Of Rioters and Royals by M.L. Greye

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I received a copy of Of Rioters & Royals by M. L. Greye from the author. Declan is vying to become a challenger to end the long-lasting feud that’s overrun the kingdom. He’s going to be a competitor in the fight for Princess Emry’s favor and to become her Knight. The first part of the book sets the background and world building and once Declan and Emry are introduced, I became invested! The two of them share a pull that draws them together, even though it’s been several years since they’ve seen each other. Declan seems independent and Emry is adventurous. In their world, different colors of eyes have specific skills and talents. Declan has teal eyes that give him speed. Emry’s eyes are silver and she can cast shadows and hide herself. They are both keeping secrets from each other and eventually they discover what those secrets are. If I say more, I might give too much away. Of Rioters & Royals is the first in the Swift Shadows series that continues with the sequel, Entwined Paths. Lots of intrigue and somewhat unknown backstories make a fun-to-read fantasy, 5 stars!

Ready For It by Chusita Fashion Fever

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Entirely informative!
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Ready For It by Chusita Fashion Fever.
Bluntly honest and informative in all things about sex, from bodies to relationships. Advice and mature content from the author who also has a YouTube channel that deals with sex and all the taboos that go along with it. *Friendly warning: graphic illustrations and information, 4 stars!

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

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Epic fantasy finale!
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare ends The Mortal Instruments series. As the story begins, the Los Angeles Institute and its inhabitants are introduced and then Sebastian strikes. He attacks six institutes around the world, either turning Shadowhunters into his soulless servants or killing them. The Clave orders all Shadowhunters to stay in Idris for their protection. Sebastian knows Clave protocol and he’s using it to his advantage and he’s also using the turned Shadowhunters against their loved ones because he knows the Nephilim won’t be able to stomach killing them. The Clave can’t figure out how to stop Sebastian, so Jace, Clary, Alec, Isabelle and Simon travel to the demon realms to stop him on their own. As they reach the demon realms, each one of them is haunted by a strange dream meant to convey their deepest wishes. Loss is prevalent in this book as families are separated and relationships are broken. The Mortal Instruments series has been a reading adventure. I’m happy the story continues on with The Dark Artifices series because I’m not ready to say goodbye to the world of Shadowhunters.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

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Beyond my expectations!
Thanks to Edelweiss, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi!
Whoa, that prologue! I expect intrigue, deception, action and suspense after reading it and chapter one alludes to all of the above! The complexity of forging and the variety of characters, all introduced smoothly and interestingly, attests to Roshani Chokshi’s writing talent. Severin leads L’Eden, his home full of wayward, talented people. Such as Laila, who’s skilled in baking delicacies, Zofia, her forging talents cause a bit of chaos, and Tristan, who forges diverse landscapes with plants. Enrique’s personality is fun and interesting. Laila is paradoxical with a unique birth story and the group works well together as they try to restore Severin’s birthright. Severin, along with the help of Enrique, manages to steal the compass from Hypnos; the compass that contains a map. The group develops another elaborate plan and as they begin to carry it out, Laila discovers Hypnos lounging on her chaise lounge when she enters her dressing room. She immediately assumes he’s there to stop their plan but Hypnos surprises her when he states that they need to save Tristan and Severin from death within the hour. By the time the story winds down, tragedy has struck and the group is heartbroken and struggling to move forward. This complex story is the beginning of a new trilogy that shows the beauty and horror of the 19th century, as the author’s notes acknowledge. I’m astounded by the fact of a human zoo at the World’s Fair in Paris and can’t really wrap my head around that disturbing reality. My respect for Roshani Chokshi has grown because of her talented writing, her research and her honesty in sharing the process of her story building. The world of The Gilded Wolves is based a large amount on reality, with a touch of fantasy. The dynamics between the characters and the puzzles throughout their search builds suspense and an interesting story worth 5 stars!

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

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Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier opens as Gwyneth is dealing with her breaking heart because of Gideon, while Paul and Lucy are in 1916 getting Paul’s wound treated. Gwyneth meets with her grandfather many times to figure out what happened to the chronograph. Once the mystery of the chronograph has been solved, the mission to save the world from evil begins in earnest. Gwyneth accidentally discovers unknown information about her parents and finds out more secrets by chance. Cute humor and squabbling characters make this time travel finale light and fun. With the added action, this story deserves 4 stars!

 

The Iliad: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds

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Easy to read version of classic literature!
Thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review The Iliad, a graphic novel by Gareth Hinds!
The captains are introduced at the opening of the graphic novel and names, ancestry, kingdom and shield decorations are explained. Important Trojans and Gods are listed next. Illustrations are included next to each character. The Prologue explains what The Iliad is about. It tells the story of a feud between the warrior Achilles and King Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek Forces. This feud and The Iliad story takes place during the tenth and final year of the Trojan War. A story full of epic battles based on tales many centuries old, The Iliad is simplified with this graphic novel but the main points can be found in this reader-friendly version. The Author’s Notes share the origins of Homer’s tales and the origins of Homer himself. No evidence has been found to prove Homer’s existence and his stories might be collections of oral tales of epic battles and heroes gathered over time. Enlightening information about The Iliad and the creator. 5 stars for this great way to read classic literature!

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

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City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare is just as intense as the rest of the series. After the end of the last book, Jace and Sebastian have been missing with no trace of where they’ve gone. Clary makes a deal with the Seelie Queen and while Clary is trying to steal faerie rings from the Institute for the Queen, Sebastian and Jace walk in. The two seem chummy and both look healthy. Clary is relieved to know that Jace is alive but concerned about his state of mind. Luke gets fatally injured; Isabelle realizes she needs Simon; Maia and Jordan travel to his leader to get help for Luke and Jocelyn and Isabelle visit the Iron Sisters to also help Luke. All this is happening as Clary leaves with Jace. Clary travels to famous cities with Jace and Sebastian as they gather what they need for their mission. During a moment of clarity, Jace tells Clary that he would rather die than follow Sebastian. Once Sebastian gets what he wants, he begins to turn Shadowhunters into his servants. Before he can turn very many, he’s stopped by Shadowhunters and werewolves. Sebastian leaves his followers behind as he runs away to save himself. Everyone has been altered in some way as the story closes and the hunt for Sebastian continues. 5 solid stars!

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

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Truly original fantasy!
I read When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore as a buddy-read event for Dragons & Tea Book Club. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books for the opportunity to read and review this book by providing the ARC!
This is a unique story that pulls from deep-seated cultural roots and a little deception. Sam and Miel share trust, loyalty and a special relationship. They also share their community with a group of sisters that could be considered mean girls, with a power they’ve grown so used to, that they do not want to lose it and will do whatever it takes to keep it. Wow! Aracely’s background revelation was something I was not expecting! Sam struggles with the decision of who (what gender) he wants to be in the near future. He’s struggling to the point of desperation. Miel blames herself for the loss of her mother and brother. She thinks the river might give them back to her. The fantastical elements are kind of difficult to understand in this story but I do enjoy the flow of the author’s writing. As usually is the case, the author’s notes are enlightening! They are also helpful in understanding Miel’s fears and Sam’s struggles. I appreciate that Anna-Marie McLemore shares such personal experiences and revelations with her readers! 4 stars for this unique fantasy!

Mera Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige

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Danielle Paige proves she can write graphic novels well!
Thanks to DC and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Mera Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige, illustrated by Stephen Byrne!
This graphic novel showcases the author’s writing talent in a new format. The illustrations are impressive also and together they tell an interesting tale of rebellion turning a young princess into a strong, brave heroine. 5 stars!

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

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Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter opens as ten-year-old Logan and his best friend Maddie witness the violence that occurs with the attempted kidnapping of his mother, the First Lady. Logan is the president’s son and his best friend is the daughter of the head of the Secret Service. Maddie’s father gets shot and badly injured during the kidnapping attempt, so he decides to move to Alaska with his daughter to recover and distance themselves from the danger. Now, six years later, Logan gets sent to stay with them for his own safety. Logan has a tendency to be careless and unconcerned about what happens to him and this has exasperated his parents. Maddie is extremely angry at Logan because she wrote letters to him for years after their move to Alaska and she never received anything from him. The day Logan arrives, Maddie’s father leaves to make a quick delivery because a terrible storm is coming. While he’s away, Maddie and Logan are confronted by an abductor who wants to use Logan for leverage. Maddie is shoved down a hill, left for dead and the kidnapper forces Logan to move on. The danger compounds because of the Alaskan wilderness and lack of food, shelter and heat. I thoroughly enjoyed Not If I Save You First for several reasons- the suspense, mystery and sarcastic humor and I love the characters! 5 solid stars for a fun, action-packed adventure!