Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.54k reviews by:
bookbriefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Today the Steadfast blog tour takes a stop at Book Briefs. Steadfast is the third book in the birth of saints trilogy. Because I am new to the trilogy, I decided to start at the beginning, which I thought would be a good place to start. And it was a really good idea, because author Michelle Hauck has created a very rich and detailed world, and now that all of the books in the trilogy are out, this series is the perfect binge read when you are looking for some adventure steeped in magic and witchcraft. Grudging felt like magic meets the crusades. It was really interesting and unlike anything I have read lately. I'm not sure how I missed this book when it came out in 2015, but boy am I glad I found it now.
Grudging is the first book in the birth of saints trilogy. This is a trilogy that must be read in order. Grudging follows seventeen year old Ramiro and Claire. The atmosphere that Grudging takes place in was really interesting to me. On one hand, it felt a bit like a historical book, with wonderful descriptions of a medieval city, but on the other hand there was also this fascinating magical element woven into the story with the swamp witches.
Ramiro is on the fighting side, and is the son of a city official, and Claire lives in the swamp and is the daughter of a very powerful witch. . As soon as they meet, the pace of the book really picked up. There is so much going on in Grudging, and I can't wait to see it all developed even more in the next book. The most interesting aspect of Grudging was how different all of the characters are. It makes sense, since this is a story revolving around a war, but as a history nerd, I always love seeing societal, religious and cultural differences and how they impact decisions and personalities of the people within them. This was really apparent with the differences between Ramiro and Claire's families, for example. These cultural differences did play into a majority of the roadblocks for these characters, but it was really great to see such growth in both of them by the end of the book. I can't wait to see where the next book will take them.
Grudging does have a good bit of violence in it, but it was in line with the plot of the story, and it wasn't so much that it was off putting. However; I would say this book is best for upper young adult readers. Fans of epic fantasy, who don't mind a bit of fighting in a verging war setting will love this book. The characters are all wonderful. They were my favorite part of the story and they will be the reason that I continue on. I can't wait to see where book two takes us.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Today the Steadfast blog tour takes a stop at Book Briefs. Steadfast is the third book in the birth of saints trilogy. Because I am new to the trilogy, I decided to start at the beginning, which I thought would be a good place to start. And it was a really good idea, because author Michelle Hauck has created a very rich and detailed world, and now that all of the books in the trilogy are out, this series is the perfect binge read when you are looking for some adventure steeped in magic and witchcraft. Grudging felt like magic meets the crusades. It was really interesting and unlike anything I have read lately. I'm not sure how I missed this book when it came out in 2015, but boy am I glad I found it now.
Grudging is the first book in the birth of saints trilogy. This is a trilogy that must be read in order. Grudging follows seventeen year old Ramiro and Claire. The atmosphere that Grudging takes place in was really interesting to me. On one hand, it felt a bit like a historical book, with wonderful descriptions of a medieval city, but on the other hand there was also this fascinating magical element woven into the story with the swamp witches.
Ramiro is on the fighting side, and is the son of a city official, and Claire lives in the swamp and is the daughter of a very powerful witch. . As soon as they meet, the pace of the book really picked up. There is so much going on in Grudging, and I can't wait to see it all developed even more in the next book. The most interesting aspect of Grudging was how different all of the characters are. It makes sense, since this is a story revolving around a war, but as a history nerd, I always love seeing societal, religious and cultural differences and how they impact decisions and personalities of the people within them. This was really apparent with the differences between Ramiro and Claire's families, for example. These cultural differences did play into a majority of the roadblocks for these characters, but it was really great to see such growth in both of them by the end of the book. I can't wait to see where the next book will take them.
Grudging does have a good bit of violence in it, but it was in line with the plot of the story, and it wasn't so much that it was off putting. However; I would say this book is best for upper young adult readers. Fans of epic fantasy, who don't mind a bit of fighting in a verging war setting will love this book. The characters are all wonderful. They were my favorite part of the story and they will be the reason that I continue on. I can't wait to see where book two takes us.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Cage of Deceit by Jennifer Anne Davis is the first in a young adult series called the Reign of Secrets series. It is a young adult fantasy series that totally rocked my world! It is one of my favorite books of 2015. It might even take the top spot on my best of the best 2015 list. It was seriously that good. This is my first book I've read by Jennifer and I have to say, I will be reading many more. Not to mention I even dreamt about Cage of Deceit last night. I have been itching to read the second book.
I loved the disclaimer that she put on page one, about the kind of book this is and the kind of book it is not. It is not a book that wraps up nice and neatly by itself. It is most definitely part of a series and there will be loose ends. You are warned. Allyssa is princess of Emperion, the biggest empire in the world. I really liked so much about Allyssa and her family and their reign. This was not a dysfunctional family story of a poor little mistreated princess. Allyssa has great parents and a great relationship with them and she loves her country. But war is on the horizon and Cage of Deceit sets the stage for this worldwide turmoil. I do wish I had paid a little more attention to the very lovely map provided at the start of the story because the geography of the countries and their borders is important. I would recommend taking a picture of the map so you can refer to it while reading.
Allyssa is kind and super stubborn. She wants to feel free and be able to do what she wants, but on the other hand she is always super sensitive to the fact that she has duties that are larger than herself. I thought she was a wonderfully complex and multi faceted character. Much like Jarvit, Odar, Maverk, and all of the characters in this rich and detailed fantasy. I would re-read this book over and over again. I kind of want to pick it up and do just that right now.
And the romance! Ah, I want to keep this book couple with me for all time! I love them so much! And it was all about the build up and the journey with them. This is the very definition of slow burn romance. There is only a single kiss in Cage of Deceit but I thought it was one of the most romantic books I have read in a long time. And that was pretty magical and impressive on Jennifer Anne Davis' part. She gets major props in my book for that.
There is no magic in Cage of Deceit. But there is lots of good ole fashion fantasy elements, including kick ass world building, lots of castley- empires, lots of sword fighting and dagger throwing and characters are are engaging and fascinating. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is perfect for fans of Mary E. Pearson, Maria V. Snyder (yes, even though there is no magic) and Rae Carson. Everyone needs to read Cage of Deceit! Everyone.
Cage of Deceit by Jennifer Anne Davis is the first in a young adult series called the Reign of Secrets series. It is a young adult fantasy series that totally rocked my world! It is one of my favorite books of 2015. It might even take the top spot on my best of the best 2015 list. It was seriously that good. This is my first book I've read by Jennifer and I have to say, I will be reading many more. Not to mention I even dreamt about Cage of Deceit last night. I have been itching to read the second book.
I loved the disclaimer that she put on page one, about the kind of book this is and the kind of book it is not. It is not a book that wraps up nice and neatly by itself. It is most definitely part of a series and there will be loose ends. You are warned. Allyssa is princess of Emperion, the biggest empire in the world. I really liked so much about Allyssa and her family and their reign. This was not a dysfunctional family story of a poor little mistreated princess. Allyssa has great parents and a great relationship with them and she loves her country. But war is on the horizon and Cage of Deceit sets the stage for this worldwide turmoil. I do wish I had paid a little more attention to the very lovely map provided at the start of the story because the geography of the countries and their borders is important. I would recommend taking a picture of the map so you can refer to it while reading.
Allyssa is kind and super stubborn. She wants to feel free and be able to do what she wants, but on the other hand she is always super sensitive to the fact that she has duties that are larger than herself. I thought she was a wonderfully complex and multi faceted character. Much like Jarvit, Odar, Maverk, and all of the characters in this rich and detailed fantasy. I would re-read this book over and over again. I kind of want to pick it up and do just that right now.
And the romance! Ah, I want to keep this book couple with me for all time! I love them so much! And it was all about the build up and the journey with them. This is the very definition of slow burn romance. There is only a single kiss in Cage of Deceit but I thought it was one of the most romantic books I have read in a long time. And that was pretty magical and impressive on Jennifer Anne Davis' part. She gets major props in my book for that.
There is no magic in Cage of Deceit. But there is lots of good ole fashion fantasy elements, including kick ass world building, lots of castley- empires, lots of sword fighting and dagger throwing and characters are are engaging and fascinating. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is perfect for fans of Mary E. Pearson, Maria V. Snyder (yes, even though there is no magic) and Rae Carson. Everyone needs to read Cage of Deceit! Everyone.
