Review: Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 3 by Dianna Love

Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 3 by Dianna Love
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This picks up where book 2 left off. Deagan and Casidhe are still looking for the grimoires while still looking for their friends. This moves pretty quickly and alot happens in this installments. The clock is ticking for those possessed by Imortiks and the Tribunal is getting less and less willing to work with the Beladors as more incidents occur. I always find it hard to review this series without spoilers. Love packs quite a bit of action into a short amount of time in these serials.

We get some movement on what is happening with Quinn and Reese, though there are still plenty of unanswered questions there. Daegan and Casidhe come to a sort of truce in an attempt to actually find the grimoire and save their friends and loved ones. The finally make some progress on their trust issues and I expect to see their relationship thaw out quite a bit more as the series continues to progress. I do love the snark though! I think the characters are all developing nicely with the pace of the plot.

This is book 3 of a 9 part series, and it ends with a cliffhanger and alot of unanswered questions. I know there is alot more to the series so that doesn't bother me as much as it normally would in a series. I know the books are coming in quick succession so I won't have to wait much longer for the next installment to find out what happens next and where the story is headed. I have some theories of my own, but we'll see how they play out. I'm really enjoying this series so far. I love that it has a mixture of the original Belador characters as well as some new ones. I'm anxious for the next book to find out what happens.

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Review: Kingdom of the Wicked

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this.  The premise of twin sisters who happen to be witches fighting off demons and the princes of hell was such a unique and creative concept.  This story takes place in the time of witch hunts in Italy, so the families with magical talents must live in hiding.  Vittoria and Emilia have hidden their magic from a young age under the tutelage of their Nonna.  Nonna always gives them information in cryptic verses about their magic and why they should stay away from "the Wicked" aka princes of hell.  When Vittoria is murdered, Emilia sets out to avenger her sister and find out what dark magic her twin had gotten herself entangled in.  In her quest to find her sister's killer, Emilia finds herself allied with none other than Wrath, one of the princes she was warned against all of her life.  Wrath has his own agenda, part of which is to uncover who the murder is as well.  Emilia quickly learns that while demons and princes of hell don't outright lie, they can deceive and omit information, so if she wants to find out what is truly going on, she can only trust herself and she must learn to trust her own power.

This left us with a ton of unanswered questions.  Not much is explained about the witches and their magic.  There are witches, devils, demons, prophecies and curses and somehow they are all intertwined.  I'm still have alot of questions as to what happened in the past before Vittoria and Emilia ever came around and how Emilia thinks she is going to gain her vengeance for her sister's death.  I'm hoping some of my questions get answered in the next book.

I feel like Emilia had a good bit of character development in this book.  She went through quite a bit and had to deal with pretty much every emotion.  She started out quiet and reserved, dealt with grief and depression, anger, and ended up on a mission for power and vengeance.  I would have liked to see her confront her Nonna about all of the cryptic messages and actually get some information about what is going on and how to stop some of the chaos, but maybe we'll see some of that in the next book.  The same goes for Wrath, I hope to see their relationship grow, as their is definitely something brewing between them.

Overall I really enjoyed this.  It was a fun read and if you liked Maniscalco's previous books I think you'll like this as well.

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Review: Igniting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

Igniting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This picks up where Courting Darkness leaves off and continues to follow Genevieve and Sybella as they navigate the politics of the French court and the dangers within.  The both have to wrestle with their duties as novitiates of the convent of Saint Mortain, their loyalty to the Duchess of Brittany soon to be Queen of France, loyalty to the crown of France, and their own personal desires and conflicts.  The girls are caught up in what can only be described as a live match of chess and the loser will pay dearly.  This is jam packed with historical references, political intrigue, deception, friendship, and a bit of romance.  There is a bit of magic and fantasy woven in, but it takes a back seat to the politics and movements of the players at court.

I really enjoyed this final installment.  We finally get to see how all of the decisions and deceptions finally play out.  Each of the daughters of Mortain has had their part to play, but Sybella and Genevieve have the biggest parts to play as everything comes to a head.  I feel like all of my questions were answered and that this came to a satisfying ending.

I did listen to the audiobook and felt the narration was very well done.  I really appreciate when there are multiple perspectives that there are multiple narrators.  This really helps distinguish the voice of the characters.  I do feel that this was a bit slow at times.  Because it leans so much on the politics and movements of those involved at the court either for or against the French crown, there are times where nothing seems to be happening as the players take time to make their moves without upsetting the balance.  I do think there was enough action sprinkled in throughout to keep the reader engaged in the story and the pace moving along.  While most of this is told from the perspectives of Sybella and Genevieve, there are some random chapters told from Maraud and Aeva's perspectives, while they are helpful and informative, I'm not a fan of a 3 and 4 perspectives in general especially when they aren't consistent voices throughout.

I would not recommend starting with this book as it heavily relies on information from the previous book.  You could potentially begin with Courting Darkness, but I feel that beginning with Grave Mercy and reading the original trilogy would give the reader a much richer reading experience.  The author does a good job filling in gaps to make the duology stand on it's own, but the reader would gain a much greater understanding of the convent, the politics, and the events of the past by reading the original trilogy.

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BLOG TOUR: Spells by Kristen Proby

 

Spells by Kristen Proby is now live!

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Proby, comes Spells, the next installment in her gripping Bayou Magic series...

As a powerful hedgewitch and psychic, there isn't much I can't work to my advantage and finesse with a spell. Love, fortune, and even the perfect cup of coffee are all possible with the snap of my fingers.

But some things are utterly beyond my control.

Like the powerful and broody warlock who's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember--and even the lifetimes I often can't. Things almost as dangerous as Lucien Bergeron's hold on me and the breathtaking smiles only I get to see.

Or the evil still stalking the streets of New Orleans that beckons to me to see. To feel. To die.

With everything riding on a razors-edge, and things that have been portended coming to fruition, threatening both me and those I love, I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to resist my fate. Or his charm.

If I work with Lucien, it could mean the end for both of us.

If I don't, those I love most will pay.

Download today on Amazon, Books & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Audible!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CFKUN5

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SpellsKP

Apple: https://apple.co/2YJJREJ

Nook: https://bit.ly/3i5Dx1X

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2VsZdLH

Goodreads: bit.ly/SpellsGR

 

Meet Kristen

Kristen Proby has published more than forty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion and Romancing Manhattan Series.

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their two cats.

Connect with Kristen

Website: https://www.kristenprobyauthor.com/

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kBRdpj

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2BD4vfq

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooksByKristenProby/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/684662744993031/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenproby/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Handbagjunkie

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristen-proby

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/handbagjunkie/

Book+Main: https://bit.ly/30ImsmP

RELEASE BLITZ: Spells by Kristen Proby

 

Spells by Kristen Proby is now live!

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Proby, comes Spells, the next installment in her gripping Bayou Magic series...

As a powerful hedgewitch and psychic, there isn't much I can't work to my advantage and finesse with a spell. Love, fortune, and even the perfect cup of coffee are all possible with the snap of my fingers.

But some things are utterly beyond my control.

Like the powerful and broody warlock who's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember--and even the lifetimes I often can't. Things almost as dangerous as Lucien Bergeron's hold on me and the breathtaking smiles only I get to see.

Or the evil still stalking the streets of New Orleans that beckons to me to see. To feel. To die.

With everything riding on a razors-edge, and things that have been portended coming to fruition, threatening both me and those I love, I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to resist my fate. Or his charm.

If I work with Lucien, it could mean the end for both of us.

If I don't, those I love most will pay.

Download today on Amazon, Books & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Audible!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CFKUN5

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SpellsKP

Apple: https://apple.co/2YJJREJ

Nook: https://bit.ly/3i5Dx1X

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2VsZdLH

Goodreads: bit.ly/SpellsGR

Meet Kristen

Kristen Proby has published more than forty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion and Romancing Manhattan Series.

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their two cats.

Connect with Kristen

Website: https://www.kristenprobyauthor.com/

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kBRdpj

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2BD4vfq

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooksByKristenProby/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/684662744993031/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenproby/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Handbagjunkie

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristen-proby

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/handbagjunkie/

Book+Main: https://bit.ly/30ImsmP

Review: Spells by Kristen Proby

Spells by Kristen Proby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this second installment to the Bayou Magic series. This one sticks to what Proby does best, romance. The romance between Lucien and Millie is front and center, and the paranormal and thriller elements move the plot along really nicely. They have such great chemistry and work really well together as a couple. This isn't quite as dark and gruesome as the first book. It still has its moments but they aren't quite as grisly. I really feel like the author has found her stride mixing romance and paranormal together and I can't wait for the third book.

This follows Millie, owner of a local coffee shop and the only practicing witch of the three sisters that star in this series. They each have unique powers, but Millie is the only one who has really embraced her power and uses it regularly. After escaping a horrific childhood, and banishing the evil spirit of their father all seems well, but when strange things start to happen again the sisters fear that their evil father has returned to haunt them. Millie has always had feelings for Lucien, so it comes as no surprise when secrets about their mystical past come to light linking them together. They must work together if they want to defeat the evil once and for all, but each of the sisters must find her partner and close the circle before the prophecy can come to fruition.

I feel like romance readers and paranormal readers alike will enjoy this. I'm very much looking forward to the final installment to see how the fabled six finally come together and defeat the lurking evil. This series is really fun despite being a bit dark. I really like the characters and the magical aspects. If you need a spooky read for Halloween or anytime of year, pick this up!

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Review: The Brightest Night by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Brightest Night by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Why does Jen do this to us?  That ending was in true Jennifer L. Armentrout fashion, angsty, dramatic, and a pretty epic cliffhanger.  I know readers are kind of upset about the ending, but kind of saw it coming.  I wasn't exactly sure how it was going to play out, but I knew something big was coming.  I'm not at all surprised by the direction she decided to take things, but as a long time reader of Jen's I trust her to give us a series ending that we will all be satisfied with.  For now we all have to sit with this angsty cliffhanger until the next book, questioning everything we know and all of our life choices up until this point.

This picks up where The Burning Shadow left off, and much like with book 2 it is hard to write a review without spoiling things.  This is another fairly long book, but so much happens at every turn, I don't want to give anything away.  Luc and Evie have relocated to Zone 3 with some old friends from the Lux series.  Throughout the book they have to face things that happened in the past as well as what they may face in the future when it comes to Daedalus.  Evie has to come to grips with what was done to her and if she will be able to control not only her new found power, but control of herself as a person.  Both she and Luc show alot of character development both as individuals and as a couple.  This book is a bit more focused on the characters and relationships, so the pace is a bit slower than some of the more action packed books we've seen from JLA in the past.  I listened to the book on audio, and wasn't bothered by the pace or length of the book at all.  Jen knows how to keep the reader interested and turning those pages or in this case keep those headphones in.

Because this book is so character driven we do learn alot in this book about what is happening to Evie, Luc, and with Daedalus we are left with so many unanswered questions.  I expect after all of the reveals in this book, the next book will be action heavy and you won't be able to put it down.  This isn't uncommon for Jen's books and if it is anything like what we've seen from her before, she has many more surprises and heart stopping moments left for us before it is all over.

If you are a fan of Jen's books, her previous series, or YA paranormal romance give this series a read.  I'd recommend atleast starting with book 1 in the series as this is not a standalone.  If you haven't read Lux yet, I'd recommend checking that out first as it will give you some insight into what is happening, but it isn't entirely necessary.  

Thank you to Macmillan audio and Tor Teen for providing me a copy of the audiobook for review via Netgalley.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!  The audiobook does include the most adorable bonus scene with Daemon and baby Adam at the end.  The narration is well done,  and the narrator does a good job conveying emotion as well as distinguishing the various characters.

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