Category: Reviews

REVIEW: The Keyholder of Time by Charity F Nelson

Published on by Amanda

5 / 5 Stars!

What can I say about this book?! It was AMAZING! Let’s see if I can do it justice at all.

The story is told from the point of view of 18-year-old Malina Allaway. She lives in the Lowlands simply trying to survive. After her father’s terrible injury in the war, she took over the running of the farm and providing for her father, stepmother and three stepsisters. Since she still doesn’t make enough for them to get by, she also uses her secret gifts to help people at night. If she gets caught, it could mean her death. The only one who knows about her gift is her best friend Sam, who also loves her very much. She has no intention to ever marry though, since she’s providing for her entire family.

All of that changes on a fateful day when she attends a wedding, dances with a gorgeous mysterious stranger, and is approached by another mysterious stranger. The next day, mysterious stranger number two shows up to her house, and informs her that she is actually the Keyholder for the Tempus Guild and has been betrothed to someone for years. Her family will also receive a generous amount if she goes, and if she doesn’t it might be the end for them all.

Mysterious stranger one helps escort her to the Highlands, to settle into her new life, meet her betrothed, learn more about her gift, and meet the family that she didn’t know she had.

The rest of the story is full of slow-burn romance building, twists and turns you will not see coming, and a cast of amazing characters. This book well exceeded my expectations. The worldbuilding, the unique magic system, everything was just so well executed. The whole story kept my attention, and even through the worldbuilding and explanations, I never felt it slow or get too repetitive. Then the ending just blew me away. My heart felt like it was on a roller coaster those last few chapters I swear.

I cannot wait for the next book! This is an author that I’m so ridiculously excited to see more from and expect to just get better and better!

I received this eARC from the author for an honest review.

Book Blurb from the author’s website:

Death and Time are ancient brothers. Time is nothing without Death, and Death is nothing without Time.
Eighteen-year-old Malina Allaway swore off marriage when she became her family’s only hope for survival after her father was injured during the Clan Wars. She spends her days tending to the family farm while, during the nights, she visits those who call on her for aid in the only way she can, with a rare gift that allows her to step into another’s memories, triggered by music.
Some say it’s a gift from the gods. Others claim it’s a curse. She doesn’t know what to believe.
So, when a pretentious and annoyingly beautiful man coaxes her into a dance, she doesn’t realize it was all an act to discover who she really is. The steward of the Tempus Guild appears at her door the following day to declare her ascension as the newest Keyholder, and she’s to marry the eldest son of the Blacklock clan. Immediately.
At risk of the family she fought so hard to care for become destitute upon her refusal, she’s forced to leave the Lowlands and is swept away into the distinguished territory of the Highlands. She finds more than she bargains for when death and darkness await her at every turn. She’s torn between escaping her new life and the growing desires in her heart for not just one but two mysterious men.
For fans of slow-burn romance, forced proximity, love triangles, a unique magic system, meddling gods, epic violence, and so much more!
The Keyholder of Time is the first book in the captivating and heart-pounding romantic fantasy trilogy The Tempus Guild.

REVIEW: Gilded Wings by Jaymin Eve

Published on by Amanda

4 / 5 Stars!

I was looking forward to this, and it did not disappoint!

Just to forewarn people who may find this somewhat familiar, the beginning of this story was in an anthology at some point. This book was very different than I was expecting.

The beginning fits the blurb completely. Morgan works at the Dragerfield Library with her best friend and roomie Lexi. Pretty much my dream job. She sounds very young and that occasionally threw me out of the story a little, but it’s very accurate of some people that I’ve known.

After something a little weird happened at work, she gets a call about a missing book in the middle of the night. The call doesn’t come from the person she usually speaks with at the library. Still, she races there in the middle of the night to be confronted by the owner himself Drager, a dangerous yet sexy man with a great voice. In the middle of trying to figure out what happened to the book, a special faerie night begins and throws her and Drager together immediately.

After that hedonistic time (definitely an 18+ book), she’s taken to Faerie to help retrieve the book. Here things drastically slow down for a while. Drager doesn’t actually seem overly interested in her, and other characters are introduced. This includes Drager’s brothers, one of which makes much more of an impact to me personally. So, we unexpectedly find ourselves in a love triangle.

This story is the first part of the Fallen Fae Gods Duology and is not a standalone novel. There is no semi-conclusion at the end of the book, and we have to wait for the next release. In parts, it’s not a book that I would necessarily love, but overall, I really enjoyed it and have already preordered the next one.

Book blurb from author’s website:

One call changed the course of my life forever.
When my phone rings after a night drinking with my best friend, I had no idea my whole world was about to change.
“A book is missing,” a deep, unnaturally enticing voice growls down the line.
Panicked, I race out to Dragerfield Library, breaking all the rules—even if a book is missing, we’re only allowed on property during the day.
But if I don’t find that ancient tome, I’ll be fired anyway.
“You should have waited until morning, human.”
Too late to retreat, I soon learn why the rules exist. Dragerfield is a doorway between worlds. A doorway to Risest, the Faerie realm. A realm they access at night.
And I’m the moronic human who wandered uninvited into their midst.
The fae use humans for two reasons: entertainment, and well, you can use your imagination for the other.
Even worse, the voice on the line that set all of this in motion is no ordinary fae. Drager, with his dragon scales and smoky scent is one of their gods. A Fallen Five.
My new captor.
A missing book is the least of my worries now.
I’d thought I was about to be fired, but instead, I’m heading to Faerie.
And it might be a one-way trip.

REVIEW: Pack of Lies by PL Matthews

Published on by Amanda

3 / 5 Stars!

Pack of Lies is the second book in the A Green Witch Mystery series. This book continues on two months after Poisoned Leaves (book one). Rhianne is a green witch halfling who is also half elf, a fact not many people knew up until recently. She runs her own lawn care business, though that isn’t present much in this book. She also has consulted with law enforcement in the past.

This time we get to meet Rhianne’s father, an elf who has had very little presence in her life up until now. Her father, Lord Caelen, has tried to keep her a secret from the elvish Queen and others, but she has now been discovered. Rhianne has little interest in that side of her life due to the estrangement from her father, so at first, she has little care to get involved with any elvish happenings, even when the queen requests.

Nel is Rhianne’s best friend, an incubus, club owner, and trader of secrets. He requests her help in trying to uncover a leak in his club. As someone who prides himself on finding and keeping secrets, a leak threatens his reputation and business, especially when he’s in the middle of helping the werewolves through a big change.

In the middle of that, a murder of someone close to the queen occurs. After assurances are put in place, Rhianne agrees to help her find the murderer with the help of her friends of course. So, a halfling, an incubus, an elf lord, a shape changing fae guardian (Toto her longtime companion usually in the form of a dog), a tech mage (her boyfriend Kai), and a forensic pathologist (the mysterious, powerful, and sweets loving Isobel) step through a portal to find a killer.

With two mysteries to solve in two worlds, has she bitten off more than she can chew?

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a sweet read with murder mystery appeal. Rhianne is a likable character who can admit her own flaws, but also realize it’s up to her to fix things within herself. I do enjoy that we get a bit more of a reveal of all characters in every book, and I wish that we learned a bit more about the elvish kingdom, as we only got a small glimpse into that world. Rhianne admits that she needs to get more details about the people in and circumstances of her life, but it’s never the right time. Hopefully we’ll get there in the next book! I’ll definitely be continuing this series as it comes out! This is the perfect book to curl up with as you sip on a cup of tea.

I received this book as an eARC from the author for an honest review. I’m happy to announce that it’s out now and available on Kindle Unlimited.

Blurb from Amazon page:

‘Losing your head’ just got a lot more literal.
Green witch Rhianne Alkenn has her hands full with not one, but two puzzling cases. A leak of confidential information threatens the Moonshadow pack, putting her best friend, incubus Nel, in a tight spot! And the elven Queen’s best friend has been murdered. Rhianne’s hoping to solve the murder and quickly, because the phrase ‘Off with her head’ is playing on repeat in her mind!
With the help of the enigmatic coroner Isobel, and her tech mage boyfriend Kai, Rhianne sets up to find out the truth.
Her mission? Clear Nel’s name and keep her head firmly on her shoulders. Sounds simple enough, right? What could possibly go wrong?

REVIEW: The Awakening: Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham & Suzanne Valenti

Published on by Amanda

2 / 5 Stars – almost DNF

I know, I know, it seemed that everyone that I knew was recommending this series. While it sounds like it would be right up my alley, it just wasn’t.

I love the premise of it. I love the world. I enjoyed Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac which is set in the same world, but I just couldn’t love this one.

This book switches back and forth between the viewpoints of the Vega twins. These sisters grew up in the mortal world, then were suddenly told that they’re fae, they’re the last of their rich line, and they have to go to Zodiac Academy in order to qualify for it. These girls had nothing, were barely scraping by, so yeah it seemed like a no brainer.

What followed is one of the most painful books that I’ve read in a while. The writing itself wasn’t bad, which is why it gets 2 stars not 1, but the story was just painful. Literally, the girls are picked on and bullied from day 1. Lots of people enjoy the consent-non-consent thing. I myself do at times too. This was just NON-consent. No thank you.

Everyone keeps telling me to just get through this book, because it’s really later in the series that it gets good, but we’ll see.

As for the possible love interests or whatever, I’m ok if the Vega twins power up and destroy them all. Not kidding. If bully romance is your thing, then this has that in spades. The bully part at least.

CW/TW NON-CONSENT

I read this in December. Then forced myself to keep reading. After getting through the 4th book, probably a fourth of which I skimmed through (which I never do), I needed a break. I won’t be reviewing the others any time soon and will probably wait until the whole series is done before I even attempt to try to read this again. I hate not knowing how things end, but I’m not sure that I want to know that badly.

Book blurb from Goodreads:

You have been selected to attend Zodiac Academy, where your star sign defines your destiny.
If you’re one of the Fae, elemental magic is in your blood. And apparently it’s in ours. As twins born in the month of Gemini, we’re a rare breed even in this academy of supernatural a-holes.
Changelings were outlawed hundreds of years ago but I guess our birth parents didn’t get the memo. Which means we’re totally unprepared for the ruthless world of Fae.
Air. Fire. Water. Earth.
No one has ever harnessed all four of them, until we arrived. And it hasn’t made us any friends so far.
As the rarest Elementals ever known, we’re already a threat to the four celestial heirs; the popular, vindictive bullies who happen to be some of the hottest guys we’ve ever seen. It doesn’t help that they’re the most dangerous beasts in the Academy. And probably on earth too.
Our fates are intertwined, but they want us gone. They’ve only got until the lunar eclipse to force us out and they’ll stop at nothing to succeed.
We never knew we had a birthright to live up to but now that we do, we intend to claim our throne.
We can’t expect any help from the faculty when it comes to defending ourselves. So if the dragon shifters want some target practice, the werewolves want someone to hunt or the vampires fancy a snack then we have to be ready. But we’ve been looking after each other for a long time and fighting back is in our blood.
Today’s horoscope: totally screwed.

REVIEW: Poisoned Leaves by P.L. Matthews

Published on by Amanda

4/5 Stars!

A lovely murder mystery, fantasy and romance!

Rhianne Alkenn is a witch/fae halfling who runs her own lawncare business and tries to stay off of her parents’ radar. She has two great gargoyle employees to help her in her business, but also occasionally consults for the police as well. Her knowledge of plants, how they help and how they can harm, makes her extremely knowledgeable. This is how she finds herself part of a murder investigation. Unfortunately, it’s not the only reason she finds herself needing to know answers.

The book follows her on her murder mystery, with unexpected twists and turns, as she tries to figure out what trouble in her life is related to that, and what is instead related to those in her life. Her mother is a witch council member, her father is an elusive elf, her best friend/brother figure is a sexy incubus who runs his own club and works in secrets, her gargoyle employees have their own family troubles, her new lawyer friend is a confident and take charge gargoyle halfling, the forensics specialist is a paranormal mystery addicted to sweets, and a fellow consultant is a handsome, nerdy and talented tech mage. She certainly has her hands full!

I love all of her relationships in this. The politician mom dodging is fitting. The funny and intriguing new friends bring a wider look at the world while having fantastic banter. Her guardian/pet Toto is more than meets the eye. Nel the sexy incubus is the usual attention-grabbing character, and while I love him and want more of his story, it’s really refreshing that there is ZERO chemistry between him and Rhianne. Kia on the other hand is perfect for her, though I think there will be more revealed about him at some point.

The paranormal being just another part of the world coexisting with humans is interesting, while the fae world is still separate and mostly unknown for now.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to find out more as this series progresses! At times the conversations didn’t flow as steadily for me, but this is a great start to the series.
Just as an added note, this story takes place in Sydney, so there is some phrasing and spelling that is different from American English, but it didn’t detract from the story for me at all.

Blurb from the book Goodreads page:

Find herself. Find the killer. Stay under the radar. All in time for tea.
Rhianne Alkenn is thrust into the heart of a murder investigation. When her gargoyle employee becomes the prime suspect, the investigation becomes personal.
She’s not very good with relationships or accepting help but a growing set of quirky friends won’t take no for an her cheeky incubus best friend, her wise familiar Toto, a sassy half-gargoyle lawyer and a pathologist who can tell you what she is but would then have to kill you.
As the layers of the investigation unfold, Rhianne must navigate the relationships with her ambitious witch mother, elusive elf father, and a blossoming connection with tech mage Kai.
Oh, and did she mention that her powers are not supposed to exist? Her solve the case, keep her powers hidden, and then return to being a regular halfling. Piece of cake, right?

REVIEW: House of Ash and Shadow by Leia Stone

Published on by Amanda

5/5 Stars!

House of Ash and Shadow is an amazing introduction to a world full of darkness and light with fantastic characters along for the ride.

Fallon is a strong character living with a terrible curse. Imagine all that you would miss if any touch at all caused you pain?!

Having grown up as an outcast, she’s thrown into center of the fae world and the consequences of that might be huge! Her past wasn’t something that she’d been worried about really, but as she gets thrust into this world, her past and secrets of her birth will make a difference between life and death.

This book is full of twists and turns, friendships, love interests, and so much more!

This is a series that I can’t wait to continue!

Book blurb from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Fallon Bane was born with a devastating curse: a single touch from another person will cause her excruciating pain. Thus, she has accepted that she will die without ever being kissed, without even hugging her own father, though it breaks her heart every day.

But when her beloved father falls ill, she breaks into the magical Gilded City to find a healer fae that can save him. When handsome healer Ariyon Madden agrees to help, everything she knows about herself and her curse changes. Because during her father’s healing, Ariyon reaches out and touches her bare skin. She waits for the agony… but it never comes. For the first time in her life, she imagines a new future for herself. However, that fantasy is quickly destroyed, because not only does Ariyon flee from her in disgust when he learns of her curse; he also reveals her existence to powerful fae who want to hurt her.

Fallon is then swept away to a magical academy, where she learns the terrifying truth about her family history and her dark magic. Her life and the future of fae everywhere hang in the balance, and all the while Fallon can’t help but wonder if she will get to touch Ariyon Madden one more time before she dies…

This enchanting story of family, fae, and yearning is perfect for readers who love:

  • Romantic fantasy books for teens
  • Unputdownable & bingeworthy novels
  • Magical boarding schools
  • Grumpy sunshine romance
  • Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas

Also, I cannot wait to share the special edition that I just pre-ordered!

REVIEW: Jinxed by Rachel Rener

Published on by Amanda

5/5 Stars!

Jinxed is just as good as the first book in the Gilded Blood series!

In book 2, we get to delve further into the characters and discover more about them. As Talia’s world has been flipped upside down, we get a look at the darker side of the other world. Filled with all the humor and fantastic chapter titles like the first book, I again couldn’t put this down! I read it immediately after finishing Inked.

There are consequences to what Talia and Zayn did in the first book. You really need to read the first one to properly enjoy this one, but let’s just say that “The sh*t hath hitith the fan…ith.” Yes, I’m quoting a movie here.

We finally get to meet the fae-mafia-boss-bad-guy that was mentioned previously, see more of Talia’s tendency to make friends in unexpected places, get yelled at by Dee Dee, and figure out what happened to Biscuit! Not to mention there’s plenty more of her incubus boss Zayn. *swoon*

I believe the quote will also work for the next book, but I’ll find out soon!

Rachel Rener has fast become a must read for me!

Book blurb from Goodreads:

I keep telling myself things could be worse.

Okay, so my mom’s been harboring some hefty family secrets. Big deal.

And, yeah, maybe there are still two or three teensy details about Zayn that I don’t know – his backstory, his private life, or his real name, for starters.

Oh, and let’s not forget that there’s a bloodthirsty, power-hungry, magical mob boss who’s due to appear at any moment. No biggie.

So long as there are no more family bombshells, incubus-related heartbreaks, or unexpected, terrifying journeys into the Fae Realm, I’ll be completely fine. Because, as I’ve already reminded myself at least twelve times since breakfast, there’s no way things could possibly get worse.

…Right?

This is available on Kindle Unlimited, but I also just pre-ordered a beautiful omnibus from the author!

REVIEW: The Dragon’s Thief by Ava Richardson

Published on by Amanda

5/5 Stars!

Elves, dragons and the humans who are all but invisible.

The Dragon’s Thief is set in the world of the elves. People are servants or beyond acknowledgement, unless they get in the way of the elves. Dragons are little more than guards for the elves.

So, what happens when a thief, used to being invisible, finds herself noticed by a dragon who’s used to being essentially the same? Deals, plots, and surprising alliances are born.

The Dragon’s Thief is mostly told from the perspectives of Saskia the thief, and Castor the dragon guard. I greatly enjoyed the dual point of view approach by both main characters. Hearing both of their thought processes, assumptions about each other, and changing ideologies was fascinating to read.

The book’s synopsis is extremely clear as for the sequence of the book. We meet Saskia the thief, going about her everyday life of thieving and teaching others how to. One bad decision on who to steal from sets her in the sights of Castor, who has a sudden interest in the skills of a thief for his own reasons that we discovered. Their partnership, search for Saskia’s sister, and search for answers for Castor, lead them both to step out of their ever day drudgery and routines that life has taken on, and become aware of a problem for both races of people.

This isn’t a quick read of a book. A lot of the series that I’ve read lately probably would’ve divided it up into a separate book for all three parts in this one. I’m so glad that Ava Richardson didn’t though, because it’s one detailed but enthralling ride! The details and world building didn’t detract or slow it down. They added more color and kept the pacing perfect in my opinion.

I couldn’t put this book down! In fact, I stayed up all night just to finish it, because the what ifs were driving me crazy! I will definitely be continuing this series as it comes out!

Book blurb from author’s website:

The only way to free her sister is to make a deal with a dragon…
In a city where brutal elves reign, with powerful dragon shifters as their henchmen, street thief Saskia’s only hope to rescue her sister lies with the gruff dragon shifter, Castor. He needs someone to pull off a heist of mysterious item, and she’s the only one desperate enough to do it. With Castor’s help, she’s able to save her sister—but now she owes him a dangerous debt.
To pay him back, Saskia embarks on a perilous mission to infiltrate the palace as a lady’s maid. As she navigates the treacherous world of elf nobility, Saskia becomes entangled in palace politics and finds herself drawn to an elvish scholar, despite the dragon’s warning. But now, Saskia’s bargain has put her in the sights of the sinister elven Empress Eirana.
In order to survive—and to protect the brusque dragon shifter who means more to her than she’s ready to admit—Saskia must face off against a centuries-old empress, whose dark powers can destroy an entire kingdom.
In a world teeming with magic and political intrigue, Saskia must find the strength within herself to navigate false alliances, uncover the truth, and forge her own destiny.

REVIEW: The Last Dragon King by Leia Stone

Published on by Amanda

4/5 Stars!

Cinderella meets the Hunger Games meets dating shows.

A girl from a small village finds herself unexpectedly a candidate to become queen when she finds out that she may have a more magical heritage than she’d always believed.

Arwen is the older sister in a family who lost their father. She takes up hunting to support her family in a small town with few extra resources. After a successful hunt, she returns for a festival but instead has her world turned upside down.

I’m very split on this book. In one case, I was hooked and finished it in a few hours. On the other, I have some issues with a few parts of it.

I love the beginning of this book. Yes, it has parallels to other stories, but it also has an amazing FMC. I immediately loved Arwen, and Drae was intriguing. I got nervous when all the queen candidates got together and expected the book to go into the usual catty girl competition stuff. It was pleasantly surprising when that was not the case. Female characters supporting each other, cheering each other on and accepting differences was a nice change.

Some of the book did feel a bit rushed, and I wish certain aspects had been flushed out more. That being said, sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy a quick read! It also had an odd mix of purity until marriage and other views of having families. Neither of those things are bad, and it takes all kinds of people and relationships to make the world the place it is. I do look forward to reading more of this series in the future and exploring the other characters that were introduced or mentioned!

This book can either be read as a standalone, or as part of The Kings of Avalier series.

Thank you to the author and #NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Book blurb from author’s website:

The Dragon King is looking for a wife.

This news throws the women in my village into a tizzy. The king will be sending out the royal guard to bring women of childbearing age to his castle in Jade City.

There is only one requirement: the woman must carry enough magic to produce an heir for him.

I’m a watered-down human with a mere ten percent dragon magic lineage, I know I won’t be chosen, but for some reason the magic sniffers command me to present myself to the king as a possible wife.

I’m ready to go to Jade City until my mother tells me a terrifying secret. A secret that could get me killed… by the king himself.

REVIEW: Inked by Rachel Rener

Published on by Amanda

5/5 Stars!

Inked had me hooked from page 1! From the title of chapter 1 (Butt Cobras, yes you read that right) until the end of the book, I couldn’t put it down.

A colorful world full of colorful characters. Talia the Jewish tattoo artist is relatable and hilarious. Zayn, the sexy and mysterious boss, is charming and great with banter. Biscuit just gets better every page. Then there are the interactions between Talia and her mother which are just fantastic! The tripped-out world of faerie is as unique as the magic/blood system that is used in the book. I’m loving every second of this world and can’t wait to continue on in this series!!

Dive into this new world of the fae, make sure that you don’t touch anything, go hunting with the sexiest boss ever, and get a look at some fantastic tattoos!

Book Blurb from author’s website:

When Zayn, your smoking hot boss, tells you never to touch the cache of deluxe tattoo ink locked away in his office, you listen to him… until the day you run out of your own ink, your squirming client is on the verge of peeing his pants, and your boss is nowhere to be found. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?

I fully expected Zayn to yell at me when he returned to the shop. What I didn’t expect was the fresh cobra tattoo on my client’s butt magically springing to life. Or the interdimensional filing cabinet hiding in the back of Zayn’s office. And, oh, did I mention that my gorgeous, magic-ink-hoarding boss is actually an incubus?

Now – through (mostly) no fault of my own – we have to venture into a strange and distant land where a never-ending list of lethal flora, fauna, and fae await us. When you add in my Jewish mother’s string of poorly timed, hysterical phone calls, there is one thing I’m grateful for: there’s no cell service in the fae realm.

This book is available on KU which is where I read it. I’m so in love with this even after only reading the first two, that I’ve already pre-ordered the Gilded Blood omnibus that she’s putting out. It’s sooo pretty!