ARC Review: "Born of Blood and Ash" (Flesh and Fire #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes the thrilling conclusion to her beloved Flesh and Fire series…

The line between love and obsession has never been wider.

While Sera is finally free of Kolis and back with those she loves, not everything is calm. Memories of all she’s endured still haunt her, but Sera finally has hope for a future with the other half of her heart and soul. Nyktos desires, loves, and accepts every part of her—even the monstrous bits she still battles.

More than ever, Sera and Ash have everything under the realms to fight for, and Nyktos has no doubt Sera is fit to be the Queen of the Gods. But she must find that faith within herself if they hope to convince the other Courts to support them against Kolis and make Iliseeum and the mortal realm better, safer places for all.

But as Sera begins to piece together the importance of her bloodline and the true meaning behind the foreboding prophecy, it becomes clear that everything that has happened and is yet to come is much bigger than Kolis and his dark obsessions.

They cannot help but wonder exactly how much influence the Fates have had and what their ultimate goal is. What Sera does know for sure is that they can trust very few—including her.

A battle between the gods is brewing, and heartbreaking losses are imminent with the true Primal of Death strengthening. With a family of the heart willing to battle by their side, can Sera and Nyktos stop Kolis before he destroys the realms, or will it all disappear in a fiery inferno of blood and ash?

And the line between justice and vengeance has never been so thin.

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REVIEW

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

Minor spoilers from the previous books will follow. You have been warned.

Oh boy, how do we move on from this book? In fact, Jennifer has managed to create a cosmos filled with characters, who are flawed and beautiful and they grip you from the start. In BOBAA, the final book of the prequel series, we find Sera, Nyktos, and allies trying to rally their power against Kolis as time passes and the realms' existence is at stake.

In this Sera has to deal with her trauma from her captivity and also learn to tame or somehow control her Powers as Primal of Life. The book is huge. 700 something pages in a kindle and in it we see amazing character development, spectacular fighting scenes and lots of Daddy Nyktos being the murderous husband we want.

But the part that connected the threads was the prophecy. It is given full now and it connects to what we expect to see in the final book of Poppy's POV. The possibilities of what may happen even imagining feel scary.

I enjoyed any scene that had to do with Reaver and Jadis. Those two as children are so cute I would protect them till the end of time.

I liked Attes too. I was sad to see how his own feelings were conflicted but his banter with Nyktos was a refreshing sight.

Kolis was a d*k so we move on.

Callum though? Now him I want to find a way to destroy him after what he did. And especially what is revealed at the end. Plus the masterminds behind everything is a terrifying aspect to consider.

Overall this was an amazing ending to yet another book by my favorite author and I can not wait for you to read it staring tomorrow!

And don't miss the first books of the series!

About the author:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more. 

Review: "At First Spite" (Harlot's Bay #1) by Olivia Dade

At First Spite by Olivia Dade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Bestselling author Olivia Dade welcomes you to Harlot's Bay in this delightfully sexy rom-com about a woman who buys the town's famous Spite House, only to realize the infuriating man she can't stand lives right next door--and their unwilling proximity might spark something neither can ignore.

When Athena Greydon's fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. This is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex's home is attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third (aka the uptight, judgmental jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her) is living on the other side, only a four-foot alley away.

If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation--by, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with the windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?

Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he's kind of...hot? Dammit.

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REVIEW

You can never go wrong with an Olivia Dade book! Her stories are like a bottle of water after walking in a desert for a long while. There is always something beautiful and vulnerable in her stories and characters which stays with you long after the story is over.

Our story takes place at an engagement party where Athena is about to celebrate her upcoming nuptials with her fiance. What she does not count on is the sizzling attraction she feels towards Matthew..whom she later discovers is her fiance's brother, who also does not approve of the wedding.

Fast forward a few months and Athena has bought the house she was supposed to share with her fiance...who also happens to be her neighbor along with Matthew who is also her neighbor! Chaos, comedy, and very funny moments ensue but as Athena tries to navigate the new town she lives in, tries to find a job but also moves through the heartache and growing depression over her life choices, she will realize that she can have far more friends and find love in the most unexpected places.

I loved, no adored her growing attraction to Matthew. That man deserves the world and his backstory was very tragic. He shoulders everything and despite his misgivings, all came from a place of love, despite being taken for granted, especially from his brother.

This story is a delightful tale of healing and going through depression which also something Olivia Dade touches upon with the most respectful way. Matthew did everything to help her, he freaking climbed three stories of a house and he is terrified of heights!

This book is one of my top for 2024 and totally recommended!

About the author:

Olivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her delightful family and their ever-burgeoning collection of books.

*******

If you want to find me online, here’s where to go!

Website: https://oliviadade.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OliviaWrites

Newsletter: https://go.oliviadade.com/Newsletter

Review: "House of Flame and Shadow" (Crescent City #3 ) by Sarah J. Maas

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she's going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he's in the Asteri's dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce's fate. He's desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri's leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt's world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

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REVIEW

This review contains spoilers from the previous books of Crescent City and of A Court of Thorns and Roses series (while you are at it read Throne of Glass too). It is very very advised to read them all before reading this book. Please do not proceed with this review if you have not read the books, you have been warned. ;)

Following the plot bomb that Sarah J Maas dropped to all of us last year, I was very, very anxious to get to the final book. Not to mention freaking excited. I avoided social media like the plague to save myself from spoilers and it took me a week to finish the book. (carrying this brick of a book around is no easy feat I assure you, lol)

The story begins from where it left us, with the Asteri trying to locate Bryce after she jumped into the strange Rift portal and got lost in the...multiverse (?), with Lidia having to bear the pain of seeing Ruhn, Hunt, and Baxian being tortured by Pollux...and her. Yeah, not a nice place to be with.

Meanwhile, Bryce herself is a 'guest' of the Night Court in Prythian and she embarks on a journey with Azriel and Nesta in order to discover the connection of the Asteri with Prythian and her own world. Add in the stories of all the side characters, like Ithan, Tharion, and the sprites and you get quite the big tapestry of stories that need to be told and resolved.

Plot-wise this book has lots of action scenes, amazing chemistry, and lots and lots of lore bombs. I enjoyed reading about how they all tried to get back together, the connection of Hunt and the Hel Princes and how the Asteri were feared beyond worlds to the point of being planet devourers, that is some crazy stuff. The chemistry between Ruhn and Lidia was amazing. The chase scene has me gripping the book, fearing for her, and Ruhn with Lidia needed that reflection on both their actions. Lidia's sacrifices were beyond tragic, especially considering how many years she had to endure the Triarii and Pollux.

On the other hand, I have a lot to say about some other characters. Tharion was someone whom I wanted to hug most of the time and punch him too for his carelessness. He could learn a thing or two from the others, but he was not without any redeeming qualities. He did stand up on the River Quuenn in the end and grew as a character, especially after we see him tie the knot with Sathia.

Ithan my wolf boi....you were a pile of mistake upon mistake, but you did the amazing thing in the end and stood up. I loved how his character also progressed from a person full of wrong decisions but with pride and selfishness that rivaled most of the characters here.

The missing star on this book goes to Bryce. While I could understand her fear of being thrown into a different universe I did not like her way of doing things at all in this book. She always presented herself as ignorant but lo and behold she had a plan all along! But without confining to anyone in the meantime, not even Hunt. This is funny because it is mentioned by many in the book how Bryce shows herself as not having power or presenting herself as weak, but in the back of her mind, she has a plan after another plan.

To add more salt to the wound? She treats horribly Nesta and Azriel, the two characters I am very invested in from the other series. Nesta sure got her HEA, but Azriel is one whose story I am very eager to read. Additionally, Bryce did another most UNO reverse move I didn't expect! She traded her parents for the Mask?! I mean Sue she wanted the power but WHO THROWS THEIR PARENTS INTO A GATE TO THE OTHER SIDE HUH?

