A Book Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1)
Author: Rebecca Ross
Format: Digital
Genre: YA, Romance, Magical Realism, Historical
Publication Date: April 4, 2023

Date Read: July 28, 2023

Synopsis:

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

This was a booktok recommendation that really piqued my interest. I tend to love enemies to lovers so I was already sold but it also had mythical gods at war which is right up my alley. To me though, this book really started off slow and I actually contemplated about putting it down. However, I'm glad I didn't because once the two main characters were surrounded by the war, it really hooked me in and I couldn't put it down. Rebecca Ross did a great job writing this wonderful enemies to lover story that just so happens to end with a huge cliffhanger that will make you immediately preorder the next book that drops in December.

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

My Rating:

A Book Review: In the Likely Event

In The Likely Event
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Format: Digital
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Date Read: July 18, 2023

Synopsis:

When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful.

Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now.

Just ninety seconds after takeoff, their plane goes down in the Missouri River.

Their lives change. They change. Nate goes on to a career in the military while Izzy finds her way into politics. Despite a few chance encounters over the years, the timing never feels right.

Then comes a high-stakes reunion in Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life.

He’ll do anything to keep her safe. And everything to win her heart.

I was happy to see this as an Amazon First Reads days after I read Fourth Wing. If Fourth Wing is my favorite for the year, it would be so easy to say this is probably my 2nd favorite. There's just something about Rebecca Yarros' writing that makes it easy to get lost in. The slow burn of the story makes you root for the couple and yearn for the chance for their relationship to actually come together.

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

My Rating:

A Book Review: Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1)
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Format: Digital
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Publication Date: May 2, 2023

Synopsis:

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

Probably my most favorite read of this year to date. I have enjoyed reading over the years but it's few and far between books when I find one that I just can't put down and it makes me yearning for more.

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

My Rating:

City of Heavenly Fire
Author: Cassandra Clare
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 725
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal
Publication Date: May 27, 2014

Synopsis:

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

It might be a little surprising to my friends that I haven’t read this book before now. I was a devoted follower of the Mortal Instrument world ever since the City of Ashes was released in 2008 but fell off this original series after book 5. I have actually read the first 4 books multiple times and love them with all my heart. But that 5th book... it messed the series up for me. I originally read City of Lost Souls when it was first released and then again earlier this year. And just like it did the first time through, it gave me that feeling that I didn’t want to go on. It gave me a dread that made me not want to continue. So just like last time, I stopped again. I can’t say that I hate the book... I love the writing. It’s the characters and what happens in the book. Jace, Clary and squad are some of my favorite characters and the heartbreak that they’ve had to endure just gets to me every time I try to read COLS. Anyway, rambling... When my daughter found out I quit again, she got mad at me. She told me that I HAD to finish the series and that I would love CoHF, so here I am. I’m finally finished. And of course she was right. I loved it.

With this being the last book of this series I wanted to absorb every last drop so even though I was actively reading, it took me a month to finish. Mainly because it felt like every so many pages I had to stop and decompress. This book has so much going on and the emotions that come along with it were just getting to me. I’ve had this type of emotion for books before but I think it’s so much stronger since I knew this was a wrap to a story that I’ve held near and dear to my heart for over 10 years. I didn’t want to say goodbye. But finally, after a really long month, I finished the book this afternoon. I think Cassandra Clare did a really good job wrapping it up. I know everyone and their neighbor has probably read this series already, but I don’t want to spoil the ending for anyone who hasn’t. So I’ll just say that I loved how things came to be with Sebastian/Jonathan. Finally. I cried for Maia and Jordan. I jumped for joy for Simon. And of course, who could forget Clary and Jace. I love their love.. I always have and I always will. There was also the surprise of meeting two of Cassandra’s characters from another of her series. It makes me want to go finish up The Infernal Devices which I’ve actually already planned on doing this month.

If you have never read any of The Mortal Instrument series, I really recommend that you do. You’ll be in for an amazing ride. 

My Rating:

Lichgates (Grimoire Saga, #1) by S.M. Boyce

Lichgates (Grimoire Saga #1)
Author: S.M. Boyce
Format: E-book
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication Date: October 15, 2011

Synopsis:

Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother’s recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With no way out, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book’s untamed power.

Discovered by Ourea's royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict—a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn’t trust anyone… but she’s being hunted and can’t survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn’t know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.

For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.

Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.

I could NOT put this book down. Within minutes of starting this book I was hooked.

We start off with Kara on a hike the gorgeous mountains of Colorado. She stumbles across Lichgate that turns her life upside down. This Lichgate transports her into the world of Ourea and evenutally into the Grimoire's locked library.  From first the first sighting of the Grimoire, I knew it was going to be an adventure. The note along with the book confirmed it.

"From the moment you read these words, you will be hunted."

Now if that doesn't confirm your fate, what does? From there the story moves pretty fast, she instantly captured and meets Braeden. Braeden is the Blood Prince of evil King Cardin. He has been on the run for 12 years, trying to find a way out of his father's control and make their land peaceful again.

Braeden becomes her companion, or guardian, in a way. He helps her throughout the story with her trials and teaches her all about her new home.  Even though Braeden helps Kara out, don't for a second think that she is a 'damsel in distress' character. Far from it actually. She isn't scared to fight back and to talk a little trash while she's at it. 

I'm finding myself babbling, and I know I'm not doing the book justice. Just know that if you are a Lord of the Rings/Eragon type of person, I really recommend Lichgates. There are so many characters to meet, so many stories to learn and they are all woven together with a big pretty bow. All nice an neat and ready to be unwrapped by you, the reader. 

Now, run. Go get it! 

My Rating:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me (#1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Format: E-Book
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Publication Date: November 15, 2011

Synopsis:
I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I'm more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Many authors try to their hearts content to get the feelings of their characters across the page and to reach the readers. I've read some books that fail completely but then there are some authors like Taherah Mafi who really has the gift for it. From the very first page I could feel the pain that the protagonist, Juliette, felt. The coldness of her surrounding, her family, her life. When she was scared or ready to give up, I felt that way as well. It really leapt off the pages like a 3D movie. 

We join Juliette while she is locked away in a mental institution. She hasn't seen her family in years and hasn't spoken a word in 264 days. She is all alone. Then Adam, her new cellmate, crashes into her world and completely flips it upside down. Adam is the dreamy guy that any girl who would want. He protects you, he loves you, he is your everything. The only problem is Adam has a few secrets. Would you trust him? 

People are trying to make Juliette into a weapon. They see her as a tool, as a means to and end. Is she to the point in her life where she wants to give up and just be what they want? Or can she overcome herself and become a warrior. Fight the wrong and make it right? 

I absolutely could not put this book down. It sucked me in from the beginning and I found myself wanting, no needing, the next book to already be here.

My Rating:

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Inside Out (Insider #1)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Format: E-Book
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Publication Date: April 1, 2010

Synopsis:

Keep Your Head Down.

Don't Get Noticed.

Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

The scrubs have a boring life, very monotonous to say the least. They have a very strict schedule and if you don’t follow the rules, the ‘Pop Cops’ will definitely make you see their way or you’ll be introduced to “Chomper”. Trella, a scrub pipe cleaner, is known as the ‘Queen of the Pipes’. She knows the inside like the back of her hand. And usually, if she isn’t where she’s supposed to be, she’s probably somewhere crawling around in the pipes. Being in the pipes, Trella learns secrets. One she doesn’t want to know but all in the same, that secret pushes her into a series of events that ultimately leads into a rebellion. 

At first, I really didn’t like this book. Just because I really couldn't get into it. The story line has many twists and turns and it’s interesting to try and figure out what really is going on but not interesting enough to say I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down. ‘

It wasn't until a out halfway through I found myself getting engrossed with the book. I thought I had everything figured out, that everything was going to end badly. But there was always some twist that blindsided me; even to the last page Maria had me guessing. Inside out is a definite read if you like those books that keep you in the dark and pop out at you when you are least expecting it.

My Rating: