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.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

The Truth about Humans

****

4/5

Thanks to Leah Ruth Hart for giving me this book to review.

The Truth about Humans is a very enjoyable sci-fi romance, which was different than anything I have read before. It was well written and interesting characters, even if parts of it were unrealistic like the living arrangements and how fast the relationships developed. The only real problem I had with this book was that the first 10% was a bit info-dumping and the first third was a bit slow paced.

Tezzix is very naïve having lived a sheltered life but that makes her stubborn, curious, and knows what she wants. Jack is very protective and caring but unlike most books they show the dark side of being like that and what he is capable of, but he is also studious and intelligent. Autumn is kind, fun-loving but also feels very vulnerable and damaged. Cade is very secretive and for a while I could not figure him out.

I really enjoyed this book and I hope there are more with these characters. I would recommend The Truth about Humans to fans of The Vanishing Spark of Dusk by Sara Baysinger and Princess of Tyrone by Katie Hamstead.

Dragonsoul

***

3/5

Thanks to Kayl Karadjian for giving me this book to review.

Dragonsoul is a fun and light fantasy adventure book which is perfect for tweens. It has an interesting premise of everything and everyone being grey, and colour being outlawed. However, it was a bit slow paced and I would have liked more world-building.

Denyth is a stable, hardworking farm boy who is loyal to those who he cares about. Littlehorn is kind and gentle but because he is very sheltered he is naïve. Nelai is curious and adventurous but I had trouble connecting with her compared to the other characters. Zero was the most interesting character as he was a mystery.

I enjoyed Dragonsoul and would recommend it to fans of Eragon and First Light by Michelle Frost.

The Iron Court

****

4/5

Thanks to Helena Rookwood for giving me this book to review.

The Iron Court is a really good post-apocalyptic fantasy sequel which is full of action, adventure and mystery. This book was a bit slower paced than The River Witch but I didn’t mind too much as I just wanted more of this world. I would love to know where in Britain some of the locations are, such as the Iron City and Tabitha’s village.

Tabitha is still naïve but after a certain point in the story she starts becoming more decisive if a bit ill-tempered. Lysander is protective of Tabitha while being nervous about his past catching up to him, but he is also very talented and confident.

There is a lot of unanswered questions and I can’t wait to discover what happens next in The Queen’s Court. I would recommend The Iron Court to fans of the first book The River Witch or those who like fantasy novels which have Fae in them. 

The River Witch

****

4/5

Thanks to Helena Rookwood for giving me this book to review.

The River Witch is a very enjoyable fantasy novel set in the distant future. It is fast paced and an easy read but it was a bit slow to start and find its story. It has adventure and a story full of mystery which I hope we discover more about in future books. It has a hint of upcoming romance but it could also develop into a good friendship and I am looking forward to finding out.

Tabitha is naïve as she trusts everyone and wants a life full of adventure and magic like the stories her mother told her. Lysander is my favourite as he is conflicted and, unlike Tabitha, mysterious as we do not know much about his past and what his real motives are. I also liked the water sprites Ani, Corida and Bellat as they were childish, excitable and impulsive.

This book is the start of a 13-book series and I am looking forward to reading them, especially the next book The Iron Court. I would recommend The River Witch to those who like the sound of a fantasy novel set in the unique setting of future Britain.

Into the Storm

***

3/5

Thanks to Shelby K Morrison for giving me this book to review.

Into the Storm is the enjoyable third book in the Legend of the Liberator series. It was well written and had a good story but it did not grab me as much as the first book. I’m glad that the romance that has been hinted at for the first 2 books has finally happened but I felt it was full of angst and really showed the characters age.

Aia makes so many mistakes in this book as she lets others push her around and she does not turn to or rely on the people closest to her who she trusts. Cole feels useless and not able to be helpful and I was not a fan of his jealousy. Elle was an interesting new character and I liked how her feelings were conflicted and I understood her anger.

This book ends on a cliff-hanger and I am looking forward to reading the next book. I would recommend Into the Storm to fans of the first two books in this series, From the Ashes and Among the Flames.

Smells like Weeia Spirit

***

3/5

Thanks to Elle Boca for giving me this book to review.

Smells like Weeia Spirit is a fun paranormal crime series with a bit of romance and action. This book was fairly predictable apart from one incident which truly surprised me and it was brave and unexpected from Elle to do this.

Danni is dedicated, intelligent and she is finally getting a hang of living in Paris and being ignored by her boss. Sebastian is the same as ever handsome and loyal, and Iaen is the perfect balance to Danni and they are a really good couple.

I am enjoying this series and am looking forward to reading more of Danni’s adventures in Paris. I would recommend Smells like Weeia Spirit to fans of the first 2 Weeia Marshals books and those who enjoyed the Weeia series.

Child of the Empire

***

3/5

Thanks to Michaelbrent Collings for giving me this book to review.

Child of the Empire is a very enjoyable fantasy novel which has a slight steampunk feel to it. Even though the main protagonist is a teenager this book can easily be read by adults as it is not full of angst. This book has lots of twists but the first half of the book has more world building and the second half is more action packed.

Sword wants to feel like she belongs, but she is also naïve and trusting. There are a lot of other character in this book including kind Garden, protective Armour, surly Arrow, enigmatic Wind and Cloud, and secretive Devar. The bad guys were a bit too evil for me, as I prefer when I can understand their motives rather than them being evil for evils sake.

The ending was a bit rushed but I am looking forward to reading the next book Child of Sorrows. I would recommend Child of the Empire to fans of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.

The Vale of Ghosts

**

2/5

Thanks to Jeffrey Aaron Miller for giving me this book to review.

The Vale of Ghosts is an OK book but did not capture me and was slow paced. Ann is curious and reckless but is also is likeable and relatable. This book is not bad and I hope sometime to come back to The Vale of Ghosts as I think my feeling of this book had more to do with what was going on in my life than the book but I DNF at 35%

The Boy with Words

***

3/5

Thanks to C. E. Wilson for giving me this book to review.

The Boys with Words is an enjoyable book with plot twists, especially one major one near the beginning, and mystery. The romance was sweet but I did not enjoy it that much as it was not practical and I was not a fan of how it ended. There was a lot of missing plot points and unanswered questions such as with shade and the dictatorship.

White is inquisitive and stubborn but also can be distant and got frustrated easily. Kes is accepting, nice and rational but he is not very tactful and over protective. Would have liked to learn more about Salt, Pepper and Shade as I felt their stories had unanswered questions.

I felt that the ending was too open-ended and I would have liked it concluded a bit more fully. I would recommend The Boy with Words to fans of C. E. Wilson’s other books.

Edenhart's Rivalry

***

3/5

Thanks to J N Tomczak for giving me this book to review.

Edenhart’s Rivalry is an enjoyable book which typical fantasy elements with a battle against evil, destiny and mythical creatures. It is a book two halves, one in Edenhart and the other in Rimscour. It is slow paced but is very descriptive and had a plot twist in the middle of the book that I was not expecting.

I really struggled to connect with Aurora at the start as she seemed to be more worried about people’s expectations than being a good leader to her people but she grew more confident and became a stronger person. There are a lot of other characters which I really liked including supportive and stubborn Percy, wise Mitas, caring Red and mysterious Tristan.

I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the next book in the series The Great Siege. I would recommend Edenhart’s rivalry to fans of YA fantasy books.

Among the Flames

****

4/5

Thanks to Shelby K Morrison for giving me this book to review.

Among the Flames is the very good second book in Legend of the Liberator series. This book was well written with an interesting story and good world building. It did not have as many twists as the previous book and was also less action packed as the story was more about building the rebellion and getting the knowledge about the Church out.

Aia is a natural leader who wants to help everyone, whether they be Benders or not. She is also kind and has grown in confidence and self-belief since the first book. I would have liked to have got more of Cole’s POV as he is my favourite character because he is so complex and interesting. I would have liked more romance between Aia and Cole as while it felt right for them to not get together in the first book I would have liked it in this one. Fynris is a conflicted character who would do anything to protect his son, even if he knows what he is doing is wrong.

I really enjoyed this book and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series Into the Storm. I would recommend Among the Flames to fans YA fantasy Books and those who liked the first book From the Ashes.