Wickery duology

March 18, 2022 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Cast in Firelight

Author: Dana Swift

Performers: Priya Aayar & Assaf Cohen

Length: 11 hr, 54 min

Series: Wickery, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 4, 2022 by Listening Library

Format: eAudiobook

Review: The imaginative world that was introduced in this series was a real joy to immerse myself in. So rich in color (literally) and built upon a fascinating magic system. We see many of the stereotypical things associated with wizardry & witchcraft, but they are modified with their own creative spin. For example, the flying brooms….loved what Swift did there. There were certain aspects of the story that seemed a little far fetched, (i.e. why would her future father-in-law be ok with Aadra putting herself in dangerous situations on the reg??), but I was willing to overlook those little details because I enjoyed the rest of the story so much. The “enemies” to lovers and mistaken identity tropes are executed well and the spark between the two characters is fun to watch ignite (can’t help the puns).

The two readers were excellent for the eAudiobook. Priya in particular I could listen to all day. I was eager to start the second book in the duology.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 4 Stars

Title: Bound by Firelight

Author: Dana Swift

Performers: Priya Ayyar & Assaf Cohen

Length: 11 hr, 14 min

Series: Wickery, Book 2

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 18, 2022 by Listening Library

Format: eAudiobook

Review: This sequel did not quite carry the momentum of the first book, but I still enjoyed it. Aadra and Jatin get almost no page time together, and a new character is introduced in Jatin’s POV that I don’t feel was particularly well-written. In fact, I don’t even really understand why the addition of this character was necessary. She added almost nothing of value to the story and the relationships between her and the other characters were confusing.

Aadra’s storyline had potential that I don’t think was fully realized. Her friendship with her cell mate was interesting, and I loved the incorporation of sign language. I don’t think I have ever seen signing described in a fantasy novel like this before, or ever really.

This book wasn’t as tightly written or fast paced as the first in the duology, but it wrapped up nicely and I was satisfied with the ending.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · New Adult · Paranormal · Romance

The Crown of Gilded Bones

February 7, 2022 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: The Crown of Gilded Bones

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Page Count: 645

Series: Blood and Ash, Book 3

Publishing Date/Publisher: April 20, 2021 by Blue Box Press

Format: eBook

Review: The most insane thing about this low rating is that I am actually contemplating reading the next book in the series when it is released. My hopes that this book would be better than A Kingdom and Flesh and Fire were quickly dashed when I realized that this book was basically just an insufferable extension of it’s predecessor. Same cringe worthy dialogue, same smut, same pointless plot filler. So am I glutton for punishment for wanting to continue? Yes. The answer is yes and I will tell you why. Armentrout somehow manages to write 600 pages of barely tolerable storyline and then BAM! She lays an incredible finale on you that leaves you just interested enough to want to see how the rest of the saga plays out. Looks like I’m roped in for at least one more book. Ugh.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · Paranormal · Romance · Young Adult

From Blood and Ash

November 29, 2021 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: From Blood and Ash

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Page Count: 454

Series: Book and Ash, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: March 30, 2020 by Blue Box Press

Format: eBook

Review: My expectations for this book were extremely low having read Obsidian by the same author. I was pleasantly surprised by a plot that was engaging and unique enough to hold my attention. There are many common tropes in this book, but somehow they felt like they had a fresh spin. Despite the occasional eyeroll worthy fight scene, I enjoyed it enough to immediately put the second book in the series on hold.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Paranormal · Young Adult

Slayer

October 30, 2021 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Slayer

Author: Kiersten White

Performer: Madeleine Maby

Length: 11 hr, 59 min

Series: Slayer, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 8, 2019 by Simon & Schuster Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: I was 100% the wrong audience for this book. This is essentially a fan fiction spinoff of the popular Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, and I went into the listening experience knowing this. I have not seen the Buffy movie or the television series, but I downloaded this audiobook anyways because there were a couple Goodreads reviewers in the same boat who seemed to really like it. This was not the case for me. I had literally no context for many of the things referenced in this book, and for someone who is big on world building, this was a major problem. To me, it felt largely like a rant against a character that I have no prior knowledge of (except that she is a vampire slayer..duh). A significant portion of the book is devoted to all the things Buffy has done horribly wrong in her role as the “chosen one” and the new slayer’s adamancy that she will not repeat the same mistakes. Except guess what? She kind of does. So….yeah. Didn’t love it.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Contemporary · Fantasy · Fiction · Horror · Mystery · Paranormal

Ninth House

May 28, 2021 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Ninth House

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Performers: Lauren Fortgang and Michael David Axtell

Length: 16 hr, 29 min

Series: Alex Stern, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: October 8, 2019 by Macmillan Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: Grishaverse fans beware…this is a complete departure from Bardugo’s previous work. Luckily for me, I am also a fan of the paranormal/urban fantasy genre, so there is some crossover appeal for me. This book was a little too gritty for my personal tastes, but the character development really impressed me. Alex’s character in particular is incredibly complex and multi-layered. People who enjoy stories about secret societies are especially in for a treat because Bardugo really has a knack for the intricacies of incorporating the paranormal into realistic settings. She makes it completely believable that this type of world could exist within the shadow of our own.

The dynamic between Alex and Darlington was a bit confusing to me, so I am really hoping for more page time with them in future books. I liked the readers chosen for both of their characters, so I will probably try to continue forward with the series in audiobook format.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Paranormal · Romance · Young Adult

The Folk of the Air Trilogy

February 13, 2021 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, & The Queen of Nothing

Author: Holly Black

Page Count: 370, 336, & 300

Series: The Folk of the Air, Books 1-3

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 2, 2018 – January 8, 2019 – November 19, 2019 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Format: eBook

Review: I was never quick to pick up this book series for two reasons:

I read the Coldest Girl in Cold Town by this author and though I enjoyed it, I wasn’t terribly impressed.
The book synopsis for The Cruel Prince does not do it justice.

I have seen this book series mentioned enough times now that I finally decided to read it. As a result, I am going to do something I never do and review all three books together. Why you ask? Because I ripped through them so fast it doesn’t even make sense for me to review them individually. This was a book series that kept me reading late into the night and each book took me about 2 days to finish. I simply could not put them down. The romance is a slow burn (which I always appreciate), but it was the political intrigue and endless scheming that truly kept me glued to the pages. Jude is a very strongly written character, and it was fascinating to watch her turn her vulnerabilities into strengths. The pacing of this book series is excellent, and I was never once bored. Great cliffhangers and a great ending really cemented this as one of my favorite YA series of all time.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Paranormal · Romance · Young Adult

These Hollow Vows

January 5, 2021 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: These Hollow Vows

Author: Lexi Ryan

Page Count: 464

Series: Unknown

Publishing Date/Publisher:

Format: eBook

Review: It’s no secret I am a huge Sarah J. Maas fan and will read just about anything that is compared to her work. In this case, it was a very appropriate comparison. Similar characters, similar love triangle, similar setting, similar premise…but hey, I’m all for it. It was angsty, but not too much so. Even though it gives me anxiety, I like when characters have to navigate impossible choices in creative ways. Oh and also love steamy love triangles, even though those also give me anxiety….So needless to say, even though this book is not perfect, I am the perfect audience for it. I hope there is more to come.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Paranormal · Young Adult

Witches Steeped in Gold

December 29, 2020December 29, 2020 youwanttoreadthistrustme1 Comment

Title: Witches Steeped in Gold

Author: Ciannon Smart

Page Count: 544

Series: Witches Steeped in Gold, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: April 20, 2021 by HarperTeen

Format: eBook

Review: I have been dragging my feet when it comes to writing this review, not because I didn’t like the book, but because it has so many similarities to two other books I have recently read. This is a very strong readalike for Children of Blood and Bone and A Song of Wraiths and Ruin. It has been hard for me to draw any clear distinctions between my feelings about the three, though I can say that I enjoyed them all. I can’t help but note that white hair on magic users seems to be a very popular trend in YA fantasy fiction that is inspired by African and/or Caribbean folklore. I thought this striking imagery was very distinct to the Legacy of Orisha trilogy, but it seems to have made it’s way into other series as well. One repeating trend I have also noticed (that I actually quite like) is the finely drawn line between hero(ine) and villian(ess). A line that is often crossed by both the former and the latter in such a way that these distinctions become meaningless. Life is messy, and I like when I can relate to both the protagonist and the antagonist in equal measure. It tickles me even further when these roles reverse at some point in the story. I think this series has quite a lot of potential, and it is very possible I might love the second book…we will just have to wait and see.

P.S. If I had to rate the cover of this book it would be 5/5 stars.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Historical · Paranormal · Romance · Young Adult

Chain of Gold

December 29, 2020 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Chain of Gold

Author: Cassandra Clare

Page Count: 672

Series: The Last Hours, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: March 3, 2020 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Format: eBook

Review: The more I read books by Cassandra Clare, the more I draw similarities between her style and the style of Sarah J. Maas. Both write sagas with lengthy tomes that are riddled with relationship angst. Both have predictable plot formulas they follow, and they always manage to pair off nearly every character into a romantic relationship. Clare in particular really has a penchant for relationship triangles and drama, and it seems that she repackages her storylines with different characters and settings. Despite this, I find some comfort in knowing what I am getting into when I pick up one of her books, and I often find myself enjoying them. In some ways it is just mindlessly pleasant reading. The Shadowhunter world is very engrossing, regardless of how many different ways the same story is presented to me. I find that in general I like her historical fiction series more than her contemporary ones. I don’t know how historically accurate her settings are, but the afterword in this book implies that she does put a little research into her craft. I’ll definitely keep reading when the next book is published, if only because the covers in this series are so dang gorgeous.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Mystery · Paranormal · Young Adult

Elatsoe

December 9, 2020 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Elatsoe

Author: Darcie Little Badger

Performer: Kinsale Hueston

Length: 9 hr, 1 min

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: September 22, 2020 by Dreamscape Media, LLC

Format: eAudiobook

Review: I personally did not find this book to be a thrilling read, however, I will most certainly be recommending it to young readers. Aside from a few curse words scattered here and there, it is actually a pretty “clean” book. It read more like middle grade fiction, despite the fact our amateur sleuth is an older teenager. Because the main protagonist, Elatsoe, is asexual, there is no romantic angle whatsoever. The setting is interesting and would likely appeal to young readers – kind of a re-imagined United States where the paranormal is considered normal. All things considered, I think I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I had read it as a pre-teen.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: