Title: Six Crimson Cranes

Series: Six Crimson Cranes #1

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted, but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

Raikama has dark magic of her own, and she banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and, on her journey, uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne—a conspiracy more twisted and deceitful, more cunning and complex, than even Raikama’s betrayal. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to contain—no matter what it costs her.

Utter perfection! I totally fell in love with this story from the get go!

Shiori and her 6 brothers are cursed by her stepmother and the story follows Shiori and her journey to basically put things right.

Shiori is an amazing lead character, she is smart, resilient, hard working and totally loveable.

Takkan is another who warmed my heart I love him!!!

But I was always trying to glimpse, Seryu the dragon prince, I loved him more!

The characters, the plot, the old lore and stories, the magic, the world building were all spot on and the writing just flowed!

As I said this is an utterly fabulous fairytale with a twist at the end I never saw coming. I need book 2!

• 

It’s time for a catch up as this challenge is coming to a close!

You can see my original post here where I said that I wanted to read 10 books for this challenge. I did name some books but changed some of these due to my mood!

I read 10 books and then another 11 so I managed the whole 20 books of summer – woohoo!

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare READ

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare READ

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare READ

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare READ

Lore by Alexandra Bracken – DNF

A Queen of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy READ

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart READ

Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven READ

Claimed by the Horde King by Zoey Draven READ

Madness of the Horde King by Zoey Draven READ

---

I said I was going to go for 10 but I did actually read more!

– Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

– Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

– The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

– Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

– Barbarian Alien by Ruby Dixon

– Dark Prince by Michelle Hercules

– Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

– Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria

– Jade City by Fonda Lee

– Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

– Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Ok I think it’s very clear that my bank account and my tbr is going to take a massive bashing in September!!

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Steelstriker by Marie Lu

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Dark Rise by CS Pacat

I’ve already read earcs of 4 of these but I need those physical books! I also *think* I’m getting a further 3 in book boxes so guess I might as well preorder the others too!

What books are you looking forward to in September?

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.

Today’s theme is –  Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

I have a slipped disc and sitting is not easy at the moment so I have just added a list below with no pics – forgive me if this post is sparse!

* Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
* From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout
* The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
* Untouchable by Sam Mariano
* Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley
* Golden Dynasty by Kristen Ashley
* Dragons Lair by Chantal Fernando
* Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
* Illuminae by Jay Kristoff

Title: Rejected

Series: Shadowbeast Shifters #1

Author: Jaymin Eve

My father made a terrible mistake. One I’m left paying for.

As a wolf shifter growing up in a strong pack, I should be living my best life. But after my father tried to kill the alpha, I’m labeled an outcast, traitor, less than dirt.

When I can’t take pack life any longer, I run, but apparently they don’t like losing their punching bag. Torin, the alpha’s son, drags me back before my first shift… a shift that will reveal my true mate.

I never could have predicted who mine would be, but the moment my wolf looks upon him, I’m filled with hope for a brighter future.

After all, no one ever rejects their true mate, right?
Wrong. Very wrong.

When the wolves attack, my soul screams for vengeance, and somehow I touch the shadow world. Somehow I bring him to our lands.

The Shadow Beast. Our shifter god. The devil himself.

Turns out being rejected by my mate was only the beginning.

Traitor Dad, drunk Mum, Mera is trying to get through the next few months before her change so she can go it alone.

‘I’d been alone, so alone and lonely, for almost my entire life.’

However, it all unravels whens she goes through her shift and finds she can do something no other shifter can do…..enter Shadow (and Inky, who I loved!)

It was an OK read but Mera’s mouth did start to grate on me. After a bit it sounded like my son taking it too far! I mean I get where she was coming from but gawd man, tone it down!

My other complaint was that (and this might sound weird!) is that there was only one moment of sexy times and the deed wasn’t even done…..I went into this not expecting that at all *sad times*

I did enjoy it though, it was the distraction I needed!

Title: Vespertine

Series: Vespertine #1

Author: Margaret Rogerson

The dead of Loraille do not rest.

Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.

When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. It is a revenant, a malevolent being that threatens to possess her the moment she drops her guard. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but death has come to Loraille, and only a vespertine, a priestess trained to wield a high relic, has any chance of stopping it. With all knowledge of vespertines lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.

As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.

Well again this author has done it! I was hooked and held onto this story with everything I had!

Artemisa is a young grey sister and helps cleanse the dead and prepares their bodies until one day her carefully isolated world is shattered and she takes a powerful spirit, a revenant. But is captured by Leander, a Clerisy Confesser.

So now Artemisa has to escape Leander, who has taken her and isn’t really the nicest of chaps!

I don’t want to say much more about the plot apart from that this book had such great secondary characters Charles, Rathie, Jean, Marguerite and a lovely horse called Priestbane.

There is one character who deserves a special mention and that’s the revenant. I loved him and, the same with all weird type things in books, I want one!! His dry, sarcastic sense of humour had me smiling all through this book!

‘If there’s one thing I’ve learned about humans, it’s that your kind loves to gossip. Nuns are no exception, by the way. The ancient and terrible knowledge I harbor about Sister Prunelle’s bunions would make even you beg for mercy.’

The world building was just enough and I loved the hierarchy of the spirits and their Order.

The ending isn’t a cliffhanger at all so I’m wondering where the next book will take us!

Title: The Gilded Cage

Series: The Prison Healer #2

Author: Lynette Noni

Release date: 12 October 2021

Kiva trades one cage for another when she leaves behind a deadly prison for a deceptive palace in this dark and dangerous sequel to The Prison Healer, which Sarah J. Maas called “a must-read.”

Kiva Meridan is a survivor.

She survived not only Zalindov prison, but also the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now Kiva’s purpose goes beyond survival to vengeance. For the past ten years, her only goal was to reunite with her family and destroy the people responsible for ruining their lives. But now that she has escaped Zalindov, her mission has become more complicated than ever.

As Kiva settles into her new life in the capital, she discovers she wasn’t the only one who suffered while she was in Zalindov—her siblings and their beliefs have changed too. Soon it’s not just her enemies she’s keeping secrets from, but her own family as well.

Outside the city walls, tensions are brewing from the rebels, along with whispers of a growing threat from the northern kingdoms. Kiva’s allegiances are more important than ever, but she’s beginning to question where they truly lie. To survive this time, she’ll have to navigate a complicated web of lies before both sides of the battle turn against her and she loses everything.

I opened this book with a sense of dread! Hear me out! I knew what was at stake here for Kiva and I really didn’t want her to go down the path she intended….but I knew this was going to get my stomach in a knot!

And it did. So badly! But I loved every minute of it!

We saw more of the world outside of the prison, in Evalon, where Kiva now lives in the palace with all the luxury and comforts she could want. We see the Royal family and we also are introduced to Kiva’s family and we hear about the politics of their world.

Jaren, Tipp and Naari are back and we also see more of Caldon and the Royal family dynamics which were actually very heartwarming for the most part. Talking of Jaren. I love him! I want him to be mine!

I really don’t want to say more about the plot but you can expect drama, family reunions, secrets that are revealed, twists and an ending that will make you want to scream!!!

‘Be the light in the dark, Kiva.’

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 = Favorite Places to Read

Bed – ultimate fave!

Garden (in the summer, in the shade!)

My sofa

Bus (audiobook)

Bed

At work (audiobook depending what work I’m doing!)

Park

Kitchen whilst I’m cooking

In my car if I’m early to pick up my son from places various!

Bed, did I mention my bed?!

Title: Dark Prince

Series: Blueblood Vampires #1

Author: Michelle Hercules

There are only two ways a human can cross the gates of Bloodstone Institute: as a familiar to one of the Blueblood vampires who attend the elite school or as a snack.

I’m neither, but I have to get in at all costs. My brother made a big mistake, and now I have to fix it by stealing from the most powerful and cruel vampire to ever come to Bloodstone, Lucca Della Morte. If that wasn’t almost suicidal, I need to get it done before the spell concealing my human nature wears off.

But I forget that I’m only pretending to be a vampire. I’m still human and susceptible to Lucca’s dangerous allure. His darkness calls to my soul. His savagery makes my blood sing. I’m falling for the dark prince, craving him in a visceral way that’s frightening and exciting at the same time.

If he discovers my secret, he’ll destroy me. And yet, I can’t help wanting to get closer. I never thought I had a death wish until I met him.

Witches, vamps, werewolves and…..something else, all centered round a school to train up vamps and their ‘community’!

I really liked this read! I haven’t read an adult pnr for a while so it made a nice change.

So Vivi has to nick something off a vamp Prince to save her brother but she gets more than she bargained for in Lucca Della Morte!

But really they both get more than they bargained for!

I did guess what would happen quite early on but I still have no idea why she needed to steal that certain item but maybe it’s explained in another book?

I’m now chomping at the bit to read about Aurora and Saxon after that ending!