HAUNTINGLY POIGNANT.

Yet again (and not surprisingly) Amy Harmon has thrown me a book that I couldn’t put down. This book is small, but packs a punch [ooo, pun alert] and I finished this in an evening.

The Song of David is a standalone with a character from the original Law of Moses. David is tough, resilient, and stubbornly hard to handle. Watching his character struggles had me wanting to back-hand him a few times and then cry with him the next. I CAN’T HANDLE HOW SWEET HE IS.

Millie is a beautiful character. She never takes her trials laying down. Always facing adversity daily as she truly marches through life. I loved watching her take down David’s heart in an achingly masterful way.

Henry is also one of my top favorite side characters from a contemporary. He is funny, gentle and made we want to sob right along with him. He’ll win your heart so fast with his unique ways of viewing the world.

This book read mostly as a mystery where I seriously could not figure out what happened. My theory changed every chapter and I was getting so upset thinking the WORST had happened. It was skillful story-telling at its finest. These character were raw and real.

Amy Harmon is also one of my personal Queen’s of the slow burn. Her romances draw you out and leave you breathless. The ending leaves you begging for more answers yet grateful for the story that unfolded beforehand.

Overall audience notes:

Young adult contemporary (with a little paranormal [ghosts])
Some language
Violence (David is a MMA fighter)
Romance is some kissing/make-outs, a love scene (but Harmon is my favorite because these are so beautiful, and cleanly written!!)

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX.

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And apparently only that.

That’s about all I remember from this book honestly. And what made me even more sad about it was that it wasn’t romantic sex. It was just eh. Most of the characters were practically consumed by their sex life. I will be the first person to say I love a good love story, but not in this way. I’m not even sure what kind of story it was? Middle-class women with a lot of issues was about all I gathered.

Now those pieces are written well. The author gets that psyche down and each character was struggling with some tough issues. Murder, grief, depression, guilt, looming divorce, affairs of the heart, Mom-shame, and a lot more.

This book has a lot happening at all times. Enough so that I flew through it, but was left with a bitter taste. The “epilogue” didn’t solve any problems, and left things kind of frazzled and somewhat open-ended (in my interpretation).

I will say, the ethics of this book got me thinking. What would happen if a letter like that had come into my life, ya know? It is a lot to contemplate, but the secret was seen from way over a mile away so take the story as you want.

Overall audience notes:
- Adult fiction mystery
- Language
- A lot more talking about sex than actual sex, but they’re some mild-detailed scenes
- Violence (murder, car wrecks)
- Trigger warnings: grief, depression, murder

COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

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I was missing a lot from this book, namely DRAGONS. WHERE WERE THE DRAGONS? A few cameos was not enough! That’s why I loved the first book. Along with the dragons missing were Asha and Torwin. I was all for them and thought that maybe they’d play a bigger role.

[Actually, I wished this book had continued their story…]

Rebekah was actually a good evil character, she totally went through with her plans! *applause* My emotions were definitely tied up in how much I hated her bitter, self-serving soul.

Y’all. Dax is my precious cinnamon roll no one will hurt. He was better than our main character: Roa. Dax was not a fool. I loved how conniving and heartfelt each action was. He continually sought a better kingdom and if someone *cough cough* Roa *cough cough* would give him half a second she would’ve seen that from the start.

Now on to Roa. I really dislike when it is SO OBVIOUS that one simple conversation could change the entire course of the book. If Roa seriously asked Dax, Hey what’s up?, we wouldn’t even have a story. She was so focused on Essie (understandably to a point, but also this was her major downfall) and Theo (don’t even get me started on how much I don’t like him). I also have a huge issue with anyone sleeping with someone to gain an advantage. It put me off from her entirely.

This book wasn’t as epic as the first. I couldn’t fully immerse myself in this new story and unfortunately was an outsider looking in. I know some people were really interested in her character from The Last Namsara. So don’t let this deter you if you’re on of those! Each book can be read as a stand-a-lone or together. It’s still pretty writing that is full of court politics and a friend-to-lovers trope.

Overall audience notes:
- Young adult fantasy
- No language
- Violence (swords, physicality)
- A love scene that is barely there; an intense kiss or two

LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

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Barring a total downfall in the last book (which I strongly believe won’t happen) this will land in one of my top favorite series. This is all so great!

“Why is prophecy always so bloody cryptic?”

Isn’t this the epitome of most fantasy books? I love that Raisa freely speaks her mind. She is a fierce Queen who holds her own in warring circles of men. Her continual push to make her own decisions and on her own terms makes me love her character even more. Raisa isn’t wishy-washy and stands to be one of my fav feminine ladies.

I’m still obsessed with my cinnamon roll of a book boyfriend Han. Happiness is almost within reach. AND HE NEEDS THIS, OKAY? I can only hope that for once things work out in his favor in this last installment. I’m not sure what games he’s playing, but I will stand by his side to the end!

