Tag: paranormal

Book Review: Winds of Change (The Descended Trilogy #1) by Bailey Estep

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Paranormal
Length: 502 pages
Author: Bailey Estep
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 15th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Human “Magic, and witches, and terrible people who lived here in Rollingwood a long time ago.”One phrase is all it takes for Devyn to become embroiled in a centuries-old war that might not be as over as everyone thought. She moved to Rollingwood looking for a fresh start, but what she found might be more than she bargained for.Witch Amelia knows something evil is coming to Rollingwood. Or coming back. Long-standing rivalries must shift to make room for new alliances, but her coven doesn’t believe her, and she can’t fight it alone.Protector Eric’s friend disappeared from Rollingwood after sending him a cryptic message. It’s his duty as a Protector to uncover what happened and keep the town safe. He’s expecting a challenge, but nothing could have prepared him for Devyn. He knows he can’t be distracted, but the question does she need to be protected, or is she a threat he never saw coming?Protector. Witch. Human?

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

NOT QUITE.

Well, I was hopeful, but unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. Things started off fine, that typical oh no I have unknown powers in a small town mood, and I rolled with it. I liked having the multiple POV and getting a feel for the town and the history that is currently causing chaos.

The struggles came apparent fairly quickly after that though. There were odd timeline jumps that disrupted the flow of the story which kept throwing me off. The romance was FAST and I wish there had been more exploration of their relationship and connection rather than racing to kisses and confessions. I also didn’t feel that deeply for anyone and the plot itself was incredibly predictable to any supernatural show I’ve seen.

Bummed this one didn’t work out.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult paranormal
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Horror
Length: 464 pages
Author: Alexis Henderson
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.

Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.

After passing the test, Lennon begins to learn how to master her devastating and unsettling power. But despite persuasion’s heavy toll on her body and mind, she is wholly captivated by her studies, by Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, and by her brilliant classmates. But even more captivating is her charismatic adviser, Dante, who both intimidates and enthralls her.

As Lennon continues in her studies her control grows, and she starts to uncover more about the secret world she has entered into, including the disquieting history of Drayton College, and the way her mentor’s tragic and violent past intertwines with it. She is increasingly disturbed by what she learns. For it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption . . . and it’s a test she’s terrified she is going to fail.

Thank you Berkley Pub (Berkley Partner) for the gifted copy.

WHO KNEW?

I was not expecting to love this. Nor was I expecting to hate it either. Horror is a new to me genre that I’ve been trying out here and there so I never know what I’m going to feel, but y’all, this was a win!! I was obsessed with listening to this audiobook and trying to figure out where the story was going to go next.

It is a paranormal/urban fantasy vibe set at a mysterious college in the US. I thought the magic system was explained well and worked within the confines of the plot. I don’t remember having gaping questions about how things were supposed to work. I loved the concept of meditation and persuasive control.

Lennon wasn’t always a reliable narrator and that made the story have this haunting edge quality that fits a fall theme perfectly. I loved the twists and surprises and some hard betrayals. The audiobook is definitely the way to go. It’s haunting and enigmatic and fits the dark academia genre well and is officially a new favorite. I want to read more books by this author now.

Overall audience notes:

  • Horror / Urban Fantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: brief open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, depression, suicide, panic attacks

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ARC Book Review: Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Paranormal Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Author: Lucy Jane Wood
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either.

Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.

But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .

With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you’ve been waiting for.

Thank you Berkley Pub for the gifted copy (Berkley Partner).

WELL.

I think this ended up mostly being a me issue. I’m realizing I’m more hit/miss on cozy reads. I think this needed a bit oomph, just something else to break up the day to day monotony of Belle learning how to use her magic. I didn’t find it as charming as I believe it was inteded.

There’s nothing wrong with the writing. It accurately paints a picture of a cozy fall vibe. There’s a bookstore, quirky side characts and a little bit of self growth. I did enjoy seeing Belle finally stand up for herself in the end. I wish the little sub-plot of romance had a bit more time in the light too.

It’s got good bones and the core of the story is good. There’s a bit of a pick up towards the end when some truths and mysteries are solved. It stands well as a nice standalone for the fall.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fiction
  • Language: low
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Horror
Length: 464 pages
Author: Ann Fraistat
Publisher: Delacorte
Release Date: January 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A teen girl and her family return to her mother’s childhood home, only to discover that the house’s strange beauty may disguise a sinister past, in this contemporary gothic horror from the author of What We Harvest.

The house was supposed to be a fresh start. That’s what Libby’s mom said. And after Libby’s recent bipolar III diagnosis and the tragedy that preceded it, Libby knows she and her family need to find a new normal.

But Libby’s new home turns out to be anything but normal. Scores of bugs haunt its winding halls, towering stained-glass windows feature strange, insectile designs, and the garden teems with impossibly blue roses. And then there are the rumors. The locals, including the mysterious boy next door, tell stories about disappearances tied to the house, stretching back over a century to its first owners. Owners who supposedly hosted legendary masked séances on its grounds.

Libby’s mom refuses to hear anything that could derail their family’s perfect new beginning, but Libby knows better. The house is keeping secrets from her, and something tells her that the key to unlocking them lies in the eerie, bug-shaped masks hidden throughout the property.

We all wear masks—to hide our imperfections, to make us stronger and braver. But if Libby keeps hers on for too long, she might just lose herself—and everyone she loves.

Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

NOT FOR ME.

I felt like trying a genre I don’t typically read and had high hopes. Unfortunately I clashed with the general plot of this book and it’s a total case of, it’s me not the book. So take this review as you will.

Most of this book revolves around seances, communing with spirits and and an exorcism vibe. Those are things that aren’t really my thing and thus, I felt disconnected from the book.

I thought the writing was great, it didn’t feel too long and I did enjoy the main characters. There were good moments and the subtle romance had some cute scenes too.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Horror
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of prior suicide attempt, suicide ideation, mentions of potential self harm, being possessed

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