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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stolen Enchantress

****

4/5

Thanks to Amber Argyle for giving me this book to review.

Stolen Enchantress is a fast-paced YA fantasy which I really enjoyed. It had brilliant world building and magic system, along with well written characters and a fairytale feel to the novel. The only thing I was not a fan of was why the girls were taken but I cannot say more without spoiling the book.

Larkin is a protective, loyal and caring person, and is a really good protagonist who is stuck in a society which sees her as possession and just wants to be free and valued. Denan is a strong leader but I wasn’t a fan of him as while he was nice and all, he was still kidnapping Larkin and tearing her away from her family.

I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series. I would recommend Stolen Enchantress to those who are a fan Amber’s other books or just enjoy an adventure and magic filled YA story.