Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.54k reviews by:
bookbriefs
The Killing Fog is the first book in the Grave Kingdom series by Jeff Wheeler. The Killing Fog is the first book I have read by Jeff, but I know it will not be my last. I really enjoyed this fantasy novel and I can't wait to continue on in the series. The writing is richly atmospheric, and I think the age of the main character lends itself to reader crossover appeal for fans of both young adult fantasy and adult fantasy novels.
In the Killing Fog, we meet our main character Bingmei. Bingmei is a warrior and she is hired with a group of other warriors to go on a quest to find a lost artifact. Bingmei and her group end up unleashing something much more sinister on their quest than they ever expected. I don't want to give too much more away, but I really enjoyed the plot and I can't wait to see how it is going to unfold further in the next installment. The world building in this novel is excellent. It was easy for me to fall into the world and gain my bearings, which is a rare treat for me lately. There is magic present in the kingdoms, but it is a different kind of magic structure than I am used to seeing in fantasy novels. Normally, the magic is front and center and sometimes the characters lean on it with a crutch. Here fighting and martial arts are front and center with the culture, and the magic element is secondary.
Bingmei herself is a super fascinating character. She wasn't immediately likable for me, and at times I found her to be quite prickly, but seeing her think through and reason along her quest always got me thinking. And that is the kind of character that makes for an interesting read. There is tremendous growth with her, which I found to be very satisfying. The Killing Fog seemed to be a very plot driven novel, and the plot was great for sure. I tend to be more of a character driven reader, and while the characters were good, I found myself hoping to get to know them a bit more. There are two potential love interests in the story, that we might see developed in later novels, but there is almost no romance in The Killing Fog. This will come as a surprise to no one, but I was hoping for more in the romance department as I was reading. I am certainly hoping more develops in that regard in the next book. Overall, I really liked The Killing Fog, and I can't wait to continue on in the Grave Kingdom series.
The Midnight Lie is the first book in the young adult fantasy series, The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski. It is one of my 2020 reading goals to read The Winner's Trilogy this year, and now that I have read The Midnight Lie I am kicking myself even harder that I have not read the Winner's Trilogy yet. It is a problem I hope to be rectifying very soon. Because if it is anything like The Midnight Lie, I am going to LOVE IT!
In the Midnight Lie, we enter the world of Herrath, which features a very structure caste society. Our main character Nirrim is Half Kith, which is at the bottom of the totem pole, and she resides in the Ward district. Nirrim is a very hard worker, but in her society Half Kith's are punished for even the slightest suggestion of anything. When Nirrim is acused of a crime, she decides she has had enough and she is done with Herrath, which sets off a series of events and puts our series into motion. I loved learning about the world that Marie Rutkoski created. Honestly, her writing was my favorite aspect of the story. She had such a lyrical way with words that even reading about horrible, horrible things seems almost magical. She made every person, place and event come to life. I believe The Midnight Lie is connected in some way to the Winner's Trilogy. I am not sure if it is set in a neighboring world, but I do know that there is not a ton of story overlap, and I think can read either series first.
I feel like lately the fantasy books I have been picking up have been a bit dull on the romance aspect, which is always a bummer for me. Not so with The Midnight Lie. I loved the romance and the writing in this book. The romance was integral to the plot of the story and was very much front and center, just the way I like it! The Midnight Lie was harrowing at times, but was a riveting read for me. I loved the characters and the romance. If you are a fan of character driven fantasies that are heavy on the romance (which happens to be LGBTQ), then this will be a book that you do not want to miss. I will warn you though- the ending is pretty killer. I need the next book ASAP because I am dying a little inside after finishing The Midnight Lie. I loved this book!
4.5/5
In the Midnight Lie, we enter the world of Herrath, which features a very structure caste society. Our main character Nirrim is Half Kith, which is at the bottom of the totem pole, and she resides in the Ward district. Nirrim is a very hard worker, but in her society Half Kith's are punished for even the slightest suggestion of anything. When Nirrim is acused of a crime, she decides she has had enough and she is done with Herrath, which sets off a series of events and puts our series into motion. I loved learning about the world that Marie Rutkoski created. Honestly, her writing was my favorite aspect of the story. She had such a lyrical way with words that even reading about horrible, horrible things seems almost magical. She made every person, place and event come to life. I believe The Midnight Lie is connected in some way to the Winner's Trilogy. I am not sure if it is set in a neighboring world, but I do know that there is not a ton of story overlap, and I think can read either series first.
I feel like lately the fantasy books I have been picking up have been a bit dull on the romance aspect, which is always a bummer for me. Not so with The Midnight Lie. I loved the romance and the writing in this book. The romance was integral to the plot of the story and was very much front and center, just the way I like it! The Midnight Lie was harrowing at times, but was a riveting read for me. I loved the characters and the romance. If you are a fan of character driven fantasies that are heavy on the romance (which happens to be LGBTQ), then this will be a book that you do not want to miss. I will warn you though- the ending is pretty killer. I need the next book ASAP because I am dying a little inside after finishing The Midnight Lie. I loved this book!
4.5/5
The Unwilling is an adult fantasy novel by Kelly Braffet. It follows the story of our two main characters, Gavin and Judah. Gavin and Judah live two very different lives, but watching their stories intersect was interesting. The Unwilling is a dense novel. Both in length (this book clocks in at over 600 pages) and in the writing. Overall, I enjoyed this story, but did not over-zealously love it. At times, I found myself wanting to skim some passages to get to the next part of the book, which is something I hate doing. I refrained from giving into my urge, but I was still left feeling that this book felt longer than it needed to be. I am unsure if this book is going to have a sequel or not. I think it could, but it does not need a follow up, and it works well as a standalone, and the ending was a bit mysterious, which was fitting for the overall vibe of the story.
I enjoyed the world created in The Unwilling, and I liked the magic system in place, but it was all very mysterious. I will admit that I was very confused at the beginning of the story, but eventually I felt into the world. One of our main characters, Judah is a foundling that finds herself growing up in the castle because of the strange connection , bonding her to our other main character- the prince, Gavin. This connection does not win her many friends throughout the book, but I found it to be fascinating. It was the aspect of the story that drew me in initially, and it was what kept me reading throughout the book. I wanted to know more about it, and at times I was down right confused on how all the pieces were fitting together. I eventually did get my answers, but it was a journey I had to work hard towards. The reader finally gets answers about Judah, but they don’t fully come until well after the 400 page mark of the book, so just stick with the story and you will get the answers you want.
The writing in the Unwilling is very dark, so be aware of that going in. It wasn’t something that bothered me, but there are certainly themes of abuse that might be off putting to some readers. Overall, I enjoyed the journey that Kelly Braffet took us on. The Unwilling was an interesting fantasy novel, and though it felt a bit long winded at times, it was a book that I am happy I stuck with and finished. Even though I didn’t end up loving it, I did enjoy it.
2.5/5 stars
I enjoyed the world created in The Unwilling, and I liked the magic system in place, but it was all very mysterious. I will admit that I was very confused at the beginning of the story, but eventually I felt into the world. One of our main characters, Judah is a foundling that finds herself growing up in the castle because of the strange connection , bonding her to our other main character- the prince, Gavin. This connection does not win her many friends throughout the book, but I found it to be fascinating. It was the aspect of the story that drew me in initially, and it was what kept me reading throughout the book. I wanted to know more about it, and at times I was down right confused on how all the pieces were fitting together. I eventually did get my answers, but it was a journey I had to work hard towards. The reader finally gets answers about Judah, but they don’t fully come until well after the 400 page mark of the book, so just stick with the story and you will get the answers you want.
The writing in the Unwilling is very dark, so be aware of that going in. It wasn’t something that bothered me, but there are certainly themes of abuse that might be off putting to some readers. Overall, I enjoyed the journey that Kelly Braffet took us on. The Unwilling was an interesting fantasy novel, and though it felt a bit long winded at times, it was a book that I am happy I stuck with and finished. Even though I didn’t end up loving it, I did enjoy it.
2.5/5 stars
Omg! Jennifer Anne Davis will forever be one of my favorite authors. She’s writes the most addictive fantasies. I loved this book every bit as much as I loved the first book. I am dying to get my hands on the next book!
.
.
.
Full review:
Note: This is book 2 in a series that must be read in order. If you are new to the series, you can check out my review of book one, Realm of Knights HERE
Shadow Knights is a young adult fantasy book and is the second book of the Knights of the Realm series by author Jennifer Anne Davis. By now, you all know how much I love Jennifer Anne Davis. Her Reign of Secrets series is one of my favorite fantasy series, and then book one in this series, Realm of Knights blew everything out of the water. It had all the makings of a new favorite series for me! And that was pretty much cemented when I devoured Shadow Knights. I love this series so much! Book 3, Hidden Knights comes out TOMORROW, and I cannot contain my excitement! I need the book on my kind right now. If you are new to the series, this is the perfect time to binge read them!
I am not going to get spoilery in this review, but at the end of book one, our main character Reid, finds herself in an interesting position. Her whole life she has pretended to be her father's eldest son, not daughter, so that her father's land had a male heir to pass to. Through a series of events, she finds herself in a secret organization, and ends up in a neighboring Kingdom, which turns out to be completely different than everyone in her kingdom was led to believe. I loved how surprising the kingdom of Axian and the Kingdom of Marsden were. I will admit that I think they both played off some extremes to prove a plot point, but I think it worked really well in the larger story, and I am dying to read the next book to see how it will all turn out. And being the master fantasy writer that Jennifer is, her plot becomes even more nuanced and twisty. And the surprises and political intrigue are top notch as expected, but I love all of the layers that found within the story. Every character has a secret of two up their sleeve, and they are all so fantastic!
And the romance is slow burn banter at it's best. Oh, how I am enjoying it all! It is swoon worthy, and so well built. I loved watching it simmer along for the whole book, and I am basically ready to combust with excitement at the next novel. I need it right now. If you are a fan of fantastic politics, wonderful characters, a kick ass plot and a wonderful slow burn romance, you simply must read the Knights of the Realm Series. It has it all, and throughout everything it has Jennifer Anne davis' signature fantatsic writing style. I have more of the plot laid out in my review of book one, but this sequel does a great job expanding on the plot and taking it in new directions. This was a perfect sequel. I think I may like it more than the first book, which is really saying something because that was already a favorite of mine!
Fantasy is my favorite genre by far, and Jennifer Anne Davis has written one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I love that Jennifer Anne Davis keeps me on my toes so much. In a way that few authors can, she has me flipping pages not only because the story is addictively good, but because I have no idea where it will go next. And that is so darn refreshing, I can't even tell you how much I love her novels. She is in a class of her own when it comes to writing great fantasy. If you have never read a book by Jennifer Anne Davis, you are really missing out. Pick any of her series and start reading! I think Realm of Knights is a great book for new readers to fall in love with. You will become just as hooked as I am. Read this series now! You can thank me later. :)
.
.
.
Full review:
Note: This is book 2 in a series that must be read in order. If you are new to the series, you can check out my review of book one, Realm of Knights HERE
Shadow Knights is a young adult fantasy book and is the second book of the Knights of the Realm series by author Jennifer Anne Davis. By now, you all know how much I love Jennifer Anne Davis. Her Reign of Secrets series is one of my favorite fantasy series, and then book one in this series, Realm of Knights blew everything out of the water. It had all the makings of a new favorite series for me! And that was pretty much cemented when I devoured Shadow Knights. I love this series so much! Book 3, Hidden Knights comes out TOMORROW, and I cannot contain my excitement! I need the book on my kind right now. If you are new to the series, this is the perfect time to binge read them!
I am not going to get spoilery in this review, but at the end of book one, our main character Reid, finds herself in an interesting position. Her whole life she has pretended to be her father's eldest son, not daughter, so that her father's land had a male heir to pass to. Through a series of events, she finds herself in a secret organization, and ends up in a neighboring Kingdom, which turns out to be completely different than everyone in her kingdom was led to believe. I loved how surprising the kingdom of Axian and the Kingdom of Marsden were. I will admit that I think they both played off some extremes to prove a plot point, but I think it worked really well in the larger story, and I am dying to read the next book to see how it will all turn out. And being the master fantasy writer that Jennifer is, her plot becomes even more nuanced and twisty. And the surprises and political intrigue are top notch as expected, but I love all of the layers that found within the story. Every character has a secret of two up their sleeve, and they are all so fantastic!
And the romance is slow burn banter at it's best. Oh, how I am enjoying it all! It is swoon worthy, and so well built. I loved watching it simmer along for the whole book, and I am basically ready to combust with excitement at the next novel. I need it right now. If you are a fan of fantastic politics, wonderful characters, a kick ass plot and a wonderful slow burn romance, you simply must read the Knights of the Realm Series. It has it all, and throughout everything it has Jennifer Anne davis' signature fantatsic writing style. I have more of the plot laid out in my review of book one, but this sequel does a great job expanding on the plot and taking it in new directions. This was a perfect sequel. I think I may like it more than the first book, which is really saying something because that was already a favorite of mine!
Fantasy is my favorite genre by far, and Jennifer Anne Davis has written one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I love that Jennifer Anne Davis keeps me on my toes so much. In a way that few authors can, she has me flipping pages not only because the story is addictively good, but because I have no idea where it will go next. And that is so darn refreshing, I can't even tell you how much I love her novels. She is in a class of her own when it comes to writing great fantasy. If you have never read a book by Jennifer Anne Davis, you are really missing out. Pick any of her series and start reading! I think Realm of Knights is a great book for new readers to fall in love with. You will become just as hooked as I am. Read this series now! You can thank me later. :)
Fae Hunter is the first book in the Tangled Fae fantasy series by Sarah K.L. Wilson. This book was a super fast read for me, and it certainly got me excited to continue on with the series. I will admit that it had kind of a confusing start for me that felt a bit disjointed, but once the actual adventure began I got really into the story and by the end I was totally invested and pumped for book two. Fae Hunter ends off at quite the cliffhanger, so I am anxious to start the next book so I can find out what happens.
In Fae Hunter we meet our main character, Allie. Allie and her sister live in a small forest village, and one of the main rules is to never go into a faerie ring. One night, her and her sister disobey this rule, and her sister gets taken away and Allie gets left behind, but she becomes blind. But not any ordinary blindness. Though she can't see the ordinary world, she is not much more sensitive to "seeing" the spirit world. Through a series of events, Allie gets swept up in an adventure to try and rescue her sister, and I am not going to say much more than that because the adventure and twists and turns were my favorite part of the story.
I was also really digging the romance that was budding. I honestly have no idea which direction that will take us in, because the end of this book was a doozy. I need to grab a copy of book two asap because I need to know what is going to happen to Allie next. Fae Hunter got off to a bit of a choppy start in my opinion, and there were certainly some characters that I strongly disliked, but the plot and the book gained momentum as the story progressed. It was a book that I liked more and more as I continued to read. It is currently free with Amazon's Kindle Unlimited (which I am obsessed with!) so grab a copy today and check out this series. I am off to read book 2, Fae Captive.
Loving this series so much. I can't wait to start book 3 (but sad it is the final book) I didn't love this one as much as the first one, because of some changes with Eve. I will go into that in more detail in a series review.
The Raven and the Dove is the first book in the epic fantasy romance series of the same name by author Kaitlyn Davis. I have read a few of Kaitlyn's books, and I have to say this is my favorite book of hers yet! I absolutely LOVED The Raven and the Dove. I need to go grab the prequel book, The Princess and the Pawn, ASAP, and I am eagerly awaiting book two- The Hunter and the Mage, which is currently slated for a September 2020 release! I love this series so much. I was hooked from the tagline description of "Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!" Umm...YES PLEASE! And The Raven and the Dove delivered on all that and more. This is the perfect book for fans of fantasy romances.
The Raven and the Dove is told in multiple perspectives, including Lyana/ Ana, who is the dove princess of the House of Peace. Her best friend Cassi, an Owl who lives with Lyanna on the island of the house of Peace. And Xander and Rafe, both Ravens from the House of Whispers. I love a multi perspective fantasy novel, and what is even better is that I love the characters just as much as I love the world set up in The Raven and the Dove. Kaitlyn Davis always writes great romance, but this novel of hers really captured my attention and my heart. I was hooked from page one and I just kept devouring this book until...next thing I knew It was the middle of the night and I was done with all 500 plus pages. This book is something special, and I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
The world in The Raven and the Dove is so cool! It is made up of the land below, which is ruled by a fire god with his dragons, and then the islands above, which are all bird kingdoms. Highest up is the ruling House of Peace with the Doves. This is where our main character Princess Lyanna and her brother the Prince of the house of Doves. There are also several other island kingdoms, each featuring a different type of bird and a different trait or characteristic. The world was beyond cool, and I am so happy that there are going to be at least 4 books in this series! The plot was also right up my alley. Once a year the kingdom's host courtship trials, where each kingdom sends their prince and princesses that are of age, to compete in a trial to be matched with their mate from another island. There are secrets and twists galore in the book. I don't really want to get into them because going in fairly blind was part of the fun for me with this novel, but just know The Raven and the Dove has it all. Romance (including a love triangle), intrigue, betrayals, secrets, and one heck of a cliffhanger. This is one of the best fantasy books I have read so far in 2020, and I itching to get my hands on the next book. The Raven and the Dove is a must read for fans of fantasy romances.
The Raven and the Dove is told in multiple perspectives, including Lyana/ Ana, who is the dove princess of the House of Peace. Her best friend Cassi, an Owl who lives with Lyanna on the island of the house of Peace. And Xander and Rafe, both Ravens from the House of Whispers. I love a multi perspective fantasy novel, and what is even better is that I love the characters just as much as I love the world set up in The Raven and the Dove. Kaitlyn Davis always writes great romance, but this novel of hers really captured my attention and my heart. I was hooked from page one and I just kept devouring this book until...next thing I knew It was the middle of the night and I was done with all 500 plus pages. This book is something special, and I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
The world in The Raven and the Dove is so cool! It is made up of the land below, which is ruled by a fire god with his dragons, and then the islands above, which are all bird kingdoms. Highest up is the ruling House of Peace with the Doves. This is where our main character Princess Lyanna and her brother the Prince of the house of Doves. There are also several other island kingdoms, each featuring a different type of bird and a different trait or characteristic. The world was beyond cool, and I am so happy that there are going to be at least 4 books in this series! The plot was also right up my alley. Once a year the kingdom's host courtship trials, where each kingdom sends their prince and princesses that are of age, to compete in a trial to be matched with their mate from another island. There are secrets and twists galore in the book. I don't really want to get into them because going in fairly blind was part of the fun for me with this novel, but just know The Raven and the Dove has it all. Romance (including a love triangle), intrigue, betrayals, secrets, and one heck of a cliffhanger. This is one of the best fantasy books I have read so far in 2020, and I itching to get my hands on the next book. The Raven and the Dove is a must read for fans of fantasy romances.
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Realm of Knights is a young adult fantasy book and is the start of the Knights of the Realm series by author Jennifer Anne Davis. To say I was excited when I first heard about this novel, and series being releases, is a huge understatement. Fantasy is my favorite genre by far, and Jennifer Anne Davis has written one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. (Her Reign of Secrets series is EPICALLY AMAZING, if you have not checked it out already) Bottom line: I was pumped to see a new fantasy series by her and after I have read Realm of Darkness...dare I say...I might have a new favorite series. I loved this book so much! I am already itching for book 2.
In Realm of Knights we meet our main character Reid. Reid is the fifth daughter of the Duke of Ellington. Her father is the Duke in a land that only allows title to pass to male heirs, so when Reid's mom passes away giving birth to her, her father conceals her identity and has Lady Reid pretend to be Lord Reid so title can remain in their family. Our book starts when Reid has turned 18. Now that she is no longer a child, it is harder to continue the charade of pretending to be a man. Our book really picks up very early on when two of the crowned princes visit her father demanding men to serve in the army, and demanding that Lord Reid accompanies the Duke's men. Watching Reid vacillate between her easier and more comforting role of pretending to be a man, and her desire to be a fierce and independent woman in a society that is so male-centric, was fantastically played out. I love Reid.
When Reid, with some of her childhood friends, set out with the Princes Ackley and Gordon, the adventure really takes off. Jennifer Anne Davis is a master storyteller, and one of her greatest talents (in my opinion) is her ability to weave political intrigue, secrets and deceits several layers deep into a characters multifaceted personality. She writes some of the best characters. I loved the cast of characters in Realm of Knights, and what I loved the very most about them is how complex they all were. I also loved the fact that I don't have a clear pinpoint on any of their motivations. I am normally a pretty astute reader, so for me to not be able to tell who is trustworthy, who is not and why the characters are acting the way they are acting is unusual...but it also makes reading so much fun! I love that Jennifer Anne Davis keeps me on my toes so much. In a way that few authors can, she has me flipping pages not only because the story is addictively good, but because I have no idea where it will go next. And that is so darn refreshing, I can't even tell you how much I love her novels. She is in a class of her own when it comes to writing great fantasy. I loved how surprising the kingdom of Axian and the Kingdom of Marsden were. I will admit that I think they both played off some extremes to prove a plot point, but I think it worked really well in the larger story, and I am dying to read the next book to see how it will all turn out.
Overall, Realm of Knights is a fantastic young adult fantasy. One of my favorite reads of 2019 for sure, and probably will be a favorite series of mine. If you are a fan of Mulan, secret societies, and epic fantasy adventures will love The Knights of the Realm series. I am holding off talking about a romance until I see book 2. I have a feeling all of my thoughts and opinions are about to be jumbled up in a royal fashion. ;) The bottom line is this dear readers- If you have never read a book by Jennifer Anne Davis, you are really missing out. Pick any of her series and start reading! I think Realm of Knights is a great book for new readers to fall in love with. You will become just as hooked as I am.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
In Realm of Knights we meet our main character Reid. Reid is the fifth daughter of the Duke of Ellington. Her father is the Duke in a land that only allows title to pass to male heirs, so when Reid's mom passes away giving birth to her, her father conceals her identity and has Lady Reid pretend to be Lord Reid so title can remain in their family. Our book starts when Reid has turned 18. Now that she is no longer a child, it is harder to continue the charade of pretending to be a man. Our book really picks up very early on when two of the crowned princes visit her father demanding men to serve in the army, and demanding that Lord Reid accompanies the Duke's men. Watching Reid vacillate between her easier and more comforting role of pretending to be a man, and her desire to be a fierce and independent woman in a society that is so male-centric, was fantastically played out. I love Reid.
When Reid, with some of her childhood friends, set out with the Princes Ackley and Gordon, the adventure really takes off. Jennifer Anne Davis is a master storyteller, and one of her greatest talents (in my opinion) is her ability to weave political intrigue, secrets and deceits several layers deep into a characters multifaceted personality. She writes some of the best characters. I loved the cast of characters in Realm of Knights, and what I loved the very most about them is how complex they all were. I also loved the fact that I don't have a clear pinpoint on any of their motivations. I am normally a pretty astute reader, so for me to not be able to tell who is trustworthy, who is not and why the characters are acting the way they are acting is unusual...but it also makes reading so much fun! I love that Jennifer Anne Davis keeps me on my toes so much. In a way that few authors can, she has me flipping pages not only because the story is addictively good, but because I have no idea where it will go next. And that is so darn refreshing, I can't even tell you how much I love her novels. She is in a class of her own when it comes to writing great fantasy. I loved how surprising the kingdom of Axian and the Kingdom of Marsden were. I will admit that I think they both played off some extremes to prove a plot point, but I think it worked really well in the larger story, and I am dying to read the next book to see how it will all turn out.
Overall, Realm of Knights is a fantastic young adult fantasy. One of my favorite reads of 2019 for sure, and probably will be a favorite series of mine. If you are a fan of Mulan, secret societies, and epic fantasy adventures will love The Knights of the Realm series. I am holding off talking about a romance until I see book 2. I have a feeling all of my thoughts and opinions are about to be jumbled up in a royal fashion. ;) The bottom line is this dear readers- If you have never read a book by Jennifer Anne Davis, you are really missing out. Pick any of her series and start reading! I think Realm of Knights is a great book for new readers to fall in love with. You will become just as hooked as I am.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
