Stolen identity, mythical creatures, murder and hidden bodies make this a unique and interesting read!
The Hidden by Melanie Golding
Dawn Breaker by Jodi Meadows
World devastation!
Reeling from the overwhelming destruction caused by the Malice weapon, Salvation’s residents are trying to save themselves and the injured. They’re searching for survivors and want justice served on those who set the weapon off. Rune is stuck in the rancor king’s domain while the Night Render hunts down the three scattered pieces of the weapon that can take the evil king down. Hanne questions everything she’s ever believed about the “helpful” voice she’s heard since she was a child. If the kingdoms can work together, there might still be hope in surviving the destruction of their world.
Likes/dislikes: The love interest is a bit stilted. The character growth is stronger in this sequel than in the first book of the series. My favorite character is Prince Rune because he’s kind and strong.
Mature Content: PG for kissing.
Language: G for no swears or f-words.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: falls to white.
Night Render and Dawn Breaker by Jodi Meadows
Action and intrigue!
Prince Rune is betrothed to Princess Hanne and as they’re visiting his homeland, she gets trapped in a malsite where no one can see or hear her on the outside of the boundary of this area filled with malice. Rune wakes the Nightrender from her 400-year old slumber to save the princess. The Nightrender is a mythical hero who saves humans from malice and corruption. Rune wants to help the Night Render but his parents fight him about it, so nothing gets accomplished. Meanwhile, Hanne is threatened by an evil creature, a rancor. She must help create a weapon against her kingdom and Rune’s kingdom or she will be destroyed. Hanne wants to save herself and she’ll do anything to stay safe.
Likes/dislikes: The story is of action and intrigue. The Night Render is an awesome mythical character with a single mission. The character development is a little stilted in some parts.
Mature Content: PG for implied sex.
Language: PG for 1 swear and no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody death.
Ethnicity: The ethnicity is light brown skin dominant in Ivasland and white skin dominant in Embria.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
Beautiful prose!
18yo Effy loves literature and desperately wants to attend the literature college but has settled for the architectural college where she’s the only female student. Her advisor has taken advantage of her and holds it over her head and now she’s shunned by the other students. She applies for the chance to draw plans for her favorite author’s new home, partly to escape the stigma surrounding her at school and mostly to get the opportunity to meet the late author’s family and see his home where he wrote her favorite works. She’s surprised but thrilled when she’s chosen. When Effy arrives at the manor, she’s shocked at its dilapidated state and the darkness that seems to surround it. She meets Preston, a literature student writing his thesis on the same author, and Ianto, the enigmatic son who runs the manor and wants Effy to quickly draw the blueprints for the updated manor. The mysterious surroundings pull Effy and Preston into dangerous territory and they have to fight for everything they believe in if they’re going to survive.
Likes/dislikes: An absolutely perfect example of magic realism. Effy is a strong character struggling with the lack of rights for women. Preston is a gentleman through and through.
Mature Content: PG-13 for sex with minimal detail
Language: PG-13 for 14 swears and no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for sexual harrasment and bullying by classmates.
Ethnicity: Ethnicity is predominantly white. Preston has fawn-colored skin.
The Thought Spot 