My Thoughts: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown (Audiobook)

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
(A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1)
by Roseanne A. Brown
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Publication Date: June 2nd 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 480
ISBN: 9780062891495
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Narrated By: Jordan Cobb & A. J. Beckles
Audiobook Length: 12hrs 4min
Audio ASIN: B07XM8PJ9B
Source: Own, Library Borrow

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The first in an fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction.

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik’s younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.

When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death? (Goodreads)

I ran across A Song of Wraiths and Ruin one day while scrolling through Twitter, and while that absolutely stunning book cover drew me in, the summary sold the book! This is the first book in brand new duology by debut author Roseanne A. Brown, and it was an absolutely fantastic read!

To be quite honest, I don’t read nearly as much fantasy as I used to. The few fantasy novels that I have tried to read have failed to really capture my attention, and it’s not usually the book's fault, as much as it is mine. (I’m seriously having the hardest time reading lately.  Thanks 2020.) But this book... well, this book was different. It was absolutely fantastic!

I loved so much about this book. The characters were awesome, I absolutely adore both Malik and Karina! I love how their paths started off so differently, yet intertwined over the course of the book in a way that will have you completely hooked. (It’s the best kind of enemies-to-lovers trope, you guys!) I am super curious to see what’s in store next for Karina and Malik.

I also l really loved the magic and fantasy aspects of the book. And the setting was fantastic as well, especially the festival! I definitely am in the mood to read more fantasy now, and if I could get my hands on more fantasy books like this one, I would definitely pick up the genre more.

Also, Jordan Cobb and A. J. Beckles did an amazing job of narrating the audio for this book! I borrowed the audiobook from my library and read along with the book, and these narrators made it such a good read. I hope they will be in the narrators in the second book as well!

Overall; A Song of Wraiths and Ruin was such a great read! The story was unique, and the characters were fantastic, and the book just left me wanting more. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book in the duology, A Psalm of Storms and Silence, which is set to release in 2021 by Balzer + Bray!

My Thoughts: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (Audiobook)

Take a Hint, Dani Brown
(The Brown Sisters #2)
by Talia Hibbert
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Publication Date: June 23rd 2020
Publisher: Avon Books / Harper Audio
Pages: 361
ISBN: 9780062941237
Genre: Romance

Narrated By: Ione Butler
Audio Length: 10 hours
ISBN: 9780062941268
Source: Own

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Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him “rescuing” her from their office building goes viral...

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his... um, thighs.

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint? (Goodreads)

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert was at the top of my list of most anticipated reads to check out this summer, and I, of course, dropped everything and started reading the book the moment it was in my hands. I have absolutely no regrets – this book was fantastic!

I was admittedly super late to the party when it came to reading Get a Life, Chloe Brown, the first book in the Brown Sisters trilogy, but once I finally read it, I was HOOKED, and I knew this was a book series that I was going to love. I adored Chloe and Red from the first book, and I was so excited to get started on Dani and Zafir’s story!

There are so many things that I loved about this book, but one of the main things were the characters. Dani is brilliant, and confident, and curvy, and SO much fun! (She’s also a vegetarian, like me, AND struggles with anxiety, also like me!) And then there’s Zafir, the romance reading, audiobook listening, emotions feeling Zafir. (Yes friends, he’s super dreamy.) Zafir has definitely earned a spot of my favorite fictional men list. When you put Dani and Zafir together, wonderful things happen!

I also really, really loved the storyline for the book as well. It’s the fake dating trope, and I don’t read nearly enough of those! Dani and Zafir are *really* good at fake dating, you’ll have a hard time believing that it’s fake. (Seriously, adorable!) I definitely need to read more books with this kind of storyline!

And while I own the physical copy of the book, I opted to listen to the audiobook for Take a Hint, Dani Brown, since I listened to the first book on audio. Both audiobooks are fantastic! The narrator for this book, Ione Butler, has a beautiful voice! Not only was her accent completely charming, but her voices for the characters were fabulous as well! I could definitely listen to her narrate books all day long, and I will for sure be checking out more audiobooks narrated by her soon!

Overall; If you couldn’t tell by this super gushy review above, I really, REALLY loved Take a Hint, Dani Brown! The characters were so much fun, and the storyline completely captivating, and I loved every minute of it. Now I will be over here patiently waiting for the third, (and final), book in this sister series, Act Your Age, Eve Brown, which is currently set to release March 2021. I am so excited for Eve’s story!