Blog Tour || Relic by Bronwyn Eley (Another great YA Fantasy to add to your TBR!)

Title: Relic

Author: Bronwyn Eley

Publisher: Talem Press

Publication date: 12 September 2019

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

In the city of Edriast, there is no deadlier duty than to serve as the Shadow.

As the personal servant of the powerful Lord Rennard, the Shadow's life is all but forfeit. Rennard possesses one of five rare and dangerous Relics – a jewel that protects his bloodline, but slowly poisons everyone else in its proximity. When the current Shadow succumbs to its magic, nineteen-year-old blacksmith Kaylan is summoned to take his place.

It's an appointment that will kill her.

As the time Kaylan has left ebbs away, hope begins to fade... That is, until she discovers a plot to destroy all five bloodlines in possession of the Relics.

A rebel force plans to put an end to Rennard's rule and Kaylan suddenly finds herself embroiled in a cause that might just be worth fighting for. But no cause is without its costs…

As her life hangs in the balance and rebellion bears down on Edriast, Kaylan must decide where her loyalties lie – and how she'll leave her mark on the world.

Relic is the absorbing first novel in The Relic Trilogy, a thrillingly dark YA fantasy series.

My Review:

As most you know YA fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read!! So when I picked up Relic I was really hoping it would be another one to add to my lists of favorites for the year...

and thankfully Relic did not disappoint! You guys this book is the action packed, fantasy whirl wind ride we all need right now. In addition to the powerful kickass protagonist, Kaylan balances betrayals, friendships (that maaay be a little more than a friendship if you catch my drift ;) all while trying to stay alive.

This book has a very interesting premise revolving around ones shadow, and how that shadow is the personal assistant to the lord Rennard. The shadows life is essentially cut short due to be closely connected to the king who uses the shadows life force as an aid to himself. Kaylan has been chosen as the next shadow and omg y'all this book is just very unique and engaging and I am FEELING the YA fantasy releases of 2019!!

Only thing that kept this from being a five star read was that I felt the pacing was not a hundred percent on the money at points and that the plot line dragged a tad at moments. However I still really enjoyed this read!

Highly recommend to fans of YA fantasy who are looking to get immersed in yet another mystical, dramatic, action packed tale of whimsy!!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book links:

Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/Relic-Trilogy-Book-I-ebook/dp/B07XNFZ6N5 

Book Depository — https://www.bookdepository.com/Relic-Bronwyn-Eley/9780648534204

Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46218744-relic 

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Bio:

Bronwyn joined the military right out of high school, where she learnt (among other things) to disassemble and reassemble a rifle blindfolded. After that, she spent a lot of her time travelling around the world. Her favourite places (so far) are Scotland, Mongolia, Iceland, and Ireland.

Bronwyn finally found her natural habitat when she landed her first job in the publishing industry. While she has always been a writer, it was only when surrounding herself with books that she realised her life's dream was to become an author. Relic is her first novel.

Bronwyn lives in Sydney and spends her time eating chocolate, reading and practicing her martial arts.

Author links:

Author website —https://bronwyneley.com/ 

Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19245366.Bronwyn_Eley

Facebook — http://facebook.com/bronwyneleyauthor 

Instagram — http://instagram.com/letters_from_neverland 

Twitter  — http://twitter.com/bronwyneley 

What do you all think? Are you going to add Relic to your TBR? Read any other amazing YA fantasy books lately? LMK in the comments below!
-BubblyBooks

Book Review || Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard (Witchlands #3) (OMG this series has consumed me like the fire breathing dragon it and I think I’m in love)

Bloodwitch

by: Susan Dennard

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Fans of Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling Witchlands series have fallen in love with the Bloodwitch Aeduan. And now, finally, comes his story.

High in a snowy mountain range, a monastery that holds more than just faith clings to the side of a cliff. Below, thwarted by a lake, a bloodthirsty horde of raiders await the coming of winter and the frozen path to destroy the sanctuary and its secrets.

The Bloodwitch Aeduan has teamed up with the Threadwitch Iseult and the magical girl Owl to stop the destruction. But to do so, he must confront his own father, and his past.

My Review: 

 This book was the frosty little dessert I did not know I needed! So delicious and multi layered it was like a creamy little sugar filled treat I could not help but devour!! 

 I mean Susan Dennard’s world building is next level. Her characters are all very complex and multilayered but on top of that the multiple sceneries and countries that are described, their political systems, the way each one has a different flavor or way of tasting/ visualizing when you read them.... ahhh it was like falling into another universe whenever I turned the page. 

  This book was by far my favorite in this entire series. This was partially because it focused mainly on my two favorite characters (my little slow burn romance candies that I LOVE and adore) (also my favorite characters from book 1 ;);) 

“She stole his breath now, and he had no breath to spare.”

  Aeduan is such an interesting and gripping character to read. You feel like you have him all figured out but than his cold and more distant side will come out and you will sink into the feelings of surprise all over again. Iseult was also another huge favorite on mine. In fact she may be my all time favorite?!? For some reason I just really connect to her character on another level *shrugs* *looks adoringly at book* I always got happier when I flipped the page to find a chapter narrated by these two!

“He was caught, like the man from the tale who wanted to feed his family during a blizzard, but could not bear to kill the lamb. In the end, everyone died of starvation, including the lamb. For Lady Fate makes all men choose eventually. Even Bloodwitches.”

 ALSO THE SLOW BURN SPICE THAT IS THROWN INTO THIS BOOK IS EQUAL PARTS TORTURE AND PURE BLISS!! I feel like I’m falling into a vast of autumn spices these two are so richly in depth with their feelings but there fears and walls are built so impossibly high that at times you just want to SCREAM at them!! 

“I trust you as if my soul were yours.”

 I also felt the whole flow of this book was much stronger than her second book, Windwitch. I thought the plot twists and adventures were a lot more gripping and cliff hangery which I quite enjoyed. 

 I really liked the weird but somehow makes total sense plot-line Merik was expierencing. Totally made for a great set up for the next couple of books. Safi was also kickass and always and I found myself falling into their POV’s and storylines much easier than I did in book two. 

 Vivia also got a bit more of my respect as a character. At first I did not like her at ALL in book two (I was like another POV *que eye roll*) but again the world-building was really impressive!!

 Like seriously this book is filled with blood thirsty fights, assassination attempts, people are not who you think they are --- like waaaat level betrayals. Also lots of magic, huge winged protective bats, heart stopping, gut wrenching EMOTIONS that will make you say DAMNN.... this book is gooood. 

“People with different aims could always be pitted against one another.”

  Overall Aeduan and Iseult are my favorite (the scenes with these two were all I wanted and more!! and yet I still want MORE!!) but the whole book was really well done!! A delicious bubbly five star fantasy read that I highly recommend throwing your whole heart into regardless that it will most likely get trampled on (your welcome) Highly recommend this fantasy series my reading friends!! 

So what do you guys think? Read this one before? Willing to give this series a read? Got any good fantasy series I can binge while I wait for the next book? LMK in the comments below!! 

-BubblyBooks

Book Review || Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer (A powerful collection of love poems!) (Also my first poetry filled book!!)

Aphrodite Made Me Do It

By: Trista Mateer

Rating: 4/5 stars

Published on: October 1st 2019

Summary: Bestselling and award-winning author Trista Mateer takes an imaginative approach to self-care in this new poetry and prose collection, Aphrodite Made Me Do It. In this empowering retelling, she uses the mythology of the goddess to weave a common thread through the past and present.By the end of this book, Aphrodite make you believe in the possibility of your own healing.


My Review:

  Wow guys. This was my first FULL poetry book I’ve ever read and I have to say it was quite an interesting experience.

  I’ve never read a book that consisted only on storytelling through poem but found that I did not in fact hate it or even dislike it (like I very much feared I would).

 This book is not the soft, lovey dovey romance poems you would expect when you think of love poems. Instead Mateer focuses on much more powerful stories of overcoming abuse, learning to love your body, and overall becoming happier and healthier.

 Her focus on ones well being is both inspiring and very powerful. Her word choices and phrases are very bold and occasionally not for the faint of heart but thats what makes them so very powerful. I feel some of the things addressed in these poems is just what certain readers may have not known they needed to hear. Mateer's poems truly hold the power to influence and help others in their lives and how they view themselves.

 I also really enjoyed that pictures were included for every poem. Some were placed throughout and some were the cover image for the individual poem. I also enjoyed the way Mateer tied in Aphrodite's story and connected her points and beliefs through the narrative voice of the goddess of love and how her reputation came about.

