booksthrilljessica's Reviews (537)

Princess Calla has just won the games, not without cunning and sheer deceit. Now that she’s helped bring an end to her uncle's tyrannical rule, she must decide if August’s reign will be any better. But can she live with the choices she made, particularly what she did to Anton at the end of the games? Before she can confront her actions, however, she begins to sense something is off about the seemingly miraculous recovery of Otta Avia.

This book was both entertaining and unique. The idea of someone being able to take over your body is both fascinating and terrifying. I have similar feelings about this book as I did with the first, yet while it was compelling, the middle section felt a bit slow and I think some parts could have been trimmed. I also think the story would have benefited from including chapters told from Otta’s perspective. However, the ending was fantastic and I’m hopeful that if a third installment is in the works, it will delve deeper into Otta’s backstory.

*Thank you to Chloe Gong, Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press  and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

That first chapter….wow! The story kicks off with Maeve, a princess with magical healing powers, eagerly anticipating her wedding night. But things take a dramatic turn as disaster strikes as the people from the kingdom have other plans for her and her family. Barely escaping with her life, Maeve takes refuge in the most unlikely place, Bascogar prison. The opening was so gripping that I was hooked, expecting the rest of the book to maintain that pace. However, I found that the rest of the story felt like a slow montage, and I was left craving more depth in Maeve’s character development.

At times, it seemed like Maeve was constantly seeking validation from the male characters, which made it difficult for me to truly connect with her. I was also distracted by the odd freedom the prisoners seemed to have in the prison, and it took Maeve almost the entire book to realize she could leave whenever she wanted, though the real question was whether she could survive on her own. I also was confused about her magical powers being tied to her hair but not working once it was cut. Wouldn’t it still work once it grew out? Maybe I missed an explanation, but I felt this aspect needed more clarity.

That said, I really enjoyed the premise of the book. With less focus on the prison setting and more time spent on world-building or an epic journey, I think it could have pulled me back.

*Thank you to Whitney Welsh Gibbs and Azala Press for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

This book took me on an unforgettable emotional rollercoaster, and I didn’t want to get off. I am completely in awe of Holly’s writing! She has captured my heart and soul with this series in a way I’ll never forget. I’m certain I’ll carry this story with me for a long time.

Every chapter is filled with adventure, mystery, long-awaited answers, self-discovery, and passion, making it nearly impossible to put down. I particularly loved the development of Dacre’s character. As someone I once loved to hate in the first book, but a character who undergoes such a transformation by the third that he’s now one of my all time favorite book boyfriends.

From the very first pages, we’re thrown back into the sea of uncertainty, wondering if our two fated mates will finally save each other, and what will become of their prophecy. Their intertwined journeys will keep you up all night, eagerly anticipating what’s next. As for the reluctant hero, Verena, she’s grappling with the newfound knowledge of who she is and what that means for her future. She must decide what she wants from her life, her new family, and what she’s willing to sacrifice to save them.

This book will forever live rent free in my heart and mind!

*Thank you to Holly Renee, Lauren Cox, and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Told across two timelines, this book unfolds as a gripping police procedural from the perspective of NYPD detective Declan Shaw.

Now – When Shaw is called to an apparent break-in, he quickly realizes there’s more to the crime scene than initially meets the eye. Shaw and his partner, Jarod Cordova, are called to the home of famous writer Denise Morrow, where she has discovered the brutal murder of her husband. As they dig deeper into the crime, both detectives sense something’s off and are determined to get to the bottom of it.

Then – Through short, interwoven snippets, we’re taken back to a case Shaw and Cordova worked on involving the brutal assault of a young woman, and the man they’ve sent to prison for the crime. The suspense builds as readers wonder how these two timelines will eventually connect.

While I did find the detectives’ portrayals to be a bit stereotypical of the NYPD, particularly in their initial impressions and internal dialogue (which sometimes veered into misogyny), it made sense for their character development and the eventual plot twist. The multiple twists at the end kept me on my toes, some I saw coming while others I never expected.

*Thank you James Patterson, J.D. Barker, Little, Brown and Company for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

*Thank you to Victoria K. Taylor for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

I absolutely loved the concept of this book, blending the world of ghostwriting for the rich and famous with mystery and murder. I really connected with the main female character, who is a no-nonsense, solitary, and business-focused woman. It was also refreshing to see her begin to question whether this is the life she truly wants, or if she’s yearning for deeper, more intimate connections with others. The dynamic between her and Dorothy was fantastic and entertaining. Donovan captures their relationship perfectly, describing it as a true Sherlock and Watson partnership.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, especially the unsettling concept that people in this world can take over someone else’s body using their chi. The idea of a deadly game where participants fight to the death and "body snatch" each other is wild and gripping. However, I found the middle of the book to be overly drawn out, with excessive detail that caused me to lose focus. This had the opposite effect of creating meaningful connections with the characters. Additionally, the constant body switching became quite confusing, especially when listening to the audiobook. That said, I loved the twist at the end and the abruptness of it, which left me eager to continue the series.

Reminiscent of a Agatha Christie novel, this book begins when a group of writers gathers on a remote island for a writer’s retreat. Drawn by the elusive famous author Alastor, they hope to finally uncover his true identity. But as the writers are killed off one by one, they realize they are trapped with a murderer among them, and perhaps it just might be one of them. As tensions rise, they begin to discover unsettling connections between themselves and others on the island. Mila, who has been working alongside Alastor to create this twisted game, is promised the chance for revenge on someone who wronged her as long as she does what he says. But as the weekend progresses, she starts to question everything she thought she knew about Alastor.

I was skeptical at first with this book. It seemed as though it took every mystery trope and Christie’s writing style and mashed it into one book. However, I appreciated how Pliego leaned into this, even humorously acknowledging the tropes within the narrative. The author ups the stakes with intriguing side stories, each with its own twists. And the ending was perfect, provoking readers to reflect on the need for revenge versus salvation. Mila’s character, initially set up as a villain, ultimately becomes more complex, allowing her to shine as she uncovers the dark truths about Alastor.

*Thank you to Ande Pliego, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine  and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Okay, hear me out…. I did enjoy this book, but the numerous,  and I mean NUMEROUS narrators were incredibly distracting. Which at times felt unnecessary for the story’s progression. The plot and twist could have been much more impactful if told from just a few perspectives, which would have allowed for better character development and more effective scene building. Instead, it felt like I was constantly trying to keep track of too many characters, making it hard to fully appreciate the story’s direction. I also wished for a deeper connection with the two main characters, Stephanie and Jasmine. While we did get a brief look into Jasmine’s life that helped build empathy for her, a key moment from her past was glossed over, but this could have provided significant insight into her character. That said, it was still an engaging mystery full of deception and wildly unhinged characters.

*Thank you to Jessie Garcia, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the audio copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

When FBI agent Tori Hunter is drawn back to her hometown after a teenage girl goes missing in a manner eerily similar to her sister’s disappearance, she knows it’s time to uncover the person responsible for taking these girls. Along the way, she'll have to confront painful truths and face difficult challenges, all while working alongside the charming local detective. As tensions rise, so do Tori’s emotions and attraction. Will she be able to overcome her past and the obstacles in her way to find the person behind the abductions?

The opening chapter instantly drew me in, but as the story progressed, I struggled to stay engaged with the characters and the plot. The narrative seemed to linger too much on the romance angle, which distracted from the mystery. The ending also felt predictable and clichéd. Despite this, I’m still curious to see how Agent Tori develops throughout the series and whether she can navigate the path she ultimately chooses.

*Thank you to Roger Stelljes, Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.