Review | Nocturna

Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1)

By: Maya Motayne

Overall Rating: ★★★

Finn Voy is a face shifter who gets caught by a powerful mobster and forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.

Prince Alfehr is dealing with the death of his brother and the realization that he is now first in line for the Castallan throne. He’s now obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.

Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power and now they have to capture it or risk the destruction of the entire world. As you can imagine, things don’t go well and we get some INTENSE fight scenes.

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TL;DR

I really wanted to enjoy Nocturna more than I did. While it isn’t a terrible book, I felt it lacking in key places. I absolutely LOVED the Latin atmosphere – it was my favorite part of the entire novel – but the characters and world building could have done with some work. Overall, if you’re looking for a dense fantasy with Latinx vibes and have a short TBR, give this a go, but don’t get your hopes up for this to be your next obsession.

The Good

ALL THE LATIN GOODNESS

This was my first read this year for Hispanic Heritage Month and I was NOT disappointed. All the main characters are brown and proud with last names that speak of Hispanic descent. Everyone speaks Spanglish, moms and old ladies threaten the youth with chanclas, and celebrations aren’t complete without spiced hot chocolate, sangria and Bachata!

The Intensity

It takes about 150 pages (out of the 470 total) for things to pick up, but when it does things get DARK. Motayne doesn’t pull her punches, and some of the battle scenes where villain and protagonist face off get very gruesome and heavy. We’re dealing with family trauma, emotional & physical abuse, slides into alcoholism, and you may or may not see an attempt at a human deboning (yes, like what you do with fish). I always appreciate the darker side to fantasy novels and this definitely doesn’t disappoint.

The Bad

The Magic System

I found the magic system and set up to be VERY confusing…and I read a lot of fantasy books that involve unique magic systems. There was just a lot going on and, in my opinion, could have been stripped down or explained over the course of the entire series (which I hope there’s a book 2 but we’ll get to that soon). Castallans are all born with some type of “main” magic – earth, water, fire, etc. – which is known as elemental magic. Then, on top of that, there’s also a different type of magic that can be done with words. THEN, on top of that, you can also do magic with writing. THEN, to make things more confusing, some special people have “propio”, or a unique inner magic that gives them strange abilities. I seriously had to take notes on this while reading and I found myself over the entire set up super early on.

The Characters

Finn and Alfie are both broken, dark and complex. I usually love when characters have layers that need to be pulled back, but for some reason I just couldn’t connected with them.  I still feel the same way about these two now as I did on page one – indifferent. The character growth in this book is amazing, but the personalities didn’t mesh well with me.

THAT WAS THE ENDING? 

I went into this book thinking I was going to have a crazy, intense cliffhanger because Nocturna is book one in a series, but I was sadly disappointed. There are multiple threats that are mentioned throughout the book – the main antagonist (dark magic mentioned in the recap), the mob boss Finn has to deal with (also mentioned), then of course the plot twist shocker about Alfie’s brother’s murder. At 3/4 complete, nothing had been resolved, issues were forgotten about, and I thought for sure the ending was going to be heartbreaking. Instead, I got a lukewarm goodbye scene and an “all is seemingly well”. I honestly felt like I was reading a standalone, which I guess works well for those who don’t want to complete the series.

The Ugly Truth

Would I recommend Nocturna to my friends? Possibly…but I’d be hesitant. It has an awesome premise and the potential to be great, but I really want to see how book two plays out. It might make me feel differently about my read of book one. So, at this moment in time, WE’LL SEE.

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Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it? Will you be adding it to your reading list soon?

Review | Spin The Dawn

Spin The Dawn

By: Elizabeth Lim

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Of course, Maia gets caught, and all hell breaks loose. She’s sent on a daunting, epic journey on behalf of the King and takes along a magical sidekick in hopes of making it out alive.

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TL;DR

Spin the Dawn is a Disney fairytale wrapped up in an EPIC fantasy box. If you love Mulan, Cinderella, Aladdin, or any of the Disney classics, you’ll love Lim’s take with her Project Runway twist. Just know you’ll have to wait for Fall 2020 for Book 2!

The Good

Disney Vibes

There are MAGICAL GLASS SLIPPERS, a MAGICAL CARPET RIDE, and a high-key reference to a trapped GENIE. Mix it all together with the “girl becomes boy to get what she wants” trope and you have all the makings of an awesome Disney fairytale-esque story. Not going to lie, the first 12 pages or so are the first 5 minutes of any Disney movie, so prepare for the tragic backstory and lots of tears.

The Questing

It doesn’t take long for Maia to be discovered and for her epic journey to begin. I loved every second of her trials. They’re high-stakes, full of magic, and INTENSE. I felt like I was on my own quest to find magical fabrics for dresses. You won’t be disappointed with Maia or her tasks.

The Romance

This is definitely a slow-burner and I wasn’t disappointed with the lack of smut. There are kisses and swoon-worthy moments and I was here for all of it. It’s refreshing to have a YA book that has cute love stories without millions of smut scenes. The romance level is appropriate for the book and I was content with the cute overload.

The Bad

That Reveal Though

I was really sad that Maia was found out so early on. I would have preferred it to be true to Mulan – or even She’s the Man/Twelfth Night/Every other “Girl becomes Boy” story – to see how that would have affected the plot and love story. It was perfect just the way it was, but of course if there is one thing I am going to think about it’s the what ifs. 

The Ugly Truth

If you love fantasy, fashion, and/or fairy tales you will love Spin the Dawn! I would highly recommend bumping this up on your TBR list.

Talk To Me

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it? Will you be adding it to your reading list soon?

September TBR | Hispanic Heritage Month

How is it already September?! If you didn’t notice, I took a lot of summer off to focus on me and enjoy the world outside of blogging. My summer reading slump hit me like a ton of bricks, but now I’m back in action and my first order of business is hitting my TBR pile hard. I’m hoping to get through some solid reading with stories that all have to do with my Latinx heritage. Why, might you ask? Well…

I wish I was more connected with my Mexican culture in so many ways, but growing up without stories with little brown girls didn’t make it any easier. Why aren’t we ever the heroines in the stories? Why don’t we ever get the guy/girl? I decided to do some research and realized maybe I was just looking in the wrong places for books that highlight my culture.

Queue: This month’s potential reading list to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which kicks off on the 15th! My goal is to read at least 4 books on this list, if not more. These were all chosen based on genre, author, and main character backgrounds and all have Latinx roots in some way. I also had to do some major digging more these, so please feel free to add them to your TBRs if you’re looking for more Latinx in your life!

*Disclaimer: I am by no means in expert in Latinx reading, but I’m hoping to find some great reads along my journey and if you have any recommendations, I would love to know!

The Books

1. Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1)  by Maya Motayne

“Set in a Latinx-inspired world, a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed.” MAGIC FANTASY LATIX WORLD AND I AM IN

2. The Storm Runner (The Storm Runner #1) by J.C Cervantes

“Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate.”

This has literally been sitting on my shelf for ages and I’m ready for some Mayan gods and abuelita’s hot chocolate. Please and thank you.

3. Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas #1) by Zoraida Cordova

“Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo she can’t trust, but who may be Alex’s only chance at saving her family.”

I see Bruja Born EVERY.WHERE. and didn’t even realize it was part of a series, so hello to book 1. I’m obsessed with all things brujeria so let’s do this.

4.  The Living (The Living #1) by Matt de la Pena

“The earthquake is only the first disaster. Suddenly it’s a fight to survive for those left living.”

I don’t know where this one is going to take me, but post-apocalyptic stories are my kind of stories.

5. Shadowshaper (Shadowshaper #1) by Daniel José Older

“With the help of her friends and the hot graffiti artist Robbie, Sierra must dodge Wick’s supernatural creations, harness her own Shadowshaping abilities, and save her family’s past, present, and future.”

As you can see, I have a type…fantasy/urban fantasy/magic.

6. The Gateway Through Which They Came by Heather Marie

“To seventeen-year-old Aiden Ortiz, letting the dead walk through his body to reach the other side comes with the territory. Being a Gateway isn’t an easy job, but someone’s gotta send Bleeders where they belong. Heaven. Salvation. Call it whatever you want. Dead is dead. But when his search for Koren Banks––the girl who went mysteriously missing seven months ago––leaves him with more questions than answers, he finds himself involved in something far more sinister and beyond his control.”

I’ve heard this one is a bit on the younger side of YA, but I’m gonna give it a try.

7. The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

“For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.”

Um, Latinx Romeo and Juliet? Yes, please.

8. City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende

“But there are many secrets hidden in the unexplored wilderness, as Alex and his new friend Nadia soon discover. Drawing on the strength of their spirit guides, both young people are led on a thrilling and unforgettable journey to the ultimate discovery. . . .”

This is meant to be a younger-skewing YA series, but I’m into Percy Jackson so why not give this a try.

9. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

“The brilliant, bestselling, landmark novel that tells the story of the Buendia family, and chronicles the irreconcilable conflict between the desire for solitude and the need for love—in rich, imaginative prose that has come to define an entire genre known as “magical realism.”

Another one that I’m not quite sure I’ll love, but I hear great things and I’m expanding my palette TYVM.

10. Aristotle & Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

“And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.”

Everyone has been raving about this and while the genre it isn’t normally my cup of tea, I’m going all in. I might be surprised.

Talk To Me

What did you think of my picks? Any other Latinx reads you would recommend? Any from my list that you want to add to your TBR?

Top 5 Tuesday | Favorite Fantasies

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Bionic Book Worm!

Today’s Top 5 is all about fantasy stories and it was so hard for me to choose only five because 98% of what I read is considered fantasy – lol. Here’s my attempt at choosing my faves…but just know this changes on a monthly basis depending on what I’m reading!

The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

SURPRISE. The Shadowhunter Chronicles is of course on my list of all time favorite fantasy series. The world is rich, unique, and so amazing. Angels, demons, mundanes. Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries. Magic. Battles. Death.

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

I don’t care if Harry Potter has been around for decades. It will never get old. The Wizarding World just has a tendency to make me feel at home and I will not stop waiting for my letters to Hogwarts (Or Ilvermorny or Beauxbatons). My wand and school regalia are prepped and waiting for the day.

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Cycle is urban fantasy, but I’m putting this on my list because I’m obsessed with the magical Virginia suburbs from this series. The main crew is dysfunctional, angsty, and full of pent up energy. They’re adapting this into a SyFy series and I literally can.not.wait.

The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

A doomed land, a magical prophecy, fierce lady heroes, swoon-tactic male leads. The world building in this entire series, as well as the spin-off books, is so rich and intense – and amazing. The first book is written in a very “whodunit/Clue” way, where you don’t know which character fits what role (prince or assassin?) and it’s UH-MAZE. Please read.

The Stormheart Series by Cora Carmack

So far only book one is out, but that first installment is filled with magical storms, hottie stormhunters, a runaway princess, and a very mysterious/eerie villain (like so creepy he lays with dead people for fun. WTF?) I can’t wait to read the sequel – it comes out August 2019!

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What did you think of my picks? Do we have any favorite fantasies in common? Any I should add to my list?

Review | The Phantom Forest

The Phantom Forest

By: Liz Kerin

Overall Rating: ★★★★

*Thank you Liz Kerin and Inkshares for providing an e-book for my honest opinion!

From Goodreads

Seycia’s father told her this story as a child — a story of the most holy place in the Underworld, The Forest of Laida, where all souls go to rest before embarking on a new life. But Seycia’s father is dead now, and his killer has put a target on her back.

After being chosen for her village’s human sacrifice ritual, Seycia is transported to the Underworld and must join forces with Haben, the demon to whom she was sacrificed, to protect the family she left behind from beyond the grave. In this story of love, survival, and what it means to be human, Seycia and Haben discover that the Underworld is riddled with secrets that can only be unlocked through complete trust and devotion, not only to their mission, but also to one another.

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TL;DR:

The Phantom Forest has a bit of every good fantasy story weaved into it – Gods/Goddesses, a post-apocalyptic setting, evil overlords, premonitions of the future, and a brave heroine to tie everything together. The dark & haunting mood sets this story about the nature of humanity and what we’d do for love apart. I can’t wait for the sequel!

The Good

The Plot

Seycia believes that all souls are either good or evil, and that they all come from the Forest of Laida. Simeon believes Dohv, the ruler of the underworld, wants him to rule over his land with an iron fist, and sacrifices innocent youths to keep his power. Haben is a demon, cursed by and bound to Dohv. Miko is a 12 year old boy, destined for greatness. They all come together in a battle between good and evil, living and dead, and it does not disappoint.  If you love mythical lore, magical beings, and epic journeys, you’ll love this book!

*Don’t mind me, I’ll just be heavily researching Hades/Underworld lore for the next year.*

The Characters

I found myself forgetting that half the characters in this book are children. So many brutal, soul-crushing things happen and yet Miko, Minari, and Seycia all manage to pull through and revolt against their captors and torturers. They are stead-fast in their beliefs and still manage to make the mistakes you would expect of younger characters. I also love that there are multiple villainous characters to contend with. It keeps action coming from every angle. My only wish is that character growth and the relationships between them would have had more time to evolve and blossom. The relationship between Haben and Seycia seemed a bit rushed into, and it has so much potential!

The Writing

Liz Kerin’s writing is solid. Also, shoutout to the editor. I’m so glad I didn’t have to read through a mess of typos and grammatical errors! If you like dark, eerie moods and questions about humanity and what come after death, you’ll enjoy The Phantom Forest.

The Bad

I Need More (And I Have to Wait For Book 2)

I read an advanced e-copy of Phantom and I just want to know what happens! I needed the conclusion like yesterday.

The Ugly Truth

If you love stories of survival, haunting moods, and are in need of a new fantasy world to get hook on, grab The Phantom Forest when it debuts on July 16th!

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Will you be adding The Phantom Forest to your TBR list? How do you feel about the concept?

 

Review | Sorcery of Thorns Is Every Bookworm’s Fantasy

Sorcery of Thorns

By: Margaret Rogerson

Overall Rating: ★★★★

*Thank You Simon and Schuster

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, and Margaret Rogerson for providing an e-book for my honest opinion.

From Goodreads: All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

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TL;DR:

If you enjoyed Margaret Rogerson’s first novel, An Enchantment of Ravens, you will LOVE Sorcery of Thorns. There are magical books, evil (and not-so-evil) demons, sassy sorcerers, and a strong-willed heroine. The feminist themes, slow burn romances, and unlikely friendships will leave you bewitched and wanting more.

The Good

The Plot

Let me repeat, there are. MAGICAL. LIVING. BOOKS. Readers, you should binge this book based on this alone. Who doesn’t want to read about a brave librarian facing off against an evil sorcerer? And who doesn’t dream of living in a magical library full of living, breathing books? There’s a dash of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Hogwarts Library vibes (think the restricted section times 100), hints of The Pagemaster, and a unique flare to piece it all together.

The World Building

For being a standalone novel, I was definitely impressed with how well the world of Austermeer was thought out. There’s so much magical knowledge to devour in this story and it left me wanting more. Fantasy lovers will be highly impressed with callouts to the Enochian language, the use of salt & iron, the creation of grimoires & maleficts, and even the summoning of demons.

The Characters

Every character in this story is amazing in their own way – yes, even all the grimoires! Elisabeth is a fearless, strong-willed bookworm who meets her enemies head on. Nathaniel Thorn is my new favorite sorcerer. He’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet and I lived for all his sarcasm. Silas is your favorite grumpy cat and will melt your heart. And Katrien will be the best friend you want in your life.

The Bad

It’s A Standalone

I didn’t want this story to end! The world was so well developed, the characters were amazing, and I didn’t want it to end. This isn’t technically “bad”, but if you know me then you know I’m a sucker for long-lived stories. I just want more of Nathaniel and Elisabeth!

The Ugly Truth

If you love magic and mystery, add Sorcery of Thorns to your June wishlist!

Talk To Me

How do you feel about sorcery and books about magic? Will you be adding this to your TBR list?

 

Review | There Are So Many Game of Thrones Vibes In A Torch Against The Night

A Torch Against The Night

By: Sabaa Tahir

Overall Rating: ★★★★

The book is narrated by Elias, Laia and now Helene. They are dealing with the aftermath of the Trials – where Elias gave up being Emperor, Laia saved Elias’s life, and Helene swore fealty to evil Emperor Marcus. Elias’s mom, the Commandant, is still evil and crazy AF. Laia’s brother is still in prison (who knows if he’s dead or alive), and the world is still going to hell. There are dead spirits roaming around, an evil god-like creature roaming around trying to get revenge, and of course the scheming for power. So, naturally, everyone splits up to do their own thing.

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TL;DR:

If I’m being honest, Helene’s chapters were boring AF but for some reason I can’t resist her character arc – she’s amazing in her own way. 75% of this book also felt like I was watching season six of Game of Thrones. Everyone gets separated, they are all traveling/trying to make it the epic battle, and I had to wait most of the book for the crazy sh*t to go down. BUT, the wait was worth it. If you’re looking for a milder version of Game of Thrones, please read this series!

The Good

The Lore

There’s enough faerie, magic, and mythology to go around in this series. Tahir takes well-known folklore and spins a unique, refreshing world that I didn’t know I needed.

The Villains

I love when there is evil lurking in every corner of a story. Every main character is dealing with their own personal hell brought on by a different bad guy. Evil king? You got it. Evil mother? Yup, it’s there. Evil mystical/god-like creature. For sure! If there’s a way to keep me interested, it’s when I can’t figure out who the biggest threat is.

The Cliffhangers

That last page will have you like…that’s all I’m saying. The ending is the best part of book 2. You’ll want to start book 3 immediately!

The Bad

Helene, You Bore Me

I could have done without Helene as a narrator. Her loyalty is so engrained into her – mind, body and soul – and I CAN. NOT. HANDLE. IT. At one point I thought about skimming through her chapters just to get back to Elias. She’s not a bad character, she’s just…different. I love her, but I also hate her. She’s the frenemy you hope gets better (spoiler: she does…finally).

The Number One Rule IS DO NOT SPLIT UP

Why does everyone insist on splitting up to save the world? Everyone knows you STICK TOGETHER. Once Elias, Laia, and Helene are on their own, the story gets a lot slower. I wish there were more instances where the MCs were a group and there was more action, but I totally understand why it was necessary…I just wish it wasn’t.

The Ugly Truth

I loved A Torch Against The Night, but it wasn’t as good as An Ember In The Ashes. With that being said, it still holds its own and the set up is necessary for that crazy ending. It’s a solid sequel, and I wanted to start book 3 as soon as I could!

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Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it?

Review | An Ember In The Ashes Is Fantasy Gold

An Ember In The Ashes

By: Sabaa Tahir

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother, Darrin. Darrin gets arrested for treason. After Laia runs away like a wimp, she decides to be strong like her mother and do whatever it takes to free her brother. ENTER: The rebels who promise to help her, but only if she helps them (*dun, dun, dun*).

She infiltrates an elite school for soldiers, posing as a slave, where she  meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier. They both endured some pretty horrific things, leading to the pair teaming up becoming unlikely allies. CUE: THIS IS WHEN THINGS GET CRAZY.

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TL;DR:

An Ember In The Ashes is Gladiator x Hunger Games with just enough mythical creatures to make this the fantasy series of my dreams. The characters are complex, sometimes annoying, but always interesting.  You won’t be able to put this book down. I highly recommend!

The Good

The Story

I’m so here for the no-happy-ending-for-you theme of this book. I was also really intrigued by the prophecies, the impending doom coming from all sides (literally I had no idea who was really the “bad guy” the entire time), and the history of the world. Throw in some soldier-on-soldier fight to the deaths, crazy magical priests (who remind me of Silent Brothers from Shadowhunters) and FAERIES and I’m 100% in. If you don’t like bloodshed or scenes that will hurt you in the heart, you might want to skip this.

The Characters

Darrin had me from page one. Elias was love at first sight. Laia was annoying AF. Helene was…complicated. What do they all have in common? They are complex, intriguing, and all had me screaming in irritation, scoffing in anger, or rolling my eyes in disbelief. The journeys these characters go through are so good. They aren’t perfect, and I love them just the way they are…yes, even you Laia.

Elias Veturius Gets His Own Section

ELIAS, SOLDIER BOY OF MY HEART. Yes, he gets his own section. He’s now officially my one f*ckboy I allow on my book boyfriend list (Sorry Tiberius Calore, you’ve been dumped). He’s groomed to kill and follow directions, but can’t seem to get past his adorable, caring, sweet cinnamon roll heart. Yeah, he may get distracted by Laia’s curves or Helene’s hair, and literally every other pretty girl who walks his way…but he gets stuff done. And I love him.

The Bad

I Have So Many Questions

Book one leaves you with A LOT of unresolved plot points. You learn a lot on this journey, but all the important bits don’t start filling in until the end. And even then, you’ll want to immediately start the sequel because you’ll be left wondering what’s happening to literally everyone. Couldn’t I get at least one major thing resolved? No…okay. I’ll just go binge the rest of the series now.

The Ugly Truth

I can’t believe I didn’t start this series sooner! I loved almost everything about An Ember In The Ashes. It had morally grey characters, hot soldier boys, magic, battle scenes, and I can’t wait for more. (Literally I couldn’t wait. I binged the second and third book before even writing this.)

Talk To Me

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it? Are you adding this to your TBR?

Review | Sawkill Girls Is A Classic Monster Story With a Feminist Twist

Sawkill Girls

By: Claire Legrand

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Who are the Sawkill Girls?

Marion: the new girl. Zoey: the pariah. Val: the queen bee.

Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires. Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now.

Theme Song

TL;DR:

Sawkill Girls is a refreshing take on the classic monster story. If you’re into books with darker vibes and don’t mind things that go bump in the night, check this one out! It’s full of diverse characters and hits on some bigger societal issues.

The Good

A Classic Monster Tale

This has all the elements of a great monster story – eerie children’s nursery rhymes, isolated islands, dark forests, and disappearing teens. If you love being scared, especially by things that go bump in the night, you’ll enjoy this.

Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep. He’ll follow you home, and he won’t let you sleep…

Down With The Patriarchy

Legrand isn’t subtle with the digs at things like mansplaining and the patriarchy. She uses her villains, her heroines, and her writing to bring down the patriarchy just a little bit more. I hope young girls (and boys) who read this look at sexism just a bit differently afterward.

 

Girl Power To The Max

I love that all the heroines in this story walk to their own tunes. They are strong, independent and learn to work through their differences against a common enemy. It’s refreshing to see girls banding together instead of ripping each other down because of insecurities.

The Bad

The World Building

This is more due to my personal preferences as a reader. I need to know all about every person, place, thing, or idea that’s mentioned in story (which is why I tend to read longer series). Soooo, I would have loved a deeper looking into the cult, the monster, and the island. If you don’t mind a quick story with minimal details, then forget I even mentioned this!

The Ugly Truth

I loved Sawkill Girls! I gave it 4-stars because I prefer my fantasy stories to be longer and more in-depth, but I loved everything else about it. Pick this one up when you’re in the need for a feminist rage fest or quick monster tale.

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Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it?

Review | I Need More Kingmaker Chronicles ASAP

The Kingmaker Chronicles

By: Amanda Bouchet

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Cat and Griffin meet at a traveling circus when he kidnaps her for her “special” powers. She’s the Kingmaker, he’s an ambitious warlord and together along with is Beta Team they travel the world looking for a way to unseat all the corrupt rulers (including Cat’s mom). The gods get involved, people fall in love, others die, battles ensure, and you will be taken on a rollercoaster ride of prophecies, epic quests, and to-die-for love stories.

Theme Song

TL;DR:

I don’t normally do romance books, but The Kingmaker Chronicles are full of wit, sass, and overall fun. If you enjoy Greek mythology, feisty main ladies, and magic – you’ll love this series!

The Good

The Characters

Cat is a SASS QUEEN, who also happens to be a baddass fighter full of awesome magic. Griffin is a main man you will love. He’s strong, witty, loyal and also pretty good looking. Beta Team – Kato, Flynn, and Carver – are the warrior buddies you didn’t know you needed in your life. And if the main crew isn’t enough, Griffin’s entire family will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. They’re loving, intelligent and always try to do the right thing. The entire cast of this series will make you swoon.

The Magic and Mythology

GUYS I LOVE MYTHOLOGY SO MUCH. This entire series is centered around the gods and Ares, Persephone, Hades, Zeus (and probably some I’m forgetting) make an appearance. We even get to see a version of the underworld and purgatory and I was LIVING FOR IT. The personalities Bouchet gave to the mythical characters and creates in her series are to die for. Not to mention we get special Demi-god powers and oracular prophecies and visions. I was getting adult Percy Jackson vibes and I’m not complaining.

The Bad

The Macho Man Vibes

Guys, I love Griffin, but he can sometimes take his overbearing, jealous macho man vibes to an extreme. I’m all for strong leading ladies BUT they should be backed by level-headed partners who aren’t going to “growl” or think about hurting their friends just for joking with their love interest. I could have done with more feminist vibes and less “you belong to me”.

The Ending of Book 3

Heart of Fire’s ending was disappointing, it was just very underwhelming. I was hoping for more battles, more epic character arcs/reveals, and just a lot more of something in general. There was so much epicness, and I hoped the ending would have been just as amazing. HOWEVER, I’ve got confirmation that there will be more stories set in the same world, so I’m hoping the story arcs that weren’t wrapped up and the end of book 3 come into play in Book 4. Knowing there will be more of Beta team is keeping me going. I need more Carver, Flynn and Kato in my life!!

The Ugly Truth

While the ending of book 3 was a bit disappointing, I still really enjoyed the series as a whole. I’ve had confirmation from Amanda herself that there are going to be more books, and I CANNOT wait to get my hands on more stories with Beta Team!

Talk To Me

Have you read this series? If so, what did you think of it? Will you be adding this to your TBR?