ariellesbookreviews's reviews
149 reviews

The Future King by Robyn Schneider

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I received a free digital ARC of The Future King by Robyn Schneider from PenguinTeen in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Other Merlin, and my love for the series continues with The Future King. Robin Schneider keeps the same fun and magical vibe from the original book. She introduces the reader to a myriad of new characters to continue the variety of the representation we saw in the first book and is not afraid to have the characters grow and experience hardship while also being able to keep a fun atmosphere for the reader. This book is not a heavy read.  

Emery and Arthur's chemistry continues in this book as we see Arthur grow into the leader Camelot needs and Emry explore her magic. The reader sees Emery and Arthur travel to Paris in an attempt to make new allies and solve a magical conundrum, as well as references to Alchemy's history and lovable characters from the original Knights of Camelot Legend. 

The Other Merlin received a cover redesign between the first book debut and the release of The Future King. I still do not like the cover art for this series. The original cover was outdated and boring, but the new cover does not match stories vibe. Cartoon covers are often used for romance books, but even fantasy books with cartoon covers match the aesthetic and tone of the book. The Future King uses romance books' aesthetic on a fantasy book.

The Emery Merlin series are books I would be able to pick up again and again. Overall, I rate the book five stars. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Thank you, PenguinTeen, for sending me a digital ARC, I really appreciated it, and I loved the book.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I received a free digital ARC of The Davenports by Krystal Marquis from PenguinTeen in exchange for an honest review. 

The Davenports takes place in 1910s Chicago and features the prominent Davenport family, owners of the Davenport Carriage Company. The book follows two Davenport sisters and two of their family friends. Not only does the story cover the girls' love stories, but it also follows them rebelling from society's rules and pursuing their interests.

I loved that Marquis was inspired by the real-life Patterson family when writing this book. Too often, Black people's stories are pigeonholed into being about the trauma the black community has faced. While Marquis acknowledges the racism the Davenport family would have in society, this book is about Black success and Black excellence. 

Olivia, Amy Rose, Ruby, and Helen are distinct characters with their own voices. It was easy to distinguish the characters and learn their motivations and interest, and while each character has their own storyline, several of their love interest overlap. At the beginning of the book, Helen got on my nerves. However, she has some of the best character growth in the story, and by the end, I loved her storyline.

 Overall, I rate the book five stars. I cannot wait for the next book in The Davenports series and look forward to learning what paths Olivia, Amy Rose, Ruby, and Helen take. 

Thank you, PenguinTeen, for sending me a digital ARC, I really appreciated it, and I loved the book.

Cool. Awkward. Black. by Karen Strong

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I received a free digital ARC of Cool. Awkward. Black. from PenguinTeen in exchange for a review. 

Cool. Awkward. Black. is a YA anthology featuring a variety of bestselling Black authors who challenge the concept of being a nerd. Black people experience criticism for enjoying "white" hobbies, and the author's of Cool. Awkward. Black. wrote a diverse network of stories that showcase a variety of hobbies. The stories are all well-written, independent of each other, and span various genres. 

Some of my favorite stories include a young trans man on a cruise with his father and stepfamily, an uptight young woman who loves crafting, and a young man going to his favorite con. Many stories talk about racism, transphobia, sexism, and homophobia but also feature themes of love and character growth. 

While I did not love every story in the anthology, there is a story for everyone. Perfect for fans of Blackout and Whiteout, this book makes me proud to be cool, awkward, and black. 

Thank you to PenguinTeen for sending me a free digital copy. I really appreciate it and love the book.

Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St. Clair

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This book really took a left turn. What Scarlet St. Clair started out in King of Battle of Blood has disappeared. Readers are shown entirely different characters with completely new backstories. 

In book one, the reader is led to believe that the kingdom of Redvak is misunderstood and is not filled with brutal monsters. However, what has developed in Queen of the Myth and Monsters seems to show some truth to the rumors. King Adrian has essentially become an ineffective and terrible ruler. He continuously murders his people for disagreeing with him and continues his quest to conquer; however, the reader is never given a definitive reason. Adrian is shown to place his motives above those of his people and Isolde. 

Isolde continually makes excuses for Adrian and his abhorrent behavior, but she has no real power. Isolde is overlooked by both Adrian and the court during court decisions despite having better leadership skills and care for the people. Since King of Battle and Blood, Adrian says he wants more than a wife; he wants a queen, but he continually dismisses Isolde’s thoughts and feelings. I cannot see a way forward in this series for me to continue to root for this relationship, and at this point in time, I believe Adrian is becoming the villain. Perhaps he always was.

A Queen of Myth and Monsters is a lot darker than its predecessor. While there were some darker aspects to the story in the first book, the amount of graphic and horrendous backstories readers are getting has dramatically increased. St. Clair intersects trauma with smut scenes, and it is very discombobulating and can feel inappropriate. Going from reading about someone who is being assaulted to getting a sex scene between the two main characters is jarring and uncomfortable.  

It sometimes feels like the author is just adding trauma to the story for trauma's sake. For example, you learned that Yesenia was assaulted before she was murdered by Dragos, but that has no effect on the story. Isolde does not remember the trauma of the assault, so why it is brought up to the reader does not make sense. Dragos has already been villainized in the story, so adding these assaults seems almost redundant. St. Clair may be trying to create a narrative of anti-misogyny, does not develop soon enough in the storyline to better the plot. 

