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thebiasedbibliophile's reviews
665 reviews
Embers: Beastly Curses by Sky Sommers
3.0
While I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first in the series, it was fun to read about the different fairy tales. Grizelda was definitely my favorite character, and I would be interested in reading more of her backstory. It was also nice to see how Ella matured since the events of the previous book. That being said, the different POVs didn't work for me with this book. I felt like I didn't have enough time to grow really attached to the characters. Overall though, a quick and lighthearted read!
Fight the Storm: Thousand Year War, Book 2 by Michelle Dawn
5.0
Fight the Storm by Michelle Dawn is one of the best second books in a series that I’ve ever read! Once again, the plot drew me into the story immediately and held my attention throughout the entirety of the book. I quite literally couldn’t put the book down, and now I’ve been hesitant to pick up the next book in the series because I’m worried that two amazing books in a row might be the end of my lucky streak.
This book was very different than the first book in a series, but I appreciated that feature. There was a lot of political intrigue, which added depth to the world-building. I really enjoyed seeing Aria navigate the intricacies of politics, and I thought it was very realistic that she fumbled a few times. Her willingness to learn for her mistakes and her adamant ability to stand up for herself were phenomenal.
Similarly, Aria’s character development is absolutely outstanding. In the first book, Aria is terrified of all men because of her upbringing and the kingdom she was raised in. Michelle Dawn had a lot of work cut out for her in writing a romance with a protagonist who is vehemently opposed to romance of any kind (and for such strong reasons). However, Dawn did Aria justice in balancing the fear that had been instilled in her since birth, and a very slow burn romance. I am looking forward to seeing how it develops further in the next book.
On a related note, there was a trope that I’m not a huge fan of. I won’t say which trope because it would be a major spoiler, but it was the one downside of this book, and I felt like it took away from Aria and Vaile’s budding relationship. That being said, Michelle Dawn managed to write a dark fantasy that absolutely captivated me (an amazing feat considering I don’t typically enjoy dark fantasy), so I’m holding out hope that she takes this trope in an unexpected and enjoyable direction in the next book.
As a whole, I was once again blown away by Michelle Dawn’s ability to fully immerse her readers into the stories she creates. I cannot recommend this book enough, whether you usually enjoy dark fantasy or not!
This book was very different than the first book in a series, but I appreciated that feature. There was a lot of political intrigue, which added depth to the world-building. I really enjoyed seeing Aria navigate the intricacies of politics, and I thought it was very realistic that she fumbled a few times. Her willingness to learn for her mistakes and her adamant ability to stand up for herself were phenomenal.
Similarly, Aria’s character development is absolutely outstanding. In the first book, Aria is terrified of all men because of her upbringing and the kingdom she was raised in. Michelle Dawn had a lot of work cut out for her in writing a romance with a protagonist who is vehemently opposed to romance of any kind (and for such strong reasons). However, Dawn did Aria justice in balancing the fear that had been instilled in her since birth, and a very slow burn romance. I am looking forward to seeing how it develops further in the next book.
On a related note, there was a trope that I’m not a huge fan of. I won’t say which trope because it would be a major spoiler, but it was the one downside of this book, and I felt like it took away from Aria and Vaile’s budding relationship. That being said, Michelle Dawn managed to write a dark fantasy that absolutely captivated me (an amazing feat considering I don’t typically enjoy dark fantasy), so I’m holding out hope that she takes this trope in an unexpected and enjoyable direction in the next book.
As a whole, I was once again blown away by Michelle Dawn’s ability to fully immerse her readers into the stories she creates. I cannot recommend this book enough, whether you usually enjoy dark fantasy or not!
The Paper It's Written On: Defining your relationship with an editing client by Dick Margulis, Karin Cather
5.0
If I had to recommend one book to a freelance editor, this would be it! The information in the book is invaluable. Whether you are a new freelancer drafting a contract for the first time or a seasoned freelancer wanting to polish your contract, this is the book for you. I appreciated how the contents were both thorough and to-the-point. Cather and Margulis wrote in a way that is both humorous and easy to understand. I would absolutely love for the authors to continue publishing books about editing. As a whole, this book is a must-have for freelance editors!
Inked by Rachel Rener
Similarly, I love what Rener did with the world-building. I thought the various magical beings really enhanced the overall feeling, and I can’t wait to see how she develops that further in the next books. I have a feeling that Inked only touches the surface of the fae realm, so I’m excited for the characters to return there.
5.0
I rarely read books with any kind of spice in them, but after Rachel Rener assured me that the spice in Inked was tasteful, I figured I’d give it a shot (because have you seen the Kickstarter omnibus for the series?!). I’ve never been more glad that someone talked me into reading a book because Inked is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorites! In fact, it is the only book with spice that has made it onto my all-time favorites list!
So, the novel follows Talia, who is a tattoo artist. We are instantly thrown into action when Talia is tattooing a cobra/rattlesnake on a client and she runs out of ink. With no other option, she uses the special ink her boss forbade her from touching, and lo and behold, the tattoo comes to life. On top of that, her boss, with whom she has a complicated romantic past, disappears.
This book had me in its grasp from the very beginning! On top of rarely reading spicy books, I rarely read urban fantasy because they often feel a bit underwhelming. That was not the case with this book! The magic system was well-thought-out and clear, which made the world feel that much more expansive, even when the characters were on Earth.
Similarly, I love what Rener did with the world-building. I thought the various magical beings really enhanced the overall feeling, and I can’t wait to see how she develops that further in the next books. I have a feeling that Inked only touches the surface of the fae realm, so I’m excited for the characters to return there.
And, as promised, the spice was tasteful! I appreciated the fact that I wasn’t reading spicy scenes on every other page. The spice that was included directly related to the plot, something I cannot stress enough. Possibly the quickest way to lose me as a reader is to write unnecessary spice. Thankfully, the spice in Inked was so interconnected to the story that I not only managed to get through it, but I also likely would have been disappointed if it hadn’t been included.
Finally, I cannot express how important this book is to me on a personal level. Talia and her mother are both Jewish, which is a significant part of their identities. This representation is so vital and unfortunately sparse in fantasy. Although I am a big advocate for all kinds of diverse representation, Jewish representation is particularly close to my heart. In college, I joined a sorority that was founded by five remarkable Jewish women who broke through so many barriers in their lives. I have always felt honored to be part of an organization that amplifies underrepresented and historically marginalized voices. So, it was very special to read a book by a similarly remarkable Jewish woman who made it a point to shine a light on a culture that is, too often, overlooked.
As a whole, I cannot recommend Inked enough! I’m always excited to add beautiful books to my collection, but to add a beautiful book that I adored so much? My year is made!
Of Stormlarks and Silence by Constance Lopez
I have frequently heard this book described as romantic fantasy, and it is, but it is also so much more than that! The other details in the novel made the story feel so three-dimensional and made the romance that much better. Possibly my favorite aspect of the novel was the political intrigue and how it related to the world-building. The three kingdoms in the story feel unique and distinct, each with their own practices and cultures. That is something that I feel is rarely pulled off in fantasy, and Lopez did so flawlessly. I particularly think fans of the Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty would enjoy this element of the story.
Furthermore, I found the magic system intriguing. Usually I appreciate magic systems with strict and clear rules, and this one blurred the line a bit, but I ended up enjoying that feature. In many ways, it seems like almost any kind of magic is possible, which is a component that is typically seen in looser magic systems. However, there was order within the looseness of the magic system, which added a sense of clarity. It actually made me question my love of strict magic systems because I really admired the morphing of a looser and stricter system.
Finally, the characters really made this book come to life. The main characters, Riona and Tristan, were wonderful, and their love story was adorably complicated. I felt like the supporting characters brought the story to the next level. Riona’s relationships with her Aunt Orla and Uncle Kent were phenomenally written. I have rarely come across such compelling character arcs in secondary characters, and I’m beyond impressed. Liam was also interesting, and I was overjoyed by his relationship with Tristan. Most often, in fantasy we see magical connections only between love interests, and it was so refreshing to see this type of connection between friends. I absolutely love it when authors portray unconventional or overlooked relationships, and this one certainly blew me away.
4.5
What a way to end the Indie Fantasy Addicts Summer Reading Challenge! If you read my review of The Wicked Prince by Celeste Baxendell, then you know I was sincerely concerned that I would never find another book that made my heart so happy, but thankfully Constance Lopez came through with her debut novel, Of Stormlarks and Silence! It’s not often that I enjoy books that have a lot of hype, but I can honestly say that this book deserves all the hype it gets and more!
I didn’t even stop to take notes while reading this novel because I couldn’t put it down long enough to type even a quick note. So, please excuse the chaos that this review is going to be.
I have frequently heard this book described as romantic fantasy, and it is, but it is also so much more than that! The other details in the novel made the story feel so three-dimensional and made the romance that much better. Possibly my favorite aspect of the novel was the political intrigue and how it related to the world-building. The three kingdoms in the story feel unique and distinct, each with their own practices and cultures. That is something that I feel is rarely pulled off in fantasy, and Lopez did so flawlessly. I particularly think fans of the Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty would enjoy this element of the story.
Furthermore, I found the magic system intriguing. Usually I appreciate magic systems with strict and clear rules, and this one blurred the line a bit, but I ended up enjoying that feature. In many ways, it seems like almost any kind of magic is possible, which is a component that is typically seen in looser magic systems. However, there was order within the looseness of the magic system, which added a sense of clarity. It actually made me question my love of strict magic systems because I really admired the morphing of a looser and stricter system.
Finally, the characters really made this book come to life. The main characters, Riona and Tristan, were wonderful, and their love story was adorably complicated. I felt like the supporting characters brought the story to the next level. Riona’s relationships with her Aunt Orla and Uncle Kent were phenomenally written. I have rarely come across such compelling character arcs in secondary characters, and I’m beyond impressed. Liam was also interesting, and I was overjoyed by his relationship with Tristan. Most often, in fantasy we see magical connections only between love interests, and it was so refreshing to see this type of connection between friends. I absolutely love it when authors portray unconventional or overlooked relationships, and this one certainly blew me away.
As a whole, there are so many other wonderful aspects about Of Stormlarks and Silence, and my review barely scratches the surface! This book truly has something for everyone, and I can’t wait to read the next one!
From the Arcane: Relics of Legend and Lore by Rachel Rener
5.0
This is the first Indie Fantasy Addicts anthology I've read, and I had the immense honor of anonymously judging for the anthology. I was blown away by the creativity in these stories! Each story felt very unique and fun in its own way. My top three stories were "The Pilfered Quill" by David Green and Rachel Rener, "The Blade of Severed Bonds" by Laura Winter, and "A Measure of Solace" by Lily Anne Crow. However, there was something to love in each and every story!
A few of the stories had diverse characters. Karyne Norton's includes a character who is disabled, and Katie Cherry's protagonist is a Person of Color. I do have to admit that I would've liked to see more queer representation in the stories, but that is my only complaint.
I was really impressed with how vivid the settings are in many of the stories. Readers will feel like they're traveling everywhere, from the wild west to your local bookstore.
As a whole, I cannot recommend this anthology enough! As far as anthologies go, I think it has an unusually high amount of 5-star stories, and I appreciated the way they all felt distinct and immersive.
A few of the stories had diverse characters. Karyne Norton's includes a character who is disabled, and Katie Cherry's protagonist is a Person of Color. I do have to admit that I would've liked to see more queer representation in the stories, but that is my only complaint.
I was really impressed with how vivid the settings are in many of the stories. Readers will feel like they're traveling everywhere, from the wild west to your local bookstore.
As a whole, I cannot recommend this anthology enough! As far as anthologies go, I think it has an unusually high amount of 5-star stories, and I appreciated the way they all felt distinct and immersive.