So I have yet to read the original Trylle books but when I came across this spinoff start to a new set of books it sounded good and I wanted to jump right in. I don't know if reading the first set might have increased my enjoyment in this one, probably a bit. I did still enjoy it for the most part but I would have liked to see more action. The story kept a rather slow pace and that could make it feel like it was dragging at times.

I liked Ulla well enough. As a protagonist she's rather interesting...she's so even-keeled and pragmatic, which is kind of refreshing in a sense, but it also made it her feel maybe a tad robotic at times and left a little disconnect there. I think her story, her search for answers on where/who she came from helped even that out and give her more depth and feeling. I had similar feelings on the other prominent characters in the sense that I liked them but none were exactly jumping off the pages. Eliana might be the one stand out, but I think a lot of her intrigue came from all the mystery surrounding her.

While it lacked in action for the most part it certainly didn't lack in imagination or world building. This was an interesting world to explore and I would like to see where the next book takes me. I think that one will likely make or break it for me.

I received an arc of this book from Wednesday Booka via Netgalley and this is my honest review.

3.5 stars

I finally read my first Joe Hill book! I've been wanting to for some time now. I could definitely see the family resemblance, hard to miss even without all the many nods at his dad's numerous works. I don't want to compare the two, but one thing I found a little lacking here was something that King novels almost always deliver on, I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters. I think that seemingly little thing could have taken this book to the next level, but honestly I still enjoyed the story without that.

One thing I can say 100% this book kept me guessing until the very end! I really enjoyed the shifting narrators, even though they were rather unlikable at times. This story is full of very flawed people but that was part of the macabre charm to this particular novel. This ended up being a lot darker than I initially anticipated but the twists and turns and fast pace kept me flying through the pages. I can't say I was real invested in the characters as they could be hard to root for but I was definitely way into solving this mystery. Every time I thought I had it figured out something or someone came along and changed the game.The flashes of past intermixed with the present to form the full picture from varying perspectives was really great. I quite liked the addition of the killer's POV along with Anna and Jack's. I can say there is a few different scenarios that will be triggering for some readers so be aware that this book can be disturbing and it isn't for the faint of heart. All in all a solid suspense/mystery for me and I definitely want to check out more from this author.
 
I received an arc of this book from Flatiron Books and this is my honest review.

I went into this one hoping for a little more action/excitement. I was more forgiving of the lack of that element in the first book because it's a lot of setup on the world and plot in general but I really needed to see that progression in the sequel, and through the first two thirds of this book I did not. The Morning Flower was actually set up quite the same as the first book in terms of very little progression until the end. Again with this one, the plot and world are interesting but I can't help but to be left feeling like a lot of the search for answers and rather mundane details could be condensed greatly in the first 2/3 of this story. It drags. It made it hard for me to fully get into and that's not what I want in a sequel. It's a lot to wade through to get to the excitement, just to end on another cliffhanger.

Even other sub-elements like the romance are basically non-starters. When done well a 'will they or won't they' can be fun and torturously exciting. Ulla and Pan or even the hinted at spark of attraction with Jem-Kruck just never had that integral draw. The desire to see either happen at all never fully formed for me. The characters were so apprehensive and not fully into it that how in the world could I as a reader be? Surprisingly I think a lot of this book was meant to be a slow progression to more between Ulla and Pan but their lack of passion and outward interest definitely fed into mine and I just didn't end up caring one way or another.

I was really hoping book one was an exception and not the rule and unfortunately that proved otherwise for me here. While I would like to see what happens next in the story, it's just not enough that I am content waiting to reach the end of another novel to get a little further.

I received an arc of this book from Wednesday Books via Netgalley and this is my honest review.

This was a perfect summer read! You know the kind, something light and quick and fun. Honestly I haven't been feeling much YA lately but this was the ideal choice for dipping a toe back in, I was able to read it all in two sittings.

The relationships in this book were wholesome and cute. I liked that while obviously it was a romance, it was mostly about a young girl finding herself. I also really enjoyed being immersed in Winnie's life and culture. While it can be great to see yourself in a character sometimes, it's also awesome to learn about cultures different than your own and see a new perspective. One of my absolute favorite things about this story was how rich it was in Thai culture. Dunn writes beautifully about Thai traditions, values, so many glorious dishes, and she even touches on the struggle of being a Thai-American living in the US. I really appreciated getting that closer look into something I didn't know a ton about.

I received an arc of this book from Entangled Teen via Netgalley and this is my honest review.

An intriguing and entertaining start to a series. I really liked the characters, the plot and world building were pretty solid for a first book. Of course we are still left with many questions and curiosities left to explore but that really amps up the draw of jumping right into the sequel.

Raven is a pretty great leading lady. She manages to be down-to-earth and relatable on a human level even though she's also Other. TDD (Tall, dark and dangerous) was aptly applied to Cole in this story and I couldnt agree more with Raven's initial assessment. I enjoyed their kind of tenuous relationship/team up. The insta attraction was on the heavy side for sure but I liked how it all played out none the less.

I'm really curious to see what happens next and I immediately went out and purchased the rest of the books in the series so that alone makes this one a winner in my book! Also, that cover art is ON POINT.

A great follow up to Conspiracy of Ravens. I like the mix of both the worlds and the way this plot really brought the two together. You get a feel for the divide and pull Raven must feel being born from both. The fact that she is part of the Others but also very uninformed about them as a whole and her role in their world is endearing and exciting to stumble around learning with her on the fly as the reader. It's fun to see her abilities grow and I am enjoying the journey. It feels like there's still so much to uncover about her powers, her new position as the Corvid Queen, and the world of the Others in general. Each little bit of information only makes you want to know more.

I liked the progression in the relationship between Cole and Raven in this one. Although his penchant for secrecy, even when it is for Raven's safety or benefit, seems like it could grow tiresome after awhile. Raven strikes me as the kind to stand more on her own and do what needs to be done, no matter how dirty the task may be, and I think eventually their relationship will require more of an even footing and partnership. It feels like there's still a certain depth lacking in their relationship and while we see things progress with them in a positive way there seems to be some questions and a smidgen of apprehension still within Raven and I wonder if it stems from a culmination of these key things. I'm curious to see how that progresses in the future.

All in all these books are quick fun reads and I'm thoroughly enjoying this exciting universe and all its interesting inhabitants!