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Review: To Right the Wrongs by Sheryl Scarborough

Apr9

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: To Right the Wrongs by Sheryl ScarboroughTo Right the Wrongs by Sheryl Scarborough
Series: Erin Blake #2
Published by Tor Teen on February 27, 2018
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Source: the publisher
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three-half-stars

Barely three weeks after catching the killer of Erin's mother and their biology teacher, Erin and her crew are back, up to their elbows in forensics projects. But this time it's with the full approval of their parents.

With Uncle Victor at the helm, Erin and her best friends, Spam and Lysa, are prepping a new classroom for CSI summer camp, where they will serve as camp counselors. Meanwhile, Erin's super-hot new boyfriend, Journey, is graduating, just in time for him to take a position as Victor's intern in the new CSI lab on campus. Journey and Victor are going to take another look at the evidence in the murder trial that sent Journey's father to prison. The girls are under strict orders not to meddle with the murder case, but that's easier said than done...

I’m torn between giving this book 3.5 stars or 4 stars. When I finished book one, To Catch a Killer, I REALLY wanted a sequel. I do love that To Right the Wrongs tied up some loose ends, but it also left a few things dangling. It makes me wonder if there will be a book three – and I’m totally okay with that! Despite some hiccups with this book, it was still really enjoyable and the ending had me like WHOA!! But also… totally called it!

I’ve never been a huge fan of Erin. I love the forensic sleuth side of her, but otherwise she’s just.. childish and selfish. I understood her reasoning for her behavior, but that didn’t make it okay. I was disappointed with the way she treated Journey in this book. It felt like their relationship took a backseat to everything else. Part of that was definitely Journey’s fault – he was very distant with Erin, behaving as if he didn’t trust her and he should have. I still 100% shipped them, but I really wanted MORE from them as a couple, and I’m disappointed we didn’t get that MORE.

Also, side-note: I had MAJOR Rob (1-800-WHERE-R-U) vibes from Journey.. Anyone else read those books and notice that? Just me?

I liked Lysa and Spam a LOT more in this book than I did in book one. In book one, they kept oscillating between acting like loyal friends, and acting as if Erin was purposefully leaving them out of things. But in To Right the Wrongs, they worked WITH Erin, and they both definitely had a lot of character growth because of that shift in attitude.

I really didn’t trust ANYONE in this book. Like, it would be faster to list the people I DID trust 100%. But as I got further into the book, I started looking at each suspicious character in a more critical way. And then I was able to narrow down who I thought was TRULY suspicious, and who seemed like they were suspicious just to throw readers off the mark. In the end, my instincts regarding the person I was MOST suspicious about turned out to be correct. And when the big reveal happened, I was just like “I KNEW IT!!!!!!!”

There are several characters I’d like to mention by name, and discuss in greater detail, but that would end up being super spoilery and I’m trying to keep this review to a spoiler minimum. But let’s just say: I despised Blankenship until the end; I didn’t trust Arletta Stone or the coach, and was shocked by the way their stories ended; I loved Lyman, though we were clearly supposed to be suspicious of him; and I was indifferent to Clay but had this weird gut feeling…

Anyway, that’s all on that subject, lest I spoil everything with my vague descriptions.

Overall, this book definitely started out slow. And I honestly enjoyed To Catch a Killer a LOT more. However, To Right the Wrongs was still very intriguing. It kept me on the edge of my seat, trying to guess who the killer was and how things would end. The characters all experienced a lot of character growth, and the book definitely tied up a lot of loose ends. I’m anxious to see if there will be a third book in this series, because I love the forensics and Nancy Drew/Veronica Mars feels. Also, the “90s/00s feels – by that I mean, as stated in my review of To Catch a Killer, “It completely reminded me of a 90s/00s teen novel, and I LOVED IT!”

So if you love books about forensics, Nancy Drew, Veronica Mars, or thrillers in general, I HIGHLY recommend you pick this series up! It’s definitely a wild ride and, slow bits aside, will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

three-half-stars

Review: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Mar27

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: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani ChokshiAru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Series: Pandava Quartet #1
Published by Rick Riordan Presents on March 27, 2018
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she'll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?

One day, three schoolmates show up at Aru's doorstep to catch her in a lie. They don't believe her claim that the museum's Lamp of Bharata is cursed, and they dare Aru to prove it. Just a quick light, Aru thinks. Then she can get herself out of this mess and never ever fib again.

But lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it's up to Aru to save them.

The only way to stop the demon is to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers, protagonists of the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, and journey through the Kingdom of Death. But how is one girl in Spider-Man pajamas supposed to do all that?

I’ve been excited for this book ever since I saw it described as “Percy Jackson meets Sailor Moon.” First of all, you guys know I’m a HUGE fan of books with mythology and mythology retellings. And I’ve loved Sailor Moon ever since I was a little girl. Not only do I 100% support these comparisons, but I also had MAJOR Hocus Pocus vibes (lighting the black flame candle = lighting the Lamp of Bharata) and – weirdly – A Wrinkle in Time vibes. I don’t totally get why I had A Wrinkle in Time vibes because I read it in elementary school and remember VERY little about it. But, for whatever reason, it kept coming to mind.

So yeah… Between all those spot-on, epic comparisons and the gorgeous world and mythology, this book definitely did NOT disappoint. Roshani Chokshi’s writing is absolutely gorgeous and lyrical, and her characters are fierce – I was rooting for them right from page one!

I loved Aru and Mini. They were strong, fierce female heroines. They both made mistakes and had some fumbles, but they always got right back up and pushed forward. I love the way their friendship evolved from beginning to end, and can’t wait to see what happens next for them in book two.

Boo reminded me of Zazu from Lion King. I also had major Mulan/Mushu vibes with the whole “I’ll restore my honor!” thing.

I loved the way this book ended, and what it means for the second book. I’m hoping we’ll get some more background info on Aru’s mom, the Sleeper, and the original Pandava Brothers. I’m anxious to see the rest of the reincarnations of the Pandava’s, too. With the Sailor Moon comparison, I can’t wait to see them all together. I’m curious to see the dynamic and how they work together, if they clash, etc… You know, I’ll just admit it: I’m hoping for a Sailor Moon/Sailor Mars dynamic between Aru and one of the other girls, haha. The Moon/Mars dynamic always had me hysterical!

I know my review was a bit babbly and all over the place, but hopefully I got my point across – I LOVED this book! I had a really hard time articulating why, but it was just really fantastic. It comes down to the mythology, the comparisons, the writing, the world, and the characters. It was all just magical and wonderful and I REALLY need book two in my life ASAP!!!

So, overall, if you love books about mythology, I HIGHLY recommend this book. Also, if you’re a Sailor Moon fan, you’ll love the girl power!

Side note: A great side-effect of reading and loving Aru Shah and the End of Time? It FINALLY has me in the mood to re-read The Star-Touched Queen. You see, the first time I read TSTQ, I was going through some very stressful, upsetting Life Stuff. I should have LOVED TSTQ!!! But my Life Slump made it difficult to focus and I couldn’t get into ANY of the books I read during that period in my life. I’ve been meaning to re-read TSTQ for a long time now, with the hope that I’ll enjoy it more now that my Life Slump has eased up. The fact that I loved Aru Shah has me VERY hopeful that I’ll love TSTQ this time around!

four-stars

Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Mar15

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: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra ChristoTo Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Published by Feiwel & Friends on March 6, 2018
Pages: 342
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

To Kill a Kingdom was dark, brutal, and haunting. I’ve seen this book described as many things, but two descriptions stand out the most to me: “a dark Little Mermaid retelling” and “Daughter of the Pirate King meets Language of Thorns.” Now, while I haven’t read Language of Thorns yet (I know, I know – I’m SUPER behind), I can 100% see these comparisons. And I’m 100% here for both. This world that Alexandra Christo created was like nothing I’ve ever read, and it was just incredible.

I LOVED Lira. She was fierce and brutal and unapologetic. I loved her relationship with Kahlia, and the way their bond brought out the humanity in Lira. She had incredible character growth throughout the book, and I loved the way her story ended.

I absolutely adored Elian! He was hilarious and cocky, and so sure of himself when he was on the sea. Like Lira, he had a pretty epic journey, as far as character growth went. And also like with Lira, I loved the way his story ended.

