Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: Fantasy Standalone/Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.1 How I got this book: Bought The Winter Solstice. In a week. I was still new enough to being High Lady that I had no idea what my formal role was to be. If we'd have a High Priestess do some odious ceremony, as lanthe had done the year before. A year. Gods, nearly a year since Rhys had called in his bargain, desperate to get me away from the poison of the Spring Court to save me from my despair. Had he been only a minute later, the Mother knew what would have happened. Where I'd now be. Snow swirled and eddied in the garden, catching in the brown fibers of the burlap covering the shrubs My mate who had worked so hard and so selflessly, all without hope that I would ever be with him We had both fought for that love, bled for it. Rhys had died for it. I was so completely and utterly excited for this book! I fell in love with the A Court of Thorns and Roses series last year when I discovered it for the first time. I devoured all three books and couldn't get enough of Feyre, the Inner Circle, her sisters, the other courts, Velaris, the Suriel, the entire world. I was fully immersed, I wanted to live and breathe it and I was devastated when it was all over.
That is until I heard about A Court of Frost and Starlight. I could not contain my excitement, I pre-ordered it on Amazon the day it became available although I knew absolutely nothing about it. I just knew that I had to have it. It felt like forever until the release day arrived and then it finally appeared two days ago. It was so small! I was initially shocked at the size, not having realised that it was a novella, but I wasn't deterred, nothing could contain my excitement. Until I started reading. I quickly became frustrated with a few things, namely: 1. Not a great deal happens. 2. It's pretty depressing - understandable given the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin but still, there's a lot of pain in this book. 3. Feyre is portrayed as a saint. 4. All Rhys wants is sex. 5. Most of the characters besides Feyre and Rhys have very little page time. 6. There's a lot of shopping involved. Then, I realised that the problem wasn't necessarily the book, it was me. I'd built up all this hype, OMG it's the next ACOTAR book!! I NEED IT NOW!! Etc. that I think I was expecting more from it than I was ever going to get from a novella which is basically trying to bridge the gap to the next book (spin-off book) whilst providing what is essentially an ode to Feysand. So, let me start over. I truly loved falling back into the ACOTAR world, back to Velaris and other parts of Prythian that I'd missed. I loved being back within the Inner Circle, even if it was hard to see how difficult some of them were finding it to adjust to life after the war. It's was nice to see that some things never change. There are still lots of sweet moments, lots of fun (the snowball fight and sauna scenes), plenty of laughs (Elain's gifts to Az), and there were a lot of heated moments (all involving Rhys, of course). What I would have liked more of, and what I really, desperately want from future books is:
What I loved most about ACOFAS was the sneak peek we get at the end into the next, as yet untitled, book that will follow. I won't give anything away but it looks promising and fingers crossed there will be more substance and a few of the things from the list above in the next one. I'm giving this book 3.5 stars because, whilst I did enjoy being back in the world of ACOTAR, I just didn't feel that there was enough of a story here, or at least, not as much as I would have liked. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: Fantasy/YA Standalone/Series: Spellslinger #2 How I got this book: Bought It's a few months since Kellen left his people behind. Now aged sixteen, Kellen is an outlaw, relying on his wits to keep him alive in the land of the Seven Sands. He misses home, he misses family and more than anything, he misses Nephenia, the girl he left behind. Then he meets Seneira, a blindfolded girl who isn't blind, and who carries a secret that's all too familiar to Kellen. Kellen and Ferius resolve to help - but the stakes are far higher than they realise. A Shadowblack plague is taking hold - and Kellen can't help but suspect his own people may even be behind it. I've been a bit under the weather for the past few days and I've really struggled to get the words to flow with this review, so apologies in advance if it stinks!
I read Spellslinger at the end of last year. I'd initially started it in October, got about 40% of the way in and then stopped because I just wasn't connecting fully with the story. But, I knew there was potential there and maybe it was just my mood at the time because I came back to it in December, finished it and really enjoyed it. The characters are fantastic, and not the typical characters you'd expect. The main character Kellen is, well, I'm not really sure what he is. He isn't your typical hero, but he's also not an anti-hero. He's pretty helpless, clueless and s*** out of luck to the point that even his own sister lands him in a heap of trouble that will change his entire life...for better or worse, it's not all that clear yet. Shadowblack starts shortly after Spellslinger ended and begins in the borderlands, our unwitting hero, Kellen is now an outlaw with the magical disease Shadowblack. Hunted by his own people, he's had to leave everything behind and now travels in the company of Ferius, a mystery Argosi traveller with a sharp tongue and even sharper card-fighting skills, and Reichis, a talking Squirrel cat with a thirst for eyeballs and thievery. The story begins with Kellen finding himself on the wrong end of a beating (yet again), which is consistent with the previous book. The other thing consistent with the previous book is that I found the first 40% a little slow going. I kept pushing because, like with the last book, I was hoping things would pick up, and they did. Just after that 40/50% mark the pace definitely took a turn for the better and I found myself flying through the pages. This instalment introduces new characters, new mystery and a deeper plot to the original story. Ferius, as always, is there to guide Kellen, without getting too involved (as is the Argosi way) but this time there's discord in their relationship, and it's enhanced by the arrival of some new faces: - Rosie (a.k.a The Path of Thorns and Roses) - an Argosi from Ferius's past - the relationship with these two was fun to watch but left a fair amount of mystery that I hope will be revealed in the future. - Seneira - a blindfolded girl who isn't blind. Seneira has a secret, a potentially deadly one, and her snarky, no-nonsense attitude made a great addition to this book. - Dexan - a mysterious Jan'Tep outlaw who gives Kellen a new path to follow. - Mama Whispers - other than my absolute favourite character (I'll get to him in a minute), I absolutely loved the creepy Mama Whispers. I want more of her!! Now to my favourite!! Reichis is without a doubt the best character of this entire series. I don't think I've ever related to a character as much as I did in the bath and biscuit scene (look out for it). Reichis is all of us after a long, hard day. ''Right now I just want to murder another one of those biscuits. Gimme.' I really don't understand squirrel cats.' Kellen might not understand you Reichis, but I do! Biscuits are life! And his constant need to murder someone after being around them for more than 5 minutes is entirely relatable! 'I crave human flesh tonight, and I will drain the blood of every skinbag I catch!' The second book in this six book series shows Kellen coming into his own a lot more. He's starting to grow, using his head to figure things out and learning more about who he is, who he could be, and who he wants to be. The overall plot that started in the first book really thickens in Shadowblack and it'll be interesting to see how it plays out over the rest of the series. One of the things I enjoyed a lot about Shadowblack was that we get out of Jan'Tep, away from Kellen's home and can finally explore a little more of the world. I particularly love the idea behind the Seven Sands and that each region has a different colour of sand. This book is packed to the brim with bounty hunters, magic, danger, mystery, secret plots, Argosi wisdom and trickery, squirrel cat bravery, a few kisses, spirits, butter biscuits, a bath or two, a lesson in smiling, a pink squirrel cat, and a crocodile. Enjoy skinbags ;) Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Romance Standalone/Series: Standalone How I got this book: Library Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan... But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? This book should come with a trigger warning.
Yes, it's YA, and for the most-part, it's a lighthearted quirky story with smatterings of romance. But, it also deals with some pretty heavy issues i.e. mental health, abandonment issues and alcoholism. I read this book off the back of Carry On to see if it would help me to understand that book a little better. I'm pleased to report that it did actually, and I'd highly recommend that people read Fangirl before reading Carry On. It gave me a much better understanding and appreciation for Simon and Baz that I just didn't have before. I think it's hard for some authors to write a writer as their main character, they can easily come across as pretentious and all knowing, but I think Rainbow Rowell does this perfectly with Cath. Cath is instantly likeable and relatable and she remains down-to-earth throughout the whole book, something I love about her. I think every avid read, aspiring writer and self-confessed book nerd will find something of themselves in Cath's introverted nature. Personally, I loved Cath, despite some of her crying and self-doubt sessions that reminded me so much of myself that I wanted to shake her. Levi is undeniably good. It's clear from the beginning that he's the perfect match for Cath and it's lovely to see their relationship evolve. I can't lie, I hated Wren for almost the entirety of the book and I wouldn't spit on her mum if she was on fire, but it worked well for the story and made Cath, and her dad, even more lovable. I really enjoyed this sweet, college story about a shy girl who has to learn to make her own way in life. It also made me really want to get back into reading fan-fiction, and I would if not for the fear of losing myself in it for hours like I used to! 3.5 sweet, shy stars. Do you have a favourite fan fiction? Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: Romantic Comedy/Contemporary Romance Standalone/Series: Shacking Up Series (can be read as a standalone) How I got this book: ARC from St Martin's Press A new kind of love story about flipping houses, taking risks, and landing that special someone who’s move-in ready… SHE’S GOT CURB APPEAL Rian Sutter grew up with the finer things in life. Spending summers in The Hamptons was a normal occurrence for her until her parents lost everything years ago. Now Rian and her sister are getting their life, and finances, back on track through real estate. Not only do they buy and sell houses to the rich and famous, but they finally have the capital to flip their very own beachfront property. But when she inadvertently catches the attention of a sexy stranger who snaps up every house from under her, all bets are off… HE’S A FIXER UPPER Pierce Whitfield doesn’t normally demo kitchens, install dry wall, or tear apart a beautiful woman’s dreams. He’s just a down-on-his-luck lawyer who needed a break from the city and agreed to help his brother work on a few homes in the Hamptons. When he first meets Rian, the attraction is undeniable. But when they start competing for the same pieces of prime real estate, the early sparks turn into full-blown fireworks. Can these passionate rivals turn up the heat on their budding romance—without burning down the house? I FLIPPING LOVE YOU, set in the Shacking Up world, follows two people, both working in real estate, who find themselves vying for the same properties in the Hamptons, leading to a sometimes-not-so-friendly competition. I was kindly sent an ARC copy of this book from St. Martin's press. I read book 1 in this series 'Shacking Up' late last year and it was lots of fun. However, I was a little concerned that I'd be missing something in this book because I haven't read book 2.
Luckily, this book can be read as a standalone and at no point did I feel as though I'd 'missed-out' on anything by not reading the previous book. This author has a really snappy, fun writing style. The pace is great and at no point did I feel bored or want to stop reading. I was a little concerned when I first started reading as I had a little trouble connecting with Rian (read Ryan), I found her somewhat prejudiced, and childish, particularly in the first chapter. I also struggled to understand her 'hardship' and why her past (which is a central theme in the book) is such a harrowing secret. I get what happened to her was complete crap, I just don't understand why it was such a huge deal. I was also more than a little amused that Rian and her sister Marley seem to keep referring to themselves as having a very low-income and scrimping when at one point they contemplate a $5 million house purchase (insert sceptical eyes here). Anyway, moving on... Once I got past the first chapter, things definitely took a turn for the better. The introduction of Marley really made things much better for me, she's funny, witty and feisty and so is Rian as the book moves on, particularly during her interactions with Pierce who really brings out the best in her. Pierce is crazy hot, and there's plenty of chemistry between him and Rian. What I really enjoyed about this book was that some of the 'dirtier' scenes were heavily laden with comedy. Pierce is my favourite character. He's determined, driven, funny, serious, playful, swoon-worthy, and isn't afraid to go after what he wants. There's a scene featuring Pierce in a very suspect 'outfit' that works brilliantly thanks to a firecracker of an elderly woman and her perfectly dirty humour. The romance in this novel is not slow-burn, it's hot and heavy and moves really quickly but the pace works really well and I read the novel super quick; in just two short sittings. It was definitely a fun and sexy book that fans of the series will devour. So, if you like your romance heavy, your guys hot, your heroines smart-mouthed and hard-working, and a heavy dose of comedy mixed into the pot, you'll love I Flipping Love You. HEA Guaranteed! 3.5 fun loving stars from me! |
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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