magic – Page 2 – Author Gail Marie

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 – A Ruin of Roses (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #1) By K.F. Breene

This is the first in Breene’s latest book series. I wanted to wait until the entire series had been released until I dug back into this one. I was excited for this since it is a retelling of The Beauty and The Beast storyline. I loved every word and detail of this world and its characters. Breene, as usual, set the first book up to be a series of epic proportioned. I loved our strong heroine, Finley, and the fact that she refuses to back down from Nyfain, especially in the face of his obvious physical strength over her. Hadriel became a favorite side character since he made me laugh a lot. He was a perfect dose of hilarity amongst the heavier tones within this. The pace remained quick while the world building was off the charts. This is exactly why I horde my other Breene books, like a dragon myself. No one does it the way she does. This is not a typical fairy tale, but it is Breene’s fresh take on it, that makes it something else entirely. (5/5 rating)

Book Review – Queen Takes Triune (Their Vampire Queen 6) by Joely Sue Burkhart

In this installment of Shara Isador’s life, we finally get to see her up against the Triune after she is called to her rightful seat on the courts. This world and cast of characters, quickly became one of my favorites. Burkhart created a perfect balance between the plot and romance aspects of this series. I was impressed with how deep into the details we were among court politics, the goddess/god aspects, or even how vampires are changed after they feed from their Queens. I’m glad this book won’t be the last in this world. Since Shara still needs to fill her court, that series will introduce us to her partners. I’m excited to see where this is headed. (4/5 rating)

Book Review – Untamed (House of Berserkers 1) by Lacey Carter Andersen

Checked out with Kindle unlimited in January 2023. My first novel by Lacey Carter Andersen is centered around the House of Berserkers within the Wicked Reform School. Kiera is a female berserker sentenced to the school after berserking to avenge a fallen friend. As one of the only female berserkers that can, she finds a huge target on her back but also help in unexpected places. The world that this school is in was intriguing and I’m interested to learn about the other author series for the Houses. The plot and pacing were effective in building suspense. The cliffhanger has me ready to continue the series. Kiera was a strong female lead, and the subplots for the male leads were interesting but I struggled with how fast those relationships progressed. Even though there was discussion of the mate factor, it felt a bit rushed but that’s my issue and not the authors. Adam and his cat, Princess, were my favorites from this. (3/5 rating)

Book Review – Faded Luck (Twisted Luck 6) by Mel Todd

I’m glad I got to finish this 6th installment of the series. If you haven’t read the previous ones, don’t read this review because it will be full of spoilers. Cori becomes a surrogate for Jo and Sable’s child, since neither of them can safely carry it on their own. During the in vitro process, they discover she’s carrying twins and her magical abilities begin to run haywire. Cori must work to find a new normal amidst the chaos that is her life. It was interesting to see Cori’s magical weakness, since it left her with a new perspective of other mages in her world. I loved that this book spent more time with the denizens of Carelian’s world, since Carelian it is my favorite among the wide array of characters. It was also fun to watch the arrival of the twins bring them all closer than they were before. I know this isn’t my typical read, but I’m deeply invested in this world. If you are looking for a deeply intricate magic system with suspense at every turn, then this is for you. (4/5 rating)

Book Review – Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game 1) by Amanda Foody

Checked out with my kindle unlimited membership to try this high fantasy tale by Amanda Foody. Enne Salta is forced to follow clues of her mother to the city of New Reynes after she goes missing. Raised a lady, Enne is not prepared for the debauchery that coats her new location. Her mother’s note connects her with Levi Glaisyer as a possible ally but what she finds is the kids here surviving on the street. Together they set out to find her mother, even though Levi suspects she’s already dead. I liked this world and the plot. The pacing is swift, and her characters were well developed. Foody created good suspense between the ending of this book and the foreshadowing for the next book. This was a good book so I’m not sure why I feel like something was missing and I’m not sure I’m going to read the next one. (3/5 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 – Heart of Malice (Alice Worth 1) by Lisa Edmonds

As my first by Lisa Edmonds, this urban fantasy world was set with betrayal, murder, and exposed dark secrets. Alice fakes her own death to escape her abusive and murderous family. Under a new name and face, she works as a magical private investigator. She manages to keep a little profile until hired to retrieve a powerful magical artifact that will could bring the city to its knees. I liked what Edmonds achieves with this gritty mage society and Alice’s attempt to save her world. I liked her characters, and the werewolf gets my favorite vote. Though, I think her writing style fell a bit flat for me since I felt like something was missing. I’m torn on whether I should read book 2 and give this series another try… (3/5 rating)

Book Review – For the Hell of It (Razing Hell 1) by Cate Corvin

As my introductory book by Cate Corvin, I was excited for this fallen Angel story. Milisandre is removed from heaven for crime she didn’t commit. Betrayed, she is forced to find a new life in her new home, Hell. She is captured by a Prince of Hell and must win her fights to win her freedom. I loved Milisandre and her history. This had a good balance between the romance arc and plot aspects of the story. I didn’t want to leave the intricate world Corvin created, particularly the layout of Hell and its boundaries. Her writing style was engaging from the first chapter. It seems I have another author to add to my favorites list this year. (4/5 rating)