Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill (A Clash of Kingdoms Novel #1)

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.

However, it’s not so simple.

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force. 

Now this was fun! I love it when a book is so much fun and this one really did impress me. This book has so many twists and turns that I cant really tell you more about it without spoiling it. So in this case the blurb will have to be enough.

What I can tell you though is that this book will surprise you over and over again. While I thought I had it all figured out from the start it has proven me wrong over and over again. You cant knock a book that has you gobsmacked several times.

My favourite part about this book is the characters tho. Britta being the main one and also the most interesting. She has grown up with only her father around and Cohen who her father was teaching to track. Alongside Cohen she has learned her fathers skills. When Britta is left to fend for herself she proves how strong and capable she really is. I also love Britta with Cohen, I love the history they have together. It makes for such a interesting reading. A nice change from reading about people meeting for the first time. They have a special kind of bond that will get tested by some very strong accusations.

However this book is a little slow in parts, not quite boring but not really super exciting either. Its really the twists and surprises that make this book a special one. But sometimes that's also ok, between some heavy reads it is nice to have a book that hasn't got so much stuff going on. Which you can just pick up and enjoy without  clearing your schedule.

All in all this has been a fun read that surprised me and left me wanting more. I recommend this to anyone who wants to just put their feet up and enjoy a little escape.

But while the story isn't at its full potential yet I think it has the power to become something great still. I am going ahead and setting my expectations quite high for the next book.

Ever the Hunted will be released on 27th December.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in advance.

Review: The Dreamer by E.L. Mellow (Dreamland #1)

 

It’s night. Always night. Dreams guard against the evil forged by nightmares. Infinite shooting stars illuminate a moonless sky. A city stands alone, surrounded by a darkened field. On its fringes, a man watches one star separate from the masses and fall. What survives the crash will unveil a secret centuries long hidden.Molly hasn’t slept well since the night of her twenty-fourth birthday. Being struck by lightning might have something to do with it, but then again, her chicken did look a little undercooked at dinner. Whatever the culprit, her life quickly catapults from mundane to insane as, night after night, Molly is transported through her once dreamless sleep to a mysterious land illuminated by shooting stars.

There she meets the captivating but frustrating Dev, and together they discover Molly possesses a power coveted by his people—the ability to conjure almost anything she desires into existence. Seduced by the possibilities of this gift, Molly shifts her attention from waking life toward the man, the magic, and the world found in her dreams.

But Molly must ask herself—does something truly exist if you only see it when you close your eyes?

Faced with the threat of losing everything—her job, best friend, boyfriend, and most importantly, that little thing called her sanity—Molly will learn just how far she’ll go to uncover what is real and what is merely a figment of her imagination.

I wanted to love this one so so much. And I kinda did for most part. But then we got to the end...

This is the first book in a 3 book series and it has been recommended to me. Its the story of Molly who on her birthday, while walking home after a date with her boyfriend, gets hit by lightning. She is lucky, very lucky, other then a burn she is all fine. But Molly who never remembered any of her dreams, suddenly has very vivid ones. Not only that but they continue every time she falls asleep. The dreams feel incredibly real. In her dream world Molly is captivated by Dev who is very much feeling the same about Molly. Soon they discover that Molly has the power to conjure anything she wants and maybe even more. Caught between two worlds and two men, Molly has to face the fact that it may all be more then just a dream.

Sounds amazing? Yes. And in a way a lot of it was. The idea to bring together dream and reality is my favourite part. Its a genre that hasn't really been explored enough, at least not by me. And I very much loved the world that has been created, it makes for a beautiful setting. The zip lines in Molly's dream world make me want to visit it. I want to travel this way, everywhere.

While I really liked Molly, hard working and reliable, with an incredible relationship with her friend. I liked the mysterious dreamy Dev even more. Yum, who doesn't like a book hottie. But I also liked her reality boyfriend. And here is where one of my issues starts, I am not a fan of a book that makes cheating look so good. I just don't approve, no matter how hot the new guy is. I cant help it, it makes me cringe. There is Molly with an amazing boyfriend and someone is about to get hurt. Booo! This is me now moving on and not making a big deal out of this...

Its not my only issue... my main one is the end. I get it, this is a series and there is two more books to come, the story will continue. BUT, why didn't anything happen? Its like this one was just the introduction, I want a finale and maybe a cliff hanger. I felt unsatisfied at the end.

I wanted this book to be so much more. And it really had the potential, I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book. I will however still read the next one. I have come to like the characters and I want to know what is next in store for Molly and Dev. And most of all for the 'dream world'.

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #49

WeeklyWrap Up...

I have finished 2 books again this week which is my average. Both have been incredible books in very different ways. The first one was Blood for Blood which is the second book after Wolf by Wolf and also the last book. Loved both so much, they are so different and really touch on a complicated topic. But wow!! The second one is Hold Back the Stars, which has broken me over and over and over again.

 

There would be blood. Blood for blood. Blood to pay. An entire world of it.

For the resistance in the Third Reich, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun. Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against Hitler’s army, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.

But in the midst of the chaos, Yael’s past and future collide when she comes face to face with a ghost from her past, and a spark with a fellow rider begins to grow into something more. Dark secrets reveal dark truths and one question hangs over them all—how far can you go for the ones you love?

 

‘We’re going to be fine.’
He looks around, but there’s nothing out here: nothing but the bottomless black universe on their left, the Earth suspended in glorious technicolour to their right.

Carys and Max have ninety minutes of air left.
None of this was supposed to happen.
But perhaps this doesn’t need to be the end…

Adrift in space with nothing to hold on to but each other, Carys and Max can’t help but look back at the well-ordered world they have left behind – at the rules they couldn’t reconcile themselves to, and a life to which they might now never return.
For in a world where love is banned, what happens when you find it?

Hold Back the Stars is a love story like no other.

Stacking the Shelves... 

There has been some amazing book post this week starting with 100 Hours on Monday thanks to Harper Collins! Excited!! I love this author and this sounds great and very different.

 

On Thursday I honestly squeeeeeeled when I opened my post, Traiter to the Throne!! OMG!! And it's signed. Thank you Maximumpop for another aaaaaamazing giveaway. Rebel of the Sands was one of my favourite books last year so this one is very very highly anticipated! 

 

 

On Friday another book arrived and OMG look how super cute it is. Everything is pink and I love it. Thank you so much Hachette Children for this stunning book.

 

There has been even more post on Saturday, Relativity arrived which I am on a blog tour for in January. I don't know why but I haven't been on one for a while so I am very excited :) thank you Little Brown for my post.

 

Review: The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

 

In less than a year, Kelsea Glynn has transformed from a gawky teenager into a powerful monarch.

As she has come into her own as the Queen of the Tearling, the headstrong, visionary leader has also transformed her realm. In her quest to end corruption and restore justice, she has made many enemies - including the evil Red Queen, her fiercest rival, who has set her armies against the Tear.

To protect her people from a devastating invasion, Kelsea did the unthinkable - she surrendered herself and her magical sapphires to her enemy, and named the Mace, the trusted head of her personal guards, Regent in her place. But the Mace will not rest until he and his men rescue their sovereign from her prison in Mortmesne.

Now the endgame begins and the fate of Queen Kelsea - and the Tearling itself - will finally be revealed . . . 

What an absolutely amazing finale and what an incredible adventure this series has been. In the last instalment of this three book series Kelsea is a prisoner in the hands of the Red Queen,by her own choice I might add. The Mace is currently Regent in her place. But while the Mace has been entrusted with a task in her absence he is also planning to get the Queen back. While being held captive Kelsea has once again visions of the past, this time a generation later then her previous ones. But what can she learn from her visions and how can it help her and her realm?

With every book this story just got better and better. I had very mixed feelings about the first one, I really liked the second one, but this one, I bloody loved. Kelsea has grown into this incredible monarch, a fair and likable leader. While it was a bit of a bumpy ride and I didn't always like her choices I finally fully respect and like her. Kelsea's ties to the past have been very curious and it was amazing to finally see where it was leading all along.

The build up to the end of this story has been incredible and I must say what a incredible ending it has been. I did not see that coming at all, but damn if I didn't enjoy it! Not only did it have a satisfying ending for Kelsea but for many other characters in the book too.

I should mention that this is not your standard fantasy involving romance. Far from it, which is one of the reasons why I like it, but a very well thought out and often visual story. Its dark in some parts and it really gives you something to think about.

This is a very intense read with outstanding world building and some perfectly thought out characters. It's writing at its best. In a way Johansen created a world build on the mistakes of our today.

I am sad it is all over now but also very grateful for the emotional rollercoaster and the adventure.

The Fate Of The Tearling is out TODAY!

Thank you to Bantam Press for the pleasure of reading this book in advance.