Alli is our orphan, fae heroine set in a new world. After eight years of training with her fellow untried fae, they must swear fealty to a fae power source known as Underhill. Underhill shatters and Alli is forced to run from her home after it becomes clear she knows who destroyed it. I loved this urban fantasy world and the elaborate magical systems that were in play. The relationship between Alli and her orphan best friend, Hyacinth, made me laugh. They also gave each other what each of them needed, even if it wasn’t always what they wanted. Alli is hunt down by none other than her childhood crush turned malicious acquaintance, Faolan. Faolan’s constant meanness had me cheering that she would end up on team Drake. The political plot and pacing remained rapid throughout the book. I’ve struggled with Mayer’s books, when it’s her own series, but when she’s paired with another author, I like the stories better. I know I’m in the minority there, but her Forty Proof series ruined her as an ‘auto buy’ author. Moving forward to book 2. (4/5 rating)
Tag: fairy
Book Review – The Dead Ringer by Michaela Haze
This story centers around a nightmare demon forced to survive working for a fae after her unit in Hell was killed. I was excited for the premise of this book and the chance to try something from this author for the first time. I’m sad this is standalone since I loved this world and its characters. Haze developed better characters in this standalone than others I have seen in multiple book series. I loved everything about this, and this quickly became a favorite book. I’m anxious to read all the books that Michaela Haze has published, since they will likely become favorites too.
The writing style and plot pulled me into this standalone book. Haze kept the tone suspenseful but funny as Mara’s nature kept me laughing and rooting for her to succeed. I think it’s safe to say that Mara has become one of my favorite demon stories so far. I loved learning about her nightmare nature. Her commanding officer, Warren, was her polar opposite with his commanding and serious demeanor. Her colleagues of Team P, Remi, Jae, Hart, and Hugo don’t initially know that Mara is undercover and hiding in the body their colleague, Frankie. Warren enlists Mara’s help from her boss after Frankie’s unit is killed suspiciously. With the possibility of a betrayer in their midst, Warren brings the vision of Frankie back to their compound to flush out the killer. (5/5 rating)
Book Review – Academy of Assassins (Academy of Assassins 1) by Stacey Brutger
Checked out with kindle unlimited, March 2023. I was eager for this novel by Stacey Brutger as it was recommended to me as a story with a powerful heroine. Morgan is an orphan with no memories who is taken in by a legendary assassin. Training her to protect herself from an early age, she is eventually invited to join the Academy of Assassins – a rare honor given her female status. Her mentor sends her to learn her craft but also to find and stop a murderer targeting the Academy’s students.
I loved Morgan and her story. I found the plot aspect of the narrative, the part that had me reading until midnight to finish this. Even though the romance aspect felt slow at times. I could relate to Morgan’s desire to maintain her independence after a lifetime of choosing her own path and not the one society chose for her fellow hunters. This did not end on a cliffhanger, for which I was appreciative. I was immersed in the writing style and dangerous atmosphere. Brutger’s characters were multi-dimensional. I’m not sure what my ultimate opinion is of Kincade since he had several unlikable moments with Morgan. I liked Ryder, Draven, and Ascher. Atlas was the one character I felt we didn’t understand much of until the epilogue. Ready for book two. (4/5 rating)
Book Review – The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air 1) by Holly Black
This book centers around twin human sisters (Jude and Taryn) and one Fae sister (Vivienne), growing up alongside Fae children after their mother is killed. The only way for Jude to find a future among them will force her to compete at a famous yearly fighting competition. If she does well enough, she would be granted knight status. But one bloody night will change life as they know it and throw the realm into chaos. I feel like I read this at a bad time, or maybe my expectations were way too high, but I struggle to connect with some aspects of the story. I liked Jude and her desire to find her place. I liked this world and the political plot points that set up the ending. Given the circumstances that bring the sisters into Fae, I struggle with Madoc’s behavior. I feel like I would have enjoyed this more from the viewpoint of Vivienne. (3/5 rating)
Book Review – The Dark King (Deviant Kings 1) by Gina L. Maxwell
This was my first by Gina L. Maxwell. Even though this was published this year, this book was on my TBR list for a while before that. Bryn Meara stumbles into Vegas after she loses her job as a PR specialist. Caiden Verran is a billionaire who happens to own the hotel they’re in, as well as half of Vegas. They spend the night together celebrating her unemployment, only to wake up married the next morning – with no memory of how they got there. To top it all off, Bryn discovers Caiden is actually a Dark Fae king and she’s stuck in his world until they can reverse their vows. I really loved the premise of this one and might have held on to high expectations for it. Maxwell created a beautifully dark world underneath that typical Vegas vibe. I enjoyed watching Bryn put Caiden in his place whenever he tried to walk all over her. Their transition from enemies to lovers made me laugh at times and want to cry at others. It was great to learn about the cast of Fae royalty and the circumstances of their people’s banishment. I’m excited for book 2, which centers around one of Caiden’s brothers and continue some plot points from book 1. (4/5 rating)
Book Review – Kingdom of Villains by Ella Fields
This was my first book by Ella Fields, and I’m thrilled that I finally got one of her books off my TBR list. After freeing an Unseelie Prince from her uncle’s dungeon, Fia discovers he is a bloodthirsty beast who has butchered their kind. After her king discovers her actions, Fia will take the prince’s place on the chopping block. Hours before her scheduled death, the Unseelie Prince proposes a marriage contract that will allow both kingdoms to be at peace and Fia to marry her enemy. I have always loved stories centered around the Fae, and this was no exception. I loved this enemy to lover’s plot and the world building. I think I liked the ending the best, where it’s her turn to save him. I enjoyed Fia and her love for animals and independence. If you’re thinking about giving this a try, I recommend it. (4/5 rating)
Book Review – Darkfever (Fever 1) by Karen Marie Moning
As my first by Moning, I was excited for this series, since I’ve heard so many good things about the Fever series for years. I struggled to rate this book since I hated both main characters. I felt like the plot was slow and the chapter endings made me want to rip some parts out. I eloped in Scotland and spent two weeks crisscrossing the country. After that, I feel like her world building was the strongest part of the story. The Fae magic system was also well constructed. If I didn’t already have more of this series purchased, it’s possible I would have DNF’d this. I am also wondering if this should have come with a young adult tag. (2/5 rating)
Book Review – Don’t Rush Me (Nora Jacobs 1) by Jackie May
Checked out with my KU first to try Jackie May as an author. This urban fantasy romance is set in Detroit. Nora is an orphan who has survived this violent city, though not without her vivid scars. Nora is a special human with abilities of the psychic sense. After Underworlders start to go missing, she’s embroiled within a dangerous magical world as the only one who can bring the missing home. I loved this story and Nora as the female main character. She was strong after overcoming some truly despicable actions of others. I know other people were upset with how slow burn the romance angle was, but after getting to understand Nora as a person I think it’s the only scenario that really made sense. This broke my latest reading slump and gave me a new series to obsess over. I just recommend an open mind if you give this a try. (5/5 rating)
Book Review – Savage Lands (Savage Lands 1) by Stacey Marie Brown
My first by Stacey Marie Brown is a tale of war between Earth and the Fae of the Otherworld. The female MC Brexley is raised within the confines of privilege with humans on their side of Budapest. After one fateful night, Brexley is captured put on the Fae side and forced into Halalhaz, the House of Death. Within Halalhaz, she must kill or be killed to survive. I know I’m not the only one who found the heroine to be frustrating and a bit annoying. Warwick was a nice point of mystery. The political intrigue and dystopian angle of this novel was interesting but not enough to carry me to book 2. (3/5 rating)
Book Review – A Deal with the Elf King (Married to Magic 1) by Elise Kova
This was my first novel by Elise Kova. Each novel is a standalone book within the series, so they can be read in any order. This story is set between the Elven world, the Kingdom of Midscape, and the human world, particularly the town of Capton. The female MC, a human named Luella, discovers she has Elven magic and must leave with the Elven King, Eldas to save both worlds. I loved the magic system and watching Luella grow into herself. Midscape is bold and vivid, set with political intrigue, and Kova creates a deeply addicting world. I fell into the pages and into and her writing style so it’s only fair that I continue with this series. I also have her “Air Awakens’ series on my TBR. I recommend this to anyone looking for a great retelling of The Beauty and the Beast. (3/5 rating)
