Tag: Book Review

Book Review: Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 336 pages
Author: Makiia Lucier
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: November 9th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The past never forgets…

Before an ambush by enemy soldiers, Lord Cassia was an engineer’s apprentice on a mission entrusted by the king. But when plague sweeps over the land, leaving countless dead and devastating the kingdom, even Cas’ title cannot save him from a rotting prison cell and a merciless sickness.

Three years later, Cas wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget past horrors. But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them.

When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for a killer… one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with a brilliant young historian named Lena. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war.

AMAZING WRITING.

That was one of my largest takeaways here. This book is magnetic. I was swept away in this story about Cas returning home to find what the plague has wreaked havoc upon. The audio is STELLAR. Highly recommend and I love the way the narrator gave a humorous voice to Cas. It perfectly off-set the darker sides of this tale and made it all the better.

I looove that this was told from the guy’s perspective. That’s not super common in YA lit. Cas was a resilient man who was looking out for those he loved, and the kingdom he fights for, all while bonding with Lena. I also adored Lena. Both of these characters sold the story for me. I loved the interactions, the banter, and watching their connection strengthen over time. I wouldn’t exactly call it a romance because it’s not heavily implied, but there’s feelings there by the end.

The story was intriguing and I liked the mystery aspect of it all. I remember thinking, WAIT WHAT, a few times as the reveals started occurring in the second half. The twists and turns are there and plenty of action to keep things moving. I can’t believe this was a standalone. It was without a doubt, one of the best ones I’ve read this year. Everything was well built and formulated to occur at the necessary pacing to finish up in less than 350 pages.

Absolute gem, highly recommend. I can’t wait to find out what this author will write next!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: flirting (maybe a kiss at the end?)
  • Violence: skirmishes, weaponry wounds (arrows, swords)
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: plague (based off of the Black Death), loss of many loved ones, medical experimentation, near drowning of an infant

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Book Review: The American Roommate Experiment (Spanish Love Deception #2) by Elena Armas

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Elena Armas
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: September 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of the Goodreads Choice Award winner The Spanish Love Deception, the eagerly anticipated follow-up featuring Rosie Graham and Lucas Martín, who are forced to share a New York apartment.

Rosie Graham has a problem. A few, actually. She just quit her well paid job to focus on her secret career as a romance writer. She hasn’t told her family and now has terrible writer’s block. Then, the ceiling of her New York apartment literally crumbles on her. Luckily she has her best friend Lina’s spare key while she’s out of town. But Rosie doesn’t know that Lina has already lent her apartment to her cousin Lucas, who Rosie has been stalking—for lack of a better word—on Instagram for the last few months. Lucas seems intent on coming to her rescue like a Spanish knight in shining armor. Only this one strolls around the place in a towel, has a distracting grin, and an irresistible accent. Oh, and he cooks.

Lucas offers to let Rosie stay with him, at least until she can find some affordable temporary housing. And then he proposes an outrageous experiment to bring back her literary muse and meet her deadline: He’ll take her on a series of experimental dates meant to jump-start her romantic inspiration. Rosie has nothing to lose. Her silly, online crush is totally under control—but Lucas’s time in New York has an expiration date, and six weeks may not be enough, for either her or her deadline.

SHE DID IT AGAIN.

I loved this y’all!!! Now, it didn’t top my obsession with The Spanish Love Deception, BUT this grew on me in a different way.

This was so dang soft. It’s low angst with lots of heart. I adored Lucas and Rosie. I felt like I connected with both of them about different things and it really sang to my heart as they found love with each other. It was pretty slow for the first half and you have to hang in there, but the foundation is being laid for all of the swoon!

I love a great romance where I’m sitting there reading it and all of a sudden realize how attached I am to everything that’s happening. Yes, this is a little bit on the cheesy side but it WORKS. The grand gesture(s) and fake dates, the chases through airports and more. It has the love story movie-esque vibe that worked well for me.

The surrounding plot was steady and I liked that it gave a chance for both Lucas and Rosie to evolve and exhibit there own personal character growth. This is why I love dual POV romance books!!! I have a super soft spot for Lucas and gosh dang he just MELTED MY HEART.

Bring on whatever Elena Armas is giving us next because I can’t wait.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; med-high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: Parent abandonment mentioned (off page), PTSD and trauma, panic attacks, nightmares

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Book Review: A Tale of Stars and Shadow (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #1) by Lisa Cassidy

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 500 pages
Author: Lisa Cassidy
Publisher: Tate House
Release Date: May 18th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Dumnorix princess and born warrior, Talyn Dynan was the finest fighter of her generation. With her Callanan partner at her side, she was invincible, reckless, a death-knell to their enemies. But after her partner is torn away from her, Talyn is left broken, wracked with guilt and unable to regain the confidence she once had. Could an unexpected mission to the mysterious country of Mithranar, home of the magical winged folk, be the thing that saves her? Or will the danger and secrets she finds there finally break her completely?

The Shadowhawk lives a life in the shadows. Constantly hunted for his criminal exploits, yet desperate to help the human folk of Mithranar who are oppressed by their winged folk rulers, he haunts the streets of Dock City. The arrival of a foreign warrior threatens to upset the carefully balanced life he leads, but when she begins to offer a hope for the humans he’s only ever dreamed of, can he risk trusting her?

And unbeknownst to both, a mysterious foe stalks the dark corners of Dock City. One that answers to a single purpose…

Vengeance. 

I. AM. HOOKED.

I have had a friend beg me for months now to read this series. OHHHHH BOY WHY DID I WAIT.

I loved this?! It had all the things I love about adult fantasy!!

The rag tag group of criminals turned found family warriors is my kind of jam, ALWAYS. I loved this group and how the butting heads turned to watching each other’s back. It was powerful and they made me smile and want to shake them. I can’t wait to see this group continue to blossom.

I adored our main character Talyn! Coping with the loss of her battle partner she is adrift and forced to create a new protection force for the prince. I loved her tenacity and strength. The way she kept getting back up and worked hard. Talyn is intelligent and just full of the things I need in a FMC. I am stoked to continue her story.

Shadowhawk?? OHMGEEEEEE. I had a million theories and I am happy to say many of them were correct. I loved his character development as well and the part he plays in the larger scheme of things.

I need more. more. more. and will be continuing this series ASAP. This first book is severely underrated.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: weapons violence, attempted kidnappings, attempted rape (brief scene with side characters), assault, loss of loved ones, grief and depression depiction

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Book Review: Christmas As We Know It by Sarah Sutton

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: YA Contemporary romance
Length: 248 pages
Author: Sarah Sutton
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 1st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

Christmas as I know it is blown away with the winter wind when my mom drops a bomb the size of the Rockefeller Tree—we’re going to Florida for winter break, AKA the land of no snow. And since this is the last Christmas season of my high school career, my last chance to spend the holidays with my friends before we all go off to college, the news is anything but merry and bright.

There is one silver lining, though. Bentley, the sweet and kind guy I’ve been crushing on for years, is in my volunteer group for the annual Winter Festival. And did I mention his love for Christmas just might rival my own? Even though I’ll be missing out on the Winter Festival, being paired with Bentley almost makes it worth it.

Until something happens with Jason, my best friend since elementary school. Something that may or may not involve an almost kiss. Jason’s the opposite of jolly, the Grinch to my Mrs. Claus, and though every year I have to drag him along for the Yuletide ride, this December, he’s grumpier than ever about the holidays.

But the closer I get to Bentley, and the more it looks like Jason and his ex are getting back together, the more unsure I am about who I want to ring in the new year with.

Maybe all I need is the magic of a mistletoe kiss to make up my mind. Or better yet, a Christmas miracle.

THIS WAS SWEET.

A good young adult holiday romance. It’s a super fast read and bingeable if you’re in the mood for it. I was worried that I wouldn’t like the main character at all, but gave her a chance for growth and it was well received. I thought Mimi was a quintessential teen that caused a few eye rolls, and gratefully a few cheers. I love character growth in books!

I struggled with the way the love triangle was handled. I’m not even sure it was necessary? Or at least to the extent it was drawn out (this is my second book by this author with a love triangle, is this a bad sign?). The friends to lovers was really sweet and I wanted all of the focus on those quiet moments between Mimi and Jason. Jason was a gem.

The Christmas season was in full swing and I love a good snow setting (that I don’t physically have to participate in). The side characters were charming and I love a good group of friends. Things get a bit dramatic at times. I’m not upset with this for a holiday romance though, it’d be one to consider for your TBR.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: head injury from sledding
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, depictions of grief

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