Tag: fantasy

Book Review: Scythe and Pen by A.C. Hobbs

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy
Length: 506 pages
Author: A.C. Hobbs
Publisher: Counterpoise Press
Release Date: January 12th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Demetrius Raske strikes a deal with the Devil to stop a monster stalking the city, but he may have unleashed another villain entirely…

The Capital of the United League of Nations glitters like jewels on a dame’s neck—a city of wicked splendor and possibility. The deals struck in the Senate are as ruthless as the ones struck in the city’s criminal underbelly. No one knows this better than vampire politician Demetrius Raske, who walks both worlds.

Demetrius fights for a bill that will grant humans and vampires equal civil liberties. But many citizens don’t share his sentiment, especially after the murders begin. Body after body, drained of blood, appear throughout the city, threatening the League’s tenuous peace treaty between humans and vampires. If Demetrius’s bill doesn’t pass the Senate, his campaign for a united future will be crushed. Only one man has the ability to apprehend the bloodthirsty monster—a man known simply as the Devil. And rumor has it, he isn’t a man at all. Together, they strike a deal to catch the murderer before Demetrius’s bill fails—a disaster that would push the League to the brink of civil war.

But Demetrius’s calculated moves don’t go unnoticed. He catches the attention of Gabriella Rose, a journalist whose hunt for her next big headline pushes her right into the murderer’s path, costing her everything she holds dear. Now something dark grows within Gabriella—a power her allies wish to control and her enemies want to exploit.

The only way Demetrius and Gabriella can save themselves—and the city they love—is to strike another deal with the Devil. But their villainous partner is playing his own game. And soon they will learn how the Devil earned his name.

I FOUND IT.

It is historically known I am not a lover of vampire books. BUT I have found a second book that gets all the stars from me AND has vampires!! This is an absolute must read. I loooved the dark and dramatic atmosphere. It’s gritty and full of mettlesome people trying to accomplish what they think is best. I loved the politicking and secrets and conversations in the dark waiting to see what next big thing was going to happen.

This has short chapters and this beautifully engaging writing. From the moment I picked it up I was enthralled. The magnetic story pulls you in and makes you want to know what happens next. I loved that it was multiple POV. There’s a mix of characters that you get views from that all build out this world and keep that sense of mystery.

And while it is in no way a romance book, there are two subtle ones that you get to see small aspects of throughout. I am in a chokehold over one of them and gosh dang I can’t wait to see that continue to grow in this series.

I loved it all. This is a hidden gem, you definitely need this book, kind of read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Rebels of Gold (Loom Saga #3) by Elise Kova

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: NA Fantasy
Length: 452 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: October 25th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Loom burns. Nova bleeds. The war for the fate of both rages.

A new rebellion has risen from the still-smoldering remnants of the Five Guilds of Loom to stand against Dragon tyranny.

Meanwhile, on Nova, those same Dragons fight amongst themselves, as age-old power struggles shift the political landscape in fateful and unexpected ways.

Unlikely leaders vie for the opportunity to shape a new world order from the creations of one temperamental and lethal engineer.

The fates of the beloved characters of the Loom Saga are revealed in this epic and explosive conclusion to a dark fantasy certain to delight readers looking for sweeping adventure, heart-pounding action, and a world that will live on long after the last page.

I FINISHED IT.

I read the first two books in this series a few years ago and finally swung around to finishing the series. Was it worth it? Eh I suppose to. I liked a lot of this, but it really isn’t my favorite of Kova’s (That would be Air Awakens and I beg of y’all to read it).

Anywho, I DID enjoy this characters. Florence, Ari and Cvareh all play solid roles. I liked the character progression and where they ended up when the war was over. What I struggled with was the relationship between Ari and Cvareh. When books are like HERE’S THE ROMANCE, then take it away for a long time it makes things feel unbalanced.

That’s mostly what I thought of the entire book. Unbalanced. Between the politicking, action and relationship building I was looking for something a bit different.

The magic system is suuuper cool. I do the love dragons, and chimera and steampunk vibes of the world. It’s unique and fresh and what really held the story together for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, battle themes, magical and physical altercations

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Sunlit Man (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 447 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Dragonsteel
Release Date: October 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson shows us a future in the Cosmere universe where a perpetual planetary wanderer must decide whether to keep running, or stay and make a difference on a struggling planet.

Years ago he had comrades in arms and a cause to believe in, but now the man who calls himself Nomad knows only a life on the run. Forced to hop from world to world in the Cosmere whenever the relentless Night Brigade gets too close, Nomad lands on a new planet and is instantly caught up in the struggle between a tyrant and the rebels who want only to escape being turned into mindless slaves—all under the constant threat of a sunrise whose heat will melt the very stones. Unable to understand the language, can he navigate the conflict and gain enough power to leap offworld before his mind or body pay the ultimate price?

HOLY COSMERE.

Note: I do think it is beneficial to be caught up on The Stormlight Archives (Books 1-4), Dawnshard (Novella), and Warbreaker. This really takes the Cosmere to a whole new level and in order not to spoil or to stop anyone from being confused, having this background is 100% needed.

ANYWAYS.

I loved this book. Which is no surprise. I was blown away by all of the connections and Easter eggs and all of these little dynamics and characters that kept popping up. I loved how fast paced everything was and you could really feel the desperation of Nomad and those he was working with to save the planet.

Beautiful characterization, an awesome cast and a story line that you can’t put down. I would love to go into more details, but I really think this book is best read blind AND there’s many moments that now have me nervous for what Stormlight 5 is going to bring. If you’ve loved everything Sanderson has written before, I don’t think you’ll have a single problem loving this one too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Darkwind (The Starchaser Saga #1) by Renee Dugan

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 442 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Middle Kingdom of Talheim has enjoyed peace for decades. But with the threat of war rising from the ruthless South, the dream of a quiet life is fading. And for the noble but naïve Princess Cistine, that means embarking on a dangerous quest to the Northern Kingdom, where she hopes to forge an alliance against their southern foes and save her people.

But when Cistine is captured by an outlaw and his band of cutthroat warriors, she finds a more deadly adventure than she bargained for – and a greater power within herself than she ever knew.

Swept up in the unpredictable tide of a tenuous and shadowy political climate, a ruthless land governed by the stars, and the unexpected revelations that come from her mysterious new companions, Cistine must learn how to fight, how to lead…and above all, how to trust herself.

If the young princess can’t be forged into a fighter, then her kingdom will fall.

HI, THIS IS MY NEW PERSONALITY.

Y’all. New fantasy obsession alert. I LOVED this!! Another Kindle Unlimited gem that has its hooks in me.

This is a slow build. And at times you do feel that slowness, but it has a necessity. I hate when things are slow and aren’t truly moving. In this case, we got to see some major character growth from Cistine and I looooved that. I enjoy seeing the development of skills rather than overnight they are fantastic at everything.

The plot is satisfying too. The world building is easy to follow and I like how the magic system is involved. I also absolutely loved that this had FOUND FAMILY. One of my favorite non-romantic tropes. This group grew on me and I am hopeful that we get to see there stories as the series progresses.

I can see that the romance will be a super slow burn. And I love those so doesn’t bother me one bit. I even like how it’s set-up right now (I don’t want to mention more because of spoilers). It’s just a true to life way of romance and I think this slow development will be EVERYTHING.

I can’t wait for more of this one. It was just what I was looking for when I picked it up and I’m genuinely excited to keep reading. Highly recommend for my fantasy friends!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: small battle scenes, torture, loss of loved ones, domestic abuse (recounted)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph