Alster was named for his battle mighty ancestor, Alistair the Fourth, who slayed the shades in the First Shade Conquest. But all his life he has been Alster was named for his battle mighty ancestor, Alistair the Fourth, who slayed the shades in the First Shade Conquest. But all his life he has been treated as inferior and worthless, and his older brother Jarix was always the favored some of Lord Palos. However, Alster may possess a talent that no one could have seen coming, and the previous Shade Conquest may not have been the last...
Because of his past, Alster had very few people in his life that he can truly trust, and even THOSE people may be fewer than he imagined. Alster must flee his hellish hole if he is to survive to adulthood, and with his companion Elsey by his side, they will travel the ends of the earth in search of adventure. But what they find awaiting them is beyond what either could have prepared for, and it may just be the death of them both.
I very much enjoyed this story. It has a very dated period of time, one which was very clearly expressed and easy to follow. There were also several POVs to follow, both friend and foe. I'm not typically a fan of multiple POVs, but I believe this was exactly the kind of story in which to use them. Overall, this was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy stories of old and possess a sense of adventure.
Merged review:
Alster was named for his battle mighty ancestor, Alistair the Fourth, who slayed the shades in the First Shade Conquest. But all his life he has been treated as inferior and worthless, and his older brother Jarix was always the favored some of Lord Palos. However, Alster may possess a talent that no one could have seen coming, and the previous Shade Conquest may not have been the last...
Because of his past, Alster had very few people in his life that he can truly trust, and even THOSE people may be fewer than he imagined. Alster must flee his hellish hole if he is to survive to adulthood, and with his companion Elsey by his side, they will travel the ends of the earth in search of adventure. But what they find awaiting them is beyond what either could have prepared for, and it may just be the death of them both.
I very much enjoyed this story. It has a very dated period of time, one which was very clearly expressed and easy to follow. There were also several POVs to follow, both friend and foe. I'm not typically a fan of multiple POVs, but I believe this was exactly the kind of story in which to use them. Overall, this was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy stories of old and possess a sense of adventure....more
Once again, another epic read by MJ Haag! This is the second companion book in MJ Haag’s ‘Resurrection Chronicles” which follows young mother and DoctOnce again, another epic read by MJ Haag! This is the second companion book in MJ Haag’s ‘Resurrection Chronicles” which follows young mother and Doctor-in-training Cassie Feld. Having been split from her husband (soon-to-be-ex) and her months-old child, Cassie is desperate for answers as to what happened to them since the hounds, infected, and fae emerged into their world. Cassie is willing to do whatever it takes to get the answers she desires, and she doesn’t care who she has to manipulate in order to get what she wants. However, that all changes when she begins to get close to the one ‘demon’ who is willing to do whatever it takes to help Cassie out.
I loved seeing Cassie’s growth throughout the novel, starting from a young mother who is terrified of the new world she and her daughter have found themselves in and especially of the fae/demons who guard them all, to the defiant woman who is unwilling to be manipulated by anyone and who will do whatever it takes to survive, finally to the strong woman whose mind has been opened to humanity’s fae-protectors, along with her heart. Cassie was a willful and strong-minded warrior-woman, and I loved to see her personal character development as the book progressed. By the book’s conclusion, she is no longer the same frightened and distrusting, single mother who has to do what she’s told in order to keep her daughter alive. Instead, she has hope for her future with someone who will treasure and care for her and her family unconditionally.
Merged review:
Once again, another epic read by MJ Haag! This is the second companion book in MJ Haag’s ‘Resurrection Chronicles” which follows young mother and Doctor-in-training Cassie Feld. Having been split from her husband (soon-to-be-ex) and her months-old child, Cassie is desperate for answers as to what happened to them since the hounds, infected, and fae emerged into their world. Cassie is willing to do whatever it takes to get the answers she desires, and she doesn’t care who she has to manipulate in order to get what she wants. However, that all changes when she begins to get close to the one ‘demon’ who is willing to do whatever it takes to help Cassie out.
I loved seeing Cassie’s growth throughout the novel, starting from a young mother who is terrified of the new world she and her daughter have found themselves in and especially of the fae/demons who guard them all, to the defiant woman who is unwilling to be manipulated by anyone and who will do whatever it takes to survive, finally to the strong woman whose mind has been opened to humanity’s fae-protectors, along with her heart. Cassie was a willful and strong-minded warrior-woman, and I loved to see her personal character development as the book progressed. By the book’s conclusion, she is no longer the same frightened and distrusting, single mother who has to do what she’s told in order to keep her daughter alive. Instead, she has hope for her future with someone who will treasure and care for her and her family unconditionally....more
It’s nice to see Amber coming into her demon and elven powers. She has advanced so much in her skills since book one, and after the events of the lastIt’s nice to see Amber coming into her demon and elven powers. She has advanced so much in her skills since book one, and after the events of the last book, she seems to be getting a much better hold of her abilities and putting them to great use! It was interesting to see her be so physically open with other partners without the influence of Irix hanging over her head. She’s coming into her own and finding her own way, making peace with who she is and embracing herself.
It seems the elves have made a lot of headway when it comes to integrating themselves into the lives of the humans on earth, which we’re mostly hearing about in the peripherals of Amber’s story. This story is the first hint of how that integration has impacted Amber’s life directly. Luckily she can use it to her advantage in a small way, using it to get herself out of trouble a couple of times. She is one wily halfbreed. ...more
I really wanted to like this series, despite how fast the pace is for my tastes. These stories as a whole lack a sense of true conflict when the solutI really wanted to like this series, despite how fast the pace is for my tastes. These stories as a whole lack a sense of true conflict when the solutions are given to them without any real effort on the parts of the characters. Nobody important ever dies or honestly has their life threatened in any meaningful way. The antagonists always have the weakest and most pathetic motives, and always receive a way too abrupt “justice” for their “villainous” ways. Their 2D personalities are boring and unimaginative, and I’m kind of over reading the same story over and over with very little variation in between. I would not recommend this series. ...more
Nesta is a seriously controversial character, but behind her stoic & hardened mask is someone I believe to be entirely misunderstood. It’s hard being Nesta is a seriously controversial character, but behind her stoic & hardened mask is someone I believe to be entirely misunderstood. It’s hard being the eldest daughter, meant to bear the expectations of the family’s future, and to set the standards of behavior for all within the household. And to have lost so much at such a young age only hardened her more to the softness that her sisters so dearly want to open their oldest sister up to.
Nesta was raised from a young age to be a fearsome leader, every bit as crafty as the fae; the species she now can claim to belong to. In many ways, she moreso than either of her sisters was BORN for the world of the fae & molded into someone who could become unbreakable in the world of crafty leadership whose motives always seem so self-serving. She was bred to be a tool of massive power and influence, so that any goals she or others had for her could be accomplished swiftly and effectively.
Despite her unforgiving upbringing though, Nesta faces the hardest challenge she has probably ever had to face in her life: Reclaiming her humanity. The weakness of her mortality dogs her every step, and the tragedies of the past leave Nesta lost and wondering at her worth and her future within the world of the fae. She has succeeded in isolating herself from everyone she might’ve called an ally, and now she must prove to her friends, her family, and herself that her humanity is not lost forever. She must forge her path and create a new life for herself, one of strength, fortitude, determination, and compassion that she feels she may have lost forever.
I enjoyed Nesta’s story immensely and was hanging on every word from start to finish. I think this author has done a beautiful job with this series as a whole. I cannot recommend this book enough, and Nesta might be one of my favorite characters in the series after this. I found her very relatable, and I am a sucker for a well-done redemption arc. And I absolutely cannot wait to see what else might be in store for these beloved characters! ...more
This is not my typical genre, but this book came highly recommended to me by all of my coworkers, so I figured I’d give it a try. It was a little slowThis is not my typical genre, but this book came highly recommended to me by all of my coworkers, so I figured I’d give it a try. It was a little slow to get into, since I don’t know a ton about figure skating or hockey, but this book definitely has a modern feel to it with the characters going through real world issues and trying to find themselves in a way I could relate to.
The pacing of the relationship made sense too for a couple of young adults in college. It felt realistic without being too smutty, although there was PLENTY of that in the book as well. If you’ve read this book but haven’t had the absolute privilege of LISTENING to it on audio, please do so. I hope you get a narration as hysterical as the one who read Nathan’s POV through the Libby app. I couldn’t stop myself laughing over the smutty scenes with his attempts to moan in female. I don’t know that “hysterical” was what he was going for, but it made the experience so much better for me. 10/10 narration.
Final thoughts: Henry is a Golden Retriever who could do no wrong. Aaron is a grade A cockroach who deserved so much worse than he got. We needed more of Anastasia’s BFF for me, but she was ok for comedic relief & girly shiz. I’m so glad Anastasia found her backbone and glad Nathan found his sensitive side. They make a pretty good pair. LOVE the love that all of the hockey boys had for Anastasia. Love it when guys hype up their boys AND their boys’ girls. Loved this and loved them all. ...more
Do you need to read this book in order to understand what goes on in the following book in the series? No. Does it offer a lot of precious insight intDo you need to read this book in order to understand what goes on in the following book in the series? No. Does it offer a lot of precious insight into the minds and feelings of other cherished characters in the series that we weren’t able to experience in the extended novels? Absolutely! Would I recommend this book for fans of the series? Hands down, no hesitation, it’s a resounding YES from me!
It’s a special thing to be able to see into the minds of other characters we enjoyed in the main series and to see how they view the MCs of the story, the good and the bad. I loved getting to know some of the side characters I’ve enjoyed so much from their own POVs, and this little prelude to all the craziness that goes down in book 4 of the series is a MUCH needed break from the drama.
This story offers you the soothing balm you need to tackle the trials of book 4 with a clearer head and lighter heart. It also sets you up for the downfall of Nesta that becomes very prevalent in the beginning of book 4. This book allows you to understand a little better “How did we get here? Just how much was Nesta affected by the events of books 2 & 3 and will she be able to redeem herself to the ones she hurt along the way?” You also get a little laundry list of items that Nesta has to atone for in her very own book, starting with her actions in this novella. Oh yeah, It’s all coming together now. ...more
THIS was the book that I have been waiting for all series long. This was the culmination of all of Feyre’s hard work and determination. This was the eTHIS was the book that I have been waiting for all series long. This was the culmination of all of Feyre’s hard work and determination. This was the excellent climax and resolution towards all of the goals that she had set into motion in book 2.
THIS was Feyre coming into all she was meant to be, all that we knew she was capable of, since book one. All that she ever wanted, all that she has fought for for so long, was to be seen and heard and respected. And finally, she has earned her seat at the table and the right to be heard. She is no longer cowed by fear and uncertainty. She has proven herself in every way possible. She is a High Lady to be reckoned with.
I don’t know what more there is to tell with Feyre & Rhysand’s story. This felt like a worthy conclusion to all they’ve strived to achieve in the last few books. But I’ll be grateful all the same for the bonus content yet to come. HIGHLY recommend....more
I’m SO glad that I stuck around for book two because…PHEW!! Can you say “HOT HOT HOT!?!?” The chemistry, the DRAMA, the redemptions, the character groI’m SO glad that I stuck around for book two because…PHEW!! Can you say “HOT HOT HOT!?!?” The chemistry, the DRAMA, the redemptions, the character growths, the plot twists! It was enthralling for every second that I listened. I was enraptured by the story being told, and I absolutely devoured this book. That ending had me FERAL for more. I was caught between pain and fury, and I am READY for Feyre to get back at those who did her wrong and show them why they never should’ve underestimated her!...more
Things are happening in this new age Olympian saga! New enemies are coming out to play and beginning to show their hand, but will it be too late to stThings are happening in this new age Olympian saga! New enemies are coming out to play and beginning to show their hand, but will it be too late to stop them from meeting their end goals? Only time will tell, but the enemy is playing chess and the pawns have yet to find their place on the playing board, and the alliance of some of the Olympians themselves may be under question.
Apollo & Cassandra were off the charts HAWT! This author has a knack for writing juicy, sexy romance stories, and I’ve been enraptured by every new story that comes out. It’s especially nice that the endings, for the most part, tend to lack serious cliffhangers, with different POVs being featured each time so that the story continues to feel new and innovative. I cannot wait to see what comes next!...more
While I really enjoyed the characters in this little novella, I wish the story would’ve taken its time to progress a little bit. I could’ve seen a lotWhile I really enjoyed the characters in this little novella, I wish the story would’ve taken its time to progress a little bit. I could’ve seen a lot more buildup of the growing affection between the two main characters and a little more urgency over the conflict of the story as well. It seemed to resolve itself a bit too quickly for my liking, but not a bad story overall.
You do NOT need to read this story in order to understand everything that takes place in the main series, but it’s a cute little extra for fans of the series. If it wasn’t free from the library, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up though. ...more
This book was the latest Blind Date book that I received. It wasn’t something I normally would’ve gone for myself, but I’ve enjoyed my fair share of TThis book was the latest Blind Date book that I received. It wasn’t something I normally would’ve gone for myself, but I’ve enjoyed my fair share of Thrillers and figured this one would be enjoyable enough even if I didn’t become super invested in the storyline. It was a bit of a mixed bag for me, and I only gave this a four star rating because of what I felt was a bit of a lackluster conclusion to the story.
I felt in some places that the author was trying a bit too hard to pull the rug out from under the readers to make the conclusion as meaningful as it could’ve been. That being said, I still enjoyed this story, and the part of my brain that really enjoys shows like Criminal Minds was happy with the Hunt For The Murderer, investigative aspects of this story. The conclusion of this story did make some sense to me. I was putting pieces together slowly and towards the last 40 pages of the story, they all fell into place for me. It made sense, the motivations of the murderer to kill & keep killing, but it still felt a little weak to me in places. It could’ve been so much more…
I felt like I was a part of the journey and mystery, which made me very happy. The characters could’ve been a little stronger in my opinion, especially the main character, but they were crazy enough and heartfelt in the right places that I was really rooting for them all to find their happy endings. I would recommend this book to the thrill seekers and mystery lovers like me who enjoy the chase and love a good puzzle to solve. This one is worth the read. ...more
This book was a little harder to get into, and if I had been reading the physical copy rather than listening to the audiobook, I might not have made iThis book was a little harder to get into, and if I had been reading the physical copy rather than listening to the audiobook, I might not have made it to the really good parts of this book. It wasn’t a bad start, simply a slow one. Things started to pick up about halfway through the book when key characters were introduced to throw a wrench in the grudging truce between Feyre & her “captors,” and the truth behind the blight began to come to light. After that, things picked up and progressed so rapidly.
It was so well written and gruesome to listen to. My jaw was dusting the floor more times than I could count at the brutality of the fae. Cunning, crafty, and cruel creatures, the fae. Of all the things she got wrong about the fae, Feyre wasn’t wrong about any of that. But there’s definitely more to them all than meets the eye.
I loved seeing this world of the fae through Feyre’s human eyes. It’ll be interesting to see how she continues to adapt and her worldviews change the longer she remains exposed to faerie. I’m glad we got to see more of her cunning & strength that was mostly lacking in the first half of the story as the story progressed. The fae will learn too that there’s more to HER than meets the eye. ...more
I impulse-bought this book from the store because it has a GORGEOUS cover and the summary talks about Greek mythology, a topic which I’m such a suckerI impulse-bought this book from the store because it has a GORGEOUS cover and the summary talks about Greek mythology, a topic which I’m such a sucker for. That’s all I needed to know and I cannot be more thrilled with the story I got between the beautiful cover and interesting summary page.
At its core, this is a thrilling murder mystery with a bit of magic thrown into the mix. We follow Io, the third sister in a trio of Fate-descendants known to society as the Moirai. There are many such trios existing in their society, but I recon none so messed up as these three sisters are. I won’t give away spoilers, but MAN these three could not be more different and complicated in personalities and their relationships with each other. Like any good sister trio :)
I liked this New Age take on the future, bringing history back with a kind of rebirth of the Mythological age. All kinds of cultures and myth stories being reborn in a future world that had been hit in a major apocalypse and had to evolve in order to survive. I couldn’t get enough of this and consumed every word! I highly recommend this duology and cannot WAIT to pick up book 2! It is so worth the read....more
Not a bad read at all. There were some things I found my mind a little hard to wrap around, but I liked the characters and the plot was simple enough Not a bad read at all. There were some things I found my mind a little hard to wrap around, but I liked the characters and the plot was simple enough to follow. Im interested to see what comes next and get to know this group more. I would recommend this to lovers of thriller novels with a bit of magic to it. ...more
Dani is a headstrong young woman and warrior. Between she and her brother, vampires wouldn’t stand a chance. They both take after their father’s advanDani is a headstrong young woman and warrior. Between she and her brother, vampires wouldn’t stand a chance. They both take after their father’s advanced Mohiri fighting prowess and young Dani shares the magic of her mother’s ancestry. She’s incredible outgoing and charismatic, befriending all she meets.
Before Dani can graduate, she and her family must face a new enemy that threatens those she loves the most. But how do you uncover and defeat an enemy you know nothing about? It’ll take all the training her family and new trainer have to offer to find what’s missing before it’s too late.
Dani has much to overcome in her journey to adulthood and becoming a warrior like her parents. But she holds so much more power than she ever could’ve imagined. Her friends & family, and especially her new trainer, will help her to unlock her full potential so she can be the warrior she was always destined to be.
This book exceeded my hopes for it as usual. I really like how similar yet different Dani was to her mother Sara and loved getting to see all the oldies after coming into their new lives together. It was a nice sprinkle of the old and new. ...more
This book was unlike anything I’ve read before. If Eragon had to fight other riders for the right to be chosen by his dragon, then this would be that This book was unlike anything I’ve read before. If Eragon had to fight other riders for the right to be chosen by his dragon, then this would be that book (also don’t come for me if that actually happened in Eragon because I only watched the movie). The heroine had everything stacked against her and for all intents and purposes never should’ve made it through year one in the Riders Quadrant. But just like this author, she is beating all the odds and flourishing all the more.
I could not recommend this book more to fantasy lovers and those who are looking for something new and exciting to read. It’s a giant of a book compared to what I normally read, but it absolutely consumed me for the week that I had it and flew by so much quicker than I expected.
Yarros is an EXCELLENT world builder and really set the pacing of her story so beautifully. There were time skips, but they never really felt jarring or like we were missing anything important. They made perfect sense and we got to see Violet’s progress throughout the story as she tackled every hurdle thrown her way. We got to see her blossom, grow, and overcome at a pace that made sense for Violet’s limitations. And giiiirl, did she BLOSSOM into one of the fiercest warriors this school has or will ever know. They don’t know what hit them, and she’s only getting stronger from here.
I cannot wait to see the choices Violet will make with the conclusion of book one. She has many tough paths she could walk. If she can trust in the people around her and the allies who’ve made themselves known to her, then surely she will go far and make her people proud. ...more
As a thespian, this one really hit a lot of nostalgic spots in me. It’s been a while since I was in the theatre scene, but this has to be the most accAs a thespian, this one really hit a lot of nostalgic spots in me. It’s been a while since I was in the theatre scene, but this has to be the most accurate representation of what goes on both on and off stage that I’ve ever read in a novel. It was thrilling, mysterious, dreadful, and so beyond my wildest imaginations. Could not recommend this more for lovers of thrillers, mysteries, and contemporary works. If you are or ever were a theatre kid, you NEED to pick this one up today! ...more
I listened to this over audio and at times it was hard to focus but overall I enjoyed this book a lot.
Raina started out almost as a small town woman,I listened to this over audio and at times it was hard to focus but overall I enjoyed this book a lot.
Raina started out almost as a small town woman, content with the life she lived though resentful of the Frost King and Witch Collector who took her beloved sister from her at a young age. She resented these powerful figures for all the strife they’d brought to her family, but she comes to realize there are greater enemies out there & she must place her trust in the people she loathes if she wants to protect what little she has left in her life.
Who are enemies and who are allies and friends? Raina answers this and many other questions in book one to the Witch Walker series....more
This book was a bit too fast-paced for me, and jumping around in time as much as we did made it harder to invest in the very rapid development of the This book was a bit too fast-paced for me, and jumping around in time as much as we did made it harder to invest in the very rapid development of the characters that I enjoyed so much in the trilogy. Not a bad read though. ...more
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