Tag: fantasy books

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: January 2025

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We made it through 3438753 days of January. Here’s what I read!

  • [Reread] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Beyond the Crescent Sky (The Balkan Legends #2) by A.L. Sowards
  • [ALC] The Favorites by Layne Fargo
  • Our Deadly Designs (This Dark Descent #2) by Kalyn Josephson
  • [ARC/ALC] Gate to Kagoshima (Ancestor Memories #1) by Poppy Kuroki
  • [ARC] Of Flames and Fallacies (The Arterian Series #1) by Courtney Whims
  • Let You Love Me (Boys of Riverside #5) by Gracie Graham
  • Morbidly Yours (Love in Galway #1) by Ivy Fairbanks
  • Familiar Stranger by Caitlin Moss
  • [ARC/ALC] The Rival by Emma Lord
  • All to Pieces (The Seddledowne #3) by Susan Henshaw
  • [ARC/ALC] The Beasts We Bury (The Broken Citadel #1) by D.L. Taylor
  • A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson
  • A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
  • Where the Black Line Ends by Meagan Williamson
  • [ARC] A Heart Devoted (The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir #5) by Nichole Van
  • [Reread] Iron Flame (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros
  • [ARC/ALC] Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth #2) by Kristen Ciccarelli
  • Seeing Miss Heartstone by Nichole Van
  • Know Your Newlywed by Elena Armas
  • Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal #1) by Rachel Schneider
  • The Heart of the Rebellion by Sian Ann Bessey
  • Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer
  • A Tribute of Fire (The Eye of the Goddess #1) by Sariah Wilson
  • When Alec Met Evie (The Appies #6) by Jenny Proctor
  • Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros
  • Class Clown (The Thornback Society #4) by Aspen Hadley
  • The Legend of Meneka (The Divine Dancers Duology #1) by Kritika H. Rao
  • Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
  • [ARC] Guarding the Mountain Man’s Secret (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #7) by Misty M. Beller
  • [Short Story] The Situationship by Abby Jimenez
  • [ARC] Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
  • Unromance by Erin Connor
  • A Forbidden Fate (A Forbidden Fate #1) by Kaven Hirning
  • [Novella] Spirit of the Wood (Green Rider #7.5) by Kristen Britain
  • Smoke and Mirrors (Silver and Bone #2) by Claudia Cain
  • [Reread] The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
  • The Check Down (Lacey Bros #1) by Brandy Pelletier

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Book Review: This Cruel Dawn (The Curse of the Blessed #3) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 272 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Blessed. A Hunter. A Fight for their Kingdom.
Shaken by ceaseless revelations reshaping everything they thought they knew of their world and themselves, Elynor, Sharek, and Sylvester take the political battleground of distant Orleth. Their to halt a war. Their Rowan Varodan, now a trusted member of the Orlethian royalty. But confronting him proves a far different venture than any of them foresaw. In order to thwart the cunning killing Blessed and his unpredictable schemes, the trio must search the depths of themselves, face their veiled secrets, and prepare to risk-and lose-all they hold dear in the fight for Erala’s future.
Including their own lives.
Devastated by the deaths of his beloved siblings and his most trusted friend, Prince Jamyson throws caution to the wind in the struggle against sinister Gavannon al-Morral and his own father’s declining health. Yet as circumstances grow darker for Erala and war looms ever nearer on the horizon, Jamyson learns he still has more to lose…and that, to prevent his kingdom from falling to ruin, he may have to let go of the things he loves most and confront truths about his own past that will alter the very fate of Erala.
Two kingdoms teeter on the brink. And only the outcast and despised among them have any hope of sparing their beloved home from destruction.

GOOD CONCLUSION.

I’ve been meaning to finish this series up and I’m glad that I did! They are short quick burst fantasies with plenty of action and intrigue. I enjoyed the multiple POV the most. I love seeing all sorts of sides to a story and this was no different.

There’s a lot of good character growth (as expected and loved from Renee Dugan). I liked where everyone ended up and thought overall it wrapped up the story lines well. The fast pace makes the pages fly and there’s many good surprises and reveals. Some totally blindsided me and I am always here for those moments.

It’s a journey, and a great one.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, executions, near death experiences

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ALC Book Review: Breath of the Dragon (Breathmarked #1) by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 352 pages
Author: Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: January 7th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first novel in a sweeping YA fantasy duology based on characters and teachings created by Bruce Lee!

Sixteen-year-old Jun dreams of proving his worth as a warrior in the elite Guardian’s Tournament, held every six years to entrust the magical Scroll of Earth to a new protector. Eager to prove his skills, Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s honor—righting a horrible mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.

But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating. There is no future in honing his skills as a warrior, especially considering Jun is not breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and blessed with special abilities like his twin. Determined to be the next Guardian, Jun stows away in the wagon of Chang and his daughter, Ren, performers on their way to the capital where the tournament will take place.

As Jun competes, he quickly realizes he may be fighting for not just a better life, but the fate of the country itself.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Wednesday books for the gifted audiobook.

GREAT AUDIOBOOK.

I am a major Fonda Lee fan (have you read Jade City yet? BECAUSE YOU SHOULD). Any who, I knew I needed my hands on this book and it was great. If you enjoy high action and low romance fantasy reads, this is a solid pick. I will definitely be picking up the next book.

I loved Jun as the MC. He’s scrappy and a bit naive, but works hard to make a name for himself. The competition Jun finds himself in is intense and gritty. I liked that it didn’t take up the entire book and that there was a lot more politicking and nuanced world building happening in the background. I liked the magic system and dragon scale concept and the unique abilities that were brought about by being breathmarked.

Some of the twists feel a little predictable and I wouldn’t say that was a big issue, but I could ultimately see from the beginning where things were moving towards. The audiobook had a fantastic narrator though and it was a nice switch up to go with something less romantic than my usual fair.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content Warnings: murder, loss of loved ones, blood/gore depiction

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