Y’all, the way this last book is shaking out, I’m in for a ride. There’s a lot of politicking that does get a little tiresome, but has been written really well compared to other books I found odious. The manipulations and machinations with this court are tricky. I can’t wait to see all the cards laid out!!

The world building is another great portion of The Gray Wolf Throne. All of our characters are continually moving around the countryside and I’m amazed at how beautifully it’s all written. Nothing is drawn out, but The Seven Realms are so diverse and I love being in this world.

What I also find unique is that Wizards aren’t loved. Other books tend to lean towards, everyone wants to be a wizard!, but here they are so mistrusted. It makes me enjoy this series on a new level.

Overall audience notes:
- Young adult fantasy: wizards, magic
- Almost non-existent language
- A lot of violence (swords, arrows, knives, etc.)
- Some solid kiss scenes, but nothing too crazy

WHAT A FINALE!!

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The Crimson Crown was everything I love in a finale. It’s one of those books where yes, you know where it’s going, but not how, and I continually sat there way too anxious if my favs were going to make it out alive.

Han is definitely my forever favorite. He took a few pages from the dark side and I couldn’t be more thrilled. His continual passion for his one goal made me swoon and cheer him on over and over. I love that he’s not a typical hero. He came from a situation that should have never given him hope, and yet, he fiercely clung to the last string of faith he had.

Raisa is one of my all time top Warrior Queens. She unsurprisingly remained strong and stubborn. Even when crisis upon castle siege crisis came upon her, she was steadfast. I appreciated that she continually held to her ideals and what she wants for her Queendom (and Queendom? Hell yeah).

Now put those two together and they are a top OTP. Passionately fighting to be with each other, somehow betraying each other, and feeling this impending doom of never getting to be together. AHHHHH THE ANGST. Their collision is everything and their moment in the garden had me by my very soul. I love love love that they never lost faith in them.

This magic world is totally complex and the world building blew me away. I was so invested in how everything looked, felt, worked, sounded, etc. The prose isn’t heavy, but enlightening and spans the time that it needs too.

All of the side characters were well personalized. I actually felt like I knew them as well as I knew the main POVs. Crow, Dancer, Cat, Amon, Night Bird, and I could go on and on!! Crow was so presh. Acting all fatherly to Han and making sure he was okay and got what Crow never did *TEARS*. Cat was another great one who at last found a place for her in the Queendom and it was amazing to watch her grow over the series.

I missed seeing Amon a little bit, he wasn’t as big of a side character this round. But Dancer mostly picked up those sections, so it was alright, but that’s honestly the only major thing I can think of I struggled with. There’s a lot of politics, though enough kept happening that I didn’t mind.

Overall audience notes:

- Young adult fantasy
- No language
- Some intense kiss scenes, a loosely implied love scene
- Lots of violence (torture, knives, magic, birds eating you alive)
- Trigger warnings: implied rape (a backstory of one of the side characters)

DNF @ 30%

Y'all, I couldn't get behind this book at all.

Ali (who's immortal, mind you) acts like a full blown child. She has a STUFFED UNICORN 🙄 and worships her Dad even though she's 400+ years old.

I also still don't understand quite how "weaving dreams" works. It wasn't explained well or thoroughly enough to grasp.

The time line is jumpy. So jumpy. I have no idea what year it is or where I was in the story. It would change so fast I was losing my mind over it.

My understanding is that this is a prequel novel. But based off of other reviews and what I've interpreted so far, there's no point in reading the first official book. Or finishing this one for that matter.

HISTORY NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN.

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This won’t really be that much of a review, because I feel it is unfair to the fact that this really happened. This is more of an expression of thoughts I had while reading. I’m not here to debate the choices Dr. Nyiszli made to keep himself (and his family) alive in one of the absolute bleakest moments in the world’s history.

The book is by no means easy to get through and I was on the verge of tears more than once. The stories of what went on at the camps were more than anyone should ever have to deal with (and that’s unfortunately an understatement).

It’s a thought provoking, grief-stricken, hug your loved ones tighter kind of book. This memoir is a true insider tale of what happened daily in Auschwitz. The horrid sense of personalities you get from the people surrounding the doctor will make you shiver. I have read a handful of historical things about WWII, but nothing to this extent. My mind is still trying to comprehend the atrocities that he witnessed and had to commit.

This book will make you uncomfortable. It will make you think. These kind of books can’t be called “good books.” A memoir such as this needs to be read if only to remind us that this did happen, and to ensure that history never repeats itself.

Overall audience notes:
- Mature and sensitive topics
- Violence: gas chambers, mass murders, shootings, executions, starvation, and more.
- No language, written in a detached, clinical perspective

Truly, one of my favorite books ever. I can't get over the love story, the way Feyre conquers her own fears and doubts and how the whole story comes together. I read this 2-3 times a year and it never gets old.

I've heard mixed reviews toward this series, but decided to take a chance anyways! I thought book one was pretty good. I love how I hated and loved Warner all at the same time. And I'm wondering where book two will go with the new setting.