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This was an interesting read. I quite enjoyed the three different stories of Odessa, Solomon, and Blackwood happening throughout and how each of them came to find themselves mixed in otherworldly business. I found each one added something extra to the story in a good way. While we got to know a bit about each of them and in turn the mostly unseen dangers threatening the world, there's clearly so much more to know about them and the larger beings in play. I'm really curious to see how this tale continues. While definitely different in many ways, I couldn't help but think of The Outsider/End of Watch/If It Bleeds by Stephen King while reading The Hollow Ones. Maybe in the way the supernatural entity hid behind an unassuming human mask so well to do its nefarious deeds, and the inclusion of a unbelieving detective caught up in something much larger and crazier than they could have imagined. Some interesting parallels there for sure. Also, probably still relatively fresh for me since I read all of these in the past 6 months. I could see fans of those books liking this one too.
3.5 stars
Kinda getting a slight Kate Daniels vibe from this and I mean that as the highest compliment. Definitely a solid start to what I hope will be a kicka*s series.
Kinda getting a slight Kate Daniels vibe from this and I mean that as the highest compliment. Definitely a solid start to what I hope will be a kicka*s series.
4.5 stars
The Princess Knight had pretty much everything I like to see in a sequel, character growth, plot progression, a few twists and turns, and an extra plus with this series...loads of smartassery and humor!
We get to know Gemma much better in this one. While I missed Keeley being front and center, I still really enjoyed the spotlight on Gemma. What makes it extra great to me is that Keeley is quite frankly much easier to like right off the jump, while Gemma takes a little more time to really warm up to, but the storyline is continously strong and the more you get to know Gemma the better you like and connect with her. I was so glad to get a closer look at the War Monks in general! It was nice to see the inner workings of this other life Gemma had outside of her family. It also helped give us a fuller picture of her as an independent character. I liked Quinn too. He is honest to a fault, loyal and outgoing. It was a nice balance to Gemma's brash, distrustful, standoffish nature.
The romance element was interesting and not as predictable as many I've read before. I kinda liked that it was mostly in the background and how the frienemies unobtrusively just become more one day. Aiken did such a wonderful job laying the foundation and making that so strong that once the romance did click into place it felt comfortable and right and all the typical bells and whistles frankly weren't necessary so I didn't ever miss them. You could easily see the trust and knowledge of each other they had in every single battle and their interactions with each other, even when they were poking at one another.
Like with the first book, I absolutely loved the familial banter! It is a shining light in this series. The way they drive each other nutty but have so much love for one another is heartwarming and entertaining as all get out. I could listen to the sisters messing with each other all day long. Beatrix being the obvious exception because that girl does not play well with others. I find myself more and more curious about her motivations though. Another great thing is even the side characters are immensely intriguing. There's really no one-dimensional filler in this story. You get a good feel for the unique personalities from initial meetings and it only grows from there. It was enjoyable meeting so many new characters in this one. I look forward to seeing more of them in following books.
The ending was truly spectacular! I'm dying to see what happens next! It is going to be torture waiting for book 3.
I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books via Netgalley and this is my honest review.
The Princess Knight had pretty much everything I like to see in a sequel, character growth, plot progression, a few twists and turns, and an extra plus with this series...loads of smartassery and humor!
We get to know Gemma much better in this one. While I missed Keeley being front and center, I still really enjoyed the spotlight on Gemma. What makes it extra great to me is that Keeley is quite frankly much easier to like right off the jump, while Gemma takes a little more time to really warm up to, but the storyline is continously strong and the more you get to know Gemma the better you like and connect with her. I was so glad to get a closer look at the War Monks in general! It was nice to see the inner workings of this other life Gemma had outside of her family. It also helped give us a fuller picture of her as an independent character. I liked Quinn too. He is honest to a fault, loyal and outgoing. It was a nice balance to Gemma's brash, distrustful, standoffish nature.
The romance element was interesting and not as predictable as many I've read before. I kinda liked that it was mostly in the background and how the frienemies unobtrusively just become more one day. Aiken did such a wonderful job laying the foundation and making that so strong that once the romance did click into place it felt comfortable and right and all the typical bells and whistles frankly weren't necessary so I didn't ever miss them. You could easily see the trust and knowledge of each other they had in every single battle and their interactions with each other, even when they were poking at one another.
Like with the first book, I absolutely loved the familial banter! It is a shining light in this series. The way they drive each other nutty but have so much love for one another is heartwarming and entertaining as all get out. I could listen to the sisters messing with each other all day long. Beatrix being the obvious exception because that girl does not play well with others. I find myself more and more curious about her motivations though. Another great thing is even the side characters are immensely intriguing. There's really no one-dimensional filler in this story. You get a good feel for the unique personalities from initial meetings and it only grows from there. It was enjoyable meeting so many new characters in this one. I look forward to seeing more of them in following books.
