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Top 5 Favorite Books of 2022

I’ve read various books this year, from dark fantasy to urban fantasy and even contemporary fantasy. Regardless, the romance genre has remained consistent throughout. Without a romance plot of any kind, I’m not interested. I enjoy the different tropes, conflicts, and atmosphere romance books create.

So, with that being said, here are my top 5 favorite books of 2022 (in no specific order).

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Sorcery of Thorns was spectacular and such a refreshing book to read. Margaret Rogerson’s mind and creativity are captivating, and I can’t wait for her new release in 2023: Mysteries of Thorn Manor.

The refreshing creativity along with lovable characters and living grimoires is what got Sorcery of Thorns onto this list. Even if the book was YA and had relativity younger characters, the storytelling is beautiful and so enticing.

If you wish books were alive and like a sweet, supportive romance, then this book is for you.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

When I originally picked up Daughter of Smoke and Bone I had no idea what it was about. I only knew that it took place in Prague, my favorite city, and I had to read it. And I am so happy I made that decision.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a beautifully written book with a grunge style. The alternative characters, their style, and their personalities all made this book so pleasant to read. After a while, most of the main characters of fantasy books kind of blend together. However, Laini introduced exquisite characters and settings that set it apart from other books.

So if you’re tired of the same old same old in the fantasy romance world give this book a chance. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout

From Blood and Ash was first introduced to me on Tik Tok. So many people were ranting and raving about this series that I decided to give it a shot. And I was not disappointed.

I was so immersed in this book that I couldn’t put it down. I was giddy every time I got to read it! The pace and the way Raven Kennedy set up the entire story was masterful. Some people may not enjoy the slow intro and build into the story, but I loved it.

We were set up on a strong foundation that once established threw us over a cliff with the twists and turns presented later on. I was obsessed.

If you like a slower book that takes its time but is still eventful and sinfully sexual, then read this book!

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

Oh Elise Kova, the way you’re able to write a standalone book with suspense, sexual tension, and tender moments was beautiful.

When I read this book, I was in dire need of a standalone. I was so tired of reading multiple books to get a full story. I was ready for something simple and romance-focused. And Elise Kova delivered!

A Deal with the Elf King is a tender and simple book, but the storytelling and characters are lovable. The words swept me away and on an adventure so pure and enjoyable that I craved more.

The bonus scene Kova sends once you sign up for her newsletter is also worth it and puts a nice bow on a sweet story.

A Deal with the Elf King is for those who want a standalone romance with a strong-willed woman and a whimsical world.

Gild by Raven Kennedy

Before reading Gild I never knew of Midas and his golden touch. I actually had to look up the original story! But this retelling through the eyes of the golden “prize” is enthralling.

Gild takes a slower and more methodical approach to storytelling. One where revenge and secrets drive the plot.

If you are looking for a story where the main character overcomes an abusive relationship and self-discovery with a dark and sexual twist, then Gild is for you.

Runner Up: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

The Ex Hex is the runner-up for the top favorite books because it portrays a secret witchy world and a comically faulty hex. The blend of witches living a normal, modern life is one I didn’t expect to enjoy.

The comical characters and strong plot made this book unforgettable. It even opened me up to the possibility of reading other contemporary romances, as long as it has witchy/magical things!

So, if you want a comical romance with witches, curses, and ghosts, then read The Ex Hex.

All of these authors listed above are ones I have never read before, but best believe I am a new fan of each one! I’m excited to see what new books they write and for the new books, I’ll read in 2023!

Happy Holidays!

Love,

Red

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Housekeeping

Hello and welcome all!

In this post, we’ll go over the basics of what you can expect from my blog, any acronyms I’ll use, how I choose my genres, and my spicy rating scale.

The goal is to create a guide for you, the reader, so there isn’t any confusion about my reviews.

Books I Read

I mainly read new adult (NA) or young adult (YA) fantasy romance books.

I try to stick to new adult genres because I can relate to them more, but we’ll delve into young adult books here and there.

Every now and then I will venture out and try a new genre, like The Ex Hex, to see if I like it. However, I am pretty steadfast in my tastes of books.

If you would like to recommend a book to me that you’ll think I’ll like, please do so! I welcome all recommendations, and unless they deviate far outside of my norm genres, I’ll give it a shot!

Acronyms

YA- Young Adult (Character ages from 12 to 18)
NA- New Adult (Character ages from 19 to 30)
DNF- Did Not Finish
TBR- To Be Read

Selecting Genres

Sometimes genres can be subjective, however, to negate this I will be pulling the genres of each book from Goodreads.com. This way there is no confusion or fights to be had over what genre/sub-genre the book belongs to.

If you do want to fight, you can take it up with Goodreads.

Spicy Rating

Spicy ratings can be subjective as well depending on the reader. So, to clear things up I made a spicy rating scale for you to refer back to when needed.

Unfortunately, I cannot actually use peppers for my rating scale, so we will be using red stars instead! They’re just as fun, right?

Nada— no kissing, no hand holding, nothing

The Basics— kissing, hand holding, light touches

The Basics 2.0— more details but still vague and/or cuts out right before the scene

Foreplay— more detail, such as kissing and foreplay, and vaguely describes the scene

Hot Mama— an increase in detail, such as detailing the acts and/or scenes, and occurs less than 3 times throughout the book

Holy Hell!— a drastic increase in detail, such as detailing the acts and/or scenes with more colorful vocabulary, and occurs more than 3 times throughout the book

The End

Hopefully, this introduction to the basics of my blog helps you as you explore my posts!

This post will be updated as needed to make your journey (and to jog my memory) easier.

If you have any recommendations on what should be added, please comment down below or shoot me an email! I welcome any and all suggestions.

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Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon Book Review

Ratings

DNF at 10%

I couldn’t get past the old English writing and dialogue. It took too much brain power to decipher what was going on. Not my idea of casual reading.

So if you’re not into that style of writing, I wouldn’t recommend the book. It was almost an instant turn off but I gave it a chance.

Due to me not finishing it, I can’t state anything in the actual characters or plot, hence the 3 stars— it’s neutral.

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Facebook Page | Goodreads TBR | Spicy Rating Scale | Samantha Shannon’s Website

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House of Flame and Shadow: Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas Book Review

Ratings

Content Warnings: Language, Smut, Sexual Themes, Blood, Violence, Gore, Sexism, Racism, Drugs, Death

Introduction

House of Flame and Shadows is a bit anti-climatic overall, but nonetheless entertaining.

Pros

ACOTAR cross-over
Ember and Nesta’s mother-daughter moment

Cons

The ending
Events in the Meat Market
Bryce’s change in character
Ithan’s side quest

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

Absolutely love that we got to see Nesta and Az! Definitely the highlight, and best part, of the book for me.

The Harpy’s return was a great plot device, but they were killed off too quickly later on.

The Theia/Helena plot was interesting, but definitely confusing after awhile.

Love the connection between Midgard and Pytharian with the Dead Trove.

Adias and his brother’s stringing Bryce along as to what she should be doing when they could have just told her, making things so much simpler and more convincing.

The parasites in the water seemed to come from left field. Not a single scientist found that there were parasites? Its really not that believable.

Bryce winnows into her father’s office on will, but how? We don’t see her practicing or testing her traveling between worlds like that. How did she know it would work? It’s too convenient.

The death of the Autumn King and Allaven King was a bit anti-climatic.

Why was Baxion left behind on Morven? He would have been a great asset in the final fight.

So anyone can use the Mask now? Nesta experienced strong consequences of wearing said Mask, like it enthralling her. But for Bryce and Hunt it doesn’t?

What the fuck was that ending? It was so outlandish and corny. A mech suit in the vacuum of space and the Asteri dying by a black hole. I didn’t sign up for this shit. I signed up for an epic battle scene, not a cop out.

But whatever, I guess. Its obvious the ending is also setting up more books following other characters, like Tharion (gods why?) and Hypaxia with the House of Flame and Shadow.

Also, some of the characters should have died, like Bryce. She should have stayed dead. Instead, everyone survives and it feels like that stakes weren’t really that high. Everyone gets a happy ending and there isn’t a lasting effect on the reader on what just happened.

Characters

Bryce and Hunt still don’t seem like a couple! Their relationship feels forced. Same with Ruhn and Lydia, except their’s just moved too fast and we as readers didn’t get to sit in the simmer of it.

Bryce

A theme throughout this book that starts in the second is that Bryce doesn’t trust anyone. Not even Hunt. She devises plans and sets them in motion without telling her friends, which creates a lot of confusion. Bryce isn’t some mastermind strategist. She never has been, but that’s what she turned into and it’s quite annoying.

Some examples: She turns on Nesta and Azriel multiple times, even lying to them that they can trust her.

She is also cold and harsh to Hunt when he talks about his trauma. Yeah she apologizes later, but good grief, she doesn’t give him a chance to coup or talk about things. Instead, Bryce shuts him down and makes him feel bad for having conflicting thoughts on the whole rebellion.

Hunt

Although we see some personality/character from Hunt, there isn’t much of him in this final book. Again, he isn’t utilized and we don’t see much of him fighting and using his lightning. He had so much potential, especially when facing the Asteri, but he was just hung up to dry instead.

Side Characters

I love Jesiba, she’s become one of my favorite characters besides Danica.

Writing

What even are the Houses and how do they work? This is the first time we are seeing an HQ for the Houses and a hierarchy.

I don’t think the characters were utilized well. Fury and Baxion could have been shown more, especially in fight scenes.

It was obvious who the main focuses of the book were, even when there were others available to help. The mains: Bryce, Ithan, Lydia/Ruhn, and Tharion. Why Tharion had any screen time is beyond me. He really fucked his life up and continued to make question decisions after question decisions.

By the end, House of Flame and Shadow was on the verge of Sci-Fi and obsurdity. It briefly crossed that line, but came back over a little.

Final Thoughts

House of Flame and Shadow was a fun book, especially at the beginning with Nesta and Az (honestly the best part). But as time progressed, things became more chaotic and less conviencing. I would have liked to see the ending go in a different direction and more climatic plot points.

Some people think there will be more Crescent City books, and if there are, I probably won’t read them. I’m kind of over Sarah J. Maas. Her last few books have kind of been duds and just too long.

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Facebook Page | Goodreads TBR | Spicy Rating Scale | Sarah J Maas’s Website

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House of Sky and Breath: Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas Book Review

Ratings

Content Warnings: Language, Smut, Sexual Themes, Blood, Violence, Gore, Sexism, Racism, Drugs, Death

Introduction

Honestly, I read House of Sky and Breath back in March and the only thing I remember from it are two things: 1) the major character plot twist, and 2) that it was dreadfully boring and long. I seriously cannot recall what happened in this book without looking up a summary, it was that mediocre.

However, through my years of writing reviews, I have discovered that the second book in the trilogy is usually a bridge to the final book. Meaning it is the weakest link in the series due to it linking the first and third book, and building up to the grand finale. So, this book fits the memo, but it still doesn’t mean I drug my feet to get through it.

Pros

2 major character reveals
The secondlight
ACOTAR crossover!

Cons

Off-page actions of main character
Marriage plotline
Ithan and Tharion’s POV

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

This was probably the most convoluted and drug-out plot in the entire series. I struggled to finish it because it was so boring. Nothing much happened besides the group running around and figuring things out off-page sometimes, only to be told about it later.

It was all just frustrating to read. But let’s get into the Good and the Bad.

The Good

Here is what I enjoyed about the plot:

Sophie Renast
- I love the potential she brought to the story and how badass she was. I connected more with her in the prologue than I did with most of the other characters.
The secondlight
- Now this was a surprising twist! The idea that even in death they are used up as food for the Asteri is shocking and so maddening.
Baxian’s reveal as being Danica’s mate
- I suspected that he was a sympathizer, but damn I didn’t expect him to be Danica’s mate. They fit well together and I hate we didn’t get to see them on page together.
The Hind’s reveal of being Agent Daybright
- Now this one was fun, even if I accidently ruined it for myself by looking up fanart. It poses an interesting dynamic for Ruhn and Lydia. Watching Ruhn struggle with his feelings toward Lydia was definitely an up in the story.
Cormac as Agent Silverbow
- Ah, Cormac’s reveal as being Agent Silverbow was so fun. It posed an interesting dynamic and motivation to the Sophie case, and beefed up the tension of finding her and Emile.
The ending fight with Rigelus
- This was just fun to read. I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see who would reveal themselves, what would happen next, and how powerful Rigelus was. This scene was not disappointing.
Seeing the ACOTAR gang at the end
- When Rhysand introduced himself I lost my shit. I couldn’t wait to see how this would play out in the next book!

The Bad

There was much I didn’t like about the plot, but I’ll keep the list short.

The “grand” reveal of the Renast siblings
- Bryce figuring out that Emile was powerless and then discovering Sophie was dead was just a slap to the face. It felt like the entire first half of the book was for nothing. It didn’t really matter in the long run, at least to me.
Ithan and Tharion’s plots and floundering actions
- Dear gods, someone lock these two up. Ithan floundering around and obessing over the Alpha thing was annoying. Along with Tharion ruining his entire life and then running into the next worse thing. Neither of them thought things through and only acted on impulse. I skimmed/skipped their sections after awhile– their adventures would be talked about later anyways.
Pinning more on Danica even if its unrealistic
- The girl never rested. She had so much going on outside of what Bryce knew that it makes me question if Bryce was really her best friend. Why would Danica hide so much? She was practically living a double life.
Ruhn and Lydia’s relationship
- Just like the relationship between Bryce and Hunt, Ruhn and Lydia’s are unconvincing as well. There was no build-up to them falling for each other. It went from one dream of basic chatting to BAM– she’s my mate type shit. So over it.
Lack of Hunt doing anything
- What did Hunt really do besides voice his concerns about rebelling? His character was bulldozed over often and his abilities not really utilized/shown in action scenes.
Bryce being steps ahead of everyone (is she Sherlock Holmes now?)
- There were so many times when Bryce was steps ahead of what the reader knew/saw. She did everything off-page, which created a huge disconnect for me. Why not show what the main character, whom we the reader are following, is thinking and doing? It felt too convenient to me.
The marriage and title subplot
- This one was just annoying. I didn’t care about the Fae traditions or Bryce using her title.

This book was just a hodge-podge of plots and it felt all over the place at times.

Characters

Bryce and Hunt still don’t seem like a couple! Their relationship feels forced. Also, there wasn’t really any character development throughout the entire 700+ pages. Talk about stagnant!

Bryce

Bryce slowly started to slip into a Mary Sue– all-knowing and all-powerful. Her character completed changed and we lost a lot of the character development from the first book. She was unbelievably harsh toward Hunt and felt more selfish and self-centered than before. She became one of my least favorite characters while reading this book.

Hunt

As I stated early, Hunt really didn’t contribute much. He was just kind of there. He added almost nothing to the story and was a huge let down.

Side Characters

Cormac and Sophie were probably my favorite characters in this book. Their story was compelling and heart-wrenching.

