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lisashelves's Reviews (976)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 stars
Fire With Fire is a fantasy book about two sisters, both dragon hunters. They want to spend their summer differently and a real dragon and witches make that a bit hard.
Dragons have always been one of my favourite mythological beasts and I’m always looking for books involving them. The synopsis really grabbed my attention and I couldn’t wait to start reading this book, and I really enjoyed it!
I really liked the plot and the way it was written. With the POV switching between the two sisters, we meet both of them and learn about them. Both aren’t the most reliable narrators, but both are vital to understanding the story and the world.
The magic world wasn’t as unique as I would’ve liked. It was a bit simple and easy to understand. It didn’t really stand out that much, aside from the dragons and people being able to bond with them. That little part was a really interesting take on bonds that I really liked. Even though it wasn’t super unique, it still dragged me in.
Both sisters, Dani and Eden jump off the page. Both are vastly different but really well written and well thought out. The growth both girls go through is very different from the other, but still similar at the same time, which is just really interesting. Especially the relationship they have and how it shapes the story and the actions of the sisters. In the beginning their banter and how they acted around each other reminded me a bit of my sister and I, which I really liked.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved the sibling bond that is so vital to the story.
Fire With Fire is a fantasy book about two sisters, both dragon hunters. They want to spend their summer differently and a real dragon and witches make that a bit hard.
Dragons have always been one of my favourite mythological beasts and I’m always looking for books involving them. The synopsis really grabbed my attention and I couldn’t wait to start reading this book, and I really enjoyed it!
I really liked the plot and the way it was written. With the POV switching between the two sisters, we meet both of them and learn about them. Both aren’t the most reliable narrators, but both are vital to understanding the story and the world.
The magic world wasn’t as unique as I would’ve liked. It was a bit simple and easy to understand. It didn’t really stand out that much, aside from the dragons and people being able to bond with them. That little part was a really interesting take on bonds that I really liked. Even though it wasn’t super unique, it still dragged me in.
Both sisters, Dani and Eden jump off the page. Both are vastly different but really well written and well thought out. The growth both girls go through is very different from the other, but still similar at the same time, which is just really interesting. Especially the relationship they have and how it shapes the story and the actions of the sisters. In the beginning their banter and how they acted around each other reminded me a bit of my sister and I, which I really liked.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved the sibling bond that is so vital to the story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
Fire Falling is the sequel to Air Awakens and picks up right after the ending of book 1, which Vhalla getting ready to march out together with the army.
Review of Air Awakens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fire Falling is the sequel to Air Awakens and picks up right after the ending of book 1, which Vhalla getting ready to march out together with the army.
Review of Air Awakens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
A deal with the Elf King is a story about Luella, who lives in a town which has produced the Human Queen for the elves for three thousand years. The new queen still hasn’t been found and relations between the elves and humans is straining.
This book was such a quick and fun read! I didn’t really expect super much of it. I have heard a lot of good things about it, but in the past books haven’t been living up to their expectations, so I try to have non when trying new books or series. I have read more books by Elise Kova which I enjoyed and you definitely notice they’re written by the same author. They have the same fun, quick-read and fast-paced feel to them which I really enjoy.
This book managed to get me a bit out of the small slump I was in this month. I had a harder time focusing on reading and didn’t read as much, but I blew through this one! It was also really nice to read a standalone. I did think the ending was a bit quicker written than the rest. I understand why it needed to be written that way and why it happened, but I would’ve liked to see a bit more of the characters at the ending. I kinda hope we’ll see that a bit more in the next books to come.
I really liked the plot; it wasn’t too complicated or a plot that needed more pages to be told. It fitted just fine with the length of the book and all that happened. Nothing felt rushed or drawn out. All the events happened gradually and flowed naturally. I enjoyed reading it like that and learning along Luella about the land beyond the Fade.
Luella was a really interesting character. I liked how she had a purpose and goal in mind and was working towards that, instead of being someone who is trying to find her place in the world. While she needs to find it in beyond the Fade, she isn’t waiting around or doing nothing, which I really appreciate.
I liked the romance in this book. It was long known Luella and Eldas would get together. I was a bit frustrated with the communication between the two, but that was the charming point about them as well. I did think the romance/spice would lean more towards new adult than young adult. I wouldn’t have minded it being a bit spicier.
Overall, it is a really fun and easy read and I like how multiple books will be written in this world. I kinda hope we’ll see these characters are side characters in the other books.
A deal with the Elf King is a story about Luella, who lives in a town which has produced the Human Queen for the elves for three thousand years. The new queen still hasn’t been found and relations between the elves and humans is straining.
This book was such a quick and fun read! I didn’t really expect super much of it. I have heard a lot of good things about it, but in the past books haven’t been living up to their expectations, so I try to have non when trying new books or series. I have read more books by Elise Kova which I enjoyed and you definitely notice they’re written by the same author. They have the same fun, quick-read and fast-paced feel to them which I really enjoy.
This book managed to get me a bit out of the small slump I was in this month. I had a harder time focusing on reading and didn’t read as much, but I blew through this one! It was also really nice to read a standalone. I did think the ending was a bit quicker written than the rest. I understand why it needed to be written that way and why it happened, but I would’ve liked to see a bit more of the characters at the ending. I kinda hope we’ll see that a bit more in the next books to come.
I really liked the plot; it wasn’t too complicated or a plot that needed more pages to be told. It fitted just fine with the length of the book and all that happened. Nothing felt rushed or drawn out. All the events happened gradually and flowed naturally. I enjoyed reading it like that and learning along Luella about the land beyond the Fade.
Luella was a really interesting character. I liked how she had a purpose and goal in mind and was working towards that, instead of being someone who is trying to find her place in the world. While she needs to find it in beyond the Fade, she isn’t waiting around or doing nothing, which I really appreciate.
I liked the romance in this book. It was long known Luella and Eldas would get together. I was a bit frustrated with the communication between the two, but that was the charming point about them as well. I did think the romance/spice would lean more towards new adult than young adult. I wouldn’t have minded it being a bit spicier.
Overall, it is a really fun and easy read and I like how multiple books will be written in this world. I kinda hope we’ll see these characters are side characters in the other books.
⭐️⭐️ / 2 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via BookOfMatchesMedia in exchange for an honest review!
Blade of Ash is a fantasy romance book about Fredrick and Alyana, who have to work together to cure a death cure cast on Fredrick.
I was super excited to start reading this book. I was it a lot on my feed when the cover was revealed and it sparked my interest! I am a sucker for fantasy romance books and a royalty aspect makes it even better. So, I was stocked when I got the change to read the book early!
I feel like I was a bit let down in some way. I had thought the story was going to take another route than it did for some reason, I don’t really know why myself. I took some notes for myself but the overall feeling was just confusion while reading. I know there is a prequel novella, and maybe I would’ve understood the story and whole magic system better when reading that first. I just think that as the first “book” in the series it should be able to read this one first and understand everything, which wasn’t the case for me.
In the first chapter a lot of terms are thrown around without any explanation as to what they mean, such as a reckoning, truthwell and stripped. None of these terms are explained later in the book, which adds to the confusion I’ve felt while reading. Through the lines you can pick up some things which might’ve explained the terms. But without any real explanation that is just guessing on my part.
The plot is also not something I’m the biggest fan of. It seemed repetitive and I wasn’t really invested in the story because of this. The confusion also helped in this, since the confusion overshadowed a lot of the story for me personally. I also missed a bit of build-up in the events that were happening to make me invested in what was happening. It felt like the big answers the characters are seeking are immediately known after they asked/search for answers instead of some suspense as to what the answer may be.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the characters. Both Red and Aly seemed a bit two dimensional to me. Both were also really repetitive in their thoughts and I kept getting irritated at how easily Aly kept crying. It just didn’t help with the overall feel for the book.
The ending was way better than the beginning and middle of the book! I still didn’t feel much for anything that happened, but that is mainly just because of everything I’d read before the end happened. While the ending did seem convenient with how everything just solved itself.
Overall, this book just didn’t do it for me. I had a hard time finding a connection with the characters and wasn’t invested in the story until around 62% in. It seemed to have a lot of potential, as the plot and characters can be really good, but with the way it was written it wasn’t just my cup of tea.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via BookOfMatchesMedia in exchange for an honest review!
Blade of Ash is a fantasy romance book about Fredrick and Alyana, who have to work together to cure a death cure cast on Fredrick.
I was super excited to start reading this book. I was it a lot on my feed when the cover was revealed and it sparked my interest! I am a sucker for fantasy romance books and a royalty aspect makes it even better. So, I was stocked when I got the change to read the book early!
I feel like I was a bit let down in some way. I had thought the story was going to take another route than it did for some reason, I don’t really know why myself. I took some notes for myself but the overall feeling was just confusion while reading. I know there is a prequel novella, and maybe I would’ve understood the story and whole magic system better when reading that first. I just think that as the first “book” in the series it should be able to read this one first and understand everything, which wasn’t the case for me.
In the first chapter a lot of terms are thrown around without any explanation as to what they mean, such as a reckoning, truthwell and stripped. None of these terms are explained later in the book, which adds to the confusion I’ve felt while reading. Through the lines you can pick up some things which might’ve explained the terms. But without any real explanation that is just guessing on my part.
The plot is also not something I’m the biggest fan of. It seemed repetitive and I wasn’t really invested in the story because of this. The confusion also helped in this, since the confusion overshadowed a lot of the story for me personally. I also missed a bit of build-up in the events that were happening to make me invested in what was happening. It felt like the big answers the characters are seeking are immediately known after they asked/search for answers instead of some suspense as to what the answer may be.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the characters. Both Red and Aly seemed a bit two dimensional to me. Both were also really repetitive in their thoughts and I kept getting irritated at how easily Aly kept crying. It just didn’t help with the overall feel for the book.
The ending was way better than the beginning and middle of the book! I still didn’t feel much for anything that happened, but that is mainly just because of everything I’d read before the end happened. While the ending did seem convenient with how everything just solved itself.
Overall, this book just didn’t do it for me. I had a hard time finding a connection with the characters and wasn’t invested in the story until around 62% in. It seemed to have a lot of potential, as the plot and characters can be really good, but with the way it was written it wasn’t just my cup of tea.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 3 stars
The Night Circus is a fantasy book about a circus that arrived without any warning or announcement. Within the circus are two magicians who are competing against each other.
The book has been on my shelves for a while and it really was time to finally read it. I felt like I was in the right mood for it, so I picked it up and started reading it.
One of the first things I noticed about the book was the whimsical way it was written. It really made me want to go visit the night circus! It made me wish magic was real. The ambiance and atmosphere of the book were just amazing.
While the book was beautifully written, I had a hard time navigating it. There were a lot of different characters and I really had to write the names and who they were down to remember who I was reading about sometimes. The book also isn’t written chronologically. The time and date at the beginning of the chapters help, but it made navigating everything harder for me. I can’t really remember ever having read a book that isn’t written chronologically, so it was a ‘new’ way of writing for me that I wasn’t accustomed to. The way the places, times and thus characters shifted was hard to follow for me. It did become easier around one third in.
I was also a bit confused by the plot. I understood that a competition was happening, but didn’t understand how some of the time stamps or some characters played a role in it. Of course, all of it became clear at the end of the book, but it didn’t take away the confusion at the beginning. It was also really slow-paced, so that did help getting a better grip on everything eventually.
The characters were really interesting and very different. The two main characters, Celia and Marco, are both powerful magicians, but somehow it didn’t really feel like that. They did amazing stuff in the circus, but the slow plot didn’t always make it seem that way. I was more intrigued by the circus itself and the performers than the two main characters. I also really liked the twins and wanted to know more about them than the competition.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance. It felt underdeveloped for some reason. Maybe the lack of urgency throughout the whole book, due to the slow pacing, made the romance feel sort of rushed and out of place with the rest of the book. The romance also mostly seemed to develop through dialogue instead of through actions.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and feel like I’ll learn new things or pick up other parts of the book if I’d read it again. It really adds to the atmosphere the whole book carries.
The Night Circus is a fantasy book about a circus that arrived without any warning or announcement. Within the circus are two magicians who are competing against each other.
The book has been on my shelves for a while and it really was time to finally read it. I felt like I was in the right mood for it, so I picked it up and started reading it.
One of the first things I noticed about the book was the whimsical way it was written. It really made me want to go visit the night circus! It made me wish magic was real. The ambiance and atmosphere of the book were just amazing.
While the book was beautifully written, I had a hard time navigating it. There were a lot of different characters and I really had to write the names and who they were down to remember who I was reading about sometimes. The book also isn’t written chronologically. The time and date at the beginning of the chapters help, but it made navigating everything harder for me. I can’t really remember ever having read a book that isn’t written chronologically, so it was a ‘new’ way of writing for me that I wasn’t accustomed to. The way the places, times and thus characters shifted was hard to follow for me. It did become easier around one third in.
I was also a bit confused by the plot. I understood that a competition was happening, but didn’t understand how some of the time stamps or some characters played a role in it. Of course, all of it became clear at the end of the book, but it didn’t take away the confusion at the beginning. It was also really slow-paced, so that did help getting a better grip on everything eventually.
The characters were really interesting and very different. The two main characters, Celia and Marco, are both powerful magicians, but somehow it didn’t really feel like that. They did amazing stuff in the circus, but the slow plot didn’t always make it seem that way. I was more intrigued by the circus itself and the performers than the two main characters. I also really liked the twins and wanted to know more about them than the competition.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance. It felt underdeveloped for some reason. Maybe the lack of urgency throughout the whole book, due to the slow pacing, made the romance feel sort of rushed and out of place with the rest of the book. The romance also mostly seemed to develop through dialogue instead of through actions.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and feel like I’ll learn new things or pick up other parts of the book if I’d read it again. It really adds to the atmosphere the whole book carries.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Daughter of the Pirate King is a story about Alosa, who willingly gets kidnapped in order to retrieve an ancient hidden map hidden somewhere by the captain of the pirate ship she is a prisoner on.
I recently watched the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and was really craving some good pirate stories. Unfortunately, not many are written in the YA genre, but I had some left on my shelves which I hadn’t yet read. This book, together with Namesake was one of them. Seeing as Alosa is dubbed the female Jack Sparrow, I naturally picked up this one out of the two.
I really liked the plot, as it seemed really unique. The prose of somehow finding a treasure map which, of course, leads to a place where treasure can be found is a standard with pirate stories. The way this plot was written thought didn’t feel standard. I liked how Alosa went about trying to find the map by willingly becoming a prisoner.
The world-building wasn’t really big, as most of the story happened on the ship, but somehow the world felt really big. I also loved the attention to details on the ship. It felt like a full crew was at work keeping the ship afloat and on its way. The little map at the beginning of the ship also really helped!
50 pages in, I can totally see why Alosa is dubbed the female Jack Sparrow. So many things she does remind me of her and I loved every second of it. She is just confident and doesn’t really care about others, she is just unapologetically herself and I am here for it! I love a female character who is like that, who doesn’t need to be rescued but is the rescuer. I also really loved Enwen, he is just hilarious, especially with how superstitious he is!
I am also a really big fan of her relationships, especially the banter with Riden. They have such good chemistry, it really shows. I also love how they went from enemies to friends to lovers. It was really well written and believable.
Some plot points were easily guessed, but some still took me by surprise, which I really enjoyed! it makes me really curious how the story will continue on!
Overall, it was a really enjoyable, easy read and I really want to know how the story continues on in the sequel!
Daughter of the Pirate King is a story about Alosa, who willingly gets kidnapped in order to retrieve an ancient hidden map hidden somewhere by the captain of the pirate ship she is a prisoner on.
I recently watched the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and was really craving some good pirate stories. Unfortunately, not many are written in the YA genre, but I had some left on my shelves which I hadn’t yet read. This book, together with Namesake was one of them. Seeing as Alosa is dubbed the female Jack Sparrow, I naturally picked up this one out of the two.
I really liked the plot, as it seemed really unique. The prose of somehow finding a treasure map which, of course, leads to a place where treasure can be found is a standard with pirate stories. The way this plot was written thought didn’t feel standard. I liked how Alosa went about trying to find the map by willingly becoming a prisoner.
The world-building wasn’t really big, as most of the story happened on the ship, but somehow the world felt really big. I also loved the attention to details on the ship. It felt like a full crew was at work keeping the ship afloat and on its way. The little map at the beginning of the ship also really helped!
50 pages in, I can totally see why Alosa is dubbed the female Jack Sparrow. So many things she does remind me of her and I loved every second of it. She is just confident and doesn’t really care about others, she is just unapologetically herself and I am here for it! I love a female character who is like that, who doesn’t need to be rescued but is the rescuer. I also really loved Enwen, he is just hilarious, especially with how superstitious he is!
I am also a really big fan of her relationships, especially the banter with Riden. They have such good chemistry, it really shows. I also love how they went from enemies to friends to lovers. It was really well written and believable.
Some plot points were easily guessed, but some still took me by surprise, which I really enjoyed! it makes me really curious how the story will continue on!
Overall, it was a really enjoyable, easy read and I really want to know how the story continues on in the sequel!