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:

A Book Review: Beyond the Veil

Zodiac Academy 8.5 - Beyond the Veil
Author: Susanne Valenti & Caroline Peckham
Format: Digital

Pages: 411
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Publication Date: June 30, 2023

Synopsis:

The stars called us.
The Veil closed at our backs.
And now death holds us in its clutches.

We were torn from life before our time, a Savage King, his queen, a betrayed son, a wronged brother, a scorned wife and so many more. We watch those we left behind as they struggle against the grip of the stars, the answers to so many of their questions within our grasp and yet out of their reach. But what if we could find a way to answer their pleas? What if we could find a way to help them from this side of the divide? And what price would such a thing come at?

So, I usually don't buy or read the in-between books in the series. I would say novella but those are supposed to be pretty short, and this sucker is 415 pages.

One of the main reasons I actually got this one is because I was missing the ZA characters something bad and since it'll still be quite a few months before we get book 9 out of the sisters, I thought this one would tide me over. To be perfectly honest, this book kind of fell flat compared to the other books in the series. 

Yes, it's an in-between story but when they said they were writing about the characters that were behind the veil, I thought we would really get something out of it. This was basically just a small recap of book 8 with other point-of-views. I really wished we would have gotten something jaw-dropping about these other characters, but it just wasn't there. Even though it really didn't scratch the itch of missing the series, I still gave it 4 marks. Mainly because the sisters' writing always entertains me, we got to meet Hail and Merissa Vega, and I LOVED seeing a certain character's reaction in chapter 21. (IYKYK)

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: