Children of the Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Violence, Blood/Gore, Dismemberment, War Trauma, Mental Illness, Strong Language, Sexual Content, Abuse (physical) 

Introduction

Children of the Fallen Gods picks up right where we left off in Daughter of No Worlds. We follow Max and Tissanah with the help of Reshaye as they navigate the ever-growing war that plagues Ara and Threll. However, there is a new threat on the horizon. One that is far beyond what they are capable of.

We also get a new perspective: Aefe. Her story takes place centuries in the past but attempts to uncover the threat that looms over humanity, unbeknownst to them. How will Aefe’s story end and how does her past affect the present?

When these three perspectives converge anything that could go wrong, does go wrong.

Pros

  • Picks up right after the first book
  • Parallels between the POVs
  • Background & world-building
  • Aefe & Caduan
  • Morally gray characters & decisions

Cons

  • No map
  • Slow start

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

Aefe’s Timeline

Before starting off this review, I will say I am more invested in Aefe’s plot line. I love the tragedy, the mystery, and the romance it brought. I couldn’t wait to read her sections and learn more about the danger that, I knew, translated into what we were seeing in the current timeline. I just didn’t expect the brutality of it all. 

Gods, the visceral horror of what Aefe’s chapters revealed had dread, anger, and grief pooling in my stomach as I read. The genocide that occurred and what happened to Aefe is too horrific to put into words.

(The humans turning Aefe into Reshaye reminded me of “Good Hunting” in the anthology series Love Death + Robots. If you’re familiar with the episode, then you’ll understand the parallels.)

But before Aefe was shredded and tortured, Caduan’s death had me crying over my kindle at 2 am. I was not expecting the twist that occurred in Niraja, nor Cadman’s and the rest of the groups’ death. (Well, obviously not Caduan’s.)

Tissanah & Max’s Timeline

The story picks up right after the first book, Daughter of No Worlds, ends. Literally. The group is about to dock in Ara when they learn of Zeryth’s murder of Sersi.

To be honest, I am a bit lost on Zeryth’s reasoning for war and conquest. I can’t get behind his thought process and it also feels like it wasn’t explained or explored enough. This is what makes the first half of the book drag by for me. 

It was battle after battle and a straight plot-driven narrative that I kind of lost interest in for a while (hence why it took so long to finish). However, all of it was necessary to set up the relationships, the betrayal, the right characters, and the themes. 

So, I get it. I just wish it had a bit more Tissanah and Max time, would have definitely appreciated more spice.

But then, we get to the aftermath of Zeryth’s war and shit just hits the fucking fan. From there on, it is non-stop action. It almost goes a bit too quickly, but then again that could be the point. Time felt warped, even for me. Everything was happening too fast to comprehend and the characters seemed to relate.

However, I would have loved to see more time spent on key events like Tissanah’s death and kidnapping. Those are huge events for a main character that is kind of glossed over. 

The Ending

The ending of Children of the Fallen Gods is a masterpiece. The intricacy, subtle foreshadowing, and overall emotion drive the harshness and despair of the outcome home. After reading Nura’s chapter, I don’t think I breathed until it was over. 

So many answers, so many connections, and so many twists. It was beautiful and gut-wrenching. 

Everything is truly Nura and Ishqa’s fault. Their actions directly lead to the horrific events that Tissanah and Max, and the Fey, had to endure. 

And honestly, I don’t blame Caduan for his rage and desperate search for Aefe. If my partner was ripped away from me in such a gruesome and sickening way, I would destroy the world to get him back. So, I’m still kind of on Cadaun’s side here. 

Plot Thoughts

  • What is Max and Tissanah’s end goal with the Fey invasion when they went for the Arch Commandant title besides preventing Nura’s destruction? 
  • What kind of magic was Zeryth using and how was he using it? Where did he learn about it?
  • Why is Aefe’s mother sick? Is it because she is depressed from being kidnapped?
  • Will Max and Tissanah free Ishqa’s son as a form of truce/allegiance?
  • Nura is despicable, but how would I react in the same situation? What would you do in her place?

Characters

Tissanah

In Daughter of No Worlds, we see Tissanah’s brute force and drive. While that same force is still present in Children of the Fallen Gods, we see a more vulnerable side of her.

Her breakdown after losing Reshaye is such a powerful moment. She’s powerless to protect her people and it affects her deeply. 

All she’s allowed anyone to see is a strong and powerful being, capable of saving lives and ruining those against her. But in those dark moments, we see the pressure of the refugee’s expectations and survivor’s guilt break her down until she has no direction or plan.

The refugees needed to see both sides of her to know she means her promises, but to show that she is trying her damnedest to live up to them.

Max

I love seeing Max come out of his shell and hope and dream again. His passion for creating a new world is invigorated again solely by Tissanah. We can see this by:

  • His drive to minimize deaths when leading Zeryth’s army;
  • Instead of running away with Tissanah, he decides to lead his men and fight to be Arch Commandant;
  • Revealing and utilizing his second form gifted by Reshaye.

Max is no longer the hermit that hates the world but sees the beauty and humanity in the innocent lives that the Orders and those in power seek to exploit. I admire his character development, as it’s subtle but very powerful. 

With how this book ended, I’m curious to see what kind of development we’ll see in him next. 

Aefe/Reshaye

Aefe deserves so much better than what she got. She deserves to be loved and feel safe. She deserves to be with Caduan without all the trauma she has endured. 

After learning of her past, her anger and destructive tendencies make sense. I just wish someone tried to learn about her as Reshaye instead of shutting her out and using her. Tissanah was close to doing this, so I wonder how that will impact their relationship later on.

I’m also curious to see how Aefe/Reshaye handles being in her own body; one apparently that looks just like her. (Still wondering how Caduan did that.) I’m so invested in Aefe alone that I can’t wait to pick up the final book.

Side Characters

Nura

Nura, Nura, Nura. Oh, how I thought she was redeemable, but after learning of her actions in pursuit of saving Ara, there’s no coming back.

I already wasn’t a fan of her in the first book, but now? She’s on my shit list with Ishqa. Everything that happened after what Ishqa did is her fault. She led Ara to the front lines of war, over and over again. 

Because she had this twisted sense of what protecting her country meant? Because she loved her people and Max so much that she destroyed all of them? How did it get to this? What led to this twisted righteousness Nura has? 

Zeryth

As big of a threat as he posed in the first book, Zeryth wasn’t really that big of a villain in this one. He was unhinged and stuck to the background more often than not. The only real threat he posed was that his life was connected to Tissanah’s and no one could kill him. 

But even when he did die, his death wasn’t satisfying. It felt incomplete, like an afterthought. I wanted more of a boss fight or more drama than what we got. It was all so feeble compared to the rest of the events.

Ishqa

Ishqa, that son of a bitch. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. He utterly betrayed his fellow Fey and gave up Aefe to be tormented and turned into some kind of weapon. But now he feels guilty because his son was taken and Caduan wants revenge on humanity for what they did to Aefe?

Shallow. Inconsiderate. And, not to mention, he used the same line on Max and Tissanah that he did on Aefe before turning her over to the humans: “I would not save you just to kill you.“

If it wasn’t for him and his actions, none of this would have happened. That’s why I hope he gets what’s coming for him in the next book. 

Caduan

I adore Caduan. His disregard for noble/royal formalities and the way he goes against the grain instead is admirable. He deserved better than the path he was given. However, I have mixed feelings about his pursuit to decimate humanity. 

I completely understand, though, because as I said before I’d probably do the same thing if it was my partner. Especially if they went through what Aefe did and was continuously being used. 

Regardless, I’m interested to see his character more in the next book; to see what he does, how he thinks now, and his relationship with Aefe. 

Writing

As in the first book, the writing in Children of the Fallen Gods is magical, for lack of a better term. The life Broadbent breathes into these characters and the descriptions of such a fantastical world are beautifully done. They take my breath away, honestly.

The way Broadbent left readers crumbs of what was to come in the series in the first book tells me everything I need to know about her: she’s detailed and has a plan for the entire series. And it shows. The subtlety of foreshadowing and the twists she introduced literally blew my mind. Broadbent spins twists so hard and precise that I get whiplash. 

The Parallels

Along with her masterful plot twists and *chef’s kiss* foreshadowing, Broadbent does a fantastic way of linking the past to the present. The parallels between the chapters, from the magic-sensitive butterflies to Meriata & Yithara, are so fun to see. 

These parallels really solidify the timelines and feel like they actually mean something, like there is a grander story to be told. At first, the chapters were so different that I didn’t understand how they connected. But as I continued reading, the closer the two timelines became until they eventually merged. 

It was beautiful to read that convergence. All of that work and storytelling were worth it at that moment.

Themes

Similar to Daughter of No Worlds, the themes of war, PTSD, and survivor’s guilt were strong in the second book. 

I bring this up again because I simply love how Broadbent creates such believable and intense descriptions of what these characters go through, and how she tells another perspective on topics like slavery.

Broadbent then dives deeper and talks about the fine line between morality and duty, especially in Nura. Her duty drives her to protect her country at all costs, and those costs are steep and extremely inhumane. At what point does morality enter immoral when it comes to protecting what you love?

I also want to point out the various ways of enslavement Broadbent discusses. There’s the traditional, for lack of a better term, of slavery, then there are those who sign away their rights. That is enslavement, too. Throughout, no one is without a leash. There is someone always controlling someone else, regardless of if they willingly gave their lives or not. 

These themes bring the story to life and showcase the harsh realities that each character or group of characters faces.

Final Thoughts

I only gave this book 4.5 stars because the beginning was slow and the disappointing end to Zeryth. Otherwise, the book deserves 5 stars. It’s absolutely amazing and I love the high stakes of it all. As a reader, I truly felt the hopelessness, powerlessness, and despair of the character’s situation at the end, and throughout really. 

Children of the Fallen Gods is a strong sequel that supports the high fantasy and dynamics of the first book. It lives up to the title and doesn’t disappoint, which is impressive for a sequel! 

Since the book ends in such disarray, I have some hopes/predictions for the final book:

  • Caduan will be an ally with the help of Aefe to take Nura down.
  • Or Aefe turns on Caduan to help Tissanah and Max take down both Nura and Cauden
  • Nura will be killed off.
  • But my real hope is that both couples will end up together, alive and peaceful. 

Don’t hold me to any of this, as Broadbent has a way of introducing surprising twists. But hopefully, the book follows some semblance of what I have above.

Now, on to the Mother of Death & Dawn!

Previous:

Book #1: Daughter of No Worlds

Next:

Book #3: Mother of Death & Dawn – TBR

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  |  Carissa Broadbent’s Website

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Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Violence, Blood, Gore, Abuse (physical), Death, Sexual Content, Strong Language

Introduction

Tissanah is a young woman whose life is rooted in slavery and death. When she finally earns enough coin to buy her freedom, the negotiations don’t go according to plan which leads her to flee Threll and travel to Ara. 

There, she attempts to join the Orders and is placed as an apprentice to a war hero recluse, Max. In order for Tissanah to help her people in Threll, she needs the Orders. Will she pass her evaluations with the help of Max? And how does she plan to convince the Orders to help her cause? What price will Tissanah have to pay to aid those she loves?

Daughter of No Worlds rivals my favorite series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, for the #1 spot. This book is absolutely wonderful and captivating. I’m obsessed with the characters and romance of this book, along with its alluring plot. 

If you enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses or From Blood and Ash, read this book!

Pros

  • Soft & tender romance (slow burn)
  • Strong characters
  • Solid world-building
  • Compelling story
  • Strangers to friends to lovers trope
  • “Touch her and I’ll end you” trope

Cons

  • No map

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

As I was reading on my Kindle, I thought I was nearing the end of the book when Tissanah went to have her Orders evaluation done, but that happened at less than the 50% mark! I couldn’t believe the direction this book took. But I love the Venom-esk aspect. 

The book could have easily ended after the first part, but I’m so happy it didn’t. The second part was even better and so much more of what we read in part 1 makes sense. Like why Max doesn’t want Tissanah to meet with Zeryth and why he couldn’t say anything. 

Then, we almost see Max die at the end just to save Tissanah! I was so ready to close the book and never pick it up again if he was gone. I wouldn’t accept it and I would have been so pissed because his death would have ruined everything that was built up.

But luckily, that wasn’t the case and he survived! And now I’m intrigued about this fire snake ability of his. Will Tissanah get something similar? Maybe his ability to control and use this ability will build his confidence and help Max heal. 

Through it all, though, the slow burn of Tissanah’s and Max’s romance is beautiful. There are lots of vulnerable and tender moments that really connected the characters and then to the reader. They are perfect for each other and I can’t wait to see them strengthen and grow.

Plot Thoughts

  • What do the Orders, specifically Zeryth, want with Max?
  • Is the war raging in Ara caused by Zeryth in an attempt to claim the throne?
  • Are there others like Reshaye that we’ll find later? 
  • Will someone else have a being like Rashaye?
  • What role, if any, will Serel play in the series?

Characters

Tissanah

Tissanah is badass, to say the least. Her perseverance and drive are admirable, and the fact that she still has a caring heart after all the trauma she has been through is amazing. 

I love her quirky and stubborn character. Her “brute force” tactics are entertaining, but impressive when they pay off. However, we don’t really see much character development in her. She keeps her same determination and stubbornness throughout the entire book. She maybe uses a little less brute force with things toward the end, but that’s about it.

I’m not mad about this, but I am hoping we will see some development in the next book. 

Regardless, I adore Tissanah and her noble mission. But I wish she would take time to herself or let herself heal after difficult situations. I understand why she doesn’t, but I wish she would for the sake of her sanity. 

Max

Whenever reading about Max I thought of two people: Zuko from Avatar the Last Airbender and Takeshi Kovacs from Altered Carbon. He may not have long hair like these two, but I imagine he does. 

Anyway! I love Max’s character development. He went from a recluse hating the world to actually being open to it again, with some hesitancy of course. Sometimes all it takes is one person to show you that the world isn’t that bad. 

Then there is his demeanor and sarcastic personality, which I fucking love. It makes him more endearing and relatable, and sometimes the comic relief. Like, “I’m not made for this,” is gold. He says it all the time and the one time he said the opposite melted my heart. 

I thoroughly enjoy Max and can’t wait to see more of his witty comebacks.

Side Characters

Sammerin

I enjoy Sammerin. He’s a stoic and supportive character that just has a calming feeling when he enters the scene. We don’t see too much of him in this book, but I hope to see more of him in the next one. 

Nura

I have mixed feelings about Nura. I think she is secretly an ally to Max, but is somehow wrapped up in what Zeryth is doing and can’t get out. I’m hoping we’ll see some character development from her, in terms of caring for the group instead of whatever the Orders’s mission is. 

Zeryth

In the beginning, I thought Zeryth would be a friend. However, now I’m predicting that he is the main villain and will use Tissanah to do things she doesn’t want to, like attack the people of Ara. 

Outside of this prediction, Zeryth is a dick. The fact that he sends the group to Ahzeen’s home knowing damn well the man doesn’t like him nor the orders speak volumes of his character. I hope Zeryth gets taken down hard at the end of this series. 

Reshaye

I know Reshaye is made out to be the villain in multiple ways, but I believe that it is good. It experienced some trauma in its past that made it so emotionally volatile and I can’t wait to find out what that is. 

Reshaye seems to only want love and acceptance from its host and that’s just what Tissanah gave it. I also think it wants Max to apologize to it for abandoning it and make some type of amends. Otherwise, Tissanah’s and Max’s relationship will get really complicated really fast. 

Writing

Broadbent does a stellar job when writing every piece of this book that a movie played in my head. Her attention to detail, such as an echo of a smirk or the way someone’s eyes wrinkled in faint amusement, breaths life into the scenes. 

The only time I struggled to really understand what was happening is the march on Tairn when Tissanah and Max are trying to break into the tower to save the towns folk. I wasn’t sure what was happening with the fire, guiding it through the tower, and if they are actually in the room with Nura and what Tissanah saw. 

But besides that one scene, that I had to read multiple times, the rest of the book was amazing! 

Let’s get into other writing aspects Broadbent nailed. 

Handling of Trauma

Sometimes in books, authors attempt to describe trauma and how the characters handle it, but in those moments how the topic is handled is insensitive or just used as plot points and nothing more. Which is rough on those who have actually experienced similar situations.

However, Broadbent does an amazing job at handling the various traumas Max and Tissanah experience, how they cope, and how it dictates their actions. 

Here are two examples:

  • Max initially refuses to help Tissanah through her merging with Reshaye due to his past trauma with the being.
  • Tissanah hears echoes of past traumas, such as “Twenty-six” and “Crack!” over and over in certain situations, or “Look at me.” 

The characters in Daughter of No Worlds handle this trauma with care and understanding. This can be seen when we hear about what happened after Salzarai when Sammerin was the only person checking in on Max and tethering him to the world. Then again when Tissanah and Max listen to each other share their stories without any judgment or criticism. Only understanding and a shoulder to lean on. 

World Building

Ah, the intricate world-building in this book is *chef’s kiss*. From the magic system to the history to the diverse characters. It’s all fleshed out and we actually get to see how magic works— its limitations, the mental process, and how powerful magic can be. 

Even the history is fascinating. Sometimes characters unrealistically know too much about their history and how it has affected the world, but in Daughter of No Worlds we get to see it instead. As in how the Queen responds to potential traitors. 

Then there is the diversity. We have various languages, customs, and races. And it is all so intriguing! There are vast differences in attire and customs between Threll and Ara and it is fun to see how Tissanah handles it. 

Dialog

The dialogue in this book is fucking amazing. The wittiness and bad jokes make my day; and the conversations flow so naturally! 

Seeing Tissanah learn a new language and we get to see how she struggles with it via her sentence formations and loss of words is so accurate. This one aspect of the book truly made the whole story and character feel alive. 

I love seeing Tissanah struggle with Araian and how we sometimes get to see how she pronounces things, like “Maay-ucks” or “loo-vear.” It made her struggle real and brought us on her journey to learning fluent Araian. 

I cannot stress enough how much I loved the witty dialog and the process of learning a new language. Each character had their own tone and way of speaking which is simply brilliant. 

Final Thoughts

I cannot find the words to fully describe how much I love this book. I’m truly at a loss when attempting to describe how this book impacted me and the adventure it took me on. 

To say the least, it has definitely helped me through the last week of January. I needed this reprieve from life.

20/10 recommend this book.

Next:

Book #2: Children of Fallen Gods – TBR

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  |  Carissa Broadbent’s Website

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What Lies Beyond the Veil by Harper Woods Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Strong Language, Sexual Attraction to a Minor, Abuse (physical, verbal, and sexual), Violence, Blood, Death

Introduction

DNF @ 50%

Usually, I try to provide a brief synopsis of the book, something different from the one provided by the author. However, I can’t for this one because I have no idea what the plot is and I didn’t finish it.

What Lies Beyond the Veil deceived me. I was expecting something like Deal with the Elf King or A Court of Thorns and Roses, but that is so far from the truth. This book lacked romance, a plot, likable characters, and even decent dialog. 

Hell, I couldn’t even finish the book because it physically made me uncomfortable. 

Pros

  • A map!
  • Cool concept of reincarnation/number of lives

Cons

  • Cringy/creepy male interest
  • Flat characters
  • Horrible writing
  • Zero plot
  • Slow-moving and clunky action

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

Let me find a magnifying glass to look for this plot. The entire mistress set up for Lord Byron felt forced and didn’t make any sense. If he wanted Estrella to be his wife/mistress, he could have made her instead of giving up, after 10 years of planning, the moment she said no. That’s not how you create tension or a villain. It’s an excuse to write trauma in an insensitive way just for a character to have a dark background.

Then the entire first half of the book is just about traveling and falling for a stranger in a day. I’m not sure how long the traveling aspect lasts since I stopped at 50%, but I’ll say this: they were still traveling. 

No idea why they were heading to the southern mountains when the veil literally runs parallel to the island/content they are on. So they aren’t running away from the Fae if the veil is still beside them. 

If the plot continued to remain weak and disjointed with weird spicy scenes, then I’m A-OK with not finishing the book. I need to have a reason to keep reading and the characters nor the plot did it for me. 

Characters

Estrella

Estrella is literally all bark and no bite. She can say feisty and harsh words, but she just goes along with whatever her male companion says. Like when Brann hinted at knowing things about her, but he didn’t share. She just accepted it and went on as if nothing happened. 

She is a flat character and there’s nothing to her. We don’t know her interests besides Caelum, wanting to be free, and liking nighttime. She has zero personality and feels as if she is 14 instead of 20 years old. 

I think that is the part that throws me off the most, the fact that she is 20 years old. If she was 14, then her character would make more sense, but she’s not. She’s a grown woman and there’s no depth to her. 

It’s infuriating.

Caelum

Even though the Trigger/Content Warnings page at the beginning of the book sets Caelum up to be a healthy and gentle love interest, he is far from it.

This man is the creepiest and cringiest love interest I have ever read. He has zero sense of boundaries, he forces physical contact onto Estrella (kissing her forehead, holding her hand all the time, etc.), and uses unwarranted sexual language towards Estrella. Which only sexualizes her more. 

It is because of him that I had to stop reading. I couldn’t take the things he did or said. For example, “Caelum retorted with a chuckle, turning his body toward mine. He scooted forward, inching across the grass, dirt, and dead dried leaves beneath us.” I get literally chills when reading this because it’s so creepy!

He comes across as possessive and stalker-ish instead of dreamy and romantic. Nothing that Caelum does is due to the “kindness of his heart.” He has questionable intentions and all I can think of he is going to kill Estrella. He just met the woman, is unreasonably affectionate, and is already possessive of her, AND THEY JUST MET. 

Like, no ma’am. I don’t care if he is the fae Estrella is destined to be with. This is not okay. It’s unsettling and disturbing. 

Side Characters

The side characters added nothing to the story besides forcing exposition and foreshadowing. 

To start, Brann was useless. He did nothing but caused repetitive thoughts from Estrella wanting to leave him so she could “save” him. He was cryptic about Estrella’s future and events, and he just kept them running. He was so bland that when he died, I felt nothing.

Then there is Lord Byron. His reasoning for wanting Estrella was weak and nonsensical. He gave up his decade-long plan of marrying Estrella at the drop of a hat. The story literally would have been fine without his relationship with Estrella and his weird infatuation with a minor (she was 6 when he started his plan to marry her). 

Writing

The writing in this book is horrendous. There’s an overuse of descriptive words (the first chapter could be cut in half if it weren’t for the useless descriptions) and awkward sentence structures. 

For example, “Instead, he was as if carved from nightmares and crafted in sin.” Or, “You do not risk losing this using it on anyone else.”

What the fuck are these sentences? I had to stop and reread so many times before I could even grasp what Woods was trying to write. It might make sense when saying it aloud, but reading it doesn’t.

Then there are times when characters assume information they shouldn’t know. Here are some examples, Estrella knowing that her Fae is male or that the Huntsman moved Brann off of her to “get a good look at me and my injuries.” Like, ma’am, the Huntsman seemed like he wanted to kill you, not make sure you were okay. 

On top of this, action scenes were confusing and details were inconsistent, such as Estrella using her knife on Caelum in the barn and losing it, but then later having the knife again. 

I can handle some awkward sentences or minor inconsistencies, but when it happens on every page, I can’t. The book becomes a burden and annoying. 

Final Thoughts

In the end, What Lies Beyond the Veil was overhyped on booktok/bookstagram. It wasn’t worth my time, energy, or sanity.

It seemed like Woods lost the plot 1/4 of the way through, the characters were cringy and creepy, and the writing was annoyingly horrible. It simply enrages me at the carelessness this author took when writing/publishing her book. 

I, 100%, do not recommend this 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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Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Content Warnings: N/A

Introduction

After the events of Sorcery of Thorns, we once again follow Elisabeth and Nathaniel as they attempt to corral the unruly wards that prevent them from leaving the manor. The shrubs are alive, bizarre weather encompasses the house, and clothing has a heated vendetta to satisfy. Is it Nathaniel’s nightmares fueling the unrest, or is there more unrest in the home than they thought? 

Mysteries of Thorn Manor is a short and fun book. There is no real danger looming overhead to destroy the world this time around, as Elisabeth and Nathaniel adjust to life after the events in the previous book.

You can think of this little novella as a filler, of sorts.

Pros

  • A cozy, quick read
  • The banter

Cons

  • Rushed/unexplained actions

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

The plot of Mysteries of Thorn Manor is simple and straightforward: the house doesn’t like the informal courtship Elisabeth and Nathaniel are hosting. Or, more specifically, Silas is impatient and wanted them to be engaged already. 

While the duo doesn’t know all of this is Silas’s doing, they still embark on an adventure to solve the mystery around the manor, from fighting off out-of-date fashion to vines creeping into the home and hidden rooms. 

The story is quite silly, but fun and adorable enough to have you swooning at the 3 impossible tasks Nathaniel sets out to accomplish. 

It is only at the end of the book do we see a possible continuation of the series through demons attempting to kill Silas for his actions in the previous book. 

Characters

There isn’t really any character growth in this little book, as it only takes place over 10-11 days. However, it is nice to see Mercy partaking in the plot and adding a new dynamic to the original trio. 

All the characters are a joy to read, and it is great to see how life was going after book 1. Their banter and Nathaniel’s witty comments made the book fun. 

Writing

The writing for Mysteries of Thorn Manor is on par with its predecessor. The descriptions are whimsical and vivid, for the most part. There are some scenes, like Elisabeth running out the door to fight shrubs, that was off. Especially the announcement that they are engaged. Is it a rouse to get Felix off of Nathaniel’s back or did he actually pop the question off-screen?

Regardless, the overall experience of the book is great and the awkward transitions/scenes didn’t hinder it too much.

Final Thoughts

This is a short and sweet review as there wasn’t much to dive into. With that being said, I loved seeing what happened after Sorcery of Thorns. I have been thinking about this world and its characters ever since finishing the first book. So it was wonderful to dive back in and experience the whimsical and witty nature of Elisabeth and Nathaniel. 

I recommend this book if you’re itching for more Nathaniel and Elisabeth or just want a quick read between bigger books.

Previous:

Book 1: Sorcery of Thorns

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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Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Strong Language, Violence, Blood, Gore, Light Smut

Introduction

Dianna, who is bound in servitude to Kaden whom saved her sister’s life, is tasked with finding an ancient relic that will fulfill his biggest desire: ripping the realms open again. 

Meanwhile, Liam, who is a king thought to be long dead and forgotten and a savior to his followers, returns when one of his closest friends is killed. He now returns to the realm he never wanted to visit again and works with an enemy he thought was long gone. 

Together, these ancient enemies must put aside their differences and work together to save their world and all the realms in between.

Book of Azrael is one of the greatest books I’ve read. The tension and stakes are high, and the characters are so life-like, its as if this story is based on true events. 

If you liked A Daughter of Smoke and Bone, then you’ll also love this book!

Pros

  • A map!
  • Spotify playlist
  • Characters
  • World-building
  • Romance 

Cons

  • Info dumping at the beginning
  • Cliffhanger ending
Onuna Map

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

Before diving in, I’d like to address the elephant in the room: that fucking ending! How dare Amber Nicole leave us hanging like that when the next book doesn’t come out until 2024?! I need answers! I need to know what happens next! 

Outside of my crushed heart over the slap-in-the-face cliffhanger, the plot was solid and beautifully done. Although I did forget what the end goal was at times during road trip portion, but I’m okay with that. 

I was so immersed in the romance that was budding and the intense dreams that I didn’t mind briefly forgetting. It seemed that the characters did too at times. Even if this portion does pull you from the urgency and danger of the overall plot, it was a sweet reprieve that fit well within the story. 

One of my favorite things this plot did was answer its own plot holes, such as going to Roccurrem first when finding out about the book. Or when the vampire wife was suddenly back after Kaden kidnapped Gabby. 

And, instead of Nicole telling us the answers, she let the readers inferrer what happened and answered the questions through dialog. Which is great! Especially if anything ends up changing later, because then it’s more on the character’s false information than writing consistencies. 

Also, the mini-history lessons and the dream sequences were great. They were fun (sometimes) and gave more insight into the characters that we needed. But the best thing was that they were inserted in at appropriate times, to where they didn’t disconnect you from the main story. 

Plot Thoughts

Now, since we got a rage-induced cliffhanger, I still have questions that I expect to be answered in the next book. Such as:

  • Who is Kaden?
  • Whom is Dianna supposed to be replacing of the Kings of Yejedin?
  • Why would Azrael write and create a weapon to defeat Liam? 
  • What is Kaden’s plan now that his only leverage over Dianna is dead?

Overall, the plot is riveting and thrilling to read. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I struggled finding good stopping points when I was needed back in reality. 

Characters

The way these characters are written is beautiful. They all feel so real with their complexities, dialog, and their personalities. 

However, I will say that it took me a handful of chapters to connect with Dianna. It wasn’t until I listened to the Spotify playlist and when Liam was introduced that I connected with her. (Seriously, that playlist is the best thing you can do when reading this book!)

Dianna

Dianna is strong as fuck— mentally, physically, and emotionally. The fact she endured Kaden’s abuse for centuries speaks volumes about her love for her sister and her endurance. 

She play’s Kaden’s game well and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, but the best part is seeing her with her sister, Gabby. Dianna becomes so normal, relaxed, and happy. She deserves it, too. 

Then to see her internal conflict about Liam drive her head over heels for him is so sweet. The constant mental struggle about wanting to hate him, but also being attracted to Liam is so well done as it plays out in her actions and the small, unusual decisions she makes to help him.

Dianna deserves all the soft and good things in the world. She’s been through enough. Amber Nicole, if you’re reading this, please give Dianna a happy ending! 

Liam

Liam is such a strong, but tender and broken man. His character development was specifically something I loved. He was able to heal in trusting and comforting arms. He was able to face some of the things that had haunted him, which I think helped that Dianna could see some of his memories. 

I’m thrilled to see how he will step up to being King, taking down Kaden, and helping Dianna through this rough time after her sister has been killed. 

Side Characters

No good book is complete without a strong cast of side characters. Each character had such a different and unique personality that it was truly beautiful to read. I love seeing the diversity, not only in personality but appearance as well. 

When it came to the celestials, you could feel the loyalty and respect they hold towards Liam. They think of him highly when he doesn’t think it of himself. Also, The Hand truly feels like a family that has grown and been through shit together, but they are still close, if not closer. I love seeing the interactions and the relationships between each member. Getting to see Xavier and Cameron at the end was so fun. I want to see more of them. 

Then there is Gabby. She’s such a light-hearted person, but I don’t see how she does it. She can’t have a happily ever after with a mortal, nor can she ever truly feel safe. But she lives her life, pursues her passions, and forms relationships, even if they are temporary. 

Even the villains were likable with their banter. Alister was a cool character and I wish he would have survived instead of Tobias. I can’t stand that man. And Kaden is so mysterious that I’m expecting a big reveal on his true identity. One that will shake the celestials’s world. 

Writing

Before I get into all the good things about writing, I want to state my one issue. At the very beginning, there was a lot of info dumping about the different courts/Otherworld creatures that it was overwhelming. This might be why I wasn’t able to connect with Dianna at first. But, regardless, info-dumping was not an issue as the book progressed. 

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get into the beautiful writing in the Book of Azrael.

Foreshadowing

The foreshadowing is great. We get snippets of what’s to come through Dianna and Liam’s high-alert senses, Gabby’s little pep talks with Dianna, and other minor events. These minute details lead up to big decisions and big events later. 

Also, the tone would change ever so slightly around characters who were set to betray Dianna or revealed to not be who they truly are, like with Ava and Drake. This was my favorite foreshadowing tool that Nicole used as it set you more on edge and looking for other crumbs. 

While I knew there was something coming based on the foreshadowing, the book still left an air of mystery as to what was actually to come. Which I love. 

Mental Illness & Trauma

Sometimes authors don’t always handle mental illness or trauma situations with care and only use them as plot devices or show them through rose-colored lenses, but in the Book of Azrael, this wasn’t the case. 

PTSD and depression were prominent in Liam and it was evident from the beginning. His nightmares, refusal of food, clamming up, irritability, etc. are strong indicators of his illnesses. The way Nicole went about introducing his illnesses and weaving them into the story was fantastic. 

Liam having these conditions makes sense based on what he did and what he had to experience. And then how Dianna helped with his mental health and working through his trauma, is spot on. 

Then Dianna experienced a lot of abuse and trauma, which caused her to shut down and shy away from affection. She was so used to violence and being forced to do things she didn’t want that when she got a choice or simple words of affirmation, she melted. This is an accurate response and one that caused a lot of internal conflicts. 

Overall, I love how Nicole handled mental health and trauma in this book. It was respectful, accurate, and not made up just to push the plot. 

Final Thoughts

I am struggling to find the words to describe this wonderful and fascinating book. Everything about it was spot on and thoroughly thought out that I didn’t have to think too much about any of it. The pieces were all there and they fit together beautifully. 

To say the least, I am OBSESSED with this book. I need more of these characters and the world.  I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and journey this book took me on. During my rough few weeks of 2023, this is a shining light in a dark cave. 

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who wants a new obsession, especially when mixed with the Spotify playlist. But be warned, the next book is over a year away from coming out!

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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King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Smut, Blood, Violence, Language

Introduction

King of Battle and Blood is a fantasy romance that revolves around Isolde, Princess of Lara, and Adrian, the Blood King. Adrian is set on taking on the Nine Houses, which includes the House of Lara. Upon seeing Isolde, he determines that she will be his wife or her people will be slaughtered. 

Isolde reluctantly agrees and goes to live with her mortal enemy. But things aren’t as they seem. The vampires are rather normal and she keeps having “dreams” about her and Adrian that seem so real. 

With attacks on Revekkian people on the rise and strained relationships between Adrian and her father, will Isolde survive her new role as Queen?

When I first added this book to my wishlist months ago, I didn’t realize it was another Scarlett St. Clair book. I loathed her A Touch of Darkness series and vowed to never read her books again. However, this one seemed promising, so I gave her another shot. 

I shouldn’t have done that. King of Battle and Blood is nothing but disappointment, smut, and a From Blood and Ash rip-off. 

I was so fed up that I just skimmed through the last 5-6 chapters and skipped any sex scenes.

Pros

  • A map!
  • Interesting concept

Cons

  • A very poor map
  • No plot
  • Girl-on-girl hate
  • Flat characters
Map of Cordova

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

Before I dig into how disappointed I am in this book’s plot, I want to comment on what I did like about it. 

I loved the world-building and the setup we received at the beginning. There were strong enemies-to-lovers vides and there was a promise of an attempted assassination either from her or Killian.

We get hints about curses and witches burned at the stake and a false history her people taught. I was here for all of that. 

But of course, it was just a rouse. There was no real plot here. Just smut. Not to mention it was completely different from the blurb on the back. 

Right off the bat, Adrian and Isolde are written as if they know each other and there’s insta-lust between the two. Which doesn’t ever go away. But we lose Isolde instantly to her horny desires when Adrian enters the picture and we never really get her back. 

The rest of the book is just sex scene after sex scene. And if there isn’t a sex scene, then it’s Isolde talking about how much she’d like to fuck Adrian or is ogling over his body. WHERE IS THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT? WHOM IS ADRIAN TRYING EXACT REVENGE ON?

There’s hardly a plot to follow and the one that is there is rather confusing and lacks luster. 

There were many scenes crafted just out of convenience and used to info-dump. For example, the Great Hunt scene. Isolde has no weapons on her, we don’t even know what the prize nor rules of the hunt are, and almost instantly she’s being attacked and given a shit ton of exposition. 

Between these weird scenes and the sex, the twist the book was leading up to was predictable and anti-climactic. Then it’s revealed that if Isolde dies, so does Adrian. Okay, cool, not a bad plot device. 

But then ISOLDE GIVES UP HIS WEAKNESS INSTANTLY TO HER FATHER. There was no secrecy, no trying to protect herself or Adrian, just instantly telling her father as soon as he starts pushing for assassination again. 

Isolde could have deflected this in so many ways. Then when the book reveals there was a traitor among the four trusted vampires, it’s a big deal. Like girl, you screamed this information at your father. Ravena could have easily overheard, especially if she hides in mirrors. 

On that note, why was it her father who had to try to kill her? That was more of a Killian thing and I would have loved to see that fight play out. But no, it was her father and it seemed as if that twist was only used to sever her connection to her new life. It was cheap and didn’t pan out well for me.

To top all of this off, King of Battle and Blood (released 2021)was a blatant rip-off of From Blood and Ash (released 2020). We’re talking about the cute “I stabbed him” dialog, the cover, the premise, the weird spelling of names, etc. 

I’m convinced that this point that St. Clair just writes fan fiction based on popular books. 

Characters

Isolde

Initially, I liked Isolde. She wanted independence, wanted to rule as Queen of Lara without a husband, and just wanted to enjoy sex without strings attached. Because fuck the patriarchy, right?

I was HERE for it. But it soon when downhill fast for her character.

Isolde turned into a horny character that couldn’t do anything else besides think of sex with Adrian and touching herself. 

She was also just plain mean and petty. She hates Adrian but gets jealous when he has to feed from a mortal to survive. She asserts her dominance wherever she can, especially if someone disagrees with her. And there was so much girl-on-girl hate that I couldn’t stand it.

There’s a fine line between being independent and surviving in a foreign place, and being straight-up mean. And Isolde definitely falls into the mean side of things.

Isolde also goes from not having killed anyone and getting sick at seeing a dead body to her outright murdering someone in her new court. There was no transition or build-up here. 

Then to really top it off, once Isolde regains her memories from her past life, the character we knew just utterly disappears. She instantly reverts back to Yesenia, but we, the readers, don’t really know Yesenia. So it was disorienting to read that change. 

Overall, I went from loving the strong heroine to hating her. 

Adrian

There is zero depth to Adrian. He’s a ruthless leader who loves his wife and is vulgar. Is there anything else to him? Absolutely not. 

Regardless, I did kind of like him, but I wish we saw more emotional scenes or him sharing his past with Isolde before the big reveal. I think showing weakness or opening up to Isolde would have helped a little bit. 

Side Characters

Killian was the perfect villain for this book. He was controlling, possessive, and misogynistic, everything we needed for him to make a huge assassination attempt on Adrian at the end of the book. But no, in the end, he was chopped up to a controlling commander with no real balls. 

As for the other side characters. I couldn’t care less for them. They added no value to the story and were bland. And Sorin, to me, was set up to be the traitor in the next book, just because of how much we saw him and knew about him. But I guess other readers will find out. 

Writing

To me, there was a lot wrong with the writing of KBAB. However, before diving into those disparaging aspects, let me talk about what I did like.

Compared to St. Clair’s previous series, A Touch of Darkness which was in 3rd person, this book was much better as it was in 1st person. I think that might be St. Clair’s strong suit.

St. Clair also had quite a bit of diversity in her book. We had multiple POC and LGBTQ+ characters. It was nice to see this inclusivity.

Outside of these things, the writing was surface level and provided no depth, and sometimes context, for the characters or plot. 

There was a lot of girl-on-girl hate between Isolde and other women in the story, oftentimes for no reason, and the spice scenes were super repetitive. I actually stopped reading the sex scenes after a while and only read dialog as St. Clair likes to throw in important exposition into these scenes. 

Also, how many awkward transitions can a book have? Apparently a lot! Especially from falling asleep to waking up. We would literally go from Isolde talking with Adrian to her waking up and touching herself. Then we had scenes that were memories, but there wasn’t any indication that they were memories.

There were many times that I had to reread sections because I felt like I missed something. But most of the time, I didn’t and it was just awkward transitions. These could have been much better and added a lot of value to the story, especially during the memories/dreams. But alas, here we are. Disappointed and confused. 

While the grammar and spelling errors were much better compared to ATOD, there were still many errors. Example: “Are- are you parents around?” Like what? Who proofread this?

Then, to top it off, the map was the most unhelpful map I’ve ever seen in my life. I absolutely love maps as I need a visual a lot of times in these books, but this one left me confused. 

Isolde’s castle/city wasn’t listed, only the village that was attacked, Vaida. Then we had King Gheorghe of Vela, but where the hell was Vela?! It wasn’t on the map at all! I just don’t understand how you can have a map that is missing key places in your story!

Final Thoughts

I’ll never read a Scarlett St. Clair book again. This was her last chance and it was utterly disappointing, even with as low expectations as I had. 

The plot was abysmal, the entire book was just sex, the characters were flat and annoying, and the map didn’t even help!

I have no words left. I’m done. I’m just so done with this book and St. Clair. I have no words left

Read King of Battle and Blood if you don’t care about the plot and only want vampire smut. 

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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Corpse Walker: The Night Parade by Ralynn Kimie Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Rating: 0 out of 5.

Content Warnings: War, Animal Abuse/Sacrifice, Violence

Introduction

Corpse Walker is a historical fantasy book based on World War II. The story follows Hayden Daithi, a Marine who was killed in the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and his mysterious resurrection days after the attack.

With his peculiar abilities and the knowledge of an ancient Japanese demon threatening to wipe out humanity, Hayden and his team must prepare and fight back with the limited knowledge they have. Can they do it? 

I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy historical fiction and Japanese folklore/mythology, as it is the perfect blend of the two.

*Disclaimer: Now this isn’t normally a book I would choose myself, as I’m not really into history, but Ralynn Kimie reached out to me and asked me to review her book. This does not affect my review of the book, as I am dedicated to being honest in my reviews.

Pros

  • Interesting concept
  • The series has a lot of potential
  • The perfect blend of historical fiction and Japanese mythology

Cons

  • Need to know some Japanese folklore/mythology
  • Told not shown most of the information
  • Disjointed plot points

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

Disjointed Plot Points

While I enjoyed the overall story, there were a lot of disjointed plot points that really affected my rating of the book. 

To start off, Dr. Susanoo randomly being the God of Storms came out of nowhere. We got hints that he knew more than what he was leading on, but him suddenly revealing he’s a god and then disappearing for most of the book, felt jarring. 

The next jarring plot point was Agent Elaina Dacua being the spy. Again, there was no foreshadowing or lead-up to this. If anything, it seemed like Elaina would be a love interest for Hayden later on. So when she finally returns to Hawai’i and says the new doctor will “blow my cover,” it confused me.

The final plot point was a member of the Dullahan being Hayden’s dad and arriving at that conclusion from two words the spirit said, “my son.” Now, it is a stretch to assume a spirit from the Underworld is his dad from those words alone. “My son” can be used as a term of endearment, especially when meeting someone new. So, when this happened, I didn’t pay any mind to it until the book revealed the spirit was actually Hayden’s dad.

Missing Periods of Time

Added to the disjointed plot joints are the weird spans of time that just pass with nothing happening.

Once Hayden is arrested and until he is released (1 year), the events seem too scattered and nothing eventful happens. We only learn 2 things during this portion of the book:

  1. Susanoo’s journal is written in Old Japanese and it needs to be translated.
  2. Hayden can walk through walls and become invisible.

The rest of the information is useless, except for the small part when Agent Dacua takes Hayden’s mom home, as it plays a small part later. But even then, Hayden’s address could have been discovered by other means. 

We also don’t get a lead-up to Hayden appearing on Saipan to help fight. And suddenly he’s quick and good at fighting. We don’t see much of his training nor are we informed he will be there to fight against Nurarihyon. I just wish there was a tie between his last training session we saw and when he arrived in Saipan.

Plot Thoughts

  • What do they think Hayden can do to help the war? He hasn’t really shown any powers besides walking through walls and being brought back to life. What is their plan?
  • I’m not sure 100% how the Dullahan fit into this story besides Hayden being Irish. 

Characters

The characters felt a little half-baked. By this, I mean that Kimie knew her characters well, but it didn’t translate well into the reader learning about the character. Throughout the book, we basically see sneak peeks of each character’s personality, quirks, and mannerisms, but we don’t really get to connect with them. 

However, Hayden was starting to grow on me at the end and I felt like I was finally starting to gauge who he was. The same goes for Miss Sharp and Dr. Stolly. 

This bunch was an interesting group and I wanted to see more of them interacting– pushing each other, fighting, anything. We did get a little of that when Dr. Stolly was training Hayden, but that was kind of it. 

I hope in the next book we’ll see more interactions with the characters and we’ll be able to sit with them and connect with them better.

Writing

Told Not Shown

As a fiction writer myself, I understand how hard it is to show the reader important details or events without straight-up telling them; and I would say that is where another star is knocked off for this book.

There was a lot of information given to the reader, even when the story didn’t prompt it. Like Dr. Sauer’s fidgeting habit or Hayden’s fear of failure. There was so much telling of what was happening and not enough showing and walking the reader through the events and revelations character’s had. 

To nitpick a bit more under this section, we got a lot of military vehicle descriptions and names when they weren’t necessary. In particular, on page 270, the vehicle Miss Sharp drives takes up an entire paragraph before jumping to another scene. We didn’t need that more detail about the aircraft. For me, who is not familiar with military lingo and machinery, it felt overdone and left me skimming. 

Dialog

The dialog in Corpse Walker was very well done. The conversations felt natural and flowed well between talking and describing the scene. 

With this being said, at times I did get confused about who was talking as all the characters sounded similar to each other. There wasn’t much distinction in dialect, which I would have expected from a Marine (cussing is big) and a native from Hawai’i as they speak differently than people in Pittsburg or Philly. 

I also want to praise the commitment to sticking with slang terms and insults used in the time period. That really added to the story and made the dialog seem more natural as well. 

Mythology

Upon reading the back of the book, I didn’t expect it to lean heavily into Japanese mythology. I was thinking more alien instead of folklore. So, I had to do a lot of external research into what terms meant and the fight between Amaterasu and Sasanoo. 

Luckily, I enjoy learning about Japanese culture and folklore, but it did take me out of the story more times than I would have liked. I think if these key details were explained, then it would have added so much more depth to the story. 

I also wasn’t expecting Irish Philippine mythologies either. Makes me wonder if these mythologies are real, does that mean that every culture’s mythology is true? Like Norse, Mayan, etc.?

Point of View

The general omniscient POV was just too broad for the story. While it did capture everything going on, I couldn’t really connect with the characters or story like I wanted to. It all felt at arm’s length apart. 

My suggestion to correct many of these flaws is to have a limited omniscient point of view. This way the focus will be more on the important characters and storylines. 

Final Thoughts

I see what Corpse Walker was trying to do and Kimie was partially successful. However, I think instead of a book, this story would have really worked as a movie. But I know that wasn’t the goal. 

I love the idea and the overarching plot Kimie has introduced; and with some tweaks and a more narrow point of view, I believe the rest of the books in the series will nail the story she is trying to convey. 

Even though I had a lot of critiques about the book, I enjoyed reading it. There were many cool aspects and twists that I liked. I enjoyed the mythology intertwined throughout and how well the setting for the entire book was done. It really fit the time period and stuck to it. 

I’m also intrigued about the sequels since it seems like fae will be involved. And like I said, I love the premise of the story, so I will probably read the next 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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2023 Reading Goals

🎊 Happy New Year!! 🎊

Hello darlings!

Now that we’re officially in 2023, I have some reading goals for the new year! Unlike other goals I have in my life, I believe I’ll actually accomplish these.

Here’s what I aim to do:

  • Read 50 books (since I was soo close last year!)
  • Read one book from each of these genres: thriller, mystery, horror, science fiction
  • Read the Throne of Glass series
  • Attend a book signing

My list isn’t crazy, but it’ll take some time to complete! I already have 10 books sitting around my house that need to be read. So, all I need to do is read those first before buying more (yeah right! 🤣 I buy a new book every other week!).

What are your reading goals for 2023?

With love,

Red

2022 Recap

Hello lovelies! 

Today is the last day of 2022, and to say the least, it’s been one hell of a ride.

Books have definitely been a lifesaver for me this past year. I’ve grown and learned a lot about myself through reading and writing reviews. I’ve discovered my passion for reading and writing again, something I haven’t experienced since high school.

With that being said, let’s look at my stats for 2022!

Books Read: 39*

  • Pages Read: 15,532
  • Average Star Rating: 3.24
  • Average Spicy Rating: 2.51
  • Series Completed: 5
  • Series in Progress: 3
  • Favorite Authors: Elise Kova & Margaret Rogerson
  • Least Favorite Authors: Holly Black & Nikki St. Crowe
  • Favorite Book: Sorcery of Thorns
  • Least Favorite Book: The Never King

*Did not do a review for A Court of Sliver Flames, Six of Crows, or Crooked Kingdom

Well, I didn’t quite reach my 50-book goal, but I did thoroughly enjoy my reading journey this past year! I’ve discovered new authors that I like and honed in on my taste in books; though I still plan to venture out every now and then. 

Based on my favorite and least favorite authors/books, I’d say I strongly prefer creative, fantastical worlds with simple plots. I enjoy the intricacy of world-building, magic systems, and complex gray characters. 

However, I don’t like a plot that is too complex for its own good or revolves solely on spicy. This also suggests that just because a world is interesting and on par with my liking (Holly Black), it can easily become a dud with static characters, a horrible plot, or too much sex. 

But I’m excited to see what books come my way in 2023 and what fantastical adventures I’ll go on. 

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

Happy New Year! 🎉

Red

What were your reading goals in 2022? 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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A Dance with the Fae Prince by Elise Kova Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Blood, Abuse, Trauma, Violence, Light Smut

Introduction

Elise Kova, once again, sweeps me off my feet into the whimsical and magical world of Midscape. I swooned and fawned over every page and every interaction between Katria and Davien. The romance is so gentle and tender that it makes my heart sing. 

