Tag: audiobook

Book Review: Silver Bounty (The Royal Rose Chronicles #2) by Victoria McCombs

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 320 pages
Author: Victoria McCombs
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Release Date: January 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

NEVER TRUST A PIRATE

Emme is tasked with getting rid of the king, but kings are not an easy target, and this one is bent on purging his lands of pirates. As Emme’s job becomes increasingly dangerous, she learns to survive the pirate way—cunning and merciless—while consoling herself with one fact: she’s just doing what it takes to get home.

But when Emme mistakenly takes out the wrong man, not even the protective pirate captain can save her from the consequences. In a string of betrayals, one thing is certain. You can never trust a pirate.

SOFTEST PIRATES.

Don’t ask me how I’m smitten with the softest pirates ever, but apparently I’m trying to balance all of the dark and bloody fantasies I’m usually reading.

This was a good middle book that carried the plot well. I liked the direction of the story and that it was multi-POV. The romance is still the sweetest and just makes you smile. There’s some good twists and I was genuinely curious where things were going to go.

I’m definitely interested in the next book and want to know how things conclude. I enjoy these characters and the high seas adventures. You never know quite who’s good and who’s bad.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical altercations, loss of life

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ALC Book Review: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Horror
Length: 336 pages
Author: T. Kingfisher
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: August 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl, rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic

Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms, and her mother doesn’t allow Cordelia to have a single friend—unless you count Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him. But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t sorcerers.

After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave in the middle of the night, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back, leaving behind all Cordelia has ever known. They arrive at the remote country manor of a wealthy older man, the Squire, and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to lure the Squire into marriage, and Cordelia knows this can only be bad news for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.

Hester sees the way Cordelia shrinks away from her mother, how the young girl sits eerily still at dinner every night. Hester knows that to save her brother from bewitchment and to rescue the terrified Cordelia, she will have to face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

NEW [TO ME] AUTHOR ALERT.

Alright, I’ve heard a lot about T. Kingfisher’s books. And when I had the opportunity to get an audiobook early for her newest release I took it as a sign. I enjoyed this! It’s probably one of the most horror-esque books I’ve ever read but didn’t go past whatever arbitrary line I have in my head that would have creeped me out. This had a good level of creep for me.

I liked the story too. It was intriguing and I kept coming back to it wondering what would happen next. I thought the audio production was well done and can easily recommend that format if you’re interested in reading this one.

This kind of gave me Mother Gothel vibes but make it a whole lot darker. I liked the atmosphere and seeing what kind of drama was going to unfold next. I thought the characters were well written and kept things interesting. The pacing slowed down a bit for me and I was waiting for things to get wrapped up. Otherwise, a great read, I think I would try another book by Kingfisher!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Horror
  • Language: low
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: emotional abuse, controlling someone through magic, murder, loss of life

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Book Review: The Rithmatist (Rithmatist #1) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Dystoipan Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: May 14th, 2013
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson: his debut novel for the young adult audience

More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings—merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing—kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery—one that will change Rithmatics—and their world—forever.

Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings his unique brand of epic storytelling to the teen audience with an engrossing tale of danger and suspense—the first of a series. With his trademark skills in world-building, Sanderson has created a magic system that is so inventive and detailed that that readers who appreciate games of strategy and tactics just may want to bring Rithmatics to life in our world.

THIS WAS INTERESTING.

I have been holding onto this one for a long time but now on my quest to read Sanderson’s back list it’s time to get to it. And what do you know, I enjoyed it a heck of a lot.

The magic system and world building were so unique! I loved the chalk idea with drawing pictures and shapes to create offense and defensive maneuvers. Having to take on chalklings who have gone awry. And the school setting worked really well. I loved Joel as the main character and loved how this fits perfectly into the young adult category.

I enjoyed the murder mystery and constantly found myself wanting to pick this up and know what happened next. I love a good whodunnit, I love Sanderson’s books and I hope he finally hear news about this getting a sequel.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Dystopian/Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, murder, kidnapping, physical violence, magical violence, mentions of battles/war

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Book Review: Seven Summers by Paige Toon

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 441 pages
Author: Seven Summers
Publisher: Random House UK
Release Date: December 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Six summers to fall in love. One summer to change everything.

Liv and Finn meet six summers ago working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn’s life is in LA with his band, and Liv’s is in Cornwall with her family—so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together.

This summer Liv crosses paths with Tom—a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. As the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, they find themselves falling for one another. For the first time Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every autumn. Now Liv must make an impossible choice. And when she discovers the shocking reason that Tom has left home, she’ll need to trust her heart even more.

GOOD HEAVENS.

Alright, I’m going to be honest. I usually HATE these kind of books. And I think this will be a polarizing kind of read. Luckily this hit me at a good time because I was obsessed with listening to it and threw five stars at it because I was IN MY FEELS.

I’m going to try to stay vague because I think this book will be better enjoyed going in as blind as you can (I hadn’t even read the synopsis, I just saw one friend’s five star review). I loved the high levels of angst and tension. The dual timeline really worked here and I was smitten with the romance. And even when frustrated, I was INVOLVED. I love when a book has me in a chokehold. It took turns I wasn’t expecting, but that I feel worked how for how life truly works out sometimes. There’s good discussion points and the love story has a forever quality to it.

This had great summer vibes too if you’re needing a summer romance to read. I flew through it and definitely plan to read future Paige Toon books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: 4+ fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: loss of parents (car accident), loss of a spouse, depictions of grief

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