As soon as I opened up The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke, I loved it. This story is about family and friendship and follows a group of girls (and one boy) who have made their way in a world that isn’t always a great place.

This Boneless Mercies consists of Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa and their work consists of dealing death. They are hired to kill quickly and quietly but they are all tired of surviving by killing others. When Frey hears about a monster destroying a town, she convinces everyone that this is their chance to make a name for themselves and get out of the death trade. Of course, they face a number of challenges along the way to their destination and things don’t always work out as planned but I thought each and every one of the risks they encountered helped me to see how strong they were together.

The characters are really what made this story a good one for me. Frey is the unofficial leader of this group, but she doesn’t make the decisions. Each one of the girls are very different but they are still a cohesive group. That’s not to say that they got along all the time, but they worked together and respected each other’s thoughts and opinions. Learning each one of these character's stories and about what led them to the group of mercies was important. It helped me understand who they were as a person and I loved how Tucholke did this for each character at different parts of the story.

The world that Tucholke developed to push these characters through their journey is harsh and dark but they still somehow seem to survive and their love for each other never wavers despite the things they all go through. The mercies live on the periphery of the rest of the world and don’t really belong. Everywhere they go, they are viewed as outsiders and they really only have each other. This is also a world where bravery and epic journeys become a part of the world’s histories and Frey wants to be remembered for something.

I don’t want to say too much about the actual story here other than the fact that it has a strong cast of characters who all play a part in getting the mercies to through their journey. There is danger around every bend for this group and by working together and trusting in each other, they make it to where they want to be. This is my first book by Tucholke but will definitely not be my last. I couldn’t put this book down but also didn’t want the book to end because now I want to know what happens next for everyone. Consider adding this book to your “to read” shelf if you haven’t done so already and pick it up when you can.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

War of the Wilted by Amber Mitchell is the second book in the Garden of Thorns trilogy and it picks up shortly after the end of book one. I was pretty excited when I saw this and I admit, I probably should have re-read the last few chapters to get back into the story as I kind of forgot how the last one ended. With that said, I loved diving back into this world and learning more about everything.

Rose and Rayce are slightly at odds during this entire book. This is mostly due to the fact that Rayce is keeping the Gardener prisoner, so he can get the information he needs but Rose not only doesn’t trust anything the Gardener says, but she also hates the fact that Rayce is asking her to be ok with the fact that the person who kept her prisoner and killed her friends, is allowed to live.

I could actually see both sides of this story. Rayce is willing to do anything to save his people and thinks the sacrifice is worth the what the Gardener can give him. Rose on the other hand disagrees and I sympathize with her as I don’t know that I would be able to stick it out knowing that my tormentor for years was living in the same location as I was. It was a tough situation for both of them and it ultimately comes to a head and because of some things that happen, the trust Rayce has in Rose is damaged.

As the story continues, I have to admit that some of my favorite parts were those where it was just Rose and Rayce figuring things out. I’m a sucker for romance in my books and Mitchell did a great job of not only continuing what was building in the first book, but also reflecting some realistic struggles that these two need to figure out.

I really like these main characters and I also thought the secondary characters were a great addition to the story. Not only do we get to see more from the Gardener but also Rayce’s uncle, the emperor. I loved seeing how all of their stories intertwined and they all added something to the story.

I don’t want to say too much about the details because I don’t want to ruin what happens. What I will say is that if you like a book with a lot of action, political intrigue, and an interesting plot, consider checking this series out. Mitchell did a great job building out the world, developing the characters, and creating a story that held my attention until the very last page. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in this series and will be keeping an eye out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review to come

As soon as I read the synopsis of An Assassin’s Guide to Love & Treason by Virginia Boecker, I knew I had to read it. This book is a standalone and it has a fast pace to keep the story moving and if you like historical books focused on a plot for murder, I think you should pick this one up.

The story focuses on two main characters, Lady Katherine and Toby Ellis. Everything really kicks off when Katherine’s father is executed for being a practicing Catholic, a dangerous thing in those times. Katherine makes a run for it and heads to London so she can avenge his death. I loved Katherine. She could have easily given herself up when her father was killed. Instead, she decides to do whatever she can to get back at the one person she knows is responsible for his death, the Queen.

As part of the plan, Katherine changes who she is and becomes Kit, a boy playing the part of a girl in one of Shakespeare’s plays that will be put on specifically for the Queen. Not only does this change give her the access she will need to get her revenge, it also gives her an opportunity to experience London as she never would have been able to as Lady Katherine.

