Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2022

August 31, 2022August 29, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

I finally had a great reading month again! Only one 2 star read and I am hoping to ride this high through the fall.

Favorites this month:

The River of Silver
Well Traveled
A Tale of Stars and Shadow (full series)
Miss Newbury’s List
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
Kiss and Tell
Eloise and the Grump Next Door
Violet Made of Thorns
Royally Rearranged (reread)
Red Rising (reread)
Begin Again
Complete
Hidden Waters
The Paris Secret

Least favorite:

The Even Odder Couple
Echoes of TIme
In the Weeds
Love on the Brain
Back to You

The Reigning and the Rule (Surviving Trace #2) by Calia Read
[ARC] Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2) by Brigid Kemmerer
All Tricked Out (Wayfair Witches #13) by A.A. Albright
The River of Silver (The Daevabad Trilogy #4) by S.A. Chakraborty
The Even Odder Couple (Apple Valley Love Stories #4) by Julie Christianson
[ARC] Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
[ARC] Well Traveled (Well Met #4) by Jen DeLuca
Scales of Ash & Smoke (Ash & Smoke #1) by Emily L. Schneider
A Tale of Stars and Shadow (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #1) by Lisa Cassidy
[ARC] Miss Newbury’s List by Megan Walker
Echoes of Time (Surviving Time #3) by Calia Read
Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata
Faking it (Wayfair Witches #14) by A.A. Albright
A Prince of Song and Shade (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #2) by Lisa Cassidy
Brought to Light by Allie Lewis
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
[ARC] The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
[Reread] Red Rising (Red Rising #1) by Pierce Brown
Testing Times (Wayfair Witches #15) by A.A. Albright
[ARC] The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
Kiss and Tell (Creekville Kisses #3) by Melanie Jacobson
[ARC] Eloise and the Grump Next Door (Oakley Island Romcoms #1) by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor
Violet Made of Thorns (Violet Made of Thorns #1) by Gina Chen
[ARC] In the Weeds (Lovelight #2) by B.K. Borison
[Reread] Royally Rearranged (Sweet Royal Romcom #1) by Emma St. Clair
[ARC] Begin Again by Emma Lord
[ARC] Ledge (The Glacian Trilogy #1) by Stacey McEwan
A King of Masks and Magic (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #3) by Lisa Cassidy
A Duet of Sword and Song (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #4) by Lisa Cassidy
A Duel with the Vampire Lord (Married to Magic #3) by Elise Kova
The Hookup Plan (The Boyfriend Project #3) by Farrah Rochon
[ARC] To Capture His Heart (Matchmakers #2) by Nancy Campbell Allen
Complete (The Sweet RomComs #3) by Kortney Keisel
[ARC] The Liar’s Crown (Dominion #1) by Abigail Owen
Unhappening Ever After (Wayfair Witches #16) by A.A. Albright
Promised by Leah Garriot
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
A Confirmed Rake (The Donovans #2) by Martha Keyes
Back to You (San Diego Marines #1) by Jess Mastorakos
Hidden Waters (Tattered & Torn #3) by Catherine Cowles
The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

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ARC Book Review: The Liar’s Crown (Dominion #1) by Abigail Owen

August 30, 2022August 27, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy + Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Abigail Owen
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: August 30th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One born to rule. One to forfeit…

Everything about my life is a lie. As a hidden twin princess, born second, I have only one purpose—to sacrifice my life for my sister if death comes for her. I’ve been living under the guise of a poor, obscure girl of no standing, slipping into the palace and into the role of the true princess when danger is present.

Now the queen is dead and the ageless King Eidolon has sent my sister a gift—an eerily familiar gift—and a proposal to wed. I don’t trust him, so I do what I was born to do and secretly take her place on the eve of the coronation. Which is why, when a figure made of shadow kidnaps the new queen, he gets me by mistake.

As I try to escape, all the lies start to unravel. And not just my lies. The Shadowraith who took me has secrets of his own. He struggles to contain the shadows he wields—other faces, identities that threaten my very life.

Winter is at the walls. Darkness is looming. And the only way to save my sister and our dominion is to kill Eidolon…and the Shadowraith who has stolen my heart.

Thank you to RB Media and Netgalley for the Audio ARC.

WOW THIS WAS GOOD.

Book hype for this one is real. I super enjoyed this.

Audio notes: I don’t have any! I LOVED the audio. Great narrators. Easy to listen. I flew through it. Highly recommend that avenue if you’re into audiobooks!

