ARC Review: Monarch (War of Princes #3)

Rune Thayer’s rebellion in Cape Hill has placed all of Breakwater in danger. Now, Katelyn Kestrel and her best friend Kyle must do something that no one in the Western Kingdom has ever attempted: travel North into enemy territory and request aid from none other than Prince Varion himself.

Before they are able to depart, Katelyn is unwillingly brought face-to-face with Prince Raserion. Separated from her friends and enveloped in a dark world of his making, the indomitable Prince of Shadows offers her a deal that she dare not refuse. The accord is struck and Katelyn continues her mission, holding close the secret meeting, and wondering whether she has become a traitor to her own cause. Stalked by unrelenting shadows across enemy lines, she must decide: Trust Prince Varion in hopes to save Breakwater- or trust Prince Raserion to win Rune’s freedom.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having found the first two books in the series amazing, the start of this one disappointed me, I took about a week to read the first half then a couple of hours to read the last half. It was just a little lack luster, there was no oomph to it. I really struggled to find the will to carry on.

Once I got past the first half, I quite enjoyed it. There were some good twists along the way. Carmine’s part the story was a little predictable and felt a little forced. Kyle’s part in the story was way out of left field. If I had a million guesses as to what would happen, that would never have been one. Kinda made sense, but a few hints along the way would have been nice.

I wonder if Loadestones are more than we know just now. Kat has some freaky extra power going on and I am looking forward to it being explained in the last book. But I think I might leave it a couple of weeks until I read it, need a wee break from the series.

3 out of 5 stars

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ARC Review: Charmed

Charmed is the exciting sequel to the wildly popular Flunked — second in the brand new Fairy Tale Reform School series where the teachers are (former) villains. “Charming fairy-tale fun.” -Sarah Mlynowski, author of the New York Times bestselling Whatever After series.

It takes a (mostly) reformed thief to catch a spy. Which is why Gilly Cobbler, Enchantasia’s most notorious pickpocket, volunteers to stay locked up at Fairy Tale Reform School…indefinitely. Gilly and her friends may have defeated the Evil Queen and become reluctant heroes, but the battle for Enchantasia has just begun.

Alva, aka The Wicked One who cursed Sleeping Beauty, has declared war on the Princesses, and she wants the students of Fairy Tale Reform School to join her. As her criminal classmates give in to temptation, Gilly goes undercover as a Royal Lady in Waiting (don’t laugh) to unmask a spy…before the mole can hand Alva the keys to the kingdom.

Her parents think Gilly the Hero is completely reformed, but sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Sometimes it’s good to be bad…

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I lapped up the first in the series, like it was the only water in a huge desert. This book didn’t quite live up to it’s glory, don’t get me wrong it was good and I enjoyed it, just not quite as much as the first.

The problems I had with this were: Gilly had gone from a great fun character to a whiny character that was extremely full of herself. She was mean to people who were meant to be her friends and nice to people who had never before given her the time of day.

The storyline was a little jumbled. It felt a little all over the place. Maybe that was just me, but it didn’t feel quite as put together as the first book.

The writing was good and the story moved swiftly and did not linger on boring parts.

There is room for another in the series, not convinced I will read it, but I will see when and if it comes out.

3 out of 5 stars

Review: The Railway Children

In this much-loved children’s classic first published in 1906, the comfortable lives of three well-mannered siblings are greatly altered when, one evening, two men arrive at the house and take their father away. With the family’s fortunes considerably reduced in his absence, the children and their mother are forced to live in a simple country cottage near a railway station. There the young trio — Roberta, Peter, and young Phyllis — befriend the porter and station master.
The youngsters’ days are filled with adventure and excitement, including their successful attempt to avert a horrible train disaster; but the mysterious disappearance of their father continues to haunt them.
The solution to that painful puzzle and many other details and events of the children’s lives come to vivid life in this perennial favorite, a story that has captivated generations of readers and, more recently, delighted television and movie audiences. In this inexpensive, unabridged edition, it will charm a whole new audience of young readers with its warmth and appeal.

Review

This book is a little out of my comfort zone, but I was reading it for challenge. I was pleasantly surprised, it was fun and a little exciting. The characters were a little tedious but maybe that’s how books were written a 100 years ago, classic books are not usually in my to read pile.
The plot moved swiftly, it was the dialogue that I struggled with slightly, there were words I didn’t understand, slang that was unfamiliar to me, mostly it was fine, but when some people talked it was straight over my head.
Overall a very good children’s book.
3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Riot of Storm and Smoke

 

War draws closer, like a tide to the shore.

Bree and her friends have escaped the clutches of the Egrian King, but their troubles are far from over. Still reeling from the secrets that drew new breath when her father took his last, Bree sets off for the safety of Nereidium– the kingdom she’s just learned is hers.

But with the King’s ire at its peak and war a certainty, Nereidium is no longer safe. As Prince Caden rallies the Egrian people against his tyrant father, Bree, Princess Aleta, and Tregle race to the Nereid shore to warn them of the incoming danger—and to put the Nereid Princess on the throne.

The only trouble there: Bree can’t bring herself to reveal that the Princess is her.

It’s not a dilemma she can waste time pondering. With a new weapon in his arsenal, the King’s strikes are sure to be bolder than ever before. And Bree may not be ready to wear a crown… but she won’t let her kingdom down without a fight.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book lived up to the first one very well. The characters were still amazing and fun, the use of magic was well written and the learning of it was good. The action was good, very descriptive and made perfect sense.

I loved how the secrets were revealed, like a slow drip. Kept tension and suspense very well.

The ending left a little to be desired though, very sudden, felt like it ended mid-scene, I know cliff hangers are common but this was even more drastic.

Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

ARC Review: Darkest Dawn

One desperate journey for the truth

Returning to Willows Lake eleven years after her mother’s tragic death, Sloane Baker knows she will finally get the answers she needs! She always suspected that there was something more sinister at the heart of the accident that claimed her mother’s life, but a cryptic note could be the key to her past…

Two lives changed forever

The small town has always seemed safe to Brianna Taylor – until a mysterious new girl arrives who looks exactly like Bri! Now everything Bri knew has been thrown into question and Sloane’s arrival has changed the world of Willows Lake forever.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The start was amazing. I was very intrigued about all the mysteries that were floating about, there were plenty. I was enjoying a book about twins separated at birth and possibly something sinister going as to why. But at about 70% way through the book I was sorely disappointed to find some supernatural elements.

Yes I read a lot of fantasy and paranormal book but I expect clues throughout the book so it isn’t just Wham!!! paranormal elements taking over. This is what happened with this book, lots of background characters are suddenly in on the paranormal plot and not who we thought they were.

The characters were okay but they did seem to run hot and cold, they weren’t fully rounded out in my opinion.

The writing itself was good until the end. The end was rushed and flimsy feeling. I will not be reading the next book in the series, but might try another book by this author sometime in the future.

2 out of 5 stars.

Review: Threats of Sky and Sea

Sixteen year-old Breena Perdit has spent her life as a barmaid, innocent to her father’s past and happily free from the Elemental gifts that would condemn her to a life in the Egrian King’s army. Until the day that three Elemental soldiers recognize her father as a traitor to the throne and Bree’s father is thrown in jail—along with the secrets from his last mission as the King’s assassin. Secrets that could help the King win a war. Secrets he refuses to share.

Desperate to escape before the King’s capricious whims prove her and her father’s downfall, Bree bargains with him: information for their lives. It’s a good trade. And she has faith she’ll get them both out of the King’s grasp with time.

But that was before the discovery that she’s the weapon the King’s been waiting for in his war.

Now, time is running out. To save her father’s life and understand her own, Bree must unravel the knot of her father’s past before the King takes his life– and uses her to bring a nation to its knees.

Review

Wow what a start to a series. I was hooked from the very first page which is extremely rare. I was wanting to know more and more, I kept guessing at what was going to happen, something things I did manage to work out and some only half guessed, but certain parts I completely clueless, which is the perfect combination. I like to at least feel I work some of it out.

The characters were amazing, Breena’s spunky attitude was great, I kept looking forward to quips. It also helped that she was learning along with the reader, made the writing smoother and flow better.  Prince Caden was swoon worthy and hopefully one day make a just King (if he ever gets that far).

Princess Aleta was a mystery to me at first, I wasn’t sure how things were going to with her, but as the story went on, we got to know her better and things made sense.

Lady Kat is force to be reckoned with. I didn’t think anything could shock her, nice to know one thing could. She is definitely a good baddie.

Adept Tregle was another character who’s loyalty’s I was unsure of but by the end his side was clear, he was a good background character.

The unfolding of this story was superbly done, I read this in a day and I still want more. I want to know what happens now, and the story behind Breena’s Da’s disappearance. And what happened to her mum?

I love stories with magic and this was about people have abilities to do the four elements. I loved the magic in this, it was exciting but not overbearing. I hope there is plenty more in the next book.

If you haven’t read this I suggest you do it soon. It’s really worth it.

5 out of 5 stars

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ARC Review: Black Rabbit Hall

Amber and Toby and Barney and Kitty.

The four Alton children spend every day of the hot Cornish summer playing games on sun-baked lawns or building dens in the dark woods. Endless days of laughter and fun, without an adult in sight.

But no one can foresee the storm that will bring it all to a tragic end.

Afterwards, Black Rabbit Hall, their home, with its endless corridors and ancient creaking clocks, is a twisted and changed place, set to steal the last vestiges of their childhood and innocence. A home that not all of the Altons will be strong enough to survive.

Now, thirty years later, a message from one of the Alton children is discovered carved into an old oak tree. Could the tangled truth of that terrible summer finally creep into the light? Or should some secrets be left in the past for good?

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge Kate Morton fan, this book just screamed secrets, deception and lies. All the things that I love in this sort of book. Although there was quite a lot of the desired subjects, they were a little too mundane for me. It was too obvious and I guessed the secrets quite early on in the book.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this, I loved the setting and the story was good even though I had worked out a lot of it. I really loved the idea of Black Rabbit Hall and how it got it’s name.

I was rooting for the Alton children the whole way through, I wanted them to get away from the hate and just survive until they were old enough to get away.

The tragic parts were just that, tragic, they really pulled on my heartstrings.

Barney’s secret was not really a secret and not really worth waiting for. It didn’t really bring anything new to the story that we didn’t already know.

I would read more by this author. The writing was great and overall I really enjoyed this book.

3 out of 5 stars

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ARC Review: School Of Deaths

Thrust into a world of men, can a timid girl find bravery as the first female Death?

Thirteen-year-old Suzie Sarnio always believed the Grim Reaper was a fairy tale image of a skeleton with a scythe. Now, forced to enter the College of Deaths, she finds herself training to bring souls from the Living World to the Hereafter. The task is demanding enough, but as the only female in the all-male College, she quickly becomes a target. Attacked by both classmates and strangers, Suzie is alone in a world where even her teachers want her to fail.

Scythes hungry for souls, Deaths who subjugate a race of mysterious magicians, and echoes of an ancient war with Dragons.

As her year progresses, Suzie suspects her presence isn’t an accident. She uncovers a plot to overthrow the World of Deaths. Now she must also discover the reason she’s been brought there: the first female Death in a million years.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book the idea behind it was very clever and full of surprises, but it just didn’t give me what I wanted. It was very juvenile, I know it’s a young adult book but this felt like a children’s book with swear words thrown in and it just didn’t work for me. There were lot’s of inconsistency in the plot, just small one but they annoyed me, little things like someone speaks but they are meant to have already left the room, small but it they do annoy me, this sort of thing happened quite regularly in this book.

There was a lot of repetition, they kept going on about her being a girl and how it wasn’t right, it got on my nerves.

The story itself was good, I didn’t trust most of the characters but that shows I did get into the story and cared for Suzie. She was a good main character and fought her way through, there was a few things that at 13 she should have grasped on to a little quicker.

Although I did enjoy this I do not think I will be reading the second book in the series, it was okay but I am not invested enough to keep on reading, I struggled to finish at the end.

2.5 stars out of 5

ARC Review: Paperglass (War of the Princes #2)

After narrowly escaping the war-torn outside world with her life, Katelyn Kestrel vows to never again venture beyond the mountains of Haven Valley. But just as Katelyn begins to prepare for life after high school—a normal life with no warring princes, no dangerous magical abilities, and no handsome, duty-bound soldiers—the outside world comes crashing into her reality once again.

A team of explorers from Haven has been captured by Prince Raserion, the leader of the Western Kingdom. Only Katelyn, with her remarkable ability to find anything she looks for, can hunt the team down and bring them home. And only Katelyn knows just how much trouble the explorers—and all of Haven—are in . . .

The princes have been searching for Haven and its people for seven hundred long years. Like it or not, Katelyn must go back to the outside world and rescue the captives, or witness the destruction of everything she’s ever loved.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this second installment as much as I loved the first. I was very glad to be back in this exciting and unique world. Katelyn is a great main character, she loves her friends and is only looking out for them, sometimes it ends badly but she has only good in her heart. It was nice to see Haven again although it was only at the beginning, but that’s where her story started so it was nice for the second book to start in the same place.

I loved that I was not expecting half of what happened, yet it all made perfect sense. We got to know some minor characters (from the first book) better, and some old friends and foes, were back. The story moved swiftly yet goings on were explained perfectly and I felt like I was standing right beside them.

Now I don’t want to give too much away, but I am very glad s certain character was back and just as great as ever although their interactions were few and far between, it was good to know they really are a good person, although every reader new it from the first book, it is good to have proof. Another returning character I was a little disappointed to be back, but it worked and was a little strange that their personality was completely different from the first book but after what they had gone through, I would have been bitter too.

I understand the title of the next book, I have a small hint as to what is going to happen next but no idea as to the main plot, looking forward to reading it.

4 out of 5 stars

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