Review: Honor Lost by Ann Aguirre and Rachel Caine

Title: Honor Lost

Author: Ann Aguirre and Rachel Caine

Narrator: Adenrele Ojo and Adam Lazarre-White

Audio Length: 12hr 14min

Rating: 4.5/5

!!!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Reeling from a series of battles, Zara and her wounded band of allies are going to

need a strategy before they face Lifekiller again. Zara’s street smarts may not be

enough when their enemy could be anywhere

Thoughts:

Leviathans will always be a keyword insta-buy for me, they truly are my

kryptonite. The team grows both together as one as well as adding new

members to the crew. Lifekiller is leaving a trail of death and it seems it

has it out for Zara. The phage may be the ones causing the death but thanks

to one saved onboard Nadim that view might be changing. CX has played

an even larger part in this novel and I found I liked her even more than the other

two books. 

I`m sad to have this trilogy end but boy does it wrap-up nicely. There are some

questions that are left that can leave more room for a novella maybe. I`m proud

of Zara, Nadim, Bea and crew, there were some tears shed for the lives lost. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Seep by Chana Porter

Title: The Seep

Author: Chana Porter

Narrator: Shakina Nayfack

Audio Length: 3hr 4min

Rating:4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Trina Goldberg-Oneka is a fifty-year-old trans woman whose life is irreversibly

altered in the wake of a gentle—but nonetheless world-changing—invasion by

an alien entity called The Seep. Through The Seep, everything is connected.

Thoughts:

This was an impulse buy, I thought the cover looked cool and the audio was short.

This was a bizarre novel but don`t let that sway you. I`m sure if i listened

again I would find something else to fixate on but for now I want to talk

about loss. 

Loss is experienced in a few ways both the loss of love, life and a person`s “norm.”

Loss is something that you should never have to “just get over.” There is an

alien race that is consumed and offers a new sense of togetherness for humans.

I can see there being more on this type of alien and bond. 

If you`re looking for a fast audiobook that keeps you thinking what would

happen if you could be bonded with every human on earth this is the book for you.

TTFN,

Ashley 

Review: Between Burning Worlds

Title: Between Burning Worlds

Author: Jessica Brody & Joanna Rendell

Page Count: 688

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

The planet Laterre is in turmoil. A new militant revolutionary group has emerged calling

themselves “The Red Scar” and claiming responsibility for a spate of recent bombings.

The infamous rebels known as the Vangarde believe that in order to bring about a peaceful

revolution, their charismatic leader, Citizen Rousseau must be freed from prison right away.

Otherwise the bloodshed will only escalate.

Thoughts:

Thank you Netgalley for a review copy, this in no way influences my opinion of this novel.

( I already preordered the audiobook and physical of it prior to being approved)

Tons of information dumping in the start which happened in Sky Without Stars. After that info the

story picks up where it left off. Well paced and full of drama, leaves you satisfied yet wanting more.

There better be a book three.

I enjoyed the internal thoughts each character had and it truly kept the story flowing. There is so

much more drama and the stakes are higher than before. Marcellus is still infuriating in his

weakness and I found myself disappointed in him and his choices. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

Title: Ember Queen

Author: Laura Sebastian

Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld

Audio Length: 13hr 19min

Rating: 2.5/5

!!!!!!!SPOILERS AHEAD !!!!!!

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Princess Theodosia was a prisoner in her own country for a decade.

Renamed the Ash Princess, she endured relentless abuse and ridicule from the

Kaiser and his court. But though she wore a crown of ashes, there is fire in

Theo’s blood. As the rightful heir to the Astrean crown, it runs in her veins.

And if she learned nothing else from her mother, she learned that a

Queen never cowers.

Thoughts:

I was invested enough to finish this trilogy but barely. So if you`ve enjoyed the

first two novels then this one might be just for you to wrap-up the series. 

I`m just not invested in any one character enough to care who lived and who died.

The final battle was the only thing I truly enjoyed. A lot of travel, some tiny

battles and Theo being emotional. 

I wish I enjoyed this because the world seemed like such a great opportunity

to explore. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Title: Dark and Deepest Red

Author: Anna-Marie McLemore

Page Count: 320

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Summer, 1518. A strange sickness sweeps through Strasbourg: women

dance in the streets, some until they fall down dead. 

