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erinarkin20
Forest of Whispers by Jennifer Murgia was a quick read that had me turning the pages trying to figure out what was going to happen next. If you are looking for witch story that ties brings in a bit of the history of the era, you might want to check this one out.
Rune was raised in the forest just outside the village and has always been different. She never knew her mother but she can’t hide the fact from Mathilde, the person who raised her, that she is hearing her mother’s voice whispering things to her. I found Rune to be an interesting character. She is thrown into a situation she wasn’t fully prepared for and ends up having to face some horrible situations. Despite that, she comes out stronger in the end.
Laurentz was a solid character and I liked him. Clearly he had some demons to face and the way his story was tied to Rune’s was done well and I liked how Murgia showed his relationship with his father. There was obviously some anger and blame floating between the two due to the death of Laurentz’s brother and while that was true, I thought that it was interesting how their relationship changed at the end of the story due to their circumstances.
The secondary characters in the book helped move the story along and I liked how Murgia slowly revealed their roles in the overall story. Not only what was happening to Rune in the current time but also the things they did in the past, including their roles/impact in what happened with the girls who died in the forest before. This is the part of the story that links back to Rune’s mother and I can’t say much about it as I don’t want to give anything away but to understand what really is happening, you definitely have to give the story time to be revealed. With that said, I thought the way that Murgia revealed the full story was well done.
Alongside the story, Murgia blends in German history and locations to make the story that much more interesting. By linking the witch hunts of the time and the lore of the Black Forest, I found myself linking this to the historical genre. It also helped in building out the feeling and sense of the time. People were obviously afraid of disease and famine and witches were just one way that people felt they could find someone to blame.
I also thought Murgia also did a good job of switching points of view. It was necessary due to the constraints that Rune had on her and the information she would have been able to find out on her own. The way it was done helped the story flow together for me and was necessary. Overall I found this story to be a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Spencer Hill Press for the review copy!
Rune was raised in the forest just outside the village and has always been different. She never knew her mother but she can’t hide the fact from Mathilde, the person who raised her, that she is hearing her mother’s voice whispering things to her. I found Rune to be an interesting character. She is thrown into a situation she wasn’t fully prepared for and ends up having to face some horrible situations. Despite that, she comes out stronger in the end.
Laurentz was a solid character and I liked him. Clearly he had some demons to face and the way his story was tied to Rune’s was done well and I liked how Murgia showed his relationship with his father. There was obviously some anger and blame floating between the two due to the death of Laurentz’s brother and while that was true, I thought that it was interesting how their relationship changed at the end of the story due to their circumstances.
The secondary characters in the book helped move the story along and I liked how Murgia slowly revealed their roles in the overall story. Not only what was happening to Rune in the current time but also the things they did in the past, including their roles/impact in what happened with the girls who died in the forest before. This is the part of the story that links back to Rune’s mother and I can’t say much about it as I don’t want to give anything away but to understand what really is happening, you definitely have to give the story time to be revealed. With that said, I thought the way that Murgia revealed the full story was well done.
Alongside the story, Murgia blends in German history and locations to make the story that much more interesting. By linking the witch hunts of the time and the lore of the Black Forest, I found myself linking this to the historical genre. It also helped in building out the feeling and sense of the time. People were obviously afraid of disease and famine and witches were just one way that people felt they could find someone to blame.
I also thought Murgia also did a good job of switching points of view. It was necessary due to the constraints that Rune had on her and the information she would have been able to find out on her own. The way it was done helped the story flow together for me and was necessary. Overall I found this story to be a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Spencer Hill Press for the review copy!
Firebug was a solid start to a new series by Lish McBride. I may be in the minority with my rating as I didn’t absolutely love this but I will say that while that might be true, I found myself enjoying the characters and the overall story.
Ava is a firebug and lives in a paranormal world where it isn’t uncommon to be friends with a guy who talks to trees, turns into a fox, or even someone who carves figures out of wood which he can then make them real. The challenge for Ava is that her power (the ability to control fire) is rare and due to circumstances outside of her control, she doesn’t lead a normal life…no matter how much she would like to.
I liked Ava. She is sarcastic and loyal…two things I think are important in people and I enjoyed the banter she had with Lock and Ezra. She also had a really solid relationship with Cade (her guardian) and while they didn’t always see eye to eye on things, he respected Ava’s decisions and treated her like an adult and she respected him back.
Another thing I liked about this book was the friendship McBride created between Ava, Lock, and Ezra. There is a bit of sexual tension between Ava and Lock but regardless of anything else going on with them, they were always friends first. Along with Ezra, they supported each other even if they didn’t agree with their decisions and they always protected each other. I think the friendship between these characters was my favorite part of this entire book.
As Ava digs into her background and finds out more about her mother we also end up finding out more about Ava. She is currently in a situation where she, Lock, and Ezra are enforcers for a vampire named Venus. Venus runs the group called the Coterie. This is the same group that is responsible for killing Ava’s mother (actually Venus was behind that too) and now Venus has asked Ava to take a contract that involves taking out a friend of the family. When Ava says no…which she very obviously shouldn’t have done…Venus comes after her with all the firepower she has.
Now, you’re probably reading my review wondering “This sounds fantastic, why only three stars Erin?” Well, I found that there were times the story dragged for me. All the reminders that Cade was only human but was super important to Ava only led to me mumbling “Yeah, I get it.” And I didn’t need all the flashbacks and detail around the past events. I really just wanted to know why her mom was killed and why Ava was stuck in this blood pact.
With that said, I did enjoy this story and look forward to the next book as I’m curious to see what happens next for this group. There was plenty of action and snarky banter to keep me turning the pages and I love the paranormal world these characters inhabit. If you are looking for a new paranormal series, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to Macmillan for the review copy.
Ava is a firebug and lives in a paranormal world where it isn’t uncommon to be friends with a guy who talks to trees, turns into a fox, or even someone who carves figures out of wood which he can then make them real. The challenge for Ava is that her power (the ability to control fire) is rare and due to circumstances outside of her control, she doesn’t lead a normal life…no matter how much she would like to.
I liked Ava. She is sarcastic and loyal…two things I think are important in people and I enjoyed the banter she had with Lock and Ezra. She also had a really solid relationship with Cade (her guardian) and while they didn’t always see eye to eye on things, he respected Ava’s decisions and treated her like an adult and she respected him back.
Another thing I liked about this book was the friendship McBride created between Ava, Lock, and Ezra. There is a bit of sexual tension between Ava and Lock but regardless of anything else going on with them, they were always friends first. Along with Ezra, they supported each other even if they didn’t agree with their decisions and they always protected each other. I think the friendship between these characters was my favorite part of this entire book.
As Ava digs into her background and finds out more about her mother we also end up finding out more about Ava. She is currently in a situation where she, Lock, and Ezra are enforcers for a vampire named Venus. Venus runs the group called the Coterie. This is the same group that is responsible for killing Ava’s mother (actually Venus was behind that too) and now Venus has asked Ava to take a contract that involves taking out a friend of the family. When Ava says no…which she very obviously shouldn’t have done…Venus comes after her with all the firepower she has.
Now, you’re probably reading my review wondering “This sounds fantastic, why only three stars Erin?” Well, I found that there were times the story dragged for me. All the reminders that Cade was only human but was super important to Ava only led to me mumbling “Yeah, I get it.” And I didn’t need all the flashbacks and detail around the past events. I really just wanted to know why her mom was killed and why Ava was stuck in this blood pact.
With that said, I did enjoy this story and look forward to the next book as I’m curious to see what happens next for this group. There was plenty of action and snarky banter to keep me turning the pages and I love the paranormal world these characters inhabit. If you are looking for a new paranormal series, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to Macmillan for the review copy.
A Vault of Sins is the second book in the Chaos Theory series by Sarah Harian. Just like book one, this one grabbed me from the first page and had me wondering how things were going to go for the survivors of the Compass Room (CR) and Harian doesn’t hold anything back. In an effort to not give anything critical away I am going to try to keep this as more of an overview and not dive into the details so don’t hold it against me. Just know that I love this series and you should probably just go read it now.
Evalyn is definitely having a hard time adjusting to being outside the CR and while she, Casey, and Valerie are back in court trying to prove that the government is up to something she isn’t really free. There is a cloud hanging over their heads because they all know what they are risking by challenging Gemma Branam, the creator of the CR.
As the story moves forward Evalyn begins to get some weird messages and one of those messages leads her right to Valerie. I loved seeing Evalyn’s friendship with Valerie become more than just a survival mechanism and these two eventually come to depend on each other to get through their days because they have both lost an important part of themselves, not only in the CR but also in the people they love. There is no question that Evalyn is using alcohol to get through her days as well and I thought if anyone would have called her out on it, it would have been Valerie but for some reason she let it slide.
Due to some circumstances outside of her control, Evalyn ends up working closely with a conspiracy group called Reprise that happens to be made up of former CR Engineers and living across the border in Canada. The engineers are the ones who know all the secrets of the Compass Room and they are also the ones that are going to help Evalyn prove what Branam and her group have been up to.
Just to make things a bit more interesting, Branam has decided she is going to do another run in a different Compass Room. The problem with this (for Evalyn) is that Branam decided to retry Valerie and put her in the new round of criminals being put into the CR and now Evalyn and Reprise need to come up with a plan to get into the new CR and save Valerie.
I loved how Harian built this world out. Not only is there the world that these characters live in but she goes a step further to explain to the reader how the Compass Room really works and by exposing us to the details of how it all works, we also learn how Evalyn and her group of conspirators are going to save Valerie.
On top of all the action and intrigue, there is also the romance/relationship piece to talk about. Casey and Evalyn developed some strong feelings for each other and through everything they absolutely cared about each other. I think that Evalyn thought she would try to be with him but eventually when she saw how things were going to end up, she didn’t want her reputation to tarnish Casey and his situation so she made the decision to run away and not tell anyone where she was. This definitely hurt Casey and when they first came back together at the Reprise hideout he wasn’t in a forgiving mood, regardless of her reasons. I have to say that I am glad he got over it though and I think too that the whole thing shifted their relationship a bit. Before it felt like Evalyn was making all the decisions and I feel like now Casey comes across as an equal partner – for the most part. Evalyn still makes decisions without always including him but that speaks more to her wanting to protect him more than anything else.
There was great progression with this story and as I said earlier, the more I read in this series, the more I love it. I love the characters that Harian has created and the world they live in/try to survive in. I am absolutely looking forward to the next book in the series as things got really interesting at the end of this book and I am curious to see where Harian takes this story. If you are looking for a great dystopian that has quite a bit of action, definitely check this series out. Also, don’t forget about the novella because it gives you a different view of Valerie – something you don’t really get a view of in book one or two.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group for the review copy!
Evalyn is definitely having a hard time adjusting to being outside the CR and while she, Casey, and Valerie are back in court trying to prove that the government is up to something she isn’t really free. There is a cloud hanging over their heads because they all know what they are risking by challenging Gemma Branam, the creator of the CR.
As the story moves forward Evalyn begins to get some weird messages and one of those messages leads her right to Valerie. I loved seeing Evalyn’s friendship with Valerie become more than just a survival mechanism and these two eventually come to depend on each other to get through their days because they have both lost an important part of themselves, not only in the CR but also in the people they love. There is no question that Evalyn is using alcohol to get through her days as well and I thought if anyone would have called her out on it, it would have been Valerie but for some reason she let it slide.
Due to some circumstances outside of her control, Evalyn ends up working closely with a conspiracy group called Reprise that happens to be made up of former CR Engineers and living across the border in Canada. The engineers are the ones who know all the secrets of the Compass Room and they are also the ones that are going to help Evalyn prove what Branam and her group have been up to.
Just to make things a bit more interesting, Branam has decided she is going to do another run in a different Compass Room. The problem with this (for Evalyn) is that Branam decided to retry Valerie and put her in the new round of criminals being put into the CR and now Evalyn and Reprise need to come up with a plan to get into the new CR and save Valerie.
I loved how Harian built this world out. Not only is there the world that these characters live in but she goes a step further to explain to the reader how the Compass Room really works and by exposing us to the details of how it all works, we also learn how Evalyn and her group of conspirators are going to save Valerie.
On top of all the action and intrigue, there is also the romance/relationship piece to talk about. Casey and Evalyn developed some strong feelings for each other and through everything they absolutely cared about each other. I think that Evalyn thought she would try to be with him but eventually when she saw how things were going to end up, she didn’t want her reputation to tarnish Casey and his situation so she made the decision to run away and not tell anyone where she was. This definitely hurt Casey and when they first came back together at the Reprise hideout he wasn’t in a forgiving mood, regardless of her reasons. I have to say that I am glad he got over it though and I think too that the whole thing shifted their relationship a bit. Before it felt like Evalyn was making all the decisions and I feel like now Casey comes across as an equal partner – for the most part. Evalyn still makes decisions without always including him but that speaks more to her wanting to protect him more than anything else.
There was great progression with this story and as I said earlier, the more I read in this series, the more I love it. I love the characters that Harian has created and the world they live in/try to survive in. I am absolutely looking forward to the next book in the series as things got really interesting at the end of this book and I am curious to see where Harian takes this story. If you are looking for a great dystopian that has quite a bit of action, definitely check this series out. Also, don’t forget about the novella because it gives you a different view of Valerie – something you don’t really get a view of in book one or two.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group for the review copy!
One of my favorite things about books by Tracey Garvis-Graves is the way she creates characters. She makes them so real and believable that I find myself pulled into her stories almost immediately. Every Time I Think of You was no different. I found Daisy and Brooks to be characters that brought this book to life and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
Daisy hasn’t had an easy life but the two things in her life she cares about more than anything else are her son, Elliott and her grandmother, the woman who raised her. When Daisy’s grandmother is killed in what seems like a random act of violence, Daisy decides she needs to do whatever she needs to in order to keep Elliott safe. Garvis-Graves did a great job of integrating the things revolving around self-defense and protection without it being distracting. I love that Daisy didn’t make the decisions she did lightly. She knew she had to protect herself and her son but she also had to consider all of the potential issues and consequences that would occur. She went through the right steps before making any decisions and I liked that about her.
Brooks has moved back to the town he grew up in from San Francisco to help his father care for his dying mother. He isn’t planning on staying but to keep himself busy, he decided to get a job with the local paper. When Brooks get his first assignment, the story of the murder of Pauline Thorpe, he is introduced to Daisy and is immediately drawn to her.
I loved seeing the relationship develop between these two characters. It was clear that Brooks felt a bit protective of both Daisy and Elliott and I loved that about him. I will say I felt like some of the dialogue between these two was choppy and awkward, which made sense at first but as their relationship progressed, the choppiness was still there. With that said, it didn’t hurt the story for me as in typical fashion; Garvis-Graves does an excellent job of creating a story that kept me turning the pages.
As the story moves forward, we find out more about Daisy’s background and what she has really gone through over the last few years. I’m not going to say what – because I don’t want to give anything away but these are the things that have Daisy and Brooks thinking that perhaps her grandmother’s death was as random as some might think. Garvis-Graves creates a level of tension and mystery in this story that had me questioning what was going to happen next and just when I think I had an idea of where she was going to take the story, BOOM….something unexpected happens.
Don’t hate me but I’m not going to tell you what it is…you need to read to find out.
This book has a bit of everything. If you are looking for a story that includes a mystery with a nice romance included, definitely check this one out. I always love the stories that Tracey Garvis-Graves gives us and this one makes me excited to see what else she has in store for us readers.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the e-book for an honest review.
Daisy hasn’t had an easy life but the two things in her life she cares about more than anything else are her son, Elliott and her grandmother, the woman who raised her. When Daisy’s grandmother is killed in what seems like a random act of violence, Daisy decides she needs to do whatever she needs to in order to keep Elliott safe. Garvis-Graves did a great job of integrating the things revolving around self-defense and protection without it being distracting. I love that Daisy didn’t make the decisions she did lightly. She knew she had to protect herself and her son but she also had to consider all of the potential issues and consequences that would occur. She went through the right steps before making any decisions and I liked that about her.
Brooks has moved back to the town he grew up in from San Francisco to help his father care for his dying mother. He isn’t planning on staying but to keep himself busy, he decided to get a job with the local paper. When Brooks get his first assignment, the story of the murder of Pauline Thorpe, he is introduced to Daisy and is immediately drawn to her.
I loved seeing the relationship develop between these two characters. It was clear that Brooks felt a bit protective of both Daisy and Elliott and I loved that about him. I will say I felt like some of the dialogue between these two was choppy and awkward, which made sense at first but as their relationship progressed, the choppiness was still there. With that said, it didn’t hurt the story for me as in typical fashion; Garvis-Graves does an excellent job of creating a story that kept me turning the pages.
As the story moves forward, we find out more about Daisy’s background and what she has really gone through over the last few years. I’m not going to say what – because I don’t want to give anything away but these are the things that have Daisy and Brooks thinking that perhaps her grandmother’s death was as random as some might think. Garvis-Graves creates a level of tension and mystery in this story that had me questioning what was going to happen next and just when I think I had an idea of where she was going to take the story, BOOM….something unexpected happens.
Don’t hate me but I’m not going to tell you what it is…you need to read to find out.
This book has a bit of everything. If you are looking for a story that includes a mystery with a nice romance included, definitely check this one out. I always love the stories that Tracey Garvis-Graves gives us and this one makes me excited to see what else she has in store for us readers.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the e-book for an honest review.
Sisters’ Fate is the final book of The Cahill Witch Chronicles trilogy and Jessica Spotswood brings this series to a wonderful close. This review is based on the ARC that the lovely Stacee (@book_junkee) loaned to me so please note that some things may (or may not) change from the published version.
Please also note, I will do my best to not include any spoilers here but I can’t guarantee it.
First, if you recall how book two ended, you will know that the second I was able to get my hands on this book and dig into it I did so. You will also recall that I despised Maura at the end of that book. Rest assured nothing she does in this book really redeems herself in my eyes. She completely betrayed Cate (and eventually Tess) because she was jealous and wanted to feel important. Yes, she justified by saying she did all of the things she did because she was protecting the sisterhood but I never believed her.
I couldn't pick just one image to reflect my feelings so apologies for using so many...I did narrow it down a bit.
Ok…moving on. Cate is obviously struggling with a number of things. Not only does she have to come to terms with the fact that Finn no longer remembers anything about her and their relationship, but she has to figure out what to do about her sisters, the sisterhood, and the prophecy that one of the Cahill sisters is destined to kill another. She knows that Tess is the oracle and is doing what she can to protect her but unfortunately; Maura now knows this too and shares that information with Inez (another betrayal) who uses the information against them.
As Inez takes over leading the sisterhood, she starts to take them on a path that Cate and a number of the others don’t agree with. Now that the Brotherhood was attacked, they are now just sending any accused of being witches or recaptured, straight to the gallows and the combination of that danger with the decisions that Inez is making only puts the witches in more danger.
Along with that problem, the fact that the fever is attacking everyone in New London, the witches are in danger. As a healer, Cate can’t really help anyone without giving herself away. She does what she can but it doesn't make enough of a difference…until she finds out that the Brotherhood is hoarding a cure that they are only giving to those of the upper classes.
There are a number of things going on throughout this story but it is the characters that continue to make me love this story. Cate is still a strong and independent woman. She is loyal and wants to protect her sisters but Maura has made things extremely difficult. I have to admit, I was happy when she finally stood up to Maura and didn't let her get away with everything. It probably isn't right for me to be happy when she injures her but it finally helped me see her as more than just someone who would allow her sister to walk all over her. With all of that, Cate stands up for what she believes in and does whatever she can to help those around her and I truly love that about her.
Tess is coming to terms with her role as the oracle and she is struggling with it. To her credit, others are manipulating things and impacting her abilities. Had that not happened things would have gone much more smoothly for her but I was saddened a bit when she started to pull away from Cate. As a young girl I understood that she wanted to show everyone that she was strong enough to handle the responsibility but by distancing herself from Cate, she pulls herself away from someone who would have been able to help her through some of the things that were happening.
Finn is still my favorite. Yes, he is missing a whole bunch of information but he still senses that something is off and is still drawn right back to Cate. As he and Cate begin to build their relationship back to something more than the acquaintances he believes them to be, he begins to see just how much Cate is struggling. When she finally tells him everything, he doesn't bat an eyelash. He only asks her for time to get back to where they used to be….no questions that it will happen, just that he needs some time to get back there. He is also still swoony so at least Maura didn't erase that part of him.
I liked the secondary characters in this book as well. Rory, Rilla, Mei, and Elena are back. All add something to the story and definitely have a role to play. In addition to these returning characters, we are introduced to some new ones Prue and her brother Alistair Merriweather. I loved the banter between Rilla and Alistair and the addition of Alistair gave the group an opportunity to spread the news of what was really happening.
I did like seeing the change in the relationship that Cate had with Elena. Based on how the story ends, I know she is going to need her going forward and Elena is also going to need Cate.
Spotswood does a wonderful job of creating the world these characters live in as well as developing some wonderful (and not so wonderful) characters throughout the entire series. It has some swoony parts, some action, and will keep you engaged right up to the very end so if you like how that sounds definitely check this series out if you haven’t had a chance to yet.
Dear Jessica Spotswood -
AND
Please also note, I will do my best to not include any spoilers here but I can’t guarantee it.
First, if you recall how book two ended, you will know that the second I was able to get my hands on this book and dig into it I did so. You will also recall that I despised Maura at the end of that book. Rest assured nothing she does in this book really redeems herself in my eyes. She completely betrayed Cate (and eventually Tess) because she was jealous and wanted to feel important. Yes, she justified by saying she did all of the things she did because she was protecting the sisterhood but I never believed her.
I couldn't pick just one image to reflect my feelings so apologies for using so many...I did narrow it down a bit.
Ok…moving on. Cate is obviously struggling with a number of things. Not only does she have to come to terms with the fact that Finn no longer remembers anything about her and their relationship, but she has to figure out what to do about her sisters, the sisterhood, and the prophecy that one of the Cahill sisters is destined to kill another. She knows that Tess is the oracle and is doing what she can to protect her but unfortunately; Maura now knows this too and shares that information with Inez (another betrayal) who uses the information against them.
As Inez takes over leading the sisterhood, she starts to take them on a path that Cate and a number of the others don’t agree with. Now that the Brotherhood was attacked, they are now just sending any accused of being witches or recaptured, straight to the gallows and the combination of that danger with the decisions that Inez is making only puts the witches in more danger.
Along with that problem, the fact that the fever is attacking everyone in New London, the witches are in danger. As a healer, Cate can’t really help anyone without giving herself away. She does what she can but it doesn't make enough of a difference…until she finds out that the Brotherhood is hoarding a cure that they are only giving to those of the upper classes.
There are a number of things going on throughout this story but it is the characters that continue to make me love this story. Cate is still a strong and independent woman. She is loyal and wants to protect her sisters but Maura has made things extremely difficult. I have to admit, I was happy when she finally stood up to Maura and didn't let her get away with everything. It probably isn't right for me to be happy when she injures her but it finally helped me see her as more than just someone who would allow her sister to walk all over her. With all of that, Cate stands up for what she believes in and does whatever she can to help those around her and I truly love that about her.
Tess is coming to terms with her role as the oracle and she is struggling with it. To her credit, others are manipulating things and impacting her abilities. Had that not happened things would have gone much more smoothly for her but I was saddened a bit when she started to pull away from Cate. As a young girl I understood that she wanted to show everyone that she was strong enough to handle the responsibility but by distancing herself from Cate, she pulls herself away from someone who would have been able to help her through some of the things that were happening.
Finn is still my favorite. Yes, he is missing a whole bunch of information but he still senses that something is off and is still drawn right back to Cate. As he and Cate begin to build their relationship back to something more than the acquaintances he believes them to be, he begins to see just how much Cate is struggling. When she finally tells him everything, he doesn't bat an eyelash. He only asks her for time to get back to where they used to be….no questions that it will happen, just that he needs some time to get back there. He is also still swoony so at least Maura didn't erase that part of him.
I liked the secondary characters in this book as well. Rory, Rilla, Mei, and Elena are back. All add something to the story and definitely have a role to play. In addition to these returning characters, we are introduced to some new ones Prue and her brother Alistair Merriweather. I loved the banter between Rilla and Alistair and the addition of Alistair gave the group an opportunity to spread the news of what was really happening.
I did like seeing the change in the relationship that Cate had with Elena. Based on how the story ends, I know she is going to need her going forward and Elena is also going to need Cate.
Spotswood does a wonderful job of creating the world these characters live in as well as developing some wonderful (and not so wonderful) characters throughout the entire series. It has some swoony parts, some action, and will keep you engaged right up to the very end so if you like how that sounds definitely check this series out if you haven’t had a chance to yet.
Dear Jessica Spotswood -
AND
Magnolia by Kristi Cook was a nice little surprise. As most people who know what I like to read know, I don’t typically lean toward the contemporary genre but there was so much about this book that made me want to pick it up.
As the story gets underway, we find out that Jem and Ryder live in a small Mississippi town and their families have been close friends forever. Their mothers have also been planning their lives out forever. I loved that this wasn’t your typical friends to more story. As a matter of fact, to add a twist, the two main characters actually kind of disliked each other. Plus, knowing their mothers were pushing them to be together, there was no way Ryder and Jemma were going to be more than just friendly…or so they think.
Jemma was a great character. She excels at everything she tries – including shooting guns, cheerleading, and now, she wants to go to film school. She just has to get the courage to tell her parents what she wants. At the same time that she is asking her parents to let her consider going to NYU, she finds out her sister, Nan, is sick (brain tumor) and has to have brain surgery. This all sets the stage for the next part of the story which is where we a better idea of who Ryder is.
Now…Ryder appears to be perfect. I mean, let’s start with how Jem describes him early on…
He’s the star quarterback of our Division 1A state-championship football team. Top student in our class, and he doesn’t even have to work at it. He plays the piano like some kind of freaking prodigy, and I would be surprised if he composed sonatas or something in his spare time.
Oh, and did I mention that he’s gorgeous? Of course he is. Six foot four, two hundred ten pounds of swoon-worthy good looks. Spiky dark hair, chocolate brown eyes, and full-on dimples.
Really…what more is there to say??? Nothing really. Other than he continues to try to be friendly with Jemma but she continues to push him away and he can’t really figure out why. Despite that, he is always polite and seems to do the right thing.
I loved how Cook wrote this small Southern town and the people who lived there. The families who have known each other since the Civil War and the traditions they follow, and how everyone knows everyone else’s business…it was all perfectly done in my opinion.
I also loved all of these characters. Trust me, there were times I wanted to shake Jemma and just tell her to talk to Ryder…don’t assume he will figure it out. I also wanted her to realize she was smart and strong. One of the things I loved was how much Ryder and Nan opened her eyes to the idea that she should do what makes her happy. I also thought the relationship build between these two characters was believable.
If you’re looking for a great contemporary, definitely check this one out. It was definitely what I was looking for. Something light and lovely with great characters and a fantastic story.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse for the review copy.
As the story gets underway, we find out that Jem and Ryder live in a small Mississippi town and their families have been close friends forever. Their mothers have also been planning their lives out forever. I loved that this wasn’t your typical friends to more story. As a matter of fact, to add a twist, the two main characters actually kind of disliked each other. Plus, knowing their mothers were pushing them to be together, there was no way Ryder and Jemma were going to be more than just friendly…or so they think.
Jemma was a great character. She excels at everything she tries – including shooting guns, cheerleading, and now, she wants to go to film school. She just has to get the courage to tell her parents what she wants. At the same time that she is asking her parents to let her consider going to NYU, she finds out her sister, Nan, is sick (brain tumor) and has to have brain surgery. This all sets the stage for the next part of the story which is where we a better idea of who Ryder is.
Now…Ryder appears to be perfect. I mean, let’s start with how Jem describes him early on…
He’s the star quarterback of our Division 1A state-championship football team. Top student in our class, and he doesn’t even have to work at it. He plays the piano like some kind of freaking prodigy, and I would be surprised if he composed sonatas or something in his spare time.
Oh, and did I mention that he’s gorgeous? Of course he is. Six foot four, two hundred ten pounds of swoon-worthy good looks. Spiky dark hair, chocolate brown eyes, and full-on dimples.
Really…what more is there to say??? Nothing really. Other than he continues to try to be friendly with Jemma but she continues to push him away and he can’t really figure out why. Despite that, he is always polite and seems to do the right thing.
I loved how Cook wrote this small Southern town and the people who lived there. The families who have known each other since the Civil War and the traditions they follow, and how everyone knows everyone else’s business…it was all perfectly done in my opinion.
I also loved all of these characters. Trust me, there were times I wanted to shake Jemma and just tell her to talk to Ryder…don’t assume he will figure it out. I also wanted her to realize she was smart and strong. One of the things I loved was how much Ryder and Nan opened her eyes to the idea that she should do what makes her happy. I also thought the relationship build between these two characters was believable.
If you’re looking for a great contemporary, definitely check this one out. It was definitely what I was looking for. Something light and lovely with great characters and a fantastic story.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse for the review copy.
Midnight Thief is the first book in the series by the same name and I thought Livia Blackburne did a great job introducing the characters and getting me interested in the story. There is plenty of action, a strong heroine, and just a bit of romance all tied into this YA Fantasy and I enjoyed every bit of it. I’m going to do my best not to spoil anything here so don’t hate me for being a bit vague at times. With that said, I am also going to spoiler tag this as well.
Kyra is an interesting character. She is strong and has been on her own for a long time but it hasn’t made her hard. She helps care for the other children that are out living on the streets and especially cares for two little girls, Idalee and Lettie. I loved seeing her relationship with these two. As she tries to help them, it is clear she wants to do whatever she can to keep them safe. In addition to this, she has created a family out of the people around her. Flick, as I mentioned before, is someone she has come to rely on and in addition to him, Bella, who works at the Drunken Dog (where Kyra stays) has basically adopted her.
As the story moves forward, we learn a bit more about James and Kyra. James definitely knows how to manipulate Kyra and she seems to be blind to it until a certain time. By then it is too late and Kyra is regretting not listening to what Flick told her. James threw me a bit and I admit I definitely liked him…up to a point. I wanted to know more about his background and the little bit that Rand mentioned to Kyra has me intrigued and like Kyra, I want to know more about what happened to him.
Tristam is introduced as a page and his goal is to become a knight and like his brothers, be part of the road patrols. Because of the death of his good friend Jack at the hands of the barbarians, Tristam changes his mind and petitions to be placed under the Ministry of Defense where he would work directly with Malikel and protect the palace. Tristam is determined to avenge his friend’s death and he is smart. As Kyra begins her work with the Assassin’s Guild, Tristam is the one who ultimately puts the pieces together and eventually, thwarts their plans.
There is definitely a lot going on in this story that I’m not really mentioning here…mostly because I don’t want to ruin anything. Just know that as Kyra begins working for the guild, she finds out more about them than she ever really wanted to know and none of it is really good. James has ulterior motives and is doing whatever he wants to in order to get the power he wants, no matter what the cost.
There is a bit of a mystical element with the barbarians and although I’m not going to say how, they play a big role in Kyra’s story. I do want to know more about this clan and how things came to be as they were for Kyra.
Blackburne does a great job blending in the fantasy pieces with a bit of romance/swoon. Kyra is seventeen and as she begins to build relationships with the guys in this story, there is just enough romance to keep me interested but not take over the rest of the story. Definitely check this one out when you can, I found myself unable to put this one down until I finished.
Spoiler
Kyra grew up on the streets of Forge and had the good fortune to meet Flick who eventually becomes her family. Kyra’s ability to climb well (as well as the fact that she is small) has helped her in her profession as a thief as she can easily get in and out of areas that others may not necessarily be able to. When we meet her the first time, Kyra has been contracted by a mysterious man named James, to break into the palace and find a ruby. What we find out is that it was really a test to see what she can do and Kyra finds out that James is really the leader of the Assassin’s Guild and he wants Kyra to work for him.Kyra is an interesting character. She is strong and has been on her own for a long time but it hasn’t made her hard. She helps care for the other children that are out living on the streets and especially cares for two little girls, Idalee and Lettie. I loved seeing her relationship with these two. As she tries to help them, it is clear she wants to do whatever she can to keep them safe. In addition to this, she has created a family out of the people around her. Flick, as I mentioned before, is someone she has come to rely on and in addition to him, Bella, who works at the Drunken Dog (where Kyra stays) has basically adopted her.
As the story moves forward, we learn a bit more about James and Kyra. James definitely knows how to manipulate Kyra and she seems to be blind to it until a certain time. By then it is too late and Kyra is regretting not listening to what Flick told her. James threw me a bit and I admit I definitely liked him…up to a point. I wanted to know more about his background and the little bit that Rand mentioned to Kyra has me intrigued and like Kyra, I want to know more about what happened to him.
Tristam is introduced as a page and his goal is to become a knight and like his brothers, be part of the road patrols. Because of the death of his good friend Jack at the hands of the barbarians, Tristam changes his mind and petitions to be placed under the Ministry of Defense where he would work directly with Malikel and protect the palace. Tristam is determined to avenge his friend’s death and he is smart. As Kyra begins her work with the Assassin’s Guild, Tristam is the one who ultimately puts the pieces together and eventually, thwarts their plans.
There is definitely a lot going on in this story that I’m not really mentioning here…mostly because I don’t want to ruin anything. Just know that as Kyra begins working for the guild, she finds out more about them than she ever really wanted to know and none of it is really good. James has ulterior motives and is doing whatever he wants to in order to get the power he wants, no matter what the cost.
There is a bit of a mystical element with the barbarians and although I’m not going to say how, they play a big role in Kyra’s story. I do want to know more about this clan and how things came to be as they were for Kyra.
Blackburne does a great job blending in the fantasy pieces with a bit of romance/swoon. Kyra is seventeen and as she begins to build relationships with the guys in this story, there is just enough romance to keep me interested but not take over the rest of the story. Definitely check this one out when you can, I found myself unable to put this one down until I finished.
