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REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy #3) by Laura Sebastian

I’m so excited to be a part of the Ember Queen tour! So check out my review below, along with some of my favorite quotes. And enter in a fabulous giveaway. Enjoy! ♥

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy #3) by Laura Sebastian

Ember Queen Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks,
Book Depository
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
The thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling series "made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir" (Bustle), Ember Queen is an epic fantasy about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people.

Princess Theodosia was a prisoner in her own country for a decade. Renamed the Ash Princess, she endured relentless abuse and ridicule from the Kaiser and his court. But though she wore a crown of ashes, there is fire in Theo's blood. As the rightful heir to the Astrean crown, it runs in her veins. And if she learned nothing else from her mother, she learned that a Queen never cowers.

Now free, with a misfit army of rebels to back her, Theo must liberate her enslaved people and face a terrifying new enemy: the new Kaiserin. Imbued with a magic no one understands, the Kaiserin is determined to burn down anyone and everything in her way.

The Kaiserin's strange power is growing stronger, and with Prinz Søren as her hostage, there is more at stake than ever. Theo must learn to embrace her own power if she has any hope of standing against the girl she once called her heart's sister.

Review:

Ember Queen was a beautiful weaving together of friendship, trust, tears, love, and sacrifice. This series completely enchanted me and I devoured it in no time at all. I fell in love with these characters. They held my heart in the palm of their hands during their action packed journey! So if you’re a fan of young adult and fantasy, definitely add this series to your tbr. Here are some of my favorite things about this final book…..

✮Sacrifice and Tears:
Oh, Ember Queen made me cry. Not only was life and war brutal and unfair. But the way some of the relationships played out tore my heart apart. These characters became real to me. I felt everything they did and I was with them every step of the way. So it was impossible for them not to mark my heart with their emotions. It was impossible not to find tears in my eyes or falling down my face. The sacrifice and certain moments in this story made me cry sad and happy tears. It was tragically and beautifully emotional. I loved it!

✮Friendship:
Friendship has played such a strong part in this trilogy. And in Ember Queen, it got even more complex. There was hurt because of decisions that were made. There was deep love between some of the friendships. And there was trust threaded through some of my favorite friendships. Through it all, it was fascinating watching how they protected each other. For those around Theo, my favorites were definitely Søren, Artemisia, Blaise, and Heron. Plus some from the previous books and ones we met in Ember Queen…but those names I’m keeping a secret.

✮Trust:
Just like sacrifice played a huge part, so did trust. In this final book, trust was put on the line and tested. And some of the things that happened, oh, I didn’t even see coming. I felt the knife to my heart, right along with Theo. But it all made for an exciting journey, plus I loved getting to see exactly who we could and couldn’t trust as things unfolded. It left me always wanting to know what happened next. So while there was tension, fighting, politics, and strategizing, there was always trust. And sometimes it took my breath away.

✮Love:
I don’t feel like I can say much about this, because of spoilers. But just know that the love in this trilogy was epic, heart felt and I was rooting for it from that very first book!

I absolutely loved this series and can’t recommend it enough. I binged this trilogy in a matter of days. And that never happens with me. I’m usually a much slower reader. So now I can’t wait to see whatever Laura Sebastian releases in the future, she’s definitely made a lifelong fan!

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Favorite Quotes:

“I died the Queen of Peace, and peace died with me,” my mother told me. “But you are the Queen of Flame and Fury, and you will set their world on fire.”

✮✩✮

When the world turns on its head and I’m not sure of anything, I’m sure of you. No matter where we are or who we fight against, I am always fighting for you.

✮✩✮

I survived for so long by not trusting anyone. It was a necessary lesson to learn, and I wouldn’t be alive today if I hadn’t learned it, but now I don’t think I can make it to the end of this war without trust. There is nothing I wouldn’t trust Artemisia, Heron, and Blaise with—not my life and not the future of Astrea, if it comes to that.
The three of them exchange looks before nodding.
“Yana Crebesti,” they say.

✮✩✮

Suddenly I miss Søren so much that it feels like a dagger between my ribs, twisting and carving away at my flesh. I don’t know if it’s the hopelessness and uncertainty of this looming battle or if it’s merely being here in this unfamiliar place, alone, but I miss him all the same.

✮✩✮

Even if we have the numbers to win this battle, we won’t do it without casualties. Their blood will be on my hands. And I don’t even know their names.

✮✩✮

“There’s no shame in breaking,” I tell him. “Gods know I did often enough. You just have to put yourself back together again.”

About Laura Sebastian:

Laura Sebastian was born and raised in South Florida (the Redlands and Key Largo) and has always loved telling stories–many apologies to her little brother who often got in trouble because of them. No copies of her first book, a Cinderella retelling about angels circa 2nd grade, remain. Thankfully.

After getting her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, she moved to New York City thinking that she would stay for a couple of years before going somewhere better suited for a small-town, sun-loving girl. Five years later, she’s still here and madly in love with it.

When Laura isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, baking cookies or cupcakes, buying more clothes than her overstuffed closet can fit, or forcing her lazy dog Neville to take a walk.

Her debut ASH PRINCESS, the start of a YA fantasy trilogy, will be out April 24th, 2018 from Delacorte (Random House).

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Giveaway:

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BOOK REVIEW: Havenfall (Havenfall #1) by Sara Holland

February 28, 2020 / Arielle / 5 Comments

Havenfall (Havenfall #1)
by Sara Holland
Purchase on: Amazon,
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Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A safe haven between four realms. The girl sworn to protect it--at any cost.

Hidden deep in the mountains of Colorado lies the Inn at Havenfall, a sanctuary that connects ancient worlds--each with their own magic--together. For generations, the inn has protected all who seek refuge within its walls, and any who disrupt the peace can never return.

For Maddie Morrow, summers at the inn are more than a chance to experience this magic first-hand. Havenfall is an escape from reality, where her mother sits on death row accused of murdering Maddie's brother. It's where Maddie fell in love with handsome Fiorden soldier Brekken. And it's where one day she hopes to inherit the role of Innkeeper from her beloved uncle.

But this summer, the impossible happens--a dead body is found, shattering everything the inn stands for. With Brekken missing, her uncle gravely injured, and a dangerous creature on the loose, Maddie suddenly finds herself responsible for the safety of everyone in Havenfall. She'll do anything to uncover the truth, even if it means working together with an alluring new staffer Taya, who seems to know more than she's letting on. As dark secrets are revealed about the inn itself, one thing becomes clear to Maddie--no one can be trusted, and no one is safe . . .

Review

Is this the year of the 3s for me???!?! I don’t think I’ve ever rated this many books a three in such a short period of time. Again, it’s not that any of them have been bad, I’ve just been missing some kind of wow factor.

This story in particular had the structure to be great. I honestly think we’ll see more of that in the next book if Maddie is able to travel to different realms, it just seems like this one spent the entire time setting up for future events and because all of it took place within the walls of Haven (or just outside of them) I really didn’t feel like I could rate it any higher than a three.

There still were quite a few twists and turns that had me really guessing who the mysterious bad guy was going to be and honestly you don’t get all of the details on certain things until right at the end which made the suspense more real and exciting. Along with that, I really liked the writing in general. I haven’t read Holland’s first series, Everless, yet even though I’ve heard really good things especially about the first book. I can’t say for certain then that those of you who loved that will love this but I really think she set up for an amazing second book.

Other than more action, one thing I hope to see more of is character development from Maddie. I think she came a long way over the span of this book but it seemed like every other second she was doubting herself and being self-depreciating and just going through a LOT. Given her circumstances, I really do ~get~ it but…it was a lot to handle. I just wish she had made some better decisions a little earlier or tried to get help or something, anything really. I don’t know, I’m conflicted, lol because I can see how everyone kept her in the dark and it makes complete sense that she was such a novice at everything. I keep playing devil’s advocate with myself to see both sides of the picture but I also can’t help but feel what I feel immediately as I’m reading, ya know?

Overall thoughts, this wasn’t bad but it also wasn’t something that WOWED me–it was just good. It was solid. Will I still read the next book? For sure!

Huge thanks to Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!♥

BOOK REVIEW: The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2) by Roshani Chokshi

February 27, 2020 / Arielle / 2 Comments

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2)
by Roshani Chokshi
Purchase on: Amazon,
Book Depository
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Returning to the dark and glamorous world of her New York Times instant bestseller, The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi dazzles us with another riveting tale as full of mystery and danger as ever.

They are each other’s fiercest love, greatest danger, and only hope.

Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost ― one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God.

Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all.

As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.

A tale of love and betrayal as the crew risks their lives for one last job.

Review

*SCREAMS IN AGONY* AHHHHHH ROSHANI HOW COULD YOUUUU. GUYS GUYS GUYS. WTFFF. I thought the first book was *okay* hahahahahaha omg I’m dead right now, dead. It’s times like these where I consider myself an idiot for requesting ARCs that don’t come out for MONTHS meaning I have to wait for the next book EVEN LONGER. DON’T MIND ME ILL JUST BE OVER HERE FREAKING THE F OUT

P.S. I’ve been sitting on this review for so long because I wanted to wait for the cover to come out…and that was BEFORE the pub date got moved back to September. I’m crying thinking about how long we might have to wait for book three!!
—
*All quotes come from an unfinished copy and are subject to change.*

“I wouldn’t dismiss myths”, said Enrique quietly. “Most myths are just truths covered in cobwebs.”

I’m going to be straight up with all of you. I did not love the first book. If it wouldn’t have been for that ending with Laila and Severin and the information that was exposed about a certain someone really not being the heir, I don’t know if I even would have requested this ARC. Thank God I did. When I saw that I was accepted for it, something in me craved it. I immediately picked it up and basically didn’t put it down until I was finished.

This book, to me anyway, is a lot different than the first. It’s got an edge to it. Our main characters are REELING after the death from the first book and it has all but completely disbanded their once tight-knit group. Their grief throughout the entire book is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Characters are darker than they once were because of it, and some of the relationships are so strained that it almost makes it hard to breathe, thinking back to it. I don’t even usually like these types of books. I guess I must have been in the mood for something a little grittier than my usual fare.

“Be a light in the world, my Zosia, for it can be very dark.”

Because this book doesn’t come out until SEPTEMBER** 2020 and anything could change (I really hope it doesn’t), I’m not going to get into the plot. All you need to know is that their goal in this one is to find ~the book~ they’ve been wanting for a while now. They are lead to an extremely unique place to look for it and I enjoyed Chokshi’s ability do describe even the most simple of things especially in this instance. She has the ability to make everything seem so much more than it actually is which obviously adds to the magic and mystery of it all.

There were some twists that I certainly DID NOT see coming which is always a delicious thing. We learn so much more about our characters and their pasts and it helped me connect with a few of them way more than I had in the previous book. And then. The ending. THE ENDING. Holy crap, guys, it’s one of those endings where you can see it happening through multiple sets of eyes so you’re finding out different information at different times and I was literally yelling at my Kindle and my husband was getting upset with me because I wouldn’t stop to tell him why. Basically I’m almost kind of beating myself up over the fact that I’ve already read this because now I’m going to have to wait WAY TOO LONG to find out what happens in the last book. And I REALLY. REALLY. need to know.

. . .finally Laila recognized the shape and flutter of this ache.
Hope.
It felt like the flicker of newly made wings, thin and chrysalis-slick, dangerous in its new power. Hope hurt.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.♥

BOOK REVIEW: Magic Bound (Ravencrest Academy #1) by Theresa Kay

February 24, 2020 / Jen / 2 Comments

Magic Bound (Ravencrest Academy #1)
by Theresa Kay
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Starting a new school is never easy and this time not fitting in could cost lives.

Despite being raised by shifters, my life was fairly ordinary . . . until I tried to break up a fight and got zapped with magic.

Then, all hell broke loose.

Power I didn’t know I had came surging out of me, revealing me as a witch and drawing unfavorable attention to my adoptive parents.

Now, as the witches attempt to use my concealment as an excuse to push an anti-shifter agenda, the only way to keep my parents—and myself—safe is to enroll in the elite Ravencrest Academy and prove I can control my newfound abilities.

Unfortunately, raw power doesn’t translate into competency and everything is way more difficult than I imagined.

Even with all the things working against me (like my complete ignorance of magic and witch society), I manage to make a few new friends and there's a spark of something more with the last person I expect.

