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A Miracle Mountain Christmas by Ciara Knight is a sweet holiday romance about first love and a second chance. Savannah Blake has lived her entire life on Miracle Mountain, started a career, stayed even after her family left. She stayed because of a broken heart and the hopes that her first love would one day return. Mason Harrington left Miracle Mountain behind, seemingly without a second thought about those he left, he ran from tragedy only to find himself return and face the woman who has never left his heart.
I really like Savannah. She is headstrong, independent, and knows what she wants. She’s broken by her past but doesn’t let it define her. She’s the town sweetheart from the little interactions you see of her with other characters. But what endeared her to me is her compassion towards others.
Mason is…broken for lack of a better word. He left Miracle Mountain after he was accused of murdering Savannah’s younger sister. It was an accident and in his head he knows that, but his heart has never forgiven himself. He thought Savannah would be better off without him, that she would eventually forget him and move on, that seeing him everyday would only use her pain….so he left and now he’s back. Mason knows what he wants, the question is does she want him.
I love the sweet romance that remains between the two, and how the author shows this by alternating between POVs. However my favorite part of the story is the GGs, three elderly women who helped raise Mason and have taken it upon themselves to bring him home. These ladies are great! I hope to see more of them in future books.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, finishing it in one sitting. It’s sweet, clean and has a few heart-thumping swoon moments. The characters are sweet and memorable and the story is just enough to satisfy your sweet craving. If you enjoy second chance romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy.
I really like Savannah. She is headstrong, independent, and knows what she wants. She’s broken by her past but doesn’t let it define her. She’s the town sweetheart from the little interactions you see of her with other characters. But what endeared her to me is her compassion towards others.
Mason is…broken for lack of a better word. He left Miracle Mountain after he was accused of murdering Savannah’s younger sister. It was an accident and in his head he knows that, but his heart has never forgiven himself. He thought Savannah would be better off without him, that she would eventually forget him and move on, that seeing him everyday would only use her pain….so he left and now he’s back. Mason knows what he wants, the question is does she want him.
I love the sweet romance that remains between the two, and how the author shows this by alternating between POVs. However my favorite part of the story is the GGs, three elderly women who helped raise Mason and have taken it upon themselves to bring him home. These ladies are great! I hope to see more of them in future books.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, finishing it in one sitting. It’s sweet, clean and has a few heart-thumping swoon moments. The characters are sweet and memorable and the story is just enough to satisfy your sweet craving. If you enjoy second chance romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy.
A Christmas Gift by Stella Wilkinson is a short holiday story about a girl who falls for her neighbor. Holly and Caleb were childhood best friends, but during that awkward tween time the two drifted a part. Caleb became a part of the popular crowd and Holly was left behind. Now years later, Caleb needs Holly’s help finding the perfect present for his girlfriend.
Holly is a sweet girl who holds a bit of a grudge. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and hates the group that her former best friend hangs out with. Caleb seems to be a nice guy, but hangs with a group that the way the author describes them reminds me of the T-Birds from Grease. Also he’s clueless when it comes to Holly.
Holly works at a large department store and Caleb asks for her help in finding his girlfriend the perfect gift. It’s a bit cliché how the story plays out. Girl pinning over guy, guy always liked girl but thought he didn’t have a chance, etc. Overall it’s a sweet PG-romance that plays out exactly as you would expect. If you’re looking for a quick read to cleanse your palate between books, this is it!
Holly is a sweet girl who holds a bit of a grudge. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and hates the group that her former best friend hangs out with. Caleb seems to be a nice guy, but hangs with a group that the way the author describes them reminds me of the T-Birds from Grease. Also he’s clueless when it comes to Holly.
Holly works at a large department store and Caleb asks for her help in finding his girlfriend the perfect gift. It’s a bit cliché how the story plays out. Girl pinning over guy, guy always liked girl but thought he didn’t have a chance, etc. Overall it’s a sweet PG-romance that plays out exactly as you would expect. If you’re looking for a quick read to cleanse your palate between books, this is it!
I finished reading Crown of Cinders by Rebecca Ethington about 24 hours ago and needed time to be able to write a coherent review. I was a blubbering mess by the end of the book. I started reading The Imdalind Series almost 3 years ago and this conclusion lived up to my expectations, surprised me, and reminded me why I fell in love with the series to begin with. The longest book in the series at 433 pages it is worth every word, every minute, and the sleepless night. Please note I will do my best to not spoil this book, however if you have not read the previous books in The Imdalind Series there may be spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
Crown of Cinders picks up immediately where it left off with my least favorite characters, Sain and Ovailia. The evil Sain is capable of….*shudder* I honestly wasn’t expecting it. I was in shock! How could this meek and mild man, Joclyn’s father(?!), become the man everyone feared? And I do mean EVERYONE!!! The Trpasliks, Ovailia, Edmund, Ilyan, they all fear him and for good reason. I couldn’t begin to guess his motives, his need for ultimate power that in the end could destroy magic itself.
Joclyn and Ilyan are not doing much better. They are facing the anger of their people, people they’ve sworn to protect are turning on them, infected by Sain’s words. They believed him that Joclyn will destroy them. They think she killed the Chosen, not that she saved them from Ovailia and Sain. While Ilyan tries to calm them, Joclyn continues to learn about her newly awakened powers and how she can stop Sain. Joclyn has come almost full circle to the girl she once was in [b:Kiss of Fire|17280547|Kiss of Fire (Imdalind, #1)|Rebecca Ethington|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390969516s/17280547.jpg|21919561]. She’s confident, brave, smart. She takes no crap and can kick your butt in heartbeat.
Ryland…oh my heart breaks for him. The events of this series have not been kind to my once favorite character but the author brings him full circle. We see glimpses of Jos’s best friend, we see his battle scars, the torment in his own head, and we see him overcome it all. I think fans of the series will be happy with how Rebecca Ethington handles this character.
Wyn is my favorite character. She’s spunky and loyal. Yes she struggles, we saw that in [b:Dawn of Ash|18713438|Dawn of Ash (Imdalind, #6)|Rebecca Ethington|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1448206346s/18713438.jpg|26574555] but she overcome it. Despite all the odds against her, Wyn fights and wins. Her love for Joclyn, her loyalty to Ilyan, her confusion over Thom…all of these things make her so relatable and real.
Then there’re Jaromir and Mira. Umm….seriously didn’t see them coming. I fell in love with Jaromir in [b:Dawn of Ash|18713438|Dawn of Ash (Imdalind, #6)|Rebecca Ethington|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1448206346s/18713438.jpg|26574555] as Ryland took him under his wing, teaching him to use his magic and come to terms with losing everything. Then enters Mira, his twin he thought dead. Mira is Edmund’s new Cail and seriously she’s scary powerful. She’s a wild card that will keep you guessing whose side she is really on until the end.
This is the final book in the series and there are many loose ends to tie up which the author does nicely. It’s obvious to readers of the series that each character was well-thought out, each twist and turn of the plot planned for this ending. It was perfect! The author expands on the history of magic, the four Firsts, and the myth surrounding the Silny. I could not have asked for more! And the final battle….*sobs* have tissues handy!!!
Overall Crown of Cinders is perfect! It alternates POV among Sain, Ovailia, Jaromir, Ryland, Ilyan, Wyn and Joclyn so the reader gets the full picture, creating dramatic irony and suspense as the reader knows what the characters do not. For true fans of the series, you will be satisfied as The Imdalind Series comes to a close. It is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and a HEA is not guaranteed but trust me when I say it is perfect.
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I am so sad writing this review. Sarah Fine is one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with her Guards of the Shadowland series and have been hooked on her writing ever since. But Mosaic was not at all what I was expecting. It didn’t really follow the first two books of the Reliquary series. In fact, I loved [b:Reliquary|28171973|Reliquary (Reliquary, #1)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455625702s/28171973.jpg|48189759] and [b:Splinter|29231863|Splinter (Reliquary, #2)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465663249s/29231863.jpg|49243233] so I was really excited for the series conclusion. However I was so disappointed upon reading that I really don’t even know how to begin this review.
Mosaic picks up an undisclosed amount of time after the end of [b:Splinter|29231863|Splinter (Reliquary, #2)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465663249s/29231863.jpg|49243233]. It’s clear on reading that Mattie has been traveling the world and working with Asa. What’s unclear is their relationship. They seem to tiptoe around each other. Mattie still guarding her heart and Asa wanting more but waiting. At least that is the gist of it. Mattie has reverted back to the character she was at the beginning of Reliquary. She’s afraid of commitment, afraid to love, and running from her past headlong into Asa and his underground magic trading.
I could have handled the character regression after what happened to Mattie in the second book. What I couldn’t handle though was the scattered plot. I really had a hard time following what was going on, especially in the beginning of the book. There is no real clear time line on how long Asa and Mattie have been working together and how much time has passed since the second book. I could have handled that, but the odd, violent plot I couldn’t take. Asa and Mattie get in over their heads and Asa is taken by one of the larger magic-mob bosses, the same one that supposedly held his mother. It’s basically his nightmare and honestly I was excited (at first) to see how Mattie would handle saving Asa for a change, but I was so disappointed in its execution. The characters that pop up in this book from previous books don’t align with what we the readers know of them. Characters that have proven to be enemies are now allies, allies can’t be trusted…it’s all really confusing. And the ending….don’t even get me started!
Overall, I want a do-over. At 48% I stopped reading and just skimmed. I couldn’t handle the violence, I couldn’t handle the characters’ odd behaviors (acting unlike they have in previous books), I just couldn’t. And the sweet relationship/friendship that had blossomed between Mattie and Asa…that’s gone! Seriously I was questioning if I was reading the right book because it takes such a drastic turn from the previous two. Mosaic reads more like a second, bridge novel in a series than the concluding novel. Disappointing!
I am so sad writing this review. Sarah Fine is one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with her Guards of the Shadowland series and have been hooked on her writing ever since. But Mosaic was not at all what I was expecting. It didn’t really follow the first two books of the Reliquary series. In fact, I loved [b:Reliquary|28171973|Reliquary (Reliquary, #1)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455625702s/28171973.jpg|48189759] and [b:Splinter|29231863|Splinter (Reliquary, #2)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465663249s/29231863.jpg|49243233] so I was really excited for the series conclusion. However I was so disappointed upon reading that I really don’t even know how to begin this review.
Mosaic picks up an undisclosed amount of time after the end of [b:Splinter|29231863|Splinter (Reliquary, #2)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465663249s/29231863.jpg|49243233]. It’s clear on reading that Mattie has been traveling the world and working with Asa. What’s unclear is their relationship. They seem to tiptoe around each other. Mattie still guarding her heart and Asa wanting more but waiting. At least that is the gist of it. Mattie has reverted back to the character she was at the beginning of Reliquary. She’s afraid of commitment, afraid to love, and running from her past headlong into Asa and his underground magic trading.
I could have handled the character regression after what happened to Mattie in the second book. What I couldn’t handle though was the scattered plot. I really had a hard time following what was going on, especially in the beginning of the book. There is no real clear time line on how long Asa and Mattie have been working together and how much time has passed since the second book. I could have handled that, but the odd, violent plot I couldn’t take. Asa and Mattie get in over their heads and Asa is taken by one of the larger magic-mob bosses, the same one that supposedly held his mother. It’s basically his nightmare and honestly I was excited (at first) to see how Mattie would handle saving Asa for a change, but I was so disappointed in its execution. The characters that pop up in this book from previous books don’t align with what we the readers know of them. Characters that have proven to be enemies are now allies, allies can’t be trusted…it’s all really confusing. And the ending….don’t even get me started!
Overall, I want a do-over. At 48% I stopped reading and just skimmed. I couldn’t handle the violence, I couldn’t handle the characters’ odd behaviors (acting unlike they have in previous books), I just couldn’t. And the sweet relationship/friendship that had blossomed between Mattie and Asa…that’s gone! Seriously I was questioning if I was reading the right book because it takes such a drastic turn from the previous two. Mosaic reads more like a second, bridge novel in a series than the concluding novel. Disappointing!
The Christmas Token by Shanna Hatfield is the second book in Hardman Holidays. This book follows Ginny Granger, Luke’s younger sister, as she returns to Hardman and her brother’s home hoping to escape an unwanted proposal. Ginny’s return throws the town’s carpenter and her childhood sweetheart Blake Stratton for a loop.
Ginny was hard to like. Luke had described her in [b:The Christmas Bargain|16150458|The Christmas Bargain|Shanna Hatfield|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1352934616s/16150458.jpg|21986224] as his spoiled and pampered baby sister and that she never grew up. He was right. Ginny is every bit as spoiled as Luke proclaimed her to be. But I do think she is misunderstood. This is a girl that has been carrying around heartbreak since she was 15. She was in love, forced to leave and never heard from the boy again. Now she’s happy to play the entitled daughter role, traveling around the world without a care in the world until she attracts unwanted attention from a man that claims they are engaged. I don’t blame her for running to her brother on that one. I would have too! Throughout the book though, Ginny grows (thanks in large part to Luke and his wife). She becomes a character with a generous heart.
Blake is a character you will love instantly. He is kind, giving, and hardworking. He is there for his friends, even the girl who left him behind. It’s been years and he never received any replies from her, not a single one when he’d written dozens of letters. He thought he was over her until he saw her fall from the coach. Now he’s confused, a little bitter, and untrusting of Ginny who didn’t just break his heart, she trampled it. I like Blake, but he is hard on Ginny. He takes all his anger out on her and honestly even though she’s spoiled I didn’t think she deserved it…at least to that extent.
Overall I enjoyed this story, reading it in one sitting. It’s sweet, heart-breaking, and takes you back in time. I love the stolen moments they find together and the good things they bring out in one another. If you enjoy Victorian romance, I highly recommend this book!
Ginny was hard to like. Luke had described her in [b:The Christmas Bargain|16150458|The Christmas Bargain|Shanna Hatfield|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1352934616s/16150458.jpg|21986224] as his spoiled and pampered baby sister and that she never grew up. He was right. Ginny is every bit as spoiled as Luke proclaimed her to be. But I do think she is misunderstood. This is a girl that has been carrying around heartbreak since she was 15. She was in love, forced to leave and never heard from the boy again. Now she’s happy to play the entitled daughter role, traveling around the world without a care in the world until she attracts unwanted attention from a man that claims they are engaged. I don’t blame her for running to her brother on that one. I would have too! Throughout the book though, Ginny grows (thanks in large part to Luke and his wife). She becomes a character with a generous heart.
Blake is a character you will love instantly. He is kind, giving, and hardworking. He is there for his friends, even the girl who left him behind. It’s been years and he never received any replies from her, not a single one when he’d written dozens of letters. He thought he was over her until he saw her fall from the coach. Now he’s confused, a little bitter, and untrusting of Ginny who didn’t just break his heart, she trampled it. I like Blake, but he is hard on Ginny. He takes all his anger out on her and honestly even though she’s spoiled I didn’t think she deserved it…at least to that extent.
Overall I enjoyed this story, reading it in one sitting. It’s sweet, heart-breaking, and takes you back in time. I love the stolen moments they find together and the good things they bring out in one another. If you enjoy Victorian romance, I highly recommend this book!
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the story or the content of this review.
Christmas with an Angel by Debbie Mason is a short (and I do mean short, it’s only 4 chapters) story that immediately follows [b:Mistletoe Cottage|29214596|Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1)|Debbie Mason|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475511895s/29214596.jpg|49448086], giving light to Michael Gallagher after his fiancé leaves him the day before their wedding.
I’ll admit I was curious to see how Michael’s story would play out. He came off as indifferent and aloof in my opinion during [b:Mistletoe Cottage|29214596|Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1)|Debbie Mason|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475511895s/29214596.jpg|49448086]. He was the consummate playboy in his youth and now that he is a man he is ready to settle down. The problem is he chose the wrong woman to do it with. I like Michael. He’s driven and smart, he doesn’t hesitate to go after what he wants. Is he down in this story? Absolutely!! The woman he thought he loved turned out to not be who she thought he was and to be honest he seems relieved. I can’t blame him for that one.
Shay Angel is the girl that got away. Michael fell in love with her as a teen, but his mother had other plans and when Shay was caught with his car at 17, she went to jail and Michael was forced to move on. Now he’s back and her uncle needs his help. Shay is caught up in a scheme that could cost her more than time in jail, it could cost her life. So Michael is on a mission again.
There is a lot of story packed into 54 pages!!! Overall I enjoyed it. It was a quick read over the weekend during this busy holiday season. There’s not a lot of romance for this contemporary romance book, but it does tell a sweet story about two people who never forgot each other. I think it sets up the characters for a story later on if the author so chooses but also gives enough closure to their story that readers can presume what will happen to them. If you’re looking for a quick read and enjoyed [b:Mistletoe Cottage|29214596|Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1)|Debbie Mason|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475511895s/29214596.jpg|49448086], I highly recommend you pick up a copy asap!
Christmas with an Angel by Debbie Mason is a short (and I do mean short, it’s only 4 chapters) story that immediately follows [b:Mistletoe Cottage|29214596|Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1)|Debbie Mason|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475511895s/29214596.jpg|49448086], giving light to Michael Gallagher after his fiancé leaves him the day before their wedding.
I’ll admit I was curious to see how Michael’s story would play out. He came off as indifferent and aloof in my opinion during [b:Mistletoe Cottage|29214596|Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1)|Debbie Mason|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475511895s/29214596.jpg|49448086]. He was the consummate playboy in his youth and now that he is a man he is ready to settle down. The problem is he chose the wrong woman to do it with. I like Michael. He’s driven and smart, he doesn’t hesitate to go after what he wants. Is he down in this story? Absolutely!! The woman he thought he loved turned out to not be who she thought he was and to be honest he seems relieved. I can’t blame him for that one.
Shay Angel is the girl that got away. Michael fell in love with her as a teen, but his mother had other plans and when Shay was caught with his car at 17, she went to jail and Michael was forced to move on. Now he’s back and her uncle needs his help. Shay is caught up in a scheme that could cost her more than time in jail, it could cost her life. So Michael is on a mission again.
There is a lot of story packed into 54 pages!!! Overall I enjoyed it. It was a quick read over the weekend during this busy holiday season. There’s not a lot of romance for this contemporary romance book, but it does tell a sweet story about two people who never forgot each other. I think it sets up the characters for a story later on if the author so chooses but also gives enough closure to their story that readers can presume what will happen to them. If you’re looking for a quick read and enjoyed [b:Mistletoe Cottage|29214596|Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1)|Debbie Mason|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475511895s/29214596.jpg|49448086], I highly recommend you pick up a copy asap!
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Initial Reaction
After 2 years of waiting, The Queen by C.J. Abedi finally hit shelves. Let me be one of the first to tell you…it is FANTASTIC!!!! Seriously y’all it was perfect. After the cliffhanger in [b:The Dark King|19395559|The Dark King|C.J. Abedi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386860451s/19395559.jpg|27409354], I was worried. I was worried for the characters, the series, and I was preparing myself for no happily ever after. I’m so glad I was wrong!
The Queen picks up immediately where [b:The Dark King|19395559|The Dark King|C.J. Abedi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386860451s/19395559.jpg|27409354] left off. (Please note from here to the end of this review, there may be minor spoilers to previous books in the series. Read at your own risk.) Caroline is in the hands of the Alderon and Puck, facing death in the dark court. Devilyn is still oblivious to her missing at the party, but when he realizes what’s happened he and Rowan head out to find her. Devilyn knows that Fate has finally caught up with them and their destiny has begun.
Caroline ♥︎ Devilyn
I love Caroline and Devilyn! Right from the start of [b:Fae: Fae - Book 1|18989342|Fae Fae - Book 1|C.J. Abedi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386970288s/18989342.jpg|25489292], I knew these two characters would go down as one of my favorite book couples and I was right. Caroline is not the same girl we met in the first book. She has come full circle. She accepts who and what she is and faces it head on. She’s ready for the end whatever it may be as long as Devilyn is at her side.
It’s Devilyn that really struggles as he has for the entire series. It comes to a head though in The Queen. He loves Caroline, she’s his soul mate, no one will compare to her. YET he refuses to be with her. He punishes himself for what he is: half dark and half light. He’s afraid his darkness will be her downfall and he refuses to be a part of it. He will protect her, but he refuses to allow himself to love her. It’s heartbreaking and I just wanted to scream at him!
The Fates
This book is really a culmination of the entire series. Everything the authors have been building towards is here and it is truly stunning how they bring it all together. The destiny that Caroline and Devilyn have been fighting has finally caught up to them. Where Caroline is accepting, Devilyn continues to fight it. The two together are really formidable. I noticed that as I read I couldn’t read fast enough. There was an air of suspense from the very start.
In the last two books each chapter started with a scene outside of the two main characters, either from the light or dark fae courts. This book however starts each chapter with a scene from the past. It begins with the diaries of Eleanor Dare and progresses to Tara, really setting up the series plot point, the fate of Caroline and Devilyn. I loved this! There is so much written into these scenes that plays out with the characters. Pay attention when you read them!
An Unexpected Player
Puck was introduced in The Queen as Alderon’s most faithful and loyal subject. He is a mischief maker and I have to say I was not expecting him to play as big a role as he does. He is cunning and a bit unhinged. His motives though…
Awe man!!! Y’all have to read this book!!!
My Conclusion
Overall The Queen is a perfect end to the Fae Trilogy. I found myself crying with the characters, cheering them, yelling at them to watch their backs….seriously perfection! If you’ve enjoyed the series thus far, or perhaps you’ve never read it and are now intrigued, you won’t be disappointed. This is urban fantasy at its finest.
