ARC Book Review: The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme

February 23, 2021February 9, 2021 GoodeyReads2 Comments

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Jillian Boehme
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: March 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For a hundred years, the once-prosperous kingdom of Perin Faye has suffered under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner’s daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son, has always been uncomfortable with his position as the spare heir—and the dark, stolen magic that comes with ruling.

When Maralyth becomes embroiled in a plot to murder the royal family and seize the throne, a cat-and-mouse chase ensues in an adventure of dark magic, court intrigue, and forbidden love.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a review.
All opinions are my own!

NEEDED MORE.

This book caused me to learn something about my bookish self.

I am picky when it comes to standalone fantasies.

Why? Because I think it’s hard to give everything a fantasy book needs laid out to make it feel whole by the time it ends. A fantasy needs strong world-building, an explanation of magic systems and more. I thought this was missing a lot of that plus a lack of character depth (with main and side characters).

The Stolen Kingdom started off pretty strong. The premise wasn’t wholly unique, but it seemed to have a flair I could get behind. I liked Maralyth as a main character. She was strong-willed and may have had to go with things she didn’t approve of, yet made the right decisions when it came down to it. I saw her in her role by the end.

Alac was a love interest I enjoyed. He wanted to change his kingdom for the better and was open to listening and working with his perceived enemies to do so. I wish there would have been more to Alac and Maralyth’s romance sub-plot. It was charming watching them together and I wanted to see the banter and tender pages.

It was an enjoyable story for a standalone. Even when I think it was missing deeper aspects, it delivered likable characters and a nifty, yet simple, magic system to follow. It would be an enjoyable read for younger YA audiences too.

Overall audience notes:

Young adult fantasy
Language: little to none
Romance: kisses
Violence: physical, poison, loss of loved ones, murder

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Book Review: Poison Study (Poison Study #1) by Maria V. Snyder

February 19, 2021September 15, 2020 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: New adult fantasy
Length: 361 pages
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Luna Books
Release Date: September 27th, 2005
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Choose: A quick death . . . or slow poison.

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She’ll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly’s Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can’t control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear.

A GOOD START.

I’ve never had this book on my radar, and have only heard of it a few times. Yet, when a Bookstagram friend decided to do a read-a-long for it, I jumped on board! The premise was enough to convince me.

I found this interesting. It was a set-up I haven’t seen before and let me curious as to how all of these characters got here. Yelena was a great main character. Her strength and bravery in-front of horrid situations was amazing. I thought some of her inner monologues became repetitive, but Yelena in general was a favorite.

The romance between her and Valek was slow-rolling and enjoyable. It didn’t come on strongly and I found myself cheering them on. I adored Valek in his own right and these two made for a good story.

I’m a bit confused by the magic system here. I can’t even describe it because it kind of came out of nowhere and I’m still figuring out the rules of the game. I’m hoping in the next book there’s more explanation as to how it fits into the world. Speaking of the world, it was intriguing too. The way the land was split up, and how it was under a type of military regime. I’d be curious how this continues to develop as well.

I may have been left with a lot of questions, but the story really did work well as a first book in a series. I’m happy to continue reading them!

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy + Romance
Language: occasional
Romance: kisses; one little detailed love scene
Violence: murder, swords, physical altercations, arrows, poison
Trigger warnings: mentions of being raped with one brief flashback scene to it; sexual assault and harassment, torture, attempted rape

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Book Review: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

February 10, 2021September 10, 2020 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Fantasy romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Blue Box Press
Release Date: September 1st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Betrayal…

Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice…

Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret…

But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

THIS WAS AS GOOD AS I WAS EXPECTING.

Oh did I love this. Even more than the first book. It just added to everything I experienced the first time, and now that I’m more solidified with characters/world/story, it made it all the better.

I am so in love with Hawke and Poppy. What a feisty relationship. I find myself smirking and enjoying their banter and conversations. I spent half the time shouting, JUST SAY I LOVE YOU ALREADY. Because seriously, the chemistry is off the charts. Not to mention the steam. H-o-t. A little bit past what I’m comfortable with (and I don’t mind skimming so it’s not a huge deal). I did like that it fit into the story and made the romance between them come alive. I like steamy scenes to really play their own part to the story.

What’s also amazing is the plot itself. Gods, wolves, vampires, OH MY. This is very intricate and layered. I learned even more about the world and how all the players were holding their cards. I’m excited to see how that keeps weaving into Poppy’s life as she unfolds the mysteries that have surrounded her.

Real obsessed with most of these side characters too. Namely, Kieran. His dry humor and witty remarks only make me love this series even more. I think he’ll play an even bigger role in the next installment, along with all of his werewolf friends. I can’t believe it myself, but I am loving this vampire/werewolf story. I think it’s all in how Armentrout has portrayed and written them. It’s not gimmicky, it’s fierce and powerful characters that have just made me love this series.

Amazing ending where I’m shouting, I KNEW IT. I actually don’t know if I know it, but all signs point towards a third book that’s sure to stop my heart a few times.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy romance
Language: some light to strong
Romance: a bit of everything (as I said very steamy); would probably say 3 to 4 flames out of five; multiple open door scenes
Violence: bloody/gory; physical, magical, swords, catapults, fire, swords, arrows
Trigger warnings: PTSD from being captured and tortured; losing loved ones

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ARC Book Review: The Lion of the Sea (The Maiden Ship #2) by Micheline Ryckman

February 4, 2021February 5, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 243 pages
Author: Micheline Ryckman
Publisher: Whimsical Publishing
Release Date: February 9th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“Perhaps the present, no matter how messy, is the perfect time to live.”

Family is not always blood, and home is where the heart is. It took Dain Alloway years to understand these foundational truths. Now the captain of The Maiden, surrounded by the found family he loves, Dain sets out to end a centuries-old genocide and prevent an oncoming war. But when the girl he loves is torn from his arms, Dain might be forced to choose between saving just her, or saving them all.

The Lion of the Sea is the second novel in Micheline Ryckman’s, The Maiden Ship, series. This YA fantasy adventure is chalk full of action filled scenes set upon the high seas. You’ll rejoin a loveable cast of characters from the first book and meet some nasty pirates and alluring mermaids along the way.

Thank you to the author for an eARC. All opinions are my own!

AN ADVENTURE.

Oh wow, I didn’t realize how much I missed these characters! This is one of my favorite groups of friends/found family. Everyone has such personality and make me so happy when I read it. I love the new members added in (except for Dain’s Mom, definitely curious if she gets a redemption arc) and what they brought to the story.

It was nice to see a little separation between Dain and Sable to allow for some personal growth. BUT, I did miss the romance a bit. I wanted more between them. Gratefully, the ending gave into that so I’m excited for book three and what it will hold. I’m curious about where the sub-plot with Dain is going with his siren friend. I’m not sure I’m into it, though I’m trying to keep an open mind.

There was action and mystery happening all over. I love that we finally got to meet some characters discussed in The Maiden Ship and that they got a little bit of the spotlight. The brother/sister duo was interesting too. I just enjoyed meeting so many new people!

The mythology and magic system are inventive and easy to follow. There’s not much information on how it all works, yet I don’t find that distracting from the story. I love how this is set-up on the high seas. I love a good book out on the ocean. Adding in the different locations they went to really made for a well rounded novel.

Overall audience notes: