A Review – The Wren in the Holly Library by K. A. Linde

This was one of those books I found on my nifty little audiobook library app, and reserved it just because I couldn't find anything else I wanted to read, and was trying to line up some audiobooks to listen to.

I ended up completely entranced in the story, and thoroughly enjoyed every second of listening to it.

So, without further ado (and because I wrote this review about an hour before I'm posting this) here is the book and my review!

She stole from a monster . . . now she must pay the price.

Street thief Kierse should have known something wasn’t right. Now she’s trapped in a library — with a monster. She can’t run. She can’t hide. And this man – this being, filled with terrible power and darkness — is well within his rights to kill her.

By trespassing, Kierse has broken the fragile peace treaty between monsters and humans. But instead of killing her, Graves does the unexpected: he offers her a job. A chance to find out who she really is.

Kierse has always known she’s different. That she can do things a little better, a little faster. And there’s that sense she has when danger is only a breath away. But if the old tales are true, there are worse things in the world than monsters.

Like a threat more ancient than legend. Like Graves. Or like Kierse herself . . .

Grab a copy!

My Review!

Life in New York became much trickier to navigate when the monsters arrived. After the Monster War, though, with treaties in place, there were laws that made it ever so slightly safer for humans to co-exist alongside monsters. That is, if the humans aren’t the ones to break the Monster Treaty first.

Unfortunately for Kierse, breaking into the house of a monster to steal from them certainly means that she has broken the treaty, and her life lays in the hands of the monster who caught her. He doesn’t have to hand her over to the authorities – she broke the treaty first. But Graves surprises Kierse, and doesn’t instantly end her life. Instead, he offers her another option – to come and work for him, to work a job. There is a spear that he needs stolen for him, and word on the street is that Kierse is the best thief there is.

There are some things that both Kierse and Graves don’t understand, though. Graves is unlike any of the monsters that Kierse is aware of, unlike any of the monsters who signed the treaty. She is used to vampires and werewolves, but meeting Graves breaks every assumption the world has had about monsters. Monsters not Magic was a big part of the treaty, but Graves definitely falls into the second category. On the flip side, Kierse should never have been able to break into his house. With magical wards surrounding the entire building, it should have been impossible for anyone to walk in, let alone without him knowing about it. Yet, Kierse had no issues walking directly through the wards without even knowing they were there. As Kierse and Graves attempt to learn things about each other, it helps to introduce the reader to the world. While learning what isn’t normal between the two characters, it lets the reader know what is normal in this new and strange reality, giving a base point to be able to work from as more characters start to be introduced.

Kierse was absolutely my favourite character in this novel. She is strong, fast, good at what she does and confident in herself, but she is not without weakness. She grew up fighting for survival, not knowing where her next meal was going to come from, and pickpocketing to get by. She has had more than her fair share of difficult circumstances, and has come out the other side victorious. She is a character that makes me want to be more like her. She inspires strength, while also showing that it is okay to need someone to lean on every now and again. Her relationship with her friends is also very heartwarming. They are her family, and she would do anything to ensure their safety – even work a job for a monster, knowing she might not make it out alive.

Graves’ character was one I couldn’t quite decide if I liked or not. There are times he is incredibly frustrating, with his tendency to withhold information, and only reveal what he deems necessary to, but he can also be tender and kind. He never truly made his way into my heart, though, and at the flip of a coin he could very quickly lose the trust I had for him, but also gain it back very easily. Never entirely knowing his plans made it difficult to know if I truly knew him or not, and Kierse reflects those thoughts and feelings with the way she mistrusts everyone but herself. With Kierse so firmly a favourite character, not being sure about Graves made this book incredibly fast paced with the tension of not really knowing what was going to happen next.

My favourite thing about this novel is that, even though there is a second book in the series on it’s way, there are no loose ends. Multiple story threads open up and start unravelling within the story, and all are tied up by the end of the book. While you will most likely want to continue following Kierse in the next book, there is no need to. The story in itself is over, and there is a definite ending, albeit a fairly open ending, with different characters starting to take different paths. There were even some characters that I forgot about while reading, as the tension started to rise, and even those characters came back into the story to join the ending. It was not a forced ending, everything came together fairly naturally, and the fact that everything was tied up so neatly at the end was incredibly satisfying. 

I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and I was genuinely surprised when I looked it up to find out this book was only 377 pages long. So much happens it felt like a much longer book, but it all plays out incredibly smoothly, and nothing feels rushed. This is truly a story packed full of events, and twists and turns, but it is not so long that reading it feels a chore. It will pull you in and ensnare you, only allowing you to break out at the end of the book.

And done!

It took me a few days to actually get around to writing this review, but now I've written it, I'm remembering how much I enjoyed this story, and that book 2 isn't out until JUNE! This story ends nicely wrapped up, but I just can't leave Kierse for that long! I loved her so much!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Blade Broken (The Echelon Book 1) by Niranjan

I saw the author of the novel promoting ARC copies on Bluesky, and I am a sucker for getting an early copy of a book, so I immediately went to check it out, and to see if it looked like something I would enjoy.

Obviously, since we are now here, and you have clearly read the title of this post, I requested and received a copy!

And I absolutely did enjoy reading it.

So scroll on down and take a look for yourself, and have a gander at my thoughts!

A spy lurking in the shadows, a nation on the verge of an invasion, a man desperate to protect his home.

Lucian is the Blade of Castrial, the kingdom's spymaster and first line of defence, lauded for his success in repelling an invasion from Garaner. But the war has left Castrial's economy in shambles, and when the neighbouring kingdom of Sarian musters their armies and sends spies into Castrial, Lucian realises two things: they have a spy in their midst, and they can't afford the cost of fighting off another invasion.

And if that wasn't trouble enough, there is Alaric, the Shield of Castrial and the only man in the Echelon whose power is equal to Lucian's. Returned from banishment like the vengeful spirit of their long-lost relationship, Alaric carries a deep-set grudge against Lucian, a grudge that may well be justified.

Lucian’s desire to protect his nation is nearly equal to his wish to reconcile with Alaric, but if he cannot get his act together and convince the Shield to work with him, Castrial will fall.

Blade Broken is a queer, sword-and-sorcery fantasy and the first book in The Echelon Series. If you love flawed characters, betrayals and redemption, and gritty worldbuilding with lots of political machinations, you will love this book.

Grab a copy!

My Review!

The kingdom of Castrial is just coming out the other side from their war with Garaner. They might have been victorious, but they have a long way to go on the road to recovery. The last thing Castrial needs is another war, but something is looming, and the consequences could be deadly. Alongside the Sarian refugees making their way into Castrial, spies are slipping through, and Sarian forces are starting to assemble. 

War against Sarian would ruin Castrial. With so little recovery time after their victory against Garaner, it would be impossible for Castrial to prove themselves victorious a second time, so quickly. The only option seems to be to stop the fight before it starts, but to do that, the King must have his very best team on hand. He already has Lucian, the Blade of Castrial, who’s role was integral in their successes against Garaner. But Castrial needs it’s Shield back, and there is one man who is a clear contender for the role – and he has just been invited back into Castrial after banishment. Not only that, but he and Lucian have a difficult past, one which they must attempt to move past in order to focus their efforts on Castrial’s continued security and safety.

Alaric returning to Castrial is long awaited, but also dreaded – to return and immediately walk into such a high-commanding role as the Shield of Castrial is certain to draw everyone’s attention, and Alaric must steel himself for everything he will face on his return. Alaric is a character you cannot help but instantly like. He has been through hell in banishment, and it was all he could do to keep himself alive while he wasn’t allowed home. And yet, he is still kind, and thinks carefully about how his actions can affect those around him. Despite his traumatic exile, and although he continues to struggle with the events surrounding it, Alaric is a gentle soul, and one you just want to wrap up in a big hug.

There is much tension on Alaric’s return between himself and Lucian. The Blade and the Shield of Castrial must work together closely, and both hold high rank in the King’s office, but they are at odds. Alaric has returned from exile with a distrust towards Lucian, a resentment and bitterness that he can’t see possible to move past. They might have been incredibly close in the past, but Alaric’s time away has changed that. The emotion surrounding the two men truly hits you as you read – it is impossible to ignore, and they feel so deeply you can almost feel their pain yourself while reading. It is clear they still care for the other’s wellbeing, but whether Alaric can truly trust Lucian, whether they can spend time in each other’s company without Alaric feeling such a deep disdain towards Lucian, is another matter. Both characters have been crafted so carefully, they come alive within the pages. Every ounce of joy, pain, and emotion comes across in the writing so immensely you fall in love with them both as you read, and putting the book down feels like walking away from dear friends.

This is certainly a novel of political intrigue and strategic plotting. With spies slipping into Castrial, and attempts to keep plans hidden from those who would report them back to Sarian, Castrial must attempt to use its own methods of finding out Sarian’s motives, and attempt to stop the attack before it comes. Sylvester is an interesting character, for he is a spy himself, placing himself where the King requires him, in an attempt to find out information that would give Castrial the high ground. The intricacies of his job, as well as his devotion to his nation, make Sylvester’s perspective in this novel one that will certainly pique your interest. His is a high-stake role, and as another instantly likeable character, he will have you on the edge of your seat.

The world created inside this novel is truly magnificent. There is no block text of description, telling the reader the intricacies of how the nations are laid out, how the King’s office and laws are set out, or how the magical side of the world works, and yet, all of these things are revealed so subtly the reader never feels out of place, or as though they do not understand the world. The reader is guided through Castrial as though they have always lived there among the characters. With such carefully and well-crafted characters, it is only right that they have a fully fleshed out world to live in, and the author has done just that with Castrial. 

This is a novel you can’t get enough of as you read. You can never have ‘just one more chapter’, for you will finish that chapter and begin the next one. There is no such thing as free will when the next chapter is right there, and it would be so easy to just keep reading. This is the kind of novel you will simply devour, and be left waiting at the end wanting more. If I had one complaint, it would be that I don’t yet have book 2. 

And done!

I really am so glad I asked for an ARC of this book. I started reading it one evening in the bath, and I absolutely could not put it down. Every time I turned to the start of a new chapter, my ereader's display would only show me the first sentence or so. The problem being, I would read that, then be so intrigued and not want to stop that I would keep reading. I ended up stuck in a loop and couldn't stop reading it for over an hour. My bath was quite cold by the time I managed to get out of the spell!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Testing Faith: Kalili's Temptation Book 2 by AC Adams

There is something so great about really enjoying a book, and then the author approaching you asking if you want to read book 2.

Before book 2 even releases.

I did have a few books I absolutely had to get to first, but I definitely pushed some aside to get to this one first! I am ever so greatful to the author for giving me the chance to read this book early, and for gifting me a copy!

Let me introduce the book, and then we can get into my review!

Kalili has Faith.

Heaven and Hell don't approve.

Their trials have only begun.

Kalili and Faith - the last of the Thirteens - have found the passionate partner they craved, leaving lonely lives behind. Their love might be forbidden, even scandalous to their peers, but they don't care. They'll brazen it out.

But if they thought they were done with their former employers, they were mistaken.

Just because they've fought free of the first efforts to bring them back into the fold doesn't mean they're in the clear.

Now, with their true natures becoming known, powerful and power-hungry forces are aligning to make them offers they can't refuse.

Lilith. Gabriel. Beelzebub. Ariel.

Add to that their new friends and allies, unexpected obstacles, and a dash of the malevolent undead, and you have TESTING FAITH.

One thing's for certain: eternity will never be the same.

The immortals are going to learn: never bet against a pair of Thirteens!

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Angels and demons still battle for souls. Right and wrong, good and evil, work to achieve what they need for either the Below or Upstairs to benefit. But Kalili and Faith are no longer simply Demon and Angel. They are the last of the Thirteens – but that doesn’t mean the Below or Upstairs approve of their relationship.

Despite plenty of people working against them, Kalili and Faith have their allies, and their network of people slowly grows as they make deals and pledge allegiances in what is shaping up to be a worldwide war between those above, and those below. 

I missed these characters! Until I started reading this book, I didn’t properly realise just how much I missed Kalili and Faith, how much I enjoyed spending time with them and living their story besides them. They might’ve managed to stay on Earth so far, but Faith’s mission on Earth was to kill Kalili, not that it went entirely to plan, and she only has so long before she is summoned back to Heaven to give a report of her mission. And, of course, Kalili is not dead, so there are problems on all fronts.

There are plenty of new friends and allies in this book. I won’t talk too much about the allegiances, and the sides being picked, for the sake of not giving out spoilers, but the friends I can definitely talk about. Thia once again plays an important part in this story, being there for Kalili as a friend, and helping out where she can. Thia is incredibly brave, standing up for herself when the need arises, even if the ones she is standing up to are much more powerful than she. I also really liked the introduction of Zophiel to this book. She is an angel who, like Faith, doesn’t quite follow the directions she has been sent to Earth with, and breaks a few rules here and there. I loved Zophiel, and hope she continues to be a part of the story in the next book. 

I loved the difference between this book and the first, in that this story is told equally by Faith and Kalili, whereas the first book was just told by Kalili. As their story progresses, they become more of a singular entity, two souls joined together into one being. Faith and Kalili are much less than the stereotypical ‘good angel’ and ‘evil demon’ than they were throughout the first book, their personalities shining through and their ideals settling for a happy medium as they become more accustomed to being Thirteens, and altogether different from angels and demons. 

There are a lot of steamy scenes in this book – Faith and Kalili are horny to a level that transcends just angels and demons, and a war between Upstairs and the Below. After living so much of their lives without knowing each other, now they are together, they simply cannot get enough. If you are not a fan of these kind of scenes, then this definitely isn’t the book for you, because Faith and Kalili do not hold back! Their connection to each other, in both the literal and magical sense, is strongest when they are together sexually, and as they come to grips with what they, as Thirteens, can really do, they get up to a lot of experimenting!

There is the addition of some well known characters to this book that were not necessarily a part of book 1. Just to reel off some names, Lilith, Gabriel, Michael… most everyone knows these names, but the way they slot into this story is not necessarily how you might expect. Faith and Kalili are now part of a much bigger story, one that they do not control all the strings to, and find themselves with more enemies, and more potential allies than ever. As things start to reach a level much more than just an Angel and a Demon falling in love, there is more action, suspense, and intrigue than ever. It is the kind of book that you fall asleep reading, because you just don’t want to put it down.

Once again, the author has done an absolutely astounding job with bringing Faith and Kalili’s story out into the world. Angels and Demons. The immortal, and the undead. An unknown hierarchy in Heaven, and a simmering revolt in the Below. An overflowing amount of love between two who seem destined to be together, but have been kept apart for all their lives. There is plenty and more in this book to keep you reading, and I absolutely adored the entire thing. This book has only just come out, so I know I will be waiting for a while, but I will be waiting incredibly impatiently for the next book in the series to come out!

Once again, thanks to the author for gifting me an ARC to read. I absolutely love this series, and cannot wait to continue reading when the next book is ready! I would recommend starting with book 1, as there is a lot of information in book 1 that you need to get into book 2 properly, in order to properly understand what is going on and who is who, but if you start with book 1, there is an absolute guarantee that you will be buying book 2 not long after!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Light in the Shadows by Georgia C. Leigh

I am very grateful to have been offered a chance to read this book before it was released. I do so love reading books before they are available to the public. It makes me feel like I'm part of a secret book club or something.

Anyway, let me introduce this book to you, and then get into my review!

Sheltered from the world since birth, eighteen-year-old Haven arrives at the Academy eager to learn what it means to be seraphim. Her excitement quickly fades as she struggles to master her gifts, to befriend and trust others, and above all, to understand herself.

But when she discovers an ancient magic within, she loses the glimpse of friendship she longs for and is thrown back into isolation. Her magic unknowingly awakens a dark shadow in her world and catalyzes those who seek to control her, to bind her and use her for her power. And if she can’t be bound, they will ensure she is dead.

Ryker, a world walker and a demon hunter, is the only one powerful enough to contain her magic and knows what it is like to be wanted for someone else’s gains. Ryker’s brutal methods may give her the chance to understand her gift and control it, but they are running out of time. Haven must fight for a life she desperately wants, one where she can follow her own path, and her heart. And, maybe, finally find love before her life is chosen for her.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Haven is excited to finally arrive at the Academy and learn the ins and outs of being a seraphim. But she has spent her whole life hidden away, and the world of socialising and getting to know others isn’t something she is overly familiar with. As Haven finds herself thrown into an entirely new world, it is not just learning to control her gifts that she must focus on, but also figuring out who to trust. 

Ryker is an incredibly powerful seraphim, with a unique gift. When an ancient magic is discovered within Haven, Ryker finds himself working with her to try and gain her control over them before they are used to control her. Many people would use her for the powers she holds, and Ryker has little time to try and teach her. 

Haven is an incredibly strong character, although she is not without her limits. She struggles a lot in this book, as she makes friends, but pushes them away when things get hard, even though she really needs them. Haven is not used to relying on others to help her, but rather withdraws into herself when she doesn’t know how to keep going. I absolutely loved reading about Haven, and watching her grow as a person. Nearer the start of the book, she is incredibly naive, although she has never had proper friends, so she is unlearned in the workings of other people. She does gain an understanding of the world as she spends more time at the Academy, and I found myself liking her more the further into the book I read.

I found the Academy itself rather interesting. It reminded me a little of the training in the Divergent series, as all the young adults work to grow their physical and mental skills, but with a fantasy twist on it, with wings, and magical powers. There are plenty of people who work outside of the Academy who come in to teach their own specialised skills, and these people are mainly the ones who change Haven’s life. In particular, Ryker and his twin brother, River. I could go on and on about how much I hate River, although I feel I would begin to spoil the story, so I don’t want to get onto the topic of him. Ryker, however, is absolutely lovely. He finds himself doing things he doesn’t want to do for Haven’s benefit, and puts himself through things that affect him, just to ensure she is safe. Their training together is not always pleasant to read about, but just knowing the sacrifices he makes for her, when he doesn’t even know her, is proof that he is a fabulous person, and a wonderful character to read about. 

This book did take a while to get started. There is little explanation about the world itself, and I found it difficult to figure out what was happening, and why. There are also a lot of characters to keep up with, and the relationships are a little tricky to figure out at first, when you don’t know what’s going on with the setting. I do wish there was a little more explanation about the setting, for I think it would help the reader understand what was happening immediately, although if you stick with it, things slowly sort themselves out, and it gets easier to follow all the individual characters as their paths intertwine.

I wasn’t aware, going into this, quite how long the book itself was. Only when I came to write this review did I realise that this book is 546 pages long, and is book 1 of 4 in the series. There is not necessarily a lot of romance in this book, but it follows Haven’s time at the Academy in great detail, clearly building up necessary relationships and information for books yet to come. It did take me quite a while to read this book, which I was not expecting, but I did enjoy how in-depth the book is. There are plenty of books, I will use the example of Divergent again, where there are time skips, and I wished to follow the characters thorough their entire journey. This book allowed me to do that, and I felt I connected to Haven more by following her so closely.

Fantasy itself is a very broad genre, but if you are a fan of fantasy that follows young adults in a school, that includes learning to control dangerous magical abilities, and has a few steamy moments here and there, this is certainly the book for you! I can’t wait to continue reading this series. Book two can’t come soon enough!

And done!

I mentioned on a previous post that I had a list of books I wanted to read and review before the New Year. I have been incredibly unsuccessful with that, but at this point, I have only two more books on that list. I'm getting there!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Fourth Charm (Dramsmit Childrens Mysteries Book 2) by Robert Howell

This is another book that I very gratefully received from the author. I read quite a lot of young adult fiction, but I haven't read much children's fiction since I was that age. This book is targeted at 8-15 year olds, so it is a bit of a different one for me.

Let me introduce the book, and then we can get into my review!

It has been a few months since Sharron, Wally and Chip found their true home at Bellevue Manor, and their place in the witch community. They continue to learn their craft, and their powers grow. Yet their true destiny lies in their love of mystery solving. Using their unique abilities, they take on the challenge of solving supernatural mysteries. Their success in this though may become their undoing. For now, the Witch Council itself has come to them to help solve a mystery that is threatening the Witch community.

Some entity is stealing the familiars from witches, including the familiar of their good friend Ronnie. They put on their sleuthing caps, using all the research tools at their disposal, to find the answer.

Then comes the prophecy from Saleena. The only chance they can survive this, is if they use the Fourth Charm. But what is The Fourth Charm? Not a single book in the extensive Dramsmit library mentions anything about it. Nor do any of the witches they have spoken with, including Saleena. They race to find the answer to this question, yet mysterious and powerful forces oppose them every step of the way. Can they find the Fourth Charm, and the ability to use it, before all is lost?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Sharron, Wally, and Chip may still be fairly new to the magical world, but they have not been negatively impacted by their late start to their studies. They have a unique ability, the power of three, that allows them to join their magic together into a singular force, and they have a knack at coming up with new spells that help them along their adventures.

The three take up the role of detectives, combining their powers and problem solving abilities together, to solve the mysteries that the magical world throws at them. When a mystery arises that even the Witch's Council cannot solve, Sharron, Wally, and Chip find themselves facing possibly the most difficult mystery they’ve ever solved before. 

There is a lot of information in this book that you must understand for it to make sense, but once you have the general gist of the magical world this book contains, you are in for a wild ride! Having not read book 1, I do feel like I missed some important aspects of the story, but that is a problem that can easily be remedied. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order, as I’m sure it is easier to understand the magical world if you learn about it as the main characters do, rather than starting halfway through the story.

The magical world itself in this book is one I have not come across elsewhere. It is a very original world of potions, spells, and creatures that captures your attention. The language used, and the mystery itself in this book, is perfectly suited to the age group this book is targeted towards. If I had read this book at age 12, I know I would’ve loved it. Having said that, I actually read this book as an adult, and I still greatly enjoyed reading it! It is not over simplified for children, so while it is suitable for a younger audience to read, it is also perfect for those outside of the targeted age range. 

I loved the way Sharron, Wally, and Chip are portrayed. They are powerful, and incredibly smart, but they are still children. Chip, as the youngest, often comes out with new words that he has just learnt, and although they know what they are doing, they are often held back by their age. The adults around them take measures to ensure they are safe, but this often comes across as the grown ups trying to hold them back. This can be seen from both perspectives when reading, and I’m sure different aged readers would see things differently. While reading, as a ‘grown up’ myself, I saw three children trying to take on an adult’s role, but not having the necessary tools to actually move forwards themselves. It does portray an important message, that even though you might know how to do something, needing a little help is not something to be afraid of. 

The mystery in this book is one that definitely keeps you guessing as you read. With mythical creatures, and the infusion of myths and legends into the story, the twists and turns the story takes are plenty to keep your attention hooked. I read this book in one sitting, and I can see plenty of avid young readers absolutely adoring this series. This book really reminded me of The Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence, but with the added sparkle of a magical world and mythical creatures that the three must combat or befriend.

There are several mentions of the children having suffered violence in the past, as they went through different social systems after the deaths of their parents, and the children do face danger during the book, but the violence in the scenes is mild, and none of the children themselves are hurt at any point.

This is a wonderful book for children, or young teens, who enjoy mystery books, or have a love for magical stories. It also makes a great quick read for those adults who like to sit back with a simpler story. If magic and mysteries are your thing, this is the series for you!

And done!

I wasn't sure how I was going to get on with this book, due to the targeted age range, but I actually really enjoyed reading it. It was a lovely break from some of the heavier topics covered in the books I've been reading lately. I read the whole thing in one sitting!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

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 – A Bounty of Love by Willow Walker

Don't you just love short stories? All the emotion and action of a full novel, condensed down into something you can read in half an hour... I know I do!

Plus, who can turn down a pretty cover like this one?

I am grateful to have received my copy of this book through the review portal I joined (you can find out more/join HERE). I may be getting a little carried away with requesting and reading books, when I still have over 200 unread books on my ereader... never mind!

Let me introduce this book, and then we can delve into my review!

In another time, in a galaxy on the far side of another universe, you can find love between the stars.

Yeva Hawthorne is a bounty hunter looking to fill a bank account with 20 million credits to repay a debt.

Tobias Hawk is also a bounty hunter and he is going after money to fund a secret he has kept for over a decade.

They are going after the same bounty and things are about to get tricky.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Yeva Hawthorne is a bounty hunter with a debt to pay. She takes on jobs to build up the credits she needs to finally free herself of the debt. When one comes to her attention, an artefact hunt for a sum of credits much too high for a normal artefact hunt, she is drawn to the bounty. The bounty has been listed for six months, and presently, only one other person has claimed the bounty, and they have had that claim for over a month. The real mystery? The person who has claimed the bounty is none other than Tobias Hawk, the best bounty hunter in the galaxy.

When Yeva reaches the planet that the artefact is on, she checks the area for any signs of other ships, but finds nothing. If Tobias was really after the bounty, wouldn’t he be here? She lands on the strange, deserted planet, and sets about looking around. There is an old building, and that is about it. But, when Yeva approaches the building, she finds herself drawn into some kind of trance, and it is broken by Tobias Hunt, physically pulling her back into the present.

Tobias explains the situation to Yeva. He has been trapped on the planet for a month, his ship refuses to start in the atmosphere, and, now, neither will Yeva’s. There is something about the planet, something unfathomable. While on the planet, both Tobias and Yeva are incapable of lying, anything that comes out of their mouths is nothing but the truth. Vines keep growing over their grounded ships, trying to trap them, and there is a maze they must complete in order to collect the bounty, a maze that is constantly changing and giving them new puzzles to solve.

I loved the entire concept of two solo bounty hunters trapped together on the same planet, and going after the same artefact. They have no choice but to work together, and the more time they spend together, the less they can deny it – they like working together. They both have secrets, things they would rather keep to themselves, but with the workings of the planet, truths are spilled and they slowly find themselves not so concerned about being around each other.

I really liked the puzzle of the maze, and the ever changing things they have to figure out how to get past. It is difficult to talk too much about this book, as it is a short story, at only 56 pages, and I don’t want to give anything away. The puzzles, and the whole building itself, give this book a sense of mystery. Neither Yeva nor Tobias can figure out what runs the maze. It must be some kind of technology, but how old is it, and who put it there? Why is the bounty for the artefact so high, especially since the artefact itself seems to be fairly worthless? The questions seem to be endless, with no answers available to set things straight.

Again, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I adored the interactions between Tobias and Yeva, and where they led. The entire build up was fantastic and, with the help of their inability to lie, it was a delight to read about.

I read this book in one sitting. It was not difficult because of the length of the book, but I didn’t want to stop reading once I had started. I have not read (or watched) much science-fiction, but reading this definitely makes me want to consume more of this genre. If you want a quick, out of this world, read, this is one you should get. After all, what doesn’t sound amazing about finding love between the stars?

And done!

When I was writing this review, I had something in mind that I was going to write down here. That idea has flown away, never to be found again. 

So, once again, just pretend I wrote something really profound.

That's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Cipher

It has been about five months since I last did a review of a podcast. I did not mean for this to happen, I just never started listening to a new one.

So, I picked this one (mostly at random) and started listening. It took me about a week of daily walks, listening to it, to finish. Unfortunately since I have neither started another podcast, nor gone for another long walk.

Anyway, that's enough of that, let's get this post going!

When 16-year-old Sabrina cracks the cryptic Parallax, she’s recruited to track down a serial killer... who might not be from this world. Starring Anya Chalotra and Chance Perdomo.

Apple Podcasts • Spotify


My Review!

There is nothing too out of the ordinary about Sabrina. Her mother passed away, her father makes umbrellas for a living. She goes to school, and hangs out with her best friend. She is really good at puzzles. And she has a recurring dream, that leaves her waking up with nonsense words coming out her mouth. The same words every time.

There is nothing too out of the ordinary about Sabrina. That is, until she solves a puzzle called the Parallax, a cryptic that had been going around the internet. One that no one else has solved. And after solving it, things start to change. Everything she ever knew falls apart, and things she never knew seem to become important in her life.

There is a serial killer, targeting scientists. Leaving their bodies destroyed. Sabrina is recruited to find the killer, but how can she possibly do that? She solved a puzzle, that didn’t make her a detective. Plus, she is not sure if she can trust any of the people around her.

Sabrina is a character who is very easy to like. She isn’t up for anything, she would rather have her normal life back than move forwards with the path put in front of her, but she doesn’t have a choice. However reluctant she may be, she has to keep going. Sabrina narrates the story, sometimes pausing the action to give some backstory in a very calm manner, as if she’s simply telling a story and nothing else is going on. Surprisingly, this doesn’t take away from the story at all, but adds to it in a way that meant I enjoyed the pauses, where everything faded away and Sabrina told me about this conspiracy theory, or that thing about that place. 

There are some very likeable characters in this. Sabrina being the main one, but Benny and Fergus also deserve a mention. Both end up joining Sabrina on her journey. It is difficult to talk about this without giving away anything, because there are some very big plot twists that would be very easy to accidentally spoil. Talking about anything that happens after episode one would end up as a spoiler, and I don’t want to do that. So, I will be annoyingly vague. I loved that Benny was not a stereotypical strong guy, able to deal with anything. Most of the time, Sabrina is the one dealing, while trying to pull him together as well. Fergus is absolutely amazing, and there is not much more to say on the matter. Listen to the story, and you will love him too.

Alongside likeable characters, there are some who are very easy to hate. Sabrina meets so many new people, all who are telling her different things, that it is hard to know who to trust. Do you trust the people you’ve been with for two episodes, or the newcomers? And then, once you trust someone else, did you make the right choice? Were the first people actually the ones you needed to believe? The mystery throughout this, as you try to place the good guys and the bad guys, keeps you on your toes, and does an excellent job of capturing your attention.

I have to mention Ernie. He isn’t actually a part of the story, but he gives an extra depth to the whole thing. He is a struggling actor, who has recorded messages for the start of each episode. The whole thing is scripted (unfortunately I can’t find out who voiced Ernie) but it’s great. He gives content warnings, while talking a little about himself. He is a character taking part in the production of the show. It’s great. 

This is a wonderful sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, semi action podcast. If you like any of those things, as well as sarcasm, for Sabrina is a sarcastic narrator, you can’t miss out on listening to this.

And done!

It's so difficult to write reviews when all of the things you want to talk about are spoilers. I want to talk about it all! The plot twists, the ending...

But I won't, because I hate things being spoiled, and I refuse to do so.

That's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Murphy's Law for Demons by C.J. Pierce

A quick side note... this is my 100th post! Yay! Celebrations!

Anyway.

Once again, this is a book I have had for a while, but never got around to reading until now. I've actually had it since August of 2021. After finishing my last book (I don't remember what that one was) I was scrolling through my two hundred unread books and came across this one. I decided to read it, and then went onto Twitter for a while, where I immedietly came across a tweet about the book. Coincidence?

Anyway, I'll stop rambling and introduce the book.

A Fallen angel and an assassin walk into a bar...

For nearly seventy years, Murphy's had the worst luck any Fallen could ever have. The Collector - a title Murphy never wanted - can't seem to do his job: collect a soul. That's all. One. Soul. And after seventy years, Murphy's not so sure he wants to go back to the Below.

Joy is a practitioner of one of the world's oldest professions. No, not prostitution, although she'd gladly use her body as bait for a target. Murderer-for-hire, assassin, hitwoman - Joy's your lady if the money's right. And if it's someone who really needs killing, she'll even give you a discount.

Brought together by a job and dropped (sans parachutes) into the political machinations of the Above and Below, Murphy and Joy have to decide where their loyalties lie. Something big is coming for them, and the Collector has a job to finish.

Want to make a deal? Don't make it with Murphy!

WARNING: This work is intended for audiences 18+. Those sensitive to scenes of excessive violence or implications of sexual assault should not read this book.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Murphy, a fallen angel with a job he is not very good at, and never wanted. Joy, an assassin who is scarily good at her job. What happens when the two meet in a bar?

When Murphy was saddled with the title of the next Collector, he thought it would be an inconvenient task for the week. Go and collect a soul, then return to his job in the Below. But, after seventy years of collections failed, time and time again, it seems he may not ever return to the Below. And, the longer he remains in the Middle, he’s not so sure he wants to return anyway.

When he meets Joy, he is intrigued by the woman who kills so easily, but when they are both given a task, to find a missing woman, they find themselves faced with a not so simple task. Not only does no one have any idea where Cara Jane could be, it is not only the Below who want to know her whereabouts. Murphy and Joy find themselves working for both sides, the Below and the Above, to find Cara Jane, wherever she may be.

I must admit, when I started reading this novel, I was a little confused as to what was happening. There were lots of things to learn, about the Below and the Above, not to mention the amount of names, and keeping track of who was who and what was happening. It was at about 20 per cent into the book when I really fell into the story and couldn’t stop reading. After that, though, I really couldn’t put it down.

This book is, to my great delight, riddled with sarcasm. Joy is perhaps the most snarky person on the earth, and add to that Murphy, the Fallen Collector, an incredibly powerful demon, who she seems to adopt like a dog? Their relationship is absolutely great, as they start to realise they care for each other, and grow from acquaintances, to friends, to absolute best friends. Their conversations, as well, make you love their characters, for you’re never entirely sure what Joy is going to say next.

May Leigh, Mimi, has to be one of the best characters in this book. Joy’s grandmother, the kind of grandmother that knits and, apparently, adopts various angels and demons into the family. A woman who can command the respect of Murphy, with the power he has, and has the ability to make him stop tipping a chair back – she is a woman everyone needs in their life. It is the interactions between Joy, Murphy and May Leigh that make this book so wonderful. It makes you want to be a fly on the wall, simply observing their day to day lives and catching the great remarks.

This is a book with incredibly quotable sarcastic comments, in fact, every chapter starts with one. A quote from either Joy or Murphy, for the most part. One, in particular, stood out to me, so much so that I took a picture of it so I could include it in this review:

Strike that from the bucket list: picking up litter with the Antichrist, and it wasn’t even court-ordered.

If that doesn’t make you at least a little curious, I don’t know what will.

This book isn’t all sarcastic comments and making friends with the Fallen, though. There are some very serious topics, with Joy’s past, and the ins and outs of her work. She is not just an assassin, hired to kill someone on just someone else’s word. She works specifically in helping women and children to be free of the person who is haunting their lives. Her work, while May Leigh does not always approve, is important to her, and Murphy does not judge her at all, but rather rolls his sleeves up and helps out.

I was a little upset that book ended rather abruptly, in the sense that there is no real conclusion, but I have just learned while writing this that this is only book one of a series. Book two is not out yet, though, which has upset me more. I loved my time with Joy and Murphy, and will miss them until the release of the next book.

And done!

I don't know what I initially planned to write down here, I started this post one day, and finished it another. So I have no ideas.

Just pretend it was really funny.

That's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Janie by Joseph D. Slater

I grabbed my copy of this book after talking to the author for a short period of time on Twitter. This is the way a lot of the books I've been reading lately have ended up in my ebook library – a couple of tweets go back and forth, and suddenly I'm reading their book.

I will first introduce the book, and then I will get into my review!

In this Henson meets Lovecraft universe, Janie’s sister is kidnapped through a portal to the Conscious Sanctum, a world full of monsters, trials, and tears.

Led by the spirit of her father in the form of a raven, she faces these challenges in order to save her sister from the fate of the Vulture Queen.

A path of piranha-toothed mice and man-eating trees awaits her, but can she even save herself when she gets there?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Janie is a child, at just 12 years old, but her life has forced her to grow up quicker than she should have. She lives in a house with her mother, step-father, and younger sister, Delilah, but she has to take on the role of mother. Her mother and step-father spend most of their time arguing, and her mother seems to have wanted servants, instead of children. Nothing Janie can do seems to be good enough, even though she is trying her best to raise herself and Delilah.

After buying a new book, Janie’s life gets flipped upside-down when a raven starts speaking to her, claiming to be her dead father, Frank, and a portal opens, sucking Delilah in. Without a thought for her own safety, Janie jumps in after her sister, closely followed by Frank. Finding themselves in the Conscious Sanctum, Janie’s immediate mission is to find Delilah, but first, she must survive long enough to do so.

To begin with, I likened the Conscious Sanctum to Narnia, for there is an evil queen, the Vulture Queen, and creatures that do not exist on Earth. However, it quickly became apparent that this novel is not one of a place like Narnia. The Conscious Sanctum is a horrific place, and it seems impossible that you would stumble upon anyone who would help you, over using you for their own gain. The Vulture Queen wants young children, to be her personal slaves, and so adults are a rarity in the Conscious Sanctum. Those who grow too old are killed. 

Janie finds herself overcoming great obstacles, with an angel and a devil on each shoulder. The angel is Frank, attempting to lead her through the Conscious Sanctum safely. However, she has her own mind, and often does not listen to Frank – besides, she can’t quite find it within herself to forgive him for leaving her to live with her mother after his death. On the other shoulder is Arith, a demon who started following Janie around ever since she bought that book. Arith gives less than helpful advice, usually trying to convince her to kill people, and Janie finds herself in situations where she would love to listen to one, but the other is presenting the only viable option.