As for the final chapters they were filled with amazing action but by that point, I was more invested in Ruhn and Lidia rather than Bryce and Hunt (Hunt is still lick-worthy I tell you that). Plus we also got the bomb that Lidia is a long, long, many times removed cousin to ...Aelin Galathynius? I did not expect that! Which made me crazy with speculations of a possible crossover with that world.

The end of the book does leave us with to open plots for me.

One if Tharion who is left outside the Meat Market, in his beginning to search for Sathia and Bryce who gives the Mask back to Nesta and tells her to search for the possible connections between their world... or other ones.

To be honest, this book was an amazing rollercoaster ride but if you count out the audacity of Bryce's character, all of it is freaking amazing.

Plus, I am all here for the future crossover between SJM's worlds.

And don't miss the first two books of the series!

About the author:

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Crescent City, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the Throne of Glass series. Her books have sold more than twelve million copies and are published in thirty-seven languages. A New York native, Sarah lives in Philadelphia with her husband, son, and dog. To find out more, visit sarahjmaas.com or follow @therealsjmaas on Instagram.

ARC Review: "Visions of Flesh & Blood: A Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire Compendium (Blood and Ash, #5.5)" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Visions of Flesh and Blood: A Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire Compendium by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

VISIONS OF FLESH AND BLOOD: a Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire Compendium is a comprehensive companion guide for background, history, reader-favorite information, art, and reference materials. Combined with original short stories and scenes from some of the world’s most beloved characters, as well as never-before-seen visual enticements, it’s a treat for the senses.

Told from the point of view of Miss Willa herself, the compendium acts like research material but reads like a journal and cache of personal notes, allowing the reader to revisit the characters and history they so love yet view things in a different way.

VISIONS OF FLESH AND BLOOD by Jennifer L. Armentrout with Rayvn Salvador is a must-add addition to the series that any Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire fan will enjoy.

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REVIEW

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

It is a rare chance to read a compendium of a fictional world. Make it a world made by my favorite Jennifer Armentrout and I am sold! What I need to stress here is the fact that this book is only a compilation of information and summaries of the characters' lives set in both prequel and main series, sparkled with extra short stories, interviews, and amazing art as also maps.

Well, technically it is Miss Willa writing everything who is also a character from the series and the author of the spicy diary Poppy loves to read. Through her words, we see how the mythology of the Primals and the gods was created and how the story of Sera, Ash, and Kolis (characters from the Flesh and Fire series) unfolded without giving spoilers if someone has not read the prequel series.

Personally, I laughed at the Kierran interview, and the stories Willa says about herself and her commentary on Poppy and Cas. The art for Poppy, Cas, and Kierran is top quality. My favorite was also that of Vonetta and Emil too! There are also some minor developments like letters addressed to characters and descriptions of the world.

Despite being a compendium it is very well structured and can be easily read. Needless to say it works as a perfect addition to both series because anyone can read the summary of the plot so far (in the time this review is written the final books of the prequel and main series have not been published yet). That way someone can enjoy both what they need to know and get the eye candy which is the art, maps, and Willa's steamy stories.

In conclusion, this is the perfect part that adds to the world-building of this massive series by Jennifer Armentrout and personally, I can not wait for the final books!

                                


About the author:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more. 

Cover Reveal: "Rise of the Melody" by Wendy Higgins

 I am delighted to reveal the cover for the upcoming book by one of my favorite authors Wendy Higgins! Find more info below!

Summary

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the YA paranormal Sweet Evil series comes a modern fantasy romance of mystery with Celtic and Gaelic mythology.

Seventeen-year-old Colette “Letty” MacIntyre has everything going for her: a great life with her Aunt Lorna in Brooklyn, a promising singing career, and enough distractions to forget the tragic disappearance of her parents. She’s banking on a bright future in the city until strange things begin to happen. People are suddenly having peculiar reactions to her singing voice, and a giant wolfhound starts following her like a lost puppy. But the cherry on top is when the mayor of her long-forgotten birthplace, Shehan, a town on a mountainous island off the craggy northern coast of Maine, shows up on her doorstep with an impossible revelation: the folklore stories she grew up hearing are real. Letty is the last land siren on Earth…and he needs her help.

An escaped kelpie—a monstrous water horse—is terrorizing Shehan, and Letty’s voice is the only thing that can stop it. Despite the shock at learning her heritage, Letty returns to the island, which is filled with as much mystery as it is fog. She wants answers to her parents’ disappearance as well as a chance to prove herself. But in a race of mighty druids and formidable Scottish witches, Letty’s power is an anomaly, feared and reviled by the mystic community. Her lineage must be kept secret. It becomes even harder to fulfil these tasks when a new enemy threatens her—an alluring, powerful druid boy filled with darkness who would just as soon kill her as kiss her.

Will her deadly melody be enough to save the town and herself?

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About the author:

Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NY Times bestselling author of the SWEET EVIL series from HarperTeen, the high fantasy duology THE GREAT HUNT, her independently published Irish Fantasy SEE ME, and her indie NA science fiction UNKNOWN trilogy.

After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until achieving her dream job as a full-time writer.

ARC Review: "A Fragile Enchantment" by Allison Saft

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.

But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.

Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.

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REVIEW

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

Tackling 2024 with this lovely YA book, set in a magical world where emotions can be woven into cloth, blights can be made just with a thought and social class is everything.

Niamh is a dressmaker born with the rare ability to weave emotions to the clothes she makes. Living in a region conquered by Avaland she is invited to the royal palace to create the wedding ceremonial clothes of the Prince and Princess. But Prince Kit is abrasive and does not wish to marry, while Niamh is battling with her own secret; her magic is sapping her of her life force.

Add in the political unrest due to the disparities between classes; both will have to deal with that and their growing feelings for each other.

I enjoyed the Victorian-era-inspired world; the descriptions were beautiful and the setting unique. It has been a while since a YA book held my attention, and I may return to the category again. My only issue was with how sometimes Niamh would act like a ten-year-old, quick to judge by appearances and not look into the core of the issue, despite starting as a character who had the seriousness of the situation. There was character development, especially from Kit's side which I liked as also from the King and the rest of the secondary characters.

The ending was also good and felt complete.

Recommended for the lovely descriptions and the magic woven into them.

About the author:

Allison Saft is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time rolling on eight wheels and practicing aerial silks. She lives with her partner and an Italian greyhound named Marzipan.

ARC Review: "A Study in Drowning" by Ava Reid

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny.

But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

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REVIEW

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

Trigger warnings: mention of sexual assault (off page), blood.

This book was a fascinating surprise. I am not one to read thrillers, and I can not even categorize it as a thriller per se, it is more like dark vibes of academia with a hint of thriller and Fae elements.

Our story follows Effy Sayre an architect student, the only female one, who has always believed in fairy tales. Surrounded in a man's world of academia, despite her longing to become a literature student, she is at the same time haunted by visions of the Fairy King, a creature known only in myths.

She knows by heart, Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and kills him, a book that is considered a national treasure, in a world that seems to be at a point of Cold War, along with cultural and political prejudice.

When she gets the chance to create the new architectural plans for Myrddin's family house she jumps to the chance to get to know the family of her beloved deceased author, along with a literature student Preston Héloury, whose aim is to discredit Myrddin's work as a fraud.

But the house hides more secrets than the growing unrest of rising waters and even more than that, the threatening presence that seems to surround the house itself, threatening to destroy both Effy and Preston.

This book with themes of literature, natural disasters rooted in myth, and a hint of magic held deeper meanings. While Effy and Preston try to work around the house and its residents it is at the same time the outlet from which they come to terms with deeper secrets of their selves. The plot unspools slowly but picks up quite fast close to around the 75% of the book where we see who truly was Myrddin and what his legacy would be like if the truth had come out.

