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

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

Leave a Comment

Book Review: ‘Caraval’ by Stephanie Garber

Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 31st January 2017
Genre/Age Group:  Fantasy, Young Adult, Mystery, Romance
Format:  Paperback (405 pages)
Source: Uncorrected Proof (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating:

(This review is spoiler free)

 

Synopsis

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Review

Garber’s debut novel revolves around Scarlett Dragna. A loyal, loving and caring sister, a hopeful, and a bride to be. She spent time in her childhood writing to Legend, the mysterious and magical host of Caraval, in the hopes he’d give her tickets to his next performance. Scarlett never received a response until she mentions what will be her last letter, as she is about to proceed with an arranged marriage that she hopes will provide her and her sister with a better, and more comfortable life away from their cruel father.

Read More

Comments : 2

Book Review: ‘The Priory Of The Orange Tree’ by Samantha Shannon

Title: The Priory of the Orange Tree
Author: Samantha Shannon
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 26th February 2019
Genre/Age Group:  Fantasy, Adult, LGBT, Epic Fantasy
Format:  Hardcover (848 pages)
Source: Uncorrected Proof (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating: 

(This review is spoiler free, however, may contain spoilers for previous books)

 

Synopsis

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction—but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

Review

How does one write a cohesive review for potentially the best book they’ve ever read?

Answer; they don’t. Or at least they try to and it comes out in a mass of incoherent babbling. But, for the sake of this fantastic book, I’m going to try my best to get through. Because, absolutely everyone deserves to know about it. Especially those of you who love a good fantasy.

Read More

Comments : 9

Book Review: ‘Kingdom of Ash’ by Sarah J Maas

Title: Kingdom of Ash
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 23rd October 2018
Genre/Age Group:  Fantasy, New Adult, Adventure
Format:  Hardcover (992 pages)
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

(This review is spoiler free, however, may contain spoilers for previous books)

 

Synopsis

Aelin has risked everything to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day…

With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last line of defense to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet they soon realize that the many allies they’ve gathered to battle Erawan’s hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation―and a better world.

And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen―before she is lost to him forever.

Read More