Synopsis:

Aribeth Mitchell is an ordinary student at Cambridge University, or so she thought. From the charming old villages, nestled in the Japanese Alps, to the mystical Egyptian Desert, Aribeth will have to deal with a world wrapped up in greed, wrath, lust and hypocrisy, where love is stained in blood and lies, and where evil also might have a beating heart. Mighty fights, mythical and mystical creatures and entwining loves await her in an adventure that will change her life forever.

“To thee, I give my all”

Favorite Lines:

“If you really believe, you can do it. Stand up and make it happen.”

“I wish I could bring you more bliss than sorrow.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will start this review off by saying that this book was not what I expected. I admit that I am not entirely sure what I expected but what this ended up being was not it. The story follows Aribeth as she realizes that her strange dreams might not just be dreams and she is catapulted into a world that she never knew existed that is full of magic and mystery.

At the start, I thought this book was trying too hard to be a cliché romance. There was the mysterious, beautiful man and the attractive but quirky woman with love at first sight. However, readers are quickly thrown into a world with Japanese culture and mysterious magic. I thought the storyline was really unique and interesting I just wish the story had slowed down more to let us as readers actually digest what was happening. I felt like I was being thrown from scene to scene without a clear description of what was happening. This book could have easily been two or three books if the proper amount of detail had been utilized.

Ultimately, what had me really hooked was the attempted love triangle (this is not a spoiler). I stayed hoping for the romance with Ken to happen as I had decided that I liked him the best and I wish there had been more time spent on his character but this brings me back to emphasizing that while the plot was creative, it could have used some fluffing in the details.

Summary:

Overall, I found this story to be a creative and unique idea but I wish that more time had been spent developing the characters and the scenes rather than flashing from one point to the next so quickly. If you like action, mystery, romance, paranormal, and magic, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

The Obsidian Dragon

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Blue by Sarah Jayne Carr

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Blue Brennan is a runner.
She runs from her problems.
She runs from love.
She runs from her past.
What Blue doesn’t anticipate is running toward her hometown of Steele Falls, Washington, especially after she’d vowed to never go back.

Adam Rockwell is a fighter.
He fights his demons.
He fights for validation.
He fights for his future.
What Adam doesn’t anticipate is fighting for Blue Brennan, especially when he vowed to never let love get in his way again.

Summary: Overall, I really liked this book and will definitely be revisiting it when I need something emotional. It is worth the read but it is on the depressing and sad side so stay away from it if you aren’t looking for a feels train. Happy reading, everyone!

See the full review here: Blue
Purchase here

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Roar by Cora Carmack

Synopsis: In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage.

She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.

Summary: This book was much better than I originally expected bringing a refreshing new story to life and I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out.

See the full review here: Roar
Purchase here

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Power by Geraldine Anello

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: From Best-selling author and Broadway conductor, Power is Geraldine Anello’s latest poetry book from her series Truth. The most inspiring poetry told over the course of just one week, this fast-paced collection of deep thought-provoking poems leads the reader on a journey to personal development.

Summary: Overall, if you like melancholy poems about love and love lost that show personal development and growth then this book is for you. Happy reading!

See the full review here: Power
Purchase here

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Synopsis:

Step one…you die.

ONE CHOICE. TWO REALMS. NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live — after she dies. There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, long-time enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms that will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t where the boy she’s falling for lives? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…

Favorite Lines:

“The most destructive or constructive actions begin with a single thought. And, ultimately, a single action can decide the direction our lives take.”

“Hate is like drinking a vial of poison and expecting it to harm the other person, You’re not hurting the guy, only yourself.”

“What is isn’t always what’s supposed to be.”

“Flesh heals. The soul can fester.”

“Remember, the truth hurts for a little while. Lies hurt forever.”

My Opinion:

I saw this book in a suggested readings list for me on my Nook and honestly was drawn to it because of the cover art. Once I read the description of it, I put it on my wish list to read and when I was looking for a new series to start I thought “why not?”. I actually did enjoy this series, but I am not going to lie, I was mostly in it for the ship.

This series follows Tenley Lockwood or Ten as she tries to fight for control over where she will end after she dies. This was an interesting concept to read about and I thought it was really unique. The premise of the world created by Showalter is that your first life is just practice for the life you will live after you die. When you die you go to one of two realms: Troika or Myriad. The two realms are locked in a constant battle with each other and work hard to recruit living people to their side to gain the upper hand in the war. It is a literal battle of light vs. dark, which is a reoccurring theme in a lot of books. But like I said, Showalter introduced it in a new and unique way that is refreshing to experience.

The only thing I can think of about this book was that it had an amateurish writing style to me. To pinpoint an exact reason I feel this way, I think it is because there are a lot of events taking place and the story jumps around a lot. The flow was just a bit messy for my taste. But this is all personal preference and, if you read the book, you might not see any problems.

Summary:

Overall, this was a great book. It was full of action and adventure but also romance and emotion. It made us, as readers, take a closer look at what motivates humans and overall human behavior. I have always found topics like this fascinating, so it was interesting to have it intertwined in a story I would enjoy reading. I hope that the next books can continue based off of the foundation that this one laid and that maybe Showalter will be able to have a more concise writing style after she has gotten adjusted to the story. Until next time, happy reading!

 

Firstlife

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Synopsis:

IS IT MADNESS OR THE SUPERNATURAL?

Psychiatrist Claire Rossi seeks cases nobody else can treat—cases like her mother’s, whose misdiagnosis of schizophrenia and subsequent death inspired Claire’s career. Initially infatuated with an influx of seemingly schizophrenic patients, interest turns to terror as their ailments infect her too. She sees and hears a man who grows more violent with every encounter. The analysis and training she’s relied on her whole career fail to explain his presence, leaving only one conclusion: that what haunts her isn’t in her head at all. But maybe that’s just what she wants to believe.

As her symptoms escalate, she’s left with two unsettling clues. Her mother speaks to her in twisted idioms, and a mysterious letter taunts her with a single line:

Enjoy your gifts.

Favorite Lines:

I didn’t keep track!

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

While I couldn’t say that this book is my typical read, I was drawn to it nonetheless because it seemed like it could be a really good thriller. I for some reason kept envisioning Shutter Island when reading the synopsis, don’t ask me why. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. 

This story follows Claire Rossi as she tries to uncover the mystery surrounding her mother’s illness and tragic death. As she dives into her investigation, Claire begins to experience symptoms that make her question everything she knows.

While this book had a really interesting concept, I do think that a lot was happening at once. There are themes of religion, romance, paranormal, supernatural, and horror. Sometimes they got a bit jumbled together and led to slight confusion on the direction of the story.

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was a really interesting concept and could see it being adapted as a tv show or movie and would consider it a perfect read for the upcoming spooky season.

A Broken Clock Never Boils

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Synopsis:

Dating and High School: Hard Enough. Now Add Assassins.

Avoiding assassination wasn’t on Mel’s to-do list for her junior year. Learning she wasn’t human hadn’t made the list, either.

An only child with overprotective parents, Melody Walters just wants a drama-free year—and to be able to date. She gains the interest of more than one suitor, but doesn’t realize any one of them could be an enemy on the hunt. For her, the dating scene could prove deadly.

Mel discovers she’s a member of a botanical race, forced to hide their daughters in the human world until they mature enough for their powers to bloom. Something goes wrong with her blooming process, breaking her cover and jeopardizing the lives of her protectors and the large family she’d never known about.

With the enemy threat ever-looming, in a rush to master her new powers before she’s stranded in the human world forever, Mel struggles to decide who she can trust and if the sacrifice being asked of her is too great.

Favorite Lines:

I didn’t keep track!

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion so let’s get into it.

This book follow Melody Walters as she tries to navigate the typical dramas that come with high school. Throw in the fact that she finds out she isn’t human and that there are assassins out to end her race, and she finds that high school drama is the least of her worries.

This book had a really interesting concept that I have actually never read before. I’m all for the paranormal but I had no previous experience with botanical races of any sort so this was new territory and it did not disappoint. With unique storytelling and interesting plot, Houser was able to bring their world to life in a vivid and fascinating way.

Summary:

Overall, if you like romance, action, adventure, the paranormal, and fantasy then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Seeder Shadow Wars

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Synopsis:

Forbidden children. Forgotten History. A power no one has witnessed in living memory. 

In the pyramid city of El-Pelusium, all second-born children are banished to an island of madmen for fear of a power they are rumored to possess. 
But Miki isn’t just a Second, she is a Fifth. 
Nineteen years of hiding behind false identities and away from the public eye has left her with unmatched anxiety. But when a chance encounter throws her in the path of the new young ruler of the Pyramid who is hunting for answers—and a friend, Miki must dodge the very person with the power to banish her. On top of it all, a madman from the island claims being a fifth-born means something. But listening to him would make Miki as mad as him. Unless he is right. If so, the system Miki’s fragile world is built upon, and her very life, are in the balance. 

Favorite Lines:

“Living isn’t the same as life.” 

My Opinion:

 I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. 

I will be honest, this book had kind of a slow start. I thought it was going in one direction and then it went in a completely different one. But I am happy I stuck with it because it was an interesting concept. The story follows Miki, a fifth child born in a world where families are only permitted to have one child. Banished from her home, she has to learn to survive on an island of other banished seconds and keep her birth order a secret. The one thing I didn’t like about this book is while I thought the start was a bit slow, there were some parts that I thought went too fast and could have been slowed down and elaborated on. Perhaps this is because I liked the concept and wanted it to be more drawn out for my enjoyment.

I liked that there were PoV changes so we could see perspectives from other characters, especially from the romantic interest (I totally shipped Miki and Atsu). I won’t give any spoilers away on it though. 

As I had mentioned above, this was an interesting concept with a unique setting and Wilke has a unique storytelling voice.

Summary:

Overall, this was a really interesting concept and a decent read. If you like action, fiction, fantasy, and romance then this book may be for you. Happy reading! 

Seconds

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Synopsis:

Where can you turn to find industry experts willing to share their secrets?

This book is the ultimate writer’s refence, with tips and advice on craft, publishing and marketing from Mark Leslie Lafabvre, Kevin Killany, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Bobby Nash, Paul Kane, Nancy Oswald, Chris Barili, Jeff Bowles, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Mario Acevedo and Kaye Lynne Booth. Learn from eleven traditional, independent and hybrid authors as they share what works for them.

You’ll like this book if you want to improve your craft or learn more about publishing and book marketing. Take a peek inside and find out what works for you.

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you follow this blog regularly, you know that this isn’t my typical type of book to review on here. Very rarely do I review guides or non-fiction type books unless I think they are something that would be of interest to both me but also to my readers. This was an exception because if you are like me and would love to write a book someday, any and all advice is welcome. This anthology takes tips and tricks from eleven authors to help any writer hone their craft. I found it to be both interesting and useful, answering questions I didn’t even know I had and giving me different perspectives to ponder as I move forward on my own writing journey.

Summary:

Overall, if you are an aspiring author or even just interested in an inside look at several authors’ minds, this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Ask the Authors 2022

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