rebeccasreadingrambles's Reviews (3.06k)

Oh Percy Jackson, how I have missed you! This is the perfect set up = Percy has to go on quests to get recommendation letters from lesser gods? And they send him on a spiralling quest with many many layers to keep the action and drama going. I loved every minute of this. I so enjoyed that a lot of it focused on embracing your life and looking for all the good sides and not dreading changes (as a lot is about to change for Percy)!

Note: I have always listened to this series on audio and the narration is perfection!

Oh Kathy.  You had my heart almost instantly; you caring and self-doubting and relatable characters. I love seeing into Kathy's mind why she does the things she does because her parents told her she ruined everything (because WTF) and how she is an intense doubter and overthinking as I am.  And yet she is one of the most caring and loving sleuths.  I LOVE the set-up of this book; the SCYTHE entity is so intriguing and set up such a unique story.

 This book has such interesting characters, so many suspicious ones and a few absolute cinnamon rolls! I loved seeing Kathy doubt her mothering abilities while we can ALL SEE how maternal and amazing she is.  This book had my mind on a serious wild goose chase because I could not figure it out, until just before Kathy does. This book is cozy but also edgy and I love how those two factors worked together. I hope there will be more!!

Note: I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrations!

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my review and thoughts were my own.

I love this series so much and this was another wonderful book. I love how Lana works closely with a different recurring character from her life in each book and I was curious how it would go sleuthing with Ian. Well she has a tone, but it was a great new aspect to explore.  I love the Ho Lee noodle house and all Lana's family and friends. This one had me in the dark with all the twists and turns and shocked by the ending. I love how supportive everyone is of Lana's sleuthing and how confident she has grown in herself! I already cannot wait for more.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was fabulous!

DNF @ 45% because I cannot get into this story and nothing really has happened.  The characters are pretty vague and I don't even feel like I have a good feel for the MC. The story drags along and then rushes through the important parts and I just cannot keep my attention. I love the idea, but the execution isn't working for me.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my review and thoughts are my own.

Phewwwwww. I am exhausted. That ending was - wow.  The ending just gutted me and also shocked me and I AM SO READY FOR THE NEXT ONE NOW PLEASE!! These characters were so good and complicated and the banter was perfection.  ST did an amazing job showing how easily desperation and horrible circumstances can turn someone into a person they nor you recognize. Are the characters irredeminable or is there hope?! You are on the edge of your seat trying to find out.

  It was especially poignant in the current world climate, and historically representative of how someone could follow a "deity" with good intentions that quickly turns into destroying everything and everyone in your path with no remorse and forgetting your humanity. The lime from Quill about the wrongness of destroying someone else's home just to find your own hit especially hard.

I found the pacing to be a bit on the slower side at times so just be prepared, especially if you read the previous series and expect to jump bang into action. There is a lot of great world building; I love seeing and learning more about the different lands and cultures and magic. The writing was just as beautiful as expected and the imagery poignant the entire time.

You CAN read this as a standalone series without reading the Ember series before, BUT I highly recommend you do because you emotional connection to this world and especially the previous trio of characters will be a huge factor in this story (IMHO).

Audiobook note: I listened to the audiobook and HIGHLY recommend it.  It is multi-narrator and each does an incredible job bringing these complex characters to life.

Thanks to the publisher for a free audiobook copy; my review and thoughts are my own.

Oh hello cozy fantasy book.  I love this book that moves at a perfectly cozy and content pace, even when there is danger or drama.  It truly is a story of finding you family, finding where you belong and feel safe and happy.  It is full of characters who are just trying to do their best, and this is why I love cozy books.  There is never anything heart-pounding, but there are a lot of emotions (I absolutely teared up at the end) and lots of growth for all the characters.  The splashes of magic are lovely and well thought out.  The comradery between the MCs is something that we all search for in life and I especially am drawn to in stories.  Tao's struggle between her past and figuring out her present and future are so relatable in so many different aspects (no spoilers). I smiled almost the entire time and enjoyed reading this so much.

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.

 I love Ellie's books because her characters and setting are FAB and this book LIVED UP TO THE HYPE! This new series has its own voice and was so very good. I'm so impressed that she was able to start another thrilling and cozy series that is already addicting.  I already miss this town and these characters!  I loved both the quiet small town bookstore and the book festival; both of which gave the best cozy vibes and had my itching to go to a book festival that involves an entire town and meeting other mystery lovers.  I love the glimpses of Annie's past and the cliffhanger was so exciting. I was shocked by the ending and enjoyed how everything played out. I am already excited for the next one!

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was a perfect characterization of what I would visualize in my head for these characters. 

YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEEN KEEPING ME AWAKE AND ALIVE?! This book! I could not stop. I turned my headphones extra loud today so I did not miss a word because I was CAPTIVATED. Was I totally confused at first, heck yea. Was I crying with goosebumps and a new obsession with these characters by the end?! OF COURSE! This author makes me favorite characters ever and can do no wrong! I love all the spy aspects, the danger, the bait and switch, the very vibrant and different characters that are introduced and collected along the way. The storytelling is perfectly crafted, I had so much fun and felt unexpected emotional at times.

🎧Note: The narration was *chefs kiss* PERFECTION!

Note: thanks to the publishers for a free audiobook; my thoughts and review are my own.

I loved it! The characters, the drama, the spin on fake dating (fake dating, but behind your parents back, and also all the secrets). The spice!! I love how this book focuses on how the "grass is always greener" and how both MCs seem like their upbringing and family situations disappoint them, but grow so much throughout the book. I could viscerally feel Naomi's longing for her ancestral culture, a feeling of belonging that she has never had, always feeling alone in the middle. I loved seeing Dev's culture through her eyes and learning so much alongside her. (I had tears from some of her wide-eye revelations, happiness, and at a scene at the end where she was told she does belong and will learn!)  Such a fun and spicy romance!

Audiobook note: I love these narrators and they did an amazing job with this book; highly recommend!

Note: thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my review and thoughts are my own!

Okayyyyy WHY AM I CRYING!  I still have the chills I got so many times while listening. The endings...wow.  This is a thriller and a love story and I am heartbroken for these characters who on first glance might be hatable, sparking ire if you just wrote down their deeds. But wow. WOW.  These characters are freaking 4D - they have so much depth and growth that I am truly blown away. I cannot get over this book, this story, this gorgeous writing, the thoughts in my head that it provoked and I am so emotional.

A million stars.

Note: This is THE PERFECT narrator for this story.  She is one of my favorites and she does this story justice and more and elevates it SO much!

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC and free audiobook copy; my review and thoughts are my own.