Tag: book-reviews

The Bone Above (The Bone Below: #2): Review

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About the Book:

Title: The Bone Above

Author: Sylwia Koziel

Publisher: Conquest Publishing

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Pages: 325

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Synopsis:

As tensions rise, will Nelka be able to handle it all, or will she finally make the ultimate choice that prioritizes her?

Nelka has now been crowned Queen of the Nidora-Lecit Commonwealth alongside her husband King Andrius. However, he views her as nothing but her pet, making her a prisoner with no autonomy once again.

After learning of her husband’s harrowing plans, Nelka knows the peasants need her more than ever as they prepare to rebel against the nobility. Nelka is forced to use the few allies she has made in her time at the castle to get her foot through the door, so when she ultimately kills Andrius, the people trust her to rule on her own.

What she doesn’t expect is for her sister, Olesia, and her once-secret lover Eva—a local lord’s daughter—to arrive at the castle as honored guests. Everything becomes even more complicated when Kazimir ends up on the castle premises, desperate to be with her no matter the cost.

In the sequel to The Bone Below, Nelka is tested. Expectations of her are at an all-time high as she tries to please her family, her people, and her heart.

Review:

* I received an e-arc via StoryOrigin for review. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I thought this was a great conclusion to the duology! I loved the political intrigue, the characters, and how the author brought everything together with the dual timeline. I enjoyed watching Nelka grow throughout the story. She started out as a really sweet character, but she is forced to hone herself into the sharpest of blades due to the circumstances she finds herself in.

I definitely recommend this duology and I’m excited to see what this author writes next!

About the Author:

Sylwia is a born and raised Chicagoan, spending her days exploring the city, one train stop at a time. She currently works as a media planner at a large media agency where she daydreams of the day when a slack notification no longer makes her heart jump in fear.

Sylwia writes all sorts of genres that have strong romantic subplots. She enjoys character driven stories where the main character is on a journey of discovering themselves and learning to let go of the expectations weighing on them.

On top of publishing her debut duology, The Bone Below and The Bone Above, with Conquest Publishing, she is also in the early drafting stages of self publishing a series of novellas under her pen name KC Silver.

The Bone Below, a first installment of The Bone Below series, will hit shelves in April 2024.

The Otherwhere Post: Review

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About the Book:

Title: The Otherwhere Post

Author: Emily J. Taylor

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Pages: 400

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Romance

Synopsis:

The New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique returns with another glittering dark fantasy about a deadly mystery that spans worlds and a teenage girl who must risk everything to uncover the truth.

Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost her world, her father, even her name. Desperate to escape the stain of her father’s crimes, she lives under a fake name, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots.

Then she receives a mysterious letter with four impossible words Your father was innocent.

To uncover the truth, she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy—the dangerous magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. But looking into her father’s past draws more attention than she’d planned.

Her secretive, infuriatingly handsome mentor knows she’s lying about her identity, and time is running out to convince him to trust her. Worse, she begins to receive threatening letters, warning her to drop her investigation—or else. For Maeve to unravel the mystery of what happened seven years ago, she may have to forfeit her life.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher for review. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

Amazing sophomore novel by Emily J. Taylor! I was hooked from start to finish with this amazing fantasy, dark academia, with a script based magic system. I really enjoyed Emily’s debut, Hotel Magnifique but she brought her A game in this one, I loved it! She packed a lot into a standalone and it left me completely satisfied.

Highly recommend!

About the Author:

Emily was born and raised in California and has since refused to stay put. She’s lived in four states and two continents, all of which have conveniently given her an endless amount of story fodder. She currently works as a creative director in Minneapolis, where she spends the long winters dreaming up glittering worlds to spin into dark tales.

Follow Emily on Instagram @emilycanwrite
https://www.instagram.com/emilycanwrite/

A Language of Dragons: Review

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About the Book:

Title: A Language of Dragons

Author: S.F. Williamson

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release Date: January 7, 2025

Pages: 432

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

EVERY ACT OF TRANSLATION REQUIRES SACRIFICE

Welcome to Bletchley Park… with dragons.

London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivian Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get an internship studying dragon languages, and make sure her little sister never has to risk growing up Third Class. By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.

With her parents arrested and her sister missing, all the safety Viv has worked for is collapsing around her. So when a lifeline is offered in the form of a mysterious ‘job’, she grabs it. Arriving at Bletchley Park, Viv discovers that she has been recruited as a codebreaker helping the war effort – if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn’t, they’ll all die.

At first Viv believes that her challenge, of discovering the secrets of a hidden dragon language, is doable. But the more she learns, the more she realizes that the bubble she’s grown up in isn’t as safe as she thought, and eventually Viv must What war is she really fighting?

An epic, sweeping fantasy with an incredible Dark Academia setting, a clandestine, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and an unputdownable story, filled with twists and turns, betrayals and secret identities, A Language of Dragons is the unmissable debut of 2025, from an extraordinary new voice.

Review:

* I received an e-arc via Netgalley for review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I loved A Language of Dragons and thought it was a fantastic debut for S.F. Williamson! It was fast paced, takes place in 1920’s England, has slow burn romance, and last but certainly not least, dragons! I really thought the world building was done well, and I enjoyed the whole aspect of linguistics being included in a fantasy novel. I found it quite fascinating! 

I absolutely can’t wait for the sequel after that ending! 

About the Author:

S. F. Williamson is fascinated by the way languages are born and was surrounded by them long before she undertook a degree in French and Italian.

From her Grandma’s rolling Scottish R’s and her Nan’s ability to slip from English to Welsh, to the dialect spoken in the French village she grew up in, Steph has always known that languages are creatures that live and move and breathe.

As a child she learned that speaking them meant accessing ideas, traditions and people she would only otherwise know from a distance. Her debut novel, A Language of Dragons, is inspired by her work as a literary translator and the fact that no matter how intimately a linguist knows their languages, some meaning is almost always lost in translation. A graduate of Bath Spa University’s MA Writing for Young People programme, Steph now lives in France with her husband and two cats.

Miss Austen Investigates (#2): A Fortune Most Fatal: Review

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About the Book:

Title: A Fortune Most Fatal

Author: Jessical Bull

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Pages: 384

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery

Synopsis:

A witty, engaging murder mystery featuring Jane Austen as an intrepid sleuth—the second installment in the Miss Austen Investigates series.

When Jane Austen arrives at Rowling House to visit her wealthy brother, Neddy, she hopes that some time away will distract her from her broken heart and the dashing Tom Lefroy’s lackluster proposal. Little does she know that her sister-in-law Elizabeth has other plans to help Jane come out to society and find a respectable husband of good status and wealth.

Meanwhile, when a mysterious foreign princess is taken in by Mrs. Knight, Neddy’s adoptive mother, Jane and her family fear that Neddy’s inheritance could be at risk, jeopardizing them all. Jane is determined to unmask the beleaguered princess as a con artist and reveal her true identity. But when Jane’s sleuthing leads her to believe that Neddy is involved in an unspeakable crime, she must try to save a traumatized young woman. And she must do it without destroying her wealthy brother, whom all the Austens rely on.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via the publisher and Netgalley for review. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you also to @austenprose for having me on the tour.  All thoughts are my own*

After reading and enjoying the first book in the series, I was thrilled to be able to read the second book. It did not disappoint and has endeared this author to me even more. I love how much research and thought were put into the story. I really hope there are more books coming!

In book two, Jane travels to her brother Edward “Neddy” Austen’s home to look after his children as his wife is expecting their next child. Her sister-in-law hopes to find Jane a husband while she is there. Jane however hopes to further her writing whilst visiting. She soon realizes that she must help her brother’s adoptive mother discover the identity of her houseguest claiming to be a princess, before she is swindled out of her fortune. The Austen’s have come to rely upon this much-anticipated inheritance, so it is imperative that Jane solves this mystery.

All in all, a compelling historical mystery that fans of Jane Austen will enjoy! I definitely recommend.

About the Author:

Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband and two daughters. A former librarian and communications consultant, she studied English literature at Bristol University and information science at City, University of London. Miss Austen Investigates; The Hapless Milliner is her debut novel.

You can find her on…

X, formerly Twitter: @NovelistJessica

Instagram: @jessicabullnovelist

She Doesn’t Have a Clue: Review

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About the Book:

Title: She Doesn’t Have a Clue

Author: Jenny Elder Moke 

Publisher: Minotaur Books 

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Pages: 336
Genre: Romance, Mystery, Cozy Mystery 

Synopsis:

With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen―from murder to a second chance at love―in Jenny Elder Moke’s half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.

A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.

Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift. But when the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.

As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.

Review:

 

 

* I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

3.5 rounded up to 4

This is Jenny Elder Moke’s adult debut, and it was a fast-paced fun read! Its mystery combined with romance and sprinkled with a dash of laughs. 

I loved the main character, Kate. She was hilariously funny, clumsy and sometimes awkward and I appreciated that about her. Jake was also a really likeable character and added his own charm to the story. 

 I buddy read this one, and we both agreed that the inner monologue between Kate and her fictional character Loretta really was distracting and took away from the story. I also felt that the spicy scenes felt a little bit unrealistic considering that the characters were dealing with an actual real live murder.

If you like mysteries and romance, this is a cute one! 

About the Author:

Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children’s and adult literature. She enjoys fast-paced adventures with plenty of mysteries, surprising turns, and laughs along the way. Her adult mystery rom-com mashup debut, SHE DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE, comes out January 21, 2025.

Jenny lives in Denver, CO.

To contact Jenny, sign up for her newsletter at https://subscribepage.io/jemnewslette… or visit Jenny on Instagram @jennyeldermoke.

Of Thunder and Amethyst (The Weather Court Gem Series, #2): Review

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About the Book:

Title: Of Thunder and Amethyst 

Author: K. C. Silver 

Publisher: Self-published 

Release Date: November 14, 2024

Pages: 156

Genre: Romantasy, Novella, Romance, Fantasy 

Synopsis:

Eight participants, one goal: be the first to find the Heart before the court crumbles to ruin.216234639

Kamine is chosen as her village’s participant for this year’s Undertaking. Everyone knows her mother holds the record for beating the Undertaking, and finding the Heart in record time. Kamine has to prove herself as her mother’s successor, and she only has four months to do it. The only problem? Kamine’s powers have yet to manifest.

Grimot, the new magic professor at Skola, Thunder Court’s Undertaking Prep School, is a former Undertaking winner—although the methods he used to secure the Heart left him cursed by the Gods. Now, haunted by his past, he must ensure his students’ success, before the hex takes hold.

But when Grimot realizes Kamine is helpless, and standing in the way of his redemption, he offers her private lessons. Having no other choice, Kamine accepts, despite the obvious tension between them. With each passing lesson, the emotional barriers they’ve built begin to crumble as they reconcile with the tethers of their pasts, band together to protect the magic of the Thunder Court, and unearth the truth of Kamine’s legacy.

Of Thunder and Amethyst is the next installment in the Weather Court Gem series. Each standalone novella follows a different couple in their respective court (Snow, Thunder, Lightning, Rain, & Sun), each faced with the challenge of following their heart as the fate of their court’s power rests in their hands.

Review:

4

*I received an e-arc via Bookfunnel and the author. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

Of Thunder and Amethyst is the second novella in The Weather Court Gem series. It was a quick and fast paced read that I enjoyed! After reading the first novella Of Snow and Sapphire, I was excited to dive back into this world.

Kamine is chosen as her village’s participant in the Undertaking. Her mother holds the record for beating the Undertaking and finding the Heart. Kamine needs to prove herself as her mother’s successor and in only four months’ time. There’s one problem though, her powers haven’t manifested themselves yet. 

Kamine heads off to Skola, the Thunder Court’s Undertaking Prep School. There she meets Grimot, the new magic professor. Grimot is a former Undertaking winner whose methods for winning left him cursed by the gods. He needs to ensure that his students succeed before the curse takes over. He sees Kamine as an obstacle to breaking his curse, so he offers her private lessons. Kamine reluctantly agrees to the lessons. 

As they work together, the barriers between the two start to come down, they face their pasts, and they team up to protect the magic of their court. 

I wound up enjoying Kamine and Grimot’s relationship, but I felt that it was not explored as much as I would have liked. It felt a little rushed in my opinion. The overall story though was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait for the next novella in the series.

I recommend this installment in the series, and I hope you’ll give it a try! 

About the Author:

KC Silver is a born and raised Chicagoan, spending her days exploring the city, one train stop at a time. She currently works as a media planner at a large media agency where she daydreams of the day when a Slack notification no longer makes her heart jump in fear.48961969._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_

KC enjoys character driven stories where the main character is on a journey of discovering themselves and learning to let go of the expectations weighing on them, while falling in love.

Follow KC on all socials:
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A Sweet Sting of Salt: Review

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About the Book:

Title: A Sweet Sting of Salt 

Author: Rose Sutherland 

Publisher: Dell 

Release Date: April 9, 2024

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.

When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.

Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, she’s at a loss as to who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jean’s questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wife’s pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirin’s open demeanor change completely the moment she’s in his presence?

Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before it’s too late, or will someone have to pay for Jean’s actions with their life?

Review:

 

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and Dell. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

This was definitely a solid debut from author Rose Sutherland. A Sweet Sting of Salt is a sapphic retelling of “The Selkie Wife”. If you like historical fiction and retellings, I think you’ll really enjoy this one! 

Jean is a midwife in a small fishing village in Nova Scotia and lives on the outskirts of town. She is awakened in the middle of the night by crying during a terrible storm and thinks she may be dreaming. When she hears the cry again, she ventures outside and finds a woman in labor in the freezing cold, and she can barely speak a word of English.  Jean assumes that she is the new wife of her closest neighbor, Tobias. He does indeed show up in search of his wife, which has Jean questioning a lot of things. His wife, Muirin completely changes her demeanor when he’s around. 

Although Jean should stay out other people’s business, her growing concern and her growing feelings for Muirin won’t let her. The answers are more difficult than she ever could have imagined, and Jean is afraid that she may have put her life, Muirin’s and the baby in danger. Will Jean be able to set things, right?

I really loved Jean and Muirin and the journey they take in this story. Full of mystery, suspense, romance, and heartache. Definitely recommend! 

 

About the Author:

ROSE SUTHERLAND was born and raised a voracious reader of anything she could get her hands on in rural Nova Scotia. She has an overactive imagination, once fell off a roof trying to re-enact Anne of Green Gables, and has continued to be entertainingly foolhardy since, graduating theatre school in NYC, apprenticing at a pâtisserie in France, and moonlighting as an usher in Toronto. Her hobbies include yoga, sea-swimming, and making niche jokes about Victor Hugo on the internet. She is mildly obsessed with the idea of one day owning a large dog, several chickens… and maybe a goat.

The Thirteenth Child: Review

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About the Book:

Title: The Thirteenth Child 

Author: Erin A. Craig 

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: September 24, 2024

Pages: 512

Genre: YA Fantasy, Horror, Gothic, Romance

Synopsis:

This is the story of Hazel, a young healer navigating a ruthless court to save the life of the king, grappling with a pantheon of gods with questionable agendas as she fights for agency and true love in her own life as the goddaughter of none other than Death himself.

All gifts come with a price.

Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings. A thirteenth child, promised away to one of the gods, she spends her childhood waiting for her godfather—Merrick, the Dreaded End—to arrive.

When he does, he lays out exactly how he’s planned Hazel’s future. She will become a great healer, known throughout the kingdom for her precision and skill. To aid her endeavors, Merrick blesses Hazel with a gift, the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick.

But all gifts come with a price. Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient—when all hope is gone—and is tasked to end their suffering, permanently. Haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel longs to run. But destiny brings her to the royal court, where she meets Leo, a rakish prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. And it’s where Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet—to save the life of a king marked to die. Hazel knows what she is meant to do and knows what her heart is urging her toward, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death?

From the astonishing mind of Erin A. Craig comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for— what does a life well-lived mean, and how do we justify the impossible choices we make for the ones we love?

Review:

* I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press for review. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I just LOVED this book and it’s probably going to be in my top reads this year! I fell in love with Erin’s writing in a House of Salt and Sorrows, and this one certainly lived up to my expectations. This book destroyed me! 

Hazel is promised from birth to a god. When her godfather, the Dreaded End, Merrick, finally comes for her he lays out to her what he’s planned for her future. She will become a great healer and will be known throughout the kingdom for her skill. To aid her in her endeavors, Merrick gives her the ability to instantly know what a patient needs for a cure.

All gifts come with a price of course, and Hazel can see when Death is coming and there is no cure that can save her patients. She therefore must end their suffering for them and take their life. She is haunted by the ghosts she has killed and longs to run. Destiny brings her to the royal court where she meets Prince Leo and his father, the king who is marked for Death. Hazel wants to save him, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death? 

Full of magic, gods, royal courts, death and heartbreak, The Thirteenth Child is one you won’t want to miss.

All the stars! 

About the Author:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig has always loved telling stories.

After getting her B.F.A. from the University of Michigan, in Theatre Design and Production, she stage managed tragic operas with hunchbacks, séances, and murderous clowns, then decided she wanted to write books that were just as spooky.

An avid reader, decent quilter, rabid basketball fan, and collector of typewriters, brass figurines, and sparkly shoes, Erin makes her home in West Michigan with her husband and daughter.

To find out more about Erin and the worlds she creates, follow @penchant4words on Instagram and Threads.

She is represented by Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Accidental Courtship with the Earl: Review

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About the Book:

Title: Accidental Courtship with the Earl 

Author: Samantha Hastings 

Publisher: Harlequin Historical 

Release Date: August 20, 2024

Pages: 272

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance 

Synopsis:

What happens when a grumpy earl meets a sunshine lady? Sparks are sure to fly in this lively Regency!

She’s falling for the earl…

When she’s already betrothed!

Mark, the Earl of Inverness, escapes to London to avoid his mother’s matchmaking, and the wounds of war that continue to haunt him. So, when a macaw flies into his garden, he’s intrigued by his new neighbor following behind…and the dazzling woman proves just the distraction he needs!

Lady Helen Stringham reluctantly agreed to a Season in exchange for becoming conveniently engaged to her childhood friend when she returns home. But after she encounters broodingly handsome Mark, who shares her passion for animals, she’s discovering what real attraction is… Just who should she be marrying?

Review:

*I received a copy from the author for review. All thoughts are my own*

I just love the Stringham family, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this one! They are such an eccentric, funny, loving family and it was wonderful to spend time with them again.

Lady Helen is the star in this one. She’s reluctantly agreed with her parents to a Season in the city in exchange for marriage to her childhood friend when she returns home. After she encounters the handsome and broody Mark, who also happens to share her passion for animals, she begins to discover what true attraction is. She starts to question her own betrothal, and who she should marry. 

Mark, the Earl of Inverness, has escaped to London to avoid his mother’s meddling matchmaking. He’s still haunted by the war and the wounds of his past as well. Meeting Lady Helen when her macaw flies into his garden turns out to be much more than he ever could have imagined.

I adored this couple so much! I loved watching their friendship grow into more, and the healing that happens for the both of them.

If you like the grumpy sunshine trope and regency romance, this one if for you! 

Highly recommend!

About the Author:

Samantha Hastings has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of Reading (Berkshire, England), and the University of North Texas. She met her husband in a turkey-sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her kids. She writes cozy mysteries under Samantha Larsen.

Ami (Guardians of Dawn, #2): Review

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About the Book:

Title: Ami 

Author: S. Jae-Jones

Publisher: Wednesday Books 

Release Date: August 6, 2024

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

When the Pillar blooms, the end of the world is not far behind.195791521

Li Ami was always on the outside—outside of family, outside of friendships, outside of ordinary magic. The odd and eccentric daughter of a former imperial magician, she has devoted her life to books because she finds them easier to read than people. Exiled to the outermost west of the Morning Realms, Ami has become the sole caretaker of her mentally ill father, whose rantings and ravings may be more than mere ramblings; they may be part of a dire prophecy. When her father is arrested for trespassing and stealing a branch from the sacred tree of the local monastery, Ami offers herself to the mysterious Beast in the castle, who is in need of someone who can translate a forbidden magical text and find a cure for the mysterious blight that is affecting the harvest of the land.

Meanwhile, as signs of magical corruption arise throughout the Morning Realms, Jin Zhara begins to realize that she might be out of her element. She may have defeated a demon lord and uncovered her identity as the Guardian of Fire, but she’ll be more than outmatched in the coming elemental battle against the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons…unless she can find the other Guardians of Dawn. Her magic is no match for the growing tide of undead, and she needs the Guardian of Wood with power over life and death in order to defeat the revenants razing the countryside.

The threat of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons looms larger by the day, and the tenuous peace holding the Morning Realms together is beginning to unravel. Ami and Zhara must journey to the Root of the World in order to seal the demon portal that may have opened there and restore balance to an increasingly chaotic world.

Review:

4

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley for review. Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

A satisfying second installment in the Guardians of Dawn series! This book starts right where Zhara ended. Zhara, Han and the Bangtan Brothers are headed west to help save the world from the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. We meet two new main characters, Ami and Beast, and we are able to get their points of view as well.

Li Ami has always been a bit of an outsider. She is considered the odd and eccentric daughter of a former imperial magician. She has devoted her life to books, as they are easier to read than people and as a caretaker to her mentally ill father. When he is arrested, she turns to the mysterious Beast in the castle, who needs someone to translate a forbidden magical text and help them to cure the land from blight. 

I liked Li Ami’s growth as a character and how she began to accept herself, and to find someone who cared for her just the way she is.

When Li Ami, Beast, and Zhara and her friend’s stories intertwine, they must work together to seal the demon portal and save the Morning Realms. 

I definitely recommend this sequel and can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book! 

 

About the Author:

S. Jae-Jones, called JJ, is an artist, an adrenaline junkie, and the NYT bestselling author of Wintersong. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she now lives on the wrong coast, where she can’t believe she has to deal with winter every year. When not writing, JJ can be found working toward her next black belt degree in taekwondo, being run ragged by her twin dogs, Castor & Pollux, or indulging in her favorite hobby—collecting more hobbies. 13414088._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_