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Showing posts with label fairies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fairies. Show all posts

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

 Pages: 300

"Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power. Now in exile, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril. Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…"

The final book in this trilogy went by fast, being the shortest of the three. While I really enjoyed the ending and could not stop smiling at Oak's antics at the end, it felt like there was more that could have been explored. The relationship between Cardan and Jude seemed to evolve overnight and many of the side plots that were mentioned were never explored. The last fifty pages felt like it could have been added to and made into its own book. I am sad this series is at an end because so much feels left unfinished.

Monday, August 8, 2022

Wicked King

 The Wicked King

By Holly Black

Pages: 336

"Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished. When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world."

Cardan is still a bully, but we are starting to see the reasons why he is such a jerk. This book also leans into the romance a little more between Jude and Cardan as political intrigue rises as well. I've begun enjoying their dynamic more and the word play the comes with the world of Faerie. The last chapter gave me hope on one page and then I threw the book across the room in anger on the next. Someone has some explaining to do.

Friday, August 5, 2022

The Cruel Prince

 The Cruel Prince

By Holly Black

Pages: 370

"Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences."

I have mixed feelings about this first book. While I had a hard time putting it down, I also struggled to relate to Jude and understand some of her choices. I also am unsure how the main romance will play out as they are actively trying to kill each other at this point. The twist at the end will either set them up for a romance, or someone's going to be dead by the end of book 2.

Monday, June 29, 2020

Books to Get Lost In

The Enterprise War by John Jackson Miller

This was definitely not the best Star Trek novel (and I know, they are notorious for being kind of bad...), and it really dragged on. It was nice to read about the chaos of the Pergamum Nebula, but the distance it placed itself from the main plot of Discovery made the story feel a bit inconsequential. I liked the old tech space pirates, and we do get to see Spock go mad-a direct tie in to the series-but other than that, I wasn't impressed.

432 pages


The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2) by Philip Pullman ...

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

I'm so glad I am rereading these. I remember how much I loved this series growing up, and it's nice to return to them. I forgot about the creepy spectres, and how much the witches played a role in the plot. I think I also just love multiverse stories and playing with portals and magic.

326 pages



Long Black Curl (Tufa, #3) by Alex Bledsoe


Long Black Curl by Alex Bledsoe

The third in the Tufa series, in which two star crossed lovers, Bo-Kate Wisby and Jefferson Powell, both banished from Needsville, find that the curse has been lifted, and return to reak havoc on their homes once more. Meanwhile, Byron Harley (a twist on 1950's rock star Bill Haley) escapes from being locked in fae time for 60 years, and Mandalay begins to come into her own power. I have loved this series! The idea of hillbilly fairies in the Smoky Mountains is such a magical combination.

382 pages


Amazon.com: Queen's Peril eBook: Johnston, E. K.: Kindle Store

Queen's Peril by E.K. Johnston

I absolutely loved Ahsoka and Queen's Shadow, and this one did not disappoint! We get more backstory of each of Queen Amidala's handmaidens, and I love how Johnston was willing to fully flesh out each one. I really enjoy Star Wars novels that focuses on galactic politics instead of just swoopy starship battles. Padme is amazing and one of the most underrated star wars heroines. It was also so cool to see how the handmaidens pulled off the wardrobe switches between the queen and Sabe.

288 pages





Tuesday, February 25, 2020

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Second book in the Mortal Instrument series reread. Love seeing the Jace/Simon friendship start to blossom whether the characters know it or not. Clare is still a bit choppy in the writing department at this time, but I love the characters and the action is well written.

Pages: 453

Monday, February 10, 2020

Wisp of a Thing by Alex Bledsoe

Wisp of A Thing

Rob Quillen recieves a mysterious message to come to Cloud County Tennessee to find a song guaranteed to soothe his broken heart. The second Tufa novel is just as good as the first, with more lore of the fae, long lost poetry on forgotten tombstones, and well-developed characters.

This is a great fantasy series!

349 pages

Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

The Hum and the Shiver

Bronwyn is a Iraqi War hero back in her Tennessee mountainous hometown after two years. Her body and mind broken, she is slowly feeling her way back into her community, relearning the magic and music of her heritage. Oh my goodness, this book was amazing. Definitely planning on reading the rest of the series. Bledsoe is an amazing storyteller, and the idea of Appalachian fairies makes for original fantasy. I'm excited to read the rest of the series!

I would highly recommended this novel for fantasy lovers.

349 pages

Read Harder Challenge Task #10

Thursday, January 17, 2019

The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan

The Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow, #1)The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I started off really enjoying this book, but as it went on I found that I didn’t feel as hooked when I first started. I really enjoyed the first half of this book than the second half I just lost all interest and felt like the story wasn't going any place. I might come back around and see if book 2 offers more to the story, but right now I am moving forward.

324 Pages

View all my reviews

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Paranormalcy Series by Kiersten White


Paranormalcy Series by Kiersten White

Book 1: Paranormalcy, 368 pages
Book 2: Supernaturally, 368 pages
Book 3: Endlessly, 416 pages

Summary for Book 1:  Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through supernatural glamours.

She’s also about to find out that she may be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

For fans of Teen Wolf, Buffy, and Supernatural, this New York Times bestseller is a witty, fresh, and downright fun read that will capture your heart.

I have to admit that I was seriously skeptical about this series.  It's been on my TBR pile since the first book was published (2011, y'all).  It had a lot of hype, and it was label 'paranormal romance' - both things that immediately turn me off.  I need to get over those hangups, though!  This series was really good!

I have to give some love to Ms. White for writing a teen, supernatural series, that retains the seriousness of that genre while allowing for the light humor and often flippant nature of teens.  The main character, Evie, is great.  She makes intelligent decisions, is strong and confident, and has a rather sardonic sense of humor (which I will always appreciate).  There is also a strong theme of 'no judgement' and 'meeting people/paranormals where they are' that I'm 100% for.  Every once in a while, the novels get a little too teeny-bopper, but it's not often and never lasts long.

Overall, this is a quick read that is fun, fast-paced, and unexpected.  Definitely recommend.

Books & Overall: 4.5/5

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Summer Knight (Dresden Files #4) by Jim Butcher

Ever since his girlfriend left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood, Harry Dresden has been down and out in Chicago. He can't pay his rent. He's alienating his friends. He can't even recall the last time he took a shower.

The only professional wizard in the phone book has become a desperate man.

And just when it seems things can't get any worse, in saunters the Winter Queen of Faerie. She has an offer Harry can't refuse if he wants to free himself of the supernatural hold his faerie godmother has over him--and hopefully end his run of bad luck. All he has to do is find out who murdered the Summer Queen's right-hand man, the Summer Knight, and clear the Winter Queen's name.

Pages: 446

3 out of 5 stars