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Book Review: A Sea of Blood and Sapphire by Florence Gray

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Retelling
Length: 395 pages
Author: Florence Gray
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 15th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As long as mermaids live, the sea will fill with blood.

On the night of Amaris’ eighteenth birthday, she is finally free to surface from the depths of the Sapphire Sea, but when she joins her pack, she’s horrified by the barbaric hunt. She knows the cost of saving her mortal enemy’s life, but she can’t bring herself to join in on the bloodshed.

Amaris is left with no choice but to consult the sea witch in order to escape from her father’s wrath. She soon finds that there are worse things than being the predator, gambling her soul and becoming the prey.

Hans Christian Andersen’s story of The Little Mermaid with a dark and compelling twist, this new adult fantasy novel will leave every reader swept away in the tides of magic, mermaids, and romance.

LET DOWN.

I was really excited for this release when I saw it floating around and now I’m here to say that it wasn’t worth it. This is clearly a The Little Mermaid retelling but attempting to make it adult with little success. I know others might enjoy more of these aspects, so take my thoughts how you will.

For one, I wish it had eventually turned into its own story. I didn’t feel like anything really new was added to the retelling. Every direct component was there and more or less like the original. Just add in awkward innuendo and romance book tangents that didn’t fit the plot and you’re there. Along with that was the heavy use of modern language that took me out of the book. I’m in a fantasy world and too often these small things kept adding up adding to my displeasure overall. I thought some of the world building pieces were cool, and I wish those had been fleshed out more for a more complete story.

Different parts of the romance worked for me. There’s decent banter and I understood the enemies to lovers. For a standalone the pacing and slow burn nature did fit well. But I officially do not like epilogues that are there only to add another *love* scene, it’s just not necessary.

Meh. I’m bummed. Moving on.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Retelling
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: innuendo, 2-3 almost scenes, 2 open door; low – med. explicit
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, whipping, near death experiences, murder, small battle themes

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Book Review: Friendshipped (Getting Shipped #1) by Savannah Scott

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 325 pages
Author: Savannah Scott
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 1st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Can you keep a secret? … I’m in love with my best friend.

There are three things you should know about me.
I hate running. No, really. I only run when someone’s chasing me, and thankfully that’s never happened.
My ideal Friday night includes pizza, The Princess Bride, and dancing with abandon.
And, I’m madly in love with my best friend.
That right there, that’s my secret.

Trevor, and I grew up next door to one another. Yes. He’s the boy next door. Even now, we rent opposite sides of a duplex, and we work across the aisle from one another at the Corn Corners Tribune. Basically, there isn’t a part of my life Trevor hasn’t touched. I take that back. Me. He hasn’t touched me.

He’s made it clear we’re in the friend zone and whatever feelings he had for me were a passing thing for him, while mine keep growing like a Chia pet on a humid summer day in the midwest. Unruly, and apparently pointless.

So, now I’m resigned to get Trevor out of my system once and for all.

If only Trevor would see me as more than a friend … But, unless he shows me otherwise, I’m going to have to do what it takes to move on.

UHM.

I went with with some good hopes on this one. I know the series is overall well loved and I thought it was about time to give it a chance (thank you hoopla for having the audiobooks). Aaaand I’m really hoping the next book is better because I did not connect well with this one.

There was a rampant amount of miscommunication and theatrics that made everything seem a level more dramatic than necessary. I kept waiting to see some character arcs and the more I think about it the more I realize that I don’t think there was actually any. Just a lot of super cliched characters and dynamics that never felt new.

I also didn’t love the way dieting was spoken about. It was handled poorly and didn’t leave a good feeling with me.

I enjoyed the MMC Trevor and loved that it was dual POV. Always my favorite part of a contemporary romance book. There’s some sweet moments and I did like when Trevor and Lexi had quiet moments together. It’s a fast audio read and I will be trying book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: dieting and weight commentary

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Book Review: Vesselless by Cortney L. Winn

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 483 pages
Author: Cortney L. Winn
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s heiress to the throne. The throne her family stole from him.

Nizzara has always been able to perceive spirits better than the average caster. As heiress to the Zarr throne and an avid dueler, she enters a deadly tournament of swords and bonded spirit magic to win the freedom to choose her own suitor. Not wanting to become a power-hungry tyrant like her father, Nizzara is determined to win the tournament without succumbing to the addictive spirit magic she channels or taking a life in the duel ring.

When she finds herself outmatched, Nizzara must choose to bond with Dagen (a powerful spirit) or lose her life in the tournament.

Dagen, the last King of Zarr, was killed by Nizzara’s father ten years ago. Now a half-ghost—able to phase between his human and spirit form—Dagen is stuck in another realm, hunting and ripping wretched souls from their bodies. When his keeper offers him a chance to reclaim his freedom and his kingdom in exchange for Nizzara’s pure soul, Dagen takes the deal.

There’s only one catch: she must freely give it to him by the tournament’s end or his own soul is forfeit.

Fourth Wing meets The Serpent of Wings of Night in the first instalment of this action packed romantasy as they deal with the bargain hanging over their heads. Family, love, power and deception collide as the characters need to make decisions that could change their realm forever.

THE VIBES WERE THERE.

I am a fantasy reader with a penchant for world building alongside my romance. That’s the only place where this book lost me. I am confused by the fact that there were cars and guns? Not unheard of in fantasy, of course, but I felt like there were different pieces throughout the book where I just needed more explanation.

The storyline is good though. I thought the male POV had a very unique dynamic and I liked the crossing worlds aspects. There’s some good slow burn chemistry between the two leads that I steadily fell in love with. I enjoyed all of the action and the competition. I’m hopeful about where all of the open threads could go in the next book.

An enjoyable read and one I would recommend. It didn’t give me Fourth Wing or Serpents vibes (as mentioned in the summary) so I would be weary of going in thinking the book is along those lines or anything.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate-high
  • Romance: 1 open door; low innuendo
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical abuse, near death experiences, executions, drugging and sexual assault

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Book Review: Fall of the Horizon (Dusk and Dawn #1) by Jessica J. Ayala

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 650 pages
Author: Jessica J. Ayala
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The War of the Skies is over, the gods are gone, and the new world has begun . . .

Zara Santos is the adopted daughter of the Ikarrian king and mercenary of her kingdom’s guild, though throughout the Continent of Ribera she is known as the Rogue—the High King’s personal assassin. Every hunting season she kills in the hope to one day be free of her shackles. When Zara receives a unique assignment to hunt down the mysterious leader of the shadow markets, she will do whatever it takes to gain her freedom.

The war has left Ronan Menodora a shadow of the male he once was. The archangel grapples with the underworld to provide for those he cares about as retribution for the failures of his past. When various cities are destroyed, their citizens disappearing, he makes a dreadful discovery that threatens the survival of his business and seeks the help of the infamous mercenary.

As the unlikely pair delve deeper into the strange happenings of the Continent, along with the help of their close allies, rumors rise of the return of the Three Sun Gods—the main Primordials believed to be long lost to the mortal world—and the mystery behind the missing people may pose a greater threat than anticipated.

Fall of the Horizon is the first book in the Dusk and Dawn adult high fantasy series, and explores injustice, emotional turmoil, self-discovery, and romance.

GREAT READ.

This one took some time to grow on me but once it did I was hooked. There’s a bit of a slow start and some info dumping that happens initially, then the story settles and you can really dive deep with the plot and characters.

I adored that this had multiple POV. I loved that two of the main characters were sisters who cared for each other and loved all the good and bad within each other. There was so much growth from Zara and Daria throughout the book that I very much would love to see where they go in book two.

And the romances?? I loved how they contrasted with the darkness of the book. They were much softer and subtler. The banter and pining was top tier and I loved the reveals and twists from the romances too. This had my favorite kind of slow burn where I get a chance to love the character separately and the chemistry they have between them feels naturally devloped.

I am intrigued by the ending and it was a fantastic cliff hanger. I am absolutely going to need book two and look forward to another book in this world.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open; low innuendo
  • Violence: high

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