myleejmiller's reviews
131 reviews

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

In the stunning finale of the series that started with Belladonna, Adalyn Grace breaks hearts, minds, and ground with the phenomenal conclusion to a richly immersive tale of heartbreak, sacrifice, history, and magic. After vanquishing and defeating Fate in the second installment of the trilogy, Blythe has one goal: make Fate's life as miserable as possible. But when traitorous feelings and ancient memories plague her, waiting to expose the secrets left untended in her ever-expanding world, her plans change. After all, even those without determined fates cannot escape their destiny.

Oh my WORD. I usually don't "scream" in reviews about any novels I read, but this one had me close to raving and squealing like a preteen who'd just watched Star Wars for the first time. This ending was phenomenal. I'll admit that I had my fears and concerns when preparing to read this book. I suspected that it wouldn't be as good without Signa's POV, despite what everyone was telling me (mostly that it was their favorite book of the trilogy - even though that is immensely difficult to do as a writer. Finales are hard to write well!) But I was astonished to find I absolutely adored this novel. It was, like so many of my reader friends', my favorite book in the series. I could go on for HOURS about how difficult it is to make the finale of any length of series a preferred book over the others, but I'll suffice to say this: Grace is one of my favorite authors, now, and she's a master at weaving stories full of wonder.

It took me less than a day to devour this narrative, and I'll never forget the story it wove. The characters? Vivid, raw, and authentic. The world? So fantastical I almost forgot it was a historical fantasy (who am I kidding? I thought this series was pure fantasy at first). The plot? So rich, luxurious, and satisfying. Grace showcases a masterclass in writing phenomenal characterization and lush worldbuilding in such a short amount of time. Some authors write books of thousands of pages in length and aren't able to garner the impact and sophistication that each of the books in Belladonna has. I could honestly go on forever about how much I adore this ovel and its complexities (as well as the entire trilogy) but I'll leave anyone who reads this with one piece of advice: READ IT, READ IT, READ IT!!

Foxglove by Adalyn Grace

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

In the sequel to Belladonna, Signa is faced with yet another mystery: who killed the duke of her town? But with Fate playing the people around them like a harp, she finds herself at a lack for answers as he tries to thwart her every move. And when memories and life-bending powers surround her, she must choose between her own safety and the safety of her family - some of whom are taking the wrongful downfall for the duke's murder.

My word, it's been so long since I read Belladonna that I nearly forgot how marvelous Adalyn Grace's storytelling truly is. This story is one of pulse-pounding action, vivid characterization, and banter that will make any reader's heart sing. It was a truly enjoyable read, set in a stunning world that readers will never want to leave. I found myself immersed in the storyline, the mysteries, and the stakes.

The only thought I have about the story is that the plot twists were quite obvious, as well as the solutions to the problems within the narrative. I'm still excited, however, to begin the third installment of this series soon, and to finish the story of Signa, Blythe, Death, and Fate!

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense

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

5.0

In the finale of the trilogy by renowned mystery author Karen M. McManus, the Bayview Murder Club is facing yet another problem in their messed-up hometown. After Jake's attempts at killing Addy, and the problems Phoebe and Knox faced in the sequel, news breaks: Jake's been released. And shortly after, people begin disappearing. It's up to the original Bayview four, and the new additions to their friend group, to solve the mysterious disappearances - before someone vanishes for good.

I am absolutely in love with Karen M. McManus (which is obvious, I hope, given that I've read all of her currently-published YA mysteries) and this book was a total knockout! I absolutely loved revisiting some of my favorite fictional characters of all time, and seeing the plot thicken. Mysteries abound in this bone-chilling finale. It's a master-class in tension, conflict, and characterization. I couldn't stop reading (and didn't want to). I can tell, with each book that McManus writes, she's getting better and better at writing mystery-led fiction. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!

These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

In the sequel to Lexi Ryan's These Hollow Vows, Brie is suffering from the after-effects of a betrayal from the person she thought she loved most. Now that he's proven himself more loyal to power than he is to her, she must somehow undo the damage his bloodline has done to the faries' lands - all while bonded with him, and falling in love with another.

This is how you end a duology! It was so phenomenally written. All of the characters were likable or lovable, and the world is an astronomically vivid, deeply intoxicating story. I loved every minute of reading the finale to These Hollow Vows. Ryan is truly a wizard with words, and has created a story that I already find myself missing - minutes from finishing my readthrough. I love this take on faeries and their world, and I hope to read more of her works soon.

My favorite part of this novel was that it wasn't afraid to show the darkness of female rage, and what it means to lose everything. It's a vivid portrait of what would happen should two worlds combine. The theme of sacrifice throughout this duology is absolutely one readers are not soon to forget.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

In Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli, Rune is a witch in hiding. After giving up her grandmother to the purgings of her fellow witches, she thinks her life can't get any worse. But then she discovers she's a witch, and sets out to save other witches from their deaths to make up for the demise of the person she loved the most. But when succeeding in breaking out the most important witch she's ever saved means befriending her worst enemy, she'll have to fake her love for him... or die.

This book deserved the hype it got. Usually, when I hear about a book that is so incredibly boosted and talked about by the reading and writing community, I'm a bit wary of how it might actually turn out. This book, like many others, is an exception to that rule. Heartless Hunter is a master class in writing tension and flawed characters. I was addicted from the first page. The prose was riveting, the plot was compelling, and the narrative is truly a story to die for.

I will say that I did find all of the plot twists in this narrative to be extremely obvious, especially for an upper-YA novel, but I've also been reading and writing for a long time. Another thing I'd like to mention is that I do believe the tension ebbed a little too early in the narrative, for reasons I won't disclose. But otherwise, this book is very much worth the read!

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

In The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen, Lara is one of many sisters trained and tutored in ways to kill, seduce, and destroy a man - alongside the kingdom he runs, and the infamous bridge tied to it. But in order to save her sisters, Lara sacrifices her own freedom to kill the king, invading his kingdom in the guise of a helpless, doe-eyed wife. Her goal is to take the bridge that provides trade between the nations of the world, but when her heart betrays her and the king she loathes turns out to be more than she was taught, everything is put at risk. She must choose: her kingdom, or the one she was coming to love.

This book was phenomenal. Though I'm not surprised, given what a legend Danielle L. Jensen is at writing fantasy stories. I first read her book, A Fate Inked In Blood, and knew from then on that this author was becoming one of my favorites. And when I heard about The Bridge Kingdom, I considered it to be a fabulous comp for one of the stories I wanted to write. Although the novel didn't turn out to match my own story enough to become a comparison title, it was still awe-inspiring. This fantasy world, devoid of the magic that is so often associated with the fantasy genre, is lush, vivid, and knuckle-whitening. I simply could not put the book down, especially after getting into the second half.

Jensen has a way with words that I've never seen other authors use, and her ideas are so fresh and original that she takes the cake as the most inventive writer I've seen in the industry in years. Jensen is truly taking the literary world by storm. While I usually find flaws even in my five-star reviews, most of my grievances with this novel are personal, biased, and based on the raw, authentic characters within the narrative (so I can't really complain!) Two word summary of my review? Read it.

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing tense

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

5.0

In These Hollow Vows, Brie is a human who simply wants to keep her sister alive in their terrible situation, enslaved and in debt. But when her sister is sold to the lands of Faerie, she has no choice but to travel of the world filled with the people she hates. Forced into a palace of court intrigue, lies, and betrayal, she's forced to make a deal to save her sister - a deal that requires her to betray those she might otherwise come to love.

Oh. My. GOSH! This book was recommended to me as a comparison title for my own, currently-querying novel, A CITY SO COLD. And not only was it a perfect comparison title, but it was one of the best novels I've read this year. Lush, thrilling, and entrancing, this novel is one of the best ones I've read so far this year. It captivated my attention, and it was the first physical book I read in two days all year. I'm thrilled to already have the sequel and dive into the rest of Brie's story. It was utterly phenomenal.

I will say that this book, though being upper-YA and more spicy than most YA novels, is a bit obvious in terms of plot twists. Like, achingly obvious. It's easy to read, however, and the obvious plot twists are pretty simple to ignore. Definitely worth the read!

Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

In the sequel to Five Broken Blades, the original criminals of the Yusan Empire are tasked with stealing the Ring of the Dragon Lord from King Joon's sister-the ruthless Quilimar. But as they face the threat of war, of betrayal, and of losing their lives, they must learn to trust each other - or die for lack of it.

This book was exactly as good as I hoped it would be. I was obsessed with this series from the first sentence of book one, and I'm thrilled to be able to continue reading the narrative. The characterization, the rawness and the flaws of the cast, make it so incredibly easy to like the characters Corland introduces us to. The world is rich, lush, and cunning. It's the perfect sequel, full of pulse-pounding action, deep internal growth, and its fair share of darkness. This book had me gasping and shouting until its final page. I cannot wait to read book three.

Gullstruck Island by Frances Hardinge

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

In Gullstruck Island by Frances Hardinge, Arilou and Hathin are sisters who live on battling islands, but they have a secret: Arilou is one of the forbidden Lost, capable of leaving her body to ride the winds. If they're discovered, Arilou will be executed. But when a hunter comes after them both, their plans change from keeping secrets to surviving.

I was enraptured by the concept of this novel and was excited to begin listening to it via audiobook, but I did find it... a bit disapointing, and a bit lacking. I don't usually have trouble paying attention to audiobooks, but this novel had my mind wandering at several points. I could hardly keep track of the main plot, I didn't bond with the characters, and nothing made me stop and gasp, needing to know more.

I will say that I gave this audiobook/book in general 4 stars overall because it was well-executed and the narrator of the audiobook was phenomenal, but it just didn't seem to be my cup of tea. It might be yours, though, so definitely give it a read!

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

In When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker, Raeve is an assassin for a group that is powerful enough to topple the dark empire she's forced to live in. But when she's captured on a job and her past life begins resurfacing in painful bouts of memory, she realizes she might not have come to where she now is in the way she thought - and that the truth might just destroy her.

This was my book club's pick for the months of December and January, and... I won't say I'm not disappointed. For such a pretty, popular book, this novel does feel a bit like Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros on steroids - with ten times the amount of line level issues, plot holes, and absolutely no plot through-line. Almost nothing in the entire novel was resolved by the end of the book. Every plot thread was left dangling, far too many even for the first installment in a duology. It was a bit disappointing to read, especially seeing no growth in the author's writing style.

The only reason this book is even a three-star book is because I'm going to try reading the second installment to see if the writing improves, and because the concept had such great potential. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend anyone read this book if they like cohesive, well-written fiction.