 Overall a very intriguing powerful short collection of love poems that go against the traditional norm. Recommend for readers who enjoy poetry books or our looking to read some powerful poems about love and strength.

 **Triggers and warnings**

- rape/ sexual abuse

**Thanks so much Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. This has in no way affected my thoughts and options and all thoughts are my own** 

What do you guys think? Ever read a poetry book before? Willing to give this one a try? LMK in the comments below!

-BubblyBooks

Blog Tour || Broken Knight by LJ Shen

"Everyone needs to read this book. " 

- Harloe Rae, USA Today bestselling author.

 

Broken Knight, an all new standalone about first loves, betrayal and loss from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is available now!

Not all love stories are written the same way. Ours had torn chapters, missing paragraphs, and a bittersweet ending.

Luna Rexroth is everyone’s favorite wallflower.

Sweet.

Caring.

Charitable.

Quiet.

Fake.

Underneath the meek, tomboy exterior everyone loves (yet pities) is a girl who knows exactly what, and who, she wants—namely, the boy from the treehouse who taught her how to curse in sign language.

Who taught her how to laugh.

To live.

To love.

Knight Cole is everyone’s favorite football hero.

Gorgeous.

Athletic.

Rugged.

Popular.

Liar.

This daredevil hell-raiser could knock you up with his gaze alone, but he only has eyes for the girl across the street: Luna.

But Luna is not who she used to be. She doesn’t need his protection anymore.

When life throws a curveball at All Saints’ golden boy, he’s forced to realize not all knights are heroes.

Sometimes, the greatest love stories flourish in tragedy.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

$2.99 for a Limited Time Only

Amazon: https://amzn.to/31NUvca

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BrokenKnight

Pre-order the Audio edition now

(Available 8/25)

Amazon Audible: https://amzn.to/2HdgKQH

Amazon Audible WorldWide: http://mybook.to/BrokenKnightAudio

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2YbCrun

Excerpt: 

 

Right now I wanted to just be here in silence with my best friend. And somehow, I don’t know how, but Luna sensed it. So we sat there for what felt like two hours but was probably a lot less, until I opened my eyes again. Her eyes were closed, too. I watched her for a while.

When she opened her eyes, it felt like she took something away from me.

“Let’s jump,” she said.

“I’m quite fond of my limbs, Moonshine.”

“Stop being such a big baby.”

“Big, quarterback baby who just finished a football season in one piece and would like to keep all his body parts intact.”

She crawled out of the treehouse and settled on the branch. It was thick, but I doubted it could carry my muscular ass for more than a few seconds before snapping. I rolled my eyes and settled next to her. She slipped her hand in mine.

“Three, two, one.”

It was a short, sweet way down.

 

About LJ Shen

L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 Best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

Connect with L.J. Shen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorljshen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lj_shen

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorljshen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorljshen/

Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list:

http://bit.ly/2umcYPg

Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/

Book Review || King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo (another piece of evidence I’m filing under reasons why Bardugo is a QUEEN)

King of Scars 

by: Leigh Bardugo

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

My Review: 

Hello. Hello. Hello again, just stopping by on my little blog here to tell you how flat out AMAZING Leigh Bardugo's books are and how my brain is now a complete pile of mush filled with nothing but clouds and day dreams most of which consist of dragons, witty waffle remarks, and the dreamy face and thoughts of my beloved Nikolai. 

   Ok so I did things a bit backwards here (mostly because I can and because I wanted to) and plopped this book into my hands without having read a single page of the Grishaverse trilogy (why yes, yes I know this is a bit messed up and true followers of the Grishaverse may be very cross at this but I just didn’t have the patience to read three more books) (especially when I already KNEW I would love Nikolai so I really just wanted a book all about him.... can you blame me?) * tsk tsk*

 ANYWHOOOO..... I READ THE BOOK AND LOVED IT. Of course this should be no surprise since I am such an incredible, indulgent, lover/worshipper of the Six of Crows Duology (its been two years since I’ve read them and I feel like it was just yesterday) 

“Stop punishing yourself for being someone with a heart. You cannot protect yourself from suffering. To live is to grieve. You are not protecting yourself by shutting yourself off from the world. You are limiting yourself.”

 This book also takes place in the same world as Six of Crows and the Grishaverse and even though I did not read the Grisha Triology I found this book very easy to follow along with! Leigh bardugos world building is amazing as ever (omg when you hit part two... lets just say there was some dragons and castle action going on that hand me like... *jaw on the floor*). But truly it is Leigh Bardugos characters that continue to remind me why I love reading so much in the first place. 

   I mean this book was great because I got reunited with one of my bookish character loves from Six of Crows, Nina!! 

  This book completely reminded  me of the kinds of characters Leigh bardugo had in Six of Crows that completely stole my heart... as well as shredded it through a blender... and yet here I am coming back for more (she's that good). Nina is SO FUNNY and confident and very much about what she's going to do what she needs to do to get this done because she don't have time for hearing other peoples shit about her plans or ideas (I laughed out loud so many times. Especially when waffles where mentioned... I really want waffles after reading this book).  

“One could plot violent espionage and still hope for dessert.”

 Nina is also incredible because she is confident but also raw and makes my heart ache at how real and fierce and brave she can be while still wanting a hot bath and a steaming plate of waffles. There were times in this book were I wanted to cry (if you’ve read this than you know just what/who I am crying over)  but Nina is so incredibly strong and she handles her undercover mission so beautifully and bravely that... UGHHH I am just so in LOVE with these characters!! 

“It's not exciting if nothing can go wrong.”

 I also really liked Adrik and Leloni I thought they were adorable in there highly optimistic and extremely brutey ways. They were very likable side characters and I hope to see more of them in another one of Bardugos books. 

 BUT OMG I’D BE LYING IF EVERYTIME KAZ BREKKER’S NAME WAS MENTIONED I DIDNT FREAK OUT! ( same with Inej... because LOVE her!!) 

“She wished she had Inej’s gift for spywork or Kaz’s gift for scheming, but she only seemed to have Jesper’s gift for bad decisions.”

  But if I am being completely honest here the chapters I really really liked the most were both Nikolai’s and Zoya’s... 

  I mean COME ON HOW COULD YOU NOT LIKE NIKOLAI?? He is sooo funny and omg some of his lines were so quick and witty and just so off that wall that I found myself laughing for like five minutes straight while reading this. He is just an uncontrollable ball of delicious cream puffs and I just want to devour him whole!! 

“Do that thing you do where you use too many words to say something simple and confuse the issue.” 

 I mean come on, Nikolai is just uncontrollable yumminess in my opinion. A complete babe. But despite his charming, and completely out the box wit (the way he is always toying with Zoya... thats the kind of spice I am TALKING ABOUT people). There is also a darker side to him. Especially since he is still battling the Darkling inside of him. 

 I kind of saw the Darkling as almost a metaphor for depression. Nikolai has a lot of pressure on him as the King of Ravka and an almost never ending list of duties and problems that he needs to solve. Not to mention there all trying to keep the peace after just having ended a war three years ago. Its a lot for one guy to handle, especially when he needs to appear like he has it all together, all the time. 

“The monster is me and I am the monster.”

Despite this darkness inside of him (or maybe because of it) I imediently loved Nikolai and need more of him!! But I also really really liked Zoya!!

 She’s kind of a unique character because she is so incredibly sharp and edgy all the time. Like a ball of fiery anger meets the blade of a double edged sword. It was especially interesting to see how even Nikolai could not soften her sharpness (which I very much appreciated because I am waaaay more about characters loving each other for who they are and not trying to ‘fix them’ or ‘change them’ for what they believe is better). In fact Nikolai seemed quite found of her meanness and sharp, angry tongue. 

“Zoya of the lost city. Zoya of the garden. Zoya bleeding in the snow. You are strong enough to survive the fall.” 

And of course Zoya was a total badass as well. I really liked her chapters and completely and totally with every fiber of my being SHIP HER AND NIKOLAI. But we shall see where my predictions go because boy does Leigh Bardugo like to torture you with bread crumbs because I really have no clear idea of either of them feel!!! (I just know it in my heart to be true *sighs dramatically like the hopeless romantic I am*) 

“Say something spiteful.”

“Why?” she asked faintly.

“Because I’m fairly certain I'm hallucinating and in my dreams you're much nicer.”

“You're an idiot, Nikolai.”

  I also liked Genya and David. They were completely and totally adorable. Loved how Davids head was always in a book and how he would just pop up and be like ‘yes thats mildly concerning that the world is burning’ only to quickly continue on with the reading!! Also loved the twins Tamar and Tollya. Really great group of interesting misfits trying to rule a country. 

“Just a moment," David said, planting a finger on the page to mark his place in his book. "What was your name ?"

 I also enjoyed the addition of Issak halfway through the book his chapters were very fun and I loved the angle/ plot twist the book took towards the end with the addition of him (that ending though!!!) 

 And of course in classic Leigh Bardugo fashion the ending was a total hit out of left field and now I am left staring longingly at my palms wishing that the sequel to this book was in them. I highly  recommend this book to fans of six of crows or Leigh Bardugo in general! Also to those who are fans of more character focused books (which I am ;) because the plot takes a little while to get going on this one! Overall so good. Great characters, magical world building, new characters and plots overlapping, very entertaining and very much drizzled with lovable characters, King of Scars is not a book to miss out on!

So what do you all think? Willing to give this one a read? Already read it? LMK in the comments below!

-BubblyBooks

  

  

Release Blitz || Broken Knight by LJ Shen is Out Now!!

 

"Everyone needs to read this book. " 

- Harloe Rae, USA Today bestselling author.

Broken Knight, an all new standalone about first loves, betrayal and loss from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is available now! 

Not all love stories are written the same way. Ours had torn chapters, missing paragraphs, and a bittersweet ending.

Luna Rexroth is everyone’s favorite wallflower.

Sweet.

Caring.

Charitable.

Quiet.

Fake.

Underneath the meek, tomboy exterior everyone loves (yet pities) is a girl who knows exactly what, and who, she wants—namely, the boy from the treehouse who taught her how to curse in sign language.

Who taught her how to laugh.

To live.

To love.

Knight Cole is everyone’s favorite football hero.

Gorgeous.

Athletic.

Rugged.

Popular.

Liar. 

This daredevil hell-raiser could knock you up with his gaze alone, but he only has eyes for the girl across the street: Luna. 

But Luna is not who she used to be. She doesn’t need his protection anymore.

When life throws a curveball at All Saints’ golden boy, he’s forced to realize not all knights are heroes.

Sometimes, the greatest love stories flourish in tragedy.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

$2.99 for a Limited Time Only

Amazon: https://amzn.to/31NUvca

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BrokenKnight

Pre-order the Audio edition now

(Available 8/25)

Amazon Audible: https://amzn.to/2HdgKQH

Amazon Audible WorldWide: http://mybook.to/BrokenKnightAudio

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2YbCrun 

About LJ Shen

L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 Best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries. 

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

Connect with L.J. Shen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorljshen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lj_shen

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorljshen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorljshen/

Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list:

http://bit.ly/2umcYPg

Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/

5 Books I Need to Read Before School Starts (and steals away all my reading time...)

 School = no reading time. Hence me making this list of books I NEED to wrap up/ consume to feed my bookish soul before school gobbles up all my time like the vicious villain it is.


1) King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Currently reading this right now and remembering with every page why Leigh Badugo is a total QUEEN. Love Nikolai, love Zoya, and of course Nina!! (but I must admit every time Kaz is mentioned my heart bursts) since this is over 500 pages I NEED to get on it with the reading. 

2) Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard

I don't think I cant breathe/ exist let alone handle school without having finished this book. First of all it is a whole book mainly focusing on Aeudan- my villainous soft boy whom I love and who doesn’t deserve to be made out as the killer he is. I NEED IT! NEED IT! (Which is why already ordered it on Amazon ;);) 

3) The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

I’m almost done with this but paused- some reason I’m not liking it as much as the first *shrugs* I do want to finish it before school though since its a library book. 

4) Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Bought this recently at a super cute book store and really hope I get the chance to read it since it sounds sooo good!

5) A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE RETELLING OF MY DREAMS. So of course I need it!! It has my fav trope of villainous/bad boy/ evil/ dark character is just needing someone to love him *queue girl enters picture* ME: OMG I SHIP IT I SHIP IT!! 

What about you all?? Any books you need to finish ASAP? any books haunting you from your TBR screaming *read me. read me*?? LMK in the comments below!

