Tag: macmillan audio

ALC Book Review: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Horror
Length: 336 pages
Author: T. Kingfisher
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: August 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl, rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic

Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms, and her mother doesn’t allow Cordelia to have a single friend—unless you count Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him. But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t sorcerers.

After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave in the middle of the night, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back, leaving behind all Cordelia has ever known. They arrive at the remote country manor of a wealthy older man, the Squire, and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to lure the Squire into marriage, and Cordelia knows this can only be bad news for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.

Hester sees the way Cordelia shrinks away from her mother, how the young girl sits eerily still at dinner every night. Hester knows that to save her brother from bewitchment and to rescue the terrified Cordelia, she will have to face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

NEW [TO ME] AUTHOR ALERT.

Alright, I’ve heard a lot about T. Kingfisher’s books. And when I had the opportunity to get an audiobook early for her newest release I took it as a sign. I enjoyed this! It’s probably one of the most horror-esque books I’ve ever read but didn’t go past whatever arbitrary line I have in my head that would have creeped me out. This had a good level of creep for me.

I liked the story too. It was intriguing and I kept coming back to it wondering what would happen next. I thought the audio production was well done and can easily recommend that format if you’re interested in reading this one.

This kind of gave me Mother Gothel vibes but make it a whole lot darker. I liked the atmosphere and seeing what kind of drama was going to unfold next. I thought the characters were well written and kept things interesting. The pacing slowed down a bit for me and I was waiting for things to get wrapped up. Otherwise, a great read, I think I would try another book by Kingfisher!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Horror
  • Language: low
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: emotional abuse, controlling someone through magic, murder, loss of life

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ALC Book Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Cozy Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Tor
Release Date: July 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Spellshop is a cottagecore cosy fantasy following a woman’s unexpected journey through the low-stakes market of illegal spell-selling and the high-risk business of starting over . . .

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.

Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop is a romantic and cosy fantasy.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

OH SO COZY.

I love a great cozy fantasy and this was definitely it. The audiobook was my favorite and I loved that format, highly recommend!

This had a lovely set-up. I liked the coastal small town, and how tight knit the entire community was. There was a cute bakery and quirky characters and I feel like this really hit the nail on the head for how cozy fantasy is supposed to feel. I liked the simple nature of the plot and how much depth we got from the characters.

The little sub-plot romance was super sweet too. It had great push and pull with just a little bit of tension. I loved how they came together and worked together to keep their town safe. This was wholesome and gosh I was very much in love with the cottage vibes. And Caz?? A sentient plant?? Stop it right now, I loved him. These are the kinds of things I love seeing in books like this. Such a gem.

Overall audience notes:

  • Cozy Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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ALC Book Review: Masquerade of the Heart (Garden of the Cursed #2) by Katy Rose Pool

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Katy Rose Pool
Publisher: Holt Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Cursebreaker Marlow Briggs must deal with the aftermath of her fake romance with one of the most powerful nobles in the illustrious—and deadly—Evergarden society , all while uncovering the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance. T his edge-of-your-seat duology finale is perfect for fans of Veronica Mars , These Violent Delights, and Chain of Iron .

Caraza sits poised on the edge of chaos. Tensions rise between the Five Families and trouble brews in the Marshes—and Marlow is at the center of it all. In the tragic aftermath of the Vale-Falcrest wedding, Adrius refuses to speak to her, publicly vowing to find a wife before the year is out. Despite her heartbreak, Marlow is still intent on breaking his curse. To do so, she’ll have to play loving daughter to the man who cast it. But the closer she gets to her father, the more she starts to question if he’s really the villain she’s made him out to be.

Marlow has learned by now that in a city steeped in secrets and lies, not everything is as it seems. As the lines between enemy and ally blur, Marlow must decide who to trust—and how high a price she’s willing to pay for the truth.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

LOVED THIS CONCLUSION.

I enjoyed book one, and I loved this sequel even more. I loved the way the romantic tension was cranked up and the forbidden aspects had me in a chokehold. The audiobook was absolutely fantastic. There wasn’t two narrators for the dual POV but I feel like Jennifer Blom did a great job of distinguishing the different characters.

The card and curse system is really cool and I loved seeing deeper dynamics of the magic system and world. I loved the found family Marlow was a part of and the loyalty and love they showed each other. Adrius’s sister kind of drove me up a wall, but she was my only small issue. The other dramatic sub plots worked well for continuing the story at least.

I liked the way things wrapped up. This was the first series I’ve completed from Katy Rose Pool and now I’m officially a fan and look forward to future projects. MOTH was filled with a combination of upper young adult devices that I love and now it’s a completed duo so go read it!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate-high

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ALC Book Review: Icon and Inferno (Stars and Smoke #2) by Marie Lu

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Romantic Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Roaring Books Press
Release Date: June 11th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Spies meet romance meet popstars in this thrilling follow up to Stars and Smoke by bestselling author Marie Lu.

A year has passed since superstar Winter and secret agent Sydney Cossette went undercover – on a dangerous mission to bring down the baddest man in London.

Winter hasn’t stopped thinking about Sydney since, and she’s been trying not to think about him.

Family secrets and nasty newspapers has Winter desperate to re-enter the secret world. And it’s not long before he gets his chance.

Sydney is back, and this time the mission goes right to the heart of the United States of America. A rescue gone wrong, an assassination attempt – and the return of an old flame – puts Winter right back into the action . . . and into a country on the brink of chaos.

And when a murder accusation has Sydney on the run, suddenly it’s not just a life at stake, but all-out war.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

ALL THE ACTION.

Audiobook notes: I loved the audiobook. No complaints here! I think it honestly helped me enjoy the book more after digitally reading Stars and Smoke.

I think managed expectations from my thoughts on book one helped me here. I wasn’t as focused on the romance, even though I do think it played a bigger role in this book. I love the push and pull between Winter and Sydney. Mixed with a pop stars world, dangerous agents and explosive action and this made for a fun an entertaining story.

The twists were a little predictable, but not something that took anything away for me. I loved how intense many moments felt and wondering who was going to survive. I thought it ended at a logical and good conclusion. I would read another book in this world if one’s coming.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Romantic Suspense
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one vague-ish open door
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, gun violence, explosions

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