Tag: Reviews

Reviews

Scars Like Wings by Erin Stewart

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*Spoiler free*

Ava Lee has lost everything there is to lose: Her parents. Her best friend. Her home. Even her face. She doesn’t need a mirror to know what she looks like–she can see her reflection in the eyes of everyone around her. A year after the fire that destroyed her world, her aunt and uncle have decided she should go back to high school. Be “normal” again. Whatever that is. Ava knows better. There is no normal for someone like her. And forget making friends–no one wants to be seen with the Burned Girl, now or ever. But when Ava meets a fellow survivor named Piper, she begins to feel like maybe she doesn’t have to face the nightmare alone. Sarcastic and blunt, Piper isn’t afraid to push Ava out of her comfort zone. Piper introduces Ava to Asad, a boy who loves theater just as much as she does, and slowly, Ava tries to create a life again. Yet Piper is fighting her own battle, and soon Ava must decide if she’s going to fade back into her scars . . . or let the people by her side help her fly.

I’d seen this book here and there, and it sounded like it would be good. It wasn’t something that I would normally pick up, but I wanted to give it a try eventually because I’ve been wanting to branch out more. Plus, it sounded like I would enjoy it; I’m appreciating emotional books a lot more. Then, I saw so many rave reviews, on Goodreads of all places, so then I got really pumped for it. Trigger warnings: grief, attempted suicide, burn treatment

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Reviews

A Heart So Fierce And Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

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*Spoiler free, but spoilers for A Curse So Dark And Lonely*

Find the heir, win the crown. The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers. Win the crown, save the kingdom. Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen–until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?

I loved A Curse So And Lonely. It was such an incredibly unique Beauty And The Beast retelling. I originally thought it was a standalone and I wasn’t sure what I thought about the fact that there was a sequel. Nevertheless, I loved the world and the characters enough that I was really, really looking forward to this book. I ended being really glad that this is a series. It was truly incredible. Continue reading “A Heart So Fierce And Broken by Brigid Kemmerer” →

Reviews

Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin

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*Spoiler free*

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Thank you WednesdayBooks and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Elle and her friends Mads, Jenny, and Summer rule their glittering LA circle. Untouchable, they have the kind of power other girls only dream of. Every party is theirs and the world is at their feet. Until the night of Elle’s sweet sixteen, when they crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party. The night the golden boys choose Elle as their next target. They picked the wrong girl. Sworn to vengeance, Elle transfers to St. Andrew’s. She plots to destroy each boy, one by one. She’ll take their power, their lives, and their control of the prep school’s hierarchy. And she and her coven have the perfect way in: a boy named Mack, whose ambition could turn deadly. Foul is Fair is a bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy for the girls who have had enough. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.

 

I don’t even know how to start this introduction. I knew this was a book about revenge. I knew it was about angry girls. I knew it was Shakespeare retelling of sorts. I knew it was going to be really different from what I normally read, but I really wanted to give it a shot. There is are a lot of themes and instances in this book that can be really trigging. The author has a detailed list on her website, which I will link here. Continue reading “Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin” →

Reviews

Serpent And Dove by Shelby Mahurin

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*Spoiler free*

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Thank you Edelweiss for the e-ARC!

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony. The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made. And love makes fools of us all. 

 

I had heard so many amazing things about this book. People had said it was more upper YA, and I definitely like those types of books, so I wanted to give it a shot. Plus, it was about witches and it sounded dark. I love witch books and a dark one sounded fantastic. And fake dating taken to the next level, kind of fake marriage! Continue reading “Serpent And Dove by Shelby Mahurin” →

Reviews

Reverie by Ryan La Sala

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*Spoiler free*

Reveries are worlds born from a person’s private fantasies, and once they manifest they can only be unraveled by bringing their conflicts to resolution. Reveries have rules and plots, magic and monsters, and one wrong step could twist the entire thing into a lethal, labyrinthine nightmare. Unraveling them is dangerous work, but it’s what Kane and The Others do. Or did, until one of The Others purged Kane of his memories. But now Kane is back, and solving the mystery of his betrayal is the only way to unite his team and defeat reality’s latest threat: Poesy, a sorceress bent on harvesting the reveries for their pure, imaginative power. But what use might a drag queen sorceress have with a menagerie of stolen reveries? And should Kane, a boy with no love for a team that betrayed him, fight to stop her, or defect to aid her? 

I’d seen this book here and there, but didn’t know much about it. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and gave me the push to find out more! It sounded really interesting and I really wanted to give it a shot. So, when I had the chance to get an ARC at BookCon, I took it. (Also, the author is wonderful and hilarious.)

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Technically, You Started It by Lana Wood Johnson

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*Spoiler free*

When a guy named Martin Nathaniel Munroe II texts you, it should be obvious who you’re talking to. Except there’s two of them (it’s a long story), and Haley thinks she’s talking to the one she doesn’t hate. A question about a class project rapidly evolves into an all-consuming conversation. Haley finds that Martin is actually willing to listen to her weird facts and unusual obsessions, and Martin feels like Haley is the first person to really see who he is. Haley and Martin might be too awkward to hang out in real life, but over text, they’re becoming addicted to each other. There’s just one problem: Haley doesn’t know who Martin is. And Martin doesn’t know that Haley doesn’t know. But they better figure it out fast before their meet-cute becomes an epic meet-disaster . . .

I had seen this book around and never payed much attention to it. A lot of people seemed to be really excited for it, but I never really took the time to figure out what it was about. I then found out that one of the MCs is demisexual and I basically wanted to devour the entire book right there. And then I found out it’s told entirely thought text messages. I love digital love stories and this sounded like it would be a really unique take on that! I’m so, so happy that I was able to get an ARC at BookCon, I basically wanted to cry (or jump into haha) into the giant pile of them when I saw it.

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Girls Of Storm And Shadow by Natasha Ngan

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*Spoiler free, but spoilers for Girls Of Paper And Fire*

Lei, the naive country girl who became a royal courtesan, is now known as the Moonchosen, the commoner who managed to do what no one else could. But slaying the cruel Demon King wasn’t the end of the plan—it’s just the beginning. Now Lei and her warrior love Wren must travel the kingdom to gain support from the far-flung rebel clans. The journey is made even more treacherous thanks to a heavy bounty on Lei’s head, as well as insidious doubts that threaten to tear Lei and Wren apart from within. Meanwhile, an evil plot to eliminate the rebel uprising is taking shape, fueled by dark magic and vengeance. Will Lei succeed in her quest to overthrow the monarchy and protect her love for Wren, or will she fall victim to the sinister magic that seeks to destroy her?

I really, really loved Girls Of Paper And Fire and I was really looking forward the sequel. I knew it was going to be intense. A war is starting and there are enemies everywhere for Lei and Wren. The publisher actually sent my a physical ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I still can’t believe they sent it to me and I’m still kind of in shock haha. Thank you so much JimmyBooks! This will not effect my review. Continue reading “Girls Of Storm And Shadow by Natasha Ngan” →

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Scavenge The Stars by Tara Sim

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*Spoiler free*

When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide. Amaya wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception—and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down—the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she must trust no one…

I was really looking forward to this book. The title is awesome, the cover is absouetly gorgeous, and the synopsis sounds really, really intriguing. I love high fantasy worlds with kingdoms and main characters who are vicious and will fight for what they want.

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Reviews

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

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*This review will not contain spoilers*

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Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty—until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold. When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk—grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh—Miryem’s fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar. But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.

I adored Uprooted and I was so happy that I wouldn’t have to wait too long for the Naomi’s next book! Luckily, I was able to get my hands on an ARC and I could not wait to see what this world had in store for me.

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