ARC Review: Queen of Gods by Katharine & Elizabeth Corr

I was so excited for the final book in this duology, and I was so glad when I got approved to read it early on Netgalley! I have loved all of Katharine & Elizabeth Corr's books since I read The Witch's Kiss, and I'm sure I'll love them going forward too. However, I do have a weakness for Greek inspired books, which this is - throw in some Gods and Goddesses and I'm hooked!

This is the finale to a duology (you can see my review of the first book, Daughter of Darkness HERE), and wow what a finale it was! Now I just need to wait for the pretty Forbidden Plant exclusive cover to get into my hands and I'll be even happier! Here's the book:

Return to the Underworld...

Deina has finally found what matters most to her in all the world. And lost it. To save the one she loves, she's bound herself to the Underworld and an endless future of darkness.

But not even her sacrifice is enough to secure Theron or her friends' safety in the mortal realm. Aristaeus has seized power in Thebes and his tyrannical reign is a constant, looming threat to their lives.

So when Deina is offered the chance to destroy him and the gods altogether, she sets out on a new quest. But to succeed, she must turn away from everything she holds true.

In a game with the gods, the rewards are infinite... but the punishments are eternal.

Be prepared for a nail-biting race for survival in the breathtaking sequel to Daughter of Darkness.

The blurb says nail-biting, and wow was that true. I breezed through this book in less than a day and can definitely say this was a stunning conclusion to this duology! In fact, I'll go as far as to say this is one of my favourite reads of this year so far, I'll definitely be picking it up as a re-read in the future. I thought the last book was a ride, but this had so many twists that you didn't see coming and it really kept you on your toes guessing what was going to happen next.

One of the most interesting parts of this book for me was that we got to explore some more places - in the last book it mainly focused on the Underworld, but in this you also get to see the House of Zeus and the House of Poseidon as well as some other parts of the Underworld, and you also get to explore some of the other Theodesmioi houses which was interesting. I always like exploring new places in series because it really helps with the world building, and it was explored so well in this book, threaded in perfectly to the main plot line.

Characters wise, I have to say I liked seeing more of Thanatos in this book, and I will have to admit that I was routing for him throughout, but considering I love when Death is a character in books I tend to always end up routing for him despite the weirdness. Did anyone else end up loving Thanatos as a character? The triangle between Deina, Thanatos and Theron was such fun to read, and I loved the dynamic that Deina had with both of them throughout. (I know who I would have chosen if I was Deina, but unfortunately I can't transport myself to the universe, so it's up to Deina what she wants to do *sigh*)

Overall, I really think this is my favourite series from Katharine & Elizabeth Corr yet, and I really can't wait to see what they come up with next! I couldn't give this less than 5 cats, and I would give it so many more if I could.

Queen of Gods is out on the 20th July, and I highly recommend you go get your copy (especially the pretty Forbidden Planet editions with the different colours!)

Review: The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence

So I may have requested this purely because of the description that there was a giant library.... I mean, what book lover wouldn't do that? But this turned out to be an amazing random pick from Netgalley, and now I must know what's going to happen in the future books!

But for now, here's the book:

All books, no matter their binding, will fall to dust. The stories they carry may last longer. They might outlive the paper, the library, even the language in which they were first written.

The greatest story can reach the stars . . .

Evar has lived his whole life trapped within a vast library, older than empires and larger than cities.

Livira has spent hers in a tiny settlement out on the Dust where nightmares stalk and no one goes.

The world has never noticed them.

That’s about to change.

As their stories spiral around each other, across worlds and time, each will unlock vast secrets about the world and themselves. This is a tale of truth and lies and hearts, and the blurring of one into another.

I admit it did take a while for me to get into this book, mainly because I really couldn't figure out where this was going and how the two characters would come together - but it was definitely worth the patience as you get to the end and want to see so much more out of it. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book - I like to think that the slow burn in this one was really building up the premise and the world, ready to jump right into the action, but we shall see... One thing's for sure though, I'll definitely be waiting to jump back into this when the next book is out as I already want to continue with Livira's and Evar's story!

Although it may have taken me a while to get into, I can definitely see this as a book that you can read again and again to pick up little nuggets you didn't notice before. I think one of the things I'll be paying specific attention to is the quotes at the beginning of each chapter - I love quotes at the beginning of chapters in books but I think I passed them by, hopefully a reread I'll be able to see if they link in more.

The two main characters in this, Livira and Evar, are really well written. Specifically I loved Evar's character, seeing him begin to explore after his life trapped in the library was fascinating, he was just a joy to read. That isn't to say I didn't like Livira - seeing her character develop through the years was definitely interesting too. Also, no spoilers here, but if you've read it - how much did the Raven's name amuse you? It gave me a chuckle!

Overall, I give this book 5 cats!

It's definitely a book I'll be reading again, and after that ending I think the anticipation of what may happen in the next books may kill me! It's a book that keeps your mind cogs turning, and definitely one I'd highly suggest!

ARC Review: Daughter of Darkness by Katharine & Elizabeth Corr

 I have been looking forward to this book for so long, as Kat & Liz are great authors and I love all of their books so far. I did try to get my hands on a physical ARC, but with no luck I zoomed to Netgalley instead to request it! I may not know much about Greek mythology other than the odd bit, but I knew I wanted to read this as soon as I saw the description, and well the cover is absolutely beautiful so that made me want it even more!

Here it is:

Enter the Underworld in an epic new fantasy, where the Gods of ancient Greece rule everything but fate.

Deina is trapped. As one of the Soul Severers serving the god Hades on earth, her future is tied to the task of shepherding the dying on from the mortal world - unless she can earn or steal enough to buy her way out.

Then the tyrant ruler Orpheus offers both fortune and freedom to whoever can retrieve his dead wife, Eurydice, from the Underworld. Deina jumps at the chance. But to win, she must enter an uneasy alliance with a group of fellow Severers she neither likes nor trusts.

So begins their perilous journey into the realm of Hades. . . The prize of freedom is before her - but what will it take to reach it?

Is it weird that I absolutely adore reading greek mythology books despite knowing barely anything about it? I think that for me it ups the fun as you get to see each author's interpretation of the myths and you can really get into them. I loved this version because it was just such an interesting read, and the idea of Theodesmioi, the name they give those chosen to serve the difference Gods by infusing some of their power into them at a young age, was absolutely fascinating to me.

The main characters were amazing, and I really love the narrator Deina, she's such a fierce lead and she really draws you into the book to join the journey that she's taking in the underworld.

And that ending guys, I mean, you'll definitely be itching to find out what happens because I was shocked by how it ended - but I have found that Katharine and Elizabeth Corr do like to write books that pull you in and get you invested, my favourite type of books! 

Overall, this book definitely had me want to research more about Greek Mythology again - the authors note explaining a few things about what they based their book on was so interesting, and it really made me happy to get some context as to what they decided to base the book on. That and the vivid descriptions of the Underworld really show you that they did their research, whilst not making you feel like you don't know enough to read.

So, I give this book: 5 cats! And I can't wait to see the rest of Deina's story and how she gets on in the next book (can I have it already pleaaaase?!?!?!)

Daughter of Darkness is out this week (4th August 2022) and I'd definitely get your pre-orders in, this isn't one to miss!

Blog Tour: Blood Metal Bone by Lindsay Cummings

 So today I have a blog tour post for you all! Blood Metal Bone just sounded so interesting that I thought I would take part, and so my review is below. Don't forget to check out some other stops on the tour too.

Here's the blurb:

Her destiny was death. The shadows brought her back.

Wrongly accused of her brother’s murder, Sonara’s destiny was to die, sentenced to execution by her own mother. Punished and left for dead, the shadows have cursed her with a second life as a Shadowblood, cast out and hunted by society for her demon-like powers.

Now known as the Devil of the Deadlands, Sonara survives as a thief on the edge of society, fighting for survival on a quest to uncover what really happened to her brother and whether he is even dead at all…

I mean, after a blurb like that how could you resist reading it? I sure couldn't, especially as it was described as something fans on Throne of Glass would like, and that is one of my favourite series. It definitely didn't disappoint - I found this a fascinating book. It's a standalone, which I am grateful for because I don't think I'd have been able to wait to see what happens, so it's definitely good if you're looking for a quick fantasy fix. But, on top of that it was quite original because it was a mix of both fantasy and Sci-Fi - something I was not expecting at all.

A fantasy book, in the form of Sonara and her Shadowblood, and a Sci-Fi book, in the form of a MC Karr being a space smuggler. And, if you really want to be picky you can also add a hint of a Western theme thrown in too! It may sound like a bit much, but I found it all blended in perfectly to create a unique plotline that was something I never even knew I needed in a book.

It did take me a little while to get used to the shock that it was a mix, as I went in expecting a total fantasy book (my mistake for not looking at the tags!), but once you get used to it you end up getting into the flow of things and really enjoying the mystery of what is happening and figuring out where, exactly, the book is going.

I will say this though, as you got towards the very ending of the book the writing was just spectacular, and as the MC Sonara was finding her way some of the snippets of her thoughts just stuck with me, her thought process was just beautifully written and, as I've mentioned many a time before, I absolutely adore when we see a MC come into themselves and really become a powerful character. Mix these powerful main characters in with all the information coming together towards the end and you have an absolutely gripping novel that you will want to read again and again.

Overall, I give this book: 4.5 cats!

Blood Metal Bone was released on the 7th January, so make sure to go and pick up a copy, I guarantee you will not regret it!

Review: The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

 Many of you may know by now, Garth Nix is one of my favourite authors. So, as soon as I saw this available on Netgalley I just knew I would be requesting it, and I also have the Waterstones special edition now too (sprayed edges and an extra story!!)

And, as I expected, Garth Nix has written yet another fantastic and action packed book, one that I will definitely be going back to read again and again.  

Here it is:

In a slightly alternate London in 1983, Susan Arkshaw is looking for her father, a man she has never met. Crime boss Frank Thringley might be able to help her, but Susan doesn't get time to ask Frank any questions before he is turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the outrageously attractive Merlin.

Merlin is a young left-handed bookseller (one of the fighting ones), who with the right-handed booksellers (the intellectual ones), are an extended family of magical beings who police the mythic and legendary Old World when it intrudes on the modern world, in addition to running several bookshops.

Susan's search for her father begins with her mother's possibly misremembered or misspelt surnames, a reading room ticket, and a silver cigarette case engraved with something that might be a coat of arms.

Merlin has a quest of his own, to find the Old World entity who used ordinary criminals to kill his mother. As he and his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, tread in the path of a botched or covered-up police investigation from years past, they find this quest strangely overlaps with Susan's. Who or what was her father? Susan, Merlin, and Vivien must find out, as the Old World erupts dangerously into the New.

Can I just say I absolutely love how Garth Nix writes characters? I've never found a character that I hated in his books and this is the same for this book too - I absolutely adore Merlin, and Susan is just as good too (but Merlin is definitely my favourite) and throughout the whole story you just feel as if you are actually running around with the characters yourself.  Even his creatures in this book were written incredibly, but I expected that as in my opinion Garth is always good at writing such unique characters that you can really visualise and put your own spin on in your mind.

I admit though I was delightfully confused through most of this book, just wondering what was happening as he jumps right into the action, it was both a puzzling and fast-paced storyline, and one that definitely keeps you hooked.

The thing that I enjoyed the most in this book was the way that Garth has interwoven the real with dark legends and folklore like goblins, giant wolves and lake creatures, it really made me want to look up these legends and just see where he got the inspiration from and I love when that happens in a book I read.

All in all I am obsessed with this world of Left and Right Handed Booksellers now, so I will definitely dive back in with happiness if Garth decides to come back to writing in this particular story.

Overall I give this book: 5 cats!

Have you read this book yet? If so comment below, I'd love to hear some other opinions on it!

Review: To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

So, I will be one to say I was exited when I learnt that Christopher Paolini was writing a new book, as I do love the Eragon series. When I found out it was a sci-fi book I was definitely intrigued, I've recently found I like space themed books, but I have never really tried to read a whopper like this. I absolutely adored it though, and definitely recommend it. Here it is: 

Kira Navárez dreamed of life on new worlds 

Now she’s awakened a nightmare 

During a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, Kira finds an alien relic. At first she’s delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move. 

As war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a galaxy-spanning odyssey of discovery and transformation. First contact isn’t at all what she imagined, and events push her to the very limits of what it means to be human. 

While Kira faces her own horrors, Earth and its colonies stand upon the brink of annihilation. Now, Kira might be humanity’s greatest and final hope . . .

Can I just say, I was absolutely lost for words when I finished this book, it was that amazing. It was everything I expected when I first heard about it, and so much more. I was a bit intimidated when I first went into the book, not having read much sci-fi and also with how long this book is - over 800 pages! However, once you start you get sucked straight in. Even with the more scientific references you are still able to keep up with the book, and the plot really draws you in.

When you really get into the story you get hooked so easily as there's so much action and really big twists that you would never expect, but I suppose that's what's best about this book. In fact, the plot to this book was just mind-blowing, so much so that it kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen and the last 20% blew me away, it was so full of emotions and I even teared up at one point it was written so beautifully. 

I got my finished copy not long before publication (thanks to Tor for my review copy) and I just had to take a look through at the diagrams in the book - I love diagrams! They will definitely come in handy when I have a re-read, and I think a re-read is definitely in order just to see if I missed anything.

Overall, I loved this book and it's just proven that Christopher Paolini is an amazing writer, and one I will always read. I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this beast of a book.

I give this: 5 cats!

Have you read this yet? Comment below if so to tell me what you thought!

Blog Tour: Storm of Ash by Michelle Kenney

There are no words to explain how excited I was to be a part of the blog tour for Storm of Ash, I've loved each book of this series and I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed by the finale, which turned out to be true. 

If you're interested my reviews for the first and second books are here: Book Of Fire [1],  City of Dust [2])

Here's the description for this one:

"As Talia treks back through the treacherous North Mountains, she knows only three things:

Pantheon has stolen nearly everyone she loves;

Her blood is the only control over the Voynich’s oldest secret;

And Cassius won’t stop hunting Arafel until every last outsider is destroyed.

Will Talia finally face her legacy and defeat Cassius before it is too late?"

Let's just start with one thing - this beautiful cover. I mean, what an absolutely amazing cover, and it just totally fits with the plot of this book so well, when you read it you'll soon find out just why it is as it is. 

Now that the oohing over the cover is over with, can I just say wow. Guys, this was everything I wanted from the last book in the series.... it's just the epic conclusion you need/want from any trilogy. Even if there were some heart breaking scenes throughout - it did definitely take me on yet another emotional rollercoaster like the last book (thanks for the feels Michelle). I couldn't keep up with all the emotions I was cycling through whilst reading this, but it was all worth it for how the series ended.

I have always said that Talia is such a good character, and in this book it was no different, she really had to navigate some difficult things throughout and she managed it brilliantly. I think that's why I like her so much, throughout the books you always see the shine of her outsider heritage, even in difficult times. I think 'feral cat' was definitely a great way to describe her.

Also, not spoiling anything but I'll just say I still love August, even with how much I like outsiders, I will forever be #teamaugust. Now I just need to find my own August in the real world *sigh*.....

One last thing: I seriously can't get over my love for Unus the Cyclops in this series.... He's such a beautiful, friendly character and rereading just made me remember all of that. The friendship between Talia and Unus is definitely one of my new favourite friendships from a series.

I really really hope to see more of this world that Michelle has built, but either way I know I'll be reading any future books that come from her.

Overall l give this book: 5 cats!

Have you read the series? If not I highly recommend them! And don't forget to take a look at some of the other stops on the blog tour for this!

Blog Tour: Angel Mage by Garth Nix

Oh guys, you have no idea how excited I was when I heard that Garth Nix was writing a new fantasy book. He has been my favourite author for a long time, and I knew that I needed to read it as soon as I heard about it. I was lucky enough to be one of the people asked to be a part of the blog tour, and I jumped at the chance.

And well, I have to say that Garth Nix has struck again with yet another spectacular book that will drag you in and keep you reading until the very end.... Here's the book for if you were wondering what it was all about:

More than a century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite, fleeing the Fall of Ystara. But she emerges from her magical sleep still beautiful, looking no more than nineteen, and once again renews her single-minded quest to be united with her lover, Palleniel, the archangel of Ystara.

A seemingly impossible quest, but Liliath is one of the greatest practitioners of angelic magic to have ever lived, summoning angels and forcing them to do her bidding.

Liliath knew that most of the inhabitants of Ystara died from the Ash Blood plague or were transformed into beastlings, and she herself led the survivors who fled into neighboring Sarance. Now she learns that angels shun the Ystaran’s descendants. If they are touched by angelic magic, their blood will turn to ash. They are known as Refusers, and can only live the most lowly lives.

But Liliath cares nothing for the descendants of her people, save how they can serve her. It is four young Sarancians who hold her interest: Simeon, a studious doctor-in-training; Henri, a dedicated fortune hunter; Agnez, an adventurous musketeer cadet; and Dorotea, an icon-maker and scholar of angelic magic. They are the key to her quest.

The four feel a strange kinship from the moment they meet, but do not know why, or suspect their importance. All become pawns in Liliath’s grand scheme to fulfill her destiny and be united with the love of her life. No matter the cost to everyone else. . .

So, this book has quite a few different POVs - something that I can't usually get on board with, but I had no issues here. All the characters personalities came through really well, and I feel like you really got to know all of the MCs separately - not one of the characters overshadowed any of the others which I found particularly wonderful. I know it's weird, but I did love Liliath's POV the most, and I actually really liked her as a character, she was one of my favourites despite everything that went on in the book, and I think that you really see her complex personality come through once the book concludes.

Most Garth Nix books have amazing world-building, and this one lived up to that reputation too, with different countries and different Archangels for each of them. It was such an interesting take on Angels being part of the world, and I loved hearing about all the different angels and their different 'scopes' that each has - it will be so fun to re-read this book now I have a physical copy with all the maps, it will be so much easier to visualise everything with how beautiful the maps are.

Well, if I don't stop now I'll just keep singing the praises of this book, so all I'll say is that if you are a fan of Garth Nix's previous books you won't be disappointed, so you should pick it up. I know this is a standalone book, but I really hope to see more of this world at some point - and I can't wait to get my hands on the bonus chapter in my Waterstones edition of the book when it comes!

Overall, I give this 5 cats (of course)

This book is out 17th October, you should definitely go and order your copy. Don't forget to keep an eye on the rest of the tour stops this month, with the first half shown below!

ARC Review: Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron

So I got this ARC from Netgalley after I was one of the lucky few to get their wish granted by Harper Voyager (yay!). I'd been hearing so much about it I knew that I needed to try, and I'm so glad the wish paid off, it was definitely worth it!

Here's the book:

THERE’S MAGIC IN HER BLOOD.

Arrah is a young woman from a long line of the most powerful witch doctors in the land. But she fails at magic, fails to call upon the ancestors and can't even cast the simplest curse.

Shame and disappointment dog her.

When strange premonitions befall her family and children in the kingdom begin to disappear, Arrah undergoes the dangerous and scorned process of selling years of her life for magic. This borrowed power reveals a nightmarish betrayal and a danger beyond what she could have imagined. Now Arrah must find a way to master magic, or at least buy it, in order to save herself and everything she holds dear.

An explosive fantasy set in a world of magic and legend with a twist you will never see coming.

Oh, guys, I really have no idea where to start on this book because it is so amazing. Like really, really amazing, so I don't know if my words will do it justice at all. But, my main love in this book was the imagery. Rena describes everything in this book so vividly and beautifully that you feel like you are inside the book alongside Arrah, seeing all the beautiful magic around her. I think the imagery is what really pulled me in and got me hooked.

It wasn't just the imagery that was written well, however, it was also the characters.Each character you meet seemed to have their own story, and everything seamed together nicely - it didn't feel like any one character had too little of a story or that all the different backgrounds got confusing. I think this was great as it really made it easy to keep up with the story despite the many different backgrounds.

In fact, I definitely wonder how Rena managed to think up such a complex, beautiful book as she did with characters and settings just flowing together so well - I asked this question as part of a Q&A Harper Voyager are having, and I can't wait to see if it will be answered!

All I know guys, is that I'm so glad I heard about this book - even if, I admit, the main reason I even thought to look it up and see what was happening was because of how beautiful the proofs that were flying about were. That's not to say the full cover isn't beautiful, it is, and I always get my head turned by anything with gold leafing on.

I don't know how I'm going to wait for the next book, as this will only be out next week, but I guess I'll just have to reread it until I know when the next one is out.

So, I give this book: 5 cats (and so many more if I could).

This book is out 19th September, go pre-order! I'm sure  you wont regret it. If you've read this book / want to read this, comment below I'll be interested to see your comments!

Review: The Exact Opposite Of Okay by Laura Steven

Okay, I read this before it came out, as it was an e-ARC sent from Netgalley for a review, but I adored it so much I had no idea how to do such an amazing book justice. But, after putting it off so long, I decided to finally try and put my thoughts into words that will show how great this book is.

First though, here's the book:

Izzy O’Neill is an aspiring comic, an impoverished orphan, and a Slut Extraordinaire. Or at least, that’s what the malicious website flying round the school says. Izzy can try all she wants to laugh it off – after all, her sex life, her terms – but when pictures emerge of her doing the dirty with a politician’s son, her life suddenly becomes the centre of a national scandal. Izzy’s never been ashamed of herself before, and she’s not going to start now. But keeping her head up will take everything she has...

It is so hard to put down how amazing this book is. I think it was just what I needed when I picked it up, and it's definitely one I'll read again, which is something I rarely say for books that aren't in my usual genre. In fact, as I don't think I'll do this book justice I'm just going to do my thing and ramble.

I adored this book, it gave me so many laughs so quickly, and I always adore a strong female character - and Izzy was definitely that. She never let things get to her no matter how hard it got - and I definitely respect that, I wish I could be as strong as Izzy is sometimes. In fact, I think Izzy is one of my favourite contemporary characters that I've read so far.

One of my favourite things about this book was that it brought in so many different points so quickly - the elderly, employability when young without experience, friendships turned love interests, etc. I couldn't believe how much was packed in this book, and that was without the main plot too, nothing was focused on too much and they all got, what I think was, the right amount of discussion time.

I've been hit hard before by internet/social media problems (nothing quite so big as Izzy, but at the time it felt like it) and I think it was so important to read something like this and see that sometimes there's no need to let the internet take over your life, or if it does you can still bounce back with the help of people in your life.

But, I'm rambling. All I can say is this is an amazing book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next one. (oh and I need to do a shoutout to Dumbledore the dog - of course I couldn't forget him - small HP references are my life).

So, I give this book 5 cats!

Have you read this book before? What are your opinions? Comment below!

Review: Distortion by Victor Dixen

So, I was so glad to get accepted on Netgalley for a copy of this, as I adored the first book in the series (my mini review for that can be found HERE)

But, here's this book:

Six girls, six boys: looking for glory and romance on Mars 

They thought they were masters of their destiny.

They are the twelve pioneers of the Genesis programme. 

They thought they were taking part in the most extraordinary of missions.

In fact, they are the victims of the cruellest of plots.

Leonor was looking for glory - and love - on Mars.

She thought she would be able to open her heart there. 

But what she has done is open up a Pandora's box of her past ...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I am really into the space thing at the moment! I don't think I've read many before I started blogging but I'm seeing them pop up more and more often now and I am all for this, its such a wide thing to write about so there so many untapped opportunities in it, and I really think that this is one of them: speed dating in space.

Well, I say that, this is more of a 'will they colonise Mars' plot as compared to the last book, but it definitely had more of the romances in as the final couples get married and start their lives. It was definitely interesting to see the development, as in the last book the couples only saw each other for their speed dating sessions.

I also loved that the plot got even more twisted in this book, there are so many different twists and turns and little threads coming together, leaving you to ask questions and wonder what will happen and how everything will come together in the end - and oh gosh guys, this book is certainly left in an interesting place, I can't believe I have to wait until next year to find out what happens!

You definitely begin to connect with the characters a bit more in this book, as they finally all come together and you see their real personalities as opposed to their speed-dating personalities, and you see a lot more of the boys in this one too, which makes it a whole lot better.

Altogether, definitely a great second book, and one you'll be speeding through, and you'll definitely not want to put it down towards the end!

I give this: 4.5 cats!

Have any of you read this series? What do you think? And what are your opinions on space books? Comment below!

Blog Tour: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

So, I got invited to be a part of the Blog tour for this brilliant new release, and I got offered a copy in exchange for a review (which I was so glad about as I was so excited for this book to come out!).

Here it is:

A single wish will spark a new dawn.

Every millennium the missing pieces of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers are hunted, for they hold the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish.

As a temple burns to the ground Yumeko escapes with its greatest treasure - the first piece of the scroll. And when fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai she knows he seeks what she has. Kage is under order to kill those who stand in his way but will he be able to complete his mission? Will this be the dawn that sees the dragon wake?

I haven't read many books that are in this kind of setting - with Samurais and spirits and Kitsune's - and as soon as I got into this I really wondered why I hadn't - it's so magical, and definitely something that keeps me interested throughout.

I admit, I had a bit of a problem keeping up with all the different titles and names of spirits, but who wouldn't when you're new to that world? I got the hang of it a bit more the more I got through it, and it was always fun when I found out I knew what something was as I had learnt - and I'm sure I'll learn loads more in the future books too.

It did take me a while to feel like things would pick up - there was a lot of travelling in this book, but everything was described so beautifully that I felt I was transported to this world, so as the characters stopped travelling when they found new places it was beautiful. I also definitely connected with one of the MCs Yumeko - I don't see how you couldn't as you felt like you were experiencing everything new with her, as she previously has never left the temple that she had been brought up in.

There were so many different characters met through the whole book - Yumeko was definitely a friendly person, which I loved, who helped people whenever she could. I'm sure you'll fnd yourself both loving and hating characters as you go along - I sure did.

I loved that this book alternated between the view of Yumeko and Tatsumi - which is strange as usually I don't get along too well with different POVs, but Julie wrote this perfectly and had me liking the differences between the two MCs - and I definitely hope to see the alternating POV in the next book too after all the twists that kept you hanging at the end!

Overall, this is a spectacular book, and I am already itching to get hold of the next one, but I guess I'll have to wait a while!

I give this book: 5 cats! (and more if I could, it really took me on an adventure)

Have you read this book yet, comment below? If not you should definitely go pick up a copy!

Keep an eye out for the other blog tour posts for this book too:

Review: City of Dust by Michelle Kenney

So, I got this from the Author (and on Netgalley) for an early review but it took me so long to put into words, and I've been in a bit of a blogging slump that I've only just got round to reviewing it.

If you were wondering about this series I reviewed the first in it - Book of Fire previously and that can be found HERE.

Well, here's the book:

The fight is never over.

Life in Arafel is no longer safe. Not since August’s disappearance, and whispers of a ghost controlling Pantheon.

Meanwhile, Talia stands torn between secretive twin, Eli, and best friend, Max.

Betrayal forces Talia to leave the sanctuary of her forest home as she pursues the stolen Book of Arafel. A book which could destroy the freedom of all those she loves if it falls into the wrong hands. And when she enters the ancient ruined city of Isca, she fights to protect the vulnerable from the iron grip of the Pantheon, while learning to fight for the man she loves.

But with the shadow of the Black Aquila looming ever closer, will she put the freedom of others above her own, or will she follow her heart?

Okay, I will just say this, this book will leave you hanging in a way which makes you wish you could grab the next book and read it all to find out what happens. It will also tug on your heart strings, I admit I definitely went on an emotional rollercoaster while reading this - ups and downs and twists and turns came together to make an absolutely amazing book that I couldn't put down.

I think the thing I loved the most about this was you got to meet a boat load of new characters - and I love to meet new people in a series, it makes it so much more interesting. That, and the new creatures from mythology coming to life really absorbs you, and it's one of the reasons I could easily re-read these books - the characters and creatures just jump off the page.

Also, guys, FLUORESCENT CAT came back!! Well, kinda, this one was only partly fluorescent, and now I can't decide whether I would want a totally glow in the dark cat, or one that only has a fluorescent nose and ears.... which would you choose?

You also, of course, got to see more of Talia and Max, and a little of August too - and guys, I am still obsessed with this love triangle, but I think I will always be #TeamInsider/#TeamAugust. I just can't wait to see how it goes in the next book.

Overall, an amazing extension to the series, and I actually want to cry that I'll have to wait until next year to see what happens to the whole lot of characters.

I give this book: 5 cats!

Do you love this series as much as I do? Are you itching for the next like me? Comment below!

ARC Review: A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews

This is definitely not one of my usual reads, but as I have started branching out and everyone was talking about this book I decided to give it a try - especially with such a beautiful cover. So, thanks to Netgalley who gave me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!

Here it is:

An emotionally charged story of music, abuse and, ultimately, hope.

Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music - because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.

When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?

Okay let me just say how amazing this book was. I've been in a small slump lately where I do read, just not much and not very quickly. But this book threw the slump out the window - I finished it within a few hours, it was an unputdownable book in my opinion!

But, when a book starts with the MC talking about wanting to cut off his hands, you know you're going into something that will definitely be interesting, so it wasn't too much of a surprise that I adored it so much.

It usually takes me quite a while to get into a male-narrated book, I'm so used to female POVs I guess, but I connected with Beck so quickly. I loved his character, and the slight development that was slow-going but definitely there - I think because of August mainly. Which is another thing I loved - their relationship. It was so pure and refreshing to see something that didn't just jump into anything big. To sum-up I just love so much about the characters in this book, they were developed perfectly.

The ending of this book though is the thing that made this for me - I was close to tears it was so perfect. Overall, I think I could describe this book as so amazing it left me speechless - I don't think I can do it justice in my review, so I'll leave it here.

I definitely give this book 5 cats - it was just what I needed to recharge my book batteries!

This amazing book comes out in a few days (7th June) - I highly suggest you go buy it! If you've read it or plan to read it comment below, I'd love to hear your opinions!

ARC Review: The Plastic Magician by C. N. Holmberg

I got an advanced e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review that will follow.

I absolutely adored the Paper Magician series by this author, and as soon as I saw this available on Netgalley I just knew I had to have it - and luckily I was accepted!

Here it is:

Alvie Brechenmacher has arrived in London to begin her training in Polymaking—the magical discipline of bespelling plastic. Polymaking is the newest form of magic, and in a field where there is so much left to learn, every Polymaker dreams of making the next big discovery.

Even though she is only an apprentice, Alvie is an inventor at heart, and she is determined to make as many discoveries—in as short a time frame—as she can. Luckily for her, she’s studying under the world-renowned magician Marion Praff, who is just as dedicated as Alvie is.

Alvie’s enthusiasm reinvigorates her mentor’s work, and together they create a device that could forever change Polymaking—and the world. But when a rival learns of their plans, he conspires to steal their invention and take the credit for it himself.

To thwart him, Alvie will need to think one step ahead. For in the high-stakes world of magical discovery, not everyone plays fair…

I absolutely loved jumping back into the world that Charlie Holmberg created, as I adored the Paper Magician trilogy when I first read it, in fact after this I'll probably go back and re-read them. However, it was definitely nice to get a spin off with a whole lot of new main characters and to learn about the totally different field of Polymaking - atleast compared to the Folding magic we learnt about in the original trilogy. I did like the little cameo Ceony made though, only small but it was great to see a little glimpse of her in this book!

While starting this I did worry about meeting a new MC after I loved Ceony so much, but I ended up loving Alvie just as much - she was such an interesting character. She constantly gets lost in her thoughts and gets random big theories pop into her head at some inopportune moments, but she was definitely her own character and built some amazing relationships.

I admit, I guessed quite early on who the antagonist would be in this book - but quite a lot of the time I do have a sixth sense for that kind of thing in both books and TV shows. This character though gave me the heebie-jeebies right away so I was always going to be wary of him. It was also quite obvious who the love interest would be to me, but I was happy about that! Everyone deserves a romantic interest, and this pairing was so cute that it had me routing for them from their first meeting. I also liked that the romance fit in nicely with everything and didn't overshine the main plot of the book.

Overall, definitely a great foray back into the world of magicians, and I was so glad to have got an advanced copy. I give this book 5 cats!

Have you read any of the books in this series? Comment below!

ARC Review: Jane Seymour - The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir

I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which will follow.

I've always had an interest for Historical Fiction books over the years, of course not as much of an interest as fantasy or YA but I do love it, so when I saw this book I had to request it.

Here it is:

THE WOMAN HAUNTED BY THE FATE OF HER PREDECESSOR.

Eleven days after the death of Anne Boleyn, Jane is dressing for her wedding to the King.

She has witnessed at first hand how courtly play can quickly turn to danger and knows she must bear a son . . . or face ruin.

This new Queen must therefore step out from the shadows cast by Katherine and Anne - in doing so, can she expose a gentler side to the brutal King?

JANE SEYMOUR

THE THIRD OF HENRY'S QUEENS

HER STORY

Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on new research for her captivating novel, which paints a compelling portrait of Jane and casts fresh light on both traditional and modern perceptions of her. Jane was driven by the strength of her faith and a belief that she might do some good in a wicked world.

History tells us how she died.

This spellbinding novel explores the life she lived.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

I have always loved Tudor history. We never learnt much of it while at school and I always hated that because it is one of my favourite parts of history. So, I got most of my information from TV shows (I  binge watch The Tudors quite regularly) and from books that my sister likes. So, when I saw this available to request on Netgalley I snapped at the chance even though I hadn't read Alison Weir's two previous books on the subject.

I was so keen to get into this book, because most fiction on this period of time focuses mostly on Anne Boleyn or Queen Elizabeth I. So, the idea of reading the thoughts of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's only wife to bear him a son, was intriguing. And what a story Alison Weir has told. From the childhood wish of being a Nun, to serving Queen Katherine and Queen Anne Boleyn, to being Queen herself, Jane Seymour's life is told in a sweeping story that gets right into the time. It's amazing when a writer can transport you into the life of the main character, and when reading this I was transported to Tudor England.

I loved that at the end of the book you got a timeline of events so you could see when everything happened, and then there is a summary of how Alison Weir came up with the little points that were never a part of history before. It was fascinating to read her summary and it really shows that history can be interpreted in different ways if you just look at all the details.

Overall, I give this book 5 cats, and I'll definitely be reading the previous two books and any future books to come too!

Have you read any of Alison Weir's books? Comment below!

ARC Review: The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

I got this as an advanced e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which will follow.

I'd heard a few things about the author of this book, Sally Green, before I saw this on Netgalley, and then when I saw this beautiful cover I was drawn in, and who wouldn't be?! It's so beautiful with the smoke against the white background. So, I requested it and got accepted (Yay!).

Here it is:

A princess, a traitor, a soldier, a hunter and a thief. Five teenagers with the fate of the world in their hands. Five nations destined for conflict. In Brigant, Princess Catherine prepares for a political marriage arranged by her brutal and ambitious father, while her true love, Ambrose, faces the executioner's block. In Calidor, downtrodden servant March seeks revenge on the prince who betrayed his people. In Pitoria, feckless Edyon steals cheap baubles for cheaper thrills as he drifts from town to town. And in the barren northern territories, thirteen-year-old Tash is running for her life as she plays bait for the gruff demon hunter Gravell. As alliances shift and shatter, and old certainties are overturned, our five heroes find their past lives transformed and their futures inextricably linked by the unpredictable tides of magic and war. Who will rise and who will fall? And who will claim the ultimate prize?

The first thing I have to mention about this book is that it is split into 5 different POVs. I'm not used to books with this many POVs so it did take me a little while to get into it, but eventually I started to like it. I especially liked that at the beginning of each chapter there was a little drawing to show which MC you would be listening to next - a jug for March, a flower for Catherine, a Sword for Ambrose, an eagle seal for Edyon and smoke for Tash.

I think that one reason why I came around to so many different perspectives was that it really kept me guessing as to how all of the MCs would end up meeting and interacting, and just how the plot would bring them all together. It wasn't until quite far through the plot that you saw everything coming together - and I definitely liked that it kept me on my feet guessing what would happen near the end of the book.

I definitely had a favourite character in this book - Catherine. She was so strong and had her own personality despite how she was brought up in a land where females are supposed to be obedient and quiet wives. I loved how she was able to make a name for herself in Pitoria and really come out of her shell after going there for her wedding.

Most surprising of all for me was the fact that for once I wasn't routing for one of the MCs love interests. When it came to Catherine I didn't ship her and Ambrose at all (despite the fact that it would have been an obvious ship). No, instead I really ship her and Prince Tzsayn, and I can't wait to see where everything goes in the next book (I see a love triangle maybe and I adore love triangles!).

Overall, it's such an interesting book, with an intriguing plot about demons and demon smoke, and I really just want the next book already to find out more about what's going to happen now all the characters were together!

I give this book: 4.5 cats!

If you want to read it, this book comes out May 3rd, and I would definitely recommend it! Have you read this, or are you planning on reading this? Comment below!

Review: The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

So, I originally received this as an advanced e-copy from Netgalley, but didn't get round to reading it until now which is a shame as it was so amazing.

Here it is:

A KINGDOM AT RISK, A CROWN DIVIDED, A FAMILY DRENCHED IN BLOOD

Tessa Gratton's debut epic adult fantasy, The Queens of Innis Lear, brings to life a world that hums with ancient magic, and characters as ruthless as the tides.

The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes.

The king’s three daughters – battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia – know the realm’s only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.

Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war – but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.

I first decided to request this because the cover immediately caught my eye, it was so beautiful. Then, when I saw the description I was even more intrigued as it sounded like something right up my alley. By the end of this book I was so annoyed with myself for leaving it in my TBR for so long, as it was a spectacular read. I later found out that this is based on a Shakespeare story (I've never read any really) so if you're a fan of that and fantasy then I'm sure you'll adore this book.

I admit, the first bit of the book did confuse me a bit, enough that I wondered if I would get into it at all, but as soon as it got to the POVs of the sisters I got sucked in. It was so nice to have the different POVs of each of the main characters at the beginning, it really gave you a sense of what each of the characters would be like throughout the book and gave you a good baseline as to how the book may go.

I'll say that this was definitely a fascinating book, and come towards the second half I didn't want to put my kindle down. I'm a bit obsessed with just watching the stars (not that I can read them or anything) so I think that the star prophecies in this book really called to me, and made me that much more interested. Then, adding to that the idea that in this land you could also talk to the earth and the trees and the wind, it intrigued me and kept me interested, it's just such a magical idea.

Just overall, I think I can explain this book in one word: beautiful. The imagery in this book is some of the best I've ever read - it was all so magical and beautiful that it actually left me breathless. I really do urge you to read this book just for that!

I give this book: 5 cats (and I would give so many more if I could)

This is probably going to be one of my top reads of 2018, and I will be buying a physical copy when I can. Have you read this? Comment below!

ARC Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

I received an e-copy of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which will follow!

I was super excited to get accepted for this book! It contained mermaids, sirens, princes, and pirates, what else could I want? I'd been hearing about it for a while and thought I'd see if I could get accepted for it, and I did! Yay!

Here it is:

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

I had such high expectations going into this book, after all I don't think I've actually read a book about sirens and pirates before. It does seem to be the season for books about the high seas and mermaids and sirens etc. though doesn't it? I've seen a few that will be coming out! But that's off topic, I can say now that this book definitely lived up to my expectations - and it even exceeded them!

It's such a fast paced book, and has loads of action in it, especially near the end. Essentially though if I was asked to describe it for someone, I would probably say a lovely dark twisted take on the Little Mermaid - or should I say the little siren considering Lira is a siren?

I can't not mention Elian - he's both a prince and a pirate guys! How swoon worthy is that?! He's one of my favourite characters - a prince who just wants to be on the sea but has obligations back home as the first in line to the throne. We see little tidbits of his dilemma about choosing between his country and his crew in the book, with him accepting certain obligations and responsibilities - and it kept me on my toes wondering just what would happen to him - would he go back to his kingdom after completing his goal of killing the Prince's Bane? Or would he stay on the seas with his crew like his heart wants. He's just an amazing character, and one of my new heart-throbs of fantasy fiction - I hope you all agree when you read this book!

I will say this is a stand-alone book - just the one. I am both loving that, and hating it - loving it because it means you get the storyline all wrapped up nicely and there's no waiting for more books, but also hating it because it means I don't get to come back to this amazing world that the author has created - I really hope that what I'm saying makes sense to you all?

But, overall, I am giving this book 5 cats because it is so amazing!

Have you read or are planning to read this? Comment below! It comes out March 6th and I'm so tempted to buy a finished copy it was that good!

ARC Review: The Rogue Queen by Emily R. King

I received this e-book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which is going to follow:

So, this is a book that I have been so excited for and waiting ages for too. I've reviewed both book one and book two (BOOK ONE - BOOK TWO). So, please be aware that there may be spoilers for both the first books in this review if you read ahead!

I didn't actually realise that this was on Netgalley until this week, so this was a really quick read for me, as I wanted to post this review before the book is out on 13th February!

Here it is:

In the explosive third volume of The Hundredth Queen Series, the queen of fire faces off against a demon of ice.

Despite the odds, Kalinda has survived it all: Marriage to a tyrant. Tournaments to the death. The forbidden power to rule fire. The icy touch of a demon.

That same demon now disguises itself as Rajah Tarek, Kalinda’s late husband and a man who has never stopped haunting her. Upon taking control of the palace and the army, the demon brands Kalinda and her companions as traitors to the empire. They flee across the sea, seeking haven in the Southern Isles.

In Lestari, Kalinda’s powers are not condemned, as they are in her land. Now free to use them to protect those she loves, Kalinda soon realizes that the demon has tainted her with a cold poison, rendering her fire uncontrollable. But the lack of control may be just what she needs to send the demon back to the darkest depths of the Void.

To take back the empire, Kalinda will ally with those she distrusts—and risk losing those most loyal to her—to defeat the demon and bring peace to a divided nation.

Okay, first off, let me just say this: Wow.

This third book did not disappoint me at all. It was fast-paced, full of action and I never would have guessed where this went if I'd tried. That is the main thing I liked about this book - the fast pace of it. There was so much action, especially in the latter half of the book, that it felt like you were immersed in everything that was happening.

Also, I will comment on the fact that there was a love-triangle in this again: something that I adore in books, and that I have commented on in the second book's review. This time though it was definitely more intense between Kalinda and Ashwin than I expected - as Kalinda found something with Ashwin that helped her with her inner fire after the Voider demon breathed his icy breath into her, and I never would have guessed just why that was (and I won't spoil it for those who want to guess when they read the book).

The chapters go between both Kalinda's and Devens POV - starting out when they were together, and then leading to separate adventures. I found this interesting because you got to see the relationship between them from both of their eyes and also got to see what was going on in the different places they were throughout the chapters.

I loved that you also got to see more of the competitors from the second book - and also saw more about both their worlds, and that they all banded together to help each other as much as possible. As well as that you see the Tarek's wives and courtesans stand together to fight for their lives. So, I think the message of unity in this book is amazing, and it's definitely something I loved to see.

I could talk about this book for ages, especially the ending and the little twist right at the end - but I won't make you read all of my rambling thoughts.

I give this book: 5 cats!

Have you read this series, or this book? Did you love it as much as me? Comment below!