Tag: fantasy books

Reviews

Gods & Monsters Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Gods & Monsters Review

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

After a heart breaking loss, Lou, Reid, Beau, and Coco are bent on vengeance more than ever before—and none more so than Lou. But this is no longer the Lou they thought they knew. No longer the Lou that captured a chasseur’s heart. A darkness has settled over her, and this time it will take more than love to drive it out.

This is a little hard to review as I didn’t leave this book with any lasting impressions, which I think in and of itself is quite telling. This was the finale in the series and for the majority of the book I was quite bored. One thing I think that made the book drag a little was the reoccurring theme of Lou and Reid being forced apart by one thing or another. First it was Lou being inhabited by Nicholina and then Reid losing his memories almost straight after it never gave us a chance to just enjoy the two of them for a little while before something else happened to keep them apart and their relationship was one of the things that I liked most from this series.

Reid losing his memories and reverting back to his old chasseur mindset really got on my nerves. I understand it was a way to acknowledge just how much he and Lou are meant to be even if he knew she was a witch before they got married. But I just feel like it was unnecessary to revisit this when this was the main obstacle between them in the first book.

There was also too many side quests that they had to go on before the inevitable stand off with Morgane. They had to expel Nicholina then go back to the chateau to steal a necklace, we’ve already travelled all over this world in the second book I wasn’t really all that interested in the continuous journey they were on. I would of appreciated learning more about the different gods and digging more into the history of the witches.

⭐️2/5 stars Way to long and tedious

Reviews

Book of Night Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Book of Night Review

*100% SPOILERS*

In Charlie Hall’s world, shadows can be altered, for entertainment and cosmetic preferences—but also to increase power and influence. You can alter someone’s feelings—and memories—but manipulating shadows has a cost, with the potential to take hours or days from your life. Your shadow holds all the parts of you that you want to keep hidden—a second self, standing just to your left, walking behind you into lit rooms. And sometimes, it has a life of its own.

Charlie as our main protagonist was definitely the reason this book was a four star as opposed to just a three. I liked the fact that we get a thorough background and we learn a lot about her motivations and why she has made certain decisions over the years. I loved her kind of snarky attitude and the way she doesn’t back down when put in a tight spot but still will feel real emotions like panic and desperation.

Vince I knew was going to be more integral to the story than what he seemed at the start. Charlie focuses on him a lot even though he is her boyfriend I just feel like he kept popping in more than usual. She always described him as quite stoic and how he didn’t talk when he didn’t need to so when we find out that he’s actually Edmund I was like oh he really changed. But then when the actual twist comes about at the end I did not see it coming at all! I for sure thought Red was behind the murders and didn’t really think any more than that so I was surprised for sure.

The other characters in the book helped move the plot along for sure but they weren’t very nuanced other than that. Odette and Balthazar I feel have so much potential as characters but we didn’t get to explore them as much as I wanted. Posey even I didn’t form a connection with her at all. Hopefully we learn more about each of them in the next book and they service more of a purpose.

In terms of the magic system and how the shadows work I’m still not quite sure I wrapped my head around it. They way it was all explained was a little info dumpy and confusing. We didn’t really get into much about how the shadows can alter feelings and memories and what it even means to be a gloam. Even the system with the Cabal wasn’t explored enough for me either, I feel like it wasn’t even mentioned until well over the half way mark of the book.

What really carried the story for me was the relationship between Charlie and Vince. I think the way it was portrayed and evolved as the story progressed was very relatable. Feeling comfortable in the start and then finding out they each have secrets and having those doubts creep in and then breaking up but they still love each other. Ugh, it was great! I would of even liked a few more smuttier scenes (plenty of blood and gore so why not more smut?)

⭐️4/5 I was left wanting to know more!

Readathons

Buzzword Reading Challenge

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Buzzword Reading Challenge

If you are unaware what the Buzzword Readathon/Challenge is see my prior post HERE. Last month the buzzword prompt was to pick a book with the word all  in the title and I ended up completing All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman which was pretty good! For July the prompt is ‘book‘ related words (e.g. library, paper, writing, pages etc) and my options are:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Book of Night by Holly Black

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Reviews

Misrule Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Misrule Review

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Feared and despised for the sinister power in her veins, Alyce wreaks her revenge on the kingdom that made her an outcast. Once a realm of decadence and beauty, Briar is now wholly Alyce’s wicked domain. And no one will escape the consequences of her wrath. Not even the one person who holds her heart. Princess Aurora saw through Alyce’s thorny façade, earning a love that promised the dawn of a new age. But it is a love that came with a heavy price: Aurora now sleeps under a curse that even Alyce’s vast power cannot seem to break. And the dream of the world they would have built together is nothing but ash. Alyce vows to do anything to wake the woman she loves, even if it means turning into the monster Briar believes her to be. But could Aurora love the villain Alyce has become?

Alyce kinda got on my nerves throughout this sequel. She just placed Aurora on this pedestal the last 100 years that she’s been asleep and when she was awoken just disregarded everyone else who had build up the Dark Court, especially Regan. Like it was pointed out to her numerous times that she had only known Aurora for a year and even though she may have been her true love can that really conquer all? Aurora was horrified when she woke up and then chose to isolate and disrespect everyone and lash out repeatedly and conspire against her.

I wasn’t very connected with Aurora in the first book and in this continuation of the storyline she didn’t do anything special for me. I can appreciate the fact that she would mourn for her previous life but the pretentiousness and entitlement is still there. She still doesn’t recognize how much Malyce was reviled and why she chose to raze Briar to the ground.

I just loved the setting of the Dark Court and seeing how it had changed so much and integrated all of these other creatures that were otherwise shunned and mistreated by the humans and the fae. I also liked the fact that even though Alyce was the most powerful of the Vila’s wasn’t appointed queen, there was a counsel of representatives that made unanimous decisions.

Like the first book however the pacing was just off. The first half of the book dragged and there wasn’t really any kind of build up of anticipation. Sure there were a couple of twists and turns that kept me engaged but all of the action scenes just felt really rushed and confusing to envision. The ending was quite satisfying in my opinion. I liked the fact that Malyce chose to leave and honor Regan and work harder to learn more about her kind.

⭐️3/5 stars some parts I loved, other parts I hated.

Reviews

Under the Whispering Door Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Under the Whispering Door Review

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead. And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead. But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Wallace from the start is not the most likeable character which is to be expected. I think it was very relatable the way he acts and lashes out on everyone at the tea shop when he first gets there. I appreciate the transformation he undertakes after he dies and the emotional toll it takes on him having to reflect upon his life. I think it was admirable that he chose to resolve some loose ends with his ex wife and chooses to help Nancy and Cameron as one of his last acts before he moves on.

Hugo was lovely though I didn’t feel as much of a connection to him. We learn so much about his history of how he came to be a ferryman and why he chose to give up his life to help those that have died to cross over. But I feel like we don’t feel like we see enough of him just being Hugo. Mei and Nelson on the other hand were delightful characters. They brought some much needed lightness and banter to the story and definitely lifted up everyone’s spirits.

It was frustrating at times when Wallace would ask questions after just getting there and would just keep getting non-answers from both Hugo and Mei. They would just keep saying the answers would come with time and would ask another question to distract Wallace and it was repetitive and boring at times. The never ending existential talks that kept going round and round really slowed down the pace and made the book drag at times. It this condensed into a short story of like 150 pages I think I would of loved this soo much more!

⭐️3/5 stars A bit predictable but heart-warming!