A Dance with Fate by Juliet Marillier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Strong language, a sex scene that is mostly left to the imagination



The young warrior and bard Liobhan has lost her brother to the Otherworld. Even more determined to gain a place as an elite fighter, she returns to Swan Island to continue her training. But Liobhan is devastated when her comrade Dau is injured and loses his sight in their final display bout. Blamed by Dau's family for the accident, she agrees to go to Dau's home as a bond servant for the span of one year.

There, she soon learns that Oakhill is a place of dark secrets. The vicious Crow Folk still threaten both worlds. And Dau, battling the demon of despair, is not an easy man to help.

When Liobhan and Dau start to expose the rot at the center of Oakhill, they place themselves in deadly danger. For their enemy wields great power and will stop at nothing to get his way. It will take all the skills of a Swan Island warrior and a touch of the uncanny to give them a hope of survival. . . . 

There's a certain kind of magic in Juliet Marillier's writing that draws me in and keeps me turning the pages every single time I read one of her books. This one was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to The Harp of Kings. I actually think I liked this one a little bit more.

I enjoyed the chapters from Liobhan and Dau the most. The way their relationship grew and changed was wonderful read. I have to admit that although I enjoyed Brocc's chapters, I mostly just wanted to get back to Liobhan and Dau! I did feel bad for Brocc with what he was going through with his wife and their differences, and it did not endear her to me at all. He needs to find his voice. I also liked that he begins to explore why the crowfolk are the way the are.

This was a rather emotional book with the subject of abuse, both human and animal. There were a couple of times that this book brought me to tears. In particular the part where the words of a song remind Dau of his beloved dog that was killed. I lost it thinking of my own pets that have passed on.

I'm not sure how many books will be in this series, but so far I love it and I'm looking forward to reading more!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The Blight of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Clean


The Aldermaston, the protector of Muirwood Abbey, is directed by the Medium to make Lia the new hunter of Muirwood. This will take some doing and a lot of training, but with leather bracers, a shooting glove, and quivers in hand, Lia rises to the challenge. Her first real order is to protect Ellowyn Demont from rivals like the Queen Dowager and the Earl of Dieyre. Lia knows very little about the princess's land of Pry-Ree, but when Ellowyn is abducted, Lia will join forces with Colvin to bring her back. Lia and Colvin must venture into the heart of a fallen kingdom, one devastated by an encroaching sickness called the Blight. It is here that a dark new secret is revealed - one that will make safeguarding the Abbeys nearly impossible.

This is the second book in the Legends of Muirwood series. I've enjoyed Wheeler's books in his other series a lot, and I liked the first book in this series pretty well. But overall this series feels rather mediocre. The main character, Lia is too much of a Mary Sue, and the love interest, Colvin almost seems to be bipolar. His angry reactions to things don't make sense to me, and quite frankly, I'm not sure how Lia ever fell in love with him with the way he has treated her. Wheeler also tends to tell instead of show at times. Lia goes through training to be a hunter and that is just skimmed over. The result of this is that some of the things Lia is able to do in the book do not feel believable. How is a girl her age able to best much older, more experienced opponents?

I also felt that the second half of the book went a bit weird. It has too much religion thrown in. The author was obviously inspired by religion. I don't mind that as long as it isn't so glaringly obvious, but here it's too heavy handed. It weighed the story down and I didn't care for the way some things were portrayed. One example is that there is an evil spirit-type character in the story that is a woman, and it's said that only women can be recruited by her. I didn't really care for this portrayal, or the fact that it's stated that it's because the women in men's lives have a lot of influence over them, thus being able to lead them to do evil. It was made a little better by the fact that only another woman could defeat her, thus saying men are too weak... well, I'm not sure if that makes it better. I don't think I like what that is saying about women or men. This part of the book almost ruined the whole thing for me. I was really happy when I got through that weirdness, and the rest of the story continued. Needless to say I am less enthused about this series than I was, but there is only one book left, and I really want to know how this ties into the Kingfountain series, so I'll probably finish it.

We Are All the Same in the Dark: A Novel by Julia Heaberlin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Content: Strong language, drug use


It’s been a decade since Trumanell Branson disappeared from a farm, leaving only a bloody handprint behind. Her pretty face still hangs like a watchful queen on the posters on the walls of the town’s Baptist Church, the police station, and in the high school. They all promise the same thing: We will find you. Meanwhile, her brother, Wyatt, lives as a pariah in the desolation of the old family house, cleared of wrongdoing by the police but tried and sentenced in the court of public opinion and in a new crime documentary.

When Wyatt finds a lost girl dumped in a field of dandelions, making silent wishes, he believes she is a sign. The town’s youngest cop, Odette Tucker, believes she is a catalyst that will ignite a seething town still waiting for its own girl to come home. But Odette can’t look away. She shares a wound that won’t close with the mute, one-eyed mystery girl. She is haunted by her own history with the missing Tru.

Desperate to solve both cases, Odette fights to save a lost girl in the present and to dig up the shocking truth about a fateful night in the past—the night her friend disappeared, the night that inspired her to become a cop, the night that wrote them all a role in the town’s dark, violent mythology.

A few years ago I read Black-eyed Susans and I liked it so much I was looking forward to reading more from this author. When I saw this one I decided to give it a try. The author did a great job of setting up the "small town with secrets" atmosphere of this book, and it surprised me a couple of times with twists I didn't see coming. But I did not end up liking it as much as I had hoped.

This story is narrated by three different characters. Wyatt, Odette, and Angel. All the characters are deeply flawed. I had sympathy for them, and I liked the way the author portrayed the character who was missing a leg, and the character who was missing an eye. I thought the author did a good job of getting into their heads and showing what they felt. I also thought the parts about the prosthetics and the ocularist were very interesting. Despite this, I just couldn't really like the characters as much as I wanted to, and this affected the way I felt about the book in general. I still have several other books by this author on my to-read list, so I will probably revisit her books again at some point. I just wish I had liked this one more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a ARC of this book.

Sweet Regrets (Crossroads Series by Karen Ann Hopkins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance
Content: Steamy make out scenes, A mostly off page sex scene


Joshua Miller is an Amish widower, raising a family, and running a busy farm. CJ West is an aspiring artist, who just happens to be an outsider. When CJ rents a cottage from Joshua, sparks fly, and an impossible romance begins. Their love runs deep, and as uncontrollable forces threaten to tear them apart, CJ takes action, joining the Amish in their world. But it’s not going to be easy. CJ must give up so many things, including her personal freedom, to be with the man she loves. As doubts creep in, a person from CJ’s past returns, and her life is once again turned upside down.

Are CJ and Joshua’s bonds strong enough to withstand the challenges of their clashing cultures? Their story concludes in this intense and page-turning romance by Karen Ann Hopkins. 

I was so excited to read this sequel to Forbidden Ways, but I have to admit that I was really apprehensive when I read the blurb and found out CJ was going Amish. I was screaming NO, NO, NO! However, I did enjoy reading how she tried to fit into the Amish community and adapt to the lifestyle, including doing the many chores around the farm. I won't spoil how things end up, but I will say that I found the ending satisfying. I love the characters in this book. CJ is so likable, and the bond that grows between her and Joshua's family was heartwarming. But more importantly, just like in the last book, the chemistry between CJ and Joshua is off the charts! This is a duology, but I would love to read more about these two in the future.

Murder on Pleasant Avenue by Victoria Thompson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Content: Clean



A victim is found, brutally murdered and the police are certain they've caught the killer. Their only suspect: Gino Donatelli.

Frank and Sarah know Gino is innocent but the police have a one-track mind. Once Frank struck it rich and left their ranks taking Gino with him, there has been a simmering resentment in the department. And now, someone has pulled out all the stops to make it look like Gino is the only one who could have committed the crime.

With the clock ticking and evidence mounting against their friend, Sarah and Frank will try to unravel a treacherous plot before Gino is sent up the river for good.

It's hard to believe I've read 23 books in this series. This one was ok, but not one of my favorites. As usual with this series, the mystery was pretty easy to solve. My usual complaint about Frank and Sarah being too dumbed down apply here, but they weren't as clueless as they've been in the past. Also, as usual, there is a nice bit of New York City history added into the story. This time around it's the Black Hand gang in Little Italy. There were also interesting tidbits about Theodore Roosevelt being nominated for vice president, and electric lighting being installed in Frank and Sarah's house that I thought added a nice historical touch to the book.

One thing I especially liked was how Maeve was frustrated at being sidelined as a secretary for the detective agency, but at one point takes things into her own hands with the investigation. I always like when Maeve gets involved. I also really enjoyed the part where she meets Gino's family. That was priceless.

After reading 23 books I do feel like something exciting needs to happen to breathe new life into the series. Despite there being one development that I've been waiting several books for, this book still felt a little run of the mill.

The Wretched of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Clean



In the ancient and mystical land of Muirwood, Lia has known only a life of servitude. Labeled a “wretched,” an outcast unwanted and unworthy of respect, Lia is forbidden to realize her dream to read or write. All but doomed, her days are spent toiling away as a kitchen slave under the charge of the Aldermaston, the Abbey’s watchful overseer. But when an injured squire named Colvin is abandoned at the kitchen’s doorstep, an opportunity arises. The nefarious Sheriff Almaguer soon starts a manhunt for Colvin, and Lia conspires to hide Colvin and change her fate. In the midst of a land torn by a treacherous war between a ruthless king and a rebel army, Lia finds herself on an ominous journey that will push her to wonder if her own hidden magic is enough to set things right. At once captivating, mysterious, and magic-infused, The Wretched of Muirwood takes the classic fantasy adventure and paints it with a story instantly epic, and yet, all its own.

“There is wisdom in climbing mountains... For they teach us how truly small we are.”

I've been enjoying Jeff Wheeler's Kingfountain series and it's tied to this one, so I decided to read this it as well. Just like the Kingfountain series I enjoyed this one, but it took me a while longer to really become absorbed in the story. Lia is a great protagonist, and I liked her will to learn and better herself, but Colvin was not as easy to like. He was cranky and mean to Lia at times, but he did grow on me towards the end.

It seems Wheeler has a pattern for his book series in that the first book is always more of a set up for the rest of the series. The main characters start out at a young age (Lia is 13 here), and then there is a gap of several years between each book. I don't mind the way it's been done in the other books I've read, and I'm interested to see if the pattern holds true for this series as well. I'm also wondering if the relationship between Lia and Colvin will end up turning into a romance later. There was some tension there, but nothing blatant. Right now with Lia being 13 and Colvin maybe around 18 or 19 it would be uncomfortable to say the least.

I found the leering stones, and the medium in the book both interesting. In the beginning the leering stones reminded me of gargoyles, but then as I read they took on a more human shape. The medium was also a bit interesting in that it surrounds everything and seems to have a will of its own. It kind of reminded me of the force in Star Wars a little but more pervasive.

Overall I liked this and I would recommend it if you are in the mood for a simple, clean fantasy.

The Grave Tender by Eliza Maxwell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Content: Abuse, rape, suicide, pedophilia, strong language


Endless questions from a shadow-filled East Texas childhood haunt Hadley Dixon. People said her mother, Winnie, was never quite right, but with one single, irreparable act, life as Hadley knew it was shattered. The aftershocks of that moonlit night left her reeling, but the secrets and lies had started long before.

When a widowed and pregnant Hadley returns years later, it’s not the safe harbor she expects. The mysteries surrounding a local boy’s disappearance remain, and the townspeople still whisper about Hadley’s strange and reclusive Uncle Eli—whispers about a monster in their midst.

But Hadley’s father and grandmother, the cornerstones of everything safe in her world, avoid her questions. If Hadley stays here, will she be giving her children the family they need, or putting their lives in danger?

The hunt for answers takes a determined Hadley deep into the pine forests, in search of sunlight that will break through the canopy of lies long enough to reveal the truth.

“I believe that life is full of tragedy. Some lives more than others. But I also believe that comfort can be found with the people who love you. . . if you’re willing to let them give it.”


For some reason, going into this I was expecting some family drama with maybe a second chance romance and an unsolved childhood mystery. That isn't what this is. The family drama is of a much darker, dysfunctional kind. There is no romance, even though the protagonist does sort of reconnect with a childhood friend. This is a much darker book that deals with some really tough issues. I didn't realize how dark this book was going to be. If you've ever watched the ID channel with the real life stories, there are two series on there in particular that this book reminded me of. American Monster, and Evil Lives Here. I've seen just about every show on that channel at least once, and those two feature the darkest and most intense stories. I have a hard time watching them and usually avoid them. Needless to say, I found this book a bit hard to read, and depressing at times.

I feel like the blurb for the book does not really prepare the reader for how dark this story is, so beware if you are sensitive to abuse, suicide (in the most horrible way I might add), rape, or pedophilia. I was a bit disappointed that the story just unfolds through flashbacks instead of an investigation the way most mysteries do. All that being said, the book is well written, and unfortunately for the most part, believable.

A couple of things I liked about the book were: the protagonist -I liked her and could empathize with her. And I liked how the book shows that you can't judge people by how they appear. Sometimes the monsters aren't who you think they are.

Blood Ties by Lindsay Buroker

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Strong language


Recently appointed Crown Agents Jev and Zenia must prove that they're worthy of their new jobs and young King Targyon’s trust.

Their mission?

To research the strange “disease of the blood” that killed Targyon’s three cousins and left him unexpectedly ruling an entire kingdom at barely twenty years of age.

There are just a few problems. If someone was responsible for creating that disease, that person could still be in the city, forcing Zenia and Jev to deal with someone very smart and very dangerous. Meanwhile, since Targyon has the same blood flowing through his veins that his cousins had, he’s at risk of becoming the next victim. And as it so happens, Jev shares some of that blood too. Might he become a target before Targyon?

When Jev and Zenia signed on for this job, they didn’t realize how deadly it might become.




I didn't like this book as much as the last one, but it was still pretty enjoyable. The best thing about any Lindsay Buroker book is the witty banter between the characters, and that was present here. I was expecting a bit more action, and based on how the first book ended, more romance, but I think this is going to be a very slow burn romance. There are the usual obstacles in the way to make a romantic relationship difficult, including class differences, so it will be interesting to see how the characters navigate those obstacles.

As for the plot, it was interesting but not as good as it could have been. It felt a bit like a mystery novel in a fantasy setting, whereas the first book felt more like a fantasy adventure. I do love the dwarf character and got a good chuckle whenever he was present. I'm hoping the next book pulls me in more.

Disavowed by Bridget E. Baker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Some violent and bloody fights, but not much detail.

 
Chancery may be the youngest ruler of the Evians, but she won her first battle. Thanks to her success, the powers ruling the rest of the Earth are aligning against her, and her supporters’ demands grow with every passing day.

Her days of hiding are over…

A five thousand year old prophecy and a dull black rock ruined the life Chancery planned for herself. As she navigates the roiling waters of ancient prejudice, assassination, war, and refugees, she discovers how deeply unprepared she was to assume this unwanted role.

But standing tall makes you a target.

She isn’t alone, but everyone around her is working an angle. Noah’s missing, Edam’s planning their wedding, and the rulers of the Evian nations watch her every move like hungry panthers ready to pounce. A prophecy may have led her to this point, but the rest is up to her. Can she locate the true threat amid the school of red herrings? And what price is she willing to pay to prevent the threatened catastrophe?

Lately I've been of the opinion that the shorter the series the better, but this one is an exception. None of these books feel like filler, and that can be hard to do when writing a series. Five books in and I'm still enjoying this series. I think it helps that three of the books are told from other points of view. It's an interesting and potentially risky way to write a series, but it works here.

This time around Chancery seems to be in over her head. I'm really wondering how everything is going to be sorted out in the end. She is learning how to use the ring that she inherited from her mother. As it keeps growing in size and power with each stone that is added to it, she continues to question herself and her abilities, but she is also slowly growing in confidence. There were times I got a little annoyed with her for blaming herself for things that weren't her fault, and making some seemingly rash decisions, but she is still growing.

As for the love triangle, Edam is still my favorite love interest, but now Noah has grown on me a bit. I like that he isn't pushy and is supportive, but the chemistry between Chancery and Edam is still off the charts! I swear I have no idea who Chancery will end up with.

In the end, there were some important revelations in this book, and also some things that I was left wondering about. Bridget Baker's books always seem to end with a good balance of the two. As usual, I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The King's Traitor by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Clean


Against all odds, Owen Kiskaddon grew from frightened boy to confident youth to trusted officer in the court of Kingfountain—and watched its regent, Severn Argentine, grow ever more ruthless and power-mad. Robbed of his beloved protector, his noble mentor, and his true love, Owen has anticipated the day when the king he fears and reviles, yet loyally serves, will be toppled. Now, as Severn plots a campaign of conquest, the time has come to take action…and Owen’s destiny demands that he lead the strike.

Ordered to incite war with a neighboring kingdom, Owen discovers its beautiful, reclusive ruler, whose powerful magic might even exceed his own. Together they mount a daring plot to overthrow the corrupt monarch, crown the rightful heir, and defeat the prophesied curse threatening Kingfountain with wintry death. But Severn’s evil is as bottomless as the fabled Deep Fathoms. To keep his ill-gotten throne, he’ll gladly spill the blood of enemies and innocents alike.

“We learn much through suffering... But I think what we learn most is who we really are."


After what transpired in the last book in this series, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one. Fortunately I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. I love how the characters in this series learn and grow. The author manages to write depth into his characters while keeping the story easy to read. For example, as I said in my review of The Queen's Poisoner, the king is unexpectedly complicated and not just a cookie cutter villain. I appreciate that I can read these when I'm not in the mood for something heavy and real in-depth, and still enjoy the story and feel attached to the characters.

There is a span a several years between each book in this series and normally I'm not a huge fan of that, but this is one of the only series I've read that I actually don't mind time jumps in. I went into this feeling bad for how things ended up for Owen, but by the end I was glad at how things turned out for him, for Evie, and for most everyone else. Wheeler's stories are inspired by other tales, or events in history, and this series was very inspired by the Arthurian legends. This book in particular was inspired very much by the Lady of the Lake, and I loved how it was woven into the book.

After finishing this I wanted to dive right into the fourth book in the series, which moves forward in time to feature the children of the characters in this one. However, someone recommended reading the Legends of Muirwood series first, because there are heavy tie-ins, so I'm going to put the last three books on hold and jump on over to Muirwood for a while first.

Unholy Ground by Karen Ann Hopkins

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Content: Strong language, Rape (off page), Abduction, Sex trafficking



SOME AMISH COMMUNITIES AREN’T SO COZY.

Sheriff Serenity Adams journeys to a northern Indiana Amish settlement to search for a missing girl, and discovers a young outsider has also vanished into thin air. Serenity suspects the cases are connected, and joins forces with an unlikely ally to find answers. When she goes undercover, the sinister truth of the girls’ whereabouts begins to unravel, and she finds herself in a race against time to save the girls, and a desperate fight for her own survival. 

This is the seventh installment in the Serenity's Plain Secrets series, and I didn't really like it as much as the previous books. I think the number one reason for that was Daniel's absence throughout most of the book. I did however like that Serenity grew a bit here and made a decision that I thought was a good one concerning her and Daniel's future.

This book deals with very serious subject matter that is relevant in our world, and I thought it was handled pretty well, but I did feel like the repercussions of what happened to the girls were not addressed as much as I would have liked. In the book Serenity has the thought that kids/teens were resilient and the girls would overcome what had happened to them. Of course they could, but those girls would likely have years of therapy ahead of them. Maybe Serenity's way of dealing with it was to tell herself that, but it definitely wouldn't be easy for those poor girls.

I still like this series a lot, and I look forward to reading the next book when it's published, and seeing what happens next for Serenity and Daniel.

Shadow & Flame by Mindee Arnett

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Strong Language, Torture

 
I did not finish this book.

I thought the first book in this duology was pretty good. It wasn't a favorite, but I liked it enough to want to see what happened next. Unfortunately this one has been hard to get into. It feels completely different from the first book and is kind of depressing. I'm not a fan of all the torture and angst, so after trying to get interested in this and not succeeding, I've decided to give up on it.

June 2020 Book Club: His Majesty's Dragon

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Content: Strong Language



Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors ride mighty fighting dragons, bred for size or speed. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes the precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future – and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature.

Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.
 

 

“I should rather have you than a heap of gold, even if it were very comfortable to sleep on.” 

We chose this book as our book club read for June. I had been wanting to reading this or quite some time, so I was excited to finally read it. Overall I enjoyed it, but there were some parts that were rather slow and boring. I guess I was expecting more action in a book that is set during the Napoleonic Wars, that included combat with dragons. The best thing about this book are the dragons. I enjoyed reading about Laurence and Temeraire and how their relationship grew. There were some unexpectedly funny parts that came from Temeraire's view of things that I found delightful. But while I really liked this book, I'm not sure I would want to read 9 whole books about this, especially since I've heard that the quality of the series starts to go down after the first few books. I do own the first 3 books in the series, so I may come back and read those eventually.

As far as the book club went, I think most of us liked this book, and the dragon themed refreshments were a lot of fun to create.

Here are a few pictures: