Source: Library

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros | Book Review

Posted October 26, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 4 Comments

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros | Book ReviewFourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Series: The Empyrean #1
Published by Red Tower Books on May 2, 2023
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 528
Format: eBook
Source: Library
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Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

Hello, I’d like to introduce you to Fourth Wing, my new personality. I’m sure you’ve been seeing reviews of Fourth Wing all over the internet for months now, so I’m not going to say a lot here. I’m not going to discuss the characters or the story or anything specific, really. I’m just going to tell you my thoughts and whether or not this book is worth reading! My brain feels very unorganized, so a list of random thoughts it is! We all know how much I love lists!

  • This. Book. Is. Everything.
  • You need to read it.
  • The hype is absolutely 100% real and justified.
  • The world is rich and interesting and will suck you in.
  • The characters will make you either love or loathe them.
  • I loved dragons before, but the dragons in this book have my heart. I love them so much.
  • Basgiath War College is such a cool, yet ruthless place.
  • The romance was on fire.
  • This is the new ACTOAR series for me. I’m obsessed. I have needed a romantasy series like this for so long, and I am so excited about how long it’s supposed to be.
  • I haven’t read a book this quickly in an extremely long time. I could not stop, it was so gripping.
  • There’s danger!!
  • Prepare to cry.
  • Your mouth will drop at the end.
  • Seriously, beware the cliffhanger.

I can sum it all up in two words: read it. I will never not recommend this book! I am counting down the days until my copy of Iron Flame, book #2, arrives in my mailbox! I can’t wait!!


The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin | Book Review

Posted October 19, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin | Book ReviewThe Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Published by Harlequin Audio on August 1, 2023
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 416
Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw.

All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.

With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto.

But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left - literature.

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a beautiful, beautiful story. I love Madeline Martin’s WW2 novels because she does such a good job of presenting difficult subject matter in a very tender and reverent manner. She makes you fall in love with the characters, and highlights the good, heroic people who fearlessly fight to protect their people and the things that matter most to them. Zovia is an amazing character. Her loyalty to her loved ones, her bravery to fight, and her fearlessness to push back were inspiring. Her love for her best friend, Janina was palpable. One can only dream of having such a strong friendship like this. Janina was also inspiring. I can’t think of her without feeling a little sad, but also amazed. When I think of all the supporting characters, I can only come up with adjectives like “fierce”, “brave”, “fearless”, and “loyal” to describe them. To think that there are people in this world and in this world’s history that are like these two girls and the members of their community makes me hopeful that there is still so much good here even when the majority of news headlines continually remind us of the people who only seek to cause pain.

The holes in my world history education have left me unaware of the depth of what Poland went through during this time. I knew the German invasion and occupation of Poland ushered in WW2, but I had never learned the details I learned in and because of this book. I am grateful to The Keeper of Hidden Books for inspiring me to go research more and learn. Isn’t that what a good historical fiction novel does? I was heartbroken to learn of the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw, which was essentially an overcrowded prison riddled with disease and pain. I was horrified to learn of the round-ups, where Nazis came and randomly took people away, never to be seen again. The only indication of where they went were little notes of goodbye fluttering in the breeze that Zovia gathered from the ground and delivered to the families of those who were taken. I was so sad to learn that the Soviet Union sent soldiers to Poland that people thought were there to help them defeat the Nazis, only to discover that they were actually waiting to take Poland for themselves. Poland went through Hell. Heartbreak after heartbreak, for years. And if you were a Jewish person living in Poland, you had even more reason to live in constant fear. My heart hurt reading about all of this. And yet, the hope was there. They never lost hope, and risked their lives to preserve their culture for the hopeful future that they never looked away from. It was inspiring and humbling to read about, and I always come away from WW2 fiction in awe of the people who lived through it. And those who gave their lives trying to stop it.

I loved the strong focus on books and the power of reading in this book. That’s another reason why I really enjoy Madeline Martin’s books. She tends to zero in on how literature has helped so many through hard times, and I love that. I thought the anti-Hitler book club was such an interesting part of the story, and really loved sitting in on the secret discussions the characters had about the books Hitler banned. I loved the strong friendships they formed through reading these books together. The power of books and reading is endless, and the hope that books bring in the darkest of times never ceases to tug at my heartstrings. Books have gotten me through so many “wars” in my own life.

