Tag: young adult fantasy romance

Book Review: A Curse for True Love (Once Upon a Broken Heart #3) by Stephanie Garber

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 385 pages
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Flatiron
Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two villains, one girl, and a deadly battle for happily ever after.

Evangeline Fox ventured to the Magnificent North in search of her happy ending, and it seems as if she has it. She’s married to a handsome prince and lives in a legendary castle. But Evangeline has no idea of the devastating price she’s paid for this fairytale. She doesn’t know what she has lost, and her husband is determined to make sure she never finds out . . . but first he must kill Jacks, the Prince of Hearts.

Blood will be shed, hearts will be stolen, and true love will be put to the test in A Curse for True Love, the breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy.

THOUGHTS.

I have seen reviews ALLLLL over the place for this finale, let’s throw mine into the ring.

The first have was a bit of a struggle, with the addition of two more POV’s I don’t think it worked as well as I hoped in the context of a short book (9 hours audio time). ESPECIALLY when you’re dealing with a love triangle we all know has only one ending. I was tired of wasting my time with the other guy when he was handing out red flags to everyone who walked by him.

BUT. Jacks was next level. I looooved the protection he provided, the way he was always there and how he cared for Evangeline every step of the way. The second half was incredible and I loved how things worked out. The confessions of love was IMMACULATE and I was losing my cool in the middle of Costco because of the emotions.

A bit of an up and down journey but ultimately one I was a fan of. I mean, I binged this book because I needed more more more, just wish there were a few more Jacks moments to really bring it home.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate-high

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Book Review: Sinner’s Isle by Angela Montoya

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Angela Montoya
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Release Date: October 31st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A spellbinding romantic fantasy about a powerful witch who will do anything to escape the remote island she’s being held captive on, including blackmail a notorious, charming pirate who washes up on shore, from debut author Angela Montoya.

Rosalinda is trapped on Sinner’s Isle, an island filled with young women like her—Majestics, beautiful witches loathed by society for their dangerous magic yet revered by powerful men who want to use them. 

For years, she has been kept under the watchful, calculating eye of Doña Lucia. Now eighteen, Rosa will be the prized commodity at this year’s Offering, a fiesta for the wealthy to engage in drink, damsels, and debauchery. That is why she must flee—before someone forces the vicious phantoms within her to destroy everything she touches. 

Handsome, swashbuckling Mariano has long sailed the high seas as the Prince of Pirates. Then the king’s fleet attacks his father’s infamous ship, leaving him marooned on Sinner’s Isle with only an enchanted chain meant to lead him to his heart’s desire. Instead, he falls into the hands of a brazen (although) bewitching headache—Rosa.

Together they must outwit each other and their enemies before the Offering ends and it’s too late to escape the perils of Sinner’s Isle.

Thank you GetUnderlined #GetUnderlinedPartner and PRHAudio for the #gifted copy and audiobook.

GREAT DEBUT.

I have been eying this book since I saw the gorgeous cover and the inside did not disappoint. This really grew on me and if you lean into a bit of insta-love then I think it would be enjoyable for others too.

The banter was my favorite. It made me laugh and I liked the snark between Rosalinda and Mariano. There fated meeting to then helping each other escape the island brought a daring adventure. I love pirate books and this was no exception. It’s a fast paced journey that brought on some good twists, betrayals and even a shock moment that I LOVED. I was even really attached to a lot of the side characters too.

I like that this rounded out this specific story and left room for potential future books in the same world (of which I would absolutely read). I loved the pirate and witch romance, the strength of friendships, and the commitment to bettering the path that was never your choice. This felt fresh in the genre and I look forward to future books by this author!

Overall audience notes:

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

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Book Review: The Forest Grimm (The Forest Grimm #1) by Kathryn Purdie

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Kathryn Purdie
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: September 19th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists…

“Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die.”

The Midnight Forest. The Fanged Creature. Two fortune-telling cards that spell an untimely death for 17-year-old Clara. Despite the ever-present warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on a dangerous journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to procure a magical book – Sortes Fortunae , the Book of Fortunes – with the power to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother.

Years ago, when the villagers whispered their deepest desires to the book, its pages revealed how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for an evil purpose―to kill another person. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away, the well water in Grimm’s Hollow turned rancid, and the crops died from disease. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned.

Now, left with no alternative, Clara and her close friend, Axel―who is fated never to be with her―have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. But the forest―alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales―has a mind of its own.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the gifted copy.

HAUNTED.

I don’t know why this has such a low Goodreads rating?? I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book two. I LOVED how creepy it was with all of the dark twists on the fairytale characters.

The romance was even sweet too. I thought there was pretty good pacing involved and I was very much invested in Clara and Axel finding their way to each other. The only character I didn’t like was Henni. She kind of became this third wheel that got in trouble too often (and was a debbie downer all the time).

I think the world and magic was fleshed out, for the most part. There’s a few key things I’d love more answers on, but with book two I’m hopeful that’s where those answers lie. I had a good time and thought it was an accurate young adult book (content wise) too.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, blood/gore depiction, loss of loved ones, near death experiences

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Book Review: The Stolen Heir (The Stolen Heir Duology #1) by Holly Black

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 358 pages
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: January 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.

Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.

Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.

I AM INVESTED.

I do admit to thinking that this was going to be from Oak’s perspective??? Or at least dual. Sadly that was not the case. BUT I did love Suren. She was feisty and intense. Full of every emotion and just wanting a safe place to land and be loved. I am wholly invested in her journey and can’t wait to see how it further twists in Elfhame.

Oak is just flat out adorable. In his murderous rampage + golden retriever personality ways. It’s a fantastic combination that worked beautifully for me. I love these two together. And I actually like that they have a different vibe than Jude/Cardan. I don’t think I would have enjoyed reading a repeat kind of storyline/personality dynamics.

As usual, I still think these books are too short. I did like everything else though. There’s a good amount of action and plenty of twists that are hard to see coming. This is an adventure tale with lots of travel but doesn’t feel stagnant or drawn out. Another truly good read from Holly Black.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, attempted murder, kidnapping, imprisonment, weapons and physical violence

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