Darling
I love this world! I love the Hesperines, Cassia, Lio, and Zoe...
The time for Cassia's gifting is finally here until an unexpected “guess” returns to Orthros with some news.
Blood Union: Part One takes us to the empire, searching for news about Solia. Lio is even more protective over Cassia, and I AM HERE FOR IT. But like that ending? I was scared for a minute there! I cannot wait for Blood Union: Part 2, but I'm also scared 🥺
I don't know if I should trust Monsoon.
To say that I've devoured this book is an understatement.
With the failure of Equinox Summit, Lio and Cassia has been separated. That 6 months is separation was absolutely TORTURE. But that REUNION? Yes, that was most definitely worth it. I love the Hesperines. I love Zoe. I love Lio's parents.
I still absolutely hate Cassia's father and I hope he rots in Hell.
There is so much obstacles that Cassia and Lio has to go through and I just hope they get through it together!
Things I love and there's quite A LOT.
• I love the world the Vela Roth has created. The world building was magnificent.
• I love the Hesperines.
• I love Lio and his gentleness.
• I love Cassia and her character development was AMAZING!
• I love Knight and the mysterious scent of his paws
• I love the romance. The passion between the MCs.
I'm not much for politics but this one was different, it wasn't boring, it was engaging in very aspect. Blood Mercy also made me blush, I mean that first hug? I was rejoicing for that hug! The Feast? I am here for that feast ♡ I love the moments between Lio and Cassia, I cherished those moments ♡
Things I didn't like. Well, I obviously didn't like her father (what a bastard) and everyone that mistreated Cassia. Did I mention her father can go to HELL.
“The people who change the world are the ones who decide it is up to them.”
“Success is not limited to one path.”
The Melody and The Master is another excellent standalone within the Book of All Things series. TMaTM is a marriage of convenience dark fantasy romance set in the Kingdom of the White Sea universe. The marriage between the characters is not your typical marriage (you'll see); what was lust turns into something more. An emotional rollercoaster read that broke my heart for Siofra & Des, for Stiofen & Pesha. Frustrated at particular decisions/character(s) while loving them simultaneously. Can it get more conflicted than that?
Desemir, Master of Shadowfen Hall, is broody with a dark secret that he carries, slowly killing him. He is consumed by self-loathing and guilt over what had happened. Des has the purest heart, but he just doesn't see it. He doesn't see that he DESERVES to be loved and happy. Des was a character that took a while for me to warm up to. I was very conflicted about how I felt about him because he does have the purest heart with good intentions, but there were also some things I wish he did differently. Des was a character that was so deep, and in the end, I loved his pure heart, his darkness, and everything about him.
“Because I love you exactly as you are. Never doubt it. Never change a thing.”
“You were enough for me. Even with all your faults, your strange desires, your unwillingness to accept real affection. You were enough.”
Siofra, our beautiful FMC, feels guilty because of what she is and what has happened in the past. She has lived in isolation and is terrified of her unrestrained dark magic. She hopes for a better life; therefore, she disappears inside books that promise a life she can never have. Siofra was a character that I had felt bad for from the beginning. I love her character development throughout the book. I love that she quickly solves the problem instead of complicating things. I love her acceptance of Des.
I love the sibling love between Siofra & Stiofen, Desemir & Pesha. The characters were all lovable (in their own ways). I love the acceptance that they have towards each other. I love this found family, their redemption and atonement. I love Siofra and Des and their acceptance of each other (emotional scars and all). That scene after the rescue? Upset is an understatement; I screamed in frustration, “closed” the book and walked away. The spice? SMC delivered on the spiciness of this book; it was HOT AF 🔥
The only thing missing (in my opinion) is maybe seeing #DESI with their baby in the epilogue. It would be the ultimate happiness (just saying). I am 100% rooting for #DESI and their happiness.
The Melody and The Master is a story of hope and acceptance because darkness can only be soothed, not contained.
“When a woman says no, she means no. It's not left open for your own interpretation.”
“Straighten your crown, dear girl. Face those who don't believe in you with pride in who you are.”
