Tag: Paranormal (Page 3 of 51)

REVIEW: The Queen by Jennifer L. Armentrout

REVIEW: The Queen by Jennifer L. ArmentroutThe Queen by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes the next installment in her Wicked series.

The King must have his Queen....

Bestowed the forbidden Summer’s Kiss by the King of the Summer fae, Brighton Jussier is no longer just human. What she is, what she will become, no one knows for sure, but that isn’t her biggest concern at the moment. Now Caden, the King, refuses to let her go, even at the cost of his Court. When the doorway to the Otherworld is breached, both Brighton and Caden must do the unthinkable—not just to survive themselves, but also to save mankind from the evil that threatens the world.

Review:

The Queen was impossible not to devour in one sitting!  This story was emotional and packed with friendship, love, lies, secrets and betrayal.  It was a wonderful ending to the Wicked Series and that epilogue was more than I ever could have wished for.  So don’t tell Ivy and Ren, but this spin-off is my favorite series in their world.  Plus it left the door open to future spin-offs, which I’m keeping my fingers crossed for.  So if you love fantasy, romance or Jennifer L Armentrout’s books, then you definitely need to pick this one up!

I’d always dreamed about the kind of love where someone was willing to risk everything. I never thought I’d be on the receiving end of it, but I wanted it—wanted it so damn badly.
But was that kind of love worth everything?

With that huge announcement at the ending of The King, I desperately wanted to read this book.  But when we started to learn how the fae’s lives worked, I was shocked, just like Brighton.  It all felt so hopeless.  Brighton was left with the choice of her happiness, or the safety of the world.  All the while, she was still mentally suffering from when she was held captive.  Her flashbacks were suffocating.  But Brighton was rational, strong and knew what she had to do.  Even if it meant keeping Caden at arms length and hoping her heart wouldn’t shatter in the process.

He took a small, measured step forward. “But things are different. You have me now. You have all of me.”
It felt like a knife being shoved straight into my heart. His words shouldn’t make me feel that way. They should bring me nothing but happiness.
This isn’t fair.

I. Loved. Caden!  The King, Caden, was loving, protective, strong, loyal and intoxicating.  Even though the world rested on his shoulders, there was absolutely nothing he wouldn’t do to keep Brighton safe.  He cared so deeply and purely for her.  And as we got to see all that he would do for her, it made me fall that much deeper in love with him. I was obsessed.  Caden and Brighton seemed to be embedded into each other’s hearts and souls.  So how could he choose another?  And how could she deny him the truth?  It all felt like an impossible feat.

He took my face in his hands. “You hold a part of my soul, Brighton. You are my everything. Nothing will change that. Ever.”

With the appearance of so many favorites from the previous books and series, The Queen had it all.  Tink made me laugh so much that my sides hurt.  I loved that there was lots of laughter in the pages, but there was also so much that made my heart hurt.  This book was definitely heavier on the emotional aspect, then the action.  But it still felt like there was danger around the corner.  And I just want to say, I knew it!!  This book wrapped up with an epilogue that absolutely breathtaking.  And the door is wide open for future spinoffs, since there are some unanswered questions.  So yes, I absolutely recommend this series.  Just be prepared to not be able to put The Queen down!!

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

Reading Order & Links:
Amazon (click on covers) & iBooks (click on titles)

The Prince   #1

Review:
Jen

The King #2

Review:
Jen

The Queen   #3

Review:
Jen

REVIEW: Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

REVIEW: Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger #2) by Jennifer L. ArmentroutRage and Ruin (The Harbinger #2)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Half-angel Trinity and her bonded gargoyle protector, Zayne, have been working with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.

As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all.

Review:

Rage and Ruin brimmed with emotions, secrets, twists and lots of charm.  Not only did this story have so much heart but it made me laugh, smile, cry and I even got the chills a few times.  I loved that their world had a richness and depth to it that I could easily visualize.  And I was obsessed with these characters that felt like my friends.  So if you love paranormal romance stories then definitely add this series to your tbr.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I admitted in a whisper.
“I know you can,” he insisted, and my next breath came out shaky. “I don’t have a single doubt in my mind.”
I wished I could see him. His eyes. His face. See how he was looking at me, because if I could see that faith he had in me, then maybe I could feel it.

Something out there was hunting demons and Wardens.  It was referred to as the Harbinger.  And while Trinity, a half human half angel, and Zayne, a gargoyle, patrolled at night, it seemed to toy with them.  Deaths happened around them and there was nothing they could do to stop it.  They teamed up with up with demons and other acquaintances and it all led them down an addictive path where I had to know what happened next.  With emotions running high and so much unknown, it felt like everything could explode around Trinity and Zayne at any minute.

A kiss so chaste , so sweet that it shouldn’t have undone me, but it did. The kiss rattled me to my core, just as his words had.

Not only did Trinity have to deal with hunting down the Harbinger, but she was in a dark, haunted place.  She struggled from Misha’s death and betrayal.  What Trinity had to do cut into her soul.  And I understood her avoiding those she loved.  It was easier for her to keep everything locked inside, even though it was unhealthy.  Since the story was told from just Trinity’s POV, I connected so deeply with her.  Her emotions became my own and I hurt for her.  I understood why she acted the way she did, even when she was insecure or jealous at times.  This story was a huge emotional journey for Trinity, but she grew so much in these pages.  And a lot of that was because of Zayne.

I’m not trying to make it easy.
Those were his words— words that couldn’t mean what I thought they did— but the longer he held my stare, the more uncertain I became.

Zayne was such a tortured soul who spoke to my heart.  He pulled me under his spell anytime he was around.  So when Zayne would say or do stuff that felt more than friendship or was extremely thoughtful, I paused right along with Trinity.  Because while Zayne didn’t always lay his emotions out there, his actions and gestures spoke volumes.  And I’m one who loves to hunt and dig to figure out how a character feels.  It helped at times that they could feel what the other felt, through the bond, but it wasn’t always cut and dry.  Because ultimately when everything was broken down, Trinity and Zayne were forbidden.  They were not meant to ever be.

“You’re under my skin and in my blood. I can’t get you out.” – Zayne

While Zayne and Trinity were attracted to each other and felt possibly more, ultimately they were stuck with each other till death.  She was a Trueborn and he was her Protector.  They didn’t have a choice of being in each other’s lives.  So doubt festered in the air for Trinity.  Even when sexual tension between them ran high.  And in those moments you could feel the electricity in the air.  But there were untold consequences if a Trueborn and a Protector were to be together, so the push and pull between them was sensually addictive.

“Angel Face?”
Sighing, I turned and bent down so that I could see into the car. “What, Demon Spawn from Hell?”
His lips quirked into a grin. “Just so you know, what I felt for Layla and what she felt for me was forbidden. That didn’t stop us.”

We got to see some of our past favorites from Storm and Fury.   Roth and Layla had a bigger role in this story!   Roth was still beyond sexy and smile inducing, and their love felt stronger than ever.  Plus we got to see Cayman and Bambi!  I just want to say the favor thing, ohhhhh I’m so ecstatic with how that turned out!  Stacey was also back, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of her this time.  You’ll see what I mean.  But my favorite thing about these characters being back was the bromance between Zayne and Roth.  They were really good at annoying one another lol, but at the end of the day, they had each other’s backs.  It made my heart so happy!

The taste of him branded my skin, the feel of him as I slid a hand down his chest, over the tight muscles of his stomach and even lower, tattooed itself into me, and the sound of his groan echoed like a prayer.

Rage and Ruin had a climatic ending that left me desperately wanting to grab that next book right away.  I cried my eyes out and had lost all hope.  But just wait.  Because the last few pages, oh they’ll change your world.  And leave you with a ton of questions lol.  Jennifer L Armentrout is beyond talented at giving us so much in a story but then also leaving us begging for more.  So if you love fantasy, paranormal or romance then definitely add this series to your tbr.  And if you want to understand the world even better then start back with Storm and Fury.  I can’t recommend both series enough!

I’d never heard him yell before. Ever. I focused on him, really looked at him, and for a ghost, he looked freaked-out. “What?”
Peanut drifted back a foot. “There’s something here— something in the apartment.”

PS Peanut made me laugh out loud. He cracked me up and added so much light to this story!  But his moments of seriousness gave me the chills.

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

Reading Order & Links:
Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)

Storm and Fury #1
Reviews:

Jen
 
Rage and Ruin   #2
Reviews:

Jen

Grace and Glory #3
Reviews:

Jen

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

BOOK REVIEW: Magic Bound (Ravencrest Academy #1) by Theresa KayMagic 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.*

BOOK REVIEW: Charmed Souls (Black Souls #1) by Abbi Glines

BOOK REVIEW: Charmed Souls (Black Souls #1) by Abbi GlinesCharmed Souls (Black Souls #1)
by Abbi Glines
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

They say blood is thicker than water, but I was never proud of mine. A female born into the Kamlock bloodline was destined to possess three things they couldn’t change—a crazy as hell mother, an unfair amount of beauty, and a Charmed soul that was as black as night.
All a Kamlock woman ever desired in life was to use her beauty to destroy wealthy men and take their riches. A century had passed since a generation of Kamlock sisters had been anything other than gold diggers.
All I ever wanted was to be free of them. I knew I couldn’t change my cursed birth, but I could change its legacy. I had a job, I had friends, and I was slowly gaining my independence.
Until Rathe Scott crashed into my life and tore it apart.
He made me feel what I had spent my entire life never wanting to feel. He brought out a darkness I’d not known was inside me. And just when I thought I was becoming everything I had sworn I would never become…
He was gone.

Review:

I was the evil they all should fear.

Charmed Souls was the type of book that was easily devoured. The characters were effortless to connect with, the story line was beyond addicting and I loved how magic floated through the pages.  With friendship, a romance that had a forbidden feel to it and humor, Charmed Souls completely bewitched me and left me begging for more.  If you love paranormal romance or new adult stories then definitely add this one to your tbr!

The darkness had always calmed me. Even as a child, nighttime was my favorite. The quiet, the beauty of the stars, the comfort of being alone.

I liked Catalina, aka Cat, right away.  She stood up for herself, took care of her friends and worked her hardest to be good, since she was born into a toxic bloodline.  Cat was a witch, who not only cast spells and enchantments, but could also control some of the elements and see ghosts.  Her mother and sisters, oh my gosh you guys, they were trashy and mean.  They used their siren abilities to control and use men.  And take all of of their money.  Cat’s tumultuous relationship with them hurt my heart, but it was addicting to watch since she stood up to them.  So Cat didn’t let men get close to her, she would not be like her family.  Until Rathe walked into her world.

His dark expression was exciting. “You are going to fucking destroy me, and I will relish every moment.”

Rathe moved in with Cat’s best friends, Heath and Margo.  And Cat tried her best to keep her distance.  To act indifferent towards him.  Yet Rathe enraptured us in his spell and I wanted to know all there was about him.  He was kind, thoughtful and caring. Yet something simmered below the surface of him. It made his charm even more alluring. And while he was a player, I was intrigued that he seemed to only act as a friend towards Cat.  Especially when he seamlessly embed himself into her life.

“Maybe I’m crazy!”I called out to him, as I walked, trying to break the tension that had unintentionally built.
“Or maybe you’re darker than you want to accept,” was his response.

Charmed Souls felt like an addicting reality tv show, with paranormal aspects splashed across the pages.  This story was set during the college years and I loved watching the parties unfold. And while Cat lived at home with her family, I loved how she could escape to her friends apartments.  Unfortunately I can’t say much more about this story, because it’s best discovering it for yourself, but I loved Cat’s cousin, Duely.  Be prepared for some TMI, but his heart was always in the right place.  Duely, Margo and Heath loved Cat inside and out.  It made my heart oh so happy since her home life didn’t even have an inkling of that.

Things started clicking into place. Things I didn’t want to connect. Things that I wanted to be a lie.

I thought I knew exactly where this story was going.  I even screamed outloud, I knew it!  Twice.  But there were some things that were twisted in a way that I didn’t see coming.  It was beyond exciting and now I’m desperately waiting for that next book!  So yes, I definitely recommend Charmed Souls!  If you love magic, drama, a strong heroine and an addictive book boyfriend then definitely put this one on your list!

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

BOOK REVIEW: Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

BOOK REVIEW: Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) by Leigh BardugoNinth House (Alex Stern #1)
by Leigh Bardugo
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

If you were going to hell together, murder seemed like a good place to start.

When I say this book took my breath away, I truly mean it. It was thrilling and shocking and eerie and just a total surprise. As dark as the book was, I truly loved it and cannot wait for the next installment.

I had read Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows series, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t absolutely love it. But I know how talented Leigh is, so when I saw she was writing an adult fantasy book based on secret societies and ghosts in New Haven, I was SO in. Talk about checking off a lot of boxes for me.

The book follows two main characters: Galaxy “Alex” Stern and Daniel “Darlington” Arlington. Both are students at Yale, but come from very different backgrounds. I don’t really want to spoil a lot of it, but Alex grew up in a not so great family and had some troubled teenage years that led to the death of some people, as well as the reason for her admittance to Yale and Lethe. Darlington, meanwhile, while not having a perfect childhood, did have some family and a more privileged upbringing. The two have far more in common than they think they do.

Alex gave a sharp shake of her head. “I mean tell me what I’m in for here…with you.”
That was the hard question to answer. Nothing. Everything. Lethe was meant to be a gift, but could it be to her? There was too much to tell.


Darlington is tasked with teaching Alex the ways of Lethe and its role to the other secret societies of Yale. However, something very dark and powerful is at play and it ultimately causes some dire consequences for both Darlington and Alex. On top of what they are dealing with in the present, there is a lot of trauma from their pasts, especial Alex’s, that comes into play.

Daniel Arlington prided himself on being prepared for anything, but if he’d had to choose a way to describe Alex Stern, it would have been “an unwelcome surprise.”

This book certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. It can be very vivid in its descriptions at times, and there’s a ton of talk of death, dying and murder. There’s also a decent amount of mentions of drug and alcohol use, self-harm, unhealthy relationships and the big one, a very descriptive account of a sexual assault of a minor. It’s not overly long (I believe just a few pages) and could be easily skipped (it takes place in a bathroom on a school trip if that helps). It plays a large part into this character’s story, but I understand for some readers this kind of material is an absolute no-go. This has been discussed by a lot of other reviewers in the lead up to this book, but just want to make it very clear of the content in this book.

I’m in danger, she wanted to say. Someone hurt me and I don’t think they’re finished. Help me. But what good had that ever done?

I loved the mystery in this book. It was very layered and multi-faceted and loved how it blended the magical and real worlds. I didn’t guess the ending and am cautiously optimistic a *certain important character* will be making a return. I truly did not see that character exit coming or the circumstances surrounding it. It honestly broke my heart a little bit and hope there is a positive resolution to it.

I let you die. To save myself, I let you die.
That is the danger in keeping company with survivors.


Overall this was truly a five-star read for me. I certainly understand this book will not be for everyone: it’s very dark and has a lot of heavy topics and themes. However, I just loved the setting, the world-building and the characters. I can’t wait for what’s next and hope Bardugo continues to bounce back and forth between young adult and adult novels.

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