To enter, fill out the rafflecopter below to win
Note: Book Briefs Contest Policy applies. All of the prizes, terms and conditions of the giveaway should be contained in the rafflecopter below. No Purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**By A Charm and a Curse is a standalone young adult fantasy by debut author Jaime Questell. I love a book in a carnival setting, and one featuring magic even more, so I knew By a Charm and a Curse would be right up my alley. And it was. I really enjoyed this book. The name of the book says it all. There is a charm and there is a curse and they are tied closely together. I really loved the plot of this book. I might have even enjoyed the story more than the characters, but I did also enjoy the whole cast of carnies.
By A Charm and a Curse follows our main character Em, or Emmaline as she visits a traveling carnival with her friend. By A Charm and a Curse is told from multiple perspectives, and as we shift through some of the characters point of view we get to know a couple of the carnival performers and we learn about the charm. I'm going to tell you about the charm but I am going to be vague about the curse because it's more fun for me that way. (no, I'm kidding...it's better for you to discover it as you are reading. It was a really crazy moment when I saw what the curse did and I don't want to take that away from the readers.) The carnival is protected by a charm that allows the performers and works to not age and to not get hurt. It kind of enhances there abilities. But the only way they get this awesome protection is because of the curse centered around the carnival's fortune teller. I loved the way both the charm and the curse were explored and explained. It was really cool.
Em was a really cool character because whether she liked it or not, she was forced to go on a journey. And it took her through all kinds of different emotions. I really enjoyed getting inside of her head as she explored what was happening and how that would affect all kinds of areas in her life. But Em was only one of a really big cast of characters. Author Jaime Questell did a whole lot of character side stories in just 300 pages. It was pretty impressive. It's one of the things I love most about a carnival setting- all of the difference personalities, so I was really happy that we didn't only focus on Em. We also got to know Ben, and Lars, and Audrey, Lesie, Duncan and gin, just to name a few. Everyone actually played a great role in the story. Ben and Em were my favorite because I loved seeing their growing connection, but everyone was fun to read about.
The carnival's charm and a curse had some twists and turns in it as well, which was a nice surprise for me. I thought once we figured out what the charm and the curse were their magic would feel a little static, but that wasn't the case. It changed along with Em, which made By A Charm and a Curse a really interesting read. There were a few parts of the book that left me a litter underwhelmed, but overall this was a very good read. Fans of magical carnival books will really enjoy this fun and interesting story. I know I enjoyed By A Charm and a Curse.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
By A Charm and a Curse follows our main character Em, or Emmaline as she visits a traveling carnival with her friend. By A Charm and a Curse is told from multiple perspectives, and as we shift through some of the characters point of view we get to know a couple of the carnival performers and we learn about the charm. I'm going to tell you about the charm but I am going to be vague about the curse because it's more fun for me that way. (no, I'm kidding...it's better for you to discover it as you are reading. It was a really crazy moment when I saw what the curse did and I don't want to take that away from the readers.) The carnival is protected by a charm that allows the performers and works to not age and to not get hurt. It kind of enhances there abilities. But the only way they get this awesome protection is because of the curse centered around the carnival's fortune teller. I loved the way both the charm and the curse were explored and explained. It was really cool.
Em was a really cool character because whether she liked it or not, she was forced to go on a journey. And it took her through all kinds of different emotions. I really enjoyed getting inside of her head as she explored what was happening and how that would affect all kinds of areas in her life. But Em was only one of a really big cast of characters. Author Jaime Questell did a whole lot of character side stories in just 300 pages. It was pretty impressive. It's one of the things I love most about a carnival setting- all of the difference personalities, so I was really happy that we didn't only focus on Em. We also got to know Ben, and Lars, and Audrey, Lesie, Duncan and gin, just to name a few. Everyone actually played a great role in the story. Ben and Em were my favorite because I loved seeing their growing connection, but everyone was fun to read about.
The carnival's charm and a curse had some twists and turns in it as well, which was a nice surprise for me. I thought once we figured out what the charm and the curse were their magic would feel a little static, but that wasn't the case. It changed along with Em, which made By A Charm and a Curse a really interesting read. There were a few parts of the book that left me a litter underwhelmed, but overall this was a very good read. Fans of magical carnival books will really enjoy this fun and interesting story. I know I enjoyed By A Charm and a Curse.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
.jpg)
