Sunday, March 24, 2024

REVIEW: "Ruthless Vows" by Rebecca Ross (Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult)

RUTHLESS VOWS
by Rebecca Ross

Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publication Date: April 4th, 2023

Series: Letters of Enchantment, #2
Standalone: No, Cliffhanger ending



Categories/Tropes:
Strong Heroine, Fantasy (Gods, Mythical Beings, Enchanted Objects), Creatives (Writers)
Other Books By Rebecca Ross:
#1

Goodreads
Description from Publisher:
The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals.

Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.

My Rating:
Heat Rating:

This was certainly a very exciting book, as much or possibly moreso than the first!

My favorite thing about this is the way that we get to see Iris and Roman fall in love through letters once again, this time with Roman being unaware of who was really on the other end. Iris had to wrestle with what to say and how to say it, like Roman did before, but with the added weight of the world to worry about.

The way that alliances came about, many unexpected, felt authentic to a world being taken over by a tyrant. There were multiple times where I felt the descriptions of how people acted during a potentially divisive experience were so poignant it squeezed at my heart. The things most would say they would do versus the things that they actually do, and the reactions to those whose actions match their declarations. It hit home after the last few years, that's for sure.

The way that the god 'romance' hit was a bit jarring at times, though it certainly made it easy enough to figure that Dacre was the villain, through and through. The way that he was annhiliating basically every city until the capital, Oath, until his unwilling bride came out of hiding was pretty extreme!

This was a fantastic conclusion to Iris and Roman's story!


My Source: I purchased a hardcover copy to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Rebecca Ross
Rebecca Ross is the #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy books for teens and adults.

She has written multiple highly acclaimed duologies, including LETTERS OF ENCHANTMENT, ELEMENTS OF CADENCE, and THE QUEEN’S RISING as well as two standalone novels: DREAMS LIE BENEATH and SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG.

When not writing, she can be found in her garden where she plants wildflowers and story ideas. She resides in Northeast Georgia with her husband and her dog.
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Monday, March 18, 2024

REVIEW: "Legendary" by Stephanie Garber (Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult)

LEGENDARY
by Stephanie Garber

Publisher: Flatiron Books
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publication Date: May 29th, 2018

Series: Caraval, #2
Standalone: Could be, yes, but first book is highly recommended



Categories:
A Whole New World, Alter Ego, Enemies to Lovers, Love Triangle? (Not really, but sort of), Strong Heroine, Not Your Hero/Anti-Hero, Magic
Other Books by Stephanie Garber:
#1

Goodreads
#3

Goodreads
#3.5

Goodreads
Spin-Off

Goodreads
Description from Publisher:
A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister, Scarlett, from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice, but now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever...

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . the games have only just begun.

My Rating:
Heat Rating:

I was so blown away by the first book, Caraval, I started this immediately afterwards. Which was great, as this picks up just after that first book.

This is Donatella("Tella")'s book. Tella is vivacious and up for adventure, though also prone to bouts of recklessness. She and Scarlett go with the Caraval crew to a special version of the game, off of the usual island, to the empress's birthday party at the capitol. I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan of her character in the first book (I'm more of a Scarlett myself), but it didn't take long for her to grow on me once I got inside of her head.

Stephanie Garber continues to enthrall with the magic and vibrancy, though this book is a little darker than the first. It's still very much Young Adult, but just has a bit more edge. Tella finds herself wrapped up in a love triangle of sorts, being involved with both Dante and The Prince of Hearts (Jacks), and there are definitely a lot of questions about who the real villain is.

I absolutely love this book, possibly even more than Caraval!


My Source: I rented this in both eBook and audiobook from a public library. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Stephanie Garber
#1 NYT & international bestselling author of the Caraval series and the Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy.
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Saturday, March 16, 2024

REVIEW: "You Deserve Each Other" by Sarah Hogle (Contemporary Romance)

YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER
by Sarah Hogle

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: April 7th, 2020

Series: You Deserve Each Other, #1
Standalone: Yes



Categories:
Contemporary Romance, Weddings
Description from Publisher:
When your nemesis also happens to be your fiancé, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.

Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They're preparing for their lavish wedding that's three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants out, but there's a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they're finally being themselves--and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.
My Rating:
Heat Rating:

This was kind of amazing. Incredibly character driven with so much emotion and depth. I didn't expect so much soul searching... The arc and development are so fantastic.

The layers that drop to expose what Naomi missed are slow coming but worth it. I loved Nicholas and what was obvious in regards to him from almost the start.

The haze lifting as Naomi wrestled with her demons... The strength Nicholas gets when it comes to boundaries... This book handled it all really well!

I will say that I was apprehensive about the way they treated one another at first. I didn't really find their pranks all that funny, and it bothered me the way Naomi reacted to things in a very egoistic way. It made a lot more sense as the story progressed though.

I could barely put this down by about 20% in. Wonderful story!


My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author:
Sarah Hogle is a mom of three who enjoys trashy TV and provoking her husband for attention. Her dream is to live in a falling-apart castle in a forest that is probably cursed. Her novels are You Deserve Each Other, Twice Shy, Just Like Magic, and Old Flames and New Fortunes.
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