A Fate Inked In Blood is part of a new series by Danielle L. Jensen, it follows Freya, a shield-maiden and daughter of Hlin, who is stuck in an unwanted marriage until the day her husband sells her off to the Jarl (King) of the land. Fighting to prove her worth, Freya revels that she is a shield maiden whose magic can repel any attack, in doing so she finds herself trapped in another unwanted marriage with the Jarl himself will falling in love with his son, Bjorn. With all Jarls wanting to control her, due to a prophecy stating that the nation of Skaland would be united beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate, Freya must find out who controls her destiny, Bjorn, the Jarl or if it can be re-written.

I had to physically put this book down at around 80% because of how annoying I found Freya, like she could not be quiet for a hot minute and think before she acted. Live now, think later followed her throughout the whole book. But then I picked it back up and finished in within 20 minutes and I'm so annoyed I didn't finish it earlier. 

The world building was there, I could very much envision the world that Jensen had created, and I like the range of characters and the range magic and the magic system. There wasn't really a need for the info dump that's normally required when coming into a new fantasy book. However, there was no character that you could like or root for throughout the book, and I think that's where is fell flat for me. I still gave it four stars because I wanted to know what was going to happen plot wise but I couldn't have cared less about that characters. There was no depth, it was just face value for most of characters,

I eagerly await book two. I'm excited to see where the story goes and explore the new worlds with Nordeland and get to know our other characters more.

Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone, Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow.

I don’t know how to feel after finishing An Education in Malice, I’ve just been sat here for almost thirty minutes contemplating what I’ve read - in a good way.

A modern, gothic, dark academia retelling of Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, An Education in Malice is a lyrical, imagery laden haven. There’s something in Gibson’s writing where you just feel like you’re being taught what beautiful prose reads like. 

We start with two main characters, Laura and Carmilla. Laura is a transfer student to St Perpetua’s College - an all girls school, almost instantaneously she becomes infatuated with Carmilla, the protege of their poetry teach De Lafontaine. Gibson cover’s several tropes in An Education in Malice, student-teach power dynamics, obsession, grief, academic rivals to lover, slow-burn, vampire, murder and at the heart of it a sapphic romance. 

Whilst I’m not normally one for alternating POV’s I couldn’t wait to read what both of the girls were thinking and feeling both so distinctly written. Carmilla’s standout qualities were her academic drive, her confidence and her strong emotions, Laura conversely, was warmer, a sweet southern girl, who wanted to learn. Both however, were tied by their need to for acceptance, approve and need to belong, to be loved and to be accepted by each other but also by their teach De Lafontaine.

The power dynamics between Carmilla and De Lafontaine were so interesting to watch play out. One minute Carmilla stood up for herself but in the next second De Lafontaine had managed to wrangle her back under a spell. It was so uncomfortable not being able to figure out where exactly I - as a reader stood with De Lafontaine, what she was doing was wrong, her obsession and treatment of Carmilla was wrong and yet in some scenes she truly cared for Carmilla. Gibson wrote the dynamic so wonderfully, so I’m glad the ending was what it was.

An Education in Malice, is an atmospheric, imagery laden, lyrical prose filled novel. One of Gibson’s best works yet, I look forward to reading what’s next - Excelsior.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit and Gibson for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Emily Henry owns my heart, she really knows me. I loved this book and by quite a far mile more than I liked Happy Place and it might just be tied with Book Lovers.

Funny Story is the funny story of how Daphne falls in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex. A Love Story that starts with Heartbreak. I had no idea, honestly if this was even a concept I was into, I didn't know if it would work. All I knew what that Emily Henry was the author and that meant I was probably going to love it and I was right.

Daphne is a librarian who is engaged to Peter (bleh), but surprise surprise when he breaks off the engagement for Petra his childhood friend, when they realised that actually it had been them all along. Daphne is forced to move out and who else could she ask to move in with if not her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex's or Miles as he's better knowns flat who has also recently become single. When Miles and Daphne receive an RSVP to Peter and Petra's wedding and Daphne receives a certain phone call Fake Dating ensues. 

 
What I loved about Funny Story was the character exploration that took place, we really got to know Daphne, flaws and all. The focus on the characters relationships was emotional to say the least, why they were the way they are and how the way you perceive yourself can be completely different to the way others perceive you. Miles is kind and empathetic and is clearly acts of service as a love language but boy would him being late most of the time annoy me, but he's perfect for Daphne. Daphne who is so independent, found a friend in Miles first then love. There's something to be said about a person who remembers your drink order.

Funny Story is wonderfully messy and emotionally crushing. To keep this as spoiler free as possible, I'm going to end the review here but I do want to say - the third act... how could you.

Thank you to Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business, Viking and Netgalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch is the follow up to A Witches Guide to Fake Dating a Demon. They say that the sequel is never better than the original however, Hawley defies this curse.

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, amnesia and one bed. 

Calladia Cunnington is feisty, sassy and unapologetically chaotic. Hawley does a great job bringing the character to life. Calladia starts the book being kicked out of the bar where Mariel and Oz (our main character from  A Witches Guide to Fake Dating a Demon) are celebrating their relationship. Astaroth, our demon is being attacked that very same night, and wouldn't you guess is saved by Calladia, suffering from amnesia and new-found mortality Astaroth asks Calladia for help.

Of course, I had my issues with the book as well (the same issues I had with book 1), but as a sequel 

I think it holds up well and is still an enjoyable read.

Thank you to  Orion Publishing Group, Gollancz and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just kinda forgot about this book.

The book was fine, too much time had just past since I picked it up and I've forgotten everything.