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Review: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

May29
Review: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya MenonDimple and Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Series: Dimple and Rishi #1
Published by Simon Pulse on May 30, 2017
Pages: 380 pages
Format: Hardcover
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four-stars

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

“It’s even necessary to break the mold. We need more people shaking things up.”

I’ve been reading a lot of heavy high fantasies and dark historical fictions this year, and I was starting to feel some major Genre Burn-out – and my book slump has been bad enough as it is; I did NOT need Genre Burnout on top of everything else! So I decided it was time to pick up When Dimple Met Rishi. Everyone I know who has read this book has ADORED IT and absolutely GUSHED about it. And HOLY WOW, WERE THEY RIGHT!!! I’m SO sorry I didn’t read this sooner. It was an absolutely adorable romcom with amazing characters and an epic plot that had me laughing, crying, and cheering. The high stakes Insomnia Con element had my heart pounding in my throat the whole time.

Dimple was a fun, sassy, strong-willed character. I loved how fierce and opinionated she was, and the way she stood-up for what she wanted. She was also a fiercely loyal friend. Rishi was completely adorable. I felt so bad for him, the way he desperately wanted to draw but felt obligated to do what his parents expected of him. But I also understand and appreciate the fact that he felt very close to his culture and heritage, so pleasing his parents was something he WANTED to do, something that came naturally to him. I also loved how down-to-earth he was, despite being a rich kid (something Dimple takes note of, as well, when she finds out just how rich he really is).

There are many things in this book I don’t feel I can comment on because I don’t want to stray outside my lane and comment on a culture that I’m not intimately familiar with. But I’ve heard from many own voices bloggers and reviewers that this book was amazing and mirrored their experiences growing up – that that they were able to see themselves in this book and these characters. I think the best review I’ve read is from Alyssa over at The Eater of Books.

What I DO want to say is that I feel like I learned a lot by reading this book. I found myself googling a lot of things, trying to understand and better visualize what exactly was happening. I googled the different types of clothes they were wearing, what certain words meant, and some of the dances Dimple and Rishi were rehearsing.

The only negative thing I really have to say about this book is that, at times, the POV changing multiple times in one chapter was confusing. It made it a little hard to get into the flow of the story. But the more into the book I got, the easier the transition became.

Overall, this book was an adorable, fun, laugh-out-loud joy to read. I’m diving right into There’s Something About Sweetie, and I’m SO pumped for Ashish’s story. I can tell from what we saw of him in this book that we’ve only just begun to learn who he really is. And, of course, I’m excited to meet Sweetie, what with all the body positivity and well-done fat rep I’ve heard is in this book.

So yeah, I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone looking to read an epic romcom, and anyone who wants a book with Indian rep in it. This book was just absolutely fantastic and you WON’T regret picking it up!

four-stars

Review: These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

May25

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel SterlingThese Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling
Series: These Witches Don't Burn #1
Published by Razorbill on May 28, 2019
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

"Infused with page-turning suspense, bittersweet romance, shocking twists, and tragic turns, Sterling has written a standout debut." --Dana Mele, author of People Like Us

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly By Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans.

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day.

Isabel Sterling's delightful, suspenseful debut is equal parts sweet romance and thrilling mystery. With everything she loves on the line, Hannah must confront this murderous villain before her coven--and any chance she has with the new girl--is destroyed.

I finished this book over a month ago, and I’m still struggling with reviewing it. It was just SO incredible, I don’t feel any review I write can do it justice. But I NEED to get my feels out there already, so I’ll do the best I can. But this may be a lot of Word Vomit. You’ve been warned!

I’ve been excited for These Witches Don’t Burn ever since it was first announced, and it did NOT disappoint. The writing was incredible and the plot was intense. I loved the magical rules and the different witch clans (Elementals, Blood Witches and Casters).

The characters were incredible, and super relatable – even in small, simple ways. Like Cal attending Salem State, where I almost went. And the fact that Veronica got into Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications and was, therefore, a Parkie (an affectionate nickname for Park students), like I was – studying journalism, of all things, same as I did (at first). And Hannah’s taste in music is a lot like mine – all over the place. I adored Hannah in general. Again, she was a super relatable character and I loved taking this journey with her. I loved her complicated relationships with Veronica and Morgan.

As much as I loved the characters, I also didn’t trust a single one of them except Hannah and Gemma. Everyone else gave me “suspect” vibes. At the same time, some of my “suspects” seemed too obvious, and I questioned whether they were red herrings. When the ACTUAL baddie was revealed, it made such perfect sense, I was mad at myself for not figuring it out sooner.

I don’t know if it was just because it was about witches or what, but I kept picturing most of these characters as the characters from The Secret Circle. Like, Hannah is Cassie (but maybe brunette instead of blonde) and Veronica is Faye, although I kind of also sometimes pictured her as Diana). And I kept picturing Evan as Adam and Savannah as Melissa. And then – not related to The Secret Circle, but just saying in general – I kept picturing Morgan as Danielle Panabaker with red hair.

This book also had INCREDIBLE LGBTQ+ rep. I can’t speak for it personally, but I’ve heard from other bloggers that the rep was well done, and this book meant a lot to a lot of people, and it’s an important book because of that.

So.. Overall, I absolutely 100% LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! I don’t feel like my review is doing it justice, though. It’s definitely in my Top Five for the year and I want to yell at everyone to read it, but I just don’t have much else to say. So rather than ramble on, I’m gonna stop here and just say PLEASE BUY AND READ THIS BOOK BECAUSE WITCHES AND SALEM AND EPIC CHARACTERS AND LGBTQ+ REP AND OMG IT’S JUST SOOOO GOOOOOODDDDDD PLEASE READ IT!!!!!!!

five-stars

Review: Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

Apr25

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Stepsister by Jennifer DonnellyStepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Published by Scholastic on May 14, 2019
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

A startling, fiercely feminist re-imagining of Cinderella from the bestselling, award-winning author Jennifer Donnelly.

Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe ... which is now filling with blood.

When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she is turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she is a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a feisty girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.

Isabelle has tried to fit in. To live up to her mother’s expectations. To be like her stepsister. To be sweet. To be pretty. One by one, she has cut away pieces of herself in order to survive a world that doesn’t appreciate a girl like her. And that has made her mean, jealous, and hollow.

Until she gets a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.

Evoking the darker, older versions of the Cinderella story, bestselling author Jennifer Donnelly shows us that ugly is in the eye of the beholder, and uses her trademark wit and wisdom to send an overlooked character on a journey toward empowerment, redemption, and a new definition of beauty.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly!

You can find Lissa on Instagram!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I used to say that I was sad that Gregory Maguire was the one who came up with the idea for Wicked, and the other, “other side of the story” books he has written. Because while I adore the concept (and the fabulous Broadway musical) his writing style doesn’t do much for me.

Thankfully his monopoly on the concept seems to be at an end. I loved Sea Witch by Sara Henning. And now Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly.

I am going to throw in a few pros/cons here.

Pros:
Characters – I adored all the charactets. They were well developed and well written and likable.

Horses – I will always be the 11 year old who picked up her first Mercedes Lackey book because of the pretty white horse on the cover. Horses were my fantasy gateway drug, and I will always swoon when they are well written and treated as the characters they are, and not just transportation.

The Message – I am all for the message in this story. Beauty is not what you look like, but what you do and what makes you passionate. And I really enjoyed the MC’s beauty. However…

Cons:
The Message – This book was hit a bit too hard with the message stick. Not all the time, and not enough to ruin it for me, but it was definitely overkill. A little subtlety would have gone a lot further with me.

Overall I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

four-stars

Review: Romanov by Nadine Brandes

Apr20

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Romanov by Nadine BrandesRomanov by Nadine Brandes
Published by Thomas Nelson on May 7, 2019
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

“Not even royal blood can stop bullets.”

This book was everything I needed and then some. With a Life/Reading Slump that’s going on 3 years now, it’s difficult to find books I truly enjoy. Even when I DO find books I enjoy, I still struggle to find the time and energy to read them. Typically, it takes me 3-4 weeks to read one book now, whereas I used to read a book every 3-7 days before The Slump. But Romanov? I couldn’t put Romanov down. I read it in less than a week, and I adored every single second of it.

The first half of the book is basically straight-up historical fiction, with a small bit a magic thrown in. I love history and I love the mystery surrounding the execution of the Romanov Family, and whether or not Anastasia escaped. But I really didn’t know much about the Romanov family otherwise, and nothing about Anastasia beyond what we “learned” in the animated movie. So reading about the family’s final months/days in exile was intriguing and educational, but since it was done in a fictional way, it didn’t feel dry or like I was being lectured at. In fact, it’s made me want to read more about this time period!

The second half of the book was where the majority of the magic came into play. It was also where the author divulged from history, and gave us her fictional take on what happened after the Romanov family was executed. This was just as intriguing as the first half of the book – if not more intriguing.

As much as I love the story of Anastasia and LOVED the movie, I haven’t actually read any other Anastasia retellings. I have a bunch on my TBR, and I asked Twitter for recommendations, but I haven’t actually read any. I came to this shocking realization as I was reading, and made this comment: “I really like Nastya – she’s my favorite Anastasia since the Disney one.” – So.. First of all, someone corrected me and told me that the 1997 animated movie wasn’t actually a Disney movie. I don’t care – Anastasia will always rank as a Disney Princess in my eyes. Second of all, I guess that makes Nastya my second favorite incarnation of Anastasia, since this is only the second retelling I’ve read/watched, bahaha. But that aside, I really did love her character – her strength, resilience, and ability to grow from tragedy and forgive the “enemy.”

Zash probably has the biggest character development/growth of anyone in the book – even beyond Nastya. I really don’t want to spoil it so I can’t go into details too much, but I really liked the way his story went.

So, yeah.. I don’t even know what else to say. Except that this book was everything I needed, and is definitely one of my favorites of 2019. I HIGHLY recommend it!

five-stars

Review: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Apr15

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn BarnesLittle White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series: Debutantes #1
Published by Freeform on November 6, 2018
Pages: 390
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

"I'm not saying this is Sawyer's fault," the prim and proper one said delicately. "But."

Eighteen-year-old auto mechanic Sawyer Taft did not expect her estranged grandmother to show up at her apartment door and offer her a six-figure contract to participate in debutante season. And she definitely never imagined she would accept. But when she realizes that immersing herself in her grandmother's "society" might mean discovering the answer to the biggest mystery of her life-her father's identity-she signs on the dotted line and braces herself for a year of makeovers, big dresses, bigger egos, and a whole lot of bless your heart. The one thing she doesn't expect to find is friendship, but as she's drawn into a group of debutantes with scandalous, dangerous secrets of their own, Sawyer quickly discovers that her family isn't the only mainstay of high society with skeletons in their closet. There are people in her grandmother's glittering world who are not what they appear, and no one wants Sawyer poking her nose into the past. As she navigates the twisted relationships between her new friends and their powerful parents, Sawyer's search for the truth about her own origins is just the beginning.

Set in the world of debutante balls, grand estates and rolling green hills, Little White Lies combines a charming setting, a classic fish-out-of-water story, and the sort of layered mystery only author Jennifer Lynn Barnes can pull off.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes!

You can find Lissa on Instagram!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I adore Jennifer Lynn Barnes books. A little bit more twisty than my usual genre (I am not a Pretty Little Liars watcher, but I can see why those who are would love this book), but the writing and characters are so compelling. I get an air of Buffy or Veronica Mars from Sawyer without her being anything like either (in a good way).

The Southern sassiness is evident and deftly intertwined in the story without being overblown. The romance takes a bit of a back burner and I would love to have seen more in that regards.

Though the ending wrapped up the story at hand, the door was definitely left open for more, and that makes me very happy. JLB is auto-buy for me so I’d buy a anything from her either way, but since I DID like this one so much, I’m excited that there are more books planned for the series.

five-stars

Review: Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

Apr13

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Wicked Saints by Emily A. DuncanWicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
Series: Something Dark and Holy #1
Published by Wednesday Books on April 2, 2019
Pages: 385
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy..

“We’re all monsters… Some of us just hide it better than others.”

“A witch is just a girl who has realized her power is her own.”

Holy WOW this book was EPIC. I’ve been super excited for this one ever since it was announced, and it did NOT disappoint! I remember hearing – early on when it was first announced – that it was being compared to the Grisha trilogy, and I DEFINITELY felt those Grisha Vibes. Not to get too crazy about it, but Nadya DEFINITELY reminded me of Alina, Kostya was comparable to Mal, and Serefin was for sure like the Darkling.

I also had major Kingdom of Fire trilogy vibes – I think because of the dark, lush, atmospheric tone of the book. Also, the Vultures in Wicked Saints reminded me of the Ancients in the Kingdom of Fire trilogy. There were also moments when I had Throne of Glass vibes because of things like the salt mines and the mention of assassins and all that. And for some reason, Nehemia (from Crown of Midnight) kept randomly coming to mind, but I’m not sure why.

I LOVED Nadya. She was an epic badass. Malachiasz had me intrigued from the beginning, and only got better and better as the story went on – until the end because WTF OMG?!?!?!?!?!?!??! Serefin was… Wow. I don’t even know, honestly. By his own admission, he said, “I’m heartless, but I’m not cruel.” And he definitely had some heartless moments, but he also had some… interesting things going on… (vague descriptions are vague.. But spoilers..!! So.. JUST READ IT AND YOU SHALL SEE WHAT I MEAN!!). Plus, the way his story ended was…!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was just so dark and creepy and delicious.. I can’t even put it into words or do it justice. The ending was INTENSE and EPIC and CRAZY and I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!!!!!! (Okay, maybe I did a little, but also I didn’t so… WTF?!?!?!?!?)

I HIGHLY recommend this one for those who loved the Grisha trilogy, and for those who like dark, creepy books with epic characters and incredible world-building. Emily A. Duncan is a fantastic writer, and I’m already SO PUMPED for the second book in this trilogy – plus anything and everything else that she writes!

five-stars

Guest Review: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Apr7

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: The Bone Witch by Rin ChupecoThe Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Series: The Bone Witch #1
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on March 7, 2017
Pages: 432
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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five-stars

In the captivating start to a new, darkly lyrical fantasy series for readers of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir, Tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price...

Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there's anything I've learned from him in the years since, it's that the dead hide truths as well as the living.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles...and make a powerful choice.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco!

You can find Lissa on Instagram!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

This is a massive book – in more than just page length. The amount of world building involved is immense, in a wonderfully immersive way. It might feel a bit slow to some readers who prefer more action, but I appreciated the attention to detail. We learn so much about the extensive magic and cultural systems at play here. I enjoyed all the references to different Eastern cultures and myths, but loved that it still became its own world.

The characters are so detailed, their reactions so authentic to the culture that is built around them, it makes them feel real despite being fantastical. I definitely empathize with a number of them and want them to get to their happy endings (a crucial thing for me, as I am an extremely character-driven reader).

I only regret that the book ends just as the action is beginning to occur. It made me immediately want more. I can’t wait to read the next one!

five-stars

Review: Tarot by Marissa Kennerson

Mar10

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Tarot by Marissa KennersonTarot by Marissa Kennerson
Published by Razorbill on February 19, 2019
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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three-stars

Anna was never supposed to exist. Born of a forbidden union between the Queen and the tyrannical King’s archnemesis, Anna is forced to live out her days isolated in the Tower, with only her mentors and friends the Hermit, the Fool, and the Magician to keep her company. To pass the time, Anna imagines unique worlds populated by creatives and dreamers—the exact opposite of the King’s land of fixed fates and rigid rules—and weaves them into four glorious tapestries.

But on the eve of her sixteenth birthday and her promised release from the Tower, Anna discovers her true lineage: She’s the daughter of Marco, a powerful magician, and the King is worried that his magical gifts are starting to surface in Anna. Fearing for her life, Anna flees the Tower and finds herself in Cups, a lush, tropical land full of all the adventure, free-spiritedness, and creativity she imagined while weaving.

Anna thinks she’s found paradise in this world of beachside parties, endless food and drink, and exhilarating romance. But when the fabric of Cups begins to unravel, Anna discovers that her tapestries are more than just decoration. They’re the foundation for a new world that she is destined to create—as long as the terrors from the old world don’t catch up with her first.

I finished this awhile go, but waited to review it because I was on the blog tour, and wanted to separate the blog tour from the review. I DID enjoy Tarot, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected to. I was left a bit confused at times, and wanting more – more descriptions, more explanations, more.. everything. I think the biggest problem was that this book was pretty short, and things happened very quickly. I think this book could have benefited from being a little longer.

I can’t say whether I loved the characters or not. I liked them for the most part, but again, I wanted MORE. I wanted more of their personalities, their backgrounds, their relationships, etc. The romantic relationships – two in particular – happened WAY too fast. I mean, I LIKED the ships. And I’m not opposed to insta-love, when it’s done well. But this was just SO fast. I wanted more of a build-up, I guess.

I was also really confused, re: the plot and where the tarot cards came in. Anna wove a tapestry and created a world, and then (at the end) created these people (not the people of Cups, the “soldiers”) who.. I guess symbolized the tarot cards? Does that mean she created Tarot cards? Is this the origin story of how Tarot cards came to be? I still haven’t been able to figure this out…

So.. Yeah. I was definitely entertained and intrigued by this book. I didn’t NOT like it, but I’m torn on how much I liked it. I would definitely read a sequel or prequel, or another book by the author. The writing was done well, the world was gorgeous and the characters were still fun and likable.

three-stars

Review: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (Blog Tour)

Feb19

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (Blog Tour)Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
Published by Feiwel & Friends on February 26, 2019
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

How do you kill a god?

As her father's chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: to win back her honour, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.

 
Hey, everyone! I’m SO excited to be on the blog tour for Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (February 26, 2019 – Feiwel & Friends)! Without further adieu, here’s my review!

~*~*~

Tricia Levenseller went on my Auto Buy List after I read and LOVED both Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen. Warrior of the Wild did NOT disappoint. It was a fun, epic adventure with amazing characters and an intriguing world.

Rasmira was strong, brave and stubborn. Being sent into the Wild was the best thing that could have happened to her. It was meant as a punishment, but she learned so much about herself, the people she thought she knew and loved, and the world around her. Her character growth from beginning to end was INCREDIBLE.

I 1000% adored Soren and Iric – both as individuals and as friends. I don’t want to say too much, but I loved how their story ended. I loved Iric’s growth, especially. He went from being gruff and sarcastic to cheeky and hilarious. I absolutely adored him and Aros! I also loved the way Soren and Iric fought like bickering old ladies. It reminded me of Angel and Spike (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), as well as Jeb and Morpheus (from Splintered by A.G. Howard).

I truly loved the dynamic between Rasmira, Soren and Iric. It’s a little bit hard to talk about that dynamic without spoilers, but oh man, I just absolutely adored them together.

Now let’s talk about the villain… Peruxolo didn’t scare me. From very early on, I had major suspicions and questions. And I WAS RIGHT!!!! *Clears throat.* That’s all I’ll say about that… But really, I don’t think he was the true villain of the story.. If you’ve read it, you guys KNOW who the true villain was. Well, not so much a “villain” as a back-stabbing asshole. But I can’t name names without spoiling a major plot twist, so I’ll just sit here and stew about it while you guys GO AND READ IT AND SEE WHAT I MEAN!

I know some people are tired of new releases being compared to big books like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Twilight, etc. But I SERIOUSLY had major Hunger Games feels throughout this entire book, with a few stand-out moments. One of the biggest moments? Irrenia asking Rasmira, “You will try, won’t you? … To complete your quest … You have to come home to me.” This moment STRONGLY reminded me of Prim begging Katniss to win and come home to her. Another thing that gave me major THG vibes? The Ziken. They reminded me of the creatures at the end of THG. And Rasmira worrying they would attack her while trying to fall asleep in the woods reminded me of Katniss worrying about falling asleep in the woods, wary of the fact that there were Tributes hunting her.

Overall, I absolutely 100% adored this book. I’m VERY excited to see what Tricia Levenseller does next! Her characters are incredible, her worlds are lush and imaginative, and her plot twists are EPIC. This book had me laughing out loud, gasping in shock, and grinning like an absolute idiot. It’ll run you through an emotional rollercoaster, and you’ll love every minute of it!

I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who enjoyed Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen. Also, to those who enjoyed The Hunger Games. Because seriously, SO many THG vibes!!

four-stars

Review: Song of the Dead by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Feb7

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Song of the Dead by Sarah Glenn MarshSong of the Dead by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Series: Reign of the Fallen #2
Published by Razorbill on January 22, 2019
Pages: 416
Format: ARC
Source: the author
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five-stars

The Dead must stay buried.

Karthia is nothing like it used to be. The kingdom's borders are open for the first time in nearly three hundred years, and raising the dead has been outlawed. Odessa is determined to explore the world beyond Karthia's waters, hoping to heal a heart broken in more ways than she can count. But with Meredy joining the ocean voyage, vanquishing her sorrow will be a difficult task.

Despite the daily reminder of the history they share, Odessa and Meredy are fascinated when their journey takes them to a land where the Dead rule the night and dragons roam the streets. Odessa can't help being mesmerized by the new magic--and by the girl at her side. But just as she and Meredy are beginning to explore the new world, a terrifying development in Karthia summons them home at once.

Growing political unrest on top of threats from foreign invaders means Odessa and Meredy are thrust back into the lives they tried to leave behind while specters from their past haunt their tenuous relationship. Gathering a force big enough to ward off enemies seems impossible, until one of Queen Valoria's mages creates a weapon that could make them invincible. As danger continues to mount inside the palace, Odessa fears that without the Dead, even the greatest invention won't be enough to save their fates.

In this enthralling, heartrending sequel to Reign of the Fallen, Odessa faces the fight of her life as the boundaries between the Dead and the living are challenged in a way more gruesome than ever before.

This book – this series – was so absolutely amazing, I don’t even know how to put it into words. I’m both immensely satisfied with the way it ended (the book and, consequently, the duology as a whole), yet also heartbroken because I’m not ready to leave this world or these characters. I miss Sparrow, Meredy, Simeon, Danial, Valoria and everyone so much, you’d think they were real people and not characters in a book. I want to be back in Karthia with them. I want to see what lies ahead in their adventures. I don’t want to let them go. I never will. I connected so hard and in so many ways with both Reign of the Fallen and Song of the Dead that I’m not even ready to discuss all the reasons why. It was just That Book for me (or Those Books? Since it was both. I’m not sure of the grammar here..).

Sparrow was an incredible, incredible character. She was more than just a character. She felt so real and I loved everything about her. She kicked butt and took names. I loved her journey and growth from book one to book two, and throughout book two.

Meredy was, by far, my favorite character. She was strong and fierce, yet had some very emotional, vulnerable moments in this book. I loved seeing that side of her.

Danial and Simeon were just… Omg. I don’t even have words.

Another character I really loved was Kasmira. I kept picturing her as an older Uma (China Anne McClain) from the Descendants 2 movie.

ALL MY SHIPS SAILED AND I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER!!!!!!!!!!! Like, there were some ups and downs with my two favorite ships (I won’t name them right now because spoilers, but those of you who have read the book will know who I mean), but they made it through in the end and my heart is so happy beyond belief, it’s bursting with feels!!!

NIPPER!!!! Omg I adored Nipper. I don’t want to spoil who/what Nipper is, but OMG I WANT HER!!! Haha.

TBH, I enjoyed Song of the Dead so much that I was awful about taking review notes for it… Which made writing this review really difficult (as I’m sure you can tell… Eeek…), but I was just so immersed in the story, I didn’t want to stop and take the time to write anything down – I just wanted to relax and enjoy the story, not pull myself out of it every time I had a thought I wanted to write down. So this review honestly doesn’t even do the book justice. All I can say is READ IT. It was SO good. Sarah Glenn Marsh is DEFINITELY going on my Auto Buy List.

So, overall (if you couldn’t tell, which.. if you couldn’t…????), I LOVED this book. ADORED IT. Can’t put it into words, can’t say it enough. Just go read it as soon as possible. Seriously. Go. Now..!!

five-stars