Review: The Silvered Serpents

 Title: The Silvered Serpents

Author:Roshani Chokshi

Narrator: Laurie Catherine Winkel, P.J. Ochlan

Page Count: 416

Audio Length: 12hr 19min

Rating: 4/5

Spoilers Ahead!!

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

They are each other’s fiercest love, greatest danger, and only hope.

Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost — one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God.

Thoughts:

This dives in with action and I love how broody everyone is. There is so much at stake yet somehow the human fault of emotion creates extra challenges.

Enrique is so smart and deserves more credit then the others give him.

Chokshi proves yet again how beautiful her writing is and paints a chilling story.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Burning Kingdoms

 Title: The Burning Kingdoms

Author: Sally Green

Narrator: Charlie Anson, Kristin Atherton, Daniel Weyman, Finlay Robertson, Roy McMillan, Jodhi May

Audio Length: 12hr 47min

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Spoilers Ahead

In this conclusion to the epic Smoke Thieves trilogy, the world has erupted into all-out war. King Aloysius is mining powerful demon smoke and using it to fuel an unstoppable army of children. March, now banished for treason, has joined up with this boy army. Forbidden from ever seeing Edyon again, and overwhelmed by his own betrayal, March no longer cares if he lives or dies.

Thoughts:

Narrators being recast probably played a part in me not connecting with some of the characters. The world building tends to be the strong suit throughout this entire series. 

To be honest the ending just felt too “tied up with a bow.” there was no huge scene of ending just a wisp of disappearance. There was so much build up only for the last hour or so to end with a snap of the fingers. 

We already had the main characters separated once before and it made sense. This time around however it felt too forced and Ambrose being the focal point to tie things together just felt wrong. 

Overall not the strongest conclusion to a trilogy but it could have been worse. The world is interesting with smoke and demons and has potential to be reborn again.

TTFN,

Ashley

Guest Review: Queen of Volts

 Queen of Volts 

Amanda Foody

September 1, 2020

416 Pages

Rating: ⅘ stars

Synopsis:(from Goodreads)

Return to the City of Sin, where the final game is about to begin…and winning will 

demand the ultimate sacrifice.

Only days after a corrupt election and brutal street war, one last bloodthirsty 

game has begun. The players? The twenty-two most powerful, notorious 

people in New Reynes.

After realizing they have no choice but to play, Enne Scordata and Levi 

Glaisyer are desperate to forge new alliances and 

bargain for their safety. 

Thoughts:

I was so excited to read this final installment of The Shadow Game trilogy. At the end of the shadow game in book two King of Fools; Enne and Levi aren’t even on speaking terms, and I was curious on how their relationship was going to evolve in book three. One of my favorite things about this trilogy is the writing style, I am a big fan of  how the point of views change. In QoV we get to see not only some of the original characters but also a few of the side characters come into the limelight.  

Something I was hoping to see change was how quickly time passes in the story line. In book two I felt that time passed a little too quickly and got a little lost reading it. I did not have that issue reading Queen of Volts. 

I really enjoyed that in Queen of  Volts we get to see a bit more backstory on all of the characters, and the history of New Reigns. We also get to see how each of the characters handle the death of their friend, Jac and how much it affects their everyday lives. Enne and Levi are trying to earn themselves a pardon from the crimes they have committed, using the omerta that they were under by Vianca Augustine to blame. The chancellor requests a meeting with Enne, Levi, and Bryce, at which Bryce and Levi are pardoned, but Enne does not receive a pardon immediately simply because she is a Mizer. Levi is able to pull some strings, and with some reluctance from Enne, to secure her a pardon as well. 

Overall I enjoyed book three, and as always I hate to see a series end, but am looking forward to binging them all back to back. 

Review: Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

 Title: Cemetery Boys

Author:Aiden Thomas

Narrator: Avi Roque

Audio Length: 13hr 47min

Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender,

Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his

cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out

to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

Thoughts:

August and September were books filled with family and learning to accept yourself

even when others refuse to accept you. Yadriel is a fighter and he deserves so

much in the world. My heart hurt when his own father used his deadname. The

narrator added so much emotion in each character than Aiden`s writing really

pushed through.

Maritza is the friend we all need. She is supportive but doesn't let Yads get

away with any bullshit. She calls him out when needed but is the first to

jump in to support him.

When the ghost of Julian bargained for Yadriel`s help, what was expected

was the growing romance between them.

There are amazing twists in this beautiful diverse debut novel. Aiden has so

much potential and I can't wait to see what they write next.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Lobizona by Romina Garber

 Title: Lobizona

Author: Romina Garber

Narrator: Sol Madariaga

Audio Length: 12hr 34min5

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Some people ARE illegal.

Lobizonas do NOT exist.

Both of these statements are false.

Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her.

As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family,

Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.

Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.

Thoughts:

Absolutely incredible. I can`t wait to reread this in physical form. I found it to be a

very original tale with cultural stories woven in. The magic was amazing but what

really hit hard was the family bond. Manu has kept her head down for long

enough and it is her time to spread her wings. The bubble her mother has

raised her in is shattered in a way that no one saw coming.

Romina is amazing at talking about issues of race, immigration and cultural

differences in a way that opens readers eyes and ears to what is happening

in society today. The quote i have seen on social media during the lead up to

release was “‘It’s hard to define your identity when you lack the language.” this is

so true. When you aren't raised to know your heritage how can you be expected to

identify within your culture.

I appreciate books like this that can help give me as a white adult a perspective into

a culture I will never be a part of. I'm hoping to get my boyfriend to pick this one up

so we can have a larger discussion on what it's like to be a transplant in a society

that isn`t always accepting of your skin tone or culture. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Traitor

 Title: Traitor

Author: Amanda McCrina

Page Count: 368

Rating: 3.5/5

Thank you Edelweiss+ and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the review copy.

This in no way changes my opinion on the novel.

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Poland, 1944. After the Soviet liberation of Lwów from Germany, 

the city remains a battleground between resistance fighters and insurgent armies,

its loyalties torn between Poland and Ukraine.

Thoughts:

A different talking point of WW2 that we don't normally hear about. An accidental

murder is what starts of this slower paced novel. There is a lack of character development

and I think the reason behind that is the author was more focused on putting out accurate

facts than creating a character we could feel for. Tolya has to hide his identity in the

Red Army because he is half-Polish, half-Ukrainian. That identity issue becomes his

soul focus.

The setting being Eastern Europe and not Nazi Germany made the story more unique.

It did feel like I was reading a textbook non-fiction book rather than a YA historical novel.

The information is detailed with setting and the fight for survival. I only wish we could

have learned more about Tolya a person not just as a struggling ethnics issue.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Unbirthday

 Title: Unbirthday: A Twisted Tale

Author: Liz Braswell

Page Count:512

Rating: 2.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late?

Alice is different than other eighteen-year-old ladies in Kexford,

which is perfectly fine with her. She'd rather spend golden afternoons with

her trusty camera or in her aunt Vivian's lively salon, ignoring her sister's

wishes that she stop all that "nonsense" and become a "respectable" member of society.

Thoughts:

The take of Alice with a camera and being more modern was pretty interesting.

I guess I was hoping for more differences in characters, not just a photocopy

of the original Lewis Caroll.

I wasn't very impressed with the pacing and felt like this wasn't one of

Braswell's best stories.

What it lacks in pacing it does make up for in adventure. The side

characters and stories seem to be the focal point while the main story of

Alice saving Wonderland was on the back burner.

Overall I think this was my least favorite out of the Twisted Tales books. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Other Side of the Sky

 Title: The Other Side of the Sky

Author:Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Page Count: 432

Rating: 4.5/5

Thank you Netgalley and HarperTeen for the opportunity to review this novel.

This in no way changes my opinion of the book.

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads)

North’s and Nimh’s lives are entwined—though their hearts can never be.

Linked by a terrifying prophecy and caught between duty and fate,

they must choose between saving their people or succumbing to the bond

that is forbidden between them.

Thoughts:

A well written and developed world. I enjoy YA books set with dividing humans be it in

the sky or on land. I really enjoyed the twists the story has.

Character wise I didn`t feel a huge connection with North being so stand offish and

Nimh being so reluctant to share her story and thoughts. 

I look forward to seeing where their story goes in book two. This is plot driven but

the world is what held my attention.

Magic vs science and how they can be used simultaneously. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Circus Rose

 Title: The Circus Rose

Author: Betsy Cornwell

Narrator: Nicol Zanzarella

Audio Length: 5hr 21min

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Twins Rosie and Ivory have grown up at their ringmaster mother’s knee, and after years on the road, they’re returning to Port End, the closest place to home they know. Yet something has changed in the bustling city: fundamentalist flyers paper the walls and preachers fill the squares, warning of shadows falling over the land.

Thoughts:

I pre-ordered this on impulse and finally got around to reading it. This was a fast listen and I really enjoyed a retelling of Snow White and Rose Red. There is magic but the rawness comes from that of a circus family dealing with abuse from a church like entity. I really enjoyed the take on magical folke being non gendered. It gave a realness feeling to the book which Betsy does in her other novel Mechanica.

There are some strange bits in the book and I`m sure its not without its issues but I overall enjoyed the pacing and plot.

TTFN,

Ashley