Tag: silver wing press

ARC Book Review: An Heir of Frost (A Trial of Sorcerers #4) by Elise Kova

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 413 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: February 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The fate of five kingdoms teeters on the knife’s edge, and Eira’s destiny is in the icy grasp of the Pirate Queen.

After a narrow escape from the brutal end of the Tournament of Five Kingdoms, Eira and her friends find themselves prisoners of the legendary Pirate Queen Adela. To most, death follows shortly after the pirate queen’s icy stare. But for Eira, those all too familiar eyes hold long-sought truths.

As she and her friends dive deeper into the pirates’ world, their magic is pushed to the brink. Morals are tested. Old passions reignite, and fresh desires spark. But love can be the deadliest vulnerability.

Amidst high-seas action, close-call escapes, and unraveling the twisted political machinations that happen in the shadows of their world, a haunting question looms larger and larger:

How much are they prepared to sacrifice for what they believe in?

An Heir of Frost is the fourth book in A Trial of Sorcerers, a young adult, epic fantasy series intended for readers who love stories involving: sorcerer competitions, slow-burn romance, adventures to distant lands, good triumphing over evil, and elemental magic.

Don’t miss a single book in the A Trial of Sorcerers series. Readers should first read A Trial of Sorcerers, A Hunt of Shadows, and A Tournament of Crowns before starting An Heir of Frost.

Thank you to Elise Kova for an eARC and ARC.

WHERE IS BOOK FIVE.

I CAN NOT. I need the conclusion to this series ASAP. Ahhhhh Elise Kova writes some of the best cliffhangers I’ve ever read and this was no different. There’s so many unanswered questions (in the best way) and I can’t wait for the epic finale.

AND TO SEE WHERE THIS LOVE TRIANGLE GOES.

I have thoughts and implications and I swear if I’m wrong I will probably feel some intense rage so let’s hope that goes well. Because gosh dang those were some FIERY kisses and I was here for every moment. Even caught myself conflicted a few times.

Eira is just my favorite. I LOVE the character growth over the whole series. From naive and not open about trusting and her plans, to learning to lean on others and work together all while strengthening her own powers is next level. I love this found family group and the ups and downs that they go through. It brings all the feels. And now I’m also in love with Adela??? The pirate queen is exactly the type of character I was hoping she’d be and was the perfect figure for Eira at this point in her life. I love where this is going.

The whole book was a ride. I found myself inhaling the pages and did not want to put it down. I love love love being back in the Air Awakens universe (have you read that yet because YOU SHOULD). Not so casually waiting till I can get my hands on book five.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: vague almost love scene; otherwise heated make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, loss of loved ones, weapons/magical/physical violence, torture

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Rebels of Gold (Loom Saga #3) by Elise Kova

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: NA Fantasy
Length: 452 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: October 25th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Loom burns. Nova bleeds. The war for the fate of both rages.

A new rebellion has risen from the still-smoldering remnants of the Five Guilds of Loom to stand against Dragon tyranny.

Meanwhile, on Nova, those same Dragons fight amongst themselves, as age-old power struggles shift the political landscape in fateful and unexpected ways.

Unlikely leaders vie for the opportunity to shape a new world order from the creations of one temperamental and lethal engineer.

The fates of the beloved characters of the Loom Saga are revealed in this epic and explosive conclusion to a dark fantasy certain to delight readers looking for sweeping adventure, heart-pounding action, and a world that will live on long after the last page.

I FINISHED IT.

I read the first two books in this series a few years ago and finally swung around to finishing the series. Was it worth it? Eh I suppose to. I liked a lot of this, but it really isn’t my favorite of Kova’s (That would be Air Awakens and I beg of y’all to read it).

Anywho, I DID enjoy this characters. Florence, Ari and Cvareh all play solid roles. I liked the character progression and where they ended up when the war was over. What I struggled with was the relationship between Ari and Cvareh. When books are like HERE’S THE ROMANCE, then take it away for a long time it makes things feel unbalanced.

That’s mostly what I thought of the entire book. Unbalanced. Between the politicking, action and relationship building I was looking for something a bit different.

The magic system is suuuper cool. I do the love dragons, and chimera and steampunk vibes of the world. It’s unique and fresh and what really held the story together for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, battle themes, magical and physical altercations

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: A Duet with the Siren Duke (Married to Magic #4) by Elise Kova

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 554 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: August 10th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She sold her soul to a siren and now he’s come to collect.

Victoria risks everything to leave a dangerous marriage and gain a second chance at life. But when her escape goes awry, she finds herself caught in the strong embrace of a mysterious siren, forced to choose: temporary salvation or immediate death.

