Dark Rise (Dark Rise, #1) by C.S. Pacat Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of C.S. Pacat's Captive Prince trilogy -Captive Prince, Prince's Gambit, and Kings Rising on Goodreads, now!

As a lover of the Captive Prince trilogy, I was excited to dive into a new world by Pacat. I do not think I was aware that this series was young adult, as I was very much expecting an adult series considering how intense the Captive Prince series was. This aspect definitely made it a little harder for me to get into, and I do not know if I was in a reading funk or just tired, but this book took me so much longer to finish than I expected it to. The story is certainly intriguing, but I found myself having a hard time getting into the plot and found the majority of the characters in the beginning not as compelling as those in Pacat's other work.

This book put me in one of the longest reading slumps I have experienced in years. I had to switch from reading a physical copy to the audiobook to make myself finish it out - for some reason, I just could not get into this book the way I wanted to. It took me basically half of the book to even start to actually enjoy any of these characters - while the world building definitely showed a lot of promise, the constant change of which characters we were following made me forget where they were and what they were doing in order to remind myself who was speaking. That being said, once I finally could focus on the characters, they were certainly interesting and began to be very captivating.

The story truly picks up about two thirds of the way in and shoots the reader forward in action as we watch so many of the characters experience despair and revelations as we reach the end of this first installment. I found that once the stakes truly felt as there was something to lose, the plot became much more intriguing and had me gagged a few times right near the end. There were a few things that you could predict, but even if they were predictable, they still made for good plot devices to propel the story forward.

I will say I was a little confused on some of the magical aspects of this book, especially when at around the halfway point we were suddenly talking about unicorns. Even though this book deals with magic, I did not expect unicorns and that element somewhat took me out of immersion of the book. Obviously I knew that with magic comes some interesting elements, this one aspect just seemed slightly out of place for the overall tone of the book. That being said, the author does a good job at establishing the "big bad" and diving into magical components while keeping the reader engaged and not overwhelmed.

There are a decent amount of characters in this ensemble, and to be frank, I have not decided if there is one that reigns above the rest for me. I found Will and James the most intriguing towards the end of the book, but Violet definitely takes a leading role throughout the majority of the book, with Will and James seemingly trailing right behind her for second. I do wish this had more of an ensemble feel like what we see in Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. I may return to this series when a fantasy book calls my name, but for now, I need some time to sit with my thoughts and decide where I truly stand on this series.

You can add Dark Rise on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Den of Liars (Den of Liars, #1) by Jessica S. Olson ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Den of Liars will be available on July 1, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I love a good heist novel, and considering the past few mystery books I read have been lacking in heists, I was so excited to get approved for this galley. Right from the start, readers are introduced to an exciting world that was more modern than I expected. The pacing for world-building is quick but not confusing, and while it took me a second to familiarize myself with all of the new places and books of importance, the story was not overloading the reader with new information every two seconds.

Lola is such an interesting character, and you can tell that she is headstrong from the second she shows up on the page - with the brief prologue, readers are given the tone of her character and she holds true to her determination as the story goes on. Her backstory definitely plays into her character and the choices that she makes along the way. The character of the Liar and the Thief intrigued me so much - it was exciting to see how they differed while also seeing how similar they were. The pull between those two characters and Lola keeps the reader entertained and longing for something mischievous to come into play.

The heists are one thing, but when one goes array, the only way to continue on for Lola is to participate in the Dice Tournament - which poses an entirely new risk to Lola as she journeys on to become a true member of the Tentacles, the Thief's gang. As their bond has grown over their time together, she is determined to prove herself and be taken seriously by the Thief. With their bond already formed, it was interesting to see how Lola still was not a member of the Tentacles despite being able to pull off a number of schemes and heists with the Thief.

I am such a major fan of the main lead falls for the villain, so I was thrilled to see hinting of that trope throughout the book and just mentioned in the summary. It plays out such a complex relationship as there is always more to the villain's story than appears in the beginning. With the Thief seeking revenge against his brother, the Liar, Lola is now right in the middle of their sibling feud, and when pulled between them, whose side will she choose?

For fans of Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody and Caraval by Stephanie Garber, this new and exciting young adult romance brings action, romance, and intrigue to a unique story. There is something new at every turn, and readers can expect to be in for page-turning surprises. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has in store, and will certainly be keeping my eye out for any works by Olson.

You can add Den of Liars on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

The Stolen Heir (The Stolen Heir Duology, #1) by Holly Black Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of The Cruel Prince, The Lost Sisters, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing, and How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories on my blog, now!

Going into this spin-off, I thought that we would be getting the story from Oak's perspective - imagine my surprise when it was Wren that we were following. It certainly made things interesting, and honestly resembled Jude's perspective throughout the original trilogy. I absolutely know that Jude would be proud of how secretive Wren can be, and Cardan so pleased with how cunning Oak has become. Wren has this feral, ferocious behavior that comes from essentially being treated like a wild animal, but she uses it to her advantage and is able to channel that energy into achieving her goals.

The adventure in this book takes a different route compared to the original trilogy, as we see Oak and Wren on a journey together and face a number of obstacles, so much so that it felt like every turn had them encountering a new danger. This really pulled me into a new perspective of the world - sure, we saw our fair share of obstacles that Jude and Cardan experienced, but it truly felt as though as soon as Oak and Wren tackled one monster, three more appeared.

Reading this right after finishing A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon gave me some whiplash, as going from adult high fantasy to young adult fantasy certainly is disorienting - reading about modern day inventions felt foreign to me. I personally have never been a major fan of fantasy books that reference modern things, but it plays well into this world considering they interact between the mortal world and Faerie. There was not a ton of modern items mentioned in this book compared to others, so it was easy to overcome and move on with the fantasy aspect of the world.

The ending low-key had me gagged - I actually audibly gasped. I knew things were starting to take a certain turn, but to actually see it come to fruition was so fun. Holly Black truly utilizes every aspect of Faerie, and with that comes the manipulative tendencies of the characters. Seeing a few betrayals and a number of omissions to characters in order to advance their own agenda, The Stolen Heir maintains reader interest as the story moves forward. I cannot wait to see what is in store for this chaotic duo.

You can add The Stolen Heir on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Finale (Caraval, #3) by Stephanie Garber Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of Caraval and Legendary on my blog, now!

I wanted to enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Caraval and Legendary - but there was just something about this book that made it feel as though it was dragging on for the majority of the story until we reached the two-thirds point. Scarlet still grinds my gears, and even with her presence in this book being more tolerable than her minimal presence in the previous book, I still found myself rolling my eyes every single time she showed up. Tella continues to be the superior sister, and while she now finds herself placing trust in someone she did not expect to, she still holds true to herself.

With everyone's relationships seemingly on the rocks since the end of Legendary, the characters are now working towards mending those bonds and deciding if who they thought they loved truly are the ones they want to end up with. There is a lot of back and forth between the couples of Tella and Legend and Scarlett and Julian, which does create an interesting dynamic as perspectives switch throughout the book. Julian's character somewhat stays on the back burner until his true purpose comes into play, so his and Scarlett's relationship became less interesting to me as not nearly as much time is spent on them compared to Legend and Tella.

The actual plot of this plot felt like it was a little all over the place - at times it felt as though the story was dragging for chapters on end, and then suddenly everything was happening all at once and so much information was being thrown at the reader. The last third of the book definitely saved the plot - I was pretty locked in at the end, and was glad to see that actual moves were being made in order to accomplish the main goal. The Fates storyline was definitely the most intriguing part of the book, and to be quite honest, one of the best aspects of the series in general.

I wish there was more tension throughout this installment - while you could tell that the stakes were high in terms of the fantasy plot, the romances seemed to take a back seat and I felt disconnected from them at times. That being said, Tella's pull between Legend and Jacks was really enjoyable and I am such a huge fan of Jacks - to be upfront, the main motivation for me to finish this series to to be able to read Once Upon a Broken Heart, and now I am only one novella away from diving in. Jacks and his general mysterious aura really pulled me in, and the way he interacts with Tella makes the story more juicy and gives it a bit of a bite.

Even though the game of Caraval is over, you can definitely feel its impact on the characters in this book - they are still reeling from the consequences of the game, and the characters must make decisions that affect everyone around them. It was a different type of thrill compared to the game, but I did enjoy the difference and how it felt like a final chapter closing on both Tella and Scarlett's stories that allowed them both to have a proper conclusion. If you are looking for an entrance into the world of fantasy, the Caraval series may be the perfect books to pick up.

You can add Finale on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Immortal Dark (Immortal Dark Trilogy, #1) by Tigest Girma Review

This is a spoiler-free review! A list of content warnings is available at the beginning of the book.

Vampires!! I have not come across a vampire book that has sparked my interest in what feels like forever. Kidan, our female lead and narrator, is honestly not too likeable - I found her somewhat insufferable and incredibly impulsive as she continues to make rash decisions without any thought behind her actions. However, I find unreliable narrators and harsh main characters intriguing, and with her being coupled alongside an even more morally grey Susenyos, they made an entertaining pair. The persistent distain Susenyos and Kidan share for one another throughout this first installment is truly all-consuming - you see through Kidan's thoughts how she pushes herself to ignore his presence, yet she cannot stay away.

Susenyos is in the running for my top literary vampire - I loved the way Girma characterized him and kept his mystery looming over the story. I would have loved to see his perspective in this series, but I think having Kidan's sole perspective aids in the book's attempt to show her recklessness and how she centers herself - and her sister, June - at every turn. Susenyos has such an intriguing aura surrounding him, and while everyone at Uxlay University seems to cower at the sight of him, Kidan has no issues with getting on his nerves at any chance.

The side characters and their influence on the story and Kidan's own journey are so incredibly necessary for this story to work, and without them, this book would have gone in a completely different direction. While not every character is as they appear, Kidan's relationships outside of her search for her sister influence her actions, and in turn made her more well-rounded, while still maintaining her chaotic energy. She is forced to use them to her advantage in order to track down her sister and put away the draniac that took June from her - but not everyone is as trustworthy as they seem, and Kidan must navigate her new life at Uxlay University.

The human-vampire companionship aspect of this book is so much more than I expected it to be - it is intimate and full of power dynamics as they attempt to be equals in relationships that can only be seen as ticking time bombs. Kidan begins to risk everything she has ever stood for and been taught as she faces a series of murders and less-than-friendly faces in addition to Susenyos trying to get her out of inheriting her family home and drive her from the school. The dynamic between Susenyos and Kidan is intoxicating, I could not get enough of them- my jaw was dropping at nearly everything that came out of Susyenos's mouth.

Girma expertly details an extensive history in this first installment, and it adds so much to the book as a whole, as well as the background to the characters and the persistent struggles that they carry. I will say this is history-heavy as well as familial house-heavy - there was definitely a learning curve when I first cracked this book open, but reading the house names on the page and the texts being referenced made the background easier to understand once you settled in the story. Some moments are a bit hard to follow, and I did find myself flipping back a few pages a number of times to reorient myself to particular moments.

Immortal Dark perfectly blends dark academia, paranormal, and romantic aspects while pulling the reader in and holding them tightly. The enemies-to-lovers were truly enemy-ing it up to the fullest extent, and I had an absolute blast watching Kidan and Susenyos try to understand each other. I had heard rave reviews about this book, and was incredibly pleased to see that it lived up to the hype and solidified itself on my must-read recommendations to my friends. I cannot wait to see where this series takes us, and for fans of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, you are surely in for a treat.

You can add Immortal Dark on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Firewalker (Worldwalker, #2) by Josephine Angelini Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review for the first installment, Trial by Fire, on my blog, here.

A little over two years later but I am back to this series and determined to see it through. For the most part, when it has been years since I have read a book in a series, it will only take a few chapters for my memory to be jogged and everything will come back to me - that is exactly what happened in this case. I honestly forgot about Una and Breakfast until they showed up again in this book, and their presence throughout the story was definitely in a supportive role in Lily's journey. Tristan gives off major Adam Kent vibes from Shatter Me, and his continued pining for Lily made him mildly insufferable.

The side characters played a large role in Lily's own development, and without their presence, the story definitely would have been lacking in supportive roles. Some played larger roles than others, and Tristan lead the pack on that front, while Una and Breakfast were still secondary characters to his large presence. Juliet could have been written into the story more, as I believe her relationship with Lily needs to be explored more - even though they are sisters, I still think there is more to uncover in their dynamic.

Lily and Rowan's relationship is solid, and his protectiveness of her is certainly a plus - he is always looking out for her, and even when she thinks his choices are not the best, he does everything in her best interest. Since this is a young adult novel, their relationship is pretty PG and aside from kissing and alluding to other things, we are still able to see the intimacy of their relationship through mind-speak. Considering how the first book ended, it is no wonder to why he is protects her against everything that comes their way.

The pacing of this second installment was slow for about the first half in my opinion - it felt as though we were being given a refresher of everything that happened in the first book and dwelling on those events, when more time should have been spent on present issues. The last third of the book is where the action truly picks up, and I found myself much more intrigued with the story once the plot pivoted to actual obstacles. It would have been great if the entire book had that energy instead of just the ending, but the author was able to set up the third installment with a powerful ending to this book.

If you are looking for a way to enter the young adult fantasy genre, the Worldwalker series can be the first experience many need. Since I own the rest of the series, I will be seeing Lily and Rowan's story to the end, and with the ending Angelini has left readers with, I am sure we are in for some interesting developments.

You can add Firewalker on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to say on publications and releases.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, #1) by Rebecca Ross Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

After many months of staring at this book on my shelf, I decided it was time to see what all of the hype was about - and I have to say, I was not disappointed. It has been far too long since I have come across a young adult fantasy series that pulled me in so quickly. With this being a duology, I had high hopes that the pacing and character development would move swiftly, and the author certainly delivered in both departments. There was never a point where I felt as though the story lagged, and every chapter kept the pace of the story without sacrificing lead or side character involvement. I teared up a number of times while reading this, and I can honestly say that it truly went above my expectations.

The gods are at war and Iris's brother is on the front line - as she tirelessly works to earn the columnist promotion while awaiting news from her brother, her life takes a number of turns. Affected by a series of less-than-desired events, Iris's most personal thoughts are suddenly in the hands of someone she least expects - Roman Kitt, the very boy vying for the columnist promotion she has in her sights. As articles in various papers cause commotion among citizens, the myths they heard as children seem more real than ever, and the magical war is closer than they could have imagined.

Iris and Roman's rivalry in order to gain the columnist position had such a great workplace competition vibe to it, and I loved how even when they were competing in getting assignments, there was a subtle undertone of caring from both of them toward one another. You could feel the desire to say more or do more, and watch as their actions were hindered either by their own hand or by outside forces. Ross allows readers to dive into both of their minds with dual perspectives, and with the addition of the letters, it made their character development and relationship all the more appealing and had me invested.

Attie and Marisol were such great side characters, especially considering Iris seemed to lean towards being a lone wolf in her typical life. They created a support system for her when she needed it the most, and I grew to appreciate they way they looked out for her. Roman's tragic past and Iris's current tragedies somehow completed each other - while they suffered in their own ways, they were able to lean on one another and continue forward without losing themselves in their grief or struggles.

For fans of A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, this young adult fantasy will take readers to the front lines of a war centuries in the making. I look forward to seeing what Ross has in store, especially after that cliffhanger. The historical fiction aspect of this story definitely adds a level of seriousness to the plot, and in combination with magical typewriters and a tense relationship in the making, Divine Rivals explores the consequences of love and war.

You can add Divine Rivals on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Almost 11 years later and I have returned to this series!! It appears freshman year high school me was very ambitious (and new to BookTube) and was reading everything in sight. I will admit, it took a few chapters to re-orient myself back into this series, but everything began to click back into place and came together. 

To be completely honest, every single time they mentioned werewolves, I could only think of Twilight - these wolves seem so opposite compared to others in literature. They are more "people turning into wolves" instead of "people shifting into wolves as they wish" - and considering the emotional toll it takes on these characters, I am glad they only have to deal with themselves and not any other supernatural creatures. The premise that the werewolves do not remember their time as wolves is honestly terrifying - I would never be able to cope with not knowing what happened for a number of months every single year.

Grace and Sam are attached at the hip and seem to be unable to spend a moment without each other - understandable considering what they have been through, and since they are teenagers, completely expected. Isabel's presence in this book was a point of annoyance for me - I just could not get into her character, and her perspective portions in this book were nowhere near as intriguing as Grace, Sam, or Cole's portions. I wish I could have enjoyed her involvement more, and Cole's inner battle throughout the book was a serious reality check for the rest of the characters.

There were a lot of moments in this book where I felt as though the pacing was suffering - too often I wanted to put the book down and I had to push myself through the slowing plot. That being said, the actual main plot of this installment was intriguing, and really picked up towards the end of the book. It is unfortunate that this reads more like a filler book rather than an load-bearing sequel. I wanted to see more come from this, and it simply fell flat in my opinion. I was hesitant on my opinion on Cole, but he warmed up to me by the end of the book and I found an appreciation in his character.

The last ten or so chapters were honestly the most intriguing part of this book, and this was essentially the only time that I was locked in and was ready to see what happened. Stiefavter's writing suffered mildly, more in the actual flow than in her characterizations. I hope to see the writing improve in the remainder of the series, but I can imagine that if it continues to follow this structure, the storytelling may be impacted negatively.

I do not have any particular attachment to these characters compared to characters of other series, but I am aiming to see this series through, whether it takes another eleven years or not. The idea of Cole and Isabel as a couple does not draw me further into the series, but does not exactly cause me to walk away either. Sam's characterization shows that he is able to be vulnerable in his life and honestly he seems like he would love to just bake bread all day and hang out with Grace. One day I will return to these books, but for now, I think I will take another break.

You can add Linger on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga, #1) by Keirsten White Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I bought the third book in this series about six years ago and finally decided enough was enough and it was time for me to crack open this series. I was under the impression that this was a young adult series, however much to my surprise the main characters are children, and then as the book goes on, they age up into their teens. This was not something that I was looking for, and I am not a major fan of reading early teen books, but I was determined to see this through.

To be quite honest, this book put me into a reading slump - I was on a roll, and this book basically put my mind and comprehension skills on halt. I was really intrigued by the premise of this series, and the Ottoman Empire is something I have not tackled extensively when it came to historical fiction, so I certainly did not expect this turnout. That being said, this book made a complete 180 once it hit the 60% mark - I was drawn in and truly captivated. If the world building had moved at a quicker pace, I definitely think I would have enjoyed the story more. 

Lada is such an interesting and complex character - you see from the start that as a girl, she is undervalued and pushed aside in favor of of her younger brother, but as karma would have it, she is everything that they wanted her brother to be. As we watch their upbringing from childhood, it is evident that Lada's hostility toward her brother is due to her being cast aside from her father, and the cruelness she displays is an act of self preservation.

On the other hand, her brother, Radu, is sensitive, gentle, and finds comfort in his nurse rather than in the prospects of ruling. We see him go through a number of obstacles and hardships, mostly at the hands of Lada - while they may be indirectly, she is the common denominator when it comes to the harshness he has grown accustomed to. However, she does not put a stop to some of these punishments in order to protect him, for she knows that if they cannot get to her through her brother, than he is safe from their torment.

The introduction of Mehmed is the central plot line that essentially drives the largest wedge between Radu and Lada. While at first they all exist cohesively, as they grow older and more politics are thrown into place, Radu and Lada are forced to make a decision that essentially can be seen as betraying Mehmed in their eyes. This does not cause any true animosity between the three, but rather romance is the key factor than causes the siblings to truly go against one another. The tension between the Lada, Mehmed, and Radu was something I have not come across in a long time, and their dynamic was what kept me going with reading this book. The author gives us insight through both Lada and Radu's perspectives, and it is heart-wrenching to see them both go through so much emotional turmoil on top of the heavy political climate.

And I Darken redeemed itself after extensive world building, and I had my doubts on how this book would have me feeling towards completing the trilogy. The political aspect is intriguing and well-developed, and clearly has influence on the characters and their motives. White was able to turn things around and draw the reader in, and with how this first installment ended, I have to say that she has managed to keep me invested in the story.

You can add And I Darken on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles, #3) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Dream Dark, here.

I find myself, yet again, coming back to a series in which it has been eight years since I last read the book prior... yikes! High school me was very motivated and the iBooks app had me in a chokehold - as well as having a family member who owned a book store. But alas, here I am, finally making my way to finish this series. I have always loved this series, and was heartbroken when only Beautiful Creatures received a movie adaptation and the rest were never made.

Ethan and Lena are such a great couple, and I love that the books are in Ethan's perspective -  even though Lena is the female lead, this story is so focused on Ethan and his responses, that his voice really stands out as an outsider to Lena's world and as someone who has become so intertwined into her world. His perspective, especially with everything that happens to him throughout the book, is so vital in understanding the connection between mortals and casters. His friendship with Link and his constant worry about him shows him in a multi-dimensional light that adds layers to his character without pushing his needs to the side.

Lena's involvement in this book takes somewhat of a sideline to Ethan's own development, along with Link and Ridley's constant will-they-won't-they situationship they have going on. I honestly really enjoyed the chapters that focused on Link's life and adjustments as he navigates his friendships and relationships on top of the paranormal musings of the town. Sure, it has been years since I have dived into this series, but the relationships between the characters are so easy to get right back into and understand their dynamics. The plot picks up in this installment, and I found it so natural to just be transported back into the world. The stakes became higher and I loved how we were not just circling around Ethan and Lena's relationship instead of actual plot points.

The pacing felt very natural, and the authors do a great job in keeping the reader engaged in the story without sidelining other plots in order to push a certain narrative. The antagonists of the story do not feel like they cause all of this destruction without actual motives - it was believable, and their involvement in Ethan and Lena's story blended well with their own side plots. I will say, the flashback/backstory portions of this installment started to lose me for a bit, but it was more so because I was hooked into Ethan's development.

If you are a fan of Fallen by Lauren Kate or Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, this series is certainly for you. It is so reminiscent of early young adult paranormal romances, and has a great ensemble of characters that keeps the reader entertained and invested in the story. I will certainly be seeing this series through and cannot wait to see how Ethan and Len's story pans out.

You can add Beautiful Chaos on Goodreads now, and follow the authors to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

A Study in Drowning (A Study in Drowning, #1) by Ava Reid Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I was ready to dive into a stand alone, when to my surprise, I saw that a sequel was in the works for this book. Riding off of the faerie world as I just finished The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black, this seemed like the perfect path to head down as I continue to make my way through my never-ending TBR pile and transition to fall with a little gothic fantasy.

