Heart of the Storm by Michael Buckley - Review

“There’s something out in that water. Be ready to take the people you love and leave when it comes onshore.”

For three months, Lyric Walker has been trapped in the hunting grounds, the Alpha city at the bottom of the ocean. But Lyric Walker, Brooklyn girl, is not going down without a fight. She makes an unlikely alliance with her jailor, a Rusalka named Husk. Husk reveals the truth about what actually resides in the Great Abyss. The Great Abyss is not some Alpha god but belongs to an unknown clan of monsters, ones who think in a hive mentality and believe anyone who cannot hear their voice is broken and must be destroyed. And Lyric has just woken them.

After a death-defying escape, Lyric makes her journey back to the mainland to prepare humanity for another monster invasion. Once reunited with her parents, Bex, and hot-nerd-with-potential Riley, Lyric has to break the terrible truth.

Lyric was just a girl when the Alpha arrived in her hometown. She was a soldier in the second attack that saved her world. What will she have to become now, and who will she have to leave behind?

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Heart of the Sea is the third and final installment of The Undertow Trilogy by Michael Buckley. It takes place in a alternate/semi post-apocolyptic world, mostly in New York, and is filled with the same original lore and action as the rest of the series, but deals with much higher stakes and has a darker tone. 

Heart of the Sea does a really good job of not holding back the sacrifices and losses that go along with battle. In this case, it's not only against the creatures from the sea that Lyric and her cohorts have to face but also other humans. The writing throughout the series is great and pulls readers along with good pace that reveals the magic and lore of the world without dumping information all at once or leaving readers confused. The characters, including Lyric, are well developed and have unique characters, and, most importantly in my opinion, change believably throughout the series as the situation becomes more dire. Lyric especially really develops into a completely different character, and I appreciate the choices she makes at the end of the book. 

The pacing gets a little wonky at some moments, moving a little too quickly or getting a little disorienting because it jumps back and forth from the present to past memories. Lyric is on a mission to protect everyone she loves and while it ends with a bang (and I absolutely LOVE the epilogue), the ever-present danger from the first page of the book made the ending seem a little prolonged. There are some plot points that made the story seem a little predictable, though I think that Lyric's character saved it. 

Overall, Heart of the Storm is a great ending to the trilogy. It is crucial you start with Undertow, since the series is dependent on knowing what was happening in previous books and the characters and supernatural aspects are best understood by following Lyric's journey from the beginning. Filled with action, killer supernatural sea creatures, a little bit of forbidden romance, and a great female heroine unafraid to do anything to protect those she loves, Heart of the Storm is a fantastic ending to a unique and enjoyable series. Perfect for fans of Divergent (with a little more supernatural stuff) and the Syrena Legacy (with a little more dystopian stuff). 

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

(I couldn't find a website but) You can find out more about Michael Buckley and his books here: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Buckley/e/B001JS9QJI

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

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Heart of the Storm by Michael Buckley - Review

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - Review

A magical debut novel for readers of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, and Neil Gaiman’s myth-rich fantasies, The Bear and the Nightingale spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.

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I'll start off by saying that I absolutely loved The Bear and the Nightingale. It reminded me so much of some of the books I read when I was younger, of the Night Circus and Shannon Hale books and books that are original but also based on fairytales or folklore. The writing is fantastic, the storytelling lilting and magical. 

The story shifts focus between our protagonist, Vasilisa, better known as Vasya, and another character, Konstantin, the priest that comes to stay in their town. Vasya is not the kind of female heroine one really expects from a story like this - she's not outwardly brave, she's quiet, she often takes the brunt of insults or hurtful words from those around her. However, in the magical world where the cold and forest has it's own kind of magic that those people fear, it is Vasya's kindness that helps her to befriend magical creatures and in the end, help to save those she loves from the more dangerous things in the forest. 

While Konstantin is not truly a main character, he is in opposition to Vasya's character. They both attempt to help protect her family but in two very different ways. I loved how their approach differed and how despite the intentions, Vasya's open-mindedness and kindness tends to be more successful that Konstantin's devout yet often times ignorant ideology. 

The world is magical and dark and dangerous. It's also bright and romantic. It's one kind of fairytale, one with gods and spirits and the walking dead, within another kind of fairytale, one with Russian aristocracy, a wicked stepmother, and the tensions between Russian lore and religious ideology. It is filled with action, danger, family drama, and a little bit of romance. Cinderella meets Anastasia meets Anna Karena. The story has everything to be successful but I truly think the writing and storytelling is what really makes the Bear and the Nightingale unique and truly shine. You'll be shivering with the cold, be in awe of the Russian court, be scared to look out your window when it's dark. It is so reminiscent of some classic fairytale, told with such elegance, beautiful imagery, and language that immerses the reader in the time period and world. 

