Evermore

**

2/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Children’s Group for giving me this book to review.

Evermore is the sequel to Everless, and while it is fast paced and I wanted to know what happening next, I was disappointed with it. I was not a fan of the romance as it developed way too fast and I ended up rolling my eyes at most of it as it takes up a lot of the story and Jules’s thoughts. I felt the world building was not good as it seemed like everywhere they needed to go was only a couple of hours horse ride away and everything seemed convenient and shallow as they would go from one point to another with no depth or sense of discovery.

Jules is way too impulsive and puts herself in danger almost constantly but she is desperate to find the truth and discover a way to stop Caro. Liam is a good character who is intelligent and has a thirst for knowledge. However, all of the characters, both new and old, felt flat and I didn’t care much about them.

I was underwhelmed by this book but I am hopeful that I will enjoy what Holland writes next. I would recommend Evermore only to those who loved the first book Everless.

Nightblood

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me this book to review.

Nightblood is the good final book in the Frostblood saga. It has good pacing and I felt it had more world building than the previous books especially as the gods and goddesses feature even more in this book. However, I felt there should be have been a little less romance drama and more story drama.

I was not a fan of Ruby in this book, I know she was not in complete control of her actions but she never helped herself and seemed to be enjoying causing the drama rather than talking to people and trying to mitigate it. Arcus is still serious and feels responsible for everyone but he did come across as very possessive and I can see why people are not a fan of him. I had the opposite problem with Kai, he was too cocky and blasé when they were trying to save the world and too interested in Ruby romantically when everyone should really be focusing on the main issues.

While I did have problems with all of the drama in this book, I still enjoyed it and I am looking forward to reading what Blake writes next. I would recommend Nightblood to fans of the first two books in the Frostblood Saga.

Sea of Strangers

**

2/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for giving me this book to review.

I struggled to connect with Sea of Strangers, despite me enjoying the first book Island of Exiles. This book is a dark fantasy world which has complex cultures and lots of diversity, however, it is very slow paced. I might not have liked this book as much is it has been a while since I have read Island of Exiles and I had trouble remembering what had happened and who everyone was.

Khya seems to have become a natural leader and I have always been a fan of Tessen, so these two were the highlight of the book.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t click with Sea of Strangers but I seem to be in the minority so if you enjoyed the first book, I would recommend you read this sequel.

The Last Namsara

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me this book to review.

The Last Namsara is an enjoyable fantasy novel with dragons, action and forbidden romance. This world was complex and the story had a unique twist I did not see coming.

Asha is fearless but is also carrying around a lot of guilt and wants to prove that she is not wicked like people think. I much preferred Torwin, compared to Asha as he fights for what he wants, sees the true value of things and does not give up. However, while I like both Asha and Torwin, I was not a fan of their romance, as there was too bigger difference in the power within the relationship and I could not understand why he liked her. The other characters could have had more development as I felt I didn’t know them that well and I hope we get to know them better in the next book.

While it was not perfect it was a good debut book and I am looking forward to reading the next book The Caged Queen. I would recommend The Last Namsara to fans of The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski and Dragon Trails by Ava Richardson.

Hero at the Fall

****

4/5

Hero at the Fall is the really good final book in the Rebel of the Sands Trilogy, which is action packed and fast paced. This book has a lot of twists and I really enjoyed the world building. I love the relationships in this book, but especially the platonic friendships as they were really well written. There are a few deaths in this book but there was one which really got me as I loved that character.

Amani has matured a lot since the first book but she still doesn’t believe she is a good leader as she doubts herself and is always listening to the negative thoughts in her head. Jin was a bit better in this book as he doesn’t flee at the first sign of trouble but he does come across as jealous and aggressive when it comes to Amani but with a couple of chapters set from his POV I did understand him a bit more. All of the other characters were brilliant, even those who are the bad guys, as everyone felt like a real person with their own motivations and beliefs.

The ending of this book was brilliant and it was good seeing what happened to the characters in the future. I would recommend Hero at the Fall to fans of the first two books in the trilogy, Rebel of the Sands and Traitor to the Throne.

Traitor of the Throne

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber for giving me this book to review.

Traitor to the Throne is the enjoyable second book in the Rebel of the Sands trilogy but I did not like it as much as the first book. The main problem I had was that a important story point happened between the two books and it was key to so many of the characters motivations, that it would have been so useful to have included it in a prologue so people know what happened. This book is more political than the previous book but it was still good as we get to see more of the Sultan and how he truly believes he is what is best for his country.

Amani is still brave and sassy but she is not as impulsive or selfish as she was before because she thinks more about her actions and how they affect not just her but those she cares about. Jin is hardly in this book which was disappointing as I don’t like the troupe of separating couples in the second book to add drama. The characters from the first book are back but I loved the new characters as they add something new to the story but especially Sam as he is cheeky and charming.

While not as good as the first book I still really enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading Hero at the Fall. I would recommend Traitor to the Throne to fans of the first book, Rebel of the Sands.

The Beautiful Ones

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for giving me this book to review.

The Beautiful Ones is an enjoyable romance novel which has a hint of fantasy. This disappointed me as with very minor changes it would have been a historical book, and I am much more interested in fantasy books than historical romance books. The story was slow-paced but that meant that we got to know the characters better.

Nina is a naïve character but that did not stop her from being straight talking. I was not a fan of Hector at all as he was such a user who was too trapped in past, and while he did change in the second half of the book by then I didn’t care. In some ways Valerie was my favourite character as I could understand her motives and I like baddies who know what they want and will do anything to accomplish them.

I was disappointed that the story was not as much fantasy as I hoped but the book was still an enjoyable read. I would recommend The Beautiful Ones to fans of romance novels with a hint of fantasy.

Nobody's Pawn

****

4/5

Nobody’s Pawn is the good final book in this trilogy and it is still fast paced and I did not want to put the book down. I really liked the slow burn romance, the world building and the commentary about gender roles. It answered all of the questions I had from the previous books and I did not predict where the story was going at all.

Noll has really matured in this story as she is more forgiving than before while also willing to step up to responsibility of people’s expectations of her as well still being as passionate and adventurous as before. Ailill seems more relaxed in this book but still has so many secrets which seems to take their toll on him. While the other characters are interesting and I enjoyed getting to know them, I wish I could knock some sense into most of them as everyone seemed to be thinking with their hearts but never with their heads and no one seemed to actually have the conversations they need with anyone.

I really enjoyed this series and I am very much looking forward to reading more of Mcnulty’s Books. I would recommend Nobody’s Pawn to fans of the first two books in this trilogy, and the trilogy to those who like surprisingly deep and twist filled YA fantasy books.

Nobody's Lady

****

4/5

Nobody’s Lady is the second book in The Never Veil trilogy and it is just as good as the first book. It is fast paced and I was hooked to the story hoping to discover what was going to happen next, as there seems to be a lot more going on than I was expecting and only The Lord seems to know what is going on. I really enjoyed how different the men and women were, and how they interacted with each other was fascinating. I can also understand both sides and what they might be feeling, although a lot of the problems could have been helped with just people talking to each other.

I like Noll more in this book as she has learnt from her past and is willing to acknowledge her mistakes which makes her come across as less selfish. I wish we could have seen more of Ailill as his and Noll’s dynamic was so enjoyable and there was not enough for me. Like the last book I was not the biggest fan of Jurij as he was acting so whiny and like the world revolved around him.

I really liked this book and with that cliffhanger and a lot of mysterious to discover I am really looking forward to learn what happens next in Nobody’s Pawn. I would recommend Nobody’s Lady to fans of the first book, Nobody’s Goddess.

Nobody's Goddess

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Patchwork Press for giving me this book to review.

Nobody’s Goddess is a really good YA fantasy novel which is deeper than you might think as it is about choice, freewill and how power can affect how the different genders treat each other. There is a bit of a beauty and the beast theme to this book but there is so much more going on in the story. Well written and with a few twists I did not see coming but I was a fan of the fact that all but one of the questions I had in this book were answered by the end.

Noll is defiant and passionate but also lonely, however, she is also selfish and seems like the person who wants what they cannot have. There was a lot of interesting characters in this story, such as The Lord, Alvilda and Avery but I did not understand Noll’s attraction to Jurij as he was very blah.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next two books in this series. I would recommend Nobody’s Goddess to those who want to read a thought-provoking YA fantasy book.

Ensnared

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Pikko’s House for giving me this book to review.

