Book Review: Queen (Fae Games #3) by Karen Lynch

January 13, 2023March 22, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5)
Audience: Urban Fantasy + Romance
Length: 428 pages
Author: Karen Lynch
Publisher: Tempest Press
Release Date: February 22nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Jesse recovered the missing ke’tain to keep her parents safe, but it came at a high price. In the weeks after her brush with death, she struggles to adapt to her new life, while burdened with the terrible secret she learned about her brother Caleb.

On her first visit to Faerie, Jesse faces new challenges and perils amid the splendor of the Unseelie court. Her relationship with Lukas grows stronger, but her happiness is overshadowed by a threat to both worlds. She might be the only one who can save them if she is willing to risk her own future to do it.

Together with an old friend, Jesse takes on the most dangerous job of her life. She discovers an inner strength she never knew she possessed; one she will need when she confronts her greatest enemy. Secrets are revealed and lives are changed forever. Jesse will make her last play, but will it be enough for her to survive the final showdown of this lethal game?

ENDED WELL.

Ah, I do hate feeling a bit let down by a series ender. This was good, but the second half was much better and I struggled to get there to even enjoy it all.

I love Jesse. I think she’s a brave and bold main character. Faithful to her family, strong in who she is (even when that’s changing) and able to make the difficult decisions. I loved her and Lukas together, BUT WHERE WAS HE. This feels like the romance component is supposed to be playing a stronger role and it never hit that mark for me. I hoarded every moment he was in a scene, and looked for him too often.

The plot was good, but slowwwww. The first half is spent with a lot of very nuanced day to day activities that weren’t apart of the previous two books. After there was more headway in solving some key issues in the plot, progression was at last made! Still felt a bit random, buuuut it worked. I think.

A final series thought, it was good. I haven’t read Lynch’s books in a few years and it was nice to read them again. There was plenty of good things to go around and I know some friends who love this story on a whole other level. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Overall audience notes:

Urban fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: closed door
Violence: mild
Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, torture, physical altercations, poison, being drugged without consent, sexual harassment and assault, murder

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Book Review: Knight (Fae Games #2) by Karen Lynch

December 18, 2021October 26, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Urban Fantasy + Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Karen Lynch
Publisher: Tempest Press
Release Date: January 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Jesse risked everything to bring her mother and father home, but her life is far from back to normal. With her parents’ memories of their abduction gone, Jesse is no closer to finding answers, and the threat still looms over her family.

When the Agency announces that a powerful Fae artifact is missing, Jesse suspects it’s connected to her parents’ disappearance. Until the artifact is found, her family will never be safe. This job might be more than she can handle alone, but is she willing to accept help from the people who betrayed her, from the one person she is trying hard to forget?

The only thing Jesse knows for sure is that the game is not over. The rules have changed, there are dangerous new players on the board, and the stakes are higher than ever. She’s always been smart and resourceful, but it might take the goddess herself to save Jesse from what comes next.

THAT ENDING THOUGH.

This series has been so good so far. Exactly what I needed. New adult urban fantasy with all the faes I could want. These books are hard to put down.

Jesse is still the same character as before. I thought she grew even more here with all of the things thrown at her this round. She’s gotta be one of my new fav heroines. I love her inner dialogue and witty banter. How passionate she is about caring for her family and taking care of business.

I neeeeed more Lukas though. That’s my only minor complaint. I want more of this fae prince and I want it now. The romance could be built up a little bit more. Things amped up a bit between the two but I wholly expect that to change in the last book (hopefully).

I liked the narrative here and where the story went. The plot flows pretty seamlessly through bounty catches, espionage and recoveries. The ending definitely dropped some huge information and I must know how that plays out in the next book.

Overall audience notes:

NA Urban Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: make-outs
Violence: kidnapping, murder, physical and magical altercations, blood depiction

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Book Review: Pawn (Fae Games #1) by Karen Lynch

November 27, 2021October 23, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Urban fantasy romance
Length: 289 pages
Author: Karen Lynch
Publisher: Tempest Press
Release Date: May 26th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Jesse James is a normal eighteen-year-old, even if her parents are the best faerie bounty hunters in New York. Jesse’s only concern is how to pay for college, but that changes the night her parents disappear.

Equipped with her parents’ weapons and her own smarts, Jesse enters the dangerous world of bounty hunting in search of her mother and father. In her quest, she encounters all manner of Fae, but the scariest is Lukas, the mysterious, imposing faerie who offers to help her find her parents.

But there are powerful forces at work, and Jesse is about to become a player in a dangerous game that could decide the fate of everyone she loves. In this world of magic and deception, it’s hard to tell her allies from her enemies in the race to find her parents before their time runs out.

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?

Well isn’t this a NA urban fantasy hidden gem! I was lovingly pushed into reading this and I can’t believe it took me this long to pick it up. I know I’m not an urban fantasy fan, but this is one of those that took me by surprise.

I adored Jesse James. She is strong and resilient. I love her take charge attitude and willingness to learn and use her senses as she works to become a bounty hunter. One of the best heroines I’ve read recently and the true star of this book.

The side characters are stunning too!! Jesse’s cute brother, Finch. The best friend, Violet. The other bounty hunters and faeries Jesse comes across. There were many and I felt like I remember them all well. A testament to great writing that built many personalities well.

The romance was a little left to be desired for me. I thought there’d be more. What I got, LOVED. Not mad about that. I just hope there’s a bit more in book two. I love learning about Lukas and his friends. I couldn’t put this book down and will be reading book two ASAP.

Overall audience notes: