Title: A Shadow in the Ember

Series: Flesh and Fire #1

Author: Jennifer L Armentrout

Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort.   

However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot. 

Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.

This was a great read, I was obsessed with this and I inhaled it! Well it took me 10 hours in one sitting but I read it all (who needs to eat?!)

Sera was the Maiden, to become the Consort of the God of Death until she was rejected and then her life changed. Now ahandmaiden that no one knows, basically shunned by her faimily, a lonely old life. Until one day she gets mixed up in something she shouldn’t!

No more about the plot but…..

Nyktos is basically just a dream man. He is just everything! He has been added to my bbf list!!! Sera was so strong and reminded me much of Poppy!

The tension between them was so hot and it was also sweet, two halves of a whole. I think I love them more than Poppy and Casteel!

I need that next book now!

Title: The Black Witch

Series: The Black Witch Chronicles #1

Author: Laurie Foster

A new Black Witch will rise…her powers vast beyond imagining.

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of rebels…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to fear.

I listened to the audio and can totally recommend!

So Elloren and her brothers are descended from a great mage and are sent off to Verpax University to learn. Unforts Elloren is the spitting image of her famous grandmother and appears to have no magic. Also unfortunately and absolutely disgusting is the blatant racism and treatment of fantasy races that goes on.

Elloren really annoyed me first of all. I thought she was judgemental and ignorant but actually she was naive and was just believing everything she had been told growing up. I love how she started to question things and sought out answers. Her character growth was immense.

And omg the triangle. Lukas and Yvan. I don’t normally read love triangles reads because they make me rage as I love one party but not the other! But I love both in this read so am hoping for a throuple situation!!!

Two characters that I adored and stood completely out for me were Diana and her lupine twin, Jared. Hope to see great things from them!!!

I’m not going to say much else about the storyline but the resistance plotline was fab. I really enjoyed this read so I’m onto the next!

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.


Topic: Books With an Adjective In the Title

Thank god my son had adjectives as homework so I still knew what one was without having to Google 😂 Saying this, I did second guess some of these!!!!

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
Iron Raven by Julie Kagawa
Tempting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins
Craving Constellations by Nicole Jacquelyn
Broken Web by Lori M Lee
Dark Prince by Michelle Hercules
The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

What books would you choose?

I made a promise to myself that I’d really cutback on my book buying this year for a few reasons:

✔ I’m running out space,
✔ My tbr has never been bigger than it is right now,
✔ I’m trying to save some money.

Unfortunately I appear to have failed at this already so get ready for posts with me buying loads of books!!!! On a serious note, I am going to try and reel myself in a bit!!!

Gossamer in the Darkness by Kristen Ashley

Amari and the Great Game by BB Alston

What books are you looking forward to?

Title: House of Sky and Breath

Series: Crescent City 2

Author: Sarah J Maas

Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.

The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.

Maas works her magic again with solid sequel! Got to love that Maas magic!!!

No spoilers here but I guess I can sum it up and say that trouble finds Bryce, Hunt and the crew again…..or maybe they go looking in true Quinlan style!

Bryce and Hunt make my life, they really do and my love for Ruhn grew a hundred fold in this book!!!

This book has a lot of stuff, some tense bits, some revelations, some jaw droppers and some hot moments!!! There was also one big revelation that I guessed early on and obviously congratulated myself alot when it was revealed!!!!

That ending…I was like what the heck!! Where did that come from?!

I’ll leave you with a couple of quotes and just to say that I can’t wait for the next book after that ending!!!!

‘I never would have met Bryce. And every horror, every nightmare … all of it had been worth it for her.’

‘Hunt’s voice was a thunderclap as he said behind her, “Light it up, Bryce.”

February 2022 theme is: Bad Blood

Featured fandoms this month are Poison Study, A Memory Called Empire, Crier’s War, Red, White & Royal Blue and Lore!

💛Lsel Station Tumbler with artwork by @forensicsandflowers inspired by A Memory Called Empire.
💛 Fabric Pouch designed by @chattynora featuring a quote from Criers War.
💛  Medusa Shield Trinket Tray with artwork by @raystrikesback
💛 Butterfly Dust Bath Bomb created by @littleheartgifts inspired by Poison Study.
💛 Alex and Henry magnetic coins from Red, White and Royal Blue with artwork by @monolime

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

Redesigned cover
Foil embossing
Endpapers by @mistilteinn.art
Digitally printed edges
Signed

AFTERLIGHT – February 2022

I find myself really looking forward to this quarterly box! I hadn’t heard of this book before but it sounds great!

It’s book 1 in the Brights Falls series and you can check out what it’s about on Goodreads: here.

This quarter’s box included:

💚Celestial Tote Bag 💚
Artwork by @rosdottir

💚Love Wax Melt and Affirmation Kit💚
Created by @lunarandwild

BOOK OF THE QUARTER

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

Exclusive hardback ✔
Exclusive cover ✔
Sprayed edges✔
Digital signature✔
Bound in author letter ✔

Title: Death

Series: Four Horseman #4

Author: Laura Thalassa

He’s known by many names: Thanatos. Horseman. God’s last angel. And then, of course, there’s the one I’m all too familiar with—

Death.

The day Death comes to Lazarus Gaumond’s town and kills everyone in one fell swoop, the last thing he expects to see is a woman left alive and standing. But Lazarus has her own extraordinary gift: she cannot be killed—not by humans, not by the elements, not by Death himself.

She is the one soul Death doesn’t recognize. The one soul he cannot pry free from her flesh. Nor can he ignore the unsettling desire he has for her. Take her. He wants to, desperately. And the longer she tries to stop him from his killing spree, the stronger the desire becomes.

When Lazarus crosses paths with the three other horsemen, an unthinkable situation leads to a terrible deal: seduce Death, save the world. A hopeless task, made all the worse by the bad blood between her and Thanatos. But Death’s attraction to her is undeniable, and try though she might, Lazarus cannot stay away from that ancient, beautiful being and his dark embrace.

The end is here. Humankind is set to perish, and not even the horsemen can stop Death from fulfilling his final task.

Only Lazarus can.

The end of an era. The conclusion. Death.

The ultimate enemies to lovers is here and it’s a great one! Death and life, Lazarus. Here we are with the end of the apocalypse……and Lazarus will do anything she can to stop him. Anything!

‘You and I are fated to endure one another.’

‘There is no one like us.’

Who knew Death aka Thanatos could be romantic?!! But he was also so innocent in his human ways and I loved him! It was joyous! He was also amusing…..

‘You don’t have to try it, I say.
Of course I must, it’s soul food, and I am the overseer of souls.’

The other 3 Horsemen make appearances and, as usual, Famine made my life! His dry, witty banter had me laughing a lot!

That epilogue made me want to blub like a baby. It’s over. Truly over.

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Books On My Spring 2022 TBR

These are really hard for me as I am such a mood reader! I thought what I’d do is add on some books that I would really love to read…..but I might not….no pressure then!!!

Gallant by VE Schwab
Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe
Death by Laura Thalassa
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
All the Feels by Olivia McDade
The Poppy War by RF Kuang
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
Steelstriker by Marie Lu
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
Untethered by Kaylynn Flanders

What books are on your reading list for Spring?