Tag: Book blog

Book Review: Salvacion by Sandra Proudman

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Historical Fantasy
Length: 336 pages
Author: Sandra Proudman
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: May 20th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this Latinx YA fantasy inspired by El Zorro, Lola de La Peña becomes the masked heroine Salvación in order to save her family and town from a man who would destroy it for the magic it contains…if she doesn’t fall in love with one of his men first.

Lola de La Peña yearns to be free from the societal expectations of a young Mexican lady of her station. She spends her days pretending to be delicate and proper while watching her mamá cure the sick and injured with sal negra (black salt), a recently discovered magic that heals even the most mortal of sicknesses and wounds. But by night, she is Salvación, the free-spirit lady vigilante protecting the town of Coloma from those who threaten its peace and safety among the rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

But one night, a woman races into Coloma, barely alive, to tell the horrifying tale of how her town was obliterated by sal roja, a potent, deadly magic capable of obliterating anything it comes into contact with and the man who wields it: Damien Hernández. And when Hernández arrives the next day with a party of fifty strong and promises of returning Alta California to México, Lola knows it’s only a matter of time before he brings the region under his rule—all Hernández needs is the next full moon and the stolen, ancient amulet he carries to mine enough sal roja to conquer the land. Determined to protect everything she loves, Lola races against time as Salvación to stop his plans. What she didn’t count on was the distracting and infuriating Alejandro, who travels with Hernández but doesn’t seem to share his ambitions. With the stakes higher than ever and Hernández getting closer to his goals, Lola will do anything to foil his plans, even teaming up with Alejandro—who she doesn’t fully trust, but can’t help but fall in love with.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the gifted copy.

NOT QUITE SURE.

The audiobook was definitely a good pick for this one. I liked the narrator a lot and it made the book more enjoyable. And while I did like the book, I also never fully got invested in the story. The setting and plot and character dynamics were all good, but I think a duology would have been amazing for this kind of story. I wanted more from almost every aspect (i.e. world, characters, magic, romance, etc.). The bones are there at least.

As a standalone I think many will find enjoyment in it. There’s important topics and themes discussed and I really liked the pieces of the magic system I got. It’s a good fantasy debut and I’m not mad I read it. I would read another book from this author so I look forward to future stories.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: gun violence, loss of a loved one, war themes

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Book Review: Lore of the Tides (Lore of the Wilds Duology #2) by Analeigh Sbrana

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 454 pages
Author: Analeigh Sbrana
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: July 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of Lore of the Wilds comes the exciting and passionate conclusion, as Lore navigates Fae magic amid looming dangers that threaten to destroy her world.

Lore Alemeyu wakes up to discover she’s on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Held prisoner and with no way to escape, she’s faced with a dire set of circumstances…

A crew that’s distrustful of Lore’s magic capabilities…

Her betrayal by a Fae she thought she could trust…

A dangerous quest for the sun book, which, if placed in the wrong hands, will make the Alytherian Fae even more powerful.

Lore must navigate threats on the ship and beyond, into the ocean’s magical and mysterious depths, in order to find the sun book herself and help free the humans. All the while, Lore can’t help but feel the intense pull of one Fae male who has been helping her all along. But is she willing to risk her human heart for creatures that have burned her in the past, and jeopardize her people’s future?

Thank you Harper Voyager for the gifted copy.

ONE GIANT SIDE QUEST.

I desperately wanted to love this more than book one but feel about the same for both books. What’s funny is the least frustrating piece of this was the love triangle. I actually didn’t mind it (did it go the way I want???? Well IYKYK) but I at least could see the thought process and enduring relationship between Lore and who she ends up with.

The book started off well but then when they went below the waves it began to feel like a side quest. As if the original plot line wasn’t strong enough to carry all of book two so adding in this tangent was supposed to fill in some gaps and all it did was add space for spicy scenes.

I did enjoy the audiobook a lot and there were some endearing scenes and moments. I would read another book by this author. I’m kind of hoping a fresh series will be the click for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4+ open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Poison in Their Hearts (Castles in Their Bones #3) by Laura Sebastian

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Laura Sebastian
Publisher: Hodderscape
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Follow three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.

Promised for marriage, now destined to die.

Since Sophronia’s murder, princesses Daphne and Beatriz have discovered the truth: they are pawns in their mother’s bid for the throne of Vesteria.

Separated with enemies on all sides, Beatriz and Daphne’s only hope are the few allies who stretch across the borders of Vesteria: Sophronia’s husband, the deposed King Leopold; Violie, a former spy for Empress Margaraux; and Beatriz’s missing husband, Pasquale, and his lover, Ambrose. But whispers of an ancient prophecy and secrets from their past follow every move they make.

With the magic of the stars, the princesses are ready to make their final stand.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DUOLOGY.

Mehhhhh. I admit to never feeling FULLY invested in this series, but I did feel it enough to want to finish it out. But for 600 pages I think this really should have been a duology. Many of the story lines seemed dragged out and you’d think with all of that page time the romances would have been more developed but I kept waiting for more and never found it.

There were some good scenes and I did love how fiercely loyal all of these sisters were to each other. I love good sister relationships like this. I enjoyed the characters and thought there were some good character arcs written in too. I just think the length really kept me from feeling these books.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly (Compelling Fates Saga #1) by Sophia St. Germain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 476 pages
Author: Sophia St. Germain
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Half-Fae Elessia could have had everything.

Literally.

Since her magic allows her to compel anyone to do her bidding by merely looking into their eyes, the world was at her feet.

But after a tragic accident, she is thrown into the Fae king’s dungeons and forced to swear a blood oath to him, binding her to his service.

Five years later, she’s living amongst humans in Ellow and has created a life for herself—as much as she can with the king’s promise to call in his debt looming over her.

When he finally comes to collect, she is made to infiltrate the human elections to determine whether the current regent is involved in the strange things happening in the land of Fae.

With the promise of freedom from the king’s claws, Elessia is determined to see it through. Liberty is within reach as long as she can keep the lethal Fae guard watching over her from eliminating her before she unearths the information the king seeks.

But as she grows closer to the brooding human regent and secrets begin to unravel, Elessia realizes greater forces may be at play.

And she might stand before the choice between her own freedom and that of a nation.

WHAT A STUNNER.

I had such a great time with this book. I’m glad I was convinced to pick it up because I will absolutely be continuing the series. I appreciate a well executed slow burn and this one delivered. I love romantic plot lines like this one and I think it has been set up well for the series.

The FMC had a slow character arc brewing and I loved the beginning of her journey. I love that there was a training montage of sorts so we actually got to see her learn to defend her self rather than automatic greatness.

There were many subtle moments that I think will clue in as the series progresses so I’m very excited to see where that leads. Some of the plot points dragged a little bit for me but that was only a small issue for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content Warnings: torture, loss of life

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