About the Book:
A mysterious murder. A family torn apart. A hunt for answers.
Arrested for their parents’ murder and on the verge of being found guilty, Gage and Cooper Finn, two high school basketball standouts, are aided in a jailbreak. A shadowy organization known as The Roamers recruits the boys to track and hunt down vampires under deep cover so other humans remain as much in the dark about the existence of supernatural beings. Their orders on a new case lead them to an abandoned warehouse and a clue, a young newly-formed female vampire named Jamie, who opens the door to discovering what happened to their parents. It’s a shaky lead, and they don’t know if they should trust the vampire. Things become more dangerous as Gage catches the attention of Sela Winters, the daughter of the leader of The Roamers. Sela’s connections give them access to files that threaten to divide Gage and Cooper as they split up to solve this mystery – if betrayal doesn’t sink its fangs into them first.
Will the brothers find answers before they turn on each other?
My Thoughts:
The Brothers Finn is the first book in the series that follows Gage and Cooper as they navigate being the main suspects in their parents’ murders. Though the story starts abruptly with a sudden shift in timeline after the first chapter, the rest of the story keeps pace and draws the reader right in.
There are hunters on one side, known as The Roamers, who secretly hunt down vampires, thus keeping their existence a secret from the humans. As Gage and Cooper navigate this world, they also try to find out who was responsible for the murder of their parents.
Readers are drawn into a world where the supernatural live among humans but are not known. The relationship between the brothers is strong despite their clear character differences and this makes it all the more interesting to read about their journey. Each one has their own opinion and approaches things differently. The other characters in the story only add to the main plot and thus we have a fast-paced engaging read, with the main characters being forced to re-think all they have known and perhaps even make friends with a vampire.
I really enjoyed reading this book and meeting all the characters and am definitely looking forward to more of their adventures!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
About the Book:
The fourth and final book in the bestselling Blood of a Fae series…
“I see forever with you by my side. Because long after these scars have faded away to nothing, I’ll still be standing beside you. You and I? We’re eternal.”
Beware the dread curse of Three…
In the aftermath of the war between Pendrath and its neighbors, peace has finally come to Camelot. But for Morgan Le Fay and her friends, the calm is short-lived. A storm grows on the horizon. As a terrible evil that has been waiting hundreds of years begins to sweep through the land, Morgan and Draven must race to the aid of their allies, leaving their youngest and most vulnerable new family member in the care of trusted friends.
The sword, the spear, the grail’s mystery…
As the tide of war takes them across kingdoms and into greater peril, Morgan and Draven embark on a quest to destroy the three objects of untold power–the grail, the sword, and the spear. Together, the pair will find answers to questions lost in the mists of time. Answers to questions so terrible, they never even thought to ask.
Blood calls to blood, the dark shall rise,
Forged by the gods under sacred skies.
For the love between these bonded mates is not just an everlasting one forged in blood.
You might even call it divine.
My Thoughts:
This is the final book in the series and honestly, I did not want the story to end. I couldn’t imagine a world without Morgan, Draven, the Exmoors and everyone else in their circle.
“There is darkness in all of our souls. But there is also light. Just because the darkness threatens doesn’t mean the light won’t win out in the end.”
The author makes realistic, though heart-breaking, decisions when it comes to character deaths which play important roles in the plot advancement as well as development of the central characters. Their grief, trauma, heart-break, love for one another all drive their actions as well as the need to save the people of Camelot and it’s neighboring places.
This book sets the stage for Morgan’s final quest to destroy the grail, the sword and the spear through which she discovers truths not only about herself, but her family and her origins. As she moves to confront this truth, it’s a race against time to save the people she loves. The finale though slightly predictable, is very well executed and provides the much needed closure to this beautiful series!
We all need the kind of love Morgan and Draven have. This can be felt from this one quote: “Be everything you truly are. That’s all I’ll ever ask of you, my silver one.”
With this concludes my journey through Blood of a Fae, a series that I highly recommend for fans of retellings of legends with magic, romance and adventure all wrapped up in one!
About the Book:
Divided by Oceans but Eternally Bonded
Morgan Pendragon has another name now: Morgan Le Fay. As her true heritage slowly emerges from the mists of the past, Morgan renounces one possible future as the new ruler of the fierce Siabra fae and the wife of the Prince of Claws and vanishes through a portal–returning to Camelot and the Rose Court where her friends and younger brother lie in mortal peril from Arthur’s cruel wiles.
But back in the Court of Claws, Kairos Draven won’t allow his beloved to disappear from his life so easily. His bond with Morgan goes beyond blood, love, life, and even time itself and neither one of them can relinquish its power or its pull.
Yet Morgan is no ordinary woman. Not only is she beginning to manifest remarkable abilities, but the powers of the gods themselves run through her veins, bestowing her with an unimaginable power and an unthinkable claim over all of Aercanum and beyond…
A claim which some will stop at nothing to put a halt to.
My Thoughts:
This series had me hooked, rendering me wholly unable to stop reading.
Empress of Fae is the third installment in the Blood of a Fae series and this book really kicked up several notches in the heart hammering department. We follow Morgan as she rushes to save one brother and confront the other. Faced with the decision to claim her right as the Queen of the Siabra kingdom, Morgan flees, showing her need to be there for people but not to rule them.
She leaves Draven behind as she returns to Camelot, trying to find ways to get back into Arthur’s good graces, long enough to defeat him. She finds unexpected friends and allies among the people as well as a number of foes. As Draven, determined as ever, struggles to find his way to her, with a number of his trusted people who also now believe in Morgan, the reader is in for a bumpy ride.
The author packs no punches and ensures that the reader is pulled right into the middle of the story, perhaps even imagining themselves to be one among the characters as the events unfold. This book is much more heart-breaking and fast paced, with a lot of things happening all at once, thus setting the stage for the grand finale in the next book!
Once again, I must reiterate that I loved this series and each book in the series as well as each character. They are dear to me and I cannot imagine not having met them through these books!
About the Book:
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.
Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?
My Thoughts:
I read this book as part of the April BOTM read with obssessedbuddyreads!
I absolutely loved reading this book. It was fun and just the perfect summer read! The story follows Emma and Justin as they navigate their respective love lives which exist but do not exist. Somehow, the both of them always end up with people who after breaking up with them, find their soulmate in the next person they meet or date. Determined to turn this around, Emma, with encouragement from her best friend, reaches out to Justin through his reddit threads and together they hatch a plan to defeat the curse.
I love how this story had it’s ups and downs, but the characters were deep with issues lying under the surface. The author did not just gloss over them, but actually took time out to address some of the issues. Emma has abandonment issues and a fear of never being enough thanks to her mother and Justin is dealing with the after effects of his mother’s decisions as well as taking care of three younger siblings.
Of course the story is cliched and predictable in some ways, but this is sometimes just what is needed. A book mixed with both seriousness and fun and an all’s well that ends well vibe until the very end. I quite enjoyed this book and am glad to have read it along with some wonderful people in the community.
About the Book:
The second most important rule of leaving the life of crime: don’t get attached.
Eliot Reed has one plan: he’ll go after Salvatore Bosco, the crime lord who tried to kill him in Monaco. Then he’ll ditch his current identity and disappear. His bags are already packed, and Macao sounds like a good destination. But when he learns that Ada has gone missing, he doesn’t hesitate to change his plans. He needs to find her first.
Ada Reed knows exactly where she is: held captive by her so called late husband she’s tried to find ever since he faked his death. Danny is blackmailing Ada into robbing a bank with him. When Eliot shows up, there’s only one choice for him: becoming a criminal again to get her out of the bad situation.
But it turns out Danny isn’t working for himself. Eliot and Ada find themselves in the middle of a deeply personal mafia feud. One of the players is Salvatore Bosco—and suddenly it’s personal for Eliot too.
From Rome to Venice and Milan, the pair tries to keep one step ahead of very dangerous players. If they want to escape with their lives, they’ll have to deliver the perfect hoax.
My Thoughts:
I read this book without having read the first one, but it was easy to understand and follow. This can be read as a standalone story as well in my opinion. The story follows Eliot and Ada, each in adventures of their own until they end up in the same place with Eliot trying to save Ada.
Each of the characters have secrets that they are hiding and soon these secrets will come out. Once again (as per the blurb and later while reading the book), the characters are forced to steal something to truly save themselves.
I liked the characters of Ada and Eliot though I am not sure that I connected very well with them. At first, the story did not resonate with me and it took me some time to really get into it. Towards the middle, everything started to make sense and it was quite fun to read this story. I like the banter and rapport that Eliot and Ada have and the plans they come up with to save themselves in the end.
This was an enjoyable, one time read and is perfect for fans of mysteries and thrillers!
About the Book:
Sometimes destiny is written. Hers was concealed.
When Cate travels from Oregon to university in England, she expects her gravest dilemma to be finding coffee instead of tea, but she’s got bigger problems—much bigger. At Staton University, nothing is quite what it seems. Even her own identity. Unbeknownst to Cate, a prophecy deems her as destined to defeat a ruthless enemy in a magical land, placing a target squarely on her back. Now, someone on campus is stalking her, and a narrow escape sends her through a mysterious portal, assisted by two irresistible boys. Yet the fantastical new world is even more treacherous with rival kingdoms and imminent war. Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan, but what’s a girl to do? A fresh start was all she wanted—a few new friends in the dorms with a trusty latte in hand—not war, an estranged biological father who is king, or a star-crossed love straight out of Romeo and Juliet (hopefully without the dying part). As the battle looms, Cate must solve the mystery of the prophecy and decide who in her circle is trustworthy before the place she now calls home is destroyed.
Don’t miss this new Young Adult Romantic Fantasy from debut author SK Horton that’s like Alice in Wonderland meets Love and Gelato. Featuring swoon-worthy romance, court intrigue, backstabbing villains and so much mor, it’s perfect for fans of Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood, Lauren Roberts’ Powerless, and lovers of all things romantasy!
My Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A huge thanks to BookSirens and the author for the advance copy!
Book Release Date: June 11, 2024
The story follows Cate as she travels to London to attend university. She hopes to settle down and make friends and have a typical university experience. Little does she know that not everything is as it seems and things are going to change for her, very quickly.
It took me some time to get into the story as it was confusing at the start. It was not very clear what the author wanted to show and how the characters fit into the story. The character development is slow and at times it felt as though they did not have any depth. However, as the story progresses, we come to know more about the characters, how they fit into the story and then it all makes sense.
AS Cate discovers her powers and tries to learn how to use them, she is also in the middle of an unexpected love triangle and hiding from her father (someone she did not know existed until then) for as long as she can manage. At times, her every thought is of her foster family and the love she has for them, which is something I really liked.
The story then progresses well and the plot, though a little predictable, is quite enjoyable to read. I enjoyed reading this book in the end and, though it is a one time read for me, I think it was worth it. I do look forward to reading more books by the author.
About the Book:
A kingdom on the brink of collapse. A dynasty under threat. A legacy in peril.
Having taken on the responsibility of governing Kosala in place of his exiled brother Rama, Bharat has had to deal with multiple setbacks – a rakshasa attack on Ayodhya, a drought, a mysterious epidemic of people vanishing, and a waning of the magic that keeps the kingdom protected.
Desperate to bring the magic back and give his people a reprieve, Bharat takes a risky decision… but the gamble puts his son Taksha’s life in danger.
Meanwhile, Kosala’s rakshasa and human enemies move relentlessly closer to destroying the kingdom. And Sudhanva’s rebellion against Bharat erupts when developments in faraway Kekeya cast a shadow of war over Kosala.
At the centre of all this is Bharat, unaware of the dangers that besiege his kingdom and threaten to cause the downfall of the Ikshvakus…
Crackling with characters overlooked and forgotten by the Ramayana, The Warlord of Ayodhya is a thrilling spinoff by bestselling fantasy author Shatrujeet Nath.
My Thoughts:
“Everyday is a battle between who you are, who you want to be, and who you can be.” This is one of my favourite quotes from the book, said by Mandavi to Bharat.
Resurrection picks up where Rebellion ended with Ayodhya thrown into chaos and Bharat stepping further into his role as King on behalf of his brother. This book slows down a little and focuses on the development of various plot lines, some that were introduced in the first book and some which take form directly in this one.
This book further explores Bharat’s resentment towards his mother, his love and respect for his brother, drawing on the information of the first book, and brings out his insecurities at being thrust into a role he was unprepared for. When compared to Rebellion, in this book, we see Bharat grow into his position as King, become more decisive and even assertive at times.
With so many people working against him either, it is not so easy to know whom to trust. What truly stood out to me was the strength, support and wisdom Mandavi provided in a quiet manner, not hesitating to call him out on his thoughts and insecurities, thus contributing to his strength in the end. There are also many subplots that come to light with some other characters central to these plots. Each of the characters introduced and each of these plots have something to contribute to the main storyline. How they all come together is what makes this book more interesting.
This book also places a strong focus on character growth, setting a strong direction and tone for the finale in the last book. The climax is perhaps the most unexpected, written in a way that demonstrates masterful storytelling by the author. The art of storytelling is in the nuances and the things unsaid, in the world building and description of the scenes, than just the dialogues. All this and more are captured in the way the author writes, not just in this book but in all his books.
This story is well thought out and in the end leaves the reader wanting more! I admit that I absolutely loved it! I leave you all with another quote (once again said by Mandavi to Bharat) from the book that I hope will resonate with everyone and perhaps encourage us all to embrace our individuality:
“You have to realize that you are different from your father and your brother, and you must let that difference define you.”
About the Book:
What would you do if things disappeared from your doorstep? Would you stand up to a King if you thought he was a crook? Have you ever wondered how your dog spent their free time? Meet Zoe the Fierce and her brand new BFFE Rita the Sane as they jump headlong into a world of mysteries. Along their adventures they add Alex the Brave to their enterprise. Little do they know though that Zoe’s dog Scruffy has a huuuuge secret! And it’s not just that his best friend is a M…! Are their cases dangerous? Do they solve them on time? What is Scruffy’s secret? And what on earth is a M…?
About the Author:
Mamathi Chari is a proactive humanist, storyteller and fact-seeker, a hugely popular and pioneering television host, actor and content producer from Tamil Nadu. She writes books for children and young adults under the name Maya Spark—the eternal child in her, living in a world of illusion.
My Thoughts:
The Making of Heroes: The Adventures of Zoe and Scruffy is truly a pleasure to read! I love reading children’s books, they’re usually fun and wonderful for light reading. This book has just the right amount of fun, adventure and small lessons weaved into the story.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mamathi Chari at the Bangalore LitFest. She is enthusiastic and full of life and this is reflected in her writing through her characters. Zoe is a delight to read about along with her friendship with Rita, her love for Scruffy and her budding investigative skills.
The story follows Zoe as she moves to a whole new country to live with her mother and focuses on how she settles down. She is observant and a huge fan of Nancy Drew which brings out her investigative skills, leading her to solve many small mysteries. The most delightful part of this story is indeed Scruffy and his secret! I cannot reveal what it is but I’m sure the little readers will be intrigued and will really enjoy this twist in the story.
Overall a truly enjoyable read, this book had me smiling throughout and I’m sure that children will enjoy it too! I am looking forward to picking up Book 2!
About the Book:
Twenty teenagers enter. Only five become guardians.
Yahshi Konya shouldn’t be one of them. With low test scores, his selection for the Empire’s boarding school raises red flags. The guardians are offering him the opportunity of a lifetime, but at what cost?
Taking a chance, he joins the aggressive military program and strikes an alliance with two trainees. Vell, the only girl, and Pinto, the overachiever. United, they tackle relentless challenges, watching their competitors dwindle.
But the Academy is not what it seems. When dangerous truths emerge, Yahshi finds himself killing his friendships—and possibly his humanity.
A gripping tale of power, betrayal, and redemption, Nightshade Academy will leave you walking the tightrope between good and evil.
My Thoughts:
The Nightshade Academy follows young Yahshi as he is selected to attend said academy. His selection comes out of the blue and even a quick warning from his father not to take it up doesn’t stop him from doing so. Little does he know that there is a lot more in store for his and he has to sacrifice more than he ever dreamed of for the so called glory of becoming a Nightshade. The things they learn, the things they see and even the things they are asked to do raise a flag in his mind as he realizes that this is not who he wants to become, but he has to survive.
This is a tale of good vs evil both in the physical world as well as within the characters. They are mostly developed as morally grey but some see the world in black and white. Some of them are coping with the circumstances that landed them in the situation they are in and this is seen through Cal’s character.
The plot is good but felt hastily put together. The story dives right in and at times it was a little confusing to understand what was going on or even the purpose of the Academy. However, I enjoyed the portrayal and character development of Yahshi. He doesn’t accept the way things are blindly and asks questions to understand.
There is more to the higher plot of attending the Nightshade Academy and what really held my attention was this subplot and hints of something more. The author brings out the importance of asking questions, sticking to your morals and even dealing with broken friendships or relationships. This story is for those who enjoy dark academia, politics, secret societies, found family, training for war, moral dilemmas and so on. The climax was well handled and though this book didn’t fully work for me considering that I have read a lot of books in this genre, I am still looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
About the Book:
Cara and Millsy have broken up… sort of.
After years of being everyone’s favourite couple, always up for a party and having fun wherever they go, things have fizzled out.
But when they realise they have a whole calendar of events and celebrations with friends and family coming up, Cara and Millsy can’t face letting them down.
So they decide to make a pact: just convince everyone they’re as madly in love as ever and get through the festivities without causing suspicion, and then deal with the break up in the new year. How hard can it be…?
Swept up in the festive spirit, will Cara and Millsy fake it til they make it? Or will they realise they are meant to be after all…?
Join top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh for the ultimate fake relationship romantic comedy. If you loved The Plus One Pact, you can’t miss this!
My Thoughts:
The Faking Game is a fake dating, second chance romance that follows Cara and Millsy as they try to convince their families that they are still madly in love just until the end of the holiday season. Cara and Millsy reach a stage where the romance seems to have fizzled out and as they try to maintain the facade for their families, things seem to change slowly again.
The story is fast paced and is a wonderful holiday read! At times, I found it quite hard to relate to the main characters. There is a classic case of miscommunication between them many a time and this is something that I did not enjoy. However, as we get to know more about them, it is hard not to root for them and hope for a happy ending with a love stronger than before. Throw in Millsy’s dialogue coach into the mix and we have a potentially messy situation which the main characters just have to make the best of.
Despite some of the short comings of the story, I truly enjoyed this light-hearted read and in the end just felt good after reading it. This is definitely a must read for fans of the tropes mentioned at the start and just anyone looking for a good holiday romance!
Note: The book is out since October 2023. I read an eARC thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley and this review reflects my honest opinion.