Criminally overhyped 
I give it 3 stars for Onyx and Carrion they are the only legit likeable characters 

That ending took years off my life 🤌🏻 What’s up with that epilogue??? Dude I need a sequel centered in the sibilings bro. 

The West Wind • Review

(This is the second novel in the Four Winds series by  . However, it can be read as a standalone and it works perfectly well to introduce the world and lore of the series) 

Brielle has lived her life sheltered from the outside world in preparation to take her vows to become an acolyte at the Abbey of Thornbrook. She wishes for nothing more than to dedicate her life to the Heavenly Father. However, after a chance encounter with an injured God with a twisted character and a dangerous background she finds that there’s is more to life than quiet and prays. 

This was a truly unique read, as romantasy goes I haven’t experienced something quite like it before. It has the vibes of Laura Thalassa's Four Horseman but the story and the world are completely original and fresh. 

The book takes from Greek Mythology loosely and encompasses a dark spin in fae fantasy that was refreshing and chilling in equal parts. I appreciated that the author choose to take fae lore as it is traditionally portrayed: dark, dangerous, cunning creatures that will ensnared and trick humans. We don’t get enough if that these days. The descriptions of Under and the fae folk are haunting and nerve wracking. 

Another high point is the writing itself. The prose flows effortlessly with a whimsical quality that adds a fairly tale feel to the novel. That in contrast to the dark undertones of the story and the heavy themes it deals with make for quite an immersive read. 

The way the story deals with heavy subjects such as depression, anxiety, self-worth and loss was well-crafted and heart-wrenchingly honest. I particularly liked Brielle's struggles with her faith and what it means to truly partake in her religion without loosing her individuality. The commentary on religion and faith was spot-on and worked wonderfully for the characters development. 

I will be continuing the series as soon as book 3 comes out. And of course I will go be and read the first book as soon as posible. 

Thank you to @sagapress for gifting me this beautiful copy. 

#SagaPressBooks #SagaSaysCrew  #TheWestWind

  • The Serpent and the Wolf • Review •

Once again thank you to the wonderful team at @sagapress for gifting me this book. 

Let me just say this novel made it to my top 5 romantasy reads ever!!! I freaking loved it. Everything about it is perfectly crafted to appeal to me as a reader: the flawed FMC, the sweet and unbelievably hot MMC, the magic system and the politics involved. It all came together to give me one hell of an emotional ride. This is perfect for everyone who loved Nesta and Cassian in Silver Flames, plus the complicated political connotations (and divine meddling) of Serpent and the Wings of Night. 

 

  • be warned SPOILERS may be ahed •

Characters ~

The thing that drives this book to a insta favorite of mine is the wonderful character work the author did with our main girl Vaasa. She is everything I like in a FMC: powerful, strong-willed, flawed, fierce and emotionally handicapped. Her journey throughout the novel is one of self-discovery and healing. She starts out as a scared, dangerous woman who is backed into a corner and lashes out at everyone who gets close. Gradually we learn her reasons for being that way, her struggle with her own identity and the reckoning she faces everyday for the things she’s had to do in order to survive. I started the book wanting to strangle her and ended it wanting to hug her and kill everyone who ever hurt her. 

Reid is everything you want in a MMC: considerate, protective, sexy and sweet. The aspect I enjoyed more about his character was his comfortable self assured manner in the face of the hurricane that is Vaasa. He is never threatened by her or her power, on the contrary he is in awed of her. 

The secondary characters were lovely, if a bit one dimensional. I feel like there’s a lot of space to grow for some of them in the coming books. I can’t wait to have more of Amalie, Koen and Melissina. 

Pace and Worldbuilding ~ 

The pace in this story literally never slows down. There isn’t a single moment where you feel like putting down the book. There’s constant action that builds to an ending that will have you screaming with your heart in your throat. 

The world building and magic system are a huge highlight of the novel. The author created a complex society in Icruria that feels alive in every page, and the contrast with what little we get to know about Asterya had me wanting to learn more about the world. The political intrigue was very well played out. There are so many questions left open after the ending that I hope will get answer in book 2. I’m also hoping we get to see more of how Asterya society works. 

Another thing that was done masterfully was the lore. I found very unique the concept of people inheriting different gifts from different gods and the idea that the magic was only acquired once the parent died. The structure and secretive nature of the covens left me with a lot of questions about the Gods and how magic users became so separated from each other on the first place. The sense of community that Vaasa finds in the other witches was especially hearth warming to read. 

The Romance ~ 

This has one of the best written romantic development I’ve found in the genre. Rebecca managed to do what I think is lacking in some many other stories: have the romance unfold hand in hand with the main character personal development. Vaasa’s feelings for Reid feel authentic because she doesn’t instantly fall head over heels for him. She has to actually grapple with her emotions and her trauma in order to open herself to the possibility of loving him. 

Their story is written how I think enemies to lovers is done right: with a gradual progression from enemies, to allies, to friends, to lovers. The reader can actually see how they grow to respect each other as people, then as partners. And from there we get a wholesome journey of learning to trust the other person and feeling worthy of the same. 

….

I can literally rave about this novel until next year. It made me feel all the feels: I laughed , I swooned, I cried, I screamed. 

Suffice to say I am desperate to get my hands in book two.