Paranormal
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Source: Hachette Book Group Canada
Pages: 373
Buy: Amazon | Indigo Canada | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Rating: 4/5
"From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series comes a new blockbuster series… Two sisters. One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself… And an intoxicating romance. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden. Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…" -Goodreads
Thanks to Hachette Book Group Canada for providing me with a copy of Kingdom of the Wicked. Thank you for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
Maniscalco has once again created a series with loveable characters and an enticing plot. Kingdom of the Wicked got me hooked from page one. The author's writing style in this novel flows beautifully. The pace of this story is just right. There wasn't a moment while reading this book where I thought it was too slow. Kingdom of the Wicked is also a cover buy for its Instagram-worthy looks.
My favourite part of Kingdom of the Wicked was the characters. The novel is told from Emilia's point of view. I felt that her narration brought the world of Palermo alive. The constant banter between her and Wrath was also cute. I'm curious to see how their relationship will further develop in book two.
I felt a lot of the side characters were also well developed. There were a few side characters (Ex: Antonio, Carmine) that I would have liked to have seen get a bit more page time. I felt they weren't as fleshed out as the other characters.
I also really enjoyed meeting a few of Wrath's brothers. I think that was one of the highlights of this novel. The brothers were all so different, and I was always questioning their intentions.
Vittoria's death was a huge motivator for Emilia's actions throughout the story. Emilia is a very driven and determined character. She does not give up when things get hard. Instead, she becomes further motivated as a result. I could easily relate to this trait as I consider myself a very determined person. Once I have a motivator/goal stuck in mind, then nothing will stop me from accomplishing it.
The ending of book one will leave readers wanting more of Emilia's and Wrath's adventure. I have been left with a ton of questions. I'm curious and excited to see how this story will further unravel.
I felt the characters' motives, lies, and deceptions were what really kept me hooked on this story. I easily figured out who murdered Vittoria. However, it was the reason for "why" that kept me entranced throughout Kingdom of the Wicked.
Throughout this book, all I wanted to do was eat Italian food. Maniscalco does a great job of describing and introducing readers to Italian cuisine. It also helped to bring Emilia's world and her surroundings to life. I even went out and bought cannolis after reading a chapter.
The author also does a great job of creating a gothic, eery, atmosphere. I felt this was also true for her other series Stalking Jack The Ripper.
I would like to see more descriptions of the characters' surroundings. I think the author does a great job of bringing the world to life through the atmosphere. I was easily able to imagine my own version of Palermo. However, I desired a little bit more detail about the buildings and the Italian landscape.
Overall, Kingdom of the Wicked was a fun read. It was a great start to a series. The characters and the plot had me hooked from the start. The ending left me wanting more of this world. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in book two.
26 October 2020
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
Author: Jennifer L. ArmentroutToday I am reviewing the Wicked Trilogy by Jennifer L. Armentrout as a whole. My favourite book in the series was Torn (Book #2). My least favourite book was Wicked (Book #1).
Source: Kobo Store
Buy: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Rakuten Kobo|Book Depository
Rating: 4/5
Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans. Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart. Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her. But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.-Goodreads
My favourite thing about any of Armentrout's work is her characters. I absolutely adore Ivy, Ren and especially Tink. I wish there was more page time with Tink because he is funny, weird and geeky.
The one thing that stood out throughout the series was Ivy's character development in each book. I could pinpoint how she grew and developed throughout each book. I also could relate to her trust issues (albeit I never had to deal with evil fae in my past). I liked how Armentrout handled Ivy's trauma in Brave. I felt Ivy's actions in Brave showed how traumatized she was from the events of Torn.
In regards to Ren, I felt so-so about in him in the first book. However, by book 3 I was shipping him and Ivy as a couple.
I hated the antagonists...which means they were well written.
My only complaint, in regards to characters, is that I felt the side-characters could have been fleshed out more. I felt the Order, itself, and their members could have been fleshed out more. I had a hard time connecting with David.
The first book was very character-focused and heavy on the romance. I found the amount of romance, that was presented in book 1, to be a bit of a turn-off. I felt, in book 1, the romance overshadowed the plot and the world-building. The plot, in Wicked, was a slow build-up for the end.
I enjoyed Wicked's ending and it made me want to read Torn right away. Torn was plot-driven and fast-paced. I could not put book 2 down and I finished it within 48 hours.
The third book, Brave, was more character-focused. It was a bit slower in pace than Torn. I felt the climax of the Wicked Trilogy was a bit of a let down. There were three questions that I had throughout this series that were never answered. I do not want to spoil the ending but book 3, as an end to a trilogy, was a bit of letdown.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters and their journey throughout the series. However, I felt the side-characters, the order and the plot, in some places, could have been expanded on.
26 June 2020
Wicked Trilogy Review by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 462
Source: The Ripped Bodice
Buy: Amazon|Indigo Canada|Barnes&Noble|Book Depository
Rating: 4/5
The explosive finale to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shatter Me series. Juliette Ferrars. Ella Sommers. Which is the truth and which is the lie? Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong—between Ella and Juliette—blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control. The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose what side she fights on.-Goodreads
I have mixed feelings about the end of the Shatter Me series. I enjoyed this book but did not like this as the ending to a series. I felt there should have been another novel. That Imagine Me was a rush to end things. This felt especially true with that epilogue.
25 May 2020
Imagine Me (Shatter Me #6) by Tahereh Mafi
Author: Tracy Wolff
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 592
Source: Kobo/E-Reader
Buy: Amazon|Indigo Canada|Barnes & Noble|Book Depository
Rating: 3/5
My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me. Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me. Which could spell death for us all. Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait. - Cover/Bio: Goodreads
*SPOILERS*
Where do I start?! This book is perfect if you're looking for an addictive romance involving vampires and other paranormal creatures. The first book has the Twilight (book) feel in both looks (the cover) and in the story itself. I am shocked by how much time the author spent on the romance in Crave. The romance, between Jaxon and Grace, takes up most of the first book. I enjoyed reading this novel but, I had a lot of issues with the various developments (plot, romance, characters, etc.). I will be reading the sequel, Crush, because it is an addicting storyline. I have a feeling that the second book will diverge from the twilight-feel and focus less on the romance and more on the plot line. At least that is my hope for book #2.
21 May 2020
Crave (Crave #1) by Tracy Wolff
10 May 2020 Saskatchewan, Canada
From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Author:Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher:Blue Box Press
Pages:634
Source:Kobo
Buy:Amazon|Indigo Canada
Rating:4/5
"Captivating and action-packed, From Blood and Ash is a sexy, addictive, and unexpected fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Laura Thalassa. A Maiden… Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers. A Duty… The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden. A Kingdom… Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel." -Image/Bio: Goodreads
I need book 2!!! This book...the feels...gaaahhh!! Sorry, I just loved this book so much!! Where do I start?
I think my favourite aspects of From Blood and Ash were the characters and the plot!! The ending leaves off on a cliffhanger. It also leaves readers with new and unanswered questions. I read Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout last year. In that book, I loved the characters' interactions. I feel the same way in From Blood and Ash. I loved Hawke's and Poppy's interactions. I also loved Vikter's and Poppy's interactions. I hated the people Poppy hated, and I adored the people Poppy adored. Armentrout does a fantastic job of getting readers invested in her characters' lives.
Poppy is a kick-ass heroine who has a caring, curious and determines personality. She doesn't think twice about saving others at her own expense. The first book is about her exploration of figuring out what she does and does not want in life.
Hawke knows who and what he represents. He isn't afraid to speak his mind and contradict what others believe. He is good at reading and judging others' characters. Hawke is also a bad-ass guard who doesn't like to follow the rules when it comes to Poppy. *cough* Forbidden Romance.
My favourite scenes in From Blood and Ash are when Poppy and Hawke are interacting.
I also really enjoyed the side characters: Tawny, Vikter and the ones that show up later in the book.
The plot!! Where do I start? I guessed correctly on some of the plot twists. I did not predict what ended up happening on the last page. Armentrout does an amazing job of pacing out the plot. I resonated (felt the emotional impact) with the ups and downs due to the plot being smoothly carried out by the author. The romance also developed at a reasonable pace in the book. I did not find this book slow. It was a story that I kept thinking about even when I was not reading the book.
The paranormal!! Is it just me, or are paranormal books finally making a comeback?! Let me clarify that a little more, are vampires making a comeback? Because all I can say is: YES!!!
I thought the lore and history of this world was well thought out!!
My only critique is that I wish the world was better described. I felt there could have been more descriptions of places in certain areas of the novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed From Blood and Ash and I cannot wait until the sequel is released.
10 May 2020
From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Author: Emily A. Duncan
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 532
Source: Amazon Canada
Buy: Amazon | Indigo Canada | Book Depository
Rating:3.7/5
"Darkness never works alone... Nadya doesn’t trust her magic anymore. Serefin is fighting off a voice in his head that doesn’t belong to him. Malachiasz is at war with who--and what--he’s become. As their group is continually torn apart, the girl, the prince, and the monster find their fates irrevocably intertwined. They’re pieces on a board, being orchestrated by someone… or something. The voices that Serefin hears in the darkness, the ones that Nadya believes are her gods, the ones that Malachiasz is desperate to meet—those voices want a stake in the world, and they refuse to stay quiet any longer." -Goodreads
Emily A. Duncan has an amazing talent for laying out a gothic world. It is easy, as a reader, to quickly visualize Tranavia and Kalyazin. The horrors, that these characters face throughout Ruthless Gods, also come alive before the readers' eyes. I applaud Duncan for her world-building. I can easily imagine these war-torn places and sympathize with their struggles. All the characters feel a sense of loyalty to their homeland. They do not want their country to fall but, they also all want the war to end.
25 April 2020
Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan (Something Dark and Holy #2)
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