Ice Crown (The Elements of Kamdaria #1)

The competition could save her life…
But only if she wins.

Talise can manipulate the elements with ease; water, air, earth, and fire all bend to her will. As a citizen of the Storm—a crime-laden land where death is the only constant—her only chance for a better life is to become Master Shaper.

A competition for the position takes place at the end of her training years. If she wins, she would live in the palace, work for the emperor, and escape her inevitable death in the Storm. But she’s not the only one with a chance to win.

Aaden is another talented student. As a citizen of the Crown, he was born with unlimited privilege and resources. When someone from the Crown wants to win, they do. End of story. And his shaping is unlike anything Talise has ever seen.

Complicating matters, Talise’s loved one in the Storm gives her reason to abandon the competition altogether, forcing her to make an impossible choice.

Torn between duty and freedom, she must learn that clinging to the past, might destroy her future.

For fans of Red Queen, the Grishaverse, and Avatar the Last Airbender, this desperate fantasy world has elemental magic and tension you could cut with a knife.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

From the beginning I was entranced in this book. Talise is a great MC, even when she was young, although I did feel when she was being portrayed as seven, she felt older. I was a little annoyed with the time jump at first but that was because I wanted to read about what was happening. But once I got into the next chapter I didn’t care. It was so well written adn interesting I caould barely put the book down.

I loved the magic or shaping as it was called in this series. Really interesting idea and different than anything else I have read. The series is made up of short books, so quick but exciting and jam packed books.

Wendy was a nice side character although I think she could have donw with a little more personality. I was a little miffed as to why no-one else though they could try for master shaper, surely everyone should have been trying their hardest.

Overall I loved this book, and I will be reading the rest of the series.

5 out of 5 stars

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Magical Creature Academy Series

Night shifter

The school hasn’t made a mistake in a century, but she might be the first one. That’s just the kind of thing that would happen to her. Especially since no one has any idea what kind of creature she’ll be … assuming her powers ever decide to make an appearance.

The Academy is the leading institution for paranormal creatures in the world. Its students are the finest of shifters, vampires, and fae.

Speaking of fine fae … Leander Verion, prince of the elves, is off limits. Not only is he arrogant, stubborn, and totally not her style, he’s her brother’s best friend. She will not fall for him. No way. Besides, he’s not interested … is he?

When two men who head the Shifter Alliance, a rebel faction of shapeshifters who seek to escape the control of the Enforcers—the supernatural police force—find out about Rina and her potential for a different kind of magic, they hunt her. For them, the stakes are as personal as they get.

Whether she’s ready or not, Rina is about to find out what she’s made of…

This is a series I really like. I highly recommend it.

 

Do you use review sites?

I see a lot of reviews from Netgalley and other sites, I was wondering which ones people use and if they use more than one, do they prefer one to another? If there’s any authors out there, which ones do you think you get the most out of?

I personally use three: Netgalley, Edelwiess and Booksirens. I like them all. Booksirens has a month limit on reading a book so I cannot get behind which is good. I find it hard to be appoved on Edelwiess but that might just be because I am new to it. I have been using Netgalley for about 6 years and still find a really good place to find out about books even if I do not request or am approved for them.

I look forward to seeing peoples opinions.

Emma

Spellbound

An enchanted Rose spellbound to a greenhouse prison. 

Cursed to live within the glass walls of a greenhouse for her entire life, sixteen-year old Rose has finally reached her breaking point. She had to escape before she lost her mind. But life outside the protective glass was filled with perils of its own.

When she met Gabriel, she thought she’d finally found a savior. But neither was aware of what lurked inside him. Someone was pulling the strings from the shadows. With darkness on the horizon and danger lurking around every corner, Rose must escape the greenhouse, but at what cost?

How hard could it be to break out of a glass cage?

If you like devious nymphs, bloodthirsty curses, and fairytales with a dark twist then check out “Spellbound,” the first in the Spellbound mini-series.

Review

I recieved a free copy via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard review for me to write. I really struggled to finish this book, for me it wasn’t a great read. For being 124 pages, there was some parts that would have been better cut out. There was a lot of repition. Also plenty of areas where I feel more more explanation would have been better. It was very confusing and not very exciting. There was no hook to keep me wanting to read (other than it was a review book, if it hadn’t been then I probably would have given up). It felt rushed and dragging at the same time.

The characters were a little all over the place. They weren’t consistant in their personalities. I know it’s meant to be the first in a mini-series but there were too many unanswered questions. It didn’t feel like a cliffhanger, it felt unfinished.

With some work this could be a great book, but for me as it is, it’s a huge miss. I do respect the authirs hard work but a little rewriting wouldn’t go amiss.

2 out of 5 stars

 

Reading Around the World: Books set in England

This is the second post of books set in England. Apparently it’s a setting I really enjoy since I read a lot of books set here. I have split the USA into states since it’s so big. Hopefully I will have a few more countries and states to write up soon. Why do this post? I think sometimes for challenges people read books in certain countries or people like reading books set in certain places so it’s nice to give a list. Also it’s fun.

Click the book covers to take you the goodreads page for the book.

This is set in Yorkshire, for the part I read anyway. I tried it a couple of years ago but never finished it. Will try to again sometime because it really does look like an amazing book. I have never a book written by the Bronte sisters, so maybe I am not the target audience.

A classic book. I remember watching the film as a kid. But I had never read the book, so I decided a year or so ago to rectify that and I am glad I did, it was a sweet little read.

I loved this book. About 10 years ago I went through a phase of reading lots of Philippa Gregory’s books, I haven’t read one in a fair few years but I remember how amazing they were. She is the author that got me into historical fiction.

Another Philipa Gregory book. I could put the whole series but I’m just putting the ones I have personally read, otherwise I will be here forever. This was not one of my favourites. I prefer the other ones.

If I remember correctly this was the first one I read. It was really good. A nicely told story.

I love this cover so much. I don’t think I finished this book unfortunately, cannot remember why. I will have to retry this sometime soon. It’s set in Melstone, England.

I found this a very interesting book, very different from anything else I have read.

A nice eay going read. There was no big event as far as I remember but I really enjoyed the setting.

I don’t often read erotica, usually only for challenges. This was well written and a decent book.

I don’t remember much about this book, again. Will have to reread it since I apparently did not write a review.

A very good author. Very underraterd in my opinion. One I need to reread.

A very different read, a little odd at times but a good read.Scary if it ever really happens.

Love the idea of this book, never got fully through this book. Crime is not my genre anymore.

I haven’t read this one but i got it for my sister for her birthday. The cover alone proves that it is based in London.

I tried this book but could not get into it, was just too full on for me.

I really enjoyed this book, a very unique and interesting read.

The series so far is mostly set in England- London and Coventry. I am in love with this series, cannot wait for the next one.

SO that is them all- for now. I have already started my next list of England based books. I do not seek them out I just note where the books I read are set.

Have you read any of these? What did you think?

The Wendy

When the world doesn’t want
you to be who you are,
you must become more yourself
than you knew you could be.

London. 1789. More than anything in the world, Wendy Darling wants to be the captain of a ship, but women aren’t allowed in the Royal Navy. When she learns the Home Office is accepting a handful of women into its ranks, she jumps at the chance, joining the fight against the most formidable threat England has ever faced. Magic.

But the secret service isn’t exactly what she hoped. Accompanied by a reimagined cast of the original Peter Pan, Wendy soon discovers that her dreams are as far away as ever, that choosing sides isn’t as simple as she thought, and that the only man who isn’t blinded by her gender might be the worst friend anyone could ask for.

Anyone, that is, except Wendy Darling.

Review

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

I found the writing style a little odd at first, but once I got into the book I was in love with it. It was very original and worked really well for the story and it helped the story along.

This was a retelling in the truest sense, it had all the characters you know and love but the story was very different. Wendy was the main MC and Peter Pan was a side character. Even Captain Hook appeared more than Pan.

I loved the setting, it was all in England so no trips to Never Never Land. This does not mean there was no magic and wonder, it had loads. I loved it. I liked how no matter what life threw at Wendy she kept going and was determined to have her dreams come true.

Wendy was a great MC, she was stubborn but in the best possible way, it wasn’t cocky or mean, it’s just she worked hard to get where she was and she wasn’t backing down.

John and Michael were great side kicks, I liked how they were depictaed as adults and not kids, it helped show their true colours and give them strong personalities.

Overall this book was really good and kept me guessing. I cannot wait for the next one.

4 out of 5 stars