Review: The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

Title: The Vanishing Throne
Author: Elizabeth May
Series: The Falconer, #2
Format: eARC, kindly provided by
the publishers via NetGalley for
review. (Thank you!!)
My rating: 5 / 5

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My name is Lady Aileana Kameron.

First the fae murdered my mother. Then they destroyed my world.

Now I’m fighting for more than revenge.

Aileana took a stand against the Wild Hunt, and she lost everything: her home, her family and her friends. Held captive by her enemy, and tormenting herself over her failure, escape seems like only the faintest possibility. But when she gets her chance, she seizes it . . . to rejoin a world devastated by war.

The future is bleak. Hunted by the fae, running for her life, Aileana has only a few options left. Trying to become part of a society scarred by – and hiding from – the Wild Hunt; trusting that a fragile alliance with the fae will save her; or walking the most dangerous path at all: coming in to her own powers as the last of the Falconers . . .

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

*I received an eARC from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.*

Now THIS is how you write a sequel! Oh wow was The Vanishing Throne everything I hoped it would be and so much more. After the agonising ending in The Falconer, it was so nice to see the sequel picking up shortly after those events. Aileana is being held captive in the faerie realms by Lonnrach, and she has no accurate idea of time passing, what with interrogations and torture taking its toll on her body and spirit. The intensity of the book is set right from those early few chapters and doesn’t waver at any stage. Granted, it did take me ten or so percent to settle back into the story fully, but once I did I was completely hooked and enthralled by the world created.

For me, the main highlight of both books so far has been the characters and how they’ve been developed – they’re completely amazing! Aileana is quickly becoming a favourite character of mine. Despite all she’s gone through, she’s still the fiery, witty and fierce girl she was at the beginning of the series, yet she has a new-found maturity about her which is so awesome to see. She’s not afraid of acknowledging she has a vulnerable side, and when she embraces it, it makes her much more likeable and a whole lot easier to empathise with. I completely adore her, and I can’t wait to see how her character continues to develop in the next book.

And Kiaran Mackay. Oh boy… *fans-self* If you thought he was swoon-worth in the first book, wait till you see him here! He was a bit of an enigma in The Falconer, and I LOVE that we get to learn more about him and his past. Looking back on the first book and just how torturous the budding romance between Kiaran and Aileana was, seeing how their feelings have matured and grown was so satisfying to see and it’s done in a completely believable way. Seriously, the chemistry between these two, holy hell, it was awesome! The tension is so, so good, and their banter crackles off the pages. When I look back at my notes and I see a mix of swooning and random threats littered throughout directed at anything standing in my ships way, well, it’s a pretty good clue I’ve found a new OTP to obsess over! I know I’ve focused quite a bit on the romance here, but what I love about the series is that the romance doesn’t take over the entire plot. It’s the perfect blend of awesome characters, a romance you can get behind and support, all captured up in an intriguing world and gripping story. We get to learn so much more about the Seelie and Unseelie courts, but what I particularly loved was finding out the history of the Falconers, and how they came to be.

We’re introduced to a new character in The Vanishing Throne, Aithinne, Kiaran’s sister, and I absolutely LOVED her! She added a completely different vibe to the story, and I though the sibling rivalry between her and Kiaran was so well done, and her budding friendship with Aileana was awesome. And not to forget Derrick! He has to be the most adorable pixie that was ever created! He’s so grouchy and snarky and absolutely hilarious! Yet, he’s also kind and caring in his own way, certainly toward Aileana, anyway. I absolutely love when the secondary characters are just as loveable as the mains, and for them get their fair share of development is so nice to see.

I have to mention the ending, oooh that ending… stab me right in feels and rip my heart out, why don’t ya! Remember that little cliff-hanger in The Falconer? Pffft. That was a teeny tiny mole hill in comparison to this one. I’m in complete agony here, people! *Sobs* Oh gosh, it was so cruel yet completely genius.

I’m so thankful I got to read this book: I thought The Vanishing Throne was so much better than the first book, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been reading more and more fae books, and I really think this trilogy could become my all-time favourite fae series. Now, all I want to do for the next year is curl up with the first two books in the trilogy and reread them continually until the final book is released! I know the wait will be completely agonising, but I expect the conclusion to the trilogy will be completely epic.

Review: Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

Title: Ink and Bone
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: The Great Library, #1
Format: Paperback, bought
My rating: 5 / 5

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Knowledge is power. Power corrupts.

In a world where the ancient Great Library of Alexandria was never destroyed, knowledge now rules the world: freely available, but strictly controlled. Owning private books is a crime.

Jess Brightwell is the son of a black market book smuggler, sent to the Library to compete for a position as a scholar . . . but even as he forms friendships and finds his true gifts, he begins to unearth the dark secrets of the greatest, most revered institution in the world.

Those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn. . .

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

When I first read the synopsis for Ink and Bone, my expectations were set very high: it’s a book about books after all! Add in the concept that The Great Library of Alexandria was never destroyed and they control all the knowledge in the world, and I knew I had to get my hands on it as quickly as possible. Beginning reading with really high expectations can be quite daunting, and it was such a huge relief that I ended up LOVING Ink and Bone – it was easily one of my favourite reads of 2015. I’ve been chipping away at the Morganville Vampire series over the past year or so, and I can’t believe the same author wrote both works – Ink and Bone is so much better!

The best way I can describe Ink and Bone is that it’s like a futuristic historical dystopian with a pinch of steampunk story, where owning original books is illegal and The Great Library of Alexandria controls the flow of all knowledge in the world. Everybody, regardless of age, sex, race or class has access to the knowledge stored within the Library in the form of blanks. The world-building throughout the book was amazing! It’s very intricate with lots of information to take in, but it’s described and presented in a way that makes it really easy to absorb. If anything, it only made me want to learn even more about the world! Also, I loved the writing style. It held my attention continuously and consistently. I really liked the little snippets of information in the form of Ephemera between chapters that helped to round out the story.

The prologue begins with Jess, the son of a black market book smuggler, who is assigned as a runner, to (literally) run with illegal books through the streets of London and deliver them to their clients. His father gives him an ultimatum when he shows no interest in following in his footsteps: join the library as a scholar and become the eyes and ears within for the family, or be disowned. The book is written in the third person, and we get to see over Jess’s shoulder as the story unfolds. I really liked his narration (even though I kept calling him Jesse in my mind!) I really liked that he was self-assured and self-confident without coming across as an arrogant prick. It made him really likeable, and I was rooting for him throughout the story.

I’ve got to say, the characters were fabulous right across the board. There was loads of diversity, and the book had a wonderful cosmopolitan feel. Considering the tensions and competitive nature that’ll naturally develop when a bunch of ambitious students are learning, studying and living together 24/7, I LOVED how mature they appeared. If they had a problem or personalities clashes, it’s dealt with there and then, rather than dragging on throughout the entire book. The students are a unit, and they stick together when it matters most despite any personal issues with each other. My favourite character, though, was Wolfe. I loved seeing his story slowly revealed. Right from the beginning, we could see there was more to him that initially meets the eye, and I loved that my opinion of him changed so much throughout the story.

I’m actually struggling to come up with something I didn’t enjoy… which is kind of awesome! The only thing that I had a tiny issue with was that a few of the secondary characters didn’t feel as developed as much as the central ones, but in honesty, this didn’t negatively influence my feelings on the story as a whole. Overall, I loved Ink and Bone, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Review: The Violinist of Venice by Alyssa Palombo

Title: The Violinist of Venice
Author: Alyssa Palombo
Series: Standalone
Format: eARC, kindly provided
by St. Martin's Press for review.
(Thank you!!)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: 15th December 2015
My rating: 4 / 5

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Like most 18th century Venetians, Adriana d'Amato adores music--except her strict merchant father has forbidden her to cultivate her gift for the violin. But she refuses to let that stop her from living her dreams and begins sneaking out of her family's palazzo under the cover of night to take violin lessons from virtuoso violinist and composer Antonio Vivaldi. However, what begins as secret lessons swiftly evolves into a passionate, consuming love affair.

Adriana's father is intent on seeing her married to a wealthy, prominent member of Venice's patrician class--and a handsome, charming suitor, whom she knows she could love, only complicates matters--but Vivaldi is a priest, making their relationship forbidden in the eyes of the Church and of society. They both know their affair will end upon Adriana's marriage, but she cannot anticipate the events that will force Vivaldi to choose between her and his music. The repercussions of his choice--and of Adriana's own choices--will haunt both of their lives in ways they never imagined.

Spanning more than 30 years of Adriana's life, Alyssa Palombo's The Violinist of Venice is a story of passion, music, ambition, and finding the strength to both fall in love and to carry on when it ends.

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

Since I began blogging almost two years ago, Young Adult has become my usual go-to zone for new books to read. I love it with all my heart – and I doubt that will ever change – but a little breathing room from the things we love is a pretty good idea from time to time! Recently I’ve tried to get back into reading some adult fiction, and when I got the opportunity to read The Violinist of Venice, it immediately sparked my interest and I jumped at the chance to review it.

Adriana d’Amato, our main character and narrator, is a young woman of 18 when the story begins, and has grown up under the strict, isolating and domineering rule of her father, Enrico d’Amato. According to the custom of the day and the class she was born into, she has little say in what her future holds, and she is seen more as a bargaining chip to be used for her father’s gain, rather than a beloved daughter. Encouraged by her mother to play the violin since childhood, she was forbidden from pursuing her passion after her mother’s death. Adriana is determined to find a way to keep music in her life, and she decided to sneak off unbeknownst to her father to get private violin lessons from Antonio Vivaldi. With a shared passion for music, the pair begins to fall in love, yet it is a love they know is strictly forbidden, and would have catastrophic consequences should it come to light.

The first thing I have to mention is how beautifully written the novel is. I absolutely loved the writing style, and I was drawn into the story after only a handful of sentences, and it kept me captivated and enthralled from beginning it end. It was so easy to visualise Venice is the early 1700s, and also to get a sense of just how limiting life was for women in the time-period. I loved how music was incorporated seamlessly into the story, and it really took on a life of its own and added so much atmosphere and vibrancy. My only little issue, and the best way I can describe it, is that sometimes the pacing felt like it hit an unexpected pothole and things slowed down a little too much. This could be because what I know about the technical ins and outs of violins and how to play them could be contained within a teaspoon, so most of the more technical moments went whoosh right over my head. I think this is purely me, in honesty: I love listening to classical music, but I have limited knowledge beyond the very basics.

Adriana was a fabulous character, and I loved seeing her journey throughout the book. It’s not your classic happy-happy story, but a more realistic one, and it’s impossible not to be moved with what she goes through, and to root for her to find a little happiness along the way. Being honest, though, I wasn’t fully convinced of the love and the intensity of feelings between Adriana and Antonio. I don’t really know what it was that was missing for me, but it just didn’t feel… complete, for want of a better word.

Overall, The Violinist of Venice was a captivating story from the very start, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction, and to those that are just branching into the genre. I thought it was a truly spectacular debut novel that captured 18th century Venice brilliantly and I can’t wait to see more from this author in the future.

DNF Review: Cleo by Lucy Coats

Title: Cleo
Author: Lucy Coats
Format: eARC, kindly provided by
Hachette Children's Books via
Netgalley for review (Thank you!!)
Publisher: Hachette Children's Books
My rating: DNF

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Her precious mother is dead - and it isn't an accident! The young Cleopatra - Pharaoh's illegitimate daughter - must flee the royal palace at Alexandria or die too. As her evil half-sisters usurp the throne, Cleo finds sanctuary at the sacred temple of Isis, where years later she becomes initiated into the secret Sisters of the Living Knot. But now Isis's power is failing, Egypt is in danger, and Cleo must prove her loyalty to her goddess by returning to the Alexandria she hates. She must seek out the hidden map which is the key to returning Isis's power - on pain of death. But will she be able to evade her horrible sisters? And will she find dreamy Khai, the über-hot Librarian boy she met as she fled Alexandria years before? Cleo's powerful destiny is about to unfold...

Gorgeous and evocative, this captivating new YA novel imagines the life of the teenage Cleopatra before she became the icon we think we know.

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

DNF @ 31%

I’m so disappointed! On the surface, Cleo has everything I should love: Ancient Egypt, its history and mythology are amongst my favourite historical topics, so I had VERY high expectations that I’d be swept away by so much awesomeness and find a new favourite read. Unfortunately, some things are not meant to be, and I’m completely gutted that I had to DNF.

The book is written in the first person, and Cleo is our narrator. When I read a book written in the first person, I need to form some sort of connection to the main character to fully enjoy the story. I don’t necessarily need to like them; I just need to understand where they’re coming from. I had expected to get a glimpse into the life of the famous Cleopatra in her early years before she came to power, but I wasn’t expecting to encounter a spoilt, whiny, immature, modern-sounding teenager. Unfortunately, Cleo continually grated on my nerves, and her dialogue and narrative felt a bit too modern and immature for the time period being represented. I didn’t feel any empathy or sympathy toward her when I knew I should be rooting for her to succeed.

I was under the impression that this was a young adult novel, so I was a bit surprised that the writing style had a very middle-grade vibe. (Personally, I don’t read middle-grade, and if I had known before starting, I would have skipped it.) The book begins when Cleo is twelve, but a few chapters later, she’s sixteen. Up to the point I read, the style of writing and Cleo’s narrative didn’t change to reflect this. Considering Cleopatra became co-ruler of Egypt at eighteen-ish, her immaturity and naivety seems a little… off, to me.

Overall, I really liked the concept of this book, but Cleo’s attitude and narrative style prevented me from connecting with both her and the story. With nothing to root for and a main character that grated on my nerves, unfortunately, I felt it was time to walk away.

Review: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Title: Dark Triumph
Author: Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassin, #2
Format: eARC, kindly provided
by publisher via Netgalley
My rating: 4.5 / 5

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When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for...

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

What a stunning sequel Dark Triumph turned out to be! I loved it! There were some seriously big boots to fill after the awesomeness that is Grave Mercy, and Dark Triumph lived up to my expectations. It did take me longer than I expected to fully click with the book, but once I did, I loved it!

The characters in the series are fabulous! It’s awesome to see how each character has their own distinct individuality and vibrancy. I have to start with two characters I despise: the Abbess, and D’Albret. Both of them are incredibly well crafted, but I absolutely hate them both! D’Albret is fabulous as a villain, and his character managed to evoke so much hatred and disgust in me, it’s incredible. And what a hateful person the Abbess turned out to be! I knew she wasn’t exactly a saint in the first book, but she really showed her true colours here.

I loved Sybella’s character, and I loved finding out more about her. I don’t remember that much about her from Grave Mercy. She seemed like an interesting character, but I didn’t put that much thought into what actually happened in her past. I LOVE that she got the chance to tell her story! On first appearance, Sybella appears to be a cold, heartless killer following duties, and I loved seeing a softer side to her personality slowly appearing throughout the book. She’s had one brutal life up to this point, and at times it’s not an easy read. Quite a few unsettling and icky subjects are addressed, though not in stark detail, but you can read between the lines and get the full gory picture. I’m delighted to see the historical rose-tinted glasses were removed, and portrayed just how disgusting some parts of history can be. Sybella’s picked herself up from so many horrible battles in her life, and I loved the inner strength she continually showed. She’s very quick witted, and can change most situations into her advantage.

My favourite part has to be the romance that blossomed between Sybella and Beast! I LOVED how their relationship slowly unfolded. They have a fabulous banter between them, and I couldn’t help but smile every time they butted heads. Their attraction to each other felt completely natural, and I loved just how well suited they are for each other. I really like that Beast is not your typical drop dead gorgeous hero. It makes things a lot more interesting and refreshing. I loved his character in Grave Mercy, and it was awesome to see him here, and to discover more about him. He has an amazing glass-half-full attitude to life, and it was the perfect contrast to Sybella’s outlook.

I really loved the writing style, too. Robin LaFevers creates incredibly captivating stories, and I love the depth of feeling and detail she manages to create with her words without becoming overly descriptive and off-putting. Everything is immaculately paced, and each sentence flows into the next effortlessly. I love it! One thing that stood out for me was how well the battle scenes were described. They were crystal clear, and it was so easy to imagine everything that was taking place. It’s always a peeve of mine when details are brushed over during a good fight scene and I LOVED seeing they were perfectly crafted here.

I felt there was less focus on the political intrigue aspect in this book. There was lots of action going on throughout, but I didn’t feel it was as deep-rooted as in Grave Mercy. Yeah, I’m splitting hairs here, but it’s these little things that make me prefer Grave Mercy over Dark Triumph. While I loved Dark Triumph, I still prefer Ismae and Duval’s story a little more. Overall, I thought Dark Triumph was a fabulous sequel to one of my favourite books, and I can’t wait to read Annith’s story!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.*

Review: Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin

Title: Queen of Someday
Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Series: Stolen Empire, #1
Format: eARC, kindly provided by the
publishers via NetGalley
My rating: 3 / 5

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ONE GIRL WILL BRING AN EMPIRE TO ITS KNEES...

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

I’ve been trying to gather my thoughts about Queen of Someday for days now, and I keep swinging back and forth from liked to dislike. I struggled at the beginning, and the middle was quite painful at times, not gonna lie, but the ending, oh my… it was EPIC! Purely for that ending alone, I’m so happy I didn’t stop reading. I was close a few times, but something told me to keep going and I’m glad I listened.

Sophie is our main character, and I’m so torn about her – I like and dislike her all at once. My expectations based on the synopsis lead me to expect a Russian political mystery with a hint of romance. What I got? Sophie trying desperately to fall in love with anyone who shows her the slightest bit of kindness or interest, and for her to manipulate them into falling in love with her, too. In a way, I feel sorry for her. She has a lot of pressures on her shoulders, and the entire purpose for her trip to Russia is to make Peter fall in love with her… so I can’t totally hold this against her. The part I disliked immensely was the Alexander saga in the middle. I didn’t believe in their love, and it came across as shallow and forced. It had all the hallmarks of insta-love, unfortunately.

One character I liked throughout the book was Sergei. He was the most consistent, and his character felt the most honest and trust-worthy. Peter on the other hand was a pain in the arse! But, when you take into account that he is actually Peter III of Russia… it’s a really good representation of his character! He really was a very unlikeable person, to the zillionth degree!

My biggest disappointment with the book involves court life and the political backdrop. I found it very watered down and tame for my tastes. I didn’t feel any urgency or danger, and the political, mystery and court life elements were very weak in comparison to other books I’ve read within the last year. Now, I’m not sure if this is purely down to me disliking the way the story was told, or if my expectations have been raised too high. Throne of Glass, Poison Study and Grave Mercy have really set the bar so high in my mind, I don’t know if it’s even possible to match them anymore.

By a mile, my favourite part of the book was the ending! Oh my goodness, I LOVED it! It had all the tension and twists I was expecting to see throughout the entire book. I WISH the entire book was as epic as the last 20-25%! I would have been fangirling like crazy if it was. For most of the book it was very hard to remember that the story is loosely based on Catherine the Great of Russia, and her history. It was even harder during the Alexander phase, in particular. But, when I strip away the things I disliked about the story-telling, I loved all the nods to Catherine’s history, and in particular, I LOVED how Sergei was incorporated into the ending! I’m really curious to see what happens next, and I’m considering continuing on with the series, but I’m a little hesitant. I’ll wait to see some reviews before I fully make up my mind!

Review: The Paper Magician, by Charlie N. Holmberg

Title: The Paper Magician
Author: Charlie N. Holmberg
Series: The Paper Magician Trilogy, #1
Format: eBook, kindly provided by
publisher via Netgalley
My rating: 1.5 / 5

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Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic… forever.

Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined — animating paper creatures, bringing stories to life via ghostly images, even reading fortunes. But as she discovers these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic.

An Excisioner — a practitioner of dark, flesh magic — invades the cottage and rips Thane’s heart from his chest. To save her teacher’s life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane’s still-beating heart—and reveal the very soul of the man.

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

I wanted to love The Paper Magician. To make it even more disappointing, all the signs were good! I really liked the premise, and it reminded me a little of The Night Circus, and I loved the idea of paper magic. It started off really well: Ceony Twill has recently completed her magical schooling, and her heart was set on becoming a Smelter. She graduated at the top of her class, but was forced to accept an apprenticeship with the neglected and unpopular paper magic line, and become a Folder. I liked Ceony’s attitude initially: she did have a few moans and once it was out of her system, she got on with things.

My favourite part of the book was the origami, and I loved seeing Ceony learn how to fold paper, imbue it with magic, and animate it. But, being honest, I didn’t fully connect with any of the characters. While I liked Ceony, she seemed a bit distant and unreachable – I don’t feel like I got a proper idea of who she is. I feel the same toward Emery: I loved seeing him make a paper dog for Ceony when she was homesick for her own dog, and I thought I would begin to like the characters from then on… but it didn’t happen, unfortunately.

It feels like the book split in two: the first half I enjoyed, but once we ended up inside a heart… you lost me. I was expecting so much more, and I couldn’t suspend disbelief enough as I didn’t have anything to root for. From that point, everything began unraveling, and I couldn’t get back to enjoying and connecting with the story.

Unfortunately, the pacing didn’t work for me. The plot tended to plod along, and I felt it had to be pushed forward at times. What was strange, the book felt a lot longer than it is. During the last chunk it was an effort to get through the pages, and at times it became quite laborious. I thought the writing itself was good, but I felt the details were a bit haphazard. I felt too much detail was wasted on unnecessary things, and not enough detail was provided for very important plot points. I would have loved to know more about the setting, and at what time the book is really set within history. It feels like it was set in the modern world, but with a few steampunk elements thrown in. It’s one thing to be told things, but it’s another to actually believe them and I feel this is my biggest disappointment with the book. I kept getting conflicting imagery, and I stopped caring. Overall, I loved the concept, but the plot went in a different direction than I was expecting. The beginning was really good, but the more I read, the more disconnected I became. I’m so disappointed that I didn’t like it, I was almost positive I would!

Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Title: Grave Mercy
Author: Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassin, #1
Format: Paperback, owned
My rating: 5 / 5
Setting: Brittany
Pages: 484

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Young, beautiful and deadly. Trained as an assassin by the god of Death, Ismae is sent to the court of Brittany, where she finds herself under prepared - not only for the games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make.

For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

I didn't get off to the best start with Grave Mercy. After reading the blurb I was expecting a historical romance with some assassins thrown in, and a familiar plot that would remind me too much if Poison Study. While I was reminded of Poison Study quite a few times, this book was a million times better than my expectations! Assassins or spies on their own are fascinating, but when you add assassin NUNS, things suddenly become a lot more entertaining.

At the beginning, Grave Mercy isn't the fastest moving book I have ever read. There is a lot of detail and build up in the first 150-180 pages, and in honesty I wasn't enjoying the book that much at this stage. Looking back on it now, all of this information was essential. There are so many layers built up, from the political and governmental, the convent and St. Mortain, assassins, the huge cast of characters and the intricate relationships between each one. Right now, it's amazing, but when I was reading I wanted the plot to hurry up already!

Once things began to move along, oh my lordy, it was absolutely amazing! Taking the time to establish the characters made all the tension and twists that much better, and I could feel the tension and pressure the characters were under. At the beginning of my paperback, we get a Dramatis Personae with 36 living characters listed. For the most part, each one was distinguishable with their own personality traits shining through. With that many characters, this is one hell of a feat!

I really liked all the characters, even the so called "villains". I could see why they thought and did the things they chose to do. Ismae Rienne is our main character and narrator. She was marked by an old Druidic god of death, Mortain, as one of his daughters who would essentially be his handmaiden in the realms if the living. As Christianity is spreading through Europe, the Breton people have taken to calling their old gods Saint to fit in with the new customs. Ismae is shunned by her local village for her scarring, and once her father tries to marry her off, she is rescued from an abusive situation and taken to the Convent of St. Mortain where she begins her training as an assassin to carry out Mortains prophecies of vengeance.

Ismae really grew on me over the course of the book. I could sympathise with her quite early on, but it took a while for me to really connect with her fully. Seeing where she came from, and who she grew into over the course of a single, albeit long, book was amazing. Gavriel Duval reminded me a lot of Valek from Poison Study, even though I kind of prefer Duval out if the two. Valek strengths and personality would be very subtle in comparison, where Duval has a more obvious and noticeable strength to his character. I loved both Ismae and Duval together. I could sense their connection, and I loved that it built up so realistically over the course of the book.

I loved both DeLornay and Beast, and I couldn't help admiring Duchess Anne. For a child of twelve to be forced to take the reins of a country under siege... gosh it was so well done! You could see the vulnerability along with the sheer strength of character when she knew she had to stand up for herself.

I can't help feeling that the blurb puts too much emphasis on the romance plot, and not enough emphasis on what actually takes place. I mean, if assassin nuns were mentioned, I think I would have been a heck of a lot more prepared for how awesome this book really is! Both the historical and political sides of the story are so intriguing, they overtake what is happening between Ismae and Duval, and the romance enhances rather than dominates the story.

Grave Mercy completely came out of the blue and surprised me with how emotionally invested in the characters I was. When I'm sniffling away and trying to fight tears at the tough times in a story, it's a pretty big clue I've found a book I love. And I absolutely loved this book! It might have been a shaky start, but it was so worth sticking with it to find out what actually happens. I highly recommend it, and I can't wait to start the next book in the series.

Review: Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Title: Magic Under Glass
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Series: Magic Under, #1
Format: Paperback, owned
My rating: 3.5 - 4 / 5

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Nimira is a music-hall performer forced to dance for pennies to an audience of leering drunks. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to do a special act - singing accompaniment to an exquisite piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets stir.

Unsettling below-stairs rumours abound about ghosts, a mad woman roaming the halls, and of Parry's involvement in a gang of ruthless sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing young fairy gentleman is trapped inside the automaton's stiff limbs, waiting for someone to break the curse and set him free, the two fall in love. But it is a love set against a dreadful race against time to save the entire fairy realm, which is in mortal peril.

My Thoughts

I don’t know if I’m the only one, but I haunt Amazon every now and then looking for second hand books that seem interesting. I remember stumbling across Magic Under Glass and thought I’d try it. I don’t read too much steampunk, so I took a chance with this book and I’m really glad I did! I really liked it.

The book is quite short at 225 pages, and a lot happens within those pages. I thought Nimira was a great main character and with the “we need diverse characters” campaign that took place recently this is exactly what I wanted to read now. We aren’t given specific locations in relation to our world, and all the names used are fictitious, but the impression I’m left with is Nimira is of Middle Eastern descent, and the world that’s described in the book is more of English origin, set in a historical backdrop.

Nimira, or Nim, is an entertainer who has left her home country to find her fortune. She wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but after her death she decided to make a new start for herself. Nim meets Hollin Parry at one of her stage shows, and he offers her the opportunity to sing in an act with an automaton that plays the piano. Rumours are rife that the automaton is haunted, and Nim soon finds out that the rumours are true. They manage to find a way to communicate, and we begin to learn of Erris’s plight. He is a fairy prince who has been trapped within the automaton, and Nim is determined to set him free.

I really like Nim. She realises she is classed as lesser than those she is surrounded by, but she doesn’t let this define who she is as a person. It increases her determination to prove herself. I really like that she stands up for herself and those around her and won’t let anything put her off her opinions.

I loved the concept that the characters fall in love without falling for appearances. It didn’t matter about the different backgrounds or what each physically looks like; they fall in love with the person, not the body. In YA these days, the focus is so often on the descriptions of the characters. When a book is narrated by a female, more often than not the book has a tendency to revolve around how swoon-worthy the guy is. This was so refreshing to see a character fall in love with a soul of man trapped inside an automaton. It stripped away the physicality aspect, and focused on important things, like friendship and personality! And to make an automaton appealing shows has to show great skill on behalf of the author.

I liked the way the romance is woven into the story and the magic and sorcery doesn’t come second place, or overpower the story. But a big problem I have is I feel the book was way too short. I feel that the 225 pages weren’t enough. We didn’t get to see much of a backstory for any of the characters. With such a short book, I’m impressed with the emotion the author has managed to put in the pages, but the story is crying out for more detail. I want to know the characters a little better, Erris in particular. At times it feels like things are skimmed over, and when more detail would have added so much to a scene, we get very little. The plot is very fast moving, and I think it would have benefited with a slightly slower pace, and about an extra fifty or sixty pages. It’s not often I ask for more detail or more pages!

Overall, I really liked this book, but I do feel like I read a short story rather than a full length novel. I think there is a sequel and I’ll definitely consider continuing on.

Review: Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle

Title: Donners of the Dead
Author: Karina Halle
Series: Standalone
Format: eBook, owned
My rating: 4 / 5

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***A Standalone Horror Romance***

A note about this book: Donners of the Dead is set in 1851 – couples were often thrust into marriage together with short courtships, racism was widespread and not overly frowned upon, and women had little to no rights. What wouldn't fly in today's day and age was unfortunately the norm back then - it is worth keeping that in mind when reading this book.

Jake McGraw was unlike anyone I’d ever known. He was brash, rude, unapologetic and arrogant; chauvinistic, close-minded, and terribly stubborn. He was built like a tree, tall with a hard chest and wide shoulders and hands that looked like they could wrestle a bear. He was a cigar-chomping, scruffy-faced, beast of a man. I was pretty sure I hated him. And I know he hated me. But among the flesh-eating monsters in these snow-capped mountains, he was the only thing keeping me alive

The year is 1851 and pioneers in search of California gold are still afraid to travel on the same route as the tragic Donner party did years before. When the last wagon train to go into the Sierra Nevada mountains fails to arrive at their destination, Eve Smith, an 18-year old half-native girl with immense tracking skills is brought along with the search party, headed by an enigmatic former Texas Ranger, Jake McGraw.

What they find deep in the dangerous snow-covered terrain is a terrifying consequence of cannibalism, giving new meaning to the term “monster.” While the search party is slowly picked off, one by one, Eve must learn to trust Jake, who harbors more than a few secrets of his own, in order to survive and prevent the monstrosities from reaching civilization.

***This is NOT New Adult***

-- As seen on Goodreads

My Thoughts

"There are only monsters inside of angels and angels inside of monsters. Choose wisely.”

In each book Karina Halle writes, in particular her horror novels, there are usually a couple of scenes that are etched into your brain and will refuse to leave long after you finish the book, and Donners of the Dead is no exception. It takes her usual level of horror and adds zombies and stomach-churning cannibalism in all its gory glory.

This book chilled me to the bone, and I think it’s some of her most terrifying writing yet. I love when an author takes a topic and completely runs with it and doesn’t hold back on anything.

Eve Smith is our narrator for this terrifying read. She is a half-native American, half-white young woman of eighteen, who has been entrusted into the care of her Aunt and Uncle after the disappearance of her father, and the mental breakdown of her mother. In a time when women were barely tolerated, let alone a woman who is deemed a “half-breed”, she has to deal with the horrendous injustices of racism and sexism on a daily basis. This really stuck out in my mind: she isn’t allowed to attend school, and this hurts her deeply as her cousin, who has little interest in gaining knowledge, attends daily.

I felt a sharp pang of envy in my chest, something I often felt when I thought about my cousin. It wasn’t that she was beautiful and polite, but that she was able to go to school every day and I never was.
[…]
All I’d ever wanted to do was learn, to fill my mind with knowledge and wisdom, while Rose seemed to abhor everything about learning, except when it came to the piano.

I think her struggles were portrayed really well, and nothing was sugar coated. I like that the romanticism and idealism that often hangs over historically set novels isn’t showing its ugly head. Life could suck back then, especially if you were a woman. A maybe-negative: The dialogue is a bit on the modern side. This could potentially irritate some, but it worked for me personally as I don’t enjoy Ye Olden Speech – unless it’s Pride and Prejudice, then I’m all mushy.

Jake McGraw's character starts off, in short, as an arrogant, chauvinistic asshole, yet with the way he is portrayed as the story progresses, you could see that there is a lot more to him that what firsts meets the eye. I liked the romantic element that was woven into the horror, but it never overshadowed the story, just enhanced it.

"We’re still human even in the face of beasts, even with our lives at risk. When you’re close to death, love is sometimes the only thing that makes sense in life.”

Karina is champion of balancing all the different elements and plotlines within her stories. Everything happens at the right moment, it flows naturally and nothing if forced upon us. The epilogue was written exactly how I prefer epilogues to be written. It wasn’t drawn out and didn’t introduce unnecessary twists, keeping in line with what was naturally progressing with the characters’ lives at the books end.

I gave this book a four star rating, even though I do think it could deserve a lot more. This is purely because Karina is competing with her other books in my mind. Did I think Jake and Eve’s story matched or exceeded Dex and Perry’s from the Experiment in Terror series, or Camden and Ellie’s story in the Artists Trilogy? To me, it didn’t. I gave both of these a five star rating, so I feel to keep my ratings a little bit consistent, a four star rating more accurately describes my overall feelings toward the characters, and therefore, the book.