Alesandra L.

It’s alright

Revisado: 02-01-25

Abigail and Bash - Yep. I like the MCs in this one more than the first. Hands down. Bash is fairly interesting in a good way.
There’s a bite dash of mystery to this one that I enjoyed.

Low brain energy vibes kind of read.

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The “okay-ness” vibe continues.

Revisado: 02-01-25

Juniper and Boone - I liked them, maybe the most of the series so far.
Juniper’s parents are cozy and sweet.
Boone is a cinnamon roll.
Juniper makes some really questionable choices.

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Fun! Very action movie-y

Revisado: 01-15-25

I had a good time with this action packed heist. It’s essentially an action movie in book form, and I wholly appreciated the Die Hard references (my husband’s favorite Christmas movie franchise 🫠). This story follows a reformed, trained since birth criminal, with a specialty in opening the most formidable safes in the world. When he finds himself in a self made financial jam, he dips his toes back into the life he left behind. Of course it doesn’t go as planned. I liked the MC and his story. I appreciated his love for his family even when it feels misplaced to an outsider. I laughed several times and was fully invested throughout. The audiobook is partially to credit my enjoyment of this book. Miller delivers a great performance. I have zero complaints. Check this contemporary action, crime adventure out!

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Devastatingly Powerful

Revisado: 10-30-24

Blood Over Bright Haven
By M.L. Wang
Narrated by Moria Quirk
5 ⭐️

Once again, I am captivated by Wang’s writing. Even as I’ve finished, I’m still within its pages. There’s something magically powerful in the way Wang weaves their characters. There’s so much of modern humanity/society embedded in this story. It’s impossible not to reflect on how the flaws in Tiran are mirrored in the US/the patriarch/the “developed” world/and beyond. It’s impossible not think of what you would do in the many situations depicted where it’s easy and expected to continue the status quo. This is a powerful story about passion, dedication, admitting wrongs, and defying all you have ever known with everything you have.

The audiobook is masterful. I’m awed and am a serious fan of Quirk following this read. I cannot recommend this book and audiobook enough. It is a top read of 2024 for me.

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Entertaining!

Revisado: 07-02-24

Vibes:
🔹Vampires, humans, werewolves, witches, fae are all in this world - a lot of them don’t like each other
🔸Hate to lovers via a sllllow burn
🔹Feisty, likable FMC
🔸Competition (I thought The Selection or Trial of the Sun Queen more than Hunger Games)
🔹Loads of royal family drama
🔸Dual POVs/Narrators

Taken by Fate was a fun, quick, entertaining listen. As an avid fantasy reader, I appreciate the variety the genre affords me. With is story, priority is given to character information over extremely detailed world building. This is just what I need when my brain can’t handle a complex epic fantasy; it’s also great for those just getting into fantasy reading. Sienna’s story is interesting, being different enough to pique my interest. She’s feisty and flat out brave. Her dynamic with Dominic is lovely. I love a touch me and die to a I’ll die if you don’t touch me evolution – this is still ongoing by the end of this installment. It’s delicious. The narration of the audiobook was good. I thought it moved quickly and the narrators complimented the story well. I enjoyed this read and happily recommend it. Starting book 2 asap!

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I did not see that ending.

Revisado: 04-30-24

4.5 ⭐️

This book has a lot going for it. My favorite bits: the FMC, Kat, has lived some life. She’s older than we often see, and she’s curvier than many which is always a bonus to get some different shapes into the genre’s mix. The patriarchy was alive and thriving in this world. Kat got things done in clever atypical ways which left her vulnerable when she found herself being called to court. 👀 I also thought the MMC, Bastion, was refreshing. In a world made for misogyny to blossom, Bastian said effff that. As an avid reader of this genre, I feel like we get thoughtful masculine characters fairly often. Bastian takes it further and is one of the most mindful characters I’ve read recently.

5 ⭐️ for the last 5 chapters or so. 10/10. I don’t want to spoil it in any way. I love fairy lore and this ending dished out a surprise twist I adored.

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A masterpiece

Revisado: 04-25-24

4.5 ⭐️

“Love for what she had and for what was gone. Love, no matter the pain.”

This story is phenomenal. Truly. Wang’s expression of morality, human frailty and emotion is what makes this story what it is. This is an emotionally heavy book. I cried more than once. Misaki is a masterpiece. She is the outcome of when loyalty to family over clouds one’s self to the full extent. She is a walking broken heart. I loved viewing most of the story through her POV. Mamoru is why I didn’t give a full 5 stars (I round up so it’s a moot point). I wanted more from his character arc. What we got was beautiful, and I wanted him to be able to explore his discoveries further.

This is one of my absolute favorite reads this far.

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I'm Hooked

Revisado: 04-25-24

If you’re looking for your next romantasy adventure, Blood of a Fae series is a great choice! Books 1-4 are available now, and I’m making my way though all of them. A very clever reimagining of King Author/Camelot; it feels familiar and fresh at the same time. The audiobook didn’t mention trigger warnings - there are some. Be sure to check those as needed. I have some slight spoilers in this review. If you like to stay completely in the dark, know that I really liked this book and would absolutely suggest it for anyone who loves a solid slow burn romantasy adventure. Then stop reading. For everyone else, here we go.

Queen of Roses a true slow burn. I love to hate a slow burn, and I can’t get enough of it. Our FMC is taking her sweet time getting her emotions around to where we all know she’s headed. Spoiler - she doesn’t get there this book. Sllllloooooowwww burn. We don’t get POVs from the MMC this book. I think that changes eventually for book 3 (turns into a duel narration for the audiobook - Will M Watt joins Zara and to say I’m excited is an understatement). I’m so ready to see his brooding perspective. He has a way of supporting Morgan (FMC) in ways she doesn’t expect/realize until reflection later on. I know he’s thinking things. Smutty things. I do think the romance plot has been somewhat predictable BUT the details were surprising - I’m trying not to let too many spoilers drop. I also LOVE all of the fantasy creatures we’ve met so far on this journey. Battlecats, harpies, zombie kids, a mysterious water monster I assume we’ll get more of later, and the list goes on. There are diverse ideas occurring in this world, and we haven’t been introduced to so much at this point. I cannot wait to see where were we end up.

Narration of the audiobook: Zara Hampton-Brown was great. They gave a dynamic range of character voices that I found very entertaining.

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Dynamic solo narration; epically witty adventure

Revisado: 04-23-24

This book is a banter lover’s dream. Banter and crass humor has to account for at least 70% of the word count. It’s magnificent. This is told in third person with character conversations being the primary source of information to the reader. This book is clever and dynamic. Characters are witty and deceptively intelligent. The MC is blind which feels to me like a low incidence representation in fantasy - I haven’t come across it often. Rasp (human) and Faris (faun) absolutely reminds me of an adult (and maybe slightly unsavory) version of Percy and Grover (Percy Jackson).

Romance is not a focus in any way in this plot. So if that’s important to you, this is likely not a great read for you. There’s innuendos a plenty but major no tension/suspense/intrigue with a romantic focus.

I accidentally signed myself up for an eARC of this adventure thinking it was an audiobook ARC. I loved that for me. This is listed as 396 pages. Pretty sure that’s a lie. My kindle says it’s 528. This is backed up by the audiobook being close to 16 hrs. I ended up purchasing the audiobook myself.

Watt is outstanding. Their ability to alter their voice is extremely impressive. This book has a large cast. Watt made each character individually identifiable. Even still, if you don’t follow complex audio narration with ease, this book is likely best consumed with eyeball reading.

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Sassy/spunky FMC

Revisado: 03-23-24

4.5 ⭐️ - audiobook read
Narrated by: Corvin King and Soneela Nankani

Vibes: Bachelor plus MTVs The Challenge plus Fae OR The Selection plus a mashup of ACOTAR/TOG.

Tuli is quickly becoming a go-to author for me. I loved her Nightfire Quartet so far. I loved Sun Queen as well. The humor and banter draw me in and hold me there.

This book is a dual POV set up following Lor and Nadir. This book focuses mostly on Lor with Nadir chapters sprinkled in to build for when we see more of him later in the series (I assume). Lor is my kind of lady. She’s sassy, dances on the edge of stabby, extremely loyal, determined and fearless. Lor has spent most of her life excluded from society and learns of things along with the reader. Hints of her own secrets start coming to light later in the book. I’m going to keep this as spoiler free as I can; thus I don’t have much to say about Atlas at this point. Gabriel. He needs a hard punch to the nose to come to his senses. When he does, I’m excited to get more from him. I’m ready for more Nadir, and I think that’s where we’ll start with book 2.

Solid romantasy series option for your next read. I wouldn’t count on a strong romance pull for book 1; is there but isn’t likely what you’d be hoping for. My feeling is that will pick up in book 2 or 3.

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