The rest of the cast was really here nor there. They were mostly the same from the first book, if not regressing a bit.

Writing

The writing was fine, I guess. There were a few convenient plot points, like Bryce figuring the Renast siblings out and Sabine’s appearances. The book was mainly filler or setting up for the third installment.

Final Thoughts

I was so happy when I finished this book. I was over it by the end. House of Sky and Breath could have easily been 300-400 pages shorter and still accomplished the same goal. All in all, the book had to be read, but I kind of wish I could get those hours back.

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Facebook Page | Goodreads TBR | Spicy Rating Scale | Sarah J Maas’s Website

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House of Earth and Blood: Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas Book Review

Ratings

Content Warnings: Language, Smut, Sexual Themes, Blood, Violence, Gore, Sexism, Racism, Drugs, Death, Thoughts of Suicide

Introduction

It’s been since February when I finished this book. I wanted to get through the series before my son was born, so I rolled through them without writing reviews. My recollection might be spotty and my review not so long, but I’ll try to cover the bases.

House of Earth and Blood, otherwise known as Crescent City, takes place in a modern city infused with magic and mystical beings. We follow Bryce as she uncovers the mystery behind her best friend’s death. This adventure is full of plot twists, sarcasm, and rebellion.

This book is not like Sarah J Maas’s other books. The world is bigger, more complex, and mature.

Pros

Calling out both sides of sexism
Murder mystery plot
Intriguing characters

Cons

Info dumping GALORE
Confusing world building

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

From what I recall of the plot, it was the best one of the entire series. I wasn’t expecting a murder mystery or for Danica to die off so soon, but boy oh boy does it create an intriguing plot.

The middle of the book kind of drug out, but the beginning and end were *chef’s kiss* (minus the major info dumping in the first few chapters). Things definitely got drawn out after awhile, but sped up towards the end. Which was a lot, not going to lie, but I enjoyed it.

The ending was brilliant and heart-wrenching. I loved the whole Micah scene and how it was broadcast to the Summit. Not to mention Lehabah sacrificing herself to save Bryce. Talk about a stab to the heart. And the Drop scene was amazing. I cried when Danica showed up and helped Bryce. Her last act was as a best friend.

There was a lot of setup for the remainder of the series in the subplots of other characters, which here was a bit annoying to read, but in the long run kinda helps. It definitely muddied the main plot of Crescent City.

Characters

To start off, I don’t see Bryce and Hunt as a romantic couple. They’re more of friends in my eyes and don’t seem to fit together well beyond that.

Bryce

I like Bryce. Is she a favorite character of mine? Eh, maybe. Definitely more so than Hunt. Bryce has a huge heart, and that comes through in quite a few instances– her saving Micah in the alley, buying Lehabah’s freedom, sacrificing herself to try and save people from the demon attack, etc.

Her character develops from a carefree, druggie to an intentionally misunderstood party-girl. Danica’s death truly impacts Bryce in all aspects of her life. Danica was Bryce’s person, there isn’t a doubt about it, and to see her death continuing to affect Bryce is very believable. The death of a loved one doesn’t just disapear after awhile, it stays but only becomes a easier to manage. And that is shown throughout the book.

Hunt

The white tank top scene, or the wife-beater scene, did it in for me. Definitely not interested in him anymore. On top of that, Hunt really isn’t that spectacular, or at least from what we’re shown. There’s all this talk about his powers and how grandiose he is, but we never see it. It’s kind of disappointing honestly.

I did, however, enjoy seeing his softer side. That troupe is one of my favorites: the bad boy turns soft around friends and those he cares about. It brought Hunt to life and made him more believable.

Side Characters

Danica was probably my favorite character, and she was only alive in the book briefly. But the girl had so much to hide and so little time. How did she accomplish all that she did without Bryce knowing?

Lehabah is such a sweetheart and I hate she didn’t make it. She deserved to be free and happy.

The rest of the characters, truthfully, are quite forgetful. I don’t really remember what everyone else did or how they contributed to the book in a meaningful way.

Writing

Gods the info dumping in just Chapter 1 was almost enough to do me in. Like many others, I was so confused and overwhelmed that my brain simply couldn’t process what it was reading and what was significant.

This cleared up after Chapter 5, roughly. But I still noticed some weird exposition thrown in and editing issues. Like on page 298, this was the dialogue tags: “he said, ‘insert dialog’ he said.” Come on editors, this should have been easy to pick up on!

Besides those 2 things, the writing was much more mature than the rest of Maas’s works, with the use of vulgar language, sex talk, and drugs. I enjoyed this change compared to her other works (ACOTAR is still my favorite though).

Final Thoughts

Overall, House of Earth and Blood: Crescent City was entertaining and got me interested in murder mysteries. However, the plots are a bit confusing and some characters are insufferable, but it all felt believable. So for Maas’s first dive into epic fantasy, not bad!

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Facebook Page | Goodreads TBR | Spicy Rating Scale | Sarah J Maas’s Website

Recommend a Book for Me to Review

Heart of the Raven Prince by Tessonja Odette Book Review

Ratings

Content Warnings: Mention of murder, manipulation, emotional and verbal abuse, slight smut

Introduction

An imaginative, fantasy, and fae-fueled retelling of Cinderella that will have you swooning. Tessonja Odette’s Heart of the Raven Prince is magical and full of twists and turns. While it follows the premise of Cinderella closely, this story also has its own history, its own characters, and its own voice.

Hearth of the Raven is a refreshing and whimsical read.

Side note: Odette designed, not only the cover of this book but the map and illustrations of the couples found within!

Pros

Realistic characters and character arcs
Enticing world-building
Solid story, both main and subplots
Subtleties that come back later

Cons

Somewhat of an odd layout for the courts (but that’s a minute detail😅)

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

As I mentioned in the Introduction, Heart of the Raven Prince follows the main premise of Cinderella. A cruel stepmother and 2 stepsisters treat Cinderella (Ember) like their maid. All the while they try to climb the societal hierarchy. In their endeavors, they unintentionally create the perfect environment for our main character to meet Prince Charming and fall in love.

The difference? Magical bargains, impersonations, glamours, a large inheritance, and an arranged marriage. Oh, and not to mention a mysterious pink-haired princess that runs away at the beginning of the book.

The story does an awesome job of setting up the story within the first few chapters. We get a sense of who the characters are, what’s at stake, and even foreshadowing key events later in the novel.

I don’t have a quip about any elements of this book’s plot. We had a strong main plot with well-woven subplots that pushed the story and characters along. It was an equal mix of character and story-driven, which can sometimes be hard to accomplish.

I love the complexities of Ember’s story with her stepfamily and Franco’s relationship with his sister, and how they connected to make a tense peak and ending. I can’t praise that enough as sometimes in other books the various plots fall flat or don’t make sense.

Characters

Ember

The poor girl has been through so much in her short 19 years of life. But she didn’t let it get her down. She kept her bold personality and wits about her. She had plans for the future and ways to achieve those plans.

At the beginning, I truly was wondering how we would get the Cinderella feel, but that was soon kicked off by Maisie’s bargain (side note: I love the name Maisie! So cute!). Ember handled the entire situation well, given it was kind of the only choice she had. But she played the part and did what needed to be done in order to escape, or attempt to escape.

I admire Ember’s ambition and passion. She still had a heart even though she’s been through hell. She didn’t let her stepfamily stop her from seeing injustice in the world and caring for those who needed compassion. Ember really was the perfect match for Franco.

Franco

Not going to lie, I kept imagining Howl, from Howl’s Moving Castle when it came to Franco.

Anyways! Franco was a very interesting love interest, as in he differed a lot from male love interests in the usual fantasy settings. Yes, he was charming and sarcastic, but he was an introvert, shy, and lacking confidence. It was nice to see that side of him come out around Ember. When he didn’t have to hide or put on a brave face. It was refreshing, honestly.

His character is one I wish to see more of in romance books. I love me a good sassy shy guy who hides behind a persona. Men don’t have to be brave and courageous throughout, and Odette does a wonderful job at portraying that with Franco.

Side Characters

While the main characters are strong, so are the side characters. They hold true to their character throughout and create a sense of urgency. Especially Mrs. Coleman.

That woman never stopped scheming. She always tried to stick her hand into everything she could just to get a leg up or simply money. She was consistently a horrible character, even during the brief backstory she shared with Ember at the end. And honestly, before she bastardized a child (Ember), I felt bad for her. She had a rough go at the beginning, but it gave her no right to kill her husbands later and play victim while allowing her step daughter to take on the emense guilt of “killing” her father.

And because of her actions, her daughters followed suite. Well, at least Imogen. Clara showed promise, just as Ember was seeing. She didn’t want to always follow her mother and sister’s plans, but she did because she felt like she had no choice. Once she was on her own, it seemed like she thrived and became a better person. While I wish the same happened for Imogen, it was nice to see the contrast between the sisters, and how it showcased just how a rough and terrible parent can negatively influence a child’s life.

For Nyxia and Brother Marus, we didn’t see much change in them, but we got a sense of their character during the brief times we saw them. Nyxia is a strong and loyal queen and sister, who wants nothing but the best for her brother and mate. While Brother Marus was a power-hungry church official who still held onto the zealot’s beliefs before him, whether he admitted it or not.

All of these side characters, come together to create a complex and realistic environment for our 2 main characters to navigate in.

Writing

Odette’s writing is very concise and to the point while maintaining the subtleties and nuances of a strong story. She didn’t get lost in inner monologs or info dump world building onto the readers. Instead, she wove the world into her story and placed monologs precisely where they needed to be, without over doing it (I’m looking at you Poppy).

Throughout the story, her writing maintained its tone and atmosphere of whimsy and magic, with an air that the rouse could all be undone too soon.

Additionally, her character writing is superb. Not once did I question the motives or actions of the characters. Nothing was out of the blue or jarring to the point it made me question what was going on. This is a huge pet peeve of mine, so to read a book that fits the ages of the characters, within their own context, was a breath of fresh air, and one I appreciate greatly.

Final Thoughts

Heart of the Raven Prince is a book I couldn’t put down. I think I finished it in 2 days. I was so enthralled with the characters and story that I caught myself constantly thinking about it during the day. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something familiar, yet new.

Odette is the type of author I aspire to be. Her story is cohesive with no plotholes, her character-building is thorough, and her world-building is awe-inspiring. There’s so much to unveil in her world of Faerwyvae that I can’t wait to read more of her books!

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Facebook Page | Goodreads TBR | Spicy Rating Scale | Tessonja Odette’s Website

Recommend a Book for Me to Review

2023 Recap + 2024 Goal

Hello lovelies!

This is quite a few weeks behind, but better late than never!

2023 was not an easy year. A lot happened in my personal life that really bogged down my passion for reading and writing. I read when I could and had the energy to do so.

My stats will be down from 2022, but nevertheless, let’s take a look!

Books Read: 26

Pages Read: 7,879
Average Star Rating: 3.17
Average Spicy Rating: 2
Series Completed: 2
Series in Progress: 0
DNF Books: 5 (oof)

Favorite Author: Carissa Broadbent
Least Favorite Author: H.D. Calton
Favorite Books: The Daughter of No Worlds, The Book of Azrael, & Throne in the Dark
Least Favorite Book: Hooked & the Haunting Adeline

I reached about half of my goal for 2023– 23 books out of 50. Man, I had high hopes. But that’s okay! I’m going to lower my goal for 2024 to 15. I should be able to achieve that. However! I’m expecting in May! So who knows what life will throw at me after the lil bean is here.

Most of my books in 2023 were standalone or part of an anthology. The 2 series I did complete, though, were my absolutely favorite books of the year. I fell in love with The Daughter of No Worlds and Throne in the Dark. While each were vastly different from each other, they struck a cord in me that resonated. I cried and cheered and grieved my way through those books. They made me feel alive. And for that, I appreciate them. They made my 2023 reading year that much better.

Additionally, The Book of Azrael was a top favorite and the second book just came out a couple weeks ago. But I’m scared to pick it up because it will destroy me. The ending of the first one has my heart clenched before I even pick up the second! Nonetheless, it’s on my TBR for 2024.

Outside of those books, most of my reads were a dud. I either mildly enjoyed them, was mildly infuriated with them, or straight up didn’t finish reading them. There wasn’t much pleasure and enjoyment in between the main 3. But those were also were small reads and not that deep, character/plot wise.

Maybe this is a hint I should read books like Throne of Glass and really throw my heart into turmoil! Maybe that’ll do it. But we’ll see!

TLDR: 2023 was a dud. 🫠

If you have any recommendations, please fill out this form or comment on this post!

Cheers to a better and brighter 2024! 🥳

Red

What were your reading goals in 2023? Did you reach them? What about your favorite/least favorite book(s)? Did you learn anything new about yourself through reading?

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The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent Review

Ratings

Content Warnings: Blood, Gore, Graphic Violence, Smut, Language, Self-Harm, Emotional, Sexual, and Physical Abuse, Flashback Rape, Slavery, Prejudice, Racism

Introduction

Take The Hunger Games and make it vampires with more gore.

At least for half the premise of the book. The other half is filled with turbulent familial relationships, rebellion, and hidden motives.

Pros

Refreshing premise on vampire lore
Strong, well-rounded characters
Plot twists

Cons

Odd, fragmented sentences
Vague descriptions
Confusing terminology

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

The plot is simple and straightforward. Maybe not at first glance, but looking back everything is set up to follow the structure of the Kejari. I enjoyed the plot and the rollercoaster it took me on. The action and romance were perfectly balanced and kept the book moving.

I truly have no complaints about the storyline. It was strong and I enjoyed myself.

But gods the final fight between Riahn and Oraya was heartbreaking!

But since I knew how The Daughter of No Worlds trilogy ended, I held out hope that Raihn would come back. I knew it wasn’t over for him. Did I cry during the fight? Yes. Did I cry when Oraya stabbed him? Yes. Did I cry when Oraya wished for Raihn to win? You betcha! I was so invested in them, but it unfortunately didn’t last long.

By the time the book ended, I was so torn and devastated. Such a beautiful way to end a book.

Characters

As always, Carissa Broadbent’s characters are strong and well-rounded. There’s depth and story to even the most minor of characters. To me, this really brings the story to life. It shows the stakes at hand and how desperate some of its contestants are.

I love the dynamic between Raihn, Oraya, and Mische. They’re such a kickass and comforting group. I was rooting for all of them the entire time, though I knew someone was going to die.

And then Raihn’s brutal plot twist of killing Vincent and Oraya’s wildly conflicting emotions made everything so devastatingly beautiful. Raihn’s character change was not one I expected, however, I did see coming that he was the prince of the Rishan. But his motives were never really clear, which made for a huge impact at the end.

Where will Raihn and Oraya end up? Will Mische be there too? Gods I want to know.

Writing

While I enjoyed the book itself, my main quarrel was with the writing. I went from Broadbent’s masterpiece of Daughter of No Worlds with exquisite writing, plot points, and world-building, to too-close-sounding names and terms, confusing race distinctions, odd, fragmented sentences, and vague descriptions.