The beginning of the book was a touch slow to start, mostly due to the fact that readers are becoming acclimated to the world, but there was something missing that I could not quite put my finger on. I felt as though the world-building could have been expanded upon before we were thrown into the plot, as there were points in the book where I felt disconnected from the story. The second half of the book definitely makes up on this front, and I found myself truly enthralled with everything that had finally built up over the first two hundred or so pages.

Effy and Preston... I could feel the tension just by his name being written in the Borrower list for every book Effy wanted to check out in the library. I loved the academic rivals to teaming up with one another dynamic, and while Effy and Preston are not quite academic rivals, Effy does want to be in the literature college, and Preston had no problem being admitted. The way they interact once they are basically forced to cohabitate has a sweet slow-burn to it, and I only wish we got to see Preston's perspective.

This was the perfect read to start transitioning into fall weather, and the author was able to encapsulate such an exact environment when setting the scene for this book. I loved the way the characters were influenced by the manor itself, almost as if the manor was a character itself. The backstory of the Myrddin's faults and the allure of the tales of the Fairy King cause Effy and Preston to join forces and find answers that may reveal harsh truths. I truly felt transported to the book's setting, which made the read all the more enjoyable.

There were equal parts magic and mortal to this story, and they were equally addressed through Effy's true belief of the Fairy King's existence and Preston's hunt for human faults. Nothing magical ever felt as if it was being forced onto the reader, but rather flowed naturally as the story progressed. I appreciated the way Myrddin's book was a work of art within this book, which created a more tangible mystery to the reader as we joined Effy and Preston on their search for hidden truths. Reid tackled issues that went beyond magic and mortal, and touched upon a number of important topics that elevated the story while not becoming repetitive.

For fans of Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson and Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, readers will be taken on a journey of libraries, monsters, and just a hint of romance. The perfect gothic fantasy read, just in time for fall and cozy weather.

You can add A Study in Drowning on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air, #3.5) by Holly Black Review

 

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of The Cruel Prince, The Lost Sisters, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing on my blog, now!

Cardan my little misunderstood king with a tail, I will always be your number one defender. I never doubted you for a second, even when you were throwing dirt into food or throwing people into rivers. I will always hate Balekin with a burning passion, and this novella just further justified the hate I harbored towards him. Absolutely obsessed with these little crumbs we have from Cardan's perspective of Jude throughout his childhood, how he notices her and Taryn from afar, how he slowly becomes fixated on her presence whenever she is near.

I feel as though many readers go into the original trilogy not truly understanding that Cardan is in fact cruel, but even more so, they do not understand that he has clearly been morphed and formed into the cruel prince that everyone knows. It was such a nice chance to see the background of Cardan's upbringing outside of the palace, and see how he viewed himself and how various people in his life directly impacted the way he guarded himself. Jude becoming a more prevalent figure in his life, even when he did not understand what he felt towards her, was a pleasant insight of Cardan's curiosity.

This novella's pacing is quick - full of a number of short stories and instances of Cardan's youth and current day experiences, readers are given a deeper look into his characterization and interactions throughout the years. I would have read double the amount of stories, as I find Cardan so interesting and multi-dimensional - I would have loved to see more of his perspective throughout the series.

It was refreshing to see Cardan's sense of self and his train of thought when it came to protecting others, especially in the way that he cares for Jude and her family. He is very much aware of the fact that if he and Jude are confronted by others, it will be Jude that picks up the sword and himself that watches the battle unfold, but he surely will be there by her side nonetheless.

The illustrations were a complimentary touch to this novella, and it was a treat to see Cardan in mortal clothes, considering we always have seen him dressed to the nines as the High King of Elfhame. I can finally go on with life knowing what he looks like wearing a hoodie, and if this novella was just two hundred pages of Cardan in varying mortal clothes, I would give it just as much love. I cannot wait to see what is in store with The Stolen Heir duology, and hopefully the High King and Queen will make an appearance, as I will never want to be rid of them.

You can add How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!