Tag: young adult fantasy

Book Review: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Urban Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: March 26th, 2019
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BOOK SUMMARY:

Layla just wants to fit in at school and go on a date with Zayne, whom she’s crushed on since forever. Trouble is, Zayne treats Layla like a sister–and Layla is a half demon, half gargoyle with abilities no one else possesses. And even though Zayne is a Warden, part of the race of gargoyles tasked with keeping humanity safe, Layla’s kiss will kill anything with a soul–including him.

Then she meets Roth–a demon who claims to know her secrets. Though Layla knows she should stay away, it’s tough when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue. Trusting Roth could ruin her chances with Zayne, but as Layla discovers she’s the reason for a violent demon uprising, kissing the enemy suddenly pales in comparison to the looming end of the world.

ROTH.

There’s your takeaway.

I see why everyone loves him. He is flying up my list of book boyfriends as well, so hopefully this all turns out well by book three.

Also, incredibly happy I enjoyed this because JLA books are super hit/miss for me. This was a hit. I’m ready for more. Writing this review is making me want to download book two, ASAP. I’ll probably have that review out soon too.

This was an urban fantasy that worked really well. Sometimes I have a difficult time suspending reality for an urban read. This didn’t happen here and I LOVE that. The pace was steady and full of just enough action. Combined with quiet moments and getting to know one another. It was fantastic. I found myself continuously wanting to pick this up to continue. I definitely think the wonderful narrator was to blame too, they did a fantastic job and I’d recommend the audio all day.

Things exploded at the end and many reveals were tossed out. I look forward to seeing the exploration of these plot lines and how they come back together. I heard a love triangle brews too? I’ll probably have some thoughts on that soon as well. I’m already fully for Roth and this backlist JLA is charming my soul.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Urban Fantasy
  • Language: little
  • Romance: one brief open scene
  • Violence: physical and magical altercations

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Book Review: Failed Future (Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles #3) by Elise Kova

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆  
Audience: YA Fantasy + Romance
Length: 356 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Release Date: July 20th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When worlds collide, and things are rarely what they seem, there may be no one Vi can trust.

Having forsaken her crown for a chance to save her family, and the world, Vi Solaris washes up on the shores of Meru. She’s wounded and barely alive. But Vi’s fight for survival is only just beginning.

As a princess in a foreign land, everyone is after her.

The pirate queen Adela wants to sell her to the evil elfin’ra. The Twilight King wants to use her to settle an old score. And, perhaps most dangerous, is the scheming Lord of the Faithful who sees her as an opportunity to further consolidate his power.

The only path for Vi is forward. But she doesn’t yet know if she’s running toward salvation… or a brutal end to everything she loves.

Vi’s journey continues with even more betrayal, romance, magic, and a twist you never saw coming that leaves readers begging for the next book.

BACK ON THIS STRESSFUL RIDE.

I haven’t gotten back to this series in almost a year. I wasn’t super into book two and then it just fell by the wayside. I finally picked up book three and I see a change of pace before me.

I also remember exactly why this book STRESSES ME OUT SO MUCH.

But you would need to read the Air Awakens series first to understand (which I rave about constantly so please do).

The action picked up a lot here and I thought that Vi really started coming into her own. Taking charge of matters. Leading a team. Saving family. All the things I wanted to see from her. It was great and I look forward to her continued passion towards saving the world.

Romance wise, things were better here too. Now that they are able to have some more interaction, Vi and Taavin are starting to pull me on board their ship. LETS SAIL. The conflicts that arise between them are not over dramatic and actually fit into the plot (the best). I’m anxious to see how things break free for them.

Lots of things happening here. SO MANY. I didn’t feel very lost though after not reading this series for a bit which was really appreciated. The way that things from other books are brought up line up perfectly, keeping me informed and wanting more.

Can’t wait to finish this series up shortly!

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy + romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: kisses to implied closed door scenes
  • Violence: physical altercations, magic, betrayals, weaponry; not overly bloody/gory

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Book Review: Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1) by Stephanie Garber

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 408 pages
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Flatiron
Release Date: September 28th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

How far would you go for happily ever after?

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings…until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy.

A GOOD START.

I admittedly let myself hype this one up because I love Garber’s Caraval series. It did let me down a little, but not enough to even suggest I won’t pick up the next book.

Who did I miss most? JACKS. I felt that he wasn’t in it as much as he should have been as the supposed main love interest. He popped in and out until the second half where I finally saw more of him. There wasn’t enough active chemistry between Jacks and Eva for me to fully be on board. I’m interested, I’m testing the waters, but I’m not convinced they are a romantic duo. A lot remains to be seen.

A bit of a wild story moving all over the Northern lands of the Caraval world. I liked that it was in a different location so that things didn’t overlap with previous characters too much and that this could be its own series. There’s A LOT of lore and little stories throughout to tell the background of what’s happening around Eva and what Jacks is trying to accomplish. It was easy to follow and I love Garber’s writing style. While it wasn’t everything I hoped for, I’m excited to see the story continue. JUST GIVE ME MORE JACKS.

Eva has a lot of growth to hopefully look forward to as well. She just seemed to naïve and trusting of every single person. I’m actually hoping she becomes a bit more bitter and gray to see another side of her.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: physical altercations, magical attacks
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, blood depiction

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Book Review: Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Paranormal
Length: 480 pages
Author: Erin A. Craig
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: July 27th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range–five narrow peaks stretching into the sky like a grasping hand, bordered by a nearly impenetrable forest from which the early townsfolk fought off the devils in the woods. To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned.

As fall turns to winter, more strange activities plague the town. They point to a tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents’ deepest desires, however grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister, and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time before all of Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves go up in flames.

PERFECTLY SPOOKY.

I think I enjoyed this read more than the author’s first book! What a delightfully creepy read perfect for autumn.

This is a slower read with this great building to a climax. Each chapter kept pulling me in and a subtle cliffhanger at the end led me deeper into the woods. I cringed at the descriptions (in a good way) of the mutilated creatures and eyes following the members of town. There was a nice sense of paranormal that fit in to the small community hidden by the mountains.

I liked the little dash of romance and the way that played into the overall plot. It had some twists and turns on its own and I love how it worked out. I also really liked that this was focused on a family. Ellerie and her siblings had to take care of themselves while their parents were gone. Some bonds between the siblings broke and others strengthened as the watchers brought chaos to their doorstep.

The only thing I wish this book had was a longer ending. Things wrapped up SUPER quickly (while things were still burning down around them) and I don’t feel like I got everything I needed. I’d explain further but I might accidentally spoil, so that was my biggest issue in the end. Otherwise, great read and I can’t wait to continue reading whatever comes next from this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: intense blood depictions, emesis, execution, gun violence, animal death and injury

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