Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: Unholy Terrors by Lyndall Clipstone

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Lyndall Clipstone
Publisher: Fierce Reads
Release Date: October 17th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A bloodstained tale of a girl torn between her vows and her heart, where falling in love may be the deepest sin of all…

Everline Blackthorn has devoted her life to the wardens—a sect of holy warriors who guard against monsters known as the vespertine.

When a series of strange omens occur, Everline disobeys orders to investigate, and uncovers a startling truth in the form of Ravel Severin: a rogue vespertine who reveals the monsters have secrets of their own.

Ravel promises the help she needs— for a price. Vespertine magic requires blood, and if Everline wants Ravel to guide across the dangerous moorland, she will have to allow him to feed from her.

It’s a sin for a warden to feed a vespertine— let alone love one— and as Everline and Ravel travel further across the moorland, she realizes the question isn’t whether she will survive the journey, but if she will return unchanged. Or if she wants to.

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the eARC.

WELL.

I tried really hard to give this one a chance. It had all of the hallmarks of things I love. New adult, dark fantasy, enemies to lovers/forbidden romance. Buuut, I was missing some things.

Namely, the world building. The first chapter you are THROWN IN and it was chaos. And as the pages stretched out I never felt like I had a full grasp on the vespertine vs. warden situation. The fold area and why the magic involved bones and blood. Oh and vampires, why was there one vampire?

I did like the main character, Everline. She cared for those in her circle and fought to mend broken fences while looking for answers about her past. This is a standalone and I did think it wrapped up well that I felt satisfied in closing the book (besides the previous paragraph issues). The romance was a bit up and down. It grew on me, and there is some good enemies dynamics, I think with a standalone it felt more surface level overall.

This one didn’t quite click for me but might for others?

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: 3 brief/vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, loss of a parent, near death experiences, murder, battle themes

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Book Review: Court of Blood and Bindings (Fae Isles #1) by Lisette Marshall

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 436 pages
Author: Lisette Marshall
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 22nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

They call him the Silent Death, because he kills without sound and leaves none capable of speaking in his wake…

When the empire’s deadliest fae murderer catches her wielding forbidden magic, twenty-year-old Emelin believes her hour has come. Instead, her inhumanly beautiful captor spares her life, but carries her off on his velvet wings – into the one place from which no human ever returns.

The heart of the Fae Isles. The treacherous Crimson Court, where the Mother of faekind has ruled unchallenged over fae and humans for decades.

The Silent Death is supposed to be the Mother’s loyal servant, her invincible warrior, her ruthless, soulless killer. But in the shadows he is playing a game of his own, and he needs Emelin’s magic to win it.

If she agrees to work with him, she could free all of humanity. But can she trust a fae male with so much blood on his hands? Worse, when his smouldering dark eyes and dangerous secrets reveal glimpses of the heart behind his murderer’s mask… can she trust herself?

Court of Blood and Bindings is the first book of the Fae Isles series, an enemies to lovers fantasy romance featuring a strong-willed heroine and a broody, morally grey hero. This adult fae romance is perfect for readers of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Raven Kennedy.

Note: Court of Blood and Bindings contains a generous dose of smouldering glances, angry yearning, and midnight meetings of the illicit type, as well as other mature themes.

GIMME MORE.

Here I am, once again swept away by kindle unlimited fantasy books. I am definitely wanting to get my hands on book two soon and see what happens next. I loved a lot of the set up that I know is going to give away to an amazing storyline.

I hoped for a bit more build up between Creon and Emelin. Once I caught up to how fast they were moving I really enjoyed the relationship. I am very much committed to them now and like the push and pull they gave. There’s some good chemistry and enemies to lovers here. Add in some hidden secrets and untold stories and I now want it all.

The plot is filled with learning and action. I adored the sentient mountain and love quirky additions like that. I can’t wait to explore more of the world and magic because I feel like I was given enough info to continue, but definitely need more to be satisfied.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; med-high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and magical altercations, torture, loss of loved ones, kidnapping

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Book Review: Foxglove (Belladonna #2) by Adalyn Grace

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Adalyn Grace
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Release Date: August 22nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The captivating sequel to the Gothic-infused Belladonna, in which Signa and Death face a supernatural foe determined to tear them apart.

A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He’s hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago…and now he’s determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.

Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate’s past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate’s unexpected games–all with their destinies hanging in the balance.

Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to the story of Signa and Death is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.

THE PIVOT.

Y’all. This is how you do a middle book. I loved it! I took my time devouring every word and tabbing all of my favorite little moments. I love the lush, gothic vibes and how dark and devious everything is. This is painted in morally gray and I am here for it all.

I loved getting to see more of Signa and Death (and if I had to lodge one minor complaint I wanted more of them!!). A lot happens with their relationship, and with the addition of Fate, I honestly never knew exactly where this plot was going to go. I had a few ideas and when those started to come to fruition I was GIDDY. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK IT IS UNFATHOMABLE.

Anyways, incredible mysterious plot. Some fantastically swoony moments. Twists and turns and all the things that I love about this series. I love Adalyn Grace’s writing style. This is not a book to miss!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: false imprisonment, loss of life, murder, attempted murder, near death experiences

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ARC Book Review: Codes of Courage (Falcon Point Historicals #1) by A.L. Sowards

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 373 pages
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: October 10th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a battle of torpedoes, depth charges, and secret codes, nothing is as vulnerable as the human heart.

1940: Austrian refugee Karl Lang has lost everything―his country, his home, and his family. All that is left to him is a burning ambition to see the Nazis defeated. Desperate for work and a way to help the war effort, he finds the one place that will take a refugee like him: a supply steamer traversing a deadly path past enemy U-boats.

Since their first meeting, Millie Stevens has felt an undeniable connection to Karl. As the war rages, she shares his determination to oppose the Nazis and finds work at the British codebreaking center at Bletchley Park. There she uses all her intellect and determination to break German codes and read U-boat transmissions―or risk losing the man she loves.

Rolf Denhart will do anything to defend the Fatherland, including long patrols in a cramped U-boat. But rumors from Germany leave him uneasy, forcing a choice between loyalty to his homeland, the safety of his family, and his peace of conscience.

In the midst of war, three lives are woven together to create an epic tapestry of love and loss, joy and pain, sacrifice and courage.

Thank you to the author and publisher for a gifted ARC.

I AM IN MY FEELS.

I was warned before going in what kind of ending I was heading towards so I feel like I’ll mention that here, it is in the bittersweet vein. My rating was not changed by this, a lot because I knew going into it, which I VERY much appreciate. My four star is centered around that I thought the first half was a bit slower and took me awhile to get fully involved.

Anyways, I loved these characters. I loved the themes. The subtle woven in faith elements that played a role in how the three POV’s lives connected, crossed, and ultimately found common ground. It’s a got a really sweet and tender romance. There’s great introspection and realizations. I loved seeing the characters stumble, learn and make the best decisions in rough situations.

And I loved that this was focused out at sea and on codebreakers. It was a different scene of the war I haven’t read much in the historical fiction genre and it was a well researched take on what was happening on the ocean fronts.

I felt ALL THE THINGS throughout. I love the way A.L. Sowards writes her books. I’m happy that I took the chance on reading this, even in my heart is in utter chaos at present. It was such a good book and I loved seeing everything come full circle.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door between a married couple
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: active WW2, loss of loved ones, shipwrecks, grief depiction

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