for the finale and to know where all of this leads!

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: murder, mass loss of lives, mass burnings, physical, creature attacks; fairly violent nature throughout the book

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Book Review: Magic Study (Poison Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: New adult fantasy
Length: 392 pages
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Luna Books
Release Date: September 26th, 2006
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

You know your life is complicated when you miss your days as a poison taster…

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be united with the family she’d been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But although she has gained her freedom, she once again finds herself alone – separated from her lover Valek and suspected as a spy for her reluctance to conform to Sitian ways.

Despite the turmoil, she’s eager to start her magic training – especially as she’s been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes embroiled in a plot to reclaim Ixia’s throne for a lost prince – and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn’t bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with her new enemies.

COVER DOES NOT MATCH THE STORY.

I’ve never come across a more clear depiction of a cover and story not matching. Maybe because it’s an older book? I’m not sure, I’m just saying…the story is so much better and the cover does not do that justice in anyway.

On to the story portion. WHERE WAS VALEK. I do have a severe issue with love interests being established and then removed for 70% of the next book. That was the case here and gosh dang the story was incredibly better once he showed up. Not that I didn’t mind getting to see Yelena learning about her powers and all of that good stuff, but I wanted both of them more often.

Yet, I find myself unable to put the book down. I like reading them. Something about the writing style keeps me drawn in and I find that I fly through the pages. It’s an interesting story line and the side plots don’t always connect back in (because I’m still trying to figure out where book three actually goes), but it’s a series I want to continue.

These are a lot darker than I ever anticipated. I struggle with the necessity of this towards the plot line in comparison with other portions that are kept less explicit.

A lot of these new characters are interesting and I especially hope Leif gets a better story line come the third book. I didn’t always love how stubborn Yelena was being. Running off because she knew best, then getting captured again…and again.

I don’t know, this review has gotten ramble worthy because there’s plenty to pick from here. I am somehow attached to this story yet its flaws turn me off. I’ll give the third book a chance still for some redemption.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs; a few no detail, fade out scenes
  • Violence: murder, torture, physical altercations, poisoning, swords, arrows
  • Trigger warnings: sexual assault, torture, rape (mentioned about multiple girls, no full scenes, but smaller paragraphs remembering what occurred); suicide ideation, mention of suicide attempt, PTSD

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