This was not the Lords of the Underworld I remembered. I don't know if it's been so long since I've read the series that I don't quite remember it right or what but I did not enjoy this one as much as I recall enjoying the previous books. So much just felt off to me. The dialogue, the characters, the story itself felt disjointed and seemed to jump around a bunch. It was like walking back to a puzzle that was mostly finished and none of the remaining pieces seem to fit, in fact I'm pretty sure they are from a totally different puzzle, same brand maybe, but different picture undoubtedly.

4.5 Stars

The God Game takes technology turning against us to that even scarier level, because really it's US turning against each other and ourselves. Technology is the glorious monster we have created, and we merrily revel in it, ensnared by its siren song. Give us connection, show me people like me, curious, hopeful, shy, angry, secretive...wanting. Pretty it up with smiles and items I need. Sell me the life, the look, the power, the status, the praise, the community, the voice, the escape, the very thing I so desperately desire. The thing we don't always like to ask is what's the cost? There's an insideousnesss to it, the very thing that makes us feel so connected is the thing that can most disconnect us from vital components, consequences, shame, our surroundings, the people sitting right next to us. I absolutely love when these things are explored like they were in this novel. It can be kinda dark and twisty but it never seems all that outlandish, and the best part to me is that it says more about the human condition than it does the technological boogeyman (that's already in the house *gasp*) in so many delicious ways.

I almost feel like I should have two different ratings, one for the first half and one for the second. They were drastically different. I think Young really shines when writing action scenes, it's a shame we had to wait so long for anything to really happen. The first 50-60% of this was rather uneventful but the battle in the last half was EPIC. I only wish there was more of that throughout the rest. It felt like a lot to wait that long for the payoff, which inevitably felt kind of abrupt after such a long wait.

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley and this is my honest review.

In Hexen's Cross Taran was impressive in so many ways but she seemed to be lacking in the practice of the Hexen craft and it was clear that she would need to bolster that moving forward. I couldn't imagine just how exactly that would come about in Hexen's Binding and I was truly surprised how it did in the best way. Some say the pen is mightier than the sword and that has maybe never been as true as it is for Taran, especially when that pen is building a magical arsenal of knowledge into her own grimoire.







I also have to say I really appreciated the strong family dynamic elements in this one. A lot of this story is getting to know ones roots, whether it be on the magical side of things, family, or even feelings. In all of those scenarios one thing rings true, it isn't easy to dig in deep and it is not always pretty what you find along the way, but in the end real strength will be found and built upon piece by piece. The Grims and the Donovans are like any other family in a lot of ways, they have their fractures and their failings but they also have immense strength and in the end a willingness to put differences aside and stand together when it counts.







While I wouldn't go as far to say that Hexen's Binding was the calm before the storm, because there was enough struggle to keep you glued to the pages, I did feel like it was building to a grand crescendo coming about in the next book. This ending satisfies just enough but will have you on the edge of your seat desperately awaiting the next installment.







I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.