Release Blitz: Scattered Plume by J.M. Miller with Review

Title: Scattered Plume

Series: Fallen Flame #2

Author: J.M. Miller

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: September 27, 2018
Cover Photo and Design: Regina Wamba
Paperback Interior Design: Champagne Formats
Character Illustration: Gabriella Bujdoso

In the wake of death and betrayal, Vala flees the island of Garlin with Xavyn in search of the truth about her identity. 

To find the answers they seek, they must first cross The Divide—a mass of cloud and fog that has separated human lands from the rest of the world for hundreds of years. As they pass through what is meant to kill all others, a surge of magic emerges, bringing death to some and more power to others. In turn, The Divide is weakened, the fog dissolving enough to reveal what lies beyond, reigniting thoughts of war between sides.

But the imminent collapse of The Divide isn’t the only thing concerning Vala and Xavyn. They discover what Vala needs the most is also what the Islain queen had been searching for—a feather. Not only could it help prevent war, it could restore Vala’s immortality despite all she has forgotten. Though there are others also searching, waiting for magic to return, prepared to risk it all for the same immortal goal. 

I was provided an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this.  I loved the previous book Fallen Flame.  This is no different, though I could have used a reread of Fallen Flame prior to reading this.  It has been quite a while and while I remember the basics, I had forgotten a lot of the details.  I quickly caught up, and found myself back on track with Vala and Xavyn as they try to unravel the mystery that is Vala’s existence. 

I really like the mythology aspect of this story, though I would have liked to know a bit more about the magic system.  I’m hoping that as magic returns to the land we get to know more about it.  At this point the magic seems to be specific to the type of being.  There were lots of different types of characters, we have several different types of fae, mer, goddesses, humans, and I’m probably forgetting some.  I really enjoyed Miller’s creativity with the characters.  I also liked the character development we get in the book.  We meet lots of new characters in Scattered Plume, and they all have a part to play.  I adore Esenna, she is a wonderful addition to the cast and a great side character. 

The story follows Vala and Xavyn as they leave the island Vala has called home to find a lost feather.  The feather will hopefully restore Vala’s lost memories, restore magic in the lands, and prevent an impending war.  As they cross from the human lands into the land where magic once dwelled, Vala begins to remember her past and her lost feathers begins to call to her.  Vala soon learns that she lost 3 feathers and she must find all 3 to undo the things she did in her past.  On their journey they meet some new friends who help them on their way, and some who are looking to take the feather for themselves. 

The first half of the book moves at a slower pace as Vala and Xavyn try to figure out what the best plan of action is.  Vala is still fairly disoriented from what she learned at the end of the first book and from crossing the divide to the mainland.  They aren’t sure where to start looking for the feather and spend some time meeting people, figuring out their impact on the world, travelling, and working out who to trust and who not to trust.  Once they start going after the feathers things pick up and the pace picks up significantly.  There is a ton of action and some pretty awesome battle scenes.  I’m always onboard with any fight scene with a dragon.  The ending leaves you wanting more in a good and needing to know how this story ends.  If you like fantasy I recommend this series.

"This is an incredible universe that JM Miller has created - so many aspects and little details that many people wouldn't even think of. … Also, can I just say DRAGON. I'll just leave that right there, not gonna say anymore. You just need to go grab these two books and read them. RIGHT NOW. Enjoy, you won't be sorry." – A Page to Turn

"I really like that Xavyn is kinda to-die-for, while Vala is even more badass than she was - and there is one last book, I can't wait to see what else will happen!" – That Transylvanian Book Chick

"I knew after Fallen Flame, this was going to be an outstanding series, and I was definitely right about that!" – Stalking Shelves 

J.M. Miller currently consumes her coffee in Florida. When she isn't distracted by social media sites, she writes Young Adult and New Adult novels that vary in genre. 

Aside from spending time with her family, she loves to travel and will jump at the chance to go anywhere, whenever life allows.

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Review: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  This was released on September 18th, 2018.  I know my review is up a little late.  I've had this ARC for quite a while, but I'm so glad I read it.  If you like who-dun-its, or groundhog day type mysteries I highly recommend it.  It is a unique take on a mystery and I really enjoyed it.

This follows our main character Aiden over the course of 8 days as he tries to unravel a murder that hasn't happened yet. He finds himself at Blackheath, an old rundown estate, trapped in the body of someone else. He is looking for someone named Anna who he believes is dead. Aiden comes to find out that Anna is not dead, and that he is at a party, he is on a mission to solve a murder that hasn't happened yet, and his life is also in danger. He is assisted by Anna and the mysterious Plague Doctor who give him clues throughout the course of the investigation. Each day Aiden wakes up in the body of a different person who has a different perspective on the murder Evelyn Hardcastle, one of the party's hosts, if he fails to solve the murder he wakes up in the body of someone new the next. He remembers all of the knowledge he gained from his previous hosts in order to string together what he's learned by the 8th day in order to solve the unsolvable puzzle of Evelyn Hardcastle.

I really loved this. It was such a unique concept and I really enjoyed the twists and turns. Every time I thought I knew what was going on something else happened to prove my theory wrong. I loved that I didn't know "who-dun-it" the entire book.

There is a lot going on in this book, and it is fairly long. It doesn't feel like it though, the author does a great job keeping you engaged in the mystery and helping you keep all of the characters straight. It isn't fast paced, but it isn't slow either. The pacing was just right for the writing and story. I think that was quite a feat given the nature of the book. With the timeline and character switching this had the potential to be very confusing, and I always felt that I knew which character we were following and where we were in the story. Given the fact that the main character jumps characters several times and the timeline shifts several times the characters and side characters are fairly well developed for having so many. I really enjoyed this writing style and I'll be looking to read more of Turton's work in the future.


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Review: Rule by Ellen Goodlett

Rule by Ellen Goodlett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this. It follows the perspectives of 3 sisters, who find out they are the bastard daughters of the ailing king. They have each been raised in very different lifestyles and each have different experiences and opinions of the kingdom their father rules. This has been compared to Three Dark Crowns, and I can see where that comparison comes from, however the sisters eventually come together to thwart a common enemy. They are all pitted against each other, as the king must eventually choose one of them to be his heir, but as each of them is being blackmailed for some sin they've committed in their past, they must unravel the mystery of their blackmailer to figure out who is at the heart of the blackmail. This is not as dark and sinister as Three Dark Crowns, and the sisters so far are not trying to murder each other. So this is very much it's own story. I thought I had it figured out, but the twist at the end totally threw me so know I don't have a clue whodunit. The cliffhanger at the end left me wanting to know what is going to happen next and I'm very much anticipating the next book.

I liked the magic system in Rule, each person must call upon magic in their blood to perform tithes to perform different magical acts. I feel like this could have been developed a little better because it is very much a part of the story and the dark side of the magic is mentioned quite often and also a significant part of the plot. I hope to see the magic system developed more in the next book. I wanted to know so much more about it.

Each of the sisters has a romantic relationship, and each is troubled by something. I would have liked a bit more character development especially with the side characters. I think that would have helped strengthen the plot a bit and move things along. I think because we switch POV's each chapter we don't get to know any particular set of characters as much as I would have liked. We do get to know the sisters well enough, I just wanted more.

Overall, I really did enjoy this and I'm looking forward to the next book.  This was exactly what I needed to pull me out of my reading slump.

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Review: Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller

Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.

I'm struggling with how to rate this, its between and 2 and a 3. I really loved Mask of Shadows, but I was kind of underwhelmed with the conclusion. I expected alot more action, but I felt like it took too long to get to the ending. The plot too far to long to develop and the pace was just too slow for my liking.

I had a hard time keeping track of all of the characters, mainly because they all have multiple names. This took me twice as long to read because I had to go back and re-read passages multiple times so I could figure out what was going on. This made it really hard to stay invested in the story. On the plus side we get more information on the magic system that I wanted from the first book. We learn how and why magic was banished and more about how magic was used before the Queen of Igna banished magic completely.

This books picks up pretty much where book 1 leaves off with Sal now a member of The Left Hand. Sal is now Honorable Opal, and one of the assassins of the Queen of Igna. Sal is still out to avenge Nacea, her homeland that was destroyed by the shadows, and take out those who created the shadows. Sal has a hit list and she will stop at nothing until they are all dead. She is also distraught because Elise has been taken prisoner, yet we find that Elise is safe for the time being and has her own part to play. Their romance plays a significant part in the book, as does gender fluidity, and sexual orientation.

I will say one of the downfalls of this book is the constant mention of Sal's gender fluidity and Elise's sexual orientation. While I'm supportive of the diversity that this book offers and I love that we have diverse characters in the book, it didn't help to advance the plot. I felt beat over the head with it. It could have been mentioned less and we still would have had diverse characters. As I read other's reviews I see that this is a common complaint.

I did love the side characters, Maud is awesome! There are some great side characters in this series, and I'm glad we got to see some of the characters from book 1 resurface and get some more development in this second book.

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September TBR

Well the kids are back in school, and fall activities have started back up with a vengeance.  That means everyday after work I have to be somewhere and there is little time for reading after feeding the hungry hoard.  Thank goodness for audiobooks.  Between commuting and the chaos of life I would never get to read, so I listen.  Now if only I had time to post all of the reviews I meant to write.  I'm still feeling like I'm in a bit of a reading slump, I've got a ton of books I want to read but I can't stay focused.  I read for 5 minutes then I go do something else.  I'm still reading everyday so I'll break out of it eventually.  It isn't the book either they are all good so far, I think I'm getting run down by life and I took on too many ARCs in August.  Here's to September being a little better.

