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I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of this review.
Who knew pestilence could be so hot?! When I started reading Pestilence by Laura Thalassa, I’ll be honest that I was skeptical of whether I’d love this angelic-being who spent his time spreading disease to the four-corners of the world. However I have always had faith in Laura Thalassa as she has not once let me down. Andre, Pluto, Caden, Montes, Desmond, even Jame…each of these have won a place in my heart at one time or another, and now Pestilence joins their ranks. This story is dark, frightening, and at times heartbreaking. Told exclusively from Sara’s point of view, the story of Pestilence unfolds, and I could not read it fast enough!
Sara is a young woman who’s life was turned upside down by the arrival of the horsemen five years prior. Now at 21, she’s a firefighter and EMT, and one of the last people in her town after helping with the evacuations. Drawing the short straw (both figuratively and literally), Sara stays behind to attempt to kill the horsemen when he rides through her town. This starts a chain of events that Sara probably wishes she could undo. Sara is brave, her smart mouth gets her into more trouble than it would if she kept it shut, and she cares deeply for anyone/thing that suffering.
Pestilence himself is an enigma. After being shot from his horse by Sara, he’s pissed and plans to keep her alive just to make her suffer. “Suffering is for the living,” he says, and boy does he keep his promises. Something that was easy to forget while reading is that he isn’t human. He is Pestilence. He is ruthless at times, and at others Sara sees his kindness come out. He’s a puzzle that she wants to figure out and at the same times hates herself for wanting.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It is DARK, darker than anything I’ve read by Thalassa. And y’all that’s saying something! If you’ve read [b:The Queen of All that Dies|21422225|The Queen of All that Dies (The Fallen World, #1)|Laura Thalassa|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1521848671s/21422225.jpg|40728424], you’ll know where I’m coming from 😀 But I digress, Pestilence is a fantastic read. The plot itself is a little slow moving, yet it doesn’t feel that way as you read the horrors from Sara’s POV. And the romance….holy HOTNESS! It’s a mess, and I was a mess reading it. At one point, I wanted to yell at the horseman through my kindle, and the next I wanted to slap Sara for not noticing the little things the horseman did for her. It’s a slow burn for sure!
Overall I really enjoyed Pestilence. I loved Sara and her wit. I like the horseman’s naivete of this world and humans. I liked the dilemma the horseman faces as he begins to fall for a human. As a Christian, I’ve read Revelations and studied the horsemen. Obviously this book is not biblical but does take liberties with the theology. It was gut punch reading what these people faced and wondering at the same time how devastating it would be to face the horsemen as Sara and the other characters do. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys a good post-apocalyptic read, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy.
*Side note: There’s this sweet old couple that appears a little past the halfway mark of the book. Seriously y’all #relationshipgoals right there!!
Who knew pestilence could be so hot?! When I started reading Pestilence by Laura Thalassa, I’ll be honest that I was skeptical of whether I’d love this angelic-being who spent his time spreading disease to the four-corners of the world. However I have always had faith in Laura Thalassa as she has not once let me down. Andre, Pluto, Caden, Montes, Desmond, even Jame…each of these have won a place in my heart at one time or another, and now Pestilence joins their ranks. This story is dark, frightening, and at times heartbreaking. Told exclusively from Sara’s point of view, the story of Pestilence unfolds, and I could not read it fast enough!
Sara is a young woman who’s life was turned upside down by the arrival of the horsemen five years prior. Now at 21, she’s a firefighter and EMT, and one of the last people in her town after helping with the evacuations. Drawing the short straw (both figuratively and literally), Sara stays behind to attempt to kill the horsemen when he rides through her town. This starts a chain of events that Sara probably wishes she could undo. Sara is brave, her smart mouth gets her into more trouble than it would if she kept it shut, and she cares deeply for anyone/thing that suffering.
Pestilence himself is an enigma. After being shot from his horse by Sara, he’s pissed and plans to keep her alive just to make her suffer. “Suffering is for the living,” he says, and boy does he keep his promises. Something that was easy to forget while reading is that he isn’t human. He is Pestilence. He is ruthless at times, and at others Sara sees his kindness come out. He’s a puzzle that she wants to figure out and at the same times hates herself for wanting.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It is DARK, darker than anything I’ve read by Thalassa. And y’all that’s saying something! If you’ve read [b:The Queen of All that Dies|21422225|The Queen of All that Dies (The Fallen World, #1)|Laura Thalassa|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1521848671s/21422225.jpg|40728424], you’ll know where I’m coming from 😀 But I digress, Pestilence is a fantastic read. The plot itself is a little slow moving, yet it doesn’t feel that way as you read the horrors from Sara’s POV. And the romance….holy HOTNESS! It’s a mess, and I was a mess reading it. At one point, I wanted to yell at the horseman through my kindle, and the next I wanted to slap Sara for not noticing the little things the horseman did for her. It’s a slow burn for sure!
Overall I really enjoyed Pestilence. I loved Sara and her wit. I like the horseman’s naivete of this world and humans. I liked the dilemma the horseman faces as he begins to fall for a human. As a Christian, I’ve read Revelations and studied the horsemen. Obviously this book is not biblical but does take liberties with the theology. It was gut punch reading what these people faced and wondering at the same time how devastating it would be to face the horsemen as Sara and the other characters do. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys a good post-apocalyptic read, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy.
*Side note: There’s this sweet old couple that appears a little past the halfway mark of the book. Seriously y’all #relationshipgoals right there!!
I received an audiobook copy of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
ComicCon, gamers, and nerdy all caught my attention when I first heard about Lauren Helms‘s debut novel Level Me Up. I was a gamer growing up, and it is my dream to one day attend ComicCon because I am that kind of nerd 😀 However I didn’t love this book the way I thought I would. The beginning really sucked me in, but it quickly fell flat. It was just an okay read for me made better by a fantastic narrator.
Morgan is a mess of a character. She’s a broken, distrustful young woman who doesn’t love easily. Having been hurt one too many times, Morgan keeps men at an arm’s length and rarely has a steady relationship. Because of her mother dying as a teen and her father basically checking out after that, she feels unlovable and her self-confidence is lacking.
Dex is just the opposite. He’s confident, a little on the shy side, and not at all the nerd I expected. He is a professional gamer and gets paid to do what he loves for a living. He lives with the guys on his team and is the consummate bachelor until he meets Morgan at ComicCon. Dex is your typical guy, and I found him endearing.
What I Liked:
• Dex and Morgan together make a good couple. They compliment each other really well.
• I liked the gamer aspects, however few and far between they were.
• The friends, who I assume will be getting their own novels. I’m intrigued by the pairing off of these couples.
What I Didn’t Like:
• The constant back and forth. One chapter Morgan was talking about needy girls and how she hated them, yet she becomes them. I lost count on the number of times she pushed Dex away.
• Info-dumping. There is a lot of this that happens at random points of the story. Like Morgan thinking about her relationship with her dad during a scene with Dex.
• Unnecessary drama. I get it that drama is a part of contemporary romance as it builds the characters and the tension for the sexy scenes, BUT there is a line between just enough and too much. It’s crossed here.
• The ending felt rushed, really the entire book, but the ending specifically. I won’t give details because spoilers, but if you’ve read it, what did you think?
Overall Level Me Up was just an okay read for me. The narrator really helped to engage me in the story. Otherwise I think I would have had a hard time completing the book. While this story didn’t work for me, I am curious to read more of the series as I liked the friends, especially Gia and Simon. I want to know the history there 😀 I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a short contemporary romance.
ComicCon, gamers, and nerdy all caught my attention when I first heard about Lauren Helms‘s debut novel Level Me Up. I was a gamer growing up, and it is my dream to one day attend ComicCon because I am that kind of nerd 😀 However I didn’t love this book the way I thought I would. The beginning really sucked me in, but it quickly fell flat. It was just an okay read for me made better by a fantastic narrator.
Morgan is a mess of a character. She’s a broken, distrustful young woman who doesn’t love easily. Having been hurt one too many times, Morgan keeps men at an arm’s length and rarely has a steady relationship. Because of her mother dying as a teen and her father basically checking out after that, she feels unlovable and her self-confidence is lacking.
Dex is just the opposite. He’s confident, a little on the shy side, and not at all the nerd I expected. He is a professional gamer and gets paid to do what he loves for a living. He lives with the guys on his team and is the consummate bachelor until he meets Morgan at ComicCon. Dex is your typical guy, and I found him endearing.
What I Liked:
• Dex and Morgan together make a good couple. They compliment each other really well.
• I liked the gamer aspects, however few and far between they were.
• The friends, who I assume will be getting their own novels. I’m intrigued by the pairing off of these couples.
What I Didn’t Like:
• The constant back and forth. One chapter Morgan was talking about needy girls and how she hated them, yet she becomes them. I lost count on the number of times she pushed Dex away.
• Info-dumping. There is a lot of this that happens at random points of the story. Like Morgan thinking about her relationship with her dad during a scene with Dex.
• Unnecessary drama. I get it that drama is a part of contemporary romance as it builds the characters and the tension for the sexy scenes, BUT there is a line between just enough and too much. It’s crossed here.
• The ending felt rushed, really the entire book, but the ending specifically. I won’t give details because spoilers, but if you’ve read it, what did you think?
Overall Level Me Up was just an okay read for me. The narrator really helped to engage me in the story. Otherwise I think I would have had a hard time completing the book. While this story didn’t work for me, I am curious to read more of the series as I liked the friends, especially Gia and Simon. I want to know the history there 😀 I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a short contemporary romance.
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Please note that if you have not read the first two books in this series, there are minor spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk!
I can’t even….that was amazing, awesome, SPECTACULAR and heart-wrenching all at the same time. Interception by Angela McPherson is the heart-stopping, tear-inducing conclusion to Elle and Tristan’s story from the Distraction series. It picks up (if I’m not mistaken) about a year after the events of [b:Addiction|23723448|Addiction (Distraction #2)|Angela McPherson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422727416s/23723448.jpg|42812094]. Elle and Tristan have fallen into a comfortable routine with one another. Elle changed her major to journalism and is working for the school paper. Tristan has been invited for the NFL draft. The spark that they had for one another is still there but dwindling. Tristan is insecure and Elle has never been more sure. It’s an interesting twist from the last book.
Tristan is notable scared this book. He’s insecure about Elle. He knows exactly what he wants: her to be his forever. YET he’s afraid she’ll leave again and he knows he won’t survive it. During [b:Addiction|23723448|Addiction (Distraction #2)|Angela McPherson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422727416s/23723448.jpg|42812094], neither did a good job handling their grief. Tristan drowned himself in drink, Elle left him. Now she’s working all hours at the paper and he hardly sees her. He’s jealous of her coworker and seems to be walking on eggshells around her. I felt for him. He is still her rock though. Whatever and whenever she needs him, Tristan is there. Gotta love him for that!
Elle’s arc in this book killed me! First off she’s dealing with her grief over losing her sister. Then she is trying to fix things with Tristan, make him see just how much she loves him and that she won’t leave. AND then something unexpected happens that for me hit close to home. I sobbed and ugly cried. There was no way around that. I had to sit the book down and come back to it. The circumstance causes Elle to shut down and it’s Tristan that brings her back.
I love this couple! I had a love-hate relationship with them at first. But now I just love them. They were best friends, ARE best friends and now they are more. I love the author’s ability to make these characters come to life. I laughed with them, cheered them on and cried with them. The events of this book take them from the young, care-free couple they are to battle-weary adults. It makes them stronger when it could have broke them. I loved reading their story, seeing how their characters grew with the choices they made and the circumstances they faced. Seriously, if you are a fan of the series, don’t miss out! Finish Elle and Tristan’s story today!
Please note that if you have not read the first two books in this series, there are minor spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk!
I can’t even….that was amazing, awesome, SPECTACULAR and heart-wrenching all at the same time. Interception by Angela McPherson is the heart-stopping, tear-inducing conclusion to Elle and Tristan’s story from the Distraction series. It picks up (if I’m not mistaken) about a year after the events of [b:Addiction|23723448|Addiction (Distraction #2)|Angela McPherson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422727416s/23723448.jpg|42812094]. Elle and Tristan have fallen into a comfortable routine with one another. Elle changed her major to journalism and is working for the school paper. Tristan has been invited for the NFL draft. The spark that they had for one another is still there but dwindling. Tristan is insecure and Elle has never been more sure. It’s an interesting twist from the last book.
Tristan is notable scared this book. He’s insecure about Elle. He knows exactly what he wants: her to be his forever. YET he’s afraid she’ll leave again and he knows he won’t survive it. During [b:Addiction|23723448|Addiction (Distraction #2)|Angela McPherson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422727416s/23723448.jpg|42812094], neither did a good job handling their grief. Tristan drowned himself in drink, Elle left him. Now she’s working all hours at the paper and he hardly sees her. He’s jealous of her coworker and seems to be walking on eggshells around her. I felt for him. He is still her rock though. Whatever and whenever she needs him, Tristan is there. Gotta love him for that!
Elle’s arc in this book killed me! First off she’s dealing with her grief over losing her sister. Then she is trying to fix things with Tristan, make him see just how much she loves him and that she won’t leave. AND then something unexpected happens that for me hit close to home. I sobbed and ugly cried. There was no way around that. I had to sit the book down and come back to it. The circumstance causes Elle to shut down and it’s Tristan that brings her back.
I love this couple! I had a love-hate relationship with them at first. But now I just love them. They were best friends, ARE best friends and now they are more. I love the author’s ability to make these characters come to life. I laughed with them, cheered them on and cried with them. The events of this book take them from the young, care-free couple they are to battle-weary adults. It makes them stronger when it could have broke them. I loved reading their story, seeing how their characters grew with the choices they made and the circumstances they faced. Seriously, if you are a fan of the series, don’t miss out! Finish Elle and Tristan’s story today!
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Another whirlwind read from Siobhan Davis! The Secret Heir is the second book in her Alinthia series and picks up a few weeks after the end of [b:The Lost Savior|36481095|The Lost Savior (Alinthia #1)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1511730251s/36481095.jpg|58191685]. If you haven’t read that book yet, read ahead with caution as there may be spoilers from the first book in this review (though I’ll try my best to not have any). Book one ended on a pretty awful cliffhanger, not as bad as some of Davis’s previous books but still bad. I was left reeling and SO happy there was only a couple of months wait between the two. I don’t think I would’ve been able to handle more of a wait!
Tori has come so far from the girl she was at the beginning of the series. She now knows who she is, where she comes from, and what she is destined to do. She’s embraced it all with grace and little hesitation. The problem is she is now harboring a big secret from the guys who she just agreed to move in with. The thing with secrets is they fester like a war wound, and the longer you wait to share it, the harsher the outcome. I was seriously yelling at her (you know, in my mind) to come clean. Aside from this, Tori really proves herself to the guys following Dane’s training schedule and pouring all of her energy into learning how to harness her powers and the prophecy. Like the previous book, this one is told mainly from her POV, and I was fully engaged, experiencing things with her.
The guys *swoon* So I’ll admit when I first heard that Siobhan Davis was writing a reverse harem series that I was hesitant and a little skeptical. I’m a firm believer in monogamy so the idea of multiple love interests was a red flag for me. However Davis pulls this off beautifully without it feeling dirty or cheap (does that make sense?). Each of the guys in this story are fully fleshed out, with their own unique personalities and character flaws, yet they work together as one unit. I found myself attracted to each of the guys in different ways and could see how Tori would love them each equally. Maddox is still my favorite though. He’s the tough guy, the muscle of the group, but seems to understand Tori the best. He knows when to push her, when to back off, and intuitively understands what she needs when she needs it whether that be a run in the woods or a simply hug.
The plot of this book moves quickly. A new character appears and wreaks havoc in Tori’s life, causes doubt between her and the guys, and calls into question the validity of the prophecy. This in addition to the secret Tori is keeping really weighs on her and causes tension between her and Dane (who has the ability to sense the course of action and when someone isn’t being truthful). All of this builds throughout the story until in the end as the reader you don’t know who to trust anymore. There are several plot twists and questions that arise as the story progresses that culminate in the big reveal at the end of the book.
Overall I loved The Secret Heir! It’s the perfect compliment to the first book and doesn’t suffer from second-book syndrome like many do. If anything, I enjoyed this one more than the first. The author takes us off world for a little bit, and we get to meet more aliens. So I’d call that a win in the scifi category. The romance aspect is really starting to rev its engines (so to speak) with some very hot, steamy make out scenes 😉 If you enjoyed the first book, you will want to grab a copy of this one ASAP. If you haven’t read the first book yet, I strongly suggest you do, otherwise you will be lost in reading this one. I highly recommend this series for anyone that enjoys science fiction, paranormal romance, and reverse harems.
Another whirlwind read from Siobhan Davis! The Secret Heir is the second book in her Alinthia series and picks up a few weeks after the end of [b:The Lost Savior|36481095|The Lost Savior (Alinthia #1)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1511730251s/36481095.jpg|58191685]. If you haven’t read that book yet, read ahead with caution as there may be spoilers from the first book in this review (though I’ll try my best to not have any). Book one ended on a pretty awful cliffhanger, not as bad as some of Davis’s previous books but still bad. I was left reeling and SO happy there was only a couple of months wait between the two. I don’t think I would’ve been able to handle more of a wait!
Tori has come so far from the girl she was at the beginning of the series. She now knows who she is, where she comes from, and what she is destined to do. She’s embraced it all with grace and little hesitation. The problem is she is now harboring a big secret from the guys who she just agreed to move in with. The thing with secrets is they fester like a war wound, and the longer you wait to share it, the harsher the outcome. I was seriously yelling at her (you know, in my mind) to come clean. Aside from this, Tori really proves herself to the guys following Dane’s training schedule and pouring all of her energy into learning how to harness her powers and the prophecy. Like the previous book, this one is told mainly from her POV, and I was fully engaged, experiencing things with her.
The guys *swoon* So I’ll admit when I first heard that Siobhan Davis was writing a reverse harem series that I was hesitant and a little skeptical. I’m a firm believer in monogamy so the idea of multiple love interests was a red flag for me. However Davis pulls this off beautifully without it feeling dirty or cheap (does that make sense?). Each of the guys in this story are fully fleshed out, with their own unique personalities and character flaws, yet they work together as one unit. I found myself attracted to each of the guys in different ways and could see how Tori would love them each equally. Maddox is still my favorite though. He’s the tough guy, the muscle of the group, but seems to understand Tori the best. He knows when to push her, when to back off, and intuitively understands what she needs when she needs it whether that be a run in the woods or a simply hug.
The plot of this book moves quickly. A new character appears and wreaks havoc in Tori’s life, causes doubt between her and the guys, and calls into question the validity of the prophecy. This in addition to the secret Tori is keeping really weighs on her and causes tension between her and Dane (who has the ability to sense the course of action and when someone isn’t being truthful). All of this builds throughout the story until in the end as the reader you don’t know who to trust anymore. There are several plot twists and questions that arise as the story progresses that culminate in the big reveal at the end of the book.
Overall I loved The Secret Heir! It’s the perfect compliment to the first book and doesn’t suffer from second-book syndrome like many do. If anything, I enjoyed this one more than the first. The author takes us off world for a little bit, and we get to meet more aliens. So I’d call that a win in the scifi category. The romance aspect is really starting to rev its engines (so to speak) with some very hot, steamy make out scenes 😉 If you enjoyed the first book, you will want to grab a copy of this one ASAP. If you haven’t read the first book yet, I strongly suggest you do, otherwise you will be lost in reading this one. I highly recommend this series for anyone that enjoys science fiction, paranormal romance, and reverse harems.
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige is one of my all-time favorite retellings of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It isn’t quite a retelling, but more a continuation of Baum’s classic. Amy Gumm lives in a modern-day Kansas before a tornado sweeps her away to Oz. Her whole life Amy has read the story and wished for an escape like Dorothy’s. Now that she has it though, she realizes Oz isn’t what the books told her it was. The reason why is Dorothy.
I really liked Amy. She is a girl who has had her fair share of troubles in life. Her father left her and her mother without a backward glance, leaving them poor and barely able to make ends meet. A car wreck left her mother a drug addict, and Amy basically had to raise herself. “Salvation Amy” is what they call her at school, a cruel nickname. Now in Oz, she is being touted as the only one that can save the Ozians from Dorothy’s wicked reign. Amy struggles with this concept of being a savior. What is good or wicked? Those lines are blurred for her in Oz, and she finds that she is losing who she thought she was. This internal struggle coupled with the action of the book make for a great read!
The plot follows Amy as she travels to Oz and discovers what has happened there. For Amy, her knowledge (and our own) ends when Dorothy returned to Kansas at the end of Baum’s classic. But Dorothy found a way back to Oz, and her want for Oz’s magic corrupted her and her friends: the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion, even little Toto and Glinda. The Oz of this book is in disarray, the citizens oppressed, and the good has become wicked. It’s an interesting twist on the classic. I love that instead of a retelling, it’s a continuation. I liked (even if I was a bit horrified) how the author portrayed my favorite characters and twisted them. It made for an interesting, fast-paced read.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I liked Amy, and I rooted for her as she struggled with the concept of good and wicked. I will admit that the beginning of the book moved slowly, however once Amy arrives in Oz the action picks up. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA fantasy and the Wizard of Oz.
I really liked Amy. She is a girl who has had her fair share of troubles in life. Her father left her and her mother without a backward glance, leaving them poor and barely able to make ends meet. A car wreck left her mother a drug addict, and Amy basically had to raise herself. “Salvation Amy” is what they call her at school, a cruel nickname. Now in Oz, she is being touted as the only one that can save the Ozians from Dorothy’s wicked reign. Amy struggles with this concept of being a savior. What is good or wicked? Those lines are blurred for her in Oz, and she finds that she is losing who she thought she was. This internal struggle coupled with the action of the book make for a great read!
