My Thoughts: Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer

Forging Silver into Stars
(Forging Silver into Stars #1)
by Brigid Kemmerer

Publication Date: June 7th 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Pages: 520
ISBN: 9781547609123
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Source: Review Copy / Own

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Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. They once loved the stories of the powerful magesmiths and mythical scravers who could conjure fire or control ice, but now they’ve learned that magic only leads to danger: magic is what killed Callyn’s parents, leaving her alone to raise her younger sister. Magic never helped Jax, whose leg was crushed in an accident that his father has been punishing him for ever since. Magic won’t save either of them when the tax collector comes calling, threatening to take their homes if they can't pay what they owe.

Meanwhile, Jax and Callyn are astonished to learn magic has returned to Syhl Shallow -- in the form of a magesmith who's now married to their queen. Now, the people of Syhl Shallow are expected to allow dangerous magic in their midst, and no one is happy about it.

When a stranger rides into town offering Jax and Callyn silver in exchange for holding secret messages for an anti-magic faction, the choice is obvious -- even if it means they may be aiding in a plot to destroy their new king. It’s a risk they’re both willing to take. That is, until another visitor arrives: handsome Lord Tycho, the King’s Courier, the man who’s been tasked with discovering who’s conspiring against the throne.

Suddenly, Jax and Callyn find themselves embroiled in a world of shifting alliances, dangerous flirtations, and ancient magic... where even the deepest loyalties will be tested. (Goodreads)

Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer is definitely one of my most anticipated reads for 2022! I absolutely loved the Cursebreakers series, and A Curse So Dark and Lonely just happens to be one of my most favorite retellings as well. I was so excited to dive back into this world! And it definitely did not disappoint.

This brand new book is a spin-off of the Cursebreakers series. While the first series followed Harper, Ren, Gray and Lia Mara, this book is set around Tycho, (now Lord Tycho), and a lot of new characters as well! (Don’t worry, we still get to spend time with all our favorites from the previous books as well!) The story is told from three different viewpoints; Tycho, and new characters Jax and Callyn. I love when books have multiple viewpoints! It feels like we get SO much more of the story this way.

And speaking of the story, I really enjoyed the storyline as well. It picks up a few years after the ending of the Cursebreakers series, and it felt both familiar, but completely new as well. I was definitely hooked. I flew through the pages so much faster than I expected to, and it’s been a long time since that has happened. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to focus on a fantasy book for a while, but this one did it for me. Seriously … This book was such a delight.

Overall; I very, very much enjoyed Forging Silver into Stars! I didn’t expect it to be so comforting to go back to this world that I love so much. I definitely can’t wait to read more of the series, and I definitely plan to reread all the books again before the next book is released.  If you’re a fan of the Cursebreakers series, do check out this brand new spin-off as well!

My Thoughts: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

The Ex Hex
(The Ex Hex #1)
by Erin Sterling

Publication Date: September 28th 2021
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 320
ISBN: 978006302747
Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance, Fantasy
Source: Netgalley / Own

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New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late. (Goodreads)

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, (aka Rachel Hawkins), was high on my list of most anticipated reads for Fall 2021. The book sounded SO cute and it sounded like the perfect fall read. This is why it was my very first read of fall this year! Bringing in the new season with an awesome book, and it was perfection.

Let me start this by saying that my most favorite thing about this book was the setting. It’s absolutely no secret AT ALL that my favorite season of the year is fall. I love everything about it! The weather starts to get cooler, (though here in the south that takes a while), the colors of the trees start to change, oh and did I mention that the weather gets cooler? (lol!)

That brings me to the setting of this book. I don’t think I’ve read many books set in fall, but this book is, AND it’s around Halloween time as well! (My favorite holiday!) Everything that Erin described in the setting was absolute perfection and I could picture it perfectly in my mind. I sooooo wanted to be in Graves Glen, GA with these characters during this lovely season. I don’t know if this place is fictional or not, but I for sure want to visit. lol

I also really enjoyed the characters and storyline for this book as well! Add them in with the gorgeous setting, it made for a fantastic read, and I was HOOKED! I definitely plan to make this a yearly fall re-read, and I really hope that there is going to be a sequel in the future as well.

Overall; The Ex Hex was an all-around fun read! Read it in the fall, or read it whenever, but I definitely hope that you enjoy it if you do read it!

My Thoughts: Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn
(The Blood of Stars #1)
by Elizabeth Lim

Publication Date: July 9th 2019
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 392
ISBN: 9780525646990
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Retelling
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh. (Goodreads)

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim is one of those books that I totally meant to get to when it first came out, but waited way too long to start, then kicked myself for not having started it sooner. I was determined to finally read this series this year and I’m SO glad I did! (But yes, still kicking myself.)

Spin the Dawn was described as Project Runway meets Mulan, and it was that Mulan description that completely drew me in. Mulan was one of my most favorite Disney movies growing up and so of course I wanted to read a book that was inspired by it!

The storyline for this book was very interesting! I could definitely tell which parts were Mulan inspired, and I loved it. I also love that there’s magic in the story as well! That definitely wasn’t expected at all. I also really loved so many of the characters in the book as well! Maia is definitely a favorite of mine and I loved her determination and growth over the length of the book. I also really, really loved Edan as well. Together, they are a great duo!

I also want to add that I have devoured the second book in this duology before writing this review, and it was perfection. It was a great story, with a great ending, and while I’m sad to see it all come to an end, I’m so thrilled to finally read the series. I can’t wait to read more of Elizabeth’s book soon!

Overall; I really enjoyed Spin the Dawn, (and Unravel the Dusk), SO much more than I expected to! I will be kicking myself for a while now for not reading it sooner, and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more of Elizabeth’s books in the future! I have her newest book, Six Crimson Cranes, on my TBR to start soon, and now I’m even more excited to do so. If you haven’t checked these books out, I definitely recommend them!

My Thoughts: The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

The Silvered Serpents
(The Gilded Wolves #2)
by Roshani Chokshi

Publication Date: September 22nd 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9781250144577
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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They are each other's fiercest love, greatest danger, and only hope.

Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost -- one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumoured to grant its possessor the power of God.

Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into the icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all.

As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.

A tale of love and betrayal as the crew risks their lives for one last job. (Goodreads)

I cannot believe that I waited so long to read The Gilded Wolves series by Roshani Chokshi! The first book, The Gilded Wolves, had been on my TBR for a while before I finally started it, and once I did so, I was kicking myself for not having started it sooner! Once I finished the first book, I immediately made plans to start The Silvered Serpents right away, and I’m so glad I did!

I always enjoy Roshani’s books whenever I read them. The first series I read by her was The Star-Touched Queen series, and then after that, The Pandava Quartet, which happens to be one of my most favorite middle-grade series. I will definitely be adding The Gilded Wolves to my list of favorites as well!

Since I didn’t write a review for the first book, let me assure you that I did enjoy it. The characters and the storyline were really great, and while the ending was a bit of a shock, it was still an all-around great read. I very much enjoyed it.

The Silvered Serpents picks up not long after where The Gilded Wolves leaves off and takes you on another great adventure full of twists that you probably won’t see coming, and so much going on that you won’t know what to expect next ... at least I didn’t! The book ends in a way that will leave you dying to get your hands on the third book, The Bronzed Beast, and I will be patiently waiting for it to release in September!

Oh, can I also say that I love so many of the characters in this series? They are all so great, and all for different reasons, and I adore them all. I can’t wait to see what’s next for them in the next book!

Overall;  The Silvered Serpents was a fantastic sequel to The Gilded Wolves! I really wish that I had started this series sooner, but I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on the next book coming soon … it’s going to be a most anticipated read for me for sure!

