Book Review: Rebel Witch by Kristin Ciccarelli

Pages: 464

Genre: YA Fantasy/Romantasy

Pub. Date: February 18. 2025

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Heartless Hunter

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Goodreads says, "A WITCH...Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

 

After Heartless Hunter ends, readers find Rune engaged to a prince with one plan in mind: take back the Republic and save her fellow witches from a horrible fate. Not only does she have to ally with the prince, but she has to work with the notorious Cressida Roseblood. This in and of itself is a betrayal to Gideon. Rune doesn't trust Cressida, but she knows if she stands a chance at succeeding, she needs her. Enter Gideon Sharpe, who is tasked with killing Rune to stop her plan. But things go awry once they see each other and as time passes, Rune makes Gideon an offer that is too enticing to pass up and they must work together to take down Cressida. Cressida has plans to bring back her sisters and regain control. They can't let this happen, especially for Gideon who was tortured by Cressida and his family killed. What ensues is an epic action-packed conclusion to the Crimson Moth duology. Kristin Ciccarell's The Rebel Witch is an outstanding young adult romantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed; fans of romantasies won't be disappointed in this compelling YA tale.

 

What I like most about Rune and Gideon is Ciccarelli's character development. She does a great job making these characters complex, have difficulties, and grapple with a lot of emotion. Both have complex backgrounds and despite not always agreeing with their decisions, readers will find themselves rooting for these two and hoping they can spark their romance again despite their differences. 

 

I will say that The Rebel Witch is much more action-packed than Book One, but I really enjoyed all the tension and suspense. It was the right amount of action + romance + fantasy elements to make this a page-turner. The middle of the book did lag a little, but overall, it was a strong conclusion to a fantastic duology. 

 

Have you read the Crimson Moth series? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Pages: 624

Genre: Adult Fantasy/Romance

 Pub. Date: December 3, 2024

Publisher: Grand Central

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Do not touch the sword. Do not turn the key. Do not open the gate. In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn't much a girl wouldn't do for a glass of water.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen's reservoirs for as long as she can remember.

But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently re-opens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares... but it turns out they're real, and Saeris has landed herself in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist's magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him . . . or her.

Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he's the only way Saeris is going to make it home."

Saeris Fane is living in the desert wasteland of Zilvaren. It's all she and her brother have known and since her mother's death, they do what they have to do to survive. She has become an excellent pickpocket, but unfortunately, she gets caught by the Queen's guards and while trying to escape, she inadvertently opens a portal. Saeris has always had mysterious powers, powers that she has hidden, but at this time, her powers have enabled her to open this portal. She comes face to face with this person she thinks is "Death" and she enters the land of Fae. It's the polar opposite of Zilvaren; it's cold, snowy, and magic-filled. Once she gets acclimated, she realizes that Death is actually a Fae warrior named Kingfisher. Kingfisher is a troubled Fae who will do anything to help his people and when he notices that Saeris holds powers that will help him with alchemist magic, he knows that he has to use her to achieve his goals. In exchange for her help, he will let her go back home once she completes her task. Meanwhile, Saeris and Kingfisher, while they initially hate one another, slowly build a relationship all while Saeris is discovering her powers and this new world she has entered. Callie Hart's "romantasy" sensation, Quicksilver, did not disappoint despite my initial hesitation. There's a lot of heavy romance, but there's also an action-packed story filled with a lot of magical creatures, a great fantasy world, and an enemies-to-lovers trope that sucked me in. 

At first, Quicksilver was presenting a lot of the usual tropes that long-time fantasy readers will easily recognize. There's a protagonist who is tough, interesting and has hidden magic. Then enters a dark and brooding warrior who at first is an enemy, but slowly they develop feelings. However, Hart really made it work and feel fresh. While some of the dialogue and nicknames were a bit much at times, overall, I enjoyed all the witty banter and the development of Kingfisher and Saeris's relationship.

The world-building in Quicksilver was fantastic and I really felt like Hart made the fantasy world come to life. It wasn't one of those complex worlds where you really don't understand things; it made sense to me and I enjoyed all the other magical creatures such as witches, alchemists, vampires, and more.

I must say that since Quicksilver was a BookTok sensation, I was a little hesitant to pick it up. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I think fans of "romantasy" novels will enjoy this one and I am excited to see how it will translate to the TV screen on Netflix. I will definitely be picking up book two in the series, which comes out this fall. Have you read Quicksilver? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

 

Mini Reviews: YA Edition

 

I've been trying to get back to some old reading habits, such as reading more young adult literature. There's been some good ones that have come out recently and today I'm happy to share two new ones that have caught my eye.

 

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

Pages: 480

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: February 4, 2025

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: A Great and Terrible Beauty,

and The Diviners

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "It was said that if you write to the Bridegroom’s Oak, the love of your life will answer back. Now, the tree is giving up its secrets at last.

In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom's Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.

In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.

In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are in the first weeks of COVID lockdown and hating Zoom school, when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago."

 

It's 1939 and Hanna and Sophie are two girls living during difficult times. Things are changing in their village with the arrival of Nazis. But like any teenage girls from their village, they look to the Bridgegroom's Oak tree for answers as it has matchmaking abilities. But matchmaking is not what they find there and meanwhile, the Nazis become more overbearing every day. Fast forward to the 1980s in West Berlin. Jenny has moved, along with her family, from the United States to West Berlin due to her father's work. Jenny comes from a preppy Dallas family, so the West Berlin scene is new to her. She befriends Lena, a punk, and Lena challenges her long-held beliefs in almost every area of her life. Lastly, in 2020, there's Miles and Chloe who work on a mystery surrounding Chloe's grandmother's scrapbook. They learn of two girls who disappeared from her grandmother's village and with the help of some internet sleuthing they get some answers. Each story thread has themes of overcoming oppression and ultimately of hope. Libba Bray's Under the Same Stars is a historical mystery that will be sure to keep readers flipping pages.

I have always enjoyed Bray's writing and that is the case here with Under the Same Stars. This is a powerful novel, perfect for fans of Ruta Sepetys, as the story really stays with you. While I love WWII storylines, I am not sure I was in the right frame of mind to appreciate this one. I also struggled with the 2020 plot thread as the pandemic plays a role. Again, I am also not sure I am ready to read about COVID yet - too soon? Nonetheless, Bray's story kept me engaged, despite my issues with the difficult topics as well as some uneven pacing. Having three different points of view can be daunting at times, but overall, she really pulled together a powerful story that tied together the three narratives very well.Under the Same Stars is a GMA YA book club pick and I can see why. It would lend itself to wonderful discussions.

The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

Pages: 510

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: October 1, 2024

Publisher: McElderry Books

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Vendetta

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

 

Goodreads says, "In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…

In Fantome, a kingdom of cobbled streets, flickering lamplight, beautiful buildings, and secret catacombs, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy the Cloaks and the Daggers – the thieves and the assassins. On the night of her mother’s murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, Sera’s heart is set on revenge. But are her secret abilities a match for the dark-haired boy whose quicksilver eyes follow her around the city?

Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. And Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before… Among rumours of monsters stalking the streets and the rival guilds grappling for control of Fantome’s underworld, Sera and Ransom are drawn together by something more than just magic and must face a deadly choice - forgiveness or vengeance? Kiss or kill? Dagger or Flame?"

Seraphine Marchant's mother makes Shade, which can be manipulated for various uses by Fantome's underworld. For starters, a person can use it to hide in the shadows, which makes it perfect for stealing, and when ingested it makes you a lethal killer. When Sera's mother is killed, Sera flees to Fantome's countryside and seeks refuge with the Cloaks. The Cloaks and the Daggers are two rival groups and now she is the Dagger's newest mark. Ransom, a talented Dagger, is looking for her. The two, while rivals have an undeniable connection, and as secrets unfold, alliances will be challenged. The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle is the first installment in a new romantasy perfect for fans of the genre.

 

I found Sera's story very compelling in The Dagger and the Flame, mostly due to Doyle's outstanding world-building. She develops Fantome very well; the details surrounding the catacombs, the dark underbelly of the town, and the cobblestone streets lit by lamplight are all very well done and atmospheric. My only gripe with The Dagger and the Flame is that Sera and Ransom lacked any real chemistry. While it is implied throughout the novel, it really isn't developed and it feels too superficial and immature at times. Nonetheless, fans of the romantasy genre will be pleased with the immersive world-building. I am sure many will continue with the series; however, I think I will look to many other novels from this genre that are saturating the market.

Are you a fan of young adult literature? Do you plan to read Under the Same Stars or The Dagger and the Flame? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: Heartless Hunter by Kristin Ciccarelli

Pages: 416

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch… is falling in love."

 

 

 

Rune Winters, at first glance, appears to be a flighty socialite who bounces from party to party. But she is so much more than that and hides her secrets from everyone but her best friends, Alex and Verity. Rune is a witch, but it's a dangerous time to be one.  The Blood Guard took over, killed the Queen/witches in charge and is now killing witches one by one. During this time the elusive Crimson Moth has rescued witches from imminent peril and hasn't been caught yet. This Moth is Rune and she does this to avenge her grandmother's death who died at the hands of the Blood Guard. Gideon Sharpe, Alex's older brother, is a well known witch hunter and has very personal reasons why he loathes witches, starting with the fact that they destroyed his family. He has his eye on Rune as he thinks she may be the Moth or in cahoots with the Moth. Rune has her eye on Gideon as she is now eighteen and must marry. She could really use Gideon's connections to help rescue captured witches and find out where they are being held. A cat-and-mouse game ensues between Rune and Gideon, but what they don't expect is for real feelings to develop between the two. Kristin Ciccarelli's Heartless Hunter is a fantastic romantasy that kept me flipping the pages.

Rune is such an interesting character in Heartless Hunter; Ciccarelli did a great job developing her. Her backstory about life with her grandmother and what life is like as a witch in hiding was also done well and added to the story. It also explained her motivation as the Crimson Moth. Gideon's backstory is also complicated and I am glad Ciccarelli told the story from his point of view as well. Readers get the history surrounding his  family and how they were wronged by witches, which gives legitimacy to his motivations as a Blood Guard. Rune and Gideon's relationship is the usual enemies to lovers trope, but Ciccarelli gives it a fresh twist. Plus, matters get complicated when Rune's best friend, Alex, reveals he also has feelings for Rune-- cue the love  triangle! While that isn't my favorite of situations, I think Ciccarelli did a solid job making it seem not only authentic, but original, too.

My only issue with Heartless Hunter was some decisions the characters made towards the last quarter of the novel. A few choices made seemed very out of character as they didn't always align with the character's motivation, but overall, it didn't bother me as I was hooked. There are some twists in the novel, which definitely added to the suspense and while this is a YA novel, I think many fans of the romantasy genre will appreciate this one. I enjoyed Heartless Hunter's fresh take on The Scarlet Pimpernel and all the Bridgerton vibes within the novel. I will definitely be reading book two, which comes out this winter.

Are you a fan of Kristin Ciccarelli? Have you read Heartless Hunter? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Mini Reviews: More Romances

 

'Tis the season to curl up with a romance. Winter is not over yet! I am sharing my thoughts on a new release from the queen of romance, Ali Hazelwood. This is a departure from her usual STEM romances and while it wasn't entirely my thing, I am glad I read it. I also am sharing my thoughts on a sweet audio book that tugged on my heartstrings. 

 

 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Pages: 416

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pub. Date: February 6, 2024

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Loathe to Love You,

The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain, 

and Love, Theoretically

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance. Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again... Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…. Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf."

 

Misery Lark (yes, that's her name) is the daughter of a big wig in the Vampyre world. She has gone through most of her life being used as a chess piece in various alliances with the Werewolf community. This time her father has arranged her marriage to Alpha Werewolf, Lowe Moreland. At first, Misery gives this whole opportunity a hard pass until she realizes that Lowe may be the key to finding out what happened to her best friend who disappeared in Were territory never to be heard of again. So, Misery enters this marriage of convenience with that mission in mind, but as time goes on, she realizes that there may be something between Misery and Lowe, even though they are vastly different. Also, she is surrounded by enemies, so things start to get difficult for her. Bride by Ali Hazelwood is her first paranormal romance that had me laughing out loud; it was a lot of fun!

Everything that readers have come to expect from Hazelwood can be found in Bride. There's a spicy romance that is a slow burn, witty dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and fantastic writing. My only issue was the world-building; I felt readers might have benefited from more setting in order to buy into the "fantasy" world a bit better. I also think I didn't love this book as much as the average romance reader because I am not sure paranormal romances are a genre I still enjoy. I really liked the genre in my twenties, but I think it didn't translate to this point in my life. I prefer Hazelwood's STEM romances, but keep this in mind--if you love paranormal romances, you will love Bride.

 

 

The Last Love Note by Emma Grey

Genre: Romance/Audio Book

Pub. Date: November 28, 2023

Publisher: Zibby

Source: Library

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "You may never stop loving the one you lost. But you can still find love again. Kate is a bit of a mess. Two years after losing her young husband Cameron, she’s grieving, solo parenting, working like mad at her university fundraising job, always dropping the ball—and yet clinging to her sense of humor. Lurching from one comedic crisis to the next, she also navigates an overbearing mom and a Tinder-obsessed best friend who's determined to matchmake Kate with her hot new neighbor. When an in-flight problem leaves Kate and her boss, Hugh, stranded for a weekend on the east coast of Australia, she finally has a chance, away from her son, to really process her grief and see what’s right in front of her. Can she let go of the love of her life and risk her heart a second time? When it becomes clear that Hugh is hiding a secret, Kate turns to the trail of scribbled notes she once used to hold her life together. The first note captured her heart. Will the last note set it free? The Last Love Note will make listeners laugh, cry, and renew their faith in the resilience of the human heart—and in love itself."

 

 

Kate and Cam are soulmates. Their romance is adorable and is told through flashbacks. Things are a little more difficult as they get older though. Kate is re-entering the workforce after having their son and things aren't going smoothly. It's one thing after another. However, their world is turned upside down when Cam receives a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. How could her brilliant professor husband have this horrible disease? As time passes, and Cam slips from her slowly, Kate receives a lot of support from her boss, Hugh. He is understanding and a great support for not only her but also Cam as they become good friends. The story also follows Kate after Cam's death and how she rebuilds her life as a single mother. Two years after Cam's death, Kate finds herself on a work trip with Hugh and not only does she finally see what is right in front of her, but she also realizes he may be withholding an important secret. Emma Grey's The Last Love Note, her adult debut, is a sweet audiobook that broke my heart and then pieced it back together slowly.  

The Last Love Note is a romance with a lot of substance. It is heartbreaking and raw, but I am glad I listened to it. The narration was outstanding (loved the Australian accent!) and the flashbacks were done well in that they developed the backstory which only further broke my heart. I applaud Grey for highlighting such a horrible and heartbreaking disease as every bit of awareness can help. I could also tell that Grey has experienced a lot of heartbreak in her own life because she writes so passionately and in a way that only someone who has experienced it firsthand could write like that. But have no fear, many moments in The Last Love Note were beautiful and hopeful. If you love romances with a lot of heart, look no further.

So, have you read Bride or The Last Love Note? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Blog Tour: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

It's always exciting when Ali Hazelwood writes a new romance, especially when it comes out around Valentine's Day. Well, she has another romance coming our way, but it's not your typical rom-com. Bride is her first paranormal romance and it features a marriage of convenience between a Vampyre and a Were. I heard Bride has everything readers have come to love from Hazelwood - an enemies to lover romance, laugh-out-loud moments, and memorable characters. Bride comes out today, so be sure to add it to your winter TBR list!

Learn More About the Book:

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Pub. Date: February 6, 2024

Goodreads says, "A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis. Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again… Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…."

You can purchase your own copy of Bride at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Books-A-Million. You can learn more about Ali Hazelwood by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook and Instagram. 
 

Let me know in the comments below if you are a fan of Ali Hazelwood and if Bride is on your TBR list.

 

Mini Reviews: Debut Novels

 

I'm sharing two adult debut novels today that both include a bit of magic. One is a "romantasy" that has received a lot of buzz, and the other is a GMA Book Club pick that's a family saga with some magical realism. Let me know what you think!

A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

Pages: 432

Genre: Adult Fiction/Fantasy

Pub. Date: October 10, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "Arwen Valondale never expected to be the brave one, offering her life to save her brother’s. Now she’s been taken prisoner by the most dangerous kingdom on the continent, and made to use her rare magical abilities to heal the soldiers of the vicious Onyx King. Arwen knows better than to face the ancient, wicked woods that surround the castle on her own, which means working with a fellow prisoner might be her only path to freedom. Unfortunately, he’s as infuriating as he is cunning—and seems to take twisted pleasure in playing on Arwen’s deepest fears. But here in Onyx Kingdom, trust is a luxury she can’t afford. To make it out of enemy territory, she'll have to navigate back-stabbing royals, dark magic, and dangerous beasts. But untold power lies inside Arwen, dormant and waiting for a spark. If she can harness it, she just might be able to escape with her life—and hopefully, her heart."

 

 

Arwen Valondale saved her brother's life by offering up her own as she has magical abilities that the Onyx Kingdom could benefit from. So, now she finds herself a prisoner in the most dangerous of kingdoms and she must heal soldiers with her abilities. Then she meets another prisoner who might be able to help her escape if he doesn't drive her crazy first. But what lies outside of the castle is just as scary as what lies within. If you love a romantasy with a lot of tropes like an enemies-to-lovers romance and you enjoy a slow burn, A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden is the start of a promising new fantasy series.

 

I love fantasies that include fae, magic, dragons, a scary king, and an unlikely hero, so overall, I enjoyed this "romantasy." Arwen did grow as a character and come into her own as A Dawn of Onyx progressed; however, I never felt connected to her as much as I would have liked. On the other hand, I enjoyed the slow-burn romance and Golden's world-building. I do think that sometimes a lot of these "romantasy" novel on TikTok iare a bit overhyped as A Dawn of Onyx was originally a viral sensation. Ultimately, I'd recommend this novel to fans of Fourth Wing, especially if readers wanted a novel to hold them over until the next book comes out. 

 

 

 

 

Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: August 1, 2023

Publisher: Ecco

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Flor has a gift: she can predict, to the day, when someone will die. So when she decides she wants a living wake--a party to bring her family and community together to celebrate the long life she's led--her sisters are surprised. Has Flor forseen her own death, or someone else's? Does she have other motives? She refuses to tell her sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila. But Flor isn't the only person with secrets. Matilde has tried for decades to cover the extent of her husband's infidelity, but she must now confront the true state of her marriage. Pastora is typically the most reserved sister, but Flor's wake motivates this driven woman to solve her sibling's problems. Camila is the youngest sibling, and often the forgotten one, but she's decided she no longer wants to be taken for granted. And the next generation, cousins Ona and Yadi, face tumult of their own: Yadi is reuniting with her first love, who was imprisoned when they were both still kids; Ona is married for years and attempting to conceive. Ona must decide whether it's worth it to keep trying--to have a child, and the anthropology research that's begun to feel lackluster. Spanning the three days prior to the wake, Family Lore traces the lives of each of the Marte women, weaving together past and present, Santo Domingo and New York City. Told with Elizabeth Acevedo's inimitable and incandescent voice, this is an indelible portrait of sisters and cousins, aunts and nieces--one family's journey through their history, helping them better navigate all that is to come.

 

Flor Marte has always known when someone will die through her dreams and due to this, she has started to plan her wake. She invites her sisters and their children, but things get complicated. Each female in their family has a magical power of some sort, but it doesn't always make things easier in the long run. There's Matilde, who is in a bad marriage and has feelings for another. Then there's Pastora, who knows her sister's secrets as she can perceive them with her own magical abilities. Interfering in Matilde's life is never a good idea though. Camilla, the youngest sister, always feels left out, but not anymore! Plus, there's also Flor's daughter, Ona, who can regulate her menstrual cycle (how handy is that?!), and Yadi, Pastora's daughter, who is dealing with some problems of her own. This Dominican family living in New York City will come together for Flor's wake, but readers can't help wondering if Flor has foretold her death or another family member's. Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo is a well-written novel featuring the power of sisterhood and the bond of family. 

All of these interesting women were actually really difficult to distinguish in Family Lore. Thankfully there was a list of the characters at the beginning of the novel because they all seemed so similar at times and intertwined. Each chapter jumps from a different character's point of view, so for me, this was the hardest part--keeping it all straight! While the magic wasn't fleshed out as much as I was hoping (the story was giving me major Encanto vibes!), it did give me a good side of magical realism, which was definitely a nice touch for this debut adult novel. The writing was beautiful at times, but at other times, it dragged on. Overall, it was a solid story about women, and fans of family sagas will enjoy Family Lore the the most.

 

 

 

Have you read either of these debut novels? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  
 

Blog Tour: A Dawn of Onyx

It's spooky season and I love to snuggle up with a read that's perfect for fall. Sometimes I can't stomach books with elements from the horror genre, so I lean more towards a fantasy. Today I'm sharing with you a new fantasy/romance  novel that sounds absolutely perfect for October. A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden was a breakout sensation on TikTok and was just re-released on October 3rd by Berkley. It's receiving a lot of buzz and I can't wait to dive in. Plus, it's the start of a promising new series with book two coming out Spring 2024.

Learn More About the Book:

 

"Arwen Valondale lives a quiet life. With secret healing abilities, and a world at war, the last thing she expects is to offer her own life to save her brother’s. But when he becomes a deserter to the war, there must be repercussions. She’s taken prisoner by the most dangerous kingdom on the continent and forced to use her rare magical abilities to heal the soldiers of the vicious Onyx King.

Desperate to escape but smart enough to avoid the ancient, wicked woods that surround the castle, Arwen decides working with a fellow prisoner is her best chance at freedom. To make it out of enemy territory, she’ll have to navigate back-stabbing royals, dark magic, wicked Fae, and dangerous beasts.

And in Onyx Kingdom, trust is a luxury she can’t afford. But why does the Onyx King’s eyes soften when he looks at her? And how is Arwen able to feel so much for a man she should hate? The longer Arwen is held prisoner, the more she learns about the kingdom she was raised to despise. And the closer she gets to the Onyx King, the more she begins to question everything she has ever known.

Untold power lies inside Arwen, dormant and waiting for a spark. If she can harness it, she just might be able to escape with her life—and hopefully, her heart."

 

You can purchase your own copy of A Dawn of Onyx at  Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Books A Million. Also, you can learn more about Kate Golden by visiting her website and connecting with her on Instagram and Twitter. 

Is A Dawn of Onyx on your fall TBR list? Have you read it already? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

Audio Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Genre: Audio Book/Adult Fantasy

Pub. Date: May 2, 2023

Publisher: Recorded Books

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die."

 

 

Violet always wanted to be a scribe and live a quiet life in Navarre despite the fact that her mother is a general and her siblings are dragon riders who defend Navarre's borders. Violet's world is turned upside down when she is forced to enlist at Basgiath War College to become a rider. Not only is she smaller than everyone else, she has a condition that makes her more susceptible to getting hurt. This should be fun, and by fun, I mean a disaster! To make matters worse, she is assigned to the Fourth Wing, which is led by elusive Xaden Riorson, whose mother was a former rebel leader and Violet's mother had executed. Cue the awkwardness and anxiety. As Violet spends more time at the war college, she meets new people, gains friends, makes enemies, and hones her skills as a possible future rider. She is put into situations where violence becomes the norm. Meanwhile, her enemy turned possible love interest, Xaden, is in the background all the time stirring up her feelings as well as enemies looming outside of Navarre's boundaries. Also, did I mention there's dragons? Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a romantic fantasy perfect for readers who like the romance genre more than adventure and may be new to high fantasies.

 

Violet is an interesting character in Fourth Wing. She has a "disability" of sorts, which makes her more susceptible to injury, which is a problem at a war college filled with aggressive future dragon riders as well as people who judge her based on her mother who is a notorious general. I could see where things were going with Xaden right away as the whole enemies-to-lovers trope was going strong. I didn't really care for it as much as I thought in this novel, but I did enjoy the setting of a war college. If you like a school/university setting in a novel, you'll appreciate the setting of Basgiath and how cadets become immersed in the school's world, the trainings, and the other cadets. 

 

However, I do think that the world-building was weak in Fourth Wing. I wish Yarros would have provided readers with more background on Navarre and made it come to life a bit more. I think that if you are a reader who has read a lot of immersive fantasies by J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Cassandra Clare, Sarah J. Maas or even Richelle Mead, this may stick out to you as a weakness. It certainly did for me as I didn't really buy into the whole world or the connection to the dragons. In fact, minus the graphic sex scenes, this read like a YA fantasy novel based solely on world-building and character development. 

 

Well, unless you live under a rock, you know that Fourth Wing is one of the most talked about books of the year. Why did I only give it 3.5 stars? Well, I listened to the audio version and it was, for lack of a better word, abysmal. I hear that they re-recorded the audio, which is great news, but the initial version I listened to was the worst audiobook I've listened to in years. The narrator was sick and you could actively hear swallowing, phlegm, a stuffy nose, and other delightful (!!) signs of a respiratory infection. It was so distracting and at times, it made me feel sick. Also, there's so much h y p e for this novel, so much so that I expected to be blown away and obviously that wasn't the case with this audiobook. I can't comment on the new audio version (if they did re-record it as I heard), but the original audio ruined this book for me. If I read book two, I am undecided currently, I will have to pick up a hard copy. So, if you are new to the fantasy genre and are traditionally a romance reader, this is the book for you, but make sure to sample the audiobook if you go that route!

 

Have you read Fourth Wing? It's one of the most talked about books of the fall. I'd love to hear your thoughts and if you listened to the audiobook. Leave me a comment below!