Title: For the Throne

Series: Wilderwood #2

Author: Hannah Whitten

The First Daughter is for the Throne
The Second Daughter is for the Wolf…

Red and the Wolf have finally contained the threat of the Old Kings but at a steep cost. Red’s beloved sister Neve, the First Daughter is lost in the Shadowlands, an inverted kingdom where the vicious gods of legend have been trapped for centuries and the Old Kings have slowly been gaining control. But Neve has an ally–though it’s one she’d rather never have to speak to again–the rogue king Solmir.

Solmir wants to bring an end to the Shadowlands and he believes helping Neve may be the key to its destruction. But to do that, they will both have to journey across a dangerous landscape in order to find a mysterious Heart Tree, and finally to claim the gods’ dark, twisted powers for themselves.

Back with Red and Neve where their stories intertwine again.

Red is at the Black Keep in the Wilderwood where she is happy with Eammon. Neve finds herself in the Shadowlands with Solmir who wants to get rid of the Kings who are trapped in the unstable Shadowlands.

It did take me a while to remember who was who and what they had done, maybe I should have reread Wolf first? I also found it slow going in some places and definitely liked the second half more than the first….but I found myself very addicted to Neve and Solmir!!!!  Aaaah enemies to lovers hooks me every time!

Now Solmir, he actually didn’t need much redemption from me because I already loved him!

‘He smelled like pine needles and snow, far reaches and open sky.’

The writing was gorgeous, the plot was fabulous, the romance was everything I wanted and a bit more spicier and, after, a slow start, I loved it!

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 a Unit of Time In the Title

I thought this was going to be a breeze but it was actually really hard so I’ve only got 9 and I played hard and fast with it!!!!

The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare
Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
End of Days by Susan Ee

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel
Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Lover Eternal by JR Ward
Nine Minutes by Beth Flynn

Any I’ve missed here?

Title: Forging Silver into Stars

Series: Forging Silver into Stars #1

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

When ancient magic tests a newfound love, a dark fate beckons . . .

Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. They once loved the stories of the powerful magesmiths and mythical scravers who could conjure fire or control ice, but now they’ve learned that magic only leads to danger: magic is what killed Callyn’s parents, leaving her alone to raise her younger sister. Magic never helped Jax, whose leg was crushed in an accident that his father has been punishing him for ever since. Magic won’t save either of them when the tax collector comes calling, threatening to take their homes if they can’t pay what they owe.

Meanwhile, Jax and Callyn are astonished to learn magic has returned to Syhl Shallow — in the form of a magesmith who’s now married to their queen. Now, the people of Syhl Shallow are expected to allow dangerous magic in their midst, and no one is happy about it.

When a stranger rides into town offering Jax and Callyn silver in exchange for holding secret messages for an anti-magic faction, the choice is obvious — even if it means they may be aiding in a plot to destroy their new king. It’s a risk they’re both willing to take. That is, until another visitor arrives: handsome Lord Tycho, the King’s Courier, the man who’s been tasked with discovering who’s conspiring against the throne.

Suddenly, Jax and Callyn find themselves embroiled in a world of shifting alliances, dangerous flirtations, and ancient magic . . . where even the deepest loyalties will be tested.

This story follows on from the Cursebreaker series with Rhen, Grey, Harper and Lia Mara and here we have Kings Courier, Tycho, along with some newcomers, Callyn, Nora and Jax.

Tycho stumbles upon Cal and Jax on his travels and a whole plot is revealed to defeat the King (Grey), from a group called the Truthbringers who want to see an end to magic. And our leads find themselves on opposite sides!

I really enjoyed this story because Tycho is one of my faves! He and his newfound love made my heart soar! It’s a big book and it’s a bit slow in places but exploded with action in the last 30%!

The character I loved the most though was Nora. Although she has had a hard life she is bright, cheery, positive and speaks the truth always.

Although I had a gripe about pacing, I did enjoy this and will read the next book as I love this world but am hoping its faster paced!

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a good week?

What a week! My son was on school holidays and I had the week off work and we packed everything in! It was my birthday so we went out for food, we went to the zoo, haircuts, crazy golf and I had to keep up with my son’s hectic social calendar!! I appear to have transformed into Mums taxi service!!

It was also the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and we went to a garden party with scones, sandwiches and tea yesterday (I don’t like tea so didn’t drink that!) It was really fun!

What I’ve Read

Book of Night by Holly Black
🌟🌟🌟🌟
See my review soon!

Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by JT Williams
🌟🌟🌟🌟
See my review soon!

Tall Dark and Evil by Alexi Blake
🌟🌟🌟🌟
See my review soon!

The Never King by Nikki St Crowe
🌟🌟🌟🌟
See my review here

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In case you missed it…..

Unboxing – Fairyloot adult: May
Unboxing – Illumicrate: May
Feature – new to me authors: May
Review – Tall Dark and Evil by Alexi Blake

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What have you read lately?

Title: Tall Dark and Evil

Author: Alexi Blake

The Five Realms University is an open battlefield. After surviving three years of pranks, insults, and the occasional attempted murder, Alis thought she knew the rules of the game.

One encounter with Reiks, the golden prince everyone adores, shows her just how mistaken she was. He’s decided she’s his for his last year at Five, and no one can save her from his clutches, until an actual war comes knocking at the doors.

Alis had her reasons for staying under the radar for so long, but to survive, she might have to embrace the devastating magic in her blood, at the risk of destroying the entire world.

Born to take over a kingdom divided to its very core, Reiks has grown calculating and cruel, for the greater good.

He treats friends and foes as unwitting pawns on his board, until he comes to realize one piece might have been his enemy’s queen in disguise. Alis could be his undoing.

Or his salvation.

I grabbed this because of the cover, look at it!!!

Alis is a member of a powerful Witch family and at school she finds herself in a predicment with a future King and has to play his fake girlfriend. But everything is not as it seems!

I really enjoyed this and would recommend! I loved the world, the characters and the school setting. Especially loved Reiks but he reminded me of someone who should’ve existed years ago with the way he spoke! I still would though!!!!! There was one point where I was fanning myself!!!

Maybe the last quarter could’ve been fleshed out more, it seemed a bit rushed and I wanted all the deets! Would also love 2 more things:

1) other books in this world with other characters from this story,
2) an extended epilogue of where Reiks and Alis end up in the future!

Always wanting more!!!

I grabbed this idea from Lucy (with permission!) from Bookworm Blogger! Go check out her blog!

I always hope that I read new-to-me authors every month and getting book box subscriptions really helps with that so thought it would be nice to look back and see what new authors I’d read this month.

In May I read 3 so that’s 17 new-to-me authors I’ve read so far this year!

Nora Sakavic

Olivia Atwater

E Lockhart

Have you read any new to you authors this month?

May 2022 theme: In The Dark

Whether that’s vital details our main character is conveniently unaware of, or things that go bump in the night, this theme is for all things left in the dark.

Featured fandoms this month are Nevernight, Monstress, and Daughter of the Moon Goddess!

💛 Gravebone Dagger Replica – Mia Corvere’s dagger designed by @stacey.mcevoy.caunt
💛 Goddess of Night (Nyx) teacup and saucer with artwork from @niallcgrant
💛 Dark the Night Journal inspired by DotMG with artwork by @blanca.design
💛 Monstress Metalmark designed by @dalandan.ielle

💛 FEATURED BOOK 💛

Book of Night by Holly Black

Exclusive cover
Foiling
Endpaper artwork by @rosdottir
Sprayed edges
Bonus chapter content
Bound in author letter with digital signature

‘Far up in the deep blue sky, Great white clouds are floating by; All the world is dressed in green; Many happy birds are seen, Roses bright and sunshine clear Show that lovely June is here.’ ~ F. G. Sanders

‘In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.’ ~ John Steinbeck

Happy June!

Have a great month!

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 – Comfort Reads

Comfort reads for me are books I like to reread when I’m in a funk, in a slump or I’ve just been hankering to read them again as something reminded me about the story!

For this post I’ve split into 2, books I’ve reread already and some I haven’t reread but want to!

Books I haven’t reread yet but know I will!

Zodiac Academy
The Love Hypothesis
Gild
Clockwork Prince

Books I’ve reread many times!
The Extraordinaires
The Rock Chick’s
Until the Sun Falls from the Sky
Ride Steady
Cash’s Fight
Reapers Legacy

How about you? What books are your comfort reads?