I enjoyed this book and the characters. There was plenty of action but at points the story felt like it was dragging a bit but that might be because of the number of character points of view. Overall a solid book one of the series and I will be looking forward to picking up book two when I can.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more books in this series. The characters were interesting and likable and the story itself had a bit of a unique twist. I loved that the heroine didn't fall into the normal role of a lady - she ran a business and created quite a fortune. When she acts out of desperation to protect herself, she never thought she would see the man she married at Newgate prison ever again so it's quite the surprise when he shows up across a ballroom from her.

I thought the relationship that developed between Georgiana and Benedict was realistic and there is plenty of banter to make it fun too! I'll definitely be checking out more books in this series when I can.

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

Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson is the first book in the series of the same name and if you know me at all, just by reading the summary you know this story is exactly what I look for in my books. I was so excited that I was able to get my hands on an early copy of this book because of that reason but also, I have loved Larson’s other books so I didn’t really have any doubts that this would be the same.

Zuhra and Inara are sisters and have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins which is an abandoned fortress where legendary magical warriors one lived…before they left the world. There is a backstory here that will come out as you read the book and I thought Larson did a great job of revealing this to the reader. I thought things were revealed around this part of the story at a good pace. As for Zuhra and Inara, they didn’t really have a choice where they lived though, as the hedge surrounding the citadel has kept them trapped inside since the day Inara was born.

The day Inara was born was a critical day for many reasons. First, that was the day their Paladin father disappeared, and their mother became someone Zuhra didn’t recognize. Second, it appears that Inara was born with their father’s Paladin powers and not only do her eyes glow blue, but she can make plants grow and because of her power, Inara has been trapped in her own mind with the exception of some rare occasions where the noise in her brain quiets down enough for her to talk with Zuhra. The outcome is that Zuhra is left on her own with their broken mother who refuses to engage with Inara.

I loved the relationship that Larson developed for these two characters. It didn’t matter that Inara couldn’t speak or in most cases articulate what she needed. Zuhra loved her no matter what and eventually she decides she needs to do something to escape their cage and their mother. With little to no interaction with the outside world, Zuhra knows it won’t be easy, but she will do anything to protect her sister. Just when she thinks she has things figured out, the hedge opens up and lets someone in and everything changes.

Larson has built out this world where there is danger around every corner. Whether it is from monsters or people, and the history between humans and the Paladins has created a situation where fear rules a lot of the decisions made. She has also created a cast of characters I could get behind. Not only the sisters, but we get introduced to Halvor, Raidyn, Loukas, and so many more. Their stories are so well-developed that I couldn’t help but get invested in them right along with Zuhra and Inara.

I can’t say too much about the details of the book because I don’t want to give anything away but what I will tell you is that after Halvor enters the Citadel, things start to happen. A hunt begins for clues to help Zuhra and Inara escape the Citadel but when Inara finds the Paladin gateway in the Hall of Miracles, everything takes a turn and the sisters end up separated. It’s at this point that Inara, along with those still in the Citadel, start to figure out what happened. Not only is that happening, but Zuhra, having been dragged through the gateway, is now in a world she never knew she would get to and surrounded by those she never expected to meet.

Experiencing the story from both Inara’s and Zuhra’s perspectives after they were split up, made it interesting because as a reader I was able to see what was happening in both worlds. There were so many things happening on both sides of the gateway that it was key to tying the whole story together.

I know I’m being fairly vague but that’s because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone. What I will tell you is that this book focuses on family and what people will do to protect the ones they love. There is magic, gryphons, plenty of action, and swoony bits so if you’re looking for a fantasy that has all of that (and more) and will keep you turning the pages to see how things turn out, consider picking up this book. I will definitely be grabbing the next book as soon as I can so I can find out what happens next.

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

Review to come

Loved, loved, loved it! Full review to come!

The Beast of Beswick is the first historical romance I’ve read by Amalie Howard but it will definitely not be the last. I grabbed this one because the summary caught my interest. I love Beauty and the Beast and this story won me over with it’s interesting and engaging characters.

Astrid is our heroine and she is in a situation that she can’t solve on her own. When the man who essentially ruined her, sets his sights on her younger sister, Astrid decides to do whatever she can to protect her, even if it means going to the beast of Beswick to get the help she needs. I loved Astrid. She is smart and protective of those she loves. She isn’t afraid to stand up for herself either and she is the perfect balance for Thane.

Thane is another great character. He’s grumpy and has a history that we get to learn along with Astrid. I loved how we were introduced to him and while he is rough around the edges, he definitely needs someone who will hold onto him and not just cave to what he thinks. The scars Thane carries are more than just on the surface with him and I love how Astrid (with the help of Thane’s aunt) pushed him to realize he is worth having love and affection. On top of that, the banter between these two characters kept me turning the pages.

As these two work to protect Astrid’s younger sister we get to see how they figure out how to be married when both were convinced they would never be in that situation. I thought Howard did a great job of building the relationship between Astrid and Thane and the secondary characters only added to the story. If you are looking for a historical romance that will keep you interested and wanting to know more, consider checking this one out.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.