But I can’t let that distract me from the ugly truth that many who walk the halls of Ravencrest are eager to see me fail. To keep the peace between shifters and witches I must succeed . . . no matter the cost.

Magic Bound is the first book in an exciting new YA paranormal academy series with a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Perfect for fans of Supernatural Academy, Shadowspell Academy, and Evermore Academy.

Review:

Magic Bound was heartwarming, addictive and completely mesmerized me. With characters that were easy to relate to and a story line that made this book impossible to put down, I devoured this book so fast! It was just so much fun. With enemies to lovers, magic and friendship swirling through the pages, Magic Bound easily landed on my favorites list!

The fragile hold I have on my emotions shatters, and the tears come down full force, followed by a hiccuping sob.
I can’t do this. I don’t want to be here. I want to go home.

Selene had been raised by her adoptive parents, who were shifters. She thought she was a blank, a child that had no magic and was from two witches. But a moment at a party went awry, and she discovered she had magic. To help protect her adoptive family, since shifters should not have raised a child with magic, she was shipped off to Ravencrest Academy. But life wasn’t easy there for Selene, and what unfolded had me turning the pages faster and faster.

The level of arrogance dripping off this guy is ridiculous. And I’ve dealt with moody alpha level shifters. It makes me want to punch him. Hard.

Selene is definitely one of my favorite heroines. She was brave, kind, held her own, and acted from her heart. So she was someone I easily looked up to and respected. But oh my gosh did she struggle. She had problems with something as simple as opening a door, with her magic. And because of how she was raised, and her lack of knowledge, others weren’t kind to her. She was different. She was an outsider. But even though Selene struggled with magic, she was still completely kick ass. She had so much fire in her and I loved that she had a backbone and stood up for herself. Especially when it came to her interactions with Tristan.

From the very first moment I met Tristan, he irritated me. The fact that he’s a St. James just makes it all the worse.

Ohhh the illustrious Tristan St. James. I. Loved. Him! He landed on my favorite book boyfriend list, but it wasn’t an easy path. You see, Tristan was a total douche bag. He wasn’t nice to Selene and he hurt her at times. But I always looked for the tiniest of clues that Tristan was so much more than what he showed the world. And what I saw underneath it all, made me fall for him so hard. As more of his past came to light, and we saw how he was raised, it all started to click together.

“You are a St. James after all. I don’t know why I ever expected better. You’re just as bad as everything I ever thought about your parents. Maybe worse. Perfect, pretty Tristan who always gets what he wants.”
“I always get what I want?” he asks, the question carried on a huff of incredulity. “If only that were true . . .”

Selene and Tristan had the most addictive slow burn enemies to lovers romance. Especially since there was a forbidden feel to it, because of who they each were. So I loved watching their interactions. They butted heads, each had their preconceived notions and it was rough at times. But I fell so hard watching them interact. Moments made me smile and sigh, and others had me wondering how they could even be in the same room together lol. So hold on because it was a bumpy ride. On top of Selene and Tristan, there was friendships, family, school and even politics in the pages.

Tristan grabs my arm. “You didn’t have to do that. There’ll be . . . repercussions for you, won’t there? With your pack or whatever.”
“Did you think I was going to stand there and let you get hurt? That’s really not my style.” I tug my arm out of his hold.

The side characters rounded out this story so perfectly. There was Basil, the eccentric “Grandpa” who helped guide Selene at the academy. And whose quirks made me smile. To Isobel, who was Selene’s roommate and was the sweetest girl ever. To even her cousin Reid, who felt more like a brother and was someone I cared deeply for. But my favorite side character was Adrian. He was a fellow student who made me laugh and smile so much. He seemed to have a lot of secrets, so I can’t wait to learn all about him in this series!

My entire world narrows down to nothing but the feel of his mouth on mine, his breath against my face, his fingers around my waist. And I am lost in it.

So, yup, this book had it all! And that ending had me beyond excited to see what will happen next. It was such an easy book to devour and understand their world. Plus I loved so many of the characters. So if you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, academy books or paranormal stories, then definitely add this one to your list! I can’t recommend it enough!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY + REVIEW: The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

February 22, 2020 / Cassie / 7 Comments

The Shadows Between Us Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks,
Book Depository
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
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:

The Shadows Between Us is being advertised as a Slytherin romance and I can’t really think of a better description for it. However, I want to caution it fell on the Slytherin-lite side of things for me, as I think there were some missed opportunities for it to get darker and for the leads to really show how ruthless they were.

Alessandra is the main character of the book and the story is told entirely from her perspective. The opening of the book is one of the best ones in I’ve read in a long time. It quickly and fiercely set a tone for the book and gave us a perfect introduction to her. It’s why I truly wished there were more scenes later on that were like this. Alessandra is the youngest of two daughters and lives with her father. She’s constantly overlooked and only seen as a means to an end for her father. Because of this, she’s determined to meet, woo and kill the Shadow King and take his throne so she can lead the kingdom how she believes it should be run.

The early chapters were so much fun, with us learning why she is so cunning and self-assured. She knew how to get the king’s attention and how to prove to her father she was so much more than he gave her credit for. Once she gets to the king’s palace, things slow down for a while. We see Alessandra make friends and allies, who were all wonderful characters in their own right, put her schemes into motion and earn the king’s trust. We also see Alessandra make all of her own outfits, as she is a skilled seamstress, which I thought was a really nice touch. A lot of MC’s seem to lack any kind of hobbies and it was great to see this represented.

As for the king, his name is Kallias and is your fairly typical dark and brooding boy king with a softer side. We learn a lot about his backstory, which was appropriately tragic and made me really feel for him. He’s determined to figure out who murdered his parents, and thus, has problems trusting others. He also has an adorable dog named Demodocus (and nothing happens to him, just fyi!).

Their relationship is definitely of the slow burn variety, but I enjoyed their private (and sometimes public) interactions. Their approaches to sexuality and past relationships was very open and honest and incredibly refreshing. It was great to see Alessandra so confident in her sexuality and the lack of judgement from Kallias about it.

There’s a lot of court happenings and some side storylines that keep the story moving outside of the main plot. The pacing of the book was a bit uneven overall, but I felt the book really stuck the landing. As I mentioned before, the main thing I wanted more out of this book was taking the Slytherin aspect of the book farther. A lot of problems are easily resolved and the internal conflict for Alessandra over how/when to kill Kallias is dissolved quickly. The opening of this book was pretty much the only moment of its kind and didn’t end up the setting the precedent I wish it would have.

Overall, I thought this book was a lot of fun and had great characters. With a few tweaks, this could have been a five-star read instead of just a four. It’s good as a standalone, but I won’t be surprised if in the future there’s ever a followup. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing what Kallias and Alessandra are up to a few years down the line.

Favorite Quotes:

They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.

“You are beautiful,” he continues. “But not so beautiful to tempt me. You are everything I am looking for. You are perfect.”

“Kallias.” I say, letting the syllables drift off my tongue: kuh-LIE-us.

I have been entrusted with the name of a king.

Now I need him to give me his heart.

Kallias, who stood by my entrance, says, “You kept him waiting. Belly rubs are the price you must pay.”

“Alessandra Stathos, that’s positively despicable.” He says the words like they’re the highest compliment he can give me. “You are an absolute gem, do you know that?”

“Rest assured, the only dangerous thing out here is me.”

“And should I fear you?” I ask.

“Never.”

His answering smile is that of a predator, masculine pride at its finest.

“You and I are playing a very dangerous game.”

“I can’t stand being alone for one second longer. I can’t stand being apart from you for one second longer.”

“And though I will not have millennia to live, I want to give however many years I have left to you. Because I love you. I love the woman who saved me. And though she doesn’t need me, I want her. Fiercely. All the time in the world is worth nothing if I don’t get to spend it with you.”

Giveaway:

Want to win one copy of The Shadows Between Us (US only)? Enter here:

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About Tricia:

Tricia Levenseller is the author of the Daughter of the Pirate King duology, Warrior of the Wild, and forthcoming The Shadows Between Us. She likes to describe her books as young adult alternate–world historical fantasies with heavy romantic subplots.Initially from a small town in Oregon, Tricia now lives next to the Rocky Mountains with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English Language and editing, and she is thrilled that she never has to read a textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, playing Overwatch with her siblings, and watching shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.