FictionTea

Comments : 4

Book Review | ‘Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood’ by Sarah J Maas

Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas

Title: Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 3rd March 2020
Genre/Age Group: Adult, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Hardcover (816pages)
Source:  Finished copy, gifted from Bloomsbury
Rating: 

(Disclaimer: This review is spoiler free!)

 

Synopsis

“Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.”

Review

From beginning to end, this book was a real page turner, it grips you tight and won’t let go till you finish all 816 wonderful pages. There’s not one boring moment throughout this behemoth book, and I cannot stress that enough. It’s slow but entertaining at first and then quickly snowballs into something absolutely epic. By the end you will be left with your jaw dropping. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read, it blew my mind in ways that no Maas book has done before, and it’s a book that’ll stick with me for a long long time.

Read More

Comments : 2

My Favourite Books of 2019

favourite books of 2019

It’s almost the end of 2019, you know what that means! It’s time to list my top 10 reads of the year.

I didn’t read as much as I hoped I would, but enjoyed everything I read and I consider that a hard win!

I highly recommend you checking out any of these books below if you haven’t read them yet. Each one successfully absorbed me into the story (even the graphic novels and the audiobook) and some of them have even made it to my favourite books of all time list.

Without further ado and in no particular order, here are my favourite books of 2019…

Read More

Leave a Comment

Book Review | ‘Escaping From Houdini’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Escaping From Houdini
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 18th September 2018
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (437 pages)
Source:  ARC / Advanced Proof (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating: 

(Disclaimer: This review is spoiler free. However, may contain spoilers for previous books in the series!)

 

Synopsis

“Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?”

Review

We have joined Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell as they investigate and solve the Ripper murders, and as they discover the secrets of a Romanian forensic school said to be haunted by Vlad Dracula. Now we’re following them as they cross the Atlantic to the United States on the RMS Etruria where a number of passengers are being murdered one by one. Audrey Rose and Thomas, now open with their feelings for one another, find themselves stuck on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic with a murderer who is using morbid and magical acts to kill their victims. Whilst Audrey and Thomas are aboard the RMS Etruria, they meet the Moonlight Carnival, a group of performers hired to entertain the passengers throughout the journey. But, when the mysterious ringmaster Mephistopheles offers his assistance, Audrey Rose and Thomas’ companionship is put to the test.

Read More

Leave a Comment

Book Review| ‘Hunting Prince Dracula’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 19th September 2017
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (435 pages)
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

(Disclaimer: This review is spoiler free. However, contains spoilers for the first book in the series!)

 

Synopsis

“Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.”

Review

There are very few books in the world I love that much, that I actually wish they had hundreds of more pages so the story would just keep going. ‘Hunting Prince Dracula‘ (HPD) is one of those books. This is book two in the ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper‘ (SJTR) series, which you can read my review for here. It picks up a couple of weeks after SJTR ends and begins with Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her ridiculously witty and handsome companion, Thomas Cresswell, heading to a top forensic school in Romania. The school is a magnificent dark castle with secrets of it’s very own. When strange murders start to befall the students and guests of the school, Audrey and Thomas are eager to investigate and find out if it’s really the infamous Vlad Dracula who’s committing these heinous crimes.

Read More

Leave a Comment

Book Review| ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 20th September 2016
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (416 pages)
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

(This review is spoiler free!)

 

Synopsis

“Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.”

Review

‘Stalking Jack the Ripper‘ was always one of those books that I had a feeling I’d enjoy. Nevertheless, it sat on my TBR shelf for almost a year before I finally decided to pick it up. And boy, I regretted waiting so long to dive into this one. This book is a fantastic historical fiction, mystery and thriller that will have your jaw dropping and chills crawling up your spine. It’s set in nineteenth century London, and as you can probably tell from the title, the infamous case of Jack the Ripper is worked into the gripping plot line. It really made the story feel more realistic and terrifying. It’s not constant blood and gore though. Our protagonist is Audrey Rose Wadsworth who is a high society lady, so there are definitely some lovely tea parties in there for us readers to enjoy (and drool over the foods described). But, Audrey has a secret. She has a passion for forensic science, which definitely isn’t a profession nineteenth century women would find themselves in. Luckily, her forensic scientist Uncle allows her to study under him.

Read More

Comments : 2

Book Review | ‘Serpent & Dove’ by Shelby Mahurin

Title: Serpent & Dove
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Publisher: Harper 360
Release Date: 3rd September 2019
Genre / Age Group: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Hardcover (528 pages)
Source: ARC / Advanced Proof
Rating: 

(This review is spoiler free!)

 

Synopsis

“Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.”

Review

‘Serpent & Dove‘ by Shelby Mahurin is one of the most anticipated books of 2019, and for very good reason. This without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read this year, it completely took me by surprise. It follows Lou, a witch who has fled her coven to the the city of Cesarine. However, she’s not safe in a city filled with Chasseurs; men sworn to the church to hunt and burn Witches at the stake.

Reid Diggory is one of the finest Chasseurs in the city, until one day an ‘unfortunate incident’ leads him and Lou into the most unthinkable situation for them both. Marriage. Lou has no choice to keep her true nature hidden from her new husband, however this becomes harder for her when true feelings become involved.

Read More

Leave a Comment

Book Review | ‘My Dark Vanessa’ by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Title: My Dark Vanessa
Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell
Publisher: 4th Estate
Release Date: January 23rd, 2020
Genre/Age Group:  Psychological Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction
Format:  Paperback (400 pages)
Source: Proof copy (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating:

(This review is spoiler free)

 

Synopsis

“Vanessa Wye was fifteen years old when she first had sex with her English teacher.

She is now thirty-two and the teacher, Jacob Strane, has just been accused of sexual abuse by another former student of his. Vanessa is horrified by this news, because she is quite certain that the relationship she had with Strane wasn’t abuse. It was love. She’s sure of that. But now, in 2017, in the midst of allegations against powerful men, she is being asked to redefine the great love story of her life – her great sexual awakening – as rape.

Nuanced, uncomfortable, bold and powerful, and as riveting as it is disturbing, My Dark Vanessa goes straight to the heart of some of the most complex issues our age is grappling with.”

Read More

Comments : 2

YALC 2019 Review

YALC 2019 has come and gone, and it passed way too quickly for my liking. But you know what they say? Time flies when you’re having fun!

I’ve attended YALC for the past four years, but this is the first time I went as an exhibitor at the Fairyloot booth. And, even though I was working the booth I still had plenty of time to attend signings, check out others booths and the rest of the YALC floor.

Last year I reviewed YALC 2018 and brought up a few issues that I’d like to see changed. You can check out that review here! I’m really happy to say though that a lot of the issues I listed seemed to have been resolved this year, but there were a few that could still be improved upon.

There’s lots to cover, so let’s get on with this shall we?

Read More

Leave a Comment

Book Review: ‘Finale’ by Stephanie Garber

Title: Finale
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 9th May 2019
Genre/Age Group:  Fantasy, Young Adult, Mystery, Romance
Format:  Paperback (400 pages)
Source: Uncorrected Proof (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating:

(This review is spoiler free, however, will contain spoilers for other books in the series)

Synopsis

It’s been two months since the last Caraval concluded, two months since the Fates have been freed from an enchanted deck of cards, two months since Tella has seen Legend, and two months since Legend claimed the empire’s throne as his own. Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it. She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own. She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage. Finally, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future. She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun―with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win…and those who will lose everything.

Review

It’s been two months since Empress Elantine passed and the kingdom of Valenda fell in need of a new heir to the throne. Tella and Scarlett have left the palace and relocated to a small apartment in the Satine district as they await their mother Paloma waking from her deep sleep. Whilst they wait, chaos ensues now that the Fates are free to do as they please, and the sisters must do what they can to protect each other and the ones they love from harm.

Read More

Comments : 2

Book Review: ‘Legendary’ by Stephanie Garber

Title: Legendary
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 9th May 2019
Genre/Age Group:  Fantasy, Young Adult, Mystery, Romance
Format:  Paperback (432 pages)
Source: Uncorrected Proof (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating:

(This review is spoiler free, however, may contain spoilers for first book in the series!)

 

Synopsis

It’s been two months since the last Caraval concluded, two months since the Fates have been freed from an enchanted deck of cards, two months since Tella has seen Legend, and two months since Legend claimed the empire’s throne as his own. Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it. She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own. She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage. Finaly, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future. She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun―with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win…and those who will lose everything.

Review

Throughout ‘Caraval’ our focus was on Scarlett Dragna. The elder of two sisters. By the end, we switched to Tella’s POV which lead perfectly into the start of ‘Legendary‘ as book two of this trilogy focuses on Tella. The book begins the night after ‘Caraval’ ends, Tella finds herself waking up next to Dante, a returning character who had quite the reputation in book one. When she runs off, she finds Scarlett and Julian, who invite her along to a very special Caraval performance for Empress Elantine.

Read More