Review: Transmentation / Transgression: Or, a Spark on the Eve of the Five Hundred Year Burn: The Formation Saga, Book 2 by Darkly Lem

Transmentation / Transgression: Or, a Spark on the Eve of the Five Hundred Year Burn: The Formation Saga, Book 2 by Darkly Lem
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows a large cast of characters across the multiverse, which at times makes this hard to understand.  Some of the characters hop bodies from their original body in their home word to other bodies across time and space to accomplish their job or a mission.  It gets confusing at times as there are so many characters and plotlines to follow, but the book is very interesting and well written.

You cannot read this as a standalone, you need to read the 1st book as it sets up quite a bit of ground work for this book.  This picks up where the 1st book leaves off with the understanding that you already know what is going on and who everyone is.  I wish I had reread the 1st book prior to reading this to get reacquainted with the concepts and characters as it had been quite a while and I think it would have been beneficial to my understanding of the happenings in this book.  I have a pretty good memory, but the concepts are very complex when it comes to the politics and multiverse, and a refresher would have made things a bit easier for me I think.  

This is not an easy book to read, however I do this this book and the series as a whole is totally worth it if you like science fiction, fantasy, and multiverse type stories.  This has political intrigue, interesting characters, and the various worlds are well crafted.  I'm not sure if this is the end of the series or if there are more books, but I'm here for whatever the team of Darkly Lem comes out with next!

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Review: The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea: A Novel

The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea: A Novel by C.L. Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however as this has been out for a while, I opted to listen to the audiobook in an attempt to get my review posted in a timely manner. 

I am really enjoying this series.  Freya and her zany Aunt Carole are off to another adventure, this time on a cruise around the Red Sea ending in Jordan.  Once again Arthur has left clues for the pair to uncover and thwart "The Collector" once and for all.  With help from some familiar faces Freya is able to use her antique's knowledge and her ability to solve puzzles to put together the clues to figure out who is behind the trafficking of the artifacts.

This was another fun, cozy mystery as Freya tries to establish herself as an expert in antiques recovery.  Carole is up to her antics again trying to matchmake Freya and the FBI agent as well as make friends everywhere she goes.  This had a fun cast of characters that keeps you on your toes wondering who the shady Collector is.  Arthur's clues weren't as present as they were in the first installment, but they were there and as always his orchestration is key to the plot.  This is a fun read and I am looking forward to getting to the third installment and seeing what Freya and Carole get up to next and who returns to aid them and who is still getting in the way.

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Review: The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder: A Novel by C.L. Miller

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder: A Novel by C.L. Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however as this has been out a few years, I opted to listen to the audiobook in an attempt to get my review posted in a timely manner.  The third book in the series has recently come out and I have all three books for review and I wanted to start at the beginning of the series.

This is marketed as a thriller/mystery but it definitely leans more on the cozy side!  Freya Lockwood loves hunting for antiques and her passion is making sure they return to their rightful owners, but long ago her mentor betrayed her and her passion was taken from her.  This really impacted Freya's identity, and she has spent the last 20 years in an unhappy marriage and in a job she doesn't really love.  Her Aunt Carole, who is eccentric and wonderful, has called to let her know that her mentor Arthur has died suddenly.  While Freya has no love for Arthur any longer, she loves her Aunt like a mother and is quickly thrust back into the world of antique hunting and mysteries that she swore off when Arthur betrayed her.  With Carole and Freya on the case they are sure to find out if there was foul play involved and what Arthur was really up to all those years ago.

I really enjoyed getting to know Freya and Carole as they navigate the eccentric cast of characters and the darker side of the antique trade.  The writing is a bit repetitive at times, but overall I enjoyed Freya's character development and her search for the truth.  This was a nice mix of humor, history, and cozy mystery.  I look forward to going on more adventures with Freya and Carole in the future.

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Review: The Girls From Alcyone by Cary Caffrey

The Girls From Alcyone by Cary Caffrey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was gifted an audible code from the author, all opinions are my own.  

It has been over 10 years since I originally read this via ebook.  I own the entire series and have been meaning to get back to it.  I jumped on the chance to listen to the audiobook.  The audio narration is fantastic, Kristen James does different accents for all of the characters.  I enjoyed the book even more via audio the 2nd time.  I also love the new covers!

This follows Sigrid and Suko from a young age as they train to become bio-enhanced mercenaries in a dystopian world.  The girls start out as best friends, and eventually their relationship turns into something more.  As expected Sigrid and Suko must go on assignment as they have been training for, and Sigrid is the first to be sent away.  When that happens, Sigrid finds herself at the center of a power struggle she could never imagine and has to figure out who she can trust.  Suko on the other hand has remained at the school where she was raised and is training the next generation when they are attacked and kidnapped.  She isn't sure if she will ever see Sigrid again or escape her captors.

This is a fun, exciting scifi storyline with a sapphic romance element.  I'm looking forward to diving into the rest of the series.

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Review: End Game by Adriana Locke

End Game by Adriana Locke
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided the audiobook for free via the author, all opinions are my own.

I've had this on my TBR forever, since it was originally published as Lucky Number Eleven in 2017.  I love the rebrand and think the new cover is adorable.  That being said this is not my favorite of Adriana's books.  The audiobooks is well narrated, which is not a surprise as both narrators are very talented.  While I am a huge fan of the author, I'm not a fan of pregnancy tropes in books in general and I probably would have skipped this one had I realized.

I didn't really feel the chemistry between Layla and Branch, it was more insta-lust, also  not my favorite but it can be redeemed.  I prefer more development in the couple's relationship especially when you say they are End Game.  Their story stays more physical and in my opinion never gave me what I wanted from a romance.  If you are here for the spice this might be for you, but this one didn't work for me.  

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Review: Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley

Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  I did end up listening to the audiobook which I borrowed from my library as this has been sitting on my TBR for a while.  I'm sorry it took me so long to read this as this was really great!  This is the kind of fantasy that I love to get lost in.

I don't know why more people aren't talking about this book!  It had everything I look for in a fantasy.  There are some dark moments, trials, interesting magic, interesting fae creatures and characters, betrayal, and a bit of romance.

Kenna is not well liked in her village.  She is always collecting things from the bog to sell or trade to survive.  Her best friend is selected along with several other women to be sent to the fae in Mistei as tribute.  The people of Kenna's town believe this to be a great honor, but Kenna isn't so sure.  She offers to help her friend and the women travel the dark path on their journey only to become trapped in the fae land her self and find herself enslaved.  She is assigned to a fae who is about to undergo trials to prove her worth and grant her immortality and power.  Kenna must aid her mistress or face death.  Armed only with her wits and a strange magical dagger she found in the bog before entering Mistei, Kenna finds that the world she has entered is wrought with secrets and plots to overthrow the mad king.  She also finds herself being courted by a handsome fae prince.  

I really enjoyed this.  Kenna develops so much as she helps Lara through the trials.  She is always wandering around gathering information wherever she can to ensure that Lara will successfully pass.  Kenna is always getting herself into sticky situations, but she is clever and finds a way out of them.  I loved the addition of the dagger, which is sentient, and a character in its own right.  I expect we will see more out of the dagger in book 2 as there were some pretty big revelations at the end of this book.  I really enjoyed the characters and the world building.  I can't wait for book 2 out later this year and to find out where Kenna the now Princess of Blood ends up in this magical world.

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Review: Spied: A Romantic Comedy by J.M. Miller

Spied: A Romantic Comedy by J.M. Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an Audible code for this book via the author, all opinions are my own.  I had previously purchased a kindle version of this book, but had not read it yet.  I've been a fan of the author's contemporary and fantasy novels for quite some time and this was a great romcom to read over the snowy, freezing cold weekend we are having here this weekend.  

I thought the two narrators were excellent.  They really brought  Gia and Mark to life.  This book really lent itself well to the dual narrated format alternating between Gia and Mark.

This was a hilarious romcom following an amateur private investigator Gia, who also helps out at her family's bridal shop.  Gia was inspired to start a secret business to uncover unfaithful partners, after she herself was cheated on by someone she thought was "the one".  She is pretty jaded about love and relationships, but she loves her family and aspired to be a real PI one day.  While on a job she runs in to Mark, a maintenance man at a local resort.  She escapes unscathed, but she and Mark will meet again sooner than she expects.  Unbeknownst to her Mark's sister has ordered a custom wedding gown that her sister is making, and they keep running into each other after that.

Gia keeps showing up in unexpected places that Mark just happens to be at with convenient excuses.  Turns out she is spying on Gia's fiancé, Guy, and Mark is at all of the prewedding festivities.  As he gets pulled in deeper and deeper to Gia's antics, Gia feels worse and worse about lying to him about why she is always around.  Gia is constantly finding herself in awkward situations in order to take pictures of her target, and Mark is always interrupting aka distracting her while she is on the job.  These situations make for very comedic and sweet interactions between them as Gia tries to come up with a feasible explanation for why she is there in the first place and she tries to ignore her growing attraction to Mark.  She is terrified to be hurt in another relationship, but Mark may just be the right guy to let in.  His willingness to be patient with her and help her was endearing and their banter was excellent.  This gets pretty steamy in parts so be prepared for that.

I enjoyed the cozy mystery aspect as Gia tries to determine if there is a scandal going on with the upcoming wedding or if everything is on the up and up.  Her antics are pretty laugh out loud.

If you are looking for a cozy read this winter or a fun beach read this summer, I highly recommend picking this up in whatever format you prefer, it is available on Kindle Unlimited at the time of this post as well as paperback, audiobook, and ebook.

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Review: The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Overall I really loved this series, and this is a fitting conclusion to Winnie Wednesday's story.  This installment was my least favorite of the three in the trilogy.  I felt like the story was a bit scattered and the plot jumped around alot.  Certain lines are repeated over and over again as Winnie tries to figure out what is going on in Hemlock Falls and save her loved ones.  The pacing was inconsistent, and there were parts where I was super interested when things were action packed and fast paced and parts where my interest waned as the plot dragged.

As I listened to this on audio, I found this hard to follow at times when Winnie was reciting countdowns or timestamps different situations, that probably made more sense in print and didn't translate well to audio.  The narrator was great and did a great job otherwise.  

Again this is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy and I feel it wrapped things up nicely.  This is a great series or YA readers as things don't get to graphic or gory when it comes to the fighting or the romance.  This is a great mix of fantasy, romance, and mystery.  There are great discussions about self-discovery, vulnerability, fitting in, friendship, and family.  There is plenty of action to keep the reader interested and now that the series is finished you can read all three books with out waiting to find out what happens next.

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Review: Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really fun holiday romance.  

I was looking for something short to listen to, so I grabbed this from Kindle Unlimited.  It is part of an Amazon Original 5 novella collection called Under the Mistletoe, written by some of romance's most popular authors available in print and audio.  I'm a big fan of these collections when I need something on the shorter side to read or listen to and I can get them all with my KU subscription and there is something in every genre.  I haven't picked up the others in the collection yet, but there's plenty of time before Christmas.

This particular book was really cute and I loved the characters.  Evie is a comic book illustrator and spends long hours working on her art.  She has a crush on her upstairs neighbor, but she forgets her people skills when he is around.  Theo equally has a crush on Evie, but awkward moments and missed signals have them on the wrong track.  The apartment holiday party is the perfect place to air their romantic feelings and get things moving in the right direction.

The audiobook was about an hour and a half, but it felt like a complete story.  You knew who the characters were, what their intentions were, and how things ended.  There was a nice amount of spice, but it wasn't overly graphic. If you are looking for a fun holiday romance, this is a good option.

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Review: Once Upon a Christmas Tree by Lulu Moore

Once Upon a Christmas Tree by Lulu Moore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a really fun and spicy holiday romance. It was also a nice introduction to Moore's new series coming out in 2025.

Shane East is one of my favorite narrators and he plays Alex perfectly. CJ Bloom is a great narrator as well and has narrated several books I've loved. She plays a perfect Haven. They both capture the spirit of the holidays, or in Alex's case his dislike of the holiday season, which I very much related to. Not everyone loves Christmas, and while I love holiday baking, building gingerbread houses, and spending time with family, like Alex Christmas and the holiday season can be upsetting. Haven on the other hand was like the president of Christmas as she inherited the family Christmas tree farm and the local Christmas Shop selling all sorts of holiday gifts and decorations. She spends her time helping out at the other local businesses and spreading the holiday cheer to the tourists and locals.

This is a prequel to The Valentine Nook Chronicles and introduces us to the Burlington brothers, who are all members of the British aristocracy. This installment follows Alex as he and his brothers escape to Aspen, Colorado when the eldest of the brother's wedding is cancelled mere hours before they take their vows. Alex hates Christmas, but while in the winter wonderland the brothers take time to have fun together and he makes a connection with local Haven who's entire livelihood revolves around Christmas. Haven and Alex have instant chemistry, and they have some heated encounters during their short time together. This book gets very spicy!

This left Haven and Alex's story unfinished, however I'm hoping that they get a proper novel in the series or as the series progresses we find out where their relationship ends up. This was a great start to the series and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go. I've never read Lulu Moore before, but this has me hooked and I the little bit I've learned about Valentine Nook has me intrigued.

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Review: Golemcrafters by Emi Watanabe Cohen

Golemcrafters by Emi Watanabe Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided a audio and ebook ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a powerful look into both Jewish and Japanese heritage and the importance of connecting with ones ancestors and history.  The author uses family connection as well as adventure and a mix of  magic and fantasy to take a brother and sister on a fantastic journey onto a world they never knew existed.  With the help of their estranged grandfather and the stories of generations past they unlock their own strength and power to confront the very real issues they face in the real world today.

This is marketed as middle grade, however it has some very heavy topics and some very violent scenes.  Topics include racism, anti-Semitism, bullying, victim shaming, and it gets graphic at times.  If you have a sensitive reader, I would recommend reading this first or reading it with them or waiting until they are ready to tackle these topics and discuss in a healthy way.  I'm neither Jewish or Japanese, and I was left feeling very emotional about the brutal history captured within the pages of this book.  This isn't a very long book, but it was captivating and hard to put down.  It is certainly a worthy read and I'm so happy I picked it up!

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Review: Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand

Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This installment follows Farrin, who if you have read book 1 you will remember as the oldest of the Ashborne sisters.  The first book followed Gemma, and if the trilogy follows this trend I expect the next book to follow Mara, the third sister.  That being said I don't feel like you can really read this as a stand alone, you really need to read the first book in the series, as it sets up events in this book and introduces you to many of the characters.

This was hard for me to get through as the main character was very hard for me to connect with.  She was so angry all of the time.  The audiobook is just shy of 23 hours, so you really need someone you can root for.  I felt like she never wanted to solve the problems and only wanted to whine and wallow in her own issues and block everyone from moving forward.  She never actually had any suggestions to move the plot forward and always acted emotionally, admitting that she let her emotions get the best of her in every situation.  That being said this is very romance heavy and I found that the romance between Farrin and Ryder lacked chemistry.  She is always so mean and distrusting of him that I found it hard to believe their attraction and affection.

I liked the plot and the setting, but the length of the book and the lack of connection with the characters really had me putting this book down more often than I wanted to pick it up.  I really enjoyed the fantasy elements when we get them, the creatures and lore are really unique in this series.  Much like the first book this is more character driven and there are long periods where the characters are interacting or having inner monologues and the plot isn't advancing.  Then there are periods of fast paced action where alot happens all at once and you learn quite a bit of information.  I'm interested to see how the series concludes as I actually enjoy the plot, and if Mara is the focus I think she will make and interested main character.  

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Review: Heir by Sabaa Tahir

Heir by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the publisher and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

If you are a fan of Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes Quartet, you will love this!  This is set in the same world and follows the next generation of the beloved (and hated) characters from that series.  I would say you don't have read that series first as the author does a good job giving enough backstory for you to follow along if you haven't.  I do recommend reading that series first as it was amazing and  it will give you some insight into the empire and into some of the older characters that play supporting roles in this book as they were main characters in the previous series.  It isn't necessary though as this has a fresh new plot and new characters to keep up with.

This is told from the perspective of 3 characters with 2 brief perspectives from additional characters that I expect to play major roles in the next book.  Aiz is on a quest to save her people and seek vengeance for the wrongs done to them, Sirsha has been contracted to find a murderer, and Quil is the crown prince who wants nothing to do with the throne.  They are all connected by by magic and murder.

This was amazing!  This has everything you could want from a fantasy story.  It has action, magic, great world building, great characters, and a little bit of romance.  The pacing starts out slow as we get to know the characters and are introduced to the world, but it picks up as Sirsha and Elias get closer to finding the killer they seek.  I really enjoyed the plotline, and while some of it may have been predictable, I didn't mind.  I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.

In full transparency I also listened to the audiobook (borrowed from my library after publication) while I was reading the ARC.  It was fantastic.  It features a different narrator for each POV, which I always appreciate.  It helps me keep track of which character is telling the story.  All 5 narrators were excellent, and really brought this story to life for me.  If you enjoy a good audiobook, I highly recommend this one!

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Review: The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquart

The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquhart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This picks up after the first book ends, with Wren dealing with the traumatic events she experienced.  She is taking a break from her duties as a medical examiner, which was a huge part of the first book.  I  enjoyed the first book with the exception of the abrupt cliffhanger ending.  It was suspenseful and I was I was invested in the plot.  I often found myself feeling bored and able to predict what was going to happen.  Jeremy and Wren's stories felt disconnected in this installment whereas in the first book they were more connected.  I still don't feel like I was able to get to know any of the characters and get invested in any of them.  I was looking for more character development.

I found the ending to be lackluster, and again it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.  I was left feeling as if the solution was anti-climactic and far to easy and convenient.  The ending left me feeling as if there was another book coming with a new villain for Wren to focus on.  I'm not sure if there is another book planned, but given there were 2 years between this book and the prior book, I don't think I'll be rushing to pick it up.  I really wanted to like this series, but it just didn't work for me.

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Review: A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ebook and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

The audiobook narrator was great and really brought Xishi's story to life.  Her story is an emotional one filled with sacrifice, forbidden love, espionage, and loss.  The narrator does a wonderful job with the various characters and really brings the emotions forward when appropriate and masks them as Xishi would according to her training to carry out her mission.

I'm not familiar with the Legend of Xishi or the Four Beauties of China, but you bet I'll be looking into them after reading this.  For me a good author inspires me to look more into what inspired the writing, and this certainly did.  Our main character Xishi is very beautiful, and she has been selected to infiltrate the enemy kingdom and seduce their king and bring down the kingdom from the inside.  She enters training to be his dedicated concubine and her goal is to pass information back to her people.  She is all to happy to join the cause to avenge the brutal murder of her younger sister.  As she spends time in the enemy court she learns much, but she never expected to gain the kings true affection and get to know him as a person.

This was a beautifully told story.  It is filled with emotional moments as Xishi navigates the dangers and politics of the enemy palace and the enemy kings moods.  She must carefully craft her every movement and everything she says to ensure she is portraying the loyal, faithful concubine while maintaining her double agent role.  Everywhere she turns someone is plotting and she must be careful to not let something slip.  She suffers great losses and must never let any emotions show.  

This is my first book by Ann Liang, but it certainly won't be my last.  It was such a wonderful book an it has such a beautiful cover.  I highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction that feels a bit like a fairy tale.  

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Review: Bringer of Dust by J.M. Miro

Bringer of Dust by J.M. Miro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This picks up shortly after the events of book 1, so I don't recommend reading this as a standalone. You really need to read Ordinary Monsters first to gain a foundation on the characters and what is going on. As a forewarning, this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I am loving the series so I am anxiously looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.

This follows several different characters that we met in the first book as they recover from the destruction of Cairndale and the loss of Marlowe. We also meet some new characters that play a large role in this installment. We learn more about the origins of the Talents and the drughr and the roles each of our characters is to play in this gothic story.

As with the first book this contains a multitude of genres. It is a nice mix of of horror, fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction with wonderful world building and great characters. You won't love all of the characters but you will be invested in all of them and their storylines. The chapters focus on different characters, but at its heart Charlie and Marlowe are at the center of the story and everything that happens. This book is on the long side and there are quite a few characters to keep track of, but the author does a good job managing the pace and the storyline so that you don't forget what is happening and who everyone is. There is plenty of action throughout to keep you on your toes and plenty of expansion of the world and characters to keep you invested. The author describes the setting and the fantastical and horror elements with the perfect amount of detail so you aren't overwhelmed but you can visualize what is going on in your head. This book is dark and has some violent scenes, that was also true with the first book. It leans a little more into the horror aspects than the first book but I would let my 14 or my 16 year old read the series if they wanted. I think it would appeal to readers of any age.

The narrator is wonderful. Ben Onwukwe does different voices for the different characters, and is just a pleasure to listen to. This book clocks in at just under 25 hours, so you are going to spend alot of time with him, so having a good narrator is key. He narrated the first book as well, and I was really happy to see him return for book two, and I expect he will be back for book three.

I love this series and I can't wait for the final installment. If you enjoy epic fantasy novels that marry historical fiction and horror give this a try.

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Review: Medusa by Nataly Gruender

Medusa by Nataly Gruender
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided and Audio ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

The narrator did a great job keeping the pace of the book moving as sometimes Greek retellings can get a little slow at times.  I thought she did a wonderful job with Medusa's story.

Medusa's story is one that I've heard several times before, but it usually is told from Perseus' point of view.  The tales almost always include some sort of punishment for Medusa's transgression with Poseidon or her having always been a monster.  Check out trigger warnings if you aren't aware of the full extent of why Athena cursed Medusa.  This takes us back to before the snake headed gorgon we all know as Medusa, when she was human and takes us through her lifetime when she meets her end at the hands of Perseus.  I enjoyed getting to know her as a human and as a "monster" and on the many places she visits and those she interacts with.

This was a wonderful version of Medusa's story.  I've read several different versions, but as I mentioned they are typically told from Perseus' point of view with Medusa always being the villain.  There is so much more to her story than turning people to stone.  This is a much more intimate look into Medusa's life and those who had influence in her life both before and after her curse.   We get to see her humanity and emotions as she struggles with trauma, grief, betrayal, rage, and many other emotions.   Medusa was doomed from the start, but in this version we learn that she was so much more than the myth and the monster everyone thought she was.  I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it if you have enjoyed the other feminist retellings that are out there.

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Review: Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas

Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

André Santana narrates the audiobook and he is a wonderful narrator. He narrates the duology and does such a wonderful job with the books! He brings the characters to life with different voices and accents where appropriate and makes this already great series even better!

This picks up right where The Sunbearer Trials leaves off, so it doesn't read as a standalone. It has been about 2 years since I read The Sunbearer Trials, but I was quickly able to reengage in the storyline and remember what was going on after the Trials ended in such unexpected chaos. This follows our Sunbearer Teo as he sets out to bring back the sun and set the world back to rights in the aftermath of the trials. He isn't alone as Niya and Aurelio are with him bestowed with gifts from the gods/goddesses to help them on their quest to rescue the other semideoses and defeat the evil that was unleased. We also get chapters from Xio's perspective as he (later in the book Xio transitions to they pronouns) spends time with the Obsidians and learns about his/their heritage and powers. Xio has to face the decision they made in book 1 and decide which side they want to take and what kind of person they really want to be and who their friends and family really are.

As with the first book this was action packed, has some good humor, has great world building, and deals with social issues under the guise of myth and fantasy. I loved the mythology and lore elements of the series. This book doesn't have as much character as the first book did, as the development is mainly focused on Xio's character in this installment. Xio deals with alot of feelings in this book, and we get to see them go through quite the journey. Teo, Niya, and Aurelio have more of a physical journey, but theirs is not with out emotion either. I don't want to spoil anything but this was wonderful.

I loved this series so much! It deals with so many great topics while being entertaining with such a rich and vivid setting. Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners for allowing me to take part in this wonderful journey with these amazing characters!

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Review: Hera by Jennifer Saint

Hera by Jennifer Saint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an Audio ARC of this book via Netgally, all opinions are my own.

The narrator was wonderful in this portrayal of Hera as told by Jennifer Saint.  

I've really grown to love Saint's Greek mythology retellings from the female perspective.  When I was growing up, all of the Greek mythology featured the male heroes and gods.  I don't think I realized how terrible the gods and heroes were, or maybe I was reading more sanitized versions of the myths.  Hera was always portrayed as bit of a villain especially when it came to Zeus and Heracles.  She was one of my least favorite goddesses of the pantheon.  Saint's version paints Hera in a different light and explains the motivation for many of her actions.

This tale begins with Hera, Zeus and the others overthrowing the Titans and takes us through her reign as queen of Olympus.  She has always been painted as cruel and vengeful, however we learn that her rage and cruelty was not without purpose and motivation.  Hera never wanted to be Zeus' wife or the goddess of marriage.  We come to find out how that came to pass, and that she wasn't just a petty and jealous wife, she was always plotting against Zeus for making her less powerful instead of his equal.  Her schemes to overthrow him and hurt the things he loves always seem to fail, yet it doesn't stop her from trying.

I really enjoyed this.  It takes us through many of the well known myths and features all of the well known gods and goddesses from Greek mythology as well as some lesser known stories and characters.  I really appreciated Saint's comprehensive look at the creation of the Olympus and the Olympians through to it's downfall.  We walk with Hera through her traumas, her joyful moments, her anger, her frustration, and many other emotional moments on her journey to find a purpose and heal from the hurt Zeus has caused her.

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Review: This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings

This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided both a print and an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows Elise, musical prodigy and eldest living child of the Saint vampire aka reaper hunting empire. She returns home from studying piano in France to visit her family to find Harlem more dangerous than when she left. Her father has named her younger sister heir to the empire, but Elise wants nothing more than to protect her sister, so she makes him a bargain he can't resist. This puts her in harms way and back in touch with her former best friend Layla who was turned several years ago. Layla has a vendetta against the reapers, but when she is framed for a crime she didn't commit she must work with Elise to uncover what is going on in reaper territory and causing chaos on her turf. The former friends uncover more than they bargained for as they learn about what happens behind closed doors between the reapers, the Saints, and those with deep pockets to keep the city running.

I found this to be a bit too long, and while I can appreciate a longer book with a slow burn plot this didn't keep my interest. There wasn't enough action, character development, or paranormal elements to keep me invested in listening to the book. This had all of the elements of a novel I would normally be very interested in vampires, a mystery element, morally grey characters, a romance; however the execution didn't work for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between Layla and Elise, I would have preferred the repair their friendship before delving into a romance.

Overall, I think this has all of the elements to be a great book and series, however it missed the mark for me. I think younger readers will really enjoy this. I think the slower pace paired with the author trying to tackle alot of topics in one book made it hard for me to focus on what was going on. The author does tackle some heavy and important topics, but I lose track if there are too many at once. This book reminded me quite a bit of These Violent Delights as it has some similar elements and is about the same length. I really enjoyed These Violent Delights, and while there are some major differences between the two tales if you liked one of these you may enjoy the other.

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