So… I have a lot to say about this one, & I feel like I need a break before I head into the next book. This book moved much slower than the previous ones, I do enjoy them but they’re definitely a slow burn. It felt like there was very little progress till you got about 70% in, which was frustrating when holding the weight of this very thick novel. It’s only my opinion, but too much of this book is unnecessary & the time we spend waiting for Auren to process her trauma, in the context of a book like this was tough to push through, let’s get our revenge on for crying out loud. 😬 I did love the romance developing between Rissa & Osrik. I did enjoy snippets of background for Slade & Auren (as depressing as their pasts both were). I do not enjoy the smut. 😑 There, I said it. It’s a big nope from me. Nope,  nope, nope! Does not do it for me at all! I know there are some that might find these scenes super hot but I find they’re overshadowed by the way over the top, & from my point of view, completely unrealistic dirty talk (she says as she reads about magical Fae). Told you I had too much to say. Can the 5th book redeem it for me? That ending gives me hope.

In this one, the third installment, we see the revealing of the true characters of the monarchs, and to be honest, they’ll give you the ick. Queen Malina gives off major “mean girl” vibes, I was so rooting for her to be the savior, while Midas’ “favour” definitely falls.

The build up to the scene we were all waiting for was everything, (iykyk) but the dirty talk made me cringe. 😬 My only complaint about this book. 

Gleam saw Auren really unleash the full extent of her powers, it was timely, intense & beautiful. She took back her power in the most fitting, & yet horrific way. 

This is definitely a slow burn series. While there is plenty to the plot, it doesn’t really move quickly. While reading it, you feel like not much has transpired, & yet so much has all at the same time. Auren spends the majority of this book held prisoner in a traveling camp, but here she learns so much about herself & her capabilities, here she learns to question everything. Malinda’s plot to overthrow is still unraveling. Midas’s plans are not working out the way he expected…. It’s all leading to another book! 🫢 

And these might be some of the quickest reads ever. Not exactly a thin novel, I manage to finish them in 24-48 hours…. 

I picked this one up after a  recommendation from a friend. Um…. what the fug did I just read? 😳😄 Literally two pages in I was messaging my Husband to tell him about it! 
That first chapter was slightly deceiving though, an opening like that leads you to believe you’re about to read a certain kinda story, if you catch my drift, but to be honest, this was much, much tamer than I was expecting! There was actually a readable plot, which was easy to follow and I was surprised to finish it as quickly as I did. I enjoyed the story more than I was expecting as I’m not normally a sci-fi girly. I’ll definitely reach for the next book to see how #bossbitch Queen Malina throws down as well as the fate of Auren. 

16/30
Rating: 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Cover art: 🌸🌸🌸
Plot: 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Writing style: 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Characters: 🌸🌸🌸

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Possibly my favourite book of the year. Questioning why I left this on my #tbr for so long? Greek Mythology is one of my favoured genres & this will be added to my favourite retellings of the battle of Troy.

The story was not what I had expected & I loved this take on Achilles’ story. It was more than just a war story, it was a love story, so beautifully woven by the author. 

Choosing this book was personal for me. One of my daughters has ADHD & since we got that diagnosis, her & I delved into all kinds of “research” to better understand the amazing neurospicy little sparkle that she is. This book was so beautifully written & so lovingly created by Chloé Hayden for her community.  It’s a great reminder of how capable & creative & wonderful each individual actually is & fed my heart with so much joy at what the future can hold for our “Spicy” kids. 

Set during & after the Civil War, Conjure Women is a piece of history, magic aside. It was an intense story, slow moving & traveled in time jumps. The healer woman & her daughter made up the bulk of the story, forever tied to the Master’s daughter. 
It’s taken me a long time to finish this one because of the type of story that it was. It was one I found tough to finish.

Positives, it was a cute story with characters you grew to love & wanted to see win. This series was unlike anything I’ve really read in the last few years & I really enjoyed that. 

The negative for me was the time it took to get to the part I wanted to read about 3 books ago!! 

This was such a good series to get me reading after the busyness of this year, I really got invested & I love that. 

So if you read my last review, you might have seen how I said I’d let my teenage daughters read these… 😄😬 They’re not overly sexual, but where the first book alluded to sexual tension, this one delves into it more. The tension, not an actual event. 

Evangeline reminds me so much of Bella from Twilight in this book, if she can do the opposite of what she should, she will… And I was really moving from the will-they-or-won’t-they phase, to the come-on-already phase! 

Then that ending…. Okay, I can’t wait to pick up the next one. I have enjoyed these books more than I expected to!