Title: Divine Rivals

Series: Letters of Enchantment #1

Author: Rebecca Ross

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Oh wow, this book was phenomenal!

Iris works at a newspaper alongside her rival, Roman Kitt. War is brewing between 2 awoken gods. After a series of events, and some magical letters, Iris finds herself on the war front.

It’s basically a historical, enemies to lovers with warring gods and all the people who are caught up in it, letters that will make your heart soar and a romance you’ll be rooting for from the get go!

I think the contents of this book will be on my mind for ages, it was so beautifully written, it’s one of those books you dont forget!

The ending. Oooooooooh the ending. Say it ain’t so. And tell me when the next book is!

Title: Two Twisted Crowns

Series: Shepherd King #2

Author: Rachel Gillig

Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders.

If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom.

And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth’s head. The Nightmare. And he’s not eager to share any longer.

‘The Twin Alders is hidden in a place with no time. A place of great sorrow and bloodshed and crime. Betwixt ancient trees, where the mist cuts bone-deep, the last Card remains, waiting, asleep.’

To say I was excited for this book is an understatement! I was obsessed with One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns did not disappoint!

I was so hooked! It was explosive, emotional,  romantic, atmospheric and I lived for the back stories!

Rayvn: Captain of the Destriers. Highwayman. Traitor. ‘He was alive. Beautiful and alive. And I could not touch him.’

Elm: downtrodden brother, son to the King. ‘I’m a rotten Prince and a piss-poor Destrier.’

Elspeth: trapped, lost and takes a sort of back seat here but she plays her part well.

Ione: made into someone she’s not, trying to find something she’s lost.

The Shepherd King aka Nightmare, but he’s also something else in this book, well 2 things really and the star of the show for me! I absolutely love him, he is grumpy and sarcastic, my type of person!

This was such a beautiful read, multi layered plot weaved together with different pov chapters.

I will shout from the rooftops about this duology until the end of time! This is now a firm fave for me, everyone needs to read it and I know this will be on my reread pile!

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 Weather Events in the Title/on the Cover

I really struggled with this one although I thought it was going to be easy!!!!

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani
Frost by CN Crawford
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
Heatwave by TJ Klune
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

What’s on your list?

Title: The Unmaking of June Farrow

Author: Adrienne Young

In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm—and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors.

It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing out of nowhere—the signs of what June always knew was coming. But June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own.

After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’sdecades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.

‘We were cursed— the Farrow women.’

Wow, wow, wow x 100. I don’t even know if I’m capable of actual speech right now!This book is actual genius so sorry if I ramble here (or am a bit incoherent) because I am just sat here in amazement!

We meet June, who lives in a small town in North Carolina on a flower farm, and she is starting to experience her families curse,  what she believes is a mental health condition that has affected every woman in her family for generations. Then she sees the red door.

I’m not saying anymore about the plot but this is the story of June’s life, there’s family, an historic small town atmosphere, secrets, time travel, mystery, romance and sacrifices. Omg the sacrifices!

The story was so unique and the revelations will make your jaw actually drop! I feel like I actually say that quite a bit regarding books but this jaw dropper is a million times real!

If I know one thing, that is this book needs to be in everyone’s hands and I know it will be on my mind for a long time!

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?

Second week at my new job and I’m having to use a lot of brain cells from everything I’m trying to learn so I’m tired! It was also my sons birthday this week so we had cake and lots of nice food!

I’m finding that with my new job, I can’t listen to audiobooks whilst working because I need every bit of concentration so I’ve changed to listening as I’m cooking and cleaning!

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New Arrivals

Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab
Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey
My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
Silent Night by Sophie Hannah

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What I’ve Read

🎧 The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Look out for my reviews soon!

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You might have missed…..

Review – Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
Feature – November releases
Review – Namesake by Adrienne Young

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What have you read lately?

Title: Namesake

Series: World of the Narrows #2

Author: Adrienne Young

With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and the rest of the crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when Fable becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination, she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems.

As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception, she learns that the secrets her mother took to her grave are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them, then she must risk everything—including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found.

This is the 2nd book in the Fable duology and I have no idea why I haven’t read before, in fact I thought I’d already read! But it appears not!

Fable was one of my favourite books in 2020 (thanks Fairyloot!) so wanted to see how this would pan out.

Back with Fable, West and the crew of the Marigold. That found family crew warms my heart!

‘Trader, Fighter, Survivor.
Trader, Fighter, Legend.
Helmsman, Dredger, Trader, Orphan, Father, Daughter.’

I really enjoyed this conclusion! The pacing and the story were spot on and, like book 1, secrets are revealed and drama ensues!

I really loved Fable and West’s love for each other. It seems more honest and real than Saint and Isolade’s love and I was totally here for it!

That ending. That last minute sneaky drop – warms the cockles!

Here’s what’s tantalising me that’s releasing in November (that I’ll probably buy!!)

Another large buying month (cries in books!)

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros A Demons Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley Defiant by Brandon Sanderson
A Power Unbound by Freya Marske

Will you be getting any of these?

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: Bookish Jobs I Would Do For Free (Real or Imaginary)

I could never be an author or editor as I just don’t have the patience or skills but I am a person who knows what I like so…..

~ Read manuscripts (beta reader)
~ Review books
~ Quality control special editions
~ Test out bookish merch
~ Audiobook tester
~ Work at a bookstore
~ Running a book club
~ Book event coordinator

This isn’t 10 but this is all I can think of!!!!

What would you choose?

Title: Sword Catcher

Series: Sword Catcher #1

Author: Cassandra Clare

In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill.

Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword-Catcher—the body-double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are close as brothers, but Kel knows he has one destiny: to die for Conor. No other future is possible.

Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community who still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls in the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend Mariam without access to forbidden knowledge.

After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces. As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will Lin and Kel’s discoveries plunge their nation into war—and the world into chaos?

Well I can, with absolute certainty, say that I loved this book!

This is the authors first adult book and she has nailed it but she also brings with her the same addictive storyline as the Shadowhunters did. 

Kellian Saren is bought from the orphanage to the Palace when he is 10 to see if he is suitable to be Prince Conors, Kiralar, aka bodyguard, aka Sword Catcher.

Now grown, Kel and Conor find themselves involved in all sorts of trouble!

We also meet Lin Caster who is an Ashkar (magic user) and the only woman physician of her people. Something that she thinks many think of her as ‘peculiar’!

Their paths meet and it basically all kicks off! Secrets are revealed, drama ensues, court politics are everywhere and it’s a case of trust no one, I suspected everyone!!!! I have so many questions that I need answering!

One thing I will say is that I absolutely adored the romance! Shocker I know but not for the reasons you think, because this was cleverly written! You make assumptions in your head thinking it’s going one way but it’s not! Well I didn’t think it was but it remains to be seen!!!

So, in short, this is a fabulous book and I urge you to read it to get pulled into the rich, lavish world of Castellane. Although there is 1 person who reeks of deception to me but I now have a long wait for book 2 to find out!

‘Come inside, we have a great deal of work to do.’