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hhpartonfantasy's reviews
171 reviews
Sacrifice of the Seven Sins by Emily Colin
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
I loved this collection. I loved seeing Ari's perspective of their encounters and my only complaint is that I wish there was more. This is a quick read and a great way to take a rest between the first book and the next book in the series.
Sword of the Seven Sins by Emily Colin
adventurous
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
When Eva is selected to be a bellator, her whole life is turned upside down. But for some strange reason, she's quickly turning into a formidable killer. Ari is a proud bellator who always has a witty remark and a deadly blade. The two have been aware of each other since they were children and when they are forced to work together, all that tension boils to the surface.
I'll admit, I'm usually turned off by forbidden love. However, this was done so well that I couldn't get enough. I don't think I've ever been so obsessed with handholding! Eva and Ari are each amazing on their own, but together they make an unstoppable team.
From moment one, the worldbuilding captivated me. As the story progressed, more and more details came to light that kept me invested and made me angry.
I will say it felt a little slower in the beginning, but I think it was around the 60% mark that everything exploded. From that moment on it was nonstop action and drama. I quite literally told my husband to leave me alone so I could keep reading. And I was not expecting that twist at all! I am so excited to see where it goes in the next books.
I think this is a great book for people who like a blend of dystopian and fantasy, and I look forward to continuing this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Of Blood and Aether by Harper Hawthorne
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Arken is trying to go to school and learn more about the powers she shouldn't have. Kieran is trying to save missing children while running from his past. From the moment they see each other they are hooked. Thus begins the fight to keep their distance.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the banter between Arken and Kieran and how they clicked from moment one. I also loved the queer-normative worldbuilding. As someone who is neurodivergent, I appreciated the way Arken works on unmasking and letting her true self shine through.
I will say it took a while to get to the juicy bits. I enjoyed the kind of slower burn to it, but at the same time I kept wanting to scream, "KISS!" I do like this kind of story where we see them meet, they become friends, but they both want more. There was just so much tension that I was going crazy.
I pretty much devoured this book until about the 75% mark and then I kept stalling. I just knew things were going to go wrong and I had to mentally prepare myself for it.
All in all, I recommend this book. I am already preparing for the next book just so I can figure out what the heck is really going on. I have so many questions, but in the best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Child death
A Kingdom of Dreams by Sam Northman
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.25
Markus and Faron live in present day Boston, but they aren't quite normal. Both have mysterious powers that make them think there is something wrong with them. Markus is a fighter and full of anger. His spark is something that fuels the rage and he tries to repress it every day. While kindhearted Faron is a bit of a pushover who is still grieving the loss of his brother. His hallucinations confuse and overwhelm him and blur the lines between dream and reality. When they meet by accident, their "flaws" start go grow beyond their control. And yet, they want each other more than makes sense. They can't seem to stay away.
But someone doesn't want their powers to grow. They are being watched by creatures not from their realm that will stop at nothing to keep them apart.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fantastic blend of Norse mythology, modern day, and fantasy. I liked that I got perspectives from all the people involved, but not the ones we needed to figure out what was going on completely. It was just the right amount of information to keep me guessing at who a villain was and who might not be. I loved getting to see the memories and experiences of the characters in the other realms rather than keeping it all in Boston. I also loved the healing Markus and Faron underwent. Everyone needs a Markus to keep them safe and protected. Everyone needs a Faron to just listen and be there. They are the sweetest couple and I loved them!
This book is also a win for anyone who loves bad a** female villains. Yes, I hated them and wanted them to die horrible deaths, but they were wicked cool, and I can tell that future books will include even more of them.
I will say that things move a bit slowly in the beginning. It was also a little hard to get sucked in because there's a lot of terminology to adjust to. That said, I think it was around the 35-40% mark that things picked up and never stopped. From that point on, I couldn't quit reading. It's also pretty insta-lovey. However, it makes perfect sense within the story, and I loved how the characters acknowledged that they'd only known each other a short time and their connection made no sense. It ended up adding another layer to the whole story that I enjoyed.
Honestly, I can't even count how many times I thought that they were the sweetest couple. They are the perfect balance for each other, and I am obsessed with what their powers turned into by the end. I cannot wait for the next book, and the final revelation was a confirmation of my suspicions that I need to see play out! This book is a wonderful twist on Norse mythology, and I enjoyed how Sam Northman took what I knew and twisted it around to be unexpected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault