From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes a blockbuster fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.Set in a richly imaginative world with striking similarities to our own, Brigid Kemmerer's captivating new series is about those with power and those without . . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to imagine a new future.
Twenty-eight year-old Cassie Strega can’t escape fate.All she wants is to live a normal, quiet life delivering the babies in her small town. But when she discovers she comes from a lineage of witches, her life becomes extraordinary—in the gravely dangerous type of way.Then, she’s reunited with her first love.Orion, the sultry Fae warrior who broke her heart years before, is searching for a baby. Not just any baby, but the queen of the Fae who will one day lead them in their final battle against the demons determined to rule the world. The same baby who has been calling to Cassie for help in her dreams.Fighting the intense attraction of their former blood bond, Cassie and Orion work together to find the child. But when the heartbreak that nearly destroyed Cassie nine years before looms once more, she’ll have to decide whether getting involved in the supernatural war is worth losing everything, including her life.<
Penelope's Review
Wow! I have to admit I was a bit nervous when I saw that Katie McGarry was venturing out of contemporary and into fantasy/supernatural... but now I have no idea why I was concerned at all lol! Katie McGarry has long been one of my favorite authors and after reading her latest book, I am convinced that the woman can do no wrong! A Wicked and Beautiful Garden was spellbinding, intense, and sexy as hell!
First of all.. can I just say that Orion was so freaking hot that I was legit BLUSHING while reading this book!! Like for real... fanning myself with my hand because I could not deal. LIKE WHAT?! I mean yes I am one of those readers who gets really invested in books and characters but like... I FEEL LIKE I'M LITERALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS MAN... and he isn't even a real person. Sigh.
As for Cassie - love her. I love her strength, her fearlessness, her loyalty, and her heart. She puts others before her while always staying true to herself. Cassie didn't put up with any bullshit, and when things needed to get done, she did them. But she was also very relatable. She struggled, suffered, grieved, felt love and loss... she was a person. A real person. I absolutely love how Katie McGarry writes her characters - perfectly imperfect. As a reader, it makes me feel like their lives are possible. Like I could be one of them. It's one of my favorite things about this author.
In terms of storyline itself - really enjoyed it. I liked the unique take on fae, and the super interesting way that the supernatural was integrated into the human world. I would have liked to read a bit more detail about that, but didn't really affect my overall opinion of the book. There was quite a bit of romance, which I loved - but there were times when I felt like more needed to be said about their quest to find the queen. The romance felt more central to the plot than the queen, and I'm not sure that is what Katie McGarry intended. Regardless though, I was hooked from page one until the end and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Looking forward to book two - and more Orion xD
Rating: 5/5 Devils!
The Duke of Tereford is accustomed to getting his own way, but she's going to teach him a thing or two about love...James Cantrell, the new Duke of Tereford, has inherited a dukedom in disarray and is overwhelmed by his unaccustomed responsibilities. Then he gets an idea. Cecelia Vainsmede served as liaison between James and her father, and she knows a great deal about business matters, his own in particular. She's also quite pretty. Ever the pragmatist, he suggests a marriage of convenience.Cecelia has always been good at working with James, but she doesn't understand how he can be so obtuse. He clearly doesn't realize that he's the duke she's always wished for, or that his offer is an insult. But when a German prince arrives in London and immediately sets out to woo Cecelia, James will have to come to terms with what he really feels for her. Is running away worth the cost of losing her, or will the duke dare to win her once and for all?Bestselling author Jane Ashford takes you to a dazzling Regency England you won't want to leave!
Penelope's Review
This book actually started out really great, but I found that I didn't love how the romance progressed or how the book ended. Everything felt very unfinished and unresolved, which is unfortunate because I felt like there was a lot of potential here!
The main female lead is Cecilia and I thought she was a great character. She was relatable, which is always important and also very responsible and organized from having to run her father's estate. James, our male lead, was a decent character... but not my favourite. He got on my nerves a bit at some points, but I found his pragmatic attitude humorous at other points. The two together had ups and downs. In the beginning, I wasn't sure I liked the idea of the two of them together. In fact, I didn't know that was the direction the book was going to take at first. But then the idea grew on me. Especially when the German prince entered the book and it seemed like there was going to be a bit of a war for Cecelia's affections. But the interactions between the three ended up being a bit lackluster, in my opinion.
And then the book just... ended. It was really odd. The reconciliation happened so abruptly that I thought for sure I had missed something. Unfortunately when an ending is disappointing, it tends to overshadow the good parts of a book. I tried not to let that happen, and will admit that there was quite a bit I enjoyed. But overall, this wasn't my favourite regency romance.
Rating: 3/5 Devils