There were times when I had to stop and reread because I didn’t understand what was happening or was confused about what side a character belonged to. The world-building is there, but at the same time, it just wasn’t incorporated enough. It was too easy to get lost.

And that truly tore me out of the story. I was so used to her writing from her previous trilogy that when I read the weird sentences and vague scenes, I was reeling.

This is where the book lost points for me. It was too noticeable to not ignore.

Final Thoughts

I’m a bit disappointed in The Serpent and the Wings of Night (which I can’t even remember the name of!). It had so much potential but was blurred by awkward writing and editing. It just didn’t feel like a Carissa Broadbent book.

Maybe the second one will be better, but I won’t hold my breath.

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Eclipse of the Crown by A.K. Caggiano Book Review

Ratings

Content Warnings: Violence, Gore, Self-Harm, Language, Smut, Abuse

Introduction

This spectacular series about a silly romance has finally come to a dramatic end. The twists and turns, the romance, the prose, all of it was amazing (well for the most part).

Eclipse of the Crown is definitely weaker all around than the previous 2. Between the pacing and whiplash events, the book drug your around until the characters somehow ended up in the right spot.

Regardless, the ending was still heartbreaking and wonderful.

Pros

A map!
The ending!
The oracle
Meta references

Cons

Chapters 11-15
Pacing throughout

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

The plot of the final book was a bit convoluted. There was so much back and forth between each plot point that I grew tired of repeatedly reading the same thing.

Besides this, I enjoyed the build-up and plot twists. I think all the plot lines were summed up nicely with creative solutions.

And honestly, that’s all I have to say about the plot. I couldn’t identify any loose ends or odd plot holes. Everything was covered and explained quite well. It was a pleasure to read and experience all of the hard work and turmoil from the previous 2 books end happily.

Characters

Amma

By the end of the book, Amma was confident with her eyes open to new ideas. She stopped seeing things so black and white and instead found the gray middle ground of it all, especially in what/who is good and evil.

Amma stopped caring about what others wanted for her and their expectations and followed her own wants and desires. She was much happier in the end too. And the fact she decided to go back to Damien, despite giving up the easy out of saving the realm was admirable. I would have done the same. What’s an existence without the one(s) you love?

But I can’t help but wonder how her parents took her decision to be with Damien and how they will rule said lands.

Damien

Damien did a complete 180. He did actually become good and started being more thoughtful and considerate. Him learning that he can in fact love was such a powerful thing. I loved it.

Side Characters

Xander

I’m glad Xander chose Amma and Damien. He’s still a little shit, but he’s decent enough. His plotting and general magical abilities are amazing. He’s quite impressive. I’d love to read more about him and his adventures. Just to see what he gets into.

Writing

There are 2 things I want to talk about when it comes to the writing of this book.

Pacing
Chapters 11-15

Pacing

The pacing of this book was a bit off compared to the previous 2. We lingered on certain sections for an odd amount of time while zooming through others. I’ll cover the former in the next point. So, let’s talk about the latter.

I want to use the example of Amma getting Damien back after he was abducted by Delphine. That lead up, planning, and fight should have lasted much longer than the hand full of pages it took. I was expecting a day or so delay or some type of delay really. I was also expecting for Damien to be in Delphine’s hands much longer than what was shown.

It would have been the perfect time to really show how Delphine treated Damien, to really build up the character before bringing her down, similarly to how Amma killed Cedric.

But ultimately, the book jumped from one thing to the next at an odd pace. And on top of that it was a lot of back and forth. Quite draining actually.

Chapters 11-15

Now, onto the part I hated about this book. Chapters 11-15. Initially, I thought it was cute that the little example the oracle used for Amma came true. It was a nice touch. But for A.K. Caggiano to then take the next 5 chapters to discuss the ins and outs of this “prophecy” was wasteful.

We, as readers, literally gained nothing from the experience. And neither did Amma or Damien. It takes a lot for me to skip through sections of a book, but I did during this. Those chapters could have been used to delve into Delphine’s abduction of Damien or even Yvlon. Neither of those portions got enough page time like they should have.

Because of these 2 things, I deducted a star. These portions significantly weakened the story, in my opinion.

However, the book was meta in certain places and I absolutely adored it! Especially when the oracle said Damien would find the question to his answer in the epilogue; and when A.K. threw out the book knew the pacing was off.

Final Thoughts

Although I wish some sections were stronger than others, I did enjoy this book. It’s honestly a new favorite of mine, coming in second behind Daughter of No Worlds. But I’m sad it’s over. This is a book I wish I could read again for the first time.

I highly, highly recommend this series and its silly little romance.

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Summoned to the Wilds by A.K. Caggiano Book Review

Ratings

Content Warnings: Death, Violence, Gore, Blood, Abuse, Sexual Assault, Self-Harm

Introduction

Amma becomes stronger and taps into her dark side while Damien becomes softer and gives accepts his goodness.

Summoned to the Wilds picks up right after the first book. After the reveal of Damien’s true end goal in book 1, Amma’s inter turmoil with her feelings towards Damien presides. The same can be said for Damien as well. Does he continue on his path to follow his destiny or does he just go home?

