Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Ilona Andrews: Sweep in Peace

In the next book in Ilona Andrews' Innkeeper series, Dina may have more guests than she can handle, when they all want to kill each other:

Dina's Inn, needs guests to survive and thrive. She has not had a new guest in her Inn in six months, so she is desperate when an Arbitrator shows up on her door and requests use of her Inn for an intergalactic peace summit between three warring species. Dina knows that there are more dangers in accepting the peace summit than there are to saying No, but she also knows that she needs guests in order for the Inn to survive. Dina has her work cut out for her with not only trying to entertain her guests but also make sure that they do not kill each other, her or expose her inn to the Earth population. And if she can pull this all off her, Inn may receive a ratings upgrade, but there is always something more playing in the background and it may just have deadly consequences. 

After reading the first book in this series and loving it and mad that I slept on it for so long, I was really happy to be back in this world with Dina and her house.  I just love the creativity that Andrews has taken with this book, with different societies and cultures and how they clash with each other and when on Earth Dina has to do everything in her power to make sure that no one on Earth knows that they are there and they don't kill each other in the process.

The imagination that Andrews has with this book (and series so far) is fresh, even though these books were written years ago, with combining urban fantasy and sci-fi together and I am here for it. I don't think there are enough books in the combination of genres, especially now, with the height of everything being sold as a romantasy. I want more urban fantasy and I am glad that this series is there of me to enjoy.

Dina is quite the character and i love that her connection to the house is explored more in this book and the give and take that is required on both sides. There are times where Dina comes across as a bit flat, but not everyone needs to be peppy or bitchy, I personally think it makes her more real, that she does not fall into these categories. This is not to say that Dina does not have some badass moments, she is just not one to flaunt that she is the most powerful one in the room.

I enjoyed that Caldenia had a larger role in this book, and really came alive as a secondary character and really became someone that Dina could rely on.

Well I am totally hooked with this series and I look forward to seeing where Andrews take it as well as what new elements they will introduce next. Fans of Urban Fantasy should check out this series.

Enjoy!!!
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Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Oyinkan Braithwaite: My Sister, the Serial Killer

Oyinkan Braithwaite shows the length one sister would go to protect another:

Korede’s night is interrupted by a frantic phone call from her younger sister Ayoola that her boyfriend had tried to hurt her and Ayoola ended up killing him. But this is not the first time that Korede has had to clean up after Ayoola, in fact it is the third time. Korede has been told she needs to protect her sister and even though she should go to the police, family comes first. When Ayoola sets her sights on someone who Korede has been in love with forever but has been afraid to make a move. Korede has to decide who she willing to sacrifice the man she loves or her sister.

If you are looking for a quick read and interesting read then My Sister the Serial Killer is one to pick up. I found myself wanting to turn the pages faster to see what Ayoola was going to do next. Which once you read the book you see that as fitting as although Ayoola is not the main character, she has main character energy throughout the book.

I am one for short chapters, but there were times that I felt that chapters too short at times, and there was more information or more happening in that moment as when we get to the next chapter, it was a new point in time or new event. 

I cannot fault Korede for her love of her family and the protectiveness that she feels over her sister. Korede has accepted her lot in life, even though she wishes at many points that many things in her life were different. What if she had been born pretty, I wish that Korede would have chosen herself just once in the book, just once, but she has been told ever since her sister was born she had to protect her. Even at work she doesn't seem to choose herself.

I wanted the ending to be more, either way, more positive or negative but I just wanted Braithwaite to take it to more extreme.

I enjoy this book, and it is a quick read if you are looking to hit your reading goal this year.

Enjoy!!!!
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Monday, October 27, 2025

J. D. Barker: The Fifth to Die

In the next in the 4MK series and the Cat and Mouse game is at an all time High but Who is Who?

Sam Porter is steal reeling from letting Bishop get away but he knows that it will only be a matter of time before he catches up to him. He knows that Bishop is invested in him as well, so there is no tearing them apart. But now Porter has a new case, another girl found, but this one under the ice and wearing the clothes of a newly missing girl. Everyone is saying this is 4MK but Porter is not sure, it lack's Bishop's style. As Porter tries to focus on the new case, 4MK continues to call to him, his need to investigate it is something that he cannot control and this need will put not only Porter in danger, but so many more as well.

Wow, how does Barker follow up an amazing book of The Fourth Monkey, by writing another twisty murder mystery thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. This book is almost as good as the first and while we the reader may know who the bad guy is for quite a bit of the story (something I am not a fan of), the web that Barker weaves in this book is just amazing. From present to the past, you never know where Barker is going to take you as a reader and what little breadcrumbs of information he is going to leave you with to put it all together. I learned from the first book in this series not to trust anything or anyone but yet some how Barker was still able to surprise me along the way.

I enjoyed that Barker did not make this book all about 4MK. Like the book is about 4MK but at the same time not about him as well. There will always be other cases for the police to work and though Bishop is someone they want to catch with no new leads, they have to let the FBI do their job in that. Speaking of FBI I liked the addition of Poole in this book, it allowed the team to focus on the new case of the girls, but still allow the reader to know about the search for 4MK, especially since Porter got a lot less chapter time in this book. And man the choices Porter makes in this book are crazy and I cant wait to see how it plays out in book 3.

I liked that we got more chapters from Nash and Clair in this book. Both of them are solid detectives and have different ways of working thought the information and evidence in front of them. I like that not all of the detectives think the same.

I don't know how you could read this book and not NEED to pick up the third with the ending here, talk about a cliff hanger. This book is in a way a typical second book in a trilogy not all questions will be answered, there will even be new questions, not everything is wrapped up in a nice bow and I love that we get more Bishop, more Porter and his team in a third book.

If you are looking for a mystery, thriller series that will have you turning the pages and desperate for the next book, then this is the series to pick up. Cant wait to read the next one. 

Enjoy!!!
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Monday, October 20, 2025

K.A. Linde: The Wren in the Holly Library

In the first of a series, K. A. Linde, she shows what happens when the Monsters emerge:

Thirteen years ago, the monsters emerged and magic seemed to enter the world and changed everything. Kierse's world went into darkness and almost everything she had to live for was destroyed. Kierse has had to take to stealing to survive and she has become known for being able to get anything. When her latest jobs ends with her being forced into a monster's lair, she could be jeopardizing everything not just for herself but the treaty between humans and monsters. But Graves, the monster, recognizes that there is more the Kierse that even she knows and now she's locked into a dangerous bargain that there may be no escape from.

I'm a sucker for a heist book, and that was one of the main reasons that I was drawn to read this book. This book was good. I wasn't sure for probably the first third of this book. I found it slow and I wasn't sure where Linde was going to take it. I did find that the farther I got into the book it did grow on me and I think this was due to the fact that I began to get more invested into the characters. I wanted to know how far they would push not only themselves but each other for what they wanted to achieve.

I enjoyed that this book focused more on Celtic lore and folklore for the basis of the magic in this book. This is one that I have not read about before, however, after all the hints that Graves gives to Kierse I found the twist pretty predictable part of the way through the book. I also liked how this Lore played into the mafia/mob aspect that the book has.

As i write this I am trying to remember what the characters were like and all i remember is he is a moody MMC and she is a feisty FMC with a horrible past (though I wish the book was darker than it was) and while I liked her in the book and her loyalty to her friends, there was nothing really that stood out about either of the characters. 

I think one of the things i disliked about this book is that I think that Linde could have done more. More to separate herself from the other, and now oversaturated market of Romantsy. There are some typical themes that we see in these books and this one it no exception, especially the whole she has magic she doesn't know about, but he's the one to discover it for her and now she is the only one with this ability that can achieve this goal. It has been done time and time again and while I appreciate the magic that Linde gave Wren I just didn't like how it played out. 

This book was a good read that was able to keep me entertained. Is it one of my favourite fantasy reads this year, No, but I do plan on picking up the second book in the series to see where Linde takes it.

Enjoy!!!
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Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Katherine Center: The Love Haters

Katherine Center is back, with two people who are not looking for love, in fact they hate it:

Katie is a video photographer and she has been given a job that is supposed to not only save her job but secure it. Now the job does come with some risks, she is shooting the promo for the Coast Guard and will need to fly in a helicopter over water, and here is the biggie, Katie cannot swim. But she cannot tell her boss that she cannot swim or else she will lose her job. Once Katie arrives at Key West, she meets the man she will be interviewing, Hutch, and he is perfect, but he is not too happy to see her, he was expecting someone else, his brother. Now Katie not only has to navigate swimming lessons but the more she gets to know Hutch the more she wants to be entangled with him but there is one problem Katie has sworn off love (her last relationship made her hate herself) and Hutch is a known Love Hater.

I always seem to find one of Center's books right at the right time for me and that means her books just  hit right. This was true with with book, I felt invested in the two main characters right from the beginning and loved the banter and awkward situations that they find themselves in over and over again,. The first time with Katie needing Hutch to take splinters out of her ass, i laughed so hard and felt her embarrassment as well. i find that Katherine's writing is not only charming but witty at the same time and just an all around fun read, especially when i need a pick me up.

I find that in the books that past few books that Center has been writing, she has taken on some medical or metal health aspect to her characters and I am for that. You can tell that Katie struggles with what she looks like and her image and while this is a main aspect of the story, I did feel like there were times where Center underplayed what Katie was struggling with. I think that if Hutch wasn't portrayed as perfect all the time, maybe this would have give Katie more to open up to him. I felt like it was a very brief moment in the book and it should be more. I would also like to have Center write a book that is Dual POV or even just a few chapters from the man's POV, I think this would be a new interesting take for her books.

George Bailey is a stand out character in this book. All books need a George Bailey in them.

I loved all the information about the Coast Guard. I feel like you can tell that center did her research about certain aspects, that I found that I gained some knowledge as well from reading this book. That would be one tough job.

I like that Center does not feel the need to add spice in her books to help sell the story. Do I mind if there is Spice in books, nope, but I don't want it to feel forced in any way, which it does in some books.

This was another fun read by Center and it makes me smile just even thinking about this book and some of the events that happen. I cant wait to see what Center comes out with next.

Enjoy!!!!
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Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Tee Harlowe: Potions & Prejudice

In the first in a series, Tee Harlowe brings a bit of magic into this retelling:

Elspeth Moonflower and her family have been on the run for years. They cannot stay in one place too long less people discover that her and her sisters do not have any magic, an aspect that can get them banned from their world. When their wagon breaks down one night, they are forced to to stay in the village of Thistlegrove until their wagon can be fixed. Elspeth does not trust people and does not want to linger in the town longer than needed, but they also need to make funds in order to pay to get the wagon fixed. On a chance meeting with a Warlock, Draven, Elspeth reaffirms that she will never based upon how he was treating a fellow witch. But Drave and his friend, are important figures in Thistlegrove and for the sake of her family she will try to play nice with him, but the lines between love and hate are ever thin.

This is the first book that I have read by Harlowe and it is a cute read  that is very much a palate cleanser for me, after reading the darker side of things. This book is very character driven and I wish there was more to the plot than just trying to stay on the move for Elspeth and her family. The world building is interesting, they are in a world separate that sounds medieval (one of my favourites for fantasy books) but they are aware of the human world that sounds modern as there are talk about celebrity and stardom so I do wonder how they are able to keep they two separate.

I liked Elspeth as a main character and her willingness to do whatever she can to keep her family safe is admirable however, you can tell she takes this a bit too far at times. I also enjoyed the banted between Elspeth and Draven, how after only a few moments they are at each other throats. Actually the Banter is probably my favourite part of the book, as well as Draven's little sister giving him a heart attack every other page. I think that Harlowe did really great job at building their relationship through out the book.

I found that it got spicy out of no where and I do not think that Spice was really needed in the story as we watched Elspeth and Draven relationship develop. I mean i wont complain about spice being in a story but i want it to come about naturally and not feel forced into a scene just to have it. And this is what it felt like in this book that Harlowe thought that the book needed Spice, when really it didn't. The story would have been the same with out it.

This is one to pick up if you are looking for a quick cozy fantasy read where the stakes are not too high. I'll check out another book by Harlow when I need something in that genre.

Enjoy!!!
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Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Jennifer Hillier: Little Secrets

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier, has one woman living every parent's worst nightmare:

It was but one moment, but one that would change Marin's life forever. One slip of a hand, and a busy local market and her son has disappeared, taken by no one other than Santa Claus. As Marin lives each day without her son, she tries to find a new "normal" without him, but knowing that nothing will ever be normal again. The FBI search had gone cold, the public is no longer interested and the only one who seems to be looking is Marin and the PI she has hired. But instead of finding her son, Marin discovers that her husband, Derek, is having an affair and Marin is not willing to lose her son and her husband.

I have read a few books by Hillier and i think she has the ability to write really great domestic suspense books, but at the same time each of the books that I have read by her i was able to figure out the main big twist. This does not mean that I did not have a good time reading this book, I just wish that Hillier was able to shock me. I will say that this book is heartbreaking from beginning to end.

Hillier does a good job on showing the psychological toll of having a child stolen has taken on Marin and her marriage. You really feel for Marin as she tries to go about her life all these month later and put on a "Brave Face". Her only solace is her friend Sal, the group she goes too and scouring online in the dark web for someone who could be her son. I agree with her when she says that she loses a piece of her soul each time she looks. I cant even fault her thought process when it comes to McKenzie and just seeing it as one more thing she could lose. 

I appreciate that we get Marin and McKenzie POV, and I actually wasn't expecting to get McKenzie's POV so that was a nice surprise. McKenzie adds a different perspective especially in regards to Marin's  life and Marin's husband's as well.

I enjoyed this book by Hillier and although I was able to figure it out I enjoyed the way that Hillier told the story and she was able to suck me into Marin's life and her story. I look forward to reading more by Hillier.

Enjoy!!!
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Friday, September 26, 2025

Kate Posey: Serial Killer Games

Kate Posey shows what happens when you finally meet that one co-worker who gives off all the wrong vibes:

Dolores loves true crime, she loves listening to pod casts about serial killer and she is really interested in the one that seems to be in her city. Dolores is heading into work when the new temp raises all of her Spidey senses, there is no way that he is not a serial killer. Jake notices Dolores right away and he sees a kindred spirit, someone who may like to play the games he likes to play. What Jake and Dolores never thought was that the games that they decide to play will change both of their lives forever.

Alright, I think I need to state this first before you really start to read this review. THIS IS NOT A SERIAL KILLER BOOK. Good now that we have gotten that out of the way, we can continue. I went into this book, only reading the premise and in my mind I thought this was going to be something more in the vein of Butcher and Blackbird but maybe more serial killer and arm chair detective vibes. This was not what got. I feel like the book teased me for the first half of the book and it was around the middle that I realized that this was not going to be a serial killer book but more a romance one. When the chapter titles "Body Disposal" is not what you think it is going to be, it basically derailed what i thought was going to happen.

For a debut novel, I think that Posey did a good job with the story and characters that she wanted to tell. I dont know if it was her or a marketing team that decided to paint this book in a very different light than what it is.This is a extremely quirky book with extremely quirky characters who are obsessed with serial killers, the dead and death but murdering is not something to expect in this book. And to be fair Jake gives off true serial killer vibes to him, so I can't blame Dory for her thoughts on that aspect but they are really just thoughts.

Both Jake and Dory are fun characters, and just to say it one more time they are extremely quirky characters. I did end up liking both of them, Jake with his need to have everything clean and a certain way and the storm that Dory leaves in her wake everywhere she goes. I did enjoy the banter between the two of them and I appreciated that Posey gave each of them their own POV chapters in this book.

The True serial killer aspect in the book is very much a tertiary part of the story and I was able to figure it out.

Overall, I feel like the title and premise lied to me and I'm not happy about it. I think if I would have gone into this knowing what it was going to be, I would have had a different opinion and reading experience, but now i'm annoyed. I would read another book by Posey, but I will be checking out review beforehand to know what I am actually getting into.

Cheers!!!
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Friday, September 19, 2025

Jasmine Mas: Psycho Shifters

In the first Jasmine Mas shows how far one woman will go in order to survive:

Sadie grew up with nothing, she has had nothing, has been told that she is nothing and has the scars to prove that she has never felt a kind hadn't had a kind person in her life other than her sister who is away from school. When Sadie is suddenly shown to be an Alpha she is whisked away to an outpost to help protect the realm and learn how to fight. What she did not expect was three 6'5" roommates who are also Alphas and despise her from the very beginning. They think she does not belong, they think she is useless, weak and cannot fight, but she is here to prove them wrong.

This is this first book that I have read by Mas and I was sucked into the story right from the beginning and even by the end I have so many questions. Is this a literary masterpiece No, but did I have a great time reading it, Yes. If you are wanting a vibes read this is for you as this book is 100% bingeable read. You should know this going in and I think people will enjoy it more by knowing this. 

Sadie was a pretty awesome FMC, she has a pretty sharp tongue, I love her inner monologue and her shifter form is pretty amazing, plus her additional "numb" form is crazy (but in a god way). What Sadie has gone through for all her life is just a testament of her will to survive and endure and put up with what the MMC put her through in this book. What she hides from them is something so personal and heartbreaking that you can't help but root for her. 

The MMC in this book are basically assholes to Sadie from the first moment. Do they have some redeeming interactions with her in the book sure. But if you like Alphahole books you will enjoy this one and their interactions with each other and Sade. This very much has the concept of bully romance going in this book, so if that is a trope that you like you will enjoy this book.

There are quite a few things that are unanswered by the in this book in regards to world building and where the Alpha's really come from and really how Sadie is an Alpha at all. I hope that in the next book this is addressed more, but from the ending I am not sure.

Repetitive at times of small details from pages that are right next to each other, like the book needed one last edit. The repetitiveness so so noticeable that it is the same sentence from one page to the next.

I cant believe I am saying this but this book was not as spicy as i thought it would be. Like don't get me know the spice is there but just not in the way i thought it would be and i thought that it would be more throughout. The spice is for sure there but there is actually a plot in the books 

WTF, that’s how you’re ending the book, nope no, I don’t think so. Damnit now need to get the next book ASAP. 

I had a fun time reading this book, it is totally one that is bingeable and one you may want to read in one sitting if you are here for the vibes and a good time and not one that is going to change the framework of fantasy books.

Enjoy!!!
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Friday, September 12, 2025

Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti: Zodiac Academy - The Reckoning

In the next installment of the Zodiac Academy Peckham and Valenti the Reckoning is bearing down on the girls but that is not all they have to worry about:

The Lunar Eclipse holds all the power, all the answers, and most of all The Reckoning will occur. The Vega twins have no idea what is coming for them, even leading up to the Reckoning. But a dark plot is unfolding around them and they have no idea what is coming for them and who they can trust.

As the third book in the series, I knew i would have to make the decision whether i would continue on with this series or not, and i will continue on, as this book was better than the second one. This book is completely a vibes or popcorn read for some. I found myself turning the pages as fast as i could, even though it felt like nothing really happened in this book but at the same time stuff happened.

I'm here for the relationship between Darcy and Orion. I like how their relationship has progressed in each book and some of the scenes of them together in this book were extremely well done. And their relationship will have you routing for the two of them even in hard times.

I'm interested to see how a side character plays out, the Vega twins really cannot rely or trust anyone around them and I hope this continues in the series. I want more suspense of them not know who is actually around them.

I still think that this book and series has too many POV, but some of the men in this book seem to have less than the previous 2 which i am fine with. I don't think that we need that many perspectives of the same things or same even that happen throughout but i feel like i will be criticizing this for each book.

Where was the suspense? I thought it would be more high stakes especially the Reckoning part of the book and with the lack of Nymphs this book was lacking in this avenue. And speaking of The Reckoning, what Reckoning, it was such a small part of the book that I thought I was missing part of the book. It was nothing really extreme or crazy, I cant say much or I'd give it away but i was totally underwhelmed by it. For a 600 page book and one where the Reckoning was supposed to be this crazy test, you'd think more than part of a chapter would be dedicated to it.

This was a good installment into the series and I have decided to continue on with it, but in the recommended way of now switching series to the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac. I would say read this series if you are here for the popcorn/vibes and nothing else.

Enjoy!!!!
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Saturday, September 6, 2025

Nisha J. Tuli: Trial of the Sun King

In the start of a new series, Nisha J. Tuli shows what happens when you mix the Bachelor with Deadly Trials:

Lor was sent to prison when she was 12 and she has spent the last 12 years irking out a "life" in prison, content that this is what her life will be. When one more violation ends her up in the hole (again) Lor does not think that she will survive this time. When she is surprisingly rescued and entered into the Trial to compete to be the Sun Queen, Lor knows she does not belong there. But Lor knows that she needs to win not only to stay alive but to get revenge on Aurora King, the one responsible for putting her and her family in prison.

This is the first book that I have read by Tuli and i found i was hooked from the very first sentence. Trial of the Sun Queen is fast paced, it kept me entertained throughout and I would have read it in one sitting if i could have. With that said was this book predictable at time, 100%, was this book groundbreaking in content or story, nope, but that does not mean that I did not enjoy the ride of the book.

I liked Lor as a character for most of the book. She is all hard edges and has to guard everything around her from her body, mind and soul if she has wanted to survive in prison. I appreciate that she is different from the other girls in the Trials (aka Deadly Bachelor) but that is the point of her, she is different and she thrives on it. I like that Lor is willing to protect those who she sees a weaker and her friends.

There is a bit of mystery thrown into this book around Lor and who she really is and what is it capable of. Plus there are some shady things about the Sun King that kept me turning the pages.

I think one of the things that would have made this book better is having another POV. I mean we get the main POV from Lor, with some POV of Nadir throughout the book, but I personally wished that there was a POV from Gabriel. I want to know what he thinks not only of Lor but the whole situation and some of the things that he has been forced to do in the past. I feel like Gabriel is a wealth of knowledge and maybe a main character in his own right.

If you are looking for a book that is like the bachelor but magical and deadly (they are okay if contestants die), then you should pick up this book. I know I'll be continuing on with this series as I found this entertaining, I just hope that the next book in the series is not as predictable.

Enjoy!!!!
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Sunday, August 31, 2025

Katherine Faulker: The Break-In

Katherine Faulkner takes readers on a journey that is so much more than a Break-In:

Alice is enjoying a relaxing evening with at home with friends, when the unthinkable happens, someone breaks in to her house and threatens not only he child but a friends as well. In defense of them, Alice ends up killing him. What Alice did not expect was how she was going to feel after it was done, from the online trolls damning her action because of her status or not knowing who the intruder was, Alice cannot help but think that there is more to this. Alice find herself drawn into the mystery of who the intruder was and the deeper she digs, the closer she get, she realizes there is a trail of dark secrets that are closer to her than she expects.

This is the first book that I have read by Faulker but I was aware of her other books that she has published and had though of reading one of the. The premise of this book sounded promising and i was invested at the beginning of the book but then it just fell flat that I found forcing myself to pick up this book with how slow Faulkner progressed the plot through this book. I was also able to figure out the majority of the twists in this book, and while Faulker does a good job at hiding some of them, the other are pretty obvious and predictable.

I like multiple POV books, especially in a premise like this one and, I think Faulker did a good job of distinguishing between them and having each of them have something new to add to the over story. But when doing the multiple POV I don’t love when you are waiting for a character to figure something out as you as the reader know because of another POV. It’s annoying and it makes me want to strangle the character that doesn’t have that info yet, or see the signs that the other character was giving them. I also feel like.

I'm not sure if i was supposed to like any of the characters in the book, but i really didn't find a redeeming one in there. I don't mind if you're supposed to hate all the characters in a book it makes for an interesting read, but you have to have me more invested in the plot then. And while i felt for Alice, especially at the beginning of the book, I began to like her less and less throughout. I wanted to strangle her a few times for the choices that makes.

This book was not for me, I found that I was turning pages to just turn pages as I really didn’t care about what was happening and just wanted to get through this book as quick as possible. I don't know if this is Faulker's usual writing style or how she lays out her plot, but it just wasn't what I was looking for.

Cheers!!!!
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Monday, August 25, 2025

Kristin Cashore: Graceling

In the first in the series, Kristin Cashore takes readers on a journey to save not only a child but a Kingdom:

Katsa has been able to kill a man with just her hand since she was a child. She is a Graceling, blessed with a a special ability, an extreme skill that cannot be matched. Once her Graceling status was known she was given to the King to be his personal hit squad. Katsa accepted her life a long time ago, but then another Graceling who challenges everything she knows and is good at, Po. Katsa begins to question things as Po makes her think more about her Graceling ability and When someone in Po's family needs help, she will do anything to actually do something good with her abilities. But the road ahead is a dangerous one, enemies are made and not all will be the same when this is done.

I have heard nothing about good things about this series and about Katsa as a character. I really enjoyed this story and I was able to read it almost in one sitting. Cashore was able to draw me into the story right away with the idea of Gracelings and Katsa as a character. 

I loved Katsa as a character she knows who she is and what she wants and what she wants to do with her Graceling powers, but that was not how she started in the world. When she first discovers that she has the ability to beat anyone in a fight at eight, there are those that take advantage of her ability for murder and torture. It is as Katsa grows up she become more and more uncomfortable doing what she is told and the acts she is being told to do. She finds her inner strength and a new purpose in life. 

I think one of my favourite things in the book was the relationship between her and Po, it is so sweet and honest and full of emotions especially the farther you read into the story. Po is also a Graceling, so he understands some of things that Katsa has gone through but he had a very different upbringing that her. 

My main critique about the book I wasn't a fan of how the book was written, very paragraph heavy to the point that it felt clunky in the executions. Each new paragraph was almost always a new point in time, a new scene. This also meant that the book had longer chapters due to this fact. I wish that she broke it up a bit more in terms of chapters instead of paragraphs.

Although I enjoyed this book in the sense of Characters and Story how it was written really made it hard to read at times, that I don't think I will continue on in the series, especially as Katsa's story is wrapped up in this book. But i did enjoy this book overall.

Enjoy!!!!
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