Review: Namesake by Adrienne Young

Filled with action, emotion, and lyrical writing, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Namesake, the final book in the captivating Fable duology.

NAMESAKE by ADRIENNE YOUNG

Series: Fable #2

Publication date: March 16, 2021

Published by: Wednesday Books

Genre: YA fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Trader. Fighter. Survivor.

With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and its crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when she becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems.

As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception she learns that her mother was keeping secrets, and those secrets are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them then she must risk everything, including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found. 

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | BAM | IndieBound 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times and Indie bestselling author of SKY IN THE DEEP, THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK, FABLE & NAMESAKE from Wednesday Books. 

Adrienne Young is a born and bred Texan turned California girl. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, scouring antique fairs for old books, sipping wine over long dinners, or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings beneath the West Coast sun.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW

Namesake by Adrienne Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fable was one of my few five star reads last year, so to say that I was excited to read the conclusion to this duology is an understatement. Book one left off on quite an intense cliffhanger with lots of unanswered questions. I wanted to know more about Isolde, Fable's mother. I was itching for some more in depth history on Holland, the most feared female trader who controls the gem trade. Then there's Fable and her father Saint. Their relationship had been rocky, to say the least. Could they ever bridge the distance between them? There was something that touched me so deeply about the complex love that they shared, so I was rooting for their relationship to flourish here in the conclusion. Last (and also least), is the romance between West and Fable. All of these things were addressed, and to top everything off we get a savage, pirate adventure with lots of backstabbing and intrigue.

Onboard the Luna, Fable's ability to survive is once again being put to the test. She thought that she had it bad when she was left on Jeval by her father with nothing but her wits to keep her alive. Now she must outsmart her father's greatest enemy on his territory. Perhaps the worst part about the ordeal is the discovery that she may have been betrayed once again by one of the few people in the world she considered family. I love how Adrienne Young throws you right into the action from page one. One of my favorite things from the previous book was the heroine's ability to free dive as she dredged for gems. Very early on, we get to see her put her gem sage skills to work once again. Zola demands that she lead a team of dredgers to collect a massive haul. In exchange she will earn her freedom. In theory.

Fable is just one piece on a chess board being played in an ultimate game of winner takes all. There are hidden agendas and deceit being plotted left and right. I can honestly say that I was taken by surprise several times after thinking I had everybody's motivations pegged. It's so refreshing to read a book that isn't too heavy handed with foreshadowing. Predictable books can never rise above average, and thankfully that wasn't the case here. While I did pick out some pieces of the plot, the author did a great job leaving enough ambiguity to keep me questioning what would happen next.

I believed Holland would play a big role in this book, but I didn't realize how dangerous of an opponent she would end up being. She rivaled (if not exceeded) Saint's manipulations, but there was a coldness to her that you don't see in him. As tough as he is, you get peeks at his soft underbelly. He leads a vicious life, but when it comes to his wife and daughter, you discover where his heart lies. Fable is thrown into Holland's orbit totally unprepared for what was in store for her, but she faces this new challenge like she has all the others. With bold, unshakable courage. Though I do believe that all the courage in the world wouldn't have saved her unless she had such powerful people secretly in her corner playing the long game. Despite often feeling alone and abandoned, she's far from it. It just takes her a little while to figure that out.

    Whether I liked it or not, there were pieces of me 

that had been carved by those years on Jeval. 

It had changed me. In a way, it had made me.

The romance between West and Fable left a little to be desired for me. It didn't bother me that much because with fantasy, that isn't my top priority. However, West often rubbed me the wrong way with his secrecy and controlling manner with everyone. He has a serious hero complex, which shouldn't be a bad thing, but in his case, tries to make monumental decisions for other people and solve things all on his own rather than communicating. There was a lack of respect shown towards his friends as well as Fable. It didn't anger me because his heart was in the right place, but at the same time it got a little tiresome because he wasn't treating those he loved as if they were capable of fighting their own battles. I also wasn't really feeling emotional about his relationship with Fable, and I think that could have improved had there been more honest conversations between them.

The best part of the duology was Fable and Saint. They're often morally gray which makes them all the more intriguing to read about. Once again, they made me a little teary-eyed and I'm not mad about it.

    In my entire life, Saint had never told me that he loved me. 

He'd fed me, clothed me, and given me a home, 

but there were limits to how much of him belonged to me. 

Still, even in those years on Jeval, there was some cord 

that tied me to my father. 

That made me feel like he was mine.

I loved being taken on another grand adventure. Searching for rare gems deep in the ocean's depths, hatching impossible schemes, and feeling the salt water on my sun-baked skin. I highly recommend this YA fantasy duo if you're looking for something high on originality and action.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Spotlight: The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe

High society reprobate.

An unconventional heiress.

Childhood friends.

THE HEIRESS HUNT

by JOANNA SHUPE

Series: The Fifth Avenue Rebels #1

Publication date: March 9, 2021

Published by: Avon

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Is it too late...

Knickerbocker scoundrel Harrison Archer returns to New York to discover that his deceased father has bankrupted his estranged family. To save them from ruin, he’s forced to quickly find and marry an heiress. For a matchmaker, Harrison turns to the one woman he wishes he could marry: his childhood friend and true love, Maddie, who once broke his heart and is now engaged to a duke.

  For true love? 

When her best friend Harrison left for Paris without a word, Maddie Webster took refuge in her infatuation with tennis. Now Harrison is back and needs her help in finding a bride. Begrudgingly, Maddie arranges a house party in Newport with a guest list of eligible heiresses. But watching Harrison flirt with potential brides is more than she can bear.

 When Harrison and Maddie reunite, the passion between them ignites. But with their marriages to others looming, time is running out. Is their fate inescapable . . .or can love set them free?

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon | iBooks  | B&N | Kobo | Google Play 

Praise for The Heiress Hunt:

"Nothing makes me happier than a new book from Joanna Shupe!" - NY Times Bestselling Author Sarah MacLean

"Their sexual chemistry and dynamic banter...convey an alluring blend of love and playfulness." - Publishers Weekly

"Shupe launches her new Fifth Avenue Rebels series with great panache, once again showcasing her flair for creating compelling characters, a vividly realized setting that expertly incorporates fascinating period details, and the kind of electric sexual chemistry that can only lead to red-hot love scenes." - Booklist

"Flawless...my favorite of all Ms. Shupe's books!" - Andreai, Goodreads

"A fantastic start to a thrilling new series!" - Candice, Goodreads

"There are so many swoon worthy moments in this book! What a great start to a new series." - Sara, Goodreads

"Hot, fun, fast-paced with a medium burn that leads up to the BEST first time sex/sexual debut I've ever read!" - Kaitlynns, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Since 2015, her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, and BookPage.

She currently lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and dashing husband.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Read More

Review: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.

THE ROSE CODE by KATE QUINN

Series: Standalone

Publication date: March 9, 2021

Published by: William Morrow

Genre: historical fiction

 

SYNOPSIS

1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses—but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of east-end London poverty, works the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Both Osla and Mab are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart.

1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter--the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger--and their true enemy--closer...

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | Kobo | Apple | Google Play

Praise for The Rose Code:

“The hidden history of Bletchley Park has been waiting for a master storyteller like Kate Quinn to bring it to life. The Rose Code effortlessly evokes the frantic, nervy, exuberant world of the Enigma codebreakers through the eyes of three extraordinary women who work in tireless secrecy to defeat the Nazis. Quinn’s meticulous research and impeccable characterization shine through this gripping and beautifully executed novel.” -- Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of Her Last Flight

Readers: Prepare to be swept away by The Rose Code. A richly deserved tribute to the WWII codebreakers of Bletchley Park, Kate Quinn’s latest novel is a tour de force. Exhaustive research, vibrant characters, and pulse-pounding suspense combine in a riveting tale destined to be a book-club favorite. I absolutely loved it." -- Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday  

“The Rose Code is a firecracker of a novel! By illuminating the top-secret work done by codebreakers at England’s Bletchley’s Park, Kate Quinn has created a fresh take on World War II and created three unforgettable heroines who use their intelligence, grit, and tenacity to help save the world from Nazis. Clear out your calendar, because once you start reading this one, you won’t put it down.” -- Elise Hooper, author of Fast Girls

“Quinn (The Huntress) returns to WWII in this immersive saga. [Her] page-turning narrative is enhanced by her richly drawn characters and by the fascinating code-breaking techniques, which come alive via Quinn’s extensive historical detail. This does not disappoint.” -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An intricate play of love, loss, betrayal and redemption, Kate Quinn’s novel is every bit as complex and fascinating as the codes being broken at Bletchley Park… Impossibly gripping from start to finish, The Rose Code is a cracking good read!” -- Celia Rees, author of Miss Graham’s Cold War Cookbook  

“A knockout of a story, written by the reigning queen of historical fiction. Quinn’s trio of heroines practically leap off the page in this stunning novel, which melds spy-hunting with love stories that will stir your soul. A book for the ages.” --  Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue   

"The Rose Code is everything you love about an unputdownable novel and more. In her signature fashion, Kate Quinn expertly and vividly breaks wide open the secret world of Bletchley Park’s remarkable codebreakers. An unforgettable war story to be sure, but also a tale of friendship, fortitude, and forgiveness. Utterly satisfying." -- Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things

“Kate Quinn does it again! This rollicking tale of espionage and female solidarity is a tour de force that will make you laugh and cry at the same time. For the quirky, complicated and unforgettable women of Bletchley Park, beneath the lipstick and lace lurks a gritty life of danger and daring. From frantic efforts to decode Nazi messages to the consequences of treason and secret-keeping in the post-war jubilation, there's never a dull moment. The Rose Code is pure genius and Quinn's best... so far.”

-- Stephanie Dray, New York Times Bestselling author of The Women of Chateau Lafayette

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with “The Alice Network”, “The Huntress,” and “The Rose Code.” All have been translated into multiple languages. Kate and her husband now live in San Diego with three rescue dogs.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram


REVIEW

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


I'm a big fan of Kate Quinn's historical novels, and once again she did not disappoint. I knew a little about this book's subject matter from watching The Imitation Game, a movie about Alan Turing who was one of the famous cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park. I was very interested to read Quinn's spin on the secret code breaking operation. Not only does she always pay exquisite attention to historical detail, but she likes to highlight female heroes in history whom time has forgotten. As typical with other books by this author that I've read, there is a dual timeline, and as the end draws closer, the two timelines converge in a nail biting conclusion. This type of structure really draws my attention in and holds it firmly from beginning to end, even with a lengthy book like this one. I was never once bored, and I never had to push myself to read, waiting for the story to hook me.

There are three main protagonists in the book, and the first is Mabel ("Queen" Mab). Mab is a ball buster from Shoreditch who isn't willing to suffer in poverty like her mother has her entire life. She wants more for herself so she sets out to make it happen. She consumes everything a well-bred, educated woman would have read, she studies and mimics the upper class accent, and busts her butt saving and scrimping to pay for a secretarial course. Mab has had to overcome an incredible amount of adversity just trying to better herself, but she faces it like a warrior. It also hardens her, made her cynical and a shade bitter about the world, but you can't help but admire her strength of will. I could almost picture her as a wolf baring her teeth when someone tries to tell her that something can't be done.

    A good husband might have been the fastest way 

up the ladder toward safety and prosperity, 

but it wasn’t the only way. 

Better to live an old maid with a shiny desk 

and a salary in the bank, 

proudly achieved through the sweat of her own efforts, 

than end up disappointed and old before her time 

thanks to long factory hours and too much childbirth.

Next there was Osla-socialite who rubbed shoulders with the highest echelon of society and from the outside appeared to have a luxurious life most only dreamed of. Secretly, she's shuffled between family members and never feels at home anywhere. Her mother is just a figure in her life rather than a loving parent. She feels lonely all of the time, and set adrift in a purposeless life. When people only view you as a vapid, airhead debutante, it can really damage your self-worth. Yes, she has many financial advantages that others don't, and she doesn't take that for granted, but she wants to feel useful and be seen as worthy. When the war starts, she could have hidden away in Canada, safe with relatives as others made horrific sacrifices for the sake of freedom. She chooses to step into the fire and do her part, even working on plane assembly that she abhors before finding her way to Blechley Park.

    It was the dawn of 1940, 

and she had danced in the New Year 

in a boiler suit and satin sandals with a prince. 

She wondered what else the year would bring.

The last of the three women was Beth. She was painfully shy, and I mean that literally. It was painful for her to converse with others, and painful for the reader to experience it. It was like watching an abused animal reach its paw out over and over and see it get kicked for its efforts. Her mother was toxic. Beth suffered both verbal and emotional abuse from her which was used as a form of manipulation. In order to keep her daughter waiting on her as an unpaid servant, she made her believe that she was stupid. That she was no good to anybody, and she kept her there at home out of the goodness of her heart. But beyond that, Beth is different. Despite what her mother made her believe, she is a highly intelligent woman whose mind sometimes got lost in patterns. She lived inside her own head and it contributed to her inability to comfortably interact in a social environment.

    Are not there little chapters in everybody’s life, 

Beth had read in Vanity Fair only that morning, 

that seem to be nothing, 

and yet affect all the rest of history? 

Too soon to tell . . . 

but perhaps this was, in fact, going to be one of them.

These three very different women are brought together during war, but in normal circumstances probably never would have crossed paths. If they had, I doubt they would have given them a second glance because of preconceived judgements on their character. What they discovered after boarding together at Beth's mother's house, was that they all shared a love of books. They all felt unwanted and alone in the world. And they were all much more than anyone gave them credit for. Although they had love/hate feelings about their exhausting contributions to the code breaking operation at BP, they felt an overwhelming sense of pride that they were doing something significant to end the war. What they were doing was invaluable-something that very few could claim to be able to do. Beth especially almost felt afraid for the war to end, because it meant that she would no longer have a job that gave her purpose. It was the first time in her life when she felt confident that she was doing what she was born to do.

Through the novel, all three women go through a huge amount of character growth. They experience tragedy, loss, triumph, and betrayal. At times, it brings out their ugly side. Lashing out at one another and placing blame where none was deserved. Or being so caught up in their own duty that they failed to prioritize keeping the others from harm. There was a lack of communication between them that caused misunderstandings and life-altering, irreversible damage. At one point, Beth's love interest tells in the same breath that he loves her but sometimes doesn't like her very much. I think I felt the same. If I had one criticism it was that when the three women reunite years later in order to trap the spy who betrayed them, they didn't adequately heal their destroyed friendship. It was all very rushed and not handled with the time it deserved.

The flashbacks tell the reader early on that there will be a traitor among those at BP, someone that was once considered a friend. However, somewhere along the way there are betrayals between the three girls as well. The "present time" 1947 sections are very short but difficult to read. Your dread builds as you get into the second half of the book, waiting for the bombs to go off on their friendship and lives. That's what tells me that the author has done her job making me care about these characters. Even though I got angry at their imperfections, I also hurt for them, and saw the vulnerable human side that is needed to care about them.

In the end, the biggest thing these three very different women shared was finding a family in each other. It was something none of them had before the war, and the thing that they most prized. I believe that made all the heartache worth it.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

Read More

Review: Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson

Isda does not exist. At least not beyond the opulent walls of the opera house.

SING ME FORGOTTEN by JESSICA S. OLSON

Series: Standalone

Publication date: March 9, 2021

Published by: Inkyard Press

Genre: YA fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Cast into a well at birth for being one of the magical few who can manipulate memories when people sing, she was saved by Cyril, the opera house’s owner. Since that day, he has given her sanctuary from the murderous world outside. All he asks in return is that she use her power to keep ticket sales high—and that she stay out of sight. For if anyone discovers she survived, Isda and Cyril would pay with their lives.

But Isda breaks Cyril’s cardinal rule when she meets Emeric Rodin, a charming boy who throws her quiet, solitary life out of balance. His voice is unlike any she’s ever heard, but the real shock comes when she finds in his memories hints of a way to finally break free of her gilded prison.

Haunted by this possibility, Isda spends more and more time with Emeric, searching for answers in his music and his past. But the price of freedom is steeper than Isda could ever know. For even as she struggles with her growing feelings for Emeric, she learns that in order to take charge of her own destiny, she must become the monster the world tried to drown in the first place.

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | IndieBound | BAM | Book Depository

Praise for Sing Me Forgotten:

"A lush mysterious adventure. A girl with a terrible secret. A deliciously magical feminist twist on the beloved classic The Phantom of the Opera."

-- "Kester Grant, author of The Court of Miracles"

"Enchanting, lush, and decadent, Sing Me Forgotten had me absolutely spellbound. Olson's delivered a captivating debut that's sure to please fans of magic, romance, and ambitious heroines."

-- "Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author"

"Hit all the right notes."

-- "Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica S. Olson claims New Hampshire as her home, but has somehow found herself in Texas, where she spends most of her time singing praises to the inventor of the air conditioner. When she's not hiding from the heat, she's corralling her three wild—but adorable—children, dreaming up stories about kissing and murder and magic, and eating peanut butter by the spoonful straight from the jar. She earned a bachelor’s in English with minors in editing and French, which essentially means she spent all of her university time reading and eating French pastries. Sing Me Forgotten is her debut novel.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

REVIEW

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I think the most dominant emotion I felt throughout this novel was disbelief. I felt disbelief over the heroine's actions and the events that occurred because of them. I kept thinking, "Is this really happening??" with a sort of disturbed, uncomfortable feeling crawling under my skin. The heroine is a bit of a sociopath. So there's that. Then there's the fact that she has many TSTL moments. Translation for the newbies: Too Stupid To Live. There are few things worse than a stupid heroine, but a stupid sociopathic killer probably wins top prize. That has to be the oddest combination I've ever heard, because if she's going to be a killer, can she at least be badass? Instead I was shaking my head more times than I can count over her gullibility.

In this gender-bent Phantom of the Opera retelling, there are two types of magic holders. gravoirs and fendoirs. gravoirs are the most powerful with the ability to suck the memory out of people and use it as a power source. They can also manipulate memories like Jedi knights. (Sorry, Star Wars nerd here) They can kill an entire village of people if they so desire by sucking out their entire memory "life force" for lack of a better phrase. fendoirs extract the elixers from people's minds. This is the substance that gives gravoirs enhanced powers and strength, and when consumed by the average person will keep their minds perfectly sharp. The poor are generally forced to give up some of their elixer in order to survive, and some sell so much that their children are erased from memory. Then there are those who sell too many memories and become walking zombies with no recollection of their own identity, doomed to shuffle through the streets, fighting to survive.

    When people sing, I see their memories, 

starting with the newest. If I want to, 

I can comb backward through time, 

sifting through the liquid swirl of moments 

in their minds as though rippling my fingers 

through water in a creek.

Isda is a gravoir who lives in hiding in the opera house. The law states that all gravoirs must be killed at birth because society was once overtaken by the monstrous Les Trois females who killed and destroyed indiscriminately. Because of their fear that the gravoirs will grasp power again, they believe it's not safe to let them live. However, the fendoirs are enslaved and used for their powers because of the benefits that they provide. Isda was spared a quick death after being thrown in a well as a baby. The opera house owner, Cryril, fished her out and kept her underground in order to use her abilities. In addition to his personal business, he is part of the King’s Imperial Council. The council is in charge of monitoring the fendoirs and gravoirs, and they hunt anyone in hiding if they happen to escape execution.

Here comes the part that just did not add up for me. I understand that Isda is sheltered. I understand she's young and naive. BUT...her guardian is literally in charge of hunting down her kind and killing them. He doesn't hide his hatred for those like her, and yet she has blind faith in him. She honestly believes that he saved her out of the goodness of his heart and thinks of her like a daughter. Does she not understand the concept of a lie? She doesn't even question his intentions on the flimsy excuse that he couldn't bring himself to kill her after looking into her eyes as an infant. So why does he still have no qualms about all of the others? He asks her to harm people (even a child) in order to help him get promoted in the council.

    Whimpers gurgle out from underneath Cyril’s desk. 

I glance back toward the sound. 

I should feel a bit more remorse for causing the child 

so much trauma, but I’m so high on the pride 

in Cyril’s expression and the satisfaction 

in my gut that I can barely hear the sobs.

He asks her to alter people's memory of opera performances so that people are fooled into thinking that they saw a good show, and buy more tickets. He asks her to make his superior go mad so that he may take his spot. She does all of these things with either a sliver of remorse or none at all because she's more concerned with pleasing him. What does she think is going to happen when he gets his boss' job? He will have more power and better opportunity to kill those like her! I just did not understand why she believed his blatant lies!

Cyril’s methods may be a bit extravagant at times, 

but it is only because he is so determined. 

Although giving a man hallucinations 

makes me a bit queasy, it does seem to be a solid plan.

Even early on, Isda shows her sociopathic tendencies. Every time she would harm someone and feel pride in herself I figured her moral code fell in a grey area and there would be some character growth by the end. She's an anti-heroine I told myself. I do get that this is a spin on Phantom of the Opera which isn't hearts and butterflies and sparkly rainbows to begin with. But I'm sorry, I could not get behind Isda or root for her. Not only because her lack of intelligence grated on me until my nerves were RAW, but she slipped slowly into homicidal maniac. One could make the argument that the townspeople deserved for her to run amuck on them because of their treatment of her kind. Killing gravoirs on sight, and enslaving fendoirs for their own personal benefit. I suppose you could say she's an unfortunate product of her environment. But on the other hand, doesn't her killing spree validate their fears? That her kind easily slips into a monstrous state that can't control their vicious impulses? She doesn't kill just out of a state of revenge. She loses control of herself and goes into a kind of frenzy that urges her to suck every last bit of life force out of people.

    For all his words, he has not seen the corruption of my soul. 

The beast who burns me from the inside out. 

The fury that lives deep in my veins. 

This boy, with his caramels and his dimples 

and his lullabies, 

is too good for the things that lurk below my skin.

I didn't find any redeeming qualities about Isda. There were no boundaries for her. At one point she even stole some of Emeric's elixer without asking him and it didn't even occur to her that it was wrong. Emeric is her only friend-the only person who treated her with respect and doesn't take advantage of her. The fact that she could even betray him without a second thought doesn't sit well. Yes, she does make a sacrifice in the end for him, but in my mind, she was too far gone at that point to ever be redeemed. Perhaps this leans more towards horror for my taste? I cannot recommend it, but I will say that I found the magic system to be really original which is why I gave it two stars. Also, I was invested enough in the outcome to actually want to finish it, though maybe that's because it had the train wreck effect on me.

While I didn't love this one, I could see how it may be a better fit for others. If you love Phantom of the Opera, and you enjoy darker fantasies, this might be for you.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Review: Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig

A group of young women from Smith College risk their lives in France at the height of World War I in this sweeping novel based on a true story—a skillful blend of Call the Midwife and The Alice Network—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig.

BAND OF SISTERS by LAUREN WILLIG

Series: standalone

Release Date: March 2, 2021
Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: historical fiction

 

Purchase here:
Amazon | B&N | BAM | Google Play | Kobo

Synopsis:

A scholarship girl from Brooklyn, Kate Moran thought she found a place among Smith’s Mayflower descendants, only to have her illusions dashed the summer after graduation. When charismatic alumna Betsy Rutherford delivers a rousing speech at the Smith College Club in April of 1917, looking for volunteers to help French civilians decimated by the German war machine, Kate is too busy earning her living to even think of taking up the call. But when her former best friend Emmeline Van Alden reaches out and begs her to take the place of a girl who had to drop out, Kate reluctantly agrees to join the new Smith College Relief Unit.

Four months later, Kate and seventeen other Smithies, including two trailblazing female doctors, set sail for France. The volunteers are armed with money, supplies, and good intentions—all of which immediately go astray. The chateau that was to be their headquarters is a half-burnt ruin. The villagers they meet are in desperate straits: women and children huddling in damp cellars, their crops destroyed and their wells poisoned.

Despite constant shelling from the Germans, French bureaucracy, and the threat of being ousted by the British army, the Smith volunteers bring welcome aid—and hope—to the region. But can they survive their own differences? As they cope with the hardships and terrors of the war, Kate and her colleagues find themselves navigating old rivalries and new betrayals which threaten the very existence of the Unit.

With the Germans threatening to break through the lines, can the Smith Unit pull together and be truly a band of sisters?

About the Author

Lauren Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen works of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards, and chosen for the American Library Association's annual list of the best genre fiction. After graduating from Yale University, she embarked on a PhD in History at Harvard before leaving academia to acquire a JD at Harvard Law while authoring her "Pink Carnation" series of Napoleonic-set novels. She lives in New York City, where she now writes full time.

Follow:

Goodreads |  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter 

REVIEW

Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

    “I had a daughter once…

I had a house once…

I had a family once…" 

The catalogue of loss went on and on.

Band of Sisters has a considerable page count at over five hundred pages, and with the grim wartime setting that could easily lead to some slow patches in the story. Lauren Willig managed to keep me rapidly flipping the pages in rapt interest. That is no small feat! I think the biggest contributor to that was how character driven this novel was. No detail is spared when developing each and every woman in the Smith College relief unit. Each of them have their own motivation for joining the war effort, hopes, dreams, talents, and faults. They are all believably human in their imperfections, sometimes frustratingly so. I was drawn to this story because it's a WW1 story that's based on real events and it didn't disappoint.

Kate Moran was a former Smith College scholarship student from Brooklyn who was given a chance at a better life than her mother, and yet her job tutoring girls in French makes her very unhappy. Her life feels empty and dull, so when she's offered the chance to join the Smith College relief fund and travel overseas to France, she impulsively accepts. The group of eighteen women are all Smith College Alumni who have idealistic ideas of being heroes and making a difference. Kate is a little more ambiguous in her motivation. It was almost an escape from her dead end life which is ironic when you think about the horror she's voluntarily stepping into. Though she is a shade naive and wide-eyed going into it, she's nothing compared to the spoiled high-society princesses in the group. Most of them are from old money families, and believe this will be a glorified shopping or sightseeing trip. Their illusions are quickly squashed before they even make landfall. Suddenly they have to worry about the possibility of bombings and the very real threat of crossing paths with the Germans. One minute they're used to having everything handed to them, the next eating lumpy bread and sleeping in the rain.

In the beginning I really sympathized with Kate because she felt so out of place with her family after getting a higher education, and unwelcome with her rich peers at school. Although she had a best friend named Emmaline Van Alden, by the time she graduated, she lost faith in their friendship. Unsure if she really cared for her or if she was simply a charity case for her to take care of, she cut ties. On the trip to France she was very stiff and reserved with her former classmates, even Emmie. Her pride was a solid fortress keeping everyone out-especially Emmie's cousin Dr. Julia Pruyn. Her cruel words still reverberated in her head 10 years later. Being around everyone made old wounds resurface again which was going to have to be resolved if they would ever get along civilly. As the book wore on, there were points my patience started to wear thin over the immature, and often sharp way she reacted to her old friend Emmie. She had little patience or sensitivity, and occasionally retaliated in fights by intentionally hurting her. They had a solid rough patch for a while that wasn't easy to untangle, but once they communicated and listened to one another things slowly improved.

Emmie was my favorite character of all of them. She was probably the most unjaded, pure of heart with honest intentions of helping the needy. She wasn't there to have fun, escape, or an other selfish reason. She was the kind of person who would give a stranger the shirt off her back and the last dollar out of her pocket. Like Kate, she didn't feel as if she fit in high society, and she certainly didn't have anything in common with her headlines-making suffragette mother. She's plain, sweet, and tends to be timid in times of confrontation. Emmie is a people pleaser rather which isn't always a bad thing, but her soft heart causes her to get taken advantage of more times than not. There were times where I had to facepalm over her artless ignorance of the dark side of humanity. Stepping into a war zone, she blithely takes their safety for granted until the harsh reality of the war slaps her in the face.

I liked how everyone matured not only individually, but as a whole. As you learn more about each person's history and personality, you discover that your initial judgements of them were far off target. People aren't simple creatures and have many hidden complexities that make them who they are. Characters that I greatly disliked in the beginning became a well-loved friend. It was the same for the characters as they truly became like a family unit that supported one another. They were more than team members. They knew each other's weaknesses, accomplishments, and no matter how many times they bickered over little things, were inseparable. These women had to endure extreme hardship. They witnessed grisly battle wounds, entire villages decimated, starving and sick civilians who were left with nothing. The sounds of gunfire and bombs became background noise as they got on with their duties. Through every challenge, every hurdle, you watch them grow stronger. Their determination spikes, and their genuine love for those in need flourishes.

There is a romantic sub-plot between Emmie and a British captain named Will DeWitt. It was a lovely refuge from the bleak moments and struggle that they endured. The love that grew between the two of them was the equivalent of a cold glass of water to a parched throat. It wasn't sickeningly sweet-just two lost souls finding hope and solace in one another. But beyond that, I loved how much they had in common with their families, their love of literature, and how her optimism balanced his cynicism. They wrote to each other using classic literature quotes which was unbelievably smile-inducing. Even though they met during extraordinary circumstances, there's never a doubt that they've found their other half. It isn't a convenient flirtation or distraction-they'd lay down their lives for one another.

    “I’ve met any number of women 

I’m happy to esteem as friends, 

but never anyone I wanted to share 

a breakfast table with for the rest of my life. 

That’s not the trenches speaking or 

the loneliness or delusion brought on 

by tainted food. That’s you. 

Because you’re like no one else in the world, 

and if the world had to come to this 

for me to find you-

maybe the Kaiser isn’t all that bad after all.” 

In summary, if you love a historical fiction story based on true events that is less edge of your seat suspenseful than many others in the genre, this could very well be the perfect read for you. It has strong female friendships, rich historical content, and heartwarming inspiration. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More