Kingdom of Blood and Spirit by Trish Beninato and Riley Hunt

 Book Blurb

One cruel Queen,

Four Fae Princes,

A human to save, or doom them all.

Nineteen-year-old Samantha just wants to survive long enough to escape to a life of freedom away from the dangerous sickness that plagues the mortal lands and the Church of Flame.

But be careful what you wish for.

Tragedy strikes and the sickness takes her father. With his passing, the church comes to claim her. She turns to the one person she has left, her teacher and godmother. Only to find a bracelet left by her birth mother slapped onto her wrist.

And she falls right onto a fruit cart belonging to an ogre and finds herself in a land she once thought to be nothing more than a myth.

Faerie.

Tasked with finding a male named Niall and told to stay far away from the wicked Queen, instead, she ends up in her clutches, facing down a queen hellbent on breaking the veil to her realm and enslaving mortals.

Alliances are made, and destiny is set in motion.

The fate of two realms is in the hands of Sam, but all she wants to do is go home. Except, the wicked Queen has other plans. She ties Sam’s life to the angry, devastatingly handsome Prince, Killian. A bond that cannot be broken.

As lies and secrets are unraveled, Sam has to make a decision: will she stay and fight, or will she go home?

This book is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, J. L. Armentrout and Holly Black.

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Review

This tale begins with one heck of a bang, immediately grabbing the reader's attention as conflict practically explodes from the pages. Tyranny and betrayal is where we start, and then we're introduced to a world of hardships as a sickness plagues the lands.

Emotions like our racing hearts, fluttering stomachs and the euphoria we felt with one another was not theirs to take. Yet, they still demanded that we relinquished these base emotions for their judgement. 

Samantha is an unusual character who doesn't seem to fit in with the townsfolk. Determined to live freely with her forbidden love, her stubborn nature rises quickly, and it becomes clear she has the ability to swallow her fear. Her heart and mind remain rebellious against the power sweeping across her homeland, but she doesn't know how best to beat it back either.

Wait, you aren’t luring me out here to do nefarious things to me are you?” I forced a playful tone into the words, but I knew there was a hesitant strain in there that he didn’t miss.

As we get to know our main character, greater conflict consumes her life, forcing her into hiding in a world unknown to her. She meets a cast of characters that soon capture the reader's heart as she learns what she can about the realm of the Fae. Danger, corruption, lust, and love, all entwine to create a tantalizing tale that hooks the reader's attention easily.  

I had lost my mind because it felt good to have control over him- to be this close and feel him under my body, to stare into his amber-flecked hazel gaze with the same need I had deep inside of me meeting his. 

Some of the foreshadowing was a bit stronger than I'd like, showing me what lay on the horizon a bit earlier than I'd expect, but the finale held all the awe I wanted to feel, leaving me eager for book two and disappointed in the wait to get my hands on the next novel. This book played with my emotions, bringing me to tears a few times and making me laugh aloud at times as well. 

Recommendation

For fans of Sarah J Maas, fantasy, Fae. There are some strong,

possibly triggering scenes, so if you avoid sexually triggering content,

then pass this one up. Otherwise, I'd highly recommend this book.

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40) What are you currently working on?

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

 Book Blurb:

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

  

The Schwartz Review:

This series was definitely worth the read. The characters were extremely well developed, and I found myself getting emotional with them throughout their adventure multiple times. Being able to write characters and a plot that can make the reader feel is a skill that Bardugo has in spades!

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I grinned and followed her down the aisle of graves. At least she was predictable. 

Throughout this entire series, Alina knows who her enemy is. The dark and dangerous fold and the leader of the second army, the darkling. But Bardugo manages something that isn't easily done... She turned our villain into a tragedy that pulls on our protagonist's heartstrings, and eventually, the readers' as well. 

"I don't think so. The Darkling and I are . . . connected. We probably always will be."

Alina is trapped in a war she wants no part of, but her heart leads her and those who follow her to the very end of this book. The ending was bittersweet, slightly unexpected, and a breath of relief at the end of an anxious race toward the finale. One of my questions remained unanswered, which was a bit disappointing, but it was such a small detail that I'd still rate this a fantastic five star read.

The Unsea always felt like the end of everything. It wasn't only the dark, it was the terrible sense of isolation, as if the world had disappeared, leaving only you, the rattle of your breath, the stuttering beat of your heart.

With plenty of suiters after her heart, and none of them truly despicable, it was interesting to see how the romance played out. Her band of friends and enemies held dynamic relationships that grew immensely as the books went on, and the plot was so rich with detail that I couldn't stop reading until the very last page.

The Recommendation:

The classic good versus evil with magic, war, and a deathly sea of shadow splitting the land and dividing its people. If you enjoy Fantasy, YA, Magic, with a splash of Romance, then you'd probably enjoy this read.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

    

Book Blurb:

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold,
Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her—or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

  

The Schwartz Review:

I couldn't wait to dive into this book, even if I saw the ending of the previous book coming chapters ahead of time. I am thoroughly invested in Alina Starkov's story, and how the land will be saved from the Fold that has torn it apart for ages.

"Where's Mal?" I rasped, my throat still rusty.