I 100% shipped Lira and Elian, even while thinking, “wow, these two are brutal and unrelenting in their missions… how can this possibly end well??” I loved their banter and the progression of their relationship. Going back to the Daughter of the Pirate King/Siren Queen comparison, I would compare their relationship and banter with that of Alosa and Riden. SO MANY FEELS!! And I loved the ending of the book sooooo much. I don’t think it could have ended any other way, and I think it ended the best way it could. It made sense for both characters.

The Sea Queen in this was absolutely, 100% pure evil. She had no redeeming qualities. And.. I kind of liked that, honestly. Don’t get me wrong, I love villain origin stories and villain retellings. I love seeing the villain’s side of the story, and seeing how they came to be the villain. But sometimes, having the villain just be the villain is necessary. In this case, it was very necessary and absolute perfection.

Other characters that deserve a mention are the members of Elian’s crew: Torik, Kye and Madrid. I loved their fierce loyalty to Elian, and found their different reactions to Lira intriguing.

The only major issue I had was that this book had a dual POV (which I didn’t know) and the US ARC didn’t warn you when the POV was switching. In the beginning, I found that very confusing. But after a few chapters, I could tell who was who by the voice and context. Some authors don’t manage dual POVs well, and it all sounds like the same character. But Alexandra Christo did a great job of giving Lira and Elian different voices.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell by my fangirly review, I really loved this book. I HIGHLY recommend it for fans of pirates, sirens, shippy banter and high-seas adventures.

~*~*~

Favorite Quote:
“Technically, I’m a murderer, but I like to think that’s one of my better qualities.” (Normally I note who the quote is from, but it might be a spoiler so I’m not going to this time. Also, in my opinion, it can work for both main characters).

five-stars

Review: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

Feb20

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: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia LevensellerDaughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #2
Published by Feiwel & Friends on February 27, 2018
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

I loved loved LOVED this book! It was just as good as the first book, if not better. I love this cast of characters and this world, and I’m sad to say goodbye. But I enjoyed going on this adventure with them so much – it’s hard to even put my thoughts and feelings into words.

Alosa was suuuper stubborn in the beginning, and I kinda wanted to smack the silly out of her at times, but I still adored her. I LOVED seeing more of her Siren side in this book. I wish we could have seen more yet, but it was still very cool.

Riden was just as adorable and cocky and hilarious in this book as the first. He went through a LOT of conflict and character growth, and I’m really happy with where his story ended.

I still shipped Alosa and Riden hard, but I wanted to see more of their relationship. I’m very satisfied with where things ended for them, don’t get me wrong – it holds the promise of more. But I wanted to SEE the “more.”

Two of my favorite secondary characters were Niridia and Mandsy. They’re kick-ass pirates and loyal friends. And they had some hilarious lines/moments.

The deaths in this book hit me like a punch to the gut. These characters are so incredible and so real that I felt their deaths just as deeply as Alosa did.

The writing definitely improved from book one to book two. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, the writing in Daughter of the Pirate King was a bit stilted and awkward. There was a LOT of improvement in Daughter of the Siren Queen.

The ending was sooooooo satisfying. I’m still sad to be leaving this world and these characters, but it was an incredible ending. I can’t wait to see what Tricia Levenseller does next!

I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who enjoyed the first book – you WON’T be disappointed with this incredible sequel! I’d also recommend it to those who love all things sirens, pirates (in general), Pirates of the Carribean, and kick-ass female heroines.

five-stars

Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Feb9
Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia LevensellerDaughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #1
Published by Feiwel & Friends on February 28, 2017
Pages: 308
Format: Hardcover
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five-stars

There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

I HATE myself for not reading this incredible book sooner! It was EPIC BEYOND WORDS! The plot and world were intriguing and entertaining. The characters were amazing – some of my favorite characters ever!!! I loved them and their relationships SO MUCH. So this review will mostly be about how epic they were.

Alosa was SO sassy. She has a fiery temper and a very sarcastic, dry sense of humor. She’s witty and clever and strong and stubborn and I could go on and on. She’s definitely ranking up there with Feyre, Alina, Celaena, Inej, Audrey Rose and – most recently – Odessa.

Riden was ridiculously hilarious, arrogant and cocky. I don’t think we were supposed to like or trust him in the beginning, but I 100% adored him from the second we met him.

I ship Alosa and Riden so hard, I can’t even put it into words. They are, without a doubt, in my Top Five Favorite Couples list, right up there with Feyre & Rhys, Alyssa & Morpheus, and Audrey Rose & Creswell. Their hilarious banter was absolute my favorite part of the book. I LIVED for the sass and snarl of their back-and-forth’s.

I really liked Enwen, even though we probably weren’t supposed to, since he was “with the enemy.” But he was kinder than some of the other pirates, and smarter than he let on. Plus, him being so superstitious was kinda cute.

Other characters I loved who deserve honorable mentions: Niridia, Mandsy, Sorinda, Zimah.

And then there’s the bad guys.. Man, did I despise Draxen and his crew (excluding Riden and Enwen, of course). And Theris and Vordan were EVIL beyond words. I’m still conflicted on how I feel about the Pirate King, though. He’s obviously not a nice guy, but there was something about him… I kind of want to learn more about him and his past. I can’t explain why, it’s just a weird feeling I have about him.

The only negative I encountered with this book was the writing. At times, it felt a bit stilted and awkward, but it wasn’t enough to be annoying or affect my enjoyment of the book. And I enjoyed literally everything else about this book, so it’s still a 5-star read!

So, yeah.. Overall, I loved this book SO MUCH, I’m sure my review was a babble-fest of fangirl. I could really kick myself for not reading it sooner, except now I have the sequel in my possession and can binge them soooooo, maybe things DO happen for a reason!

I definitely highly recommend this book for fans of pirates (in general), Pirates of the Carribean, and kick-ass female heroines. I’m anxious to see what will happen to these beloved characters in the next book! And I can’t wait to see what Tricia Levenseller writes in the future!!!

five-stars

Review: Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones

Feb5

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: Shadowsong by S. Jae-JonesShadowsong by S. Jae-Jones
Series: Wintersong #2
Published by Wednesday Books on February 6, 2018
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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three-stars

Six months after the end of Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can’t forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her.

When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King—who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world—or the ones Liesl loves—is in her hands?

I don’t even know how to start this review. My heart is broken – this book BROKE my heart. But not in a good way. It physically pains me to say that. I haven’t felt this crushed over a book since I read The Crown’s Fate last July – though One Dark Throne comes in at a close second. I mean.. Those of you who follow my blog know how much I LOVED Wintersong. Words can’t even describe my feelings for Wintersong – it was gorgeous and left me feeling breathless and dizzy. It spoke to me in ways no book ever has.

Shadowsong did none of that. It was.. confusing. I mean, like, Alyxandra Harvey-level confusing. For over half the book, I had no idea what was going on. I’ve seen other bloggers complain about the formatting of the US ARC (which is what I read), and that DEFINITELY contributed to the confusion. There were like… three (???) different stories happening and the breaks between sections/stories were super confusing. Maybe it’s less confusing in the finished copy? I can only hope…

I was completely detached from the characters in Shadowsong, which is weird and sucky because I LOVED them and felt for them in Wintersong, but in Shadowsong I just… didn’t. All the characters just fell flat in Shadowsong. The biggest disappointment was the Goblin King. I really didn’t care about the Goblin King’s past, and found those scenes so beyond boring, I almost started skimming them. And that makes me sad because I WANTED to care. But I just didn’t.

I can appreciate – and relate to (some of) the metaphors to mental illness (like Page 313). My detachment had nothing to do with that. It was just in general. I just didn’t care what happened to anyone. And I saw the ending coming a mile away – it was interesting, but completely predictable.

The writing was still elegant and lush, and the tone still had an old-time feel to it. And the book was intriguing enough at times that it kept me reading until the end. But overall, it just wasn’t what I expected or hoped for. I have a few other thoughts, but I don’t want to drag this review out anymore – it hurts too much. This book hasn’t changed my feelings about Wintersong, and I’ll still always love and support Wintersong and S. Jae-Jones. I think she’s an amazing writer and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

three-stars

Guest Review: Traveler by L.E. DeLano

Jan28

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: Traveler by L.E. DeLanoTraveler by L.E. DeLano
Series: Traveler #1
Published by Swoon Reads on February 7, 2017
Pages: 352
Source: the publisher
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four-half-stars

Jessa has spent her life dreaming of other worlds and writing down stories more interesting than her own, until the day her favorite character, Finn, suddenly shows up and invites her out for coffee. After the requisite nervous breakdown, Jessa learns that she and Finn are Travelers, born with the ability to slide through reflections and dreams into alternate realities. But it’s not all steampunk pirates and fantasy lifestyles—Jessa is dying over and over again, in every reality, and Finn is determined that this time, he’s going to stop it…This Jessa is going to live.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Traveler by L.E. DeLano!

You can find Lissa on Twitter!

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

~*~*~*~*~

This book was interesting and well written and I was truly invested in the characters. The magical concept was creative and has many possibilities.

The characters met one of my major requirements in a book, in that I liked them. I was rooting for them and wanted them to succeed. I adored Finn from the start. A couple of the other Jessas annoyed me from time to time with their actions, but Finn was always true.

And oh my, that ending! Definitely has you wanting to read the next one.

However, as interesting as the magic system was, it didn’t seem to always follow its own rules. Or maybe the rules didn’t completely make sense to me. At any rate, the writing and the characters mostly override this issue for me as far as enjoyability goes. But others might have a problem suspending their disbelief.

four-half-stars

Review: Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Jan26
Review: Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn MarshReign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Series: Reign of the Fallen #1
Published by Razorbill on January 23, 2018
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
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five-stars

Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

I’ve been in and out of a reading slump for nearly two years, so the list of books I’ve loved beyond words (within the time frame of said reading slump) is super small. Reign of the Fallen has made that list. Everything about this book was perfection. The characters were amazing. The plot was amazing. The world was amazing. The writing was amazing.

Basically, everything was amazing.

I’ll start with the world, which was well-developed, lush and intriguing, especially the Deadlands. It gave me major Xena vibes, which probably only makes sense to those who know a lot about Xena and how the Gods and the Underworld are portrayed. It also, (more) obviously, gave me major Greek mythology vibes, which you guys know I LOVE.

I also loved the setting, Karthia. I know it’s weird to like a place in the same way as you would a character, but it’s like Hogwarts or Narnia – it has a personality of its own, with its own rules and quirks. The whole idea that change is forbidden in Karthia was beyond intriguing, and made for some interesting side plots.

I really liked Odessa (Sparrow). She was a strong character who went through a lot of emotional turmoil. I liked the way we saw the stages of her grief. It felt realistic and relatable. She definitely ranks up there as one of my favorite heroines, along with Feyre, Alina, Celaena, Inej and Audrey Rose.

I LOVED Meredy so much. She reminded me of Jules from Three Dark Crowns, especially since she had Lysander, who reminded me of Cam. She was strong and fierce, like Sparrow, but more so. She was a fighter who refused to back down, and she was loyal to those she loved. She and Sparrow had major “hate to love” trope vibes and I was ALL FOR IT.

Another character I really liked was Valoria. I like that she’s a princess but also an inventor, going against the king by trying to bring about change – something that’s forbidden. She’s smart and independent, and stands up for her beliefs. I LOVE that she wears glasses. That’s not something you often see in fantasy books, and certainly not on a young princess – glasses are usually for old men and such. So, as someone who wears glasses (and has for MANY years), I found this very refreshing.

All the shippy feels to Simeon and Danial! I loved these two as the epic individual characters they were, but I also loved their relationship beyond words. Whereas Sparrow and Meredy were “love to hate” shippy goodness, Simeon and Danial were just FEELS FEELS FEELS.

Finally, I never liked or trusted a certain prince. That’s all I’ll say on that.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell (I mean… did you READ my review…?), I LOVED THIS BOOK BEYOND WORDS. I’m pretty sure my review was nothing but ramble, but there’s no way I can truly put my love for this book into actual words that people can comprehend – and trust me, I tried; I’ve been working on this review for FOUR DAYS and I STILL don’t think it’s good enough…

Anyway, back to the review!!

This book had an incredible world, incredible characters with lots of shippy feels, necromancers, rogue necromancers, and an Underworld reminiscent of Xena. If that’s not enough to get you to read, I don’t know what else to say.

Needless to say, I’m already counting down the days to the release of book two, and anything else Sarah Glenn Marsh ever writes. Ever. Period. Auto-Buy List forever.

five-stars

Review: One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake

Dec6

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: One Dark Throne by Kendare BlakeOne Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
Series: Three Dark Crowns #2
Published by HarperTeen on September 19, 2017
Pages: 464
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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four-stars

The battle for the crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, the elemental sister once thought to be the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.

Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must confront the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

Three Dark Crowns (book one in this series) was one of my favorite books in 2016. It was dark and delicious, and helped get me (temporarily) get out of a reading slump. While I still enjoyed One Dark Throne (as evidenced by the 4-star rating), it wasn’t as epic as Three Dark Crowns, and I was just a bit disappointed with how certain things ended.

First of all, apparently this is now a 4-book series? When originally it was a duology? I mean… I LOVED book one, but this doesn’t need to be a 4-book series. One Dark Throne was way too long and started to feel dragged out around page 300. After 300 pages, I was restless and bored, and just wanted to see how the story would end. But lo and behold, at the end of 464 pages, I still didn’t know how the story ended because it’s NOT ENDING YET. I have to get through two more books for that. Maybe I can chalk this up to “Second Book Syndrome,” since it’s now technically the second book. I’m still excited for book three, and can’t wait to see what happens next; however, I really wish this could be wrapped up in book three – I really don’t think it needs two more whole books to wrap up…

…Yet, at the same time? All I’ve thought about for the last week is being back in this world. I keep thinking “Gee, I want to go home and read Three Dark Crowns/One Dark Throne” – and then I realize I can’t because I finished them. So… Clearly I’m obsessed with these books and this world.

In Three Dark Crowns, Katharine was my favorite of the sisters. In One Dark Throne, Katharine was wicked and a little bit scary. I was very intrigued by what happened to her, and I was dying to see what would come of it. I’m a little surprised by the way her story ended, though, and I’m upset there wasn’t more resolution (due to the 4-book series thing). As intrigued as I was, though, Katharine wasn’t my favorite in this book…

…Mirabella was! I found her chapters the most compelling, and I found the elemental power most intriguing of the three. I really loved her character development and the way her story ended, and I can’t wait to see what happens next for her.

And, as was the case with the first book, Arsinoe was my least favorite. I’m intrigued by the revelation from book one, and it was interesting to see how that played out in this book. But I just wasn’t interested in her as a character at all. The only good thing about her chapters was Jules and Camden. Jules is still my absolute favorite character, and I really really REALLY want her to get her own book!

Despite the book lagging around page 300, the ending was epic and incredible and suspenseful and things happened that I didn’t see coming. Again, I’m still VERY excited for book three, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. If I’m right about this book having “second book syndrome,” then I have a feeling book three will be a wild ride!

I definitely still recommend this book to those who loved the first book, and those who are Kendare Blake fans. It wasn’t as epic as Three Dark Crowns, but it was still a fun read.

four-stars

Guest Review: Ally by Anna Banks

Nov5

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: Ally by Anna BanksAlly by Anna Banks
Series: Nemesis #2
Published by Feiwel & Friends on October 3, 2017
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

Princess Sepora of Serubel and King Tarik of Theoria have formed an uneasy truce between their kingdoms since the deadly plague began to rip through Theoria. Since their feelings for each other are entangled in politics and power, they must use their own trusted resources to find common ground.

But when traitors with powerful allies arise from unexpected places, Tarik and Sepora face challenges that will change both of their kingdoms forever. Will they learn whom to trust—including each other—in time to save their kingdoms, their relationship and even their lives?

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Ally by Anna Banks!

You can find Lissa on Twitter!

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

~*~*~*~*~

Ally picks up right where we left off in Nemesis (and thank goodness, because I was dying to know what happened next!) As we left our hero and heroine together but not, the story focuses on both their continued relationship struggles and the external political and societal issues. Sepora’s parents come into play in a big way and Sethos’ role increases as well.

There were plenty of swoonworthy and a few sob worthy moments and I was completely invested throughout the whole book. (I read it in nearly one sitting. If only I didn’t need sleep!) There were several twists and turns to keep you on your toes as well.

I will say that I almost want to take a star or half a star off for the new cover. I hate it. If Nemesis had a similar cover when it first came out, I may have skipped it (or waited a really long time to read it) because this cover is boring and unattractive. Luckily, I was already heavily invested in this world and a fan of the author’s writing, so the cover became irrelevant.

But the ending was completely satisfying with a heartwarming epilogue. Highly recommended for fantasy fans, and lovers of great characters. I look forward to seeing what Anna Banks will write next.

five-stars