Review: A Shadow in the Ember

A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L Armentrout

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Fantasy

“You should’ve thought about that before you picked up that whip,” the Primal growled. “And touched what is mine.”

Synopsis:

Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort. 

However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot. 

Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.

Thoughts:

This is the first book in the series set in the same world as Blood and Ash but the timeline proceeds. Here we have Seraphena the first Maiden chosen before birth to save her people and become the Consort to the Primal of Death. She must make him fall in love and then end him.

It’s no secret one of my favorite books is From Blood and Ash. Starting this one I did struggle a little because the story is so similar. It’s really hard not to compare. But once the book gets going it takes on a life of its own and I loved it! Sera like Poppy is another strong- anything but delicate Maiden- that can kick some serious 🍑! I love JLA’s female leads! And Nyktos is just another swoon worthy evil yet dreamy male! The development of characters in this and all of JLA’s stories is so amazing. The world building and plot just totally draw you in. These books are thick but you don’t want to put them down. I will definitely be rereading this one to hold me over until the next book releases!

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Review: Once There Were Wolves

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Mystery

Synopsis:

Inti and twin sister Aggie were driven out of Alaska by horrible events. They settle in Scotland where Inti will lead a team of biologists to reintroduce fourteen gray wolves into the remote Highlands. Inti is fiercely protective of these wolves as the town does not welcome them into it. When a farmer is killed it is Inti’s mission to not let the wolves take the blame. 

Thoughts:

First off let me say this book is loaded with triggers! Which weren’t really disclosed when I picked this up from BOTM. And honestly they should have been. This book is dark and atmospheric and the writer really immerses you in the setting. I loved that it’s set in Scotland too! When I picked up the book I didn’t realize how animal focused it was going to be. Much more than she did in Migrations. I did love the relationship between the sisters and that brought the book to a more human level. And it had a great ending! This book is tough to rate. I honestly wouldn’t say I enjoyed it because it’s tough content but the writing is beautiful.

Overall:

I really enjoyed the authors first book I read Migrations much more than this. And I will keep reading this author. Her stories are just so well written!

Review: Kingdom of the Cursed

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Genre: Fantasy

This is the second book in the Kingdom of the Wicked series.

Synopsis:

After selling her soul to become Queen of the Wicked, Emilia travels to the Seven Circles with the enigmatic Prince of Wrath, where she’s introduced to a seductive world of vice.

She vows to do whatever it takes to avenge her beloved sister, Vittoria . . . even if that means accepting the hand of the Prince of Pride, the king of demons.

The first rule in the court of the Wicked? Trust no one. With back-stabbing princes, luxurious palaces, mysterious party invitations, and conflicting clues about who really killed her twin, Emilia finds herself more alone than ever before. Can she even trust Wrath, her one-time ally in the mortal world .  . or is he keeping dangerous secrets about his true nature? 

Emilia will be tested in every way as she seeks a series of magical objects that will unlock the clues of her past and the answers she craves . . .

Thoughts:

If you read my review of the first book you know I struggled a touch with some things about it. But this book had much better writing and really sucked me in from the beginning. The main female lead Emilia is still a little annoying but not as much and she was. And Wrath- he is just becoming more and more perfect! This book is full of tension and action packed.

Overall:

It’s a chunk of a book but I could not put it down! And I need the next book like right now! This has been a fantastic series so far!

Review: The Suite Spot

The Suite Spot by Trish Doller

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Romance

The second book in the Beck Sisters series. The first book was Float Plan.

Synopsis:

One of the few bright lights in Rachel Beck’s life is her job at a Miami Beach luxury hotel―until she’s fired for something she didn’t do. As a single mom, Rachel knows she needs stability, and fast. On impulse, Rachel inquires about a position at a brewery hotel on a tiny island in Lake Erie called Kelleys Island. When she’s offered the job, not even the grumpy voice on the line can dissuade her from packing up her whole life and making the move. 

What she finds on Kelleys Island is Mason, a handsome, reclusive man who knows everything about brewing beer and nothing about running a hotel. Especially one that’s barely more than foundation and studs. It’s not the job Rachel was looking for, but Mason offers her a chance to help build a hotel―and rebuild her life―from the ground up.

Thoughts:

So first I LOVED The Float Plan when I read back in March. I forgot these two were even sisters until I started this one. So like the first book this is another one that gives you all the feels! I was laughing, I was crying and I was angry at times. Rachel is a strong single mother trying to make a life for her and her daughter Maisie. She takes a risk and moves to Ohio to start a new hotel. The story then revolves around her building a new life in Ohio and the relationship she begins with Mason the hotel owner. Both the characters are so likable and well developed. I love how real the two of them felt with real life issues. This book was such a heartfelt and wonderful story about second chances. This book doesn’t publish until March 2022 and I can’t wait for you all the read it!

Review: The Inheritance Games

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Suspense

Synopsis:

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why — or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. 

To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch — and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he’s determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather’s last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

Thoughts:

This was definitely one of those books where I was saying- just one more chapter! Until boom I was done! Plus the chapters are short so I read this one pretty fast. I loved the puzzle aspect of this book and it kept me so engaged! So many questions would come up and you think you have the answer and that lead to even more questions. Avery is a great main character and someone you can’t help root for. The Hawthorne grandsons are all so intriguing and different. There are also more side characters that really added to the story overall. Plus a love triangle might be brewing up in this story as well! Can’t wait to read the sequels!

Review: The Gilded Cage

The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni

Book 2 in the Prison Healer series

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:

Kiva Meridan is a survivor.

She survived not only Zalindov prison, but also the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now Kiva’s purpose goes beyond survival to vengeance. For the past ten years, her only goal was to reunite with her family and destroy the people responsible for ruining their lives. But now that she has escaped Zalindov, her mission has become more complicated than ever.

As Kiva settles into her new life in the capital, she discovers she wasn’t the only one who suffered while she was in Zalindov—her siblings and their beliefs have changed too. Soon it’s not just her enemies she’s keeping secrets from, but her own family as well.

Outside the city walls, tensions are brewing from the rebels, along with whispers of a growing threat from the northern kingdoms. Kiva’s allegiances are more important than ever, but she’s beginning to question where they truly lie. To survive this time, she’ll have to navigate a complicated web of lies before both sides of the battle turn against her and she loses everything

Thoughts:

This was another great book in the series! This one had even more suspense and even more adventure than the first. I read most of this on a long car ride visiting family and I’m glad I had the uninterrupted time because I could not put it down! Although Kiva made some really bad decisions she is a great female lead. I loved the witty side character of Caldon and his antics! And oh my that cliffhanger of an ending! I can’t wait for the third!

Review: Sky in the Deep

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Sky and Sea Duology Book 1

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient, rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield―her brother, fighting with the enemy―the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother’s betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.

Thoughts:

I picked this one up months ago and put it aside but I’m so glad I came back to it. I don’t do that very often. I loved her Fable Duology so I wanted to give it another chance. This has a very interesting setting- it didn’t seem futuristic or fantasy. I liked that. The book is very atmospheric and the writing really draws you into the setting. I loved the family aspect of the story. Eelyn is very loyal to her heritage and really struggles with wanting to be with her brother or going back to her home clan. I love the relationships she’s makes with the Riki clan especially Fiske!

Overall:

This book was great as a stand alone and the ending was perfect! There is a second book in the Sky and Sea duology but the characters and time have changed.

Review: The Prison Healer

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer.

When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals.

Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.

Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book! And I love discovering new series! This book was action packed from the start. There is so much going on it’s hard to believe the setting is in one place. I loved that the MC Kiva is a healer. I have a special place in my heart for “healers” 😉 One of the side characters Tipp was one of my favorites and there was a spot in the book with him that made me cry. What a cutie! And the ending!! What???? 🤯

Overall:

I really loved this story. This was a great start to the series and I’m so excited to read the next books!

Review: Blood & Honey

Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin

Serpent & Dove book 2

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:

Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.

To survive, they need allies. Strong ones. But as Lou becomes increasingly desperate to save those she loves, she turns to a darker side of magic that may cost Reid the one thing he can’t bear to lose. Bound to her always, his vows were clear: where Lou goes, he will go; and where she stays, he will stay.

Until death do they part.

Thoughts:

This one started out slow but picked up and had me not wanting to put down. I was really worried about second book syndrome for awhile! There was an addition of a few more characters which was enjoyable. Lou is coming into her powers in this book and it was a little scary- I didn’t want her to turn into her mother! And then Reid with his sweet self loving her unconditionally. Reid is also accepting what he is finally. There were some heartfelt moments along with edge of your seat ones which makes for a great read! And the ending is leaving me ready for more!

Overall:

Although the next book in the series Gods & Monsters is quite thick I am so excited to read it! This has been a great series so far!

Review: King of Scars

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:

Face your demons…or feed them. The dashing young king, Nikolai Lantsov, has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war―and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, Nikolai must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha general, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried―and some wounds aren’t meant to heal

Thoughts:

So I have read The Shadow and Bone series and The Six of Crows Duology. Both were ok to me. But I keep coming back to the Grishaverse. I don’t know why I just feel like one of these books is going to really wow me because of all the love I see for them. This book was good but not great. I loved Nikolai’s character so I was excited to read his story. But like all the other books they are told from multiple POV. So you get snippets of each. This book is long and honestly some parts drug on to me. I wasn’t invested in some of the POV. I think what keeps me coming back is I do enjoy this world and most of the characters. The cliffhanger at the end though clinched me into wanting to read the next book of course! Overall I am giving it 4 ⭐️ because I enjoy the world and some of the characters storylines.