Master of One

Sinister sorcery. Gallows humor. A queer romance so glorious it could be right out of fae legend itself. Master of One is a fantasy unlike any other.

Rags is a thief—an excellent one. He’s stolen into noble’s coffers, picked soldier’s pockets, and even liberated a ring or two off the fingers of passersby. Until he’s caught by the Queensguard and forced to find an ancient fae relic for a sadistic royal sorcerer.

But Rags could never have guessed this “relic” would actually be a fae himself—a distractingly handsome, annoyingly perfect, ancient fae prince called Shining Talon. Good thing Rags can think on his toes, because things just get stranger from there…

With the heist and intrigue of Six of Crows and the dark fairy tale feel of The Cruel Prince, this young adult fantasy debut will have readers rooting for a pair of reluctant heroes as they take on a world-ending fae prophecy, a malicious royal plot, and, most dangerously of all, their feelings for each other. 

Review

This book was different than anything else I have read, I loved the premise and the setting was amazing. I expected a little more explantion on the traps to get into the fae ruins, it felt a little rushed. Actually quite a lot of details felt rushed even though it was a really long book. It felt quite slow at times, a little jarring with the rushed details and slow pacing.

I loved all the characters especially Rags, although a couple of times I had to check who’s chapter I was reading since they were pretty similar and hard to tell apart. And some of the characters were not developed enough for me.

But I did love all the action the last 100 pages were excellent, very full of action and lots going on that I could not put the book down. I hope very much there is a second book, I want to know what happens.

4 out of 5 stars

Bone Crier’s Moon

Bone ​Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.

Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.

Review

I was really looking forward to this book. It did not disappoint. I loved the idea the bone crier’s, they ferry the dead, but they have a lot more to do an that, and sacrifices.

I love reading books set on myths and legends, especially ones I do not know very well. I have been reading quite a few lately and this one was the creme of the crop. It wsa full of everything I love, myths but not just the normal, embelished to make it super exciting.

Ailisse was a fun character to read about, her growth was astounding, she thought she knew it all and never doubted her beliefs, until things go wrong. Sabine was strong all the way through even though she didn’t think she was, it just took her time to show her true strentgh. Bastien was a great character, he knew what he wanted but never stopped being a good person, even when the lines were blurred. I did likehow much things were turned upside down many times, so much so that you will not know which way is up by the end.

I cannot wait for the second book, please write it quickly, I need to know what happens.

5 out of 5 stars

The Shadows Between Us

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen.

Review

I was a little unsure if I would like this book when I started it. I only read it because it was a fairyloot book. But I was pleasantly surprised. It found it unlike anything else I have ever read. I like the idea of a Shadow King, but I would have liked a little more fantasy elements into it. I am not too fond of books that just hint at fantasy usually. This was much more a murder mystery-ish with lots of court politics, which in this book was really good.

I loved Allesandra, she really was a piece of work, but she did everything with such sass that I loved it! She thought the world and everyone in it, should treat her with respect that she showed no-one. I really enjoyed her evolution into an almost caring person, well caring for one person.

The plot twists came out of no-where but they were not so random that they annoyed me. Alessandra did luck out of a few situations which is a pet peeve of mine. I did love how random some situations were though.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will most likley read it again.

4 out of 5 stars

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

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

Review: Eight Will Fall

In a land where magic is outlawed, eight criminals led by seventeen-year-old Larkin are sent on a mission to kill an ancient evil that plagues their kingdom. Descending into an underground realm full of unspeakable horrors, Larkin and her party must use their forbidden magic to survive what lies in wait, teeth sharp and jaws deadly.

As she fights for her life, Larkin finds a light in Amias, a fellow outlaw with a notorious past. Soon Larkin and Amias realize their fates are entwined. The eight of them were chosen for a reason.

But as the dangers multiply and her band of felons are picked off one by one, Larkin must confront a terrible truth: They were never meant to return.

Review

I recieved this from fairyloot. I am not sure I would have picked it up otherwise, but I am glad I did. It was unlike anything else I have ever read. In a good way. I liked how the empaths could gather emotions and use them as magic, it’s a clever idea and was portrayed well.

The story was easy to follow and very entertaining. I honestly had no clue where we were being led, which is very unusual. I thought the characters were interesting and I liked hearing their stories.

Larkin was a great MC, she was often centre of the action which suited her charcter and I really enjoyed seeing things from her perspective.

Most of the story took places in one place (it was a big place , but still) since there was always something to discover it was very interesting.

I would highly recommend this book.

4 out of 5 stars