I loved how the romance between Effy and Preston developed. He was smitten from the start, I call it now. :D

Overall this was quite a good book, worth of the praise and the Goodreads Award nominee! Recommended but keep in mind the TW at the beginning of the review.

About the author:

Ava Reid is the author of critically acclaimed and bestselling adult fantasies Juniper & Thorn and The Wolf and the Woodsman, as well as the forthcoming A Study in Drowning, her young adult debut. After obtaining her degree in political science from Barnard College, she moved to Palo Alto, where she continues to haunt university libraries.

ARC Review: "A Fire in the Flesh" (Flesh and Fire #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Fire in the Flesh by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

From #1  New York Times  bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Flesh and Fire series…

The only thing that can save the realms now is the one thing more powerful than the Fates.

After a startling betrayal ends with both Sera and the dangerously seductive ruler of the Shadowlands she has fallen madly in love with being held captive by the false King of the Gods, there is only one thing that can free Nyktos and prevent the forces of the Shadowlands from invading Dalos and igniting a War of Primals.

Convincing Kolis won’t be easy, though – not even with a lifetime of training. While his most favored Revenant is insistent that she is nothing more than a lie, Kolis’s erratic nature and twisted sense of honor leave her shaken to the core, and nothing could’ve prepared her for the cruelty of his Court or the shocking truths revealed. The revelations not only upend what she has understood about her duty and the very creation of the realms but also draw into question exactly what the true threat is. However, surviving Kolis is only one part of the battle. The Ascension is upon her, and Sera is out of time.

But Nyktos will do anything to keep Sera alive and give her the life she deserves. He’ll even risk the utter destruction of the realms, and that’s exactly what will happen if he doesn’t Ascend as the Primal of Life. Yet despite his desperate determination, their destinies may be out of their hands.

But there is that foreseen unexpected thread—the unpredictable, unknown, and unwritten. The only thing more powerful than the Fates…

PRE-ORDER ON 

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REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review contains minor spoilers from previous books.

WARNING: It is best to read the series "From Blood and Ash" and then begin the prequel series as many points in the prequel series may make sense regarding the main books.

Oh my this book! I think Jennifer is laughing like a villain right now as she dropped bomb after bomb in this book, slowly tying up the plot holes from both series! Knowing now what may happen in both the next "From Blood and Ash" book and the final one of this series, I am anxiously waiting for the next big reveal.

Sera is a prisoner in Kolis's court. Following the events of the previous book, she now must navigate through a traitorous court, an unhinged Primal god, and that damn Callum, whom I want to unlive in any way like I am a hero in Walking Dead...seriously the guy gave me the creeps in every way!

This book is more about Sear discovering the hidden truths that tie her with the Primals, Ash's Father who orchestrated this whole plan, and also the future prophecies that may come to fruition from her own actions.

There was action at the start of the book, but then it slows down on pace in order to better immerse us in the inner workings of Kolis's court and also give us the first glimpse of creatures we do see in the books of From Blood and Ash.

As always Ash/Nyktos is a must-see; I loved how he also worked through his own feelings, finally, finally manning up to admit it to Sera! And those final pages of the book? I loved every bit of it and I can not wait for both the upcoming books of both series!

Jennifer Armentrout builds more upon this world she has created in a masterful way that leaves you both wanting for more...and craving Daddy Nyktos. Totally recommended!

And don't miss the rest books of the series, as well as the series "From Blood and Ash"!

                                

About the author:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more. 

Review: "Assistant to the Villain" by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

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REVIEW

(trigger warnings: attempted sexual assault off page)

A grumpy Villain hell-bent in revenge...seeks an assistant for his evil corporation.

Location: a scary castle in the middle of a scary forest.

Co-workers: fellow minions hell-bent in helping the Villain.

Add in a cursed frog prince, a dragon with sensitive hearts, office drama, lots of cakes and coffee-like concoctions, and a teeny-tiny crush and you have one of the most laugh-out-loud books of this year for me.