-Bubblybooks 

Book Review || Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard (My new fantasy series addiction)

Truthwitch 

by: Susan Dennard

Rating: 4/5 stars

  Summary: In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.


My Review: 

   Wow. wow. wow. wow. wow. Ok sooo I think its safe to say this book was flat out amazing. I went into it expecting a good book to fuel my YA fantasy cravings and instead got a fantasy so richly layered and deeply soaked in heart riveting characters that I completely dived head first into this book-- and barely had time to gasp for air.

   This book is almost written more like an adult fantasy with the rich writing style, action packed scenes, and multiple political countries woven into the setting-- but with all the fun and intriguing characters of a really good YA fantasy!!

“Sometimes justice was all about the small victories.”

    First off the world building is incredible. One moment your chasing through the streets trying to out run men with knives aimed at throats, and the next your smack dab in the middle of a dance floor laced with politically deadly alliances, and than your sailing away on a strangers ship to an unknown destination! Like omg Susan Dennard really knows how to keep you completely on your toes. With the multiple POVS (all of which I enjoyed but like all books I had my favs...) I was never bored and I felt they all added an extra layer of richness to this multi layered cake of a book. However it was occasionally a bit thick and took me a minute to get used to the writing style just because of all the things going on at once (plus Dennard’s writing style itself is a bit rich, but also very good and beautiful at the same time).

“He was good. The best fighter she’d ever faced. But Safi and Iseult were better.” 

  The characters were also incredible!! They were the kind of characters you couldn’t describe as anything other than epic. Right off the bat  I knew I would soon be idolizing and predicting plot lines in my head of what was going to happen next for these bookish daredevils. I mean you throw in two best friends, one the funny reckless fighter and the other the quiet outsider who is equally as deadly as her counterpart and I am completely hooked by this one half of the same coin female friendship!! Toss in a righteous prince and an bloodthirsty hunter who cant die and I am hands down IN THIS TILL THE END!!

“I hate this. Both the storm and the plan. Why does it have to be ‘we’? Why not just me?"

“Because ‘just me’ isn’t who we are,” Iseult hollered back. “I’ll always follow you, Safi, and you’ll always follow me. Threadsisters to the end.” 

    As far as favorites go I have to say Aeudan the Bloodwitch stole my heart. Most likely because he was the most bloody, honest, unforgiving bastard in the whole book. But he was also really multi layered and complex at the same time... and that had me wildly intrigued of course. I really liked his voice in his POV too because I feel like he was exactly what I expected him to be but at the same time completely different and I guess I just like characters who surprise me by not being what I originally thought *smirks*.

“Oh, the Bloodwitch named Aeduan was no longer bored. No longer bored at all. And now he had work to do.” 

  I also really liked Iseult, which I was not expecting. At first I thought for sure Safi would be my favorite, what with her constant wit and tendencies towards recklessness and acting before thinking it seemed the kind of character I typically connected with. However, Iseult kind of crept up on me and I found myself counting down the chapters until I got to read her POV. I found her powers linked with being a Threadwitch to be interesting and soothing to read at the same time (sounds kind of weird but somehow makes sense when your reading it??)

“I can feel their Threads waiting.” 

 Merik is also an intriguing little Windwitch whom I liked easily even though both his and Safi’s stubbornness could drive me crazy at some points (if you’ve read this book than you all know what I’m talking about ;) I also really liked Kullen Meriks thread brother. I knew instantly when they described him as being really tall with white hair and dangerously powerful wind magic that he would be a fav. Toss in the flaws in his powers and the fact that he’s a wind witch with weak lungs and I am already tossing Kullen on my radar!!

“How is that for service? Do you know how many men onboard would kill for the use of a spoon?"

"And do you know," she retorted, "how many men I can kill with a spoon?” 

  Also the ending was wild. I just love how all these characters from different places and different backgrounds come together. Some with dark political agendas and others with the minds of blood thirsty revenge!! ahh just so good!

   I love complex world building and vivid characters and this book did not disappoint!! My new fantasy series addiction I cannot wait to continue this!! Highly recommend to the YA fantasy lovers out there! If you like Game of Thrones or Sarah J Maas’s Throne of Glass series than these books are for you!

 So what do you guys think? Willing to give this book a read? Read it already? LMK your thoughts in the comments below!

-BubblyBooks