Young Adult

Kingdom of the Wickwd

Synopsis

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…

My Review

“I wanted him to devour me. Or maybe I wanted to devour him.”

Friends: OMGOSH KOTW is so good you have to read it!!!! But the ending… AAAAAAH.!
Me: waits an entire year so I’m less crushed when book 2 arrives.
Also me: You dummy… this is going to be a large series and now you’re hooked.

Kingdom of the Wicked is far from what I expected it to be. I went in with a blind eye and was greeted with a new world unlike any in fantasy.

As a huge fan of Stalking Jack the Ripper, I loved seeing her authentic writing style flow into fantasy. With her incredible ability to build a scene you can visualize, add a dash of mystery, and a pinch of romance… you have a well rounded novel.

Emilia experiences tragic loss and is out for vengeance on the killer. She’s spent her entire life hiding her identity as a witch, so the most obvious answer is that with hunters have struck.
But the gates of Hell may be open, and the prophecy is in movement.
Emilia may have caught herself a prince of hell and a man of war to help her find his killer… if only she can stop doubting his role in the matter.

There is a certain scene with orange blossoms that may have led my heart on a silver platter to Wrath (IYKYK)

What I loved:
-the old magic setting in Sicily
-food… now I want pasta and cannolis
-enemies to lovers… always my favorite!
-a heroine learning her identity
-Princes of Hell… seven to be exact, oh well of COURSE they are beauitful
-a world well build and magic easy to devour and believe
-sarcasm and wit… even some of the flirty kind
-sleuthing… can you solve a crime? (I GUESSED THIS ONE!)

I cannot wait to read Book 2 as KM ventures for YA to NA.

Rating:
story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (not surprised as Audrey & Thomas are eternal faves for me too)
steam- comparative to when you want to light your fire place, but its 90 degrees out still, so you opt for the fireplace feature on your tv. Satisfying, yet just doesn’t warm you up, if you know what I mean.

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult

Defy the Night

Synopsis

A fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.

The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents’ shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King’s Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion–it’s the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most–but it’s still not enough.

My Review

Mind your mettle, Tessa.

After Finishing Vow by BK… I’m going to be honest… I was heartbroken and afraid to read anything by her again.

BUT, as a fan of her writing I thought I would give Defy the Night a go, and it was worth every minute and page turn.

Robin Hood meets the pandemic and it feels a little too close to home, you may just be praying to see your own sexy bandit in the night saving you a bit of moonflower to rid the fever.

Read if you like:
-masked rebels with a cause
-treason
-no lines between good and bad
-a sickness that continues to spread like COVID
-romance… the slow burn mushy kind you can’t get enough of.
-brothers… and not just any brothers, royal ones (wiggle brows)
-a new YA series that will automatically sit in your FAVES

My rating:
story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
steam- like a sexy tango with no touching… you see it don’t you?

Categories: Young Adult

Emmie & the Tudor Queen (book 2)

Synopsis:

True love has never been more deadly in this lush sequel to the best-selling Emmie and the Tudor King.

For an extraordinary love, Emmie Grace has given up her life in the modern world to move to the sixteenth century and marry the Tudor king she bravely saved from a dreadful fate. However, not everyone is pleased to see the glorious King Nick betrothed to the unknown and uncultured Emmie—especially the noblemen commanded to protect her.

As Emmie is drawn deeper into Nick’s sumptuous and savage world—where beheadings are way more popular than time travelers—the Tudor court heads on progress across the country, and a growing rebellion against the promised queen looms.

With life and love at stake, Emmie must face the cost of changing the path of history and realize that her greatest sacrifice is yet to come.

My Review:

” Your dear betrothed may have the heart of a king, my lady, but he also bears the heart of a man.”

After a crazy ending in book one, I wasn’t sure where EATTQ would go.
Turns out everywhere I wanted it!

After Nick’s proposal, Emmie must now navigate the Tudor time period and find where she belongs, other than the owner of Nick’s heart.

With so many swoon worthy moments and writing so beautiful you feel as if you are wearing gorgeous gowns and jewels yourself, I highly recommend this series to people of all ages.

Read if you love:
-the Tudor dynasty and time period
-a king with anger issues but a huge heart
-a modern day girl living in a whole ‘other world
-is it really old England if there isn’t a bit of betrayal and beheading?
-Outlander for Young Adults
-a bit of magic
-a love worth traveling time for
-friendships and side characters to find just as interesting as the OTP
-quick and easy escape of a book

The ending had my gasping and racing to the last page, with a cliffhanger I didn’t see coming. I am on pins and needles waiting for book 3!

“No matter where we shall travel, my lady- to the future or to God in heaven, I wish to be by your side. For I shall be a king no more, but merely a man, and I will worship and love yours such until the last breath of my immortal soul. Can you love me not as a king, Emmie, but as a man?”

Rating:
Story- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre- YA romance/time travel/historical fiction
Steam- although the men on Nicholas’s council was called to watch and verify the consummation of marriage… you my friend…. are not invited.

Thank you Natalie Murray for gifting me an ARC to share my love for this story with others ❤️.

Emmie and the Tudor King is avaiable July 28th! Preorder now by clicking on my the picture above!

Categories: Young Adult

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This

“We’re all hurting Quinn. In different ways, some that we can treat with medication and therapy and some only with time. And some in ways that might never heal. Sometimes the good outweighs the bad. Sometimes those great time4s are so F****** great that they make the bad times a little easier to handle. ”

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Pub Date: June 8, 2021

Synopsis:

A wedding harpist disillusioned with love and a hopeless romantic cater-waiter flirt and fight their way through a summer of weddings in this effervescent romantic comedy from the acclaimed author of Today Tonight Tomorrow.

Quinn Berkowitz and Tarek Mansour’s families have been in business together for years: Quinn’s parents are wedding planners, and Tarek’s own a catering company. At the end of last summer, Quinn confessed her crush on him in the form of a rambling email—and then he left for college without a response.

Quinn has been dreading seeing him again almost as much as she dreads another summer playing the harp for her parents’ weddings. When he shows up at the first wedding of the summer, looking cuter than ever after a year apart, they clash immediately. Tarek’s always loved the grand gestures in weddings—the flashier, the better—while Quinn can’t see them as anything but fake. Even as they can’t seem to have one civil conversation, Quinn’s thrown together with Tarek wedding after wedding, from performing a daring cake rescue to filling in for a missing bridesmaid and groomsman.

Quinn can’t deny her feelings for him are still there, especially after she learns the truth about his silence, opens up about her own fears, and begins learning the art of harp-making from an enigmatic teacher.

Maybe love isn’t the enemy after all—and maybe allowing herself to fall is the most honest thing Quinn’s ever done.

My Thoughts

I don’t know what it is about pastel book covers… but they always surprised me when I open them up and they are full of depth, especially YA genre.

This sweet book is full of raw emotion and information that made me go “wow I had no idea.”

WCKMLT was on my TBR because of these two teens finding a second chance romance but what I loved even more was the jewish and muslim culture references, the back stories and emphasis on what we “see” and reality of our families, understanding more about mental health, depression, and even OCD, and the power of friendships that often are the backbone to us all.

Read if you like:
– rom coms and a bit of pop culture references
-mental health topics and awareness
-young love and second chances
-a YA adults can enjoy too
-baklava
-wedding scenes and all the planning
-🏳️‍🌈❤️
-boys who believe in grand gestures

Rating:
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam- “like a spicy margarita… a solid concoction with a bit of a KICK.”

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult

Ember of Night

“Even the darkness has value to those who seek its shelter.”

Wow!

Ember of Night comes in with a POW as we navigate the days leading to Harley’s eighteenth birthday. The day she can finally leave her abusive home and take guardianship of her younger sister… or maybe all hell will break loose… literally.

YA fantasy is full of good vs evil stories where we buy in for the love triangle (cough cough every vampire book on your shelf)

but what Molly E. Lee does differently is she created a world filled with grey characters. Bad angels? Good demons? Demons that look like alligators? Sorcerers? Good people with bad morals? Bad people with good morals? HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A TEAM!?!?

The only way I know how is to follow the hottie with striking eyes… cue Draven. Tan skin, golden eyes, and alot of secrets. But who is this young man whose afraid of a little “connection” and human contact? The one who tries but cannot stay away.

“I had a suspicion you were hot for me Harley, but I didn’t think I could make you burn.”

Trigger warnings: abuse, thoughts of suicide, gore, language

Read if you like:
– YA JLA series
– Cassandra Clare’s world with a bit of a bigger PUNCH
-angels and demons
-a heroine who could literally kick your butt
– a bit of mystery
-urban setting
-young adult books more on the new adult side
-a new series you will be addicted to!
-anime! yes I said anime….

Any author who starts a book out with a HOT dance scene is a new fave in my book.

Why I gave it 4 Stars:
-being the first book with a lot of mystery, it ends in a little cliffhanger and I just wanted MORE. More moments, maybe even more love triangle? I know bookstagram strike me down 😂. Overall I really enjoyed it
Rating:
Story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (loved it)
characters- young and learning
romance- strangers to lustfully charged individuals
steam- wooooweeeeee that’s some steamy canoodling

Thank you Entangled Teen for my copy of Ember of Night. Counting down to book 2

Categories: Romance, Young Adult

Emmie and the Tudor King

Synopsis:

One moment, Emmie is writing her high school history paper; the next, she’s sitting with a gorgeous 16th century king who vacillates from kissing her to ordering her execution.
Able to travel back to her own time, but intensely drawn to King Nick and the mysterious death of his sister, Emmie finds herself solving the murder of a young princess and unraveling court secrets while trying to keep her head on her shoulders, literally.
With everything to lose, Emmie finds herself facing her biggest battle of all: How to cheat the path of history and keep her irresistible king, or lose him—and her heart—forever

My Review:

“But what if being near you is what makes it harder for me to breathe?”

Emmie and the Tudor king is the perfect mix of history and make believe.

Emmie finds herself in quite the predicamen as she wakes up somewhere else… and 400 years in the past.
Can Emmie change the coarse of history to save the beautiful man who has stolen glances, time, and her heart?
Or will the sweet king end up the way the history books write him?

The Tudors may be a baaaad news in history, but Natalie writes Nicholas as the king of your dreams. I mean I like my men strong and in control but… wow… the death threats of the monarchy…

Who knew stares across a room, hand holding and stolen kisses could ignite something so fierce in my wanton heart.

What I loved:

-appropriate for all
-the time period SWOON
-the Tudor Dynasty

-Outlander but YA
-the sweet romance
-a quick one day read that left me smiling
-a little bit of “how dun it”

What was missing:
-honestly, nothing… it wasn’t difficult to read and I found myself doing chores with my nose in my book….. I think I just left wanting MORE, so I cannot wait for book 2!

Thank you Natalie Murray for my gifted copy I will cherish it always.

Rating:
story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
trope- written in history
steam-if kissing does it for ya you’re in for a REEEEEAAAAAL treat

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult

Chain of Iron

Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor demons, not principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, shall be able to seperate us. Do you understand? Keep hold of me, Daisy. Keep hold of me, and don’t let go.”

What a wild ride.
Chain of Iron was an exciting second installment I the Last Hours series and it was soooooooo good.

We are back together with the Merry Thieves and our favorite couple as they go through their “fake marriage” to save Cordelia’s reputation after she lied for James. Except we all know this love is THE REAL THING! But that scene that included some ROPES! WHOOOOOOWEEEEEE. I read that three times.

CC definitely upped her romance and 🔥🔥🔥 in this one. Still tasteful but everything I wanted.

Every moment with James and Daisy was my absolute favorite. I think I could have read about them reading and kissing in the drawing room for 600 pages.

All of the characters in this story are very strong. Matthew, Lucie, Jesse, Grace, Kit, Thomas, Alastair and Anna… I want to be all their friends and I want them all to find an HEA.

Read if you like:
-being a sleuth and catching the killer
-Jane Austen’s era of writing with angels and demons (put them in fancy dresses but make it spicy… but noooooot Bridgerton level😂)
-kids that are way too smart for their own good
-multiple love interests and couples in one story
-action!
-want to join the Jamie Herondale fan club (im accepting new member)
-🏳️‍🌈 and love interests
-beautifully written diverse characters

What I docked a star:
-PERSONAL OPINION…. I am oooooooover love triangles. I think this book could have been way more powerful and 100 pages shorter without forcing that to happen. Its been done by CC and I loved it in TID but I just can’t… again.

I’m hoping that this is an opening to help Matthew heal and not anything else because I love him and want him to be happy so badly, just not messing with my OTP. It feels redundant at this point.
– I smidge predictable… and I am the world’s worst detective

Rating:
Story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam- Cassandra:”oh you’re thirsty? have some water!” (hands water over, takes small sips. Cassandra aggressively grabs glass after one sip.) Cassandra:”THATS ENOUGH…..for now.”

Featured in photo is the lit joy crate exclusive book, case, letter and artwork! check them out on instagram! https://www.instagram.com/litjoycrate/

Categories: Fantasy, Uncategorized, Young Adult

The Stolen Kingdom Review

“I’d fallen for her from the moment she’d first stepped out of a carriage in the courtyard, and I didn’t feel capable of unfailing. Every word poised on my tongue felt like it would lumber forth with a clumsiness that would let the world know that this girl unraveled me.”

The Stolen Kingdom is a remarkable approach to YA Fantasy and a stand alone.
Two royal blooded lines hold magic.

One given freely, pure and good…. one stolen, dark and wicked.
Maralyth Graylaern has always known she hold a power unlike anyone else as she brings life the the nature around her family’s vineyard. Until one day she is kidnapped and held against her will to take hold of her blood right… to be queen of Perin Faye.

Alac Thungrave, second son to the crown, hates the dark magic that consumes his father and refuses to accept it. Until he meets a beautiful woman in court visiting for his brother’s wedding, and realizes she may be the key to saving his family… and his future.

Jillian Bohme has a unique writing style that is fun for all.

Read if you like:
-sweet romance
-“clean” regency romance
-a twist of magic and the fight of good vs. evil.
-a curse so dark and lonely
-the midnight bargain

What was missing:
I found the story very easy which was nice, but I think I just missed a bit of a PUNCH. ACTION!.
The ending had potential but it sped through the climax rather quickly and by the end I just felt it left the pacing a bit off.
I could have tapped 20 pages and still known exactly what was going on… heavy inner dialogue.

Rating:
story:⭐️⭐️⭐️
romance: sweet regency feeling romance
steam: got me about as excited as looking at my 7th grade picture

Thank you to the author and Tor Teen for my gifted copy

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult

Wicked Saints

Dazzle the Monsters, Nadya. You’ve already charmed the worst of the lot; the rest should be easy.”

This month I decided to tag along with a group to read Wicked Saints because I’ve read so many mixed reviews on this one… mainly with people ending with confusion.

WS follows two POVs.

Nadya a girl sheltered from the world growing up in a monastery, she holds onto the only the relationships she has.. the main ones being the gods she speaks to through her divine magic.
Until one day she hears the cannons and everything changes… all that she has known may be questioned on her journey to save her people.

Serefin – High Prince to Tranavia, he is on the hunt for the girl that could be the weapon to his country’s destruction. Until he is pulled away from the battle field to participate in a custom that may result in Serefin finding his betrothal… or his death.

TW: alot of blood, gore, and self harm.

What I loved:
– the writing is so interesting and different! With a Russian Inspo I found the world Emily created to be dark and fascinating
-the love story was a bit pieced apart BUT I loved where it was heading. It gave me Darkling and Alina vibes from Shadow & Bones and that is one of my faves.
– Malachiasz… dark…. mysterious and broken. He is the definition of a perfect morally grey character. You don’t know whether to hug or stab him.
-the friendships.
-Serefin and his awkward yet handsome prince ways…. I might love him the most.

What I struggled with:
– I wish there was a guide for all the gods
-some of the riddles and dream states had me completely lost. I felt like she wanted to make those moments very poetic but for me it felt a bit… over done….
-the magic… I looooooved the unique concept. the blood magic made sense but Nadya’s power and connection with the God’s was confusing… and then it got even harder to understand.

Overall it was a solid first book to a trilogy. The end has me wanting to start Ruthless Gods right away.
All the characters were interesting and likable, and for them I will work through my confusion.

Rating:
Story-⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
romance- enemies to lovers… back to enemies
steam- there is curiosity and stolen kisses

Categories: Romance, Young Adult

London Prep- The Key

“Being here is even worse if I don’t have you,”
” You have me.”
“Not really.”

If you have made it to this review you know LP3 left us on a rather STRONG cliffhanger… Mallory maliciously made her first kiss with Noah public…. and it was GASP worthy.

It’s hard to write a review on this one without giving away spoilers, so here is my confession.
Of all the series I’ve ever read I’ve never been so consumed by love and also destroyed at the same time.
JD is the queen of cliffhangers and dragging your heart on a string for a long while before you get your happy ending…. (mean mean woman.)

Book 1 we fell in love with Harry, Book 2 we were torn between two boys, and book 3 we were back in high school ourselves trying to crawl into Noah’s sweatpants… but book 4 is 100% about Mallory, her struggle to let go… oh and Mohammad!

Yes I said Mohammad! He was the real MVP who made me smile and enjoy small moments before returning to my wallowing. (show me those sultry eyes)

If you haven’t read this series yet here are the reasons you should:
-whats better than high school drama?
-love triangles…. the strongest teams since team Jacob and team Edward
-London… where the fashion is great and the boys have accents

-a reason to scream and yell at something other than your significant other
-you like the CW gossip girl and need to read it

What was missing for me in this book:
kissing…. kissing…. and kissing.
As a total romantic who dives into these books for the SWOON worthy moments… I feel like I left my high school prom and my date left with someone else

As head cheerleader for the #teamnoah fan club… I will have to listen to some TSWIFT and ED SHEERAN until I get my HEA… because if you don’t believe… you won’t achieve.