Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I enjoyed Heath's previous series, so I was looking forward to diving into a new one. Her writing is always lighthearted and fun but still serious when necessary. It was fun watching Georgie and Harry interact because they were opposites. Georgie was free-spirited and playful, while Harry was a bit of the stick in the mud until you cracked his defenses. It led to so many endearingly awkward moments between the two that were so sweet. As for the romance, it did feel a little one-sided to me, and I would've liked more emotion on Georgie's part. Other than that, I liked it. Just like Heath's other books, her secondary characters stole the show. I love how they're always so sassy and bring humor into the story. The children, especially, were chaotic little tornadoes I couldn't get enough of. I'm looking forward to picking up the next book.
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| Pub Date: 5-28-24 Adult - Fantasy |
The Fireborne Blade- Charlotte Bond: There aren't many female knights in Maddileh's land, so she's already at a disadvantage in her line of work. Not only does she need to face menacing dragons, but snide remarks from her peers can almost be worse. When a minor infraction makes Maddileh desperate to reclaim her honor, she sets out on a quest to retrieve the famed Fireborne Blade from its keeper, the legendary dragon named the White Lady. Everyone who has sought out the blade has never returned. Will Maddileh be the first or will she end up in ashes like all the rest?
There were so many elements to this that I love in fantasy books. Dragons? Check. A quest element? Check. A badass FMC? Check. It had all the makings of a classic epic fantasy but in a more digestible format. I liked how we got glimpses of Maddileh's past and snippets from what I assumed was some history book recounting other's past encounters with dragons. I liked the pacing of the first half, but the second half felt rushed. The beginning felt a little meandering, but the ending was almost chaotic. I didn't see the plot twist coming, so I enjoyed that. Despite a few minor issues, I thought it was entertaining and will be picking up the next one.
There were so many elements to this that I love in fantasy books. Dragons? Check. A quest element? Check. A badass FMC? Check. It had all the makings of a classic epic fantasy but in a more digestible format. I liked how we got glimpses of Maddileh's past and snippets from what I assumed was some history book recounting other's past encounters with dragons. I liked the pacing of the first half, but the second half felt rushed. The beginning felt a little meandering, but the ending was almost chaotic. I didn't see the plot twist coming, so I enjoyed that. Despite a few minor issues, I thought it was entertaining and will be picking up the next one.
Rating: 3.5/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 5-28-24 Adult - Historical Romance |
All's Fair in Love and War- Virginia Heath: When Georgina 'Georgie' Rowe was sixteen, her horrible stepfather sent her to a prestigious school, hoping they'd turn her into a respectable governess. But despite her miserable upbringing, Georgie doesn't subscribe to the theory that children should be seen and not heard. She knows that children do better when there's a little fun involved. Unfortunately, her carefree attitude hasn't led to many job prospects. But then Harry Kincaid shows up. As a formal naval captain, Harry adheres to a strict schedule. He likes everything to be in order, so when his flighty sister leaves him in charge of her three children while she and her husband set off on an expedition to Egypt, he's left in desperate need of a caretaker. Instead of easing his burdens, Georgie only seems to frazzle him more. The pair couldn't be more different, but they'll soon learn that the heart wants what it wants.
I enjoyed Heath's previous series, so I was looking forward to diving into a new one. Her writing is always lighthearted and fun but still serious when necessary. It was fun watching Georgie and Harry interact because they were opposites. Georgie was free-spirited and playful, while Harry was a bit of the stick in the mud until you cracked his defenses. It led to so many endearingly awkward moments between the two that were so sweet. As for the romance, it did feel a little one-sided to me, and I would've liked more emotion on Georgie's part. Other than that, I liked it. Just like Heath's other books, her secondary characters stole the show. I love how they're always so sassy and bring humor into the story. The children, especially, were chaotic little tornadoes I couldn't get enough of. I'm looking forward to picking up the next book.
Rating: 3/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 4-9-24 Adult - Sci-Fi/Horror |
Ghost Station- S.A. Barnes: As a psychologist, Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her career to studying ERS. The space-based condition became notorious after a case led to the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. Many factors can trigger this condition, high stress being one of them. After losing a crew member, Ophelia is assigned to a small expedition crew to monitor the remaining members and offer assistance. It's obvious the crew wants nothing to do with Ophelia and would rather spend their time working than talking about their feelings. But when one of the crew is brutally murdered and the rest discover strange clues regarding the previous planet's inhabitants, Ophelia must figure out if it's ERS-related or if something more sinister is lurking.
I enjoyed Barnes' previous book, but I fear this one suffered from the dreaded sophomore slump. The first half was like wading through molasses, it was so slow. Once it hit the halfway mark things started to pick up, and I became more engaged, but it was too little too late at that point. I also didn't like Ophelia as a main character. For a psychologist, she was so self-centered and terrible at reading the room. There were so many situations that she could've handled better. The writing was too repetitive and ambiguous for my tastes, but I thought Barnes nailed the eerie atmosphere. Despite not loving it as much as I'd hoped, I'll continue to pick up whatever she comes out with.
I enjoyed Barnes' previous book, but I fear this one suffered from the dreaded sophomore slump. The first half was like wading through molasses, it was so slow. Once it hit the halfway mark things started to pick up, and I became more engaged, but it was too little too late at that point. I also didn't like Ophelia as a main character. For a psychologist, she was so self-centered and terrible at reading the room. There were so many situations that she could've handled better. The writing was too repetitive and ambiguous for my tastes, but I thought Barnes nailed the eerie atmosphere. Despite not loving it as much as I'd hoped, I'll continue to pick up whatever she comes out with.
Rating: 2/5
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