Saturday, October 12, 2019

Mini reviews: The Beautiful, Grave Maidens, Treason of Thorns, Butterfly in Frost and a Giveaway!

The Beautiful
By: Renee Ahdieh
Now available!
Order your copy: Amazon.ca | Chapters - Or see below for a chance to WIN AN ARC copy!

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain.

When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien's own lair--the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks--Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.
After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose--one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.
At once a sultry romance and a decadent, thrilling mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet.


My Thoughts:
Decent start to a new series...

I was really excited to receive a copy of this title from Penguin Random House Canada, and it had a fast-paced plot with murders piling up and a mystery killer that I did not guess, but the romance was a bit boring for me, I didn't really feel the chemistry between Celine and Sebastien for most of the book, it started to heat up and than we came to the end and I felt a bit ripped off, haha. 

The book is told from multiple points of view (including the Murder's) but the maority is given to Celine which I preferred (I actually wouldn't have minded no chapters from Sebastien's POV) Celine is a great Heroine and strong female protagonist. I'm not completely sold on Sebastien just yet, but I may give him another chance in book 2. I've never been to New Orlean's but Renee did a wonderful job with her vivid imagery of a dark, foggy town full of crime, mystery, parades and music that I could easily picture each scene.

If you enjoy dark fantasy mixed with murder and mystery and a bit of romance, give this title a try.


Grave Maidens

By: Kelly Coon
On sale October 29th, 2019 - Pre-order your copy!
Chapters | Amazon.ca
The start of a fierce fantasy duology about three maidens who are chosen for their land's greatest honor...and one girl determined to save her sister from the grave. 
In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame. 

When Alu's ruler falls deathly ill, Kammani’s beautiful little sister, Nanaea, is chosen as one of three sacred maidens to join him in the afterlife. It’s an honor. A tradition. And Nanaea believes it is her chance to live an even grander life than the one that was stolen from her. 

But Kammani sees the selection for what it really is—a death sentence.

Desperate to save her sister, Kammani schemes her way into the palace to heal the ruler. There she discovers more danger lurking in the sand-stone corridors than she could have ever imagined and that her own life—and heart—are at stake. But Kammani will stop at nothing to dig up the palace’s buried secrets even if it means sacrificing everything…including herself. 


My Thoughts:
Top 2 Favourites for 2019- The Evil Queen is tying it!

I'm so sad that this is only a duology, I could read a whole series from Kammani's POV (whole story is told in first person from Kammani solely) she is brave, modest, fierce but humbled quite a bit throughout the book to her limitations, I truly admired her love for her family and the lengths she went to save Nan (even if she didn't appreciate it), she sacrificed a lot and I'm rooting for her all the way!  

Dagan is complete Book Boyfriend material, I absolutely loved him and his devotion to Kammani and can't wait to continue to their story in book 2- Nasu still has some work to do for me to cheer him on. #TEAMDAGAN

The termonology was hard to follow without a glossary, I had to reread some positions and names a few times before I fully grasped them on, but this is a fantastic romantic fantasy that I highly recommend. I look forward to reading the series conclusion but the ending of book 1 is satisfying enough that I can wait.

A Treason of Thorns
By: Laura E. Weymouth
Now available!
Order your copy: Amazon.ca | Chapters
Dark, gripping, and utterly unique, this atmospheric historical fantasy from critically acclaimed author Laura E. Weymouth is perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood and Caraval.

Violet Sterling has spent the last seven years in exile, longing to return to Burleigh House. One of the six great houses of England, Burleigh’s magic kept both the countryside and Violet happy. 
That is, until her father’s treason destroyed everything. 
Now she’s been given a chance to return home. But Burleigh isn’t what she remembered. Wild with grief, Burleigh’s very soul is crying out in pain. As its tormented magic ravages the countryside, Vi must decide how far she’s willing to go to save her house—before her house destroys everything she’s ever known.
A house left unchecked will lead to ruin.
But I will not let it ruin me.

My thoughts:
Great beginning, but ultimately became a DNF...

Weymouth has created a very unique premise in which Houses have emotions and ability to overtake society if not kept in check with the eternal bond of a Keeper which was Violet's Dad and than Violet herself, it's a unique gift few possess.

I was really impressed with the premise and beginning of the story and I really felt for Violet when she was ripped away from all she loved, her childhood friend, father and the house she loved like family as well, but it all just kind of started to get boring from then on, for me. I didn't think there was any chemistry between Wyn and Violet and after a while the plot just stopped grabbing my interest. I may return to this one someday, but I'm in no hurry as there are plenty of other stories to read!

Butterfly in Frost

By: Sylvia Day
Now available!
Order your copy - Chapters | Amazon.ca - Also see below to win a copy!
Once, I would never have imagined myself here. But I’m settled now. In a place I love, in a home I renovated, spending time with new friends I adore, and working a job that fulfills me. I am reconciling the past and laying the groundwork for the future.
Then Garrett Frost moves in next door.
He’s obstinate and too bold, a raging force of nature that disrupts the careful order of my life. I recognize the ghosts that haunt him, the torment driving him. Garrett would be risky in any form, but wounded, he’s far more dangerous. I fear I’m too fragile for the storm raging inside him, too delicate to withstand the pain that buffets him. But he’s too determined…and too tempting.
And sometimes hope soars above even the iciest desolation.

My thoughts:
Quick read to curl up with for a couple hours this fall!

I would recommend ordering the e-text of this novella, romance was a bit slow-burn and than steamy. I was a bit confused with quite a few references in this book until the last 10-15 pages which basically answered all my questions but than left me with a whole bunch of other ones, haha! 

I don't want to spoil this one it was nice to go in not knowing aspects that made the conclusion much more enjoyable. It was a satisfying quick romance, but I doubt I will reread this one.

Happy Reading!!!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada, Thomas Allen & Sons and HCC Frenzy for the review copies!

Give-away!!! 

Enter for a chance to win a fall ARC Pack (as pictured) that I've put together. This is going to be a very easy giveaway...

to enter, please leave a comment below saying what you're reading this fall, that's it, I will pick a winner at random
  • only one entry per person
  • giveaway not sponsored by any Publishers, these are copies from my own library that I'm giving away
  • please read review/giveaway page for contest rules and regulations
  • open to Canada and U.S. residents (I'm sorry International readers!)
  • contest closes Sunday, October 19th at 11:59pm (EST)
Good Luck!!!


Cover images and book synopsis' taken from Chapters.ca

Monday, September 2, 2019

Mini Reviews - The Evil Queen | Sorcery of Thorns | Serpent and Dove

THE EVIL QUEEN

Gena Showalter
Now available - Order your copy
CHAPTERS | AMAZON.CA 

WELCOME TO THE FOREST OF GOOD AND EVIL.

A DREAM COME TRUE…AND A LIVING NIGHTMARE.

Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future.

Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real-life fairy-tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.

Look. See… What will one peek hurt?

Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen.

With powers beyond her imagination or control, Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed. As the prophecy unfolds, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be?

The battle between good and evil is on.


Synopsis and cover image taken from Chapters.ca

MY THOUGHTS:

LOVED THIS BOOK- ONE OF MY FAVOURITES OF 2019!

Everly is a great heroine and narrator, I can't wait for book 2 to continue her story. Gena Showalter knows how to write a romance and is basically an auto buy author for me. Roth is a great love interest (but make no mistake, Everly is the hero of this story). 

This is a unique take on the classic Snow White fable with a dash of mystery (who is the real Snow White? Who's really the Evil Queen?) A must read!

___________


SORCERY OF THORNS
Margaret Rogerson
Now available 
ORDER YOUR COPY CHAPTERS | AMAZON.CA
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.


Synopsis and cover image taken from Chapters.ca

MY THOUGHTS:

Very unique fantasy- think Harry Potter's Hogwarts but the magical creatures are books!

Overall I enjoyed this story but I did feel it slowed quite a bit about a third of the way through and I really wanted the romance to pick up- a little too much of a slow burn. BUT Rogerson's imagination and the unique world where books are magical creatures that can turned into deadly grimoires made for a great plot, don't piss off your books people!

I'm on the fence on this series, I might continue but I'm in no hurry for book 2.

_______________


SERPENT AND DOVE

Shelby Mahurin
Now available!
ORDER YOUR COPY CHAPTERS | AMAZON.CA |

Bound as one, to love, honor, or burn. Book one of a stunning fantasy duology, this tale of witchcraft and forbidden love is perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Sara Holland.
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.
Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.
Set in a world of powerful women, dark magic, and off-the-charts romance, book one of this stunning fantasy duology will leave readers burning for more.

Synopsis and cover image taken from Chapters.ca
READ THIS BOOK- GO BUY IT NOW!

Great love story! Confession time, I actually started this book a few months back and stopped a third of the way through (I'm not sure why) but when I attended the HCC Frenzy presents event last weekend I was promised that this book was ABSOLUTELY FILTHY, and basically dug right back in as soon as a I got home haha. I wouldn't say it's filthy but I recommend this to all romance junkies. 

The story is told from duel perspectives between Lou and Reid with majority being from Lou's perspective but it was great seeing things from Reid's perspective. I can't wait for book two, really need it now and so glad I went back and finished this gem!

HAPPY READING!!!