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eclecticreadsbyskye's Reviews (250)
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
I was thoroughly immersed in this world!
Of Elves & Embers starts off with a girl's weekend to Vegas, that goes horribly wrong.
Ember has always felt off in her world, like something was missing. She's lived a rough life and been mostly alone. This all changes when she's taken through a portal in Vegas and becomes the captive of the Shadow King.
Now she's surrounded by people who thinks she's someone else and seem to hate her on sight. As she struggles with feelings of deja vu and unexpected memories that are not from her human life, it becomes a race for her to discover the truth, while dealing with consequences and threats from the past.
This book is full of fantastic characters that you love, hate, and hate to love. The world unfolds beautifully, as does the details Ember is missing. I couldn't stop reading, as I waited for it to all unfold.
For me personally, an unexpected second chance is incredibly emotional, and I cried right along with Ember. There is some spice, but it's the emotions behind it that make it so moving and so impactful. I adored this book!
Of Elves & Embers starts off with a girl's weekend to Vegas, that goes horribly wrong.
Ember has always felt off in her world, like something was missing. She's lived a rough life and been mostly alone. This all changes when she's taken through a portal in Vegas and becomes the captive of the Shadow King.
Now she's surrounded by people who thinks she's someone else and seem to hate her on sight. As she struggles with feelings of deja vu and unexpected memories that are not from her human life, it becomes a race for her to discover the truth, while dealing with consequences and threats from the past.
This book is full of fantastic characters that you love, hate, and hate to love. The world unfolds beautifully, as does the details Ember is missing. I couldn't stop reading, as I waited for it to all unfold.
For me personally, an unexpected second chance is incredibly emotional, and I cried right along with Ember. There is some spice, but it's the emotions behind it that make it so moving and so impactful. I adored this book!
adventurous
slow-paced
With us currently living in a world where AI is becoming more prominent, The Architect is a dystopian novel not out of the realm of possibility.
In NovaTech, a rigid "utopian" society, everyone goes through the Binding on their eighteenth birthdays and becomes one with the AI, the Architect, that rules their world. We follow Alex, Kai and Maya, a group of friends on the verge of Binding.
Alex is alone in the world after the death of her uncle who raised her. As her binding approaches, she stumbles upon information that could change everything. Not everyone is happy with this society, and not everyone is as they seem.
This book has interesting characters, and I love the premise. At times it got a bit slow, but overall, a great read! Alex's brain works a little differently, which I can relate to, and which makes her suited for the tasks she has in front of her. The friendships grow and evolve along with the story, but also take unexpected turns.
Thank you so much to the author for the advanced copy ahead of release!
In NovaTech, a rigid "utopian" society, everyone goes through the Binding on their eighteenth birthdays and becomes one with the AI, the Architect, that rules their world. We follow Alex, Kai and Maya, a group of friends on the verge of Binding.
Alex is alone in the world after the death of her uncle who raised her. As her binding approaches, she stumbles upon information that could change everything. Not everyone is happy with this society, and not everyone is as they seem.
This book has interesting characters, and I love the premise. At times it got a bit slow, but overall, a great read! Alex's brain works a little differently, which I can relate to, and which makes her suited for the tasks she has in front of her. The friendships grow and evolve along with the story, but also take unexpected turns.
Thank you so much to the author for the advanced copy ahead of release!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
This is a thrilling conclusion to the Vampire Motorcycle Club series!
We get this story from the perspectives of Meara and Edge. Meara is a 300-year-old vampire, and Edge is the newer addition to their family turned by her brother Bane. He's a scientist who spent time captured and experimented on by the chamber. Though it takes place before this book, it greatly affects him as a person, and has more consequences than anyone else was aware of. While Meara has spent her time mostly alone besides her brother, she has her own secret she's been keeping.
I completely enjoyed this! Meara and Edge are both closed off for different reasons, so not as much of their emotions are spoken, but their chemistry is off the charts. They're incredibly alike in their need to protect others and sacrifice themselves first for others. The action building their relationship and their search and fight with The Chamber built beautifully throughout the book. All of the characters were relatable and wonderful. I hope someday we get more of their stories.
This book can be read as a standalone, but you definitely miss out on a lot of the background with the Chamber, the other couples, and even the beginning to the romance between Meara and Edge, so I would read the others first.
I was lucky to receive an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher before release!
We get this story from the perspectives of Meara and Edge. Meara is a 300-year-old vampire, and Edge is the newer addition to their family turned by her brother Bane. He's a scientist who spent time captured and experimented on by the chamber. Though it takes place before this book, it greatly affects him as a person, and has more consequences than anyone else was aware of. While Meara has spent her time mostly alone besides her brother, she has her own secret she's been keeping.
I completely enjoyed this! Meara and Edge are both closed off for different reasons, so not as much of their emotions are spoken, but their chemistry is off the charts. They're incredibly alike in their need to protect others and sacrifice themselves first for others. The action building their relationship and their search and fight with The Chamber built beautifully throughout the book. All of the characters were relatable and wonderful. I hope someday we get more of their stories.
This book can be read as a standalone, but you definitely miss out on a lot of the background with the Chamber, the other couples, and even the beginning to the romance between Meara and Edge, so I would read the others first.
I was lucky to receive an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher before release!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
I needed this spark to go back to the Demonica series after 14 years!
Legacy of Temptation is a standalone in the new Demonica Birthright series by Larissa Ione. This series takes place after her Demonica and Horsemen series and is in the same world. I went into it basically with no background. I had read the first few books 14 years ago but remembered very little besides the basics. So much has changed!
This follows our heroine Eva, spokesperson and Guardian for The Aegis, the pro-human, anti-demon and supernatural agency. She's sent with a select contingent to visit with the Demon Activity Response Team (DART). In theory it's to learn to work together. In reality, it's to spy. There she meets Logan, the human appearing son of the Horseman known as Death. We follow along as they get to know each other, though they are both supremely against the other agency, and of course sparks follow.
There is so much information in this book. Not being super familiar with this world, and not remembering or yet meeting so many of the characters from the other series' books, there was a lot of catching up to do. That being said, I never got lost and stayed with the story. It was just a whole lot to wrap my head around, and so much happened! Ione has 16 years of this world's development, so it is extensive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will continue it. I'll also go back to the other series when I have time and catch up, but it's a lot of books!
Thank you to #NetGalley for this #arc so that I could read this ahead of release! This book comes out February 6th!
Legacy of Temptation is a standalone in the new Demonica Birthright series by Larissa Ione. This series takes place after her Demonica and Horsemen series and is in the same world. I went into it basically with no background. I had read the first few books 14 years ago but remembered very little besides the basics. So much has changed!
This follows our heroine Eva, spokesperson and Guardian for The Aegis, the pro-human, anti-demon and supernatural agency. She's sent with a select contingent to visit with the Demon Activity Response Team (DART). In theory it's to learn to work together. In reality, it's to spy. There she meets Logan, the human appearing son of the Horseman known as Death. We follow along as they get to know each other, though they are both supremely against the other agency, and of course sparks follow.
There is so much information in this book. Not being super familiar with this world, and not remembering or yet meeting so many of the characters from the other series' books, there was a lot of catching up to do. That being said, I never got lost and stayed with the story. It was just a whole lot to wrap my head around, and so much happened! Ione has 16 years of this world's development, so it is extensive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will continue it. I'll also go back to the other series when I have time and catch up, but it's a lot of books!
Thank you to #NetGalley for this #arc so that I could read this ahead of release! This book comes out February 6th!
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
While I always enjoy a long and detailed story, sometimes I just want a quick read that's both interesting and spicy. Master Botosoni is definitely that!
This story is both from the perspectives of Master Botosoni, a pureblood master vampire in the middle of a war with the rogue vampires, and Catina, a beautiful woman with visions and an awful family. Botosoni is led to Catina to get her help finding the rogues and seeing who else is involved. What he finds is a woman unlike most he's known, who has extremely accurate and detailed visions. Catalina always trusts her visions and knows that she's being pulled by destiny to help.
This is book 9 of the Masters of the Consulate series. I haven't read the others in the series yet, but enough background was given that it wasn't an issue. Many couples were side characters in this book, and I'm assuming that their stories are told in the other books.
This book had spice and a good story, that while fast paced, was still an enjoyable read. As a lot of this story takes place in an adult club, there was less of that theme to the relationship between Botosoni and Catina. I'm curious how much of it is in the other books!
Thank you BookSirens for the arc!
This story is both from the perspectives of Master Botosoni, a pureblood master vampire in the middle of a war with the rogue vampires, and Catina, a beautiful woman with visions and an awful family. Botosoni is led to Catina to get her help finding the rogues and seeing who else is involved. What he finds is a woman unlike most he's known, who has extremely accurate and detailed visions. Catalina always trusts her visions and knows that she's being pulled by destiny to help.
This is book 9 of the Masters of the Consulate series. I haven't read the others in the series yet, but enough background was given that it wasn't an issue. Many couples were side characters in this book, and I'm assuming that their stories are told in the other books.
This book had spice and a good story, that while fast paced, was still an enjoyable read. As a lot of this story takes place in an adult club, there was less of that theme to the relationship between Botosoni and Catina. I'm curious how much of it is in the other books!
Thank you BookSirens for the arc!
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Stories of the gods and elvish prophecies drive this book.
We follow the stories of Yeeran, an elvish colonel, and Lettle, her diviner sister, This begins as a very military fantasy, as we follow Yeeran through her first day as colonel of the Waning army during the Forever War. She's given a prophecy by her sister, and in following it, she gets herself exiled.
Not wanting to be apart from her, Lettle and Yeeran's captain Rayan follow her into exile. What they don't expect is to encounter fae, who are just a part of their fairytales as far as most elves are concerned. They're then drawn into the fae world and their lives are turned upside down.
I did enjoy this book. The unique world building, the different magic system, and the different worlds and cultures was very interesting. I just wish everything had been explored a little more.
I also really love the diverse cast of characters, the normalization of queer characters and different sexualities and viewpoints of relationships, and the representation of characters with disabilities that weren't limited by those things. The hetero and sapphic romances were a breath of fresh air, though often felt more lust driven than deeper.
The story was rather slow in some parts, and that took me out of the book quite a bit. I really feel like the author was setting up for the next book in the series, and I hope that all this setup really shines through in the next book. I'm not sure if there were supposed to be big twists in this story, but to me it was all rather obvious how the prophesies would play out and how other events came to be.
Overall, I'm very happy that I read this, and loved a lot of the elements. It just missed the mark for me in being a truly amazing book. I have full confidence though, that it will find it's perfect readers out there.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eARC for me to read before release!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eARC for me to read before release!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is my new favorite fairytale retelling!
Liliath has been locked in a prison tower for two years, after her evil stepmother took over as queen. She's been waiting for her betrothed to rescue her, so they can take back her kingdom. One day, she sees a cloaked man wearing his ring finally coming to get her, and he succeeds! Except, he isn't her betrothed. She's traded her prison for a kidnapper and thief.
Penn is the hulking, gorgeous, king of thieves. He's spent a long time trying to steal the magic mirror and got the bonus of rescuing Liliath at the same time. The two argue from day one, and Penn tries to train her to be another of his thieves. Liliath will play along for now, but she isn't worried about Penn's end game. Her only concern is getting back to her land, stopping her stepmother, and helping her people.
I loved this book! It had plenty of Snow White elements with some Robin Hood thrown in, all while being original and captivating. I adored all of the thieves, and Penn and Liliath's progression from enemies to more is extremely believable and provides some steam. The world that has been introduced is rich, with plenty more able to be delved in to in later books. There are more princesses around, with more fairytales to retell, so I cannot wait for the next book!
Liliath has been locked in a prison tower for two years, after her evil stepmother took over as queen. She's been waiting for her betrothed to rescue her, so they can take back her kingdom. One day, she sees a cloaked man wearing his ring finally coming to get her, and he succeeds! Except, he isn't her betrothed. She's traded her prison for a kidnapper and thief.
Penn is the hulking, gorgeous, king of thieves. He's spent a long time trying to steal the magic mirror and got the bonus of rescuing Liliath at the same time. The two argue from day one, and Penn tries to train her to be another of his thieves. Liliath will play along for now, but she isn't worried about Penn's end game. Her only concern is getting back to her land, stopping her stepmother, and helping her people.
I loved this book! It had plenty of Snow White elements with some Robin Hood thrown in, all while being original and captivating. I adored all of the thieves, and Penn and Liliath's progression from enemies to more is extremely believable and provides some steam. The world that has been introduced is rich, with plenty more able to be delved in to in later books. There are more princesses around, with more fairytales to retell, so I cannot wait for the next book!
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
This was a wonderful read, that's a bit reminiscent of Twilight for me.
Shae's life turns upside down after a devastating experience with her ex-fiancé. Trying to piece her life back together, she moves back to her small-town home in Montana. Thankfully she has her best friend Jamie there waiting for her. Jamie wants to help Shae live again, not just exist through each day still mourning the loss of her former life. So, Jamie introduces Shae to her current love interest, Finn, who is a newcomer to town, along with his brothers.
Marcas is the oldest, dreamiest, and an enigma. He makes Shae feel things she didn't expect to feel already. That comes with good and bad. Can she work on her trust issues to see if something great can develop, or will the past repeat itself?
This book was easy read and delightful. At times some of it seems a little juvenile, but it didn't take away from the story. There are paranormal elements beginning to be introduced it seems, but there isn't much revealed in this book. There's a mysterious necklace and dream, not to mention a strange run in with wolves. The book ends on a huge cliffhanger, but I have a feeling so much will be revealed in the next book!
Shae's life turns upside down after a devastating experience with her ex-fiancé. Trying to piece her life back together, she moves back to her small-town home in Montana. Thankfully she has her best friend Jamie there waiting for her. Jamie wants to help Shae live again, not just exist through each day still mourning the loss of her former life. So, Jamie introduces Shae to her current love interest, Finn, who is a newcomer to town, along with his brothers.
Marcas is the oldest, dreamiest, and an enigma. He makes Shae feel things she didn't expect to feel already. That comes with good and bad. Can she work on her trust issues to see if something great can develop, or will the past repeat itself?
This book was easy read and delightful. At times some of it seems a little juvenile, but it didn't take away from the story. There are paranormal elements beginning to be introduced it seems, but there isn't much revealed in this book. There's a mysterious necklace and dream, not to mention a strange run in with wolves. The book ends on a huge cliffhanger, but I have a feeling so much will be revealed in the next book!
Content Warnings
attempted rape
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
This was a really fun read!
Half witch, Rossi, grew up thinking that she was just half a witch. While all the other witches have two stones to collect and direct power, she only has one. One night while her mother is out collecting lightning, she finally manages to do so as well! Yet this is the first step in an unfolding of events which will change her life forever. Suddenly, a very powerful but mysterious warlock, Drag, shows up saying he's trying to help her. Then a flood of witches comes to her town wanting protection.
Can Rossi live up to what people are saying about her? Is Drag much more than he appears?
This book is full of a wonderful cast of characters. Rossi's mom is an eccentric and an accident-prone witch. Pitty, the troll babysitter extraordinaire, is gross and endearing. Simon is an unexpected and perfect familiar. Drag, is likeable and mysterious with a wonderful ability to annoy Rossi. There are so many more!
I really enjoyed this different look at magic and how it works. At times friendships/relationships seemed to form a little too quickly, yet at the same time. While it touches heavy subjects, overall, it's lighthearted, funny and refreshing. This is only the beginning. I look forward to the next book!
Half witch, Rossi, grew up thinking that she was just half a witch. While all the other witches have two stones to collect and direct power, she only has one. One night while her mother is out collecting lightning, she finally manages to do so as well! Yet this is the first step in an unfolding of events which will change her life forever. Suddenly, a very powerful but mysterious warlock, Drag, shows up saying he's trying to help her. Then a flood of witches comes to her town wanting protection.
Can Rossi live up to what people are saying about her? Is Drag much more than he appears?
This book is full of a wonderful cast of characters. Rossi's mom is an eccentric and an accident-prone witch. Pitty, the troll babysitter extraordinaire, is gross and endearing. Simon is an unexpected and perfect familiar. Drag, is likeable and mysterious with a wonderful ability to annoy Rossi. There are so many more!
I really enjoyed this different look at magic and how it works. At times friendships/relationships seemed to form a little too quickly, yet at the same time. While it touches heavy subjects, overall, it's lighthearted, funny and refreshing. This is only the beginning. I look forward to the next book!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Earth has been abandoned, and the human race is spread around the galaxy.
Orion is an entitled, shallow commander's son, who has been banished to Mars by his mother for over a decade. He gets the news that it's time for him to return and learn to take over command.
Kaia lives on Riker 109 as a scavenger. Her boss wants her to target Orion on his stop from Mars to Colossal, the colony ship. He wants her to make it to Colossal and get him information on how to access the ship. It's full of resources and the best tech, due to its goal of finding New Earth.
The book follows their journey as they get to know each other, journey along Colossal, and use each other for their own means.
I greatly enjoyed the world building and unique aspects of the world and the ship itself. I had a hard time feeling very invested in the relationship forming between the two of them, as it's more trauma bonding than anything else most of the time.
It definitely ends on a cliffhanger though, so now it's time to wait until book 2 comes out!
TW/CW - check the authors website for full content warnings: though the dubcon is more like sexual assault with FMC feeling she "deserves it", suicidal ideation, suicide, sexual violence, knife play
I was lucky to receive an ARC from the author to read.
Orion is an entitled, shallow commander's son, who has been banished to Mars by his mother for over a decade. He gets the news that it's time for him to return and learn to take over command.
Kaia lives on Riker 109 as a scavenger. Her boss wants her to target Orion on his stop from Mars to Colossal, the colony ship. He wants her to make it to Colossal and get him information on how to access the ship. It's full of resources and the best tech, due to its goal of finding New Earth.
The book follows their journey as they get to know each other, journey along Colossal, and use each other for their own means.
I greatly enjoyed the world building and unique aspects of the world and the ship itself. I had a hard time feeling very invested in the relationship forming between the two of them, as it's more trauma bonding than anything else most of the time.
It definitely ends on a cliffhanger though, so now it's time to wait until book 2 comes out!
TW/CW - check the authors website for full content warnings: though the dubcon is more like sexual assault with FMC feeling she "deserves it", suicidal ideation, suicide, sexual violence, knife play
I was lucky to receive an ARC from the author to read.