Initial Reaction
After 2 years of waiting, The Queen by C.J. Abedi finally hit shelves. Let me be one of the first to tell you…it is FANTASTIC!!!! Seriously y’all it was perfect. After the cliffhanger in [b:The Dark King|19395559|The Dark King|C.J. Abedi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386860451s/19395559.jpg|27409354], I was worried. I was worried for the characters, the series, and I was preparing myself for no happily ever after. I’m so glad I was wrong!
The Queen picks up immediately where [b:The Dark King|19395559|The Dark King|C.J. Abedi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386860451s/19395559.jpg|27409354] left off. (Please note from here to the end of this review, there may be minor spoilers to previous books in the series. Read at your own risk.) Caroline is in the hands of the Alderon and Puck, facing death in the dark court. Devilyn is still oblivious to her missing at the party, but when he realizes what’s happened he and Rowan head out to find her. Devilyn knows that Fate has finally caught up with them and their destiny has begun.
Caroline ♥︎ Devilyn
I love Caroline and Devilyn! Right from the start of [b:Fae: Fae - Book 1|18989342|Fae Fae - Book 1|C.J. Abedi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386970288s/18989342.jpg|25489292], I knew these two characters would go down as one of my favorite book couples and I was right. Caroline is not the same girl we met in the first book. She has come full circle. She accepts who and what she is and faces it head on. She’s ready for the end whatever it may be as long as Devilyn is at her side.
It’s Devilyn that really struggles as he has for the entire series. It comes to a head though in The Queen. He loves Caroline, she’s his soul mate, no one will compare to her. YET he refuses to be with her. He punishes himself for what he is: half dark and half light. He’s afraid his darkness will be her downfall and he refuses to be a part of it. He will protect her, but he refuses to allow himself to love her. It’s heartbreaking and I just wanted to scream at him!
The Fates
This book is really a culmination of the entire series. Everything the authors have been building towards is here and it is truly stunning how they bring it all together. The destiny that Caroline and Devilyn have been fighting has finally caught up to them. Where Caroline is accepting, Devilyn continues to fight it. The two together are really formidable. I noticed that as I read I couldn’t read fast enough. There was an air of suspense from the very start.
In the last two books each chapter started with a scene outside of the two main characters, either from the light or dark fae courts. This book however starts each chapter with a scene from the past. It begins with the diaries of Eleanor Dare and progresses to Tara, really setting up the series plot point, the fate of Caroline and Devilyn. I loved this! There is so much written into these scenes that plays out with the characters. Pay attention when you read them!
An Unexpected Player
Puck was introduced in The Queen as Alderon’s most faithful and loyal subject. He is a mischief maker and I have to say I was not expecting him to play as big a role as he does. He is cunning and a bit unhinged. His motives though…
Awe man!!! Y’all have to read this book!!!
My Conclusion
Overall The Queen is a perfect end to the Fae Trilogy. I found myself crying with the characters, cheering them, yelling at them to watch their backs….seriously perfection! If you’ve enjoyed the series thus far, or perhaps you’ve never read it and are now intrigued, you won’t be disappointed. This is urban fantasy at its finest.
I received an eARC of this book via Edelweiss. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The Marked Girl is an interesting read by debut author Lindsey Klingele. Honestly I wasn’t expecting it! The book starts with an action scene but you quickly learn it is fake. The main character is a budding director and is filming a scene with friends, very Dawson’s Creek-ish if you ask me. It was fun twist when you are expecting a fantasy. Then people appear out of nowhere through a portal….now we’re getting somewhere with the fantasy!
Liv is a fun character. She’s a 17 year-old, foster girl that pretty much sticks to herself. She relies on few people and even fewer know her background. She trusts only two people, her caseworker and her best friend. She’s independent and basically trying to keep her head down so she can graduate and be on her own. She’s so close to getting there when her life is derailed by mysterious teens.
Cedric is the opposite of Liv. He is a prince from Caelum. He’s strong, confident, a leader, at least he appears to be. He doubts himself. After his family is taken hostage by Malquin, Cedric escapes with his betrothed and her brother through a portal that lands them in modern-day LA, right in the middle of a film shoot. Obviously they have no clue what that is which brings a little humor to the book. Cedric and his friends go into hiding and search for the ancient scrolls that will send them home.
The premise of this books plot really sets up the entire series. There is a lot of info-dump but it is done in a way that flows with the story. Cedric explaining to Liv who they are and where he is from, Liv explaining her living situation and how to use a cell phone, those kind of things. Liv decides to help Cedric and in the process learns something she didn’t know about herself. She’s more tied to his world than she realizes and the danger it puts her in is terrifying. I loved the imagery and suspense of the book! And the characters really drive the plot. The humor in Liv trying to explain modern-day technology made me snicker more than once too.
Overall I really enjoyed the story. I alternated listening with reading and the narrators are fantastic! I was really drawn into the story and unable to sit it down! The alternating POV between Liv and Cedric made for an interesting read as well as the readers get to see how Cedric views the modern-world and how Liv thinks he’s nuts at least at first. If you enjoy urban fantasy, I highly recommend it! Be warned…there is a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next one!
The Marked Girl is an interesting read by debut author Lindsey Klingele. Honestly I wasn’t expecting it! The book starts with an action scene but you quickly learn it is fake. The main character is a budding director and is filming a scene with friends, very Dawson’s Creek-ish if you ask me. It was fun twist when you are expecting a fantasy. Then people appear out of nowhere through a portal….now we’re getting somewhere with the fantasy!
Liv is a fun character. She’s a 17 year-old, foster girl that pretty much sticks to herself. She relies on few people and even fewer know her background. She trusts only two people, her caseworker and her best friend. She’s independent and basically trying to keep her head down so she can graduate and be on her own. She’s so close to getting there when her life is derailed by mysterious teens.
Cedric is the opposite of Liv. He is a prince from Caelum. He’s strong, confident, a leader, at least he appears to be. He doubts himself. After his family is taken hostage by Malquin, Cedric escapes with his betrothed and her brother through a portal that lands them in modern-day LA, right in the middle of a film shoot. Obviously they have no clue what that is which brings a little humor to the book. Cedric and his friends go into hiding and search for the ancient scrolls that will send them home.
The premise of this books plot really sets up the entire series. There is a lot of info-dump but it is done in a way that flows with the story. Cedric explaining to Liv who they are and where he is from, Liv explaining her living situation and how to use a cell phone, those kind of things. Liv decides to help Cedric and in the process learns something she didn’t know about herself. She’s more tied to his world than she realizes and the danger it puts her in is terrifying. I loved the imagery and suspense of the book! And the characters really drive the plot. The humor in Liv trying to explain modern-day technology made me snicker more than once too.
Overall I really enjoyed the story. I alternated listening with reading and the narrators are fantastic! I was really drawn into the story and unable to sit it down! The alternating POV between Liv and Cedric made for an interesting read as well as the readers get to see how Cedric views the modern-world and how Liv thinks he’s nuts at least at first. If you enjoy urban fantasy, I highly recommend it! Be warned…there is a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next one!
The first time I read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas I devoured it. I read it so fast that I knew I wanted to read it again. Fast forward to now and I finally got the chance to do so. If you haven’t had the chance to read this yet, I highly suggest you grab a copy and do so ASAP! ACOTAR is a fantastic, high fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast about a young woman who unknowingly kills a Fae which sentences her to a life in the Fae lands.
Feyre is a bitter character when she is first introduced. As the youngest daughter in the family, you would think she would be the one cared for not the other way around. It was left to her when her father became crippled to take care of her family. She taught herself to hunt so they wouldn’t starve and this changed something fundamental about her. She became the character that is introduced: bitter, callous, and uncaring. Yet she is so much more. She dreams of a life where her sisters are wed and it is just her and her father and she can paint. Feyre is becomes complex as the book progresses. I loved reading as her character came out of her shell. She’s fierce, loyal, and actually cares too much which is why she seemed bitter, callous, and uncaring in the beginning. I love Maas’s ability to create such layered characters!
In the first chapter, Feyre kills a wolf, but it isn’t just any wolf. It is a fae in disguise. According to the treaty laws that keep the fae off the human land and vice versa, Feyre’s life is forfeit or she must go live in their lands. She rightly chooses to save her own skin and live with the Fae. Enter Tamlin. I know I’m going to get some hate mail for this BUT I didn’t like him. Tamlin was not my favorite character. He seems cold, out of reach, and to be honest not what I expected from my beloved Beast. It’s almost like he is above it all, but then he lets his curse and everything in his lands weigh him down at the same time. He’s controlling and manipulative and I never felt as the reader that I could trust his actions and intentions when it came to Feyre. His second-in-command Lucien however I loved. Basically what you see is what you get when it comes to Lucien. He’s brutally honest in his dislike for Feyre and yet that is somehow comforting. Don’t ask me to explain it, read it for yourself.
Now the plot of this book could really be split into two. The first half when Feyre kills the Fae and must learn to live with them, and the second half when she goes Under the Mountain. It really is like reading two different books with entirely different characters. The first half is about the budding romance between Tamlin and Feyre. It is almost reading about a courtship. He takes her on tours of his land, he forbids her go to certain areas, she develops feelings for not only Tamlin but the creatures in his land. The second half is all action. Feyre goes Under the Mountain to save Tamlin from the “she” that is referenced many times in the first half and the curse that plagues his people.
My favorite character (and my ship if I’m being honest) is introduced during briefly in the first half but plays a larger role in the second. Rhys is the lord of the Night Court. He’s tricky. I’ve yet to decide if he is acting in Feyre’s best interest or his own. But regardless of his reasons, one thing is clear: if not for him, Feyre would be doomed. Maybe I’m reading too much into his character but I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. I’ll be honest the first half is a little hard to get through unless you are invested in the Tamlin-Feyre ship which I wasn’t. It’s a little on the slow side as it sets the stage for the second half of the book. The second half however is fantastic and IMO totally makes up for the boring romance. I love Maas’s writing! Her world-building is unlike any that I’ve read and her characters have more layers than an onion. I love reading as she slowly reveals more about each character. If you enjoyed her Throne of Glass series or love high fantasy, I highly recommend this read.
Feyre is a bitter character when she is first introduced. As the youngest daughter in the family, you would think she would be the one cared for not the other way around. It was left to her when her father became crippled to take care of her family. She taught herself to hunt so they wouldn’t starve and this changed something fundamental about her. She became the character that is introduced: bitter, callous, and uncaring. Yet she is so much more. She dreams of a life where her sisters are wed and it is just her and her father and she can paint. Feyre is becomes complex as the book progresses. I loved reading as her character came out of her shell. She’s fierce, loyal, and actually cares too much which is why she seemed bitter, callous, and uncaring in the beginning. I love Maas’s ability to create such layered characters!
In the first chapter, Feyre kills a wolf, but it isn’t just any wolf. It is a fae in disguise. According to the treaty laws that keep the fae off the human land and vice versa, Feyre’s life is forfeit or she must go live in their lands. She rightly chooses to save her own skin and live with the Fae. Enter Tamlin. I know I’m going to get some hate mail for this BUT I didn’t like him. Tamlin was not my favorite character. He seems cold, out of reach, and to be honest not what I expected from my beloved Beast. It’s almost like he is above it all, but then he lets his curse and everything in his lands weigh him down at the same time. He’s controlling and manipulative and I never felt as the reader that I could trust his actions and intentions when it came to Feyre. His second-in-command Lucien however I loved. Basically what you see is what you get when it comes to Lucien. He’s brutally honest in his dislike for Feyre and yet that is somehow comforting. Don’t ask me to explain it, read it for yourself.
Now the plot of this book could really be split into two. The first half when Feyre kills the Fae and must learn to live with them, and the second half when she goes Under the Mountain. It really is like reading two different books with entirely different characters. The first half is about the budding romance between Tamlin and Feyre. It is almost reading about a courtship. He takes her on tours of his land, he forbids her go to certain areas, she develops feelings for not only Tamlin but the creatures in his land. The second half is all action. Feyre goes Under the Mountain to save Tamlin from the “she” that is referenced many times in the first half and the curse that plagues his people.
My favorite character (and my ship if I’m being honest) is introduced during briefly in the first half but plays a larger role in the second. Rhys is the lord of the Night Court. He’s tricky. I’ve yet to decide if he is acting in Feyre’s best interest or his own. But regardless of his reasons, one thing is clear: if not for him, Feyre would be doomed. Maybe I’m reading too much into his character but I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. I’ll be honest the first half is a little hard to get through unless you are invested in the Tamlin-Feyre ship which I wasn’t. It’s a little on the slow side as it sets the stage for the second half of the book. The second half however is fantastic and IMO totally makes up for the boring romance. I love Maas’s writing! Her world-building is unlike any that I’ve read and her characters have more layers than an onion. I love reading as she slowly reveals more about each character. If you enjoyed her Throne of Glass series or love high fantasy, I highly recommend this read.