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The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"War is Coming....
The Night Ends with Fire takes us on a rollercoaster ride through a retelling of the historical figure of Fua Mulan. This version of the retelling is definitely not the well-known and well-loved Disney version; no, this book follows Meilin, a young woman who has lived opressively under her father's thumb. When her father refuses to join the draft, Meilin sees it as an opportunity to escape not only her father's harsh world but also remove herself from the marriage arranged by him to a man equally just as bad as him.
I want to start this by saying the first edition book with its stenciling is gorgeous! I was literally afraid to mess up the pearlescence cover when I decided to read it. I am glad I still did. The story, the characters, and the world-building drew me into the world from the first page to the last, making sure that the cliffhanger at the end would make sure I would come back.
Meilin is our female lead. She's headstrong and determined, but there are moments I question the things she does. She doesn't want to be under the same opressive thumb as her mother and stepmother have been with her father's decision to marry her off. With her father refusing to join the draft, Meilin believes this to be the answer to her problem.
This book is a fun read, and it will draw you so far in that you won't realize it until you have reached the end. This was the same for me. I was not expecting this book to be good. I expected to read a few pages and finish it up when I woke up. The plan was erased. I found myself finished with the book in a matter of hours.
This book is going to be my book of the year. I doubt there will be anything to top it with the exception of its sequel.
The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen
Every one hundred years, the gods battle to lay claim to the throne, but none of them want to fight it out themselves. Instead, they pick humans to do the work for them. Each Crucible is just as bad as the next, and Lyra, a cursed office worker for the Order of Thieves, has been keeping her nose cleaned and laying low ever since she angered Zeus, but when she thinks she has escaped the games, the Mercurial God of the Underworld appears and makes her his champion.
Now, Lyra will have to play these games with the gods and come out the winner.
I loved, LOVED this story. I was held captive from the moment I opened the book and saw those beautiful end pages and the gorgeously sprayed edges. I was surprised to see Hades try to battle for the throne. Normally, he rarely is present and seems more inclined to remain in the shadows. In this one, he is more present, and his intentions are clear. It was nice to see a different side of him than we do see in other books.
I know this book was pushed to be a slow burn, but it seemed more like an insta-love/connection between our two characters. It's not one of my favorite tropes, but I can tolerate it enough if the story is as intriguing as this one is.
Lyra's character was a bit annoying. She was more mercurial than Hades seemed to be. I don't think I saw any character growth with her. I am hoping there will be some changes over this in the next book. I nearly dropped this book because I was unable to stomach her. I'm hoping we see a bit more growth in her character in the second novel.
Overall, worldbuilding is a unique take on Greek gods mingling with the human realm and pushing those chosen humans to play a game they, themselves, won't play.
Now, Lyra will have to play these games with the gods and come out the winner.
I loved, LOVED this story. I was held captive from the moment I opened the book and saw those beautiful end pages and the gorgeously sprayed edges. I was surprised to see Hades try to battle for the throne. Normally, he rarely is present and seems more inclined to remain in the shadows. In this one, he is more present, and his intentions are clear. It was nice to see a different side of him than we do see in other books.
I know this book was pushed to be a slow burn, but it seemed more like an insta-love/connection between our two characters. It's not one of my favorite tropes, but I can tolerate it enough if the story is as intriguing as this one is.
Lyra's character was a bit annoying. She was more mercurial than Hades seemed to be. I don't think I saw any character growth with her. I am hoping there will be some changes over this in the next book. I nearly dropped this book because I was unable to stomach her. I'm hoping we see a bit more growth in her character in the second novel.
Overall, worldbuilding is a unique take on Greek gods mingling with the human realm and pushing those chosen humans to play a game they, themselves, won't play.
Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 (The Novel) by Suji Kim
Oh my! I did not realize that the webtoon had a light novel. I love these type of novels because a lot of the webtoons. while great if they don't have a light novel. seem to be missing something or something has changed within it. This is why I am happy when I can find the ones I love the most.
Set during the Medieval Age when the Roemian Empire had fallen, Lady Maxillian is the eldest daughter of the Duke of Croyso and is seen as less than perfect in her father's eyes. Her stammering makes her so disgusting to her father that he often, not only compares her to her younger sister but uses the excuse to verbally and physically abuse her.
Because of this, Maxi's self-esteem is often at its low. She has even asked why Riftan agree to her as his wife, rather than her darling sister.
There is a lot of miscommunication between them. For example: when he arrives to take her back to his fortress, he believes that she rather have lived here in the house with her father than go to a home she didn't want. This is far, far from the truth. She had no idea that her duty to her husband would include her going to his home.
Some moments led me to believe that Riftan fell first. At the wedding or sometime during the consummation of their marriage. He dotes on her when they go home, but Maxi's esteem is so low that she believes he was meant to marry the princess.
Again, there is a lack of communication. I am pretty sure that there are probably more but I am going to have to restart reading the manhwa again.
As for their character development, it is slow and I am okay with that. I want to see Maxi grow into her role as Riftan's wife and the lady of the fortress. She has proven herself once in this book. So, I am hoping to see more later.
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"The first moment I saw you, I knew you would ruin me."
Oh my! I did not realize that the webtoon had a light novel. I love these type of novels because a lot of the webtoons. while great if they don't have a light novel. seem to be missing something or something has changed within it. This is why I am happy when I can find the ones I love the most.
Set during the Medieval Age when the Roemian Empire had fallen, Lady Maxillian is the eldest daughter of the Duke of Croyso and is seen as less than perfect in her father's eyes. Her stammering makes her so disgusting to her father that he often, not only compares her to her younger sister but uses the excuse to verbally and physically abuse her.
Because of this, Maxi's self-esteem is often at its low. She has even asked why Riftan agree to her as his wife, rather than her darling sister.
There is a lot of miscommunication between them. For example: when he arrives to take her back to his fortress, he believes that she rather have lived here in the house with her father than go to a home she didn't want. This is far, far from the truth. She had no idea that her duty to her husband would include her going to his home.
Some moments led me to believe that Riftan fell first. At the wedding or sometime during the consummation of their marriage. He dotes on her when they go home, but Maxi's esteem is so low that she believes he was meant to marry the princess.
Again, there is a lack of communication. I am pretty sure that there are probably more but I am going to have to restart reading the manhwa again.
As for their character development, it is slow and I am okay with that. I want to see Maxi grow into her role as Riftan's wife and the lady of the fortress. She has proven herself once in this book. So, I am hoping to see more later.
Filthy Rich Vampire by Geneva Lee
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
If someone were to summarize this book, it would be "Bridgerton meets Crazy Rich Asians with vampire seasons and fated mates." This is the first book in a series with our main male character, Julian, awakened by his brother after thirty-nine years of sleep. The reason? The Rites (a vampire season) is arriving and his mother wants him to find a witch to be his bride. Julian has no desire to marry - ever. That is until he meets Thea at the first event of the vampire season.
Thea, our female lead, is a broke student working three jobs to make ends meet and to help her mother with her treatments. When she takes up the job as a cellist at an event, she does not think she will be meeting with fate - until Julian crosses her path.
When Julian offers her deal - play his girlfriend and he will pay for her mother's treatments - Thea takes it unaware things are about to go sideways for the couple.
While I loved this book and its premise, I found the book lacking in storyline growth. For the first half of the book, it lagged to the point that I considered putting this book down. I had heard a lot of good things about this book, especially from friends, and this book was not delivering on it. The characters did seem to be clicking and their relationship lacked the chemistry I was expecting. This could be that this is just book one and its growth might come with book two.
That is what I am hoping for.
Thea, our female lead, is a broke student working three jobs to make ends meet and to help her mother with her treatments. When she takes up the job as a cellist at an event, she does not think she will be meeting with fate - until Julian crosses her path.
When Julian offers her deal - play his girlfriend and he will pay for her mother's treatments - Thea takes it unaware things are about to go sideways for the couple.
While I loved this book and its premise, I found the book lacking in storyline growth. For the first half of the book, it lagged to the point that I considered putting this book down. I had heard a lot of good things about this book, especially from friends, and this book was not delivering on it. The characters did seem to be clicking and their relationship lacked the chemistry I was expecting. This could be that this is just book one and its growth might come with book two.
That is what I am hoping for.
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
I am always looking for books on anything related to Greek Mythology. It has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager and I have always enjoyed how other authors take these myths and spin them. I had this one on my TBR for some time and decided now was the time to devour this book.
And devoured said book I did. This book takes us on a guided tour of the Greek mythology of Titans and Gods. From the beginning with Chaos to the defeat of Kronos at the hands of his son, Zeus. To the lesser Gods and their duties to the reasons behind the changing seasons. All this is written and told with humor and story-weaving to draw the reader into the realm of the Gods and their sorted affairs, messy relationships, and overall bad behavior.
Stephen Frey uses humor and storytelling is brilliant and fun. The reader is kept engaged with the world of Greek and Roman mythology throughout the book until the ending page. I found myself giggling with each page turned.
I loved that the first book focuses mainly on the Gods because you don't find many Most stories featuring the Gods also have the heroes thus offering lesser tales and more shortened summaries of their messy and bad behaviors before diving in and offering a more thorough storytelling of the other heroes and villains of the Greek and Roman world.
And devoured said book I did. This book takes us on a guided tour of the Greek mythology of Titans and Gods. From the beginning with Chaos to the defeat of Kronos at the hands of his son, Zeus. To the lesser Gods and their duties to the reasons behind the changing seasons. All this is written and told with humor and story-weaving to draw the reader into the realm of the Gods and their sorted affairs, messy relationships, and overall bad behavior.
Stephen Frey uses humor and storytelling is brilliant and fun. The reader is kept engaged with the world of Greek and Roman mythology throughout the book until the ending page. I found myself giggling with each page turned.
I loved that the first book focuses mainly on the Gods because you don't find many Most stories featuring the Gods also have the heroes thus offering lesser tales and more shortened summaries of their messy and bad behaviors before diving in and offering a more thorough storytelling of the other heroes and villains of the Greek and Roman world.
Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor
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
4.5
One of the Big Three Olympian Gods, Hades drew the lot of the Underworld where he ruled. He oversaw the inner workings of his world but he was not the God of Death as many believe him to be. That would belong to another god but we are not here to discuss him.
The realm of Hades is glimpsed at the beginning of the graphic novel where we learn of those who have disrespected the Gods and their fates in the Underworld from Sisyphus's punishment of rolling a boulder up a hill to the fiery wheel which held Ixion bound.
Here we find the version of the Persephone myth. A young woman controlled by her mother who would shoo off other Gods who found an interest in her daughter. While away from her mother and lured to a beautiful flower, Kore is snatched from the world above and taken down into the Underworld where she finds herself now in the hands of a husband not of her choosing, but Hades is patient with her and gives her the space needed. Kore learns of her husband's world, changes her name to Persephone, and eats the six seeds of the pomegranate that will tie her to her husband's world for six months out of the year.
There have been so many tales of the Hades and Persephone myth. Most of them are unable to agree with the intake of the seeds - be it three or six. I like the relationship between Hades and Persephone. While he doesn't give her a chance because he has taken her, he does show her his world and allows her to see it through his own eyes. You don't see a relationship like this with the other Greek Gods.
The only thing I was not a fan of was goth Persephone. I don't know but it didn't fit her. It may do so while she is in the Underworld but I could not see her prior to her kidnapping. It just didn't match her.
Otherwise, I recommend this to many parents who are looking to introduce their children to mythology. These are a great way to do so.
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Since this book was released last year, I have been excited about reading it. Yes, I had pushed it to the back of the burner to finish most of the books ahead of it, but I had decided now to finish up an amazing story of gods amongst humans and a magical typewriter that linked two souls together. I wanted to know their story. I wanted to know what kind of ending the author would give to, not only Iris and Roman but to the Gods and their war.
This book was a huge disappointment. This is a war between two selfish Gods who have made it a point to use humans on their chess boards without thought or concern. More with the way both of their egos have been bruised. I felt no sympathy for either of them but more for the people who had been losing their lives for something that seemed so pointless.
The connection with the characters was not there. Rather, Roman and Isis spend a lot of the book away from each other, but this is mainly due to Roman having amnesia and in the presence of the Dacre, writing his story to make him more sympathetic to those out there reading the Oath Gazette. In contrast, Iris spends her time running around.
Honestly, I almost did not finish this book. I loved the first book. I loved the world-building. The characters. The whole thing. This book, not so much.
This book was a huge disappointment. This is a war between two selfish Gods who have made it a point to use humans on their chess boards without thought or concern. More with the way both of their egos have been bruised. I felt no sympathy for either of them but more for the people who had been losing their lives for something that seemed so pointless.
The connection with the characters was not there. Rather, Roman and Isis spend a lot of the book away from each other, but this is mainly due to Roman having amnesia and in the presence of the Dacre, writing his story to make him more sympathetic to those out there reading the Oath Gazette. In contrast, Iris spends her time running around.
Honestly, I almost did not finish this book. I loved the first book. I loved the world-building. The characters. The whole thing. This book, not so much.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Vampires are normally known for their arrogance and maybe Vincent did believe himself untouchable or that the child he raised, trained, and saw as his own was too weak of a human to do anything against him. But we never know anything he is thinking, what he is doing, or much about him except what we get from our main female lead.
Oraya is human in her world. A world where humans are treated as nothing more than blood banks and cattle for the vampires. When she was twelve, she was almost killed until she was found by Vincent. He saved her and took her to his home. I loved the chemistry they had. You could see he loved her in his way. He taught her to survive his world and even saw her as his own. So, when she enters the Kejari tournaments she is pitted against other vampires in a set of brutal games in which she will have to survive to win.
It is here we meet Raihn, who offers Oraya an alliance and a nicer place to stay that would offer her far more protection than the greenhouse she was at. I enjoyed that their romance was slow and the chemistry between them burned deeper than the tournament itself. I was happy to see that was not something instant but that the romance was slow and steady offering up steamy moments between them whenever they were together.
I love fantasy romance novels with vampires at its core. The Serpent and the Wings offers an intriguing and refreshing take on the classic vampire love story. The novel is full of thrilling action, steamy romance, and intricate world-building that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. The author does a fantastic job of balancing the fantasy elements with the romance, creating a captivating story that will keep readers wanting more.
dark
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? Yes
4.75
This book has been all over BookTok since I first discovered the app over a year and a half ago. Many reviewers say this book has the best presentation of vampires. Now, I have read many books, both fantasy and bodice rippers with the vampire theme prominent in their main characters, but here we have a human female as our main lead. A young woman named Oraya filled with rage toward the vampires because they had killed her family long ago. She would have probably even died that night if it had not been for a vampire king named Vincent who ends up taking her in as his adopted daughter.
The King did not know then that his greatest love would be his ruination - nor that either would come in the form of a tiny, helpless child
Vampires are normally known for their arrogance and maybe Vincent did believe himself untouchable or that the child he raised, trained, and saw as his own was too weak of a human to do anything against him. But we never know anything he is thinking, what he is doing, or much about him except what we get from our main female lead.
Oraya is human in her world. A world where humans are treated as nothing more than blood banks and cattle for the vampires. When she was twelve, she was almost killed until she was found by Vincent. He saved her and took her to his home. I loved the chemistry they had. You could see he loved her in his way. He taught her to survive his world and even saw her as his own. So, when she enters the Kejari tournaments she is pitted against other vampires in a set of brutal games in which she will have to survive to win.
It is here we meet Raihn, who offers Oraya an alliance and a nicer place to stay that would offer her far more protection than the greenhouse she was at. I enjoyed that their romance was slow and the chemistry between them burned deeper than the tournament itself. I was happy to see that was not something instant but that the romance was slow and steady offering up steamy moments between them whenever they were together.
I love fantasy romance novels with vampires at its core. The Serpent and the Wings offers an intriguing and refreshing take on the classic vampire love story. The novel is full of thrilling action, steamy romance, and intricate world-building that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. The author does a fantastic job of balancing the fantasy elements with the romance, creating a captivating story that will keep readers wanting more.
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
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? Yes
5.0
When I saw reviews stating this book had a "Howl's Moving Castle" vibe, I excitedly awaited the book's release. I have always been a fan of the whimsical and magical world created by Diana Wynne Jones in "Howl's Moving Castle," and I was eager to see how this new book would capture that enchanting feeling.
Liske hails from a small farming village named Stodola. On the day of the festival of Kupala Night, she leaves her village behind determined to find a flower said to grant a wish. You see, Liske carries within her magic. Magic is forbidden and Liske knows that the Church frowns upon such things. Plus Liske has come to see her magic as a burden and thus needs to be rid of it. Unfortunately, Liske meets the Leszy, who offers to help her with the condition she stays with him for a year.
But while there seemed to be inspiration from "Howl's Moving Castle", it also had the originality that set it far apart from the magical world of Howl, Sophie, and their whimsical journey. This book held its uniqueness with its characters and the storyline, steeping it from Slavic mythology. The characters and storyline draw you into the pages of the book, hold you captivated, and keep you hooked until the end.
This book was not a disappointment. Rather, it was the complete opposite. Even now, I still find myself going back to parts of the novel that I rather enjoyed. With a mixture of "Howl's Moving Castle", Beauty and the Beast, and Hades and Persephone, this book can stand on its whimsical charm and magical storyline. I would highly recommend this fantasy romance to anyone who is looking for a way to begin their journey into the fantasy romance genre. Its Slavic mythology will entice you to divulge within its pages and keep you glued to beautiful characters, a whimsical world, and a fantasy storyline you will enjoy.
Liske hails from a small farming village named Stodola. On the day of the festival of Kupala Night, she leaves her village behind determined to find a flower said to grant a wish. You see, Liske carries within her magic. Magic is forbidden and Liske knows that the Church frowns upon such things. Plus Liske has come to see her magic as a burden and thus needs to be rid of it. Unfortunately, Liske meets the Leszy, who offers to help her with the condition she stays with him for a year.
But while there seemed to be inspiration from "Howl's Moving Castle", it also had the originality that set it far apart from the magical world of Howl, Sophie, and their whimsical journey. This book held its uniqueness with its characters and the storyline, steeping it from Slavic mythology. The characters and storyline draw you into the pages of the book, hold you captivated, and keep you hooked until the end.
This book was not a disappointment. Rather, it was the complete opposite. Even now, I still find myself going back to parts of the novel that I rather enjoyed. With a mixture of "Howl's Moving Castle", Beauty and the Beast, and Hades and Persephone, this book can stand on its whimsical charm and magical storyline. I would highly recommend this fantasy romance to anyone who is looking for a way to begin their journey into the fantasy romance genre. Its Slavic mythology will entice you to divulge within its pages and keep you glued to beautiful characters, a whimsical world, and a fantasy storyline you will enjoy.
His for the Taking by J. Snow
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
If you are looking for a "they lived happily ever after" or "he fell in love with her the moment he saw her, " this book is not for you. Rather, this book is the opposite. There is incest, humiliation, degradation, and rape. Nina and Antonio are first cousins and have been arranged to wed. Antonio has no desire to marry her simply because her father is Russian trash and her mother he considers to be a traitorous bitch, but he does as he is told. From the moment of their interaction before the wedding to after it, Antonio is abusive towards his new bride, treating her as if she were nothing more than like her mother. There are moments when I feel sorry for Nina because she is innocent in all of this. She did not choose to be born nor was she given the choice in her marriage. She knows that, in the end, her new husband will make her life hell. There is no happily ever after in her future, and Antonio clarifies that.
While this book is part of a series called "After Dark Taboo", it is a short novella. So, if you are looking for plot development and character growth, you won't find it here. The plot is so small that you have to have a magnified glass to find it but this book is mostly "plot? what plot?" or "porn with (tiny) plot". The characters are cousins forced to marry by orders of Antonio's uncle and father because they found the perfect bride - his cousin, Nina. From what was gathered, Nina's mother married someone who they considered trash and I am guessing that Nina's mother wanted to return to her family. I am assuming they told her that Nina would have to marry her cousin to allow her to return. I am going to also assume that her mother either didn't care or knew she could not protest it. I am going with the former rather than the latter.
I was surprised that I liked this book. The premise was interesting but I did feel for Nina and her future. It does look like there might be a possibility we may see more of Antonio and Nina later on in other novels. I will be keeping a look out for those.
While this book is part of a series called "After Dark Taboo", it is a short novella. So, if you are looking for plot development and character growth, you won't find it here. The plot is so small that you have to have a magnified glass to find it but this book is mostly "plot? what plot?" or "porn with (tiny) plot". The characters are cousins forced to marry by orders of Antonio's uncle and father because they found the perfect bride - his cousin, Nina. From what was gathered, Nina's mother married someone who they considered trash and I am guessing that Nina's mother wanted to return to her family. I am assuming they told her that Nina would have to marry her cousin to allow her to return. I am going to also assume that her mother either didn't care or knew she could not protest it. I am going with the former rather than the latter.
I was surprised that I liked this book. The premise was interesting but I did feel for Nina and her future. It does look like there might be a possibility we may see more of Antonio and Nina later on in other novels. I will be keeping a look out for those.