I am trying to play catch up before the end of the year. I have included some short reviews of the books I`ve read the last two months. I hope you enjoy them and if you want a more detailed review on any of them be sure to let me know.
Title: Among the Beasts and Briars
Author: Ashley Poston
Rating: 4/5
Thank you Edelweiss+ for the e-arc. This in no way changes my review opinion.
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
Here there are no droughts, disease, or famine, and peace is everlasting.
It has been this way for hundreds of years, since the first king made a bargain
with the Lady who ruled the forest that borders the kingdom. But as Aloriya
prospered, the woods grew dark, cursed, and forbidden. Cerys knows this
all too well: when she was young, she barely escaped as the woods killed
her friends and her mother.
Thoughts:
I loved how adventurous the setting was. The woods had spooky vibes and I
was shown how not just told. The pacing felt on point and I enjoyed how Cerys
was flawed as a human should be. A short fairytale esque novel that was much
needed. I enjoyed how Cerys wasn`t the princess or some rich girl. A Gardener's
daughter who deserves the world and knows what it's like to lose precious moments.
Title: Come On In
Author: Edited by Adi Alsaid
Rating: 3.5/5
Thank you Edelweiss+ for the e-arc. This in no way changes my review opinion.
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
This exceptional and powerful anthology explores the joys, heartbreaks and
triumphs of immigration, with stories by bestselling and beloved YA
authors who are themselves immigrants and the children of immigrants.
Thoughts:
I think short stories are much harder to write well than novels or longer pieces.
You have to accomplish the same goals in far fewer words.This anthology
was a bit uneven but overall each of the stories had an impact.I think every
story can help build empathy for the plight of all immigrants. I am not an
immigrant but these stories helped to show a view I would not otherwise be able to see.
Title: Kingdom of the Wicked
Author: Kerri Maniscalo
Rating: 5/5
Thank you Edelweiss+ for the e-arc. This in no way changes my review opinion.
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
Two sisters.
One brutal murder.
A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself
And an intoxicating romance.
Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe witches who live secretly among humans,
avoiding notice and persecution
Thoughts:
Murder,Mayhem and Elemtal Magic. Kerri does it again with the start of an
amazing new series. The commitment to sisterhood no matter the consequences
felt real. Enemies to Lovers but the characters see it happening. The Prince of
Hell is such a broody man who really needs a squishy to squeeze. Emilia
seems lost and fragile but the girl is smart and can handle her shit. So
many deals to be made I have no clue how she keeps track. Overall this
is an incredible novel that deserves a long review written. I hope to give it
more credit later on when I can reread it and mark out sections in the book.
Title: The Girl of Hawthorne and Glass
Author: Adan Jerreat-Poole
Rating: 2.5/5
Thank you Edelweiss+ for the e-arc. This in no way changes my review opinion.
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
Eli isn’t just a teenage girl — she’s a made-thing the witches created
to hunt down ghosts in the human world. Trained to kill with her seven
magical blades, Eli is a flawless machine, a deadly assassin. But when
an assignment goes wrong, Eli starts to question everything
she was taught about both worlds
Thoughts:
Concept was so there but the execution was poor. Eli had so much potential
to be this self aware human but she just didn`t show it well. This book just
seemed to want to be more than it was ready to be. I think with more feedback
it could have proven to be a great read.
Title: The Once and Future Witches
Author: Alix E. Harrow
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild,
dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy
charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of
power, she must find it at the ballot box.
Thoughts:
A Character driven story that at times was fast paced but then just dropped
to a turtle crawl. I was excited for a Suffragette story but what I got was an
interesting story of three sisters who bring magic into a world that isn`t willing
to accept women. At times it felt like magic was this code word for the entire
movement. Metaphors have never really been my thing so maybe I'm missing the point.
Title: The Mirror:Broken Wish
Author: Julie C. Dao
Rating: 4/5
Thank you Disney Hyperion for the arc. This in no way changes my review opinion.
Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):
1865
Hanau, Germany
Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she
will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in
their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the
Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow.
Thoughts:
Multiple authors will write in this amazing family cursed world. I enjoyed
trying to figure out which fairytale was being referenced. Elva was an interesting
character and it was great getting her origin story before meeting her. The North
Woods has the best setting for the rest of the story. I`m looking forward to the
rest of the books. Magic has a price and promises are meant to be kept.
When you can`t pay the price or you back out of a promise the consequences
can be far worse than a bad storm.
