Review: This book turned my brain into scrambled eggs and I’m honestly okay with that. 

 

The conclusion to “The Atlas” series follows Callum, Reina, Parisa, Libby, Nico, and Tristan as they fight to survive the lethal terms of their initiation and face the consequences of limitless power. 

 

The beginning of the “Atlas Complex” is so slow I nearly gave up on it, but if you find yourself in the same position, do NOT do it! Blake intentionally takes her time leading up to the novel’s explosive ending so as to focus on how the characters develop when they are given endless knowledge and power. I was gripped by each character’s point-of-view as they become corrupted by Atlas’ promise of making their wildest dreams come true—the cost of which was losing themselves and even then that proved to not be enough, a realization that came too late. Gone are the people they once were in “The Atlas Six”. Callum is consumed by obsession, Reina devotes herself to things she cannot control, Parisa sheds her vanity, Libby loses her moral compass, Nico becomes too trusting, and Tristan wants for too much. Their fates were sealed once the Society, the Archives, and the Forum became a part of their lives and this just goes to show that human beings will do anything to achieve greatness, even if that means compromising their goodness. Blake’s commentary is haunting and will make you reflect on your own choices and question what you would do and who you would betray for glory. The final chapters are an emotional overload as each character is confronted by the repercussions of their actions. It’s utter chaos…just as it should be. There was never going to be a “happily ever after”.

Review: The sequel to “Bewitched” not only exceeds all expectation, but is more magical than its predecessor!

“Bespelled” picks up where book 1 leaves off—with Selene Bowers trying to make sense of her restored memories and the unbreakable marriage pact she was coerced into by her soul mate Memnon. However, once Memnon learns the truth behind why Selene betrayed him long ago, he is horrified by his own actions and desperate to make amends, Memnon offers Selene the unthinkable: a magic bond that will give her full control over his will. And Selene is desperate enough to accept it. There’s still a killer out there targeting the witches at Henbane Coven and if Selene wants to stop them, she’ll need Memnon’s help.

I love books with groveling and grovel Memnon did! Once Selene retained her memories, she put him in his place and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him make up for his mistakes. While I didn’t necessarily like that Memnon relinquished his free will to Selene (it made me question what was consensual), I did like how he gave her the space she needed to sort through her feelings while also being by her side when she needed him most. He is protective of her, but also constantly reminds Selene of how fierce and capable she is on her own. Their dynamic of being caught between hate and love is incredibly entertaining and I adored that they eventually found a way to unite their pasts and present selves to rekindle their romance. 

Heartbreaking as it was, I really liked the direction this book took with regard to the murder mystery sub-plot. Thalassa handles sensitive subjects (specifically pertaining to the victims) with care and adds elements of suspense, both of which further invested me in the storyline. With the introduction of new supernatural creatures and villains, I am interested in seeing how things play out in book 3. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: DeWitt’s latest release is the perfect recipe for an emotion-packed rom-com!

“Savor It” follows Sage Byrd—a social studies teacher who has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon her entire life—and Fisher Lange—a Michelin-starred chef grieving the loss of his sister and navigating his rocky relationship with his teenage niece Indy. After a memorable middle of the night first meeting, Sage and Fisher agree to help each other achieve their goals just for the summer. Soon their partnership gets passionate, but they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like...

I have a special place in my heart for Sage and Fisher. Both are going through tough times. That make them feel real and relatable. I love Sage for how funny, strong, and kind she is. She prioritizes herself and the happiness she finds in the small things in life. I connected with Fisher and his efforts to reignite his passion. His relationship with Indy is incredibly endearing and I was pleased to see them grow closer as the story progressed. Sage and Fisher are very layered and that is why both of their points-of-view were equally compelling to me. I truly tried to savor each chapter.

Sage and Fisher’s relationship is so complex and I love how it developed. I especially admired how they didn’t try to fix or heal each other, but instead talked through their struggles and acknowledged their imperfections in an effort to better understand one another. In being vulnerable and honest, they were able to love each other fully and their love felt more authentic to me as a reader as a result. 

Not only did I fall in love with the characters, but I fell in love with the small town of Spunes, Oregon. Even though there were many brief appearances by locals, I still felt like I knew all of the residents because DeWitt gives them each distinctive personalities. She also does such a great job acquainting the reader with important places that transport you to her fictional setting. 

Review: I honestly didn’t think anyone could ever make the surprise baby trope work, but Elsie Silver is truly exceptional! 

 

Winter is a very layered and complex character. In the other books in this series, she was portrayed as villain of sorts, but I quickly became heartbroken when I learned that her icy exterior developed as a result of being made to feel unloved by her awful ex-husband, her spiteful mother, and her absent father. It made me so happy when Theo came into the picture because he gave her the attention she deserved, became someone she could lean on, and helped her open up about her struggles. I loved watching her character develop the closer she became with Theo. I think motherhood played a huge role in her development as well. Her relationship with her daughter Vivi is so wholesome and in a way it helped Winter reconnect with her half-sister Summer. I enjoyed watching her grow as a person and heal.  

 

Theo! Dale! Silva! This man is the blueprint! He is such a great father and partner. It was truly devastating to see him come to the realization that he had missed out on so many “firsts” with his daughter—including her birth—all because of miscommunication, but he didn’t let that get in the way of stepping up to be a fully present father and I admire him so much for that. He also steps up for Winter too. He is protective of her, prioritizes her, and makes her feel lovable. I appreciate that he actively avoided being controlling (unlike her ex-husband) and came to her defense when she needed him to. He made sure Winter knew that she didn’t need to change or fix any aspect of herself by loving her unconditionally. 

 

The exploration of motherhood, self-acceptance, finding happiness, forgiveness, and moving forward is what makes “Reckless” so much more than a cowboy romance and set this book in cement as my favorite of the Chestnut Springs series.

Review: A gripping murder mystery and swoonworthy romance set against the backdrop of a brutal period in Korean history. 

 

“A Crane Among Wolves” follows Iseul, a sheltered, privileged teenager, as she embarks on a dangerous journey to save her sister, who has been kidnapped by the tyrant King Yeonsan. Prince Daehyun, who is disgusted by his half-brother’s rampant abuse of the common folk, wants nothing more than to overthrow him.  Despite their initial disdain for each other, Iseul and Daehyun’s mutual hatred for the king results in a reluctant alliance to stage a coup. 

 

June Hur’s historical reimagining centers around the fall of the Joseon dynasty in the Korean peninsula. As someone unfamiliar with this dark period in history, I was captivated and devastated by the widespread atrocities Hur’s characters navigated and the sacrifices they had to make to survive the abuse, kidnapping, enslavement, and execution that was prevalent during this time under King Yeonsan’s reign. I especially admired Iseul’s strength and her devotion to her sister. She goes to extreme lengths to save her sister from Yeonsan’s clutches and I enjoyed watching her develop from a spoiled girl to a selfless revolutionary. 

 

I really enjoyed the murder mystery sub-plot woven into the story. It further drew me in and the suspense kept me on my toes. I tried and failed to identify the killer, but I loved trying to make sense of the clues Hur left throughout. 

 

Iseul and Daehyun’s begrudging allies-to-lovers romance had me in a chokehold! Their relationship development is very gradual with the two prioritizing their cause (usurping the king) over each other. Still,  they cannot resist giving in to their desires and I loved watching that play out from both of their perspectives. The tension, angst, and mutual pining Hur writes into their relationship made it all the better! 

Review: A beautiful, yet devastating story on love, loss, and taking risks. 

 

“They Both Die at the End” follow Rufus and Mateo, total strangers that find friendship in each other as they spend their last day trying to live a lifetime. 

 

Silvera immediately captivated me with his unique and distinctive characters. Some are central to the storyline and others are more periphery, but each has their own voice and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into their lives in reading from their perspective. 

 

I especially gravitated towards chapters written from Mateo’s point-of-view because as a professional overthinker, I saw a lot of myself in his character. I loved watching him develop throughout the novel and get to a point where he could make the most out of his last day and be his most authentic self with Rufus at his side. I’m so glad he got to experience love and odd as it sounds, his journey gave me hope for myself. 

 

Despite knowing what would happen (as made clear by the title) I was still gripped by emotion. The build-up to the novel’s climax is slow and mundane, making the ending more jarring in my opinion. The bonus story in the collector’s edition is what really tipped me over the edge. I sobbed uncontrollably and I anticipate that the other two books in the series will make me do the same. 

Review: A romantic sci-fi adventure that will make your heart race and flutter!

“Into the Churn” follows Ezren Hart as she enters her planet’s deadly and most lucrative race in hopes of saving her mother’s terraforming lab. Her partner and veteran racer Foster Sterling has reasons of his own for partaking in Belthea’s Race Royale: to uncover the truth behind the death of his former teammate. It’s a race against time to the finish line, but they can’t outrun the mysterious string of accidents befalling them or the spark that ignites between them. 

Admittedly science-fiction isn’t my cup of tea because I can easily become overwhelmed by abstract concepts, but I’m so glad I decided to branch out with this book because it is just so fun! I was immediately swept up in Chow’s Casolla system from the very first page. Through Ezren’s point-of-view the reader is organically introduced to Belthean customs and traditions, including slang unique to those who inhabit the planet and the race royale. The stakes are high for both Ezren and Foster with savage and volatile storms being a part of the course they have to navigate. The added threat of other racers sabotaging their competition paired with the elements of mystery and fast pacing made it so that there was never a dull moment! 

With so much on the line I also couldn’t help but root for both Ezren and Foster to be the first to finish and was desperate to see their relationship take off. This book is advertised as a slow burn and while I wouldn’t say that is the case, I really enjoyed watching their feelings for each other grow from both of their perspectives. The inclusion of the fake dating trope pushes Ezren and Foster to spend more time together as part of a publicity stunt until the line between what is pretend and what is real begins to blur. I couldn’t get enough of their chemistry!

Review: What this book lacks in world-building it makes up for in the all-consuming enemies-to-reluctant allies-to-lovers plot. 

 

“The Hurricane Wars” follows Talasyn and Prince Alaric, two bitter enemies with opposing magical abilities, as they are thrust into an uneasy alliance to bring an end to the Hurricane Wars. But a greater threat is coming, and the searing passion they find in each other could either save their world or destroy it. 

 

As a huge Star Wars fan, I thoroughly enjoyed Guanzon’s debut novel! I found great enjoyment in identifying connections between “The Hurricane Wars” and the films (7-9) as well as the ways in which Guanzon branches out to build the relationship dynamic between Alaric and Talasyn (inspired by Kylo Ren and Rey). I went feral over the addition of the arranged marriage trope that Guanzon incorporated into her storyline and really like how she infused Southeast Asian culture into Talasyn’s background. I wasn’t originally a Reylo shipper, but Guanzon has successfully converted me. 

 

For readers picking this one up without having seen Star Wars, this book has its pitfalls. The magic of fanfiction is that writers can create an alternate universe where beloved characters that may not have otherwise been romantically attached can get together. Very minimal world-building is needed because the assumption is that the target audience is already familiar with the source material. The problem is that traditionally published novels don’t work that way. Readers aren’t always part of certain fandoms and, in my opinion, “The Hurricane Wars” (part of the fanfic-to-romance pipeline) suffers from assuming everyone is a Star Wars fan. I came into this book with a full understanding of the characters, the magic system, and the conflict. I can see how others who have not seen the films could easily become lost because at the end of the day, the goal of this book is for Reylo to get together, even if it is to the detriment of the world-building,  plot, and conflict. I think that is why part I felt so rushed to me. Part I is not as developed as part II because only the bare minimum is done in terms of developing the world and magic system to establish that Alaric and Talasyn are enemies. Part II was much more interesting because that is where the sexual tension, angst, and banter between the characters finally comes into play. It is clear that the romance is what drives this book in comparison to the war that is going on or the magic that is present. 

 

I didn’t mind this, which is why I’ll likely pick up “A Monsoon Rising”. I’m ultimately glad I stuck with this book despite getting bogged down by part I because I absolutely devoured part II. And hey, if this is the book that convinces more people to watch Star Wars, I’m willing to look past its shortcomings. 

Review: An explosive conclusion that won’t let you come up for air. 

Picking up where “Strike the Zither” leaves off, “Sound the Gong” follows Zephyr, now a god in a warrior’s body, as she pays the ultimate price to see her lordess Xin Ren succeed in ruling over the three kingdoms. 

This book takes a darker turn with more betrayal, more scheming, more politics, and more death. My heart was racing as Zephyr slowly unravels Crow’s master plan and discovers where his loyalty truly lies. With a deeper understanding of his motivations, I found myself looking back on every move he made in the previous book with fresh eyes and marveled over Joan He’s craft. 

Zepyr is ruthless in her pursuit of taking fate into her own hands. She stays true to her character in not deviating from her mission of putting Ren on the throne, but her act of cutting down whoever is in her way toes the line of villainy and makes readers question whether the harm she inflicts is justified by her noble cause. As the author puts it, Zephyr isn’t a “shining hero” and I loved her all the more for that. I was rooting for her to the very last page.

As a ZephyrCrow fan, the ending of “Sound the Gong” shattered my heart, but it fits the story well. The bonus epilogue is what put me back together again (available on the author’s website - you won’t want to miss it) and left me feeling hopeful. Both endings are satisfying in their own ways and wrap-up the duology nicely. 

Review: This companion e-novella adds depth and complexity to Taryn’s seemingly simplistic characterization. 

 

“The Lost Sisters” is told from the perspective Taryn Duarte, who comes clean to her sister Jude in a letter about her relationship with the trickster, Locke. 

 

When I first read The Folk of the Air series I totally skipped over this one, but after finishing The Stolen Heir duology I decided to return to it just for fun. I enjoyed getting the opportunity to finally read from Taryn’s point-of-view and in the style of a letter! The contents consist of her asking Jude, and in turn the reader, to sympathize with her plight and forgive her for her behavior. Though her half-apology did not completely win me over, it helped me understand her better as a character. She just wants so desperately to be loved and viewed as a good person, but she does not always go about achieving these goals in ways that readers, like myself, agree with. With this added perspective, I intend to keep an open mind about her in the future.