Ensnared is a sci-fi retelling of Beauty and the Beast which was interesting but it is predictable and an unlikely story, which I felt needed more world building. Both of the main characters had major mental health issues because of their past and I wish these were addressed in some way and I felt that their relationship was not healthy or good for each other as they enablers for the other and were dependant solely on each other.

Alainn is a likeable character who is loyal, protective and stubborn, and Lorccan is a very mysterious genius. The secondary characters were not as fleshed out as Lorccan and Alainn which meant I did not care much about them.

While I enjoyed Ensnared, it did not grab me as much as I had hoped, and I would recommend it to fans of The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clark.

Storm Watcher

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Weapenry Co-Op for giving me this book to review.

Storm Watcher is an enjoyable contemporary middle-grade book about overcoming fears and dealing with grief. This book is not like any of Maria’s other books and while it is not my favourite of hers, it still has her brilliant writing style.

Luke is such a sweet and sensitive kid but he is tougher than he first appears as he is determined and very clever. Like all of Maria’s books the relationships in this novel make the story and I especially liked Luke’s with Megan and Lightning.

While not my normal genre of book I still enjoyed Storm Watcher and would recommend it to people who like coming of age middle-grade books.

Throne of Lies

***

3/5

Thanks to Sara Secora for giving me this book to review.

Throne of Lies is an enjoyable fantasy novel which is full of romance, secrets and a mystery. It raised a lot of questions and hardly answered ant of them and the relationships between the characters seemed to establish very quickly. The main problem with this book is the pacing as the first half of the story could have easily been told in half the pages, and it really drags the story.

Amethysta is self-centred and a dreamer who longs to have control over her own life. Soren is the pretty standard hero, perfect, brave and protective, but I wished that there was more depth to him. Ark is mysterious and a bitter character but who grows to be a kinder than he first seems.

I liked Throne of Lies and I would recommend it to fans of Kiss of Deception by Mary E Pearson and the Stolen Royals series by Kelsey Keating.

Skyward

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me this book to review.

Skyward is an excellent new sci-fi book from Brandon Sanderson. It is a little slow paced but that led to great world building and character growth. While I really enjoyed this book, it did not read like Sanderson’s other works, but that did not stop it from being and action-packed book, full of unexpected twists and a mystery which will keep you guessing.

Spensa is a determined, rash and angry teen who is always putting on a front by acting like a hero from old stories to hide the fact that she feels like a complete outsider and wants to prove herself to everyone. M-Bot is cheeky and arrogant character while also being apprehensive and I really liked him, although while reading I felt he behaved in a feminine way. I liked all of the characters, especially Skyward Flight team, as there was so much character development and the banter maked me understand and root for them.

This book is really good and I hope there is a sequel as there is so much more to discover in this universe. I would recommend Skyward to people who like Sanderson’s other books or to fans of good sci-fi novels.

Light Tripper

****

4/5

Thanks to Jo-Anne Tomlinson for giving me this book to review.

Light Tripper is a fun new adult sci-fi space opera full of action, betrayals and romance. It was a little slow to start but once the story started getting into the swing of it, I was hooked. I loved the twists in this book as I did not see most of them coming, and the characters were interesting and really engaging. I really liked that the story did not have any added drama for the sake of drama, which meant I could connect to the story.

Sal is a likeable character who is adaptable, witty and practical and despite her unusual upbringing she is a good person who truly cares. Raijin is a very loyal and diligent character who is rather mysterious about who he is. Morgan is another interesting character as he obviously cares and loves Sal but not enough to give up his addiction.

I really liked this book and I hope there is more stories in this universe. I would recommend Light Tripper to fans of Tomlinson’s other books and whose who are a fan of sci-fi novels.

Kingdom of Ashes

****

4/5

Thanks to Elena May for giving me this book to review.

Kingdom of Ashes is a really good paranormal dystopian novel which is fast paced and raised good questions about morality and what it is to be human. I love the mix of post-apocalyptic with the gothic paranormal the book has. I also liked that where was not any romance between Myra and any of the vampires in this book as it was refreshing and would have been detrimental to the story.

Myra is naïve and creative but she is also very self-centred which did not make her the most likable main character. Vladimir is cunning and ruthless and I feel we have only just scratched the depths of who he is and what he wants. Tristan is very loyal and big headed, and Armida hides her lack of self-worth with a mask of confidence.

