Tag: Book Review

Book Review: Jade War (The Green Bone Saga #2) by Fonda Lee

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 590 pages
Author: Fonda Lee
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: July 23rd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In Jade War, the sequel to the World Fantasy Award-winning novel Jade City, the Kaul siblings battle rival clans for honor and control over an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis.

On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers they alone have possessed for hundreds of years.

Beyond Kekon’s borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon’s most prized resource, could make them rich – or give them the edge they’d need to topple their rivals.

Faced with threats on all sides, the Kaul family is forced to form new and dangerous alliances, confront enemies in the darkest streets and the tallest office towers, and put honor aside in order to do whatever it takes to ensure their own survival – and that of all the Green Bones of Kekon.

Jade War is the second book of the Green Bone Saga, an epic trilogy about family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of blood and jade.

OOHHHHHHMYGOOOOOODNESS.

Wow. I’ve been saying it all week since I finished this one, don’t sleep on this series!!! It’s absolutely incredible. An Asian dark urban fantasy that will have you desperately wanting to be part of the No Peak clan, and begging to the universe they actually don’t know who you are.

I love all of these characters. I am attached and will harm others if they are harmed. Too bad the author is a kill whatever character I want type. Cue extreme anxiety and Pikachu face the entire time I’m reading hoping my loves aren’t taken out. THE STRESS Y’ALL. I almost lost it at the end because I LOOOVE that the writing keeps me wondering who’s going to make it out alive.

All of the political intrigue and family drama are on point. It doesn’t feel over run to the story and works for everyone involved. I liked getting location changes to other areas of the world and seeing how those are affecting Kekan. There’s just so much here!!! Too much to say. I am wrapped up in this series and anxious for the last one.

As a romance lover, I like the addition of the small passion filled storylines throughout. While some are heartbreaking (and I do mean my soul shattered) and others are a bit more healing, they only add to the larger plot. I love when all of the strings weave well within each chapter.

Overall audience notes:

  • Dark Urban Adult Fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses to brief open door scenes
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: abortion, loss of loved ones, explosions, brutal torture, gruesome violence and gore, homophobia, ableism

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Book Review: To Con a Gentleman (Dalton Family #1) by Sarah Adams

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 284 pages
Author: Sarah Adams
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Release Date: November 1st, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He was her target. She was his diversion. Falling in love was never something they wanted.

As a con woman who has spent her entire life fending for herself on the streets of London, Rose Wakefield knows how to scam a gentleman out of his money without ever getting caught. That’s until she knocks on the wrong earl’s door and is faced with Carver Ashburn Earl of Kensworth and not the notorious rake she thinks she is approaching.

Carver is a good man, but even a good man will not pass up an opportunity to escape his grief. What better way to avoid his feelings than to play into a con woman’s ruse and offer to marry her?

Things only grow more complicated when Carver sweeps Rose off to his family estate and circumstances force them both into continuing the ruse. Carver needs to protect his family, and Rose needs to protect herself—and her heart.

With so much set against them, will Rose and Carver have a chance at love and freedom? Or is the possibility of more heartache not worth the risk?

ADORED THIS.

Such a sweet regency romance! It’s probably my favorite one that I’ve read in years. I love Sarah Adams writing and story telling.

I absolutely loved the banter between Carver and Rose. Goodness, that’s what more regency romances need. A bit of snark and moments to make me laugh. The plot for this was interesting and unique to most regency romances I’ve read. It was fun to have Rose to be a thief and con artist (with good intentions). Add in Carver, a strong, charming man with a tender heart and I was smitten with the romance.

The story was intriguing and I never wanted to stop reading. Having dinners, going to balls, romantic interludes on the roof, horse riding, so much was here. The story didn’t drag, but flowed easily. I love the intensity of emotions and substantially romantic. I wanted to be swept away and this was exactly what I got.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: falling from a horse, physical
  • Content Warnings: loss of loved one(s), mention and discussion of a past miscarriage, depictions of grief and depression

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Book Review: The Bone Charmer (The Bone Charmer #1) by Breeana Shields

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: Breeana Shields
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Release Date: May 21st, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In Saskia’s world, bones are the source of all power. They tell the future, reveal the past, and expose secrets in the present. Each village has a designated seer who performs readings for the townsfolk, and in Midwood, the Bone Charmer is Saskia’s mother.

On the day of her kenning—a special bone reading that determines the apprenticeships of all seventeen-year-olds—Saskia’s worst fears come true. She receives an assignment to train as a Bone Charmer, like her mother, and even worse, a match-making reading that pairs her with Bram—a boy who has suspicious tattoos that hint of violence.

