Review: Bow Before the Elf Queen by JM Kearl

Bow Before the Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I decided to dive into this book because Bookish Box is doing a special edition of our and I wanted to see if I wanted to keep it or not. The answer: yes, I'm keeping it! (Unless they destroy the cover arr, then maybe not...)

I was reading through some Goodreads reviews about it being bland and a mash up of other popular fantasy books. I really didn't think it was bland. I loved being able to go into 2 characters viewpoints. I loved seeing the characters develop. And I read this very quickly, for it being a 500+ page book. I just went to get book 2 on Amazon actually. And i don't read a lot of fantasy novels, so I guess I'm lucky that I have nothing to compare it to. 

Layala is a fantastic character. She's strong willed, determined, and independent and I love those things about her. But the longer she figures out the truth, the more her personality shifts into other characteristics. And the emotional turmoil she goes through with her feelings towards Thane are remarkable. 

Thane is amazing. Seriously, he's my favorite. He is so determined to save his people not also change Layala's mind about him and his world. And he does many of it slyly that Layala doesn't write know what he is doing. 

I totally called the traitor. I don't know how or why, there was no aha moment, but I knew it was coming. 

So, yes, off to book 2 cause I need to know what happens next. Though i know book 2 has a cliffhanger too so that will also be brutal when I get to the end. 

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Review: Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC novel from Edelweiss.  This is my honest review. 

I'm so mad at how much I loved this book.  I'm mad cause now I have to wait for the rest of the series to be released!!!  I am a binge reader, so this wait for book 2 and 3 is going to end me, I just know it!

I'm honestly surprised (in a good way) at how much I enjoyed this series.  I've been reading A LOT of YA fantasy books as of late to get through my older ARCs, and haven't loved them quite as much as I love this one.  I think because it's so unique from anything else I've read.  To read the book through a villain, a monsters, eyes but have that character not be as monstery as you would imagine.  To see the hero, but see them as the villain.  

It really makes you step back a second and think, how can one judge who is a villain and a hero?  Because depending on your viewpoint, your standing, it makes a huge difference.  Sure, the monsters that Joan hasn't met yet COULD be evil.  But what we saw Nick to do people he doesn't know?  To people Joan loves?  That seemed pretty darn evil to me.  Though if we had read this book through Nick's point of view, I'm sure we would have felt the complete opposite.  It's really fascinating to think about. 

Joan.  I love her, honestly.  She's literally a fish out of water.  She's been thrust into this world after watching her family disappear and she has questions.  We, the reader, have questions.  But to see her perspective, as essentially a human viewpoint, she is very quick with the change and learns very fast.  Though she definitely makes mistakes and asks questions to the wrong person at the wrong time.  

Aaron.  Can I say that I adore him?  I really do, even though I'm not sure I'm supposed to.  The way he slunked off at the beginning was a bit unsettling, which makes me wonder what will happen in the upcoming novel.  But the way he's personality changed the longer he was with Joan was amazing and I'm sad that will be gone. 

Nick is just....Ugh.  I have feelings.  I like him, but then again I don't.  And I think that's how I'm probably supposed to feel, but his whole origin story is just sad and makes me feel like I should like him more.  Maybe it's because we didn't get a lot of great interaction with him in the novel.  I honestly don't know what Team I'm on yet. 

The only thing I wish was a bit different was the explanation of the monster world.  Especially the monster family.  I know they all have gifts, and that it was explained, but I still feel very distant from what family does what and how and what they benefit from it, etc.  So maybe when book 2 comes out, I'll reread this one and try to get a better understanding of that first before diving into what I think will be an amazing book 2!

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Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Caraval by Stephanie Garber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review. 

This was an interesting storyline. Something i can say I've never read before. Because it was full of secrets and lies and mysteries, our was a bit hard to keep up with the story to figure out what was real or false.

I really dislike Tella. She's pretty selfish and bratty. Scarlett had been trying her whole life to protect Tella and she does this? It's very backstabbing to me. To make Scarlett go through that emotional turmoil and then act like it was nothing when the truth was revealed? I think I would leave her in the past and never speak to her again. That would destroy my trust and possibly my love for her to be honest. 

I know this is a pretty popular series do I am glad I finally read it to see what everyone was hyped up about. I'm not that hyped up, but I did appreciate the uniqueness of this story. I'll be continuing on since I have the rest so we'll see if I find the sequels are any better or not. 

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Review: Bright Raven Skies by Kristina Pérez

Bright Raven Skies by Kristina Pérez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review. 

I'm glad I finished this series because I would have been left wondering what happened. And i did enjoy it. I just could have enjoyed it in 2 books probably. 

I am 100% a fan of Marc. He may be an unrelated character in the scene of things, especially in Branwen's revolving world, but I seriously think he and Branwen would have been amazing together. Even with Marc loving another. But they are so similar to each other so I'm not surprised. 

In my mind Branwen and Tristan eventually find each other years later. I need a happily every after so that's where my mind is happy with. 

This is definitely different from what I normally read. I'm glad i read it and experienced this storyline. But I don't think it will be something I pick up again in my future. 

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Review: Wild Savage Stars by Kristina Pérez

Wild Savage Stars by Kristina Pérez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review. 

This book was better. I think because Branwen stand up for herself and not let everyone run all over her. Though her viewpoints on life have definitely taken a turn. 

I'm very curious to see how this all gets revealed. There is obviously someone in the inside sabotaging this city. I have a few ideas but nothing solid or concrete yet. 

I still very much hate Essy. She needs to grow up and learn that life isn't always fair. What would she have done without Branwen's love all of these years? I would have left that spoiled brat a long time ago, not being able to deal with that. 

Tristan is annoying. I can't help it. I don't like him. I much prefer Marc or Ruan. Those two I love. Tristan? He can leave for all I care. 

So I'm committed now. I'm reading book 3 to see how this all ends. I just hope I don't end up regretting this decision lol.

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Review: Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Pérez

Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Pérez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review. 

I read this book a bit slower than I have been reading lately and that's because this story is a bit slow. I enjoyed the beginning and the end but that middle was a bit rough to get through. And honestly I was going to quit this series after this book because of that middle but that had me stunned so now I will read the 2nd book to see how things progress from that out of nowhere turn of events! 

Essie pisses me off. I can't say it any other way. I know she is young. I know she is strong willed. But she is a spoiled brat who is constantly whining about her life. I also think she is bi-polar honestly. 

And Branwen. She's like a doormat. She's letting everyone just treat her however they want to in the moment and somehow that doesn't bother her? She bending over backwards to babysit her cousin and no one seems to see the sacrifices she is making. It's really quite annoying. 

Tristan is a middle ground character. I like him, but he's overshadowed with my feelings about the two girls. I love how dedication and determination when it comes to Branwen. I'll be interested to see how eventing unfolds with those two.

So yes, I'm going to try book 2. But only because of that ending. Hopefully things will pick up enough to keep my interest until the end of the trilogy. 

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Review: The Betrothed by Kiera Cass

The Betrothed by Kiera Cass
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC from Edelweiss.  This is my honest review. 

I tried, I really did, but this started off slow and then with the storyline going the way that it was, I knew I wasn't going to be able to stick with it and love it.  I am a huge,  huge fan of The Selection, so I was really hoping that I would love this too, but I just can't.  

For Hollis to spend so much time wanting to become the queen, only for her eyes to stray to the first new person in her town and have that connection.  I know the King isn't going to take it well and I just can't deal with the "I should be with him but I like the other guy" scenario that is playing around in my head. 

I'm very glad I got the chance to read this eARC, I just wish I loved it more. 

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