tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124045282024-03-15T18:12:42.833-07:00..:: CheriePie's Book Reviews ::..Books I've had my nose in lately, and my <strike>snots</strike> thoughts on them. *snort*Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.comBlogger515125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-58592858291289311462024-03-09T03:04:00.000-08:002024-03-09T03:04:27.726-08:00Weyward by Emilia Hart<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3T9UNWX" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91fiJmrOQaL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="Weyward" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★★☆ <br/><br/>
One of the best books I've read in awhile!! I can't wait to read more from this debut author.<br /><br />Weyward is the story of 3 women, connected thru time. The writing style is both evocative and engaging, and I love the witchy vibes!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57823095-weyward" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-70704750313528764292024-02-29T00:48:00.000-08:002024-02-29T00:48:13.320-08:00REVIEW: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3UXCF5l" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91BkNHsQjcL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="Starling House" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ <br/><br/>
A spooky gothic tale about a sinister, old house, and the secrets it holds that haunt a small, down-on-its-luck Kentucky town. <br /><br />After her mother dies in a horrific accident, Opal puts her own dreams on hold to try to make a better life for her younger brother, Jasper. Even if that means leaving her low-paying dead-end job to take a housekeeper position at Starling House, the secluded, ominous house that has been calling to her in her dreams. As she's "welcomed" into the run-down house by the strange, eccentric Arthur, the house starts to take on a life of its own, gradually revealing its secrets that have terrorized the town for ages. Can Opal and Arthur can get to the heart of the house and take down the sinister forces to save the town?<br /><br />The story was fast-paced and engaging, with just the right amount of creepy. The world was unique and unlike other "haunted house" stories. I loved that the house was sentient and the way it attempted to communicate. I would've enjoyed getting to know it better. ;) Overall, a really good read that kept me engaged throughout.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75256818-starling-house" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-65226306793396226582024-02-23T23:14:00.000-08:002024-02-23T23:28:31.902-08:00REVIEW: Three Kinds of Lucky (The Shadow Age #1) by Kim Harrison<div style="cursor: pointer; float: left; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 135px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3uMf64G" target="_blank"><img alt="Three Kinds of Lucky" border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rJV5c0sRL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br /><br />
Petra Grady is a Sweeper first-class. While she doesn't have magic of her own, she has the uncanny ability to see and handle dross—the disruptive, magical waste generated by the Mages' spell work. Sweepers have always been treated as second-class citizens by the Mages—janitors put on this earth to clean up their mess. But fortunately, Petra's got a few other hidden tricks up her sleeve. Until her life is turned on its head by the sexy, exasperating Benedict Strom with his research project to render the Mages' dross inactive and innocuous, which just might make the Sweepers obsolete.<br /><br />
I've been a fan of Kim Harrison's books since the Hollows (Rachel Morgan) series, so I jumped on this book, hoping that some fresh blood and a new series would reignite my passion. I found there was a lot to like, along with a couple things I didn't.<br /><br />
Like The Hollows series, I thoroughly enjoy the complex, original magical worlds that Kim Harrison creates, even though I found this magic system a little harder to grasp. I kept mixing up the differences between the types of dross, which attracts the shadow, and how shadow comes to be in the first place. So yeah, if you're looking for complex, this is it! It wasn't as playful and fun as The Hollows—but then again, Pluck is no Jenks. But enough for comparisons... this is an entirely new series and from here on out, I plan to review it that way.<br /><br />
Before I go on about all the fantastic elements of this story, let me get out of the way a couple things that didn't jive with me: First was the fact that the lab was planning to test on live animals... and second, <span class="spoilertext" style="display: none;">killing off Petra's dog!! Seriously??!! 😱 Sure, he came back as Shadow, but there's a reason I don't read books like Old Yeller.</span><br /><br />
Throughout the book, I really jived with the analogy of the Mages and their discarded dross to the gravely polluted world we live in today. Oblivious people leaving behind their junk while expecting others to clean up after them. It's that same sense of superiority and entitlement where it's always someone else's problem, not theirs.<br /><br />As the main character, Petra is smart and resourceful, a kickass, take-charge kind of gal. The magical world she lives in, kept hidden from the mundanes, is complex yet intriguing. Her counterpart, Benedict, sounds yummy, and while the relationship between the two was initially fraught with tension, I'm anxious to see how it plays out given that her feelings towards him see-saw quite a bit throughout the tale.<br /><br />That said, I did find the writing to be a bit sloppy with some inconsistencies and contradictory info, but that's probably just because I was reading an uncorrected ARC, so I'm assuming all those will be ironed out in the final draft.<br /><br />Overall, a wonderful new world from the mind of Kim Harrison, and another kickass heroine to love. Looking forward to more!
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This book releases March 5, 2024, but you can <a href="https://amzn.to/3uMf64G" target="_blank">preorder it at Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57427858-three-kinds-of-lucky" target="_blank">enter for a chance to win one of 50 Kindle copies</a> at Goodreads (giveaway ends 3/3/24).<br /><br />
<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance readers copy of this book for review. While I received it free of charge, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.</i><br /><br />
#ThreeKindsofLucky #NetGalley<br /><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57427858-three-kinds-of-lucky" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-19797774799674471422024-02-14T01:11:00.000-08:002024-02-14T01:11:07.071-08:00REVIEW: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde #2) by Heather Fawcett<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/49wxihm" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_849526-T3/images/I/815YoYpSdnL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
The second book in the Emily Wilde trilogy was a wild ride thru Faerie land.<br /><br />Emily and Wendell travel to the Alps in Austria in an attempt to locate the door to Wendell's realm so he can return and reclaim his throne from his stepmother, who banished him so she could seize control of the realm for herself. But all does not go according to plan, and the two along with their friends get in quite a bit of hilarious trouble along the way.<br /><br />I really enjoyed this book, even more so than the first. I'll be anxiously awaiting the final book in the trilogy, but OMG I think I have to wait at least a year for it!!!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/134119076-emily-wilde-s-map-of-the-otherlands" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-72809384974497629542024-02-12T00:10:00.000-08:002024-02-12T00:10:12.868-08:00REVIEW: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3HXTqWm" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_849526-T3/images/I/81DwakBWN1L._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ <br/><br/>
The opening book in the Emily Wilde trilogy. Emily is a scholar and teaching professor at Cambridge University in London during the early 1900s. Along with her colleague and friend Wendell Bambleby, the pair travels to Norway on a research expedition to document a particular faerie species located in the area. Written in journal form, Emily records her day-to-day thoughts and actions, particularly helpful when she publishes her extensive encyclopedia documenting all known faerie species... in the hopes of becoming one of the foremost authorities on faerie.<br /><br />Emily is a bit of an odd sort, very academic and not able to express herself or her emotions, while Wendell is always trying to get her to lighten up. Wendell is quite good looking and maybe just a little bit vain. Together, they make an oddly whimsical pair. I enjoyed seeing Emily write in her journal about feelings and thoughts she couldn't express in person. Overall, I really enjoyed the fascinating world created here and look forward to reading the next in the trilogy... coming up next!
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Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-25631627045350706682024-02-06T01:33:00.000-08:002024-02-23T18:24:08.901-08:00REVIEW: The Iodine Crisis by Lynne Farrow<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/42z9TcY" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZrJUypCSL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="" title="View this book on Amazon" />View at Amazon</a></div><b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★★☆ <br />
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This book was a real eye opener. It's amazing how good Iodine is for us, yet how badly it's been demonized over the last several years. <br />
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Iodine has the same molecular weight as bromide, chloride, and fluoride, and because of this it is often displaced in the body by these less than helpful minerals. Iodine is extremely important to both breast health and thyroid function as well.<br />
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If you've got any issues with your thyroid, or sketchy breast tissue, I'd definitely suggest you check this book out.<br/>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/42z9TcY" target="_blank">View at Amazon</a>
Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-29230147158645771882024-01-28T23:45:00.000-08:002024-01-28T23:45:16.445-08:00REVIEW: A Power Unbound by Freya Marske<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3SBHhMU" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_849526-T3/images/I/81OQfLDZFLL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="A Power Unbound" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ <br/><br/>
Ahh the final book in the Last Binding trilogy. In this one, the main character focus now shifts to Jack Hawthorn and secondary to Alan Rossi. I really liked Jack's character, as I did the previous book; Alan not so much. He always struck me as a bit of a weasel, though towards the end of this, I began to warm up to him just a wee bit. The balance between romance and adventure is again about 50/50, like the first book, and like that one, I found my eyes glazing over the romance sections a bit. It's definitely not for lack of writing, imagery, or steaminess; the author is very good at painting a vivid picture and evoking emotion. I'm just not a huge fan of romance. Sorry, not sorry. So to that end, I liked book 2 best of the three where the balance was more 75/25 towards the adventure side.<br /><br />That said, I enjoyed seeing the whole gang of characters we've gotten to know (and love in some cases) working together in this final installment towards a surprising but satisfying conclusion. Overall, I'd give the full series a strong 8 out of 10.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7106498.Freya_Marske" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-617900333823957642024-01-22T18:38:00.000-08:002024-01-22T18:56:27.428-08:00REVIEW: The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3SscFwZ" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91r5xXIC30L._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="The Butcher of the Forest" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
<p><i>The Butcher of the Forest</i> is a beautifully written dark fairy tale novella with a vivid and immersive world oozing with atmosphere. Part fairy tale, part horror, and a whole lot of fun, this was a quick and engaging read with a hauntingly seductive world to dive into.</p>
<p>Veris lives in a village on the edge of the North Forest, a place between worlds. Anyone who refuses to heed the warnings and venture in anyway, never returns. Veris Thorn is the only person to have ever ventured in and returned to the village alive, so when the Tyrant's children go missing, Veris is made to entire that horrible place once again to retrieve the his children. Will her second encounter with the faery beings of the forest's realm be as "successful" as the first, or will it end in utter ruin?</p>
<p><i>The Butcher in the Forest</i> is due to be published February 27, 2024, but you can <a href="https://amzn.to/3SscFwZ" target="_blank">preorder it from Amazon</a> now.</p>
<p><i>Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with a digital advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.</i></p>
<a href="https://amzn.to/3SscFwZ" target="_blank">View at Amazon</a><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127283923-the-butcher-of-the-forest" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-20813025390858342592024-01-16T17:08:00.000-08:002024-01-16T17:08:32.734-08:00REVIEW: A Restless Truth (The Last Binding #2) by Freya Marske<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/48MZmga" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81XGgwBf9jL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="A Restless Truth" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
The second book in The Last Binding trilogy, <i>A Restless Truth</i> shifts the MC focus from Robin to his sister, Maud. And TBH, I liked this one better than the first. Perhaps it was the setting, or that the main characters were female instead of male... and I'm always partial to the female form. ;) <br /><br />Here we find Maud aboard a ship from America back to England, having gone to warn and fetch a member of the Forsythia Club that an important piece of The Last Contract has fallen into enemy hands. Unfortunately, a menacing threat is on their tail, and Maud must do everything she can, including the recruitment of some new friends to the cause, if she's to help save the fate of all the magicians of England.<br /><br />I like how this one seemed to move at a quicker pace than the previous, with more action scenes. There were still the occasional sexy scenes too, like the previous, but it didn't seem to distract from the story as much this time around. After I finished this, I knew I had to immediately read book 3 (well after one more ARC in-between from NetGalley) so I bumped up my spot in the queue at the library and now it's waiting for me once I'm done with my current read. Yay! :)<br/><br/>
<a href="https://amzn.to/48MZmga" target="_blank">View at Amazon</a><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59849819-a-restless-truth" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-86626874893193350242024-01-09T20:42:00.000-08:002024-01-09T20:42:11.352-08:00REVIEW: Everything is Temporary by Jon Cohn<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3RTUNcT" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71xfz7u+5GL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="Everything is Temporary" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
Crossing the line between fantasy and reality, Tim and his wife Sarah face down a sadistic Santa, encounter a talking Christmas tree, and fight vicious candy canes, all in the name of Christmas.<br /><br />This was a wonderfully creepy read and everything I was hoping it'd be for the holiday season. A nightmarish romp through Christmasland and an unlikely ending wrapped in a tantalizing, well-written tale that kept me intrigued to the very end.<br /><br /><i>Thanks to NetGalley and Deadbolt Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.</i>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201215869-everything-is-temporary" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-47628654610345442992023-12-22T12:30:00.000-08:002023-12-22T12:30:00.130-08:00REVIEW: An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/486J0Pw" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/818jZ0DjE1L._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="An Education in Malice" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
<i>An Education in Malice</i> is a modern, sapphic retelling of Carmilla, the 1872 Gothic vampire novella by Sheridan Le Fanu that predates Bram Stoker's Dracula by 25 years. It is a full-length novel (352 pages) that takes place at a university in Western Massachusetts. Being a Massachusetts native for the first 40 years of my life, before moving to California to escape the horrid winters, I appreciated the setting. :) <br /><br />Being brought into a present-day setting and context worked very well for this novel. The relationship between Laura and Carmilla was intense and fraught with tension which made for a great story. And like the previous book, the writing was very descriptive, creating the perfect atmosphere that pulled you right into the narrative. I loved the emotional growth of Laura's character, while simultaneously breaking down Carmilla's walls and seeing her softer, more vulnerable side.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I never read the original book, but OMG that cliffhanger at the end!! Did Laura drink the "Kool-aid" or what? ;)<br/><br/>
This book releases February 13, 2024, but you can <a href="https://amzn.to/4amUa46" target="_blank">preorder it at Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173494433-an-education-in-malice" target="_blank">enter for a chance to win one of 100 Kindle copies</a> at Goodreads (giveaway ends 12/29/23).<br /><br />
<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook/Orbit Books for providing me with a digital advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.</i><br /><br />
<i>#AnEducationinMalice #NetGalley</i><br /><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/486J0Pw" target="_blank">View at Amazon</a><br/>
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Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-73681649503233799042023-12-17T22:27:00.000-08:002023-12-17T22:27:41.456-08:00REVIEW: A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/48q4lDr" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/7112ceA4RkL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="A Dowry of Blood" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ <br/><br/>
The tale of the three brides of Dracula... as told by his first wife Constanta. <br /><br />It's during the 15th century when he first approaches her on a battlefield. Left for dead, the dark stranger offers her eternal life by his side. They spend several centuries traveling the globe... happy and blissful for a while until the magic eventually wears off. Eventually, two more are drawn into their little family. But as jealousy and obsession turns to overbearing cruelty, the three consorts seek solace in each another in an attempt to put an end to their suffocating confinement and end regain their freedom. <br /><br />The book is written in the second person epistolary format, with Constanta addressing her words to her vampire master, a full account of their life together. I found this was a threw me off at times as I'm not really used to reading fiction in the second person, especially when the YOU refers to a third person and not yourself as the reader. Dracula's name was not mentioned at all throughout the novel as Constanta decided to strip him of his name, and thus strip him of his power, so the reader is left to intuit whom Constanta is addressing. If you didn't read the description, you might assume it's just some random vamp. <br /><br />The story was interesting though admittedly not a favorite. Throughout the tale, Constanta recollects the events of her lifetime beginning with when she first met and was turned by him, up until his fatal end and beyond. We also meet Magdalena and Alexi, an aristocrat and an artist respectively, who are later invited to join their family and are sired by Dracula, all of which greatly affects the dynamics of the group. She claims that she needs to put this account in writing in order to convince herself that all of it really happened. While the writing itself was poetic and emotional, there wasn't really a plot, which is why I think it didn't really hook me. <br /><br />I'll be reading the ARC of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173494433-an-education-in-malice" title="An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">An Education in Malice</a> next, (pub date Feb 2024 - <a href="https://amzn.to/3v38cb3" target="_blank">pre-order on Amazon here</a>) so I wanted to read this first. Even though it's not a direct sequel, it looks like at least one of the characters from this book, Magdalena, makes an appearance as a minor character there.<br/><br/>
<a href="https://amzn.to/48q4lDr" target="_blank">View at Amazon</a><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60578344-a-dowry-of-blood" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-17805290164752958782023-12-09T23:21:00.000-08:002023-12-09T23:30:42.167-08:00REVIEW: The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Knight<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/46Q0ApC" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81YbRkA1iBL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="The Crowns of Croswald" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★★☆ <br/><br/>
A magical story reminiscent of Harry Potter.<br /><br />Ivy Lovely is a scaldrony maid living a dull and tedious existence among the slurry fields of Castle Plum. Hidden away as a baby in the most unmagical of places, Ivy believes herself to be an orphan, knowing nothing of her former life. Until the day a large, flying creature unexpectedly shows up to transport her from her life of drudgery to an incredible magical school, and she discovers not only her magical bloodline, but a whole fantasy world she had only dreamed of. Except now that she's no longer hidden behind all that magic-dampening slurry, the spells that had previously kept her hidden have begun to unravel. Will Ivy be able to crush the curse before it crushes her and all she holds dear?<br /><br />This was an enchanting read, reminiscent of Harry Potter with its magical school, and quite suitable for both young readers and adults alike. However, that's where the story similarities end. The Crowns of Croswald contains it's own unique story quite distinct from Harry or similar books. Ivy is a kickass MC—spunky, inquisitive, and full of adventure. Her escapades captivated me and took me places beyond my imagination. The world building was phenomenal with a richly drawn world and fun, lovable characters. So well written, it's hard to believe this was D.E. Knight's first book. I'm very much looking forward to reading the remaining books in this 4 part series.<br /><br /><i>Thanks to NetGalley and Stories Untold Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.</i><br/><br/>#TheCrownsOfCroswald #NetGalley @author.denight
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55011528-the-crowns-of-croswald" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-15139018304459263172023-12-07T02:20:00.000-08:002023-12-07T02:37:28.168-08:00REVIEW: A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/xxxxx" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81LMSlNPEuL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="A Place for Vanishing" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★★☆ <br/><br/>
<p>An eerie and atmospheric gothic horror, complete with haunted house, séances, and ghosts! What more could a girl ask for?</p>
<p>After her bipolar diagnosis and suicide attempt (potential trigger warning), Libby and her family move into her mother's ancestral home attempting a fresh start. At first glance, the house appears to be hella creepy—decades of decay, an overabundance of creepy crawlies, and freaky stained glass windows depicting various insects and other unsettling scenes. Soon enough, Libby uncovers disturbing news about the house's sinister past including masked séances and strange disappearances, and begins to suspect the the answer to unlocking the truth lies in the strange insect masks attached to several of the windows.</p>
<blockquote><b><i>"We all wear masks—to hide our imperfections, to make us stronger and braver. But if Libby keeps hers on for too long, she might just lose herself—and everyone she loves."</i></b></blockquote>
<p>As you read, you come to realize just how multi-layered the above quote really is. Like the metaphorical masks worn by people like Libby to hide what's they're feeling inside, but also referring to the disturbing insect masks which not only house a spirit of their own, but also endow the wearer with supernatural abilities attributed to that particular insect.</p>
<p>This book was amazing! Hard to put down and kept me on the edge of my seat. I fell in love with the characters—they were so real and yet so broken. Libby's bipolar disorder was treated with respect and compassion, and it really added a whole other dimension to the story, as opposed to just being there for the sake of diversity. The character and world building was phenomenal as well, the tension slowly simmering throughout until everything really came to a boil at the final séance. I'm very much looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.</p>
<p>A Place for Vanishing will be published on January 14, 2024, but you can <a href="https://amzn.to/47KGy0W" target="_blank">preorder it at Amazon now</a>.</p>
<p><i>Many thanks to Random House/Delacorte Press for providing me with a digital advance reader copy for review in exchange for my honest opinion.</i></p>
<p>#APlaceforVanishing #NetGalley</p>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/160079620-a-place-for-vanishing" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-73898478362637267552023-12-03T02:02:00.000-08:002023-12-03T02:02:32.498-08:00REVIEW: Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3) by Victoria Schwab<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/4a2syky" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71P7wfO8i-L._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="Bridge of Souls" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
<p>The final book in the Cassidy Blake trilogy is both thrilling and soul-stirring. This time the family has arrived in New Orleans (a favorite locale of mine) and Cassidy has drawn the attention of an Emissary of Death, who wants to balance the scales by taking back what she stole from them (her life). The stakes are high and fraught with danger as Cassidy tries to save not only herself, but those she holds dear. A difficult choice and no right answers.</p> <br style="clear:both" />
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<p>I'm going to miss these characters now that I've finished the trilogy. This is only the second series I've read by Schwab, plus one standalone (I remember you Addie!) and every time I'm like, "this is one of the best books I've read!" so kudos to you, Victoria (V.E.) Schwab for always filling my plate, my imagination, and making me fall in love with your characters!</p> <br style="clear:both" />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49151261-bridge-of-souls" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-12685860081655651032023-11-28T20:07:00.000-08:002023-11-28T20:07:55.579-08:00REVIEW: Tunnel of Bones (Cassidy Blake #2) by Victoria Schwab<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3R22ZY7" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Df0A4Nm2L._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="Tunnel of Bones" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
Another fun adventure with Cassidy and Jacob. This time they're off to Paris, and now the graveyards are underground—the Catacombs! How creepy!! While there, Cassidy and Jacob accidentally awake a poltergeist, who can easily cross over the Veil to the land of the living. Mischief, Menace, and Mayhem reign as this poltergeist has been unleashed in Paris causing all sorts of destruction. And Cassidy will do everything in her power to send him on to his forever resting place... if she can!<br /><br />Like the previous book in this series, this was a fun, fast read, lively and entertaining. Cassidy continues to be both a source of amusement and a very likeable, endearing character. Jacob is the perfect counterbalance to her impulsiveness, persuading her to think and plan before jumping in. Together they make a great team! We learn a bit more about Jacob's back story here as well, and as his hold in the real world is gradually getting stronger, I'm left to wonder where this will lead him in <i>Bridge of Souls</i>, which I'm sooo looking forward to reading next!
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Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-86557247918894971022023-11-27T19:33:00.000-08:002023-11-27T19:33:59.349-08:00REVIEW: City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3R1IM4G" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81PirOuoO5L._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="City of Ghosts" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
A fun, quick young adult read with ghosts! <br /><br />Cassidy Blake can see ghosts! Not only is her best friend corporeally challenged (his preferred term), but since her near-death experience, she can also freely cross to and from the Veil, the in-between where lingering spirits reside. Considering her parents are ghost-hunting paranormal investigators with a new reality TV show though, that's not really all that unusual. When the family travels to Edinburgh, Scotland for the filming of the first episode, Cassidy and BFF Jacob are faced with a host of ghostly spirits, creepy locations, and the mysterious, menacing Raven in Red. With guidance from her new ghost-hunting friend Lara, along with Jacob's unenthusiastic support, Cassidy must do everything she can to stave off the Raven and avoid being swallowed the the Veil forever.<br /><br />Cassidy was certainly a lively and fun character, always getting into mischief, as was Jacob. Her hands-on learning with how to deal with ghosts was hilarious! Victoria (V.E.) Schwab is a fantastic writer, and her extraordinary character development and world building really shines here. While this is a middle grade series (thus written under Victoria instead of V.E.), it was just as entertaining and fanciful as her adult (and YA) books, albeit a much faster read.<br /><br />I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series!<br/><br/>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37911853-city-of-ghosts" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-49806345870554349782023-11-26T02:09:00.000-08:002023-11-26T02:09:04.565-08:00REVIEW: The Eleventh Hour by Aminah Fox<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/41bwvQd" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/810VFsMKMiL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="The Eleventh Hour" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ <br/><br/>
<p>Harry Potter meets the Sopranos! Hampshire, a magical borough in upstate New York, home to several noble families, and invisible to mundanes, aka non-magical people. A long-brewing war between the families has reached its pinnacle and courted death and destruction in it's wake. In a last ditch attempt to save her father and restore order, Hermione Mandrake and her half-brother Christian take up their grandfather's time trinket, with a plan to steal away into the past in order to redirect the future. But with enemies still on their tail, can they truly turn back the hands of time?</p> <p>When I first began reading, I had difficulty staying engaged. The characters, even the MC, felt a bit flat and one dimensional. And I had a hard time keeping all the different families straight, not to mention all the children (and bastards) Alfred Mandrake fathered. Fortunately, the latter was rectified by a family tree of sorts at the back of the book, and I eventually came to realize that it wasn't as important to remember ALL the families, just a few key ones, which began to stick with me after a little while. By about the 30% mark, I was sold and began to enjoy the ride. The story itself was unique and magical, and if you like the thought of magical mafia-like families, waging war with wands and on dragon-back, then you should really enjoy this.</p> <p>I did feel a few inconsistencies with the MC Hermione however. For example, supposedly she was no good at charms, yet she bested several magicians trying to abduct her, often taking on 2 or 3 at a time, after just a week or so of training. I also never really warmed up to her that much. It was hard to grasp what she was really all about. The only real feel I got from her was her devotion to her father and her family, but she felt a bit shallow beyond that. Fortunately, once they traveled into the past and the action picked up, I forgot about some of those things and became invested in how everything played out.</p> <p><i>Thank you to NetGalley and 22nd Light LLC for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i></p> <p>#TheEleventhHour #NetGalley</p>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123218170-the-eleventh-hour" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>
Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-52483282466617341582023-11-21T23:11:00.000-08:002023-11-21T23:11:13.316-08:00REVIEW: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/40MC4nV" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91-aN4sH1yL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★★★ <br/><br/>
The year is 1714 in France, and a desperate 23 year old Addie LaRue makes a deal with the darkness—a dark god, the devil, what have you—and in exchange for her complete freedom, she's also cursed to become utterly forgettable to everyone she meets. Unable to leave any kind of mark or the the world, or make any impression on anything or anyone she meets... she can't even say her own name! For 300 years she lives like this, ghosting through time, witnessing war, famine, and miracles all. Until the day she meets Henry and everything changes!<br /><br />Wow, this is definitely one of the best books I've read this year! So much so, I didn't want it to end! But then again, it wrapped up so nicely (even if the ending did make me cry) that I wouldn't want to ruin it... but hmmm can you imagine what Addie might become if she were ever able to best Luc? That could be a righteous story right there! Anyhoo, this story was soooo unique, and soooo engaging, I simply couldn't put it down. <br /><br />I really enjoyed the art descriptions and pictures at the beginning of each section, each related to a "spark" or idea Addie implanted to take root where memory couldn't. The writing was captivating and engaging, and Addie's story ran the gambit from happy to sad to even heartbreaking. I exhausted all of my emotions reading this book and was sad when it ended.<br/><br/>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123739932-the-invisible-life-of-addie-larue" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-54742912396879384192023-11-16T23:44:00.000-08:002023-11-16T23:44:46.260-08:00REVIEW: Rabbits: From Hares and Jackrabbits to Adorable Pets by Tom Jackson<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/46dZN1m" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81jtXI8Ku6L._SL170_SH20_.jpg" alt="Rabbits" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
<p>As a bunny mama to 4 adorable rescue house rabbits, I simply HAD TO read this book. Rather than a handbook on keeping house rabbits—I'd recommend <a href="https://amzn.to/3uqlXA2" target="_blank"><i>The House Rabbit Handbook</i> by Marinell Harriman</a> for that (or <a href="https://www.drollerypress.com/XHTML/hrh5.html" target="_blank">direct from Drollery Press here</a>)—this delectable delight is chock full of large, full-color pictures and information on rabbit origins, various breeds, behavior, particularly in the wild, and other fun facts. Yes, even this long-time bunny mama and foster learned a thing or two about rabbit history, as well as the relationship between domesticated rabbits and their wild brethren.</p> <p>With all the gorgeous pictures contained within, the hardcover edition (once released) would make a fantastic coffee table book, especially for bunny peeps like me. I also really appreciated that the author included pounds in addition to kilograms when talking about weight. As an American, I still have a hard time relating to kilograms, or doing the conversion in my head. :)</p> <p><i>Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amber Books for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book for review.</i></p> <p>#Rabbits #AmberBooks #NetGalley</p>
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Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-29309552099399420562023-11-13T01:36:00.000-08:002023-11-26T01:29:38.574-08:00REVIEW: A Dark Roux by Blaine Daigle<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3u4qZSH" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Z2nQHTVJL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="A Dark Roux" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★☆☆ <br/><br/>
<p><i>A Dark Roux</i> is a creepy, atmospheric gothic ghost story with a slow simmer. The action builds slowly but steadily as Rhiannon LeBeau and her brother Rhett revisit their family home in the Louisana bayou after the death of their mother. Plagued by chillingly realistic nightmares, Rhiannon can feel that things just aren't right back in the bayou, and as her memories of past horrors resurface and the ghosts and monsters come out to play, she realizes the sacrifices she must make to save her brother.</p> <p>Setting a macabre tone that permeates throughout the story, the prose is dripping with ominous and eerie emotion. The author's language and word choice is perfect for setting the mood and scene of the bayou, and really triggers the imagination, allowing the reader to fully place themselves in the story. A slow burn but a real creeper... I loved it!</p> <p><i>Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i></p> <p>#ADarkRouxANovel #NetGalley</p>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/193562625-a-dark-roux" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-42190795540929447042023-11-13T00:14:00.000-08:002023-11-13T00:27:22.706-08:00REVIEW: A Marvellous Light (The Last Binding, #1) by Freya Marske<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3MEhXCt" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91qJgWpMPLL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="A Marvellous Light" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ <br/><br/>
It's England 1908 and young baronet Robin Blyth has just found himself appointed to a position in the Office of Special Domestic Affairs and Complaints, a job for which he's severely under-qualified. He didn't even know magic existed before today when now he's expected to "manage" it as well. Hmm... as if that wasn't bad wasn't enough, he's also just been inflicted with a curse by a group of mysterious men with fog for faces. Apparently they're looking for something they were unable to retrieve from his missing predecessor. Hopefully his new "special liaison" Edwin Courcey can help him make heads and tails out of all this!<br /><br />A magical quest, a bit of mystery, and a touch more spice than I usually care for in my fantasy reads. That said, I still found the story engaging enough, and the character building of both Robin and Edwin was like slowly unwrapping layers. While I didn't expect all the steamy sex scenes as I'm generally not a big fan of the romance or erotica genre, at least it felt as if it was adding to the story—each of them opening up a bit more and shedding additional light on their character with each encounter—as opposed to just being there as a prop for sexy's sake. <br /><br />Unfortunately, most of the other characters outside of Robin and Edwin fell a little flat. Hopefully, they'll be fleshed out more fully in later books, especially the Morrissey sisters and Robin's sister Maud.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53217284-a-marvellous-light" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-18507208113322516722023-11-02T17:45:00.000-07:002023-11-13T00:15:11.996-08:00REVIEW: The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/49y6K0f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/815OXQ-kVVL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="The Witchwood Knot" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★★☆ <br/><br/>
<p>Witchwood Manor is definitely more than it appears. For starters, it's inhabited by faeries in addition to humans. Winifred Hall comes to Witchwood Manor to be governess to the young Master Robert Murray, heir to Longfell, and to protect him from their otherworldly inhabitants. But Winifred holds secrets of her own, ones she must give up if she wishes to find the answers she seeks.</p> <p>This is the first book I've read by Olivia Atwater and it definitely won't be my last! The world of Faerie portrayed here is dark and chilling; perfect for the spooky season over which I read it.</p> <p>Before I even opened it, I have to say that the book cover is simply gorgeous. As an avid fan of the gothic, spooky, and anything to do with the Victorian era, it definitely called to me! The story telling was frightfully atmospheric and imaginative, while the characters were mysterious enigmatic. It was like peeling back the layers as I read.</p> <p>While the main characters are different from those in her Regency Faerie Tales series, the world is the same. And while I didn't feel it was required to read those first, for those of you that did, the additional detail provided may have given you a bit more context on some of the characters mentioned here, along with more a more fully-fleshed background on the world itself. Am I going to go back and read the Regency series now? Most definitely! But not because I feel it necessary, only because I was deeply engrossed and taken in by this world and want to read more while I wait for the follow-up to <i>The Witchwood Knot</i> to be released.</p> <p><i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i></p> <p>#TheWitchwoodKnot #NetGalley</p>
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Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-71407760817131866422023-10-31T14:25:00.000-07:002023-10-31T14:25:56.027-07:00REVIEW: The Witchfinder's Serpent by Rande Goodwin<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3QCi3Nc" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81TxnN-pikL._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="The Witchfinder's Serpent" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ <br/><br/>
After the death of their father, Nate and his younger brother Marc leave New York City to live with their mysterious aunt in Windsor, CT. Her one rule: under no circumstances are they to enter the locked room on the second floor. Of course, teens being teens, their curiosity gets the better of them and they eventually explore the room, uncovering some pretty creepy stuff, including a serpent bracelet cuff that's magically attached itself to Nate's wrist and refuses to be dislodged. But what else they've unleashed is even creepier, the stuff of nightmares! <br /><br /><i>The Witchfinder's Serpent</i> is a modern-day young adult fantasy inspired by true historical events. The story spans multiple timelines—the present (2019) and the past (1647), during the time of the earliest Puritan settlers in New England and America's first Witch hanging. I liked that the past timeline directly related to what was happening in the present day, and unlike other books' flashbacks, I did not find myself wishing for the chapter to end and return to the present day. The chapters in the past held my interest just as much, if not more so, than the present.<br /><br />Being a New England-er myself (transplanted to California 13 years ago), I am intimately familiar with the Salem Witch Trials. I also identify as a Witch, drawing energy and practicing magick with the usual Witches tools. So I related well to this book, and even appreciated how the author spelled "magick" with a K, just as modern Witches do, to distinguish it from stage and illusionist magic.<br /><br />The book started off a bit slowly, allowing time to develop characters and set the scene, but quickly picked up about 20% in when the story got really intriguing. The writing style was not as elegant as some of the more established writers I've read. I would've liked to have seen less "telling" and more "showing" in several places, but such is the hallmark of a new writer, and honestly after the story picked up, I barely noticed it as much. Some parts of the story were also a bit simplistic and quickly explained away... <span class="spoilertext" style="display: none"> or even not explained at all such as how Alex could have been Hodge's daughter when he was locked in a bottle for centuries? </span>. But seeing as it's young adult, I suspect the author didn't want to get too bogged down in details that could detract his target audience.<br /><br />Despite those minor criticisms, the story itself was entertaining and captivating, and definitely hard to put down. I found the author to be very respectful towards his subject, conveying the horror of past times when Puritans unjustly accused and prosecuted anyone perceived as different or sensitive. I also appreciated the way Aunt Celia explained the significance of the pentacle and the beliefs of modern-day witches to her two young wards in a light-hearted but factual way—providing young adult readers with an objective basis for the modern Witchcraft movement. While the story wrapped up nicely, it clearly alluded to much more to come! I'll be looking forward to the sequel.<br /><br /><i>Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i><br /><br />#TheWitchfindersSerpent #NetGalley
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Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12404528.post-25584652478290133292023-10-29T02:54:00.001-07:002023-10-29T03:00:12.180-07:00The Demon Tide (The Black Witch Chronicles #4) by Laurie Forest<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em; width:135px; font-size:x-small; cursor:pointer;"><a href="https://amzn.to/45RKjQu" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71JGPGG+F2L._SL200_SH20_.jpg" alt="The Demon Tide" title="View this book on Amazon" /></a></div> <b>My Rating:</b> ★★★★★★★★★☆ <br/><br/>
There was a lot to like about this book, along with a few things I didn't care so much for. But taking the good with the bad, I still have to give this a solid 4 stars.<br /><br />For starters, I'm glad that I read the two books of <i>The Rebel Mage</i> prior. Both <i>Wandfasted</i> and <i>Light Mage</i> provided a great deal of background to some of the characters that were just introduced to Elloren for the first time in this book. While little details of them were sprinkled throughout, experiencing Fain's closeness to Elloren's mother, Tessla, firsthand, the back story of Rivyr'el, or how Sage met and fell in love with Ra'Ven—all of that added a lot more dimension to these characters when they showed up here in <i>The Demon Tide</i>. And even though they weren't mentioned by name, I recognized Za'ya, Zeymir, and little Na'bee (minor characters from Sage's <i>Light Mage</i> story, sitting in Mora'lee's cafe in one scene. Glad to know they are well and made it to the Noi lands. 😀 Or at least as well as can be expected with what's going down...<br /><br />While the author is fantastic at detailed world building and character development (with the exception of Elloren's character in this book), I felt that a lot of this book dragged on where it should've been a bit faster paced. The events of Xishlon eve for example, I really didn't care about more than half of those love hookups and could've done with a single chapter, especially for the more minor characters. And the jumps from first to third person POV were often confusing as we switched character perspectives. In previous books, I believe only Elloren was in first person, and all other character perspectives were in third. In this book however, we have Elloren, Trystan, and Vothe all using first person. Until 70% through the book when Vothe's chapters start using third person instead. Often times when reading, especially the Trystan/Vothe chapters, I had to keep reminding myself who "I" and "me" referred to. A bit more consistency here would've made for a lot smoother reading.<br /><br />I had been hoping to finally see Elloren come into her own and embrace her full power in this book, but alas, it's not until the last 25% ish that we really get to see what great evil her power is capable of, and then only when Vogel invades and takes over her mind and body. Towards the very end, she's transformed and finally does come into her own, but we're left to wait for <i>The Dryad Storm</i> to see how all that actually plays out. Please bring back the self-confident, kick-ass Elloren we began to get a glimpse off at the end of book 3.<br /><br />
<span class="spoilertext" style="display: none"> And while Elloren's allies were desperately focused on trying to untangle her affinity lines, why weren't they the least bit concerned about trying to separate or disrupt Vogel's magic from Elloren's fastlines? She felt it and Lukas even told her as much! Maybe they could've saved themselves a whole lot of trouble down the line if they'd focused their attentions where it truly mattered... instead of attempting to restore her power while Vogel was still able to hook into her. <br /><br />Now let's address the elephant in the room: the love triangle between Elloren, Lukas, and Yvan. Elloren says she loves them both, yet she can't even touch, let alone kiss, Yvan after she's fasted to Lukas? What's a little kiss between friends anyway? I was really hoping we'd get to explore the polyamory path. It's not like some of the Issaani or the Ishkartaan people don't follow that path anyway, right? And when Elloran, Lukas, and Yvan did that mind meld towards the end, I was like woohoo, maybe it's finally gonna happen!! NOPE!! We have to kill Lukas off instead... leaving Elloren with what seems like her consolation prize of Yvan. 😒<br /><br />Speaking of Lukas, I was sorely disappointed with how that played out. To have Lukas give his life so that he might save Elloren and kill Vogel, all to no avail. So we basically lost him for naught! Here's hoping that, like Ariel, he's not really dead and returns in the next book. Cuz I'm all about Team Lukas!! Or even Team Lukas, Yvan, and Elloren! 😉 </span><br /><br />Despite my above grievances, I still have to rate this highly because any book that can draw so many emotions from me—laughter, sadness, screaming, and even hate—definitely gets my vote.<br /> <br />In addition, the parallelism between Erthia and our own world is staggeringly accurate and makes this fantasy world seem even more real. Prejudice and xenophobia only serve to corrupt and fragment our society. And the more fractured and divided people are, the easier it is for hate and bigotry to sneak in, creating even more division and destroying the balance of life. A life lesson everyone should embrace.<br /><br />
<blockquote><b><i>"the more that people are divided, the more the Shadow Tool grows in power. It <i>feeds</i> on fracture. And then it destroys the Balance."</i></b></blockquote>
<blockquote><b><i>"The people of this land were fractured before the Branch gained power. They forgot the truth of the Source Tree at the center of their faiths and worshiped the fractured edges instead. They forgot their tether to the natural world."</i></b></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55701133-the-demon-tide" target="_blank">View at Goodreads</a>Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649362282687595085noreply@blogger.com0