Review: The Shadow of the Gods

The Shadow of the Gods was my first John Gwynne book, and it will certainly not be my last. Set in a Norse-inspired world, The Shadow of the Gods is full of magic and epic battle scenes. After the extinction of the warring gods, a new world has risen where worship of the dead gods is forbidden. Their powerful kin, enslaved by those without special abilities. The story follows three points of view – a fierce huntress, a woman who has abandoned her comfortable life to seek out battle-fame, and a former thrall who is seeking vengeance against those who have wronged him and his family.

Review: Book of Night

I recently buddy read Book of Night by Holly Black with Evita and Mariya 😊 This is Holly Black’s adult debut – dark urban fantasy with shadow magic. Charlie Hall is a con-artist, whose life is a bit of a mess. In her world, shadows can be manipulated. They can be altered for cosmetic reasons, but also for power and influence. Powerful shadows can even have a life of their own. When people from Charlie’s past return, she finds herself surrounded by murder and secrets.

Review: The Priory of the Orange Tree

An ancient enemy is awakening, and Queen Sabran must conceive a daughter to protect the realm. Followers of the ancient enemy are getting bolder with their assassination attempts. Ead, an outsider at court, is a lady-in-waiting to Queen Sabran. She is secretly a mage from a hidden magical society, tasked with keeping Sabran protected with forbidden magic. Tanè, on the other side of the sea, has been training to be a dragonrider her whole life, however, one choice could unravel her life’s dreams. The East and West must attempt an alliance as their ancient enemy stirs, however, they’ve been a world divided for so long.

Review: Iron Widow

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

In Huaxia, boys are paired with girls to pilot Chrysalises (think Transformers meets jaegers from Pacific Rim) to battle the aliens invading from beyond the Great Wall. However, for most girls, piloting a Chrysalis means death from mental strain. Zetian offers herself as a cocubine-pilot with dreams of avenging her sister’s death by assassinating the pilot responsible. However, when she manages to kill him when mentally linked to him and comes out of the battle unscathed, it is a shock no one expected. Zetian is labelled an Iron Widow, a rare type of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up their Chrysalis. A type of pilot that is normally kept silent. She is paired with a new pilot, Li Shimin, who is the strongest pilot and never fails to mentally drain his female counterpart, in an attempt to keep her down. However, now that Zetian has felt power, rather than backing down, she fights to survive and is determined to find out why the pilot system depends on sacrificing girls so that she can attempt to change things.

Review: Gallant

Olivia Prior has grown up in an orphanage, with the only clues to her past being her mother’s journal which is full of mystery and madness. A letter from a long-lost family member invites her to come home to Gallant. However, her arrival seems to be a surprise to her family who lives there, particularly her cousin Matthew. She knows her newly discovered family home is hiding secrets and she sets off to figure them out. Full of mystery and ghouls, Gallant is an intriguing read.

Review: Only a Monster

I recently read Vanessa Len’s debut novel, Only a Monster, as a buddy read with Evita and as usual, it was a lot of fun! After seeing some of my favourite authors shouting out this book, I knew I had to read it, and I was not disappointed.

Joan has always thought her family was a bit on the quirky side. While spending the summer with her Gran, she discovers that they are not just quirky, but they are monsters with hidden powers that have a high cost. Thrown into this world, and going up against a legendary monster hunter has her re-evaluating both her childhood, but also her own morals.

Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor came highly recommended by my wonderful friend, Evita! Further endorsed by Mariya and Andrea. With that many amazing people singing its praises, I knew I had to pick it up ASAP!

“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.”

Black handprints are appearing, scorched on doorways all around the world, left by winged strangers. Karou, a young art student, sketches mysterious creatures that may or may not be real. Frequently disappearing on errands for a devil, she continually wonders who she really is. A chance encounter with Akiva results in secrets revealed, including a star-crossed love with a violent past.

Review: Black Sun

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse has been on my TBR for a few months now, as I’ve seen quite a few rave reviews on instagram. A fantasy book inspired by pre-Columbian Americas full of celestial prophecies, politics and forbidden magic? Sign me up! I had definitely planned on reading it early this year but when I was approved for the NetGalley for book 2, I knew I needed to prioritize it.

Black Sun weaves the stories of Neranpa, the current Sun Priest, Xiala, a disgraced Teek ship captain, and Serapio, a blind man cloaked in destiny. Neranpa is struggling with the politics of being the Sun Priest, as well as assassination attempts as the Convergence approaches. Xiala is tasked with a dangerous sea voyage to ensure that Serapio makes it to the Convergence ceremony taking place during the solar eclipse.

February 2022 TBR

I’ve got a fantasy heavy month ahead of me and I’m not mad about it! Honestly with how draining January was I am fully on board with escaping into other worlds 😍

#QOTD Do you have any of your February reads picked out? Which are you most excited for?!

My hopefuls are…

❤️ House of Earth and Blood (re-reading it as part of a family buddy read with Mary & Chelsea 🥰) – you can’t see the text but I’m wearing my Crescent City shirt from Blissfully Bookish Tees

❤️ House of Sky and Breath (not pictured but you know I’ll be reading that as soon as I get my hands on it

❤️ The Dragon Reborn (I read books 1 & 2 of WOT at the end of 2021 and finding out Andy was hosting a buddy read gave me the nudge I needed to keep going!)

❤️ Daughter of Smoke & Bone (this was influenced by Evita so I’ve been dying to pick this one up!)

❤️Black Sun (I’ve been dying to read this and I was just approved for the eARC of book 2 so now I gotta read this one ASAP! Based on what I’ve heard I am sure I am going to love it!)

January 2022 Reading Recap

One month down, twelve more to go! 2022 definitely hasn’t started on the note that I had hoped but, who knows what else is in store. I had a fantastic reading month though! While I don’t feel like I spent a lot of time reading, I seemed to have read quite a few books. I introduced the #SundayScariesReadingSprint which has become a highlight of my Sunday and I’ve very much enjoyed the sensation of reading as a community.

#QOTD What was your favourite read of January?

I had quite a few 5 star reads, however three were re-reads so I’ll say Endsinger. It was fantastic to read the trilogy Jay started with and pick up on plot devices he has since honed and incorporated into his more recent work.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Illuminae

Gemina

Obsidio

Endsinger

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Kinslayer

Beyond the End of the World

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stormdancer

Wolves of Duty*

⭐⭐⭐💫

The Younger Wife*

⭐⭐⭐

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

*eBooks not pictured