Book Review: For the Throne by Hannah F. Whitten

*See my review for the first book, For the Wolf

Let's just get this out of the way first: I love this book just as much as I love the first one, which is a lot. This duology is fantastic. Hannah Whitten has written some of my favorite characters in fantasy and woven a fascinating world around them. The way she built the magic, the way she talks about monsters and gods, it all really works for me on a deep level. 

For the Wolf was about the Wilderwood. For the Throne is about the Shadowlands. Both are about sisterhood and the lengths that Neve and Red will go to save each other and how those actions affect the people who love them. If you loved For the Wolf, no worries, this book holds up to it. 

Summary:

Neve is pulled into the Shadowlands and her only help is Solmir, the once-king who tricked and betrayed her. The plan: to pull the kings out of the Shadowlands before they collapse, and kill them before they can reign havoc in the world again. But things are bigger than they seem and it's harder to hate Solmir than Neve would like. This is not just about Neve though, her and Red's stories are mirrors to each other, so while Neve hunts down gods, Red seeks answers where she can find them.

I highlighted a lot in this book, lines about monsters and divinity, emotional confessions, there were so many things that tugged at my chest. Including of course, every sweet moment between Red and Eammon, who fought so hard for their love in book one. The romantic relationships in this book are so well done and even if I didn't know that Hannah Whitten read romance, you can tell from her writing. The relationships feel real, she doesn't shy away from the intimacy piece of romance, and they're overall satisfying.

If you're reading this review and you haven't picked up the first book yet, you should. If you like magic forests, ancient gods, myths made real, and stories of deep love in all forms, these books deliver. I cannot wait to see and read more from Hannah, she's truly a fantastic writer and her storytelling has really resonated with me. I will come back to both of these books again and again.

5/5 Stars  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 *Digital ARC provided through NetGalley

Available June 7, 2022!

Buy: AMZ | B&N | Kobo | Bookshop

Book Review: The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes

 *Digital ARC provided through NetGalley

Every time I think I can't possibly love Cat Sebastian's writing even more she has to go and prove me wrong. The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes is the much anticipated follow-up to The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, and it lives up to and transcends expectations. That said, I would recommend reading The Queer Principles of Kit Webb before diving into this book because I think you will understand the story and get the most out of it that way. Trust me, it's no hardship to read the first book. It's excellent. And if you have read it, don't worry, there's plenty of Percy and Kit in this book and they are, of course, delightful.

Book Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

 

*ARC provided via NetGalley

Let's just get right to it: I loved this book a whole lot. Emily Henry really know how to deliver on beautiful writing, emotional depth, realistic characters, and bright/witty dialogue. Her books always feel so immersive and this one is no different. 

Summary

Nora Stephens is the high-maintenance city girlfriend in every guy-goes-to-a-small-town-and-falls-in-love romance book. She loves her Peloton and her impractical shoes and fancy skincare, and she loves her sister Libby and her agenting job even more. So when her sister drags her to a small North Carolina town, Sunshine Falls, that's the setting of one of her client's books, she's not feeling the need for her own small town romance. And the best part? That's not what this book is! Oh, there's definitely love, but it's with sharp-eyed editor, Charlie Lastra, who's visiting home from NYC to help his parents out. Both of them are city-people who don't quite fit into small town life and they can't help but be drawn together again and again.

Book Review: Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

 

*Digital ARC provided through NetGalley

As a devoted Christina Lauren fan, I knew going into this that I was going to have a good time and I was not disappointed! This book is so much fun and I can see why it's a book that they chose to write during these pandemic times. I mean, almost the entire book takes place outdoors! It's full of adventure, action, wild twists, and a truly swoony romance. If you're a fan of adventures moves like Indian Jones, Tomb Raider, and The Mummy, AND you like romance, you're going to want to pick up this book. 

So here's what you need to know!

The Pitch:

Young lovers are separated for a decade and come back together by chance for an adventure of a lifetime. Emotions run high as Lily and Leo confront their feelings for each other while searching for treasure. There's twists, turns, betrayals, a car chase, coded messages, and kissing -all the good stuff.

Book Review: Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi

Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance

*Digital ARC of this book provided through NetGalley for review.

The first Roshani Chokshi novel I ever read was The Star-Touched Queen, a beautiful and lyric fantasy love story that has stuck with me over time. I have yet to read her wildly popular Gilded Wolves series but I suspect I will love those books just as much. When I first saw this book, Once More Upon A Time, I was instantly drawn in by the beautiful cover and clever title. I am a sucker for anything based around fairy tales and this book delivered on being a lighthearted and fun look at the "once upon a time" formula for storytelling.

Book Review: Well Matched by Jen DeLuca

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

*Digital ARC of this book provided for review through NetGalley

Well Matched is the third book in Jen DeLuca's Renaissance Faire romance series and is a book that I have been excited to get my hands on since I finished book two last fall. I found Jen DeLuca through The Wicked Wallflowers Club podcast and the second I heard she had written a Ren Faire romance, I was in. I devoured Well Met (book one) and read Well Played (book two) the second it came out. I found them to be fun and sweet: a soothing balm to my unending stress during 2020. These books are light and fluffy while delivering on well-rounded characters, satisfying relationships, and steamy sex scenes. 

Book Review: House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

 

Genre: YA Horror

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland was enthusiastically recommended to me by a bookseller at my local Barnes & Noble and while I didn't buy it that day, it did stick in my brain and I ended up going back for it within the week. First off, that cover. It's stunning. And listen, I know, don't judge a book by it's cover, but it cannot be argued that beautiful art can sell a book. It's part of the appeal, especially when buying physical books. So does the actual book live up to such an incredible cover? Yes, yes it does.

Book Review: Bombshell by Sarah Maclean

Genre: Historical Romance

I'm a dedicated Sarah MacLean fan. I have loved every single one of her books and I listen to her podcast, Fated Mates, regularly. There was no question really that I was going to love this book, especially since it's such a long awaited love story in the MacLean universe.

Meat; a poem

I've got all this sad poetry stuck to my ribcage;

the stubborn meat of a dead beast

hiding my heart from the vultures

even though it's screaming to be eaten.

To be pecked and torn and swallowed;

to be the last meal of the starved and the greedy.

Book Review: For The Wolf by Hannah Whitten

*This book was sent to me as a giveaway prize by the author.

Genre: Adult Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling

Alright, before we get into this, I have to say upfront that not only was this book a gift, I also received a copy that has been annotated by the author. I won it in a Twitter giveaway before it released and I'm incredibly lucky and grateful to have it in my possession. I had intended to read it immediately and review it before its release in June but time got away from me, as time often does. The thing is, I knew I was going to love this book and that it was going to drag me deep into my feelings and I wasn't ready for it yet. But I've done it now and here we are.

And I was right, I loved it a whole lot and I have a lot of feelings about it. 

For The Wolf by Hannah Whitten is a home run book for me. It encompasses all my favorite things to find in a book -romance, complicated relationships with family, fairytale symbolism, magic forests, and breathless writing. And of course the exploration of what it means to be human and what it means to be a monster. Where and what are the lines and how do we walk them?

Thunder; a poem

Rolling out across the fields she is thunder

on a dark night.

Water drips from her fingertips,

heart heavy with summer rain.

She screams,

cries.

Creative Fiction Prompt: Personal Assistant

So I have one of those story prompt journals that you can get at Barnes and Noble and I am trying to get in the habit of actually using it. I find it's a good exercise to do to get in the habit of writing more, working the creative muscles if you will, and I'm excited to share some of it here for thoughts and feedback. I'd also love to know what you'd have written for each prompt because I'm fascinated by the ways different people approach the same idea.

So, without any further rambling...

This is Creative Fiction Prompt #1: A superfan becomes their idol's assistant.

-

They tell you not to meet your idols. Did I listen? No, of course not. Austin Moore has been my biggest celebrity crush for years. Ever since I had seen him in that movie about the Trojan War I have been reduced to nothing but drool and heart eyes whenever I see him on screen. Sure he seems gruff in interviews, but he’s probably just hiding a heart of gold, right? I read romance novels, I know how it’s supposed to go.

So when a friend of a friend knew someone who worked as his assistant, news travelled quickly to me when said assistant quit. I should have asked why. Instead I had asked for his agent's number so I could apply for the position. Stupid Brenna making stupid choices like always.

Because even though Austin Moore is hot like the sun, all golden muscles and scruffy beard, he is also a tremendous asshole. And now I’m stuck with him, personal assistant to a Hollywood jackass who won’t even let me actually assist him with anything. It’s been two weeks and I’ve almost walked out of the job at least three times. Three times of being so raging mad that it’s a miracle I didn’t shove a one of my heels in his stupid, handsome face.

Romance Novels & Me

A Girl & Her Books

I read my very first romance novel at ten. Thinking about that now mostly has my head spinning about the fact that it's been 21 years since I was ten. Time and age are fickle things, advancing quickly while the daily hours seem to drag on forever. Anyways, it was 2000 and my cousin, who was twelve and therefore very wise and grown up in my eyes, handed me a romance novel she had borrowed from the library. It was a new release and she had just finished reading it and loved it so much that she wanted to talk about it with someone. Knowing how much I loved to read made me the obvious choice and I took it from her gladly. I read it while sprawled out across her bedroom floor over the course of the next two days, not looking up from it for hours at a time. I was totally enthralled.

My memory of what happened in this book are sparse. It was returned to the library and eventually I forgot about it altogether as I was engrossed in other books, a good portion of them more romance novels. Recently I did some digging based off of my vague memories of it and did manage to hunt down a copy. It was The Wish by Marianne Willman. It's not a book I've ever heard anyone talk about since it came out so I'm amazed I remembered at all. I haven't reread it yet but I absolutely plan to.

Hunger; a poem

Sometimes hunger feels like emptiness,

a hollow weightlessness,

as if I might float away from everything

and drift into the waiting clouds.

My Fear & Love of Writing

Originally posted to WordPress, September 2019.

Writing is something that I have done from a young age. I was always writing little short stories, bits of poetry, and even novels scrawled into composition notebooks. Most people who identify as writers have a similar story. I was born with a love of words as much as I was with blonde hair and pale skin.

Despite this deep love, my history with writing has been tumultuous. There have been periods of my life when I have written avidly -every day and all kinds of writing. I had notepads full of poetry (much of it morbid) and when I got older, endless word documents filled with scraps of stories. I have also had long stretches of time where writing is something I can't bring myself to do, no matter how much I love it. I'm having one of those stretches now, and it's been going on for a long time at this point.