Books/Ebooks/ARCs

• Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller
• This is out already and I'm way overdue with my review.  I'm hoping to finish this over the holiday weekend and get my review up.  So far its action packed and picks up with Sal still wanting to exact revenge on those who wronged her and her country in the past.  
• Rule by Ellen Goodlett
• This comes out on September 11th.  This is supposed to be a Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars.  Now I know nothing about PLL but I liked Three Dark Crowns so I thought I'd give it a go.  
• Lies by TM Logan
• I already started this and its a perfect family thriller.  I haven't gotten very far but its good.  This comes out on September 11th.
• The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
• I've had this for a while now and its about time to get to it.  This comes out on September 18th.  I believe it is out in other countries though and I've seen good reviews.  It promises a murder mystery and a kind of weird groundhog day plot line.  Sounds really interesting.
• Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
• This comes out in October, and is another YA thriller/horror novel.  The plot reminded me of my beloved R.L. Stine books that I adored in elementary school.  I couldn't get enough of them.  This sounds perfect for fall.  
• Broken Things  by Lauren Oliver
• I've read a bunch of Lauren Oliver's other books and I really like her thriller/mysteries.  I'm really looking forward to getting to this especially as we get into the fall.  This come out in October as well.

Audiobooks

I've got a ton of stuff on hold at the library so I'm not even going to mention them.  I never know what's going to happen audio-wise and most of them are repeat mentions from the past.  I do have 2 currently checked out so I will mention those.  Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake comes out on the 4th, and I'm looking forward to continuing The Three Dark Crowns Series on audio.

• Strange Weather by Joe Hill
• I haven't read anything by Joe Hill.  I love Stephen King so I'm anxious to see how his son's books compare.  I'm reading this for a challenge prompt as a book I saw a stranger reading.  There is always a gentleman sitting outside of my office building reading every morning before I got into work and he was reading this one day.  I just started it and it's interesting so far.
• Before The Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray
• I'm loving The Diviners series.  I love the historical aspect of the series and the paranormal happenings.  I really love the characters and the audio books are so gripping.  I already have this checked out and as soon as I finish Strange Weather I'm starting this.

August Wrap Up

I can't believe summer is over.  This summer felt really long, but it was over way too soon.  It was a busy reading month with everything being released at the same time.  I got a bit overwhelmed and a little slumpy with my reading.  I'm a little behind with my ARCs but I'm getting there.  I think I still had a pretty good reading month.

Books/Ebooks/ARCs

• The Point by John Dixon
• Review
• This is an urban scifi fantasy.  It deals with troublemaking teens and young adults who have an aptitude for the unnatural.  Each of them has some sort of supernatural ability, but they can't stay out of trouble.  This lands them at The Point, a school within a school at West Point Army Academy.  Here they can hone their powers, while also working towards a career in the military.  It was OK.  The characters were a little too immature for my liking.  I think its a great book for young readers, I just had a hard time connecting to it.
• As Dust Dances by Samantha Young
• Review
• This is a follow on to Play On, but this standalone follows a different couple associated with the arts and music community.  This follows a broken musician and an equally broken record executive as they both try to figure out what they want out of life and how to navigate through fame and success.  If you are a fan of Sam's contemporary writing this is a must.
• The Prince by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Review
• I was surprised with an ARC of this and I loved it.  I sort of continues where the Wicked Series left off, but it isn't a continuation.  It is a companion to the series, but like the original it left me without closure.  Rumor has it there is another installment coming and I hope it gives us some answers.  Great for new fans of JLA and diehards alike.
• These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch
• Review
• This is full of political intrigue.  The magical system is based on botanical elements from the plants found on the island setting of the story.  The pirates are stream raiders who harvest and trade the plants on the iland of Grace Loray.  In some places the magic is legal in others it is forbidden.  The 3 main characters find themselves questioning everything they know about loyalty, magic, and peace in an effort to save those they love and their home.  It is fairly slow paced and more political than action packed.  
• Crew by Tijan
• Review
• I wasn't sure if I was going to get an ARC of this one, so I was pleasantly surprised when I was on the review list.  This is a new young adult contemporary series by Tijan.  It is very mature, and follows a group of kids in a crew.  They aren't a gang, but they kind of are in the way they protect each other and don't take crap from anyone.  They are dangerous and violent and it makes for a pretty unique storyline.

Audiobooks

I got through several audiobooks I've been waiting on

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• This totally lived up to all of the hype.  This isn't normally the type of book I go for, but I throughly enjoyed it.  It was a captivating memoir, or atleast it felt like you were listening to a memoir about a real woman.  It was wonderful, highly recommend.
• The Diviners and Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray
• This was another unexpected surprise.  I didn't realize this was a paranormal read.  I loved it.  I loved the historical aspect to it.  I loved The Diviners so much I quickly went on to continue the series.
• War Storm by Victoria Aveyard
• I've been waiting for this for quite a while.  It picks up shortly after King's Cage with Cal and Mare forming alliances to fight Maven.  I'm really happy that I chose to finsih off the series on audio.  This is quite long, and a bit slow paced but the audio really helped me stay engaged.  There are several persepectives that add to the flow of the story that would have taken away from my reading experience but on audio they were quite good.  It kept me engaged and I'm quite happy with how the series ended.
• The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
• I really enjoyed this.  It is full of political intrigue and has a couple of twists and turns that I didn't see coming.  It is a great follow up to The Thief and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.  
• Final Girls by Riley Sager
• I've been on a thriller kick lately and this book has gotten alot of hype lately.  I see why, it was quite good and I really enjoyed it.  It was one of those books where you weren't quite sure where it was headed until the very end and I surely didn't see the end coming.  I love that in my thrillers.