Muse of Nightmares

April 16, 2022 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Muse of Nightmares

Author: Laini Taylor

Performer: Steve West

Length: 15 hr, 54 min

Series: Strange the Dreamer, Book 2

Publishing Date/Publisher: October 2, 2018 by Hachette Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: This is a review that is long overdue, considering I finished the book last summer. In summary, a perfect finish to a stunning duology. So imaginative, so masterful. Taylor introduces interesting new character POVs and wraps up the fascinating mystery of Weep with an utterly original conclusion. It’s hard to even describe how I feel about this book because I have never read anything quite like it, which is perhaps why I have taken so long to write any sort of review. I cannot sing it’s praises enough. If you are a lover of fantasy, complex characters, and storylines that connect in surprising ways, READ. THIS. BOOK.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 5 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · Paranormal · Romance · Young Adult

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 · Romance · Young Adult

Strange the Dreamer

February 11, 2022 youwanttoreadthistrustme1 Comment

Title: Strange the Dreamer

Author: Laini Taylor

Page Count: 544

Series: Strange the Dreamer, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: March 28, 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Format: Hardcover

Review: Magnificent title. Unforgettable characters. Staggeringly beautiful prose. This book had me hooked from start to finish. I could not have predicted all the directions this story goes in, as it was all utterly original. Couple that with a poetic writing style and this book had me mesmerized. It’s the type of writing where you want to savor the words, and you re-read sentences just because you like the way they sound. My only regret is that I did not discover this author sooner. Oh and I can’t forget to mention that this book is about a librarian. It makes the story all the more enchanting.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 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

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

January 15, 2022 youwanttoreadthistrustme1 Comment

Title: Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Page Count: 637

Series: Blood and Ash, Book 2

Publishing Date/Publisher: September 1, 2020 by Blue Box Press

Format: eBook

Review: The first book in this series far exceeded by expectations. Going into this book, I had far more optimism, which was quickly doused. Everything that bothered me about the first book, that I was willing to overlook because the overlying storyline was interesting, is multiplied 1000 fold in this one. The dialogue between Casteel and Poppy is so ridiculous that I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe. There are a couple interesting reveals throughout the book, but they are smothered in layers of unnecessary nonsense. Am I continuing forward with the series? Yes, but only because the heart of the story is interesting and I am still curious about Poppy’s heritage.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · Romance · Young Adult

Little Thieves

January 15, 2022 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Little Thieves

Author: Margaret Owen

Page Count: 512

Series: Little Thieves, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: October 19, 2021 by Henry Holt & Company

Format: eBook

Review: This is another ARC I am shamefully behind in reviewing, as it was already published 3 months ago. I am not going to lie, I almost cut my losses and DNF’ed this book because I was not enjoying it in the beginning. Sometimes books have slow starts, so I generally read about 25% before making a decision about whether or not I am going to finish it. I passed the 25% mark of this book and just couldn’t get into it, but I decided to persevere and continued plugging forward. I’m glad I did, because about halfway through was a turning point for me. I enjoy fantasy books with a healthy dose of romance, but the romance is generally not the draw for me. This is a rare case where the central romance is what redeemed the story in my eyes. It just felt so real and the sizzling tension that develops between the characters gave me actual butterflies. Something that sets this story apart is that the main characters are “normal” in the sense that there is nothing physically remarkable that sets them apart. They are not beautiful and there is never an illusion that their appearances are anything but plain. The attraction between them grows organically through their interactions, which made it feel all the more real. There is no instalove or mooning over each other’s physical attributes, just pure magnetic chemistry between two people who are equally matched in intellect and wit. For this reason alone, I finally made it to the end of this book and gave it a higher rating than I would have otherwise.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 3 Stars

Fantasy · Fiction · Romance · Young Adult

Skin of the Sea

January 11, 2022January 11, 2022 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Skin of the Sea

Author: Natasha Bowen

Page Count: 336

Series: Skin of the Sea, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: November 9, 2021 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Format: eBook

Review: I am tagging this book as an ARC, because at the time I received it from NetGalley, it had not yet been published. I started it some months ago, and then put it down in favor of other titles. Needless to say, the storyline and characters did not immediately draw me in. I did eventually pick it back up and finish it, and although I started enjoying it more toward the end, it didn’t knock my socks off. The premise behind this retelling of The Little Mermaid is undeniably beautiful. I loved how elements of the original story are interwoven with mythology and history. The story itself, however, was not particularly interesting to me. For readers who enjoy quests fraught with peril and mythical creatures, this story may have a lot of appeal. Alas, I am not that reader. I don’t generally enjoy odysseys because they tend to be more plot driven than character driven. Aside from the main character, Simidele, there is not a lot of character or relationship development. I’m glad that I finished it, but it is unlikely I will read the next book in this series. This book could easily be a standalone, though it looks like the author is working on at least one more title (possibly more).

On a side note, the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous. In fact, it is the reason I requested an ARC of this title. However, why are her scales not rose gold??? Her scales are described multiple times throughout the novel, and it annoys me when these types of details are neglected. Rant over.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 3 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:

Contemporary · Fiction · LGBTQ+ · Romance

Hang the Moon

August 9, 2021August 8, 2021 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: Hang the Moon

Author: Alexandria Bellefleur

Page Count: 384

Series: Written in the Stars

Publishing Date/Publisher: May 25, 2021/ Avon

Format: Paperback

Review:

Once again, Bellefleur has gifted us a magnificent comfort read. A follow-up/companion novel to her Written in The Stars, Hang The Moon follows Darcy’s brother and her best friend and their…dynamic. She’s packed the novel full of tropes, as is her MO (oh my god, there’s only one bed?) and the human golden retriever that is Brendon is impossible not to love.

While the relationship is between a man and a woman, it is in no way ‘straight’. As with Written in the Stars, there is a bisexual main character and while that isn’t in the forefront of every conversation or scene, it is mentioned or implied a few times. It is also great bi representation simply because not every bisexual will end up with the same sex, and vice versa. It’s important to show that, and she has in both her books.

This series is an absolute delight that I return to time and time again when I need a break from the real world or just because I feel like it. The fact that I have to wait until February for Count Your Lucky Stars to come out to finish the trilogy is causing me distress.

Reader: Kymberly

Rating:

Contemporary · Fiction · Romance

The Heart Principle

July 30, 2021 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: The Heart Principle

Author: Helen Hoang

Page Count: 320

Series: The Kiss Quotient, Book 3

Publishing Date/Publisher: August 31, 2021 by Berkley

Format: eBook

Review: Hoang captured my heart with The Kiss Quotient, and though I didn’t enjoy The Bride Test nearly as much, I was still eager to read The Heart Principle when I saw it offered on NetGalley. The Heart Principle is written in a different style than it’s predecessors, and the result is a deeply felt and raw portrayal of love, loss, and learning self-acceptance. The main character, Anna, struggles with hiding her social difficulties and exerts great effort to mold herself into the person her family and boyfriend expects. At the end of each interaction she is left mentally and emotionally drained, hardly able to take care of herself. She is completely blindsided when her boyfriend proposes an “open” relationship, and as she grapples with this new reality, she meets Quan, the “bad boy” with a heart of gold. Both Anna and Quan are wearing masks to hide their inner struggles, but once together, they find a safe space to be authentic within their burgeoning relationship.

This really was a beautiful story, though much sadder in tone than the other two books in the series. The author’s note at the end is worth reading and explains why she chose to make this book different.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: