Tag: historical fantasy

Book Review: Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment #2) by Rebecca Ross

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Rebecca Ross
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: December 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals.

Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.

WAS IT GOING TO BE ANYTHING ELSE.

Five stars.

All the stars.

All the emotions too.

I loved this book. It was the kind of duology sequel you hope for. Dream about reading. After my total obsession with Divine Rivals the hype was real for this one. And hallelujah all the hype was deserved.

Just go into this book blind. The story unfolds with beautiful writing and a continuation of the storyline you won’t be able to look away from. I loved how the romance evolved, how the meddling gods affected the world and the stunning and raw conclusion.

It’s incredible. Worth the read x1000 over. I love the way Rebecca Ross writes and creates stories. They are always some of my favorite books each year.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Historical Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes (bombing and loss of life), near death experiences, weapons violence

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Book Review: The Fire in the Glass (The Charismatics #1) by Jacquelyn Benson

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 498 pages
Author: Jacquelyn Benson
Publisher: Vaughn Woods Publishing
Release Date: February 1st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

London, 1914. Lily’s visions could stop a killer… if she’ll trust a reclusive aristocrat with her darkest secret.

A monster stalks the gaslit streets of Edwardian London, draining the blood of the city’s mediums. Lily Albright knows who’s next.

Lily is plagued by visions of the future she can never change. When a mysterious fiend threatens someone she loves, she’s determined this time will be different.

But she can’t do it alone. To save a life, Lily must reveal her darkest secrets to someone she has little reason to trust—the reclusive Lord Strangford, a man haunted by his own unusual powers.

From the glittering galleries of Bond Street to the rookeries of Southwark, Lily and Strangford plunge into a dark conspiracy that lies at the heart of England’s rising eugenics movement. To thwart it, Lily must face a past rife with betrayal—and embrace the power she has spent her entire life trying to escape.

TOO LONG.

I found a lot of this really interesting and somewhat in the veins of Stalking Jack the Ripper. I am coming to realize I really enjoy historical fantasy books. I like the old world vibes with a bit of magic thrown in.

I enjoyed both Lily and Strangford as our main duo. It’s very much a slow burn romance between them as they both learn to release some of their long held secrets and hurts to each other. I was looking for a bit more romantic build up/interactions with them, but as I see this is a series I think there’s plenty of room to continue the romance.

This book is easily 100+ pages too long. Even listening as an audiobook (at 3x speed) I noticed that things weren’t happening. When the action scenes came up, they were good. When soft moments came up, also good. It was some of the in-between that felt dragged out along the plot lines.

I do have plans to read the next book because I’m curious if it upticks from here. It’s got a concept I like seeing and good themes too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: human experimentation, loss of life, murder, near death experiences, alcohol and drug use, absent parent, blood/gore, anti-Semitic remarks, sexist remarks, physical altercations, sexual assault

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ARC Book Review: What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 416 pages
Author: Isabel Ibanez
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: October 31st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the eARC.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

This has got to be one of the best cliffhangers I’ve read in recent memory. When I tell you my jaw DROPPED and I frantically read the last page multiple times trying to figure out what happened, ohhhhh boy. That right there deserves a lot of praise. I love a good blindside. BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN.

The tension in this romance will send you to space. Whit and Inez are two planets orbiting each other but not quite close enough. AND I LIVED FOR IT ALL. Give me all of the build moments. I am a sucker. I loved both of them as separate characters too. Complicated backgrounds and trauma, learning to be open and lean on each other, just all the goodness I love seeing in main characters.

I thought the plot was fantastic and it sent me on multiple internet dives to read more about Cleopatra and Egypt. I loved the way that history was blending in with the fantasy and how lush and beautiful the words built the world. Immersive and daring and WILD twists and turns. I may have caught one, but in no way caught them all.

I NEED BOOK TWO NOW.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: heated make-out
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, kidnapping, loss of loved ones, near death experiences

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Book Review: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (Amina al-Sirafi #1) by S.A. Chakraborty

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Historical Fiction
Length: 483 pages
Author: S.A. Chakraborty
Publisher: Harper Voyager US
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Amina al-Sirafi should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean’s most notorious pirates, she’s survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.

But when she’s tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she’s offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade’s kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family’s future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God’s will.

Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there’s more to this job, and the girl’s disappearance, than she was led to believe. For there’s always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savor just a bit more power… and the price might be your very soul.

Shannon Chakraborty, the bestselling author of The City of Brass, spins a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman’s determined quest to seize a final chance at glory—and write her own legend.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Bibliolifestyle for the gifted copy.

PLEASANT SURPRISE.

I loooove Chakraborty’s debut trilogy (The City of Brass) but you never know what’s going to happen when you pick up a new book. And here I am, happily throwing five stars at this one because it was SO GOOD.

It felt like a big classic fantasy read. I absolutely am enthralled by Amina. I love that she’s an older bada** mother who takes on trials and adventure to keep her loved ones safe. The set-up for this was perfect and I love that it was from the angle of Amina telling her story, her legend.

There’s a big found family vibe here too and y’all know that’s about an auto-read scenario for me. I loved the whole crew, getting some of their backgrounds and the funny banter and caring souls everyone was. I loooved all of the sea travels and how even with a travel plot (not usually my thing) the pace kept things going. And there was enough happening each time that I kept wanting to know more. The audiobook is INCREDIBLE and highly recommend that option.

Super complex religious, political, and more dynamics intersect throughout. I loved that this had the historical elements woven in with the fantasy. It’s complex without being overwhelming. The writing style is fluid and easily holds your attention. It’s just a great book. I can’t wait for Amina’s next adventure.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: closed-door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, creature attacks, blood/gore depiction

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