Evie, the main heroine stumbles upon the Villain as she tries to find a new job after quitting her previous one. But what she gets instead of being terrified on the spot is a stable job that pays well, but she also has to deal with his mood swings and her new co-workers who are more than happy, or terrified to help him with his revenge.

The humor in this book is ecstatic; having come out of a pretty heavy plot-wise read I really wanted to have a comedic break in my reading. This book filled that need but also left me yearning for more. What I kept imagining while reading this was the Office but set in a fantasy world where the Villain may as well be a parallel universe cousin of the Darkling.

That frog prince was hilarious, like an anime character who looks at you with derision. The rest of the cast, from the dragon tamer to the office colleagues of Evie's gave a complete set of characters who never felt like they were just filling the pages. Sure Evie goes into some ridiculous situations which would make an average reader or a fantasy heroine want to slap some sense into her, but from her perspective and based on what she had also gone through I did sympathize with her.

While the romance is not so obvious, there are the beginnings of one; the Villain grumpy that he is, is also quite clueless, and Evie sees all through him even when he refuses to actually acknowledge how effective she is work-wise.

Even the frog thinks so lol.

Overall this book was very amusing and I devoured it in a day. The ending was an unexpected cliffhanger which left me begging for more!

 

About the author:

Hannah Nicole Maehrer—or as TikTok Knows her, @hannahnicolemae—is a fantasy romance author and BookToker with a propensity for villains. When she’s not creating bookish comedy skits about Villains and Assistants, she’s writing to Taylor Swift songs. Her biggest passions in life include romance, magic, laughter, and finding ways to include them all in everything she creates. Most days you can find her with her head in the clouds and a pen in her hand.

Review: "The Seven Year Slip" by Ashley Poston

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.

So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: stay busy, work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.

And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.

Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.

Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.

After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.

An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate…only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this witty and wise new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics.

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REVIEW

Well, here I am trying to also find a way to describe this small gem of a book. I knew Ashley set the bar high with her previous book "Dead Romantics" but in this one, I feel like she took our feelings wrapped them up beautifully in a package...and threw in the ocean.

The Seven Year Slip can be dubbed also as "The Lake House" meets "When Harry met Sally" (at least the idea of the movie for me).

Clementine is a workaholic who inherits an apartment from her deceased aunt. Drawn with grief and a sense of loss, she tries to tentatively move and settle in her apartment, only to discover a strange man living already there. Iwan is an aspiring chef who wants to make a life for himself in New York, and he is as surprised as Clementine is. Soon she discovers that the house connects them across time, as Iwan lives in the past and she in his future; a gap of seven years between them.

As Clementine tries to connect the dots between past and present she slowly falls for Iwan...but she may fall in love with I'm again and discover more things about herself, as she deals with her grief.

I devoured this book in one day. I had some recurring fear that something may happen like it did in the movie "The Lake House" but this book was so much different yet so beautifully written. Clementine is a character who feels realistic and grounded in her doubts and dreams that she feels left behind. I enjoyed her growth in the book, as she navigated between his past and her present through the time slips in the apartment.

Which I seriously believe Doctor Who would be delighted to investigate too lol.

Iwan was also a nice surprise; I adored his heartfelt and slightly innocent nature as he also matured through his interaction with Clementine. Not to mention I love lemon pie too so I now want someone to feed me lemon pie...pretty please?

Overall, this was yet another amazing read by Ashley Poston. I enjoy the direction her books have taken as of late and I can not wait to read more by her!

About the author:

Ashley Poston is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of The Dead Romantics. 

After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s in English, she spent the last decade working in the publishing industry before deciding to pursue writing full-time.

When not writing, she likes trying various arts and crafts (she’s currently addicted to building miniature rooms) and taking long walks as an excuse to listen to Dungeons & Dragons podcasts. She bides her time between South Carolina and New York, and all the bookstores between.

