Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: A Shadow Crown (The Halfling Saga #2) by Melissa Blair

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Melissa Blair
Publisher: Union Square Co.
Release Date: April 9th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The highly anticipated second installment of the fantasy saga that took BookTok by storm sees Keera navigate political scheming, backstabbing, and her own grief as she moves against the cruel king that holds her kingdom hostage.

To the kingdom, Keera is the king’s Blade, his most feared and trusted spy and assassin. But in the shadows, she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow—the dark, brooding Fae, Riven, who sets her blood on fire. Together, they plot to topple the crown that sits upon the king’s head.

A secret can only survive as long as its conspirators, and when nothing is as it seems, all are in danger. Keera swore she would never open her heart again after a loss she barely survived. But she will soon find she has more to lose than she ever imagined.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.

NOT WHAT I HOPED FOR.

I very much enjoyed book one. So much so, I jumped at the chance to read this early. And now I’m a bit bummed because I was hoping for more.

There was a lot of good political intrigue and the story line did progress. I liked seeing more of those aspects and watching this found family come together. I think the audiobook is superb and plan to listen to the next one too. The narrator does an incredible job of bringing this story to life.

I felt like the romance took too much of a backseat, and practically anytime they were together it seemed to turn to some kind of physicality and I wanted different lines of connection to be happening too. There was a big betrayal, where’s some extensive groveling?!

Keera is a great flawed heroine and I do like her. She has her struggles and her triumphs and there was some good character growth for her too. I do have plans to continue the series and see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; mild-high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, near death experiences, alcoholism, loss of a partner (recounted)

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Book Review: Dragonfire (The Starchaser Saga #6) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 550 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A call to arms. A race against time. A choice that will change the future.

With her cabal divided, a price on her head, and her power put to the test, Cistine leads the desperate search for Maleck with a kingdom’s worth of enemies seeking them both. Finding him might be the key to winning the war. It might also spell Cistine’s doom.

Risking uncharted territory, Ashe, Aden, and Kristoff seek aid from the dragon legions in wild Oadmark. Only they stand a chance of bringing down the enemy’s abominable hordes. But to gain their alliance, Ashe must prove beyond all doubt who she is—as a warrior and as a Wingmaiden.

Amidst a storm of schemes, missing friends, broken hearts and uncertain horizons, the cabal faces the grim possibility of a world that can’t be redeemed, and Cistine fights to carry the burden no one else does: the weight of the power in her veins, and a weapon that could turn the tide of the war.

A power that could demand her love, her cabal, and even her own life to save the kingdoms from destruction.

NEW FAVORITE OF THE SERIES.

Ohhhhh my goodness, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It took my breath away. At this point I am so immersed in these characters lives that each book is a journey I am chomping at the bit to read through.

I love all of these characters and that it’s multi-POV. Getting to see everyone’s mindset and where they are internally helps create these immerse character depths that I loooove. The romances and friendships are top tier and the sincere bonds of this found family group have me misty eyed.

While amidst the well placed (and written) action scenes that had me holding my breath, there were also ALL the sweet and tender moments too. Good heavens these are my favorite things about a well written fantasy book. I love being enthralled by every aspect.

I can’t speak to much else other than my intense love for this series or I could spoil how things have changed over 6 books. Just know: YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, war themes, torture, depictions of grief and depression

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Book Review: Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden #3) by Beck Michaels

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 763 pages
Author: Beck Michaels
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Survival demands more than blood. It demands souls.

Alone and afraid, the time has come for Dyna to be her own savior. She will use every skill and spell her Guardians taught her to survive. Because the damsel is dead. This time, she fights.

Cassiel and the Guardians are desperate to find their Maiden. Except they cannot do it alone. The journey to cross Troll Bridge proves harder than ever as they race against the impending winter. When the High King summons him to answer for his crimes, Cassiel will sacrifice everything in order to save the one person he can’t live without. Even if it means his fate will end in exile—or a throne.

Dyna and her Guardians will all face a trial by fire as they confront their greatest threat yet. Themselves. And when ice meets flame, will they pay the price?

The hunt for Mount Ida reaches new heights and dark lows as the Guardians of the Maiden continues in this heart gripping tale about the bounds of love, duty, and power.

Thank you to the author for a gifted audiobook.

IT WAS GOOD, BUT IT WAS LONG.

I have had an up and down ride with this series, and this installment overall made me want to continue. I still feel invested in the overall plot and storylines for this cast. Towards the end there were multiple villain era-esque lines popping up and I AM HERE FOR IT ALL. Let’s make some of these characters a bit more gray because I have been waiting books to see this happen.

But 750 pages? Nooooo. Way too long. The amount of time spent on Dyna and Cassiel’s romantic relationship was, good heavens, expounded upon past the point of true enjoyment. I enjoyed some of the scenes that we did get (and that spice is kept on the more minimal side!), but I just needed less. I’m really interested in a new potential romance that’s brewing and some of the other character arcs almost more at this point. I did think it was interesting to get the villain’s back story because a lot more things make sense in regards to his dynamic now too.

The plot stalled here and there (as previously mentioned). There was some movement and I liked seeing where things are going. I truly did enjoy the audiobook a lot. It’s how I’ve read all of these books and I will continue to do so. The narrators do an amazing job and I continually found myself wanting to listen to this book.

Curious where the ending will take us next!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some mild
  • Romance: vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, kidnapping, torture, battle and war themes

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Book Review: Roaring by Lindsey Duga

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical + Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: 390 pages
Author: Lindsey Duga
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: July 24th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Colt Clemmons is an agent in a specialized division within the Bureau of Investigation-one that hunts down not just mobsters, but also monsters.

For reasons that are kept top secret, Colt is the only person who can resist a siren’s voice. But he’s never had a chance to test this ability. The last siren left in the world mysteriously disappeared years ago.

Then one night, with a single word, she reveals herself. It seems too good to be true.

And it is. Because nothing about this siren-her past, her powers, or her purpose-is what it seems…

ADORED.

I technically would give this four stars, BUT GOSH DANG I enjoyed the heck out of this read y’all. I did. It was exactly what I needed to pull me out of a few books I didn’t love as much. I beg of y’all to give this a chance, it deserves it.

Why four stars? Part of the plot felt repetitive in nature. Go over here, get captured, be rescued, move on. That was the base of the story, BUT, there’s also enough else happening that I overlooked it. Once again, for pure enjoyment purposes.

Monsters and mobsters?? Oh so clever a setting. I loved the 1920’s speakeasy vibes and the clothes, the perfectly used pet names (doll? SWOON) and more. Undercover agents turned monsters?! All the urban fantasy things I struggle with absolutely captivated me here.

And the romance was sweet. It was a slow burn that grew on me. I liked how Colt had a lot of personal growth, trying to move past childhood trauma. Eris was easy to love and intensely compassionate. Both are characters to cheer for as they attempt to escape their forced upon fate.

Intense action, swoony kisses, all the monsters.

Read it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical + Urban Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: medical experimentation on children, loss of life, explosions, torture, kidnapping, gun violence

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