Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Review: Heartless Hunter

 




Title: Heartless Hunter
Series: Crimson Moth #1
Author: Kristen Ciccarelli
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: February 20, 2024
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Reading Source: NetGalley
Length: 400 pages
Format: e-book
  Cover Art: 5/5
 Overall: 4/5


 

 

A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history. I couldn't look away." - Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Champion of Fate

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch...is falling in love.


Review:   
Heartless Hunter is the first book in the The Crimson Moth #1. Witches are illegal after a  disastrous revolution, one that has caused witches from all over to be killed, including Rune’s own grandmother. She was all Rune had. Rune is walking a fine line by becoming the Crimson Moth, she protects other witches. It’s hard for Rune to stay out of the Blood Guards' sight, especially with the handsome Gideon Sharpe, a cutthroat loyal member of the Blood Guards. But Rune starts to realize Gideon just might not be so heartless after all. 

This book was such a fast read for me, even though it is 400 pages I flew through it. I liked the action and the characters. I love t enemies to lovers. I enjoyed the romance. That ending! I am so looking forward to the next books in this series. Reminds me of Serpent & Dove. 

A thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

 











Friday, September 22, 2023

Review: Shade of Light

 



Title: Shade of Light 
Series: Three Shades Trilogy
Author: Kimberly Grymes
Publisher: Tractor Beam Publishing
Publication Date: October 24, 2023
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Reading Source: NetGalley
Length: 275 pages
Format: e-book
  Cover Art: 5/5
 Overall: 4/5


 

Not all monsters are evil. Some choose to do better. So, which one am I?

Eighteen-year-old Adele believes she’s a monster because of her ability to infiltrate minds. For years, she’s been kept captive at Castle Forge, living comfortably under the watchful eye of a tyrant general. But after secretly witnessing her aunt heal someone with her blood, Adele knows the only way to get answers is to escape. Even if that means leaving behind the one person who’d shown her compassion during her captivity.

She travels far to her childhood village, and while trying to uncover the mysteries of her past, she encounters the Shade. The same mysterious attackers who changed her life eight-years ago. The Shade have been raiding Adele’s childhood village, capturing its inhabitants for their queen, the ruler of the Under Realm. It isn’t long before Adele realizes these attackers possess similar powers, drawing more questions about who she is, where she comes from, and how she’s connected to these evil beings.

After a childhood friend is captured and taken to the Under Realm, Adele must decide whether to stay and help the village or return to Castle Forge, where a dear friend might be in danger from the general’s wrath. With evil all around, Adele must choose who she wants to be and what her future holds.

This young-adult dark fantasy story promises a captivating and thrilling journey filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twists. Book one in the THREE SHADES TRILOGY explores themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and the power of choice as Adele navigates a dangerous medieval world to find her place in it.

 

Review:

Shade of Light is the first book in the Three Shades Trilogy series. Eighteen-year-old Adele has the capacity to invade other people’s minds. She finds out her aunt also has powers, the power to heal people using her blood. But Adele has been held captive at Castle Forge for years, she now knows she must escape in order to find answers. She would have to leave the only person in the castle that has shown her any sympathy. 


As Adele proceeds to her childhood village, she runs into The Shade, some shady attackers who have transformed her life eight years ago. The Shade has been terrorizing the villagers, seizing and taking them to the Queen of the Under Realm. The Shade seems to have some of the same powers as she does. Making Adele question her own abilities and also where she came from and how she’s connected to the monsters. 


With evil all around her and her childhood friend in danger, Adele must decide who she wants to be and where her future stands. 


Adele is a strong and brave main character. I loved reading from her Pov. Morally gray characters are my favorite characters ever. This dark young adult fantasy book has so much depth. I love fantasy books with romance in them, but sometimes they get repetitive. Shade of Light has a friendship in it, but it does not turn into a romance and that is very refreshing.  

I can’t wait for the second book. 


A huge thank you to NetGalley and Tractor Beam Publishing for this advance e-copy for my honest opinions.  


 











Sunday, September 17, 2023

Review: The Darkness Before Them

 


Title: The Darkness Before Them
Series: Soulfire Saga
Author: Matthew Ward
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: November 7, 2023
Genre: Adult, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Reading Source: Kindle
Length: 544 pages
Format: e-book
  Cover Art: 5/5
 Overall: 4/5


 

The first in an exciting, action-packed new trilogy from epic fantasy author Matthew Ward, The Darkness Before Them introduces readers to a world ruled by a dangerous immortal king, where souls fuel magic, and a supernatural mist known as the Veil threatens to engulf the land.

These are dark times for the Kingdom of Khalad. As the magical mists of the Veil devour the land, the populace struggles beneath the rule of ruthless noble houses and their uncaring immortal king.

Kat doesn’t care about any of that. A talented thief, she’s pursuing one big score that will settle the debt that destroyed her family. No easy feat in a realm where indentured spirits hold vigil over every vault and treasure room. However, Kat has a unique she can speak to those spirits, and even command them. And she has no qualms using her power to her advantage.

Kat’s not a hero. She just wants to be free. To have her old life back. But as rebellion rekindles and the war for Khalad’s future begins, everyone—Kat included—will have to pick a side.
Review:

The Darkness Before Them is an epic fantasy that stars Kat who lives in the Kingdom of Khalad. Kat is no hero though; she is really a thief who is trying to relinquish the debt of her family. The Kingdom of Khalad has some pretty strong spirits keen on keeping the treasures in their treasury. However, Kat has a special power, one in which she can not only speak to but also command the spirits. Pointedly she uses her power for the upper hand. Kat will have to pick a side for the future of her country, but she also has to fight for her and her family’s freedom.  


An immortal king, mystical mist and souls that are power sources for magic? Yes please. Right up my alley. I was so excited when I was granted this ebook. The book was a little slow at first, but it soon picked up.

 I loved this book; I was so entertained while reading it. The worldbuilding was incredible. Kat had so much personality and was ambitious. She was determined to take care of those she loved. 


A huge thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.