I picked this one up after a lot of hype from Bookstagram friends and I think it did it’s job well. As this was an audiobook ARC I’ll speak to that first, LOVED. No complaints here about the narration or anything. I thought it was wonderful and I was able to listen at a 2.5x – 3x speed easily.

The set-up for this was fun. I liked the time travel aspects and getting to see different facets of history. The school setting wasn’t a big factor (as someone who doesn’t love that setting). It was more in the background to everything else Nat was learning and doing.

I didn’t love the side characters. Some in the context of not great antagonists which came off childish. And others is just that I wanted more! There were many opportunities for some found family moments and I think those should have been capitalized on.

This was somehow upper YA and lower YA all in the same book. The dialogue and personalities leaned towards younger while the themes and some of the scenes (like attempted rape) were definitely in the older group. This clash caused a issue with me finding the right niche for the story overall.

I am intrigued by the plot though and definitely want to continue. I really liked the banter at the beginning of the romance and am curious how that is going to continue to play out. Maybe a love triangle? I’m not sure. BUT I did like what Braxton brought to the table.

WHOA.

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I hardly noticed this was 600 pages I was enjoying the ride so much. This is a captivating fantasy series that I am allllllll the way here for. I can’t wait to get to book three.

I like that this didn’t have the dreaded sequel issues. While still slower in nature the plot kept moving forward in turns I didn’t see coming. I loved the character growth for Tisaanah and Max AND them together! I think I would have loved even more romance (those little quiet moments I love so much), but I’m especially grateful there’s not some dumb breakup involved in this story.

There’s a bunch of moving pieces that keep unveiling themselves. I was excited about the third POV wondering why in the world it was there, but trust me, IT MATTERS. I think this was a really exciting and interesting piece to add in because it provides a lot more sustenance to the entire story.

I’m nervous to see what darkness rises in book three, and to see how my sweet couple survives.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: two open door
- Violence: med-high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, war themes, loss of life, near death experiences, possession, medical experimentation 

Note: this book is super dark and does not hold back. Please check trigger warning and make sure you’re in the right frame of mind for it!

This was something different, without a doubt. I’m not sure my mood reader self was quite read for everything, buuut I did really enjoy this story overall.

One of the best aspects was the strong female main character, Sloane. I loved her. She had to make the hardest choice over and over again and she kept rising and pushing forward. The audiobook did a fantastic job at narration and I think this also helped bring the story to life.

So much of this plot is heavy and unforgiving. There’s complex characters and a compelling plot. I did find it at times a little slow and I occasionally had a hard time getting fully into the story. The ending though? WOW, I did not see that coming at all. It was full of twists and wildness that set up for book two.

 

WELL THAT WAS WILD.

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This was a total bookstagram made me do it read. I didn’t have a clue what it was about, I just picked it up and then DEVOURED it. The fast paced nature of email, text and diary entries make this a story you can’t look away from.

And it was worth it. That ending blew my mind. I had picked up on a couple of the subtle pieces mentioned throughout, yet I was still flabbergasted at how everything worked out in the end. It was perfectly convoluted and insanely well written.

Some of the diary entries did start to feel repetitive and drawn out to where I started skimming towards the end. Otherwise though, this is a great mystery of which I’m hardly saying anything to the pages within because I highly recommend you go into this book as blind as possible!

Overall audience notes:
- Fiction / Mystery
- Language: a little
- Violence: low 

Full review to come!

This series is TOTALLY UNDERRATED AND EVERYONE SHOULD GO READ IT PLEASE.

Now with that business out of the way let me give a non-spoiler review.

I LOVED this story. It is slow for YA, but as someone who loves fantasy across the board I was into it. Packed with a punch from the get-go the action did not cease for awhile. I loved the drift it took into slower territory, where building of armies, tension, and romance was able to happen. I was absolutely smitten with both romances. Lee and Annie are too precious for this world. This incredible bond formed when they were orphaned children that grew into something unquantifiable. It was passionate and TEARS WERE SHED at some specific, not to be named scenes.

I also adored the romance between Griff and Delo. It had a whole different vibe to it with a changing of position and having to be let the festering anger burst before bonds could reform. I love the hope that came from between them even when things were at there bleakest.

