Finding "Scarlet Princess"

 One day soon, Bookbub is going to get me into trouble. Like, financial trouble. 

They send me daily emails with links to discount ebooks and think I am not going to buy one almost everyday? 

Of course I am! 

Sigh. 

My TBR pile is huge! 

But boy am I glad I took the plunge and purchased "Scarlet Princess" by Robin Mahle & Elle Madison.

I am a sucker for a snarky, fun loving princess who knows how to use a sword. I literally was chuckling under my breath at work within the first chapter as I started this book. 

That first line alone: 

"Death was a hefty price to pay for vodka."

 Me: This is going to be awesome. 

The story: 

Princess Rowan and her cousin Davin find themselves in their enemy's dungeon after they get caught smuggling vodka between their two feuding nations using a cave system, and the penalty for smuggling in Socair is death.

In an act of desperation, Rowan reveals her identity to her enemies in the hope it will spare their lives and they will simply be ransomed back home instead of executed. Rowan's captors, Duke Iiro and his younger brother, Lord Theodore, reveal that Rowan's fate will be determined at The Summit, a meeting of all the clan leaders within Sociar. 

Given the bloody history between their two nations, Rowan is not optimistic about the outcome of the Summit. Many of the clans leaders will see this opportunity as a chance to get retribution for past "crimes" her family committed while others will see it as a way to get gold and resources from their enemy. 

The Duke and his brother tell Rowan that her best chances for survival are to act like a proper Sociarian lady. Don't speak unless you are spoken to. No fighting. No back talking. And no inappropriate behavior of any kind. 

Yeah, right.

But for the sake of her cousin, Rowan agrees to try. 

The journey to the summit is fraught with peril and Rowan finds herself inexplicably drawn to Theo, and she tries to fight her growing attraction to him. But his heated glances let her know that the attraction is far from one-sided. 

But its not like its going to matter, right? She's probably going to be put to death at The Summit anyway. 

Even if she does survive, Rowan has made a promise to herself.

She will never marry for love. 

I flew through this first book in this series and later discovered that is a spin off from another series, apparently featuring the generation before Rowan and her siblings. I am pretty invested in this story now, so I am going to finish Rowan's story before reading the original series. 

I can't wait to get more of Davin in the future books. He is hilarious! Especially when he is around Rowan. 

I also love Mila. Her open mindedness about Rowan, her generosity, and her friendship made me love her from the first page she appeared. She is a kindred soul to Rowan and I hope she plays a large part in the next books. 

Theodore was cute with his propriety and flushed face whenever Rowan said something outlandish, but I am not completely sold on him yet. I feel like he could have done more for Rowan. Then again, they are supposed to be enemies who have only know each other for a short time. I guess we will see. He may pull through for me in the next book. 

I am very interested in learning more about Evander and the Bear Clan. Is he really as cruel as he seems? I hope not. 

I guess I will just have to go and find out.

Five stars!!!

Finding "The House of Salt & Sorrows"

 "A House Of Salt and Sorrows" is a haunting Gothic retelling of the fairy tale classic "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". 

This book definitely get 5 stars for its creep factor. 

Our introduction to the story begins with a funeral. 

The Duke of Highmoore, Orten Thaumas, once had twelve beautiful daughters, a loving wife, and an almost perfect life on their island estate. But tragedy struck when his beloved wife died giving birth to their 12th daughter, Verity, and since that fateful night death seems to follow the Thaumas women.

 One died of plague.

One died in the bathtub.

One died after falling from a library ladder.

And now the fourth eldest daughter, Eulalie, has died under questionable circumstances after falling from a high cliff and smashing into the rocks below. 

Was it an accident?

Did she jump?

Or was she pushed?

Annaleigh Thaumas, now the 2nd eldest daughter of the Duke of Highmoore, is determined to find out what really happened to Eulalie and why her sisters keep dying.

The towns people whisper that their family is cursed, and that anyone who gets too close to the Thaumas girls risks meeting the same fate. But Annaleigh doesn't believe in curses. 

That is, until she starts seeing the spirits of her departed sisters. And these spirits are definitely not at peace and seem to have sinister intentions towards the household occupants. 

However, only Annaleigh and Verity can see their spirits, and no one believes Annaliegh when she tries to tell them that her sisters' death were no accident. 

While trying to solve the mystery of the "Thaumas curse", Annaleigh also tries to comfort her sisters, especially her oldest sister Camille. While Camille is also grieving the deaths of her sisters, she is also lamenting the fact that every eligible bachelor on the island believes them to be cursed and it is unlikely that she will ever find love. And with the near constant deaths of her sisters, the remaining Thaumas sisters are never able to end their mourning period to attend balls and functions where they could meet potential beaus. 

So when Annaleigh hears rumors of a magic door used by the gods that can transport a person anywhere they wish in the entire world, she and her sisters begin to search for it, hoping to find a way to leave their island home and their grief behind for just a few hours so they can enjoy their lives and search for love. 

What follows are nights filled with music, dancing, and handsome partners who escort them around ballrooms throughout the entire world. For the first time in a long time, the Thaumas girls are happy. 

But death never seems to be far from Annaleigh and her sisters, and something far more sinister than they could ever imagine is waiting for them. 

This book is a great choice if you are looking for a spine-tingling supernatural read. I kept thinking to myself as I read this book that it would make a great horror movie. The descriptions of the spirits and the scenes they appear in are down right chilling. And what is creepier that a small child talking about the ghosts of her dead sisters and making drawings of those ghosts in their death states? Eerily accurate drawings of sisters who died when she was just an infant and she should have no memory of. 

I was immediately pulled in by the mystery surrounding the curse, and the cute romance included in the story provided a nice break from the sinister ghosts, the deaths, and the grief that surrounded Annaleigh. 

The only downside of this story was that is got a little confusing at the end. This is in no part the author's fault, it is simply a natural result of the plot and the reveals that are made toward the end. I had to read several parts a couple of times to keep track of what was happening and what had already happened. I can't really say more without giving too much away, but overall, it was a satisfying conclusion to the story. 

This was a great retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and the dark Gothic elements just pushed it to the next level. I will definitely be recommending this one to other readers. 

The narrator for the audiobook version of this story did an amazing job as well! 

Finding "Kingdom of the Feared"

Caution: Although book 1 of this series clearly fell into the YA category, book 2 and 3 are firmly in the New Adult category due to sexual content and situations.  

I hate starting a series or a trilogy before all the books come out because I can't STAND the wait for the next book! So if a series catches my eye, I typically start buying the books and just keep them on a shelf until the last one comes out or is close to coming out. 

I broke this rule with the "Kingdom of the Wicked" series. I read the first book in this trilogy not long after is was released and I was HOOKED. About a month before, "Kingdom of the Cursed" was released, I reread "Kingdom of the Wicked" and then dove straight into the newly released sequel. While I didn't enjoy the sequel as much as the first book, the cliffhanger ending of book 2 guaranteed that I would dive straight into "Kingdom of the Feared" when it came out. 

And that is exactly what I did.

I'll admit now, that a reread of books 1 and 2 would have been beneficial as there were some parts of the "Kingdom of the Feared" that were confusing. (Once again, probably my fault). I had to reread certain sections when big reveals were made and try to stretch my mind back to the previous books to look for connections or foreshadowing that lead to such reveals and plot twists. 

Here are some of the things I really enjoyed about this final book:

1. I loved that Wrath and Emilia finally put aside their anger and hurt and start working together as a team.

2. I was glad Vittoria made a bigger appearance in this book and shed some light on the central mystery in the first book. (Even though I wanted to punch her through most of it.) 

3. I LOVED Emilia's slowly developing friendship with several of the other Prince's of Hell. 

4. Emilia finally solving the mystery of the curse and coming into her power where a definite highlight of this book.

However, here were the things I didn't like or didn't really understand:

1. The inclusion of Vesta into the story. The mystery surrounding her seemed a bit like an afterthought and seemed a little irrelevant to the main story. 

2. Greed's plans and scheming. Why did he want Vesta so badly? What was he hoping to ultimately achieve? Seemed like a lot of tension and scheming for a plot point that just kind of fizzled out. 

3. I HATE the sacrifice that was made in order for the curse to be broken. I literally can't stand it when this happens in fantasy novels. 

4. The big reveal at the Shifting Isles. That one really threw me. It took me a long time to wrap my head around it and I'm still not sure it makes complete sense. I need to read all the books again while looking at them through a new lens after this reveal. 

Bonus:

Although Wrath and Emilia's story has been wrapped up nicely, there are still many questions left to be answered about the 7 circles and the princes who rule them. I am hoping for a spin-off book or series that will feature Vittoria, Lucia, Envy or Pride. 

So what is my final word on the matter?

Read the book. 

Read this series.

And enjoy the ride.

Finding "Keturah and Lord Death"

 Let me start off by saying that this was a beautifully written story. 💓💓💓

The lyrical prose and classic style truly made me feel like I was sitting around a fire listening to Keturah herself weave me a tale of magic, true love and death. 

Keturah's story strongly reminded me of Scheherazade and 1001 Arabian Nights.  A strong female character who is able to stave off death with nothing but her cunning mind and a good story. 

Keturah's story begins after she has wandered off into the nearby forest and gotten hopelessly lost. Without food or water, it looks as if her life will end at the tender age of 16. She sits down against a tree to rest and wait for death.

It isn't long before death arrives, and he comes in the form of a man. A handsome man with piercing eyes, freezing cold skin and a stern countenance. 

"He knew my mother indeed, but I did not. She had died giving birth to me. 'I regret to say, sir, that as in the case of my mother, you have come before I was ready.'

'No one is ready.'

'Forgive me, sir,' I said, without hope, 'but there was something I wanted to do.'

'Your doing is past."

Katurah insists that she needs just one more day, one day to find her true love. But Lord Death will not be swayed.

So Katurah begins to tell Lord Death a story, a story about a girl who loved no one, but love lived in her home, in the very air she breathed. She tells of the girl's search for a love of her own. As Katurah comes to the end of the story, she stops speaking. She refuses to finish the story. 

" 'Are you saying that you will not tell me?

'Take me home, and I swear that I will come to you in the wood and tell you the rest of the story. Only let me live another day.'"

So Katurah is able to bargain for one more day of life, and Lord Death makes a deal with her. If she can find her one true love and marry him before her time is up, Death will release his hold on her and let her live out the remainder of her days free from his shadow. 

More determined than ever to find her true love and free herself from Death's embrace, Katurah seeks out the help of friends, family, the young Lord of the Manor and even a witch to try and find her one true love. 

What ensues is a dance between Katurah and Lord Death as Katruah tries to avoid her fate and save the very town she loves from the death that is coming their way. 

While this book is very different from the typical books I read, I very much enjoyed the fairy tale like quality of the story.  The thoroughly enjoyed the scenes where Katruah and Lord Death interacted with one another, and I feel as if there were some very profound lessons to be found in this tale. 

“When it is winter and we must walk in the blizzard snow do not our fingers and toes whisper death  And when winter is at last over. . .can we not hear our bellies whisper death to us.  In the dark don't we know,  And when we are paralyzed by nightmares,  We know what you are.  With our first cries we rail against you.  We see you in every drop of blood in every tear.”

The length of this story perfect for the plot. Any longer and I think the story would have been drawn out a bit too much. Although, I would have liked to see a bit more of Katurah and her one true love once they finally got together. Maybe a little epilogue featuring their new life together.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a beautifully written fairy tale full of magic, love and happy endings. 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding "The Inheritance Games"

 Jennifer Lynn Barnes has done it again!

There's a reason that Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of my top 3 favorite young adult authors. 

It's because her books are AMAZING!!!

I fell in love with Barnes's storytelling with her "Naturals" series.

I highly enjoyed "The Fixer" duology and I was captivated by "The Lovely and the Lost".

But it is possible I may have a new favorite. 

"The Inheritance Games".... aahhhh, how do I even describe it? I feel like my brain is still spinning from all the puzzles, riddles, and revelations that are woven through the fabric of the story. The story is a mystery in the truest sense of the word. It will leave you guessing until the very end, and if you think you've figured it out... think again. 

"The Inheritance Games" centers around 17 year old Avery Graham, who is doing everything she can to save money for college while still making the grades she needs to get accepted.  Avery lives with her half sister after her mother passed away, and their deadbeat dad isn't in the picture. Despite Avery's brilliant mind, her future is anything but certain due to her current financial situation. 

But then everything changes.

Grayson Hawthorne has tracked Avery down and informed her that she has been named a beneficiary in his late grandfather's will. Tobias Hawthorn was one of the richest men in the world when he passed away.

And Avery has no idea who he is.

Avery and her sister fly to Texas, courtesy of the Hawthorne family, to hear the will read. The rest of the Hawthorne family is waiting for them: the two daughters of the late Tobias Hawthorne, his four handsome, brilliant grandsons, as well as several members of the staff. 

And no one is more surprised than Avery when Tobias Hawthorne's lawyer announces that other than a mere pittance left to his family and his staff, the Hawthorne fortune, the businesses and the sprawling mansion now belong to Avery Kylie Graham. 

Avery is now one of the richest women in the world.

The disinherited family isn't sure what to make of this revelation. Who is Avery? Why did Tobias Hawthorne leave his immense fortune to this stranger? 

Grayson Hawthorne, the heir apparent, thinks Avery is little better than a con woman, who has some how tricked, conned, or manipulated her way into a fortune. Jameson Hawthorne, the third grandson,  sees Avery as a puzzle, as one more riddle left behind by the old man for his grandsons to figure out and solve. 

What happens next is a series of puzzles, secret passages, hidden messages, and daunting riddles that begin to reveal family secrets and haunting tragedies. Avery starts down this path, working with Grayson and Jamie to solve the mystery behind Tobias Hawthorne's bizarre decision regarding his will, and discovering that the rabbit hole that is the Hawthrone family goes much deeper than she ever could have imagined.

Despite being an amazing book, there was one downside to this book.

I did not like the insta-attraction between Avery and two of the Hawthorne grandsons. It felt a little bit rushed and I never like it when a character is attracted to multiple people in the same family. There is no way that ends well for anyone. 

This book kept me turning pages late into the night. Tension and suspense is interwoven masterfully throughout the plot and the engaging and sometime quirky characters has me reaching for book two even as I am finishing this review.