All in all, I really enjoyed The Keeper of Hidden Books, even though it’s one of the more somber and grim WW2 novels I’ve read lately. The hope is there, but the heartbreak I felt caused me to have to step away from the genre for a little while. It’s important to learn of dark events in history, so I am very glad I read this. The writing was stunning, and I was inspired by these characters and their stories. It was also very hard to read at times, though, so I recommend taking it slow and taking care of yourself. Read another book while you’re reading this one so you can switch for a little while to lighten your heart. I highly recommend the audio! Saskia Maarleveld is my favorite narrator of books in this genre. Her soothing voice and amazing accents are a treat for the ears. I can’t wait to see what Madeline Martin writes next!


A McMillan Christmas by Bethany Claire | Book Review

Posted December 7, 2020 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

A McMillan Christmas by Bethany Claire | Book ReviewA McMillan Christmas by Bethany Claire
Series: Morna's Legacy #7.5
Narrator: Lily Collingwood
Published by Self on December 14, 2016
Genres: Holiday - Christmas, Romance, Time Travel
Length: 3 hours 10 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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Morna’s magic returns in this new Holiday story sure to warm your heart and make you believe in the miracle of love.

A Time For Second Chances

When the worst snowstorm of the century hits the Scottish Highlands just in time for the Christmas holiday, Harper knows she must seek shelter from the storm. With her grandparents’ home still hours away and the roads growing more hazardous by the minute, she is left with no choice but to take refuge in the one place she swore to never return— McMillan Castle—the home of the only man to ever break her heart.

Christmas only serves to remind Kamden McMillan of all that he’s lost. As he settles in for yet another holiday spent alone, he is stunned when his ex-girlfriend breaks into his home to escape the snow. With the storm projected to last for days, Kamden sees this time alone with her as a chance to make things right.

Just as they begin to get reacquainted, Morna’s meddling magic sends them back in time, and both are forced to reconsider what they thought they knew about the other. Will returning to the year their relationship ended allow Kamden and Harper to mend the hurt between them? Or has history already sealed their fate?

I saw this little story on Hoopla while I was looking for a short Christmas read, and thought it would be a great way to check out Bethany Claire’s writing. I’ve been interested in the Morna’s Legacy time travel series for quite some time now, and this was a very magical and festive introduction that I really enjoyed. I love it when a snowstorm plays matchmaker, and that’s what happens here. Harper is on her way to spend Christmas with her grandparents, when this snowstorm forces her to quit her drive early and seek shelter at the McMillan Castle, which is supposed to be empty right now. Harper used to work there and knows where the secret key is stashed. So she lets herself in and comes face to face with Kamden, the man who broke her heart. Forced proximity makes hearts soften, apparently. Morna’s magic (which I’m thinking pops up a lot to make people fall in love) sends Kamden and Harper back in time to the year they broke up to see if a little clarity can help mend those hearts and bring these two lovebirds back together.

I loved this, and I think I would have loved it even more if I’d read the other books in the series leading up to this one. The time travel aspects and Morna and some of the characters might have been less of a mystery to me. Still, though, I really enjoyed what I got and am eager to jump into this series now. The writing was really well done, and I enjoyed listening to this narrator. I also liked the strong message of forgiveness. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a magical Christmas story set in the snowy Scottish Highlands.


A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan | Book Review

Posted October 19, 2018 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 0 Comments

A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan | Book ReviewA Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan
Published by Blink on August 14, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Retelling
Pages: 313
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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King Midas once had the ability to turn all he touched into gold. But after his gift—or curse—almost killed his daughter, Midas relinquished The Touch forever. Ten years later, Princess Kora still bears the consequences of her father’s wish: her skin shines golden, rumors follow her everywhere she goes, and she harbors secret powers that are getting harder to hide.

Kora spends her days locked in the palace, concealed behind gloves and veils, trying to ignore the stares and gossip of courtiers. It isn’t until a charming young duke arrives that Kora realizes there may be someone out there who doesn’t fear her or her curse. But their courtship is disrupted when a thief steals precious items from the kingdom, leaving the treasury depleted and King Midas vulnerable. Thanks to her unique ability to sense gold, Kora is the only one who can track the thief down. As she sails off on her quest, Kora learns that not everything is what it seems—not thieves, not pirates, and not even curses. She quickly discovers that gold—and the power it brings—is more dangerous than she’d ever believed.

Midas learned his lesson at a price. What will Kora’s journey cost?

I’ve always been fascinated by mythology, but I’ve read very few retellings of mythological stories. When I learned of this retelling of the story of King Midas from his daughter’s perspective I was immediately intrigued. In the original story of King Midas, the king is granted one wish from the god of wine, Dionysus. The king wished that everything he touched turned to gold, making him the wealthiest man in the world. Everything is fine at first, but then he tries to eat and can’t because his food turns to gold. His daughter, seeing his dismay, throws her arms around him to console him and turns to gold herself. Obviously the moral of the story is to not be greedy and to value family more than wealth.

A Touch of Gold picks up where the story of King Midas ends, so it’s not exactly a retelling. It’s close, though. In A Touch of Gold, King Midas’s daughter, Kora, survived the touch and is alive and human once again. However, she has suffered permanent side effects. Her skin has a gold sheen to it, and anything she touches turns to gold. She can also sense gold, and it calls to her constantly. This side effect in particular is kept a secret. The King has also suffered long-lasting side effects. He cannot be too far away from the remaining items that he turned to gold himself. They are stored in a room in his palace, but someone breaks in and steals them one night. The king begins to get very sick and slowly deteriorates. In an effort to save his life, Kora goes on a journey by ship to find and return the gold to her father before it gets so far away that he dies. A handsome duke offers to take her on his ship, and the adventure begins.

A Touch of Gold is filled with action, adventure, betrayal, and a bit of romance. I flew through it pretty quickly because it was such an entertaining story. Some other mythological stories and woven into the story of King Midas, and it was very interesting to see how the author chose to do that. I liked the characters, and the twists and turns that they were involved in.

I can definitely see room for a sequel or a companion novel, and I hope that Annie Sullivan writes more mythological stories to expand this world that she has created in A Touch of Gold. Her writing is lovely and flowing, and I really enjoyed my reading experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this story to those interested in mythology and adventures on the high seas. There’s strong characters and just a hint of romance, so I think there’s something in it for everyone.


The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner | Book Review

Posted October 17, 2018 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 8 Comments

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner | Book ReviewThe Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Series: The Queen's Thief #1
Published by Greenwillow Books on December 27, 2005
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 280
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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The king's scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king's prison. The magus is interested only in the thief's abilities.

What Gen is interested in is anyone's guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.

I’ve been hearing great things about Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief series for years, but wasn’t ever really interested in The Thief because there’s no romance in it. I must have at least a little romance in my books or I start to go a little nuts! However, I quickly changed my mind when I found out that Steve West narrates these books because I’m basically in love with him. Honestly, his narration was pretty much the only reason I even finished it. I mean, it was ok. I was intrigued enough that I wanted to see how things ended. And I’d heard of an awesome twist that happens in The Thief, so I was curious about that as well. A word to the lovers of this series: don’t make it sound THAT amazing and filled with twists and action because I built it all up so much in my head that I’m not sure anything would have lived up to my anticipation. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. The bulk of this story takes place during a journey toward a mythical treasure. There’s a lot of walking. A LOT of walking and traveling and horseback riding and stopping for camp at night. Things were very uneventful for a long time. 

2. Gen complains a lot. Like, I wanted to slap him upside the head all the time but didn’t because he’s STEVE WEST so I refrained from getting too mad. I mean yes, his life is not so good. He’s been held prisoner and now he’s been let out to go steal a treasure for the magus so the magus can give it to the king and have all the credit and notoriety. That sucks. Gen is a prisoner during the entire journey. That’s not fun at all. But oh my gosh, does he have to be such a whiney baby!?

3. I found the mythology of this world to be rather interesting. While the characters walk and walk, they tell the stories of their belief system. We get to hear about the creation and their system of gods and goddesses. It was interesting for a while, but then I started to grow bored and wanted something else to happen.

4. The twist. As I mentioned before, when people build something up to be so unbelievably amazing and exciting I almost always end up being disappointed. I wish I hadn’t known a twist was coming. Maybe my imagination is just way too big, but I thought up a ton of possible twists that would have been more exciting to me. Yes, it’s a twist. Yes, it did kind of make me double-take and start analyzing everything up to that point to see why I hadn’t thought it up myself. But it was still not as grand as I had hoped. It did make me glad I finished the book, though, so I guess it still worked a little.

All in all, I enjoyed The Thief enough to immediately start The Queen of Attolia. I wanted to know where things would go next, and I wanted to listen to more of Steve West’s swoony voice!! But I ultimately DNFed it after about an hour into the audiobook, so I guess I reached the point where even Steve couldn’t keep me going anymore. And that makes me sad. I can see why people like these books, but I can also tell that they came out before YA fantasy really took off. I’ve just read much better.