Ash Princess by, Laura Sebastian

5 Stars!! 

“I was a princess made of ashes; there is nothing left of me to burn.
Now it's time for a queen to rise.” 

This was a re-read to prepare for Lady Smoke! As I started it, everything came back to me. But once again, I was engulfed in the story and absolutely loved it all over again!! 

This book is not a new story- we have all heard about the lowly chick who somehow got her kingdom taken away… and somehow- she makes a plan to get her kingdom back. Yeah.. that's this one, but SO MUCH MORE. 



First of all, this book had me from the first page. I was hooked and committed. The pacing never faltered either. This is a book you'll want to binge read. The magic system is unique, but only touched on in this installment. I expect it to be explored more in the rest of the series. There is also the use of the Ash Crown, which I thought was a brilliant. The whole atmosphere of the book is somewhat dark. There are a few scenes that are brutal but added so much to the atmosphere. 

There is romance, and some may say even a love triangle but, it's done in a way that didn't make me want to hurl or eye roll. The romance is actually only a small part in this one. All I know is I have my Ship and I can only pray… that it will set sail in the next few books!



Then there is the cliffhanger… had me like -



I am so glad I took the time to re-read this one. It was a favorite last year and will continue to be for this year as well! I am totally looking forward to jumping into Lady Smoke and hope it is even better than this one! If you couldn't tell already- I Highly Recommend this one! Even if you think you have heard this type of plot before, I encourage you to give it a go! 

This is my Review from the first time I read it:

Everything... Everything... Everything about this book I loved! Was it perfect? Nope ... but did it entertain me?? You betcha!! Sucked me in from the first page! Have you heard this story before? Meh - maybe a little... did it stand all on its on?? Yes it most certainly did! Can we talk about the cover?? Absolutely gorgeous.. Writing: 4/5 Pacing: 5/5 World: 3/5 characters: 4/5 Plot: 4/5 Overall: 5/5 stars in my opinion for this beautiful Gem!! (Stomping feet like a two year old) I want book two right MEOWW!!! 

Winter Loon by, Susan Bernhard

                              

4 Stars!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟 “So go, why don’t you? See if I care.” “You don’t mean that,” he said. But I did. I wanted him to leave and to hold onto me. I wanted him to shut the hell up and to tell me I’d done all I could. I wanted his comfort. I got his pain.” Hauntingly tragic, and a beautiful coming of age story. This was a wonderful debut...about family and sacrifice, Winter Loon reminds us of how great a burden the past can be, the toll it exacts, and the freedom that comes from letting it go. In this book we follow Wes, who is 15 years old when his mother drowns. His alcoholic father sends him to live with his, less than welcoming, grandparents. While there he connects with a young woman who shares the pain of losing a parent. This was more than a story for me. Some parts were so very relatable. It was raw and dirty.... Gritty and painful. The way the story was told was heart wrenching and sad, but you cant help but root for Wes. It brought out every emotion possible for me. The writing was so beautiful and lyrical which made it an easy, enjoyable read even with the heavy subject matter. Totally recommend if your in the mood to feel ALL the feels!

Dragon Marked by, Jaymin Eve

2 stars 🌟🌟 Meh... this one didn't really work all that well for me. I think it had potential … I mean come on … HELLO- DRAGONS.. But, it fell short. All the action scenes had a build up but no delivery. The jokes made were bland and didn't make much sense. I also kept thinking the main characters- (5 in all) were like 13 or 14 because of their immaturity, but NOPE - they were like 22. My biggest problem was this is considered a YA - and I have no issue with mild language, even in a YA, but this one just had wayyyy too much. I felt it was forced and seriously unnecessary. I do not think I will be continuing this series it was just not what I was hoping it would be :(

Shadows Edge by, Brent Weeks

                         

4.5 Stars!! “Tell them the Night Angel walks. Tell them Justice has come.” WOW!!! I really enjoyed The Way of Shadows... but I LOVED this installment! This one, like the first was brutal, and deliciously dark. There is a ton of character growth and the plot only continues to thicken. Some of my favorite characters go through some horrible things and it made me extremely emotional. The humor was such an added bonus and just freaking fantastic!! It's literally what kept me engaged when things were getting serious. Weeks really hit his stride with this one. There were quite a few WTF moments and major plot twists. AND - OMG 🤯 that epilogue - DID NOT SEE THAT COMING AT ALL. Shadows edge was a fantastic sequel - I can not recommend it enough.

Dumplin by, Julie Murphy

4 Stars! 

🌟🌟🌟🌟

“Perfection is nothing more than a phantom shadow we’re all chasing”

I honestly don’t know why I waited so long to read this! With the movie coming out I decided it might be time to give it a shot and it didn’t disappoint. I loved how it embraced self worth and esteem. There were so many little nuggets of wisdom throughout this book.

“I've wasted a lot of time in my life. I've thought too much about what people will say or what they're gonna think. And sometimes it's over silly things like going to the grocery store or going to the post office. But there have been times when I really stopped myself from doing something special. All because I was scared someone might look at me and decide I wasn't good enough. But you don't have to bother with that nonsense. I wasted all that time so you don't have to.”

Willow Dean the MC was great. I gotta say in the beginning and for a lot of the book she was upset about people being judgmental but yet... she was kind of like the people she despised. She had lessons to learn and I think by the end, (without spoiling anything) I think she learned a good bit.

These days there is so much pressure on Women AND Men to be a certain size, look a certain way, be like this one or that one, that it’s just to the point where people have a hard time just being themselves. That’s what this book was about for me. Shinning the light on ourselves and looking at the inside and not the outside. I read this in one sitting- it was written so “easy breezy” that it was extremely hard to put down. I am so looking forward to the movie now!

Mortal Engines by, Philip Reeve

                          

3 stars!!  🌟🌟🌟 I loved the idea of this book so much and wanted to love it. It was very creative and unique, but I found it hard to stay engaged. I had trouble connecting with the characters and an even harder time imagining this world as a whole. There were certain things I really liked about it and other things that fell flat for me. I'm not sure I will continue with the series, but I am glad it was made into a movie. Maybe once I see it come to life, I will want to continue with it at a later time.

Iniquitous (the marked 3) by, Bianca Scardoni

                         

4 Stars!!!  🌟🌟🌟🌟 Holy cliffhanger....!!!! I need book 4 ASAP! I thought this was the last book in the series... SURPRISE- it’s not 😱😱 I felt so torn between Dominic and Trace this whole time.... I was sooo not expecting that ending!! ***ugly 😭 cry time ***

Inception (The Marked 1) by, Bianca Scardoni

                                

4 stars!! This was a re-read for me so that I can finish out the series... The first time I read this was years ago and I rated it a 5. Its amazing how I forgot absolutely everything about this book so it was sort of like reading it for the first time. After reading it again I have dropped my rating down a star but it was still pretty good. I have just read better books since then. I enjoyed the story line and the pace of the book. It starts out kind of slow just because of the world building, but picks up towards the end. Some of the characters were a little too juvenile for me this go round and a little annoying. I did like the MCs- Jemma and Trace and the slow burn that led up to the twist at the end. I have also read book 2 before so its going to be interesting to see if I remember anything from it the second go round. Looking forward to finishing out the series.

Invidious (The Marked 2) by, Bianca Scardoni

                          

4 Stars!! This was another re-read for me so I can finish the series. I originally rated this a 5 and I’m dropping a star this go round. I still enjoyed the story and all the characters. I loved Dominic in this one but I hate the pet names he uses for Jemma... every other word. I could totally do without that. Looking forward to finally finishing this series! That cliffhanger was killer and can’t wait to see how everything unfolds in the end.

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

                            

5 Stars!!!  🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 “Every story needs its hero. And its villain. And its monster.” Well Chums.. what a fantastic end to an amazing ⬛️ing series! The illuminae files have been one of the most unique and fun series I have ever read. I am not usually a fan of sci-fi but with the style being so different, and with so much going on with the characters, I hardly had time to worry with the sci-fi aspect of it. I really enjoyed seeing all the OG's work together as a team in this one. Marie Lu did a phenomenal job on the illustrations used in the book. They were ⬛️ing amazing and such an added bonus. My absolute favorite part of this series is the format. They are the coolest physical books in the whole ⬛️ verse' :)

The Library at Mount Char by, Scott Hawkins

5 WTF did I just read?? Stars!!! 

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“It’s the notion that the universe is structured in such a way that no matter how many mysteries you solve, there is always a deeper mystery behind it.”

Crickets... Literally hearing crickets as I stare off into the void of nothingness trying to collect what fragments of my brain still exists after this Cluster-Fuq of a book.



Lets play a game...



NEVER have I EVER read a book like this. Im not sure there are words to describe how Weird - ODD and confusing this gem was. I'm a little perplexed to say the least. It is the most thought provoking book I probably have ever read. It is also one of those types of books you basically never stop thinking about.

The Library at Mount Char is exceptionally dark, twisted and philosophical. WARNING- Your brain may actually hurt a little and maybe even turn into MUSH as you read it (mine did)!



I'm not even sure I can review or explain this book its just something you'll have to read on your own. I guess Hawkins says it best when he describes it as exploring the dysfunctional family aspect of the Greek Gods with a little modern age and horror mixed in. Its dysfunctional for SURE. The characters are brilliant and very unique. Carolyn the MC of the book, was FABULOUS, intriguing and one thousand percent Psycho. She has quickly become an all time favorite character of mine. (not sure what that says about me but...yeah) OH AND LIONS- I have such a desire to go to the zoo and just talk to the lions...maybe even kidnap one... I think they may be my new favorite animal.



The storyline is absolutely creative and the pace moves consistently and captivates the reader even while you're scratching head. I will say, I am usually a very fast reader-but I had to take breaks while reading this one. I had to take time to think and collect my thoughts. There are also some very graphic scenes that are pretty disturbing, which left me feeling like I needed a minute to digest.



Overall- I loved it... it was confusing as hell and I feel like I fell into a world that made no sense. Kind of like this review... Sadly- I just couldn't stop. It was insanity I tell you....Even the ending had me like....



But honestly- Just do me a favor... read it. Its just one of those books... you just gotta do it - you'll either roll your eyes, flip me off- think I'm crazy or... HOPEFULLY, read it, go insane and then thank me later.

The Towering Sky (The Thousandth Floor book 3) by, Katherine McGee

5 Towering Stars!! .

“Some secrets are better buried.”

Clapping and crying.... sad that its over!!!



What a fantastic ending to this amazing addictive series. I loved this series so hard!! I don't think I could have asked for a better conclusion. I think McGee did a phenomenal job tying up all the loose ends in this finale. She kept her characters and story line just as fast paced and addictive as the first two. I will miss this world so much! What an amazing ride. I can not recommend it enough if you're in need of a secret filled, drama fest! This one is sure to fill your appetite.

The Dazzling Heights (The Thousandth Floor Book 2) By, Katherin McGee

                        

5 Dazzling Stars!! An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The phrase kept echoing in her mind like cymbals. A fall for a fall, a voice inside her added. Just as twisted and dark as the first book!! I felt every emotion possible reading this one and it was fabulous!! There are a couple new characters this go round and they brought something totally new to the atmosphere of this world. The author did an amazing job of keeping this story just as manipulating and conniving as the first. Some of the characters from the first book that I wanted to see get a heavy dose of HELL... I somehow ended up sympathizing and liking in this one... Crazy right?!?! Kudos to McGee for keeping the drama going!! I am so excited and sad to read the last of the trilogy! I feel a book hangover in the near future :(

The Thousandth Floor (Book 1) by, Katherine McGee

                       

5 **Binge Worthy** Stars!!!  🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 “They say that before death, people’s lives flash before their eyes. But as the ground rushed ever faster toward her, the girl could think only of the past few hours, the path she’d taken that ended here." Well I don't know what I was expecting when I picked this up but... I certainly didn't expect what I got either. From the very first page I was in for the long haul. The prologue got me... HOOK LINE AND SINKER. This book was FUN and 100% book crack for me... others may call it a guilty pleasure. Regardless.. It was addicting. It was dramatic and dark and absolutely delicious. It was futuristic and FULL (and I mean FULLLL) of extremely interesting concepts. I feel like the author did an excellent job of coming up with the futuristic tech that is used in the story. The story follows a group of characters each with their own POV. They were … well I cant even tell you if I liked any of them to be honest. There were maybe 2 that I actually cared about. Each of them had their own issues, but we get to look inside them and see all their thoughts and the darkness that lies beneath. The pace was perfection- It moved so quickly that I was shocked how fast I got to the half way point and then to the end. The writing was pretty good but that's not what this one was about for me. It was the consistent pace and the way that I just couldn't put it down. The twists and turns the OMG AND WTFRAPPPP moments. Also the shock factor- If I read a mystery I don't want to be figuring it out at the half way point and this one, I didn't get until about 5 minutes before the reveal which was awesome. There is so much to be said but honestly, I feel like everyone should really go into this one blind. You will either love or hate it. Don't judge me :P Three words. Eight letters. I LOVED IT!

Rangers Apprentice by, John Flanagan

                             

4 Stars!! “Once you best a man, never gloat. Be generous and find something in his actions to praise. He won't enjoy being bested but he'll make a good face about it. Show him you appreciate it. Praise can win you a friend. Gloating will only ever make enemies.” The Ruins of Gorlan was a fun, fast and clean read. I enjoyed it very much. The characters were very well developed and the pace moved along nicely. The story was simple with a great message behind it. I think its a great book for all ages. Its full of great role models and a positive message which is really hard to find these days. There was a part in the book that dealt with bullying and it was one of my favorite parts in the whole book. Overall, it was a well written story and included all the things I personally look for in a book. Great cast of characters, nice pace, good plot, suspense and humor.

Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts

4 Stars!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

If you enjoy Post-apocalyptic, Dystopian, Survival... you get all three with this series, but, you also get Fantasy!!! This is only my 3rd book by Nora Roberts so I don't have much to compare it to but ya'll,.... I just love this series so far! I know she usually writes Romance, but these are in a totally different league and there is something in it for everyone !!

What a fantastic follow up to Year One. It succeeds Year One and tells the story of the rise of The One. I adored all the characters in the first book and was so excited to jump back into this world to find out what has been going on with everyone. It did not disappoint. The characters are so well developed and the writing just makes you care what happens to them. I for one, am definitely invested in them and extremely sad I have to wait another year to see what happens in book 3.

This was very much a middle book. A lot of the world building and action takes place in book 1. In this one we follow Fallon as she trains for leadership and battle. Of course there are still some epic action scenes, but this one concentrates more on character development and builds up the plot for what's to come in book 3. It wasn't boring or slow - the pace was actually perfect and keeps you turning the pages. I personally could not put it down. I am pretty sure this type of book is my absolute favorite. Watching people start all over again and learn to survive in a world that's new is one of my favorite things!! It has a The Walking Dead type feel, only instead of zombies, certain people have magical abilities. So there is a real tug of war with light vs dark. I totally recommend Year One and Of Blood and Bone! These are adult books, but tend to read like a YA, especially this second one. I CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 3!!!

Every Heart a Doorway by, Seanan McGuire

                          

2.5 Stars Well peeps.... this was not my favorite... while it was creative, diverse, inventive...and a little entertaining, MEH- just not my cup of tea. It was very weird and kind of confusing at times. In saying that, I am willing to try the next in the series because I heard it was better than this one. Plus, the one thing this book did have going for it, was that it was extremely short. First of all... the writing was nice but... I still don't know exactly who was telling the story and that was pretty annoying. When told from multiple POVS, knowing the narrator would be great. Secondly, I felt like with multiple people getting murdered there was no depth to the people reacting to said deaths. The living characters were just like OH... such n such is dead, NO EMOTION and they were supposedly close to these people?!? WTH?? INSERT weirdness here. I just didn't get it. There were other things that just were OVER the top and in my opinion unnecessary. The only character that was interesting was the first to die. The murderer was way too obvious and so where is the fun in that? THEN- there was that moment that Chronicles of Narnia was mentioned and DISSED…. ... NO THANKS- MAJOR POINTS off for that.

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

3.75 stars
“I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred, and this is the tale of a blood feud. It is a tale of how I will take from my enemy what the law says is mine. And it is the tale of a woman and of her father, a king. He was my king and all that I have I owe to him. The food that I eat, the hall where I live, and the swords of my men, all came from Alfred, my king, who hated me.”

HELLO Uhtred.....



I'm not the biggest fan of Historical Fiction books. I had interest in the TV Show and wanted to read the book first. I powered through the first half of this one, by Part 2, the book was redeemed since the pace picked up. Also, I think, since by the second half, Uhtred was getting older, he had a lot more going on, therefore, making him WAY more interesting . There were LOTS of blood and battle scenes- which were done fabulously.



I think I would have enjoyed this one even more if the characters, besides Uhtred and Ragnar, had more depth to them. I needed a little bit more of something and I just cant put my finger on it. I really enjoyed following Uhtreds story though, and I will probably give book 2 a go later on. Although, I will admit- the ending made me want to pick it up sooner than later. I will say- regardless of my personal attention span- Bernard Cornwell is an Epic Story teller and Author. I am not giving up on him just yet!

Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars!!

Dark Epic Fantasy- Engaging from the start!

I was not sure when I added this to my TBR what to expect. I did not read the Powder Mage series so this was my first Brian McClellan Novel. It sounded pretty interesting- so when I opened the book to start, I was pleasantly surprised from the very first page. Starting out with a bang- literally from the prologue- This book took a hold of my attention and immediately, I was invested.

The world building was amazing and the characters are top notch. They are so skillfully crafted, and extremely dynamic, that the characters almost felt like I actually knew these people, or they were like family. They all have very distinct personalities that were very interesting and engaging. One of my favorite Characters was Ben Stykes and I am pretty sure he is making my list of top fantasy character favorites !

The pace of he book moves along perfectly and is continuously changing from one event to the next. With a unique magic system and full of twists and turns this one should keep readers on their toes. I'm totally looking forward to jumping back in this world with these characters in the rest of the series!