The other major player is Toby, a spy who is working to set a trap for those that are attempting to assassinate the Queen. I found his background to be especially interesting and he is in a precarious position throughout the story. As he is cast, purposefully, as one of the play’s leads alongside Katherine, he attempts to pin down who his main suspects are, and Kit is someone who caches his attention and not only because of his role in the play.

The secondary characters in this story are just as important as the leads. I loved that Boecker made Shakespeare a little crazy…ok maybe more than a little. We have the group of men who are behind Katherine’s revenge, Jory, Sir George Carey, Queen Elizabeth, and several other characters who helped add color to the story and kept things flowing.

I don’t want to say too much about the details here because that is where Boecker’s storytelling really shines. She brought these characters to life for me and pulled me into 17th century England with her descriptions. Having recently read this book and then gone to London shortly after, it was great to see the places referenced in the story and helped me imagine the characters in these places even more.

I really enjoyed this book and as I mentioned, it is a standalone, so you won’t have to worry about any cliffhangers. This book has a great mix of interesting characters, an original story, and of course, you know I love my books with some romance. If you are looking for something historical that will keep you turning the pages to find out what will happen next for everyone, you should definitely check this book out. Not only that, Boecker’s first series was pretty great too! I’m looking forward to whatever Boecker decides to write next as she has me hooked.

Thank you to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the audio just as much as I loved the book. The narrators did a fantastic job and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!! Go check this one out!

I admit it, when I saw the cover for Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan I wanted to read it…I almost didn’t care what the story was going to be about. Well…that’s not true but that cover is sooo pretty. With that said, this story was everything I hoped it would be!

Lei lives in Ikhara, a world where class rules everything. As a member of the Paper caste, she and her family are oppressed and have lived with the trauma of seeing her mother ripped away from them by the royal guards. Now, having heard a rumor about a paper girl with golden eyes, the royal guards are back, and they aren’t leaving without Lei.

The world Ngan has created is not a pretty one. There are three castes and they are what dictate how everyone engages with one another. The Paper caste is the lowest - They are fully human and do not have any demon abilities. Just above Paper is the Steel caste. This group is made up of humans with partial animal-demon qualities…both physical and ability. The highest caste, Moon caste, is fully demon and has whole animal-demon features. All castes are ruled by the Demon King.

Every year, 8 beautiful girls are chosen to be Paper Girls who come to the palace to serve the King. It is supposed to be an honor and some of the girls absolutely believe this to be true but for Lei, it is her worst nightmare. She never had any intention of being in this role and when she is forced to join the girls who were chosen his year, she dreams of the day she can escape. As she trains to serve, she finds out quickly which of the girls she can trust and which she can’t. I thought the friendships Lei built with Aoki and Wren were believable. Of course, there is always a girl who just has to antagonize everyone else and you will very quickly learn who she is and while I get her dissatisfaction with the hand she has been dealt, she is definitely not justified in taking her anger and frustration out on Lei.

Lei’s relationships are what help balance this story out. By getting to spend time with Lei and the girls, they become more than the Paper Girls forced to serve the king. With that said, there is still a whole host of things that are wrong with what these girls are forced to do. The king may be handsome and powerful, but he is for sure not a good guy and no one learns that more than Lei.

First, Madam Himura was a piece of work. Other than having control of the girls, I couldn’t understand her motivation behind treating the girls the way she did…of course, she is from the highest caste so that had a lot to do with it but from the second she was introduced, she was mean and abrasive.

Second, when I say serve the king, I mean in every way. These girls have no choice and over time, it is apparent even Aoki has constructed a world in her head that allows her to feel ok with what is happening. I won’t say too much about this, but the way Ngan reflects the evolution of Aoki’s feelings seemed realistic and made me want to dive into the pages just to shake her.

As the story progresses and each girl gets called, Lei struggles with her fate and doesn’t know how she will be able to just go along with everything when it’s her name on the piece of paper. While she is waiting, she trains and goes along as normal, but she also does the unthinkable – she falls in love. Because this is forbidden, it puts her in a dangerous situation, but it also motivates her to find a way to get out of her current situation. When she is called, Lei can’t just go along with what the king wants and when she fights, the punishment is severe.

It is safe for me to say that Lei and the king have a contentious relationship. She makes him doubt himself and his power and that isn’t something that sits well with him. When she doesn’t just let him control her, he takes his frustration out on her and she definitely suffers for it.

There isn’t too much more I can tell you without ruining the story, so I am going to stop here. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic read. It has interesting characters, an engaging story, and danger around every corner. Definitely check this one out and I will be waiting over here for the next book Ngan writes.

Thank you to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't love the narrators in this one but the story is still really good. If you're looking for something with a twist, check this one out!