A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas Book Review!

 

Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publish Date: May 2nd, 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Purchased my own copy!

FEYRE WILL BRING VENGEANCE.

She has left the Night Court - and her High Lord - and is playing a deadly game of deceit. In the Spring Court, Tamlin is making deals with the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees, and Feyre is determined to uncover his plans. But to do so she must weave a web of lies, and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As mighty armies grapple for power, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

BUT WHILE WAR RAGES, IT IS HER HEART THAT WILL FACE THE GREATEST BATTLE.

Penelope's Review

Wow... yet another 5 star read. That's three for three with this series lol! Usually, even with a really fantastic series, I find that there's a 4 star in there somewhere.. but so far these books are KILLING it. I will say that I was a little iffy at the start - it was a bit on the slow side, and I felt myself going into "meh..." mode.. and then BOOM. Book saved lol. 

So this book is all about the battle - Hybern's forces are ready to go and the good guys are struggling to get a leg up. Alot of strategy, war talk, etc. in this one (and mayyyybbeeee it couldv'e been a slightly shorter book) but I'm still happy with it! Feyre is her usual strong, independent, badass self. Rhysand is sweet, loyal, and willing to sacrifice anything and everything to save his family. And then we have all of our LOVELY side characters - Nesta and Elain, Mor, Cassian, and Azriel, Amren and Lucien, and so on. I love that Maas has so many characters and yet each and every one of them is so distinct and unique. I never struggle to recall someone's name or their purpose - I know them all and love all of their different personalities.

In terms of plot, there is SO MUCH that goes on in this book... obviously I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers (for all of the readers who are late to the game like me lol!) but I'l just say that the revelations and twists and turns this book takes are INSANE. The last half of this book is definitely a page-turner. We don't leave off on any kind of cliff-hanger so I actually wasn't sure where this series was going, but it looks like we are switching gears in the next book and Nesta is taking center stage! I'm SO excited to get into her head lol I feel like she's going to be such a dynamic character. Anyway! This book was amazing, this series is amazing, and I will forever be a Sarah J. Maas fan. See you guys for the next one!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert ARC Review!

 

Title: Wicked Beauty (Dark Olympus #3)
Author: Katee Robert
Publish Date: June 7th, 2022
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Helen of Troy, Achilles, and Patroclus that's as sinful as it is sweet.*

In Olympus, you either have the power to rule...or you are ruled. Achilles Kallis may have been born with nothing, but as a child he vowed he would claw his way into the poisonous city's inner circle. Now that a coveted role has opened to anyone with the strength to claim it, he and his partner, Patroclus Fotos, plan to compete and double their odds of winning.

Neither expect infamous beauty Helen Kasios to be part of the prize...or for the complicated fire that burns the moment she looks their way.

Zeus may have decided Helen is his to give to away, but she has her own plans. She enters into the competition as a middle finger to the meddling Thirteen rulers, effectively vying for her own hand in marriage. Unfortunately, there are those who would rather see her dead than lead the city. The only people she can trust are the ones she can't keep her hands off—Achilles and Patroclus. But can she really believe they have her best interests at heart when every stolen kiss is a battlefield?

Penelope's Review

I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this, as it's my first book by this author (this is one of those series that doesn't really need to be read in order) but I really enjoyed it! I liked the writing style, enjoyed the tropes, and loved the overall plot. The world-building here is great - lots of details are given but in a "show" rather than a "tell" way if you know what I mean. I am a sucker for any kind of competition in a book, so the fact that this was trial-based hooked me right from the beginning!

The sexual chemistry just FLIES off the pages - Helen is a gorgeous, layered character who fits into the story well, and fits in with Achilles and Patroclus even better! I've never read a book with a ménage à trois before, so again, wasn't sure what to expect but it ended up being SO HOT! The sex scenes are written well, you can feel the emotions and tension and it just works! Achilles is a man who knows what he wants and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals whereas Patroclus is the one with a head on his shoulders and a penchant for seeing 10 steps ahead of everyone. The two are complete opposites and yet they work so well together. With Helen thrown into the mix, who's personality is almost like a combination of the two, it just makes everything that much better.

I loved the trials that they had to go through to become Ares - though I will say that I thought there would be a bit more when it came to the two "outsider" competitors... maybe that will go somewhere in the next book?? But in this one, the villain aspect that I thought was going to play a larger role, sort of fell flat for me. Other than that though, really enjoyable read! I like the twist on mythology and look forward to trying the other books in this series!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Book Review!

 

Title: A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publish Date: May 3rd, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Purchased my own copy!

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Penelope's Review

OMG. I literally can't even with this series.... I thought the first book was good. Great. Fantastic even! But this book? This book blows the first book out of the water! Holy shit it has everything I need and want in a book - absolutely amazing characters, great plot, great writing, adventure, growth, romance, tension, and so on. You name it, this book has it! Yet again, I come here to say - Sarah J. Maas is so NOT overrated in my opinion. This series deserves ALL the hype.

So let's start with characters. I am LOVING Feyre yet again here - the growth, the maturity, the range of emotions... all so, so good. She really comes into her own here, realizing who she is, what she wants, and what she needs. Yes, she has some help in getting there but she does most of the grunt work. Honestly, when the inevitable Feyre/Rhys drama unfolded (you know, the scene where the main couple discovers something about the other that makes them storm away and stop speaking to the other) I was like oh here we go. Another completely over-dramatic, unrealistic way of handling things. But it DIDN'T TURN OUT LIKE THAT! Feyre realized what he had done wrong, and realized what she had done wrong, and was just so completely adult about the whole thing! I loved the maturity, it just made the conflict seem so much more realistic.

Rhysand... oh Rhys. I am a die-hard fan. Forever and always. I thought I was Team Tamlin... though I did have some doubts even in the first book... but now I'm like Tamlin who??? GIVE ME RHYS! And we get Rhys.... boy oh boy do we ever get Rhys... SUCH a well-written character. Honestly, he's just so perfect. Ugh, I love it. 

And all of our side characters? I genuinely love every single one. They are all so MEMORABLE! Which is really rare honestly, usually I only really remember the main characters and maybe one or two supporting characters... but this book gives stellar qualities to each and every one of them. Mor, Cassian, Azriel, Lucien, Amren, etc. There's so many characters and yet they are all written really well. I think Maas' strength really lies in her ability to write excellent characters!

Anyway, in terms of plot - amazing. I FLEW through this book, not a signle page had me slowing down, or bored in any way. I needed to know what was going to happen next at ALL times. And that ending?! Dear God I didn't even know what to do with myself... so I picked up ACOWAR and kept reading lmao! But seriously, I can't say enough good things about this. Excellent series, only two books in and already taking a spot in my top 5 faves.

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Book Review!

 

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publish Date: May 5th, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury 
Source: Purchased my own copy!

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

Penelope's Review

Why did I wait 7 years to start this series you may be asking? Well firstly because I didn't know it existed until about 2 years ago and secondly because I was then convinced that it could not possibly live up to the hype. I was so... so wrong. This is very quickly turning into one of my favorite series (I am halfway through the second book as I write this review lol). 

So we have Feyre, a badass 19 year old who hunts out of necessity to feed her family, though what she'd really like to be doing is painting! She and her family, as well as most of the mortal world holds a deep hatred for faeries who live on the other side of the wall. When Feyre murders a faerie in the shape of a wolf one day, Tamlin comes to collect her and bring her to the Spring Court to live out the rest of her days as a sort of payment for killing one of their own. 

Phew... the drama gets so, so good from there on out lol! I absolutely adore Feyre - I think she's smart, sarcastic, and totally relatable. And Tamlin was also right up there for me - he's sexy, yet reserved, and has this control to him that's so much fun to watch come undone. I really liked these two - loved the buildup and tension between them, loved the eventual passion, and loved the loyalty and dedication. 

The plot itself was also great - I really liked the Beauty and the Beast ties, and loved the action and fast pace. I will say that when it came to a particular riddle... I found it really easy to solve which kind of took away a bit of the fun. But overall, this was just a really great read. I also really enjoyed the side characters - Amarantha was evil and badass, a fantastic villain really. Alis was sweet, and I liked her role. And then there was Rhysand. Boy oh boy am I excited to see more of him. I really and truly don't know who I prefer - Rhysand or Tamlin. I loved them both. Looking forward to finishing the second book and seeing where all of this goes!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

Big Boned by Jo Watson Book Review!

 

Title: Big Boned
Author: Jo Watson
Publish Date: September 21st, 2021
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy!

Can she be herself in a one-size-fits-all world?

Lori Palmer is the new girl at Bay Water High, where students prize glossy hair, beach bodies, and school spirit above all else. She misses her old school―where her talent as an artist carried more weight than she does―and longs for her old family life, before her parents got divorced and her mom reinvented herself.

So Lori decides that the only way to survive the rest of the year is to blend into the background, but her plans go awry when she discovers that the most popular (and hottest) guy at Bay Water High, Jake, is a volunteer at her brother’s school. When her brother befriends Jake’s sister, Lori is suddenly thrust into his unfamiliar and exhilarating world of water polo, parties, and stargazing.

But with her relationship with her mother deteriorating, old anxieties resurface and Lori finds a new artistic release that unknowingly ignites a powerful movement. When the authorities start asking questions, Lori realizes that finding her voice might have gotten her into a world of trouble…but sometimes standing up for what you believe in is as important as standing up for yourself.

Penelope's Review

Omigosh this was such a cute read! I was kind of expecting it to be overly dramatic and unrealistic, but it ended up being a really great blend of fiction and reality. Lori is a teenaged girl who hates her body, and has to overcome a lot of terrible things in her life to get to a place of positivity. She has an autistic younger brother, divorced parents due to an affair, and she sees a therapist. There is a lot to unpack, believe me! 

Lori meets fellow classmate Jake, aka the hottest guy at school, through her younger brother when he and Jake's little sister become friends. Before long, their connection is taking off and Lori isn't quite sure what to do about her growing feelings for him because she views herself in such a negative light. Now, I've seen some reviews that have really bashed the way Lori speaks about herself in the beginning and while I feel that everyone is 100% entitled to their own opinion, I do just want to point out that the way she feels about herself is the way SO many girls, regardless of size, feel about themselves. I've even had the majority of these thoughts cross my own mind and seeing them on paper honestly had the opposite effect for me - it made my feelings feel...valid! Like I'm not the only one out there with these issues. And as I continued to read, and saw how Lori evolved and how she began to see herself as beautiful, it really struck a chord with me. I think to start the book any other way would have felt... fake. The whole point of this story, in my humble opinion, is to show how cruel girls can be to their own selves, how absolutely terrible they can view their own bodies... and then show how much your mindset an be turned around, and how truly wonderful you can feel in your own skin.

I thought this book did a really fantastic job of keeping things real, and touching on a lot of different issues. I loved loved loved the budding romance between Lori and Jake - even though sometimes I was so frustrated with Lori's reactions lol! I totally get it, but it didn't stop me from yelling "Girl what are you doing?!?!" at the page haha! 

Overall, this is a really cute book, easy to get through, that touches on issues without being too heavy. I think it's a great book for alot of different age groups, and look forward to reading whatever this author comes up with next.

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

A Duke for Diana by Sabrina Jeffries ARC Review!

 

Title: A Duke for Diana (Designing Debutantes #1)
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Publish Date: May 31st, 2022
Publisher: Zebra
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

Self-made civil engineer Geoffrey Brookhouse has unexpectedly inherited the dukedom of Grenwood. But he has a secret that could ruin his family. Hoping to save his timid sister from that fate, he seeks to marry her off to a respectable, protective gentleman. With the London Season imminent, Geoffrey hires Elegant Occasions to orchestrate her debut. Yet Lady Diana Harper, spirited fashion expert, proves more than he bargained for. Suddenly, Geoffrey’s sister is emerging from her shell, and he is beleaguered with social invitations and gossip! Worse, Diana is attempting to transform him into a presentable duke—when all he really wants is to win her heart...

Diana doesn’t know what to make of the handsome, disheveled duke. The man bristles at the very idea that his fashion faux pas might spoil his sister’s chances. Yet Geoffrey’s stubbornness simply inspires Diana to ruffle his feathers—by setting him on a course of self-improvement. Although there’s something endearing, even irresistible about his flaws, can a man who hates the ton tolerate a woman who makes her living catering to them? Little does either know that they have more in common than they suspect—and that two can create a society all their own...

Penelope's Review

This is the first book in a promising new regency romance by Sabrina Jeffries. After her parent's scandalous divorce ruins any prospects for Diana and her younger sister, the two girls, along with their already married older sister, decide to start Elegant Occasions - a party planning service for the ton. When Geoffrey enlists their services for his sister, Rosabel, he meets Diana and our story goes from there.

Geoffrey is a gruff character, unused to the ways of the ton since his dukedom was thrust upon him entirely unexpectedly. Honestly, I kind of liked his disdain for the ton while also appreciating his ability to modify his opinions when necessary. Diana was strong and independent, and though the gossip surrounding her family did affect her, I liked her attitude in regards to moving forward and forging her own place in society. 

In terms of their relationship... I did and didn't like it. It had it's moments where I thought they were the sweetest match ever and then there were times when I felt less invested. The marriage issue was sort of hard to follow... they wanted to get married, but he didn't, then she didn't but he did... but also didn't at the same time... it was a little annoying to be honest. I actually loved Geoffrey's sister Rosabel! She was fun and I actually really enjoyed her parts!

Overall, the plot of the book is pretty good, and the main characters on their own were good, but I wasn't in love with the romance. I'm happy about how things turned out, and it wasn't a bad read by any means, just not one of my favorites. That being said, I will continue the series to see what becomes of Diana's sisters!

Rating: 3/5 Devils!

A Daring Pursuit by Kate Bateman ARC Review!

 

Title: A Daring Pursuit
Author: Kate Bateman
Publish Date: May 24th, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

The Davies and Montgomery families have been locked in an ancient feud. But it’s a thin line between love and hate in Kate Bateman's A Daring Pursuit.

TWO ENEMIES

Carys Davies is doing everything in her power to avoid marriage. Staying single is the only way to hide the secret that could ruin her—and her family—if it was revealed. For the past two seasons she’s scandalized the ton with her outrageous outfits and brazen ways in a futile bid to deter potential suitors. Outwardly confident and carefree, inside she’s disillusioned with both men and love. There’s only one person who’s never bought her act—the only man who makes her heart race: Tristan Montgomery, one of her family’s greatest rivals.

ONE SCANDALOUS BARGAIN

Wickedly proper architect Tristan needs a respectable woman to wed, but he’s never stopped wanting bold, red-headed Carys. When she mockingly challenges him to show her what she’s missing by not getting married, Tristan shocks them both by accepting her indecent proposal: one week of clandestine meetings, after which they’ll go their separate ways. But kissing each other is almost as much fun as arguing, and their affair burns hotter than either of them expects. When they find themselves embroiled in a treasonous plot, can they trust each other with their hearts, their secrets…and their lives?

Penelope's Review

This is my first book by this author and I have to say I quite liked her writing style! I'm a huge fan of regency romance so there are lots of times when I feel like I'm reading the same book again (not that I mind, this is my comfort genre so I go in expecting the same tropes lol!) but I found this one to have a few pretty unique aspects which is always exciting! 

First off, we have a main female character who purposely wears scandalous outfits to every ball she attends (LOVED this - thanks to good writing, I had a mental image of each stunning outfit!). She does this to avoid marrying anyone due to a secret that we learn about pretty early in the book (though I won't go into details for those who wish to remain surprised). Carys was a fun, layered character who always seemed so good-natured, yet bold and unafraid. Tristan is more reserved and proper, yet he can't help but be intrigued with Carys's salacious disregard for the ton's rules. These two are such a great match. Both complement each other's personalities, both are intelligent and caring, and both are in love before they even realize it.

Overall, the plot here was great, the supporting characters (including Carys's animals!) were all fantastic, and our main characters were a perfect match. Though there is an element of blackmail, it takes a backseat to the romance between Carys and Tristan which is ok, just something to note! I'm looking forward to what comes next in this series, and will definitely be going back and reading the first one!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

The Carnival of Ash by Tom Beckerlegge Blog Tour!

 

Hi everyone! Today is my stop on The Carnival of Ash blog tour hosted by The Write Reads Tours! I am so excited to share the details about this book with you - read below to learn more! 

Title: The Carnival of Ash
Author: Tom Beckerlegge
Publish Date: March 15th, 2022
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing

About the book:

Cadenza is the City of Words, a city run by poets, its skyline dominated by the steepled towers of its libraries, its heart beating to the stamp and thrum of the printing presses in the Printing Quarter.

Carlo Mazzoni, a young wordsmith arrives at the city gates intent on making his name as the bells ring out with the news of the death of the city’s poet-leader. Instead, he finds himself embroiled with the intrigues of a city in turmoil, the looming prospect of war with their rival Venice ever-present. A war that threatens not only to destroy Cadenza but remove it from history altogether…

About the Author:

Tom Beckerlegge grew up in the northwest of England in a house filled with books. Writing as Tom Becker, he won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize with his debut novel; The Carnival of Ash is his first adult book. He lives in Enfield with his wife and young son.

Where can I see more/purchase?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1786185008/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58438204-the-carnival-of-ash

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy Lin Book Review!

 

Title: A Magic Steeped in Poison (The Book of Tea #1)
Author: Judy Lin
Publish Date: March 29th, 2022
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy!

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, "These are the hands that buried my mother."

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Penelope's Review

This is such a fun read! I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in, despite the blurb, and I have to say I loved the mix of culture, mystery, and intrigue! The concept behind the magic teas was totally unique and it was so interesting to read about all the different things that tea could do in Lin's fantastical world. 

With her mother dead and her sister on death's door, Ning has little choice but to enter the competition to become the next shennong-shi for the kingdom. She hopes to win and gain the medicine needed to save her sister's life. But there's a lot more at stake than just some friendly competition. The book is chock full of political drama and secrets, and people willing to do anything to win the competition. There was a lot of detail, and many twists and turns so you never have everything quite figured out (even when you think you do lol). I liked Ning's character - she's willing to do anything to save her sister, and she's so sweet and brave in the process. I really loved her friendship, and I didn't mind the romantic relationship as well, though it was verrryyyy slow burn. I'm hoping to see development in that area in the sequel/conclusion!

Overall, I think the writing style here is great, I think the plot is fun and unique, and I think the worldbuilding was very well done. I'm looking forward to seeing how this duology ends with that cliff hanger! 

Rating: 4/5 Devils!