Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: The Scarlet Alchemist (The Scarlet Alchemist #1) by Kylie Lee Baker

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Kylie Lee Baker
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: October 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.

When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.

Thank you to Inkyard Press for the eARC.

GOOD START.

I really love how unique Kylie Lee Baker’s stories are. I love the historical aspects (and the notes about them at the end!), the diverse cast and how it’s a lot more main character focused over a romance (though I admit to wanting the romance to be a bit more woven in here).

The alchemical aspects were cool and I appreciated that I could follow along with the magic system. It’s complex, yet manageable and all of the morally gray decisions are thrown in to make this a dark tale.

There were some good twists, lots of monsters (gruesome book folks!), and complicated family dynamics to keep the pages turning. The historical and fantasy combination is one of my absolute favorite genre blend and the storytelling is fantastic. Looking forward to book two!!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Dark Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: make-out
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, murder, loss of life, loss of family, kidnapping and torture, creature attacks, weapons violence, medical experimentation

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Book Review: House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows #1) by Olivia Wildenstein

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Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Length: 490 pages
Author: Olivia Wildenstein
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Free the crows, Fallon, and they will make you queen.

Until an oracle predicted my regal future, I’d never imagined myself rising above the curve of my round ears. After all, I was the magicless halfling loved by beasts but loathed by every pure-blooded faerie at court. Well . . . by all but one.

Dante Regio, prince of Luce, had owned my heart since he gave me my first kiss. If gathering a slew of iron relics could help me overthrow the current monarch and crown his brother to rule at my side, then treasure hunting I’d go.

If only the oracle had warned me what winged demon I was releasing into the world.

And that I’d become this demon’s obsession.

I’M SOLD.

Well hi there new fantasy romance indie book. I LIKED YOU A LOT.

This was a pretty good start. I liked the beginning but there was a particular scene I’m still thinking really didn’t need to be added. And after that point things slowed down a bit so I was in limbo wondering how I would feel about the book overall.

The second half showed up big time. It had many things I always turn back to in fantasy romance reads. I love hidden identities, a FMC who’s realizing her own worth and power, changing alliances and allllll of those secrets revealed. I do think Fallon was a bit on the naïve and super oblivious side, but I’ll cut her some slack to make it up in the next book.

I enjoyed the plot too. It’s a good mix of warring kingdoms, with new people rising to the throne and even kingdoms you didn’t see coming. I can’t wait to further explore those politics and dynamics in the series too. This was just a really nice beginning and my first book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: one open door; innuendo throughout
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, loss of life, loss of loved ones, physical and magical altercations

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Book Review: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Ally Carter
Length: 304 pages
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: August 8th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory.

She only knows three things for certain:

1. She has a splitting headache.

2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run.

And oh yeah…

3. People keep trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy!

Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister.

Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear.

That’s easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught. Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe–dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name.

But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget…

Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Avon books for the gifted copy.

PURE FUN.

This is outside of my usual romance reads and I LOVED it all the more for that fact. I like mixing it up sometimes and this was the perfect thing I needed.

I thought our two mysterious leads stole the show. I loved the banter. I loved all of the running and hiding aspects. Having to fake date and find safe spots together. Learning more about each other. It’s so good. And you kind of get swept away in the speed of their romance alongside the speed of the plot.

The reveals were awesome. I liked the bit of unreliability that came with the narration and watching the chips fall where they may as the plot thickened. It’s a short book, definitely fast paced and a book I truly adored.

Overall audience notes:

  • Mystery / Contemporary Romance
  • Language: light
  • Romance: closed-door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, kidnapping, near death experiences

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Book Review: This Violent Reckoning (The Curse of the Blessed #2) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 276 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: May 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Trio of Fugitives. A Reckless Prince. A Mission for Salvation.

Cast out to sea, Elynor of Bast and her companions embark on a desperate quest.

In order to save Sharek from a cruel death—and halt a war in the making—Elynor, Sharek, and Sylvester are bound for the wilds of faraway Orleth. But far more awaits on the kingdom’s mysterious shores than they could ever imagine; vicious raiders, uncharted wilds, and the depths of desperation, love, and sacrifice lie along the journey. When tragedy befalls and danger abounds, the unlikely trio finds not just aid from strange places, but hidden truths that will alter all they have understood of the past…and the course of their futures.

Prince Jamyson is a royal living impossible lies.

While the kingdom of Erala bows before his infallible father and the Holy Throne, Jamyson knows of the treachery that lives in the halls of his home…and what he knows threatens what he holds most dear. When a mysterious message arrives from his childhood friend just as an unfamiliar face appears in court, spouting accusations and wielding dark schemes, it falls to Jamyson, his loyal servant, and the woman he loves to unravel the plot threatening the heart of their kingdom.
Should any of them fail, it will mean war…and the end of Erala as they know it.

THAT ENDING.

I’m enjoying this series a lot! There’s a good amount of action, I don’t know quite what’s going to happen next and I really enjoy the leads. Elynor, Sharek and Jamyson are all incredibly well built characters and I love how Dugan writes flawed souls while showcasing their strengths.

The antagonist is the only thing that got me a little. I don’t know quite how to pin it other than it didn’t work as well for me. Otherwise, I am excited for this finale. I thought there were good reveals and my jaw definitely dropped at a scene towards the end. These are a bit shorter fantasy books and I think it’s working great for the plot setp-up.

I love Dugan’s writing and story telling.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, a character with a memory condition, executions, near death experiences, kidnapping, torture

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