I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading Men and Monsters. I would recommend Kingdom of Ashes to fans of Fireblood by Trisha Wolfe and The River Witch by Helena Rookwood

The Secret of Isian

****

4/5

Thanks to Serena Clarke for giving me this book to review.

The Secret of Isian is the final book in this trilogy and while I really liked this novel, it was my least favourite of the trilogy. Mostly because I did not feel the chemistry between Ander and Rimelda especially compared to the first two books. This book has quests and prophecies but also came across as heavier than the previous books as it deals with deeper issues.

Ander is humble, considerate and brave, who always thinks of others before himself. I was not the biggest fan of Rimelda as even though she is straight-talking and confident while also being secretive, she was just too good at everything which made her come across as smug.

I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading what Serena Clarke writes next. I would recommend The Secret of Isian to fans of the first two books in the series and those who like fairytale like fantasy novels.

The Alliance of Isian

****

4/5

Thanks to Serena Clarke for giving me this book to review.

The Alliance of Isian is the really good second book in the Isian trilogy. Unlike the previous book, this story was less about adventure and more about politics which but it was still just as good as it has a sweet romance and is fast paced. There is an interesting story about differing cultures and how you shouldn’t judge people based off stereotypes.

Gabrielle is a good and relatable character as you could understand her frustrations and feelings in this book but this did not mean she was afraid to stand up for herself. Alec is charming and thoughtful who is very protective and caring towards his people.

I really enjoyed this book and I am really looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy The Secret of Isian. I would recommend The Alliance of Isian to fans of the first book and those who enjoy light fantasy novels.

The Treasure of Isian

****

4/5

Thanks to Serena Clarke for giving me this book to review.

The Treasure of Isian is a very fun and enjoyable romantic fantasy book which has a fairytale feel to the world. The story is full of adventure, magical creatures and good world building. While predictable it did not stop the story from being a really good read and I did not want to put the book down.

Elani is a lovely main character as she is kind and hardworking but at the beginning of the book she lacks confidence and self-worth but it was a nice progression her developing them during the story. I was not the biggest fan of Garin as he seemed too proud and lacked patience and empathy towards Elani. However, he did grow on me as I saw that most of this is a façade and that he is an adventurous and determined person who cares for his people. One character I really liked is Ander as he is caring and truly an all-round good guy and I hope we see more of him.

I really liked this book and I am looking forward to reading the next book The Alliance of Isian. I would recommend The Treasure of Isian to fans of the Stolen Royals by Kelsey Keating and the Nine Princesses novellas by Anita Valle.

Tempests and Slaughter

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me this book to review.

Tempests and Slaughter is the enjoyable prequel to the Immortals series, about Numair/Arram and I loved learning about his background. However, the main problem I had with this book was that there seemed to be no plot or purpose, and only very brief hints of the bigger story at play. It almost read like Arram’s diary, which meant there is a lot of dull moments but it was well written and had great character depth.

Numair was always a favourite character of mine in the Immortals books and it was great to see him as this bright inquisitive boy with a thirst for knowledge and a person who is genuinely good. I found it hard to connect to Ozone, probably because I know who he is in later books and this coloured my opinion of him, he is quick to change emotions, going from kind, gentle and loyal, to moody, volatile and aggressive. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Varice on this book as, in Emperor Mage she came across as an air-head, but in this book, we get to see she is a lively and passionate person who is often overlooked because of her talents.

While I was a bit disappointed in this book I am still looking forward to reading the next book, The Exile’s Gift. I would recommend Tempests and Slaughter to fans of Tamora Pierce’s books, especially the Immortals Series.

Renegades

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me this book to review.

Renegades is a very good and fast paced superhero book, which is very well written, as I have come to expect from Meyer. I liked that the morals in this book were not simple, as the good guys are nowhere near perfect and you could really understand the motives of the baddies. I also liked the developing star-crossed romance between Adrian and Nova. However, this book felt like it was just an introduction to the world rather than a normal book with a beginning, middle and end.

Nova is distant, emotionally scarred, and not surprisingly jaded, but she is also astute and perceptive. Adrian is brave, idealistic and compassionate but is also gullible and too trusting. While they are not as fleshed out as Nova and Adrian, I really liked the secondary characters from Honey and Ingrid to Max, Ruby and Oscar.

