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I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review
Let me preface this review with saying that this novella was just okay for me. I’m not big on erotica books and this would qualify as such.
Awakening by Laura Greenwood is the first book in a unique retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty. Keira is the princess of Alventia and her whole life she has heard the stories about her mother’s curse. However she doesn’t believe them, until the eve of her 18th birthday she sits down at a spinning wheel, pricking her finger and falling into a wakeful sleep. Aware of what goes on around her but unable to respond, Keira drifts through life for 96 years until her Prince awakens her. But she doesn’t wake up human, instead she is now a vampire cursed to be either the greatest Queen Alventia has ever seen or usher in the Darkness to her kingdom.
So I didn’t love the characters of this book. Keira and the Prince fell flat for me. There wasn’t a lot of exploration into the reasoning behind their actions. However since this is a novella I’m able to overlook this. Keira starts out as your typical princess, but during her sleep changes into what I call a vampire…you know drinking and craving blood, though daylight doesn’t seem to be an issue for her ;) Philip the Dark King’s son is the prince lucky enough to waken her. Philip is kind and despite his upbringing I found him rather sweet. His whole focus is on Keira. Everything he has done has been for her. It’s a bit overwhelming to wake up after 96 years to find your Prince has been searching for you that long!
This novella centers around Keira becoming whatever she’s become after her cursed sleep. Keira accepts her fate without much question or emotion. Me…I would’ve been freaking out if I woke up craving blood, Keira acted like it was just another day. Then there was the insta-love or I guess it was more lust between Philip and Keira that then turned to love. I don’t know why but it kinda annoyed me. I mean she wakes up after 96 years and basically jumps the guy. I mean kiss the guy sure but jump in the sack with him…I don’t think so.
Overall the premise of the story was intriguing and the ending itself was enough to leave me wanting to read the next one. Also I love the tie in to Hansel and Gretel. In this retelling they are seers and Gretel is a powerful witch. I <3 Gretel! She’s my fave character. If you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy tale retellings, and new adult then I think you’ll enjoy this book. Just keep in mind it is a novella, so it is short!
Let me preface this review with saying that this novella was just okay for me. I’m not big on erotica books and this would qualify as such.
Awakening by Laura Greenwood is the first book in a unique retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty. Keira is the princess of Alventia and her whole life she has heard the stories about her mother’s curse. However she doesn’t believe them, until the eve of her 18th birthday she sits down at a spinning wheel, pricking her finger and falling into a wakeful sleep. Aware of what goes on around her but unable to respond, Keira drifts through life for 96 years until her Prince awakens her. But she doesn’t wake up human, instead she is now a vampire cursed to be either the greatest Queen Alventia has ever seen or usher in the Darkness to her kingdom.
So I didn’t love the characters of this book. Keira and the Prince fell flat for me. There wasn’t a lot of exploration into the reasoning behind their actions. However since this is a novella I’m able to overlook this. Keira starts out as your typical princess, but during her sleep changes into what I call a vampire…you know drinking and craving blood, though daylight doesn’t seem to be an issue for her ;) Philip the Dark King’s son is the prince lucky enough to waken her. Philip is kind and despite his upbringing I found him rather sweet. His whole focus is on Keira. Everything he has done has been for her. It’s a bit overwhelming to wake up after 96 years to find your Prince has been searching for you that long!
This novella centers around Keira becoming whatever she’s become after her cursed sleep. Keira accepts her fate without much question or emotion. Me…I would’ve been freaking out if I woke up craving blood, Keira acted like it was just another day. Then there was the insta-love or I guess it was more lust between Philip and Keira that then turned to love. I don’t know why but it kinda annoyed me. I mean she wakes up after 96 years and basically jumps the guy. I mean kiss the guy sure but jump in the sack with him…I don’t think so.
Overall the premise of the story was intriguing and the ending itself was enough to leave me wanting to read the next one. Also I love the tie in to Hansel and Gretel. In this retelling they are seers and Gretel is a powerful witch. I <3 Gretel! She’s my fave character. If you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy tale retellings, and new adult then I think you’ll enjoy this book. Just keep in mind it is a novella, so it is short!
The Perfect Series is coming to a close with Robin Daniels's Perfectly Misunderstood. While I’m sad to see the series end, this book was a perfect conclusion. Featuring two characters who cannot stand each other, Perfectly Misunderstood reminds me a little of a contemporary [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926]. Sassy, fun, and oh so sweet, I guarantee you will fall in love with Jayden and Mike’s story.
At the beginning of this book, Jayden is struggling. She’s your typical straight-A student who is failing (well if you call C a failing) Spanish. She’s driven and determined, and knows her father will kill her if she doesn’t get that grade up. Because of her driven nature, Jayden tends to come off to those that don’t know her as a snob which is why when she is paired with Mike as her tutor things don’t go as planned.
Mike is an enigma, living two personas. At school, he is the dumb jock/thug wannabe. He wears chains, talks with imperfect grammar, and if I had to be around him as Jayden does, I probably slug him. He’s annoying. At home though and to his best friend, he’s just Mike. He’s smart, scoring insanely high on his SAT, has a high GPA, and a generally good guy. SO when Jayden discovers this, you can imagine her confusion and frustration with his two personalities.
I loved the dual POV in this book. I honestly don’t know how it would’ve worked otherwise. In getting POV from both characters, as the reader you understand why Mike doesn’t like Jayden and vice versa. You understand how they essentially misunderstand each other. You also get a front row seat for how they slowly fall for one another and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they face.
Overall I loved Perfectly Misunderstood. I laughed, I teared up, I swooned. And for fans of the series, you will be happy to know that previous couples show up in this one. I personally loved seeing Cam and Bebe and Summer and Levi 😀 I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of sweet, contemporary YA romance. While this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the series in order as there are spoilers in this book to the previous books in the series.
At the beginning of this book, Jayden is struggling. She’s your typical straight-A student who is failing (well if you call C a failing) Spanish. She’s driven and determined, and knows her father will kill her if she doesn’t get that grade up. Because of her driven nature, Jayden tends to come off to those that don’t know her as a snob which is why when she is paired with Mike as her tutor things don’t go as planned.
Mike is an enigma, living two personas. At school, he is the dumb jock/thug wannabe. He wears chains, talks with imperfect grammar, and if I had to be around him as Jayden does, I probably slug him. He’s annoying. At home though and to his best friend, he’s just Mike. He’s smart, scoring insanely high on his SAT, has a high GPA, and a generally good guy. SO when Jayden discovers this, you can imagine her confusion and frustration with his two personalities.
I loved the dual POV in this book. I honestly don’t know how it would’ve worked otherwise. In getting POV from both characters, as the reader you understand why Mike doesn’t like Jayden and vice versa. You understand how they essentially misunderstand each other. You also get a front row seat for how they slowly fall for one another and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they face.
Overall I loved Perfectly Misunderstood. I laughed, I teared up, I swooned. And for fans of the series, you will be happy to know that previous couples show up in this one. I personally loved seeing Cam and Bebe and Summer and Levi 😀 I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of sweet, contemporary YA romance. While this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the series in order as there are spoilers in this book to the previous books in the series.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
One Small Thing may be Erin Watt’s best work yet! Told exclusively from Beth’s point of view, this heart-breaking, forbidden love story isn’t one I will forget anytime soon.
At the opening, Beth is getting ready to start her senior year of high school. Feeling lost since her sister’s death two years earlier and smothered by her overbearing, protective parents, Beth begins acting out: going to parties, drinking to excess, sneaking around behind their backs. Their rules and presence in Beth’s life is smothering, she feels trapped. I hurt for her. She’s dealing with her own grief, and yet her parents aren’t dealing at all. Beth is just trying to find a new normal, one that doesn’t involve living under the shadow of her sister’s ghost.
Then enters Chase. Chase is the new boy in town, who doesn’t know Beth. She can be herself around him, instead of the dead girl’s sister. But Chase comes with his own demons, especially when his role in the night Beth’s sister died is revealed. I ached for him, as does Beth. This boy grew up too soon, and he carries his guilt with him everywhere he goes. But I love the glimpses of the carefree boy he was. He’s an intense character, and the author does a fantastic job of conveying his struggles and grief.
The plot is complex as Beth navigates her feelings for Chase, Chase denies his feelings for her, and literally everyone else bullies Chase to keep him away from Beth. It’s a sad story, one that left me with a heavy heart, but of course I was smiling in the end. Erin Watt’s portrayal of Chase is one I found true to life. People, like the characters in this book, can be prejudice of teens out of juvie. They make assumptions, and anything that happens is blamed on them, just like with Chase. Anything bad that happens in the school, anytime Beth doesn’t feel well or is acting strangely, the blame is laid at Chase’s feet.
In addition to the abuse Chase receives, Watt really does a fantastic job of conveying Beth’s grief and denial of her sister’s death. It’s depicted in detail, the parents’ grief, Beth’s, and how it affects their daily lives. Beth’s growth in this book is believable as she learns to live again.
Overall, One Small Thing pulled at my heart-strings. I didn’t want it to end! This is a sweeter story than most of Watt’s work, but I enjoyed it all the same. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys sweet, contemporary romance or to anyone that’s enjoyed Watt’s previous books.
One Small Thing may be Erin Watt’s best work yet! Told exclusively from Beth’s point of view, this heart-breaking, forbidden love story isn’t one I will forget anytime soon.
At the opening, Beth is getting ready to start her senior year of high school. Feeling lost since her sister’s death two years earlier and smothered by her overbearing, protective parents, Beth begins acting out: going to parties, drinking to excess, sneaking around behind their backs. Their rules and presence in Beth’s life is smothering, she feels trapped. I hurt for her. She’s dealing with her own grief, and yet her parents aren’t dealing at all. Beth is just trying to find a new normal, one that doesn’t involve living under the shadow of her sister’s ghost.
Then enters Chase. Chase is the new boy in town, who doesn’t know Beth. She can be herself around him, instead of the dead girl’s sister. But Chase comes with his own demons, especially when his role in the night Beth’s sister died is revealed. I ached for him, as does Beth. This boy grew up too soon, and he carries his guilt with him everywhere he goes. But I love the glimpses of the carefree boy he was. He’s an intense character, and the author does a fantastic job of conveying his struggles and grief.
The plot is complex as Beth navigates her feelings for Chase, Chase denies his feelings for her, and literally everyone else bullies Chase to keep him away from Beth. It’s a sad story, one that left me with a heavy heart, but of course I was smiling in the end. Erin Watt’s portrayal of Chase is one I found true to life. People, like the characters in this book, can be prejudice of teens out of juvie. They make assumptions, and anything that happens is blamed on them, just like with Chase. Anything bad that happens in the school, anytime Beth doesn’t feel well or is acting strangely, the blame is laid at Chase’s feet.
In addition to the abuse Chase receives, Watt really does a fantastic job of conveying Beth’s grief and denial of her sister’s death. It’s depicted in detail, the parents’ grief, Beth’s, and how it affects their daily lives. Beth’s growth in this book is believable as she learns to live again.
Overall, One Small Thing pulled at my heart-strings. I didn’t want it to end! This is a sweeter story than most of Watt’s work, but I enjoyed it all the same. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys sweet, contemporary romance or to anyone that’s enjoyed Watt’s previous books.
Descending by [a:Holly Kelly|7202492|Holly Kelly|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1375799864p2/7202492.jpg] is book two of the Rising Series and picks up not too long after the end of book one. Xanthus has been given permission to continue his work on land by Triton, but because Sara is his daughter he requires that Xanthus have bodyguards for her. So he asks his best friend Kyros and a few others to take on the task. Kyros was raised a true Dagonian, he loathes mermaids and humans killed his sister so he hates them too. Now his best friend has asked him to do two things he finds revolting: protect a mermaid and walk on land with the humans. Only because he fears Xanthus is under a mermaid spell does he accept, but when Gretchen, Sara's best friend, arrives and is nearly killed, he finds that maybe humans aren't so bad after all.
So I loved this installment even more than book one! This book is the story of Kyros and Gretchen. Kyros has no love lost when it comes to humans, they brutally killed his twin sister. And mermaids! He's a Dagonian, all mermaids should be dead. But Xanthus is his best friend and he owes him a favor, so when he is asked to help protect Sara on dry land, he accepts, but only so he can break the spell the mermaid has over his friend (or at least that's how he thinks). Gretchen is Sara's spunky best friend that we met in book one, but she's not so spunky anymore. She's lost her intern job with an attorney after telling a client to basically kill himself, and then he does. Distraught she goes to Sara for cheering up. But Sara doesn't know Gretchen's secret. She was adopted and well her true mother is a mystery she will tell no one about. When Sara takes a bullet for Gretchen (and is miraculously walking instead of in a wheelchair), she begins questioning why she is harboring this secret.
I loved both main characters and of course the alternating POV was awesome! Gretchen is spunky, a fighter, who doesn't take no for an answer. Kyros is a warrior, an old-fashioned male who finds it very confusing when he is attracted to this loud mouthed female human. It makes for an ironically funny read.
The plot revolves around Gretchen and her past, but also why someone is trying to kill her. I had figured out the big plot twist early on, despite that I still found it an excellent read. The suspense was page-turning (I read the book in one sitting!), and the romance was sweet. If you enjoy a good fantasy with lots of suspense/action and a little romance, I highly recommend you check out this series. A little note, even if you have not read book one, this book can easily be picked up and read as a standalone novel.
The publisher, Clean Teen Publishing, has a unique way of rating their books. Click this link to see the rating for Descending and their disclaimer.
So I loved this installment even more than book one! This book is the story of Kyros and Gretchen. Kyros has no love lost when it comes to humans, they brutally killed his twin sister. And mermaids! He's a Dagonian, all mermaids should be dead. But Xanthus is his best friend and he owes him a favor, so when he is asked to help protect Sara on dry land, he accepts, but only so he can break the spell the mermaid has over his friend (or at least that's how he thinks). Gretchen is Sara's spunky best friend that we met in book one, but she's not so spunky anymore. She's lost her intern job with an attorney after telling a client to basically kill himself, and then he does. Distraught she goes to Sara for cheering up. But Sara doesn't know Gretchen's secret. She was adopted and well her true mother is a mystery she will tell no one about. When Sara takes a bullet for Gretchen (and is miraculously walking instead of in a wheelchair), she begins questioning why she is harboring this secret.
I loved both main characters and of course the alternating POV was awesome! Gretchen is spunky, a fighter, who doesn't take no for an answer. Kyros is a warrior, an old-fashioned male who finds it very confusing when he is attracted to this loud mouthed female human. It makes for an ironically funny read.
The plot revolves around Gretchen and her past, but also why someone is trying to kill her. I had figured out the big plot twist early on, despite that I still found it an excellent read. The suspense was page-turning (I read the book in one sitting!), and the romance was sweet. If you enjoy a good fantasy with lots of suspense/action and a little romance, I highly recommend you check out this series. A little note, even if you have not read book one, this book can easily be picked up and read as a standalone novel.
The publisher, Clean Teen Publishing, has a unique way of rating their books. Click this link to see the rating for Descending and their disclaimer.
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.
Sometimes reviews are hard to write. This is one of those times. Where do I begin?!
Incognito is the first book by Siobhan Davis that I didn’t fully enjoy. If I’m being completely blunt, it was a chore to read. And I really hate that because I LOVE Siobhan Davis. Davis usually delivers a well-written plot, fully-fleshed out characters, and angst to make this drama-hater love. However Incognito failed on these marks.
What I Liked
• The Dual POV: I LOVE dual point of view! It gives the reader a chance to see both sides of the story and creates some fantastic dramatic irony. Shawn’s POV in particular is what kept me reading.
• Shawn/Levi: Ummm…this may just be my favorite book boyfriend of Davis’s to date 😍 He’s a young musician who had to grow up way to early. Semi-fresh out of rehab (I believe he’s hitting his one year anniversary at the beginning of the book), Shawn still struggles to make the right decisions. Don’t ask me why but this struggle and his trying to protect Dakota from that lifestyle is endearing to me.
• The Setting: I’m a sucker for college romance, I also love the music/movie star trope and both are in this book! Not only that but it is set in the same world as [b:Inseparable|36481118|Inseparable|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1509318782s/36481118.jpg|58191704] which I LOVED! It helps that Angelina and Devin make a brief appearance.
What I Disliked
• Dakota: I tried really hard to like Dakota. I did, BUT she really annoyed me like 99.9999% of the time. When reading her POV, I liked her…at first. She was a strong, independent yet broken character. She had strong values that she stuck by. Then enters Levi and she’s like a love-sick middle school girl. She says and thinks one thing in her chapters yet in Levi’s POV she does another. Very wishy-washy and clingy….my two biggest pet peeves.
• Insta-Love: I HATE insta-love. It is so prevalent in contemporary, which is why I usually stick to sci-fi and fantasy. However Davis isn’t usually known for insta-love. I just didn’t buy the intimacy and relationship between Dakota and Shawn. And when the book is a romance, that’s a bad thing.
• The WTF Plot: At the time of writing this review, it’s been about a month since I read the book. I’ve analyzed it and I still can’t tell you what is actually happening 😅 Like I know what is happening, but the why and how it all connects….yeah I’m clueless. It was all over the place. Shawn was in hiding because of death threats, Dakota’s mother, the ending….don’t get me started on that.
In Conclusion
Overall Incognito was not for me. The rushed ending, the insta-love, the lack of chemistry – or maybe forced chemistry – between Dakota and Shawn/Levi, negated the few things I did enjoy. It has potential, and many other readers have enjoyed it. I would recommend it if you enjoy angsty romance and college settings.
Sometimes reviews are hard to write. This is one of those times. Where do I begin?!
Incognito is the first book by Siobhan Davis that I didn’t fully enjoy. If I’m being completely blunt, it was a chore to read. And I really hate that because I LOVE Siobhan Davis. Davis usually delivers a well-written plot, fully-fleshed out characters, and angst to make this drama-hater love. However Incognito failed on these marks.
What I Liked
• The Dual POV: I LOVE dual point of view! It gives the reader a chance to see both sides of the story and creates some fantastic dramatic irony. Shawn’s POV in particular is what kept me reading.
• Shawn/Levi: Ummm…this may just be my favorite book boyfriend of Davis’s to date 😍 He’s a young musician who had to grow up way to early. Semi-fresh out of rehab (I believe he’s hitting his one year anniversary at the beginning of the book), Shawn still struggles to make the right decisions. Don’t ask me why but this struggle and his trying to protect Dakota from that lifestyle is endearing to me.
• The Setting: I’m a sucker for college romance, I also love the music/movie star trope and both are in this book! Not only that but it is set in the same world as [b:Inseparable|36481118|Inseparable|Siobhan Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1509318782s/36481118.jpg|58191704] which I LOVED! It helps that Angelina and Devin make a brief appearance.
What I Disliked
• Dakota: I tried really hard to like Dakota. I did, BUT she really annoyed me like 99.9999% of the time. When reading her POV, I liked her…at first. She was a strong, independent yet broken character. She had strong values that she stuck by. Then enters Levi and she’s like a love-sick middle school girl. She says and thinks one thing in her chapters yet in Levi’s POV she does another. Very wishy-washy and clingy….my two biggest pet peeves.
• Insta-Love: I HATE insta-love. It is so prevalent in contemporary, which is why I usually stick to sci-fi and fantasy. However Davis isn’t usually known for insta-love. I just didn’t buy the intimacy and relationship between Dakota and Shawn. And when the book is a romance, that’s a bad thing.
• The WTF Plot: At the time of writing this review, it’s been about a month since I read the book. I’ve analyzed it and I still can’t tell you what is actually happening 😅 Like I know what is happening, but the why and how it all connects….yeah I’m clueless. It was all over the place. Shawn was in hiding because of death threats, Dakota’s mother, the ending….don’t get me started on that.
In Conclusion
Overall Incognito was not for me. The rushed ending, the insta-love, the lack of chemistry – or maybe forced chemistry – between Dakota and Shawn/Levi, negated the few things I did enjoy. It has potential, and many other readers have enjoyed it. I would recommend it if you enjoy angsty romance and college settings.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.
Sarah Fine is back y’all!!! The Serpent, her new novel and first in The Immortal Dealers series, reminded me of all the reasons I fell in love with Fine’s writing in the first place. It’s got angst, fully fleshed and believable characters, a plot that only continues to thicken as you read, and an explosive ending. Seriously if you are a fan of urban fantasy, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book ASAP!
Now that my fangirling is over 😉 on to the review!
Ernestine, the Broken Heroine
Ernestine “Ernie” Terwilliger is your average woman, working a dead end job she happens to enjoy and putting her life on hold because of her aging mother. There is SO much more to Ernie than that simple explanation. At the start of the story, Ernie’s roommate and best friend is leaving, having taken a job across the country. One thing you should know about her is that she has a complex about people leaving. Her father left when she was young and never returned. It makes getting close to people for her hard. So with Julie leaving, Ernie is contemplating leaving too, but she worries about her mother.
The day after Julie’s going away party, Ernie goes to check on her mother and the man she met the night before is there with her frazzled mother. Basically this starts Ernie’s journey down the rabbit hole so to speak. I can’t talk about Ernie without mentioning how she handles the reveal of the paranormal world that surrounds her. She doesn’t even bat an eye. Sure she wants to curl in a ball and give up a few times, but she doesn’t! In fact she embraces it which I have to give her credit for. I’d have been on the floor.
The Immortal Dealers
So this is the part of the review that I’m probably going to do a terrible job on. Why? Two reasons: I don’t want to spoil anything AND there’s just no way I’m going to do it justice. The Immortal Dealers, the series namesake, is the main plot and main focus of this book. Ernie is accidentally dragged into this paranormal world that resembles a cross between a pokeman game and tarot cards. No joke!
Here’s the premise. Each dealer was given a deck of cards, ruled by a spirit animal, by a mysterious figure known as the Forger. The cards give the dealer specific powers/tools/advantages. They can deceive, manipulate, create mirages, conjure cars or money….you get the picture. AND the sprit animals live as a tattoo on their arms and can come forth and fight with them. I seriously loved diving head first into this world with Ernie. Sarah Fine did a fantastic job of setting up this world!
Ok so Ernie gets her hands on a partial deck, in particular the Diamondback deck. Duncan who is the dealer of that deck is ruthless and will do whatever it takes to make his deck whole again. Unfortunately for Ernie there’s no going back. She either has to make the deck whole and become a dealer herself OR die. That just isn’t an option for our heroine so fight it is.
The Kestrel (and those other dealers)
The Kestrel, also known as Gabe, is the man that Ernie met in the bar and also happens to be after Duncan. Because their needs align, they team up. I love Gabe! He reminds me of Malachi from Guards of the Shadowlands so not only did I fall for him immediately, I totally ship him with Ernie. He’s a steady presence for her. He keeps a level head, and watching (well, erhm…reading) how he fights, well I can see why the other dealers defer to and trust in him.
I loved meeting the other dealers/minor characters in the book as well. My favorite was Minh, the Pot-Bellied Pig. No joke! His spirit animal was a giant pig 😆
In Conclusion
The Serpent was everything I’ve come to expect from Sarah Fine and more! I’ll admit I was hesitant. I didn’t enjoy (and even DNFed) [b:Mosaic|30112512|Mosaic (Reliquary, #3)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465911243s/30112512.jpg|50536822] which has a similar urban fantasy feel to it. However I was pleasantly surprised and blown away by the first The Immortal Dealers and I cannot wait for October and [b:The Guardian|39727417|The Guardian|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529629812s/39727417.jpg|61412945]. I NEED more Ernie and Legs!! If you enjoy urban fantasy, don’t hesitate. Get a copy ASAP. It doesn’t disappoint!
Sarah Fine is back y’all!!! The Serpent, her new novel and first in The Immortal Dealers series, reminded me of all the reasons I fell in love with Fine’s writing in the first place. It’s got angst, fully fleshed and believable characters, a plot that only continues to thicken as you read, and an explosive ending. Seriously if you are a fan of urban fantasy, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book ASAP!
Now that my fangirling is over 😉 on to the review!
Ernestine, the Broken Heroine
Ernestine “Ernie” Terwilliger is your average woman, working a dead end job she happens to enjoy and putting her life on hold because of her aging mother. There is SO much more to Ernie than that simple explanation. At the start of the story, Ernie’s roommate and best friend is leaving, having taken a job across the country. One thing you should know about her is that she has a complex about people leaving. Her father left when she was young and never returned. It makes getting close to people for her hard. So with Julie leaving, Ernie is contemplating leaving too, but she worries about her mother.
The day after Julie’s going away party, Ernie goes to check on her mother and the man she met the night before is there with her frazzled mother. Basically this starts Ernie’s journey down the rabbit hole so to speak. I can’t talk about Ernie without mentioning how she handles the reveal of the paranormal world that surrounds her. She doesn’t even bat an eye. Sure she wants to curl in a ball and give up a few times, but she doesn’t! In fact she embraces it which I have to give her credit for. I’d have been on the floor.
The Immortal Dealers
So this is the part of the review that I’m probably going to do a terrible job on. Why? Two reasons: I don’t want to spoil anything AND there’s just no way I’m going to do it justice. The Immortal Dealers, the series namesake, is the main plot and main focus of this book. Ernie is accidentally dragged into this paranormal world that resembles a cross between a pokeman game and tarot cards. No joke!
Here’s the premise. Each dealer was given a deck of cards, ruled by a spirit animal, by a mysterious figure known as the Forger. The cards give the dealer specific powers/tools/advantages. They can deceive, manipulate, create mirages, conjure cars or money….you get the picture. AND the sprit animals live as a tattoo on their arms and can come forth and fight with them. I seriously loved diving head first into this world with Ernie. Sarah Fine did a fantastic job of setting up this world!
Ok so Ernie gets her hands on a partial deck, in particular the Diamondback deck. Duncan who is the dealer of that deck is ruthless and will do whatever it takes to make his deck whole again. Unfortunately for Ernie there’s no going back. She either has to make the deck whole and become a dealer herself OR die. That just isn’t an option for our heroine so fight it is.
The Kestrel (and those other dealers)
The Kestrel, also known as Gabe, is the man that Ernie met in the bar and also happens to be after Duncan. Because their needs align, they team up. I love Gabe! He reminds me of Malachi from Guards of the Shadowlands so not only did I fall for him immediately, I totally ship him with Ernie. He’s a steady presence for her. He keeps a level head, and watching (well, erhm…reading) how he fights, well I can see why the other dealers defer to and trust in him.
I loved meeting the other dealers/minor characters in the book as well. My favorite was Minh, the Pot-Bellied Pig. No joke! His spirit animal was a giant pig 😆
In Conclusion
The Serpent was everything I’ve come to expect from Sarah Fine and more! I’ll admit I was hesitant. I didn’t enjoy (and even DNFed) [b:Mosaic|30112512|Mosaic (Reliquary, #3)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465911243s/30112512.jpg|50536822] which has a similar urban fantasy feel to it. However I was pleasantly surprised and blown away by the first The Immortal Dealers and I cannot wait for October and [b:The Guardian|39727417|The Guardian|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529629812s/39727417.jpg|61412945]. I NEED more Ernie and Legs!! If you enjoy urban fantasy, don’t hesitate. Get a copy ASAP. It doesn’t disappoint!
Broken Aro by [a:Jen Wylie|4499919|Jen Wylie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1291844312p2/4499919.jpg] is a fast-paced, fantasy adventure told on an epic scale. Arowyn Mason is the youngest and only daughter in a family of soldiers. Mother died when she was 4 and father at 13, her brothers are left to raise her and they do a wonderful job. She is a skilled fighter, knife-handler, can shoot a bow better than handle a sword, and cuss like a soldier. In other words, she's not your typical girl. When her brothers come home bringing an enemy army on their heels, she prepares to flee with them. But the unthinkable happens. Torn from her family, she finds herself on a slave ship heading across the ocean. Her only salvation: her brothers have dressed her like a boy. Her brothers gone, she finds that if she wants to escape she has to rely on the six men trapped in the cell with her. And so begins her epic journey.
I cannot put into words just how much I enjoyed this book! Let's start with the characters. The story is told in a third-person limited from Aro's perspective. Aro is fifteen, nearly sixteen which in her world is an adult. She is strong-willed, a skilled fighter, and has no qualms about fighting to stay alive. I loved her quick wit and sarcastic humor, but most of all I loved the loyalty and love she develops for her boys. Her boys happen to be the six men she was trapped with: Bo, Cain, Kendric, Avery, Kei, and Prince.
