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636 reviews by:
kellygillespiewv
Reread June 2019: Still 5 stars! I love this book!
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***full review on wildandwonderfulreads.com***
Where do I begin?! I, obviously, LOVED Roar by Cora Carmack -- my last 5 star read was A Court of Mist and Fury when I read it in the Spring! This was one of the books of the month in July for my online book club, Buxom Book Beauties, and I am so glad it was, otherwise I am afraid this might have been added to my never-ending TBR list, not to actually be read anytime soon.
I was excited to dive into Roar after seeing it being promoted, pre-release, on social media. Based on the description, I felt like this read would be right up my alley, and boy, was I right!
I am going to be perfectly honest with you...prior to reading this book, I checked out some reviews, and not all of them were positive. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I am respectful of others' (as I hope others will be of mine), but I interpreted the book much differently than those people. I am glad I didn't let those reviews deter me from reading Roar.
Let me take a second to praise the stunning cover. I mean, JUST LOOK AT IT! The colors, the texture, the art itself -- this cover is beautiful and an absolutely perfect fit for the story contained within. Well done, Tor Teen!
I also want to shout out Cora Carmack for her writing style! I know she has been around the block, but this is the first book I have read by her. This also happens to be Carmack's YA debut. THAT shocked me because her writing was so fluid and captivating, and I never got the YA-rookie vibe. *Cue celebratory music: "All I do is win, win, win no matter what!"*
Onto the meat and potatoes...
Aurora, princess and sole heir of Paven from a long line of Stormlings, is not the person that every one believes her to be. She is keeping a secret that could greatly impact the future and safety of her kingdom. Because of her secret, her mother, the Queen, keeps Aurora sheltered (to the max!). Aurora tries to make up for her shortcomings by throwing herself into her studies and physical training. She devoted herself to every other aspect of being a princess, but that was not quite good enough. To protect the kingdom, the Queen arranged a marriage between Aurora and a strong, powerful Stormling; a prince from another kingdom. Enter Cassius.
If you were terribly sheltered, how do you think that would affect you? I believe this made Aurora extremely naive and her naivety influenced her thoughts and actions.
So, Cassius is an interesting character. I believe he was someone caught between a rock and a hard place. He wanted to please his royal family and do what's best for them, as he was told, but I also believe he has some morals, which may have caused a bit of an internal struggle. Now, I am not saying his moral compass always points due North, but I have this hunch that he does have some good in him. And, okay, he seems kind-of dreamy when he isn't being an ass, so I have my fingers crossed for some more of him in the series!
Now, the other male lead is Locke. I loved his story. I loved the mystery surrounding him. I loved the push and pull between he and Aurora. I LOVED HIM! The slow burn, though, nearly killed me! Why you gotta do that to me, Cora!?!
To understand my opinion of Aurora, you have to know that I OFTEN find myself disliking female protagonists. I don't know why, but I just get annoyed with them. Celaena/Aelin from Throne of Glass and Blue from The Raven Cycle have been exceptions -- they're my girls! Maybe I just like the sassy ones?! Again, I don't know why I generally feel that way, but 9 times out of 10, that's the case. Aurora (...Rora...Roar) is one of the rare ones that I adored!
As I mentioned before, I strongly believe that being sheltered caused her to be horribly guileless and unworldly, but she comes into her own. Her character development is on point! I thoroughly enjoy seeing character growth based on a healthy mixture of positive and negative "life" experiences. She is strong, determined, very intelligent, and, yea, brazen!
I will not discuss the events that take place in Roar, because spoilers, but I will say that the story progresses at an even pace, leaving us with THAT ENDING! I thought the plot was original and well-driven. I absolutely cannot wait till the next book releases.
Overall, I know others found some faults, but I truly enjoyed Roar from cover to cover. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to YA fantasy fans. Now I need to get my hands on some more books by Carmack to fill the void until Stormheart #2 releases.
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***full review on wildandwonderfulreads.com***
Where do I begin?! I, obviously, LOVED Roar by Cora Carmack -- my last 5 star read was A Court of Mist and Fury when I read it in the Spring! This was one of the books of the month in July for my online book club, Buxom Book Beauties, and I am so glad it was, otherwise I am afraid this might have been added to my never-ending TBR list, not to actually be read anytime soon.
I was excited to dive into Roar after seeing it being promoted, pre-release, on social media. Based on the description, I felt like this read would be right up my alley, and boy, was I right!
I am going to be perfectly honest with you...prior to reading this book, I checked out some reviews, and not all of them were positive. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I am respectful of others' (as I hope others will be of mine), but I interpreted the book much differently than those people. I am glad I didn't let those reviews deter me from reading Roar.
Let me take a second to praise the stunning cover. I mean, JUST LOOK AT IT! The colors, the texture, the art itself -- this cover is beautiful and an absolutely perfect fit for the story contained within. Well done, Tor Teen!
I also want to shout out Cora Carmack for her writing style! I know she has been around the block, but this is the first book I have read by her. This also happens to be Carmack's YA debut. THAT shocked me because her writing was so fluid and captivating, and I never got the YA-rookie vibe. *Cue celebratory music: "All I do is win, win, win no matter what!"*
Onto the meat and potatoes...
Aurora, princess and sole heir of Paven from a long line of Stormlings, is not the person that every one believes her to be. She is keeping a secret that could greatly impact the future and safety of her kingdom. Because of her secret, her mother, the Queen, keeps Aurora sheltered (to the max!). Aurora tries to make up for her shortcomings by throwing herself into her studies and physical training. She devoted herself to every other aspect of being a princess, but that was not quite good enough. To protect the kingdom, the Queen arranged a marriage between Aurora and a strong, powerful Stormling; a prince from another kingdom. Enter Cassius.
If you were terribly sheltered, how do you think that would affect you? I believe this made Aurora extremely naive and her naivety influenced her thoughts and actions.
So, Cassius is an interesting character. I believe he was someone caught between a rock and a hard place. He wanted to please his royal family and do what's best for them, as he was told, but I also believe he has some morals, which may have caused a bit of an internal struggle. Now, I am not saying his moral compass always points due North, but I have this hunch that he does have some good in him. And, okay, he seems kind-of dreamy when he isn't being an ass, so I have my fingers crossed for some more of him in the series!
Now, the other male lead is Locke. I loved his story. I loved the mystery surrounding him. I loved the push and pull between he and Aurora. I LOVED HIM! The slow burn, though, nearly killed me! Why you gotta do that to me, Cora!?!
To understand my opinion of Aurora, you have to know that I OFTEN find myself disliking female protagonists. I don't know why, but I just get annoyed with them. Celaena/Aelin from Throne of Glass and Blue from The Raven Cycle have been exceptions -- they're my girls! Maybe I just like the sassy ones?! Again, I don't know why I generally feel that way, but 9 times out of 10, that's the case. Aurora (...Rora...Roar) is one of the rare ones that I adored!
As I mentioned before, I strongly believe that being sheltered caused her to be horribly guileless and unworldly, but she comes into her own. Her character development is on point! I thoroughly enjoy seeing character growth based on a healthy mixture of positive and negative "life" experiences. She is strong, determined, very intelligent, and, yea, brazen!
I will not discuss the events that take place in Roar, because spoilers, but I will say that the story progresses at an even pace, leaving us with THAT ENDING! I thought the plot was original and well-driven. I absolutely cannot wait till the next book releases.
Overall, I know others found some faults, but I truly enjoyed Roar from cover to cover. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to YA fantasy fans. Now I need to get my hands on some more books by Carmack to fill the void until Stormheart #2 releases.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
The Penthouse Affair Series continues with book 2, Seven Nights of Sin.
I’m going to keep this fairly short and sweet because: 1) I covered some basics in my review of book one, and 2) I have no intention of revealing spoilers. The story picks right back up where it left off in The Two-Week Arrangement, carrying on Presley and Dominic's dual POVs.
My feelings didn't change much from my review of book 1. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
After losing trust in her, Dom throws up more walls, and Presley has to take the time to try to break through them. I normally enjoy some good push and pull between characters, but in this case, it didn't feel genuine to me.
*Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
The Penthouse Affair Series continues with book 2, Seven Nights of Sin.
I’m going to keep this fairly short and sweet because: 1) I covered some basics in my review of book one, and 2) I have no intention of revealing spoilers. The story picks right back up where it left off in The Two-Week Arrangement, carrying on Presley and Dominic's dual POVs.
My feelings didn't change much from my review of book 1. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
After losing trust in her, Dom throws up more walls, and Presley has to take the time to try to break through them. I normally enjoy some good push and pull between characters, but in this case, it didn't feel genuine to me.
*Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
The Two-Week Arrangement is sexy with a touch of drama, but something missed the mark for me.
I love Kendall's books! I don't hesitate to pick them up, and often I find myself unable to put them down. That being said, The Two-Week Arrangement was not one of my favorites, though I did like it!
This workplace, single dad contemporary romance is the first book in The Penthouse Affair duet. Be warned, THERE IS A CLIFFHANGER, but the good news about that is the second book is now available! The story is told in the dual POVs of our leads, Presley and Dominic.
I adore seeing a hard-working, intelligent female main character, like Presley! I felt like her character developed into something different than I would have liked to see, though. Some of her morals kind of went out the door as soon as a man was in the picture. On the other side is Dominic -- a successful but cautious man who is very protective of his family and business. I thought he sometimes walked the line between broody and an asshole, but I felt like a lot of that stemmed from his past and his need to protect his future, so it worked.
I'm not sure that I have a good way to describe the plot other than trope-y which made it a bit predictable. I enjoyed the story enough, but some of the characters' thoughts/actions deterred me from getting completely invested.
*Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
The Two-Week Arrangement is sexy with a touch of drama, but something missed the mark for me.
I love Kendall's books! I don't hesitate to pick them up, and often I find myself unable to put them down. That being said, The Two-Week Arrangement was not one of my favorites, though I did like it!
This workplace, single dad contemporary romance is the first book in The Penthouse Affair duet. Be warned, THERE IS A CLIFFHANGER, but the good news about that is the second book is now available! The story is told in the dual POVs of our leads, Presley and Dominic.
I adore seeing a hard-working, intelligent female main character, like Presley! I felt like her character developed into something different than I would have liked to see, though. Some of her morals kind of went out the door as soon as a man was in the picture. On the other side is Dominic -- a successful but cautious man who is very protective of his family and business. I thought he sometimes walked the line between broody and an asshole, but I felt like a lot of that stemmed from his past and his need to protect his future, so it worked.
I'm not sure that I have a good way to describe the plot other than trope-y which made it a bit predictable. I enjoyed the story enough, but some of the characters' thoughts/actions deterred me from getting completely invested.
*Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Morgan Matson writes the most adorable stories!
As with most things, I was late to the Morgan Matson party. I’m working my way through her backlist, though — slowly but surely.
Since You’ve Been Gone is a complete delight! This is an incredible story about friendship and becoming your own. I absolutely adored it!
THE LIST! What a fun plotline! I really enjoyed how the list helps Emily to step out of her comfort zone and brings new friends into her life while she struggles with missing her best friend, Sloane.
I also really loved what develops between Emily and Frank. I wasn’t expecting to like Frank as much as I did, but he completely won me over!
The highlight of the book for me is Emily’s character development. She begins so unsure of herself and is ridiculously awkward. She seems so dependent on Sloane! But, Emily has a fantastic arc, and really comes into her own by the end!
Overall, I loved Since You’ve Been Gone and YA Contemporary fans who enjoy friendship and family at the forefront of stories will too! It’s light and fun and perfect for the summertime — I definitely recommend it!
As with most things, I was late to the Morgan Matson party. I’m working my way through her backlist, though — slowly but surely.
Since You’ve Been Gone is a complete delight! This is an incredible story about friendship and becoming your own. I absolutely adored it!
THE LIST! What a fun plotline! I really enjoyed how the list helps Emily to step out of her comfort zone and brings new friends into her life while she struggles with missing her best friend, Sloane.
I also really loved what develops between Emily and Frank. I wasn’t expecting to like Frank as much as I did, but he completely won me over!
The highlight of the book for me is Emily’s character development. She begins so unsure of herself and is ridiculously awkward. She seems so dependent on Sloane! But, Emily has a fantastic arc, and really comes into her own by the end!
Overall, I loved Since You’ve Been Gone and YA Contemporary fans who enjoy friendship and family at the forefront of stories will too! It’s light and fun and perfect for the summertime — I definitely recommend it!
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Becky Wallace absolutely knocked this one out of the park (pun intended)! Stealing Home is a cute, fun YA Contemporary and such a great summer read.
I really enjoyed Becky’s writing; it’s smooth and captivating! The story is told in the first person POV of our leading lady, Ryan. And it’s so much more than just a baseball romance (although I was ALL ABOUT the baseball element and the romance) — this is a story about having a dream and fighting for it! There is also a great family dynamic that I loved.
I fell for the characters in this book! Ryan is hard-working and dauntless. Sawyer is a sweet, southern boy. Both have their own struggles but work so well together to overcome them. They are in a tough position because their chemistry is undeniable! However, they also have a need to keep things professional which leads to some low-level angst and a bit of a slow burn. I was absolutely rooting for them (and the Buckley Beavers), though!
The couple of things that kept this from being a 5-star read for me: 1) I wanted just a bit more of the social commentary on gender roles, and 2) I would have loved to see more of Ryan and Sawyer as “Ryan and Sawyer.”
Overall, I definitely recommend Stealing Home to YA Contemporary fans who especially love sports romances! This was definitely the sweet, summer read I have been looking for.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Becky Wallace absolutely knocked this one out of the park (pun intended)! Stealing Home is a cute, fun YA Contemporary and such a great summer read.
I really enjoyed Becky’s writing; it’s smooth and captivating! The story is told in the first person POV of our leading lady, Ryan. And it’s so much more than just a baseball romance (although I was ALL ABOUT the baseball element and the romance) — this is a story about having a dream and fighting for it! There is also a great family dynamic that I loved.
I fell for the characters in this book! Ryan is hard-working and dauntless. Sawyer is a sweet, southern boy. Both have their own struggles but work so well together to overcome them. They are in a tough position because their chemistry is undeniable! However, they also have a need to keep things professional which leads to some low-level angst and a bit of a slow burn. I was absolutely rooting for them (and the Buckley Beavers), though!
The couple of things that kept this from being a 5-star read for me: 1) I wanted just a bit more of the social commentary on gender roles, and 2) I would have loved to see more of Ryan and Sawyer as “Ryan and Sawyer.”
Overall, I definitely recommend Stealing Home to YA Contemporary fans who especially love sports romances! This was definitely the sweet, summer read I have been looking for.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Rage since before I even finished Roar, and I cannot believe this book is finally out in the world!
For me — a fan of YA Fantasy and a romance reader — the Stormheart Series is perfection! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the writing is amazing, the characters are captivating, the magic system and world-building are phenomenal, the story is epic, and the romance gives me heart eyes! I do think it was all just a bit better in book one, but I still love book two.
Rage is a good filler/bridge book for a trilogy. Enough happens that keeps me interested, but I’m left wanting more (which I hope to comes by way of a badass conclusion with book three). The pace is a tad slow at times, but I was still plenty invested in the story.
I think the characters are the high point in this series …moreso the secondary ones in Rage. I felt that Aurora, Kiran, and Cassius are pretty stagnant in terms of growth. Jinx, Nova, and Zephyr are SO AMAZING, though — I love what they bring to the table in this book!
I also really enjoyed the romance. I am a big fan of Cora’s NA romances, and I love how her romance writing has influenced the plot of this series.
And I can’t forget to mention that the back story of the Stormlord that we get is interesting and now I have THEORIES!
Overall, I absolutely recommend Rage! This series has one of the coolest worlds/magic systems I’ve read and characters I can’t get enough of! Check it out and suffer while we wait for book three along side me!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Rage since before I even finished Roar, and I cannot believe this book is finally out in the world!
For me — a fan of YA Fantasy and a romance reader — the Stormheart Series is perfection! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the writing is amazing, the characters are captivating, the magic system and world-building are phenomenal, the story is epic, and the romance gives me heart eyes! I do think it was all just a bit better in book one, but I still love book two.
Rage is a good filler/bridge book for a trilogy. Enough happens that keeps me interested, but I’m left wanting more (which I hope to comes by way of a badass conclusion with book three). The pace is a tad slow at times, but I was still plenty invested in the story.
I think the characters are the high point in this series …moreso the secondary ones in Rage. I felt that Aurora, Kiran, and Cassius are pretty stagnant in terms of growth. Jinx, Nova, and Zephyr are SO AMAZING, though — I love what they bring to the table in this book!
I also really enjoyed the romance. I am a big fan of Cora’s NA romances, and I love how her romance writing has influenced the plot of this series.
And I can’t forget to mention that the back story of the Stormlord that we get is interesting and now I have THEORIES!
Overall, I absolutely recommend Rage! This series has one of the coolest worlds/magic systems I’ve read and characters I can’t get enough of! Check it out and suffer while we wait for book three along side me!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
Truly Mine is the angsty friends-to-lovers roomate romance that fans have come to expect and love from Kennedy Fox! This story is intense and emotional; heart wrenching and beautiful!
We met Mason and Sophie in the previous duet in this series, so I was excited to see where their relationship went. After their one night stand, they keep their distance despite their chemistry, so you KNOW things are going to heat to the point of combustion at some point! But major drama unfolds that, as the blurb indicates, results in a murder for which Mason is arrested, and their situations cause a lot of good tension/push and pull that makes for a solid slow burn.
As with book one in the Hunter & Lennon Roomate Duet, we get plot twist and a massive CLIFF HANGER (MASSIVE!!!!!!!), but luckily, the release of book two is just around the corner!
Overall, I recommend this book to all you angsty contemporary romance fans. Although you can read this as a standalone, I’d like to recommend starting with the novella, Forever Mine, then reading the Hunter & Lennon duet before starting this one. It’s not necessary by any means, but it’s nice to see the characters’ stories evolve throughout the series.
*Thanks to the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Truly Mine is the angsty friends-to-lovers roomate romance that fans have come to expect and love from Kennedy Fox! This story is intense and emotional; heart wrenching and beautiful!
We met Mason and Sophie in the previous duet in this series, so I was excited to see where their relationship went. After their one night stand, they keep their distance despite their chemistry, so you KNOW things are going to heat to the point of combustion at some point! But major drama unfolds that, as the blurb indicates, results in a murder for which Mason is arrested, and their situations cause a lot of good tension/push and pull that makes for a solid slow burn.
As with book one in the Hunter & Lennon Roomate Duet, we get plot twist and a massive CLIFF HANGER (MASSIVE!!!!!!!), but luckily, the release of book two is just around the corner!
Overall, I recommend this book to all you angsty contemporary romance fans. Although you can read this as a standalone, I’d like to recommend starting with the novella, Forever Mine, then reading the Hunter & Lennon duet before starting this one. It’s not necessary by any means, but it’s nice to see the characters’ stories evolve throughout the series.
*Thanks to the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
Truly Yours is book #2 in the Mason & Sophie Roomate Duet Series by Kennedy Fox. Click here for more info or to read my review of book #1 —Truly Mine. The duet is complete and now available!
As a whole, this is a great duet! There's a lot of feels and angst, and the story is an emotional roller coaster ride!
As a reminder, this is a duet, so you need to read this book second because Truly Yours picks up where Truly Mine leaves off. One of the most impressive things for me about this book is Sophie's journey. She is broken and healing and trying to find her way back onto a path that will lead to her HEA. And Mason is there for her -- at a distance, at first, while she worked through things, then right by her side. The burn is slow but good!
Overall, I loved this book and recommend this duet for contemporary romance fans who enjoy having their heart broken alongside the characters just to have it slowly mended by the end.
*Thanks to the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Truly Yours is book #2 in the Mason & Sophie Roomate Duet Series by Kennedy Fox. Click here for more info or to read my review of book #1 —Truly Mine. The duet is complete and now available!
As a whole, this is a great duet! There's a lot of feels and angst, and the story is an emotional roller coaster ride!
As a reminder, this is a duet, so you need to read this book second because Truly Yours picks up where Truly Mine leaves off. One of the most impressive things for me about this book is Sophie's journey. She is broken and healing and trying to find her way back onto a path that will lead to her HEA. And Mason is there for her -- at a distance, at first, while she worked through things, then right by her side. The burn is slow but good!
Overall, I loved this book and recommend this duet for contemporary romance fans who enjoy having their heart broken alongside the characters just to have it slowly mended by the end.
*Thanks to the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Well Met is ridiculously charming! This is a fantastic and fun debut from Jen DeLuca that left me wanting — nay, needing — to go to a Ren Faire! There is just so much to love about this book.
I was completely blown away by Jen’s writing. It has a great flow that kept me really invested. This is the closest I’ve been to reading a book in one sitting since becoming a mom in the Spring.
I just can’t get over the plot! This story is so original, and the setting of a Renaissance Faire is perfection. This is the story that I didn’t know I needed! Well Met had me laughing out loud and smiling from ear to ear, even while side-eyeing grumpy Simon.
I love, love, love the characters in this book! They are flawed! …which makes them more relatable, and I enjoy that. Emily is unlikeable at times, and Simon does indeed have the stick up his butt that Emily says. I’m here for the imperfections, though! And, the secondary characters add just as much to the story as the leads. The most fun thing about this book, for me, is that you almost get double the cast because they all play roles at the Ren Faire. Let me just tell you how much I adored Emma the Tavern Wench (Emily) and Captain Blackthorne (Simon) *insert heart eye emoji*
The one thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me is the romance. I didn’t mind the slow burn of the romance. HOWEVER, I wish there was more! I didn’t quite get enough of Emily and Simon as “Emily and Simon,” which is always a bummer. But I do ship them entirely!
Overall, I definitely recommend Well Met! Run — don’t walk — to grab a copy, because it’s a complete delight, and you need to read it! I am very much looking forward to more from Jen!
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Well Met is ridiculously charming! This is a fantastic and fun debut from Jen DeLuca that left me wanting — nay, needing — to go to a Ren Faire! There is just so much to love about this book.
I was completely blown away by Jen’s writing. It has a great flow that kept me really invested. This is the closest I’ve been to reading a book in one sitting since becoming a mom in the Spring.
I just can’t get over the plot! This story is so original, and the setting of a Renaissance Faire is perfection. This is the story that I didn’t know I needed! Well Met had me laughing out loud and smiling from ear to ear, even while side-eyeing grumpy Simon.
I love, love, love the characters in this book! They are flawed! …which makes them more relatable, and I enjoy that. Emily is unlikeable at times, and Simon does indeed have the stick up his butt that Emily says. I’m here for the imperfections, though! And, the secondary characters add just as much to the story as the leads. The most fun thing about this book, for me, is that you almost get double the cast because they all play roles at the Ren Faire. Let me just tell you how much I adored Emma the Tavern Wench (Emily) and Captain Blackthorne (Simon) *insert heart eye emoji*
The one thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me is the romance. I didn’t mind the slow burn of the romance. HOWEVER, I wish there was more! I didn’t quite get enough of Emily and Simon as “Emily and Simon,” which is always a bummer. But I do ship them entirely!
Overall, I definitely recommend Well Met! Run — don’t walk — to grab a copy, because it’s a complete delight, and you need to read it! I am very much looking forward to more from Jen!
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Wow! Wow! Wow! WHAT A DEBUT!
Katy Rose Pool's writing is phenomenal -- poised and fluent and thoroughly enjoyable. I was completely invested from the first page, and although I had to (ugh, adulting!), I didn't want to put this book down!
There Will Come a Darkness is a beast! This book is a solid start to the Age of Darkness series, offering vivid world-building and introducing readers to a great cast of characters with interesting back stories. There are 5 POVs that were a smidge overwhelming at times, but Pool truly did a spectacular job interweaving their stories.
The plot is fascinating and rich and brooding and I just want more! There's a lot of corruption and betrayal which lends to an overarching dark theme. I was living for the magic, political intrigue, and fierce relationships that were driving the narrative -- I'm also kind of a sucker for the whole prophetic storyline thing!
The characters are ridiculously intriguing and well developed. "A prince exiled from his kingdom. A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand. A once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart. A reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone. And a dying girl on the verge of giving up." Yea, it didn't take much to sell me on this one.
Overall, I highly recommend There Will Come a Darkness. It gave me vibes from a lot of faves like Graceling, The Smoke Thieves, and Falling Kingdoms, so I know a lot of YA Fantasy fans will enjoy it. I am very much impressed with Katy Rose Pool and can't wait to see what book 2 has in store for us!
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Wow! Wow! Wow! WHAT A DEBUT!
Katy Rose Pool's writing is phenomenal -- poised and fluent and thoroughly enjoyable. I was completely invested from the first page, and although I had to (ugh, adulting!), I didn't want to put this book down!
There Will Come a Darkness is a beast! This book is a solid start to the Age of Darkness series, offering vivid world-building and introducing readers to a great cast of characters with interesting back stories. There are 5 POVs that were a smidge overwhelming at times, but Pool truly did a spectacular job interweaving their stories.
The plot is fascinating and rich and brooding and I just want more! There's a lot of corruption and betrayal which lends to an overarching dark theme. I was living for the magic, political intrigue, and fierce relationships that were driving the narrative -- I'm also kind of a sucker for the whole prophetic storyline thing!
The characters are ridiculously intriguing and well developed. "A prince exiled from his kingdom. A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand. A once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart. A reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone. And a dying girl on the verge of giving up." Yea, it didn't take much to sell me on this one.
Overall, I highly recommend There Will Come a Darkness. It gave me vibes from a lot of faves like Graceling, The Smoke Thieves, and Falling Kingdoms, so I know a lot of YA Fantasy fans will enjoy it. I am very much impressed with Katy Rose Pool and can't wait to see what book 2 has in store for us!
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.