Review: Teeth in the Mist

Title: Teeth in the Mist

Author: Dawn Kurtagich

Date of Publication: June 11th, 2019

Goodreads Summary:

Before the birth of time, a monk uncovers the Devil’s Tongue and dares to speak it. The repercussions will be felt for generations…

Sixteen-year-old photography enthusiast Zoey has been fascinated by the haunted, burnt-out ruins of Medwyn Mill House for as long as she can remember–so she and her best friend, Poulton, run away from home to explore them. But are they really alone in the house? And who will know if something goes wrong?

In 1851, seventeen-year-old Roan arrives at the Mill House as a ward–one of three, all with something to hide from their new guardian. When Roan learns that she is connected to an ancient secret, she must escape the house before she is trapped forever.

1583. Hermione, a new young bride, accompanies her husband to the wilds of North Wales where he plans to build the largest water mill and mansion in the area. But rumors of unholy rituals lead to a tragic occurrence and she will need all her strength to defeat it.

Three women, centuries apart, drawn together by one Unholy Pact. A pact made by a man who, more than a thousand years later, may still be watching…

My Review:

I really, really loved And the Trees Crept In, so I had to read this bad boy! It was another very atmospheric read but this time with past and present POVs!

Let me start with Roan! I seriously loved her POV, and that one was a five star read for me! Her story was addicting, and there was all kinds of weird crap going on, and the romance parts were on point! Rapley was so adorable and lovely! Just brilliant!

I didn’t connect with Zoey’s POV chapters as much, only because I’m kind of confused by them and I’m still confused about another character who showed up out of no where. Also, the romance in these chapters felt off for me, but I think it was just because it felt very insta love? I don’t even know! But the story there was still very interesting!

From the ending, I think there is supposed to be another book? Or I hope there will be one! I definitely recommend Teeth in the Mist because the writing is awesome, the story unique, and there were characters that I loved so much!

What is your favorite horror book or movie?

Review: And The Trees Crept In

Title: And The Trees Crept In

Author: Dawn Kurtachich

Date of Publication: September 6th, 2016

Goodreads Summary:

Stay away from the woods…

When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt’s home, it’s immediately clear that the manor is cursed. The endless creaking of the house at night and the eerie stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets too—questions that Silla can’t ignore: Why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer? Who is the beautiful boy who’s appeared from the woods? And who is the tall man with no eyes who Nori plays with in the basement at night… a man no one else can see?

My Review:

I’ve been going back and forth with being in a book slump lately, but holy moly did I love this story! I loved the weirdness, the dark aspects, the sister bond, the romantic bond, and the atmosphere in general.

Silla was a character that had her struggles, so many struggles, and sometimes she was likable and sometimes she was not, yet I loved her and being inside her head. Nori, her sister, was just sweet as pie, the cutest little thing ever! And Gowan really brought a lot to the story, with his humor, his determination, and his strength.

The idea of the trees creeping in closer was just really cool, because trees are just awesome in general. I pretty much knew the twist early on, but it didn’t take away from the story—it just made me want to know if I was actually right. There were some other cool things I didn’t guess, though. Oh, and it takes a lot for me to cry during books, yet I did shed some tears during this one! I will definitely be reading more from this author!

What would you do if you noticed the trees surrounding you were shifting closer?

Review: The Nemesis

Title: The Nemesis

Author: S.J. Kincaid

Date of Publication: August 25th, 2020

Goodreads Summary:

Three years ago, Tyrus Domitrian shocked the galaxy by killing the woman he swore to love forever. The woman for whom he upended the Empire. The woman with whom he wanted to build a new and brighter future.

Now, the once-idealistic heir apparent has become the cruel Emperor Tyrus, wielding his authority with an iron fist, capable of destroying planets with a single word, controlling all technology with a simple thought. He has bent the Grandiloquy to their knees, and none has the power to stand against him.

But there is a muttering among the Excess. They say that Nemesis is not truly gone. They whisper of her shadow spotted in distant star systems. They say that Nemesis lives. That she will rise, and rally the people to topple the man who was once her truest love—and is now her fiercest enemy.

My Review:

I’ve been waiting for this beautiful beast for almost three years and I’m so glad I got an ARC of it because I was slowly going mad. Sort of like Tyrus!

If you’ve read the last book, then you know there is the hugest of cliffhangers ever, and if you haven’t, well, just know that there is! Nemesis was just as awesome as she was in the last two books, and I love how fiercely she loves. The way she loved Donia as a friend, the way she loves Anguish like a brother, the way she loves Tyrus as her beloved! I want her as a best friend!

And Tyrus! My beautiful boy! Every time I envision you, I think of Eddie Redmayne and I’m going to say that’s how you look! You are oh so villainous and oh so mine! You were perfect in this one!

There were twists and there were so much wonderfully written words. The only thing I wish we’d had was alternating POV chapters with Tyrus, but I’ll let that slide. I don’t want to give away too much but the ending was perfect!

What is a series that you love?

Review: Igniting the Ice

Title: Igniting the Ice

Author: Alexa Whitewolf

Date of Publication: June 20th, 2020

Goodreads Summary:

The darkest of mind, for the purest of heart…who will succumb to temptation?

Declan
I thought I was smarter – I was wrong. My brother Tytus thwarted my last plan of escape, and now I’m faced with the imminent threat of death.
Until the Romanian immortal who imprisoned me comes to me with a proposition. Save an innocent maiden from the Underworld, return her to the land of the living, and I will be free with a realm all for myself.
Of course, she neglects to mention said maiden is her daughter, and that the journey will place me face to face with the lord of the Underworld himself.
And then none of that seems to matter when I meet Constanza. Because I’ve seen her, before. For the past months, she is all I’ve dreamt about. And I can’t wait to see if the reality matches the fantasy…especially if her pretty, innocent soul can be corrupted.
Unless she gets to mine first, that is.

Constanza
Having two immortal parents can get overbearing, fast. Which is why I love vacationing in the Underworld and hanging out with Hades and Persephone.
Only this time, the safe walls surrounding us are starting to crumble and, before I know it, we’re under attack. No amount of Greek heroes can help save us… until he shows.
And he just happens to be the sexy angel from my dreams. Only he looks like walking temptation, and Mom’s warnings suddenly don’t matter anymore. May the gods help me, because I’m not getting out of this unharmed, one way or another.

My Review:

I’ve been patiently waiting for Declan’s story for a while, and this one did not disappoint! This is my favorite from this spinoff! Constanza was a great MC too! I really liked her! Of course there was swoon, dragons, immortals, and awesome mythology!!!

I really liked seeing the flashbacks as well. You also get to see the brothers before and after, and I loved seeing the bond there. And besides the great romance, there were some action-packed sequences too! Of course more of Hades and Persephone! Can’t wait for the next spinoff!

Do you prefer fire or ice?

Review: The Shadow Society

Title: The Shadow Society

Author: Marie Rutkoski

Date of Publication: October 16th, 2012

Goodreads Summary:

Darcy Jones doesn’t remember anything before the day she was abandoned as a child outside a Chicago firehouse. She has never really belonged anywhere—but she couldn’t have guessed that she comes from an alternate world where the Great Chicago Fire didn’t happen and deadly creatures called Shades terrorize the human population.

Memories begin to haunt Darcy when a new boy arrives at her high school, and he makes her feel both desire and desired in a way she hadn’t thought possible. But Conn’s interest in her is confusing. It doesn’t line up with the way he first looked at her.

As if she were his enemy.

When Conn betrays Darcy, she realizes that she can’t rely on anything—not herself, not the laws of nature, and certainly not him. Darcy decides to infiltrate the Shadow Society and uncover the Shades’ latest terrorist plot. What she finds out will change her world forever . . .

In this smart, compulsively readable novel, master storyteller Marie Rutkoski has crafted an utterly original world, characters you won’t soon forget, and a tale full of intrigue and suspense.

My Review:

The Winner’s Trilogy is one of my favorite series of all time, so I finally decided to give this one a shot! This book felt very different from her other fantasy series because it was more of an urban fantasy or paranormal. But I really loved the vibe an uniqueness of the alternate world!

Darcy was easily likable. She has a complicated history that she has yet to discover and I was with her every step of the way as she uncovered more and more about herself. She was super strong and not in the physical way but in the smart sort of way! Conn had an interesting story as well, and I really liked the chemistry between him and Darcy. But at first it was very insta-love, which is fine, but I still wanted more development between them later on.

My favorite part for me was actually the Shades and learning more about them. They were just super cool and I wish I could just go invisible at any time! There were twists and the writing was fabulous. Toward the end things got a little weird but it ended on a great note. I know this is a stand alone but I really wish the Marie would have written a book two because I have unanswered questions!

If you could visit another dimension, would you?

Review: Among the Beasts & Briars

Title: Among the Beasts & Briars

Author: Ashley Poston

Date of Publication: October 20th, 2020

Goodreads Summary:

Cerys is safe in the kingdom of Aloriya.

Here there are no droughts, disease, or famine, and peace is everlasting. It has been this way for hundreds of years, since the first king made a bargain with the Lady who ruled the forest that borders the kingdom. But as Aloriya prospered, the woods grew dark, cursed, and forbidden. Cerys knows this all too well: when she was young, she barely escaped as the woods killed her friends and her mother. Now Cerys carries a small bit of the curse—the magic—in her blood, a reminder of the day she lost everything. The most danger she faces now, as a gardener’s daughter, is the annoying fox who stalks the royal gardens and won’t leave her alone.

As a new queen is crowned, however, things long hidden in the woods descend on the kingdom itself. Cerys is forced on the run, her only companions the small fox from the garden, a strange and powerful bear, and the magic in her veins. It’s up to her to find the legendary Lady of the Wilds and beg for a way to save her home. But the road is darker and more dangerous than she knows, and as secrets from the past are uncovered amid the teeth and roots of the forest, it’s going to take everything she has just to survive.

My Review:

Heart of Iron is one of my favorites by Poston, so I was super stoked when I saw she was writing a straight up fantasy book! Her imagination was so on point with this one that I wanted to scream my joy!

I loved Cerys AKA Daisy. You’ll know why she has the nickname when you read it! So adorable! Then there was Fox, my sly and scared yet brave little fox! I loved him so incredibly much, and I also thought the connection between him and Daisy was perfect. My one pitfall, which I have with every Poston book I read, is that I want to see more angst and sexiness between the couples along with the sweet and adorable! More kissing and touches please!

Poston had some pretty cool twists in this one, and I think this is a stand alone but I could definitely see it as a series too! The writing was flawless and the dialogue banter scenes were so entertaining! A page turner to no end! Loved it!

What’s your favorite fantasy book or movie?

Review: Holding Smoke

Title: Holding Smoke

Author: Elle Cosimano

Date of Publication: May 3rd, 2016

Goodreads Summary:

John “Smoke” Conlan is serving time for two murders but he wasn’t the one who murdered his English teacher, and he never intended to kill the only other witness to the crime. A dangerous juvenile rehabilitation center in Denver, Colorado, known as the Y, is Smoke’s new home and the only one he believes he deserves.

But, unlike his fellow inmates, Smoke is not in constant imprisonment. After a near death experience leaves him with the ability to shed his physical body at will, Smoke is able to travel freely outside the concrete walls of the Y, gathering information for himself and his fellow inmates while they’re asleep in their beds. Convinced his future is only as bright as the fluorescent lights in his cell, Smoke doesn’t care that the “threads” that bind his soul to his body are wearing thin-that one day he may not make it back in time. That is, until he meets Pink, a tough, resourceful girl who is sees him for who he truly is and wants to help him clear his name.

Now Smoke is on a journey to redemption he never thought possible. With Pink’s help, Smoke may be able to reveal the true killer, but the closer they get to the truth, the more deadly their search becomes. The web of lies, deceit, and corruption that put Smoke behind bars is more tangled than they could have ever imagined. With both of their lives on the line, Smoke will have to decide how much he’s willing to risk, and if he can envision a future worth fighting for.

My Review:

I’ve loved all the books I’ve read by Elle so far and this one was probably my favorite! The grayness aspect of it was so good. Characters that are neither black or white are my favorite.

And John! I was so happy to get a book told entirely from a guy’s perspective. Those seem rather rare in YA. I couldn’t help but feel for him because he’d been through so much in his life. Pink was awesome too. She was tough and sweet and reliable!

The paranormal aspect was super great. It was neat seeing John be able to leave his body and try to solve the mystery of the murder he was framed for. There was just so much coolness and emotion here and I highly recommend it!

Where would you go if you could leave your body for the night and no one could see you?

Review: Imagine Me

Title: Imagine Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Date of Publication: March 31st, 2020

Goodreads Summary:

Juliette Ferrars.

Ella Sommers.

Which is the truth and which is the lie?

Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong—between Ella and Juliette—blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control.

The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose what side she fights on.

My Review:

So this was the final book to my favorite series ever and I was so scared! Thankfully, it did not disappoint!

I loved being in Juliette’s head again! Kenji was funny as usual! I just wish Warner had more POV chapters this time but that’s okay because my boy was still there a lot! And I always love the scenes between Juliette and Warner! Swoon!

There was awesome action in this one along with perfect, beautiful writing! Books 2, 3, and 5 are still my faves but this was addicting too! I still have some questions, but the story ended on an excellent note! However, there could totally be more!

Have you started this series?

Review: The Guardian of Blackbird Inn

Title: The Guardian of Blackbird Inn

Author: Kerry Adrienne

Date of Publication: October 1st, 2015

Goodreads Summary:

Saving the inn might mean losing her life.

Sophia Yates travels to the famed and haunted Blackbird Inn to help its mysterious owner, Garren Amsel, research its history. The state wants to claim eminent domain and take the property, but the historical inn has been in Garren’s family for generations and he can’t bear to lose it.

After learning the truth behind the inn’s biggest mystery, and why Garren stays, saving Blackbird Inn may cost Sophia her life. How far will she go to protect him?

My Review:

I seriously love this gorgeous cover! As soon as I started the story, I got swept right in! The gothic inn vibe was perfect! Each description and detail had me feeling like I was there!

Sophia and Garren were both great! And I loved their teamwork of an effort through the mystery as well as their chemistry. The one thing I would have liked more was to have seen their actual romance scene so we could have connected more to their feelings for each other since they came about quickly.

Overall, a fun and entertaining read! And the length was perfect to where I could finish in one sitting!

What’s your favorite ghost story?

Review: Nearly Found

Title: Nearly Found

Author: Elle Cosimano

Date of Publication: June 2nd, 2015

Goodreads Summary:

AFTER HELPING TO CATCH A SERIAL KILLER last spring, Nearly Boswell isn’t looking for her internship in a crime lab to be anything more than an edge on her college applications. She’s determined to get out of Sunny View trailer park and prove to herself that she’s nothing like her con man father.

But on her first day, a girl from the trailer park turns up dead and an old ally of Nearly’s calls in a debt that could jeopardize her future. Then the corpse of a missing person is discovered, buried on a local golf course – and there’s a message for Nearly etched into its bones.

Could the corpse be her father, who went missing five years ago? Or is her father a murderer?

As a series of violent crimes with cryptic messages strike a little too close to home, her friends think she’s being paranoid. And Reece, her recklessly confident boyfriend, is preoccupied with a new girl as part of his informant work with the police.

Nearly’s going to have to risk her future in order to discover the truth about her past in time to stop a killer before he strikes again. And she might have to do it alone.

My Review:

I absolutely loved the first book and this one was just as addicting! It was good being in Nearly’s head, and it really felt familiar!

I will say for the first half of the story I was frustrated at the back and forth between Reece and Nearly because they are so perfect together! I wouldn’t have minded if he wasn’t there, just the trust issue were hard. But! They are teens so it’s understandable! When there chemistry was back, it was back!

The mystery in this one was also good too! I liked seeing Nearly trying to uncover things and find clues. Also, when the group got together to try and solve the crime, it sort of felt like The Breakfast Club, so I was like, heck yeah! Overall, another awesome read from Elle!

What’s your favorite sequel?