Review: Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles

Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With this being my first Catherine Cowles book, I wasnt sure what to expect going in. But I'm glad I decided to read it because I was hooked! 

Braedyn is a great character. She is determined, focused and resourceful. She is not going to back down from anything and i love that quality about her. I love her connection with her son Owen. I absolutely freaking love that she got Yeti and trained her to be a search dog. And I love that she was determined to get answers about Nova, no matter the result, because she loves that human. 

Dexter is great. I love that he's a badass but also extremely nerdy. And how he connected with Owen over computers was really adorable. 

For once in my romance only reading lifestyle, I didn't care about the romance! I wanted to know who the unsub was. I wanted to know about Nova. I needed to know all of those things and got pretty nervous because I got so close to the end without those answers. Thankfully it all came rushing at the end and I got my answers, but I was pretty amped up that i would have to wait until book 2.

The Archer brothers are pretty awesome not gonna lie. Wylder, Kol, Orion, Dex and Maverick. All 5 are so different from each other, but they 100% have each other's back after what their serial killer father did. I can't imagine the trauma they have gone through, and are still going through. I'm glad they have Kols daughter, Skylar there and their Uncle Waylon.

I will absolutely be reading book 2 because I need to know more about those two characters. And I will need to read Orion's story to see him get his HEA after everything he's been through. Plus I gushed when he started opening up to Brae and how protective he became towards her. I know it will be even better when he's with the woman he falls for! 

Glad i dived into this book and can't wait for the rest of the series! 

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Review: When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was extremely hard to get into. In fact, it took me 3 tries before finally being able to get into the story and not feel extremely lost. But I was determined to give it another try because I love all of is the editions I bought and I love dragons and romantasy stories and was not going to give up without my full effort. 

And I finally did get their the whole 750 pages. Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? Not really. Will I read the next book? If i can remember enough of the story to not have to painstakingly reread this book again. 

Which is why from here on out I'm having spoilers in my review. Proceed with caution. I need to reread this and remember all the details. You've been warned. 

SPOILERS

Raeve/Elluin is such a strong willed character who is utterly terrified. Those don't make sense together but she is so loyal and fierce for people in her life, but terrified to remember her life as Elliun. Terrified to open up to Raan and be the part of herself that he remembers. 

Her past as Elluin was devastating. She loved her mah and pah and her brother Haedean fiercely. She loved her Moonplum dragon Slatra with every heart beat she had. And she loved Raan even though she was forced to be with his evil brother Tyroth until her and Slatra's death into the sky. She had Raan's child posed as Tyroths kid to keep her alive. Her daughter, Kyzari. Who Kyzari is NOW being held by the Scavenger king. 

Raeve was tortured by a mystery half brother of Raan's, Arkyn (Scavenger King), when she was reincarnated? Brought back to life by Slatra? Not sure how she's back after all these years to be honest. The Scavenger King called Raeve Fire Lark. 

Raeve loved Fallon (when imprisoned by the Scavenger King) and Essi. Both died. One from the Scavenger King and the other by Rekk Zharos. Both have caused a crate of devastation inside of Raeve that she had buried deep inside of her where she doesn't have to deal with it. 

There are 5 elemental gods. They are Caelis (Aether/Space), Bulder (Ground/Earth), Rayne (Water), Clode (Air), and Ignos (Fire). Raeve has four elemental gods inside of her: Bulder, Rayne, Clode, and unknoen to her, Ignos. There is also inside of her: The Other who is controlling Ignos. Iron hids the thoughts of the gods so Raeve usually wears an iron ring until she wants them to take control. 

Raan has 4 siblings: Arkyn (secret, half brother), twins Tyroth & Cadok (evil, malicious), and sister Veya, who when born, their mother died in childbirth. Veya has found the diary of Elluin and can now find out some secrets of Elluin to hopefully help Raeve remember her past life. 

Raeve is helping a new moonplum dragon heal, Liri, who was tortured by Rekk Zharos and was made to fly in the blistering sun, which is deadly to Moonplums and goes blind by the sun and gets burned on their scales/skin. 

Raeve/The Other catches Rekk Zharos and is now torturing him because he killed Essi and whipped Raeve with an iron tipped whip. 

Alright I believe that gives the most details is what transpired in this book. Hopefully it will bring me up to speed for book 2 when it releases in May. 

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Review: Wrecker by Carl Hiassen

Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Read for Battle 26.

I thought the character, Wrecker, was left to his own devices a bit too much in this book and found himself in some hairy any sketchy situations. I liked that he was cleaning the gravestone for Mr. Riley, but the ending for that storyline was a bit bittersweet. The repeating of the family history was a bit overdone and i could have been reminded less of all the Valdez's before him. The relationship with Willi was just weird. And yet another book revolving around COVID as a medal winner. Hopefully that trend will die down soon as we don't need to keep reading them over and over.

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Review: Once Upon a Demon's Heart by KM Moronova

Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has a pretty slow pace but enough to keep me intrigued and find out what happens on the next page. I loved the revealed secrets at the end even though I guessed most of them. Alira has been through a lot in her life so far and the amount of guilt she has is a insane. I dont think her life will get any better, especially since it seems like her husband and everyone she lives with in her new home hates her. Kalel is full of secrets and mixed feelings about everything it seems. I'll be curious to see how these two pan out after his devious secrets are revealed. 

I definitely enjoyed this book and I'm glad I decided to read it! 

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Review: Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my first Elise Kova book and of course I had to pick the dragon one. And it was okay. I found that there were a lot of slow parts for me where I lost interest for one reason or another. The rules is this world confused me somewhat and I got tired of the characters repeating things over and over. Lucan was frustratingly all over the place with his loyalty and his statements. I could tell he was hiding a big secret. Sephia - that was shocking to me.  

And Isola was okay as the FMC. She had trust issues not just with the people in her life but also herself. She didn't like the path she was being led to but didn't do anything about it. She had a strained relationship with both her parents. The situation with her and Lucan felt awkward and forced. Honestly she just felt like a puppet with every person in her life. 

I'm glad i read this. I keep trying to find a dragon book that will scratch my fourth wing itch but nothing comes close sadly. I'm not sure if I will read the second book when it releases as I did get somewhat bored with this one. But I could see a lot of readers enjoying this story. 

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Review: By Your Side by Kasie West

By Your Side by Kasie West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC copy in exchange from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Kasie West's novels and "By Your Side" was definitely not a disappointment!! I love it so much. Granted, it could be because the main character, Autumn, gets locked inside a library for a whole weekend and I work in a library. Though I really don't envy her, because I wouldn't want to be locked inside a library for 3 days. I get cold at work during the day; I can only imagine how cold it would be for the whole weekend without being able to control the temperture.

But it's not only the library aspect that made me love this novel. I loved Dex. He is so down to earth and real. He reminds readers that not all of the characters are these perfect people that give us how that we can find a man just like him. No, Dex has a crappy life and he is just waiting for the day that he can be in control of his life to really make a difference.

And he gives Autumn another perspective of life and how she doesn't have to give in to peer pressure and do things that her friends want to do, but not necessarily what she wants to do. Autumn wants to impress and make her friends happy, but it is affect her health condition at the same time. Dex gives her the atmosphere of non-pressure and he is concerned about her health, making Autumn realize that she doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to do.

All of the other characters, especially Jeff and Dallin, are great friends to Autumn, but she is keeping a big secret from them that will come to bite her in the butt later on.

This is such a great book that all book loves will love (cause of the library aspect) but also good for dealing with peer pressure, making decisions about what one really wants in their life, and finding a way to come to terms with a health condition that needs to be acknowledged rather than hidden and ignored. There are so many great lessons in this book that I think a wide variety of readers will love it!

I'm so glad that I was able to get an eARC copy of this novel and it will definitely be a book that I will re-read again and may even have to buy a print copy when it's released in January! I will definitely be recommending this to other readers!

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Review: The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ummm I truly did not expect to love this as much as I did! Bravo to Bookish Box for picking it and getting me to read before my subscription renewed! I probably wouldn't have picked it up based on the cover of the book so I'm very pleased with this revelation. 

Bryony is such an amazing character. The fearlessness she portrays and the amount of sass she gives is fantastic. After literally dying for a god she didn't respect but for her people that she loves, she truly does not give a rats ass about proper attitude towards the Gods she should be terrified of. And I loved it so much! 

And for that recklessness to attract Evanders attention? Brilliant. He was just a shadow of himself, mindlessly following orders before he stumbled into Bryony. But the second he met her, he was instantly intrigued and amused. And that was his downfall towards the obsession that would become later. 

The politics and the multiple names for everyone was all background noise to me, honestly. It was done well and I'm sure if I focused on those parts more I would know everything, but my main focus was this connection between these two characters. The fact that they were meant to be after what their pasts or past family members did is incredible.

I'm so glad the uncle got what was coming to him. And Theo? How she can block so the Gods can't get into her mind? Fascinating. I can't wait to see her and Bastian butt heads (among other parts I'm sure) in what I'm guessing is the next book in the series! 

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