I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the next book, Archenemies. I would recommend Renegades to fans of Marissa Meyer or those who enjoy reading Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson.

The Outcast

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Children’s Group for giving me this book to review.

The Outcast is an enjoyable prequel which is fast paced and a good addition to the Summoner series. However, there was no real jeopardy, even in tense situations, and it is annoying that practically all the adults from the main series featured in this book.

I like Arcturus as he is streetwise but also kind and courageous. I loved the growing friendship between Arcturus and Sacha, as they were very protective and caring of each other.

I enjoyed this book and being back the world of the Summoner. I would recommend The Outcast to fans of the main books in the series.

The Battlemage

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Children’s Group for giving me this book to review.

The Battlemage is the enjoyable third and final book in the Summoner series. It had lots of action with a battle between good and prejudice, domination and greed. I would highly recommend rereading the previous books before starting this one as for the first third of the novel I was very confused about what was happening.

Fletcher has become more responsible in this book as he is a natural leader who fights for what is right but will defer to those who have more knowledge. I like Othello, Sylva and Cress, and I really like the friendship between all of the friends, however, for a good third of the book they were not around and I felt it really impacted the story.

I enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeing what Taran Matharu does next. I would recommend Battlemage to fans of the first 2 books in the Summoner series.

The Reviled

***

3/5

Thanks to Cynthia A Morgan for giving me this book to review.

The Reviled is an enjoyable fantasy book which is very descriptively written story of good vs evil. It did feel too fast paced which meant I struggled a bit to connect with the story and characters. However, the relationships, both romantic and platonic, were cute.

Ayla is feeling like she is being watched, and she is compassionate and insecure. Gairynzvl I found is a more interesting character as he is emotionally scarred and is caught between two worlds.

I enjoyed The Reviled and would recommend it to fans of Faerie fantasy books.

Scouts of the Apocalypse

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Perfect Analogy Publishing for giving me this book to review.

Scouts of the Apocalypse is an enjoyable, fast paced zombie adventure. It was nice seeing how the skills learnt in scouting can be applied in different situations. However, the main thing that bugged me with this book was that, at least in the UK, scouts (and the leaders) are not perfect or goody two shoes, they are cheeky, normal realistic people who are more often than not eccentric and feel like outsiders.

Mike is an OK character but like with most of the people in this book, he was too perfect and good at everything, making me not worry at all that anything was going to happen to him or most of the boys.

All in all, Scouts of the Apocalypse is a decent read and if you like zombie apocalypse books then I would recommend it but if you are interested because of the scouts angle then don’t expect them to be very realistic.

Windsinger

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me this book to review.

Windsinger is a really good and tense third book in the Darkhaven series. It is full of politics, action, murder and an intriguing story. However, it did feel slow to start but really picks up towards the middle of the book.

I really liked the way Ayla has grown and is able to balance all aspects of her life and is still able to be a wife and mother as well as a ruler and defender. Caraway lacks confidence and that all of who he is down to luck not skill or his instincts. However, I found Miles to be the most interesting character as I really felt for him and the dilemma he found himself in.

I really enjoyed this book and I hope there will be more books in the Darkhaven series in the future. I would recommend Windsinger to fans of the previous books in the Darkhaven series, Darkhaven and Goldenfire.

Ace of Shades

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for giving me this book to review.

Ace of Shades is a brilliant fantasy book which is fast paced and full of sexual tension, and I really enjoyed the Las Vegas style setting. The book is filled with morally grey characters but I did find it a bit predictable, and that the relationships the characters had seemed to develop unrealistically fast. The book was very descriptive which brings New Reyes to life.

Enne starts of very naïve and snobbish as she always feels like she is overlooked but grows to become someone who fits in and belongs in the city of sin. Levi is my favourite character as he is witty and loyal to his Irons but is also focused on keeping his reputation, even if he is not afraid to be vulnerable.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next book King of Fools. I would recommend Ace of Shades to fans of Six of Crows, Caraval and Foody’s first book Daughter of the Burning City.

Dawn Study

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for giving me this book to review.

Dawn Study is the brilliant final novel in the Soulfinders series, which is well written and action-packed but a bit slow. I also found it a bit repetitive and I did not fear that the main characters were ever in danger.

Yelena disappointed me a bit with her lack of trust and being self-destructive despite being pregnant. Valek is feeling very protective of Yelena and I felt it changed him from the stealthy and calculating Valek we know and love.

The ending was bittersweet as it is the last book in the Sitian and Ixain world. I would recommend Dawn Study to fans of Maria’s previous Study and Glass books.

Bright Ruin

*****

5/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me this book to review.

Bright Ruin is the really good final book of the Dark Gifts trilogy. It has lots of twists and I would not have expected half of the things that happened in this series when I started reading Gilded Cage. This book has politics, action and a small amount of romance. One thing I have always liked about this series is that the POVs are not only from the non-skilled people but also from the equals, even those who believe that slavery should not abolished. This shows how layered and complex the characters are.

Abi is hardened and emotionally scarred by the events of the last book which has left her with tough decisions to make. I loved the banter between Luke and Silyen which added so much in this book. Luke is still all heart and wants to help and protect people, while Silyen is amoral and enigmatic but we get to see his humour and flirty side.

I liked that the ending was not too neat and that some people did not get the fate that they deserve. While I liked the ending, there was so much more left to discover that I hope we get more books from this world, especially following a couple of characters whose story I don’t feel has finished.  I would recommend Bright Ruin to fans of the first two books of this series Gilded Cage and Tarnished City.

A Stolen Crown

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Pikko’s House for giving me this book to review.

A Stolen Crown is an enjoyable fairytale fantasy book which is relatively light but does have some dark elements. It has adventure, romance, and secrets and was faced paced but predictable. I really liked the idea of the friendship between Rory and Cecily but it was not shown in the book as they were either ignoring or arguing with each other.

Cecily is insecure and naïve but is also selfish. Rory is hiding a secret, but also feisty and confident but cannot express her emotions.

The thing which disappointed me about this book was that the ending was very fast and not that satisfying. However, I did like this book and am looking forward to reading A Stolen Wish. I would recommend A Stolen Crown to those who enjoyed the first book A Stolen Kiss and those who are fans of fairytale books.

Heartless

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me this book to review.

I enjoyed Heartless but I think I would have liked it more if I was a fan of Alice in Wonderland as it is full of references, and also weirdness with I know it part of wonderland but I didn’t get on with it. It is well written like all of Meyer’s books but I did find it a bit forgettable. I would really recommend not reading this when on a diet as it will make you want to bake and eat with its vivid description of the food.

Cath is whiny, naïve, and has no backbone, and by trying to please everyone she ultimately pleases no one. Jest is mysterious and charming but no as interesting as some of Meyer’s other male leads.

While I still enjoyed this book, it did not grab me as much as Meyer’s other novels. I would recommend Heartless to those who enjoy the world of Wonderland or books about villain’s backstories.

Ascendant

**

2/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Weapenry Co-Op for giving me this book to review.

Ascendant was an interesting if unoriginal story idea which was much darker than I was expecting, the problem I had with this book was that I could not care about the main character Sybelle as she felt lifeless and made decisions which I could never do. I just really struggled with Ascendant and I could not get into it and DNF at 42%.

Dragon's Heart

**

2/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Buoni Amici Press for giving me this book to review.

Dragon’s Heart started really interestingly with forbidden romances and different races, however, by the end I didn’t care about the characters as there was not enough world building and the story didn’t grab me. I was not a fan of Killian or Serena by the end of the book as I felt they made irritating decisions and behaved really inconsistently. I could not get on with this book as I could not connect with the characters.

The City of Brass

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me this book to review

The City of Brass is an enjoyable fantasy book with excellently described world. This book is full of politics and oppression. It felt very slow for most of the book and it mainly just felt like an introduction to the next book. While I loved the Daevabad, I wish we had spent more time in Cairo as I wanted to see and learn more. Action-packed and with a bit of romance but it didn’t take over the plot.

Nahri was a brilliant character to being with as she was very independent and resourceful, with an amazing ability, however, when she got to Daevabad is really regressed and didn’t make any decisions and just lost her spark. Ali is very devout and knows his own mind, even if he is influenced by those near him. Dara was the most interesting character as he has a dark past and was very intriguing, I just think this book would have been better if we had had his point of view.

While this book didn’t live up to the hype for me, I plan on reading the next book The Kingdom of Cooper, as I feel the next book will be better without having to explain everything. I would recommend The City of Brass to fans of The Hundredth Queen series and Rebel of the Sands series.

