Review: These Rebel Waves

Title: These Rebel Waves

Author: Sara Raasch

Narrator: Kate Rudd

Published On: 8/7/18

Page Count: 474

Audio Length: 11hr 40min

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Adeluna is a soldier. Five years ago, she helped the magic-rich island of

Grace Loray overthrow its oppressor, Argrid, a country ruled by religion. 

Devereux is a pirate. As one of the outlaws called stream raiders who run

rampant on Grace Loray.

Benat is a heretic. The crown prince of Argrid, he harbors a secret obsession with

Grace Loray’s forbidden magic.

I wanted to like Adeluna as our MC but she had some major flaws. As the story

progressed I enjoyed Devereaux (Vex) more. Hejust wants to finish this last job and settle

down. A small out of the way area where no more trouble can cross his path. Little did he

know saying yes to Luna would put him smack dab in the middle of the next war.

I will be continuing this series with hopes that Vex becomes more of the focal point

and not Luna. I also hope Luna starts making some better life choices because she

causes some anxiety in me. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Storyteller

Title: The Storyteller

Author: Traci Chee

Published On: 11/13/18

Page Count: 437

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Sefia is determined to keep Archer out of the Guard's clutches and their plans for

war between the Five Kingdoms. The Book, the ancient, infinite codex of the past,

present and future, tells of a prophecy that will plunge Kelanna in that bloody war.

Interesting twist which always ties to the titles. That part is what makes the novel

worth reading. The last two hours of the audiobook flew by with more emotion

than I expected. The character growth not only for the two main characters was

exponential in the entire trilogy. Each person we are introduced to has personality

and drive. The poetry and quotable material in this story is amazing.

Unfortunately the part that fell flat was the search for the amulet. There was

missed chances and a less than stellar pacing job. The other two novels seemed to be

building up to something huge and just feel like the main battle just disappointed me. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Deceiver`s Heart

Title: The Deceiver`s Heart

Author: Jennifer A. Neilson

Published On: 2/26/19

Page Count: 384

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Kestra Dallisor has finally gained possession of the Olden Blade.

With the dagger in her control, she attempts to destroy the tyrannical

Lord Endrick. But when Kestra fails,the king strips her of her memory, and leaves

her weak and uncertain, bound to obey him.

Some interesting battle scenes throughout the novel. I really want to enjoy it but some of

the events just fell flat. I will say that the cliffhanger does have me itching for the last book.

Less of a desire to read but more the need to complete the entire storyline.

Kestra spends so much time allowing others to sacrifice themselves for her. If she would

listen to the plan and speak her mind BEFORE the start of the plans a lot less death

would occur. Kestra seems a little whiny and less than helpful during a majority of the novel.

I just wish she had more redeeming qualities.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Song of The Dead

Title: Song of The Dead

Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh

Published On: 1/22/19

Page Count: 416

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

The Dead must stay buried.

Karthia is nothing like it used to be. The kingdom's borders are open for the first

time in nearly three hundred years, and raising the dead has been outlawed.

Spoilers Ahead

Diving back into a world where neocramcers can no longer raise the dead was just

what I needed. This ban on dead raising is due to the new queen. OUr new queen is

struggling for change and a war on two fronts is just the icing on the cake. Odessa is

still the main character and she is finally on the adventure of a lifetime. The goal is to

make contact with other nations but when discovering necromancers aren't as welcomed

anywhere and that there is a war coming for her home she knows her duty is alongside Queen Valoria.

I do hope to revisit this world in a novella someday. I`m still so intrigued by the eye

colour to magic ratio. I think having a little novella with a history of inventions and

magic system would be pretty awesome. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Ransacker

Title: Ransacker

Author: Emmy Laybourne

Published On: 1/29/19

Page Count: 448

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Rare powers. Precious metals. Deadly greed.

Sissel Hemstad and her siblings have been living peacefully in a small town in

Montana, trying to blend-in and escape the violent events that haunt them,

but they’ve all been tricked 

Diving back into this world has been amazing. I didn't like Sissel in Berserker but

she grew on me as the main character here. She is still a frustrating girl but if you

were the only member of your family to not be blessed. There is a ton of things that

can be explored even after the end of this novel. I hope to read more of our Norse

children and what their futures hold. 

I did find similarities between this novel and Rae Carson`s Gold Seer Trilogy.

Some aspects of Laybourne`s novel popped out and have stayed with me but I think

because Sissel is the main focal point I didn't enjoy it as much. I`m all about girls

growing into themselves and in a setting such as this I had high hopes. I truly loved

Berserker and I just feel like this one felt short unfortunately. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Once A King

Title: Once a King

Author: Erin Summerhill

Narrator: Polly Edsell

Published On: 12/4/18

Audio Length: 12hrs

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

For twenty years, Channelers—women with a magical ability—have been

persecuted in Malam by those without magic. Now King Aodren wants to end

the bloody divide and unite his kingdom. 

I think if this was based on Lirra and her journey I would have enjoyed it more.

Aodren just is not my favorite human. He isn't a bad character per say just  I enjoyed

Lirra and her Channeler ability more. Aodren is a little bit condencsending and lacks the

ability to admit when he needs assistance. He means well by ending the divide he just goes

about it in a weird way. 

This is technically a standalone but I would suggest reading the original duology

first to get more backstory. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Mist, Metal and Ash

Title: Mist, Metal, and Ash

Author: Gwendolyn Claire

Published On: 2/19/19

Page Count: 336

Rating: 2.5//5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

In an alternate 19th-century Italy, Elsa has an incredible gift: she can craft

new worlds with precise lines of script written in books. But political extremists

have stolen the most dangerous book ever.

I`m so desperate to enjoy this duology but I just don't care about any of the characters.

The only aspect of the books that I do enjoy is the world book process and how each

Pazalorni operates. I will say when Casa took on a self-feeling AI personality

(like Aiden from Illuminae Files) I had to laugh. 

Although not a novel for me I'm sure others can find the good in this book.

It has so much potential and I hope I am able to find a book with a similar concept

just to see how else it could be written. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Honor Bound

Title: Honor Bound

Author: Ann Aguire and Rachel Caine

Published On: 2/19/19

Page Count: 480

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Zara Cole was a thief back on Earth, but she’s been recently upgraded to

intergalactic fugitive.

Spoilers Ahead

Goodreads Thoughts: I am never been so frustrated in a cliffhanger before period

I must get my hands on the next book as soon as possible. I absolutely love leviathans

at this book does not disappoint

Wow that cliffhanger!!! This does not suffer from Second Book Syndrome at all. The

added characters plus the bigger picture just added so many fun and thrilling details. I

think it also helped push the plot line along. Zara Cole was already a badass in my book

but her ever growing bond with Nadim just adds to her personality.

I really enjoyed the whole idea that humans don't see other life forms because we are

too self destructive for the truth. This rings so true with how implosive society is with

normal activities not only in the States but all over the world. What alien in their right

mind would want to expose themselves to our planet?

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Four Dead Queens

Title: Four Dead Queens

Author: Astrid Scholte

Narrator: Amy Shiels, Elizabeth Knowelden

Published On: 1/26/19

Page Count: 413

Audio Length: 11hr 32min

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Keralie Corrington may seem harmless, but in fact,

she's one of Quadara's most skilled thieves and a liar. Varin, on the other hand, is an

honest, upstanding citizen of Quadara's most enlightened region, Eonia. 

Pretty impressive that this is a standalone. The audiobook was pretty awesome and I

like the way the story was laid out. I think the world building falls a little short due to the

length of the novel. The plot progression alsop felt a little off but that could be the way the

storyline was divided. For the length of the audiobook I think the descriptions were great just

felt there was a little bit of missed opportunity. I would have hoped for some more information

and history behind each of the four quadrants of the land. 

I look forward to seeing what Astrid writes next. There is a lot of potential in this world

that I wouldn't be surprised if she revisits it for some added content of a different storyline. 

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Courting Darkness

Title: Courting Darkness

Author: Robin LaFevers

Published On: 2/5/19

Page Count: 498

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Death wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning…

Sybella has always been the darkest of Death’s daughters, trained at the

convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice. But she has a new mission now.

In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly

destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they

quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. 

Assassin nuns and the French Court how could one not want to dive back into the world of

His Fair Assassins. The original trilogy is one I recommend on a regular basis. Visiting

old characters as well as being introduced to new ones made this such a great read.

The plot thickens for the Duchess of Brittany. I look forward to more of Genevieve`s

story in book two.

Genevieve was placed under cover prior to the events of the original trilogy but

we don't learn her struggles until after the original events. I wouldn`t call this a

spin-off series since the events in each novel have been centered around a different

character each time. The plot from the trilogy continues on in Courting Darkness.

Although Ismae will always be my favorite daughter of Mortain I think Genevieve

might just work her way into my heart.

TTFN,
Ashley

Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Title: A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Published On: 1/29/19

Page Count: 484

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his

eighteenth year,

Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall,

thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him.

I finished this beauty in just under two days. This retelling was intriguing

and all 3 (ish) main characters instantly attracted me. Harper is a fighter and I liked

how her disability was written. It wasn't added in as a “prop” but a true concern and

something she struggled to work through. She pushes Prince Rhen to realize how he

needed to think outside the box when it came to the curse.

Sometimes I think everyone wishes to be transported to another realm to pose as

royalty. Harper has a reason to fight and go home and that reason is family. I truly

enjoyed the family bonds throughout the entire novel. Between “guard” and Prince,

Sister and Brother each of the bonds grow and bend during the novel. 

TTFN,

Ashley