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

Review: Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian

Title: Lady Smoke

Author: Laura Sebastian

Published On: 2/5/19

Page Count: 512pgs

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

The Kaiser murdered Theodosia's mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six.

He took Theo's country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess.

Spoliers

I enjoyed this way more than the torture in Ash Princess. Theodosia wasn't

my favorite main characters. I felt like her companions are who really deserved their

stories. Blaze realizing his potential, Sorin realizing how different from his father the

Kaiser he truly is. Finally we have Artemisia being fierce and standing up to her mother

in order to survive her country.

I'll be listening to book three when it releases next year. I do want to see what

happens on the world I just don't have any emotional connection with Theo at all

unfortunately. We shall see though maybe she will become the queen everyone

hopes she will be.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Deceivers by Kristen Simmons

Title: The Deceivers

Author: Kristen Simmons

Narrator: Soneela Nankani

Published On: 2/5/19

Audio Length: 12hr 49min

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Welcome to Vale Hall: a school for aspiring con artists. When Brynn Hilder is recruited

to the elite Vale Hall, she can't believe her luck. Vale means a new life, away from

her mom's loser boyfriend Pete and her run-down neighborhood.

A contemporary con-artist novel. Not a genre I knew existed nor did I think I

needed in my life. Kristen Simmons does not disappoint in yet another book. This

is a story about stopping a corrupt political system in a city run by drugs. Some of the

twists I didn't see coming which made the plot have a bit more tension.

How far would you go to protect those you love?

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Title: King of Scars

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Published On: 1/29/19

Page Count: 527pgs

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in

his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way.

Spoilers Ahead

Started off a bit slow but picked up as the plot progresses. I felt a better

connection with Nina than I did when she was in Six of Crows. At points it really

felt like there was two different books being combined into one. It makes sense

though seeing as the events needed to line up and you got more of a adventure

going between the two or three events.

I really enjoyed how the Saints of the the Grishaverse had their stories explained

and I hope to hear more of those stories in other pieces of work.

I want to sit and gush about how wonderful it was to visit some characters of the

original trilogy. If this is something you would like please let me know. I have so

many theories

and opinions about what could happen next.

TTFN,

Ashley