Some of the finer details of this book also do not make sense. At one point in the story, hundreds of thousands of humans are turned into vampires over maybe a week or two. The timing and logistics do not make sense, and it seems like an easy plot hole to pick out. How did just a couple of people turn so many into vampires so quickly? Where were these newly turned vampires getting food? Why would all of these vampires agree to fight in an army? Many other aspects of the ending were not developed, including Isolde's transformation into a vampire. Isolde was turned, and nothing changed, and a separate pivotal part of the book lasted only a page and a half.

At this point in the story, it feels like scarlet St. Clair has absolutely no idea what is going on and did not plot out the storyline. She appears just as confused as the reader. The book has no structure and seems to develop on a whim. Queen of Myth and Monsters was a disappointment compared to the first book, and I do not know if I will continue this series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Sexism

Moderate: Rape and War

King of Wrath by Ana Huang

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

King of Wrath is the first book in Ana Huang’s new series, Kings of Sin. While some seem to complain of similarities between this and Twisted Lies, I loved both books. While I can see some similarities between the two books, Vivian and Stella and Christian and Dante are distinct characters in separate relationships. 

Dante and Vivian have intense romantic chemistry despite their arranged engagement and Dante’s reluctance to allow Vivian’s closeness. This book has Dante and Vivian traveling to Paris and becoming a New York power couple. 

One of my favorite parts of Ana Huang’s stories is all of her main female characters have extensive backgrounds and interests. Vivian is a top-tier party planner tasked with planning the biggest charity ball of the year. Her life and interest do not revolve around Dante, which is a trope that can be found in some billionaire romance novels. 

King of Wrath includes cameo’s from Stella and Christian from the Twisted series and introduces several characters who will star in future Kings of Sins books. I cannot wait to read more about Isabella and Kai in the next book. I would also be interested in reading a novella about Vivian’s sister, who was also in an arranged marriage. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It’s my second favorite Ana Huang book, and she has become an insta buy author for me. 

Twisted Lies by Ana Huang

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Ana Huang is a god. 

This book was fantastic. Huang weaves a fantastic love story that compels readers to devour this book. Twisted Lies is my favorite book in the twisted universe. Christian and Stella were a compelling and attractive couple who stole the scene from their first appearance in this series. My new favorite billionaire romance; it has been too long since I have read a billionaire romance this good. 

I loved Stella’s growth over the course of the book and her success in the fashion industry. I love imaging Instagram photos that Stella posts of her and Christian. However, my favorite part of the book might be Stella and Christians' confrontation with Stella’s parents. 

Twisted Lies will be a book I come back to again and again. It deserves all the praise in the world. 

Twisted Hate by Ana Huang

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Ana Huang has written a banger of a romance. I did not love the first two books in the Twisted series and did not understand what everyone else on Tiktok was loving, but this book was fantastic. I finally understand the appeal of Ana Huang and the incredible stories she has created.

In Twisted Hate, the reader learns about Jule’s background and her complicated relationship with her mother. It was interesting seeing more too Jule's brash and loud personality shown in previous books. Jules and Josh have immaculate chemistry. Their banter was funny, and their passion was electric. I loved seeing Jules, Stella, Ava, and Bridget's relationship as well as funny intimate moments between Josh and Alex. 

This book sent me on an Ana Huang binge, who is now one of my top authors of 2022. 

From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

From Bad to Cursed was an excellent follow-up to Lana Harper’s debut novel! Isidora Avramov is tasked with investigating a local crime with her long-time enemy Rowan Thorne. The Avramov family is known for using the dark magic of necromancy while the Thorne’s use life magic, but are these stereotypes true or just prejudice from the founding of Thistle Grove? 

Harper recreates the magic found in Paybacks a Witch with her new book. The relationship between Rowan and Isidora was fun and intriguing, and Harper allowed each character to grow throughout the book and their relationship. Learning the source of the antagonism between Rowan and Isidora was realistic and underwhelming. I wouldn’t say it was a disappointing storyline, but it demonstrates bias within storytelling and can make the reader question whether Isidora is a trustworthy narrator. 

Harper includes a diverse cast of characters without any stereotypes, with the creation of characters like Rowan Thorne, a black man, and a veterinarian. Thorn is a successful, well-liked citizen of Thriste Grove. Harper also has Isidora acknowledge her privilege between them. It was nice to read a book written by a white author who was able to write a story with a black main character that did not have stereotypes intertwined. 

I like From Bad to Cursed even more than Payback’s a Witch, and I cannot wait for the next book. 

Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I didn't have many expectations while reading Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper, but I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Harper did an excellent job of including a diverse cast of characters without making the reader feel she was struggling to create these characters. 

At the beginning of the book, you have Emmy Harlow returning to Thistle Grove after a self-imposed exile. Thistle Grove was created by four witches whose descendants currently govern the town. Payback's a Witch has Emmy discovering her family legacy and understanding the depth of her magic. The romance between Emmy and Talia was cute and easy to root for. The different types of magic found within the town created a compelling dynamic between the families and Talia and Emmy's romantic relationship. These relationship dynamics also allow Harper to construct a good foundation for the rest of the series.

A curious aspect of the story is Emmy Harlow could have easily been a villain, and the story could be told from the point of view of a Harlow cousin. This is not a criticism, just a funny observation. 

I cannot wait to read the new book in the series!

These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan

• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan is the same YA fantasy novel from 2016, but it was enjoyable. I think a lot can be said about the lack of originality and white mediocrity because These Twisted Bonds does fit this overused mold for white YA fantasy books. It has fae, enemies to lovers, and a not like other girls red-headed protagonist, but at the same time, the book was enjoyable. However, the story can be found in other books. So if you are tired of the 2016 fantasy romance, I would skip These Twisted Bonds.