The language might not be for everyone, sometimes feeling a little heavy or old-fashioned, though I believe that is what really makes the world feel real. The mix of reality with the touch of folklore might not appeal to some, the lines often purposely blurred. However, overall, I think part of the magic of this book are these very things, so I suggest pushing through and giving it a try.

This book was what really helped me get out of my reading slump and reminded me why I love stories like this. It was so refreshing and beautifully told and I highly recommend it to any reader who loves Russian folklore, the tale of East of the Sun West of the Moon, fairytale retellings, or just any well-written magical story with an unlikely heroine. And if you're in a reading slump. 

If you like The Bear and the Nightingale, I suggest Katurah and Lord Death!

Find out more about Katherine and her book here: http://www.katherinearden.com

Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent a year of high school in Rennes, France. Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrollment for a year in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature. After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, working every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crêpes to guiding horse trips. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

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The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - Review

Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews - Review

Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this…

Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar…

Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in his never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.

The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…

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Another romping Kate Daniels story. I liked the escalating tensions between Kate and her father and by proxy, Kate and her own magical potential. I thought that we saw more development in her character in this installment than in previous ones, as well as more interactions with the secondary characters. The conflicts with her father, her ancestors, and the prophecy that surrounds her really amped up the action and excitement. 

I think that the ending seemed a little rushed, and the cavalier way in which Kate approaches everything took away from the story a little bit. The stagnancy I've felt in the series recently was gone, though I started to notice it a little more towards the end, when I felt the climax of the story was played down a bit. While Kate's character is always a joy, I feel like the stakes were raised and her response seemed a little unbelievable. I wish that the final battle and the weight of the prophecy held a little more sway over plot and character development, but overall, readers get exactly what they came for: a hilarious, exciting, magic-filled Kate Daniels adventure.

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Find out more about Ilona and her works here: http://www.ilona-andrews.com.

“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

They have co-authored three NYT and USAT bestselling series, the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, and paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy. They are also working on USAT bestselling series Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine
 

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Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews - Review

The Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey - Review

The bonds of family, love, and loyalty are pushed to their limits in this thrilling conclusion to the epic saga started in The Bloodbound...

As the war between Alden and Oridia draws to its conclusion, the fates of both kingdoms rest on the actions of a select group of individuals—and, of course, the unbreakable bonds of blood...

Unbeknownst to most of Alden, King Erik, in thrall to a cruel bloodbinder, is locked away in his own palace, plotting revenge. To save her king, Lady Alix must journey behind enemy lines to destroy the bloodbinder. But her quest will demand sacrifices that may be more than she can bear.

Meanwhile, as the Warlord of Oridia tightens his grip on Alden, the men Alix loves face equally deadly tasks: her husband, Liam, must run a country at war while her brother, Rig, fights a losing battle on the front lines. If any one of them fails, Alden could be lost—and, even if they succeed, their efforts may be too late to save everyone Alix holds dear...

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I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was a good conclusion to the series but strong in it's own right. It was filled with action, adventure, and a touch of magic. Alix is as always such a strong heroine, and in this installment she and her husband Liam must go separate ways in order to save the kingdom.

It was interesting seeing Alix interact and work with a new group of people and see Liam have to take up the helm of political leader. The story was romping, and while I found the plot to meander a little bit, if was fairly well paced. The tension was high for most of the story, so I missed a little bit of the humor found earlier in the series, but the stakes were high and all the characters had to rise to the occasion. The world continues to become more developed, as do all the characters. 

I really enjoyed this series and thought Bloodsworn was a wonderful ending to an exciting, action-filled, romantic series.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Check out Erin and learn more about her books here: http://erin-lindsey.com.

Erin Lindsey is on a quest to write the perfect summer vacation novel, with just the right blend of action, heartbreak, and triumph. The Bloodbound series is her first effort. She divides her time between Brookyn, NY and Calgary, Alberta. She also writes fantasy mysteries as E.L. Tettensor.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

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The Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey - Review

Fallen Off the Face of the Earth

HEY GUYS.

Long time, no read.

Sorry I've been MIA. It's been a busy month and I was going through some personal stuff but don't worry! New reviews and such are coming! Promise! My To-Read pile is out of control so it's only a matter of time before I explode with reviews of fantastic books.

See you soon!

Jasmine

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Fallen Off the Face of the Earth

Fall of Thrones and Thorns by Jennifer Ellision - Review + Giveaway!

War hurtles in, a typhoon over the sea.

After Bree’s life was torn apart, Nereidium had represented a haven to her. A place that—if she could save it—was beyond the King’s reach.

And, at last, she’s arrived upon its shores. But things in Nereidium are not what they should be.

The land is plagued by a rash of mysterious earthquakes, the likes of which it’s never known. The governors are distracted by old traditions, while Bree and her friends grapple with changing identities and the sense that the longer they wait to take action… the greater the danger from Egria grows.

Bree is tired of living under the shadow of King Langdon’s power. And she’s tired of waiting for him to be the first to act.

In this final chapter of the Threats of Sky and Sea series, it all comes down to Nereidium or Egria. To Bree or the King. It’s kill… or be killed.

And not everyone will escape the battle unscathed.

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I am so excited to be part of the blog tour for Fall of Thrones and Thorns! I love this series and could not wait for this last book.

Fall of Thrones and Thorns starts off right where Riot of Storm and Smoke left off. This review won't include spoilers, so I won't give too much away, but book 3 really delves into the internal conflicts that have plagued Bree since revelations in book 1. I loved watching her character grow and how she approaches all these huge decisions before her. While she acts a little immature at times and seems to make some poor choices, I really enjoy her as a character and as a young woman trying to do right by her own morals while also trying to save and help all those around her.

The world is made even bigger and new characters are introduced. I loved seeing more of Nereidium and learning more about other cultures. The difference between it and Egria are vast and conflicts of family and loyalty are brought to the forefront.

While lots of things happen in this book, the emotional journey of Bree is really at the center, her emotions and decisions related to all the turmoil in Nereidium and Egria (along with her merry band of pals). It's really a story of people trying to combine who they want to be with who they have been told they are and the difficulties with that identity.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting, the world continued to develop, and tensions between family, friendship, and potential romance worked well with the political conflicts. While Bree and her friends sometimes act a little immature and some things didn't end as neatly as I was anticipating, this book is a satisfying ending to a romping, magical adventure.

For fans of the previous two books in the series, or for readers who enjoy action-packed fantasy with a hint of romance, this is a must read. I'm so happy I came across this series on a whim years ago and with where the series ended.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find out more about Jennifer and her books here: http://www.jenniferellision.com

Jennifer Ellision spent a great deal of her childhood staying up past her bedtime with a book and a flashlight. When she couldn’t find the stories she wanted to read, she started writing them. She loves words, has a soft spot for fanfiction, and is a master of the fangirl flail. She resides in South Florida with her family, where she lives in fear of temperatures below 60 Fahrenheit.

Jennifer is the author of the YA fantasy series, Threats of Sky and Sea, as well as the New Adult contemporary novel, Now and Again.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

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Fall of Thrones and Thorns by Jennifer Ellision - Review + Giveaway!

The Sight by Chloe Neill - Review

The paranormal war that engulfed New Orleans seven years ago is over. But the battle for the city is just beginning . . .

Claire Connolly is a Sensitive, infected with magic when the Veil that divides humanity from the world beyond fell. Magic can easily consume and destroy a Sensitive, and if Claire’s secret is discovered she’ll be locked into the walled district of Devil’s Isle along with every other Paranormal left in the city.

Bounty hunter Liam Quinn discovered Claire’s secret, but refused to turn her in. Together they saved New Orleans from the resurgence of magic that nearly destroyed it. But now a dangerous cult is on the rise, and it will take both Claire and Liam—and magical allies within Devil’s Isle’s towering walls—to defeat the occult threat before magic corrupts them both...

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This is a great sequel to The Veil. I'll be honest - I forgot most of what happened in book 1 and wasn't sure how much I could truly get into the sequel. However, Chloe Neill immediately drew me back into Claire's world and I was hooked (once again).

The characters continue to develop, especially Claire and Liam, as the stakes are raised with a violent and ignorant group hell bent on destroying The Zone and New Orleans. Different characters rise to the forefront throughout the story, revealing more about their own pasts but also the pasts of humans and Paranormals. The world continues to get bigger and more complicated and mysteries are solved only to reveal more questions. Readers are given hints to Claire's parentage and her own abilities, as well as the pasts and potential of her friends and cohorts. The book is incredibly well paced, full of action, humor, and a hint of romance. The action scenes really left an impression for me as being exciting, well written, and still contributing to the overall story and character development. As more and more information about Paranormals and the world they left behind is revealed, tensions rise in New Orleans and Claire seems to be at the center of it, willing or not. I can't wait until the next installment.

** I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Find out more about Chloe Neill and her books here: http://www.chloeneill.com

Chloe Neill is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Devil’s Isle, Chicagoland Vampires, and Dark Elite series. She was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest. When not writing, she bakes, knits, Pins, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys–her favorite landscape photographer/husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout. (Both she and the photographer understand the dogs are in charge.)

Chloe is represented by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency. Chloe is a member of the Romance Writers of America.

Happy Reading! 

Jasmine

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The Sight by Chloe Neill - Review