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.

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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.


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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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