Five centuries later, a pair of red shoes seal to Rosella Oliva’s feet, making

her dance uncontrollably. They draw her toward a boy who knows the dancing

fever’s history better than anyone: 

Emil, whose family was blamed for the fever five hundred years ago. 

Thoughts:

I never knew there was a real dancing plague that the fairy tale was based on.

I enjoyed the transitions between both time periods. There is LGBTQ+ represented

and it is easy to follow along. There is also cultural diversity that adds this extra layer

to the fantasy. 

I wasn't dying to pick this back up after I read the initial hundred pages but I am

glad I saw it through. Although the diversion of time periods was well written it

made it hard to grow attached to just one character. I`m hoping to find more

retellings or historical events that have been written as young adult novels.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Castle in the Clouds

Title: A Castle in the Clouds

Author: Kerstin Gier Translated by: Romy Fursland

Narrator: Marisa Calin

Audio Length: 9hr 52min

Rating: 2.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Way up in the Swiss mountains, there's an old grand hotel steeped in tradition

and faded splendor. Once a year, when the famous New Year's Eve Ball takes place

and guests from all over the world arrive, excitement returns to the vast hallways.

Thoughts:

I adored the narrator and will be looking for more books read by her. I think I was

expecting more than what this turned out to be. Maybe it was the pacing of the story

or something was lost in translation. It took nearly seven hours for true action to

happen and a jewelry heist to begin. The first seven hours was filled with

babysitting, hotel work and some love triangle thing forming.

I did really enjoy the setting and ironically the birds that played a very small

part in the plot. Maybe I will find a hotel adventure story that truly captures my

attention but his one was not it.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Blood Countess by Lana Popvic

Title: Blood Countess

Author: Lana Popvic

Narrator: Jennifer Mudge

Audio Length: 9hr 26min

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

In 16th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a

scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory.

When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of

chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below.

Thoughts:

A Historical novel about Elizabeth Bathery the countess known for bathing in

the blood of her chambermaids and any pretty girl she could get her hands on.

I think I was expecting a bit more but I did enjoy this one. It took a little while

to pick up and bring out the evil and blood. The epilogue was probably my favorite part.

Anna is a little too gullible towards anything Countess Elizabeth does or says.

There is torture, sex and a whole lot of murder. I would say this is for older

YA fans or just fans of historical retellings. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Never Never by Brianna R. Shrum

Title: Never Never

Author: Brianna R. Shrum

Page Count: 368pgs

Rating: 2.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never

becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child - at least briefly.

Thoughts:

A Hook vs Pan retelling with a twist that had so much potential but got really

uncomfortable. Age works differently in Neverland and this is where things became

weird for me. Overall this was just a meh book for me, the writing felt very childish

but the subject matter of death and violence was pretty detailed. Then there is the

topic of Hook and Tiger Lily`s relationship...I don't think I will ever be able to watch

the scene of Smee kidnapping Tiger Lily for Hook the same way again. 

There are plenty of pirate books out there as well as some Peter Pan retellings

and I think I will stick to those. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Second Hand Curses

Title: Second Hand Curses

Author: Drew Hayes

Narrator: Tavia Gilbert, Scott Aiello, Marc Vietor

Audio Length: 9hr

Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

When your fairy godmother threatens to enslave you with a curse - when a malevolent piper

solves your rat problem but steals your children - when you seek revenge on the prince who

turned you into a frog - who can you turn to in your hour of need? 

Thoughts:

An adult fairytale adventure that is hilariously adult appropriate. A group traveling together to

undo or fix fairytale curses and deals. Each tale takes up a chapter and runs into each other until

we learn about the three main characters. This was such a fast read and I hope there can be

more Audible originals like this. 

Marie, Frank and Jack are a form of twisted fairytales themselves. Each has a story that

somehow attracts the Blue Fairy. The Blue Fairy is the primary focus in the overall novel

but each chapter deals with a different fairytale. I really enjoyed how the trio known as The

Bastard Champions solves each job in a quick yet fun way.

Let's talk narrators. These three did an amazing job for each voice. Audiobooks have been my

primary source of reading for the last two years and I can get a little picky. I think the

Audible original dramas have really good pacing and quality audio. 

TTFN,

Ashley