Another read where I felt remined why fantasy genre is the best genre. I loved the world building and shadow concept. The twists behind that was so cool and I felt added another unique layer to this story overall. Filled with a morally gray love interest that you can’t get enough of, I was hooked. I liked the steady pacing and that there’s a slow build to everything else happening.

Meren was a strong FMC and I liked her tenacity and loyalty to her sister. I love a great sister bond and I know that’s what is happening here and I hope we get to see more of it in the next book. Reven is the complex soul I love and I’m happy that I feel like I know him as well as Meren. Sometimes the love interest gets tossed aside and seems one dimensional and I liked the complexity his characterization received.

The ending was WILD. Still a bit in shock and everything expertly led to this conclusion. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

NA Fantasy Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: one open door + some innuendo
Violence: moderate
Trigger/Content Warnings: battle scenes, loss of life, kidnapping

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ARC Book Review: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

August 16, 2022August 15, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Megan Bannen
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: August 23rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness.

Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest.

After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.

If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most—Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares—each other?

Set in a world full of magic and demigods, donuts and small-town drama, this enchantingly quirky, utterly unique fantasy is perfect for readers of The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Invisible Library.

Thank you to Orbit for a finished copy!

THE FEELS.

I have found myself on the side of LOVING this read. I think taking my time and really diving into the depth of the background of Hart and Mercy brought out the feels as this book wrapped up.

Letter writing books are some of my favorite. I love notes back and forth. As both parties released some of the tension and longing and trying to find more connection in life. The lonely nature of these souls spoke to something deep within me.

With nods to enemies to lovers and hidden identities the secrets poured out as Hart and Mercy got closer. But with some critical information left on the side the conflict was imminent. I thought it was handled well though and fit the theme of the story.

It’s a very quirky fantasy. The world building is a bit out there and I’m not sure it worked all the time, yet…it still did? It’s hard to explain, but I recommend leaning into the weirdness of this with talking animals delivering letters and zombies galore.

I was all in the emotions at the ending. I am completely smitten with Hart and love him so dang much. This does have a HEA, even if it was touch and go for a bit. I loved the reveals at the end and that Hart got everything he was after to feel fulfilled and ultimately, loved.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: multiple open door (on the brief side)
Violence: med/high
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved one, physical and weaponry altercations, zombie attacks

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Book Review: A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic #2) by Elise Kova

August 7, 2022July 24, 2022 GoodeyReads2 Comments

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 374 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: August 19th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She knew her hand in marriage would be sold. She had no idea a fae prince was the buyer.

Katria swore she’d never fall in love. She’s seen what “love” means through the cruelty of her family. So when she’s married off to the mysterious Lord Fenwood for a handsome price, all Katria wants is a better life than the one she’s leaving. Feelings are off the table.

But her new husband makes not falling in love difficult.

As their attraction begins to grow, so too do the oddities within her new life: strange rules, screams in the night, and attacks by fae that Katria never thought were real. When she witnesses a ritual not meant for human eyes, Katria finds herself spirited away to the land of Midscape.

Surviving the fae wilds as a human is hard enough. Katria must survive as a human who accidently pilfered the magic of ancient kings – magic a bloodthirsty king is ready to kill her for in order to keep his stolen throne – and her new husband is the rightful heir in hiding.

The power to save the fae is in her hands. But who will save her from a love she vowed never to feel?

THIS COVER IS EVERYTHING.

I can’t help my obsession with this cover. It’s just gorgeous. Every time I pulled up this book to read I stared at it some more because I couldn’t have enough. It is what it is.

ANYWAYS, I guess I’ll discuss the book now.

The first half was realllll slow. Really slow. The romantic slow build up was working for me, but the plot slow build with the Fae lands was not. They kept clashing and I didn’t know how I was going to enjoy it by the end.

Cue the second half. Much appreciated that this got a lot of momentum and was actually interesting. Once the blindfolds were removed, hot dang the chemistry between Katria and Davien was finally able to take off. THANK HEAVENS.

After that it did become fairly predictable (it’s a Cinderella retelling). Which can be bad and good. I really did end up loving the romance between Katira and Davien and felt that passion and tension. They were pretty enigmatic and I felt caught up in Davien’s vivid green eyes myself (see, cover obsession acknowledgement prior). Katria also got a much needed character arc before my frustrations grew anymore. I’m really handing this star ranking over to the second half of this book. It’s whimsical, it’s romantic, and I do like the set-up for book three.

Overall audience notes: