A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan

Title: A Fire in the Sky

Author: Sophie Jordan

Genre: Fantasy

Series: A Fire in the Sky # 1

Hardcover, 336 Pages 

Publication: September 24, 2024

Source: Personal Library
Buy|AMAZON|

Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying.

But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard...though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.

When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride...but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.

Magic is not dead...it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

MY THOUGHTS

I went into A Fire in the Sky with fresh eyes, having skipped the synopsis, and it turned out to be better than I anticipated. The reviews for the book weren’t great, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. The main plot, featuring tropes like hidden identity, secret power, and a marriage of convenience (a personal weakness of mine), may have been done countless times before, yet I found myself invested in Tamsyn and Fell’s story.

The world-building was straightforward and easy to follow but, at the same time, fairly basic. The setting revolves around a central kingdom with Viking-esque clans where humans, witches, and dragons coexist. While intriguing, the story took a while to truly get going. Despite the month-long journey Tamsyn undertakes to reach the Borderlands with the clan, little to nothing significant happens until about the midpoint of the book.

Apart from the main couple, there was another love interest, Stig the guard. I didn’t understand why the author included him, as he added no real value to the story. He only appeared in two scenes as a plot device, and even then, his role barely advanced the narrative. On top of that, Stig came across as a creep from page one, and I never felt any real connection between him and Tamsyn.

Although the book was 336 pages long, the story felt incomplete, especially with the major cliffhanger ending. I wish there had been more interaction between Tamsyn and Fell to develop their relationship further. Despite its issues, I’m still interested in continuing their journey and look forward to the next book. I just hope it offers deeper character development and more robust world-building.

The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen

Title: The Games Gods Play

Author: Abigail Owen

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series:The Crucible # 1

Hardcover, 509 Pages 

Publication: September 3, 2024

Source: Personal Library
Buy|AMAZON|

The gods love to toy with us mere mortals. And every hundred years, we let them…

I have never been favored by the gods. Far from it, thanks to Zeus.

Living as a cursed office clerk for the Order of Thieves, I just keep my head down and hope the capricious beings who rule from Olympus won’t notice me. Not an easy feat, given San Francisco is Zeus’ patron city, but I make do. I survive. Until the night I tangle with a different god.

The worst god. Hades.

For the first time ever, the ruthless, mercurial King of the Underworld has entered the Crucible—the deadly contest the gods hold to determine a new ruler to sit on the throne of Olympus. But instead of fighting their own battles, the gods name mortals to compete in their stead.

So why in the Underworld did Hades choose me—a sarcastic nobody with a curse on her shoulders—as his champion? And why does my heart trip every time he says I’m his?

I don’t know if I’m a pawn, bait, or something else entirely to this dangerously tempting god. How can I, when he has more secrets than stars in the sky?

Because Hades is playing by his own rules…and Death will win at any cost.

MY THOUGHTS

The Games Gods Play has been all over social media lately, with raving reviews and the promise of Greek gods drawing me in. However, I’m now wondering if I read the same book as everyone else because there was absolutely nothing worth raving about.

The story begins at the start of the Gods' Crucible Tournament, where Lyra and her gang of thieves are working a job. Our protagonist, Lyra, is in the process of walking away because her team is mocking her for having a crush on Boone, another teammate. That’s when she runs into Hades, the God of the Underworld. For reasons that are never explained other than she could win, Hades chooses Lyra as his champion in the Crucible, promising to lift her curse of being "unlovable" if she wins. The rest of the book follows Lyra and the other contestants as they navigate the 12 trials.

I have never been so bored in my entire life. By the time I reached the 30% mark, I was hoping the story would pick up or at least get interesting. It never did. Not at 50%, not at 80%, nothing. The trials, which were based on the gods themselves, were unimaginative and dull. I never connected with any of the characters and couldn’t bring myself to care about their fates. Even when some players didn’t make it, I couldn’t muster an ounce of concern.

Lyra, in particular, was insufferable. She tried to be a savior to everyone, repeatedly throwing challenges to help others even though most of them were against her from the start. Her constant humming was another source of irritation, especially since the author never explained its purpose. Was it meant to be an endearing quirk? Because it wasn’t. Lyra’s progress in the trials wasn’t due to skill but sheer luck, stupidity, or Hades cheating on her behalf.

Speaking of Hades, dear lord, he was as dull as a cardboard box. You’d think the Lord of the Underworld would be brooding and mysterious, but he was neither. The author kept telling us how feared and powerful Hades was, but there was no actual evidence to support this claim. Even the "telling" failed to make him remotely convincing as a fearsome deity.

The relationship between Lyra and Hades was as tiresome as the characters themselves. There was zero chemistry between them, and I never understood Hades’ obsession with Lyra, who had no redeeming qualities in my opinion. She's worse than those 'snowflake heroines' we read in most books. His nickname for her, “my star,” made me roll my eyes every time it appeared. Boone’s nickname for Lyra, “Lyra Loo Hoo” was also atrocious. Talk about cringy. 

The gods in The Games Gods Play weren’t the iconic figures from Greek mythology that people know and love. They were immature, bored immortals acting like spoiled children who meddled with mortals for entertainment. I don’t know why I expected anything different.

Ultimately, this book was poorly written, far too long, and entirely overhyped. I don’t recommend it. Please don’t make the same mistake I did by being fooled by a pretty cover and rave reviews. I’m starting to believe the Red Tower rumors...all they are, are pretty books that hide lackluster stories. 

The Cursed by Harper L. Woods

Title: The Cursed

Author: Harper L. Woods

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romantasy

Series: Coven of Bones # 2

Paperback, 294 Pages 

Publication: September 7, 2023

Source: Personal Library
Buy|AMAZON|

Betrayal.

He was the deception waiting in the night; the truth I never saw coming. After a lifetime of manipulation, I finally learned the truth. I was his puppet—even if I never saw my strings.

Even knowing how deep his betrayal runs, I can’t shake the undeniable connection between Gray and I—the way a single glance from him sets my soul on fire. We are not the same. We’re enemies, poised to battle for the future of the very thing I’d wanted to destroy.

With the Covenant gone, the revenge I thought I wanted is no longer my priority. The witches that remain played no role in my aunt’s death, and the only person standing in the way of righting those wrongs is the very man determined to keep me in his bed.

But the remaining members of the Coven will never forgive me for the role I played in their demise and subjugation, and the worst part of all is that I can’t even blame them for it. I’d been naive, believing my own delusions of grandeur when destiny clearly had other plans for me. Plans that had been set in motion centuries before my birth.

But even that had been a lie, and now it is my duty to do everything in my power to undo it.

To protect my Coven from my husband’s hatred—no matter what the cost.

MY THOUGHTS

The Cursed is the second and final book in the Coven of Bones duology. It picks up right where The Coven left off, with Willow bringing Gray's body back from the underworld. Throughout the book, Willow and Gray are still grappling with issues of betrayal and mistrust in their relationship; and somewhere along the way, Willow found herself as Gray's wife, adding an unexpected layer to their story. On top of that, they’re facing fallout from The Covenant, with all the witches casting blame on both of them.

Unfortunately, The Cursed didn’t capture the same excitement and engagement as the first book. What I enjoyed most about The Coven was the tension and chase between Willow and Gray, but that spark was missing here. Now that they’re together, despite Willow’s attempts to escape, it’s clear that their relationship was inevitable. Instead of the strong, unapologetic character from the first book, Willow spent most of the story in denial about her feelings for Gray, allowing others to sway her decisions. It was surprising to see her so influenced by her peers, even to the point of acting against her own instincts.

Another downside was the amount of smut. This book was shorter than the first, yet it felt like 70% of it is smut and only 30% plot and the plot itself wasn't compelling. The ending felt abrupt and rushed. It seemed the main arc of the series was meant to bring balance back to Hollow Grove University, but that didn’t come through. There’s only one brief scene where the witches pledge their allegiance (I think?), but beyond that, there’s no real conclusion. The book closes with an out-of-the-blue wedding ceremony, with some unanswered or ignored revelations just before it. The ending left me ultimately disappointed.

Overall, The Cursed felt like an unpolished sequel, as if it didn’t know where it was headed or what it wanted to be. I had high hopes after enjoying The Coven, but this left me with more questions than answers. I can’t recommend this series. While I did enjoy the first book, as a whole, this series felt like brain candy—fun but lacking in substance.

The Coven by Harper L. Woods

Title: The Coven

Author: Harper L. Woods

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romantasy

Series: Coven of Bones # 1

Paperback, 304 Pages 

Publication: March 1, 2023

Source: Personal Library
Buy|AMAZON|

Revenge.

Raised to be my father’s weapon against the Coven that took away his sister and his birthright, I would do anything to protect my younger brother from suffering the same fate. My duty forces me to the secret town of Crystal Hollow and the prestigious Hollow’s Grove University―where the best and brightest of my kind learn to practice their magic free from human judgment.

There are no whispered words here. No condemnation for the blood that flows through my veins. The only animosity I face comes from the beautiful and infuriating Headmaster, Alaric Grayson Thorne, a man who despises me just as much as I loathe him and everything he stands for.

But that doesn’t mean secrets don’t threaten to tear the school in two. No one talks about the bloody massacre that forced it to close decades prior, only the opportunity it can afford to those fortunate enough to attend.

Because for the first time in fifty years, the Coven will open its wards to the Thirteen.

Thirteen promising students destined to change the world.

If the ghosts of Hollow’s Grove’s victims don’t kill them first.

MY THOUGHTS

The Coven has been on my radar for a while now, but I kept putting it off due to all the mixed reviews. However, if there's one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m a sucker for dark academia, any book set in a school and I’m sold!

This is my first book by Woods, and I’m surprised to say I enjoyed it far more than I expected. From the very first page, I was hooked as Headmaster Throne is tasked with bringing in a late enrollee, Willow, to Hollow Grove University. However, Willow isn’t the untrained witch The Covenant thought she was; she’s far more powerful than anyone, Throne included, anticipated.

I really enjoyed the cat-and-mouse chase between Gray and Willow. At first, their budding relationship felt a bit odd, especially since he’s literally the Headmaster of the university. I also thought it was a bit too convenient how he was always in Willow’s orbit—didn’t he have a school to run? Still, I liked Willow for the most part. She talks the talk, walks the walk, and is unapologetically herself.

The ending was unexpected, and now I’m eager to see how this duology wraps up. The Coven was a quick, engaging read, perfect as an in-between book that doesn’t require much mental effort. It’s definitely brain candy, in the best way.

Onyx Cage Vol. 1 By Robin D. Mahle, Elle Madison

Title: Onyx Cage Vol. 1

Author: Robin D. Mahle, Elle Madison

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Lochlann Feuds # 5

Paperback, 419 Pages 

Publication: September 20, 2024

Source: Personal Library
Buy|AMAZON|

I had spent a lifetime perfecting the art of planning ahead, accounting for every known variable and a few that were mere speculation. It was necessary, to live the life I had, to do the things I had done and come out on the other side.

So by the time I arrived at the storms-forsaken Summit, I had spent every day of the years prior carefully, meticulously assessing each situation and weighing the best potential outcome, knowing that my clansmen lived and died on my ability to do it well.

In spite of that, I don’t believe there was anything in this world or the next that could have prepared me for her.

*Onyx Volume I will cover the first two books of the Lochlann Feuds series from Evander’s perspective. It is strongly encouraged for readers to wait until *after* Lochlann Feuds to read this companion novel.

MY THOUGHTS

I discovered the Lochlann Feud series earlier this year, and it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. When the authors announced they were working on a companion novel from Evander's point of view, I was ecstatic! Initially, I thought we’d only get Evander’s perspective for the first book, but the authors went above and beyond, delivering his viewpoint for the entire four-book series. Onyx Cage Vol. 1 covers Evander’s experience through the first two books in the series, Scarlett Princess and Tarnished Crown.

Though it had been a few months since I last read the series, I was instantly pulled back into its world, feeling as if no time had passed. Seeing the story through Evander’s eyes added incredible depth, especially with his reactions to pivotal moments, like the first time he saw Rowan. In Tarnished Crown, Evander was absent for a significant part of the story while visiting villages, and it was fascinating to finally see what he was doing behind the scenes. I’ve loved the companion novel so far (with part 2 set to release at the end of November 2024).

However, experiencing Rowan through Evander’s perspective was a bit jarring. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Rowan, but in Onyx Cage, her immaturity and impulsiveness really stand out. She often came across as vexing and childish, especially compared to the other characters. The authors did give us a heads-up about this, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

All in all, Onyx Cage Vol. 1 is an amazing addition to the Lochlann Feud series. I’m so grateful the authors chose to write this companion novel—it added a whole new layer to the story, giving me that “first-time” reading experience all over again. If you haven’t started the Lochlann Feud series, what are you waiting for? It’s one of the best Romantasy series out there, with the perfect blend of romance, adventure, and banter. I loved every moment of it and highly recommend checking out Scarlett Princess to get started!

Creatures of Chaos By Julie Hall

Title: Creatures of Chaos

Author: Julie Hall

Genre: UF Fantasy

Series: Creatures of Chaos # 1

Paperback, 445 Pages 

Publication: October 29, 2024

Source: Personal Library
Buy|AMAZON|

Chaos, the vicious supernatural competition where heroes are born and riches are won.

To most, it's just an urban legend whispered in the darkest shadows, but that all changes when my best friend drags me into a savage world where vampires, shifters, and fae compete for glory and fame.

As a creature without magic, I’d be a fool to enter Chaos, but the prize—a dagger of untold power—could change my powerless existence. With that dagger, I could wield magic, earn respect, and maybe, just maybe, win the heart of the dragon heir… it’s a risk I have to take.

Now, I'm pitted against beasts in a ruthless battle with no powers, no plan, and an infuriatingly attractive ally who’s just as likely to slit my neck as save it. Every round of Chaos leads me closer to seizing my deepest desires or losing everything.

In Chaos, survival is the only rule. And winning is all that matters.

MY THOUGHTS

Creatures of Chaos is my first Julie Hall novel. I serendipitously came across Hall's book a couple weeks before its release date and I am so glad I did. I didn't know much about the story except there was a supernatural competition and a magicless girl was one of the contestants.

I kid you not, I was hooked from the first page. The author throws readers right into the suspense as she introduces us to our protagonist, Locklyn as she takes the dark tunnel shortcut to her class only to be ambushed by the school's mean girls. I immediately took to Locklyn. Despite being magic less in a school full of shifters, faes and vampires she doesn't let that fact stop her from standing up for herself or backing down from confrontation. I absolutely love the entire cast of characters and seeing Locklyn's relationship with her parents, best friends, the entire school and the mysterious Talon. 

Creatures of Chaos had everything I enjoy reading about; deadly competition trial, a magical academy setting, and a tension filled love triangle that's part best friends to lover and frenemies to lover. To be fair, love triangles are usually a hit or miss, but at the beginning this triangle; it had me giggling and let me say, I was without a doubt Team Talon from the start and am still rooting for that outcome. While I adore Locklyn, I felt she was really oblivious when it came to her best friend, Becks. He was kind of a controlling douche. But I had to remind myself that this was a young adult series and Locklyn is seventeen. 

I don't read as much Young Adult as I did in the past and have found many Young Adult books this past year and prior years to be lacking, mediocre and cookie-cutter but I am happy to say Creatures of Chaos has rekindled my faith back in the genre. I loved Creature of Chaos. Despite all the similar tropes I mentioned earlier, Hall created an engaging and exciting novel, and I can't wait to read more about Locklyn and her friends. Because what makes this book standout from others like it, are the characters. And anyone who has read it or plan to read it will know exactly what I mean. If you haven't read Creatures of Chaos yet, this is a book you don't want to miss. Add it to the top of your TBR A.S.A.P.

[SPOTLIGHT] Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall + Excerpt

With Halloween upon us, I’m excited to share a sneak peek at Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue, an upcoming YA horror romance thriller by Kate Pearsall! Set to release January 7, 2025, readers are invited to return to Caball Hollow, the hauntingly atmospheric setting from last year’s Bittersweet in the Hollow. This time, to follow James’s daughter, Rowan, as she embarks on a chilling new adventure.

BOOK 2, in the Bitter in the Hollow Series

Out wherever books are sold, January 7, 2025!

PRE-ORDER|AMAZON|B&N|

As Caball Hollow slowly recovers after a tumultuous summer, the James family must also come to terms with their own newly revealed secrets. 18-year-old Rowan James has spent her whole life harboring unpleasant truths—that’s what happens when you can smell people’s lies—and building walls around herself to block them out. Like her younger sister, Linden, who can taste the feelings of others, Rowan has long resented her gift, which has taught her that everyone lies, and no one is who they seem to be. So, when her old nemesis, Hadrian Fitch, the biggest liar of them all, shows up on her front porch—bloodied, broken, and asking for help only she can give—her first instinct is distrust. But something new is stalking the Forest that surrounds Caball Hollow. Now things are disappearing. At first, it’s small stuff—like letters, photos, and keys. But then, Rowan notices people around her are losing their memories. And when the body of a neighbor is found in the middle of town, Rowan knows there’s a link between this death and all the events disturbing the Hollow. Can she find what—or who—the link is before it takes another life?

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue, Book 2 Excerpt

Chapter Seven

 

I turn to look at the door, standing wide open with my pack in front it. Just beyond, I can see the edge of the approaching storm. A rim of thick clouds as dark as night. In two long strides, I cross the room and bolt the lock.

Thunder rumbles off in the distance, and the wind kicks up, howling ominously between the trees. Low pressure makes the air heavy with anticipation, sending birds to find refuge, insects to fly low to the ground on weighted wings, and worms to flee rising groundwater. It’s a silence like the inhale before the howl.

A big gust blows across the ridge, and something strikes the wall with a thud. I move back away from the door. And that’s when I hear it. A footstep just outside, I’m almost sure. Though that’s not exactly right. It was more of a shuffle than a step. It could have just been the leaves, blowing in the walkway. The silence that follows isn’t proof nothing is there. It’s the opposite. And I know I’m no longer alone. Something, or someone is out there. My breath comes faster as I strain to hear. A muted thud. Then a crash against the door hard enough to make it shudder in its frame. I race to the woodstove and reach for the metal poker.

There’s no one to call for help. No one who could get here before a person determined enough could break through the flimsy piece of old wood standing between us. There’s only me. Holding the poker over my shoulder like a baseball player at bat, I slide back the lock and yank open the door. There, lying across the doormat like something the cat dragged in, is a bloodied and unconscious Hadrian Fitch.

***

Book 1 - Available now! 

Purchase|Amazon|B&N|

In rural Caball Hollow, surrounded by the vast National Forest, the James women serve up more than fried green tomatoes at the Harvest Moon diner, where the family recipes are not the only secrets.

Like her sisters, Linden was born with an unusual ability. She can taste what others are feeling, but this so-called gift soured her relationship with the vexingly attractive Cole Spencer one fateful night a year ago . . . A night when Linden vanished into the depths of the Forest and returned with no memories of what happened, just a litany of questions--and a haze of nightmares that suggest there's more to her story than simply getting lost.

Now, during the hottest summer on record, another girl in town is gone, and the similarities to last year's events are striking. Except, this time the missing girl doesn't make it home, and when her body is discovered, the scene unmistakably spells murder.

As tempers boil over, Linden enlists the help of her sisters to find what's hiding in the forest . . . before it finds her. But as she starts digging for truth--about the Moth-Winged Man rumored to haunt the Hollow, about her bitter rift with Cole, and even about her family--she must question if some secrets are best left buried.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Pearsall is a creative thinker, an award-winning copywriter, and a storyteller. She has a degree in business and public relations and has written for magazines and newspapers. Bittersweet in the Hollow and Lies on the Serpent's Tongue were inspired in part by a childhood listening to her mom’s stories about growing up in the Appalachian Mountains and visiting family in West Virginia.

Connect with Kate!

Website|Instagram