Death Warden

A teenage assassin. An impossible choice. The fate of everything hangs in the balance…

Sixteen-year-old Reen swore she’d never take another life. Divinely selected to assassinate a few in order to save many, she learned to jump from shadow to shadow and claim her victims without question… until she was ordered to kill the boy she loved. But when an ancient plague returns threatening to infect everyone she knows, she is forced to resume her deadly duties.

Battling a disease that turns people into nightmarish monsters, Reen must track down and terminate those responsible before the city falls, and the evil spreads beyond its borders. But the closer she gets to the source, the more she uncovers sinister secrets that will shake the foundations of her world and everything she believes.

Can Reen defend her realm without losing her soul?

Review

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

This book was very unique, yes assassins are nothing new but they way the victims were chosen was very different and very interesting. I loved Reen, she was a great main character, I loved seeing the story through her eyes. The different time lines were interesting. I liked learning how Reen got to where she was in the present timeline of the story.

I actullay did like knowing Erend was going to die before we were really introduced to him, I had fun guessing how and why he was going to die. I did find him too similar to Bastien though, it just seemed a little lazy to me.

I liked how the monsters were kinda zombies but never described as such, which was good for me since I don’t really like zombie books. Also they were not the main point of the story. There was a lot more too it. Cron was Kronk from the Emporers new Groove (in my head anyway).

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would read more from this author.

4 out of 5 stars

Advertisement

A River of Royal Blood

Sixteen-year-old Eva is a princess, born with the magick of marrow and blood–a dark and terrible magick that hasn’t been seen for generations in the vibrant but fractured country of Myre. Its last known practitioner was Queen Raina, who toppled the native khimaer royalty and massacred thousands, including her own sister, eight generations ago, thus beginning the Rival Heir tradition. Living in Raina’s long and dark shadow, Eva must now face her older sister, Isa, in a battle to the death if she hopes to ascend to the Ivory Throne–because in the Queendom of Myre only the strongest, most ruthless rulers survive.

When Eva is attacked by an assassin just weeks before the battle with her sister, she discovers there is more to the attempt on her life than meets the eye–and it isn’t just her sister who wants to see her dead. As tensions escalate, Eva is forced to turn to a fey instructor of mythic proportions and a mysterious and handsome khimaer prince for help in growing her magick into something to fear. Because despite the love she still has for her sister, Eva will have to choose: Isa’s death or her own.

A River of Royal Blood is an enthralling debut set in a lush North African inspired fantasy world that subtly but powerfully challenges our notions of power, history, and identity.

Review

I loved the premise of this book. It started off well. I did take a while to read this but with everything that’s going on, that’s not surprising. I liked the idea of how a princess becomes a queen. Does seem cruel but it makes sense for a world full of cruel magics. I did like how Eva had people who clearly cared for her a lot. I was worried it was goign to be a book where the MC is completly alone.

I didn’t like how there a lot sexualised for no reason. I know you get romance but it seemed like every character looked at every other character in a sexual way. It just got in the way of really good scenes in my opinion.

I loved the fantasy side, would have liked a little more description on the different races in the book and their individual magicks. The history was exciting and well delivered, but I do still feel I don’t know enough about the history.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and am I looking forward to the next one.

4 out of 5 stars

Long May She Reign

Freya was never meant be queen. Twenty third in line to the throne, she never dreamed of a life in the palace, and would much rather research in her laboratory than participate in the intrigues of court. However, when an extravagant banquet turns deadly and the king and those closest to him are poisoned, Freya suddenly finds herself on the throne.

Freya may have escaped the massacre, but she is far from safe. The nobles don’t respect her, her councillors want to control her, and with the mystery of who killed the king still unsolved, Freya knows that a single mistake could cost her the kingdom – and her life.

Freya is determined to survive, and that means uncovering the murderers herself. Until then, she can’t trust anyone. Not her advisors. Not the king’s dashing and enigmatic illegitimate son. Not even her own father, who always wanted the best for her, but also wanted more power for himself.

As Freya’s enemies close in and her loyalties are tested, she must decide if she is ready to rule and, if so, how far she is willing to go to keep the crown.

Review

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the mix of fantasy and science, although there was a few science parts that were wrong. I liked Freya and how she stood up for herself and her Kingdom even though it would have been an easier option to bow out and save herself.

Fitzroy was an interesting character. I would have liked a little more character development but other than that I loved when he showed up. He kept things interesting. The romance was sweet but not full on, which is the way I like it.

Freya made a great Queen and I loved her progression. How she started shy and just going along with what her advisors say and she slowly realises she is the one who has to make any changes for the kingdom.

The ending was amazing in some ways but lack lustre in others. The final battle sounded amazing. But the ending of how the poisonings happened were a little lack lustre. I would read more books in this setting for sure. It’s be nice to see what becomes of Fitzroy.

4 out of 5 stars

The Great Snapping Turtle Adventure

“Ain’t it a beaut?” said the old woman…

When Fred takes stepsons Max and Charles to Elliott Island for a day of crabbing, none of them are expecting to encounter anything out of the ordinary. But all bets are off when you drive out that long narrow road to the End of the World.

An old woman gives them a giant snapping turtle to sell, and their day gets weird. And when they stumble across the same woman’s gravestone–with her death date inscribed, but hidden in the ground–their trip becomes stranger still.

As every answer leads to more questions, what starts as a “Boys’ Day Out” becomes an adventure that will not soon be forgotten.

Review

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

This book is described as a mystery, but I honestly did not get that from this book at all. It was well written and a nice family adventure of sorts. Would be a nice read for younger readers, it’s something I would have read in primary school.

The characters were good although they seemed younger than they were meant to be. It was a little slow for my personal preference but for the age range it is aimed at it’s perfect.

Overall it was a fun mix for family values and fun adventures.

3 out of 5 stars

Second Growl (Lycan Academy #2)

I’m irresistible to the Volkov brothers. I can’t choose just one.

Hi, I’m Nora Blessing, and I’m a wolf shifter. Last summer, everything I believed about reality took a shift. I was bitten by a wolf. Turned out my fear of rabies was unfounded. I had much bigger things to worry about. Like turning furry and eating little fluffy forest creatures.

But I’m not all alone. As well as whoever that wolf was who bit me, there’s a whole academy full of wolf shifters learning how to be themselves in a modern world. And despite my mediocre performance in high school, the Lycan Academy considers me worthy of a full-ride scholarship to their hallowed halls. I’ve survived the first semester—well, I haven’t seen my grades, yet, but I’m alive. And after being attacked by a terrifying demonic entity, I appreciate the fact I’m still breathing I’ve learned how to shift without everyone seeing me naked. Big plus. The four hottest guys in school seem to have me in their sights. Not typical Nora stuff.

I thought I’d adjusted pretty well until an outbreak of chaos revealed layers of mystery and possibly horror in my new school. Something or someone is loose in the halls and on the grounds, endangering all my new friends, and focusing on me in particular. What is it about me that is attracting all the crazy?

I wish I knew. Because I’m scared.
And I can’t just go home.
I’m a wolf. I belong with other wolves.

Review

I found this a little bit lacking in the beginning. It just did not have the flow the first one did. It just felt the author was trying to create as much action and drama as quickly as possible. I am glad the romance is going slow since it’s an odd situtation and I am not sure I am liking the reverse harem side of it. Just doesn’t seem normal to me.

I will be reading the third one since there is many unanswered questions. I am still perplexed at the school and lack of authority, the students seem to be able to get away with just about anything, even murder doesn’t seem to be being investigated properly.

3 out of 5 stars

Crowns of Croswald

In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret…

For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. When Ivy’s magic––and her life––is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.

Review

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

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, full of magic, full of lots of exciting stories. The detail was fantastic, really well put together. Although I did feel Ivy acted like she was 12 rather than 16. The school sounded really fun and a place I would love to study. The story was a little full on at times but I loved how there wasn’t a boring moment, always something new to learn and fall in love with. Although the pace could do with a little slowing.

Fyn was a great character, would like to see more him and to see what he is hiding. He seems to be turning up to often for it to be random. As is often with magic school books, rules are often gotten around easily for the sake of the story.

Ivy was an interesting main character, we got to learn with her, which is my favourite type of story. She did get a little obsessive with Derwin Edgar Night but I liked how she was the only person who could remember him. Theories were swimming around my head as to what was going.

The ending scene in the ballroom was the best scene in the whole book for me. I loved it.

Overall a really good introduction to a new series.

4 out of 5 stars

Question to fairylooters?

Hi, I am just wondering if anyone who subsribes to Fairyloot has had their February box shipped? I haven’t had my email yet, normally it’s arrived by now. Should I be concerned or are they just running late?

It’s the rule breakers theme, so super excited to get it 🙂

Children of Virtue and Vengeance

After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they could’ve imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji, but of nobles with magic ancestry, too.

Now, Zélie struggles to unite the maji in an Orïsha where the enemy is just as powerful as they are. But when the monarchy and military unite to keep control of Orïsha, Zélie must fight to secure Amari’s right to the throne and protect the new maji from the monarchy’s wrath.

With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

Review

I enjoyed this book, but it did feel a little bit like it was taking us from one battle to another. There wasn’t as much story development as the first one. It was mostly Zelia and Amari having power struggles.With Inan and his mother having agruements popped in every so often.

It was well written and I loved all the new characters. I really wasn’t a big fan of Zelie’s whining, it didn’t fit with her character in the previous book. I did love the developments in magic, I thought they were really unique and well thought out. I would love to see more of the unique magic the Titans and Centers can weild.

I am very intrigued to see what happens in the next book. Will Tzain have more of an influence in the story? Will people realise they are all on the same side?

4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Children of Blood and Bone

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

Review

I thought I had reviewed this when I read it a few months ago, so it won’t be the most detailed review.

I loved the setting, it was full magic and lots going on. The characters were fun and exciting. I loved seeing characters from all sides. The journey was fascinating, it was not an easy journey by any means but the characters had to fight rather than be lucked out of situations which I loved. I was so impressed I pre-ordered the second one.

4 out of 5 stars

Woven in Moonlight

A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history.

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.

When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.

She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge—and her Condesa.

Review

I LOVED this book. It was exciting, full of intrique, it kept me guessing the whole way through.  My only quip is that I wouldm have liked a little more history of the war that started everything.

Ximena was an amazing main character. She did make some rash decisions but it added tot he drama and since it all came from her heart it made sense. I do think she was a little reckless at times but the story would’ve been boring without a little danger.

The setting was great, it sounded really beautiful. I couldn’t really gauge the size of the county though. But I loved the idea of the different people in it and all the types of magic.

Ximena’s magic was so unique, I loved the idea of it. Without giving anything away, it was magic that was fun and pretty but really useful, which I actually loved, it was nice for the MC to not have a power that could overcome everything. Everything she overcame was becuase of hard work and her choices.

Rumi was an amazing side character. It was hard to see his intentions but it was fun trying to guess. El Lomo was interesting, I would have liked a little more detail on what exactly what he did. He was kind of a robin hood like character, taking from the rich and giving to the poor, mainly focussing on the King.

Overall it was a fantastic read, unlike anything else I have ever read and cannot wait to see what else will happen in the next book.

5 out of 5 stars