My Thoughts: We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal

We Free the Stars
(Sands of Arawiya #2)
by Hafsah Faizal

Publication Date: January 19th 2021
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 592
ISBN: 9780374311575
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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The battle on Sharr is over. The dark forest has fallen. Altair may be captive, but Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah are bound for Sultan’s Keep, determined to finish the plan he set in motion: restoring the hearts of the Sisters of Old to the minarets of each caliphate, and finally returning magic to all of Arawiya. But they are low on resources and allies alike, and the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Night’s return.

As the zumra plots to overthrow the kingdom’s darkest threat, Nasir fights to command the magic in his blood. He must learn to hone his power into a weapon, to wield not only against the Lion but against his father, trapped under the Lion’s control. Zafira battles a very different darkness festering in her through her bond with the Jawarat—a darkness that hums with voices, pushing her to the brink of her sanity and to the edge of a chaos she dare not unleash. In spite of the darkness enclosing ever faster, Nasir and Zafira find themselves falling into a love they can’t stand to lose…but time is running out to achieve their ends, and if order is to be restored, drastic sacrifices will have to be made.

Lush and striking, hopeful and devastating, We Free the Stars is the masterful conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology by New York Times–bestselling author Hafsah Faizal. (Goodreads)

We Free the Stars, the much-anticipated sequel to We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, was very high on my list of most anticipated reads for 2021, and I am beyond thrilled, and a little sad, to have finally read the book! It was well worth the wait.

If you’ve read my review for We Hunt the Flame, then you probably know that the book and I got off to an … interesting start. I tried four separate times to read the book, but couldn’t get into it the first three. (It was definitely an *it’s me, not the book* situation.) I was determined that my fourth try was going to be my last, and I don’t what happened, but SOMETHING CLICKED, and I devoured the book! It quickly became one of my favorite reads of 2019, and is also on my favorite series list as well.

Before starting We Free the Stars, I decided to read We Hunt the Flame again to refresh the story in my brain. I am so glad that I did! I loved the story even more the second time around, and I had somehow forgotten, (or blocked, lol), the ending of the book. HOW could I have forgotten it?? (I’m so sorry, Altair!) I’m very glad that I decided to re-read.

We Free the Stars picks up right where We Hunt the Flame leaves off, and takes you on another great adventure that will have you hooked as you turn the pages. I don’t want to say too much about the story here, because I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, but WOW. What a story! I loved it so much, and all the characters as well. They are all so great! Especially Zafira. She’s so awesome!

This series really is such a great read, and I am so sad to see it end. If I had any complaint about the books, it would be that this is just a duology and not a trilogy. I would love more! I’m not at all ready to let these characters and this story go. Sigh.

I also want to add that while I have finished copies of the books, I decided to listen to the audiobooks for them, and they are fantastic! The narrators, Fiona Hardingham and Steve West are two of my most favorite narrators, and I loved listening to them in yet another series!

Overall; I really, really enjoyed We Free the Stars SO much! It was a great ending to a fantastic series. This will definitely be a series that I read again and again in the future, and I already can’t wait to start the story over. I'm also excited to check out more books by Hafsah in the future, including her upcoming series, A Tempest of Tea, which is expected to release sometime in 2022! If you haven't already checked out the Sands of Arawiya series, I highly recommend it! And the audiobooks as well!

My Thoughts: Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

Rule of Wolves
(King of Scars #2)
by Leigh Bardugo

Publication Date: March 30th 2021
Publisher: Imprint
Pages: 592
ISBN: 9781250142306
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Source: Own

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The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series!

The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times-bestselling King of Scars Duology.

The Demon King. As Fjerda's massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king's gift for the impossible.

The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall. (Goodreads)

Rule of Wolves, the second and final book in the King of Scars duology by Leigh Bardugo, was one of my top 3 most anticipated reads for 2021. I am so thrilled to have read the book, but let me tell you, it was bittersweet.

I loved King of Scars when I read it last year for so many reasons... One being that Nikolai is probably my most favorite character in the Grishaverse... and also because I really like Zoya Nazyalensky... AND also because I just really enjoy the story and the Grishaverse world! I can't seem to get enough of these books, so if Leigh wanted to write more, I would totally be down with reading them.

So we get the final book in Nikolai’s story with Rule of Wolves, (seriously, why can’t there be more?!), and this book was just great. It did not take the route that I expected it to take, but the ride was fun nonetheless. The book picks up where King of Scars leaves off, and takes you for another great adventure as you turn the pages. I loved it. I also loved getting to see a few characters from the previous books again! (Cameo appearances are my favorite!) I’m not going to mention who, so read the book for yourself to find out.

I do have to say that finishing the book left me with more than a few questions that I would love to have answers for. Things wrapped up nicely, but it also felt like there might be more to come in the future. I have SO Many Questions about this! Maybe I am just reading what I want to read, but it feels like we might see more, and I really hope we do.

Overall; I very, very much enjoyed reading Rule of Wolves, but I am also SO sad to see this series come to an end. I definitely want more from these characters, and I hope that we will see another spin-off or some kind of continuation with them in the future from Leigh. I would definitely read whatever she writes about them! If you haven’t yet read this book, but love the Grishaverse series, then do check this, (and King of Scars), out if you haven’t already!

My Thoughts: Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare

Chain of Iron
(The Last Hours #2)
by Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: March 2nd 2021
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 656
ISBN: 9781481431903
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical
Source: Own

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The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel.

Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.

But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.

Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek. (Goodreads)

Chain of Iron is the much anticipated second book in The Last Hours series by Cassandra Clare, and it’s also one of my top five most anticipated reads for 2021! I absolutely couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint!

The book starts off not long after where Chain of Gold leaves off and is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing as you turn the page. (Yes, I am intentionally being vague, because I do not want to ruin any surprises for anyone!) The ending will leave you a little sad for a certain character, but you will still be desperately waiting for the next book… which is currently my MOOD!

One of my most favorite things about this series is the characters. I probably mentioned this in my review of Chain of Gold, but it’s still true now that I have read the second book. I LOVE all of the characters in this series, both old and new. The new set of teens remind me so much of the characters from The Infernal Devices, especially James, who is so much like his father. And yes, Lucie is so much like her mother AND father. And not only them, but Cordelia and Matthew and the rest of the Merry Thieves are just so awesome.

And I love more than anything that Jem, Tessa, and Will are in this series. They are some of my most favorite characters ever, and it’s so nice getting to see them as adults! (As well as Charlotte, Gideon, Gabriel, Cecile, Magnus, and the rest of the crew from The Infernal Devices! I really wish more books would have spin-off series like this. It’s so nice to catch up!

Overall; If can’t already tell, I really enjoyed Chain of Iron! It’s going to be a long, long wait until Chain of Thorns releases in 2022, but I’m already planning my re-reads of The Infernal Devices and The Last Hours before it’s released. It’s going to be epic!  Cassandra Clare fans, if you haven’t already checked this book (or series) out, you definitely need to do so!

My Thoughts: A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer

A Vow So Bold and Deadly
(Cursebreakers #3)
by Brigid Kemmerer

Publication Date: January 26th 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9781547602582
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Retelling / Magic
Source: Own

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Face your fears, fight the battle.

Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyone—even Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace.

Fight the battle, save the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles to rule Syhl Shallow with a gentler hand than her mother. But after enjoying decades of peace once magic was driven out of their lands, some of her subjects are angry Lia Mara has an enchanted prince and magical scraver by her side. As Grey's deadline draws nearer, Lia Mara questions if she can be the queen her country needs.

As two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and an old enemy resurfaces who could destroy them all, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker series. (Goodreads)

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer at the top of my list of most anticipated reads for 2021, and I was so very excited to finally get my hands on the book! I have really enjoyed the series since it was first released in 2019, and while I’m not at all ready for the series to come to an end, I am very curious to see how it will do so.

If you’ve been around my blog a while, or if you follow me on Instagram, then you probably know how much I LOVE A Curse So Dark and Lonely. Not only because it’s such a unique, addictive read, but also because it’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which I LOVE. (Seriously, can I get more retellings like this in the future, please?!) I thought the sequel, A Heart So Fierce and Broken was fantastic as well, and after the MAJOR cliffhanger ending in it, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this final book.

(It was a LONG wait… but it was also SO worth it.)

While I wanted to absolutely devour this book after I finally got my hands on it, I chose to read it slowly instead, because, as I said above, I really, really didn’t want the story to end. This was actually hard to do because the story was SO good, and things kept happening, and I just wanted to devour the book as quickly as I could. Once I hit the halfway mark, I was a goner, and read the last half of the book in one sitting.  And I enjoyed every minute of it.

I had no idea what to expect going into this book. The first and second books went in completely different directions than expected them to, and so I had no idea what would happen in this third book. The storyline picks up not long after where A Heart So Fierce and Broken ends and quickly goes from there. We get multiple viewpoints throughout the book, as we did in the previous books, and it was so nice to get in these characters' heads again. We learn so much new info! This series has so many great characters, and I love them all so much, and want to know so much more about them!

The first half of the book is a little slow, but once you hit the halfway mark, things really start to heat up. I’m pretty happy with the way things ended in this book… though… While it feels like some things came together rather nicely, it also felt like some things were left open – either to be left to our interpretation or for something else, I have no idea. I definitely feel like there could be more to this story in the future, and if Brigid wants to add to this series, or make a spin-off, I would SO be down for that. Give me all the books!

Overall; I thought A Vow So Bold and Deadly was the perfect end to this wonderful series. I wasn’t at all ready for it to end, and I am hoping beyond hope that we get more books in this series down the road, or maybe a spin-off series, because I’m so not ready to say goodbye to these characters. If you’ve read and loved the other books in this series, do check out this conclusion with A Vow So Bold and Deadly! If you’ve not yet started this fantastic series… well… what are you waiting for??

My Thoughts: A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

A Heart So Fierce and Broken
(Cursebreakers #2)
by Brigid Kemmerer

Publication Date: January 7th 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Pages: 450
ISBN: 9781681195117
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retellings
Source: Own

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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?

The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.

In the sequel to New York Times bestselling A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Brigid Kemmerer returns to the world of Emberfall in a lush fantasy where friends become foes and love blooms in the darkest of places. (Add to Goodreads)

I originally read A Heart So Fierce and Broken back when it was first released in 2020, but for some reason never typed out my thoughts on the book. Since I just finished re-reading it to refresh before starting A Vow So Bold and Deadly, I figured I would go ahead and take a moment to share my thoughts on the book while it is, once again, fresh in my mind.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a book that I enjoyed so much. Not only because it’s a highly addictive read, but also because it is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. (I seriously can’t get enough of them.) It was definitely one of my favorite series starters, so of course, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on its sequel, A Heart So Fierce and Broken.

While the first book in the series is about Rhen and Harper, the second book is all about Grey, and a newly introduced character, Lia Mara. I loved Scary Grey from the moment I met him in the first book, so I was really, really excited to get his story in the second book. Especially after we discovered his secret! Grey is such a great character, and I really enjoyed following him on his journey in this book. I also really enjoyed watching his relationship with Lia Mara grow throughout the book. I like them both so much, and I’m so curious to see what’s in store for them, (as well as Harper, Rhen, and the rest of the crew), in the third book.

(Also, that ending of A Heart So Fierce and Broken was crazy! Waiting a year for the next book almost killed me!)

Overall; A Heart So Fierce and Broken was a great sequel to A Curse So Dark and Lonely! I am now very excited to get started on A Vow So Bold and Deadly, even though I am SO not ready for the series to end. If you haven’t yet started this series, you definitely need to do so! It’s so good, and I hope you enjoy it if you do decide to read it.

Quick Thoughts: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

The Priory of the Orange Tree
by Samantha Shannon

Publication Date: February 26th 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 830
ISBN: 9781635570298
Genre: Adult Fiction \ Fantasy \ LGBTQ
Source: Own

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A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens.

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep. (Goodreads)

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon sat on my shelf for the LONGEST time before I decided to pick the book up… And now that I have finally read it, I am kicking myself for having waited so long! I very much enjoyed the book, and it definitely made me want to read more fantasy stories!

I don’t read fantasy novels nearly enough, (though that’s something that I really, really want to work on in 2021.) The Priory of the Orange Tree was everything that I didn’t know I wanted in a fantasy story. The characters were absolutely fascinating, and the storyline was completely captivating. Add in the descriptions that were so well written, I could picture everything perfectly in my mind. All of these things together make for one fantastic read.

This book took me a while to get through, as I decided to read it slowly, chapter by chapter, over the course of a few months. This normally would have frustrated me with any other book, but I very much enjoyed taking the extra time to read this book. It was a fun experience!

And now that I have finally read something by Samantha Shannon, I can’t wait to read more by her! I have The Bone Season series on my list to tackle soon, and I absolutely can’t wait to get started.

My Thoughts: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
by V.E. Schwab

Publication Date: October 6th 2020
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 442
ISBN: 08414280252-00001
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Historical
Source: Own

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A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name. (Goodreads)

I think The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab was at the top of everyone’s reading list for this year, and it was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for 2020. I have read and enjoyed quite a few of Victoria’s books over the years, I couldn’t wait to meet Addie LaRue. I am thrilled to tell you that I very much enjoyed this book, so, so, so much more than I expected to.

Let me warn you ahead of time that this will probably be a super ramble-y review. You’ve been warned. (I’m also going to try to write this without giving any spoilers away, so bear with me if I am super vague.)

Let’s start with the characters from the book since I loved them so much. The main character, Addie LaRue, obviously, is my favorite. What a fascinating life Addie lived. Can you imagine making a bargain that curse you so that no one remembered who you were? How lonely that would be. And it was, for Addie. You could read that plainly on the pages.

The storyline for the book was like nothing I have ever read before. To say I was hooked would be an understatement. The journey over time from the beginning of the curse to over 300 years later was both fascinating and painful, at times, to read. But I loved every minute of it.

The ending of the book was both satisfying and frustrating. It was satisfying because it was a damn good ending, but it was frustrating because I didn’t want the book to end at all. (Especially the way it did.) I’m not saying that I would love to see a sequel for this book, (I would), but I want to know more about Addie’s future, especially after the long life she has lived. I mean, of course her future was implied, or at least what she planned to do, but I really just wanted to keep reading more and more of this wonderful story.

I also really loved the settings for the book. And by settings, I mean multiple places. Addie went everywhere, and we get to go along with her throughout the book. Victoria was so detailed with her descriptions; I could visualize everything perfectly in my mind. I loved both the past and present time periods!

I should also mention that I listened to this book in audio format, and I am SO glad that I did. I’m sure the story is magical all on its own, but the narrator, Julia Whelan, brought her own brand of magic to it with her wonderful voice. I will definitely be checking out more books narrated by her in the future!

Overall; The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was not at all what I expected, but it was just the book I didn’t know I needed. I very much enjoyed the story, and I know it will be one that I remember for a long, long time. I would love to have more books like this from Victoria in the future, because it definitely left me wanting more.

My Thoughts: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Kingdom of the Wicked
(Kingdom of the Wicked #1)
by Kerri Maniscalco

Publication Date: October 27th 2020
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Pages: 448
ISBN: 9780316428460
Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Fantasy
Source: Own

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Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems… (Goodreads)

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco was high on my list of anticipated reads for the second half of 2020, and I am so thrilled that I was able to read the book! I really enjoyed her *Stalking Jack the Ripper series, and I couldn’t wait for this brand new story. It was definitely worth the wait.

Where do I even begin with this story? I really liked everything about it. Let’s start with the characters. Emilia was interesting. She had a wonderful family, (which is something I absolutely love in books), and a twin sister as well. After her sister is murdered, Emilia sets out to find out who took her sister's life. I love that she is fierce and wanted to get revenge, but I also felt she was a bit too hasty at times. But, I suppose I would feel the same way if I had a twin and something like that happened to them.

I was also absolutely fascinated by the princes of hell. They were all interesting, but Wrath especially. He was not at all what I expected, and I’m super suspicious about his motives and the future of the story with Emilia. I hope we see more of him in the future.

The storyline of the book was really interesting. There were quite a few twists that I didn’t see coming, but that I enjoyed nonetheless. I also really enjoyed the setting for the book as well. Kerri did such a fantastic job with the descriptions and I totally felt like I was there with the characters. Also, I loved the family restaurant and the historical aspects in the story as well.

I should also add that I opted to listen to the audio for this book after listening to a sample and loving it. The narrator, Marisa Calin, did a fantastic job with the voices and story. If you have an opportunity to check out the audiobook, you should definitely do so!

Overall; If you can’t tell by my rambling above, I definitely enjoyed Kingdom of the wicked! I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel, which is currently untitled and without a release date other than 2021, but I am hoping that we will get some information on that soon. I can’t wait to check it out as well.

My Thoughts: The Lost Book of the White by Cassandra Clare (Audiobook)

 

The Lost Book of the White
(The Eldest Curses #2) by Cassandra Clare
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& Wesley Chu Website

Publication Date: September 1st 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 400
Book ISBN: 9781471162091
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Audiobook Pub: Simon & Schuster Audio
Audio Length: 13hrs 14min
Narrated By: BD Wong
Audio ISBN: 9781508232278
Source: Own

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From #1 New York Times bestselling authors Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu comes the second book in the Eldest Curses series and a thrilling new adventure for High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood, for whom a death-defying mission into the heart of evil is not just a job, it’s also a romantic getaway. The Lost Book of the White is a Shadowhunters novel.

Life is good for Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. They’re living together in a fabulous loft, their warlock son, Max, has started learning to walk, and the streets of New York are peaceful and quiet—as peaceful and quiet as they ever are, anyway.

Until the night that two old acquaintances break into Magnus’s apartment and steal the powerful Book of the White. Now Magnus and Alec will have to drop everything to get it back. They need to follow the thieves to Shanghai, they need to call some backup to accompany them, and they need a babysitter.

Also, someone has stabbed Magnus with a strange magical weapon and the wound is glowing, so they have that to worry about too.

Fortunately, their backup consists of Clary, Jace, Isabelle, and newly minted Shadowhunter Simon. In Shanghai, they learn that a much darker threat awaits them. Magnus’s magic is growing unstable, and if they can’t stop the demons flooding into the city, they might have to follow them all the way back to the source—to the very realm of the dead. Can they stop the threat to the world? Will they make it back home before their kid completely wears out Alec’s mom? (Goodreads)

The Lost Book of the White, the second book in the Eldest Curses series by Cassandra Clare, was one of my most anticipated reads for 2020! Cassandra is one of my most favorite authors, so I am always up for reading something new by her, and this year, we got TWO books! Chain of Gold was fantastic and left me wanting more, and so did The Lost Book of the White!

As I mentioned above, The Lost Book of the White is the sequel to The Red Scrolls of Magic, which is Magnus and Alec’s story. Let me just say that I loved pretty much everything about this book. Magnus and Alec are adorable, and I love getting to see them together as a family. They are both such great parents, and it’s so fun getting to see them in more adult roles. I also really, really love getting to see the characters from the previous books also. It’s so fun to catch up and see them grow as well!

I also really love the setting and storyline for the book. The storyline picks up where Red Scrolls leaves off, and follows along the same lines. The setting of the book is awesome. I LOVE being back in the Shadowhunter world! Also, some of the places they visited in the story sounded fantastic. I want to go there!

And one more thing… I opted to listen to the audio for this book, since that is what I did for Red Scrolls, and I’m so glad I did! The story is once again narrated by DB Wong, who has such a fantastic storytelling voice! I could listen to him all day long… which I basically did! I hope he’s the narrator for book 3 as well.

Overall; though I kept this review short and sweet, I am guessing that if you read this far you can totally tell how much I loved The Lost Book of the White. It was just what I needed to read at the moment, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, The Black Volume of the Dead, when it’s released next year!

My Thoughts: The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan (Audiobook)

The Tower of Nero
(The Trials of Apollo #5) by Rick Riordan
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Publication Date: October 6th 2020
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9781484746455
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mythology

Audio Publisher: Recorded Books
Audio Length: 12 hrs 20 min
Narrated By: Robbie Daymond
Audio ISBN: 9780593290965
Source: Own

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At last, the breathtaking, action-packed finale of the #1 bestselling Trials of Apollo series is here! Will the Greek god Apollo, cast down to earth in the pathetic moral form of a teenager named Lester Papadopoulos, finally regain his place on Mount Olympus? Lester's demigod friends at Camp Jupiter just helped him survive attacks from bloodthirsty ghouls, an evil Roman king and his army of the undead, and the lethal emperors Caligula and Commodus. Now the former god and his demigod master Meg must follow a prophecy uncovered by Ella the harpy. Lester's final challenge will be at the Tower of Nero, back in New York. Will Meg have a last showdown with her father? Will this helpless form of Apollo have to face his arch nemesis, Python? Who will be on hand at Camp Half-Blood to assist? These questions and more will be answered in this book that all demigods are eagerly awaiting. (Goodreads)

The Tower of Nero is the fifth and final book in the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan, and it’s also one of my most anticipated reads of 2020! I have been a huge fan of this series since I read the very first book, and I was super curious to know how it was going to end. Even though I didn’t want the story to end at all, because I’m not ready to say goodbye to this fantastic series. But, all good things come to an end. Right? Right.

Leading up to the release of this final book, I decided to do a re-read of all of the previous books in the series, and I’m so glad I did. Not only did it refresh my brain on what happened in the story, but it also made reminded me why I loved the series so much. Not only does the series have a fantastic storyline, but it also has so many great characters. Some characters that we know from previous books, and some we are meeting for the first time in this series, but regardless of when and how we’ve met, I love them all. It’s such a wonderful, diverse group of characters, and I love them all.

When I started reading the first book back in 2018, I did not expect to completely love Lester/Apollo by the end of this series. He starts as such an entitled, selfish God, literally, and by the end of the series, he’s a completely different person. There was so much amazing character growth for Lester/Apollo over the course of the series, and I appreciated watching it so much. Meg was another fantastic character. Though young, she was fierce, and I loved that about her. I hated all the things that she had to go through at the hands of Nero, but she was a tough cookie, and the perfect heroine in this story. I also love getting to check in with all our old favorites again as well, as one last goodbye. (For now, I hope.)

And as I mentioned above, the storyline is fantastic. I always feel like I’ve learned something new whenever I read one of Rick’s books. The mythology is fascinating, and I definitely need more of it. Luckily for me, there are still a few books by Rick that I haven’t checked out yet, so I plan to devour those soon. (Greek Gods and Greek Heroes, I’m coming for you!) I should also add that some things in the book are left wide open at the end, and I’m hoping there will be a lot more stories to come in the future.

I had originally pre-ordered both the hardcover and audio version of the book, and I had a wonderful plan to read along with the book while listening to the audiobook. (If you’ve never done this before, you should definitely try it sometime.) Unfortunately, my hardcover didn’t arrive on time, and I was too impatient to wait, so I opted to go ahead with the audiobook. (A great decision, I might add.) The narrator for The Tower of Nero was once again Robbie Daymond, who has narrated all of the books in the Trials of Apollo series, and he once again did a FANTASTIC job telling us the story. It’s always a pleasure to listen to something narrated by him.

Overall; If you can’t tell by this super gushy review, I really, really enjoyed The Tower of Nero. While I didn’t want the story to end AT ALL, I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. I can’t wait to read the series again, hopefully soon! And I’m very excited to see what Uncle Rick has in store for us once he returns from his much deserved break.