Jerry Cooke
3.5⭐️ - A step into a world split by centuries of conflict and a hidden world of cursed fae.
When Yeeran is disgraced in her first outing as general, her lover and war chief has no choice but to exhale her from elven lands. Followed by her sister Lettle, as well as her similarly disgraced captain Rayan, she tries to find safety amidst the wilds. When she kills a magical beast bonded to a fae prince, she becomes caught up in the court politics and rivalries within the hidden city of that culture, one that for over a thousand years has been said to be gone.
This was an interesting story with some good lore and world building, but while I enjoyed it, it didn't feel massively gripping to me. The relationships between the various characters are well done, especially in terms of the two separate yet intertwined narratives of Yearn and Lettle (handled in switching PoVs). Likewise, the magic is well thought out, and the systems interesting. I'm hoping that the second book will tie things up in a more thrilling story, because there's a lot of potential here.
Originally posted at www.tiktok.com.
3.5⭐️ - A step into a world split by centuries of conflict and a hidden world of cursed fae.
When Yeeran is disgraced in her first outing as general, her lover and war chief has no choice but to exhale her from elven lands. Followed by her sister Lettle, as well as her similarly disgraced captain Rayan, she tries to find safety amidst the wilds. When she kills a magical beast bonded to a fae prince, she becomes caught up in the court politics and rivalries within the hidden city of that culture, one that for over a thousand years has been said to be gone.
This was an interesting story with some good lore and world building, but while I enjoyed it, it didn't feel massively gripping to me. The relationships between the various characters are well done, especially in terms of the two separate yet intertwined narratives of Yearn and Lettle (handled in switching PoVs). Likewise, the magic is well thought out, and the systems interesting. I'm hoping that the second book will tie things up in a more thrilling story, because there's a lot of potential here.
Originally posted at www.tiktok.com.
3.5⭐️ - A step into a world split by centuries of conflict and a hidden world of cursed fae.
When Yeeran is disgraced in her first outing as general, her lover and war chief has no choice but to exhale her from elven lands. Followed by her sister Lettle, as well as her similarly disgraced captain Rayan, she tries to find safety amidst the wilds. When she kills a magical beast bonded to a fae prince, she becomes caught up in the court politics and rivalries within the hidden city of that culture, one that for over a thousand years has been said to be gone.
This was an interesting story with some good lore and world building, but while I enjoyed it, it didn't feel massively gripping to me. The relationships between the various characters are well done, especially in terms of the two separate yet intertwined narratives of Yearn and Lettle (handled in switching PoVs). Likewise, the magic is well thought out, and the systems interesting. I'm hoping that the second book will tie things up in a more thrilling story, because there's a lot of potential here.
3.5⭐️ - A step into a world split by centuries of conflict and a hidden world of cursed fae.
When Yeeran is disgraced in her first outing as general, her lover and war chief has no choice but to exhale her from elven lands. Followed by her sister Lettle, as well as her similarly disgraced captain Rayan, she tries to find safety amidst the wilds. When she kills a magical beast bonded to a fae prince, she becomes caught up in the court politics and rivalries within the hidden city of that culture, one that for over a thousand years has been said to be gone.
This was an interesting story with some good lore and world building, but while I enjoyed it, it didn't feel massively gripping to me. The relationships between the various characters are well done, especially in terms of the two separate yet intertwined narratives of Yearn and Lettle (handled in switching PoVs). Likewise, the magic is well thought out, and the systems interesting. I'm hoping that the second book will tie things up in a more thrilling story, because there's a lot of potential here.
Added to listOwnedwith 8 books.
4.25⭐️ - Another cute and cosy visit to Maple Hollow as we see Iris and Ramona join forces on a paranormal mystery!
Iris is the apothecary witch who lives and works with Jordyn (the partner of Harrow, from the first book) and has been feeling a little left out lately with the pair in the throes of their new relationship. It's hard to be the third wheel to your best friend. So when Ramona, the cold and calculating demon she made a deal with last year for information, appears seeking help with a mystery, Iris is more than happy to play Watson to her Holmes. Especially if she can manage to get another of those kisses she's not been able to stop thinking about since last year.
This was just as fun and sweet as Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist and I loved seeing Iris and Ramona banter with each other. They're a pairing the work really well and as their dual perspectives flow through the book, we get to see all of the familiar faces from our last visit. Agnes, the vampire with a nutmeg allergy. Wyatt, the warewolf pack alpha with a thing for Harrow's sister. Billy, the Frankenstein-esque mayor of the town. The whole gang makes for a great found family and a lovely story to follow.
I'm so glad that Ali and Elle are writing more in this world, because it's the cutest paranormal fun!
4.25⭐️ - Another cute and cosy visit to Maple Hollow as we see Iris and Ramona join forces on a paranormal mystery!
Iris is the apothecary witch who lives and works with Jordyn (the partner of Harrow, from the first book) and has been feeling a little left out lately with the pair in the throes of their new relationship. It's hard to be the third wheel to your best friend. So when Ramona, the cold and calculating demon she made a deal with last year for information, appears seeking help with a mystery, Iris is more than happy to play Watson to her Holmes. Especially if she can manage to get another of those kisses she's not been able to stop thinking about since last year.
This was just as fun and sweet as Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist and I loved seeing Iris and Ramona banter with each other. They're a pairing the work really well and as their dual perspectives flow through the book, we get to see all of the familiar faces from our last visit. Agnes, the vampire with a nutmeg allergy. Wyatt, the warewolf pack alpha with a thing for Harrow's sister. Billy, the Frankenstein-esque mayor of the town. The whole gang makes for a great found family and a lovely story to follow.
I'm so glad that Ali and Elle are writing more in this world, because it's the cutest paranormal fun!
5⭐️ - An absolutely phenomenal and atmospheric standalone story in a Scottish inspired world of conflict and magic!
Grey Flynn is tethered to Keir Seward - almost never apart, emotionally or physically. As his hand and well of power, she defends him body and soul. As her mage, his powers on the battlefield rely on her, neither of them being able to call on magic without the other. The true connection, since childhood, goes far beyond what anyone suspects, something that they have worked hard to conceal. When they're placed in charge of accompanying a mystery child to their High Lord across the country, they find themselves in close proximity with others who might soon deduce the truth.
This was a fantastic story - a deep magic system and world building, fantastic lore and history, and bones of family and friendship that run deep. The core relationship between Grey and Keir forms the bulk of the story, but there's so much of the world shown, the complex political relationships, and the way responsibilities fall upon them all. The sumptuous environmental descriptions evoke so much of the landscape of Scotland and it was utterly gorgeously laid out.
I loved that it was a queer-normative world, with Grey and Keir both being pansexual, their companion mage Brit being non-binary, and their Tepic (unpowered) guard Eron being trans. No big thing was ever made of it, a casual mention of transitioning a few years prior to the story and knowing themself better. I want this to be more common in books, because why should a fantasy world perpetuate the heteronormative state of reality when it could be so much more open. I've got so much time for V.L. Bovlino writing like that.
The audiobook was a joy to listen to, with Samara MacLaren providing a soft Scottish lilt that was smooth to the ear. Honestly, I'd listen to her read the phonebook, so lovely. This is the first in a trilogy of interconnected standalone novels and I'm really excited to see where she goes with the next one and which characters she focuses on!
5⭐️ - An absolutely phenomenal and atmospheric standalone story in a Scottish inspired world of conflict and magic!
Grey Flynn is tethered to Keir Seward - almost never apart, emotionally or physically. As his hand and well of power, she defends him body and soul. As her mage, his powers on the battlefield rely on her, neither of them being able to call on magic without the other. The true connection, since childhood, goes far beyond what anyone suspects, something that they have worked hard to conceal. When they're placed in charge of accompanying a mystery child to their High Lord across the country, they find themselves in close proximity with others who might soon deduce the truth.
This was a fantastic story - a deep magic system and world building, fantastic lore and history, and bones of family and friendship that run deep. The core relationship between Grey and Keir forms the bulk of the story, but there's so much of the world shown, the complex political relationships, and the way responsibilities fall upon them all. The sumptuous environmental descriptions evoke so much of the landscape of Scotland and it was utterly gorgeously laid out.
I loved that it was a queer-normative world, with Grey and Keir both being pansexual, their companion mage Brit being non-binary, and their Tepic (unpowered) guard Eron being trans. No big thing was ever made of it, a casual mention of transitioning a few years prior to the story and knowing themself better. I want this to be more common in books, because why should a fantasy world perpetuate the heteronormative state of reality when it could be so much more open. I've got so much time for V.L. Bovlino writing like that.
The audiobook was a joy to listen to, with Samara MacLaren providing a soft Scottish lilt that was smooth to the ear. Honestly, I'd listen to her read the phonebook, so lovely. This is the first in a trilogy of interconnected standalone novels and I'm really excited to see where she goes with the next one and which characters she focuses on!
4.5⭐️ - Another wonderful journey into romantasy in the world of Bride, with strong bonds of found family!
Serena has spent months keeping herself in isolation after she revealed her existence as a human/werewolf hybrid to the world. This is an isolation that she has enforced on herself without telling anyone close to her why - certainly not her sister Misery or her mate. When an attack means she's not safe to stay alone, she gets forced into close proximity with Cohen, the tall, dark, and moody alpha of the North West pack, and finds that lying about her situation just won't work any more.
I enjoyed this just as much as I did Bride and it was lovely to see more of Misery, Lowe, and particularly the adorable Ana. Cohen is a firm and stoic alpha, the perfect foil to Serena's sarcasm (derived from all her years with Misery) and seeing them circle around each other was very entertaining. The way the pack dynamics, cult conspiracy theories, and the mysteries of Serena's past are all wrapped up together was intriguing and I hope we get to see more of these characters one day!
4.5⭐️ - Another wonderful journey into romantasy in the world of Bride, with strong bonds of found family!
Serena has spent months keeping herself in isolation after she revealed her existence as a human/werewolf hybrid to the world. This is an isolation that she has enforced on herself without telling anyone close to her why - certainly not her sister Misery or her mate. When an attack means she's not safe to stay alone, she gets forced into close proximity with Cohen, the tall, dark, and moody alpha of the North West pack, and finds that lying about her situation just won't work any more.
I enjoyed this just as much as I did Bride and it was lovely to see more of Misery, Lowe, and particularly the adorable Ana. Cohen is a firm and stoic alpha, the perfect foil to Serena's sarcasm (derived from all her years with Misery) and seeing them circle around each other was very entertaining. The way the pack dynamics, cult conspiracy theories, and the mysteries of Serena's past are all wrapped up together was intriguing and I hope we get to see more of these characters one day!