I loved Janie as a character. She is very brave, clear by her jumping through the portal after her sister, and by the events that follow, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t get scared. Once again, she is only 12, and this new world holds horrors the like of which she has never even thought about before. At some points in the story, I wondered if perhaps Janie should have been portrayed as older than 12, for some of the things she does or says seem like an older child, but considering the circumstances she grew up in, I suppose she already is older in spirit than she is in body. 

One of my absolutely favourite parts of this book was Dibs. Dibs is a cave weasel, who started following Janie around and quickly becomes great friends with her. He has no dialogue, being a cave weasel, but he is a very large personality, and he seems to communicate just fine without spoken language. Dibs’ and Janie’s friendship was wonderful, especially with how trusting they are in each other. The whole thing made me want a cave weasel to see me and decide that I was their person, so I could have a little buddy like that as well.

This book has plenty of twists, with the changing environment and revelations Janie makes about the people she comes into contact with. I did find the story a little slow and confusing at first, but everything clicked into place quickly, and after that I couldn’t put this book down. If you loved books like Narnia as a child, and want something a little darker, and with a bit more of a deadly suspense, you should definitely check this one out!

And done!

I'm writing this post on New Years Eve, and this was the 74th book I read this year. I have approximately 13 hours to read another book to get to 75 books before midnight. And I have things to do today... fingers crossed!

That's all for now...

Bye!

Movie Review – Snowpiercer – can humanity survive anything...?

 

Movie Review

Snowpiercer

I saw an edited clip of this movie on one of those Facebook videos, where it shows a very dramatic part and then doesn't tell you the name of the movie. Luckily, the comments helped me out, and I found the film. Within an hour, I was sat down watching it. Two hours later, and here I am.

Let me show you the cover, and let you know what it's about, and then we can get to chatting!

After a failed global-warming experiment, a post-apocalyptic Ice Age has killed off nearly all life on the planet. All that remains of humanity are the lucky few survivors that boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, powered by a sacred perpetual-motion engine. A class system has evolved aboard the train, fiercely dividing its population—but a revolution is brewing. The lower-class passengers in the tail section stage an uprising, moving car-by-car up toward the front of the train, where the train’s creator and absolute authority resides in splendor. But unexpected circumstances lie in wait for humanity’s tenacious survivors... 

Amazon UK

It's also available for free on Prime Video!

My Review

There is quite a bit to unload about this film. It covers some incredibly topical subjects, as well as including some themes that are incredibly prevalent in society.

A solution was found to global warming, a way to reverse the effects that humans have had on the planet, and to reverse the climate to it's natural state – a way to cool down the planet to the optimal temperature. Of course, such a perfect fix would be too easy, and instead, the solution caused a massive problem. The creation of a new Ice Age, the kind of thing that could wipe humans off the planet and rid the Earth of them once and for all.

Fortunately, humans are pesky things, and simply refuse to be wiped out. Although a low number, some survive aboard the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the world, never stopping, keeping it's inhabitants safe from the freezing conditions outside. It all seems idillic – but, again, not so.

There is a very clear class divide, with the lower classes at the tail end of the train, and the rich at the front. While the rich feast, party, and enjoy life, the poor starve in poor conditions, with little room, their lives controlled entirely by those with power.

And yet, there are those who simply cannot stand for it. This movie is about a revolt, the revolt to end all revolts. It's about taking back power, and Curtis is one of those who can't sit by and watch as children are torn away from their parents, as people are beaten and punished, as his friends slowly starve around him.

The rebellion leads Curtis and a group through the train, moving along the carriages. The carriages are almost like stages, complete one and then you can move on. But Curtis loses people along the way, and what ensues as the rebels clash with the guards trying to quell the rebellion is pure carnage.

Curtis is a clearly troubled man. He has spent seventeen years of his life trapped inside the dingy, ignored part of the train, surrounded by desperate people. The horrors that he has seen and experienced is enough to give someone the determination to want to seek justice and revenge, but at times Curtis can be incredibly cold towards those who are supposedly on his side. There is on scene in particular (if you've seen the movie, you know) where I was almost screaming at the screen. I actually said out loud 'don't you dare'. He dared. I was very upset.

There are many other characters in this movie that I liked. I loved Namgoong Minsu and Yona, and they played an incredibly interesting part in the plot. They are not from the tail end of the train, but the prison. But, if Curtis wants to open any of the carriage doors, he needs them. Yona was one of my absolute favourite characters, especially since you can usually see her doing something in the background, and it's usually rather amusing.

Another character I adored was Edgar, who just wants to help Curtis, and to be his friend, and yet, Curtis doesn't seem to care about the determination Edgar has to help. Edgar made me chuckle a couple of times, as he is young compared to most of the people he is around, at only seventeen, and all he really wants is to be able to eat a steak like those at the front of the train.

I have had a look at some other reviews for this movie, those on Amazon, and there seems to be a mixed opinion about it, with some people loving it and some people absolutely hating it. While I wouldn't say it was the best movie I have ever watched, it certainly wasn't bad, and I enjoyed watching it. I won't spoil the ending, but whew. I don't think the characters planned that!

And I'm done!

I haven't sat down to watch a new movie in ages, and I'm glad this popped up in one of those strange Facebook videos, because otherwise I wouldn't have looked in the comments for the title, then wouldn't have looked the movie up, and certainly wouldn't have found it by accident to watch.

If you've seen it, I'd love to know what you thought of it!

Okay, that's all.

Bye!