Book Review: The House Witch 2 by Delemhach

 

Goodreads Summary: As a wielder of domestic magic, Finlay Ashowan likes to keep his affairs as neat and orderly as his kitchen. But between his work for the King and Queen of Daxaria and a new (secret) relationship with Lady Annika Jenoure, his life is anything but tidy.
For one thing, if Annika and Fin are to continue their romance, they’ll need to sort out the pesky issue of Fin’s being a commoner—before Annika is forced into a political marriage that interferes with her own carefully laid plans.

For another, pressure is mounting as the war with Troivack draws ever closer. When Fin requests time away from the castle to rest, the King agrees but under a very particular condition: Fin must brave the streets of Austice as a spy, sleuthing out the plans of the Troivackian troops allegedly hidden there.

Further complicating things, Fin’s estranged father is on his way to Daxaria, an unexpected and unappreciated arrival that’s bound to wreak even more havoc in his son’s life.

As Fin forges new friendships and alliances—magical and non-magical alike—he becomes even more enmeshed in courtly intrigues, old feuds, and very personal problems. And the more he tries to clean up the various messes in his life, the more apparent it becomes that his troubles are only just beginning . . .

Goodreads Rating: 4.42 stars with over 13,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Magic, Fiction, Witches

Goodreads/ Storygraph challenge: 15/30

2025 Reading Challenge: #Read a book by an author using a pseudonym (Find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the start of spring. I've been really busy with work, so I haven't been able to post much. I've listened to a few books since my last review, but didn't have a chance to post. I'll talk more about those when I do a challenge update at the end of the month. 

I was surprised that my library had The House Witch volume 2 by Delemhach available on audiobook. I instantly grabbed it because the first book was so sweet and fun. The second book definitely did not disappoint. The story starts right where the first book left off, and it doesn't take long to get reacquainted with the whimsical world that Delemhach has created. 

I liked that Fin seemed much more confident in this book. It's been a while since I read the first book, but I remember him being more reserved. I think he showed a lot of growth. I enjoyed seeing him being more accepted within the castle. Fin and Annika's secret relationship brought a surprising number of opportunities for comedy. Their lack of communication was frustrating, but I suppose it helped progress the story. Got to have some kind of conflict, right?

In addition to the comedic moments, a couple made me tear up because they were so sweet and romantic. Given the mood I've been in recently, this meme felt appropriate. 

Some things that bothered me in the first book were still in the second. Mainly, every other line feels like Fin is called "the redhead." It feels repetitive, and my annoyance slightly distracts me from the story. It's a minor issue, though, and overall the story was delightful. I recommend it to anyone who wants a fun fantasy story with cozy feel-good vibes.

Book Review: Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer

 

Goodreads Summary: With her death foretold, Althea Zoltaire only has three years to become what she's always dreamed of being: a warrior legend.
Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with the protection of the five kingdoms.

The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone.

All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms.

Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts?
Goodreads Ratings: 4.21 stars with over 46,000 ratings

Genre Listing:  Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Fiction, High Fantasy, Adult, New Adult

Goodreads/Story Graph Challenge: 3/30

2025 Reading Challenge: #46 Read a Fantasy novel (See the entire challenge here) 

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well on this frigid January evening. I just finished the audiobook Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer and wanted a quick review while it was fresh in my mind. One of my goals for 2025 is to get back in the habit of reviewing each book. We'll see how it goes. As I mentioned in my 2024 overview, I suspect a lot of my books in 2025 will be audiobooks. I think this will add to my review content, as I can comment on narrators and delivery. 

I got Blood & Steel in my audible library early last year. However, because I was binging the Wandering Inn series, I didn't have the opportunity to listen to it. I'm really loving the increase in fantasy novels with strong female main characters lately. Blood & Steel follows twenty-four-year-old Alchemist Althea, who desperately wants to be a warrior. Of course, there's a prophecy, and it scares the men in the society, so women aren't allowed to wield blades. Althea really spoke to me as a main character. I really appreciated the grit and determination that she showed in the story. I find a strong-willed, stubborn female character relatable, and Althea was no exception.

Plot-wise, the storyline was predictable. It wasn't bad, and in fact, I really enjoyed it. I just wasn't ever surprised when listening to it. There were points when listening to it that I guessed what was going to be said next, almost verbatim. There was a lot of repetition in the dialogue. The story was enjoyable, but it didn't stand out from any other fantasy I've read. For the Romantacy smut readers, I'd rate it 1/2 of a chili pepper. There was some sexual tension, but aside from one scene, nothing particularly spicy. 

The narration was decent. It's mainly a female narrator, though a male narrator also has a few chapters. My only real issue with the narration was that the female narrator had an American accent but was using the word 'arse.' It's not a big deal, but it kept taking me out of the story at first because it didn't fit with the voice. 

Book Review: Pestilence by Laura Thalassa

 

Goodreads Summary: They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.
When Pestilence comes for Sara Burn's town, one thing is certain: everyone she knows and loves is marked for death. Unless the angelic-looking horseman is stopped, which is exactly what Sara has in mind when she shoots the unholy beast off his steed.

Too bad no one told her Pestilence can't be killed.

Now the horseman, very much alive and very pissed off, has taken her prisoner, and he's eager to make her suffer. Only, the longer she's with him, the more uncertain she is about his true feelings towards her… and hers towards him.

And now, well, Sara might still be able to save the world, but in order to do so, she'll have to sacrifice her heart in the process.

From bestselling indie author Laura Thalassa comes a dark fantasy romance between the Horseman Pestilence and Sara, the girl who shoots Pestilence down only to realize he can't be killed. He takes her as prisoner, but the longer they're together, the more uncertain their feelings for each other grow.

Genre Listing: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, New Adult, Dystopia

Goodreads Rating: 3.89 stars with over 100,000 ratings

Goodreads/StoryGraph Challenge: 19/40

2024 Reading Challenge: #25 Read an Enemies to Lovers story (See the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. I picked up Pestilence a while ago. It was an interesting concept, and I really enjoyed Laura Thalassa's Unearthly series. Plus, the cover was pretty. I picked up the other 3 for the pretty covers while Target was having a sale recently. 

I enjoyed the story. I wasn't expecting any great work of literature, but I was entertained. Honestly, that's what I hope for with a book- entertained and gets me out of my head. This succeeded in doing so. I liked Sara as a character. I thought she was funny and relatable. Pestilence was a little dry in personality, but that seemed fitting. The story is basically sexy Stockholm Syndrome in an apocalyptic setting. 

The scene setting was pretty basic apocalypse stuff - abandoned houses, some with electricity, some without. I was confused that there was still TV, but I'm probably overthinking this. For the Romantacy readers - this is probably a 1 or a 2 on the spice level. I'm unfamiliar with the rating system, and it's likely subjective. The sex scenes don't really happen until the last 40% of the book, and they're pretty tame. There are 3-4 scenes, if that. The religious overtures were surprisingly light, considering the premise. It's mostly presented as humans had some of the story of God, but not all of it. I never felt like it got preachy, which was good. I probably wouldn't have finished it if it did.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. It's good for a light Fantasy/Romance read. If you want to be entertained for around 400 pages, I recommend it. I'll probably read the rest of the series eventually since I have all four books.

Book Review: The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

 

Goodreads Summary: Saving the world is a test no school of magic can prepare you for in the triumphant conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with A Deadly Education and The Last Graduate.
The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it's all we dream about, the hideously slim chance we'll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls.

And now, the impossible dream has come true. I'm out, we're all out—and I didn't even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother's prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn't kill enclaves; I saved them—me, Orion, and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: we saved everyone, made the world safe for all wizards, and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves of the world.

Ha, only joking! Actually, it's gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war on the horizon. And the first thing I've got to do now, having miraculously got out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in.

Goodreads Rating: 4.14 stars with over 75,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Urban Fantasy, Romance

Goodreads and StoryGraph Challenges: 13/60 (I'm back on StoryGraph! Follow me here)

2024 Reading Challenge: #9 Read a book with a color in the title (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review: 

Hello, readers! As always, I hope that everyone is doing well. I'm on the mend from COVID-19, which I caught while at the convention (or traveling to/from). I'd probably feel 100% better already, but I'm also allergic to the state I live in. Ah well, at least this second time around wasn't nearly as bad as the first time. Anyway, on to important things like my thoughts on books. 

I started The Golden Enclaves in April, but I feel like I have been reading it forever. I don't know if it was all the stuff I had going on or something else, but I couldn't get interested in the book and stay interested. It just didn't have the sense of danger the first two books had, where Mals were lurking around every corner. The first part of the book was about El mostly feeling sorry for herself. I understand why she felt this way, but it made for a very dull start to the book. I finally started to get interested around 140 pages, but it didn't hold my interest.

There were pockets where I was fascinated, but overall, I just wanted to be done with the book. The last 60 pages or so had a lot of interesting turns, but I was still ready to be finished. I was considering not finishing it with 40 pages left to go. 

The book was all right; it just didn't capture me like the others did. I don't know if it's the book or my headspace. I liked that the story finished in a way that indicated there wouldn't be additional books. The ending seemed well-rounded. I may eventually reread the trilogy and see if I like The Golden Enclaves more, but for now, I'm pretty indifferent to it. I don't feel strongly about the book one way or another.

Book Review: The Tsarina's Daughter by Carolly Erickson

 

Goodreads Summary: From the bestselling author of The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette comes a dramatic novel and powerful love story about the last Russian imperial family.It is 1989 and Daria Gradov is an elderly grandmother living in the rural West. What neighbors and even her children don't know, however, is that she is not who she claims to be—the widow of a Russian immigrant of modest means. In actuality she began her life as the Grand Duchess Tatiana, known as Tania to her parents, Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. And so begins the latest entrancing historical entertainment by Carolly Erickson. At its center is young Tania, who lives a life of incomparable luxury in pre-Revolutionary Russia, from the magnificence of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to the family's private enclave outside the capital. Tania is one of four daughters, and the birth of her younger brother Alexei is both a blessing and a curse. When he is diagnosed with hemophilia and the key to his survival lies in the mysterious power of the illiterate monk Rasputin, it is merely an omen of much worse things to come. Soon war breaks out and revolution sweeps the family from power and into claustrophobic imprisonment in Siberia. Into Tania's world comes a young soldier whose life she helps to save and who becomes her partner in daring plans to rescue the imperial family from certain death.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.38 stars with over 2,500ratings

Genre Listing: Historical Fiction, Romance, Alternate History, Speculative Fiction

Goodreads Challenge: 2/60

2024 Reading Challenge: #44 Read a book that takes place in a cold climate (Find the entire challenge here)

Book Review: 

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. I actually finished The Tsarina's Daughter a few days ago, but have been fighting a cold. This will be a fairly short review. I actually debated not doing a review for this book, but I am trying to post more. 

I picked The Tsarina's Daughter by Carolly Erickson a while ago, but for whatever reason didn't finish it. The book reimagines the life of the Romanov family before their assassinations. In The Tsarina's Daughter, their second oldest daughter, Tatiana survives and assumes a new identity. This probably sounds a little familiar, but about a different Romanov daughter.

Overall I enjoyed the book, but I don't have much to say about it. The Tsarina's Daughter is a perfectly acceptable novel. I didn't love it or hate it. It's under 350 pages, and the way Tania survives is plausible. It's just kind of one note and I feel completely neutral about it.

Book Review: The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe

 

Goodreads Summary: Madeleine Talmage Force is just seventeen when she attracts the attention of John Jacob "Jack" Astor. Madeleine is beautiful, intelligent, and solidly upper-class, but the Astors are in a league apart. Jack's mother was the Mrs. Astor, American royalty and New York's most formidable socialite. Jack is dashing and industrious—a hero of the Spanish-American war, an inventor, and a canny businessman. Despite their twenty-nine-year age difference, and Jack's recent divorce scandal, Madeleine falls headlong into love—and becomes the press's favorite target.
On their extended honeymoon in Egypt, the newlyweds finally find a measure of peace from photographers and journalists. Madeleine feels truly alive for the first time—and is happily pregnant. The couple plans to return home in the spring of 1912, aboard an opulent new ocean liner. When the ship hits an iceberg close to midnight on April 14th, there is no immediate panic. The swift, state-of-the-art RMS Titanic seems unsinkable. As Jack helps Madeleine into a lifeboat, he assures her that he'll see her soon in New York…

Four months later, at the Astors' Fifth Avenue mansion, a widowed Madeleine gives birth to their son. In the wake of the disaster, the press has elevated her to the status of virtuous, tragic heroine. But Madeleine's most important decision still lies ahead: whether to accept the role assigned to her, or carve out her own remarkable path…

Goodreads Ratings: 4.02 stars with over 43,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Historical Fiction, Romance

Goodreads Challenge: 44/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #6 Read a book you meant to read for last year's challenge (See the entire challenge here) 

Book Review:

Hello, Readers. I hope everyone celebrating it had a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoyed their time with Friends and Family. Mine was low-key. There's not much going on in life updates, so let's jump right into the review of The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe.

I think someone had recommended this book to me last year, and it was one of 3 books I had planned for that slot on the 2022 challenge. I never read it, however, so it is a good fit for #6 on this year's challenge. I'm always looking for a good Titanic novel, so I was excited to read this one, especially since it has decent reviews on Goodreads. 

Honestly, I almost didn't finish this book. It wasn't bad; it didn't catch my attention. The whole premise was Madeline Astor is writing a letter to her and Jack's newborn son after the sinking of the Titanic. The book primarily discusses how much the paparazzi followed them and how the New York Elite snubbed Madeline because she was so young and divorce was taboo in the early 1900s. It eventually got to the events of the Titanic, which is primarily why I wanted to read it.

Overall, the story was flat. They never really felt like there was any actual conflict in the story. Outside of being on the Titanic, the main conflicts were that Jack's son and high society friends didn't like Madeline. These issues just felt like minor nuisances.  When it comes to what happened on the Titanic, it just felt glossed over. The entire book just lacked any personality. 

If you like Historical Romance and the only plot is the romance/relationship, then you may like The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe. I, however, need more in the plot than just romance. I would have liked to see more about her life after the Titanic to close up Madeline's story. It ends, however, shortly after the funeral, and the letter to her son makes it feel as though she was trying to convince herself as much as her son how in love she and Jack were. The story was alright; it wasn't my cup of tea.

Book Review: The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst

 

Goodreads Summary: An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure
Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow...

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits' restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it's bathed in blood.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.89 stars with over 11,300 ratings

Genre Listing: Fantasy, Magic, High Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Adventure

Goodreads Challenge: 43/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #53 Read a book that has the letter Q in the title (Find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! As always, I hope everyone is doing well. I am doing what I set this blog up for - individual book reviews. Yeah! Go me. Before the review, I have a quick life update- I got a kitten! Her name is Nebula Jane, and she is five months old. Adorable pictures will be after the review for those who care. 

Anyways, on to my riveting thoughts on The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst. I picked this up randomly at a used bookstore when I was still in Minnesota. I didn't realize it then, but the copy I have is autographed. This doesn't have anything to do with the thoughts on the book; I thought that was a cool tidbit. 

The book was a little hard to get into at first. Although I was interested, it covers many years in a concise amount of pages, making it hard to follow. Once the timeline stayed consistent, it was easier to follow. I really liked the world Sarah Beth Durst created. I thought living in trees was interesting, and the combination of magic and spirits was unique. I also liked the hierarchy that the kingdom had. 

Character development fell flat for me. There wasn't much difference between how the characters were written. While I didn't feel like she grew in the story, I liked that Daleina is resourceful and clever. She can step back and think of different ways to work with the spirits instead of controlling them like the others in her class. 

I think this is a good option if you're looking for a short high fantasy. It's just under 400 pages but has some interesting world-building. It has romance, but it doesn't have graphic sex scenes- it just alludes to them and then moves on to the next scene. Overall, I liked it, but I don't need to rush out and read the second or third books in the trilogy. 

And now, pictures of Nebula! 

Book Review: The House Witch by Delemhach

 

Goodreads Summary: A heartwarming and humorous blend of fantasy, romance, and mystery featuring a witch with domestic powers and the royal household he serves . . . dinner.
When Finlay Ashowan joins the staff of the King and Queen of Daxaria, he's an enigma. No one knows where he comes from or how he came to be where he is, which suits Fin just fine. He's satisfied simply serving as the royal cook, keeping nosy passersby out of his kitchen, and concocting some truly uncanny meals.

But Fin's secret identity doesn't stay hidden for long. After all, it's not every day a house witch and his kitten familiar, Kraken, take to meddling in imperial affairs. As his powers are gradually discovered by the court, Fin finds himself involved in a slew of intrigues: going head-to-head with knights with less-than-chivalrous intentions, helping to protect the pregnant queen, fending off the ire of the royal mage, and uncovering a spy in the castle. And that's only the beginning—because Fin's past is catching up with him just as his love life is getting complicated . . .

Goodreads Rating: 4.24 stars with over 11,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Witches, Fiction, Paranormal

Goodreads Challenge: 34/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #43 Read a book with a cat on the cover (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! As always, I hope everyone is doing well. I will jump right into the review of The House Witch by Delemhach. I picked it up on Kindle Unlimited. It just seemed super cute from the summary. I will try to adequately express how adorable this book actually is. 

The story follows Fin, a lowly cook and witch who just wants to cook and be left alone. Of course, if he were left alone, it wouldn't be much of a story. Many characters are forced into his life and change him for the better. I adored Fin. He was funny, and I loved his sense of justice and the need to protect his friends. The story tackles some weighty topics and addresses them in a light, approachable way. Some issues dealt with are bullying, abuse, sexual assault, and accepting others. Even with some of these topics being pretty dark, the book's tone stays light and whimsical. The writing is relatively clean; I don't really remember any swearing. There is some alluding to sex, but it is not actually described. There are definitely a lot of hilarious innuendos, though. 

The friends that Fin makes are also awesome. We even get to see a few scenes from the perspective of his kitten familiar, Kraken. Hannah is my favorite of the core group of Fin's friends. She is an absolute force, and I love it. I also appreciated that some characters start out as bad but get a chance for redemption. It showed a lot of character growth for all the characters. 

If you're looking for a light-hearted fantasy romance, I'd check it out. Even the chapter titles are funny. It was nice seeing a romance written mainly from the male perspective. The House Witch 2 and 3 are currently available. I'll probably get around to reading them when I can. I'm trying to stay on track with the reading challenge, however. 

Book Review: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

 

Goodreads Summary: A world divided.A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens.

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction--but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragon rider but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

Goodreads Ratings: 4.23 stars with over 156,110 

Genre Listing: Fantasy, LGBT Fiction, Queer Fiction, Romance, Adult, Dragons, High Fantasy, Magic

Goodreads Challenge: 33/30 

2023 Reading Challenge: #4 Read a book by an author whose name is Samantha, Sam, or a variant (Find the whole challenge here)

Book Review: 

Hello, Readers. I hope everyone is doing well on this July afternoon. I just finished up The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. Honestly, I'm glad to be done with this one. It's really long, and even though I knew that going in, I wasn't mentally prepared for it. The book follows four main characters and their stories - Ead, Tane, Loth, and Niclays as they try to defeat The Nameless One. 

I liked Ead and Tane's stories the best. They were the most interesting of the characters. With Niclays and Loth, I don't know if their stories were interesting enough to warrant parts being told from their point of view. Especially considering that all four characters read the same way. I didn't get much of a different tone between the characters; they all felt flat in personality. 

The world-building was interesting, and I liked how the world's main faiths in The Priory of the Orange Tree were shown in a different light. Each area had its own version of the lore and what happened. The idea of having Patron Saints of Virtues was creative, and I liked how all the different versions of the myths came together in the end. I liked how there were also other variants of dragons in this world, and they were more elemental-based. A prequel has been recently released. I may give it a shot to see if it gets more into the dragon lore.

Overall, I thought the story was interesting, and I think from a representation perspective, it's excellent that LGBT couples were at the forefront of the romance portion of the story. There are both W/W and M/M couples represented. They were also all main characters, not just a random secondary character. Wheel of Time Fans would really like this book. It has a similar theme regarding events from previous ages rehappening. It lost me because of how long it was and the multiple perspectives written in similar tones. I enjoyed it but also was ready for it to end.

 

Book Series Review: From Blood and Ash Books 2-4 by Jennifer Armentrout

 

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their June so far. I will jump into the post without doing all the typical Goodreads info. Since I will be talking about three books at once, it will be challenging to do all of that, making this post extremely long. I'll provide some of the information as I go, if I can think of a succinct way. If you want to see my review of the first book, you can find it here.

The genre listing for this series is: Fantasy, Romance, New Adult, Vampires, Fiction, Paranormal, and High Fantasy, and it covers books 30-32 for my Goodreads yearly Challenge. For the 2023 Reading Challenge, I ugh... got a little creative with how I fit these in there. For Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, I listed that as the Folklore prompt since I feel like Vampires/Werewolves/mythology kind of fits into that. I put The Crown of Gilded Bones as a book that motivates you to be a better version of yourself. There's a lot of discussion of relationships that I found inspiring. The War of Two Queens was more straightforward, and I could slot that in for A book that involves a lot of traveling. You can find the entire 2023 challenge here. I'll eventually get around to doing an updated post of where I'm in the challenge. My Goodreads challenge for the year is done. I was going to increase the goal, but I'm going to count it all as extra since it's arbitrary anyways.

(If you can't tell by the fact that I burned through 4 books (all over 600 pages) within a few weeks, I really like this series. So much so that it has dethroned the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFever as my favorite. I am OBSESSED with From Blood and Ash. I don't know if I have ever been this captivated by a series. All I have thought about since I started this series is reading more. Sadly, book five isn't out until July. To tell you how obsessed I am, I was actually considering buying it on audiobook to listen to them while I work. I can't do audiobooks well, so this is a big deal. I've already got book 5 pre-ordered.

I love the writing style and how it's fantasy and romance but uses modern-day language and slang. It makes it really engaging and easy to connect with the characters. I love seeing actual character growth for all of the characters. I love that Poppy is a badass. I love that Casteel is arrogant but also extremely sweet. I adore how Kieran is with both of them. The Blood Queen feels like a proper villain that you can understand their motives but also hate and want to root against. I could go on and on and on and on some more about how much I love this series.

If you like fantasy/paranormal/romance, read this. It is so worth it. I will caveat this with, if you do not like very descriptive violence or sex scenes, you will probably not enjoy this series. It definitely gets more violent and sexual as it goes.

Book Review: The Cheater's Game by C.J. Archer

 

Goodreads Summary: The arrival of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in London brings trouble. When the sharpshooter who beats Willie at poker is murdered, Matt and India investigate. Willie is convinced the victim cheated, but no one knows how until India discovers his secret - he was a paper magician.
When their list of suspects grows to include a member of the mysterious magic Collector's Club, they uncover a spy. But who is he working for? And what does his employer want?

As danger circles, secrets are revealed, and India struggles to keep her own secret hidden from Matt. But when her grandfather introduces her to a man who can change her life, India must decide if she wants her life to change at all.

Goodreads Ratings: 4.09 stars with over 4,800 ratings

Genre Listing: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

Goodreads Challenge: 26/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #7 Read a book with a basic shape on the cover (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! As always, I hope everyone is doing well. I will jump right into the review of The Cheater's Game by C.J. Archer. This is the seventh book in the Glass and Steele series. I thought it'd be a good fit for #7 since it had shapes on the cards. Also, I wanted to read it, and it was the best place it fit since I've burned through my free spaces already.

Reviewing this series is becoming dangerously close to how I've been approaching the Penny Green series by Emily Organ. I enjoy the series so much, but it's long, and I never feel like I have anything new to add to the reviews. I will say with The Cheater's Game, I didn't want to put it down. I forced myself to go to bed around 2 am, and as soon as I got out of work picked it back up and finished it. 

With the series, I like the sarcasm and wit sprinkled into the story. The Cheater's Game was a fun mystery. I was surprised at how that part of the story concluded. C.J. Archer did a great job of making multiple people look like plausible suspects. The biggest reason I like these stories is the chemistry between India and Matt. All I can say without giving too many spoilers is FINALLY.

If you like murder mysteries and historical fiction, I highly recommend the series. I would definitely read it in order. The books are short and not overly complicated. They're good if you don't want a massive commitment with one book, even though it is a longer series. Also, if these things are important to you as a reader, the language is pretty clean and not graphic. 

Book Review: Serpent & Dove Trilogy by Shelby Mahurin

 

Goodreads Summary: Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

Goodreads Summary: After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and Church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.

To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven.

Goodreads Summary: The spellbinding conclusion to the New York Times and IndieBound bestselling trilogy Serpent & Dove. This stunning fantasy take on French witches and forbidden love is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.
Evil always seeks a foothold. We must not give it one.

After a heartbreaking 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.

Book Reviews:

Hello Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. I recently read the Serpent & Dove Trilogy by Shelby Mahurin. I was traveling for work when I finished them and didn't have my laptop, so I needed to wait until I could get home to review the books so you get a combined review for all three books. Honestly, I would have done this format anyway because I burned through it. Fortunately, this series is a trilogy, so I have it penciled in for reading prompts 21, 22, and 23, respectively. If anyone is from Indiana and needs something for the home state prompt, Shelby Mahurin is also from Indiana. You can find the entire 2023 reading challenge here.

I enjoyed the trilogy, but Serpent & Dove was my favorite. I stayed up until 5 am reading it and forced myself to sleep with around 50 pages left. I enjoyed getting to know Lou and Reid as they got to know each other through their forced circumstances. Plus, I really liked the dynamic between Reid and Lou and how they balanced each other. It was a comical relationship to read, but also sweet, and I liked the growth in their relationship. I felt like Reid tamed Lou and made her a little less selfish, and she showed him how to live and find purpose. 

Blood & Honey was a middle book for me. I enjoyed it, and a lot happened, but at the same time, it felt like nothing happened. I don't know if that makes sense, but it was a bridge to Gods & Monsters. With the entire trilogy, I didn't know where it was going. There wasn't anything that I found overly predictable, which was nice. 

I know that not everyone reads Prologues or Epilogues, which I never understood. I always read them. I highly recommend reading the epilogue for Gods & Monsters. It gives the trilogy the sweetest ending ever. I had to try hard not to tear up on the plane reading it. 

I recommend this series if you like Paranormal/fantasy/romance stories. The magic system was interesting, and I liked that everything had a balance. I'm definitely going to look into other books by Shelby Mahurin. This is a good option if you want a series with a true ending. I just checked Goodreads; a spinoff series will launch in September.

Life stuff, if anyone cares:

As I said, I went to Miami for the week for work. I like to play photographer occasionally, so here are some photos I took there. Before leaving, I also went to a Blink-182 concert, so enjoy some pictures.

Miami Airport

View from my hotel room.

Blink-182 concert, mainly I just think this is a fun concert shot (though, I do adore Blink <3)

Book Review: Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon

 

Goodreads Summary: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A magnificent collection of Outlander short fiction—including two never-before-published novellas—featuring Jamie Fraser, Lord John Grey, Master Raymond, and many more, from Diana Gabaldon
Among the seven spellbinding pieces, there is "The Custom of the Army," which begins with Lord John Grey being shocked by an electric eel and ends at the Battle of Quebec. Then comes "The Space Between," where it is revealed that the Comte St. Germain is not dead, Master Raymond appears, and a widowed young wine dealer escorts a would-be novice to a convent in Paris. In "A Plague of Zombies," Lord John unexpectedly becomes military governor of Jamaica when the original governor is gnawed by what probably wasn't a giant rat. "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" is the moving story of Roger MacKenzie's parents during World War II. In "Virgins," Jamie Fraser, aged nineteen, and Ian Murray, aged twenty, become mercenaries in France, no matter that neither has yet bedded a lass or killed a man. But they're trying. . . . "A Fugitive Green" is the story of Lord John's elder brother, Hal, and a seventeen-year-old rare book dealer with a sideline in theft, forgery, and blackmail. And finally, in "Besieged," Lord John learns that his mother is in Havana—and that the British Navy is on their way to lay siege to the city.

Filling in mesmerizing chapters in the lives of characters readers have followed over the course of thousands of pages, Gabaldon's genius is on full display throughout this must-have collection.

Goodreads Rating: 4.27 stars with over 14,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Short Stories, Time Travel

Goodreads Challenge: 21/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #14 Read a book of short stories or a novella (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review: 

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. I finished a book I had planned for this challenge and am excited about that. When Tress and I were writing out the prompts for this year's challenge, I specifically wanted to read Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon for this prompt. It definitely gave me the Outlander fix that I needed. Since this is a set of short stories/novellas, I thought I'd list each story, give my thoughts on it, and then average out the ratings to provide me with my rating for this book. 

A note for other readers before getting into my thoughts: these stories are not in any particular order regarding how they're presented in the book (as far as I know). The introduction explains where they'd fall in the timeline of the main books and the Lord John spinoff series. I returned to this every time I started a new story to remember where it was. The good thing is that there aren't really any spoilers for the main series. Most of the stories revolve around Lord John and may casually mention Jamie, but that's about it. There is also a lot of annotation for the stories, which I liked. Some of it provided more historical context or information for the series. I also liked that Diana Gabaldon discusses her strengths and weaknesses with writing in it. 

The Custom of the Army  Rating: 3/5

I liked this story and am always up for Lord John and his chivalry. I can't say I was fully invested in this one until it got closer to the end of the story. This one was slower-paced. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favorite of the seven.

The Space Between Rating 3/5

This interesting story focuses on Jamie's pseudo-step-daughter Joan and her trip to join a French convent. She's escorted by one of the Murray sons, and it was a nice way to get to know a couple of characters that weren't part of the main story often. It was pretty sweet, and I enjoyed it.

A Plague of Zombies  Rating 2/5

This was probably one of my least favorite stories of the seven. It was interesting, but I couldn't really get into it. However, it leads to events in another story in the book. 

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hollows Rating 2/5

I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. It follows Roger's parents and the events in WWII before Roger is orphaned. But it was forgettable compared to the other stories in this book. Some things could be interesting to play on in Book 10 if it ever comes out, but other than that, I didn't have much love for it. 

Virgins Rating 5/5

Virgins was by far my favorite story in this set of short stories. It follows Jamie and Ian in Paris as young adults; honestly, it's hilarious. I could picture it being a flashback scene on the show, which would be amazing. 

A Fugitive Green Rating 5/5

This was definitely my second favorite of the stories. It follows the events that lead Lord John's brother Hal to meet and marry his wife, Minnie. I loved it. I could honestly read an entire series dedicated to the couple's antics. 

Besieged Rating 2/5

This is the final story in the book, and it was another one that was forgettable for me. It was okay, but it left much to be desired compared to the others. I will caveat this with, I don't know if it was the story itself or that I was just ready to be done with the book at this point.


If I can do the math properly (debatable), that gives me an average of 3.14. And given that I don't PI as ratings (though maybe I should), I'll just leave it as a 3. Overall, the stories are enjoyable and worth a read if you've read the main Outlander series. It probably won't be that enjoyable if you haven't read it.

Book Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

 

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

An instant #1 New York Times Bestseller in its very first week! Presented by James Patterson's children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Goodreads Ratings: 3.97 stars with over 127,000 ratings

Genre Listings: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult, Romance, Horror

Goodreads Challenge: 14/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #32 Read a book about a famous criminal(s) (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, readers! As always, I hope everyone is doing well. Not much of note has been happening that requires any personal updates, so let's jump into my thoughts on Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. I picked this up with one of the gift cards I got for Christmas. A Historical Fiction novel about a serial killer seemed right up my alley. For whatever reason, I've been obsessed with death, the paranormal, and murder since I was a kid. I don't really know why. But this seemed like a great book selection for the famous criminal prompt.

I expected it to be cheesy and was skeptical. However, I loved it from the very first sentence. I got a gruesome tale with an exciting twist to the brutal story of Jack the Ripper. Kerri Maniscalco kept pretty close to the known facts of the Ripper murders. Because it's one of the biggest (if not the biggest) unsolved mysteries gives authors much free range to create their own ending. There were some fabrications because it's Fiction, but after the story ends, the author provides an excellent description of what she changed and why. I always appreciate this with Historical Fiction because I'm a giant nerd who likes to do a high-level skim of articles to see how much was accurate. 

I really liked Aubrey Rose a lot. I felt like she became a champion for Jack the Ripper's victims. She was brilliant, stayed true to herself, and didn't cave to the restrictive societal standards of her time. She showed some of the different layers that a person can have. She liked girly things like getting dressed up and going to tea, but she was also intelligent and interested in science. I also really liked Thomas as a character. He was arrogant and full of himself, but I found it charming. I also really liked how he encouraged Aubrey to think for herself, use her brain, and not conform to society's expectations. They tempered each other well. Also, his flirting for the time was super inappropriate, and it just made me laugh.

I really like the literary nods in Stalking Jack the Ripper. The way Aubrey Rose and Thomas worked together made me think of  Sherlock Holmes and Watson. I don't know if that was intentional, and admittedly this one for me is more of a film reference as I haven't read Sherlock Holmes yet. There are also a lot of mentions of Frankenstein in this book. Those combined with the titles of the rest of the series make my brain think of the series as a Female-led YA version of The League of Extraordinary Gentleman. So I'm here for it. 

Overall, I loved this book. I told a friend I was discussing it with that it was trying hard to replace my favorite book. It has yet to, but we'll see how long I dwell on it or if I end up rereading it. I recommend it if you like Historical Fiction, YA, Mystery, and are intrigued by Jack The Ripper. 

Book Review: The First Prophet by Kay Hooper

 

Goodreads Summary: Within the FBI, there exists a team of psychics whose powers cannot be denied. But these agents are feared—by a cabal of conspirators with only one weapon: to blind the psychics to the evils all around them.

Months ago Sarah Gallagher woke from a coma with psychic abilities she couldn't control. They changed her life and cost her the man she loved. And now, someone is playing games with Sarah's mind.

It begins with Sarah's home being destroyed by fire—an act of arson that draws novelist Tucker Mackenzie into Sarah's confidence. But he has other reasons for pursuing a woman who can see what others can't. So does a mysterious enemy intent on eliminating Sarah and everyone she cares about. Because it's only a matter of time before her visions lead her and Tucker to a secret many will kill to hide. Only then will they begin to discover the scope of a terrifying conspiracy so deep and complex that they can trust almost no one.

Good Reads Ratings: 3.86 stars with over 4,500 ratings

Genre listing: Paranormal, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Crime

Goodreads Challenge: #47 Read a book that involves a conspiracy (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, readers! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the start of the weekend. I'm going to keep this review relatively short. I'm exhausted, and after I write this, I plan to just play on my phone until I pass out for the night. Exciting plans, I know. This is what happens when you're secretly an elderly person disguised as a 30-something.

I was going to initially use The First Prophet by Kay Hooper as my book that was recommended by a friend. However, the more I got into it, the more it became apparent it was about a conspiracy (I had forgotten initially), so I decided to slot it for #47 since that would be harder for me to find than a recommendation from someone. 

It took me a bit to get into the book. I don't really blame the story for that, however. I started it when I was reading Time's Convert, and given that both books switch points of view a lot, it made it hard for me to pay attention. Once I got into it, I enjoyed it. I liked reading about Sarah and watching her figure out her psychic abilities. I liked Tucker, but I felt like he needed more faults. He was too weirdly good at everything. Having him around made the conflicts seem too easy and predictable. The twist at the end did surprise me a bit, however.

I liked the book. However, I don't know how quickly I will pick up the series. I'm apprehensive because I still have unanswered questions, but I get the feeling that they aren't going to be answered as it pertains to Sarah's storyline specifically. I hope I'm wrong, though, as I did enjoy it, and I'm curious to see where the story goes with Sarah and Tucker. There are a lot of secrets that will be interesting to see how they unravel.

It was a fun read, and I'd buy the next book if I came across it in a bookstore.