historical – Author Gail Marie

Book Review – The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves 1) by Roshani Chokshi

I feel like this was another instance of walking into reading a book based on high expectations. This book won an award and I had this recommended to me by many other readers. At least for me, I was disappointed with most of this book. I didn’t love her characters and their dialogue had me questioning where the historical aspects were meant to be since they didn’t seem to match. Her writing style didn’t draw me in or build any suspense throughout the plot. The pace was awkward since it didn’t seem to always line up with the plot. This was an all-right road but I’m glad I checked this out with kindle unlimited before purchasing it. (2/5 rating)
Checked out with kindle unlimited, August 2023.

Book Review – The Color Purple (The Color Purple Collection 1) by Alice Walkerfic

Books that hit us over the proverbial head will always be hard to put into words. Alice Walker’s tale of much more than just racism, certainly did that to me. The way she handled the format had me immersed immediately into this time of struggle, devastation, and perseverance. This was not an easy read, but the end was worth it. Celie saves her sister from marriage to a much older man by marrying him herself. Thankfully, her sister, Nettie, escapes their father and becomes a missionary to Africa. Celie’s home life is bleak and full of horrors until Shug Avery, a famous singer, stays at their house to recover from an illness. I was grateful Shug taught Celie how to stand up for herself, especially to her own husband. This novel earned its Pulitzer Prize status to me. If you haven’t read it, I recommend adding it to your TBR. (5/5 rating)

Book Review – What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

What Moves the Dead is Kingfisher’s retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic “The Fall of the House of Usher.” I’m continually amazed at how much Kingfisher can pack into her smaller word count stories. The last horror I read from her left me more unnerved than scared but this one hit the mark with utmost precision. I relished everything about this book. The sticky atmosphere and cloying Usher House left me with goose bumps at several points. I loved the narrator, Alex Easton, and retired soldier. It was interesting to watch his no-nonsense demeanor be completely rewritten between these pages as he encounters various aspects up the unknown. I feel like this was a great tribute to Poe without trying to become him. Since trying House of Hunger last year, I have discovered I enjoy gothic storylines and added many to my TBR last year. I recommend this to anyone on the fence about giving it a try. (4/5 rating)

Book Review – House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

After a childhood of growing up in the slums, Marion Shaw is drawn to an advertisement in the paper for a blood maiden position. Within the confines of her southern city Prane, all she knows is blood maidens work in the north and make elite levels of money after their bleeding tenure. Days after her blood is tested, she finds herself in service to the infamous Countess Lisavet who rules the House of Hunger. This was my first by Alexis Henderson. This was the epitome of a gothic tale set with a dark foreboding atmosphere, lies, betrayal, and murder. I loved Marion in her quest for truth that forces her to become Lisavet’s direct target. The ending was a twisted mess. It would appear I need to give Henderson’s, Year of the Witching a try sometime soon. (3/5 rating)

Book Review – The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

This was a retelling inspired by folklore that caught Rossner’s eye. I’m not gonna lie, I chose this one by the cover alone. This was my first written by this author. I enjoyed the magical atmosphere Rossner created. I liked the Jewish portion of the story as well as the shifter aspect. I’ve decided I want to be a swan shifter when I grew up. I struggled to rate this book since it felt a bit too YA for me but that is just my standard for reading nowadays. I also felt like the pace was slow for me and I struggled with aspects of the sister’s relationship. (3/5 rating)

Book Review – The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

This was my first book by VE Schwab. It has been on my TBR for few years, and I am grateful I finally got to read this. Addie is our female main character and I fell in love with her story. We watch her grow into a young woman in rural France in the 1700s. She is born with an innate stubbornness and a dreaming quality of what could be beyond their front door. She is too wild to be tamed and manages to escape her small town after making a deal with the Gods that answer in the night. Though she is granted freedom, she is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. This review is hard to write without giving away any spoilers! I fell in love with Schwab’s writing style and the way she told Addie’s story with the history woven into each arc. This will make my favorites shelf though with the ending, it may be some time before I feel like rereading it again. (4/5 rating)