Book Review: This Spells Love by Kate Robb

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was gonna be funny...like ha ha, rom-com like funny. But as soon as I read it...I immediately wanted to DNF it. The writing in here was great, and I enjoyed myself, but I hated how it started and how the main character, Gemma, was so selfish throughout it all. Even when she went to a parallel universe after the spell and the kiss with her best friend, Dax, she woke up and thought that everything would be perfect, everything would be fine, and everything would be the same. Instead, in the parallel universe, she slowly but surely learns that the people around her are actual human beings who are going through a LOT of things that don't revolve around Gemma.

For example, her best friend Dax has a store about sneakers, but he's not doing well financially. He tries to hide it from her the more they hang out, but the more they hang out, get to know each other, and then, when he finally tells her what's going on with him, she realizes that the Dax in this timeline isn't the Dax she knew in her timeline, and that he should be thriving. But the Dax in this timeline isn't doing well, and he had to get a job as a tax associate at a bank. Her sister, Kiersten, actually has a job as a job consultant, in time with her being a full-time mother and a wife. She didn't get the job with Nana's Bakery, but in the end, the two sisters got together to become partners for a clean beauty store called Wilde Sisters Beauty, which was really cool.

I also like how Gemma meets new people, like Priya, who actually wanted to buy Wilde Beauty so she can put it in her spa, Sunny, a doctor who plays (I honestly forgot the sport that was in here that they played, tbh), and also Brandon and Dougie, the gay couple that threw a really good Halloween party and has fabulous brunches. All in all, I did enjoy the book, but I just couldn't get past Gemma's character and how selfish she was in the beginning of the book. I am glad that she grew throughout the book and finally realized that her store can be a real thing, and on top of that, she can make her own decisions that don't require her to run towards her family or Dax.

The spell, I have to admit, was pretty darn cool, but if she wasn't thinking about her ex at the time, then I think it would've been much better. Other than that, I enjoyed this book.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Twelve Months (The Dresden Files #18) by Jim Butcher

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book...hurt my soul in ways I never thought it could. Also, Mab straight-up got on my nerves to the point that I wanted to throw this book at my wall. That's how frustrating this book was. But, at the same time, you follow Harry through Twelve Months of him battling grief over the loss of a certain character that died in the last book, training a new apprentice, and also trying to be a dad and a brother all at once. I was scared for a moment that Harry would crumble, even dealing with his relationship with Lara (which, to be fair, I didn't like for Harry for one moment. But then she grew on me, and I found her actually pretty cool with Harry as they worked to find a way to bring Thomas back.)

But Mab? OH MY GOOD DANG GOD, YOU FROSTY CRUSTY DUSTY WOMAN. (I refuse to call her Queen of Air and Darkness. Like what?) The craziest things you do in this book made me so mad that I was so close to crashing out on you. All the manipulation, all the things you did to Harry in this book...made me so mad. I wanted you to leave Harry alone. I wanted you to go away and never come back. What you did ticked me off in ways I never thought I could. But I did, and I'm now slowly getting over it. But after that, nah, fam.

Seeing Harry slowly get over Murphy (even talking to a shade that looked and sounded like her...creepy af) was very refreshing to see. Because I did get worried there for a moment that he wouldn't get over her. But as he started to slowly be around the people in his castle, his family, even his little girl Maggie. Thanks to talking to Michael and saving some of the Brotherhood of St. Brigid from a very horrible hex, you see Harry get better at trying to be a better person, even though what he wants to do is curl up into a ball and just cry and grieve over the fact that she's gone, and that she's not coming back. But if he did do that, then he wouldn't be able to get up and just handle the Black Magic situation and the stray Brotherhood of St. Brigid with Daniel, and let Daniel deal with it.

The most painful thing I've read in this book, which is also the coolest, was when Harry and Lara, with Mab's help, saved Thomas...but with a bloody caveat. Because what do you mean Mab did what she did to the point that the Crone Queen of Winter came and tried to stop her? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? But I am glad that Thomas is better and did hold his son, even though he probably won't see his son again. And poor Justine...hopefully Mab can get the spirit out of her so she can go back to Thomas.

The ending was action-packed, of course, but it does leave me with a question: Why in the heck was Lord Raith there? Why did Drakul set up everything like he did? I NEED ANSWERS. But at the same time, this might be my favorite Dresden book of all time. Mostly because of his journey that you're following, but also because it was so dang good. And I hate Mab now for what she almost did to Thomas, so...there's that.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Rise and Divine: A Witches of Thistle Grove novel by Lana Harper (Witches of Thistle Grove #5)

Rise and Divine by Lana Harper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m sad it’s over, but I had a really good time reading it.

Rise and Divine was action-packed from the start, with Dasha eating a devil, only to learn that something was coming to Thistle Grove. At first, I thought it was cool that she was a "devil eater" and that someone could eat devils, but then, as we read more about who Dasha is and why she's always in pain and all that, and her relationship with Ivy Thorne...it hurts so much, and the fact that she was trying to keep everyone at arm's length. But when weird things start to happen at the Cavalade, with the birds going nuts at the Thorn's part, to a devil-summoning at the Avramovs ' demesne, something is really going on, and Dasha and Ivy team up to find out what it is.

Along the way, after Dasha talks to the devil and learns his intentions, she meets a human with no memory or clue about what happened to her or how she got to Thistle Grove. Dasha and Ivy take care of her and, slowly but surely, get back together in the most beautiful way, while also finding out who the thing that was summoned was. When they learned that it was Chernobog... yeah, they were BONED. Dasha even had a dream about the first time she met Ivy and how Wynter was there working for the first time for the Emporium. Dasha was confused for a moment, trying to figure out why her dreams put Wynter there, only to remember that some of the items from the store-like henbane, wormwood, hound's tongue, vervain, and mandrake-and remembered how...excited Wynter was when Chernobog showed up.

Once Dasha realized that it was her, she immediately took her to Elena, who, after scaring that shit out of dear Wynter, got her to explain why she kept summoning Chernobog and why she was stealing the items from the store. Turns out that Wynter was part of a weird witchy cult that wanted to see Chernobog and summon him so he could grant them wishes or something like that, like he's some kind of genie.

Yeah, right.

But it turns out that Dasha's new roommate, Maya, is actually a little vessel for their goddess, Belisama, and she tried to cast Chernobog out of Thistle Grove, but because she was weak, she couldn't do it. Then, on the last day of the Cavalcade, Belisama asked Dasha to be her knight, to do what she does best-which was to eat devils, or in this case, eat a god. Dasha agreed, and during the Avramovs' performance, Chernobog came back, and when she did, she took a little tour of his castle, and even though she wanted to stay like she wanted to the first time she went to the other side, Dasha said yes... until she remembered her love for Ivy and her family.

So, after he showed her shades of her parents...she kissed him and then proceeded to eat him.

It was a little scary but also pretty fun to read, and once she was done, Chernobog was gone, and she came back and realized that she didn't need to eat devils anymore. She could still be with Ivy now, and she was happy. I'm glad that it was a good ending, even though all of this started with a consultation about a woman who thought that her cousin or sister was haunting her.

Even though this was the last book of the series, I am sad that it's over. But I did enjoy myself and cannot wait to read more by Lana Harper.


View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Goosebumps: The Werewolf of Fever Swamp by R.L. Stine

The Werewolf Of Fever Swamp by R.L. Stine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was REALLY FUN! The nostalgia hits perfectly, and the ending made my jaw drop.

Grady and his family moved to Florida during Christmas Break because his father had to do some work there with some deer. They moved into a house near a swamp called Fever Swamp, and this is where the book starts. One night, Grady and his sister start to explore the Swamp, only to come across a house that belonged to a hermit. Both of them were scared; they ran back to the house after they got lost. After dinner, Grady goes out and meets a kid named Will, who becomes his best friend. Soon enough, those two go out and explore the Swamp once more, which leads to Grady adopting his new dog, Wolf.

Then that's when things start to get really strange around Fever Swamp.

For one, there's a bunch of howling outside. Emily, Grady's sister, thought that it was Wolf who was doing all of the howling, but Wolf wasn't outside at all for a bit, staying inside and being with Grady. But then the killings of the animals start, and when Grady and Will investigate, along with their new friend Cassie, they all thought it was a werewolf. The family, after seeing the carcass of a deer and a bunny, thought that it was Wolf doing it, and Grady swears up and down that it's not Wolf at all-Wolf can't be doing all of the killings!

But maybe Cassie is right...there is a werewolf afoot around the Swamp.

And that ending...oh my me. That ending. That beautiful, nostalgic ending when I read it... had my mouth on the floor. I wasn't expecting that ending that fast, and even though this was a short book, my heebies were happily jeebied, and I now want to read more of the Goosebumps books every Halloween season, because this was so much fun and nostalgic. It would've been five stars but the dad just...made me a tiny bit mad. Just a tiny bit.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A story that is Buffy the Vampire Slayer-coded, based on my hometown of Atlanta? Sold. Kate Daniels was really fun to read, even though it was a bit slow for me. I still enjoyed myself reading it, and the ending made me excited to read book two. As I kept reading, I wanted to know more about Kate and wondered what made the upir want her. Even if Curran was fine and was acting a bit like Spike merged with Angel when he brooded, at least they worked together perfectly. I liked how Kate tried to date a normal human and realized before it got any further that they wouldn't even work, all because of her job and how it can be so very violent and she does get hurt a lot. I liked how she cared for him and actually went on dates and tried to have fun.

But Curran was different...hell, he was built different. He was sassy back to Kate; he tried to protect her, but she wouldn't let him do it, even kissing her before the fight against the upir, which was actually out of nowhere, actually. I actually want them to get together so they can be a couple-not because they look good together (they do). But they also work well together, which was something I was a bit worried about when I started reading this book.

But the mystery aspect of the book kept me locked in the whole time. Who killed Greg? Why was Bono being a weird dick about Kate? And how will it end? The huge fight at the end felt like an episode of Buffy, and I wanted more. I wish there was more. But the ending made me happy that, oh, finally Kate got a new job and whatnot, and on the other hand, I wondered where her next case was going to be and how Curran would get involved this time? I don't know, but I am excited to continue reading this series because it was so good.

The only downside was Bono the upir. He disgusted me so, so much. But he did make a compelling bad guy, and I loved every bit of it so much--weirdly. Even though he disgusted me so much.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: The Faceless Mage (Legends of Abreia #1) by Kenley Davidson

The Faceless Mage by Kenley Davidson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So this book was a very interesting book. Leisa was interesting, seeing her navigate the political intrigue and also the way she dealt with The Raven. The king of Garimore was so paranoid that I was close to saying, "Klaus, get out of my book, please, stop being so dang paranoid!" and the prince was just...so really annoying. I was hoping he could jump off a cliff and never come back, because he made me so uncomfortable each time he got around Leisa and tried to get her to be on his side, most of the time and all that.

Brother, ew.

But The Raven was the most...creepiest, I feel, throughout the book. He knew what she truly is (a mirror mage), follows her around after the creepy prince gave her that necklace so he could listen to her every order and follow her around, and on top of that, he couldn't eat, drink, or sleep. That's...so messed up. Even in the beginning, in the prologue, he was magically sealed in armor so he could only do the king's bidding. He didn't even know his name because of the king, and what he looked like.

But thanks to Leisa and her magic, she took off his helmet to reveal that he was a dark elf, and when that happened, everything changed.

He is no longer bound to the king. He has a name now-Kyrion-and he wants to see the world along with Leisa, which is very cool and I love it.

I will continue this series because of how fun it was, and also how both Leisa and Kyrion are starting on their journey.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So...I've heard so many things about this book, and I've been putting this book aside for so long, but then I pulled it from my TBR pile to read, and I'm so glad that I read this book, because this just became one of my favorite books of all time. I'm glad I have the next two books. After all, I'm going to read them both, along with Threshing Day, because oh my me, I loved this.

Now, did I think Vi would be able to train hard enough to get her tail on a dragon? Not...really. But the more I read and see her journey-dealing with a bully like Jack, training with her friends to build up muscle so she can ride her dragon Tairn, and also fall in love with the wingleader while your best friend is trying...trying so damned hard to get you to leave the Rider's Quadrant and to go to the Scribe's Quadrant because 'you'll see safe there," and all that good stuff (like bro no her mama will drag her back to the Rider's Quad, why do you keep doing that?) and while you keep telling him that you cant, but you bond with not one, but two dragons? You are now my new favorite character.

Violet is trying so hard not to fall for Xaden Deshawn Riorson (yup, I gave him a middle name, darn it), but since Tairn is mated to his dragon, Sgaeyl, well....poopy pants. So Xaden pretty much takes over everything y'all gotta do, even teaming up with her dragon to make her a saddle so she wouldn't fall off. And the small dragon, Andarna, was so cute! I loved her so much! She and Violet having a bond as well, and her sharing her powers of stopping time, even if it's just a little bit, was so darn cute. I'm glad that she's okay, but now I need to know what happens now since she's not a golden little dragon anymore.

Oh...I'm not done yet.

Xaden Deshawn Riorson, come up to the front; we need to have a VERY LONG TALK, SIR.

Close to the end, I thought that you were betraying Violet and me. I wanted to knock you into the middle of next week because of what you did. I was opting not to let you talk to us anymore until you repent and get back on the good list (ask Rhysand, he'll tell you). But you stepped up, became the wingleader that you are, and you kicked so much ass that I love you, even finally getting Violet the help she needs.

BUT THAT ENDING?!

I'm dead. No, I'm sincerely dead. Because WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HE'S ALIVE?!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, MRS. YARROS?!

Loved it, will read the whole series, I loved it so much.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Spellcaster (Weatherstone College #1) by Jaymin Eve

Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve was a really fun time. I enjoyed reading the story and seeing where it was going, but that ENDING?! DIABOLICAL. How dare you leave me like that when I was having fun?! I was hoping that the ending was gonna be fine, but the more I thought about it, the more I saw that it was setting up for the next book, in which I need it right now, because I was on the EDGE of my seat to the end.

My favorite character throughout the book was Paisley. Paisley is finally going to the college her siblings are going to, and they spend this time at college getting to know each other and seeing how each other is at school. I also like how she made friends and kept seeing them, even though she tried to escape Logan Kingston, and how there's a family curse against her family, the Hallistars. I really liked that part, where she fights to find out what happened to her mother, then herself, when monsters are appearing at the school, only to find out at the end that she's the one creating them.

...how? I don't know, but she is.

Logan, as the MC, Paisley is falling for...eh. He's okay. Yes, I may have stood up a bit when I saw that he had tattoos all over his arms and stuff, and on top of that, he knows about consent (the one major thing I really liked about this book), and the fact that he knows (kind of) that she's creating the monsters, but he knew how to get rid of them. I also liked how he's protecting her, oddly, from when she got attacked and when she was almost killed by a monster in the hallway.

The father being let go because of the fire that happened was really stupid, and it felt intentional that someone would pull it, and it made me wonder of who pulled that crap, until that ending. THAT DIABOLICAL ENDING. Hunt my soul, mind you. Now I can't wait for the second book to come out, to see what happens next.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: A Wicked Bargain for the Duke by Megan Frampton

A Wicked Bargain for the Duke by Megan Frampton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thad and Lavinia's relationship in this book was so cute, but also very frustrating as a reader. For Thaddeus, all he wants is a soft, pliant wife who will bear him an heir, and he won't see her anymore. Nope, nope, nope, not him. He had his sights on Lady Jane, Lavina's sister, and thought that she was the perfect wife who would give him everything he wanted.

...or so he thought.

Thanks to a little scandal, Thaddeus actually married Lavinia, the other sister, the loud, strong, know what she wants sister, and he starts to regret it for a while-for heaven's sake, he didn't want a woman like that! But as he got to know her in and out of the bedroom, her found that he was falling for her, even to the point that he loved her. When he finds out that she's actually the scandalous writer Percy Wittlesford-by some clues in one of the readings at an engagement party that didn't happen-he did get mad about it...because she didn't tell him.

Like, y'all built y'alls marriage on the fact that the only thing y'all get to do is make an heir and he raises it, and she goes off to the country (which she hated the moment she found out about it.)

But I was glad that Thad married Lavinia, because now his life is so much fun and better-she taught him how to open up to people, how to care for people, and to actually stop having a stick wedged up his own ass and have fun-which he does. A lot. And the two actually went out to go to each other, only to have that time in the rain, which was so cute and i did squeal, in my head, a little bit.

I really did enjoy this book and I wanna read more by this author.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: The Golden Hustla by Wahida Clark

The Golden Hustla: A Novel by Wahida Clark
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Golden Hustla was a book I thought I would like...the beginning was fun, but then the name Cream stopped me in my tracks...and it went downhill from there. Nina is a hustla through and through. But seeing her best friend Michelle and her brother (whose name I've totally forgotten) got shot by the Bloods, she calls up her friend, tells him to get the 10 kilos of coke that's in the back of her car, give it to someone he knows, and she can leave and get out of Jersey, which she does, leaving her children.

Years later, she's working in Atlanta at a place called WMM...and my god, I would've upped and quit the moment Rinaldo starts to demand and take up to 1,000 from me because I didn't show up and make a sale. Basically, where she's working is a scam place, and all they're doing is getting money from people. Well before she could even come to work, Nina went to the police station and was offered to rat out Rinaldo, but she vehemently said no, muttering to herself that "Nina isn't a snitch".

The story does go back to when she first came to Atlanta and was looking for a job, and somehow, magically, Cream (I really disliked this man) appeared and told her that he could pull some strings to get her a job...working on the phones. Selling people American Eagle gold coins and other business things that they need to keep the money going. I felt like they were scamming people, and on top of that, they got busted TWICE, and Rinaldo's like, "We're going back to work tomorrow, I want everyone there, no ifs ands or butts about it."

...sorry, what? When your lawyers told you to SHUT THE WHOLE OPERATION DOWN?!

Yeah, nah, I definitely would've quit IMMEDIATELY when he said that.

But they went back, and they got busted AGAIN-but Nina wasn't there, especially when she refused to get pimped out by Rinaldo (good for her), but the others did it. To me, this whole entire book was just stupid people making stupid decisions, even when Nina started dating a cop and thought that he was a biker named King. Also, Rinaldo's wife was cheating on him with Shawn, and when Nina went back to get her kids and learned what a pastor did to her daughter....and had slapped her dear mother for what happened, then turned around and killed the poor pastor, who swore he didn't do it...

Okay, bro, anyway...

I did enjoy it from the beginning, but then I found that I really didn't like the book as much as I thought, which is very sad because I was enjoying this book. 2.25 stars for me.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Dragonlance: Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The end of the War of the Lance...in which I cussed out both Raistlin and Tanis, like, fifty times. Kitiara was a part of why I was cussing both Raistlin and Tanis, because in parts of this book, Tanis was acting like a gosh darn idiot because he did so many stupid things that I wanted to reach out and strangle him. Everyone else is doing well--Tas and Flint riding on dragons, Laurana became the Golden General after leading the Whitestone Army in the last book, Caramon, Tika, Riverwind and Goldmoon traveling and waiting on Tanis to get back from Kitiara, which fair. Still, Kit was up to something, and it felt like I had to wait for the reveal to find out why.

That "why" turned out to be Lord Soth, a dead knight that Kitiara somehow has under control, which is very weird to me (don't ask me why), and then at the end, she got the Crown she wanted, and had to let Tanis go. I thought she was going to fight Laurana more for Tanis, but I guess she didn't have the time or energy to do so, so she let him go because now she has what she wants, and she only wants Tanis to be happy, I guess?

And Raistlin appears in half of the book, then shows up at the end of the book to help Caramon, only to turn around and tell him that he can't go this time...I have one thousand questions, sir. Like one: Where the hell were you while hell was being pounded on by our heroes? Oh, you were becoming the person who can now see the past and the future...really...that's where you've been? Really? I was looking for you when things were going down, but you showed up and did your thing...I guess...and then left....

I did enjoy this book, and it was sad when it was time for me to leave this world of Ansalon (I don't want to). It was a really fun time reading about the heroes and seeing where they end up at the end. I wanted more at the end, as it fell a bit flat for me, and that's okay. This is my favorite series, and I'm sad that it's over.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Our Infinite Fates by Lauren Steven

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my words.

I didn't cry when I read this book, but I did, however, have so many feelings about this book that I almost cried. I normally don't cry when I read, but I do get close.

This is the story of Evelyn and Arden-two people who are in love, who keep dying over and over again and are always being reincarnated without even knowing why. In Wales of 2022, Evelyn is Branwen, and Arden is Dylan. Evelyn wants to stay alive so she can save her sister, who has cancer. Branwen works at a bookstore and wants to give her sister her bone marrow, so when her eighteenth birthday comes, her sister can heal, and she can die knowing that her sister in this life is perfectly fine.

Sadly, before any of this happened, she kept having a feeling that Arden was around to kill her, thinking that he was a boy named Cenric...only to find out that he was actually Dylan.

Yikes on bikes.

Evelyn pleaded with Arden/Dylan to keep her alive, to make sure that she gave her sister Gracie her bone marrow, and then she could die. Arden agrees, and Evelyn goes through a pro-bono operation to get her bone marrow...but not before she recorded her conversation with Cenric and Arden on her phone, sending it to Cenric and hoping that he'd go to the police so Arden could get arrested. He does, but Arden escapes.

Then, when they finally find each other, they go to the hill, and when they both die...

...they go to the Underrealm.

To meet The Mother, a woman who did this to them.

Thanks to all their love, it killed The Mother, but not before they made a new deal with her. Even though both of them said no at first, they thought about it and did it, even though Arden told her that Evelyn was a devil.

The ending of this book...was chef's kiss. I loved every bit of it, including how it led up to them meeting again, but the one thing I loved most was that, in each lifetime, they were in different places at different times. This felt like a movie to me, and I didn't want to stop.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Highland Wolf by Lynsay Sands

Highland Wolf by Lynsay Sands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Claray MacFarlane was about to marry someone she really didn't love, until her real betrothed swooped in and saved-well, more of he got off his horse and snatched her up-and off they went to her father's home. Claray was confused for a moment, but then she got the spirit as they kept traveling. The man who snatched her from her so-called husband, she was about to marry? They call him the Wolf, a mercenary who has courage and powess in battle and his handsome face and black-as-sin-hair....

Breaking the review to say that I pictured Drew McIntyre as Conall/Bryson MacDonald because that's who kept popping up in my head while I was reading this book.

Anyway, it turns out that Conall is Claray's betrothed. He was thought to be dead when he was a boy when his family was killed, but thanks to his uncle, he survived, and now he's back to claim Claray and to rebuild his home and reclaim his birthright. She thought so too, and her family thought to keep it that way, until he came to take her to wife.

Throughout the ride to the castle, Claray had picked up some furry friends, like a bunny, a fox whose ears were eaten off, a stoat, a baby deer, and a pet wolf she named Lovey. One time she was riding her horse, and she yelled, "Stubborn Bastard!" and I started to laugh, mostly because Conall looked at her like, "I haven't done anything to be called a stubborn bastard, why are you calling me that?!" but it turns out that it's the horse's name, which was funny af.

But the one thing that made this book go down a star was the ending. It reminded me of a really old In The Heat of the Night episode that was about sin and how the woman wanted to cleanse the world of sin, and that's what this lady Mhiri tried to do, harping on one verse the preacherman said about sex and how it was disgusting, so she poisoned the whole MacDonald clan because of it.

Which....I can kind of understand why, but TBH, if people wanna smash, it's their business, not hers, definitely not her son, who had threatened to do harm on Claray, which made me so dang mad...

But I'm glad they knew that it was someone close to Conall, so they could get rid of them, and then the two of them got their HEA. This might be my favorite highland romance I've read, and I might read more soon.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Oathbound (Legendborn Cycle #3) by Tracy Deonn

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

GOOD NIGHT, WHAT A RIDE.

I was gasping, mouth dropping, sometimes yelling into the book and telling the characters not to do it-but in a good way. Because Bree DID THAT, Nick and everyone else DID THAT, and THAT ENDING HURT MY SOUL IN WAYS I DIDN'T EVEN THINK IT COULD HURT MY SOUL. And the quotes? I was writing them down like crazy because they hit so hard. I even cried one time at a quote that hit me so hard-and most of the time, books don't make me cry as much as this one did. I was cheering for Bree to win, and she did--but once again, as I can't wrap my head around it right now--THAT ENDING?!

Oh. My. God.

One, it hurt. Reading the ending, then flipping the page like "No.", then doing it again and again, to see if I read it right. I won't spoil it here, but if you read the part, then you know. YOU KNOW. That hurt my soul in ways I didn't even think it would.

I really enjoyed meeting the new characters and seeing them interact with Bree, and Sel's mother appearing in the book was well done. I thought she would get Selwyn, MY SELWYN, under control after everything that happened to him....I thought it would work. I guessed wrong, and I got sad for a moment, but then when she rescued Bree's father, I was so happy that she did that. Thank you, Sel's mother.

The whole thing at Prenumbra and how they got the crown was pretty cool, but it left me with only one question: where in the hee-haw was Ava? Why did she just up and leave and not release Nick? I don't understand it one bit. But all I know is that this series has now become my infinity star series because of how good this book was, and I need everyone to read it. EVERYONE.

Cannot wait till the next book because THIS BOOK HURT MY SOUL.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Bloodmarked (Legendborn Cycle #2) by Tracy Deonn

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am unwell.

The ending of this book hurt my soul in ways I didn't think it would. In fact, I legit sat there in my living room, trying to get my complete thoughts together so I could do this review, only to sit there, stunned, and go to take a nap because of how good it was (yes, you read that right, I TOOK A NAP BECAUSE OF HOW THE ENDING WENT). I hope Tracy Deonn has a really good day/evening, because OH MY GOD THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD.

So...how shall I start my thoughts? I want to start with the characters, because I think that is the only way I can get them down, because of how good this book was.

Bree: YOU DID THAT. You wanted to save Nick from the clutches of his father, only for you to go on a road trip with William, Sel, and Alice. You tried to help your friends while also trying to save Nick and yourself. BUT THAT ENDING HURTS MY SOUL. Do I know why you did what you did? I know it's because you want to know how to defend yourself with your Rootcraft and being the Scion of Arthur. (I'm trying to hard not to spoil anything, but I want to SO BAD). I really didn't like the way the Order's Regents are putting you in a box and 'hiding' you, as if you were a mistake and not the real Scion, which that P.Oed me off SO MUCH, to Arthur doing what he did just so he could take over you....OHHHH THAT MADE ME SO MAD. SO, SO MAD. I wish you hadn't done what you did at the end, but as I'm thinking about it, you kind of needed to do what you needed to do.

Selwyn: One: I'm not THAT mad at you. Mostly because you tried to stop Bree and Bree kept HA-ing you, and you keep going along with it, but I am mad that you mesmered her to not see your demon half. It was cool that you explained how the bond between you and Nick went and how he felt the same thing you felt in Legendborn. But when you and Nick did your bloodwalk to save her and took her root, and then losing your humanity (which sucks) was very cool to do. I hope in the next book you do better (if I sound like a mother when it comes to Sel, I do, and I'm not sorry about that).

Nick: Look here, you Stefan Salvatore-coded, trying to be the good guy, only to fall on your face, young man...I am both proud and upset with you for a million reasons. One of them is that you tried to stop Bree during the Blood Walk and also tried to get her to NOT come after you because you were in danger and wanted to protect her so, so much. But when she and Sel came to try and do that, that's when you cut off a Mageguard's head (good for you) and then ran, THAT'S when I got a bit disappointed in you.

Arthur: ...oh, you thought that you were going to be after Bree? Oh no. No siree-bob. YOU MADE ME SO DAMN MAD FOR LYING TO BREE LIKE THAT. All she wanted was someone to TEACH her how to do things, and then you waited and bieded your time, and then when she finally permitted you, you TAKE OVER like....YOU HAD HER PERMISSION IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU SONOFABITCH. Then you tried to act like a big man on campus, but failed. I hope wherever you are, you think about your actions, and I hope you also regret what you did because YOU MADE ME SO DAMN MAD.

After all of that, I really did enjoy myself reading this book, and now it's on to the next one (and pray that I don't lose my shiz like I did this book).

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: Back in a Spell, a Witches of Thistle Grove novel by Lana Harper

Back in a Spell by Lana Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Back in a Spell is a book that almost made me cry, but it did made me go 'Oh my god, no she didn't!" and it also had some Targaryen vibes with Lyonesse and Igraine trying to use the new power that Nina has to wrest control from Emmy Harlow...but that shiz didn't work on dang ol' bit, now did it? Even though there was a nonbinary character (which I love, even their name, because I've never seen a character named Morty before in my life EVER), I really did enjoy this book. But the fact that the Blackmoore Elders wanted to be Targys and just try and take over Thistle Grove...like this isn't House of the Dragons, my dude. This is Thistle Grove, and witches and 'normies' that live here deserve to make a living and not be under Blackmoore rule.

So after Nina's and Morty's disastrous date, Nina goes to sleep and is with the Lady of the Lake, who made her a demigoddess. At the same time, Nina and Morty are also witchbonded, which really didn't sit well with Morty at all. They were once a normie, someone that doesn't know a thing about magic, but when Nina somehow made a deal with the Lady and became a demigoddess, Morty...Morty became a witch. A newbie magic user.

Nina decides to teach him magic after he came to find her at the Avalon and showed her what had happened to them, and the two started to fall in love. At the same time, Lyonesse and Igraine, after learning about Nina's new magic after she and Gareth tried to break the coin but couldn't, instead blew up The Cell, and the two started to act like Targys and wanted to take over Thistle Grove.

Like every Blackmoore, they did what they were told, and I was scared that Nina was about to do exactly that, but then, after thinking about it and having a discussion with Emmy, who came to her office after a very dangerous decision by Nina happened, I'm glad that she worked with Emmy. I'm glad that she told the truth about what happened to her and why she doesn't want that to happen.

The ending was top tier, because Emmy stripped Lyonesse and Igraine of magic, moved Gareth up to elder, and for Nina to be an assistant, as you will, to the Voice and the Arbiter, along with using less magic. I quite like that idea, because it shows that Nina and Gareth is real tired of being under Lyonesse's thumb and doing whatever she wants to gain power.

This one might be my favorite, but I got two more books to read so I can know how this story will progress. Also I want to be a witch and live in Thistle Grove SO BAD I love this series so much.

View all my reviews

 

Book Review: A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson

A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holy moly.

Holy gosh-darn moly.

This might be one of my favorite dragon books I've ever read this year-and this is the first book I've read in 2026 that was so good, I'm still thinking about it to this day.

Yes, this is a YA fantasy book. And yes, this has outstanding politics and includes some trigger warnings that you do need to look up when reading this, but other than that, I truly loved this book so much. You have language, the way the main character is trying to fight for what's right and what's wrong, and also how you learn what the government is doing behind closed doors. I ate everything up in this book, and now I need book two in my hands, please and thank you.

My favorite characters in this book are Viv, Marquis, Atlas, and Sophie. Viv is trying to do the job that she was sent to do, but then, when she talks to the other dragons and finds out what's actually going on, she does get confused when the final battle happens, but then she, in my opinion, made the right choice and chose the Coalition. I thought she was really going to give up what she learned about the "dragon code" to Wyvernmire (which I really hate with a huge passion), and I also feared that Viv would actually choose the wrong side, but thank the lord that she didn't.

I was cheering on Viv and Atlas, but that slow-burn hurt my soul (in the same way Georgia vs. Ole Miss hurt my soul), and I wanted them to last, but I guess I'll wait until the second book to find out what happens. And the whole thing was Sophie and Viv...I knew she was beating herself up, but when she told Sophie and apologized, I felt that too. I hope one day Sophie and Viv do become friends again, because I think Viv really missed that.

The talking dragons and their whole language interested me a lot, but what I liked the most was the multimedia that was in the book. You got newspapers and also recordings of meetings with the House of Parliament and the radio announcements...they were so good that I want to read more of them. I felt like they helped the story move instead of keeping it as a standstill.

Loved this book and I'm so glad that I read this book.

View all my reviews