You can see all my reviews here: <a href="https://booksarethenewblackblog.wordpress.com">Books Are The New Black</a>  

I was so happy to be approved for this ARC! Last year, I started reading more Romantasy books, and I have loved Danielle L. Jensen! This book was another great one by her! I enjoy the worlds she creates and has romances with an actual plot.

From the very beginning, I was gripped by the story. Jensen has a way to pull you in and not let you go. Freda was a character that I really enjoyed getting to know. She’s forced into this life she hates but does it for her family’s protection. She is so self-less throughout this book, and it was hard to keep watching her do. Love is blind, no? Anyway, her journey isn’t easy, and it seems she keeps becoming prisoner to another man. I love how she finds ways to rebel! Her relationship with Bjorn was so swoon worthy and full of tension. Their love story was so kind of a slow-build which I really enjoyed.

The world-building was well done, but I would love to know more about the other parts of it. I hope that will happen in the next book, so I’m not taking anything away here. Some of the pacing was a little off for me. I’m not sure if it was my mood, but the beginning started off with a bang, and then the middle lulled a lot. The ending was insane, and even if I figured things out early, it was enjoyable!

There are a lot of side characters in this book that you will hate. I mean, she really does know how to write villains. Some of them will be relationships that are heartbreaking. I’m looking forward to what the next book brings because I’ve got some suspicions about many!

Overall, this was a great romantasy!! Jensen is brilliant when it comes to writing romances, and this is one you will also enjoy. The ending came with a lot of questions. This book is one that I do want to buy and add to my shelves because the cover is stunning, and it has sprayed edges!

Many thanks to Del Rey and Netgalley for an e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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

Wow, what an ending! I have loved this trilogy, and I’m sad it’s over. I will say that this third book was a lot darker than the previous two. I found many moments that we were crossing into some horror aspects. The first two were more political, but we delve into the afterlife and demons. I’m not kidding there are things described in such detail that I may or may not have had nightmares. I’m a big chicken when it comes to gruesome and gory details. It was unexpected, but somehow added so much tension to the story.

We have this whole story, being told by Helena, which I adore. I was so nervous for her, but we all know she lives through this. She not only states that in the first book, but how else would she be recounting this for us? Still there were several moments that I was wondering if just maybe… Throughout the first two books her relationship with Vonvalt has been of admiration and love. There are so many instances that you wonder if it will go there, but they tread that line. Their relationship can sometimes be frustrating because it feels very unbalanced. Helena has a much bigger role to play in this book. She’s mostly a side character in the first two, but takes over in this book.

Swan’s writing is just as good as the first two books! Besides some pacing issues in the beginning, I had a hard time putting this down. He is not afraid to go there, and explore how religion and laws effect society. Helena and Vonvalt butt heads in a lot in this book. I do understand how she had a hard time with the man she knew, and what he became. Vonvalt is a stickler for law/justice, and his journey ends up taking him down a questionable road. Sometimes we have to do things to fight a greater evil but at what cost? How far will you go?

Overall, this was a satisfying ending to a great trilogy. It’s not one that I ever expected to enjoy so much but I’m glad I picked it up. I will miss Helena, and all of these characters! I look forward to what Swan does next.

Many thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

 

The Tainted Cup is my first book by Robert Jackson Bennett. I own his Founders Trilogy, but I haven’t read it yet. I am really excited to do so now. I went into this book pretty blind, and I’m glad I did. It’s a murder mystery with a whole unique fantasy world!

The world-building in this book was easy to follow. Considering it’s a unique world, I was surprised I didn’t get lost. It might be my heavy fantasy background. There are leviathans trying to break down the walls and take the cities. They have learned to use the leviathans blood to make all kinds of enhancements. It’s a really cool aspect of the story and where the murder mystery comes in. There are two different stories going on- the leviathans and the murder mystery. I think Bennett did a fabulous job working both of them together. I never had issues with the pacing, and read this one rather quickly.

My favorite thing about this book are the characters, Ana in particular. She refuses to leave her home and always has a blind fold. Yet, she sees and knows things that are almost impossible. Is she mad, or is she just a genius? The way her mind worked throughout the book was so fascinating, and this could be my psychology background talking. She was also very witty and helped break up of the tenser moments. Din is her apprentice in training, and I loved their relationship. His story was interesting, and I was happy with his character growth in the book.

I don’t want to talk about the murder mystery too much. I refuse to spoil anything, but I want to say that it was great! I’m pretty good at figuring these out, and there were things that surprised me! I love how we get a wrap up at the end. If there are future books (I hope so), it they would be a different case.

I had such a great time with this book, and I cannot wait to read more by Bennett! The heavy fantasy world really made the murder mystery a bit more fun. I really hope to see Ana again and her antics. If you are fan of either genre, you would enjoy this!

Many thanks to Del Rey and Netgalley for an e-arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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

This is going to be the messiest review I write all year. Okay, maybe not! It's only February but I might have read my favorite book and that is crazy. I know that Maas is controversial and that's okay. I love her writing and her world means a lot to me. I was extremely excited for this book! I pre-ordered it but it wouldn't arrive for 3 days past release. I went to the store Tuesday morning and got a copy. I don't think I've ever done that before!

Anyways, onto the actual book. This is going to be hard because I will not be giving away any spoilers. At least, I'm going to try my hardest. If you haven't read book 1&2 then maybe skip this until you have read them. In this book, we pretty much start right where we left off! Bryce has traveled to another world and hello, Rhysand! It's been a long time since I've seen these characters and it's been fun seeing the crossover.

Bryce is still one of the best characters I've seen in a long time. She has the best banter but she is literal light. Not in the power essence but wherever she goes, she's such a beacon. I have loved seeing her be put in so many different situations, and she always leaves them better than before. This book was especially telling of her character. Her journey was not easy, and she was put her to the limits. I am still amazed at how much strength and love she has for others.

There are so many supporting characters but I'm not going to single them all out. We have some that are added in this book that I quickly became to love. One of my favorite things about Maas's writing is her talent of having you fall in love with characters quickly!

I noticed that Maas's writing style in this book was really heavy on switching POV's within a chapter, several times. There were a lot of times that a huge plot point happens, but then gets cut off and you go elsewhere. I didn't mind it because it just pushed me to read the next part quicker, to get back to the original scenario. The action in this book is non-stop. There are so many things going on, and you don't get a moment to catch your breath! I loved it! haha. This is a massive book, and I never once felt like it was daunting. I found myself slowing down several times because I didn't want to it to end. There are some things that are left open and unresolved, but I'm sure that's on purpose. I really can't wait to see where she goes with it!

I loved so many things about this book, and I can't really talk about it because of- spoilers. Just know that this was probably one of my favorite books by her! It's amazing, epic, full of things that come full circle, and so much action. I don't know what else to say because this is already a mess, but I just loved it so much! I cannot wait for the next book!!