Tess of the Road

**

2/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for giving me this book to review.

Tess of the Road is a companion novel to Seraphina, but I did not grab me like that book. I think my main problem with this book was that was really slow paced, and it isn’t what I want in an adventure fantasy novel. I like to escape into a book and leave the realistic things in the real world, but this book was not an easy read as it is emotionally draining, which meant this book was more about Tess learning to accept the past and herself and less about having a fun adventure.

Tess is an interesting character and at some points I liked her with her stubbornness but also how emotionally damaged she was, but at other times she seemed so selfish, spiteful and unable to compromise that I just could not connect with her.

While I DNF Tess of the Road at 44% I would still recommend it to those who enjoyed Seraphina but are looking for a book about self-discovery rather than adventure.

Over Raging Tides

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Weapenry Co-Op for giving me this book to review

Over Raging Tides is an enjoyable pirate fantasy book. It had adventure, potential romance and betrayal. However, it felt like hardly anything happened in the book, when I felt like it was in the middle part of the book it was almost the end, which meant that the story and characters were underdeveloped. Grace was an interesting character who is willing to discover the truth about what happened to her mother. I couldn’t connect with Leo as I felt his loyalty to Grace were unrealistic, especially when he chose her over his brother. While this wasn’t as good as I had hoped I am looking forward to reading more about Grace’s story and I would recommend it to those who like YA pirate adventures.

Furyborn

****

4/5

Furyborn is a really good new adult fantasy book which was unique because there is 1000 years different between the two protagonists. The opening chapter was amazing and really set the scene, which meant for one of the stories I was wondering why and how that chapter came about rather than what was going to happen next. However, it was predictable as only one thing in the book surprised me. The pacing wasn’t quite right as well, as the first half of the book felt rather slow, but it really picks up and I couldn’t put it down.

Rielle just wants to be loved and accepted for you she is, as she has spent all her life suppressing her emotions and is filled with guilt. Eliana is quite different to Rielle, as she is fierce, strong and very protective of those she loves and would do absolutely anything to keep them safe. I really liked the side characters from both time periods as they bought so much to the story. Audric is powerful and intelligent but also kind and caring, I loved Ludivine and her friendship with Rielle, and Corien is such a mystery but he is very manipulating and has his own agenda. Remy is such a sweetheart and adorable, and if anything happens to him I will never forgive Legrand, Simon is selfless and I feel we have only just scratched the surface of him and his story, Navi is loyal to her country but also very friendly and I get the feeling she is a bit lonely, and Harken is a character of great potential and I hope we haven’t seen the end of him, as I felt he balanced Eliana out well.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the sequel. I would recommend Furyborn to fans of The Sin Eater’s Daughter and Thief’s Magic.

Legendary

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me this book to review

Legendary is the excellent sequel to Caraval which was a real page turner and kept me guessing. Maybe because after reading the previous book and expecting the unexpected but I found this one a bit more predictable. I like that we got to see more of the world and life outside the Caraval and the perceptive of someone who I feels understands the game better than Scarlett. While I am not upset by this, I was expecting a bigger time gap between the books, but it took place the day after Caraval and some of the fallout from the book.

I completely misjudged Tella in the first book as, while she is still a bit self-centred, she is so much more complex than we got from Scarlett’s point of view, showing that while Scarlett is protective of her sister, she doesn’t think much of her really. I loved Tella as she is intelligent, cunning and knows what she wants, just what I like in a main character. Scarlett is also in this book and it appears that her story is also not complete, but I had little interest in her, as she was making decisions which left me wondering what she was thinking, and either she didn’t notice or care that her sister was in trouble as she didn’t pay much attention to her. Dante was an interesting character as I could tell if he was helping and protecting Tella because of his character in the game, he truly cared about her or for some other nefarious reasons, but he did keep me guessing. Jacks was similar as I knew his plans, but I couldn’t quite figure him out.

I thought this was a duology but was pleasantly surprised to find out there is at least one more book in this series and I can’t wait to read it. I would recommend Legendary to fans of the first book Caraval.

