Tag: Book Review

Book Review: Glow of the Everflame (Kindred’s Curse #2) by Penn Cole

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 637 pages
Author: Penn Cole
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: July 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything—but keeping it could cost Diem her life.

The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates most: the royal family of House Corbois.

But as she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe.

Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out.

War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides.. but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart.

Glow of the Everflame is the second book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga, a four-book fantasy romance series. This book will appeal to fans of plot-heavy, character-driven romantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, Gild, Shadow & Bone, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

THAT ENDING.

This series has blown me away. It came out of nowhere for me and now I am sucked into this world and these characters and wish I could binge the entire series right now.

I love Diem. I love that she is utterly flawed, but also works hard for the things she wants. Stubborn, loyal and always learning, she makes a lot of leaps in this book. I loved the progression of Diem learning her magic. I did want to shake her about the Henri plot line, but I’m glad that finally ended where I wanted it to.

LUTHER. I felt like I could highlight every time he spoke because that man had a way with words. I loved how fiercely protective he is and the power of his presence throughout the story.

The plot has a beautiful pace. I loved the soft moments and all the action and how we really got to watch Diem in her new role. Based on the ending I now have no idea where this is going and I’m simultaneously terrified and absolutely stoked.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some mild
  • Romance: one brief almost scene
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, loss of loved ones, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: Light Bringer (Red Rising Saga #6) by Pierce Brown

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Length: 686 pages
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: July 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Darrow returns as Pierce Brown’s New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age.

“The measure of a man is not the fear he sows in his enemies. It is the hope he gives his friends.”—Virginia au Augustus

The Reaper is a legend, more myth than man: the savior of worlds, the leader of the Rising, the breaker of chains.

But the Reaper is also Darrow, born of the red soil of Mars: a husband, a father, a friend.

The worlds once needed the Reaper. But now they need Darrow. Because after the dark age will come a new age: of light, of victory, of hope.

NEW SERIES FAVORITE.

I don’t even know how to write this review.

One. Because this book was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
Two. Because I in no way want to spoil a single thing about it.

I loved the direction PB took for the storyline. It really came back around to Darrow and his continual character arc. I loved SO MANY of the moments Darrow got to have and confronting a lot of past choices and gaining opportunities needed for the final showdown in Red God. The relationship between Darrow, Sevro and Cassius is hands down one of my favorite men groups around. I LOVE THEM. It’s filled with complexity, tough love and unwavering support.

I’m pretty sure I moved through every emotion possible throughout. The way I love many of these characters and love to hate many others. There’s a much better balance of action to politicking and slower moments. Pierce Brown knocked it out of the park.

And I feel like I could keep talking about other aspects of this

Overall audience notes:

  • Sci-fi / Fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: high blood/gore, loss of loved ones, battle and war themes

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Book Review: The Kiss Curse (Ex Hex #2) by Erin Sterling

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Erin Sterling
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: September 20th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

I had some *thoughts* on the first book but felt inclined enough to give the second book a go and I liked it so much more!!

The romance was developed in a way I could get behind. There was still that lust component that isn’t for me personally, BUT, it was used here in an easier to handle light that ended with me actually liking this couple. A dash of enemies to lovers / workplace rivals that come together to save the town. Perfect for the season right?

It’s quirky and Gwyn is boisterous and full of banter that is well received by Wells. I especially liked that the third act wasn’t blown out of proportion. There was reasonable befuddlement that led to some simple answers and both Gwyn and Wells actually believed each other! YAY. There’s good tension and fluff mixed into a plot that has the same essence as the The Ex Hex.

Great for the season.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: alcohol consumption, blood depiction, torture mentioned, kidnapping

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Book Review: Heirs of Falcon Point (Falcon Point #0) by Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards and A.L. Sowards

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction / Contemporary Mystery
Length: 344 pages
Author: Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards and A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: October 11th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the early days of World War II, the Lang family lost everything. Eighty years later, it’s time to take it back.

The Nazis have taken control of Austria, and wealthy widower Leopold Lang faces a difficult decision: join the ranks of the foreign power that has taken over his homeland or flee with his children to safety. Leopold makes his choice—but too late. His family is ripped apart, never to be reunited. But decades later, fate brings together the descendants of this broken dynasty in the place where it all began—Falcon Point.

Anna, Cole, and Tess have never met, each relying on fractured pieces of information to understand their Austrian heritage. But when unforeseen opportunities draw these Lang cousins to Falcon Point, they soon discover they are not alone in their quest to claim the coveted property and the fabled treasure hidden within. Unfortunately, another claimant, one with a much darker heritage, is determined to eliminate the Lang family once and for all.

VERY SUSPENSEFUL.

I was asked to be apart of a release for a future book in this series and I wanted to catch up with the start of the stories! (Though I heard you don’t HAVE to read this first, I wanted to though).

ANYWAYS. Y’all, I really enjoyed this. All of these authors truly came together and created a cohesive story that flowed well and got my heart rate up a bit. I loved seeing the whole cast of characters come together to get back what was rightfully there’s.

I do wish there had been a little more depth to the relationships. There were three small plot romances that I loved, but wanted to see a little more of them. I did like all of the characters and how each had a unique background that I think will show up in future books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Suspense
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, gun violence, knife violence, loss of life, attempted murder

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