Milky Way of books

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

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

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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AMAZON | WATERSTONES

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

Monday, October 30, 2023

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…

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AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

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

Thursday, October 12, 2023

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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AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

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

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

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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AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

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

Monday, September 11, 2023

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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AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

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.

ARC Review: "Fall of Ruin and Wrath" (Awakening #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

SHE LIVES BY HER INTUITION. HE FEEDS ON HER PLEASURE.

Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian―royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.

Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.

When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning―and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he'll be her doom.

When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.

Calista must follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.

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AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

SPECIAL EDITIONS

FAIRYLOOT | OWLCRATE | BOOKISH BOX

REVIEW

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

Oh boy, how do I even start writing this review? This year marks my 10 years of reading Jennifer Armentrout, Obsidian being her first book which had introduced me to YA sci-fi and Daemon of course. Now 10 years later, lots of JLA men after, and here we are, being introduced to a new world with new characters and a pretty different concept.

Some things to consider: this is an ADULT romantsy (romance+fantasy) book. There is violence, death, and some scary moments, but all the above are handled masterfully so you won't get scared...a lot.

Calista, or Lis lives in one of the cities ruled by a Baron. All smaller cities defer to the bigger ones which are ruled by the Highborn with the King being the ruler of all. This world is the remains of the previous one which somehow was destroyed the way the characters as of now are aware of, from the gods.

There are some clues in the book that keyed me in and threw my brain into a spiral of conspiracy but I won't get to it now.

Lis has a gift, a heightened intuition that almost gives her visions of the future or can alert her to something happening around her. Even it causes her to avoid danger to herself and her best friend Grady. They were both orphans who found their way into working for the Baron.

What you all need to understand here is that the Highborn feed on pleasure, so it is quite common to have...activities that enhance their need to feed, and that is something that is celebrated in this society, at least to a point as Highborn can be quite terrifying.

Which brings us back to Lis. She discovers unwillingly a plot to destroy such a Highborn Prince and she saves him. What no one expects is for that Prince to have quite a certain reputation and be feared by all.

Thorne is quite the morally gray character. If you thought that Seth or Cas was morally gray, then Throne wins the prize here. His motives are not quite clear but his attraction to Lis is. And while the book slowly builds up, we get the ground set for the worldbuilding, the inner politics, and the struggle that lies beneath the surface between Highborn and Lowborn, meaning the rest of the population. Add in a possible revolt that tries to overthrow the king and we have quite the dangerous mix that could destroy everyone.

To be honest, up until 70% of the book the pace was steady but I knew that Jennifer would throw me the bomb in the plot at some point. What I did not expect was what followed after 70% which made an episode of The Walking Dead look like an amusement park visit. The fear for Lis and the other characters was real and the ending that followed was quite the one I did not anticipate.

Now after that cliffhanger, I'll have to wait another year, and this book has not even been released yet!

So if any of you gets to read it I am open for discussion!

Overall Jennifer Armentrout masterfully introduces us to a new world with characters that will be unforgettable in their own unique way! Totally recommended.

About the author:

Release Day Blitz: "A Soul of Ash & Blood" (Blood and Ash #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Only his memories can save her…

A Soul of Ash and Blood, the highly-anticipated fifth book in the Blood and Ash Series from #1 New York Times bestselling author
Jennifer L. Armentrout is available now!

A great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone—the true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.

And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. But this time, Hawke gets to tell the tale.

Fall in love today!

Amazon:

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B&N:

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B&N special edition hardcover (unsigned): https://bit.ly/3Y0T7PT

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Nook: https://bit.ly/3WwKpsD

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BAM:

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Indigo:

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Ebook: https://bit.ly/42M9imL

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Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/3SBM7bq

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Walmart: https://bit.ly/3KJJ52U

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Other digital retailers:

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3KHSckG

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Apple Books: http://bit.ly/3Zux8Cl

For More Information about Jennifer L. Armentrout, visit her website: https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/

For More Information about Blue Box Press, visit:

Website: https://theblueboxpress.com/

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3

TikTok: https://bit.ly/3G98oYh

ARC Review: "A Soul of Ash and Blood" (Blood and Ash #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

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

Summary from GoodReads

Only his memories can save her…

But when Poppy falls into stasis, Cas faces the very real possibility that the dire, unexpected consequences of what she is becoming could take her away from him. Cas is given some advice, though—something he plans to cling to as he waits to see her beautiful eyes open once more: Talk to her.

And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. But this time, Hawke gets to tell the tale.

PRE-ORDER ON

AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

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

Ah the joy of getting my yearly dose of Jennifer Armentrout. This series sits on the top of my favorite ones from this author, counting in a companion book that is coming plus a wholly new series later this year.

Needless to say that while this book works as an alternative version of book one seen from Hawke's POV, it is also a sequel because some things happen, as it goes back and forth in time, leaving me with so many questions to the point where Kierran would roll his eyes at me as he does to Poppy.

The book picks up from the end of War of Two Queens, where Poppy and co deal with the aftermath of the colossal battle that rattled everyone. When something happens to Poppy leading her to fall into a coma, Cas stays by her side, and in order to keep her (and also his) sanity untouched he begins narrating how he first met her and from there, we go back to the beginning.

I love reading dual POV books, same had happened with the Lux series where we got after the end of the series Daemon's POV when he has first met Katy.

The difference here is that we also get more tidbits of information and clues to the actual villain which in turn weaves into the tapestry of all this intricate story Jennifer so masterfully writes across 5 books so far. Plus for those of you who also read the Flesh and Fire series you get my meaning when some scenes reveal closer relations to characters across both series.

I loved reading Cas's/Hawke's POV. The man knows how to be sarcastic yet very set on his ideals...at least when he meets Poppy in the Red Pearl. Also, we see how traumatized he really is from his time in the underground and the torture he endured. PTSD is never an easy battle to have.

And the action scenes up until the...snow scene were *chef's kiss*

Overall this was a spectacular book, an amazing addition to the rest of the series and I can not wait to see how this story will end! Because the ending...LEFT ME SCREAMING AND WANTING MORE!

About the author:

ARC Review: "Divine Rivals" (Letters of Enchantment #1) by Rebecca Ross

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Shadow and Bone meets Lore in Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals, an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

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AMAZON | WATERSTONES

REVIEW

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

I really really wanted to review this book sooner. Having read in March, I was so excited and filled with FEELS...but burnout got the better of me and I lost any mental strength to do this review.

But now after almost 2 months and especially after I saw the cover reveal of the second book, I decided to properly fangirl about this fantastic book.

I did get some slight feels of the Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, especially on the anonymous letter exchange but trust me the plot and the story are way too different, both equally splendid.

Iris Winnow is a young article writer in the Oath Gazette, a newspaper which covers among other things the coming war between gods. In this fantasy world, forces of good and evil, personified in the forms of sleeping gods, are warring with one another as two of them have woken up and the humans must choose a side.

As the face of war reveals the true nature of some humans Iris tries to keep her family together and worries over her brother who has been missing on the front lines.

Her sadness leads her to type letters and slide them under the wardrobe of her home; but she does not realize that they reach the hands of Roman Kitt, who is also her adversary at work. As circumstances lead them closer to one another, and the threat of war looms closer, they will fall for one another, in a tale I am pretty sure already has gripped me by the heartstrings.

I really do not want to spoil the story too much. There are some parts of humor scattered here and there but the human relationships showcased in the coming fear of destruction and war is what gripped me also. That there can be equal brave people as also cowards, or that we need to find happiness whenever we can and treasure it because it can be fleeting.

The ending gutted me; seriously I got SJM cliffhanger feels after this ending, and I really hope to get to read the second book! Plus I am in love with the special editions that came out especially the Owlcrate one (still waiting for my box).

I definitely recommend this; it is unique and beautiful and so emotional, you'll not be able to put it down!

About the author:

Rebecca Ross is the New York Times and #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author of fantasy novels for teens and adults. She lives in the Appalachian foothills of Northeast Georgia with her husband, their lively Australian Shepherd, a flock of chickens, and an endless pile of books.

DIVINE RIVALS, SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG, DREAMS LIE BENEATH, and The Queen's Rising Duology are her titles for teen readers. The Elements of Cadence Duology (A RIVER ENCHANTED and A FIRE ENDLESS) are her novels for adults.

When not writing, she can be found reading or in her garden, where she grows wildflowers and story ideas. Find her on Instagram @beccajross or online at www.rebeccarossauthor.com.

Rebecca is represented by Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary & Media.

ARC Review: "Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death" by Maria Vale

Monday, April 10, 2023

Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death by Maria Vale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Death needs a do-over.

Azrael---grim reaper and devourer of worlds--has messed up. Instead of taking Molly Molloy's soul, he patted her on the back and saved her from choking on an atomic chicken wing.

Now she can see him. Talk to him. Touch him. Say ‘no’ to him. And make him question the assumptions he has held for an eternity.

Molly is sick of Death capsizing her life. He'd taken her parents, then her grandparents, then her first great love.

Now, just as she was on the verge of getting her life together with a job that paid enough and a NYC apartment that didn't cost too much, Death interferes again in ways she could never have imagined.

The Powers that Be want Azrael to fix his mistake but before he can, Death makes one more.

He falls in love.

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AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

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

It is no secret that I loved Maria Vale's books. Her series Legends of all Wolves is a must-read that brings together our love for the paranormal but with the sensitivity and deep love for nature as also romance.

This book gave me great vibes of "Meet Joe Black" and "The Ghost".

Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death was quite the wild ride. I knew that I just wanted to read it, despite the premise which always makes me cry because anything metaphysical always hits that spot in my heart that knows....that we don't know anything about the after.

Death is...not exactly an angel but a being beyond time and creation itself who has been demoted into gathering the souls of mortals...which he so drily pulls from the bodies he calls Rags, and sends them...Upstairs. I loved the sarcastic way he does the job? Like a public sector worker who just does the routine and finds no satisfaction in anything anymore.

And then when he goes to pull the soul of a Molloy, he realizes that he can be seen and that the woman whom he should he taken the soul is still alive.

Molly Molloy lives her life, without actually living, filled with grief and a dry sense of humor which was born of circumstances of pain and loss. When she realizes who and what Death is, a strange companionship will bloom between them, one that will defy the powers of...Upstairs.

There is a lot of emotion to unpack here. From the way, Molly slowly and surely integrates Death into human life to Death's understanding of how precious life is, despite being short for humans. It's almost comely how often he acts like a child or a teenager with his behavior and Molly is the one being the adult in the relationship. Additionally, I found the description of how Upstairs looks like quite hilarious, the combination of Latin for their rules and the idea that souls are connected to the human body through the omphalos (greek word for bellybutton-also an ancient mythological belief-) was a nice touch.

The ending had me crying but as Death adjusts to change, you slowly realize that his story never ends, and love can come and find him again through endless time.

This was one of the best books of 2023 for me and I totally recommend it.

About the author:

Maria Vale is a journalist who has worked for Publishers Weekly, Glamour, Redbook and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She's a double-Rita finalist whose books have been listed by Amazon, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, ALA Booklist & Kirkus among their Best Books of the Year. Trained as a medievalist, she persists in trying to shoehorn the language of Beowulf into things that don't really need it.

Blog Tour & ARC Review: "Black Rose" (The Dracula Duet #2) by Karina Halle

Monday, March 20, 2023

Black Rose by Karina Halle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

From the New York Times best-selling author of River of Shadows and Black Sunshine comes a new dark gothic romance duet about how love can transcend the ages, but at a deadly cost.

Is it her destiny to love him?

Or is it her destiny to die?

Valtu Aminoff is no stranger to tragedy. Though many know him as the enigmatic vampire that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Valtu’s complex life is far more horrific than any fiction could imagine. When you lose the love of your life over and over again, it can do more than break your heart—it can corrupt your soul.
It's up to his new lover to decide if Valtu's damaged soul is even worth saving.

But destiny isn’t done with Valtu yet. And tragedy is always around the corner.

Black Rose is the sequel to Blood Orange and is not a standalone. Snap up this completed dark gothic vampire romance duet if you like:
High spice
Dark Academia
Gothic Setting
Vampires vs Witches
Spooky vibes
Reincarnated love
Dracula re-telling
Fantasy romance
Please check inside the book for content warnings.

"Every vampire has a sad love story to tell."

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AMAZON

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour.

The much-anticipated sequel to Blood Orange is finally here! Kindly keep in mind that this review contains mild spoilers from the first book, which you can find my review of here.

After the events of the first book, Valtu tries to process his own grief but that leads to some decisions that in retrospect are quite wrong; grief is a beast on its own and we all need in some way to try and deal with it, but he uses the book to cast some quite impressive spells. When Rose, the daughter of Amethyst and Wolf finds him in Germany he will realize that fate will always find him and she will help him slowly but surely to discover his feelings for her.

Add in the impending danger of the witches who have found a way to slightly become immortal and you have an explosive mix of action, swoony/hot scenes, and the ending I really wanted. We do see some cameos which connect the previous books set into this world of vampires lovely so read from start to finish all of this is quite amazing.

Karina knows how to write books that grip you and do not let you go. On the other hand, my heart and prayers go to her as she had quite an eventful year and I could feel her own sadness sipping into the words of her story. I wish her from my heart to always be surrounded by love and to have the strength to move through her own grief.

About the author:

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

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Website: http://authorkarinahalle.com