And honestly, we still don’t fully know the answer by the end.

Pros

The dedication page
Character growth
World building
Plot twists
Picks up right after the first book

Cons

No map
Interrupted romance 😤

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

When I initially started this series, I actually didn’t know it was a trilogy. So to watch the story evolve from book 1 to book 2 in terms of ambitions and end goals, along with more information on E’nloc is thrilling.

This book mainly revolves around character development and the relationship between Amma and Damien (although they’re still fighting their emotions!). And I’m okay with that because I know it’ll count in the final book.

To which I have predictions:

Amma will be killed and the talisman retrieved, though Damien will use the resurrection spell. Or Damien will be killed because he’s E’nloc’s host and Amma will use the spell.
Zagadoth and Birzuma will be released only to fight away E’nloc.
Damien or Xander will become the host for E’nloc.

Xander is still a wild card. But I’m confident the story will end somewhere along the lines above.

Characters

Amma

Amma fights back hard in this book. While Damien becomes softer, she becomes stronger and tougher. She gains her own powers and a confidence in herself that rivals her character in Throne in the Dark.

It’s thrilling to see her kick ass, use weapons, and kill her abuser all the while still being a generally happy and good character.

Damien

Watching Damien struggle internally with his emotions towards Amma and his initial goals/duties is wonderfully portrayed. We see him turn from this cruel, evil being to someone who is thoughtful and is able to create relationships, though their rudimentary at the moment.

Anytime a grumpy character is enlightened/changed by the sunshine character my heart just melts. It’s one of my favorite tropes and Damien fills the role well.

Side Characters

Xander

I knew this son of a bitch would come back. And I have such mixed feelings about him. On one hand I’m hoping he’ll side with Damien in some odd, evil way, but at the same time he would make a wonderful antagonist. Especially showing the contrast from where Damien started to where he is/going.

Writing

Truly, there’s not much difference in terms of writing between Throne in the Dark and this one. The humor is spot on, the romance is brilliant, and the world-building is so magically.

We actually get to see more of the world in Summoned to the Wilds. From the witch forest to the fae realms, it’s all intriguing to see how the realms operate, their ideologies, and beliefs. This book really shows that there’s more to the world than just angels, demons, and humans.

I hope to see more of these creatures in the up coming book as well. I’m curious to see how the land further operates.

Final Thoughts

Much like most second installments in a trilogy, Summoned to the Wilds provides pivotal and essential information that sets up the final book. However, the slow burn is sooooo slow. Which, I just found that A.K. Caggiano describes it as a “slow burn at a glacial pace,” and boy that’s the damn truth.

Regardless, this was a ride and I can’t wait to read the third book!

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Throne in the Dark by A.K. Caggiano Book Review

Ratings

Content Warnings: Blood, Gore, Violence, Self-Harm, Abuse

Introduction

I cannot describe how much I loved and enjoyed this book. It was comical, mystical, and hit all my marks for a good fantasy romance. 🌹

I adore Damien and Amma and I can’t wait to read the next book!

Pros

Cute romance
Great plot line
Humor throughout

Cons

No map
A bit stereotypical (but lovely)

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

I love the plot. The entire premise and end goal is quite interesting. I love the strong pull between light and dark, especially when we see how each being is treated depending on what their species is associated with.

I also like how the plot mainly focuses on Damien’s goal with hints towards Amma’s end goal. It was subtle, and when they arrived at Faeborrow, it blew up! Her reasoning and drive for the Scroll of the Undead Army is heart wrenching. I hope the army helped, but I have. a feeling we’ll be seeing Cedric again.

Characters

Amma

Amma is fascinating. She’s pretty straightforward throughout the book in terms of growth and personality. However, it’s towards the end that we get to see more of who she really is. I love the sneakier, darker side she has. It really balances out Damien’s character well.

I also wonder if she has always seen infernal arcane as just lux arcane and that’s why her parents/others view her as they do. She doesn’t fit their mold of “normal.” I’m interested to see how her beliefs in all of this play out in the next book.

Damien

I love me a morally gray character. Especially one that starts to question themselves and begins to open up to other ideas. He started out as such a cruel and indifferent person, but truly began to open up and enjoy himself.

I love seeing the internal struggle between what a half-demon should be and shouldn’t be. It makes his character and decisions that much more enjoyable, as we don’t know what he’ll do.

Writing

The humor in this book is fantastic. I laughed and grinned so much throughout. It really makes the reading experience so much more enjoyable and relatable. It’s also refreshing to read characters who aren’t serious all the time.

The world-building is also great. Though there was quite a bit of info dumping at the beginning. But it was so worth it to know that Dave, the neighbor who cuts his grass at dawn, is considered top tier on the evil list along side brutal, bloodthirsty demons.

Final Thoughts

I cannot express how much I love this book. I was so giddy and happy while reading that I couldn’t stop thinking about it during the day! I am stoked to read the next book. And if you find that I rushed through this review a bit, it’s because I’m itching to start the second, but can’t until this review is done. 🫠

Anyways, go and buy this book! Especially if you adore the grumpy/sunshine trope!

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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