A Court of Silver Flames By: Sarah J. Maas

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A Court of Silver Flames By: Sarah J. Maas
Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing; 1st edition February 16, 2021
Genres: Fantasy; Action and Adventure; Romance
Pages: 751

Sarah J. Maas’s sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre’s fiery sister, Nesta.

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.

I’m so glad Nesta got her own book! Even though this book is part of the Prythian world it feels like almost a completely different story from the first four books. As an older sister I closely related to everything going on in Nesta’s mind. All her guilt and love for her sisters and her parents.

This book is definitely ADULT. It was way steamier than the rest of the series. I’m actually glad that I have it in a different cover because it should almost not be next to the rest of the series on the shelf.

I’m just gonna say it; the little box was lame. I waited so long to find out what was in the little box and now I wish I didn’t know.

I loved the entire thing! The story, the new characters, and the romance. Can’t wait for the next one!

Get a Life Chloe Brown By: Talia Hibbert

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Get A Life Chloe Brown By: Talia Hibbert
Published by: Avon November 5, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Women Fiction; Romantic Comedy; Multicultural Romance;
Pages: 384

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?

• Enjoy a drunken night out.
• Ride a motorcycle.
• Go camping.
• Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
• Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
• And… do something bad.

But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…

Great steamy Romance. Too many contemporary mentions of PlayStations and mountain dew bottles. Quick easy read. Loved it!

The Midnight Bargain By: C. L. Polk

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The Midnight Bargain By: C. L. Polk
Published by: Erewhon October 13, 2020
Genres: Historical Fiction; Fantasy;
Pages: 375

Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling. 

In a stroke of luck, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to becoming a Magus, but before she can purchase it, a rival sorceress swindles the book right out of her hands. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her get it back, but her new ally exacts a price: Beatrice’s first kiss . . . with her adversary’s brother, the handsome, compassionate, and fabulously wealthy Ianthe Lavan. 

The more Beatrice is entangled with the Lavan siblings, the harder her decision becomes: If she casts the spell to become a Magus, she will devastate her family and lose the only man to ever see her for who she is; but if she marries—even for love—she will sacrifice her magic, her identity, and her dreams. But how can she choose just one, knowing she will forever regret the path not taken?

This book was recommended to me by my bibliologist at TBR. I knew when I went into it I would like it. 

This book had some awesome shocking points. I haven’t wanted to throw a book in a while and her father almost brought me to chuck it across the room. 

Usually, the older sister has a strong want of making the world right for her siblings but Beatrice was a bit in her own world where her sister was more aware of the things going on in their family and the world around them. Harriett was very overwhelming but it was interesting that Beatrice just goes along with what she says even though she is three years younger.

My favorite character was Nadi. She was so childlike and funny. I also love the relationship between Nadi and Beatrice.

I’m not a big fan of current-day issues in my fantasy books. I read fantasy so I can enjoy a new world and realm to experience escapism. This book has a strong feministic view and it didn’t bother me. It was still very relevant to the historical aspect of the book. 

I wish this book had been longer. There could have been more of the underground organization.

I would love to see a book in Ysbeta’s point of view.

I think the biggest issue I had with the book was Ianthe’s name. Ianthe is Greek meaning purple flower and is usually given to female characters in history. I ended up just pretending his name was Ian. (Also Ianthe from ACOTAR was a jerk so shortening his name made me think he was a better person.)

This was a good read and it will be on my shelves and recommendation list for a long time! 4 stars!

Grave Mercy By: Robin LaFevers

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Grave Mercy By: Robin LaFevers
Published by: HMH Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition October 2, 2018
Genres: YA European Historical Fiction; YA Historical Romance
Pages: 554

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
     Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

This read was a suggestion of my Bibliologist from TBR and I was really excited for it.

That plot twist! Only 85 pages in and I was laughing out loud because I was so caught off guard. This author was all about the shocks and I loved it!

I think the story had a great arc and was very well summed up at the end. I don’t think I will be reading the others in the series because they focus on side characters that I didn’t feel that close to.