Can we also discuss the side characters??! Holy cow they brought it too. Power has got to be one of my new favorites. He was everything I love about morally gray dynamics. Caught wanting to better his life, falling into unrequited love and more that I wish I could say. His scenes were next level.

And the plot is full of DRAGONS, politicking, action and more. I think this plot flowed really well and I truly didn’t know how things were going to end up working out in the end. I did nick 1/2 star because I wanted a little more *oopmh* in the ending (though I do promise it ends perfectly well and you will not throw your book). Besides that hard to nail down thought with the ending, I NEED Y’ALL TO PLEASE READ THIS SERIES.

 

IN THE MIDDLE.

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I have mixed thoughts on this one.

Firstly, I loved the medical school setting. I think it was unique and I learned a lot more (as someone who almost went to med school) than I previously knew. I love when a read is more impactful than expected and there were many, many conversations in here about important themes and topics that I appreciated being highlighted. There’s always space to grow and listen, and this book provided a moment like that.

Romance wise, I wasn’t sold. It started off iffy and then by the time I truly thought it was sweet, things soured quickly. I didn’t like the way the conflict was handled, I never fell for Ricky and I really wanted the best for Angie. Just not convinced this was it.

This does read more as fiction over romance (which I know some prefer). For me, I was hoping for a bit more romance interspersed. The audiobook narrator was wonderful, but I hesitantly say to go with the audiobook option. I learned via other reviews that there’s footnotes about a lot of the medical related things in here and it came off in the audio as more of an over explanation. Knowing about the footnotes helped me change my frame of mind while listening. Adding that in here so others know too!

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong
- Romance: brief fade to black
- Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, misogyny, sexism, drug abuse, death, medical scenes, anxiety, mentions of gun violence 

STILL LOVING.

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Another great installment for this series. This is one of the very few middle grade fantasy books that have continually kept my attention.

I adored Sophie. It never ceases to amaze me how incredible Messenger is at writing a character that fits the age group, AND doesn’t feel overly dramatic or eye roll worthy. Sophie is someone I love cheering on and her found family group of friends are incredible.

The romance actually had a few moments throughout in this one. What I appreciated most was the conversations that happened surrounding first kisses. It eliminated the space for miscommunication and Sophie and (won’t say because spoilers) were able to talk and figure out what was best for their relationship moving forward.

This plot is continually weaving into tight knots that I don’t know how escape will come. The action keeps me on my toes and I find so many of these antagonists interesting. I like the flair and dynamics of it all.

Overall audience notes:
- Middle grade fantasy
- Language: none
- Romance: kiss
- Violence: mild
- Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and magical altercations, near death experiences, kidnapping and mentions of medical experimentation 

This was my least favorite of this novella group. I thought the friends to lovers had a lot of sweet aspects.
I didn’t like that Silas kept/lied about his previous relationship being finished and that for a novella they spent months apart?

I don’t know. Didn’t work for me. 
Audio book narration is great though.

SATISFYING.

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Oh do I really appreciate when I can close the last book of a series and feel like I am well enough satisfied with how everything wrapped up. If you don’t get farther than this paragraph, I definitely recommend The Prison Healer series.

Now to the NON SPOILER review.

I thought this was a great conclusion. My faaavorite favorite parts were all of the growth Kiva went through. There were so many perfect conversations surrounding forgiveness and true apologies. And Kiva was also given the time and encouragement to grow into her power and strength that was hidden under years of entrapment. Y’all know I love character growth and this had it in spades.

My small complaint is the lack of romance. I was just hoping for a BIT more, okay? Just a little more of Kiva and Jaren getting a chance to *be*. I liked that there wasn’t an immediate forgiveness scene, but that things took time. I think they’re the sweetest and I could have loved on 100 more pages of them.

AND ALL OF THE SIDE CHARACTERS. Holy wow. This cast was stellar. STELLAR. I love when even side characters have you wrapped around your finger. Everyone played a roll, the found family was incredible and I am in love with this whole group.

The action at the end kept me locked in and all of the sequences were impressive. I think it was nicely paced and led to a conclusion I was easily happy with. I have adored these books and look forward to more by this author!!

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy
- Language: a little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: drug addiction (and recovery), torture, kidnapping, murder, physical and magical altercations, loss of loved ones, small battle themes, assault