ARC Book Review: The Cruelest Mercy (The Kinder Poison #2) by Natalie Mae

June 10, 2021April 18, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ (potentially 5☆)
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Natalie Mae
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 15th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this sequel to The Kinder Poison–which People magazine proclaimed a “delicious high-stakes adventure”–the magical kingdom of Orkena is on the brink of war, and the only person who can save it is Zahru, the girl they once doomed for death.

After surviving the Crossing, Zahru has sworn off adventures. While crown prince Jet navigates the looming threat of war, she’s content to simply figure out what the future holds for them. But they’re dealt a devastating blow when prince Kasta returns with a shocking claim: he’s the true winner of the Crossing and the rightful heir, and he bears the gods’ mark as proof. Even more surprising–he’s not the only one.

Somehow, Zahru possesses the very same mark, giving her equal right to the throne. The last thing she wants is to rule beside her would-be executioner, but she can’t let Orkena fall into his merciless hands. So Zahru, Jet, and their allies must race against the clock to find a way to stop Kasta, because once he’s crowned, there’s no telling what horrors he’ll unleash to win the war.

Zahru will do whatever it takes to keep Kasta from taking the throne…but to stop a villain, is she willing to become one herself?

Thank you to PenguinTeen [Razorbill] and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

SOMEONE TELL ME I GET ANOTHER BOOK.

No, but really.

If that’s the way this is ending I am definitely taking my rating down because that is cruel (ohhhh I did not see that pun coming).

If there’s another book, THEN HOT DANG, I STILL HAVE A CHANCE.

I have found a love triangle I am here for. And a villain with some remorse. These are the moments I am loving. This was a book I couldn’t put down. As soon as the first few chapters rolled by and I remembered everything that happened I was attached to the continuation. Maybe the plot wasn’t the strongest, but these characters are stunningly complex and I LOVE THAT.

I am so endgame for a particular couple in here (and if you know me you probably can guess, but I don’t want to spoil for anyone who read this). AND I JUST NEED IT TO HAPPEN. It will send this book next level because frankly, I’m intensely attached to this scenario.

This was beautifully written and rarely felt like it was diving into second book syndrome. Instead I saw growth on many fronts. I think the story is solid and like I mentioned earlier, realllllly needs a third book to wrap everything up. I want (read: NEED) more. This was entertaining and the writing made it feel like such a quick read. I was surprised how quickly I flew through it. Zahru was a great main character and had me laughing at her jokes and commentary. I to, am easily persuaded when desserts are involved.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy + Romance
Language: very little
Romance: kisses
Violence: physical altercations, knives/swords, skirmishes, animal attacks, poison, assassination attempts; not overly bloody/gory

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ARC Book Review: Daughter of Sparta (Daughter of Sparta #1) by Claire M. Andrews

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy / Mythology
Length: 400 pages
Author: Claire M. Andrews
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Books
Release Date: June 8th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sparta forged her into a deadly weapon. Now the Gods need her to save the world!

Seventeen-year-old Daphne has spent her entire life honing her body and mind into that of a warrior, hoping to be accepted by the unyielding people of ancient Sparta. But an unexpected encounter with the goddess Artemis—who holds Daphne’s brother’s fate in her hands—upends the life she’s worked so hard to build. Nine mysterious items have been stolen from Mount Olympus and if Daphne cannot find them, the gods’ waning powers will fade away, the mortal world will descend into chaos, and her brother’s life will be forfeit.

Guided by Artemis’s twin-the handsome and entirely-too-self-assured god Apollo-Daphne’s journey will take her from the labyrinth of the Minotaur to the riddle-spinning Sphinx of Thebes, team her up with mythological legends such as Theseus and Hippolyta of the Amazons, and pit her against the gods themselves.

A reinterpretation of the classic Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo, Daughter of Sparta by debut author Claire Andrews turns the traditionally male-dominated mythology we know into a heart-pounding and empowering female-led adventure.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

MANY THOUGHTS.

Well, one of my highly anticipated reads has let me down a bit.

Side note: I read a handful of reviews and it looks like if you Google what’s Daphne’s mythology, it can spoil part of the book. I went and Googled myself (after reading) and would say, YES IT DOES SPOIL. So please don’t search anything until after reading if you’re curious what her history is! I didn’t know before this book there was a story involving Daphne.

I loved the inital set-up and story. I liked that Daphne was trying to find a place for herself. To feel like she has a home. Add in some brothers and I was loving this little family plotline. First goddess into the ring was Athena and thus one of my least favorite tropes arrived: the travelling trope.

Most of this book is indeed spent with Daphne going from location A, B, C, etc. trying to first, figure out what is missing from Olympus and secondly, how to retrieve and fix the situation. What bothered me a lot about this was that a handful of times she ran into someone new (or saw the main villian) they would say you can’t know my name yet. And just WHY? Leaving it as a “mystery” wasn’t really a mystery. It was more annoying than anything not to say who’s who.

I didn’t know there would be a romance, mainly because it took a VERY long time for it to arise and I was suprised by it. There wasn’t anything to them. Honestly, could’ve done without and I might have enjoyed it more. The small scenes didn’t add to the whole story. I would have liked to have just seen more of Daphne being a warrior.

What I did love was the interpretation of mythology. I love books about mythology because I like seeing how each author depicts the gods and whatever story they’re using. It was great seeing many many secondary characters and remembering their general storylines as I went. I love these kind of scenarios brought to life.

By the end I was left with more forced questions than answers, trying to dangle me into reading the next book rather than the entire book convincing me I should want to read the sequel, so we’ll see. It did keep my interest for a very long time. It was towards the end where I started to slip and wanted finish the book quickly. The writing and story is there, I think I had the hype in my mind for a bit different of a tale.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy / Mythology
Language: a little
Romance: kisses
Violence: battles, skirmishes, friends being turned into creatures, animal attacks, physical altercations, murder

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: May 2021

May 31, 2021August 30, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Yay for May! An even 30 books and caught up or finished a few series! I also had my first 1 star book in a very long time.

Favorites: Raybearer, That Fine Line, Falling for Your Fake Fiancé, The Prison Healer, A Proper Scandal, Sunkissed, The War That Saved My Life, Isn’t it Bromantic?, Wait for It, Meet Me in Paradise, Amelia Unabridged

Least Favorites: The HOOK and Kingdom of Souls

Raybearer (Raybearer #1) by Jordan Ifueko – (☆☆☆☆☆)
Falling for Your Boss (Love Clichés #2) by Emma St. Clair – (☆☆☆☆)
[ARC] The Dragon and the Queen (The Raven and the Dove #3) by Kaitlyn Davis – (☆☆☆☆)
The Seat Filler by Sariah Wilson – (☆☆☆☆)
That Fine Line by Cindy Steel – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
Falling for Your Fake Fiancé (Love Clichés #3) by Emma St. Clair – (☆☆☆☆☆)
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – (☆☆☆)
The Prison Healer (The Prison Healer #1) by Lynette Noni – (☆☆☆☆☆)
A Proper Scandal (Proper Scandals #1) by Esther Hatch – (☆☆☆☆☆)
Sunkissed by Kasie West – (☆☆☆☆☆)
The War That Saved My Life (The War That Saved My Life #1) by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley – (☆☆☆☆☆)
[ARC] Isn’t it Bromantic? (Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams – (☆☆☆☆☆)
Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3) by Victoria Schwab – (☆☆☆☆)
Blade of Secrets (Bladesmith #1) by Tricia Levenseller – (☆☆☆☆)
A Proper Charade (Proper Scandals #2) by Esther Hatch – (☆☆☆☆)
Love Unexpected (Some Kind of Love #2) by Jenny Proctor – (☆☆☆)
Wait for It by Mariana Zapata – (☆☆☆☆☆)
Falling for Your Best Friend (Love Clichés #4) by Emma St. Clair – (☆☆☆☆)
Divine Blood (Guardians of the Maiden #1) by Beck Michaels – (☆☆☆☆)
[ARC] Curses by Lish McBride – (☆☆☆)
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren – (☆☆☆☆)
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le – (☆☆☆☆)
Shortcake by Lucy Watson – (☆☆☆)
The Dating Plan (Marriage Game #2) by Sara Desai – (☆☆☆☆)
Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher – (☆☆☆☆☆)
The HOOK (The PAN Trilogy #2) by Jenny Hickman – (☆)
Kingdom of Souls (Kingdom of Souls #1) by Rena Barron – (☆☆)
A Proper Scoundrel (Proper Scandals #3) by Esther Hatch – (☆☆☆☆)
Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher – (☆☆☆☆☆)
Finlay Donovan is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) by Elle Cosimano – (☆☆☆☆)

How was your reading month? Lets talk in the comments!

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Book Review: The Strom Crow (The Storm Crow #1) by Kalyn Josephson

May 24, 2021October 27, 2020 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Young adult fantasy
Length: 352 pages
Author: Kalyn Josephson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 9th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life…until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.

That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother’s death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.

But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.

A YA FANTASY BOOK.

A simple tagline for my main thought throughout this book. It was neither good nor bad. I just felt it was very typical for young adult fantasy. And since I’ve read a lot of them, I didn’t experience anything new.

Not to mention, my ship doesn’t seem to be sailing like I planned and that is always a let down. Especially because, another love triangle? YUP. Not even one I can get behind. One second they were sitting there talking, the next kissing out of nowhere. Ah, I’m so for the other guy.

I did like Anthia as the main character. The clear depiction of grief and depression resonated with me and while I didn’t always love how it was addressed, I overall thought it was well written in these regards.

The writing is engaging as well and I did read it very quickly. It is extremely trope-y and you’ll notice multiple of them. I’m not sure how much happened here because it mostly focused on this one crow, and that was it. In addition to the handful of things I didn’t love, I would have appreciated some more side character back story to help bring this book to life.

Overall audience notes: