You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black

I chose this for my Transfiguration O.W.L’s prompt! I also chose it because I’m trying to read more of my OwlCrate books!

I was really hoping to like this more than I did. I just felt a bit .. unsatisfied when I was finished with it.

I loved the concept a lot but the execution just wasn’t there. I kept reading hoping something would happen. It wasn’t until the last 100 pages or so that things actually start happening. It was slow paced and a bit boring, honestly. There just wasn’t enough action or drama to excite me.

I didn’t really connect to the characters either. I didn’t get any substance or depth in any of them. I just found them boring and dull.

I did like the little bit of girl power we got towards the end. Why couldn’t these characters be introduced a lot earlier?! It might have made the plot a little more exciting.

Overall, this would have been a 2 star book for me but the ending made a 3 star. It was finally exciting and we got a little more from the characters. I was just really underwhelmed with the story and characters.

You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black

3.5 stars

I have had this book on my shelf for SO long. I’ve had so many people recommend this book too. I did a buddy read of this with Brittany @ Perfectly Tolerable! I have linked her review too!

I did enjoy this book but it fell a bit short of the hype for me. I really loved the concept and the idea was so fascinating. I did get A LOT of Hunger games vibes and a bit of Harry Potter (the different house talk). It was just like Hunger Games on crack though, way more intense and bloody.

This book is really dark. It starts off that way from the beginning and doesn’t let up. There’s a lot of characters in this book and a lot to keep track of. I really loved so many of the characters but there are some that are so cringe-y.

I loved Sevro and his crazy howler pack! I also liked Mustang and how I had no idea whose side she’s on. I still don’t know for sure. haha. Our main character, Darrow, is in such a tough position. My heart breaks for this man because he has had it ROUGH and I feel like there will be way more heartbreak. His journey throughout this book is just a bunch of tough decisions after the other BUT the ending really knocked off a WHOLE star for me. It felt like all that happened in the last half of the book, and all of the great steps forward, were completely obliterated.

One of the things that kinda through me off my pacing a bit was all the weird names and phrases. I had to think for a minute about what they meant or who they were talking about. There’s a lot of that throughout the whole book.

There are a lot of really great quotes in this book! One that I particularly liked was… *I had to leave some out bc of spoilers* I felt like it was a bit of foreshadowing, maybe?

“And I am beginning to understand why Golds rule. They can do what I cannot. “

I think maybe the climate and my mood might have had a bit of influence on how I felt about this book. It was really dark and intense and there’s a lot of scary things going on in the world right now. Regardless, it was a great story and I will continue on with the series. I’m excited to see where things go from here. Although, I have a feeling that it’s not going to be a happy read considering how the first book ended!

You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black

This book is a huge one! It did get off to a slow start but then a lot of action happens throughout the rest of the book. There’s so much going on that it didn’t feel like a huge book! Once the pacing picked up, I really flew through this book.

I really enjoyed the world building! It was really good in book 1 and we just get more of it in this book. She does such a great job expanding on the magic too. I really can’t wait to see how much more we learn about shadow magic in the next book. I feel like we’ve barely touched the surface with Veronyka’s power!

Speaking of Veronyka, her character development really grew in this book. I mean she really learned to take a hold of her magic and her life, really. I did get a bit annoyed with how she kept giving Val so many chances. I get it, it’s the only family she knows but still. I really can’t delve too much into this because of spoilers!

I really enjoyed all the POV’s in this book. I wasn’t really the biggest fan of Sev in the first book but we get so much more of him and I LOVED his character growth in this one. It really came so far and what he’s doing is pretty courageous!

I was a bit underwhelmed with Tristan in this book. I don’t know but I just didn’t love him as much. I do think that he kind of took a back seat but Sev definitely had a lot more impact in this book. We don’t get as much of him but what we do get, just felt a bit.. ehh..

The phoenix riders are so amazing! They are one of my favorite things about this whole entire series. It’s so amazing to see how they are their own characters!

If you can get past that this is a huge book and that it was a bit slow in areas, it’s so worth it. Once the action starts it doesn’t stop! The cliffhanger is absolutely amazing too! I cannot wait for the next book!

You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black

If you are looking for a good romance, this is for you! I have been participating in the O.W.L’s readathon and for some reason decided to read all the huge books. My husband even asked if I was crazy. I am making my way through but desperately needed a break from fantasy reads! This is exactly what I needed!

The premise of this book sounds hilarious and really interesting! A bromance book club! You have all these powerful men who are reading romance novels to try and connect or re-connect with their wives/girlfriends. It’s such a fabulous concept. You also get snippets of the romance novel in this book. Can we count both books on Goodreads? HAHA. Jk!

I think what I liked was that both of them had to realize that relationships are not perfect. They had to both deal with things to move forward. They had to fix themselves before they could fix their relationship.

I also really enjoyed the feminist additions to this book. I like that Thea decided to take her life back and stop living for her husband. She has dreams and is making steps to pursue them.

I am typically not a bit romance reader but it seems I’m coming around.

You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black

I loved book one so much that I just had to jump into book 2 right way. I didn’t love it as much as the first but it was still a great read.

I really loved getting to know Grey better. This whole book is basically about him and Lia Mara. We get introduced to her in this book and she’s part of the enemy camp. In fact, she’s the Queen’s first daughter but not chosen heir. She’s compassionate and wants peace, so of course, the younger ruthless daughter is chosen. Grey also is finding out a lot about himself in this book. I really didn’t care for Jake and Noah in the first book but we get to know them a lot more in this book. I, like Grey, came around. I loved a lot of our new characters, especially Tycho.

The world building in this book is also amazing. She has taken a pretty awesome world and expanded it. I loved the magic and the addition of magical creatures. It was definitely a fun and enjoyable ride.

In fact, my biggest issue and sadness with this book is Rhen. Ugh, I absolutely hate he was acting in this book. She took characters that I loved so much in the first book and completely changed them. I did realize at the end, there is a much bigger picture going on. It’s just so very sad and I feel really badly for Rhen now. I cannot wait for book 3. Please, let him redeem himself!

Also, I get that this book was about Grey and his story but I desperately missed Harper and Rhen. We don’t get them as much in this one and I really missed them.

One thing is for sure, Brigid Kremmerer, knows how to write strong and fierce women. Lia Mara, was such an amazing character and I loved how fearless she was. I mean, she didn’t think so but she really was. She’s so good and it reminded me of Harper. She really just wants the best for her people.

This review is probably a mess because I’m a bit all over the place with how I feel about this book. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I cannot wait to read the next book. I’ll definitely be pre-ordering that one! It really expands on the first book and we get to see a lot more of the world and the characters. I’m not even sure whose side I’m on anymore, haha.

You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black

MY FIRST 5 STAR READ THIS YEAR!!!

Okay, I definitely joined in on the hype for this one but I’m so glad I did! All I knew was that it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I’ve read a few of these and this one is my favorite, by far!

This world building is amazing. It’s such a unique story and setting that I loved very much. The fact that we can time travel into another world is pretty awesome.

The characters are amazing. I absolutely loved Harper. I fell in love with her right away. She is fierce and strong. She has cerebral palsy and she does not let that get in her way, at all. It was so inspiring and I loved that about her so much. She did what she wanted and what she thought was right without a second thought. She was definitely not a “damsel in distress.” Rhen was also a great beast. I think this book takes a darker take on the story and I liked it. You could really see so much growth in his character throughout this story. I can’t forget the side characters either, I loved Grey so much!

One of my absolutely favorite things about this book is the romance. It’s not your typical, love at first sight. In fact, it was more of an enemies to friends to lovers, which I love. It’s also not really the main focus of this book, which is also refreshing!

There’s so much going on in this story that you will not be bored. I flew through this book so fast. I am so glad that I purchased book two because I started it the very next day. I’m so so on that one.. So, I had to write this review before it spoils my love for book 1!

If you like a re-telling, this is a great one to read! It feels so new and unique that I didn’t even find myself comparing stories. I really enjoyed it and I’m so glad to have finally read it!

You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black

I really wanted to love this one but I did not. I don’t read that much poetry and I was hoping that this would be a hit. I really don’t have anything against it and would like to read it more. I could have been in the wrong mood but I don’t think I will ever pick this up in a different mood.

The artwork was really cool on most pages. It might actually be the thing I liked the most. There’s a problem when this was a book about poetry. I just felt like it was a bit too much in the sex area. It’s basically a lot of sex and being treated horrible by a guy. I get it. There’s a lot of issues that happen in real life and she’s talking about it. I just didn’t find it moved me but more annoyed me.

The last part of the book, section 4, I think it’s healing. It was the best part for me. I even had issues with the love section. It was basically all about sex and love is a lot more then that!

I don’t even know what more to say. I know a lot of people love this book and that’s fine. I’m sorry that I’m part of the minority and didn’t care for it that much.