I'M BACK! Reviews of books I've read on my vacation!


After two weeks of sleeping, eating and swimming, I've finally returned! If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen glimpses of stories and pictures of sea and sunset! With more energy stored I've returned from holidays to work and from intense reading to some re-reads and some upcoming new books!


I also plan to re-read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas as I'm preparing for the emotional bawling Kingdom of Ash is going to put me through! Also, I had the luck to pre-order BOTH the Kingdom of Ash box by "The Bookish Shop" and the Special Edition of "To Whatever End" by Whimsfy! I can't wait for these boxes!



Counting out the ARCs I've read for various blog tours, these are the books and ARCs I've managed to finish. Because I never bring a book to the sea! ;)


ALSO, stay tuned today for the exciting reveal of the next issue of Stay Bookish Zine! I've written some articles for this issue and taken an interview!



A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

summary from GoodReads

The highly anticipated third book in Sabaa Tahir's New York Times bestselling EMBER QUARTET.

Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister's life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she'd have to fight.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias's devotion--even at the cost of his humanity.
 




BUY ON


REVIEW

The sequel to this amazing fantasy series was a rollercoaster of emotions, battles, scheming and revelations which made me gasp. Elias, Laia, Helene and the NightBringer try to seize control of the crumbling Empire, the Commandant is a treacherous, murderous b*ch and the romance blooming...and withering killed me.

I don't know how many more books will be in this series, but the character development, the detailed world-building the ethical problems set between the characters make this series both spectacular and worth reading!








Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Once, a witch made a pact with a devil. The legend says they loved each other, but can the story be trusted at all? Find out in this lush, atmospheric fantasy novel that entwines love, lies, and sacrifice.

Long ago, a village made a bargain with the devil: to ensure their prosperity, when the Slaughter Moon rises, the village must sacrifice a young man into the depths of the Devil’s Forest.

Only this year, the Slaughter Moon has risen early.

Bound by duty, secrets, and the love they share for one another, Mairwen, a spirited witch; Rhun, the expected saint; and Arthur, a restless outcast, will each have a role to play as the devil demands a body to fill the bargain. But the devil these friends find is not the one they expect, and the lies they uncover will turn their town—and their hearts—inside out.



BUY ON



REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

This scary, magical, amazing, detailed, dark, twisty and romantic book is worth every adaptation it can get! As I mentioned on Twitter: "Princess Mononoke meets the final story from Fantasia 2000 with a strange dark twist".

Mair, Rhum, and Arthur live in the fictional village of Three Graces, where every seven years, their best boy must run into the forest...and survive the devil who haunts it. In return, they get seven years of plentiful crops, and easy life and their Grace witches guard them. I enjoyed the multiple third POV, their growing emotions and I saw something here, regarding the relationships which you don't see it in a YA. I won't tell you...it's a spoiler!

The magic of the book and the way Tessa describes it is lyric and detailed; some scenes made shiver from fear and awe and others made me swoon and root for everyone. While the book doesn't come out until September, do add it on your wishlist!







Sachael Discovery by Melody Winter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

War has come to Saicean. With Orontes as King of the Oceanids, the threat to Saicean and its inhabitants has never been greater. The Oceanid army has laid siege to the underwater paradise, and Estelle Bailey once again finds herself trapped by Orontes’s hand. This time, within the walls of what should have been a safe place.

Tensions mount as supplies run short, and being the only female Sachael in a world dominated by desperate men leaves Estelle feeling vulnerable. Tired of having to live like a prisoner, even a well-treated one, Estelle decides to act. They need a weapon. And she can think of only one person who still has the means to kill Orontes and end the war—Michael.

With Azariah and Chanon in tow, Estelle flees their world, heading to the remote islands of the Faroes. But their mission to find Michael yields so much more than they expected. Faced with information that could change not only the war, but the course of all Sachael existence, the trio must make a choice: return to Saicean with Michael, or follow a lead that could change everything and pray they make it back in time to save their home.

Book Three of the Mine Series, Sachael Discovery layers new intrigues and betrayals into Estelle’s journey, escalating the stakes to levels as sweeping as the backdrop of beautiful locales.




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REVIEW


I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The sequel to the Mine series was as adventurous and excited as I hoping it to be! I loved how Estelle and Azariah tried to discover the history of the Sachael and how many enemies they have to face both seen and unseen.

The underwater world was described magically and I enjoyed every minute of it!






Twice Dead by Caitlin Seal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Naya, the daughter of a sea merchant captain, nervously undertakes her first solo trading mission in the necromancer-friendly country bordering her homeland of Talmir. Unfortunately, she never even makes it to the meeting. She's struck down in the streets of Ceramor. Murdered.

But death is not the end for Naya. She awakens to realize she's become an abomination--a wraith, a ghostly creature bound by runes to the bones of her former corpse. She's been resurrected in order to become a spy for her country. Reluctantly, she assumes the face and persona of a servant girl named Blue. 

She never intended to become embroiled in political plots, kidnapping, and murder. Or to fall in love with the young man and former necromancer she is destined to betray.



BUY ON



REVIEW


I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Naya is the daughter of a sea captain who suddenly finds herself not only dead but resurrected and a spy who must thread through politics, secrets and ever discover romance. There is quite the background story here and while I did expect the characters to be more realistic, the plot was engaging and quite interesting.




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