Rating: 4 Stars Genre: Paranormal M/M Comedy Romance Series/Standalone: Medium Trouble #1 How I got this book: Bought via Audible Hiro Though I was born with the ability to see the dead, I struggled with it until my brother was killed and his ghost was left behind. Now, I’m determined to figure out who is responsible for his death… the problem is that Detective Maddox Booker, the one working the case, is a grumpy and stubborn man who wants nothing to do with me and definitely doesn’t believe in ghosts. It doesn’t help that I keep finding myself looking ridiculous in front of the detective, thanks to interfering ghosts who enjoy laughing at my expense. Still, the more I’m around Maddox, the more I realize that beneath that surly exterior is a kind and caring man who will do anything to help. Maddox When another man dies, I know we have a serial killer on our hands—the same murderer who has remained elusive for a year and a half. To add to my frustration, I keep running into Hiro at crime scenes only to hear him claim that he can talk to ghosts. The words of the dead could lead us to the serial killer and even tell us who is next, but ghosts? There’s no such thing as ghosts. Hiro is determined and charming, and no matter what I do, I can’t stop letting him get involved. He's definitely snagged my attention, but when he nearly winds up dead, I know he's getting closer to the truth—and if I don’t do something soon, he might be next. TW: Murder, attempted murder
Ever since listening to A Villain for Christmas by Alice Winters, narrated by Michael Lesley, I've been meaning to listen to more of this author's books. So, when Audible recommended Ghost of Lies, I was instantly intrigued. I seem to be on a bit of a paranormal kick just lately and a funny rom-com with a ghost-y twist sounded perfect. Ghost of Lies is narrated by Greg Boudreaux, who I don't think I've listened to before, though I can't be sure because he has an extensive catalogue, also narrating under the name Greg Tremblay. It was actually the narration that fully sold me on the book and I loved (almost) every moment of it. This book was so much fun! It starts with a really great scene where we meet both characters. Hiro is in the middle of a dangerous situation, which he seems to have a penchant for, as he tries to help a murder victim find peace. Then, in walks grumpy Maddox to "arrest" Hiro for tampering with yet another crime scene, and the fun ensues. The characters of Hiro and Maddox, and the supporting characters all have very distinct and different voices. I love how the narration really brought them all to life, and I particularly loved the sarcastic banter between all of the characters. The chemistry between the two main characters was sweet and sort of a grump meets cinnamon roll kind of trope. I liked how the relationship built in a bit of a slow burn but found the sex scenes a little more cringy than steamy. Honestly, there's only so many times I can hear the word 'cock' in the space of around 2-3 paragraphs 😅 The pacing was great and kept the story moving forward as I tried to guess who was behind the string of murders, and I enjoyed not being able to figure it out. I love it when a book surprises me...even though, in this case I felt it was a bit of an odd choice. I really enjoyed how the author blended the paranormal with reality, but overall I felt the humour was the strongest part of the story. It's a story that isn't meant to be taken seriously and is instead an over-the-top romp perfect for fans of A Villain for Christmas by Alice Winters and The Lightning Struck Heart by TJ Klune. Rating: 4 Stars Genre: Adult Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought A dark and compelling fantasy about sisterhood, impossible tasks and the price of power, from award-winning author T. Kingfisher After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra―the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter―has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself. Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince―if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning. On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra's family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last. TW: Domestic Violence, Cannibalism (mentioned), Infant Death, Murder
This book took a left-turn right from the beginning when it casually threw cannibalism into the mix - I honestly had no idea what to expect as I'd heard nothing about the book or the author other than the blurb above, and honestly, I only picked it up because of the demon-possessed chicken. I admit that at the beginning I was worried I wasn't going to enjoy the book. I'm not sure what it was, I felt a little lost in the plot early on and I didn't feel any connection or great love for Marra, our main character. She seemed a bit dull and uninteresting at first and I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy her story. But then along came Bonedog, and the dust-wife, and Agnes, and Fenris, and the hen, and Finder, and they make for such a brilliantly fun cast of characters that the pace all of a sudden picked up and I couldn't tear myself away. “How did you get a demon in your chicken?' 'The usual way. Couldn't put it in the rooster. That's how you get basilisks.” One of things I really love about this book is that Marra is 30, or in her thirties, which I found really refreshing. I read so many fantasy books where the characters are super young and sexy, and here we have an almost nun who turns to magic and necromancy to help save her family from an evil prince. Her inner monologue adds a modern, fresh take on a medieval-style fantasy, and when paired with the rest of the characters in this book she really comes to life. The dust-wife and Agnes are my two favourite characters, I'm firmly shipping them as a couple, whether it's canon or not, and I love their back and forth which really livens up the plot. The magic in Nettle and Bone is really great, and at times super creepy. The goblin market gave me such Hellboy vibes and it was so vivid, I felt like I was there. The author then throws out left turn after left turn that are both hysterically funny and intensely sinister. “Still, I have to admit I didn’t see the chicken or the puppet coming.” The whole thing is a darkly magic adventure, featuring an unlikely band of characters who only make each other better the more the story progresses. The magic is surprising and the dialogue witty with satirical fairytale undertones that make it a great choice for fans of Gallant and Six of Crows. Rating: 4.5 Stars Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source. Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways. Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from. Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him? TW: Grief, Mild Horror, Murder, Paranormal Fantasy
I didn't actually read the blurb for this book before I bought it. I read the first page, and from that moment I was hooked. "When he opens his hand, there is nothing left but a streak of ash and rot and a few white teeth, little bigger than seeds. He tips them out onto the wasted soil and wonders what will grow." Now, this could be me being an absolute wet lettuce, but I actually found this book really quite scary and creepy. I will admit that I don't read horror at all, and while I wouldn't categorise Gallant as horror per se, it did make me jump a couple of times. The tension in Gallant is palpable, so much so that I found myself holding my breath and quite literally on the edge of my certain at certain moments, and I adored the mystery and ominosity surrounding Olivia's parents, and Gallant and it's inhabitants. I found Olivia's character really compelling. She's strong-willed, independent and incredibly brave, even when she's afraid. Abandoned as an infant on the doorstep of an orphanage for girls, and without a voice, Olivia has to defend herself with her actions. She has such a loud presence and strong inner voice that I felt an instant connection with her. I don't think I've read a book containing, or at least not centring around, a non-verbal character before, and while I can't speak for how accurate the portrayal was, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Olivia and reading a story that was delivered more through visual language and imagery than through dialogue between characters. V.E. Schwab's writing pulled me into the story quickly, and I love the imagery she conjures with her words that sits so beautifully next to the illustrations by Manuel Sumberac. The book itself is incredibly visual with journal pages and ink drawings throughout, which really help bring the story to life. While dealing with bullies, in the form of other girls and the matrons, at the Merilance School for Girls, Olivia receives a letter from an unknown relative inviting her to Gallant, her home, something she's always craved but which her mother warned her to stay away from. Suddenly faced with her hostile cousin and ghouls lining the corridors, Olivia must discover whether this "home" is one worth fighting for when death comes knocking at the door. “Perhaps you are haunting me. What a comforting thought.” I think, for me, the big twist in Gallant was the ending, which I hadn't expected, even though I don't think any other ending would have worked. It's definitely a book that I adored, and V.E. Schwab is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. Rating: 4 Stars Genre: LGBTQ+ Historical Fantasy Romance Series/Standalone: The Last Binding #1 How I got this book: Bought - Illumicrate & I received an eARC copy from the publisher Robin Blyth has more than enough bother in his life. He’s struggling to be a good older brother, a responsible employer, and the harried baronet of a seat gutted by his late parents’ excesses. When an administrative mistake sees him named the civil service liaison to a hidden magical society, he discovers what’s been operating beneath the unextraordinary reality he’s always known. Now Robin must contend with the beauty and danger of magic, an excruciating deadly curse, and the alarming visions of the future that come with it—not to mention Edwin Courcey, his cold and prickly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy, who clearly wishes Robin were anyone and anywhere else. Robin’s predecessor has disappeared, and the mystery of what happened to him reveals unsettling truths about the very oldest stories they’ve been told about the land they live on and what binds it. Thrown together and facing unexpected dangers, Robin and Edwin discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles—and a secret that more than one person has already died to keep. TW: Murder, grief, bullying, torture/violence, self-harm, homophobia (minor)
I knew I was going to love this book, but it took me a while to get around to reading it, and I'm really glad I waited until my schedule was less hectic to read A Marvellous Light because it was such a comforting low-angst read that I could just lose myself in for hours. It took me quite a while to read as the pacing was quite relaxed, but there was just enough plot and tension to keep driving the story forward. Edwin and Robin, our two main characters, were definitely my favourite things about the book. While there's an instant attraction between the two, their romance definitely felt like a slow burner, with lots of will they/won't they moments as they got to know each other and their chemistry grew. Robin is a very heart-on-his-sleeve, openly friendly athletic person who's trying to overcome the financial mess left behind by his deceased parents. He's trying to be a good brother to his younger sister when he finds himself thrust into a world of magic he didn't even know existed. Now, cursed and in danger, he's dragged to the house of a magician he just met and into a world of painful curiosities while hoping that together they can remove the curse before it's too late. Edwin has a history of suffering abuse and violence, from his own family to his ex-lover, which has caused him to be cold and shut-off to most of the world. Robin is a surprise that Edwin, with his meticulous order and high walls, didn't expect, and one he struggles to hide from. Trying and failing to keep Robin both at arm's length and out of harm's way, he grapples with his lack of power in the face of saving the man whose smiles are like sunshine. “He was one barely powered magician with nothing but a tendency to let books replace people in his life.” I loved the pairing of these two "opposite" characters and the British, old-fashioned humour, which honestly led to some of the most polite sex scenes I've ever read in a romance novel. Edwin and Robin also develop really well throughout the book, both separately and together, and I loved their interactions. “I can’t believe we were almost killed by a hedge.” One of the biggest problems for me with this book was the side characters, some of whom just didn't seem really relevant and sort of seemed to be thrown into the mix without having any actual effect on the story. However, I did really love Adelaide Morrissey, who's funny, smart and incredibly badass. I really hope to see more from her as the series continues. “Because if even a single woman was involved, they wouldn't have decided that a man who'd been working there one day was a more likely source of information than a woman who'd been there for years.” I also thoroughly enjoyed the magic system that the author has created. Using cradling to create spells seemed like a unique and interesting concept, and I loved the imagery it conjured. That being said, my favourite magical aspect had to be the magical house and the maze, which was just fantastic and very fun. Overall, this was a fun historical m/m romance with just enough magical mystery thrown into the mix to keep the plot exciting and driving forward. It was a little confusing at times because of some of the side characters and aspects of the magical world, but I enjoyed escaping into this magical secret world from the past and getting to know Edwin and Robin as they grew closer together. If you enjoy historical romance and feel like a magical, gay Downton Abbey-era romp would be your perfect cup of tea, you'll love A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske. “And he paused, in the space between inhalation and exhalation, and invited the magic in.” Rating: 4 STARS Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: The Scholomance #2 How I got this book: ARC gifted by DelRey UK The dark school of magic has always done its best to devour its students, but now that El has reached her final year -- and somehow won herself a handful of allies along the way -- it's suddenly developed a very particular craving . . . For her. As the savagery of the school ramps up, El is determined that she will not give in; not to the mals, not to fate, and especially not to the Scholomance. But as the spectre of graduation looms -- the deadly final ritual that leaves few students alive -- if she and her allies are to make it out, El will need to realise that sometimes winning the game means throwing out all the rules. This was another of my most anticipated books of the year.
I absolutely loved reading A Deadly Education last year and meeting El, Orion, and the gang. I loved the action, the snark and the danger, and following the cliffhanger ending, I was really looking forward to delving back into the story and finding out what other surprises were in store. Similarly to the previous book, The Last Graduate is mostly character, instead of plot, driven. It continues in the same vein, as El and her classmates are busy studying, building alliances and generally trying to survive and work out how to make it through graduation. El is her same fabulous, sarcastic self and her relationships really flourish in this book, both with her friends and with Orion. What I love about this book is how, amidst such a crazy, fantasy, out-to-kill setting, the characters are very real and vivid, and are realistic teens. Novik also gives more diversity through secondary characters in this book, and it's surprisingly sex-positive. I spent the entire book trying to guess where the cliffhanger, and the title of the book, would come into play and was rewarded with ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER that was just pure evil, if a smidge predictable. I am a tad frustrated by the ending, but mostly because I don't want to have to wait another year to find out what happens next!! Overall, this was a solid second book in a trilogy, providing a lot of character and relationship growth, with a cliffhanger that I have everything crossed WILL deliver in book three! Rating: 4 stars! Genre: Historical/Adult Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: ARC from the publisher Welcome to the Winter Garden. Open only at 13 o'clock. You are invited to enter an unusual competition. I am looking for the most magical, spectacular, remarkable pleasure garden this world has to offer. On the night her mother dies, 8-year-old Beatrice receives an invitation to the mysterious Winter Garden. A place of wonder and magic, filled with all manner of strange and spectacular flora and fauna, the garden is her solace every night for seven days. But when the garden disappears, and no one believes her story, Beatrice is left to wonder if it were truly real. Eighteen years later, on the eve of her wedding to a man her late father approved of but she does not love, Beatrice makes the decision to throw off the expectations of Victorian English society and search for the garden. But when both she and her closest friend, Rosa, receive invitations to compete to create spectacular pleasure gardens - with the prize being one wish from the last of the Winter Garden's magic - she realises she may be closer to finding it than she ever imagined. Now all she has to do is win. TW: slavery (mentioned), mental health (depression), rape, infant abuse (violence), infant death, drug addiction
I had no idea what to expect when going into this, aside from the fact that it's published by DelRey, who have quickly become one of my favourite book publishers - their books never disappoint! The blurb gave me Tom's Midnight Garden meets The Night Circus vibes, so I was excited, but it was only when I started reading that I realised how dark and creepy this book is, which was so fantastic! It's a female-led, feminist fantasy centring around two main characters, Beatrice and Rose. Two women, two friends, whose choices lead them down very different paths revolving around the mysterious Winter Garden that came to Beatrice as a child. My favourite part of this book was the magic, which was incredible and beautifully woven into the story, from magical flowers that only open when you're grieving and clockwork creatures with souls; to a tiger made entirely of stars. The lyrical prose is beautiful, and the plot and characters carry the story well. There was never a moment where I felt bored with the story. There was always just enough mystery to keep me interested throughout. As you can see from the trigger warnings, there are some heavy themes that made it a much darker story than I'd expected. However, saying that, it was unexpectedly funny in places; through Beatrice in particular, who has a great wit. The only thing that disappointed me was the lack of diversity, but overall, I couldn't get enough of this dark and mysterious fantasy that's brimming with the most incredible magic. Highly recommended for fans of The Night Circus, Caraval and The Starless Sea. Rating: 5 STARS! Genre: LGBT/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: eARC via UKTor, BlackCrowPR and NetGalley When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead. Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop's owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over. But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo's help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life. When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days. By turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, this absorbing tale of grief and hope is told with TJ Klune's signature warmth, humor, and extraordinary empathy. TW: Death, grief, loss, murder, suicide
After reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, I had certain expectations about this book going into it, and I was mostly wrong. This book is not a sequel or a continuation of The House in the Cerulean Sea, but something entirely new and, for me at least, incredibly powerful. At the beginning of the book, we meet Wallace Price in his prime. A ruthless lawyer, in the process of firing a long-time employee in a way that shows he has no compassion or heart. TJ Klune delivers a character who should, on all accounts, be impossible to like. And yet, Wallace might just be one of the most relatable, empathetic characters I've ever read. I adore the emotional way in which TJ Klune writes, something I've enjoyed in his previous books, but never before has any book had such an emotional impact on me as Under the Whispering Door. I certainly don't remember any book where I spent at least 1/3 of it in tears. As someone who has lost loved ones, this book gives me hope for all of us, and reading it was an incredibly cathartic process. While it was emotional, the book wasn't by any means 'doom and gloom'. The characters and situations in the book had me laughing out loud and smiling at the sweetness and the possibility. The romance in this book is beautiful, with a found family at its core, and the perfect pairing between a complete cinnamon roll character and a grumpier character. "Wallace stared after him, burning like the sun." Only TJ Klune could write a book about death that’s so hauntingly and profoundly beautiful…but also makes you laugh out loud. I swear each book he writes is better than the last. "When we're lost, we need help to try and find out way again." Rating: 4.5 Stars Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer. When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals. Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom. But no one has ever survived. With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun. TW: Physical violence, murder, drug abuse/addiction, mental health/self-harming, rape/attempted rape, abandonment, death of a parent/sibling, imprisonment, slavery.
Well, that took an unexpected turn!! Before I get to my review, if you haven't seen the FairyLoot exclusive version of this book, go check out my April 'Hidden Identities' unboxing because this book is seriously one of the prettiest books I've ever seen. The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni centres around 17-year-old Kiva who lives in a prison after being captured by soldiers when she was a young child. Arrested at the time with her father, the old prison healer, Kiva has now taken his place tending to sick inmates and inducting new arrivals through a torturous ritual. Kiva is a really fantastic character. She's a great narrator, full of compassion, drive and self-preservation. She deals with a lot of pain and trauma both directly and through her patients, but she always seems to maintain hope that things will work out, despite the hardships she continuously faces. “Hope was a drug and Kiva, an addict.” The pacing of this book was really fast and fully swept me away, but the best thing about it was most definitely the plot. This was one of those books that leads you on a bit of false trail, leaving clues that have you pretty certain you've guessed the outcome and then the author drops a huge bombshell and leaves you reeling. It was very reminiscent in places to A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and some of the plot twists definitely had me thinking of books like A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik and The Folk in the Air series by Holly Black. I think this book would be a big hit with fans of any of the above books/series. The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni is full of edge-of-your seat tension, side characters that are integral to the plot, who really capture your whole heart and definitely left me wanting more. The ending is a masterpiece as the author delivers punch after punch of shocking reveals in such a thrilling and effective way that I really don't want to have to wait for the sequel. This was definitely a promising start to an exciting new fantasy series, and I look forward to seeing what Lynette Noni delivers in the next instalment. “My name is Kiva Meridan, and I claim her sentence as my own.” Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Paranormal/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Kingdom of the Wicked #1 How I got this book: Bought Two sisters. One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself… And an intoxicating romance. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe—witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin… desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden. Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked Princes of Hell that she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems… Review by Sophie.
TW: Murder, grief, self-harm (for spells), loss of a loved one, magical compulsion. “Whatever you do, you must never speak to the wicked. If you see them, hide. Once you’ve caught a demon princes’ attention, he’ll stop at nothing to claim you” I’m so glad that I finally got around to reading this beautiful book! We’re first introduced to Emilia and Vittoria – twins who are also witches, living in secret amongst humans. They’ve been told stories of The Wicked since they were young - a constant warning and reminder of the danger posed by Demons and the underworld. The girls live in Italy with their family and also work at their parent’s restaurant ‘Sea & Vine’. The food described in this book sounded delicious and literally had my mouth watering more than once! One-night, Vittoria is late for work at the restaurant, and Emilia is sadly the one who discovers her sisters mutilated body. I thought the author did an incredible job here of describing the grief of losing a loved one, and how truly consuming it is, the darkness and weight of it, especially when dealing with it alone. “Grief Carved me in half. And fury honed the pieces into a weapon”. Emilia sets out on a hate fuelled mission of revenge to find her sisters killer and deliver the justice they deserve. Unknowingly, she accidentally summons a demon prince. Wrath – the god of war himself, and together they agree to find the killer together. Now, I must say, I’ve never had whiplash from a book like I did this one. The Constant bickering and love/hate relationship going on here is unreal and truly comical in places. “I wanted to offer a twig of trust”. “You mean an olive branch”. “Same concept, Witch” Wrath was by far my favourite character, and I really wish we had even more of him the story, I found him totally compelling, wrapped in all his mystery and darkness. Emilia’s character as we progressed was kind of a downfall for me. There were times where I questioned why she did certain things, and she would lose it and completely flip out over the strangest of things, to the point where I almost found her too annoying. The plot was easily guessable – not something I’m normally good at doing, I just wish Emilia had figured it out sooner too. The ending was a completely horrifying cliffhanger, and I’m now at the point where I can’t stop thinking about it, or the need to start reading the sequel. There are a lot of unanswered questions in here which I’m hoping the second book will shed some light on, and also hoping that Emilia’s character is able to grow into the badass we all know she’s capable of being. The style of writing was easy to read and I jumped straight into the story. Most of the time I absolutely couldn’t put this book down. The mystery and suspense had me gripped from the off, and I loved the whole Demons, Witches and dark magic setting. I'll definitely be reading the sequel to find out what happens next when its released in October this year! “Magic is a living, breathing entity, it thrives on the energy you give it. Like all forces of nature, it is neither good nor bad – but it simply becomes based on the user’s intent. Feed it love and it blossoms and grows. Nourish it with hate and it will deliver hate back to you tenfold. I think this book is perfect for fans of The Underworld Saga – by Chani Lynn Feener. Rating: 4.5 STARS Genre: LGBT/Fantasy/Paranormal Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: April 2021 Illumicrate Box! A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead. In Thanopolis, those gifted with magic are assigned undead spirits to guard them—and control them. Ever since Rovan’s father died trying to keep her from this fate, she’s hidden her magic. But when she accidentally reveals her powers, she’s bound to a spirit and thrust into a world of palace intrigue and deception. Desperate to escape, Rovan finds herself falling for two people she can’t fully trust: Lydea, a beguiling, rebellious princess; and Ivrilos, the handsome spirit with the ability to control Rovan, body and soul. Together, they uncover a secret that will destroy Thanopolis. To save them all, Rovan will have to start a rebellion in both the mortal world and the underworld, and find a way to trust the princess and spirit battling for her heart—if she doesn’t betray them first. TW: Murder, death of loved ones, violence, blood, gore, body horror, alcoholism, forced marriage, threat of rape/abuse, enforced gender roles.
A note before I get started: I always try to include TW/CW for any books that I read as I know they're really crucial for a lot of people BUT I know if I'd seen the warnings above before opening this book, I might not have read it and honestly, that would have been awful since this book turned out to be fantastic. So, without trying to spoil the book, I just want to say that this book doesn't have a tragic ending and 'murder/death aside' a lot of the warnings above are quite mild and just made the story more powerful. I've also seen several people commenting on the fact that queer characters die in this book, but pretty much all the main characters are queer, and things happen in a way that I don't for a second think this is an attack on queer identity. Okay, on to the review. ------------- I LOVED THIS BOOK! At the moment, standalone books are really my thing. I'm really tired of series, especially really long series which are feeling a bit tedious right now as I'm swamped with work and don't have as much time to read as I used to. So, I love that this book is a standalone. The ending was perfect and while I'd really enjoy a novella, I think things wrapped up pretty well. In the Ravenous Dark starts with a pretty epic prologue, where we're introduced to our main character, Rovan, as a young girl, forced to hide and watch as her father is captured and killed by the blood mages who serve the king. This opening scene was truly epic, bloody and a perfect way to open this book. We then jump forward in time to see Rovan at nineteen years old, passed out from drinking too much on top of a building after fooling around with a girl from the village, when an accident leads to her magic being revealed for all to see. I think Rovan is a really fun character. She's feisty, unashamed and reckless to a fault. She adds a lot of humour and spice to the book, and she's realistic in that she's a complete mess. She's pansexual and openly queer (as are most of the main characters), which was a refreshing take, and this book has a ton of great representation incl. lesbian relationships, pansexual characters, polyamory, and non-binary characters. The pacing of the book was great, if almost a little too fast, as certain things felt a bit rushed, mainly the relationships, but I'm so glad the author didn't drag things out unnecessarily and turn it into a series. I basically couldn't put it down once I started and read it in a few sittings. When Rovan is captured and taken to the palace, we meet a variety of characters incl. the lovely and friendly Japha, the beguiling Lydea (a princess trapped in a life she doesn't want), and dangerous Ivrilos (a centuries-dead spirit bound to Rovan against her will). The palace is a dangerous place, full of dark secrets, and Rovan must work out who she can trust. Overall, this is a really dark, gripping book. I love how the author blends blood magic, ghosts, found family, and a really great and unique queer relationship to create a blood-thirsty, darkly funny and tense fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I personally feel that this book would be better suited to an older YA/adult audience. It feels like, if it were a film, it'd be rated either 15 or 18 as it does contain some gore and heavier themes, but I loved it and will definitely be on the lookout for other work by this author. |
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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