Bo, Cain, and Kendric are soldiers who fought with her brothers and dad. Because of this they immediately decide they will do what is necessary to protect her and they remind her of the brothers she's lost. Avery and Kei are also soldiers though closer to her age. Avery is her friend and a comic-relief. She can be herself around him. Kei isn't just a soldier though, he's a Fey and because of past events her would-be brother. When he learns this, he makes a promise to be with her always. To protect and love her as true family and she instantly loves him for this. Their interactions are great. Kei brings the best out in Aro and she does the same for him.
Then there's Prince. He was visiting the court in her town when it was taken over and he was captured. He's surly and mean, arrogant. In fact, I very much disliked this character when Aro first meets him. Then he saves her life when Kei cannot. To everyone in their group, he is standoffish, not really unkind, just not overly friendly. Except with Aro. Their relationship is quite confusing throughout the book and it only gets worse.
This story as I said in the beginning is an epic fantasy adventure. From the prologue, where a dragon confronts two Fey, to the very end I just couldn't read fast enough. The world that the author has created reminds me a bit of middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings yet it is told so differently. To Aro, all of it is myth and legend until she meets Kei, who is Fey. Then she learns that there's more. There are Elves, Fey, Were, and dragons. The way it is written, the magic and the different magical beings, are so well intertwined with everyday life that it is believable. I could very easily see this and what Aro and her boys encounter in real-life (at least according to my brain). I can't wait to see where the series goes!
Overall, I loved every word of this book. I laughed at the irony, I cried at Aro's heartbreak, and I fell in love with her boys. I have to give thanks to the author for keeping this a relatively clean read. No strong language, only mild violence, however there is a few instances in the first part of the book involving the slavers and rape so please keep that in mind if you are sensitive to this issue. Otherwise wonderfully written, definitely a page-turner. It was so good, I finished it and immediately started book two which is already available. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves young adult literature, coming-of-age stories, and fantasy on an epic scale.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot put into words just how much I enjoyed this book! Let's start with the characters. The story is told in a third-person limited from Aro's perspective. Aro is fifteen, nearly sixteen which in her world is an adult. She is strong-willed, a skilled fighter, and has no qualms about fighting to stay alive. I loved her quick wit and sarcastic humor, but most of all I loved the loyalty and love she develops for her boys. Her boys happen to be the six men she was trapped with: Bo, Cain, Kendric, Avery, Kei, and Prince.
Bo, Cain, and Kendric are soldiers who fought with her brothers and dad. Because of this they immediately decide they will do what is necessary to protect her and they remind her of the brothers she's lost. Avery and Kei are also soldiers though closer to her age. Avery is her friend and a comic-relief. She can be herself around him. Kei isn't just a soldier though, he's a Fey and because of past events her would-be brother. When he learns this, he makes a promise to be with her always. To protect and love her as true family and she instantly loves him for this. Their interactions are great. Kei brings the best out in Aro and she does the same for him.
Then there's Prince. He was visiting the court in her town when it was taken over and he was captured. He's surly and mean, arrogant. In fact, I very much disliked this character when Aro first meets him. Then he saves her life when Kei cannot. To everyone in their group, he is standoffish, not really unkind, just not overly friendly. Except with Aro. Their relationship is quite confusing throughout the book and it only gets worse.
This story as I said in the beginning is an epic fantasy adventure. From the prologue, where a dragon confronts two Fey, to the very end I just couldn't read fast enough. The world that the author has created reminds me a bit of middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings yet it is told so differently. To Aro, all of it is myth and legend until she meets Kei, who is Fey. Then she learns that there's more. There are Elves, Fey, Were, and dragons. The way it is written, the magic and the different magical beings, are so well intertwined with everyday life that it is believable. I could very easily see this and what Aro and her boys encounter in real-life (at least according to my brain). I can't wait to see where the series goes!
Overall, I loved every word of this book. I laughed at the irony, I cried at Aro's heartbreak, and I fell in love with her boys. I have to give thanks to the author for keeping this a relatively clean read. No strong language, only mild violence, however there is a few instances in the first part of the book involving the slavers and rape so please keep that in mind if you are sensitive to this issue. Otherwise wonderfully written, definitely a page-turner. It was so good, I finished it and immediately started book two which is already available. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves young adult literature, coming-of-age stories, and fantasy on an epic scale.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