Caraval

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me this book to review

Caraval is a twisty and turning fantasy book where everything is a game, and no one knows what to believe. Half of the time I had no idea who to trust and had no clue what would happen next. There was romance, action and magic, and a story I really enjoyed, but I wish there was more world building.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Scarlett as she seemed a bit bland and there was nothing really unique about her as she was loyal and protective towards her sister Tella and just plain good. Tella I also didn’t like, even though she wasn’t in the story bit as she was so self-centred and didn’t seem to care about everything Scarlett does for her. I like Julian as he kept me guessing and he pretended not to care about anyone but himself, but he had hidden depth.

I enjoyed the ending and the teasing it had towards the next book Legendary which I will definitely be reading. I would recommend to fans of Daughter of the Burning City or other twisty YA fantasy books.

The Smoke Thieves

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK for giving me this book to review

Smoke Thieves is a really good high fantasy novel with adventure, political intrigue and demons. I really like the five different point of views and how their stories started off as mostly separate but connected by the end. It was fast paced, and I felt like the world building was pretty solid as I understood the different cultures of the countries, especially Brigant and Pitoria.

Catherine is intelligent and driven to be accepted by create her own path and be her own person, not under the foot of her father or brother. Ambrose is loyal and honourable and very protective of Catherine and his family. March, I think was my least favourite as I felt like he didn’t question anything and was always a follower. Edyon was my favourite character as he is charming and a quick talker. Tash is nimble and sassy and while still a child she seemed mature for her age.

I enjoyed this book and I hope we don’t have long to wait for the next book. I would recommend to fans of the Darkhaven books and The Orphan Queen series.

The Belles

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me this book to review.

I enjoyed The Belles as it has a good concept with the magic and world. It was described really well, especially the ambiance of how opulent and shallow the world is while telling you that not all is as it seems. While I liked the world, it would have been nice to see what it was like for those who are unable to afford the Belles treatment. However, the book seemed to go on a long time with not much happening and the book could be cut much shorter without anything important missing.

Camilla is ambitious and a perfectionist, but I didn’t connect with her much even though she is a good person. While I liked the other Belles, apart from Edel, they all seemed two-faced and more frenemies to each other and not sisters. I wanted more from the villain as they seemed evil just for evil sake and I wanted more depth.

While this book is not perfect I am interested to see what happens next in this story. I would recommend The Belles to fans of unique YA fantasy.

The Vanishing Spark of Dusk

***

3/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for giving me this book to review.

The Vanishing Spark of Dusk is an enjoyable sci-fi story with some dystopian elements as well as romance and rebellion. However, it is predictable and slow to start but it does really pick up at about a third of the way through. It has a good message about not judging an entire group of people based on a few individuals.

Lark is a good character who gains a lot of confident as the book goes on, as she starts as a quiet bookish person who lets people walk over her, to someone who is willing to sacrifice, stand up, and fight for what is right. I didn’t get on with Kalen at the start as he came across as a massive party boy who doesn’t take things seriously, and is part of the slave world, but as we got to know him better we see he has real depth as he has mixed feelings, and caring as he will do anything for those he loves.

I really liked this book and while it is a standalone book, I hope there will be more in this book universe. I would recommend The Vanishing Spark of Dusk to those who enjoy sci-fi romance books.

Music and the Tree who Loved Her

**

2/5

Thanks to Netgalley and J A Bennett for giving me this book to review.

Music and the Tree Who Loved Her is a fantasy novel with dragons but it did not hold my interest. The book is well written, but it seemed at the expense of world building and character development. The characters did not do much for me as they all seemed a bit bland except maybe Prince Green which might have developed into a well-developed character. This book wasn’t for me and I had to DNF it at 36%.

Everless

****

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Children’s Group for giving me this book to review.

Everless is a compelling and unique story which I really liked. Some expectations I had based off similar YA fantasy books were challenged and twisted which made it quite interesting. The book was descriptive and really well written but also darker than I was expecting. It was full of fantasy and I really liked the idea of time being currency and the mystery with Jules determined to find the truth. I also liked that there was only the barest hint of romance as I feel it would have taken away from the book.

Jules is such a good character who is shrewd, thoughtful, and cautious but also trusting and naïve. The secondary characters are well described and multi-layered, and I understood their motives and that they had their won lives. Ina, Liam, and Caro were especially well written, and I am very interested to read more about them.

I really did not expect the ending, which means there is a massive cliffhanger, and I am eager to start reading the next book Evermore. I would recommend Everless to fans to The Gilded Cage.