Ruled by Blood is a bind up of both books in the young adult/new adult fantasy called the Noblesse Oblige Duet, by May Sage. I don't know about you, but I love a bind up of a duet, trilogy or series. I love being able to read the books back to back, and bind ups make that so easy. I read Ruled by Blood as if it were one long book, and I loved the way the story flowed from book one to book two, even though there is a time jump between the books. May Sage did a great job explaining the jump and getting readers right back into the story. Ruled by Blood is a  fae romance where the main character Vlari finds herself stuck between the queen, fae court and her own agenda.I really enjoyed this duet and I couldn't believe how many twists and turns there were throughout the story. It certainly kept things interesting. Overall, this was a solidly good fae centered fantasy that will keep readers entertained and on the edge of their seats!

In Ruled by Blood we meet our main character Vlari. Vlari is a mixed breed- part fae and part pixie. Overtime we learn more about Vlari. She is the granddaughter of the ruling fae queen, and when Vlari was young the royal court discovered that she has a powerful ancient magic inside of her, a gift from her very powerful ancestor. The queen binds Vlari telling the world that it is because Vlari is dangerous, but in reality it is because she doesn't want her to be more powerful than she is. I will admit that there are a lot of players and moving parts to the world that May Sage created, and at the start of the book I was a bit confused as I gained my bearings in the story. It took me a little bit of time before I understood the layout of the world and how all of the different courts and kingdoms of the world worked together. But once I figured that out, the rest of the book flowed quickly for me.

I found Vlari's power to be fascinating. I'll put it in a spoiler box so I won't ruin it for you, but it felt original and different and equal parts terrifying and awesome!

She calls her power a void power. She can essentially suck power (and life) from anyone or anything she wants and then refocus that new power and energy in different ways. Her power seems almost limitless and the possibilities of what she can do with it seem endless. She can use the power to halt death, bring people to life grow things, kill things, bind things. It's intense!

The romance in the story is also great. The end of the first book and the whole second book took me completely by surprise. I was coasting along nicely in the story when the initial war and fight broke out of no where and took the story in a totally different direction than I was expecting. I loved it! At times, I found the story a little rushed, and I was hoping that things would slow down and we could flesh out some scenes more and some character motivations more but overall I had so much fun while reading Ruled by Blood. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from May Sage in the future!

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

Note: 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 Raven and the Dove HERE

The Hunter and the Mage is the second 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 series of hers yet! I absolutely LOVED the first book, The Raven and the Dove. The Raven and the Dove series is a fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde, and I am here to tell you that it is so. freakin’. good! This is the perfect book for fans of fantasy romances.

The Hunter and the Mage picks up right after the events of The Raven and the Dove, with the whole gang of Lyana, Rafe, Xander, and Cassi still in trying to deal with everything going on. Book one ended with a really tough ending, so we are picking up with all of those feelings still raging, especially for me. Like with the first book, The Hunter and the Mage is also told in multiple perspectives, which is perfect because our characters are kind of scattered all over the place when the book starts. I was so anxious to see how everyone would come back together that I just flew through this book. I couldn’t put it down.

The world in The Raven and the Dove series is so cool! It is made up of the world under and then the islands above, which are all bird kingdoms. In the first book we got to learn so much about the bird kingdoms in the sky, and in this book we got to explore some of the other kingdoms, which was so much fun! In The Hunter and the Mage, Lyana is in the world under, in the sea of the mist, which was totally fascinating to learn about. Kaitlyn Davis does a fantastic job with her world building, I feel like I just want to explore all of these lands for so many more hours, I can’t wait to keep visiting this world over and over again. We also get to meet some new characters in this book, but my main love and focus was on the original four. I absolutely loved seeing all of these characters face their own obstacles and grow. All of the characters in this series feel so real to me. I love these characters, even some of the characters that I was kind of annoyed with by the end of the first book grew and redeemed themselves in my eyes. (which is no easy feat!) I finished The Hunter and the Mage sad to say goodbye to people that I have come to think of as friends. I absolutely cannot wait until the next book! I need it right now!

The Raven and the Dove has it all. Romance, intrigue, betrayals, secrets, and plenty of different character plotlines to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I was honestly surprised by certain events or twists while reading, and I loved how all of the various points of views and quests came together. This book was so much fun to read! I was entertained from the very first page to the last. This is one of the best fantasy series I have read so far in 2020, and I am itching to get my hands on the next book. The Raven and the Dove series is a must read for fans of fantasy romances. I loved this book even more than the first one!

4.5/5 gavels

This book just wasn’t for me. It was marked as being a twisty psychological thriller so I was expecting something dark, twisty and that would mess with my mind. And while the kind worth killing was twisty, it just wasn’t what I was expecting.

The kind worth killing almost seemed light, in a sense, which was weird to me. It was twisty alright and plenty of the twists were surprising to me but most of them didn’t make sense. Probably would be a good read if you are looking for a lighthearted physiological thriller that is heavy on the romance but I don’t think this one will be a hit for other fans of true crime. It didn’t seem realistic enough to me.

What did you think of the kind worth killing? Let me know in the comments below!

Breathless is a young adult contemporary novel by Jennifer Niven. It is a coming of age story that does explore mature themes and difficult topics for some readers, so be warned if you are a younger reader. I really enjoyed this story. It felt raw and very realistic. I think there is something in this book that so many young readers will relate to. If you a re looking for a realistic fiction contemporary that discusses, divorce, sex and a million other things that can come with the rite of passage of becoming a young adult, Breathless is a great book for you to check out. It was an emotional ride for me.

Breathless is very much a coming of age story about our main character, Claudine, or Claude as she experiences some significant rites of passages for young adults, as well as her fair she of tough times. In Breathless we are taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride as Claude deals with family issues, the divorce of her parents, as well as personal issues stemming from those and stemming from teh fact that Claude is growing up. Be warned that Breathless does discuss the topic of sex and losing your virginity, so if that is something that is sensitive to you or if you would prefer younger readers not read about, this might not be the book for you. But I think it is a wonderful story that felt raw and real, and of so relatable. I think mature young adult readers will really relate to Claude. I will admit that it took me some time to warm up to her as a character, but I very much appreciated her journey and her narrative throughout the story.

The book starts out very much on a lighthearted note. Claude is getting ready for a summer road trip with her friend, hanging out with her crush and just being a normal carefree teenager when her parents give her the big D bombshell- they are getting divorced. Claude’s summer takes a sharp turn and our real emotional journey begins. Breathless does a good job of balancing the lighthearted with the tense and tough. There are some satisfying highs and some heartbreaking lows, but I have come to learn that I like that in my coming of age novels. I want the characters to go through some pain to learn and to grow. Jennifer Niven is fantastic at giving her characters great hurdles, struggles and really digging into what makes them tick and what makes them grow as a character and person. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, then I think breathless is a book you should pick up ASAP. I really enjoyed Claudine’s story.

The Left Handed Booksellers of London is a young adult fantasy by author Garth Nix. This is the first book I have read from Garth but it will not be my last because The Left Handed Booksellers of London was so much fun. I am really hoping that this is going to turn into a series because I loved the characters, I loved the magic and I really loved the world and all of the creatures that Garth Nix has crafted.


In this novel, we meet our three main characters, Susan who is thrust into this new world of secret agent booksellers fighting mythical creatures. Merlin- who is a left-handed bookseller, which means he is a fighter in the battle against these creatures, and finally his sister Vivian who is a right-handed bookseller, which means she is the intellectual brains behind the plotting and plans against all of the creatures. Susan is trying to find her father and instead stumbles upon Merlin and his sister.Together our characters set off on an adventure to save the world. I really enjoyed this fun adventure.

I did find it a little unbelievable that Susan witnessed this foreign magical world and just accepted it all at face value. That is a bit of a book pet peeve of mine, but once I got past that I was easily swept up in the fun adventure. There are plenty of secrets to uncover as we are kicking butt along side our main characters. I was a little lost while reading a few times because this is very much a book that reveals tidbits of information as we go, so you don't have a full picture until you are pretty far into the story, but it is all really well done. Garth Nix does a great job at giving you enough information to keep the reader entertained, but withholding some secrets to keep everything interesting.


Bottom line: I think it is perfect for fantasy readers of all ages because there story is mostly lighthearted and it doesn't venture into anything too, too dark. I would love to journey back to this London and have more adventures with Merlin, Susan and Vivian.

From Blood and Ash is an adult fantasy and is the first book in the Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I loved this book so much! I stayed up until 2:30 in the morning reading because I just. could. not. stop. reading! (and trust me, I do not stay up late. haha) From Blood and Ash is easily my favorite read of 2020, and I know this will become one of my favorite fantasy series. When I tell you that I was enthralled with this book, I am serious. From Blood and Ash gripped a hold of my heart and did not let go. Not even after I was finished reading.

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 From Blood and Ash. If you still need convincing, then read on.

In From Blood and Ash, we meet our main character, Poppy. Poppy is her kingdom's chosen maiden. Chosen by the gods to participate in a ceremony, called the Ascension. The ascension is a mysterious ceremony that helps to anoint the new royals of the country, but no one knows too much about it. Being the maiden comes with some perks, like living in the palace, but mostly it comes with huge restrictions. No one is allowed to see, touch or speak to Poppy other than her ladies maid and her royal guard.

Poppy is a fantastic main character! I loved her so much. She is brave and plucky and resourceful. She loves to ask questions and she takes very little at face value. She is the type of heroine that I love. Poppy is no wallflower, and she is not afraid to get right into the action. When Poppy's current guard is killed by an enemy group in a kidnapping attempt, Poppy gets assigned a new guard- Hawke. Hawke and Poppy have sparks right from their very first meeting. I loved their fiery fighting and interactions. I couldn't get enough of these two. And the romance was everything I was hoping for and then some. It is fantastic!!

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. I will admit that I did figure out a a few aspects of the story, but that didn't detract from my enjoy at all. 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! From Blood and Ash is my favorite read of the year...and further, it is my favorite book that I have read in a long time! The second book in this series comes out September 1st, so now is the perfect time to pick up book one if you have not read it yet! I think you will fall in love just like I did!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab is a magical tale that honestly blew me away. Everything about this book felt fresh, unique and magical- the plot, the prose and all of the little details that I know will be stuck in my head for long after I turned the last page. This book made me think so much, and I am going to do my very best to leave the plot as mysterious as possible and just give you my thoughts on why this is such a special book without hitting major plot points. But know this, if you are a fan of supernatural books, or magical realism novels then The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a must read book. I think this is a must read book of 2020.

In The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, we meet Adeline, or Addie as she is a young woman in France in the early 1700s. She makes a deal which gifts, or curses, her with immortality. The cost of this immortality is that no one will ever remember her. Once they leave her presence all memory of her is wiped from her mind. Addie wanted the freedom to live her life, and what she got was a very lonely existence. Just thinking about the implications of this was fascinating to me. Every time Addie would go somewhere, some new situation would arise like eating at a restaurant or shopping in a store, and a new “how does this work?” hypothetical would pop into my head. I loved watching how VE Schwab would work little details into the story. Her writing and storytelling elevated this book to a whole new level! It was so magical to watch it unfold, and to see it surprise me and make me think and make me become totally engrossed in Addie’s life.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is told in split timelines, alternating between present day and back tracking back through the previous 300 years that Addie has lived. There are so many surprises and historical tidbits thrown in to make the book super interesting and riveting. This was truly a joy to read! I knew from the summary that we were going to meet a character that does remember Addie, and I found myself really excited to meet him and figure out what his deal was and how he was going to play into the overall story. But then he was taking a really long time to show up into the story and I was worried that I was going to get bored waiting for him, but I was never bored! I loved the lyrical, art filled journey that Addie had experienced, and not one bit of it was boring to me. Quite the contrary, Addie LaRue captivated my mind 100%. I loved this book. I think it is a story that every one needs to read. You will not be able to forget Addie LaRue!

Beyond the Ruby Veil is a young adult fantasy and is the first in the Beyond the Ruby Veil series by Mara Fitzgerald. Though this book is definitely a fantasy, it also kind of read like a horror novel in that the premise is truly very scary! At least, it was for me. Beyond the Ruby Veil is a book that perplexed me. There were some things that I really, really liked and some things that just did not work out for me. I can see this being a smash hit for a lot of readers because the premise is really cool, and interesting. So I will start out with the aspects of this novel that I enjoyed and then we will get into what didn’t work for me. But overall, this was an interesting dark fantasy that will intrigue a lot of readers. The plot is super intriguing and lends itself really well to a cool world and story setup. I am interested to see where the story goes from here.

Beyond the Ruby Veil takes place in a world where there are a small collection of villages or towns, and in each of these towns there is a magical creature known as a Watercrea, who creates the water for the town. The Watercrea is the town’s only known source of water, so as you can imagine she is pretty darn important to the town’s survival. The watercrea converts blood to water in a mysterious magical ritual very few people understand. And this is where the book started to turn into a horror novel for me- the Watercrea gets the blood from the town’s inhabitants. Whenever a person gets a blood bruise/mark on their body, they are supposed to report directly to the watercrea’s tower so they can give up their life in order to supply the town with water. Am I the only person that sounds horrifying to? What an awful way to have to life. Also, I would not want to drink water that I knew came from my neighbors blood. It was such a bizarre world setup that I was immediately drawn in and fascinated by all of the details that Mara Fitzgerald dreamt up. I loved the world and the plot, even though it did truly terrify me. Later the book takes place in the underground catacombs that connect all of the towns, and I loved that spooky setting for this creepy tale. I won’t go into specifics but there are plenty of other surprisingly and genuinely horrifying plot points and events that take place in the book to really give in to the eerie vibe of the towns and the story. I think fans of dark fantasies will love this unique plot. In my opinion the plot is the strongest point of the story. I really liked it.

Unfortunately, I did not love the main character Emanuela. I got the feeling that she was supposed to be on the unlikable side on purpose, but I just couldn’t get behind her, which made me buying into her journey hard for me at times. I loved the journey so much that I was able to deal with it, but I found Emanuela to be just plain mean. The book starts out on her wedding day to her best friend. And she is not very nice to him. Like at all. When Emanuela is outed for having a mark on her body she is sent to the Watercrea, and Emanuela fights back and kills the watercrea. I understand the reasoning behind her action, which was admittedly very selfish. I really do get it, but I didn’t really see any sort of character growth for her at all. She irked me the entire way through the book. But she was a great inclusion in this completely spooky, dark tale. She lends herself really well to the dark vibes of the book, and the power struggles because she is such a dominant in your face type of character. I can see her being a huge hit with many readers of this book. She just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Bottom line: I think plot driven readers that are looking for a dark tale, will love Beyond the Ruby Veil. I loved how unique and interesting this setup felt. I haven’t read any other book like this one, and that is saying something. I enjoyed Beyond the Ruby Veil and I am interested to see where the author takes it next

Well Played is the second book in the romantic comedy series, called Well Met by Jen DeLuca. Though I have not read book one, Well Met yet, I didn't have any problem following along and enjoying Well Played because each of the books in this series act as a standalone. There is some character crossover because they are set in the same town, but it wasn't anything that threw off the story for me. Well Played takes place at a renaissance fair, which is a setting that I completely love. It really lend itself well to the fun atmosphere of the book. Overall, Well Played is a fun contemporary romance. I enjoyed this one, but it did at times feel a bit generic and it didn't blow me away. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

In Well Played, we meet our main character Stacey. Stacey is a long time worker at the fair, and over the summers there she had a crush and a fling with one of the dueling kilts players, Dex. Though their fling ended last summer, our story starts with Stacey facebook messaging Dex and starting up a new texting relationship after the Fair has moved on for the summer. It was super cute and flirty and fun. The story line was predictable but in a comforting, satisfying way. Stacey learns that the person she is texting is not Dex after all. (not a spoiler, this was in the summary) There did manage to be a bit of a surprise twist in the story, which was fun for me to discover because I thought I had the whole book figured out pretty early on. 

Overall, I liked the characters well enough and I enjoyed the flirty banter with out couple. That was my favorite aspect of the book, but sometime was keeping me from completely falling head over heels in love. I'm not sure what it was. The writing was good, the characters were nice and the romance was fun but I still felt solidly in the good range while reading. Everything about this book felt steady and nice, but nothing was all that exciting. If you are in the mood for a cute rom com, and you love a Renaissance Fair setting, then Well Played might fit the bill for you. I enjoyed Well Played. It was a good read. Not my favorite of the year, but a good read nonetheless.