The Darkling didn't turn, but shook his head and said, "You're predictable, at least."

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Alina's life is not her own to lead at this point and throughout this book, she struggles to maintain balance in a world that constantly throws her off her feet. A plethora of characters fill these pages, and she must decide which of them are allies and which are foes dressed as ally.

"Power is alliance," said Nikolai. "It's everyone's business." He took another sip of wine as I glared at him in disbelief. "And you should be wearing your own colors."

As I headed toward the finale of the second in this trilogy, I already mourn when this story will truly finish. I don't want to stop reading these lively characters. They're so well-rounded that I swear they're real, and their lives are so dramatic and rich with plot that I never want to stop reading about them.

Mal and I burst from the palace and careened down the marble steps. A screech of twisting metal rent the air.

Whereas I saw the ending of book one coming, I am pleased to report that I did not see the ending of book two coming. It was SHOCKING, and I immediately grabbed for the third book upon finishing. 

The Recommendation:

The classic good versus evil with magic, war, and a deathly sea of shadow splitting the land and dividing its people. If you enjoy Fantasy, YA, Magic, with a splash of Romance, then you'd probably enjoy this read.

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Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

   

Book Blurb:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

  

The Schwartz Review:

I must admit, I watched the first few episodes of Netflix's Shadow & Bone. As soon as I realized that it was going to be GOOD, I stopped. I wanted to read the books first, and so I waited until I could purchase them. Trust me, I was not disappointed. 

I heard a shrill wail and watched in horror as a soldier was lifted from his feet and carried into the air, kicking and struggling.

This book had plenty of action. There's danger, romance, and an epic battle with good versus evil. What's even better is that Alina is a character for which you can root. She leads a difficult life, but she perseveres. Never giving up. 

I raised my hand and rested it on his stubbly cheek, gently turning his face to mine.

There's enough mystery to keep you flipping those pages. I saw the ending coming a few chapters early, but it was still such a joy to read.

The Recommendation:

The classic good versus evil with magic, war, and a deathly sea of shadow splitting the land and dividing its people. If you enjoy Fantasy, YA, Magic, with a splash of Romance, then you'd probably enjoy this read.

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

  

Book Blurb:

He will be destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne.

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.

Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.

And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…

  

The Schwartz Review:

The finale of this series consumed the greater part of my long weekend, but I could not put this book down. By the end of The Wicked King, you fully understand why Black has titled the third book in her trilogy in this way, and the reader is successfully hooked. 

And if I curse Cardan, then I have to curse myself, too, for being the fool who walked right into the trap he set for me.

Jude has lost everything she's worked toward and begins this tale in the mortal realm, using the one thing that can never be taken from her. Her shadow skills. Thanks to Dain, Jude is an excellent spy, and even in the mortal realms there is no end to spy work.

Tonight it seems impossible that I was ever anyone other than this dutiful child.

But moping about in the mortal realm is unlike the Jude we've come to love and adore. Before long, she is given the opportunity she's been waiting for and she dives back into the world of faerie. And when she does... It's one heck of an adventurous ride!

"...Only tell me the way, and I will do it, no matter the danger, no matter the hardship, no matter the cost."

This tale brought me laughter, it brought me to tears with bittersweet moments, and it definitely held my attention easily as I devoured the finale in a matter of days. I try to write spoiler free reviews, and this is one of those stories you will be happy to discover every truth, scheme, and ploy Black twined together to form this magnificence. 

The Recommendation:

If you love fantasy stories, faeries, a world full of danger, 

and a possible enemies to lovers tale, 

then this is a read you don't want to miss. 

The Wicked King by Holly Black

 

Book Blurb:

The enchanting and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince.

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

The Schwartz Review:

After devouring The Cruel Prince, that ending left no choice but to speedily begin The Wicked King. I have come to realize something about Holly Black's writing of which I am definitely a fan. She makes excellent use of the cliff hanger. I know this now, having finished two of her books, as I am eagerly writing this review so that I can jump right into the third book in this series: The Queen of Nothing.

"We need to watch the Queen of the Undersea, too," I say. "She's got a plan and is going to move against us."

We follow Jude's adventure a few months after the moment she shocked us all at the end of The Cruel Prince, and she is definitely stressed. There's a multitude of things that are keeping her mind occupied, and what seems to be the least of her worries is this war between the land and the sea. 

Kiss me until I am sick of it, he said, and now he has most certainly gorged on my kisses. Now he is most certainly sick of them.

The romance we glanced at develops a bit more in this book. It's one of those slow burn romances that leaves you wanting more. I happen to love those; they seem more realistic and believable. As I've been steadily reading through the series, this slow burn romance has been keeping me rooting the characters forward. I found myself squealing with delight one chapter, only to be dropping my jaw in shock the next. 

"As I said before, a lot can happen in a year and a day. Much has happened in half that time."

The cliff hanger worked its charm. I'm off to grab book three and dive right in. I can't wait to see where this is taking Jude. 

The Recommendation:

If you love fantasy stories, faeries, a world full of danger, 

and a possible enemies to lovers tale, 

then this is a read you don't want to miss.