A Review – Finding Faith: Kalili's Temptation Book 1 by AC Adams

I have been aware of this book for a while, long enough that I knew about it before it was actually a book, available for purchase.

The problem was, I already had a massive list of books I had agreed to read, and knew if I said yes to another one, I wouldn't know when I would be able to get to it.

But eventually, my inability to say no stepped in, and I said 'yes, I would love a copy to review!' I also mentioned that I didn't know when I would be able to get to it, due to the massive list of books ahead of it. I'm not sorry to say, this book definitely skipped the queue!

Plus, this book officially published yesterday, so yay! Many congrats to the author!

So, let me introduce the book to you, and then we shall get into my review!

When an angel and a demon fall in love, there's Hell to pay...

And Heaven's waiting its turn

Rome in the 10th Century is full of demons and succubi, trying to influence and corrupt the church.

To combat them are a host of angels and guardians.

Kalili is a demon.

Faith is an angel.

When Faith encounters Kalili, sparks fly.

It's impossible, but they can't deny their feelings.

When they learn who - and what - they truly are?

Neither side wants that.

All they can depend on is each other.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

In 10th Century Rome, demons and angels battle to corrupt or save humans, trying ensure their souls go to the Below or Upstairs, depending on what outcome would be most beneficial. Of course, the demons and angels do not agree on where each human should end up, and fight to get them where they want them.

Kalili is a demon on an assignment, trying to corrupt a soul and prevent him from becoming Pope, when she receives news that she is no longer safe, and that an angel is trying to find her in order to kill her. Except, when the angel does find her, she is not at all what Kalili expected. Faith is not a trained warrior, but is inexperienced, and cannot answer Kalili’s questions as to who wants her dead, or why.

But while Faith has no answers as to why Kalili’s death has been ordered, neither can figure out why they are drawn to each other, why they feel an instant connection, and why they would both rather not kill the other. An angel and a demon working together is one thing – an angel and a demon falling in love is another thing entirely.

I am not sure if enemies to lovers is the correct term to describe Kalili and Faith’s relationship. It is more enemies to immediate lovers while being confused about why they like each other, and trying to maintain the facade that they shouldn’t get along. This book is told from Kalili’s perspective, and, as the demon of the pair, she should be trying to corrupt, not caring too much about the lives of the humans around her, focusing on her assignment. But doing so is difficult when being near Faith makes her feel like doing the ‘right thing’. On the other end, Faith is incredibly naive, she doesn’t understand the world, and although she has been around a long time, she has little experience in anything. You might say that Kalili is a bad influence on her, but Kalili helps her to figure out who she really is, rather than just someone blindly following orders.

The pairing of someone who is characteristically good, and one who is characteristically bad, is an opportunity that has definitely been taken with this book. Faith and Kalili clearly have their own opinions on what is okay to do, and they each contradict the other’s viewpoints and beliefs. But, their inability to walk away from each other means they must figure out a middle ground, and the effect they have on each other certainly helps to level the playing field.

I loved watching the development of Kalili and Faith’s relationship. From the moment they first meet, you can instantly tell there is a connection between them, but neither have any idea why they have the connection, or how they are meant to move on with their assignments when all they want to do is be together. With Faith being so unlearned about life in general, Kalili takes her under her wing, (in the metaphorical sense, although they do both have wings, being a demon and an angel!) and helps her as they try and find a way to figure out why they have such a connection.

There is something so beautiful about the way Kalili and Faith trust each other so completely, even though they shouldn’t. In the most tense of situations, they both know that the other will do anything to keep them safe. They don’t worry about their own safety, because the other is already doing that for them. And, considering they are not in a modern setting, but in 10th Century Rome, there is certainly danger around. The mix of their relationship, in an ancient world setting, worked wonderfully. The necessity for discretion, considering a same gender relationship was something they had to hide, slotted perfectly into the story, and added an extra level of tension, as they tried to lie and act their way out of situations I wasn’t sure they would get out of safely.

Angels, demons, passion, lust, danger… is there anything missing from this book?! From simply two separate assignments, to a strong and unyielding love, Kalili and Faith are a couple that would take on Heaven and Hell to be together, and their relationship is absolutely delightful to read about. With an ending full of revelations, this book itself is simply the genesis of what promises to be a glorious series that I absolutely cannot wait to read.

And done!

I really should stop making a habit of reading every new book I get, and ignoring the others that have been sat in my ereader waiting for ages. It's really not fair to all those other books...!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Only Way Out is Death by Varun Gwalani

I do so love a good thriller!

And with a title and cover like this, how could I resist?!

I received my copy of this book from the review portal I love so much (find out more information HERE!), and yes, I request and read books even though I have hundreds on my ereader, waiting for me to read them!

Anyway, let me introduce the book, and then I will share my review!

Loved watching the Korean survival drama Squid Game? Eagerly awaiting Season 2? Read Varun Gwalani's latest murder mystery to tide you over until the new season!

From author Varun Gwalani comes a new escape room murder mystery. The Only Way Out is Death is a fast-paced suspense novel set in an empty hotel, where twelve people have to kill to survive.

Twelve powerful people are kidnapped and imprisoned in an empty hotel.

Each of them have three choices:

Live out the rest of their days peacefully in the hotel,

Die by suicide so the rest of their companions can go free,

Or murder one of their companions so they alone can go free.

The Only Way Out is Death follows the story of these twelve people from the perspective of a young lawyer, Kiriaki, told as the events unfold. She has to forge uneasy alliances, navigate complex relationships and feuds, and, above all, try to stay alive.

Beware of the mastermind of this death game, who is lurking just out of view, watching them closely, making sure they are primed for murder. Place your bets on who will survive, if you dare.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Twelve people, all in positions of power, were at a convention when they were kidnapped. All twelve next woke up in an abandoned hotel, with devices strapped to their legs, and are given clear instructions: they are trapped, and there are only a few ways out. If someone simply walks out the door, the device on their leg will release a deadly virus out into the world, and they will be responsible. If someone kills another, the killer will be free to leave. And if someone commits suicide, everyone left alive can go.

Surrounded by both moral and impossible choices, all twelve must make their choices as to who they trust, and who they don’t. And who they choose to spend their time around could be the difference between life and death.

This book is told from the perspective of Kiriaki, a lawyer, who uses her knowledge and skills at both deducing the truth and convincing others of said truth, to her advantage. It doesn’t take long until the group starts finding people dead, and Kiriaki tends to take the lead in the investigations. Finding out who the murderer was is vital, and both learning the truth, and convincing the others, is no easy task. This isn’t just a murder mystery. There are several mysteries surrounding murders, but also, the mystery of who it was that kidnapped them, who is the mastermind in the whole plot, and who within the hotel can be trusted.

There is a reason behind every single one of the twelve being taken, although details of the sins they seemingly must atone for are hidden until danger and accusation force the truth out. My favourite parts of this book were the ‘trials’ as such, when a body has been found and everyone gathers together to try and work out the motives, the actions, and the killer. Kiriaki is incredibly clever, and it’s fascinating watching her narrow in on the truth.

The confusion and fear of such a strange situation comes across perfectly. No one quite knows what to do, or how to act. Some isolate themselves, some try to come up with ways to escape, whether that be by following the mastermind’s rules, or by becoming a killer, and some simply try to remain calm, and pretend nothing is happening. After all, if no one dies, they are still in a luxury hotel, and have the option to live together in peace. Friendships form and break apart, and everyone is on edge. One might go as far as to accuse a friend if it keeps them safe. Anything goes, and the unpredictability, and multiple plot twists, certainly keeps you reading. 

I loved Kiriaki as a character. She has done things in the past that she is not proud about, and she can’t deny that the situation scares her, but she tries to be friendly to everyone. Alliances and enemies form almost immediately, for some of the people know each other outside of the hotel, but Kiriaki stays relatively neutral throughout the entire book. She gets to know everyone a little, and I definitely formed my views on the characters based on what she thought of them. Her inner monologue is almost amusing at times, but it’s perfect for letting the reader know what exactly she thinks of each person, and how she comes to the conclusions she comes to.

If I had any problem with this book, it was that I definitely struggled to keep track of the characters. While some of them were easy to keep track of (I knew who Malik, Anders, Shraddha, and Gideon were the entire time, but they did all have very specific character traits that made them stand out), others blended together, until I wasn’t sure who was who, who had what backstory, and what their role was. But it would be difficult to keep up with such a large cast of characters anyway, even if there wasn’t so much necessary information about each character that had to be revealed and then stored until it was needed.

While I haven’t read many murder mysteries before, I have watched plenty of thrillers, and this book would make an excellent film. After reading this book, I almost feel like I’ve watched it as a film already, for even though I couldn’t keep up with the characters, I could definitely keep up with the story, and it was absolutely amazing. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for this author in the future.

And done!

When writing reviews, people always seem to joke about staying up too late reading. I literally stayed up late reading this book, and was so tired, I fell asleep. I woke up at 4:30ish in the morning and realised my computer was still on, the book open on it, on my bed!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!