Tag: audiobook

Book Review: The Blood Vier (Blood Vier #1) by Christy R. Harrill

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 392 pages
Author: Christy R. Harrill
Publisher: Rose Hollow Press
Release Date: September 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A puzzling murder.
A crumbling diarchy.
A Blood Vier summoned to quell the ashes of corruption.

Taryn wants nothing to do with the father who abandoned her. She bolts at her first glimpse of freedom, only for a mysterious man to track her down, claiming her father was murdered and she is the key to finding the killer. She strikes a bargain, traveling to the kingdom’s capital where she becomes an unwilling player in a political game against the opposing sovereignties and her father’s suspected killer.

As a Blood Vier, a blood heir come to vie for her father’s position, Taryn is now the prime target of assassination for her interference. She seeks evidence to bring down her deadly opponent, enlisting the help of the cocky prince and a despised healer. But as her father’s secrets begin to slowly unravel, Taryn is caught between duty and freedom, questioning where her allegiances lie and how much she is willing to sacrifice.

Treason haunts the kingdom halls, death stalks close behind, and betrayal is only the opening act. Taryn has spent her life shrouded in secrets and deception, and she’s done playing the pawn.

Thank you Book of Matches Media and Christy R. Harrill for the gifted audiobook.

NOT A BAD START.

Audiobook notes: I loved the male narrator. He did amazing and I thought the female narrator did too. As a stylistic choice I thought the FMC came off angry about everything all the time. Which occasionally bugged me.

This book is definitely high action. Lots of good altercations throughout that kept things moving. You are literally thrown into it at the start, and while jarring I felt like this worked. I ran fast with this book and it was easy to establish the world building and political dynamics.

I loved that this had dual POV. In future books I’m even more curious if those will be added upon. There’s some subtle romances brewing that I enjoyed too. There’s some tender connection moments where I felt the characterization of everyone deepened. The antagonists are the only ones I didn’t love. They felt over created and lacked substance.

I would be up for trying book two, but I would definitely do it as an audiobook again rather than physical read.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Infinity + One by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length: 327 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 8th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When two unlikely allies become two unwitting outlaws, will two unforgettable lovers defy unbeatable odds?

Bonnie Rae Shelby is a superstar. She’s rich. She’s beautiful. She’s impossibly famous. And Bonnie Rae Shelby wants to die.

Finn Clyde is a nobody. He’s broken. He’s brilliant. He’s impossibly cynical. And all he wants is a chance at life.

One girl. One boy. An act of compassion. A bizarre set of circumstances. And a choice – turn your head and walk away, or reach out your hand and risk it all?

With that choice, the clock starts ticking on a man with a past and a girl who can’t face the future, counting down the seconds in an adventure riddled with heartbreak and humor, misunderstanding and revelation. With the world against them, two very different people take a journey that will not only change their lives, but may cost them their lives as well.

Infinity + One is a tale of shooting stars and fame and fortune, of gilded cages and iron bars, of finding a friend behind a stranger’s face, and discovering love in the oddest of places.

IT WAS GOOD.

Another enjoyable Harmon read. I wouldn’t count this in the favorites column though, but I did like the story and had a hard time putting it down.

I love way Harmon’s stories are crafted. They’re lyrically written with characters that FEEL. I love the tangled web of emotions and life and everything in between that comes together. Bonnie and Finn had this undeniable immediate chemistry. Not one generally for insta-love I did think this was pretty well accomplished. I was invested in the story from the beginning and freaking out at the end waiting for the HEA to happen.

There’s many layers to this that I loved. Coping with grief and loss of a sibling. Dealing with the stress of a tough career. Handling tough situations you didn’t mean to be a part of and all within falling in love with the last person you thought you’d meet.

A beautiful story. I’m loving catching up on Amy Harmon’s backlist!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: suicide attempt (the book starts with this), suicidal thoughts, gun violence, car wrecks, incarceration, loss of a sibling (from cancer) and (from gun violence)

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Book Review: The Heir and the Spare by Kate Stradling

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Kate Stradling
Publisher: Eulalia Skye Press
Release Date: February 19th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An evil princess, a ruthless persecutor, a wretched match.

Tormented at home and bullied during her studies abroad, second-born Iona of Wessett hides in the quiet corners of her father’s castle. Her art and music provide refuge, but her cruel sister Lisenn ever lurks like a monster stalking its prey.

Such has been her life for twenty years.

However, a promise of reprieve and retribution arrives when the neighboring kingdom of Capria proposes an alliance between their new crown prince and Wessett’s heir to the throne. The treaty will rid Iona of the toxic Lisenn, and the potential groom is none other than her erstwhile bully, Jaoven of Deraval. The marriage could not be more poetic: each deserves the misery the other might inflict.

Except that Jaoven, humbled by the war that elevated his rank, appears to have reformed, and the fate of both kingdoms now hinges on the disastrous union he’s about to make.

A GOOD STANDALONE.

After a friend’s recommendation I found an audio copy ready to download and here we are. A quick romantasy standalone that I very much enjoyed! It’s got your classic vibes and tropes for the spare ending up with the prince, but it was a good time nonetheless. I liked Jaoven and Iona. There was good banter and I easily saw the chemistry between them. I appreciated how often they ended up in the same location to build those interactions because that can be tricky in a standalone fantasy.

There’s no magic system and I found the world building easy to follow. It’s an uncomplicated fantasy that heavily focuses on the romance (no complaints, jus commentary). I liked being whisked away to this setting and got through this quickly.

What did bother me was why in the world Lisenn was so terrible? I hate when there’s an antagonist with no backstory. Or any obvious reason for why they’re awful. Lisenn does a bunch of crap and I wish I just knew WHYYY.

Otherwise, good book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: abusive sister relationship, torture

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Book Review: Stardust in Their Veins (Castles in Their Bones #2) by Laura Sebastian

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 576 pages
Author: Laura Sebastian
Publisher: Delacorte
Release Date: February 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Princesses Beatriz and Daphne have lost their older sister, but their mother’s grand scheme of taking the continent of Vesteria is far from complete. With the country of Temarin now under the Empress’s control, only the nations of Cellaria and Friv remain free from her rule. What’s worse, an ominous prophecy has begun to shine through the constellations: the blood of stars and majesty spilled.

Usurped by conniving cousins Nico and Gigi, Beatriz fears for her life, while in icy Friv, Daphne continues her shaky alliance with the rebels even as she struggles to stay a step ahead of them. But when an unlikely ally offers Beatriz a deal, she finds herself back in her mother’s sights.

With enemies around every corner and the stars whispering of betrayal, Daphne and Beatriz can’t trust anyone–least of all each other. If they’ve learned anything, though, it’s that the Empress’s game is constantly changing. And the arrival of surprise visitors from Temarin just might tip the scales in the princesses’ favor… if they manage to avoid meeting their sister’s fate before they can make their next move.

LONG.

I’m mostly enjoying this series, but even at 3x audio speed I was feeling the drag of some of the story. I felt the same about book one which means I’m really hoping for the last book to bring this home.

I do like the multi-POV setup. There’s so much happening in many different parts of this world that multi works best to get an understanding of everything across the kingdoms. There’s plenty of politicking, and a lack of action. As a rebellion group I kept thinking the sisters would end up in more scuffles and that there wouldn’t be as much hanging out.

Beatriz is still my favorite of the bunch and I like how morally gray she became throughout. Daphne definitely makes you want to shake her to knock some understanding into her brain, but I didn’t find it annoying. It fit with the story and how each of the sisters are taking their own journey to seeing the evil around them.

I’ll still read the next book, but I will be going the library/audio route again.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, near death experiences, weapons violence, poisoning, physical altercations

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