I really wanted to like this book. I’m a sucker for mythology retellings and when I heard this described as a feminist retelling, I was so excited to dig in. In the end, this was an ok book, but not quite for me.
One of my problems was the pacing. This book had moments of fast-pace, but for the most part seemed to drag painfully slow. I was intrigued enough to keep going, but by the end I had to force myself to keep reading at times.
I also wasn’t a fan of the ending. While I appreciate that the author was trying to stay close to the actual myth of Perseus, I found myself feeling really unsatisfied by the end.
I didn’t hate this book by any means. In fact, there were parts I genuinely enjoyed. But overall, I was a little disappointed. I am still glad I gave it a read though!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Dutton, for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a fun book! I instantly fell in love with Emily and her adorable dog. It was so fun to be a part of their adventure.
I loved the world Fawcett created. It was almost the same as our own, but with faeries and magic. The rich history and details about the fae folk and how they interacted with humans made this world feel so real. It made me want to be a part of it.
The characters were also so delightful. I loved Emily’s bookish, crotchety personality and her growth as the book progressed. And her banter with Wendell was so fun.
I would highly recommend this book! It reminded me of another favorite series, A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. I cannot wait to read more in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
What a fun ride! This book started off a bit slow for my taste, but once it got going I was hooked!
I particularly loved how magic was used, and the way it connected with the world-building and history of the world. It was really fun to learn about the different powers and types of creatures/people able to wield it. I also found it interesting how magic was used by those in power to control others.
Not only did I enjoy the magic and plot of this book, but I adored the characters. Neve irritated me a little at first, but she really grew on me as the story progressed. And Ronan was so delightful. I honestly just wanted to wrap them all in a big hug and keep them safe!
I would highly recommend this book if you like fantasy stories with magic and political intrigue, but also strong characters. I hope we get to see more from this world soon!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Young Readers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
If you love sweet holiday romances, this is the perfect little book for you! It was so cute and heartwarming. This was the perfect way to start the Christmas season.
This book is relatively short, but I felt like the pacing fit so well and it didn’t feel rushed. While I would have loved to see more with this characters, I feel like the story ended at a good spot. It was a satisfying and delightful read!
I loved the characters and their development/growth. They were all so relatable and so genuine. It was so easy to root for them and enjoy their journeys.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone who loves Hallmark Christmas movies, or light romances in general. It’s such a fun read and like a nice warm hug.
Thank you to the author for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
I had high hopes for this one. It sounded like such a cool, exciting book. And while the premise is really interesting, I feel the book itself moved a bit too slow for my taste.
One issue I had with this book was that, while a lot of things happened, the plot itself didn’t really seem to progress. The majority of the book felt more like an introduction to the story than a full book. I do realize this is the first book in a series, but I was hoping for a little more plot.
I did enjoy the characters however. Each character had their own unique journey and point of view. I appreciated that every character had a voice of their own and they didn’t all blend together.
I’m not sure if I would recommend this one unfortunately. Like I said, the idea is cool and there were some really interesting parts. But after finishing, I was left wanting so much more and a little disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
I am so excited to share The Witch and the Tsar with you all! I was lucky enough to read this book ahead of time in exchange for an honest review. But now it’s out for everyone! Here is a description of the book:
As a half goddess possessing magic, Yaga is used to living on her own, her prior entanglements with mortals having led to heartbreak. She mostly keeps to her hut in the woods, where those in need of healing seek her out, even as they spread rumors about her supposed cruelty and wicked spells. But when her old friend Anastasia—now the wife of the tsar, and suffering from a mysterious illness—arrives in her forest desperate for her protection, Yaga realizes the fate of all of Russia is tied to Anastasia’s. Yaga must step out of the shadows to protect the land she loves.
As she travels to Moscow, Yaga witnesses a sixteenth-century Russia on the brink of chaos. Tsar Ivan—soon to become Ivan the Terrible—grows more volatile and tyrannical by the day, and Yaga believes the tsaritsa is being poisoned by an unknown enemy. But what Yaga cannot know is that Ivan is being manipulated by powers far older and more fearsome than anyone can imagine.
If you’re interested, here is what I thought of it:
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Review:
This is such a beautiful book! The writing was lovely, the descriptions lush and detailed, and the world so well-developed. It was a delight to read.
My only complaint, if it really counts as such, is that the pacing as a little slow at times. Particularly in the beginning, I had a little bit of a hard time staying focused because the plot seemed to drag. But once I got further into the book and got to know the characters, I couldn’t stop reading!
I mentioned earlier that the world created in the book is beautiful and described so well. But what really drew me into the book was the characters. Each one was so unique and fascinating. I loved getting to know them and seeing everyone interact.
I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you have an interest in Russian folklore. It’s a longer book, but well worth a read!
Credit: Nicola Levine Photography, LLC 2021
Olesya Salnikova Gilmore was born in Moscow, Russia, raised in the U.S., and graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in English/political science, and from Northwestern School of Law with a JD. She practiced litigation at a large law firm for several years before pursuing her dream of becoming an author. She is most happy writing historical fiction and fantasy inspired by Eastern European folklore. She lives in a wooded, lakeside suburb of Chicago with her husband and daughter. The Witch and the Tsar is her debut novel. Learn more online at www.olesyagilmore.com.
This book started off a bit choppy for me, but once the story took off I really enjoyed it! It’s a unique world, with lots of action and engaging characters,
I loved the different creatures Berwah included in this book. It was so interesting to see how the humans and creatures interacted, and how those interactions affected every aspect of their lives. It was so fun to learn about them and the world.
The characters grew on me as the story progressed. At first, I wasn’t a huge fan of Koral and found her a little annoying. But the more I got to know her, the more connected I stated to feel. She’s such a complex and interesting character.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was different in some ways, but familiar as well. I’m really interested to see where the story goes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the chance to read Monsters Born and Made in exchange for an honest review!
I never know what to expect when it comes to vampire books; some are incredible, but others leave me sadly disappointed or just downright annoyed. So I was a little hesitant to read this book. But, I should have known Rin Chupeco wouldn’t disappoint me. Yet again Chupeco has created a fascinating world, full of snarky, loveable characters.
I really loved how real this world felt. There wasn’t really any actual magic, although there are supernatural beings. But things were looked at through a more scientific lens, so it felt more realistic in many ways. And I enjoyed the mix of politics, world building, and history!
Speaking of enjoying, I have to mention how wonderful these characters are. They made me laugh, cry, want to punch some sense into them, and every other emotional response you can think of. I fell in love with so many of them and am absolutely dying to find out what happens to those loveable idiots!
If you enjoy action-packed books with a fair amount of steamy romance scenes, I would definitely recommend reading Silver Under Nightfall. I’m so glad I had the chance to read it and cannot wait for the sequel!
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun, fast read! If you love snarky, amoral characters, enemies to lovers, and magic, then this is a book for you!
I instantly loved Violet. She was not exactly a good person, but her actions made sense and she always kept things interesting; even when I wanted to smack her for being an idiot! And the rest of the characters were equally infuriating and entertaining.
The world Chen created was also so fun and interesting. I loved the magic system and the politics in this book. It all felt very real, like I could step right into this world.
I’m so glad I had the chance to read this book. It was exactly what I wanted and was so much fun. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a fun book! I loved the characters and the plot had enough twists to keep me thinking, but not too many to feel overwhelming.
It took me a chapter to really get into the book. I had a bit of a hard time figuring out exactly what was happening. But once I did, I had such a fun time reading this!
The plot was really interesting, but it was the characters that truly drew me into the story. I loved getting to know all of the different people and their personalities. I especially enjoyed Saffron and Alexander’s characters and their relationship.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, I would highly recommend giving this a read! I’m excited to see what Khavari comes up with next!
Thank you to NetGalley and crooked Lane Books for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
The Book Unicorn 