REVIEW: "The Bridge Kingdom" by Danielle L. Jensen (Fantasy, Romance)

THE BRIDGE KINGDOM by Danielle L. Jensen
	Publisher: CLA Genre: Fantasy, Romance Publication Date: August 13th, 2019 Series: The Bridge Kingdom, #1 Standalone: No, Cliffhanger
Categories/Tropes:
Arranged Marriage, Assassin, Royalty
Other Books By This Author:
#2 #3 #4
Description from Publisher:
A warrior princess trained in isolation, Lara is driven by two certainties. The first is that King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy. And the second is that she’ll be the one to bring him to his knees. The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Lara's homeland. So when she’s sent as a bride under the guise of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture its impenetrable defenses. And the defenses of its king. Yet as she infiltrates her new home and gains a deeper understanding of the war to possess the bridge, Lara begins to question whether she’s the hero or the villain. And as her feelings for Aren transform from frosty hostility to fierce passion, Lara must choose which kingdom she’ll save… and which kingdom she’ll destroy. Passionate and violent, The Bridge Kingdom is a seductive fantasy perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
A Favorite Quote: (No Spoilers!)
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
From the moment Lara's sisters went down, this book had my attention. The political intrigue here was really very well done, and at no time did I find myself confused about the different kingdoms and their distinct differences. I would have expected to, but this world really was built well and I found myself easily understanding Aren's position as kind, and what a betrayal by Lara would mean for the entire world. Not gonna lie, I got pretty irritated with how brainwashed Lara was, and how long it took for her to start waking up. It was important to remind myself that her entire life has been spent being fed a particular truth, and just how incredibly difficult it would be to have everything you have ever known be flipped on it's head. In light of that, I gave Lara some grace. She was otherwise a strong, compassionate woman, and I thoroughly enjoyed how that unfolded from the first chapter to the last. Aren, King of Ithicania, was also a fantastic male protagonist. The amount of respect he showed everyone around him won me over easily, as did his snark and sincerity. There was a moment where he felt disappointment at the fact that Lara wasn't his equal and instead a subservient princess that cemented to me that I was going to like him. He wasn't an annoying alpha, but didn't lack in strength and commanding respect. There was excellent chemistry between the two of them from the moment they are face to face. This is a slow burn, which I love, and they circle one another for quite awhile before you have no choice but to root for them. I always try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but will say that that last act had me wincing as I knew what was coming, my heart wrenched at the inevitable, and then pretty satisfied at the lead-up to the cliffhanger ending. This book will make you laugh at times, cheer at others, fan yourself a bit, and otherwise enjoy exploring the battles, strategy, and secrets.
My Source: I borrowed this via Kindle Unlimited to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of the Malediction series, the Dark Shores series, and the Bridge Kingdom series, as well as the forthcoming A Fate Inked in Blood. She lives in Calgary, Alberta with her family and guinea pigs.

REVIEW: "The Other Side of the Mirror" by Dana Evyn (Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance)

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR by Dana Evyn
	Publisher: City Owl Press Genre: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance Publication Date: April 9th, 2024 Series: The Mirror Trilogy, #1 Standalone: No
Categories/Tropes:
Found Family, Magic, A Whole New World (Fae Realm), Strong Heroine, Forced Proximity (One Horse, Camping), Fae, Finding Yourself
Description from Publisher:
What if the fairytale was always a lie? Seven years after her family’s murders, Eva is attacked by a magical creature and abducted to the faerie realm. When a handsome fae saves her, Bash reveals that he must bring Eva to her faerie soulmate to stop a world-ending Curse. She relents, but only for the opportunity to find answers about her parents’ deaths. As their journey progresses, Eva delves into her previously hidden magic—and grows steadily closer to Bash. But when she meets her prince, she soon learns that all is not what it seems. While mystery and intrigue surround her, Eva takes it into her own hands to uncover the truth. But what she discovers is beyond her imagination, as she unravels the fae’s web of lies. Don’t miss this romantasy into the fae realm with hidden secrets, steamy romance, and true fantasy adventure.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
I NEED THE NEXT BOOK, NOW!! Okay, so now that that is out of the way, I can get to my review. ;) There's a cliffhanger ending to this, as you would expect from a trilogy, and it is a doozy! When I started this, I wasn't necessarily feeling the first couple of chapters. Eva just seemed so much like she was refusing to actually LIVE because her family had perished in a housefire SEVEN years before, and something about that just didn't really grab me. HOWEVER, enter a muddy golem attack and banter with a handsome, freckled redhead and the tendrils of the Faewilds, Bash & Eva pulled me in. I just couldn't stop reading this, and stayed up all night (No regrets!). Eva has grown up in the mortal world, completely oblivious to the fact that not only does another realm exist, but that she and her family are Fae that had to flee their realm during a war. She has been basically on her own, with only her best friend, since both of their families died within a short time. When she meets Bash, a random stranger who thinks she needs protection and also that she is some sort of key to ending a world-ending curse, everything changes. Bash is a favorite type of hero of mine: Strong, mischievous, respectful, loyal, and willing to show some vulnerability. He's not into unnecessary violence, but will not hesitate to right a wrong when he sees one (like someone he cares about being hurt... ;) ). I loved the banter between Bash and Eva, and the slow burn that you want to turn into the inferno they deserve. There was so much chemistry between them, both physical and emotional! I'm not a fan of instalust or instalove, and there was none of that here. There was a good (welcome) amount of spice in the last half. The world itself, with its lore and magic, felt the right amount of fleshed-out for the first book in the series. The explanation as to why Eva didn't know about any of it worked for the story, as did the way it all got to come out. I liked the way everyone's magic was always around in some way, a bit playful at times, but not with a mind of its own (just an extension). This book isn't for the faint of heart, as the author gives fair warning of in the beginning. There is some darkness and grit, and the characters find themselves dealing with some truly despicable villains. There is some really great dialogue after some dark times, which I feel elevated the romance and the depth of the characters. I didn't expect to love this as much as I did, but it was one of those books that I was tempted to immediately re-read!
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: Dana Evyn
Dana Evyn is a romantasy author who has been lost in her daydreams for as long as she can remember, though she only recently started writing them down. When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading a good book—especially one with an indomitable female lead, a unique magical world, and a dark twist you don’t see coming. She lives in Kirkland, WA with her two tiny humans, ever-supportive husband, and giant golden retriever.
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REVIEW: "Caraval" by Stephanie Garber (Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult)

CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber
	Publisher: Flatiron Books Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Young Adult Publication Date: January 31st, 2017 Series: Caraval, #1 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Enemies to Lovers, Finding Yourself, Stuck With You (Forced Proximity), Magic, A Whole New World
Other Books by Stephanie Garber:
#2 #3 #3.5 Spin-Off
Description from Publisher:
A legendary competition. A mesmerizing romance. An unbreakable bond between two sisters. Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever. Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
My year started out with me in a terrible book slump. I DNF'd no less than 6 books, and was struggling to find something new. Then, my sister sent me this for Christmas. I typically have loved Fantasy (The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind is a big favorite!), but hadn't ventured too far into "Romantasy" as most seemed to be more instalust/erotica, which just isn't my cup of tea. The cover of Caraval was gorgeous, and it sounded like a fun story, so I gave it a shot. Holy hell, this book cured me of my book slump and just blew me away! From the first pages, I was intrigued and curious about Caraval and our heroine Scarlett. As the pace really picked up, I grew to adore Julian (hero), and absolutely fell in love with Stephanie Garber's writing style. Her descriptions of everything, and her world-building, were incredible. I especially enjoyed how she had Scarlett describe feelings using colors! The magic, mystery, and vibrant colors of the Caraval world were a real joy for my imagination. Scarlett starts off as a dutiful daughter and loyal sister, preparing to marry a man she has never met. She hopes to get both herself and her younger sister away from their abusive father. For years, she has written the mysterious "Master Legend" who hosts a magical experience for people on a private island, hoping to get an invitation. Just before she is to be married, her writes back and gives her three tickets. Her sister, Donatella ("Tella"), conspires with a sailor who is passing through to get all three of them to Caraval, despite Scarlett's protestations. Once they arrive, Tella disappears. Which leaves Scarlett alone, with little choice but to team up with Julian, who she barely trusts, as they try to win the game. I loved seeing Scarlett grow more into herself throughout the book! The arc was a very natural progression for Pre-Caraval Scarlett, which has you rooting for her to succeed. There were many twists I expected, but they all kept me guessing and finding myself to be wrong!
My Source: I received this as a gift from my sister. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

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