Showing posts with label Demon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Demon. Show all posts

Monday, 30 May 2022

Review: A Queen of Ruin - K.F. Breene

The final book in the Wall Street Journal bestselling series!

I thought once we released the curse, I'd only have one enemy to contend with.

Wrong.

The queen lives. Not only that, but she knowingly hid herself from me and the rest of this kingdom until the moment the curse was broken. Now she is back, and her desires aren't clear. Neither are her motives.

Will she try to take the throne for herself?

We can stop her…unless she had a hand in that curse. In which case, will we need to battle her and the demon king before we can finally live in peace? Or has this all been for naught?

Regardless, we have very little time before the demon king returns to wipe us out.


Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:
A Queen of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
A Queen of Ruin is the fourth and final book in K.F. Breene's Beauty and the Beast inspired dark fairytale series so I'm going to assume if you're reading this review you've already read the first two books. I'm going to keep the review deliberately vague to avoid spoilers for this book but events from previous books may be referenced. 

I've been totally hooked on this series since book one was published and have eagerly waited for each instalment since then so I was both excited and a bit nervous for this final book. I wanted it to be amazing but at the same time I didn't want it to end. I'm happy to say A Queen of Ruin is everything I hoped for and then some, it's a long book and so much happens but I really don't want to go into much detail because I'd hate to accidentally spoiler anyone. 

What I will say is that I was excited to get to spend some time exploring other kingdoms and meeting some of the other rulers, I loved getting to know the new characters from the last book even better and I was thrilled with the way Finley and Nyfain's relationship has developed over the course of the series. This final book was an emotional rollercoaster and there was one moment that shocked me to my core and had me so emotional I had to put it down and walk away for a bit before I could carry on reading but I still loved every minute of it.

I'm sad the series has come to an end but I love the way everything has wrapped up and I think we got a really fitting end to the series. That said I have really high hopes for a spin off or two, not because things have been left unfinished but because some of the side characters are so fantastic I want to spend more time with them. I can't say who because *spoiler* BUT one in particular is part of a HUGE revelation that I'm desperate to know more about. I'm sure anyone who has read the book will know exactly what I'm talking about.

K.F. Breene has long been an auto-buy author for me and this series has only cemented her place on my favourite authors list.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Monday, 7 February 2022

Review: A Kingdom of Ruin - K.F. Breene

Never sell your soul to the Demon King.

Too late.

In an effort to save all that I love, I have to finish the job Nyfain started… and ruin myself.

I've made a trade with the most cunning creature alive.

Me for them.

The dungeons will be my new home. Dolion's destruction will be my new goal.

I just have to get out of here and back to my golden dragon. Preferably alive.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:
A Kingdom of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
A Kingdom of Ruin is the third book in K.F. Breene's Beauty and the Beast inspired dark fairytale series so I'm going to assume if you're reading this review you've already read the first two books. I'm going to keep the review deliberately vague to avoid spoilers for this book but events from previous books may be referenced. 

I have loved this series from the first book but it just keeps getting better and better with every instalment. After the cliffhanger ending of book 2 I knew Finley was going to be in for a bumpy ride in this book but there was so much I didn't expect from this story, especially the fun new allies she met along the way. Trapped in the demon realm thanks to the bargain she made to protect Nyfain Finley is now Dolion's prisoner and has a newfound home in his dungeon. Her bond to Nyfain protects her from some things but it doesn't stop physical torture from her guards so her life is now mostly pain and anguish as she tries to figure out a way to escape.

I really admire Finely's attitude and the way she is so determined to fight for and protect the people she cares about no matter what it costs her personally. She has earned a lot of respect from friends she made in Nyfain's court and her selfless attitude is starting to rub off on some of them which leads to some interesting developments. I love that we got some of the story from Hadriel's point of view here, his character is just so funny and gave some much needed light relief in places.

I don't want to say much about the new characters that we are introduced to but there are some I absolutely loved and can't wait to see more of in the future. There were some great revelations in this book and things are only going to get more interesting in the next book thanks to the way things ended. Luckily this didn't finish on such a cliffhanger as A Throne of Ruin but it's still left me wanting the next book ASAP.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Sunday, 14 November 2021

Review: A Throne of Ruin - K.F. Breene

The only thing protecting me from the demons…is the beast. 

Nyfain, the golden dragon prince, tried to set me free. But there is no freedom in this kingdom. Not for anyone. 

The demons have sought me out. They want to trap me. To use me against Nyfain.

It's only a matter of time before they call in the demon king.

Nyfain thinks I should save myself. That I should barter with the demon king to escape this place.

But can I give myself to the creature responsible for torturing the people I love?

In order to save them, though, I might not have a choice. 

 ______________________ 

This is a dark and spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring an anti-hero, a strong heroine, and a humorous supporting cast. This is an enemies-to-lovers and possible fated mates story suitable for 18+. It's the second of four books, ending on a cliffhanger.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:
A Throne of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
I'm going to come straight out and say I'm loving K.F. Breene's take on the Beauty and the Beast fairytale and I'm so happy we still have two more books to come in this series. A Throne of Ruin takes everything I loved about A Ruin of Roses and builds on it. More of the snarky humour, more of Finley's protective instincts to protect the people around her, a few more layers peeled back from the mysterious and sexy Nyfain not to mention plenty of kink.

I love that the romance isn't being rushed in this series but that we're seeing a very natural progression with the bond between Finley and Nyfain. As their feelings increase so does the danger surrounding them and I think they have a lot more to deal with before they'll be able to enjoy a HEA but I know I can trust this author to give them the ending they deserve.

I'm really enjoying spending time in this world but I'm going to warn you now the cliffhanger at the end is a doozy. It was a natural stopping point for the story but it has left me desperate to get my hands on the next instalment. I can't wait to see how Finley deals with the latest developments! This really is turning out to be a fantastic retelling and I can't recommend it highly enough to Beauty and the Beast fans.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Thursday, 23 September 2021

Review: A Ruin of Roses - K.F. Breene

Worldwide bestselling author K.F. Breene comes at you with a brand new spicy fantasy series! Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Jennifer L Armentrout, and Scarlett St. Clair. 

I could save him, but he would ruin me. 

The beast.
The creature who stalks the forbidden wood.
The dragon prince.

He has suffered a fate worse than death. We all have. A curse put upon us by the mad king.

We are a kingdom locked in time. Shifters unable to feel our animals. Stuck here by a deal between the late king and a demon who seeks our destruction.

The only one keeping this kingdom alive is Nyfain, the golden prince to a stolen throne. The last dragon shifter. 

He’s our hope.
He’s my nightmare.

When he catches me trespassing in the forbidden wood, he doesn’t punish me with death as he’s entitled.

He takes me, instead. Forces me back to the castle as his prisoner. Seeks to use me.

Apparently I can save him. I can save the whole forgotten kingdom, locked away by the demon king’s power.

But it would mean taming the monster beneath his skin. It would mean giving myself to him.

It would mean my ruin.

_ _ _ _ _ _

This is a dark and sexy Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring a strong heroine, a dangerous anti-hero, and a humorous supporting cast. It is a full length novel at 80k words and suitable for 18+. This is the beginning of a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. Buckle up. The author was let off her leash.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:
A Ruin of Roses

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge lover of all fairytale retellings but Beauty and the Beast ones have always been my favourites so when I found out K.F. Breene was writing one I couldn't get hold of a copy fast enough and A Ruin of Roses was a book I absolutely devoured. It has all the main requirements for a retelling so the story has a familiar feel to it but at the same time the author has put in enough of her own world building to also make it feel fresh and exciting.

I loved the main character Finley, she's no weak wallflower even though she's not the most powerful character physically. She has a strength of will and determination to protect her family at all costs and she also has a brilliantly snarky sense of humour that helps her see the funny side even when the odds are against her. 

Nyfain is harder to get a read on because he's so secretive and mysterious but I love a hero with layers and I'm sure there is so much more to uncover about him as the series continues. At the moment the curse is presumably making it difficult for him to talk about certain things so it'll be interesting to see how that resolves itself in the next book.

I think there's great potential for romance between Finley and Nyfain but I'm glad that it's not being rushed considering the circumstances of their meeting. They have chemistry already though and I can't wait to see it progress.

I'm already all in on this series, its dark but funny, full of action and will take you for a walk on the wild side. Bring on the rest of the trilogy!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Sunday, 19 July 2020

Review: Stealing Summer - Lexi Blake

From New York Times and USA Today bestseller Lexi Blake comes a new epic-length story in her Thieves/Hunter world… 

A daughter lost 

Summer has spent her whole life wondering about the family she left behind. On the night she came into being she only had a few moments with them. In that brief time, she reached out to her father, looking deep into his soul, and gifted him the will to go on. But now she is the one in need. Once a child made of pure magic, she is forced to live as a mortal. Her power caused great harm, and she has sworn never to let it happen again. With her friends beside her, she tries her best to help those she can. If that requires her to do a little thievery, well, she is her mother’s daughter, after all.

Everything changes when a woman falls from the sky and Summer meets the handsome vampire named Marcus Vorenus. Just as her past begins to catch up with her, she might have finally met her future.

A mother discovered

Kelsey Owens went searching for Dev and Marcus but all she found was a trap. She was pulled through a magical painting and thrown smack into the middle of a battle on a foreign plane of existence. Luckily she’s good in a fight. Saving the woman targeted by the horde of brutal soldiers, Kelsey is shocked by her resemblance to her queen. As Kelsey investigates the mystery surrounding Summer Donovan-Quinn, she also hunts for a way back to the husbands and son she just claimed.

A queen exiled

Zoey Donovan-Quinn is not happy. The wizard Myrddin is back, her marriage is troubled, and she is sure those two problems are connected. But nothing is more worrying than Dev’s sudden disappearance. When she and Daniel go looking for him, they are drawn into a world thought lost to the Earth plane. Danger awaits them there, but so does the daughter they thought they would never see again. She hopes they survive their reunion.

Three heroines. One mystery. And an ending that will change the Thieves world forever…

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)
Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
I love Lexi Blake's Thieves series and always hoped that we'd find out what happened to Summer as well as that we'd see Marcus get his own romance so I was thrilled when I heard about Stealing Summer. While a lot of this author's books work as stand alone stories (you can pretty much read the Masters & Mercenaries series in any order for example) I really recommend reading this book after the rest of the Thieves and Hunter books because there is so much going on here that it would be confusing for a first time reader.

We have three different points of view for the book, Zoey from the original books in the series, Kelsey whose story was told in the Hunter spin off and also Summer who we saw briefly as a baby but never as a POV character before. Sometimes I find stories confusing when they're told from multiple points of view but these three characters were distinctive enough that it was easy to keep track of who we were reading about.

It's really hard to say too much about the plot of this book without giving spoilers but trust me if you had questions at the end of the previous books then you'll get most of the answers here. As well as Zoey and Kelsey we get to catch up with other series favourites like Daniel, Dev and Marcus, we also get to explore a few new realms and if you're fans of Lexi's other books you'll spot cameos from characters from both the Masters and Mercenaries and the Faery story series. I loved getting to meet Summer and see how her life had turned out since she was taken to Faerie and I really loved seeing Marcus finally get his own happily ever after that he's waited thousands of years for. 

The only other thing I'm going to tell to is that this is a total game changer for this series and whole world. Lots of revelations are made and while I expected something like what happened at the end it was still a jaw dropping moment and a HUGE cliffhanger. I honestly can't wait for the next book in the series and I'm really glad that Lexi Blake is writing in this world again!

Source: Purchased

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Sunday, 31 May 2020

Review: Marek - Felicity Heaton

Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Earth, Marek was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai. Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence.

Haunted by a betrayal that shattered him and set him on a dark path of vengeance, Marek closely guards his heart, as determined to keep it safe as he is to wipe the scourge of vampires from the world.
Until a hunt lands him in the presence of a beautiful woman who threatens to steal that heart as she battles his sworn enemy, her graceful moves igniting a passion so fierce and hunger so deep it consumes him.

Caterina’s sole purpose for the last decade has been freeing her brother of the curse of being turned into a vampire. When an alluring dark warrior steps in to help her battle a nest of bloodsuckers, her entire life is tipped off balance. She knows deep in her heart the warrior can help her save her brother, but can she trust a man who is driven to slay every vampire he meets?

When Marek’s enemy emerges from the shadows, and Caterina is pulled down a dark rabbit hole into a dangerous world, will they be strong enough to overcome their pride and their prejudices or will a dark turn of events shatter both their hearts?

Guardians of Hades Series:
Ares
Valen
Esher
Marek

Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information

Review:
It's been a couple of years since the last book in the Guardians of Hades series was released so while I was excited to dive back into this world I did worry that I might get confused and not remember enough about the previous stories. Luckily Felicity Heaton did a great job of bringing me back up to speed and within a few pages I was just happy to be back with these characters.

Marek is luckier than some of his brothers when it comes to his abilities and they cause less problems for him in the human realm but he has spent hundreds of years caught up on a previous betrayal and spends his time sneaking around hunting vampires when his brothers' backs are turned. It is during one of these attacks that he first meets Caterina who is also hunting vampires but for very different reasons to Marek. Caterina may be human but she's aware of the supernatural so although she doesn't immediately recognise Marek for what he is she does understand that he's not a normal human. The two bond pretty quickly over their mutual dislike of the vampires but Caterina's life takes a very difficult turn when she is targeted by Marek's enemies.

I don't want to say too much about what happens to Caterina but it was definitely shocking and there were some really interesting developments in the ongoing story arc throughout this instalment of the series. As much as I enjoyed the romance between Marek and Caterina I also loved getting to find out more about Calistos and about all of the brothers' backgrounds. Their enemies are building up to something big and I think the action is only going to get more intense in the next couple of books.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Wednesday, 29 April 2020

Review: The War Priest - Ann Aguirre

Dour. Dutiful. Dogged.

Personal tragedy drove Callum McRae to join the Order of Saint Casimir fifteen years ago; now he’s in charge of a hold he hasn’t lived in for years. Supplies are scarce, he has no knack for dealing with people, and the Gols are at the gates. To make matters worse, he’s also battling an attraction so powerful and forbidden that it imperils his very soul…

Canny. Cheerful. Charming.

Joss Bristow seems bright and cheerful, but she’s hiding a well of sorrow that fuels her music. She’s also prone to leaping before she looks, exactly how she ends up besieged at Burnt Amber. Though she wanted to get to know Callum better, she never imagined that falling for him could cost her life.

He’s the dark of night, and she’s the sun that shines just for him. Two wounded souls have never needed each other more, but between his holy vows and the devastation of war, the odds are stacked against them…

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Callum left his home fifteen years ago to join the Order of Saint Casimir as a priest and he never looked back. He certainly didn't expect to have to come back years later and take control as the hold leader in the middle of a war. The Gols are closing in and battle is looming, supplies are running low and Callum is totally out of practice when it comes to dealing with so many people. Joss is Callum's total opposite, cheerful and empathic to his cold and stoic, she knows exactly how to keep people's spirits up even in the most dire situations. She has admired Callum from afar and wants nothing more than to get to know him better but his plans to return to the priesthood are a huge barrier between them. Joss is exactly what Callum needs though and she might be the only person who can help him get through the challenges that lie ahead.

I've been a fan of Ann Aguirre's Ars Numina series since the beginning but The War Priest was definitely my favourite book so far. I absolutely loved the romance between Joss and Callum. She's such a sweet and warmhearted character while he comes across as really dour and grumpy so at first glance you wouldn't think they fit well together. You'd be totally wrong on that though because Joss is absolutely everything that Callum needs, he locked his heart away after a tragedy and has been in a kind of frozen stasis ever since but Joss's sunshine personality burns through that ice and lets her through to the warm and loving man hidden deep inside.

I loved that their relationship develops slowly, the attraction is there from the beginning but it takes time for them to build a friendship and grow trust before Callum realises that Joss is the most important thing in his life, even more so than the vows he took. Even then his vows to the Order of Saint Casimir are taken seriously, Callum respects the order and he doesn't just walk away because he has feelings for Joss. He talks about it with his brothers and requests permission to leave from the head of the order. These two are ridiculously adorable together and I was so happy with the way things turned out for them.

That isn't to say this story is all easy though. They are in the middle of a war and facing danger on all sides so there is plenty of action happening here. It was nice to see some of the previous characters make cameo appearances and there was a lot of great progress made between the different factions who are all fighting against the Gols. I'm already looking forward to the next book and can't wait to see how this series ends.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review

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Monday, 13 April 2020

Review: Night of the Dragon - Julie Kagawa

Evil and hope clash and burn in the epic and shocking conclusion to the Shadow of the Fox trilogy.

All is lost.

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has given up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, in order to save everyone she loves from imminent death. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must journey to the wild sea cliffs of Iwagoto in a desperate last-chance effort to stop the Master of Demons from calling upon the Great Kami dragon and making the wish that will plunge the empire into destruction and darkness.

But even with their combined skills and powers, this most unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of Evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realised existed...until now.

Shadow of the Fox series:
Shadow of the Fox
Soul of the Sword
Night of the Dragon

Visit Julie Kagawa's website for more information.

Review:
I've been a fan of Julie Kagawa's writing for years but I honestly think that the Shadow of the Fox series is her best one yet. I've been caught up in this world from the beginning and I'm really sad that it's now time to say goodbye.

It's so hard to review the final book in a trilogy because I want to encourage everyone who hasn't started this series yet to dive straight in but I don't want to go into too much detail because I don't want to give away spoilers. What I've loved most about these books has been the fantastic Japanese mythology and all of the wonderful yokai & kami creatures that Julie Kagawa has introduced us to along the way. Our band of characters has been through so much since the first book but it all comes to a head in Night of the Dragon and they're facing more danger than ever before.

I'm not going to lie and tell you this is an easy end to their journey, this book prefers to grab you by the throat while it slowly rips your heart out, but what I will say is that I loved every minute of it. There are definitely heartbreaking moments in this book but there are also really sweet and heartwarming ones to balance that out and it was definitely a fitting end to a much loved series.

Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Sunday, 12 April 2020

Review: Of Flame and Fury - Cecy Robson

Taran Wird, the loudmouth mistress of flame and lightning, didn’t want to attend the formal gathering of the supernatural elite. She did so only to help to unite the supreme beings in attendance in one common goal: protecting Taran’s sister, Celia.

Celia is pregnant with alpha werewolf Aric Connor’s child, the same child prophesized to save the world from uprising evil. Evil wants this child dead before he is born and, more importantly, before he can grow strong enough to stop it.

Taran and her werewolf lover, Gemini, put plans in place to protect Celia. Master Vampire Misha Aleksandr and his clan also swear their allegiance to Celia and vow to keep her from harm. The witches even cast protection spells around the manor to curse anyone with malintent who enters. Nothing was supposed to go wrong, except everything did.

Creatures that shouldn’t exist stalk the grounds and invade the premises, and every curse meant to shield the guests turns against them. No one counted on the powerful being who arrived uninvited. But he’s here, manipulating the magic enclosing the estate to work in his favor.

As body counts rise and allies become enemies, chances are Celia won’t survive the night. But evil never counted on how hard Taran Wird would fight, even at the expense of her life.

Weird Girls Series:
Gone Hunting
A Curse Awakened (Novella)
The Weird Girls (Novella)
Sealed with a Curse
A Cursed Embrace
A Cursed Moon (Novella)
Cursed by Destiny
A Cursed Bloodline
A Curse Unbroken
Of Flame and Promise
Of Flame and Light
Of Flame and Fate
Of Flame and Fury

Visit Cecy Robson's website for more information.

Review:
With Celia heavily pregnant with the child that is supposed to save the world the whole supernatural community, from the Pack to the vampires and even the witches, have come together to keep her safe. Their enemies are converging though and they are equally determined to kill Celia before the child is born. This battle will be the fiercest one yet and Taran will do anything to protect her sister, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.

Of Flame and Fury is the final book of the Weird Girls series told from Taryn's point of view but I don't believe it will be the last book in the series. I'm not sure which sister will be up next but I'm already looking forward to continuing the adventures! This book was pretty much non stop action from beginning to end, their enemies are out in force and its going to take everyone working together if they want to save Celia. Taran has to make some difficult decisions but alongside Gemini, Aric, Shayna and Emme they will never give up.

While I loved the battle scenes in this book I have to admit I would have liked some more quieter moments where we just got to spend time with the characters we know and love. There was less humour in this book because there was so much danger and I missed that a little here. It was still a fab instalment though and I'm more eager than ever to get to Emme and Shayna's stories so I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next one!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Friday, 27 March 2020

Review: Primal Sin - Ariana Nash

Fallen for love. Risen for revenge.

Severn knows love. He knows how it feels to fight for love, and have it torn from his reach. He knows that when the killing fields are strewn with the dead, and love is all gone, only one thing keeps his demon heart beating:

Vengeance.

His life is now a web of lies. His act, a perfect one. His enemy, the guardian angel Mikhail, sits beside him, turns to him for guidance, and even loves him.

The time has come to make all the angels fall, beginning with the most powerful of them all.

Severn thought he knew love. But he’s about to discover that love takes no prisoners, and as demons and angels clash over London’s battle-weary streets, love will claim the souls of two destined enemies.

Primal Sin is a dark gay fantasy with a strong love-story. The series is brimming with savage desires, relentless lies and the bite of vengeance and is not for anyone easily disturbed by graphic scenes.

Primal Sin Series:
Primal Sin

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
For decades angels and demons have waged war on the streets of London and the killing fields have left it unrecognisable. Angels live in the aerie, a huge towering structure ruled by Guardian Mikhail, and they consider themselves protectors of humans. Below the Aerie is the Cauldron, a dark and dangerous underworld where demons prey on the unsuspecting and anything can be purchased for the right price.

Severn is Mikhail's right hand man, a fierce warrior respected by the rest of the angels and feared by demons, even though he lost his wings in battle and can no longer fly. But while Severn is seen as an ally he has ulterior motives and has spent the last decade planning is revenge against the person he blames for ruining his life. After Severn is brutally injured in battle once more Mikhail takes surprising steps to save his life and the bond that forms between them could be enough to doom the world.

Ariana Nash never fails to rip out my heart and stomp it into teeny tiny pieces and I love it so much that I just keep coming back for more! Love, revenge, betrayal and heartbreak this book has it all and then some, I was hooked from beginning to end. We're only just starting to explore this world but already I want to know more and I enjoyed getting to know the characters too. Mikhail initially comes across as quite cold and unfeeling but under the surface he's a boiling pot full of emotion and in the end that might just be his downfall. Severn on the other hand is full of rage and hatred, and with very good reason, but he is also more than he originally seems and as his hate and lust combine his attitude completely changes.

I honestly can't wait to see what happens next between these two, especially now a certain new character that appeared at the end of the book has been thrown into the mix. I know for sure that this is going to be a bumpy ride for everyone but I can't wait to enjoy the rollercoaster.

Source: Received for free from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Friday, 31 January 2020

Review: Twilight Seeker - Pippa DaCosta

Stay in the light, avoid locked doors, and resist silver whispers.

Meet Lynher Aris. Hostess extraordinaire. By night, she entertains the Dark Ones passing through the Night Station: vampires, demons, shifters, and worse. By day, she undermines them all, working with the resistance to unravel their enslavement of the human race.

But Lynher has a dark secret of her own, and with the imminent arrival of Ghost—a vampire overlord few have seen but all fear—she must play her role as the queen of the Night Station to perfection, keeping the resistance and her secret safe, or risk losing everything, including the powerful Night Station itself.

A new gothic urban fantasy series by acclaimed fantasy & sci-fi author, Pippa DaCosta.

Daybreaker Series:
Twilight Seeker
Night Scourge (July 2020)

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
It's no secret that I'm a Pippa DaCosta fangirl so of course I've been eagerly waiting for Twilight Seeker ever since she first announced it but I'm going to say it here and now that she has completely outdone herself with this one. The story had me hooked from the first page with its brilliant world building and fantastic characters. Nothing is quite what it seems when it comes to the Night Station, it's magical, dangerous and full of secrets. I think we've only started to scratch the surface and I can't wait for the next book so we can dig down a few more layers.

Lynher is a great character, she's a normal human in a world full of demons, vampires and fae who all consider her prey. It is her job to run the Night Station and keep the peace amongst her guests but she's at a physical disadvantage compared to everyone around her so she's walking a very fine line keeping everything balanced. It's all about keeping up appearances and making sure the guests see her as someone to be wary of rather than someone they can walk right over. She's not completely powerless though and again I think we have a lot more to learn about what she's truly capable of.

While juggling the needs of her guests Lynher is also working alongside the human resistance doing everything she can to rescue as many humans as possible from slavery to the vampires and other supernatural races. Throw in characters like Rafe, the incubus who has been attempting to seduce her for as long as she can remember, and Just Jack, a new arrival at the Night Station who is obviously more than he seems, and I have absolutely no idea where this series is going to take us next. We've already had so many twists so while I have a few suspicions about certain people I'm pretty sure Pippa will turn everything on its head all over again in the next book.

Series like this are the reason I love urban fantasy and I'm so happy we only have to wait until July for the second book, Night Scourge, although if Pippa could write a little faster and let me have it sometime next week I definitely would't complain LOL.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Saturday, 18 January 2020

Review: The Last Wish - Andrzej Sapkowski

Geralt the Witcher — revered and hated — holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in this collection of adventures in the NYT bestselling series that inspired the blockbuster video games.

Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent.

But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good…and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

The Witcher Series:
The Last Wish (Short Story Collection)
Sword of Destiny (Short Story Collection)
Blood of Elves
The Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire
The Tower of Swallows
The Lady of the Lake
Season of Storms

Visit Andrzej Sapkowski's publisher page for more information

Review:
I'm going to preface this review by saying I was really unwell when I read this book and that may have affected my opinion of it. It took me much longer to read than it should have done and there were parts I listened to multiple times because my brain was too fuzzy to properly pay attention so it's very possible that I missed major details and that's why I didn't fully connect to the story.

I didn't know much about the Witcher series before I went into this book, I knew my brother was obsessed with the games when he was younger (but I'd never played them myself) and I also knew that it was being made into a series by Netflix (which was the main reason I wanted to read it, I mean come on, did you see the pictures of Henry Cavill as Geralt?!). Apart from that, and the fact it was high fantasy, I didn't know what else to expect so I was somewhat surprised when I realised that The Last Wish is actually a collection of short stories rather than a full length novel. I usually find short stories work better as an addition to series I'm already familiar with rather than an introduction to a new world but it was actually pretty well done in this case and allowed us to find out a decent amount about Geralt's background and some of the main characters I assume we'll see throughout the series.


The book starts with Geralt getting injured in a fight, he is taken to a temple to recover and while there he proceeds to recount stories of some of the other monsters he's come across over the years. These stories are interspersed with short updates on his recovery and what is happening in the current timeline. I really liked the huge variety of different monsters that are included, everything from vampires and werewolves through to djinn and gnomes. I loved that we get so many hints of familiar fairytales included in the stories, it makes the world feel familiar and I was always trying to guess what fairytale creature would pop up next.

As a Witcher Geralt has trained both physically and mentally to protect humans from monsters, even going so far as taking a potion that makes him not quite human himself and gives him extra speed, strength and healing abilities. Witchers provide an important service but it isn't always appreciated so he's always a little on the outside looking in no matter how far he travels. I'm really curious to find out more about Geralt but I don't feel like I know him that well yet and that made it a little harder to connect with the story. While there was a lot I enjoyed about the book I don't think I've been fully sucked into this world yet. My friends have assured me that I can start the TV series now though so I'm looking forward to that and I'm hoping I'll enjoy it so much that it'll make me want to continue reading the books.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Updated cover for the Netflix Show
Paperback / Kindle:

Sunday, 8 December 2019

Review: Rise of the Fire Witch - Lisa Carlisle

Is she dangerous? Or is she in danger?

A steamy forbidden romance trilogy between a shifter and a cop!

Roman, Commander of the Stone Sentries, is on high alert as he patrols from a Boston rooftop. The eclipse of the red Supermoon bodes danger. When a blast of dark magic soars past him, he tracks a beautiful, mysterious woman.

Larissa has spent her entire life trying to be normal--even if it's given her insight as a police officer. But, she’s different--she can sense things before they happen. It doesn't help her the night she meets Roman, however. A harmless fling turns into something much more dangerous.

What she discovers about Roman is shocking enough. But, when she learns the secrets of her past, she's blindsided by the truth.

If you enjoy reading
- Steamy paranormal romance and urban fantasy
- Shifters and witches, gargoyles and demons
- Fated mates and forbidden love

Get three action-packed, steamy romantic adventures in this hot new collection! Don't miss the Rise of the Fire Witch trilogy featuring Larissa and Roman's story in:

Tempted by the Gargoyle
Enticed by the Gargoyle
Captivated by the Gargoyle

Stone Sentries Boston Series:
Tempted by the Gargoyle
Enticed by the Gargoyle
Captivated by the Gargoyle
Rise of the Fire Witch (Stone Sentries Boston books 1-3)

Visit Lisa Carlisle's website for more information

Review:
Rise of the Fire Witch is a bind up collection containing the first three books in the Stone Sentries Boston series by Lisa Carlisle. I'm going to review each of these stories separately below but this was a fun paranormal romance series that you should definitely check out if you're curious about gargoyles!

Tempted by the Gargoyle:

Tempted by the Gargoyle is our introduction to this world and both of the main characters Larissa and Roman. Larissa is a police officer who has been suffering with PTSD ever since the Boston Marathon bombing, she loves her job but feels guilt over the people she couldn't save that day, especially her best friend Janie, a fellow officer who was badly injured in the explosion. Larissa has always been sensitive and long ago learnt to trust her gut instincts but while her ability may warn her trouble is coming it doesn't always give her enough information to stop it from happening.

Roman is the Commander of the Stone Sentries in Boston, they are a group of gargoyle shifters who do their best to watch over the city and protect the innocent humans living there. The eclipse of the red supermoon has them on high alert, they sense danger is coming but are still trying to tract down the source. Roman senses something about Larissa and he's not sure if she's involved with what's about to go down or an innocent bystander so he decides to follow her.

This was a really fun introduction to this series, I really liked both of the main characters and what we've seen of this world is really interesting so far. I've not read many books with gargoyle main characters so that was a bonus and I found Roman's abilities really intriguing. I hope we'll find out a lot more about him and the rest of the Stone Sentries as the series continues. I thought they had great chemistry from the minute they met and I was totally on board with Larissa's idea to take a walk on the wild side and have a one night stand, the night they spent together was hot and I could easily see them wanting to spend more time together.

If I have one complaint it was that some things felt a little rushed. I get that this is a relatively short instalment but since there are three books about these two characters I would have liked their romance to have been drawn out a little longer, things are quite serious between them already and that didn't feel realistic with them knowing each other less than 24 hours. I also felt like Larissa accepted what she learned about herself and her heritage a bit too easily and I definitely struggled to believe the way she was able to gain control of abilities she didn't even know she had pretty much instantly. In spite of those issues I do have high hopes for this series and I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with Larissa and Roman in the next two stories.

Enticed by the Gargoyle:

Enticed by the Gargoyle picks up Larissa's story as she tries to explain a demon attack to her bosses, it goes down about as well as you can expect and she quickly finds herself placed on leave until further notice. It's not like she doesn't have plenty of other things to deal with though, she's just found out that she comes from a long line of witches but has no training on how to use her abilities, and she's still got to try and figure out a way to save her best friend Janie from the incubus induced coma she's currently in.

Roman and the rest of the gargoyles are also on high alert as they're still sensing demon activity in the city even though the portal has been closed. He is determined to keep his mate safe but when Larissa starts pushing him away he's forced to watch over her from a distance.

This is another action packed instalment of the Stone Sentries Boston series, there is plenty of danger from demons and we also get to learn more about Larissa's family background and see her start to embrace her abilities.

The one thing I didn't like so much was the way Larissa and Roman's relationship seemed to take a step backwards. They lost the chemistry from the first book and spent most of this one bickering which was disappointing since you'd really expect them to be in that honeymoon period. I was really annoyed by Larissa, she says some incredibly hurtful things to Roman when she was under the influence of dark magic that left him questioning everything about their relationship. That was completely out of her control but when she starts to come back to herself and realise what she'd done her first move should have been to immediately call Roman and apologise. Instead she just ignores it leaving him heartbroken for longer than necessary.

I do want to see them work things out though so I'm hoping the next story will be the best one yet.

Captivated by the Gargoyle:

There's only one demon left on this side of the portal and it's clear that Janie is it's main target. Larissa doesn't know why it is so determined to take her friend but when the worst happens she is determined to do whatever it takes to save Janie's life. Luckily Roman and the other Stone Sentries are willing to help but this is one battle that won't be easy to win.

Captivated by the Gargoyle is the final instalment in Larissa and Roman's trilogy and it was just as action packed as you'd expect. The stakes are higher than ever here when Janie is abducted by the demon king and trying to save her could end up costing Larissa and her friends everything.

I've really enjoyed seeing Larissa come into her powers, she's still learning exactly what she's capable of but she's come a long way and is getting stronger all the time. I was also pleased with the way the romance has developed between Larissa and Roman, they've both made mistakes along the way, and Larissa in particular had a lot of growing up to do but by the end of the book it felt like they were in a great place relationship wise. It was fun seeing the beginnings of a romance start to blossom between Janie and Arto, Roman's second in command. I think they are really cute together and I'd love to read a book about them both!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Rise of the Fire Witch is only available on kindle but you can purchase the stories separately as paperbacks:

Monday, 21 October 2019

Review: Reaper - Larissa Ione

THE DEMONICA SERIES RETURNS…

He is the Keeper of Souls. Judge, jury, and executioner. He is death personified.

He is the Grim Reaper.

A fallen angel who commands the respect of both Heaven and Hell, Azagoth has presided over his own underworld realm for thousands of years. As the overlord of evil souls, he maintains balance crucial to the existence of life on Earth and beyond. But as all the realms gear up for the prophesied End of Days, the ties that bind him to Sheoul-gra have begun to chafe.

Now, with his beloved mate and unborn child the target of an ancient enemy, Azagoth will stop at nothing to save them, even if it means breaking blood oaths and shattering age-old alliances.

Even if it means destroying himself and setting the world on fire…

The Demonica Series:
Pleasure Unbound
Desire Unchained
Passion Unleashed
Eternity Embraced (Novella)
Ecstasy Unveiled
Sin Undone
Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 1)
Vampire Fight Club (Novella in the Supernatural anthology or as a separate ebook)
Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 2)
Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 3)
Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 4)
Reaver
Azagoth (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 1)
Revenant
Hades (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 2)
Base Instincts (Novella)
Z (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 3)
Razr (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 4)
Hawkyn (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 5) (March 2018)
Her Guardian Angel (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 6, also part of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection)
Dining with Angels: Bits & Bites from the Demonica Universe (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book, Demonica Underworld book 7)
Cipher (Demonica Underworld book 8)
Reaper (Demonica Underworld book 9)

For more information visit Larissa Ione's website

Review:
I've been a fan of the Demonica series for years now and it's always exciting when I get a new book in my hands. After a few years of shorter novellas I was really looking forward to reading a full length novel again and Larissa Ione didn't disappoint, let's just say that Reaper is a game changer in SO many ways. This is the first time we've had a whole extra book about a couple who are already living their HEA but considering Azagoth and Liliana have had so much going on as side characters in the Demonica Underworld stories I was really glad that we got to revisit them, especially with the way things played out in this story.

This is a really difficult book to review because it would be far too easy to give spoilers but there were some absolutely shocking things happening that completely threw me for a loop. Unexpected betrayals, surprising allies, answers to questions that have been building for several books and although this book was in some ways an ending it also opens the world up for a whole new spin off series which I'm REALLY looking forward to!

Fans of the series really don't want to miss this book but if you're new to the world please don't start here, you'd be missing out on so much that it really would be a waste. This is a series that has been building up for years and there is so much to explore as you get to know all the characters involved, there are a lot of appearances from the earlier couples in this book that are fantastic because we already know them so well. In fact this made me nostalgic and has left me seriously tempted to start a series reread. Reaper is a highly recommend instalment in the Demonica world and it's as series that all paranormal romance fans should be reading.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Saturday, 5 October 2019

Review: Seduced by a Demon King - Felicity Heaton

Saddled with a crown he never wanted, King Tegan of the Second Realm of demons is a warrior born for war stuck ruling in a time of peace, bound by the pact that cost his brother his life. Chafed by the ties that have held him shackled to his throne for the last thousand years, Tegan plans an escape from his prison—one stolen night meant to give him a taste of freedom, but one that will lead him to the greatest battle of his life.

A fight to claim the heart of a bewitching fae female who might be his fated mate.

According to many in her clan, and the idiotic incubi who infest the fae town where she lives, Suki puts the suck in succubus. Down on her luck, and in danger of being kicked out of the family she loves, she’s determined to prove her worth by bagging and tagging a powerful male. When she sets eyes on a mysterious, panty-melting demon warrior in a nightclub, things finally seem to be going her way, but his shadowed aura and guardedness warns he won’t be an easy mark.

Seducing him is going to be the fight of her life.

When the battle is done, will the victor have the forever they want, or will this war cost them both everything?

Eternal Mates Series:
(This series is set in the same world as the Vampire Erotic Theatre series but can be read completely separately)
Kissed by a Dark Prince
Claimed by a Demon King
Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Hunted by a Jaguar
Craved by an Alpha
Bitten by a Hellcat
Taken by a Dragon
Marked by an Assassin
Possessed by a Dark Warrior
Awakened by a Demoness
Haunted by the King of Death
Tuned by a Tiger
Tamed by a Tiger
Treasured by a Tiger
Unchained by a Forbidden Love
Avenged by an Angel
Seduced by a Demon King

Vampire Erotic Theatre Series:
Covet
Crave
Seduce
Enslave
Bewitch
Unleash

Cougar Creek Mates Series:
(Set in the same world as Vampire Erotic Theatre & Eternal Mates series but can be read completely separately)
Claimed by her Cougar
Captured by her Cougar
Courted by her Cougar
Craved by her Cougar

Black Ridge Bears Series:
(Set in the same world as Vampire Erotic Theatre, Eternal Mates & Cougar Creek Mates series but can be read completely separately)

Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information

Review:
Tegan never wanted to be king of the Second Realm but when his brother was murdered just after negotiating a peace treaty he was next in line for the throne. Tegan wanted nothing more than to go to war with the demons who arranged for his brother's death but he also wanted to honour the treaty that his brother was so proud of. The crown has been a heavy burden for the last thousand years and he just wants a little freedom from his duty when he sneaks into the human world for a few hours of fun.

Suki may be a succubus but she's never felt fully a part of her clan. Her powers aren't as reliable as they should be and she's not very good at seduction so she would have starved long before now if her sisters hadn't shared their power with her. Suki feels she has one last chance to prove herself to the rest of the clan and she's worried that if she fails she will be kicked out and left to fend for herself. Determined to seduce a man powerful enough to give energy to the whole clan she targets Tegan in a bar but the more time she spends with him the less she wants to use him for a quick hit of energy.

Seduced by a Demon King is the 17th book in Felicity Heaton's Eternal Mates series and was probably my favourite of the most recent stories. Considering it's a book about a succubus and a demon I wasn't expecting the slow build romance that we got here and I loved how sweet and almost innocent the beginning of Suki and Tegan's courtship was. Don't get me wrong there was still plenty of chemistry between them but they didn't rush headlong into a sexual relationship because Suki was afraid of hurting Tegan. At the same time Tegan was pretty sure that Suki was his eternal mate and he didn't want to scare her off by coming on too strong so they spent time getting to know each other.

These two were just really cute together, especially with Tegan being so naive of human customs and technology as he's not been in our realm for such a long time. He's quite a geek though and loved learning about new things that he could take back to his own realm to make life better for his people, Tegan is definitely a king who cares for his people. Suki had very little confidence in herself or her own abilities so it was nice to see her realise that she was far more capable than anyone gave her credit for. This was a really enjoyable romance that has helped rekindle my excitement for this series.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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