Title: From Blood and Ash

Series: Blood and Ash 1

Author: Jennifer L Armentrout

A Maiden…

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty…

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom…

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.

‘From Blood and Ash. We Shall Rise.’

You know it’s times like this when I wish a swear was allowed in a review. A short, sharp, swift swear bomb to actually explain how I am feeling. To just express the feelings I am dealing with that only a swear bomb could do. Alas I cannot. As it is not allowed. So I’ve decided just to chuck some words down to try and explain how utterly fab this book is but I doubt even that will do it justice.

But before we get to the ‘words’ I have to say this. In the words of Buddy the Elf, I’m in love, I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it! (Sorry, had to say that to further encompass my feelings!)

Hooked
Line and sinker.
Mind blown
Obsessed
Captivating
Absolutely loved.

I do have a small criticism, there was a bit of an overuse of the…..between words in lots of places but I get it. Shielded Maiden. Probably unsure of herself but a tad irksome!

I didn’t even write any quotes of this book which is very unlike me, that’s how sucked in I was (and I’ll regret that later!)

I’m very aware there is nothing in here about plot, story or characters, just an info dump of my feelings. And I don’t care. Read it. You won’t regret it.

And can we talk about that ending. Swoon City.

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.

Theme – New to me Authors in 2020

I found these authors this year and absolutely loved their books. And may it long continue!!

Chloe Gong – These Violent Delights

Jordan Ifueko – Raybearer

Julia Kagawa – The Iron King

Tracy Deonn – Legendborn

Somaiya Daud – Mirage

Kaylynn Flanders – Shielded

Namina Forna – The Gilded Ones

Bex Hogan – Viper

Melissa Bashardoust – Girl, Serpent, Thorn

Leylah Attar – Moti on the Water

What about you?

I thought I would do this again because a) I enjoyed it when I did it for Christmas and b) its a bit challenging finding a theme and then finding all the books to fit (I’m looking at you ‘Y’!!)

My theme is Books I’ve loved but never really mention…..

J

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

A

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

N

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

U

Untouchable by Sam Mariano
(this is very dark so beware!)

A

Assumption by Aurora Rose Reynolds

R

Raze by Tillie Cole

Y

Yumi by Renee Ahdieh

Title: The Bone Houses

Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones

Seventeen-year-old Aderyn (“Ryn”) only cares about two things: her family, and her family’s graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meager existence as gravediggers in the remote village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to the fae. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don’t always stay dead.

The risen corpses are known as “bone houses,” and legend says that they’re the result of a decades-old curse. When Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker with a mysterious past, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with new ferocity. What is it that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they be stopped for good?

Together, Ellis and Ryn embark on a journey that will take them deep into the heart of the mountains, where they will have to face both the curse and the long-hidden truths about themselves.

My son asked me what my book was about, I hadn’t got that far into it so I’ll tell you what I told him.

In time far past there was a gravedigger and her siblings whose parents had perished. She dug the graves of the dead in a small village fenced by iron to keep in the zombie like dead people called Bone Houses in the forest. Enter Ellis, a map maker who was charting a map to a village, who is set upon by a bone house and together, Ryn and Ellis try to solve the mystery of why they are escaping the forest.

I am a scaredy cat at heart and this was spooky so am glad I didn’t read at night!! The characters Ryn and Ellis were what made this book for me! They were just so cute and adorable! It was like they fit together so well because of how they are, how their lives have been shaped and the fact they don’t really fit into a box.

The writing was so good, loved the Welsh folklore coupled with the witty bits, the gorey bits and the lesson learned is that real life people can be far worse than the not living!

Title: Rhapsodic

Series: The Bargainer #1

Author: Laura Thalassa

Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she’s been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she’s received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.

Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it happen. He’s a man who can get you anything you want… at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.

But for one of his clients, he’s never asked for repayment. Not until now. When Callie finds the fae king of the night in her room, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, she knows things are about to change. At first it’s just a chaste kiss—a single bead’s worth—and a promise for more.

For the Bargainer, it’s more than just a matter of rekindling an old romance. Something is happening in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are going missing one by one. Only the women are returned, each in a glass casket, a child clutched to their breast. And then there are the whispers among the slaves, whispers of an evil that’s been awoken.

If the Bargainer has any hope to save his people, he’ll need the help of the siren he spurned long ago. Only, his foe has a taste for exotic creatures, and Callie just happens to be one.

So this isn’t a review in the traditional sense. It basically is an info dump of my feelings, so know this before you read!

The start
Ok I love the Bargainer. He helps a girl, sets up her future, befriends her when she had no one. But it’s for a price. Their friendship ends, has to end and 7 years pass until he comes to collect.

The middle
‘How did you feel, leaving me? I ask. ‘Like my soul was ripped in two.’
Enough said. Still in love with him!
Oh and the Night King, his city in the Otherworld is called Somnia. Absolute perfection.

The Bargainers speech in chapter 23 is what really did it for me! I couldn’t put it here as I worry it would be a massive spoiler but oh my gawd. I could’ve cried! I’m going all sappy and that is so not me, The Bargainer has ruined me!!!!

The end
Oooo wow. I didn’t expect who was the baddie. And it was a crazy ride! ‘I’ll be at your side, till darkness dies.’

For February I am trying something a little different here on my blog and I’m a bit nervous as I haven’t done anything like this here before!
On Instagram I am taking part (and co-hosting!) a challenge called Love In February 21 along with some lovely ladies that I’ll link below.
The aim of the challenge is to showcase our favourite romance books in line with that days prompt. Exciting!!!!!
The prompts are:

You can join in (we would love that!) and there is a GIVEAWAY at the end of the month – 1 winner will get a book of choice up to 24 USD (Amazon or Book Depository must ship to your country).

Make sure you follow us on IG and use the hashtag #loveinfebruary21 in your posts (and for extra entries share to your stories and tag one of us!)
So a bit different for me for February and I really hope you enjoy it!
CJRTB_BB (me!!!)
https://www.instagram.com/cjrtb_bb
Beware of the Reader
https://instagram.com/bewareofthereader?igshid=1xax10o9ck1wh
Sophie’s Reading Corner
https://instagram.com/sophiesreadingcorner?igshid=1qrz8ymu15ve4
Pavlinamich

https://instagram.com/pavlinamich?igshid=1wne3fo1ee442

Book and a Blanket
https://instagram.com/bookandablanket?igshid=17py8cpuc5lg
Relentless Romance
https://instagram.com/relentlessromance?igshid=dfx42gfhne3l

I did a few of these posts last year so thought it would be a good idea to do again…..and then realised how disheartening it is when I see how many books I haven’t read that I’ve bought 😂😂

But I felt the need to publish my shame, these are the books I hauled in January 2020 and if I’ve read them or not!

✔ = read

❌ = still on tbr

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer ✔

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Illuminae by Jay Kristoff ✔

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Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez ❌

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A Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern DNF
Beyond the Shadowed Earth by Joanna Ruth Meyer DNF

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So not too bad?  2 read, 2 DNF (so I at least tried to read!) and 1 left on my tbr!

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.

Theme – Books I Meant To Read In 2020

I mean I could probably write a list of 100 books here….but I will spare you!

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The Poppy War by RF Kuang

City of Brass by SA Chakraborty

The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout

 

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

What about you?

It’s done!

I totally unconnected from social media for 72 hours. Well nearly as I’d finished by Sunday lunch time so had a little go at replying to comments on IG and WordPress to not appear rude! Im planning a post to talk about that so look out for it soon!

You can see my original post here.
I said I wanted to read 2 books and I did……and more!

Read

Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L Armentrout

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Red Pearl scene (Hawke’s pov) by Jennifer L Armentrout

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The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

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And I started Skyhunter by Marie Lu!

I’d say that was a successful readathon! My thanks to Shanah at the Bionic Bookworm ❤❤