Week 45 Reviews: Compass and Blade, Shadow and Tide

From Goodreads:

For fans of Fable by Adrienne Young or To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo, this romantasy debut is filled with sirens and mysterious magic, swoony romance and cutthroat betrayal.

This world of sea and storm runs deep with bargains and blood.

On the remote isle of Rosevear, Mira, like her mother before her, is a wrecker, one of the seven on the rope who swim out to shipwrecks to plunder them. Mira's job is to rescue survivors, if there are any. After all, she never feels the cold of the frigid ocean waters and the waves seem to sing to her soul. But the people of Rosevear never admit the that they set the beacons themselves to lure ships into the rocks.

When the Council watch lays a trap to put an end to the wrecking, they arrest Mira's father. Desperate to save him from the noose, Mira strikes a deal with an enigmatic wreck survivor guarding layers of secrets behind his captivating eyes, and sets off to find something her mother has left her, a family secret buried deep in the sea.

With just nine days to find what she needs to rescue her father, all Mira knows for certain is The sea gives. The sea takes. And it's up to her to do what she must to save the ones she loves.

From Goodreads:

The second irresistible adventure in the Compass and Blade trilogy, full of intrigue, sizzling romance, dark magic and monstrous beings.

A magical bargain always comes at a cost.

On Rosevear, Mira is plagued by nightmares. She is lost and untethered – and then the watch strike, burning her home. The attack ignites a spark within her, and Mira knows it's time to call in her bargain with Elijah, and tear down Captain Renshaw and the watch.

Mira must find allies and she turns to the witches for help unlocking her siren abilities. But the witches aren't all on Mira's side; and what they ask of her may be her undoing.

As she desperately fights for a way to keep her home safe, with Elijah by her side, more deadly and seductive than ever, Mira realises she is being hunted. For in the eyes of the ruling council, Mira is a monster, and monstrous creatures must be tamed …

My Review:
Reading these books was so great! These are the first books that I've read by Rachel Greenlaw, and I'll definitely read more, besides the final book in the trilogy! Getting to know these characters in this world was so great, and I know I'll enjoy more by this author!

This set up, with this island that survives on illegal shipwrecking, that leads to her dad being arrested, yeah, I was quickly invested! It was a bit strange that whatever secret her mom had would help her dad, but yeah, I enjoyed going on this quest! 

I can understand the criticism of the first book, it was filled with YA tropes, so it was pretty easy to predict what was going to happen. But this was it's own story, and had it's own details to make it original, and I enjoyed reading both of them! 

The magic was really interesting, and I really enjoyed finding out how it works with the bargains and such. Adding in this fantastic cast of characters on the ship, and some blooming romance, these books have a good deal going on that works together to form a wonderful story that I really enjoyed reading! 

Loved reading these books and I can't wait for the final book! 

Author: Rachel Greenlaw
Series: Compass and Blade #1, 2
Read: November 8th, 8th, 2024
Source: Edelweiss 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Books, and Compass and Blade a Sophomore Challenge 2024 Book!
Publisher: Inkyard Press, Quill Tree Press
Published: March 5th 2024

Expected Publication: February 27th 2025

Compass and Blade:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Shadow and Tide:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 21 Review: Zhara

From Goodreads:

Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

Magic flickers.

Love flames.

Chaos reigns.

Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called an abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.

Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appeasing her stepmother's cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.

In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.

My Review:
Oh, I really enjoyed reading this book! I've enjoyed her other books before, and this book sounded just as good, the comps were so intriguing to see how they could come together! This world with the Guardians of the Dawn, and the magic that there is, with the rules, yeah, it was so interesting to watch! 

Zhara was immediately someone who I cared to read about. Her situation was pretty rough, her stepmother was awful, and she has magic, which is banned. It's a hard life, and I was rooting for her to find something better! 

When she got connected with the Guardian's of the Dawn, thanks to Han-who was cute and adorable and I loved him and their banter-yeah, it really opened things up. I had such a great time watching her make these connections with these people, learning more about magic and the history of the world.

That ending was epic! This is based on a Sailor Moon-esq team up, meaning we're going to be following another character in the next book. And I'm so excited to see how that's going to play out, given the ending of this book! It's going to be so fantastic to read! 

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

Author: S. Jae-Jones 
Series: Guardians of Dawn #1
Read: May 22nd, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book!
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Published: August 1st 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 3 Review: A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, The Space Between

From Goodreads:

It is 1772, the eve of the American Revolution, and the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Governor Josiah Martin calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But there is one problem: Jamie Fraser's wife, Claire, is a time-traveler, as are his daughter and son-in-law. And Jamie knows that three years hence, the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the end of it all will be independence –with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. Beyond everything else, though, looms the threat of a tiny clipping from the Wilmington Gazette dated 1776, which reports the destruction of the house on Fraser's Ridge and the death by fire of James Fraser and all his family. For once, Jamie Fraser hopes the time-travelers in his family are wrong about the future –but only time will tell.

From Goodreads:

Readers have been waiting with bated breath for the seventh volume in bestselling author Diana Gabaldon's epic Outlander saga — a masterpiece of historical fiction featuring Jamie and Claire, from one of the genre's most popular and beloved authors.

Jamie Fraser, erstwhile Jacobite and reluctant rebel, knows three things about the American rebellion: the Americans will win, unlikely as that seems in 1778; being on the winning side is no guarantee of survival; and he'd rather die than face his illegitimate son — a young lieutenant in the British Army — across the barrel of a gun. Fraser's time-travelling wife, Claire, also knows a couple of things: that the Americans will win, but that the ultimate price of victory is a mystery. What she does believe is that the price won't include Jamie's life or happiness — not if she has anything to say.

Claire's grown daughter Brianna, and her husband, Roger, watch the unfolding of Brianna's parents' history — a past that may be sneaking up behind their own family.

From Goodreads:

#1 "New York Times "bestselling author Diana Gabaldon returns to her Outlander universe in "The Space Between," an irresistible novella brimming with adventure, history, and suspense--and available for the first time as a standalone eBook.

Joan MacKimmie is on her way to Paris to take up her vocation as a nun. Yet her decision is less a matter of faith than fear, for Joan is plagued by mysterious voices that speak of the future, and by visions that mark those about to die. The sanctuary of the nunnery promises respite from these unwanted visitations . . . or so she prays. Her chaperone is Michael Murray, a young widower who, though he still mourns the death of his wife, finds himself powerfully drawn to his charge. But when the time-traveling Comte St. Germain learns of Joan's presence in Paris, and of her link to Claire Fraser--La Dame Blanche--Murray is drawn into a battle whose stakes are not merely the life but the very soul of the Scotswoman who, without even trying, has won his heart.

My Review:


Author: Diana Gabaldon 
Series: Outlander #6, 7, 7.5
Read: January  18th, 18th, 18th, 2024
Source: Own, Library
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and they're Historical Fiction 2024 Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Books, and A Breath of Snow and Ashes and An Echo in the Bone are WTC Books! 
Publisher: Dell, Recorded Books
Published: September 27th 2005, September 22nd 2009, October 11th 2012

A Breath of Snow and Ashes:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

An Echo in the Bone: 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

The Space Between:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: Blood on the Tide

From Goodreads:

Set sail for adventure and love in the next spicy fantasy romance from Katee Robert, the New York Times bestselling author of the TikTok smash hit Neon Gods.

As a bloodline vampire, Lizzie has never had a problem taking what she wants, and right now what she wants are the family heirlooms that were stolen from her, a ship, and a portal home. Unfortunately, even that short list is impossible to accomplish on her own—and her allies have bigger things to worry about. When they rescue a selkie, it's the perfect solution to her problem. Lizzie needs a guide through Threshold and the selkie needs her skin back.

Maeve didn't choose to give up her skin—it was stolen from her. Now she's in an uneasy partnership with a dangerous woman who seems more apt to kill than to share a kind word. It's terrifying…and a bit alluring. Even though she knows it will end in heartbreak, Maeve can't help being drawn to Lizzie.

Unfortunately, the danger to Maeve's heart is the least of her worries. The ship they're seeking belongs to the Cŵn Annwn, and they don't take kindly to people who cross them. They're coming hunting, and not even Lizzie's viciousness or Maeve's knowledge will be enough to save them…

My Review:
I absolutely loved reading this book! I love her writing so much, and these worlds that spans 3 series right now, and of course, amazing romance and representation, this book was guaranteed to be one that I enjoyed. Which I absolutely did! 

And can I just say, that the cover is stunning. The reds and the pinks as water, with the gold foiling, it's so pretty, and I can't wait to have it physically, because the way the first book popped when I got it, this one is going to be even more so! I can't wait! 

We first met Lizzie in Queen, the 3rd part in Court of the Vampire Queen, which was pretty interesting, because she's Wolf's sister, and their family dynamics are strained, to say the least. So watching her fall in love with Maeve, that was so delightful! And they both deserved that happiness after what their lives had been like before they met each other, espcailly the specific circumstances that brough them to working with one another. 

I'm so excited to see how this series is going to end, since I heard this was a trilogy, the next and final book has to wrap up the rebellion, hopefully for the better, since the council and the Cŵn Annwn are just awful. And I'm wondering if we've been introduced to the leads of that book, or met one, and told the name of the other...

This was a fantastic read, and I can't wait for the final book! 

Author: Katee Robert
Series: Crimson Sails #2
Read: January 5th, 2024
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Berkley 
Expected Publication: May 14th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: Chaos Terminal

From Goodreads:

Mallory Viridian would rather not be an amateur detective, and fled to outer space to avoid it…but when one of the new human arrivals on a space shuttle is murdered, she's back in the game.

Mallory Viridian would rather not be an amateur detective, thank you very much. But no matter what she does, people persist in dying around her—and only she seems to be able to solve the crime. After fleeing to an alien space station in hopes that the lack of humans would stop the murders, a serial killer had the nerve to follow her to Station Eternity. (Mallory deduced who the true culprit was that time, too.)

Now the law enforcement agent who hounded Mallory on Earth has come to Station Eternity, along with her teenage crush and his sister, Mallory's best friend from high school. Mallory doesn't believe in coincidences, and so she's not at all surprised when someone in the latest shuttle from Earth is murdered. It's the story of her life, after all.

Only this time she has more than a killer to deal with. Between her fugitive friends, a new threat arising from the Sundry hivemind, and the alarmingly peculiar behavior of the sentient space station they all call home, even Mallory's deductive abilities are strained. If she can't find out what's going on (and fast), a disaster of intergalactic proportions may occur.…

My Review:
This was a really entertaining read! I had a great time with the first book and I was looking forward to following another wacky mystery! These characters and the way that the story is told is just a little bit off tilter, and with a tension that keeps the pace going, so I had to keep reading! 

For some reason, I thought that there was a romantic relationship with Xan, but either I remembered wrong, or interpreted wrong, because they're friends, and her romantic interest-her high school best friend's brother-who she had completely forgotten about. 

Really, this is a book that questions your assumptions, even the ones that you didn't know that were made, because that was what we were told. The whole thing with the Sundry, and just what was going with the station, and with the murder, well, there were a few moving parts that had to be put together.

But once the pieces started being put into place and things were making sense, boy, did things get cooking! The stuff with the Gneiss and Tina, which had been building up, dealing with the Sundry and the murderer, yeah, it all came together really well! 

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

Author: Mur Lafferty 
Series: The Midsolar Murders
Read: January 3rd, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Ace
Published: November 7th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: Champion of Fate

From Goodreads:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake is back with an epic duology starter that follows a young woman training to join a fabled order as she attempts to lead a hero to his critical first victory. A must-read for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Victoria Aveyard.

Aristene are an order of mythical female warriors. Though heroes might be immortalized in legends, it's the Aristene who guide their paths to victory. They are the Heromakers.

Raised by the order after being orphaned, Reed grew up surrounded by her future sisters-in-arms and the incredible stories of their quests. She's been counting the days until her initiation, and now one final test stands in her way: shepherding her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and her place in the order is secured. Fail, and she'll be cast out of the only home she's ever known.

But Reed didn't count on Hestion, her assigned hero, being both infuriating and intriguing. When their strategic alliance turns into something more, it forces Reed to question the cost of becoming an Aristene. As battle looms and fate hangs in the balance, Reed must make an impossible choice: her hero or her order.

My Review:


Author: Kendare Blake 
Series: Heromaker #1
Read: December 31st, 2023
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Quill Tree Books 
Published: September 19th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: This Cursed Light

From Goodreads:

The highly-anticipated sequel to the epic romance hailed as one of the best fantasies of the year!

When the gods make the rules, the players must choose: Sacrifice their love to save the world, or choose love and let it burn?

Six months after saving their island from destruction and almost losing Dante, Alessa is ready to live happily ever after with her former bodyguard. But Dante can't rest, haunted by a conviction that the gods aren't finished with them yet. And without his powers, the next kiss from Alessa could kill him.

Desperate for answers, Dante enlists Alessa and their friends to find the exiled ghiotte in hopes of restoring his powers and combining forces with them to create the only army powerful enough to save them all. But Alessa is hiding a deadly consequence of their last fight—a growing darkness that's consuming her mind—and their destination holds more dangers than anyone bargained for. In the mysterious city of the banished, Dante will uncover secrets, lies, and ghosts from his past that force him to ask himself: Which side is he on?

When the gods reveal their final test, Dante and Alessa will be the world's last defense. But if they are the keys to saving the world, will their love be the price of victory?

In This Cursed Light, Dante and Alessa face their most daunting challenge yet when the Gods demand they prove their worth by choosing the ultimate sacrifice to save humanity, once and for all.

My Review:
This was such a fantastic sequel! I really enjoyed the first book and how original was, and I loved spending more time with these characters, as they dealt with the aftermath of what happened, and the threat that they're now facing!

This Cursed Light was really fantastic, to get both Alessa and Dante's perspective as they go on this adventure! Because Dante died at the end of the last book, he doesn't have his powers, which in and of itself is awful, but it also means that they can't touch. The only idea that might help him is finding a group of ghiotte and seeing if he can regain them. I loved getting both of their perspectives! 

Once with the ghiotte, it was interesting, to have the opposite dynamics, Alessa and her friends are despised, mainly because how the ghiotte were treated, and that Dante is welcomed, is wanted, that he's being treated pretty great while they're making a rundown house habitable. It was a really great roles reversal! 

That offensive that the gods chose for this confrontation, that was diabolical. But at least now, having overcome that challenge (which was much more twisty then usual) they can have peace, after so many generations of Finestra fighting, they don't have to face the demons any longer. 

Utterly loved reading this book and I'd love to read more by Emily Thiede! 

Author: Emily Thiede 
Series: The Last Finestra #2
Read: December 29th, 2023
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing, and it's a End of Series 2023 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book, Sophomore Challenge Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Published: December 5th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Reviews: Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy, Azula in the Spirit Temple

From Goodreads:

Set in the post-series comics era of the beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise, fans will get to see a new part of the original timeline that they've never seen before. A stand alone comic about the best earthbender and inventor of metalbending, Toph Beifong. Written by Faith Erin Hicks (The Adventures of Superhero Girl, The Last of Us: American Dreams) and illustrated by Peter Wartman (Stonebreaker, Over the Wall) and Adele Matera, the same team behind the Imbalance trilogy.

From Goodreads:

A brand new stand-alone comics story from the world of The Last Airbender!

Azula continues her destabilizing campaign against the Fire Nation and her brother, Fire Lord Zuko.

But after a failed attack on her latest target, Azula finds herself in a mysterious forest temple inhabited by a solitary monk…or is it something more mysterious? Azula must confront her past, and finally face her chance at redemption.

Written in consultation with Avatar Studios, the veteran team of Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman and Adele Matera is back with a new story in the world of The Last Airbender.

My Review:
I had such a great time reading these stories! Toph is such a beloved character, and Azula is a really interesting one, and I had a great time with these one off stories (and I can't wait for the Uncle Iron story, which I hope we see Zuko in, since we haven't seen him in a while!) and I'm so glad that we got this time with these characters!

Toph is bored, she's done well with the school, but her first students can handle instructing the new students. But since she's a part of Team Avatar, people are scared of her and think that she would report rule-breaking. So she's bored. I had such a great time with her meeting a lava-bender, and dealing with nomad band of secret tunnel fame!  

Azual in the Spirit Temple, yeah, was really interesting. Because she's powerful, but she's also villainous (not because she's a girl, but partially who she is as a person, and part how she was raised) and she's not right in the head, and has some mommy issues. 

I am a bit confused as to what was going on, with the caretaker of the temple, and what they were making Azula see. I don't know why they let her go, but she does show a bit of growth through this issue, which was great to read. But I'm still a bit confused. 

These were really fantastic to read and I can't wait to read more from this world!

Authors: Faith Erin Hicks, Illustrated by Peter Wartman and Adele Matera
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics #7, 8
Read: December 29th, 29th, 2023
Source: Online
Reason Why: Love this world and these graphic novels, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Books! 
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Published: February 16th 2021, October 24th 2023

Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Azula in the Spirit Temple:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Saga, Volume 11

From Goodreads:

While Hazel and her family fight for scraps to survive, the rich and powerful race to forge new allegiances in the universe's never-ending war.

Romeo & Juliet meets Star Wars in this genre-blending, sci-fi/fantasy space opera about star crossed lovers from enemy worlds. An epic for mature readers, Saga follows new parents Marko and Alana as they risk everything to raise their child amidst a never-ending galactic war. A multiple award winning, critically acclaimed masterpiece and one of the most iconic, bestselling comic book series of its time.

The SAGA series has sold over 7 million copies to date across all formats, has been translated into 20 languages, and has garnered multiple Eisner and Harvey Awards, plus a Hugo Award, British Fantasy Award, Goodreads Choice Award, Shuster Award, Inkwell Award, Ringo Award, and more. It has been featured in such mainstream media outlets as TIME, Entertainment Weekly, The Atlantic, NPR, and beyond, and has become a pop culture phenomenon.

My Review:
I really enjoyed reading this volume! I've really enjoyed this series from the beginning, and oh man, this volume brings up the emotions! That someone tried to prey on their grief, that was horrible. And some interesting developments in the war occured.

The idea that they could get this product, and turn back time, and bring back their dads, that's such an emotional thing. And a total scam, and I'm so sorry that they had to go through that. This series is full of hard lessons, but that one was harsh. 

Mainly, I want to talk about Issues 65 and 66. Because both had some really important scenes. Like 65 showed Hazel and co. getting a home, and her saying she was happy, while showing the fight with Petrichor and The Will, and Sophie getting in the way. It shows another aspect of war, of each side wanting to protect their side, and avenge their side. Sophie's death, urgh, I'm conflicted, because she did die, but she got in the way of Petrichor getting her revenge, but on the guy who saved her from slavery, but she's also the one that got The Brand killed. Complicated! 

But then there was the next chapter, back at the lighthouse, D. Oswald Heist's old place, and I'm so glad, because we got to see Ghüs, as well as Upsher (yeah, we've caught up with everybody left alive before the big break!), as they dealt with Agent Gale (who we saw a bit of a backstory, and how Alana rejected him). That they're working on breaking the cycle of violence, and Gale is a perfect candidate, given how many he's murdered through the course of this series. Though there were some moments that I was very very nervous! 

Loved reading this installment and I can't wait for the next volume!

Authors: Brian K. Vaughan, Illustrated by Fiona Staples
Series: Saga #11
Read: December 29th, 2023
Source: Online 
Reason Why: Love this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book! 
Publisher: Image Comics
Published: November 29th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars