Sangu Mandanna: A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Sangu Mandanna shows that a place can Nowhere House can actually lead somewhere: 

Mika Moon has been taught that she and every other witch, has to hide their magic and not draw attention to herself at all. Mika has been pushing the line on this with making TikTok videos of her making potions. It is these videos that lead to a very unexpected email of some people who are searching for a witch to teach three young witches how to control their magic. This Breaks all the rules but they desperately need her and not going is not an option. Once Mika arrives at Nowhere House, she gets entangled in the lives of all those living there, the girls, an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two caretakers and the librarian Jamie, who is convinced that Mika is a threat to Nowhere house. As Mika starts to settle in to Nowhere house, the increasing magic in the area is not the only threat that will come knocking on the door. 

This is the first that I have read by Mandanna, so i was not sure what to expect, but I was completely enchanted by the book that Mandanna created. This book was a great comfort read, it is just whole heartly sweet and naive, probably my favourite cozy read so far this year. Mandanna created just a great story of found family that just pulls at your heartstrings throughout the book. 

I loved Mika as a character, and you cannot help but feel for her who is only looking to be loved and a place to belong. Mika has a troubled past, that is not dark, but one of loneliness. Because of the rules that have been created by the head of the Witches Society, that witches need to be alone, Mika has been alone since she was a child. I love how Mika handled magic, what she can do with Magic and how she tries to teach the children it. Mika has so much love, caring and fight within her, that you cannot help but love her.

Even the magic is more magical in a way as appearing as gold dust to those who can see it. I loved that magic was all around, and they had to harness it from nature, or from natural phenomenon. 

The one part I do not understand, or what was not fully dealt with in the book, is the curse that has been places on all witches, that all witch mothers die after they have a witch child. I'm not sure if we are going to get another book in this world and this seems like a big aspect to not clear up. As it is one of the main reasons that Mika is alone.

I really enjoyed my time reading this book. I highly recommended if you want something a bit cozy this spooky season. I’m excited to check out the other book that Mandanna has released.

Enjoy!!!!

If You Like This,

Check These Out Too:

    

Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti: Zodiac Academy - The Awakening

In the first of a series Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti shows that your fate can always change but may be not for the better:

Twins, Tory and Darcy went from one foster home to another growing up, but now that they are living on their own, they are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. That is until they find out that they are changelings and not only are they Fae but Heirs to the throne. But there are many that do not want Tory and Darcy to return, and at the head of this is the Heirs. The sons of the four power houses, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and they have plans to rule in their stead. So they have hatched a plan, make Tory and Darcy’s lives a living Hell at school, who comes out on top, it will be whom ever have not only the most power, but the highest Will.

This is the first book a I have read by Peckham and Valenti and I won’t lie I totally picked it up because it was touted as Harry Potter but for adults. And let me tell you I did not want to put this book down. Every moment I would get in to read even a page or two I was. I think this also says something about the writing style, as it was easy to read and follow what was happening.

I don’t think I have read a bully romance before this book, so i was not sure what to expect, or like what level of bullying does it get to. And let me say it gets pretty extreme in both the mental and physical by the end. Is it all a bit heartbreaking and disturbing at times? Yep but it kept me glued to the pages. Also the idea of consent is played with quite a bit in this book, especially when it comes to the Heirs, teachers and other teachers using their powers on Tory and Darcy, as they are easy prey as they don’t know how to use their powers.

I was drawn more to Tory as a character than Darcy. Tory just has the bad girl don’t give a fuck attitude down, was slightly more of the risk taker of the two (though Darcy does try at times) and not one to show her feelings at all. I just found that with Tory’s POV more interesting aspects of the plot seemed to happen to her rather than Darcy’s. I found with Darcy’s POV a lot of it was about Lance and more Lance.

There are ALOT of POV and do we really need all of them? I mean I understand why we need them from Tory and Darcy’s POV as well as Lance but do we need them from all the heirs? They sometimes are just saying the same things but in a different way and for the most part they have the same feelings about Tory and Darcy. It just felt a bit repetitive at times and I struggled a bit to remember who’s who especially at the beginning.

I’m really interested in learning more about the Nymphs and their desire for magic. I feel like there was some sort of betrayal in their history that started this war. I also want to know why their dad was called the Savage King. Like what did he do to really earn that Title? 

I thought it would be spicier that it was, people always say this is a spicy series but I am going to guess that happens at a later in the series.  I also found it a bit predictable at times, like you knew that the Heirs planned a lot of the time, as we have their POV.

I really enjoyed the start of this series and am prepared to keep going on this series. I really need to know what happens after the ending of this book, as wow it was intense. I really look forward to seeing where Peckham and Valenti take the characters and series.

Enjoy!!!

If You Like This,

Check These Out Too:

    

Jasmine Walt & Rebecca Hamilton: Shadow Born

In the first of the series, Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton shows you never know who lurks in the shadows in both your present and the past:

Brooke knows that the supernatural exist and while during the day she works as a Chicago PD Detective by night she is a Vampire hunter along with her Fiancé. When her Fiancé dies while tracking down a lead in Salem, she knows that something supernatural is at play. When Brooke arrives in Salem, she is not welcomed with open arms but she is hoping her special talent will help shed some light of Tom's last few days there. What Brooke doesn’t realize is that the darkness that is in and around Salem and her coming there she is going to have to get dirty.

I had not heard of Walt and Hamilton before but I’m always looking for UF series to delve into and hope that the authors are able to do something new and fresh with the series and I think that Walt and Hamilton were able to put some aspects in that I do not normally see in this Genre.

I loved that it was more Fae based, as I haven’t read too many Fae urban fantasy books, they tend take a sideline in UF to other more common creatures, like vampires, which are also featured in this book and not just side characters, you can tell that they are going to play major roles in future books. 

Brooke was a good female character but as a detective she seemed quite reckless at times, and not doing enough questioning as she should be. Almost like just burst in their guns blazing when that is not always the answer. I just don’t understand with all the training she claims to have she uses very little of it. It also seemed like I as the reader knew more than the main character and this annoyed me. I found Brooke's ability to touch objects and see the impressions or last moments on them interesting, but it is something that I have read before.

I did not see one of the twists coming, i was stunned and it was awesome. One of the best aspects on the books, it takes a lot for me to not figure something out beforehand, so I applaud Walt and Hamilton for being able to do this.

I like that the world building was explained, did not drone on and was enough there for me to understand it but not take me out of the overall story.

I really enjoyed the start of this series and I look forward to not only continuing on with this series but seeing what else these authors have written. If you are looking for an Urban Fantasy Series, check this one out. I will say that I hope that Brooke grows on me more in the future books.

Enjoy!!!!

If You Like This,

Check These Out Too:

    

Abby Jimenez: Yours Truly

Abby Jimenez shows the power of a good old fashioned letter:

Bri's life is not in the best spot; Her divorce is finally coming through, her brother is still searching for a kidney donor and he's getting worse each day and the promotion she thought she was going to get is probably going to a new doctor who just transferred to the hospital. And this new Doctor all the nurses hate and patients seem to be dying on him every which way. Jacob knew it would be hard to transfer to a new hospital, he knew that he may struggle for a bit, but he can tell that the nurses hate him and his patients keep dying, plus a run in with another Doctor here, he is struggling and his anxiety is at a 10. He knows he needs to do something, so he decides to write her a letter. And its a really good letter one that is set to change not only his life but Bri's as well.

This is the first book that I have read by Jimenez and it was really cute and well done. Although this book is part of a series, I did not read the first one but did not feel like I needed to in order to enjoy this book. The friendship between Bri and Alexis is explained with them being best friends. And while there are hints back to the first book it was nothing major that made me put down this book to read that one first.

I really enjoyed the banter between Bri and Jacob and to me it is crazy that they did not realize their soulmate material when they first met. Granted that could have gone better but man they just seemed to click. It was like the truly understood each other from the beginning even when they were mortal enemies for the short period of time.

I loved the letter writing aspect of the book as that is such a lost art. But I really appreciate how Jimenez incorporated it into the novel, with Jacob being a journal writer and that is how he gets his thoughts out, especially with dealing with anxiety.

Jimenez did mental health in a way that felt real and not like she was using it as a butt of a joke or the comedic relief for the story or having it overshadow all of the story. She made it a part of Jacob, part of who he is which is okay, and this was showcased by Bri every time they enter into stressful situations

The Miscommunication trope is not my thing, it makes me want to pull my hair out any time i read a book that one has it and if it goes on too long. For this book i think the miscommunication went on way too long and it was this that also made the book longer than i think it needed to be. 

This book has cemented that I need to try more books by Jimenez, as this was really cute, but it still had some substance to it by tackling harder topics that many shy away from when writing romance books. I look forward to reading more books by Jimenez

Enjoy!!!

If you Like This,

Check These Out Too:

    

Jay Kristoff: Empire of the Vampire

In the first of a series, Jay Kristoff shows what happens when Vampires rule the world:

It has been 27 years since the sun became nothing more than a faint light on the horizon, that barely anything that is still alive can grow. This does not mean the darkness has not brough new "life" to the world. The Vampires are now able to move about at any time of the "day" and they take advantage of every aspect of the new lack of sunlight. Vampire and Humanity have been waging war with very little light of hope left. Gabriel de Leon is half man, half monster and the last remaining Silversaint from the brotherhood of the Silver Order, who had dedicated their lives to destroying the creatures of the night. But at last he has been captured by the enemy and before he meets his death, A mistress of death wants his story in the hope that he will reveal where the only hope of Humanity remains, with the Holy Grail. 

In the illustrious words of Gabriel "Fuck My Face" this book was awesome. I did not know what to expect when going into this book, so i was extremely happy with where Kristoff took the story and characters in this book. I was just looking for a down and gritty vampire book and this book fucking delivers (there are a lot swears in this book so I am just reciprocating). I don’t think I can state how good this book was, and it will take you through all the emotions not only as a reader but for what Gariel goes through in the book, both the highs and the lows and lets say there are quite a few lows.

Gabriel as a character is gruff to say the least, but at the same time he lives up to the attitude that he had. He has lived more lives in his one than many of the people we meet along this quest and that includes the vampires. Yes, he is gruff a lot of the book, but once you hear all of his story it makes sense. One thing that Gabriel is good at is surviving and surpassing all the odds.

I really enjoyed that Kristoff has this world set in a more medieval world with the weapons, beliefs, some culture and religion that are more common in this time. The world that Kristoff created here is immersive but no overwhelming which I appreciate. The idea of the Holy Grail being the savior of this time is not something new, but how Kristoff presents it in this book is, and while the book does center around the idea of the Silver Brotherhood and the circle I did not find that this book was preaching God to me (which I appreciate).

I like that Kristoff had Gabriel tell his story and there are the slight interludes with the current timeline. Though we do not get a round POV this way, I think that the story is so well done that we do not need multiple POV to fill it out. The book does jump around a bit with the timeline but i never felt lost or didn’t know which part of Gabriel's history that we were being told about. As you learn more about Gariel it makes sense why he would not want to talk about certain aspects of his life.

I also liked Kristoff's take on vampires, in the sense that not only the type of vampire you will be depends on which line turns you but also how long you stay dead after you are killed. So if you have stayed dead and your body is rotting away you are basically a mindless vampire set on killing anything in your path, but if you arise not long after being killed you will be more deadly. 

This is a chunky book and i was able to read the physical copy as well as the audiobook at the same time and this saved me lots of time when i could not have the physical book with me. I will say that Damian Lynch brought the book to life with his voice and when i was reading my physical copy it was his voice I heard in my head. Also I was not expecting the illustrations in the book these were a nice surprise and beautifully done

This will easily be one of my favourite reads this year and start the car, I'm on my way to get the second book as not only was this book fantastic but there is still so much that needs to be told. Highly recommended book.

Enjoy!!!

If You Like This,

Check These Out Too: