Book Review: Cookbooks and Demons by Megan Mackie

Cookbooks and Demons by Megan Mackie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I might have been close to summoning a demon when I cook a time or two. lol. I got a kick out of how Helena summoned the demon in this book. A chef demon.

She's not the most graceful in the kitchen, and it was a bit of an accident while using her grandmother's cookbook.

Now, demons are known of by the people. One can get into great trouble by summoning a demon. So, Helena needs to keep this secret. After the big dinner with her friends and boss she gets to sit down with the demon and learn a few details of payment.

Helena learns that Rafferty, a wonderful chef, is not able to taste his cooking. Or any food. It all tastes like ash. Except, they learn that he can take her memory of food and taste it if they eat at the same time, touching. Feeling for the demon, Helena offers to let him take a vacation here with her as she goes to taste foods for a fundraising dinner her boss now has Helena in charge of.

A demon is near, and things are getting strange for her friends. It's interesting to see how this is all connected.

Helena doesn't realize what she's doing but she's grown fond of Rafferty and wants him around, even after he returns to his home.

Helena's warned by Rafferty about summoning him, but things are getting complicated and she misses talking with him. Or is there another reason?

The ending had me curious. That was neat how things ended, and are to lead us into book two! :)

This was a fun, light read for me with Helena as a sweet person and worries about others.

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Audio Book Review: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Nesta from the first time we met her in the first book. I knew there was more to her than what we saw. And boy is there. She's totally one of the most damaged characters I've come across.

Nesta does her best, and when that's not enough and the memories get to you, then drown it in alcohol, music, and men. Until your family steps in. That's what Nesta's been doing, and now going to deal with.

Feyre comes to Nesta, leaving Nesta to grieve on her own isn't helping so she's stepping in to push her to recover. Nesta is beyond accepting of this "deal" of getting cleaned up.

Nesta is taken to the House of Wind to live, work in the library, and is to train with Cassian. She's not easy to persuade to do as she's to do. She makes friends with the house and finds a few people she can call friend in the library. When Cassian tries things out of the box, she even starts training.

This is a great book at seeing Nesta come around with new people, friends she makes. Nesta finds her people here. People she can be herself with, even if she thinks they won't accept the things she's done in her life. These ladies grow close and start to train with Nesta. They are loving how they don't feel powerless with knowing how to fight and stand up for themselves. Even when they are taken for the Illyrian Bloodright.

Speaking of power. Nesta's power. There's more to it than meets the eye. And it comes into play in the end, helping her loved ones. (I don't want to give anything away as it's a big play for a few people.)

We get the story through Nesta's eyes and Cassian's. Cassian has missions he's on as well as training Nesta. Things are still unsettled around the lands. He's to help find information from Eris as Az is busy with watching the Queens. And the Queen that is harmed by what Nesta did in the cauldron could want her.

Nesta comes into her own in this book. I love that she's determined to be independent. But there's also something growing between her and Cassian. Oh wow, is there. This book has a lot of spice to it. It's a side dish to the plot and events of the book, but there's a lot of side dishes. lol.

I really enjoyed watching Nesta grow as a character through this book and make the connections with friends and family that she makes here. She has a hard journey, but it's worth it.

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Book Review: Hymn by Ken Scholes

Hymn by Ken Scholes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We've returned to the final book in the series. I'm anxious to find out where everyone ends up in the world and what happens.

The beginning has everyone in new places. Each are having reflective moments as they are separated and all could go any way for either side. They all have come so far! There are mention that had me guessing as to what would happen.

This book surprised me with the new people we see. I didn't see that coming. Though, now that I look back, there are hints there maybe more with the temple. I'm amazed at the pathway to the moon. Then there's a new character that I didn't see coming either. I was wondering who was talking to Winters, this fits.

This book is the one that Isaak has to face his fear. Yep, the mechanical has fears. And his biggest is the one that he has to face. Neb sees himself as a failure, even though he found their home, he hasn't been able to do what he thought was needed of him. Neb needs to see that things are fallible. They are human in their actions.

The thing that catches my attention is that people will do what they must to keep their loved ones safe.

The ending... Wow. As fantasy reads do, things are not always the happiest of endings for all. And I appreciate that more than anything. The ending for each of our main characters is true to their character and heart.

Finishing the last pages of the book was wonderful. I'm thrilled I was able to finish out this series. Ken Scholes has left us places that he could revisit briefly, if he would like. But the series feels complete with where it is.

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Re-Read, Book Review: Requiem by Ken Scholes

Requiem by Ken Scholes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

****SECOND READ through:
This series is just as amazing as it was the firs time I read it. The world is in flux with the changes happening. Who has the upper hand this time? Y'Zirites or those fighting against them?

Things are playing out with each event and character. People are separated and doing what they need to do to keep things moving forward.

As I wrote before, I love this world, characters, and events. A great read for fantasy lovers.
~~~~~~~
All the lives of people we've meet are greatly intertwined, no matter the distance between them.

Again, Ken never ceases to amaze me. The world, the story, the character depth. Plain master piece.


****FULL REVIEW****
The world is in upheaval and seems on the axis of great change. The feel all is falling further away from what everyone knows it to be.

Jin Li Tam is on an island with her son, the one the Y'Zirite's call the Child of Promise. Being worshiped as she tries to come to grips with what she now knows her destiny is. Vlad Li Tam travels the vast sea, following a ghost, to do what needs to be done with the Crimson Empress and the Child of Promise. Neb finds himself on the Moon with Petronus, and no idea what he's to do now that he's lacking the tools he needs to do what he is called to do. Lost as he tries to find his way in a new world, his world. Winters is still searching the final piece of the Final Dream. Hoping to help her people find their way home to their world. Rudolfo is struggling with the unexpected leave of his wife with his one and only son. The absence of his son weighs heavy on him, not knowing what his wife was thinking going into the center of danger as she did. Rudolfo comes to learn his own pieces in the Y'Zirite plans and makes plans of his own.

We get a feel that the people struggling to stop the downward slide are losing. Things are not going well and they are at opposite ends of the world trying to correct it on their own. None know what the other is doing. Secrets are crossing. And the results are...amazing, heartbreaking, reviving, hopeful. Everything all in one.

The beginning brings us quickly back to where we are after Antiphon. The Prelude is a refresher of what's going on in this world, yet at the same time drawing curiosity, making me want more. It's felt like ages for me since I finished Antiphon, and Ken draws me in quickly with refreshers of what happened and where we are now. Perfect. Flawless.

The connections to the world (and moon) all become clearer. The further we follow Ken through his Whymr maze the closer we come to the truths of what is happening and why. It seems now, as things come out, that it was tried very hard to replicate the culture lost on the moon. But things were never quite right. Things are still incomplete but starting to come in the open on how to fix them. All that the Wizards and Younger Gods fought over, and the results becoming clearer with each page.

We have all our familiar characters Point Of Views. And love seeing the troubles they get themselves into. We also have a new POV, Marta. Marta gives us a view of innocence and a connection to one we want to see more of and his connections to everything. I found all the POV's intriguing. I loved what I learned from all the views. The history and workings of the Y'Zirite are heavy and well designed that you need all these POV's to get the feel for what is happening and why. It's so easy to follow these POV's. Ken writes them with a grace that makes you feel he's been doing this for lifetimes. I really enjoyed getting to see more POV from Vlad Li Tam as well. Wow, the Li Tam family has got serious connections through out the world and can influence just about anything it seems, but this still has them in a bind as well.

Oh my gods! This series is amazing. Out-of-the-box crazy-amazing read. Love it! A book to be savored by each word. This read is not a light one. When you pick it up be ready to be submersed and mentally mapping all that's happening. This is a read to read over with an eyeglass and ponder over with a pipe Yes, all that and more!

Absolute read for fantasy fans.

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Audio Book Review: Magic and Misrule by K.M. Merritt

Magic and Misrule by K.M. Merritt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just starting out to earn her shield, Vola is looking for a mission with her teacher Henri. As half orc, people are stuck on their prejudices of her being a monster. Coming into a small town she's guided to a place by her goddess for a mission, to find out what's going on with some of the people in town.

This story is a story of learning about yourself and learning how to work with others along with failure doesn't have to stop you.

Vola finds herself a mismatched group of people to become a team as they work on solving what's happened to people in the town. Those in the group have their own flaws, but they seem to be working well together to cover for each other. Vola has to realize that she's not just there to lead by doing, but to do together to get further and succeed.

I love seeing how each has what others may perceive as a flaw. But it makes them who they are and unique.

The setting is fun as I love fantasy and gaming themes. This isn't based in a game but has the group feel to the team.

Kristin James is one of my favorite narrators. I love listening to her bring the characters to life. She puts emotion into their voices. And the transitions are clean and clear.

I'll gladly listen to the rest of the series!

I received this audiobook at no-cost from AdoptAnAudiobook.com. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

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Audio Book Review: The Wrong Witch to Hex With by Molly Harper

The Wrong Witch to Hex With by Molly Harper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We are returning to the island but to another family on the other side of the island. The Seaworth's.

They live in secret, hidden by their families magic. But things are evolving with the ghosts they have captured and closed up in the underwater locker.

Linney follows her sister to Starfall Point thinking she's meeting a man in secret. Which, she is but not for the reason Linney thinks. Linney doesn't make trips to town very often, and loves checking things out. But, she gets caught in a haunted alley with a ghost tour group and a ghost who demands she tell his story because the guide is wrong about it all.

This is the first time Linney meets Gray.

Grayson's trying to make his grandfathers ghost tour company work. He wants to do this. But he's having troubles with his siblings that want their inheritance, which the business was left to him and not them. And he's noticing the things that are moved in his home, that he didn't move.

They are drawn together, Linney and Gray, through different events. But does Gray want to be involved in the world of ghosts? That's a lot! Especially when there's someone out to get the Seaworth's.

I love this world that's created. This is a different view on the same island. The Seaworth's have a different magical connection to them. And they are the ones that see the ghosts that escape from Shaddow House. We do see the coven present in the book, mainly with Mina who's home from college for the summer.

I'm thinking there could be more interactions between Seaworth's and Shaddow House coven in the future books.

This book has the action of having to fight, magical and supernatural presence, along with finding love. It's a series I enjoy when I want fun, light, and a little more to my stories.

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Audio Book Review: Brighteyes by C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus

Brighteyes by Michael Suttkus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book with Ashley and her adventures, picking up where we left off in the first book. It's also set in a larger world where other series cross with this one.

The story picks up loose threads from the first book. We see Gilroy, again. Ashley's siblings and their conflicts are a focus, leading to a whole problem of it's own with the Magestic 13, vampires, and even trafficking.

We get to dive back into Ashley's past. We get to see what she remembers of her family when younger. We even get to see how things went when she was lost to her vampire addiction. And, as things unfold, we learn more about her family in the end. Very interesting how things go!

There's action as we go into battles. Ashley's sword is still cool. I love this. I know Ashley always has things running through her mind and spirals out on strange thoughts, which is fun because she relates to comics and such. Always fun throw backs too. I did feel at times we got a lot of information told to Ashley at one time. Then into action we'd go.

Ashley starts to see who her friends are and maybe even rekindling of a relationship...if she wants?

I ended this audiobook with a "No. You didn't just do that to me." This goes to the authors. That was a surprise ending. Now I need to know all about how that came to be. lol.

I struggled some with the narrator and her voices in this audiobook. She has Ashley sounding whiny. She has a slower pacing to her speaking.

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