Week 31 Review: A Game of Gods

From Goodreads:

Told in multiple POVs, A Game of Gods is the final installment in the Hades Saga by USA Today Bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair.

Hades, God of the Dead, has finally made Persephone his in every way possible. With their wedding on the horizon, the couple should be ecstatic. But Demeter is wreaking havoc on their bliss by battering the whole of New Greece with erratic and dangerous weather. At the same time, Theseus continues with his agenda against the Gods, allying with the hate-group Triad in an effort to bring down all of Olympus.

Hades refuses to allow anything to stop him from securing Persephone as his bride, but he must play a deep strategic game with the Gods of Olympus to safeguard their future. And it is not entirely clear which Gods are truly on his side.

My Review:
I had such a great time reading this book! This is maybe the last time we'll have Hades' perspective (maybe it'll be in Chaos, but I don't know yet) and boy, was it such a great story, I had such a great time following along! 

I wasn't sure with this book, if it was going to cover the same time as Malice, or maybe go into the time of Chaos. But it's just Malice, and boy, does a lot happen! Especially since we got Dionysus's perspective, and his story with Ariadne. 

The big thing in this book was kinda the same things as Malice, the storm and the Triad, but this book in particular focused on a mythical beast that, when the Olympians overthrew the Titans, was part of the reason that they won. And now it's back. So that was a decent part of this book.

Honestly, the ending was a bit hard for me to read. Not because it was bad, but that it was pushing one of my buttons, of captivity, and I knew it was coming from the end of Malice. So that was a bit difficult for me. But I got through it and now just have to wait to see how it all resolves in Chaos! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to finish out Hades and Persephone's story! 

Author: Scarlett St. Clair 
Series: Hades Saga #3
Read: July 31st, 2023
Source: Bought 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a 2023 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, End of Series 2023 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Bloom Books
Published: July 25th, 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 31 Review: How the Multiverse Got Its Revenge

From Goodreads:

Rory Thorne must use the fairy blessings gifted to her to change the multiverse in the second book in this space opera duology.

After avoiding an arranged marriage, thwarting a coup, and inadvertently kick-starting a revolution, Rory Thorne is no longer a princess, but a space pirate.

Her new life is interrupted when Rory and her crew--former royal bodyguards, Thorsdottir and Zhang, and co-conspirator Jaed--encounter an abandoned ship registered under a false name, seemingly fallen victim to attack. As they investigate, they find evidence of vicious technology and arithmancy, alien and far beyond known capabilities.

The only answer to all the destruction is the mysterious, and unexpected, cargo: a rose plant. One that reveals themself to be sentient--and designed as a massive biological weapon. Rose seeks to escape their intended fate, and Rory and her friends must act fast when the attackers return with their superior weaponry.

As the situation gains the attention of an increasing number of alien races, Rory finds herself acting as negotiator and diplomat, in order to save Rose and her friends--and avert an unprecedented war.

My Review:
This was such a fantastic read! I loved being back with these characters, and watching them deal with the latest adventure was so entertaining! We got to learn more about the world, just a bit about the fairies, as well at the first big interactions between these political groups that we've gotten to know in the first book, and this new threat!

For the first book, Rory just didn't want to be a princess. But it gave her skills in diplomacy, which she badly needs, and I really enjoyed her using her skills to the max, while learning as much as she could about this very different culture.

A big part of this book is Rose, this new weapon, that was created by a subordinate of this new big bad, and thus, they feel entitled to it. Which causes all sorts of complications, besides the fact of what it did, and what it can do. But it really gave us a chance to get to know more of the rest of the supporting cast, which I enjoyed.

The way things ended, with this first contact not going well, and some mentions of how this is going to be a big threat to universe, it has me wanting more! Not necessarily focused on Rory and the gang, but to see how this whole conflict unfolds, I want to see that! 

Loved reading this book, and I really hope there's more coming in this world! 

Author: K. Eason
Series: The Thorne Chronicles #2 
Read: July 31st, 2023 
Source: Library 
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and it's a End of Series 2023 Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book! 
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Published: October 27th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 31 Review: The Secret Diamond Sisters

From Goodreads:
Savannah. Courtney. Peyton. 

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

My first review of The Secret Diamond Sisters
My Review:
I had a fantastic time reading this book again! I really enjoyed it the first time, but it's been such a long time since I first read it, that I needed to reread this again before I could continue on with the series. I loved reading about these sisters who get pulled from their normal life into one of wealth.

The idea of going from just getting by, week to week, to living in the lap of luxury, without having to lift a finger? It's a bit of a fantasy. Though it is complicated by the fact that they are teens, and there's a lot of drama, and hormones going on.

I really felt for these characters, the lives were in upheaval, they had to deal with living in a new town full of secrets and pretty ruthless people, and teenagers might be one of the worst ages to be, in terms of how awful they are to everyone around them, including fellow teens. Or at least, that's what it seemed like in this book.

With the way things left off for all of these characters, I'm really excited to finally continue on with this series, and find out what happens next in their lives, and how they're going tod eal with everything that happened and everything that they learned in this book. I can't wait! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to continue on with the series! 

Author: Michelle Madow
Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #1
First Read: May 18th, 2014

Read: July 30th, 2023
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Rereading, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book!
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: February 25th 2014

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

4/5 Stars

Week 31 Reviews: Tomes Apprentice, First of Tomes, Master of Tomes

From Goodreads:

It's like the start of a bad joke: a Master of Tomes, his apprentice, and ninety world-saving records get lost at sea.

Mei Li really wishes the joke wasn't her life. For two years she's been stranded in a remote village with no knowledge of where her master is or what's going on in the world. What she does know is one: she refuses to be sacrificed to the "god" the villagers think live on the mountain, two: she fully plans on negotiating with said "god" (who, luckily for her, turns out to be a dragon more than happy to rescue her).

Her relief over being rescued is short lived when she learns that her master is still lost, along with the tomes detailing how to reseal and fix all the upcoming problems for the next decade. And at least four world disasters are due to be prevented in the next two months. To make matters worse, the Tomes Masters are the only people in the world who carry the knowledge of how to reseal the pesky problems like five-thousand-year-old sleeping demons and disintegrating harbor walls.

With her master gone, everyone is looking to Mei Li for answers she doesn't have, but still has to procure. Her options are to solve the disasters—with high potential for the world ending—or somehow find Master and the missing tomes.

Right now, Mei Li wants to go back in time and punch her six-year-old self for being an idiot. Being able to read books all day is not worth the stress of dealing with ancient, evil things on a regular basis.

From Goodreads:
Apparently, time-travel spells have a sense of humor and don't take direction well. Mei Li could've done with knowing that beforehand, and fully blames Shunlei for not forewarning her.

Instead of going back a few years to rescue the missing tomes, Mei Li finds herself thousands of years in the past, with the original events she needs to learn about still ten years into the future. She is stuck in a hurry-up-and-wait pattern she doesn't appreciate.

It doesn't help that this world is full of its own problems, and Mei Li has more than enough of those already. Now she must face shape shifting demons, volatile water deities, and a murderous sword on a rampage all while trying to figure out WHY the spell sent her here in the first place.

There are a few side benefits. Mei Li gets to meet younger Shunlei—or Shunlei the Red. Seeing him as a young dragon is fun. It's also fascinating being with the first group of magical troubleshooters, the original founders before the Tomes system ever existed.

And when the past starts to intertwine with the future in ways she could never have predicted, Mei Li prays she's able to navigate it without ruining the future. If she does, she fully plans on blaming Shunlei for that as well.

From Goodreads:

Mei's checklist for the next year is simple. On the surface, at least.

Travel into the past to get the necessary instructions - check.

Travel back into the present to defeat Odom, Zaffi, and Kovel Below - check.

Actually defeat Odom, Zaffi, and Kovel Below - well...that's a work in progress.

Mei Li and her team of experts have no time to catch their breath before the next wave of magical problems hit them. Saving the world will take stamina, patience, magic, and time. And a little help from dragons.

And by a little, she means a lot.

Mei Li is ready for the world-ending disasters to be over, please and thank you.

My first review of Tomes Apprentice, First of Tomes, Master of Tomes

My second review of Tomes Apprentice, First of Tomes, Master of Tomes

My third review of Tomes Apprentice, First of Tomes, Master of Tomes

My fourth review of Tomes Apprentice

My Review:

Yeah I love this series so much! After all, this is the 5th time that I've read the first book, and the 4th time for the second and third. Honestly, it almost seems like it's going to be a yearly reread thing for me, at around this time of year. I just enjoy it so much! 

This story is just near and dear to my heart. Of the beginning where he knows the truth and she doesn't, and then vice versa in the second, and where they both know in the third, and are together, it's just so heartwarming and cute! 

And it was funny. There were two points where she was like, this is an action his wife did. I guess I'll step in until she comes around. I can't wait to meet her. Which was hilarious, because it was her. I just love their relationship so much! 

I really cannot get enough of this world and these characters. I want so badly to see their wedding in the modern times. To see their lives now that things have calmed down a bit. Also, Shunlei mentioned that the Tomes system had failed once before, and I'm dying to know what the story was there! And we were only on this one continent-what about that threat that Hui was looking out for? 

Loved reading these so much, and if we ever got more of this world, I would be ecstatic! 

Author: Honor Raconteur
Series: The Tomes of Kaleria #1, 2, 3
First Read: February 21st, 2020, July 10th 2020, August 20th, 2021
Second Read: March 15th, 2020, July 22nd, 2021, September 12th, 2021

Third Read: July 21st, 2021, September 4th, 4th, 2022 

Fourth Read: September 3rd, 2022 

Read: July 30th, 30th, 30th, 2023
Source: Ebook.bike, Own
Reason Why: Rereading again because I felt like it, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Books! And Master of Tomes is a End of Series 2023 Book!
Publisher: Raconteur House LLC
Published: December 3rd 2019, July 10th, 2020, August 20th 2021

Tomes Apprentice:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

First of Tomes:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 31 Reviews: North and South, Part 1, North and South, Part 2, North and South, Part 3

From Goodreads:

From National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Eisner Award winner, and #1 New York Times bestseller Gene Yang!

When Aang leaves to aid Zuko with the Kemurikage, Katara and Sokka return to the Southern Water Tribe by themselves. Katara is shocked to find that her beloved village has become a bustling city, with none other than their father, Hakoda, in charge! A northerner named Malina seems to be behind this change, pushing the North and South to be more unified . . . but what are her true goals?

From Goodreads:

After attempting to kidnap Katara and Sokka, Southerner Gilak leaves a haunting note for Hakoda: "Soon you will see the truth, chieftain". The vow leaves everyone on edge--including Katara, who remains wary of the two tribes' integration. As Northerner Malina announces a partnership with the company owned by Toph Beifong's father, her own brother comes forward to defame her. Have Katara's worst fears been confirmed?

From Goodreads:

Fire Lord Zuko and Earth King Kuei arrive in the Southern Water Tribe amid protests of Gilak's imprisonment. While the leaders hold council to solidify Malina and Hakoda's unification plans, Gilak breaks free and leads a powerful rebellion! In the face of these two opposing tribes, Katara will have to make peace with her nostalgia and distrust to save the home she loves from being permanently torn apart. 

My Review:
I loved reading this story arc so much! It was really great to go back to the Southern Water Tribe, where we haven't been since the very beginning of the show, at least to my knowledge, in Aang's time, since Korra started there. 

And this story is of the start of the progress from what it was like, to what it'll become. This is the 2nd big story about progress, and the growing pains between what is traditional, and the future technologies. It was really great to see the Southern Water Tribe's story! 

Of course the main focus was on Katara and Sokka, and over time, the rest of Team Avatar trickled in for various reasons. That Katara doesn't really want things to change, for the tribe, and for her father to find someone new, who is helping orchestrating those changes in the tribe, really gives her a person to focus her dislike on.

There was plenty of twists and turns and action, and I loved watching everything unfold, and how some one off mentions of things came together for that final action scene to beat the bad guys! That was delightful to read! 

This was such a great read, and I can't wait to continue! 

Author: Gene Luen Yang, Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, Illustrated by Gurihiru 
Series: North and South #1, 2, 3, Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics #5.1, 5.2, 5.3
Read: July  30th, 30th, 30th 2023
Source: Online 
Reason Why: Love this world, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Books! 
Publisher: Dark Horse Books 
Published: September 27th 2016, February 28th 2017, May 9th 2017

North and South, Part 1:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

North and South, Part 2:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

North and South, Part 3:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 31 Review: Steel Tide, Stormbreak

From Goodreads:

The second book in a heart-stopping trilogy that follows the captain of an all-female ship intent on taking down a vicious warlord's powerful fleet.

Caledonia may have lost her crew, but she's not done fighting yet. After nearly dying at the hand of a powerful foe, Caledonia is pulled from the sea and nursed back to health by a crew of former Bullets that call themselves Blades. The Blades escaped Aric Athair's clutches and now live a nomadic existence, ready to disappear at a moment's notice should trouble come their way.

But Caledonia wants to do more than just hide. She wants to find the Mors Navis and her beloved sisters. She wants to continue fighting Aric's fleet and to take back the Bullet seas. She'll need to do everything in her power to convince the Blades that fighting is their only option, that there has to be a life better than the one under Aric Athair's reign, and that finding the women of the Mors Navis is the first step to revolution.

From Goodreads:

In this epic conclusion to the Seafire trilogy, which Booklist called " Mad Max by way of Davy Jones," Caledonia Styx will risk everything--her heart, her crew, and even her life--to defeat Lir and take back the Bullet Seas once and for all.

The vicious warlord Aric Athair is dead. But the fight for the Bullet Seas is far from over. Caledonia's nemesis, Lir--the man responsible for destroying her family--has seized control of the warlord's army and rendered the seas more dangerous than ever.

Caledonia and her crew have fled to Cloudbreak to prepare for an all-out war. And they are not the only ones. Rogue ships and even a few defecting Bullets show up to join their fight. But Lir is always one step ahead of Caledonia, anticipating her every move as he secures the seas for himself.

With the fight growing desperate, Caledonia is forced to make an unlikely and unsteady alliance with a new enemy, one who hates Lir almost as much as she does. It's a terrible gamble that could cost her dearly, but with the fate of the seas in her hands, Caledonia must risk everything--and everyone she loves--to win the war. Will she finally defeat Lir . . . or will the greatest battle of her life be her last?

My Review:
I devoured these books! I loved the first one and I knew I had to finish out this trilogy! After the ending of Seafire, I had to know what was going to happen next and the synopsis of these books had me so excited to see where the story would go! 

Caledonia was in a sticky situation, and I was on the edge of my seat, to see how she was going to deal with all the events of the first book. There was healing to be done, but most of all, deciding on a path forward, making plans. I really enjoyed all the new characters that we got introduced to in this one, to meet these former Bullets, now Blades. I can understand why they were playing a game of avoidance, but sooner or later, they're going to run out of run, or out of luck, and that wouldn't work anymore, so it's better to deal with that while the timing was on their side.

I loved how one book lead to the next, and how finally beating Aric Athair, lead to Lir, the one who caused so much of the direct damage in her life, is still a threat that they have to deal with. And I couldn't wait for him to be taken down, after all that he'd done. 

While I am sad to say goodbye to these characters, they had a such a fantastic journey along the way, that I had such a blast reading about. But they definitely deserve the satisfying ending that they got, and I'm happy with how it wrapped up. 

Loved reading these books so much, and I can't wait to read more by Natalie C. Parker! 

Author: Natalie C. Parker 
Series: Seafire #2, 3
Read: July 29th, 30th, 2023
Source: Library/Own, Library
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Books and Stormbreak is a End of Series 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Listening Library
Published: September 17th 2019, February 9th 2021

Steel Tide:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Stormbreak:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 31 Review: Naramauke

From Goodreads:

Erik was born with a broken heart.

He can't feel love. He hates kissing. He gets nauseous at the idea of being a boyfriend.

And then he meets the Girl from Hell.

The Teen Killers Club #1 best-parts version from Erik's POV, only available until the publication of Teen Killers at Large (Teen Killers Club #3) in October of 2023.

My Review:
I'm so glad that we got this story! Erik is a central character in this series alongside Signal, so that we got his perspective of these events was so great! It has been a long time since I read the first book, so I didn't remember quite what went on there, but this book had enough references to keep me going which was really great! 

Sometimes I just really want to shake Erik's mother. There's this one point where they're talking about emotions and she says that he has limited ones, and he mentions how hard it is to prove a negative, and she mentions Skye going off to college, and Erik's response gave her what she wanted. But even if she didn't believe him, couldn't she at least understand that there is bad blood between Erik and Skye? That Erik doesn't want to visit Skye? Instead, she lets her preconceived notions guide her. Which is why people who deal with mental health shouldn't treat those to whom it is personal. Argh! 

Erik has latched onto Signal as a way to improve his life-she's innocent, which throws into question the Wylie-Stanton, to be free. But along the way, he gets to know her, he falls in love, even though he denies it because he's been conditioned to believe that he can't love. 

It was funny, from an outsiders' perspective, because she was terrified of him, and he wanted to prove her innocence and had been protecting her, even from things that Signal didn't notice. With all the feelings that he started having towards her, some of the pain that she was causing, yeah, I'm really glad that we got this story! 

Loved reading this story, I'm so glad that we got it, I really enjoyed being in Erik's head! 

Author: Lily Sparks 
Series: Teen Killers Club #4
Read: July 29th, 2023 
Source: Pre-Order Incentive 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book! 
Publisher: Lily Sparks 
Published: July 17th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 31 Review: Master of Souls

From Goodreads:

A king with a score to settle.

A demon driven to rebel.

A girl who holds the power of the gods.

Arrah has paid many prices in her battle against the Demon King. Now, she must decipher the legacy of her past and weave an uneasy alliance between her beloved Rudjek, the Demon King, and the remaining orishas, hoping to restore peace to all their worlds. But as Arrah's half-demon sister regains her strength and resumes her quest for destruction, peace may require the ultimate sacrifice.

My Review:
I loved reading this book! It was such a great end to the series, and I didn't know how things would be resolved, but I loved watching as it all unfolded! It was tough to say goodbye to this world and these characters, but boy, was this a send off! 

With the way that things left off in the 2nd book, I wasn't sure how things were going to resolve. I mean, there's the whole thing where there's a goddess in her soul, plus there's whatever's going on with said goddess's child. Then there's the demons, and then her sister is back on the board, yeah, it's complicated. Not to mention all these different relationships and loyalties.

We've really gotten time to know these characters and this world, and this is the one where it all comes together. Each book as just been so clever and well done, and this book slotted in just right. There were some really epic moments, that I had such a great time reading, not to mention the whole book was just on the whole, wonderful! 

I'm really satisfied with how things resolved. Where we left these characters was in a good spot, and I'm glad for it, after everything that they've gone through. I wasn't sure how of if they were going to get through it, so I'm really happy with how it ended. 

This was a fantastic read, and I can't wait to read more by Rena Barron! 

Author: Rena Barron
Series: Kingdom of Souls #3
Read: July 29th, 2023
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a End of Series 2023 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: April 11th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 31 Review: Timeless

From Goodreads:

The highly anticipated continuation of the Starcrossed saga, the #1 international bestselling series.

A fate avoided

After successfully using a clever bit of trickery to avoid all-out war with the gods and defeat Zeus, Helen sets out to enjoy her final year of high school with Lucas and her friends.

A debt owed

But happily ever after eludes her. Zeus has found a way to strike back at Helen from inside the prison she devised for him. Growing weaker with every one of Zeus' attacks, Helen scrambles to complete the three tasks she owes to the Titans, hurling through time on Cronus’ bidding.

A promise broken

But Helen's odyssey proves to be more challenging than she could have imagined, because Lucas has mysteriously started pulling away from her, burdened by a secret that threatens to tear them apart.

My Review:
I was a bit terrified to read this book. I did read the end, maybe months before I was able to pick this one up, and knowing that we won't get the conclusion to this story until next year at the earliest, yeah, I wanted to put it off. But it was such a fantastic story! 

There was a lot going on in this book-like the fact that Lucas' bargain with Hades started, and oh, that was really rough, that he was keeping that secret. And she was dealing with having Zeus basically throw tantrums, but it was weakening her, since she was still connected to her land. 

The part where it intersects with Scions, yeah, that was so much fun to read, to see things from their perspective, knowing what they know, and that it was a little bit more involved then Daphne saw. 

That ending, well, that just hurt! I mean, the Fates have really shown to be the ultimate villain in the series, and I really can't wait to see how things are going to go, I know Outcasts is going to hurt, but hopefully Endless will heal that wound! 

This was such a great read, and I can't wait to continue! 

Author: Josephine Angelini
Series: Starcrossed #5
Read: July 29th, 2023
Source: Bought 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Sungrazer Publishing, LLC
Published: April 4th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars