• Home
  • About
  • Archives - Wading Through
  • Archives - The Craft Sea

Wading Through...

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives - Wading Through
  • Archives - The Craft Sea

The Changeling King by Ethan M. Aldridge

Title: The Changeling King (Estranged #2)

Author: Ethan M. Aldridge

Publisher: HarperCollins 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 256

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

After years of pretending to be human, the changeling Edmund Carter has assumed his rightful role as Cinder, king of the World Below. But not everyone at the royal palace is happy about his return.

Meanwhile, Ed is adjusting to human life in the World Above. His birth family treats him with a kindness he never knew growing up in the Fay court, but Ed misses the sense of purpose he had as a knight.

When a mysterious new threat emerges in the World Below, Cinder must call on Ed and their older sister, Alexis, for help. But nothing can prepare them for the family secret that awaits at the end of their perilous quest.

And with this volume, we get a conclusion to the story of how Cinder and Ed find their places in the above and the below. Another great story with great characters. More great art to admire. And quite a cliffhanger to the end of this volume. But it was so incredibly enjoyable to read.

star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: Ethan M. Aldridge, graphic novel, fantasy, faeries
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 09.09.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge

Title: Estranged (Estranged #1)

Author: Ethan M. Aldridge

Publisher: HarperCollins 2018

Genre: Comics

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Edmund and the Childe were swapped at birth. Now Edmund lives in secret as a changeling in the World Above, his fae powers hidden from his unsuspecting parents and his older sister, Alexis. The Childe lives among the fae in the World Below, where being a human makes him a curiosity at the royal palace.

But when the cruel sorceress Hawthorne seizes the throne, the Childe and Edmund must unite on a dangerous quest to save both worlds—even if they’re not sure which world they belong to.

I cannot remember exactly where I heard about this particular comic, but it ended up on my holds list. I thoroughly enjoyed this twist on the fairy changeling story. We get a fun mix-up and a royal coup all in one volume. The art was colorful yet crisp. The character were a lot of fun and the action sequences full of suspense.

star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: graphic novel, fantasy, faeries, Ethan M. Aldridge, 4 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 09.09.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

Title: Once Burned (Night Prince #1)

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Publisher: Avon 2012

Genre: Romance

Pages: 373

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Spice Rating: 5 (but with vampires)

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all--but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

Oh a whole series focused on Vlad! I was so incredibly excited to start this as he may just be my favorite character in the entire Night Huntress world. We get to see just how cold and calculated he can be in a variety of situations. He really frustrated me so many times throughout this book, but I loved every page of it. Leila came to be a great foil for our enigmatic vampire master. I loved the mystery element to this series. All of the Night Huntress books have that mystery element, but I really fell into this one. I was desperate to find a conclusion, but slightly annoyed to find a bit of a cliffhanger. Now I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

Night Prince

  • #1 Once Burned

  • #2 Twice Tempted

  • #3 Bound by Flames

  • #4 Into the Fire

Finishing the Series.jpeg
Spice Meter.png
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: Jeaniene Frost, romance, fantasy, vampires, 4 stars, Finishing the Series
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 09.06.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Menacing Manor by Kiersten White

Title: Menacing Manor (The Sinister Summer #4)

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: Delacorte Press 2023

Genre: Middle Grade Horror

Pages: 272

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

After escaping from Edgaren’t and Dr. Jay, the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their friends arrive at Stein Manor Science Camp. They all work together to distract the friendly teenage camp director so they can explore and look for clues about where their parents might be.

Meanwhile, Theo and Alexander settle on a daring plan. They know exactly where Edgaren’t is going to be: coming for them, and the books. This time, they’ll be ready. This time, they’ll get answers. And this time, they won’t trust the adult in charge, which is easy enough when it’s enormous, lurking, unfriendly Mr. Frank. But as they get closer to opening the books and their parents’ histories, an unexpected foe is watching everything they do. . . .

Fake volcanoes! Real sea caves! Strangely modified frogs! Startling betrayal! And a lightning-struck manor! all combine for the electrifying penultimate Sinister Summer adventure.

Oh that was utterly delightful! I loved the ensemble within this volume. We get to see how many of the kids work tougher to solve the mystery of their parents’ disappearances. We get more clues and some perilous situations. The best part was the interplay between Essa and Mr. Frank. I love the twist on the classic horror stories. I cannot wait until January for the last book in the series. I hope that we get a satisfying conclusion.

The Sinister Summer

  • #1 Wretched Waterpark

  • #2 Vampiric Vacation

  • #3 Camp Creepy

  • #4 Menacing Manor

Finishing the Series.jpeg
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, middle grade, horror, Finishing the Series, Kiersten White, 5 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 08.30.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost

Title: One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress #6)

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Publisher: Avon 2011

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 358

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Spice Meter: 5 (albeit one with a vampire)

Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more
than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift
from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving-leading to a personal favor
that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous
spirit.

Oh I really enjoyed this one! We get to see Cat and Bones at their best teamed up to take down an unusual ghost. I loved their leadership and banter with the other players. The ghost was significantly creepy and a big mystery to be solved. I loved the appearances by Ian and Spade and Denise. My biggest complaint is actually with the B plot featuring Don and the new head of the military unit Madigan. I really disliked how that just seemed to fizz out to nothing by the end of the book. I would have liked more a resolution.

Night Huntress:

  • #0.5 Reckoning ✓

  • #1 Halfway to the Grave ✓

  • #1.5 Happily Never After ✓

  • #2 One Foot in the Grave ✓

  • #3 At Grave’s End ✓

  • #3.5 Devil to Pay

  • #4 Destined for an Early Grave ✓

  • #4.5 One for the Money ✓

  • #5 This Side of the Grave

  • #6 One Grave at a Time

  • #6.5 Home for the Holidays

  • #7 Up from the Grave

  • #7.5 Outtakes from the Grave

  • #7.6 A Grave Girls’ Getaway

  • #8 Both Feet in the Grave

Finishing the Series.jpeg
Star Ratings.png
Spice Meter.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, Finishing the Series, vampires, Jeaniene Frost
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 08.29.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Camp Creepy by Kiersten White

Title: Camp Creepy (The Sinister Summer #3)

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: Delacorte Press 2023

Genre: Middle Grade Horror

Pages: 288

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

After leaving the Sanguine Spa in pursuit of Edgaren't, the kids find themselves at a mysterious summer camp, Camp Creek. There are lake games and happy counselors, and there's even a tie-dye cabin. It's all very . . .
normal.

But if Theo and Alexander know one thing, it's that normal doesn't always mean good. When everyone around her starts acting strange, Theo wonders if maybe the fumes from the tie-dye cabin are seeping into their
brains, and she resolves to investigate what's really going on at Camp Creek.   

The third book in #1
New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White's Sinister Summer series continues the adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their aunt, who never saw a discount vacation destination she didn’t love.

If you are looking for a series that dupes A Series of Unfortunate Events is some clever ways, pick this one up! I absolutely adore this creepy mystery series. In this volume, we finally get to visit the summer camp full of strangely perky children and teens. And we get more insight into the larger mystery alongside hooking back up with some favorite characters. I adored seeing Wil being much more open and present with Theo and Alexander. A super fun adventure! I can’t believe that I didn’t catch the twist, but thoroughly enjoyed the reveal. On to the fourth book!

The Sinister Summer

  • #1 Wretched Waterpark

  • #2 Vampiric Vacation

  • #3 Camp Creepy

  • #4 Menacing Manor

Finishing the Series.jpeg
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, middle grade, horror, Finishing the Series, Kiersten White, 5 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 08.25.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The First Bright Thing by JR Dawson

Title: The First Bright Thing

Author: JR Dawson

Publisher: Tor Books 2023

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 336

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Author with Same Name Town as You

Ringmaster — Rin, to those who know her best — can jump to different moments in time as easily as her wife, Odette, soars from bar to bar on the trapeze. And the circus they lead is a rare home and safe haven for magical misfits and outcasts, known as Sparks.

With the world still reeling from World War I, Rin and her troupe — the Circus of the Fantasticals — travel the midwest, offering a single night of enchantment and respite to all who step into their Big Top.

But threats come at Rin from all sides. The future holds an impending war that the Sparks can see barrelling toward their show and everyone in it. And Rin's past creeps closer every day, a malevolent shadow she can’t fully escape.

It takes the form of another circus, with tents as black as midnight and a ringmaster who rules over his troupe with a dangerous power. Rin's circus has something he wants, and he won't stop until it's his.

A friend at the bookish retreat recommended this new novel from an Omaha author. I finally got it from the library and dove straight in. I adored the world created in this fantasy novel. Apparently, I really enjoy fantasy novels set in circuses… This one was populated by an interesting array of circus inhabitants. We get to see how they have all created a family in the midst of a strange and changing world. I loved the idea of the Sparks and their various abilities. We get to see how some have used their powers for good while others have used their powers to hurt others. I loved connecting all the dots between timelines and characters. I wasn’t surprised by the big twist, but felt that it was an earned reveal. The last few chapters are really nonstop action. Thankfully we get a satisfying conclusion to the storyline. Such a great debut! I will have to see what the author writes next.

52 book club.jpeg
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: 52 Book Club, JR Dawson, fantasy, 5 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 08.23.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker

Title: The Keeper of Night (The Keeper of Night #1)

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Publisher: Inkyard Press 2021

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 393

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf: BOTM Cleanout

Death is her destiny.

Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough has been collecting souls in the London streets for centuries. Expected to obey the harsh hierarchy of the Reapers who despise her, Ren conceals her emotions and avoids her tormentors as best she can.

When her failure to control her Shinigami abilities drives Ren out of London, she flees to Japan to seek the acceptance she’s never gotten from her fellow Reapers. Accompanied by her younger brother, the only being on earth to care for her, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death…only to learn that here, too, she must prove herself worthy. Determined to earn respect, Ren accepts an impossible task—find and eliminate three dangerous Yokai demons—and learns how far she’ll go to claim her place at Death’s side.

The premise and start of this book really sucked me in. I wanted a horror-ish telling of Japanese mythology. For the first couple of chapters, I was completely in it. But then, once Red and her brother actually arrive in Japan, the story basically stops. We get huge passages of slow-moving prose with lots of annoying whining. And the romance! Completely ridiculous and so not a romance. I hated it. I tried to look past those issues, but ultimately I just couldn’t find myself enjoying this book.

The Keeper of Night

  • #1 The Keeper of Night

  • #2 The Empress of Time

Unread Shelf Project.png
BOTM Cleanout Project.png
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: Kylie Lee Baker, 3 stars, BOTM Cleanout, Unread Shelf Project, fantasy
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 08.18.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Happily Never After by Jeaniene Frost

Title: Happily Never After (Night Huntress #1.5)

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Publisher: Avon 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 106

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Spice Meter: 5 (albeit one with a vampire)

Isabella Spaga is about to reluctantly walk down the aisle with Mr. Dangerously Wrong…but not if dashing vampire Chance has anything to say about it. As a favor to Bones, Chance has come to derail this wedding of beauty to the beast. Now if only he can keep his hands off the bride. From
New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress world, it’s the wedding of the season…that everyone wants to miss.

I finally tracked down some of the novellas for the Night Huntress series. This one involves a vampire that we briefly met in the first volume of the series. And yea! I was excited to see a little story involving him and his new lady love. We get a fun short story full of action and adventure and some truly terrible villains that were definitely deserving of their fates. Very cute addition to the stories. Now I need to track down some of the later stories…

Night Huntress:

  • #0.5 Reckoning

  • #1 Halfway to the Grave

  • #1.2 The Other Half of the Grave

  • #1.5 Happily Never After

  • #2 One Foot in the Grave

  • #3 At Grave’s End

  • #3.5 Devil to Pay

  • #4 Destined for an Early Grave

  • #4.5 One for the Money

  • #5 This Side of the Grave

  • #6 One Grave at a Time

  • #6.5 Home for the Holidays

  • #7 Up from the Grave

  • #7.5 Outtakes from the Grave

  • #7.6 A Grave Girls’ Getaway

  • #8 Both Feet in the Grave

Finishing the Series.jpeg
Star Ratings.png
Spice Meter.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, Finishing the Series, vampires, Jeaniene Frost
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 08.12.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Vampiric Vacation by Kiersten White

Title: Vampiric Vacation (The Sinister Summer #2)

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: Delacorte Press 2022

Genre: Middle Grade Horror

Pages: 320

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

After leaving Fathoms of Fun, the kids are on their way to the next odd summer destination their aunt has chosen for them. This time, they find themselves dropped off at the Sanguine Spa in the “little Transylvania Mountains.” There they meet the owners: Mina, her mysterious little sister, Lucy (who is extremely pale, can’t go in the sunlight, and has an affinity for hanging upside down from the ceiling), and their intimidating guardian, the Count.  

When the Count sends all the children in the spa on a scavenger hunt, the Sinister-Winterbottoms use the excuse to snoop around and discover that this spa may be more than just eerie—it might also hold clues to what happened to their parents. When Wil starts to show vampiric symptoms, the twins resolve to investigate what’s really going on at the Sanguine Spa.  

The second book in the Sinister Summer series continues the adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their aunt who never saw a discount vacation destination she didn’t love.

The library finally got the rest of this series for me to enjoy. I loved the first one and couldn’t wait to dive into the rest. The series reminds me a lot of A Series of Unfortunate Events with the mix of spooky and absurd happenings. We get another adventure, this time at a spa that may or may not be inhabited by vampires. We get more of the overall mystery and some clues along the way. And throughout everything, we are delighted to be following Theo and Alexander as they keep each other safe, along with occasionally making sure their sister Wil doesn’t walk off a cliff. I loved the play on the vampire myths and the story of Dracula in particular. There was a line early on about lawyers and suites that made me laugh out loud. I think the boys would really enjoy reading this series after me.

The Sinister Summer

  • #1 Wretched Waterpark

  • #2 Vampiric Vacation

  • #3 Camp Creepy

  • #4 Menacing Manor

Finishing the Series.jpeg
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, middle grade, horror, Finishing the Series, Kiersten White, 5 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 08.12.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Title: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Author: Sandu Mandanna

Publisher: Berkley 2022

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 318

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Books on the Cover; Romanceopoly - Journey’s End

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.
 
But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.
 
As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when peril comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for....

Our book club pick for August and it was a delightfully warm hug. We enter into a world full of secret witches and oddball characters all looking for a home. Thankfully they find their home, albeit after a few trials and some periods of self-doubt. I fell for every single one of the characters but I think Rosetta was my favorite. All the characters created their own space and place within the family. We get to see how they all fit together into a beautiful tapestry. I’m looking forward to reading the next book from Mandanna.

52 book club.jpeg
Romanceopoly.jpeg
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: Sangu Mandanna, fantasy, witches, 5 stars, 52 Book Club, Romanceopoly, Bookworms Book Club
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 08.04.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Immortality by Dana Schwartz

Title: Immortality

Author: Dana Schwartz

Publisher: Wednesday Books 2023

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 389

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books Club - Includes a Funeral

Hazel Sinnett is alone and half-convinced the events of the year before—the immortality, Beecham’s vial—were a figment of her imagination. She doesn’t even know if Jack is alive or dead. All she can really do now is treat patients and maintain Hawthornden Castle as it starts to decay around her.

When saving a life leads to her arrest, Hazel seems doomed to rot in prison until a message intervenes: Hazel has been specifically requested to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte, the sickly granddaughter of King George III. Soon Hazel is dragged into the glamor and romance of a court where everyone has something to hide, especially the enigmatic, brilliant members of a social club known as the Companions to the Death.

As Hazel’s work entangles her more and more with the British court, she realizes that her own future as a surgeon isn't the only thing at stake for her. Malicious forces are at work in the monarchy, and Hazel may be the only one capable of setting things right.

A successful and satisfying follow up to Anatomy. I was very annoyed by the cliffhanger at the end of the first book, but thankfully, this volume closes that storyline. We re-encounter Hazel continuing her work alone in her family’s house in Edinburgh. This story line is all fine and good, but the book finally picks up once Hazel is transported to London and meets Princess Charlotte. I loved the royal intrigue aspect of the story and Hazel’s relationships with Charlotte and Eliza. We don’t get quite as much medical talk in this one as the last, but it’s still there. This book did feel like a bit more of a stretch by including so many real characters into the plot line. Most of it was fine, but there were a few parts that I was a bit incredulous by the actions taken by some characters. As such, I still have issues with the supernatural aspects of this duology. A nice quick read, but it’s not going to make my top 10 of the year.

52 book club.jpeg
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: Dana Schwartz, horror, young adult, 4 stars, fantasy, 52 Book Club
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 07.28.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost

Title: Eternal Kiss of Darkness(Night Huntress World #3)

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Publisher: Avon 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 361

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer TBR; Unread Shelf, Finishing the Series

Spice Meter: 5 (albeit with a vampire)

An immortal war has been brewing in the darkness . . .

And now one woman has stumbled into the shadows.

Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept on walking. But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn. Suddenly she finds herself in a world she's only imagined in her worst nightmares.

At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master vampire who thought he'd seen it all. Then Kira appears—this fearless, beautiful . . . human who braved death to rescue him. Though he burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life. Yet sending her away is unthinkable.

But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose either the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction.

Oh this one was a wild ride. Mencheres has always been an intriguing character in the regular Night Huntress series and I was so glad he got his own stand alone book. We get to learn his entire history and put to rest an ancient rivalry, all while finding his match in a private investigator. Kira was the right amount of smart and feisty heroine for our master vampire. I loved seeing their interactions and the ways in which Mencheres is forced to open up to Kira. Of course, I always love drop in appearances from Bones and Cat, but I especially love appearances from Vlad. He may be my favorite character in this entire world. This book has the right amount of action and romance to keep me flipping through the pages until the very end.

Night Huntress World:

  • #1 First Drop of Crimson

  • #2 Eternal Kiss of Darkness

Summer Reading Challenge.png
Unread Shelf Project.png
Finishing the Series.jpeg
Star Ratings.png
Spice Meter.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, Unread Shelf Project, Finishing the Series, Jeaniene Frost, vampires, 4 stars, Summer TBR List
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 07.26.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Title: Cinderella is Dead

Author: Kalynn Bayron

Publisher: Bloomsbury 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 389

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer TBR

It's 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl's display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.

Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella's mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all--and in the process, they learn that there's more to Cinderella's story than they ever knew . . .

This was a recommendation from some of my friends at the retreat. I randomly picked it up as there was no wait at the library. And it was a lovely retelling of the Cinderella story. We get a plucky heroine that sets out on a dangerous path to find the truth. I liked that the author made Sophia queer, but the “romance” with her childhood best friend and then Constance just fell a little flat for me. It was more like that first crush. The overall romance aspect of the book didn’t land with me, but that might be because I am not a young adult. I did enjoy the twisting of the fairy tale story and the overall mystery of the kingdom. Those parts were really fun to read even if I did predict most of the big reveals. A fun retelling that’s a little different from the norm.

Summer Reading Challenge.png
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: Kalynn Bayron, young adult, fairy tale stories, fantasy, Summer TBR List
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 07.22.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Bees by Laline Paull

Title: The Bees

Author: Laline Paull

Publisher: Ecco 2014

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 340

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer TBR; COYER

The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Hunger Games in this brilliantly imagined debut set in an ancient culture where only the queen may breed and deformity means death.

Flora 717 is a sanitation worker, a member of the lowest caste in her orchard hive where work and sacrifice are the highest virtues and worship of the beloved Queen the only religion. But Flora is not like other bees. With circumstances threatening the hive’s survival, her curiosity is regarded as a dangerous flaw but her courage and strength are an asset. She is allowed to feed the newborns in the royal nursery and then to become a forager, flying alone and free to collect pollen. She also finds her way into the Queen’s inner sanctum, where she discovers mysteries about the hive that are both profound and ominous.

But when Flora breaks the most sacred law of all—daring to challenge the Queen’s fertility—enemies abound, from the fearsome fertility police who enforce the strict social hierarchy to the high priestesses jealously wedded to power. Her deepest instincts to serve and sacrifice are now overshadowed by an even deeper desire, a fierce maternal love that will bring her into conflict with her conscience, her heart, her society—and lead her to unthinkable deeds.

A strange novel with an interesting premise that didn’t quite land for me. I was intrigued by a novel written from the perspective of a bee. We get to glimpse the inner workings of the hive. Once we get into the actual story, I was less committed to the entire novel. The characters didn’t quite come alive for me. I was confused as many turns by the motivations and the overall purpose of the characters. It was hard to connect with the story as written and ultimately I was left wanting more.

Summer Reading Challenge.png
COYER.jpeg
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: Laline Paull, fantasy, COYER, Summer TBR List, 3 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 07.22.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Title: This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress #5)

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Publisher: Avon 2011

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 357

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Finishing the Series

Spice Meter: 5 (albeit one with a vampire)

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

Hmm… I sped through this volume, but wasn’t super excited about the big mystery. It wasn’t super intriguing and I didn’t think the villain was scary enough. In the fact, I thought that Marie was a much scarier antagonist than the actual stated villain. I wanted to see more scenes with Marie and Cat bantering and sparring. That would have increased my enjoyment of this book. My other favorite part were the scenes involving Vlad. He is always a great addition to the story. I will keep reading this series, if nothing else than to complete books from my Unread Shelf. But, I must say that I’m not super into this series at this point.

Night Huntress:

  • #0.5 Reckoning

  • #1 Halfway to the Grave

  • #1.2 The Other Half of the Grave

  • #1.5 Happily Never After

  • #2 One Foot in the Grave

  • #3 At Grave’s End

  • #3.5 Devil to Pay

  • #4 Destined for an Early Grave

  • #4.5 One for the Money

  • #5 This Side of the Grave

  • #6 One Grave at a Time

  • #6.5 Home for the Holidays

  • #7 Up from the Grave

  • #7.5 Outtakes from the Grave

  • #7.6 A Grave Girls’ Getaway

  • #8 Both Feet in the Grave

Unread Shelf Project.png
Finishing the Series.jpeg
Star Ratings.png
Spice Meter.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, Unread Shelf Project, Finishing the Series, Jeaniene Frost, vampires, 3 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 07.14.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse

Title: Tread of Angels

Author: Rebecca Roanhorse

Publisher: Gallery 2022

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 201

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Reading Challenge

The year is 1883 and the mining town of Goetia is booming as prospectors from near and far come to mine the powerful new element Divinity from the high mountains of Colorado with the help of the pariahs of society known as the Fallen. The Fallen are the descendants of demonkind living amongst the Virtues, the winners in an ancient war, with the descendants of both sides choosing to live alongside Abaddon’s mountain in this tale of the mythological West from the bestselling mastermind Rebecca Roanhorse.

A bit of a strange book to review. The plot line centers around a women trying to defend her sister in a murder accusation. Pretty straight forward, but the world they live in is anything but straight forward. We get a clear divided between the Fallen and the Elect and appearances from demon lords. I sped through this book in one sitting and was engaged the entire time. The weird theological questions that came to mind keep me thinking of this book. Throw in Roanhorse’s personal history and current place in life, and I was even more intrigued. Something tells me that this book is going to creep back into my life in the future…

Summer Reading Challenge.png
Star Ratings.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: Rebecca Roanhorse, Summer TBR List, fantasy, 4 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 07.03.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

Title: Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad #1)

Author: David Eddings

Publisher: 1982

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 304

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Reading Challenge; Finishing the Series

A fierce dispute among the Gods and the theft of a powerful Orb leaves the World divided into five kingdoms. Young Garion, with his "Aunt Pol" and an elderly man calling himself Wolf --a father and daughter granted near-immortality by one of the Gods -- set out on a complex mission. In the process, as Garion grows into his early teens, he learns to defend himself, grapples with a wild boar, uncovers spies at a king's palace, learns about sorcery and starts to gain a sense of what his own destiny may be.

Another reading request from J from years back. I finally picked it up and it’s been a decent mini reading experience. This book is most definitely the big world-building, set-up book for the rest of the series. It starts off slow as we get to know Garion and his life on the farm. Once the band gets together and starts traveling, the pace picks up but not by a ton. We’re still slowly moving through the storyline it’s not until the last 25% of the book that things really get going. We’re left with many questions by the end of the book. This first volume didn’t blow me away, but it did make me intrigued enough to keep reading in the series.

The Belgariad

  • #1 Pawn of Pophecy

  • #2 Queen of Sorcery

  • #3 Magician’s Gambit

  • #4 Castle of Wizardry

  • #5 Enchanters’ End Game

Summer Reading Challenge.png
Finishing the Series.jpeg
star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: David Eddings, fantasy, young adult, 3 stars, Summer TBR List, Finishing the Series
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 06.29.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Curator by Owen King

Title: The Curator

Author: Owen King

Publisher: Scribner 2023

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 480

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Reading Challenge

It begins in an unnamed city nicknamed “the Fairest”, it is distinguished by many things from the river fair to the mountains that split the municipality in half; its theaters and many museums; the Morgue Ship; and, like all cities, but maybe especially so, by its essential unmappability.

Dora, a former domestic servant at the university has a secret desire—to understand the mystery of her brother's death, believing that the answer lies within The Museum of Psykical Research, where he worked when Dora was a child. With the city amidst a revolutionary upheaval, where citizens like Robert Barnes, her lover and a student radical, are now in positions of authority, Dora contrives to gain the curatorship of the half-forgotten museum only to find it all but burnt to the ground, with the neighboring museums oddly untouched. Robert offers her one of these, The National Museum of the Worker. However, neither this museum, nor the street it is hidden away on, nor Dora herself, are what they at first appear to be. Set against the backdrop of an oddly familiar and wondrous city on the verge of collapse, Dora’s search for the truth will unravel a monstrous conspiracy and bring her to the edge of worlds.

star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png
Summer Reading Challenge.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, Owen King, Summer TBR List, 4 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.27.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Title: Fourth Wing (Empyrean #1)

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Publisher: Entangled 2023

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 528

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out:
graduate or die.

Looking for a fast-paced fantasy adventure story featuring strong characters, serious dangers, and a side of romance? This is the summer read for you! This book has blown up on Bookstagram and in all my book related spaces, and for good reason. This is the high adventure story featuring dragons that we needed. We meet Violet Sorrengail who has been trained to enter the scribes, but whose mother forces her into the riders quadrant. The riders quadrant certainly means death for Violet, but she finds her strength and belonging within the treacherous world of the Basgiath War College. Violet is not a whiny teenager. She is a young woman who knows her strengths and weaknesses and uses them to survive. Once the dragons enter into he story, we move into a nonstop action phase that had me flinging through the pages. I couldn’t wait to see where the story would lead next. And then there was the romance plot. I loved Violet and Xaden’s antagonistic relationship and final consummation. It felt very real given their personalities, histories, and situations they were put in. I can’t wait until November when the sequel is published.

Next up on the TBR pile:

geographer's.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg antidote.jpg
tags: fantasy, Rebecca Yarros, 5 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 06.23.23
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 
Newer / Older

Powered by Squarespace.