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

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 Song to Drown Rivers: Review

About the Book:

Title: A Song to Drown Rivers

Author: Ann Liang 

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Pages: 325

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance

Synopsis:

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds.
Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.203578730

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

Review:

4

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

A Song to Drown Rivers was my first book I’ve read by Ann Liang! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. The story was heartbreakingly beautiful, and one of the few books that has made me cry recently. It’s inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the Famous Four Beauties of Ancient China.

Xishi’s beauty has been seen as favorable to her village. They expect her to marry well and support her family. Xishi draws the attention of Fanli, a military advisor, who convinces her to use her beauty as a weapon. If she succeeds, she could avenge her sister’s murder, help her village, and topple the rival kingdom of Wu. To do this, she must worm her way into the enemy kingdom as a spy and seduce their king. 

She is trained by Fanli to prepare her as a spy, and as they work together, the attraction between them grows.

Once Xishi is in the palace, she is watched by all the king’s advisors, but the king himself shows her great affection. She begins to climb in the Wu court, and she knows that she and Fanli risk everything if she is unmasked as a traitor. 

With amazing world building, fascinating mythology, and forbidden love, this is one book you don’t want to miss! 

Definitely recommend! 

About the Author:

Ann Liang is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the critically acclaimed YA novels This Time It’s Real, If You Could See the Sun, and I Hope This Doesn’t Find You. Her books have sold into over twenty foreign territories. Born in Beijing, she grew up traveling back and forth between China and Australia, but somehow ended up with an American accent. She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found making overambitious to do lists and having profound conversations with her pet labradoodle about who’s a good dog.16624571._UX200_CR0,14,200,200_

The Thirteenth Child: Review

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.

De-Witched (Toil and Trouble, #2): Review

About the Book:

Title: De-Witched 

Author: Sophie H. Morgan

Publisher: Harlequin Feature 

Release Date: August 20, 2024

Pages: 368

Genre: Romance, Paranormal Romance 

Synopsis:

All’s fair in love and warlocks …

Six weeks ago, Leah Turner snuck into a witch high-society masked ball and promised to abide by two

1. Don’t draw attention to yourself.

2. Don’t talk to anyone.

As a human, Leah took a huge risk by even attending—and by talking to the enigmatic warlock who had her wanting to rip off her mask. But this Cinderella had to leave the ball before anyone discovered her secret.

Gabriel Goodnight is everything a Higher family warlock should be. Powerful, responsible—to a fault, some might say. Still, before he can inherit his parents’ business, he’ll have to prove his merit to the board one final time…by living among humans, without his powers, for three months.

When Gabriel walks into Leah’s bar, she immediately recognizes him—but it’s obvious he has no idea who she is, and he definitely doesn’t know she knows about magic. This condescending, uptight man is hardly the Prince Charming she thought she knew…but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a little fun…

Toil and Trouble

Book 1: The Witch is Back
Book 2: De-Witched

Review:

*I received an arc from the author for review. All thoughts are my own*

I absolutely adored this second installment in the Toil and Trouble series! I loved meeting Leah in book one, so I needed her love story! 

Leah Turner is human, but she knows about magic. She knows she has to keep it a secret, but she is a part of this world thanks to her two best friends. She sneaks into a high society masked witch ball and meets a warlock whom she almost rips her mask off for. She quickly leaves the ball before anyone can discover her secret.

Gabriel Goodnight is a warlock that comes from a Higher family. He’s powerful and responsible, but he still needs to prove to the board that he is ready to inherit his parent’s business. His mission is to go and live among humans for three months without using his powers. 

Gabriel walks into Leah’s bar, and she recognizes him from the ball, but he has no idea who she is and that she knows about magic.

The grumpy Gabriel has no idea what’s in store for him with sunny Leah! 

If you enjoyed The Witch is Back, you’re definitely going to love his one! De-Witched could be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first book. I can’t wait for more in this series! 

 

About the Author:

Sophie H. Morgan is a romance author, repped by Cole Lanahan. She lives in crazy worlds, some concocted by her, some ruled by her spaniel.

You can usually find her on Instagram (SophiehMorgan), on Twitter (@SophieHMorgan) or through her website.

Ami (Guardians of Dawn, #2): Review

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_

The Mirror of Beasts (Silver in the Bone, #2): Review

About the Book:

Title: The Mirror of Beasts

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Hatchette Children’s Group

Release Date: July 30, 2024

Pages: 576

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Mythology

Synopsis:

With the dream of Avalon in ruins, Tamsin and her friends are all that stands in the way of Lord Death’s plans to unleash the horrors of Anwnn on the world of the living. As the Wild Hunt carves a bloody path across continents, Tamsin is mustering allies, tracking down powerful artifacts, and traversing into new otherlands in search of a way to stop him.57982343

Legend tells of a “Mirror of Beasts,” powerful enough to trap even Lord Death in its accursed glass, but the mirror is not all that it seems. Tamsin must confront her own darkest secrets if she hopes to tap the mirror’s strength to defeat her enemies.

Arthurian legend bleeds into contemporary action, and scars of the past are torn open anew by a star-crossed love that refuses to go quietly. This riveting conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology will hold you in its thrall until the very last page.

Review:

5

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

I thought this was a fantastic conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology! After that cliffhanger from book one, I just had to find out what happened next and couldn’t wait to dive into this one. It did not disappoint.

There was a lot of angst, and I loved it! Give me all the angst! The friendships and found family are also further developed, and I really enjoyed that so much. There is action and adventure throughout, and you will want to keep turning the pages until the last.

I highly recommend to everyone that enjoyed the first book!

About the Author:

Alexandra Bracken is the #1 New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of The Darkest Minds series and Passenger. Born and raised in Arizona, she moved east to study English and History at The College of William & Mary in Virginia. After working in the publishing industry, she now writes full time. You can visit her online at http://www.alexandrabracken.com.6tl456v11bnl5e43geipdc4bdk._SX300_CR0,0,300,300_