Tag: Book Review

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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Book Review: The Blood Traitor (The Prison Healer #3) by Lynette Noni

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Author: Lynette Noni
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: June 14th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’d failed them. All of them. And now she was paying the price.

Kiva thought she knew what she wanted—revenge. But feelings change, people change… everything has changed.

After what happened at the palace, Kiva is desperate to know if her friends and family are safe, and whether those she wronged can ever forgive her. But with the kingdoms closer to the brink of war than they’ve ever been, and Kiva far away from the conflict, more is at stake than her own broken heart.

A fresh start will mean a perilous quest, forcing mortal enemies and uneasy allies together in a race against the clock to save not just Evalon, but all of Wenderall. With her loyalties now set, Kiva can no longer just survive—she must fight for what she believes in. For who she believes in. But with danger coming from every side, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, does she have what it takes to stand, or will she fall?

SATISFYING.

Oh do I really appreciate when I can close the last book of a series and feel like I am well enough satisfied with how everything wrapped up. If you don’t get farther than this paragraph, I definitely recommend The Prison Healer series.

Now to the NON SPOILER review.

I thought this was a great conclusion. My faaavorite favorite parts were all of the growth Kiva went through. There were so many perfect conversations surrounding forgiveness and true apologies. And Kiva was also given the time and encouragement to grow into her power and strength that was hidden under years of entrapment. Y’all know I love character growth and this had it in spades.

My small complaint is the lack of romance. I was just hoping for a BIT more, okay? Just a little more of Kiva and Jaren getting a chance to *be*. I liked that there wasn’t an immediate forgiveness scene, but that things took time. I think they’re the sweetest and I could have loved on 100 more pages of them.

AND ALL OF THE SIDE CHARACTERS. Holy wow. This cast was stellar. STELLAR. I love when even side characters have you wrapped around your finger. Everyone played a roll, the found family was incredible and I am in love with this whole group.

The action at the end kept me locked in and all of the sequences were impressive. I think it was nicely paced and led to a conclusion I was easily happy with. I have adored these books and look forward to more by this author!!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: drug addiction (and recovery), torture, kidnapping, murder, physical and magical altercations, loss of loved ones, small battle themes, assault

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Book Review: A Loyal Heart (An Uncertain Choice #4) by Jody Hedlund

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Historical Romance
Length: 302 pages
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Northern Lights Press
Release Date: March 6th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s taken her as his prisoner. But she’s holding his heart captive. In gaining their freedom, will they lose what matters most?

When Lady Olivia’s castle is besieged, she and her sister are taken captive and held for ransom by her father’s enemy, Lord Pitt. Loyalty to family means everything to Olivia. She’ll save her sister at any cost and do whatever her father asks—even if that means obeying his order to steal a sacred relic from her captor.

As Lord Pitt’s commander, Sir Aldric is in charge of the beautiful but feisty new prisoner. He has his hands full attempting to keep Lady Olivia out of trouble. When Lord Pitt throws her in the dungeon and threatens to hang her for stealing, Aldric conceives a plot to save Olivia’s life—betrothal to him.

Can Olivia give up the prestigious match her father has arranged with a wealthy marquess in order to marry a lowly knight like Aldric? And can Aldric move beyond his past mistakes to embrace love again? When loyalties are tested, they’re thrust into danger that could cost them their love and their lives. 

TOO EASY.

This was an enjoyable read, it was. I just started noticing some things that stuck out enough that caused my rating to go down.

I did love this historical vibes and time period. That was different for a young adult book and it was a good change of pace. The audio book was already really well narrated and I flew through it (it’s short, about 7 hours).

The romance had some sweet moments but I felt like things progressed for them too easily. They’re flat out enemies and I wanted more angst between them because of that. There wasn’t a sense of will they/won’t they and even in the midst of all the things happening around them I thought the romance arc moved too swiftly. Probably a by-product of a short story, but alas, these are my thoughts.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: battle themes, kidnapping, whipping
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: suicide ideation, loss of a spouse (prior to book, but discussed), grief, near death situations

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