Saskia knows her mother saw multiple paths for her, yet chose one she knew Saskia wouldn’t want. Their argument leads to a fracture in one of the bones. Broken bones are always bad luck, but this particular set of bones have been infused with extra magic, and so the break has devastating consequences—Saskia’s future has split as well. Now she will live her two potential paths simultaneously. Only one future can survive. And Saskia’s life is in danger in both.

CAUGHT UP IN THIS ONE.

Oh wow. I read this from a friend’s recommendation and Y’ALL. TBR STAT.

I found this to be such an easy read. I loved the magic system. Things made sense and was unique. It was twisted and set-up in a way that I was worried it would be confusing, but turns out…it worked out perfectly.

It’s told from two divergent timelines. One if Saskia made one choice, and one if she went on a different path. I loved how this played out! Even while reading the chapters it was straight forward as to which voice was narrating. And the way they combined hit everything right. I haven’t read a timeline like this that worked out so beautifully.

There’s a soft and slow romance throughout that was tender and sweet. Bram stole my heart (and Saskia’s) and someone needs to tell me they get a happy ending.

The book has a lot of dark tones and ambiance. The villain was an absolute type who took a bit to see coming. I liked that they fit into the story well and their corrupt nature kept me on my toes. I really can’t wait to read book two and see how everything ends!

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: death, intense murder scenes; generally a bit morbid

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Book Review: Wings of Shadow (Crown of Feathers #3) by Nicki Pau Preto

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 704 pages
Author: Nicki Pau Preto
Publisher: McElderry Books
Release Date: July 13th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the heart-stopping finale to the Crown of Feathers trilogy, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake calls “absolutely unforgettable,” Veronyka must face her most devastating enemy yet: her own sister.

I had a sister, once…

Veronyka is no longer an orphaned stable boy or a nameless Phoenix Rider apprentice: she is the daughter of Pheronia Ashfire, the last queen of the Golden Empire…and the niece of Avalkyra Ashfire, the resurrected rebel queen who tore the empire apart.

We shone brightly, burned fiercely.

Now that the secret is out, everyone at the Eyrie treats Veronyka differently, and with Tristan still a hostage of the scheming Lord Rolan—and Sev with him as a spy—Veronyka feels very much alone. Except for her beloved phoenix, Xephyra, of course, and her new friend, Kade, who has his own reasons for wanting to save Tristan.

Was it always going to come down to this? Sister against sister? Darkness against light?

Veronyka is determined to do whatever it takes to get Tristan back, even if that means revealing her identity to the world and inheriting a throne she’s not sure she wants. But when she discovers that Avalkyra has bonded with a strix—a legendary creature of darkness that feeds off the life force of others—Veronyka realizes she has more to deal with than an encroaching war with the empire. Val is willing to destroy everything to get her revenge on a world that rejected her, and if Veronyka wants to bring peace to the empire and Pyra alike, she must face down her sister once and for all.

The world began with Ashfire queens…perhaps they will also be its destruction.

SPECTACULAR FINALE.

I have been reading series ender duds over and over and FINALLY, hit a closing book that brought it home. This was incredible and fully solidifies my recommendation that get this on your TBR!

For over 600 pages, I hardly felt it was exhaustingly long. The pages were used well and kept the story moving and involved. I love Veronyka as the ultimate main heroine. She is incredibly strong, full of love, and uses her strengths to lift and care for others. I adored the side romance with Tristan and how supportive they were of each other. No ridiculous miscommunications here.

Sev was all things I love too. He had some personal crises that had me wishing I could lift him up. I was so excited seeing his character arc and learning to love who he is and the power he brings to the table. Kade was also insanely supportive and those two melted my heart. All of these ships melted my heart. [Honorable mention the sweetness of Elliot and Sparrow too!!]

Along with the fantastic friendships, family relationships, were insane amounts of action. Wild tension that had me gasping so much my husband stopped and asked me what was wrong ~whoops~. Each time things started to pick up, I never knew quite what would happen and I loved that.

I loved even more how the final scenes with the main villainess went. It wasn’t typical and became profound as Veronyka and Val had a last clashing. The scene was memorable and full of emotion. I love that it gave Val more than just the antagonist role, but this whole other set of layers. She was one of the main POV’s throughout the series too and I loved being in her mind too.

I could keep gushing. This series has a great set of the three books. I don’t remember being let down by any of them. One of the last things I’ll mentioned I couldn’t get enough of were all of the phoenixes. They all had personalities and quirks and cared deeply for their riders. Definitely one of the best parts of the entire trilogy.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses to closed door scenes
  • Violence: war themes, weaponry, loss of life, physical and magical altercations, fire

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