The plot follows Amy as she travels to Oz and discovers what has happened there. For Amy, her knowledge (and our own) ends when Dorothy returned to Kansas at the end of Baum’s classic. But Dorothy found a way back to Oz, and her want for Oz’s magic corrupted her and her friends: the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion, even little Toto and Glinda. The Oz of this book is in disarray, the citizens oppressed, and the good has become wicked. It’s an interesting twist on the classic. I love that instead of a retelling, it’s a continuation. I liked (even if I was a bit horrified) how the author portrayed my favorite characters and twisted them. It made for an interesting, fast-paced read.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I liked Amy, and I rooted for her as she struggled with the concept of good and wicked. I will admit that the beginning of the book moved slowly, however once Amy arrives in Oz the action picks up. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA fantasy and the Wizard of Oz.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Some reviews are really hard to write. This is one of them. While I enjoyed aspects of From the Earth to the Shadows, others I didn’t, making this just an okay read for me. I was on the fence about reading this one simply because of my feelings about the first book [b:Between the Blade and the Heart|34964846|Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie, #1)|Amanda Hocking|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497298600s/34964846.jpg|44948152]. But after how it ended, I wanted to continue the series and find out what would happen to Malin, Asher, and their friends.
From the Earth to the Shadows picks up three days after the end of the first book. I liked this because it meant there was little to catch the reader up on, and I was able to jump right into the story. The author does give a brief review of the events that occurred leading up to the opening scene. It didn’t feel repetitive, but like a reminder of where Malin is and what is about to happen.
Unlike the first book, this book is filled with fights scenes. While this made for an exciting read, it also became dull. The characters kept finding themselves in situations that were conveniently solved without actually growing the characters in any form or fashion or even really adding to the plot. Rather than driving the plot, these scenes slowed the story down. And don’t get me started on the love triangle. This was an issue I had with the first book and I really thought it was resolved at the end of that book, but I was wrong *mentally rolling my eyes*
The book’s saving grace was it’s continued world-building. I liked the addition of Odin and the quest he sends Malin on. I love Hocking‘s ability to blend mythology with a future urban world. I liked the mythological creatures Malin faces and even her everyday struggles. However these things can’t carry the book.
Overall From the Earth to the Shadows was just an okay read for me. I honestly found myself skimming during some scenes and savoring others. I couldn’t empathize with Malin, and I detested the triangle. If you read and enjoyed the first book, I believe you will be happy with this one. But honestly, I could have taken it or left it.
Some reviews are really hard to write. This is one of them. While I enjoyed aspects of From the Earth to the Shadows, others I didn’t, making this just an okay read for me. I was on the fence about reading this one simply because of my feelings about the first book [b:Between the Blade and the Heart|34964846|Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie, #1)|Amanda Hocking|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497298600s/34964846.jpg|44948152]. But after how it ended, I wanted to continue the series and find out what would happen to Malin, Asher, and their friends.
From the Earth to the Shadows picks up three days after the end of the first book. I liked this because it meant there was little to catch the reader up on, and I was able to jump right into the story. The author does give a brief review of the events that occurred leading up to the opening scene. It didn’t feel repetitive, but like a reminder of where Malin is and what is about to happen.
Unlike the first book, this book is filled with fights scenes. While this made for an exciting read, it also became dull. The characters kept finding themselves in situations that were conveniently solved without actually growing the characters in any form or fashion or even really adding to the plot. Rather than driving the plot, these scenes slowed the story down. And don’t get me started on the love triangle. This was an issue I had with the first book and I really thought it was resolved at the end of that book, but I was wrong *mentally rolling my eyes*
The book’s saving grace was it’s continued world-building. I liked the addition of Odin and the quest he sends Malin on. I love Hocking‘s ability to blend mythology with a future urban world. I liked the mythological creatures Malin faces and even her everyday struggles. However these things can’t carry the book.
Overall From the Earth to the Shadows was just an okay read for me. I honestly found myself skimming during some scenes and savoring others. I couldn’t empathize with Malin, and I detested the triangle. If you read and enjoyed the first book, I believe you will be happy with this one. But honestly, I could have taken it or left it.
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Legacy of Light by M. Lynn & Michelle Bryan picks up right where the first one left off. *Please note that if you have NOT read [b:Prophecy of Darkness|35924618|Prophecy of Darkness (Legends of the Tri-Gard, #1)|Michelle Bryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1502045115s/35924618.jpg|57490381] there are spoilers from that book in this review. Read at your own risk.* Trystan and Rissa are mourning the loss of Davi in their own ways, but they must go on. They have a mission: to return magic to Dreach-Sciene. But it isn’t simple and their journey has only just begun.
[b:Prophecy of Darkness|35924618|Prophecy of Darkness (Legends of the Tri-Gard, #1)|Michelle Bryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1502045115s/35924618.jpg|57490381] ended with some major cliffhangers: Davi’s death and true identity, the execution of the king, and the questionable nature of the Tri-Gard. I honestly was nervous opening this book. Second books tend to be a bridge between books in a trilogy. I’m happy to report that Legacy of Light does not fall prey to SBS (second book syndrome). In fact, I liked it even more than the first…if that’s possible! There are many twists and turns in the plot, along with some great character growth that culminates in a fantastic ending.
Trystan’s character continues to be an easy one to love. In the first book, he transitioned from the pampered prince to Toha. With his father’s death, he begins to make the reluctant transition to king of Dreach-Sciene. He struggles, not so much with the pressures of king – he was born for that – but the loss of his father and best friend. With those losses, he also lost his sister. Rissa is in a very dark place. Her POV scenes were hard to read. She’s hurting that much! I ached for her and Trystan, for all they lost and all they are fighting for. It’s so much, almost too much to expect of a young king and his sister.
Trystan and Rissa have a long and hard journey in this book. Not only do they find out about their father’s murder, but that the kingdom believes them dead as well. They must fight for their kingdom AND complete the mission their father sent them out on. Magic is needed back in Dreach-Sciene, the sooner the better. The land is dying and their people along with it. I found myself cheering them on, cringing at the things they must do, and aching for their people and their hunger. The twists and turns in this book coupled with the action/fight scenes make it a quick read and one I was thoroughly invested in. The imagery is vivid, putting the reader right in the middle of the dying kingdom.
Overall I loved Legacy of Light. It was a dark turn in the story, but it proved to also be a strong companion to the first book. All the characters continued to grow and evolve to their new situations. The loss and hurt they felt, I felt as the reader. And Davi….don’t get me started. His whole arc has broken my heart and I’m honestly shocked at the turn! I’m SO excited that the last book in this series comes out in August…not such a long wait. If you’ve read the first book in the series, I highly recommend you read this one ASAP. It doesn’t disappoint!
Legacy of Light by M. Lynn & Michelle Bryan picks up right where the first one left off. *Please note that if you have NOT read [b:Prophecy of Darkness|35924618|Prophecy of Darkness (Legends of the Tri-Gard, #1)|Michelle Bryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1502045115s/35924618.jpg|57490381] there are spoilers from that book in this review. Read at your own risk.* Trystan and Rissa are mourning the loss of Davi in their own ways, but they must go on. They have a mission: to return magic to Dreach-Sciene. But it isn’t simple and their journey has only just begun.
[b:Prophecy of Darkness|35924618|Prophecy of Darkness (Legends of the Tri-Gard, #1)|Michelle Bryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1502045115s/35924618.jpg|57490381] ended with some major cliffhangers: Davi’s death and true identity, the execution of the king, and the questionable nature of the Tri-Gard. I honestly was nervous opening this book. Second books tend to be a bridge between books in a trilogy. I’m happy to report that Legacy of Light does not fall prey to SBS (second book syndrome). In fact, I liked it even more than the first…if that’s possible! There are many twists and turns in the plot, along with some great character growth that culminates in a fantastic ending.
Trystan’s character continues to be an easy one to love. In the first book, he transitioned from the pampered prince to Toha. With his father’s death, he begins to make the reluctant transition to king of Dreach-Sciene. He struggles, not so much with the pressures of king – he was born for that – but the loss of his father and best friend. With those losses, he also lost his sister. Rissa is in a very dark place. Her POV scenes were hard to read. She’s hurting that much! I ached for her and Trystan, for all they lost and all they are fighting for. It’s so much, almost too much to expect of a young king and his sister.
Trystan and Rissa have a long and hard journey in this book. Not only do they find out about their father’s murder, but that the kingdom believes them dead as well. They must fight for their kingdom AND complete the mission their father sent them out on. Magic is needed back in Dreach-Sciene, the sooner the better. The land is dying and their people along with it. I found myself cheering them on, cringing at the things they must do, and aching for their people and their hunger. The twists and turns in this book coupled with the action/fight scenes make it a quick read and one I was thoroughly invested in. The imagery is vivid, putting the reader right in the middle of the dying kingdom.
Overall I loved Legacy of Light. It was a dark turn in the story, but it proved to also be a strong companion to the first book. All the characters continued to grow and evolve to their new situations. The loss and hurt they felt, I felt as the reader. And Davi….don’t get me started. His whole arc has broken my heart and I’m honestly shocked at the turn! I’m SO excited that the last book in this series comes out in August…not such a long wait. If you’ve read the first book in the series, I highly recommend you read this one ASAP. It doesn’t disappoint!
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Seducing Kaden is the latest installment of The Kennedy Boys by Siobhan Davis. I have to start by saying I was excited and hesitant to read this book. Why? Kaden has been a mystery the entire series. From shady dealings in a back alley to fighting with Keven, Kaden has intrigued me. Then I got a taste of the blurb and found out that his romance was not only forbidden but taboo to the extreme….a married professor?! Really, Kaden could do better in my mind. Now those were my thoughts going into the book. See why I was hesitant 😉 Y’all I should’ve known better. It is Siobhan Davis after all, and she’s never disappointed. Alternating from past to present and between the points of view of Kaden and Evelina, Seducing Kaden unfolds in a dark and intimate romance that will leave you breathless by the end.
The book opens during Kaden’s first day of college and his first encounter with Evelina before jumping three years. The constant back and forth did make this hard to connect to Evelina. I already liked Kaden, but I had a hard time connecting to their romance. The story starts with them already in love and flashback chapters tell how they fell in love. The constant back and forth made it a little hard to follow the timeline. However hints and scenes from previous books ([b:Keeping Kyler|35173354|Keeping Kyler (The Kennedy Boys, #3)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495223501s/35173354.jpg|53578435], [b:Saving Brad|35195464|Saving Brad (The Kennedy Boys, #5)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501010879s/35195464.jpg|56533311]…at least I believe) helped to tie this story to the series as a whole.
Evelina’s story is heartbreaking. Her marriage is a sham. She lives in constant fear. Really she is a damsel in distress, waiting for her knight to free her from her prison. But life isn’t a fairytale, and her knight could lose his life freeing her. I had a hard time accepting her reluctance to get herself out of her situation.
Now to the aspect of the story I had the hardest time accepting before I even read it: cheating. I abhor cheaters. I feel like there is always another option. However this story it didn’t even feel like cheating. Evelina was married, but not by her choice. There was no love lost between her and her husband. Now I know I’m justifying and I’m not even giving that many details (because spoilers!), but when you read it you’ll get what I mean.
Overall, I liked Kaden’s story. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, that’s still [b:Loving Kalvin|36755510|Loving Kalvin|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513426007s/36755510.jpg|55952239]. I recommend this one to anyone that is a fan of the series thus far. However I do feel I should warn you that this is a darker read than Siobhan Davis's previous books.
Seducing Kaden is the latest installment of The Kennedy Boys by Siobhan Davis. I have to start by saying I was excited and hesitant to read this book. Why? Kaden has been a mystery the entire series. From shady dealings in a back alley to fighting with Keven, Kaden has intrigued me. Then I got a taste of the blurb and found out that his romance was not only forbidden but taboo to the extreme….a married professor?! Really, Kaden could do better in my mind. Now those were my thoughts going into the book. See why I was hesitant 😉 Y’all I should’ve known better. It is Siobhan Davis after all, and she’s never disappointed. Alternating from past to present and between the points of view of Kaden and Evelina, Seducing Kaden unfolds in a dark and intimate romance that will leave you breathless by the end.
The book opens during Kaden’s first day of college and his first encounter with Evelina before jumping three years. The constant back and forth did make this hard to connect to Evelina. I already liked Kaden, but I had a hard time connecting to their romance. The story starts with them already in love and flashback chapters tell how they fell in love. The constant back and forth made it a little hard to follow the timeline. However hints and scenes from previous books ([b:Keeping Kyler|35173354|Keeping Kyler (The Kennedy Boys, #3)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495223501s/35173354.jpg|53578435], [b:Saving Brad|35195464|Saving Brad (The Kennedy Boys, #5)|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501010879s/35195464.jpg|56533311]…at least I believe) helped to tie this story to the series as a whole.
Evelina’s story is heartbreaking. Her marriage is a sham. She lives in constant fear. Really she is a damsel in distress, waiting for her knight to free her from her prison. But life isn’t a fairytale, and her knight could lose his life freeing her. I had a hard time accepting her reluctance to get herself out of her situation.
Now to the aspect of the story I had the hardest time accepting before I even read it: cheating. I abhor cheaters. I feel like there is always another option. However this story it didn’t even feel like cheating. Evelina was married, but not by her choice. There was no love lost between her and her husband. Now I know I’m justifying and I’m not even giving that many details (because spoilers!), but when you read it you’ll get what I mean.
Overall, I liked Kaden’s story. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, that’s still [b:Loving Kalvin|36755510|Loving Kalvin|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513426007s/36755510.jpg|55952239]. I recommend this one to anyone that is a fan of the series thus far. However I do feel I should warn you that this is a darker read than Siobhan Davis's previous books.