ettaviereads's Reviews (356)

My very first ARC is complete! Thank you DE Carlson for letting me read this book in advance of the general populace. This dual perspective between Iris and Besaun leads us into the battle of Good vs Evil, and the battle of personal choices regarding the lives and fates they have been given.

As a non-Christian, who was brought up in a Christian household, the themes from the Bible are present but subtle in most of the book. I only experienced discomfort in one chapter where I felt the Christian undertones were no longer undertones like the rest of the book. After reading the Rite of Communion chapter, it took me a couple days to get back into the book. Thankfully from my perspective, the Christian themes became undertones once again and the overall plot picked up.

Since I read Casandra’s Dragon novella prior to this book, I almost wish this book had three perspectives because there were times where I wished we could get some of Casandra’s POV in the Fire Palace and her choices around the espionage she is involved in.

The storyline is heavily character driven and there is considerable world building in this book, which is to be expected as it is the first book of a multi-book series. The characters all experience challenges with their choices and the meta cognition of the main characters is present throughout their perspectives.

The author expressed that this book would be low on smut but that doesn’t mean that the sexual tension is missing. The characters explore their intimate relationships in a PG fashion with cuddles and kissing being the farthest the characters explore their feelings towards their love interests.

I would definitely read the next book once it is released or if I’m lucky enough to read the ARC because my lack of comfort around the single plot point of the Rite of Communion does not mean that the plot or book(s) will be dripping with direct references to the Christian Bible.

I adored Lydia and Killian’s points of view in the second book of this series. Though I was hopeful to be picking up in the Dark Shores with Teriana and Marcus, seeing the same timeline play out from Lydia’s perspective answered so many of my questions about the deceit from the first book.

The plot continues with the corrupted’s rise to power in the Dark Shores and how people become God Marked. The overall plot of the series is leading to an epic battle of East meets West and I am here for it.

Though I still have more questions about Lydia’s heritage and her connection to Hijeria and Hijeria’s people.

I will definitely be reading the next book and anticipating book 4.

This one off magical realism book brings light to our current climate crisis in a way that made me sad for the future of our planet.

Clara struggles with the strength of her magic and her inability to control it. She has been plagued by traumatic events where her magic has led to deaths. As the first Everwitch in centuries, she could be the salvation the Earth is looking for but she struggles with her training and emotions.

Along comes Sang, a specialist in botany, and Clara’s potential salvation with calming qualities and soft rapport.

Clara has to learn how to harness and use the full extent of her power to be able to hopefully help off-season witches from dying from depletion.

Throughout the book, Clara learns more and more about herself and her magic. Ultimately deciding something that changes the course of training for any Everwitch that comes after her.

I couldn’t believe how fast I went through this book and how much I didn’t want to put it down. The characters are emotionally complex and the magic in the book speaks deeply to me as a Pagan.

Though listed as a YA book, the themes are what I would consider New Adult or older YA. There is some closed door spice and some fairly graphic scenes.

With the feel of Pirates of the Caribbean meets Ancient Rome, the political intrigue, diplomacy, negotiation, and travel paints a glorious picture of a world where the major empire is trying to take over the world and impose their views on anywhere they conquer. With a merchant sailor thrust into a pact with a legionnaire who has his own personal secrets, these enemies to lovers make the storyline extremely enjoyable.

The end of the first book of this series has left me with many emotions and a ton of questions! I am picking up the 2nd book ASAP to be brought back into this wonderful world that Danielle created.

Just wow! Yarros hooks the reader from chapter 1. Even if you think you’ve figured out some of the plot twist, it’s unlikely that you will catch all of them.

This book has everything I’m looking for in a good fantasy novel: magic, friendship, plot twists, dragons, love interests, flawed characters, action, and so much more.

I’m almost glad I jumped onto this bandwagon late so I don’t have to sit on the final plot twist of the book for too long.