And so, a cursed deal is struck.

Five years later, Victoria is alive—and the world’s finest ship captain. But her debt to the siren looms while her conniving ex has demanded a king’s ransom as the final price of her freedom. Victoria refuses to cause her family to suffer any more on her behalf, and is determined to make things right before her time is up. But that time is cut short.

The siren comes for her. Six months early.

Taken to the magical and deadly Eversea, home of the sirens, Victoria discovers she’s the sacrifice upon which all sirens pin their hopes. If they want to appease an angry god and save a world on the brink of destruction, then they need her. Which gives her the perfect leverage.

Victoria strikes a new bargain: the Siren Duke will help save her family, and she’ll fulfill his demands. It’s a good bargain until a flicker of passion ignites in the scarred remnants of Victoria’s heart, threatening all she’s worked for. As the sacrifice for the God of Death, she’s meant to give up everything that draws her to the world of the living. But that’s impossible when all she can think about is how this handsome siren’s song, and his hands, make her feel very much alive.

In a realm of ancient magic, submerged secrets, and forgotten gods, can love find a place among shattered hearts as they race against time and the blossoming of forbidden desires? Or will the delicate songs of their hearts be silenced once and for all?

A Duet with the Siren Duke is a complete, *stand alone novel*. It’s for readers looking for a fantasy romance with deep lore, second-chance love, sacrifice, forbidden and slow-burn romance that sizzles on the page, and a happily ever after where love triumphs over all.

While it is set in the Married to Magic universe, readers can start with this book as all Married to Magic novels are stand alones.

GREAT STANDALONE.

I feel like I’m always on the hunt for great fantasy standalones. They are a dime a dozen and I love that I can add this one to my recommendation list. It’s an enjoyable read with all of the Little Mermaid vibes, but darker and more romantic and with amazing characters too.

The romance increasingly grew on me over the book. I loved how Ilryth and Victoria worked together to solve the problems of the Eversea. I loved watching them have the difficult conversations and lean on each other through the harder times and dealing with past trauma.

I did think the plot dragged for me a little bit. Some scenes or intentions were pulled along and I was ready to get things rolling. I’m honestly not sure how I feel about the ending either. There were some aspects I enjoyed and others that have me feeling mixed. The characters really sold this book for me and I look forward to the next one!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open; low-moderate explicit
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, losing memories, healing from past truama of a previous marriage

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph || TikTok

Book Review: A Tournament of Crowns (A Trial of Sorcerers #3) by Elise Kova

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 428 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: February 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Royal Tournament. Thrilling Magic. Deadly Mysteries. Slow-Burn Romance.

Last night, Eira killed a man.

However justified her actions were, many now regard her as a cold-blooded murderer and a heretic who extinguished their hope. But there’s no time to explain herself. She barely has a chance to wash the blood off her hands before the Tournament of Five Kingdoms begins.

Sequestered with the other champions for the duration of the tournament, Eira must now navigate the games, her competition, the enemies who hunt her head, and — somehow worse than all the rest — being stuck in close quarters with the man who broke her heart.

All is fair in love and magical tournaments, and Eira is ready for the fight of her life.

Get ready for twists you never saw coming in A Tournament of Crowns. This series is perfect for readers who enjoy young adult, epic fantasy full of elemental magic, slow-burn romance, found family, and battles for the futures of kingdoms set in a world you’ll never want to leave.

Don’t miss a single book in the A Trial of Sorcerers series. Readers should start with A Trial of Sorcerers, and then A Hunt of Shadows, before reading A Tournament of Crowns.

GIMME MORE.

This book was fantastic. I just thoroughly enjoyed reading every page and feel like this was exactly what the series needed to add a little umph.

I looove Eira. and I love her growth. She really puts forth a lot of effort into acknowledging her mistakes and trying to do better. I love how tightly knit her friendships are with Noelle and Alyss and that they work as a TEAM and lean on each other when needed. Good friends never gets old in books.

The romance was young adult angsty. And surprisingly I was here for it all. I liked the give and take. The actual conversations surrounding their true feelings between Cullen and Eira. Even the different ways things went I thought worked. It made sense for the plot and I am expecting even more romantic entanglements in the future.

I thought the setting for this was fun too. It was like the Olympics but make it fantasy. I enjoyed seeing all of the nations together and going through different competitions and the quieter moments where groups started connecting.

This book was just what I needed. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical, magical, and weapons violence, loss of loved ones, near death experiences

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph