Review: The Dragons of Deepwood Fen

 

Title: The Dragons of Deepwood Fen

Series: The Book of the Holt #1 

Author: Bradley P. Beaulieu

Publisher: DAW

Publication Date: December 5, 2023

Genre: Adult, Fantasy Fiction

Reading Source: Netgalley

Length: 496 pages

Format: e-book

  Cover Art: 5/5

 Overall: 5/5

This 1st book in a new fantasy series from the author of the acclaimed Song of the Shattered Sands series follows an unlikely pair as they expose the secrets at the heart of the mountain city of Ancris.

Lorelei Aurelius is the smartest inquisitor in the mountain city of Ancris. When a mysterious tip leads her to a clandestine meeting between the Church and the hated Red Knives, she uncovers a plot that threatens not only her home but the empire itself.

The trail leads her to Rylan Holbrooke, a notorious thief posing as a dragon singer. Rylan came to Ancris to solve the very same mystery she stumbled onto. Knowing his incarceration could lead to the Red Knives’ achieving their goals, Lorelei makes a fateful she frees him.

Now branded as traitors, the two flee the city on dragonback. In the massive forest known as the Holt, they discover something terrible. The Red Knives are planning to awaken a powerful demigod in the holiest shrine in Ancris, and for some reason the Church is willing to allow it. It forces their return to Ancris, where the unlikely allies must rally the very people who’ve vowed to capture them before it’s too late.

Explore the mountain city of Ancris, where fast-paced adventure and intrigue abound. in this new offering from the author of the acclaimed Song of the Shattered Sands series.

Review:

The Dragons of Deepwood Fen is the first book in a new series that has adventure, fantasy, with multi point of views that grabs your attention from the very beginning.  

In a mountain city of Ancris, Lorelei is one of the smartest people there and when she gets a tip that leads her to a meet up she discovers a peril that could endanger not only her but the entire empire. Meanwhile Rylan, an infamous thief, uncovers the same mystery as Lorelei. When their paths cross, Lorelei decides to free Rylan in order to stop the Red Knives from fulfilling their goals. The two flee into the forest known as the Holt where they find out that the Red Knives, along with the Church, are planning on raising a high-powered demigod. They must bring the same people who condemned them together before it is too late to stop the Red Knives and the Church from accomplishing their nefarious plan. 

 

I loved this book so much. The plot was great, there was drama, you wouldn’t think of a drama with a high fantasy book but it works well.(At least not me, when I think of a drama I think of a contemporary normally) I flew through this book, even though it was almost 500 pages, it took me no time at all to read. 

Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for this early review copy in exchange for an honest review! 

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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.

 

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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.  

 

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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.

 

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