Review: "Knockout" (Hell's Belles #3) by Sarah MacLean

Knockout by Sarah MacLean
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the next Hell’s Belles novel about a chaotic bluestocking and the buttoned-up detective enlisted to keep her out of trouble (spoiler: She is the trouble).

With her headful of wild curls and wilder ideas and an unabashed love of experiments and explosives, society has labeled Lady Imogen Loveless peculiar…and doesn’t know she’s one of the Hell’s Belles—a group of vigilantes operating outside the notice of most of London.

Thomas Peck is not most of London. The brilliant detective fought his way off the streets and into a promising career through sheer force of will and a keen ability to see things others miss, like the fact that Imogen isn’t peculiar…she’s pandemonium. If you ask him, she requires a keeper. When her powerful family discovers her late-night activities, they couldn’t agree more…and they know just the man for the task.

Thomas wants nothing to do with guarding Imogen. He is a grown man with a proper job and no time for the lady’s incendiary chaos, no matter how lushly it is packaged. But some assignments are too explosive to pass up, and the gruff detective is soon caught up in Imogen’s world, full of her bold smiles and burning secrets…and a fiery passion that threatens to consume them both.

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REVIEW

Oh boy, how can I formulate a review that can encompass all my feelings for these characters, the couple featured in a series which, in the time this review is written, I consider to be the best Sarah has written so far, AND not spoiler anything?

*internal screaming*

Ok then. Knockout follows Imogen Loveless the scientist, explosions megamind and one of Hell's Belles as she investigates along with her friends a series of mysterious explosions across London. As Imogen and her investigation slowly gather dangerous attention, she comes across again with Investigator Thomas Peck. Who has a good head on his shoulders and quite an inquisitive mind; Thomas knows something is afoot and he can not stop by being both aggravated and fascinated with Imogen and her character.

Yet knowing how difficult it would be for him to be with her due to his social station and his past, he tries to get closer to her in other ways. Not that Imogen minds or doesn't try to make fun of him. But she also has her own insecurities, stemming from quite a troubled past.

Plot aside, what drew me most in this book was character development. We have two people who have their own history and despite this social structure they try to bridge said gap. The most reluctant here is Thomas and you'll have to read the book to find out why.

Imogen on the other hand, my lovely Sagittarius (I got confirmation by Sarah Maclean herself), she is the one I mostly relate to. She is bring and smart and does not want to conform to the roles of a female of the 19th century, she wants science and studies and explosions but also she wants to feel desired and loved and respected for who she truly is and not what her title and status makes her to be. She feels insecure about her weight and body, about what others may think of her, despite being surrounded by her group of friends who would move sky and earth for her. That is why she struck so much to me because there are times I feel the same, just like her.

The romance was off the rails, like a perfect book by Sarah, the dialogue between Imogen and Thomas was hilarious, yet the beauty of this romance was how Thomas loves her for exactly who she is: explosions and all.

(Klee is a character from the game Genshin Impact)

Also, we did have some cameos with a couple of my other one favorite book by Sarah! Henrietta and Whit my beautiful ones!

This was the best book of the series from me, but seeing how that final scene of the book opens the possibility for the next member of Hell's Belles, I can not wait to see what Sarah will have in store for us!

And don't miss the rest books of the series!

About the author:

New York Times, Washington Post & USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean is the author of historical romance novels. Translated into more than twenty-five languages, the books that make up “The MacLeaniverse” are beloved by readers worldwide.

In addition to her novels, Sarah is a leading advocate for the romance genre, speaking widely on its place as a feminist text and a cultural bellwether. A columnist for the New York Times, the Washington Post and Bustle, she is the co-host of the weekly romance podcast, Fated Mates. Her work in support of romance and those who read it earned her a place on Jezebel.com's Sheroes list and led Entertainment Weekly to call her "the elegantly fuming, utterly intoxicating queen of historical romance."

Sarah is a graduate of Smith College & Harvard University. She lives in New York City.