If you’re looking for a book with sweet moments, lingering touches, and a romance that makes you giddy, this is the book for you! 

Pros

  • A map!
  • A strong and flawless plot
  • Lovable characters
  • Gentle romance

Cons

  • Slightly anti-climatic
  • Weak villains
Midscape map

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

How Kova creates such flawless and elegant plots, I’ll never know. 

The story was strong and solid, with a cohesive timeline of events and a realistic passage of time. The entire story (minus the last chapter) takes roughly a month and a half, as far as I can tell. Which is a believable amount of time for a romance to bud, especially if every day is spent together, and events occur. 

Blood Forest Time Passage

Another thing that threw me off was the passage of time the group traveled through the Blood Forest at the beginning. I couldn’t tell how many days had passed and it almost seemed unbelievable how well Katria held out. 

Now, she did have the power of the kings and, as we find out later, is half-fae, her endurance makes sense. But how many days pass? And why don’t they stop to eat? Does fae not need to eat as often? Can they maintain little amounts of food/energy? 

These questions weren’t answered clearly unless one assumes.

However, if the point of the Blood Forest scene was to create a delirious state for the reader, too, similar to what Katria was experiencing, then it was perfect (minus the food thing). 

Roof Backstory

Initially, I made a note to talk about the disappointing roof story once we discover how Katria got her scars. However, that simple story blossomed into the most intense and traumatic backstory that we read. 

The way Kova built up to the reveal was big, and when it happened it felt wrong, off even. But she masterfully used the burying of traumatic events to cover it up until the end. 

The fact that Katria’s wings were ripped from her back and then cauterized was brutal and sickening; I felt sick reading it. But that just adds so much to who Katria is and her story. It wasn’t useless or unnecessary. 

Sex Scene

It was refreshing to have the male main character (MMC) also not have any sexual experience. I honestly don’t recall a book I’ve read recently where the MMC was also inexperienced. Usually, it’s only the female main character (FMC), and it’s a big point of the continent. But this time was different and I loved it. It really added to how soft Davien and Katria’s romance is. 

Anti-Climatic & the Villains

After looking back, I will say that the big build-up of releasing Davien and killing Boltov was slightly anti-climatic. The events just happened so fast and it seemed almost too easy. 

Boltov was killed with ease and Allor was quickly incapacitated. I would have liked to see a struggle with Allor, at least, and Boltov’s death was just a simple plot device to further the story. 

They were both built up to be these impossible villains, but they were taken out easily. Just wanted to see more conflict between these two and Katria or the group. 

Ending Plot Twist

The plot twist at the very end was buried, but you could pick up that Katria’s mother was fae throughout the book, or that she was more than just human. 

But the way all the puzzle pieces fit perfectly together– the book, the secrecy, the roof story– it was all masterfully done. 

It left me guessing all the way until the end what Katria’s true connection was to the book and the crown. 

Mirror Stories

I love how Davien and Katria’s stories are practically the same. Both were isolated from others and had to learn to manage on their own. They have both suffered parental losses that scar them. But the difference?

Katria was abused and neglected, while Davien had support and a community.

While their lives are similar, yet so different, we get to see how each handles situations and perceptions of love based on the environments they were raised in.

It’s a dramatic difference in thinking and analyzing the world between the two. 

Characters

Katria

I always enjoy and accidental or reluctant protagonist. It creates strong conflict and plenty of room for growth in the character, and that’s exactly what Katria is.

She didn’t ask to be thrown into the fae world. She didn’t ask for the power of kings. She didn’t ask to fall in love or even become queen! But she took each of these in stride and helped the fae reclaim their land. 

Katria is also wonderfully sarcastic. Her banter with the others is spot on and so realistic. She’s trying to understand the fae world and the people she encounters, all while working through her trust issues and trauma. 

She’s in no way fully healed at the end of the book, but she’s come a long way. Initially, she was extremely hesitant, doubtful and closed off. But as the story progresses, Katria turns into a confident, though still shy, joyful woman who recognizes her bleak history and takes her life by the horns. 

Her internal conflict and reflection back on her abuse from Helen and Joyce is portrayed extremely well. At every turn we see her fight with herself and with her trauma, and that adds so much to the story and her character. 

Its honestly quite powerful and inspiring to see Katria recognize her worth and fight for it, because we all need this insight and motivation sometimes. Hopefully, Katria’s development will help someone who needs the same push. 

Davien

Davien is a complex and surprisingly gentle man. This can be seen in his hesitancy in touching Katria and the way he approaches sensitive subjects. He’s not pushy or demanding, just really supportive and cautious. 

I enjoyed reading about him, especially as his character came to life. He wasn’t a stand-offish, mysterious man or a brute with anger issues like we see at the beginning. He’s lost but dedicated to saving his people.

He fumbles through romantic situations with Katria just as much as she does, which is honestly endearing. But Davien is more upfront about his emotions than Katria is, which adds another refreshing element to his character.

Davien isn’t afraid to or hasn’t yet learned to, mask his emotions. He has so many and we see the entire range by his eyes and tone. Such a subtle but powerful touch in cultivating his mannerisms and reactions. 

I also have a hunch that Davien is a hopeless romantic. He’s so tuned into his emotions and what he perceives as love. Did he dream about having a romantic partner during his time in the Natural World? Did he read stories about love or watch others wishing he had the same?

I like to imagine he did. 

Side Characters

I thoroughly enjoyed the side characters of this story. They felt fleshed out with backstories and lives outside of what we were being shown. They were a joy to have as part of the adventure and really fleshed out the world Kova created.  

The only disappointing bunch was Boltov and Allor. Allor basically screamed “I’m going to betray you” and Boltov just died too easily. Same with Allor being knocked out. These two were supposed to be powerful and a force to reckon with, but they didn’t put up much of a fight in the end. 

Writing

Kova’s writing is so simple and elegant. She’s excellent at portraying the environment and character’s emotions; along with inserting foreshadowing that guides the reader in the right direction, but doesn’t give away her twists.  

To say the least, I was lulled into this wonderful story by Kova’s lyrical writing. 

Also, she handles trauma and abuse with care. You can tell that she has done her research, or experienced these things firsthand because they are painfully true. The intrusive thoughts, overwhelming self-doubt, and anxiety are prevalent in these cases. 

But they aren’t brushed under the rug or used to push the story. They add depth and allow for growth. We get to explore Katria’s thoughts and actions as she navigates a world that isn’t as harsh as she thought. 

We see Davien’s support and care for Katria through these breakthroughs and hard moments with tender affection.

All of this creates the world around the characters, influences their actions, and provides characters with room to develop.

Final Thoughts

A Dance with the Fae Prince left me speechless and wanting more. The development we see in each character is subtle but brilliant, and the writing is lyrical. Being able to dive into the world of Midscape, but through a different lens, was a blast. 

The story was so tender and sweet but filled with passion and ambition that I couldn’t put it down. As Kova said at the beginning of this book, it is for those “who enjoy kisses

I can’t wait to read more about Midscape and the ever-expanding world. 

Previous Book

Book #1: A Deal with the Elf King

Next Book

Book #3: A Duel with the Vampire Lord- TBR

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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