*Warning: This is the second book in a series that should be read in order. If you are new to the series, you can check out my review of the first book- From Blood and Ash HERE**

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is an adult fantasy and is the second book in the Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I loved the first book so fiercely that I knew I immediately needed to jump into book 2! This series is easily my favorite reads and series of 2020, and I know this will become one of my favorite fantasy series of all time! When I tell you that I was enthralled with this book, I am serious. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire was just as captivating as the first book. I cannot stop thinking about these characters and this world. Even now, days after I have finished reading. I need the third book in this series ASAP! I think this series is a must read for all fans of adult fantasies.

I am going to try my very best to not include any spoilers in this review. Short review- If you are a fan of fantasy and paranormal romances, then you NEED to read the Blood and Ash series. If you still need convincing, then read on.

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire picks up right where the first book left off- on that crazy declaration of a cliffhanger! Poppy is still reeling from the events of the first book, and simultaneously she also understands that she is smack in the middle of a war. She needs to pick a side...fast. I admire Poppy. She is resourceful and takes in whatever information she needs to be able to make her own decisions. She is not easily swayed, and she is feisty as all get out! I love watching her and Hawke go at it. Not to mention their chemistry is out of this world. I could read about them forever. I love them fighting just as much as I love them finally being real with each other about their feelings. Heck, I just love the two of them.

In addition to great characters, and a fantastic romance that sizzles through the pages, the world building is also really interesting. There are warring factions, dangerous creatures called the Craven and plenty of mystery and secrets. In this installment we get to learn more about the old gods as well as the Atlantians and the Ascended. I loved learning about their history and I also really appreciated seeing more about the Ascended. I think there are even more secrets, twists and turns for us to discover in the next book. The ending was another doozy, and I am dying to continue on! I think this book is a must read for all fans of fantasy romance and paranormal romance. If all Jennifer Armentrout books are like this one, I need to read them all ASAP! This series is my favorite series that I have read in a long time! I loved this book just as much as the first book. I am hoping that book 3 comes out quickly and that it is just as long as books 1 and 2. I don't ever want this series to end!

Calypso's Heart  is the first book in the adult paranormal romance Orion's Order series by M.C. Solaris. This book was huge! It clocks in at over 650 pages, and though I did really enjoy the book and am certainly interested in continuing on in the series, it did feel a bit long at times. I had to put this book down a couple of times to take a break from the characters and the story, read something else and then I was ready to get back into Calypso's heart, which is a bit unusual for me. Normally I like to read books straight through. (in one sitting if I can manage it.) That being said, I did end up enjoying this story and I do love a good paranormal romance, heavy on the steam, which Calypso's Heart really does deliver!

In Calypso's Heart we meet our main characters Caly and Blake. The book is told in a multiple point of view narrative, which is my favorite narration style. Blake is a very coveted wolf shifter, and when he meets Caly. There is insta love because of the whole fated mates element, which is something I enjoy so it didn't bother me in the slightest, but I did want to warn you if that is off putting to you as a reader. I loved all the of various characters we meet in Calypso's Heart, and I like how big the world felt. There is a lot going on with all of the different creatures and because of that the plot was pretty interesting.

At times, I felt like the pacing of the story was a bit slow and at times, a little disorienting. Because of the multiple points of views and some jumping from character to character and from plot line to plot-line, I did have a hard time keeping tracking of the characters/povs. And as I mentioned earlier, the book felt a little long to me. There were a few repetitive scenes that I felt could have been cut, but overall I really enjoyed the plotline of the book.

I can't wait to see how the characters grow and develop in the series. I think there are a lot of opportunities for some of the less mature characters to have fantastic character arcs, and I am super interested to find out what is going to happen next. Overall, this was a solid start to the Orion's Order series. I am interested to see where the books will go from here.

Unbirthday is the tenth book in the A Twisted Tale series and it is written by author Liz Braswell. I love the idea behind the A twisted tale series. Each of the books takes a different, and often times darker, spin on a classic Disney story. They are written by different authors and they can be read as standalone novels, but they are all so much fun that I would recommend reading them all. Unbirthday is a twist based on Alice in Wonderland. So This is Love takes the original Alice in Wonderland story line and adds a pretty big twist into the mix- What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late? Unbirthday felt different than some of the other books I have read in the series. Instead of it feeling like a twist on the original story, it felt more like a sequel to the wonderland tale that we know and love, which I was super excited to read. If you know me, you know I am a huge Wonderland fanatic! Bring on all the re-tellings, re-imaginging and all of the wonderland shenanigans! 

In Unbirthday, we get to meet a more grown up 18 year old Alice, living back in "the real world" with her family. Alice is a budding photographer and she doesn't go anywhere without her camera. When Wonderland characters start to pop up in the pictures she is taking, Alice decides it is time to pay her childhood fantasy land a visit again. I loved the way Liz Braswell decided to lure Alice back into Wonderland. I thought it was brilliant, and felt like a very natural progression and hook to the story. When Alice gets back to Wonderland, the Queen is just as evil as ever. Will Alice be able to save Wonderland, or did she arrive too late this time? 

Unbirthday is told both in real world England as well as Wonderland, and there are different problems in both lands. I loved the zaniness of Wonderland, but it was juxtaposed but some very serious issues being tackled in real world England. That was an interesting side plot line for me. One that I wasn't expecting, and while part of me wanted to stay lost in the fantasy world of Wonderland, I appreciated the messages that the author was incorporating on the real world side. We also have a minor romance plot woven into the story that I just adored! That was such a welcome surprise for me while I was reading Unbirthday! I also loved the more grown up Alice that we get to meet in Unbirthday. She is just as curious as ever, but she is also a strong and resilient young woman. 

All in all- Liz Braswell did a great job with Unbirthday. I really enjoyed the story and it was a lot of fun revisiting Wonderland. She also managed to really surprise me with the direction that the story took as she wove in real world England into the plot. Unbirthday is a great addition to the Twisted Tales series, and I think by now you guys know what a big fan I am of these stories. I love that they are each standalones written by a variety of authors. I want to read the Mulan story- Reflections next, but really- bring on ALL OF THE TWISTED TALES. I love this series. If you have not read any of the books in this series, you are missing out.

The Fire in the Glass is a historical fiction mystery by  new to me author Jacquelyn Benson. I loved The Fire in the Glass! It takes place in London in the year 1914, and it is about a psychic that is trying to solve and stop a serial killer. The plot of The Fire in the Glass was fascinating and I loved the historical backdrop of London as the setting of our mystery. If you are a fan of mysteries or of historical fiction, this book was a total hidden gem for me. Check it out! I think you will love it!

In The Fire in the Glass we meet our main character Lily. Lily can see visions of the future, but it is not all glitz and glam for her. Lately she has been haunted by witnessing murder before they happen. But when she sees the vision of her friend being murdered, she knows she needs to do something. So she sets off to try and hunt down the killer before they can strike again! I love the premise of the story, but more than everything else, I love Lily! She is fierce and strong an determined. All in all, she is an excellent heroine for our story, and it was so easy for me to relate to her and root for her.

The story got even more interesting when she got someone else involved on her hunt. I enjoyed Lord Strangford, and it was cool that he had a power of his own. I thought it complimented Lily's really well. [spoiler]He can learn about the past of a person or object just by touching said person or object, What a great pairing- the future and the past![/spoiler] The romance was nice, but it was very much a secondary plot to the mystery, which was ok with me. Parts of the mystery were easy to figure out, and other elements took me by surprise. Jacquelyn Benson does a great job throwing in twists and turns while still keeping the plot flowing along smoothly. This novel was a joy to read. I thought the pacing and flow of the storyline was great! 

If you are a fan of historical fiction, with mystery and some supernatural elements woven in, then I think you will really enjoy The Fire in the Glass took me by surprise in the best way. 

4.5/5

Sword of the Seven Sins is the first book in a young adult fantasy romance series by Emily Colin. I loved this book so much you guys! I want the second book in my hands right now. My very next read is going to be the free prequel novella (more information on that below my review) This book was so interesting, and I was happy to learn that it was going to be a series by the time I finished reading. Although there is not much of a cliffhanger, which I appreciated, I am also super excited to jump back into this world for more! I can't wait for the second book. Sword of Seven Sins is the perfect read for fans of fantasy, romance, science fiction and dystopian novels because this unique world blends all of those genres quite well!

In Sword of the Seven Sins, we meet our main characters, Eva and Ari. I loved the both of them so much! Their romance and their feelings for each other is one of the main focuses on the story, which you all know is my personal reading preference. But here, it actually fits in so well with the story line. The world that Emily Colin has created is super interesting and unique. It is a harsh dystopian like punishment structure, but here punishments are not only super harsh (like being exiled or killed) but they crimes and sins are centered around the Seven Deadly Sins  and the Seven Virtues. In this world, the virtues are what one person should embody at all times, and the Seven deadly sins must be avoided at all costs. So to circle back to Eva and Ari- lust is one of the seven deadly sins, and in this world love and lust are forbidden. I was completely in love with their forbidden romance! I want to read about it over and over again!

The plot of the story is totally different, but the vibe of this book reminded me of Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga, which is one of my favorite fantasy romances of all time. I loved the interactions between Eva and Ari so much. Ari has had feelings for Eva his whole life that he has obviously had to conceal, and when Eva is set to become the first female Bellator, which are the executioners of people that commit a crime of the seven sins, Ari is to be her mentor. Obviously, this is where things get really interesting! Watching them together made me feel all the feelings. I am personally hoping that we get to see so many more books featuring the two of them.

Overall, Sword of the Seven Sins was a fantastic read and it is going to be perfect for fans of fantasy romances. It will also be great for fans of dystopian as well because the story kind of blends the two together. I loved this book and I cannot wait for the second book in the series! I need it right now!

Loathe at First Sight is a romantic comedy by Suzanne Park. This is my first book that I have had the pleasure of reading by this author, but it certainly will not be my last. I loved everything about Loathe at First Sight- the characters were realistic and fantastic, the plot was engaging and very entertaining, the romance was cute and the writing was hysterical. Loathe at First Sight was a fun romantic comedy own voice novel that I loved! 

In Loathe at First Sight we meet our main character Melody on her very first day at her new job as a video game junior producer. I loved that Melody's job was at a gaming corporation because that is such an interesting line of work, but also a very male heavy line of work. So as a reader, I felt like there were two parallel story lines going on- there was the romance aspect of the story but there was also the more serious story line of a woman in a predominantly male corporation. Watching Melody address her male bosses and stand up for herself to claim the accolades she deserves was oh so satisfying for me as a reader. I flippin' loved it! And don't worry- if you are looking for a good romantic comedy, Loathe at First Sight is completely that. Even the more serious topics and scenes were jam packed with full on laugh out loud moments. I really loved the peek inside of male dominated corporate office. It was great to see some of the things women in the workplace have to put up with being addressed. Melody is my hero for the way she can stand up for herself! When she put her jerk of a boss in his place, publicly I might add, I was quite literally whooping and clapping my hands. And speaking of her jerk of a boss, when he made his appearance in the very start of the novel I had a moment of panic. I hated him! And I really, really didn't want him to be the love interest. But I quickly re-read the summary of the book, and let out a collective sigh of relief...he is not!) 

But there was another character that I intensely disliked at the start of the book,  [spoiler]cough ASHER cough[/spoiler]and as the story progressed, I felt like I really got to know this person much better and ended up completely changing my opinion of them. The romance in the story was super cute, and I really really loved Nolan. I want a Nolan for myself! I will admit that I did feel a bit sorry for him at the start, because I thought Melody came on a bit strong and rude in their first few meetings, but over time watching them interact was adorable. 

Bottom line: Loathe at First Sight is a fantastically fun romantic comedy that also manages to send a well delivered inside look and message about women working in a predominantly male field. I honestly loved everything about this book so much! 

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Relic is the first book in the young adult dark fantasy series, called The Relic Trilogy by Bronwyn Eley. Relic is a fast paced, action pact series starter. This one grabbed my attention right from the first chapter. I have read the first two books in the trilogy and now I am anxiously awaiting the third and final book, which will likely be releasing sometime in 2021. Relic took a darker turn than I was expecting, so I think readers should be prepared going in that this will be a dark young adult fantasy. There is some romance, but it is not the focus of the story. It works well with the overall plotline though, and I really enjoyed this book!

In Relic, we meet our main character Kaylan. Kaylan lives in a city called Edriast, which is ruled by Lord Rennard. there is magic in this book, but here using the magic comes at a cost. Lord Rennard gets his magic from a mysterious relic, that grants him power, but in exchange the relic slowly poisons/infects everything surrounding it. When the relic gets to Lord Rennard's personal guard, a new guard or Shadow must be called upon to serve the Lord. Enter Kaylan. Kaylan becomes the new shadow, and as part of her job she discovers plenty of secrets, mysteries and lots and lots of magic. Bronwyn Eley's writing style is very engaging and easy to follow. It was easy for me to devour this book once I picked it up because everything just flows so easily. 

Part of Relic was setting the foundation for world and for the rest of the trilogy. The magic system was pretty interesting. The magic comes from these five ancient relics, which help the holder but hurts the people around the holder of the relic. Though different, it kind of reminds me of the magic system in Brent Weeks Lightbringer series, where the magic wielders each pay a price. Using magic kills the wielder just a little quicker. So the more magic you use, the more you are shortening your own life. That kind of a balance system raises the stakes for magic usage and makes the overall world structure more interesting in my opinion. I loved the way Bronwyn Eley presented the story and built the world. She does a fantastic job giving the readers a full picture of everything going on without info dumping. 

The plot of Relic was super interesting as well. There are so many twists and turns in this story it is impossible to predict them all. I loved the journey that Kaylan was thrust into when she was called upon to be shadow. I won't spoil the events but it was really cool and it left me excited to pick up the second book. I think the Relic Trilogy is perfect for fans of dark young adult fantasies that don't pull any punches. 

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*Note: This is book 2 in a series that should be read in order. There may be spoilers for the first book in the series. 

If you are new to the series, you can check out my review of book one here*

Riven is the second book in the young adult dark fantasy series, called The Relic Trilogy by Bronwyn Eley. Relic is a fast paced, action packed sequel. I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first book, Relic.  Because I read it right after finishing Relic, I already had a really good idea of the world and the characters, so I was able to just jump right in and enjoy the crazy ride that Riven takes us on! But as I mentioned in my review of Relic, Bronwyn Eley does a fantastic job setting up the world, so I think it would be really easy to get back into the swing of things even if you had a break between reading book one and book two. 

Riven takes place after the events of the first book in the series-Relic.  As a refresher, our main character Kaylan was named the new Shadow (or guard) of Lord Rennard. But the Lord has a relic , that grants him power, but in exchange the relic slowly poisons/infects everything surrounding it. I won't get into spoilers from the first book, but something big happens at the end of the first book that sends Kaylan on the run, which is where the events of Riven pick up.  Kaylan herself has really grown a lot as a character, which I always love to see a reader. I loved watching her think though each of her actions and even battle with herself over some of the events in the book. It was really fascinating and she is such a wonderful heroine. She is strong, but not perfect, which makes her more relatable in my opinion. The magic in this series is strong and fierce, and in some ways really unpredictable. I found it fascinating to watch Kaylan war with herself about what was happening. (to her and around her) Magic plays such a big role, and watching magic corrupt or change characters in this book was an added element that I was so interested to learn more about. Magic in this book isn't always a physical thing that you can see. There is also a mental element to the magic and seeing how that was affecting the characters psychologically was fascinating! I couldn't wait to see how all of that was going to play out, and I can't wait to see more in the next book. 

As I mentioned in my first review, this is a dark fantasy and as the world and actions are ramping up, so does the darkness. I love that Bronwyn does not shy away from things that might upset the reader. She goes for it, which made Riven a really thrilling read for me. I couldn't guess what was going to happen next and I absolutely loved that! I cannot wait to see how this trilogy is going to end! I think the Relic Trilogy is perfect for fans of dark young adult fantasies that don't pull any punches. I loved this book even more than the first! Bring on book three! 

See more of my reviews at Book Briefs. Love bookish pictures? Let's be friends on Bookstagram