I received an eARC 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.

Initial Reaction:



The Damned by Laura Thalassa is the perfect conclusion to the The Unearthly, picking up right where The Forsaken left off. Please note that if you have not read the prior books in the series there are minor, unavoidable spoilers in this review. Gabrielle wakes up in the home of Hades. She’s dead now and his consort. She can no longer feel her soulmate Andre in the living world. That connection is gone and she is now tethered to the one man that has haunted her since she was a kid. Can she somehow return to the world of the living and stop the coming apocalypse?

Gabrielle is in hell…literally. She’s the devil’s consort, tied to him as she once was to Andre. She can feel him in her heart and she’s angry. Oh boy is she angry! She wants out and she just wants her life back. Instead she is learning more about Hades, or Pluto, or the devil…whatever you want to call him. I’ve always loved Gabrielle. She never gives up, despite all that is against her. BUT this book, she’s lost, confused, hurt, angry…you name it and she’s probably that at some point during the book. She was betrayed by her friend, she’s lost her soulmate, and she’s tied to the devil. Seriously, how much can one girl take?!

Hades…Pluto…the man in the suit. What is it about the bad boys that makes me love them?! I know I’m supposed to despise his character. He’s torn Gabrielle away from Andre, he’s deceived her at every turn, he hurts her every time he interferes YET there’s another side to him. He can be kind, gentle, caring, all the things he shouldn’t be. Be prepared because you see him a lot more in this book and I can honestly say I was torn between him and Andre.

And Andre…poor Andre. He is not the same vampire king we met in The Unearthly. He’s vulnerable and broken, ready to meet his maker. In his eyes, Gabrielle is dead and there is no getting her back. My heart hurt reading his POV. BUT, argh! His determination and love for Gabrielle is the stuff you dream about. She is his heart and his only reason for living and he will stop at nothing to get her back.

The plot centers around the series arch of Gabrielle becoming Hades consort, his soulmate instead of Andre’s, and what that means. Why is Hades so consumed with her and what is going to do with her? If you’re like me, you may have brushed up on your Persephone mythology going into the book and remember that she lived 6 months in Hell and 6 months on Earth. Yeah our Gabrielle gets a similar treatment, except it is days in Hell and nights with the living. (No spoiler, this happens in the first chapter).

Overall I LOVED this book! I couldn’t set it down. I read it from start to finish, forgoing sleep to do so and it was SO worth it. I’ve loved and rooted for Gabrielle since the beginning and was ecstatic to read the end. Laura Thalassa has done a fabulous job tying up all the loose ends and giving Gabby, the devil, Andre, really all the characters a fitting conclusion. I couldn’t imagine a better one! If you’re a fan of the series, don’t miss out. Read it ASAP because I need someone to share the feels with!

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

The Decaying Empire by [a:Laura Thalassa|7152490|Laura Thalassa|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1372456585p2/7152490.jpg] is a continuation of Ember Pierce's story as she battles the Project to win her and her pair their freedom. Book one [b:The Vanishing Girl|19395125|The Vanishing Girl (The Vanishing Girl, #1)|Laura Thalassa|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393714294s/19395125.jpg|27467073] ended leaving you with no warm and fuzzy feelings. Ember has been spliced, Caden believes she is dead, and the Project is behind it all. Flash forward ten months and Ember wakes up in a sterile hospital room and the ability, or curse depending on how you look at it, to teleport while awake. First place she goes is to Caden, inside the very facility that wants her dead. Together Caden and Ember piece together information about the project and work to escape. But escape comes at a cost and Ember must learn to trust others when she's always relied on herself.

I don't know whether to love Ember or hate her. She is such a contradiction, yet in this story I felt more sorry for her than anything. She is basically running scared the whole book. She's survived splicing and the Project trying to kill her, she's back with Caden in the facility that hates her, and she now has to escape or be forced to make babies with Caden. Not a lot of options for her and to top it off she has no control over her teleportation ability. She is now disappearing while awake, which proves dangerous when she does this while driving!

He was staring at me like I was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A girl could get used to these kinds of looks.

The savior of this story is Caden. I <3 him! He is Ember's rock, but he's changed too. He's harder, leaner, and gone is his naive perception of the Project. In fact, he's just as ready as Ember to leave them, he just didn't have a reason when he thought her dead. His utter devotion and love for Ember is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I mean he spent ten months believing her dead to have her show up alive in his bedroom. As I said heartbreaking!!! His faith and love for her though is what pulls Ember from her fear.

When I saw you scared, my heart broke. When I saw you angry, I wanted to fight your demons for you. The first time you snapped at me, I wanted to rejoice that the fire within you hadn't been extinguished - but had it been, I would've worked at starting another. You cannot scare me away, angel. It's impossible...

This story is just as fast-paced as the first. Ember and Caden are on a mission, escape the Project. It's that simple, but not that simple ;) First they need to trust each other, then they need to trust others and that's just not an easy thing to do.

Also Adrian is back :D I was so happy to see him when Ember teleported back into his life. I'm still not sure what his place is in the story. He's not an angle in a love triangle, yet he obviously has some feelings for Ember and she for some reason trusts him implicitly. He's a big question mark in the series and I can't wait to find out more about him and his role!

Overall I loved this story! Ember and Caden's journey takes them all over the western United States and it's fast-paced, full of action and of course a little romance along the way. Also a bonus in this book is that the author gives some POV from Caden's perspective which I adored! I love getting into other characters' heads :D Take note though that there are some sexual scenes and of course strong language so 18 and over only please ;) If you enjoy science fiction and the new adult genre, I highly recommend you check this series out!

Review in a Gif:

Initial Reaction:



The Forsaken by Laura Thalassa picks up right where The Cursed left off (SPOILER NOTE: If you haven't read the previous books in this series, there are minor unavoidable spoilers in this review). Andre and Gabrielle are on the run as the clock on Gabrielle's life begins to wind down. She is more vampire than human now and if she's going to escape the Devil, she needs to find a way to NOT die. Easier said than done for this heroine ;)

Laura Thalassa has done it again! Not only has she left me with a massive book hangover but also a cliffhanger I can't handle!!!!! My favorite characters are back and of course I love them. The world-building and prophecy surrounding Gabrielle are delved into a bit more and overall this is just a fantastic bridge to the end of the series :D

Gabrielle and Andre are two of my all-time favorite characters. Gabrielle is independent, a bit naive, and willing to do whatever it takes to save those she loves including giving herself for them. Andre will do ANYTHING to save his soulmate, and I do mean ANYTHING! He's handsome, a bit rough around the edges and for a man/vampire who hasn't had human emotions in hundreds of years does a pretty good job of having emotions where Gabrielle is related.

This book, more than the others, focuses solely on Andre and Gabrielle, their relationship, and their ultimate separation. It's darker than the other volumes as Gabrielle faces her death, but also more romantic as Andre and Gabrielle come face to face with their feelings for each other. They've already admitted they love each other, but it goes much deeper than that in this installment to the series. I can honestly say it tugged on my heartstrings more than once!

Overall this book, while short, is perhaps my favorite of the series so far. As I already said you get a more indepth look into Andre and Gabrielle which I loved, but there's also this time element that Gabrielle is fighting. As the clock winds down, the author conveys (very well) this sense of dread and foreboding that has followed Gabrielle though the whole series. Is this book a bridge to the end? Yes, there's not a lot of character growth/development and it doesn't really deviate from the series main plot as we get closer to the end. Is it still enjoyable? ABSOLUTELY!!! If you're already a fan of the series, don't put off reading it!! If you're not, I suggest starting with book one and working your way through especially if you like young adult, urban fantasy :D

The Cursed by [a:Laura Thalassa|7152490|Laura Thalassa|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1372456585p2/7152490.jpg] is book three of The Unearthly series and picks up a few months after the events of book two. It's now Christmas Break and Gabrielle, though sad her friends are leaving is looking forward to a few days of rest. Her vacation is cut short though by the Politia when they call her and Caleb in to go investigate a ritualistic murder in Romania. Angels are being killed and drained of blood on alters reminiscent to the killings that occurred around Samhain two months prior. Andre de Leon is also in Romania facing trial for the massacre at Bishopcourt that occurred during the first book. He has done his best to keep Gabrielle away from the trial but now with her in the same city, she faces the wrath of the elder vampires.

I just want to take a moment and say how much I love Gabrielle and Andre, the plot, and of course the bad guys! This author knows what she is doing!!!!



Gabrielle is just as spunky and independent as she is in the first two books of this series. In this installment, you get a chance to see Gabrielle come more into her powers as both a Siren and vampire. And she is a little scary as a Siren, in fact I think she scares herself! Andre is the gorgeous, bad boy vampire that he always is. I love the few times the author tells the story from his POV and you will get a couple of those towards the end of this installment, and I will admit he made me tear up just a little bit.

The plot of this story is really intense and full of action/suspense. The angelic murders bring Gabrielle and Caleb to Romania, something that Andre is not happy about. But the murders go deeper into the main plot of the series, which brings me to the man in the suit, or otherwise known as the Devil. I don't know how many times I can say this before I annoy someone, but I love this villain. He is awesome and scary and intriguing and.....I could just keep going forever so I'll stop there, but you get the picture ;) One key plot for this book as well as the series in whole is the author finally reveals why the devil believes Gabrielle is his consort :::squealing:::



Sorry, you will have to read the book to find out why but it's a twist that I did not see coming and absolutely love!!!! So of course, if you have read books one and two you will definitely want to pick up this one and you should be forewarned that it does end in a cliffhanger.



Overall, if you enjoyed the first of the series you will love this addition! If you haven't read the series yet, I highly suggest you check out books one and two first. If you enjoy fantasy, mythological creatures, a little paranormal romance, then I believe you will enjoy this book.

Ohmyohmyohmyohmy!!!!!! What are you doing to me Laura Thalassa?! The Queen of Traitors picks up where the first book left off (if you’ve not read it, there are minor spoilers ahead. Consider yourself warned!). Serenity has been taken by the Resistance, but not before her memory was wiped by the King’s right hand man. She doesn’t remember anything, giving the Resistance nothing, but allows them to plant seeds of doubt in her mind.

As I said in my review of the first book, Serenity is one of my favorite characters. She’s a strong female lead, but she struggles in this book. She’s lost her memories (which are quickly restored) but with it comes the doubts and hatred for Lazuli. She questions his actions, not understanding….or maybe not willing to believe his motives. She’s dying though and knows that Montes will not let that happen. She’s tired and ready to accept her fate, if only he will let her.

Montes is a bit unstable in this book. He lost his best friend and now he’s losing Serenity too. He fears nothing except death and he will do whatever it takes to save her from it.

This book is full of betrayals from their closest friends and themselves. Instead of working as a team, Montes and Serenity work against each other, antagonizing and loving all at the same time. Overall I LOVED every word! It was terrifying, dark, and lovely all at once. Is that even possible?! But that ending!!! I’m dying. I can’t take it!!! What the heck was Montes thinking?! I need the next book ASAP please!!!!

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

What a sweet read! I am a sucker for second chances, small towns, and holiday reads. In The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere, I got all three! Narrated by the author, I listened to this story in one sitting. Maddie, Amy, and Gabe will steal your heart, no question about it.

Seeking Hearts
When the story opens, Amy Denison is heading to Glory’s Place for her first day volunteering at the after school program. Her life isn’t where she wants it to be. A bad marriage that ended in divorce left her a little bitter and unsure of herself. She’d always dreamed of having a large family of her own, but at 32 she knows time is running out on her dream. In her heart something is missing, and since she is resigned herself to be an old maid, she believes it’s a child.

Enter Maddie, a precocious 7 year old girl who I fell in love with from the start. She’s as much a part of the story as the two main characters. Funny, kind, and just an all around good kid, I wanted to reach into the pages and hug her. When she meets Amy, she knows the perfect person for her is the janitor at her school, and the little matchmaker gets to work.

Gabe is the unknowing match Maddie has in mind. Spending the last few years getting his life back on track hasn’t been easy for Gabe. But he did it. He’s sober, in college working on a teaching degree, and still nursing a broken heart for the girl who left him. He has no intentions of dating the woman Maddie has picked out for him. Until he meets her.

Christmas Hope
Sometimes things happen and you don’t know why or how. This is a book about that. You don’t know why things happen the way they did, but you trust in what is before you, even when you are a little scared.

Told in dual POV and a few other perspectives from other townsfolk, The Christmas Star is one of those books that is so sweet it makes your heart ache. If you enjoy second chance holiday romances, I highly recommend it.

Please note that while this book is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.

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.

Absolutely blown away!!! Fantastic ending to a fantastic series! Mastery of Earth by Michelle Bryan & M. Lynn is the final book in the Legends of the Tri-Gard. Magic is restored in Dreach-Sciene, and war looms with Dreach-Dhoun. Trystan, Rissa, Davi, and Alixa have come nearly full-circle, and it’s time to complete what they started. Be prepared for heartache and tears as the series comes to a conclusion.

From Orphan to Prince, From Prince to King
What appealed to me most about this series is the characters. The authors put them through hell, and despite that they come out better. They adapt and change to meet what is required of them. Seriously y’all that takes some fantastic writing. Well done ladies!



Trystan and Davi are my two favorites. Trystan goes from being a prince to king overnight. The authors handle him so well. He grieves, he’s angry, he fights being the king, but ultimately accepts it. It all feels so real and believable. Davi is no different. In fact, of all the characters, I feel he deals with the most.

Spoiler

I mean y'all....HE DIES!!!!! at the end of book one.

Davi is angry and hurt and confused for a majority of the book, but he handles it with his humor and withdrawing from his friends. Why? Because he doesn’t want to hurt them 😭

Magic and War
Why is it that these two things always go together? It seems you can’t have one without the other. The same is the case here. The world-building though and the buildup is edge-of-your-seat, hold-your-breath fantastic. I couldn’t read it fast enough. The scheming and multiple POV create a dramatic irony that is unmatched. I love being able to get into the heads of all the main characters. My heart ached for them as they struggled with the trials ahead of them.

My Final Thoughts
Mastery of Earth is the perfect conclusion to the Legends of the Tri-Gard series. Michelle Bryan & M. Lynn delivered a well-written, fully-fleshed out story. The war, the magic, the romance….all of it is perfect and exactly what I wanted for the characters I’ve grown to love so much. If you enjoy high fantasy, I highly recommend this book/series.