The ending was truly spectacular! I'm dying to see what happens next! It is going to be torture waiting for book 3.
I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books via Netgalley and this is my honest review.
I missed Dex and Perry! This was a perfect little intro to them stepping back into the EIT world. I can't wait for the full length novel that comes in just a few weeks!
This cover and the blurb honestly did not prepare me for the tone of this book in any way. This was a good read, but a heavy one, definitely not the light quirky rom-com I was thinking it would be. Was there romance and some comedy weaved in there?...Sure, but this was a brutally honest, raw, emotionally packed story of a woman struggling to deal with trauma. There should undoubtedly be some trigger warnings attached to this one, it deals heavily in rape/sexual assault.
There was times when this book was hard to read, emotionally. I cringed at some parts, mainly in how painfully merciless April could be with herself in such stark contrast to how understanding and kind she could be with others in distress and pain. Which is relatable at its core, quite frequently we are our own toughest critics, but also it chillingly articulated that extra level of self blame so many that have been through trauma experience.
Even when painful, watching April go through some really dark times and emotions, it was also hopeful and heartwarming in the times that she was facing things head on, finding her voice/power and safe places and people. The boxing class in particular really just struck a powerful emotional cord for me. It could also be funny at times, how (albeit kinda cruelly sometimes) April was in her critical analysis of men, but still notes of humor in the truthfulness in there. I think the deepness of her hurt overshadows a lot of humor within for the reader though.
To be honest I cared much less about April's relationship with Joshua than her relationship with herself. I liked that, that part was always at the forefront of this book. And while it maybe wasn't the nicest or the fairest to use Joshua as a tool in this process, at least initially, it was very fitting in where April was at that point in her journey and I could understand it very clearly. I thought it ended in a fairly good tone too. Not too HEA (which wouldn't have fit with the rest of the story) but with April personally doing better and mostly content on the path she was on. Still a work in progress, but progress being made, much like the rest of us.
I could see this one being a great book club book. Sparking a lot of good conversation about important things that aren't frequently talked about. Also, would be great to have a buddy (much like the buddy system in the charity April worked at!) to emotionally lean on while reading.
I received an ARC of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing and this is my honest review.
There was times when this book was hard to read, emotionally. I cringed at some parts, mainly in how painfully merciless April could be with herself in such stark contrast to how understanding and kind she could be with others in distress and pain. Which is relatable at its core, quite frequently we are our own toughest critics, but also it chillingly articulated that extra level of self blame so many that have been through trauma experience.
Even when painful, watching April go through some really dark times and emotions, it was also hopeful and heartwarming in the times that she was facing things head on, finding her voice/power and safe places and people. The boxing class in particular really just struck a powerful emotional cord for me. It could also be funny at times, how (albeit kinda cruelly sometimes) April was in her critical analysis of men, but still notes of humor in the truthfulness in there. I think the deepness of her hurt overshadows a lot of humor within for the reader though.
To be honest I cared much less about April's relationship with Joshua than her relationship with herself. I liked that, that part was always at the forefront of this book. And while it maybe wasn't the nicest or the fairest to use Joshua as a tool in this process, at least initially, it was very fitting in where April was at that point in her journey and I could understand it very clearly. I thought it ended in a fairly good tone too. Not too HEA (which wouldn't have fit with the rest of the story) but with April personally doing better and mostly content on the path she was on. Still a work in progress, but progress being made, much like the rest of us.
I could see this one being a great book club book. Sparking a lot of good conversation about important things that aren't frequently talked about. Also, would be great to have a buddy (much like the buddy system in the charity April worked at!) to emotionally lean on while reading.
I received an ARC of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing and this is my honest review.
This book was a gift. I mean, I bought it for myself but it felt like Christmas came early. I thought EIT was done, that Dex and Perry got their ending. While I was happy for them I also missed them and their wild energy and this creeptastic world. It was such a treat to get to fully dive back into it all years later. I loved seeing Dex and Perry years into their marriage and peek into Ada with her and her gift maturing, and getting to hang with Big Red and even Fat Rabbit again was just the icing on this devil's food cake. This had everything I treasured about EIT, the thrills and chills, the intense/tumultuous/wild/electrifying relationship between Dex and Perry, all the characters that feel like old friends, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat and side-eyeing shadows the entire way. I am beyond thrilled to see that we have even more to look forward to in the future!