“Until this moment, this second, I hadn't realized that I had been looking for her my entire life.”
A Kingdom of Flame and Fury broke my heart in more ways than I can imagine. I fell in love with the characters. I wanted to wrap Zeke and Raven in a blanket so that I could protect them.
“There was nothing to fix. My broken pieces mattered.”
Raven. The beautiful, shape-shifting queen of Seolia. She will do anything to protect her kingdom and her loved ones. My heart breaks for her, for everything that she went through and is going through, for everything that she is feeling. All she ever wanted was to be chosen, to be loved, to be WANTED. Her past is slowly unraveling and she doesn't know who to trust.
“Some villains were born, but I would be made. I would be her devil to keep her protected.”
“I wanted all of her, inside and out, only her.”
Zeke. The mysterious Zeke got shadows of his own. My heart breaks for him as much as it's breaking for Raven. He became the villain for the one he loves to protect her even if it meant she ends up hating him.
“Protect me, but don't suffocate me.”
Cade wasn't even that bad until I learned more about him. He was Raven's constant, best friend, and advisor. Cade became obsessive and it wasn't even the good kind. It was okay to be protective over Raven but it wasn't okay to suffocate her.
Side characters that I adore: Arthur, Grace, Little Eva ♡
That ending. That achingly beautiful ending that I knew was coming but was not prepared for. Zeke and Raven have so many layers that we have yet to see and I can't wait to find out more about them in A Kingdom of Frost and Fear.
Sci-fi meets fantasy.
There's a war between the Imperium and the Techware.
Only Bad Options is the first installment of the Galactic Truebondseries. Its characters possess abilities known as psions. Psions give these characters abilities (e.g., telekinesis, telepathy, telempathy, seer, siphon, spelltech, etcetera). Only Bad Options is being told from Vesper and Kyrion's POV.
Vesper Quill is just a lowly lab rat who designs brewmakers (which I love) and other household appliances in the R&D lab at Kent Corp. She's a seer with a photographic memory, so when she discovers a design flaw and a safety hazard in the new line of Kent Corp starcruisers, she pays the ultimate price of getting eliminated. Just when things couldn't get worse, she meets Kyrion Caldaren, leader of Arrows, who strikes fear in people's hearts across the Archipelago Galaxy. Kyrion insists that the two have a connection that could lead to their death.
Only Bad Options is plot driven with romance as its subplot. The pew-pew action? Intense. The chemistry between Kyrion and Vesper? I LOVE IT.Vesper and Kyrion each have a history that has shaped them into who they are. They both WANT that connection because they've been so alone for so long, but as I mentioned, the romance is a subplot, so of course, Vesper and Kyrion kept stamping on my poor heart. I feel for both of them, for what they've both been through.
Vesper's mother is a POS. Lord Callus Holloway is a LEECH.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone that likes sci-fi mixed with fantasy and soul mates. I'm not sure if I would categorize them as enemies to lovers since Vesper and Kyrion weren't enemies, to begin with. They just didn't like each other but were forced to work together thanks to an arcane, unwanted quirk of psionic magic. I wish we saw more of Tivona Winslow because I liked her character, and Daichi because tipsy Daichi is funny. I'm hoping we see more of them in the following sequels.
Only Bad Options left me with many questions, and I cannot wait for book two because I just needed more.
❝ We are more than curses and dark premonitions. ❞ ❝ I may be able to crush your spine right here in front of the other sniveling bastards, but I won't. Instead, I will drag your ass to the dungeons and leave you to my woman. She's brilliant and beautiful and she'll do far worse to you. She can do whatever the fuck she wants. ❞ Please look for TW before reading this book Ellea gets kidnapped and taken to Hel by Asmodeus in hopes of having his son (Ros) return home. Ros will do anything to get Ellea back, and nothing will stand in his way — not his father, Hel, and even the Gods. What he doesn't realize is that Ellea never really needed saving. While in Hel, Ellea misses Ros, her friends, and her family, but she can't shake off the feeling that she's exactly where she needs to be. ❝ I will always worry, I will always want to protect you, and I will always be in awe of you. ❞ ❝ Love her, tell her how you feel, get her parents, and then love her some more. ❞ Ros and Ellea are MEANT 👏🏼 TO 👏🏼 BE 👏🏼. She's got him wrapped around her fingers — he knows it, she knows it. Their chemistry is 🔥. I love that they are both so possessive/obsessed with each other. I loved Ellea in Tricky Magic, but I love her even MORE in this book. I love her tenacity and her mischievous adventures in Hel. Ros, our brute demon witch prince, is as drool-worthy as ever. Ellea was not the only one drooling when our princeling stepped into his position of being the crown prince of Hel when you know he has to act as the prince that he is. He is taking his small steps toward his demon side, and I cannot wait to learn more about him and why he doesn't like that side of him to be unleashed. I love that Ellea and Ros both ACCEPT each other wholeheartedly. Human Garm is 🥵 (lucky Billy indeed). I love Daddy Azzy, Duhne, and Florence; even Cara and that vampire leader (Stephen or something) weren't that bad. I love this found family. ♡ Belias can stay where he's at for all I care. That ending got me screaming; then there's that epilogue. I cannot wait for more until then; see you later, witches! If you like: ✶ Shadow Play ✶ Found Family ✶ Witches/Demons/Supernaturals ✶ Amazing Familiars ✶ Brutish MMC ✶Badass FMC ✶ Smut Tricky Princess might be the book for you.
“My life has been spent looking for ways to change, ways to control this monster that I am destined to become. And I am getting tired of it.” - Tricky Magic follows Ellea and Ros's POV; I love a book with a dual POV. Ellea is a trickster witch and a seer who struggles with her power. She's lived her life in the shadow of her parents' infamous attempted destruction. After her latest “outburst,” she runs to Glenover, which used to be a haven for her as a child. Once there, she meets Rosier, half-witch, half-demon, who agrees to help her improve her magic. While in Glenover, Ellea realizes that there is much more she needs to learn about the supernaturals.
“I would have done anything just to have your hands on me, hurting me, caressing me. You could have done whatever you wanted, and I would have thanked you for it.”
“I'm still torn between killing her and dragging her to bed.”
I LOVE IT! The characters? The smut? The Plot? It has everything I was looking for and more. Ellea and Rosier are both complex characters with troubled pasts. I love that Ellea LOVES reading (preferably smut), loves the feel of a good book, and loves her coffee. I ADORE her sassy familiar Billy, a 150lb fluffy black dog. We all need a Billy in our lives. I love Rosier and his jealousness. I love his chemistry with Ellea and their attraction to each other that they absolutely cannot resist. I love their fights, banters, and flirtations that turn into fights that turn into more flirting, which leads to more fighting and other things (🔥). I love how Ellea and Ros are such straight-to-the-point characters, no dilly-dallying.
I ADORE Gram. I love the wolven community, Sam and Devon. I love ALL of the characters (except Ellea's parents and Bellias).
If you are a fan of dark romance, shadow play, moody powerful witches, drool-worthy MMC, demons, smut (that involves multiple people in one scenario), magical house (that has a mind of its own), sassy adorable familiars, found family, wolven shifters, and so much more. Tricky Magic might be the book for you.
And once you're fully invested in the story, it ends with a cliffhanger; therefore, see you in hel.
“Humans laid it bare. They were loud and expressive and unapologetic.”
Never trust.
Never yield.
Always guard your heart. _
The Serpent and the Wings of Night is a book full of action with just the right amount of spice. This world was fascinating. The plot? The characters? The tropes? The slow burn? The banter? The battle? I LOVE IT ALL. Each battle was more intense than the last. It depicted vampires as they genuinely are: creatures who get consumed with bloodlust.
Oraya lives in a world designed to kill her, to become something more than prey; she enters the Kejari, a legendary tournament (to the death) held by the goddess of death. To survive, she allies with Raihn, an enemy to her father's crown, but she's oddly drawn to him.
I fell in love with Oraya and Raihn's characters, who longs for what the other has (him longing for humanity, while she longs to be as strong as a vampire). Both are such deep characters with layers to uncover. I enjoyed their chemistry and their banter. They understood each other in a sense that no one else could. Did I mention that I love Raihn's wings? I mean, the colors are magnificent.
I liked Vincent; he was not the best, but he also was not the worse. I also really like Mische. I hope to see more of her.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night broke my heart, mended it, then broke it again. The ending was crazy. It was full of surprises that I did not see coming. Who's to say who the real villain is when the characters fall into a gray area?
I cannot wait to see what the next book entails. I am hoping for the best but expecting the worse (plotwise as in my heart getting ripped to pieces) because it all came crashing down when I thought I was on the verge of happiness. We went from enemies to lovers to enemies.
Equality does not exist, does it? This Woven Kingdom will have you swooning for Kamran and raging for Alizeh. Alizeh is an intelligent and badass FMC. She's a complete badass that will kick your arse if necessary, but she's got the heart of gold. She does not let her conditions tear her down.
“It was not the burden of her work or that pain in her hands that broke her — it was the loneliness.”
I'm mad for her, for how she's been treated, and I'm sad for her, for how alone and lonely she must be. My heart broke for Alizeh.
Then, there's Kamran, the prince of Ardunia, who is entirely captivated by Alizeh. He simps for her, and I'm here for it. I enjoyed every minute that Alizeh and Kamran got to spend together.
This Woven Kingdom has excellent worldbuilding with revelations I did not see coming. The forbidden romance was TDF. That ending? Yup, I cannot wait to see what These Infinite Threads have in store for us.
❝I might be the forge maiden, but I am no delicate flower. I am as cold as silver. As strong as iron. I will bend for destiny, but not for any man.❞
❝Nothing cuts deeper than hope.❞
❝Knowing when to accept help is a sign of strength, not weakness.❞
❝Every step is progress, even if we can't see it in the moment.❞
Floriane is the forge maiden. Her skills arm and protect the Hunter's Hamlet against the vampires. Her entire life has been set for her; she knows her place and is a faithful servant to Master Hunter and Hunter's Hamlet until the night of the blood moon. Until her brother is dying at the hands of the Vampire Lord Ruvan. But Ruvan doesn't want her dead; he wants her.
Kidnapped and brought to the vampire castle, Floriane becomes blood sworn to the vampire lord. What if everything you knew was wrong? Ruvan isn't the fiend that Flor thought he was. Flor discovers the truth about the vampires, about the ancient curse that brought forth suffering in both Flor and Ruvan's lives.
✑ I love the fight that Floriane has in her. I love her character development. The drive she's got once she has her sight set on it. When she found her freedom, she took it. She's conflicted about A LOT of things but knows what she wants; therefore, she goes for it.
✑ Ruvan was a shock at first sight. Most books would have MCs looking outright gorgeous when you first meet them well; our Lord Ruvan was the opposite. I did not expect him to look like that. I'm not saying he's not gorgeous because he truly is, just not the first time I met him.
❝I will never allow harm to come to you.❞
❝You touch her again, and there will be consequences.❞
✑ A Duel with the Vampire Lord broke my heart and mended it together. I love the chemistry and banter between Flor and Ruvan. The “touch her, and you die” trope!!! I love Ruvan's inner circle even though Venos has a temper, and Quinn is Quinn. I enjoyed the world-building and the fight scenes. A Duel with the Vampire Lord is a story of hope, where loyalties are tested and the lines between truth and lie, hate and passion, are blurred.
“You are worthy of that love, from me, from others, and from yourself.”
“You were always worthy.”
“For even trying to touch her, I condemn you to death.”
“I am whole and broken and mending.”__
Katria Applegate vowed to never fall in love, for love is pain. She knew that her hand in marriage would be sold off but she didn't expect that her buyer was a fae prince. All she wants is a better life than what she's leaving behind.
Katria's character development is EVERYTHING. She has been through so much growing up that she's shielded herself from love. My heart aches for her, but I am so, so happy that she found a place where she belongs. She's still mending, still learning. Katria is slowly learning what love truly is, what it's like to matter.
Davien is swoon worthy. I love his chemistry with Katria. There isn't much I can say without spoiling the book.
I also really liked the second characters (Shaye, Giles, Oren and Hol). Raph is the cutest kid(Fae) EVER!
Overall, I really enjoyed A Dance with the Fae Prince and it's take on the Cinderella retelling. I enjoyed the character development, the characters and the happy ending ♡
“Love can mean many things to many people.”“There's nothing I wouldn't do for you. Even if it hurt me. Even if it destroyed me.”“To destroy you would be to destroy us both.”
Content Warnings: Violence, death, murder, SA, child abuse, cheating from a secondary character, memory loss, parental abuse, trauma (none of the aforementioned occur between MCs)
Rhiainach Skylark is spoiled and vain. There isn't anything that she couldn't attain. The dark spots in her memory are tucked away with all the unpleasant things in her life. Rhiain's terrible mistake brings her world crashing around her. Her father punishes her by training her as one of his prized assassins. Then one day, a chance encounter changed everything in her life. Everything she knows. Everything she feels. Everything she is.
Asterin Evedane claims to know the truth behind Rhiain's dark spots. She has come to accept that there is much more to these gaps than her understanding of the past. But could she trust him? After all, he is the son of the enemy.
✑ Rhiain has been through a lot, and I mean A LOT. She went through such a traumatic event; then, she gets betrayed by the people she loves. I love the character developments between Rhiain, Asterin, and Tyr. Rhiain and Asterin FINALLY stood up against their family. If you could call that family.Tyr, poor Tyr. I take some of what I said about him. He has redeemed himself. I love Sesto. We all need a Sesto in our lives. I love this found family. This CHOSEN family.
✑ Asterin, my sweet, sweet Asterin gets along with almost everything but will DESTROY THE WORLD FOR RHIAIN. I love his protectiveness over Rhiain. I love that he is all about CHOICE because it was all about choice when it came Rhiain.
“Heart of my heart. Soul of my soul. My beginning and my end and everything in between.”
✑ I love the chemistry between Rhiain and Asterin. I AM ALL HERE FOR RHISTERIN ❤
✑ The Altruist and The Assassin gave me everything I wanted. It's full of mystery, twists, and turns you would not expect. There was only one instance where my guess was correct; otherwise, I was in for a shock. It's got all the tropes I never knew I needed. A story about two fated souls thrust back into each other's paths once more. Rhiain and Asterin's journey to get their happy ending was not easy.
Tropes that I love from TAATA:
- Force Proximity
- Age Difference
- Enemies to Lover
- Found Family
- Fated Love
- Redemption
Spice: 🌶🌶 .5 out of 5
SMC DELIVERED.
❝ Prince or no prince, he had no right commenting on how she ate. ❞
❝ Sometimes love can be a curse. It can be a prison. Or a death sentence. ❞
❝ I guess what I meant to say earlier was, I would like to be there for you. However, you'd like me to be. ❞
🪶 Twin Crowns follows the adventure of Wren Greenrock and Rose Valhart. Twin sisters who got separated at birth after their parents' murder were raised into entirely different worlds.
Wren Greenrock grew up knowing that she has a twin sister. She was trained to steal her sister's place in the palace from birth. She will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves.
Princess Rose Valhart is the exact opposite of Wren. She grew up without the knowledge of having a twin and was thought that witches were to be feared. She did not let anything get in the way of her royal duty and was set to be wed into a brutal kingdom until, of course, one day, she woke up in the middle of the desert in the company of a highly impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper.
🪶 I enjoyed Rose and Wren's POV. Both have their personality, and you can certainly tell the difference. Wren is reckless while Rose is more careful. The reunion between the two was EVERYTHING. I could feel the sisterly love even though they had just got reunited. I enjoyed seeing Rose's character development. I am so glad she finally saw through all the crap Willem Rathborne fed her. I love Wren's personality and her sorta kinda recklessness.
Shen and Rose's chemistry was too cute! I love Shen Lo. I love Rose.
Forbidden love. I am here for Wren's forbidden love, but I am DEVASTATED. WTF was that kind of ending? Hissing seaweeds. She deserves more than what she got! Wren did not deserve that kind of treatment. I thought maybe that there might be a chance, maybe there is? I mean, he did leave Elske (an adorable wolf) to her. Here's me hoping there's still a chance at that forbidden love.
Side note. The hair thing was just WEIRD. You know Ansel's hair.
“Never forget that knowledge is your greatest weapon.”
“When terrible things have happened to you, sometimes the promise of something good can be just as frightening.”
This is one of those books I bought because of the cover; I had no idea what it was about.
Elisabeth Scrivener grew up believing that all sorcerers are evil. Scrivener is an apprentice at one of the Austermeer's Great Libraries, where they house magical grimoires. A freaking living, breathing grimoire that can turn into a Malefict, which is a whole lot of nightmare. When one of the most dangerous grimoires turned into a Malefict, Elisabeth intervened and destroyed the Malefict; however, this action implicates her in the crime.
Nathaniel Thorn, a young Magister and heir to the house of Thorn. A handsome, depressed guy who is sometimes broody and too busy for anything. Nathaniel lives a lonely life; his only companion is Silas. EVERYONE, I mean EVERYONE, is in his business. Like, just let him be. I love Silas. For some reason, Silas and Nathaniel's relationship reminds me of Black Butler... Like why? I don't even know.
“You're enough for me the way you are, Nathaniel Thorn. I want nothing more.”“God, Elisabeth, I've been doomed since the moment I watched you smack a fiend off my carriage with a crowbar.”
I adore Nathaniel. Elisabeth is a total badass. Nathaniel and Elisabeth's relationship is one of the most innocent relationships I've ever seen. I am just happy that they've got each other. It's probably just me, but I love how Nathaniel BELIEVES in Elisabeth.
The grimoires and Malefict are both disgusting in a nightmarish kind of way. But did I tear up a little for the grimoires during that one scene? Yes, I did. The way that ended, what in the heck! OMG! I needed an epilogue after that.
“I will show you my genuine remorse and my true heart, my lady if you will allow it.”
“He would protect her above all else, above his own life, above the well-being of the realms.”
“The way he ignores everyone else like you're the only person in the entire world”
Stolen by the Shadow King is a spin-off but can be read immediately. It's a Hades/Persephone inspired with a twist because there are dragon shifters, fae, shadow elves, witches, etc.
So, Maren and Kynan's world is ending, and to save both realms Maren must bind her power with the king. But then another shadow lord shows up and steals the key to Kynan's power and demands Maren's hand in marriage. She fights alongside Kynan and her found family to take back what was taken but will there be enough time to save the realms without sacrificing her heart?
Maren is a human witch and able to communicate with the spirits. She's a strong heroine that will do anything for her found family. I love the found family aspect and their love for each other. The friendship is just perfect.
High King Kynan is our amazing MMC that is most definitely a gentleman (or gentle elf?). He cares for his people and his people respect and cares for him. I absolutely ADORE him. He is affectionate in all ways possible.
I'd like to point out that there wasn't anything steamy in this book. There were some sweet moments but not full-on steam so I guess I'd say it's 2 out of 5 peppers. The fighting scene was so intense and I absolutely love that Maren's found family was there for her. Maren is a strong heroine because of her willingness to do anything for her loved ones. That fucking ending broke my heart! Are you fucking kidding me? After all that? I most definitely cannot wait for the next book which comes out at the end of the month.
❝ And when you find your soul mate, you can't just curl up in a ball and decide to skip it because you've hit a little roadblock. ❞
❝ You're my life. You're the only part of it I want. ❞
❝ People hurt each other all the time without meaning to. It doesn't have to be malicious. ❞
✶ So this is where I stop because I'm actually attached to both Quinn and Nick. This was the love story that I didn't think I'd get attached to, but, I did so here we are. From what I've seen book 3 and 4 are different characters. Maybe I'll read it someday? Who knows.
✶ I love the double plot twist, which was quite the revelation. I can't say this enough but I love love love the chemistry between Nick and Quinn. I love Nick's protectiveness/possessiveness. TBH, I love that they CRAVE each other. This was a very nice conclusion for Quinn and Nick. Those two deserve each other and more. Just imagine, finding that person, the one, over and over in different lifetimes. That's the kind of love Quinn and Nick have. A love so deep that even though the universe tries to keep them apart, they still find each other. Quinn and Nick are DESTINED for each other. THEY ARE THE DEFINITION OF SOULMATES. I honestly wish there was another book about them with them (the ones you see on the bonus chapter), just one more book. I feel like there's so much more questions to be answered.
✶ I am gonna miss Nick and Quinn.
❝ What's worse than the bad wind is the emptiness of letting nothing in at all.❞
❝ The person you're meant to be with. The one who accepts you in spite of everything and matters so much that the rest of the world matters less.❞
✶ Can you imagine having a dream so realistic then you wake up to find a different reality?
✶ Well Quinn has had a dream of being married to a doctor name Nick ever since she was a child. It had stop for a little while until it that dream occurred again just weeks before she's about to get married to a completely different guy. Her dreams feel so real that she longs for Nick.
✶ So what if that dream becomes reality? As in, she meets Nick in person and knows everything about him as if they've been together forever. Oh and it just so happens Nick has been dreaming about Quinn as well.
✶ I love love the time travel aspect of this book. I love the chemistry between Nick and Quinn. Was I a little upset that it took her forever to finally decide what she wanted. Like, come on, you know who and what you want, Quinn. I am here for Nick and Quinn, so no one, I mean no one better rip them apart (again). But I have a bad feeling.
❝ The truth often hurts, but it is still the truth. ❞❝ Anyone who harms you will be no more, that is my promise to you. ❞
Hanna Heikkinnen's estranged father just died, so she goes to Northern Finland for his funeral. But she discovers that her father's body is missing, and all kinds of strange shit start happening. On the verge of all that, a mysterious man named Rasmus tells her the truth about her father and that he went into Tuonela (The Realm of the Dead) to barter for more life. And so, Hanna ventures to Tuonela with Rasmus to rescue her father from Tuoni, the God of Death.
I love this book. The world-building is fantastic. Hanna is a badass; she's got fire in her. I LOVE Tuoni and his filthy mouthIYKYK and EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM!
Sarvi is awesome so are Lovia and Bell. I don't know if I trust Hanna's dead maiden (entirely).
Bonus points on the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book.
❝ You are the weaver of your own fate. ❞
❝ If it was not love that rewrote the stars, it was not love worth having. ❞
❝ Touch a thread on her dress and it will be the last time you use your hand. ❞
✶ The Last Daughter is a fresh retelling of Norse mythology with magic. It follows Ailsa and Vali's POV, which I absolutely love because we get to see both MCs POV.
✶ Ailsa becomes the last daughter from a long line of shieldmages after losing her entire family. She's suffers from a fatal illness and is cursed with a dead witch's power when she becomes the Tether.
✶ Vali, a heartless powerful demigod, born for revenge and redemption. His path is written for him. His realm is dying and to save it he must deliver the Tether to Odin.
✶ Let me just say that I devoured this book. I love the dynamic between Ailsa and Vali. A path has already been written for them and they both just kind of said “we're making our own path, our own faith.” I knew I was going to like Ailsa from the very beginning, she's tenacious and strong willed. I am happy for the adventure that she found, the love that rewrote the stars when she met Vali, sweet Vali. I ADORE HIM. I love the vulnerability that he shows towards Ailsa. Ailsa definitely has him wrap around her fingers. He knows it, she knows it, we know it ♡
✶ That epilogue? Yeah that was something. Like what?!? Noooo.... Just leave them alone please!!!
✶ THREE THINGS: ERICK SUCKS. SORRIN BROKE MY HEART. I LIKE SEELA
✶ If you like: ↬ Strong willed FMC ↬ Morally Grey MC ↬ Norse Mythology ↬ Enemies to lover ↬ An adventure of a lifetime Well you might just like this book. But seriously READ IT!
❝ Don't be afraid of who you are. Say what you wish. Be who you wish. Don't try to be someone else. ❞❝ I think that when you care enough for someone, you reach a point where it's far more painful not to have him at all than to have him and risk losing him. ❞❝ You realize the risk is worth it. Because happiness, however short-lived, is always worth it. ❞❝ It is your body to do with as you will. ❞❝ Because in you, I found my match. In you, I found my equal. ❞
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Rate: ★ ★ ★ ★ ¾
✑ I enjoyed The Shadow Between Us more than I expected. When the first sentence of the book starts with that? Who wouldn't be intrigued?
✑ I love Alessandra Stathos and her antiques. She's clever and oh she makes the most amazing clothing designs. She's a woman with a goal, who gives zero shits what anyone or her father thinks. It's simple really:
· Woo the king
· Marry the king
· Kill the king
At least that's what her plans were until it all changes.
✑ The Shadow King is a whole lot of mystery. His ability is TDF. Kallias Maheras is swoon-worthy, I love him and his shadows. I love the idea behind giving up the shadows for THE ONE, that one true love he was willing to die for.
✑ I did not see that twist. Did anyone? That ending. That speech everything leading to that ending? My heart just ached, it broke. I need more. I need to see them be wed and all that.
“He's lying to his entire country. If you think he's not above lying to us, you need to pay attention.”
A Heart So Fierce and Broken threw me off guard because of the change in POV. The book follows Lia Mara (a new character) and Grey's POV. It follows Grey's journey from the time he disappeared from Ironrose.
Politics. Gossip. Drama.
Grey, the rumored true heir of Emberfall. I love his character, I definitely enjoyed him in A Curse So Dark and Lonely but I feel like instead of character development, he went the opposite way in this book, or maybe we are just seeing how he truly is?. It is a little complicated. I do like that we are seeing more of him, more than just being a guardsman.
Lia Mara, the eldest daughter of Karis Luran. She's clever and compassionate. She wants what's best for Syhl Shallow except without the kill everyone kind of vibe.I'd like to point out that she enjoys reading!
Absolutely loved Iisak, Tycho, Noah, and Jake... I have to admit that I was not a big fan of Nolla Verin at first but SHE DID GROW ON ME. Also still absolutely dislike Karis Luran, I mean she's just heartless.
Prince Rhen! Why are we making poor decisions here?!?!? Is forgiveness so far-fetched? Rhen's actions definitely make him look like a coward, a heartless crown prince in my opinion, I tolerated Rhen on ACSDAL but now, I don't like him that much....
A Heart So Fierce and Broken felt a little slow in some areas. I actually had to use the audiobook to get through some of it (I do have to say that I was not a big fan of the audiobook version of this book). BUT it did get quite interesting towards the end and now I can't wait to see what book 3 has to offer.
First of all, let me just say that I bought this book (this series) without knowing what it's about. A Curse so Dark and Lonely gave me the beauty and the beast vibes and I didn't even know that it was a beauty and the beast retelling.
A Curse so Dark and Lonely follows the POV of Harper of Disi (DC) and Rhen, the heir of the throne of Emberfall. Harper is from Washington DC while Rhen is from another place (a fantasy world called Emberfall). I'm not entirely sure if it's another universe or a rift?
Rhen has a very lonely life because of the curse BUT he does seem like an arrogant prince who was an ass (maybe?) prior to the curse, which he admits by the way. I do like his current sweet personality which would make anyone swoon.
Let's talk about Harper. Harper has her badassery moments and she's compassionate. Like there are definitely some choices she made that I would not have chosen. Harper has bell palsy and I truly understand why she's conscious about her disability, but honestly, IT DOES NOT DEFINE HER, and I'm glad for the development.
I absolutely love Grey (Rhen's commander) but I also really like Rhen. I like them both. SILVER HELLS! I just wanted Rhen and Harper to be together... Then there's that ending, I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS (and I hope it gets answered in book 2).