Book Review: Silent All These Years by Skyla Dawn Cameron

Silent All These Years by Skyla Dawn Cameron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This mystery series is an addiction for me. I can't get enough of it and love making notes to see what I can learn of who The Crossroads Butcher is along with what happened to Sebastian.

It has my strategizing mind working overtime to place the pieces in place and come up with the answer. This book unearths many new pieces to what happened to Detective Sebastian Kyle. And even new clues to Meadow's murder and The Crossroads Butcher.

It's the 12th anniversary of Meadow's murder and the town is attracting people who are here to do podcasts and try to solve the mystery. It's a rough time to be a Milton in town. With having a little opening in her schedule, Waverly thinks it's time to take on Sebastian's case.

Part of Sebastian's case is going to his home town and working to get to know Sebastian before he followed The Crossroads Butcher to Port Milton, and the cases and people he worked with during the case. This finds Sebastian here doing research and Waverly doing her thing with annoying people and picking to get pieces to place.

Waverly does solve a few things that were kept under wraps from others with those she speaks to. Maybe upsetting a few people along the way, which means she's doing her job and being herself. There's new pieces to our puzzle as well.

I love that I have the Murder Journal that is Waverly themed to write my thoughts, notes, and ideas in as I follow along in this series.

If you love a book and series that will keep you mind twisting and turning to solve it, this series is the one for you.

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Book Review: Of Scale and Blood by Keri Arthur

Of Scale and Blood by Keri Arthur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bryn and all are fighting the new enemy that fly the birds with deadly feathers and dung. What if there could be other dragon riders and if they could give the dragons flames. That could really come in handy with the battle to save their land and lives.

Bryn is a strong lead woman. She knows what to do in battle and has ideas that could really help. She also has great people around her to help and make suggestions. She appreciates these amazing people.

We venture to see how things are and find Bryn in battle. BattleS. Yes, with an S. These pages don't stop flipping as I keep reading to see what will happen.

In this middle book of the trilogy we learn more about the enemy and the enemy of long time. There's more about the dragons and something new with magic. I do enjoy fast pace as Bryn keeps moving forward with learning and finding her way to get wounded.

I have the third book ordered and look forward to reading the finally of this trilogy. I have questions and thoughts on Damon, Bryn's husband. There's more to that man than meets the eye. And how will Bryn pick up the pieces of where this book ends? I'm hooked on this series!

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Book Review: The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would recommend this to those starting to dip their toes into fantasy worlds.

This one starts fast on Vaasa's wedding night. And it doesn't go as you'd think. I enjoyed this little rouge Vaasa.

We quickly learn Vaasa's cursed. She's looking for a way to break the curse, and we learn why. But there's more to this curse than she realizes. She's on the path to learn what she can. And Reid is here to help her.

Reid makes a deal with Vaasa. He'll help her if she helps him. Yes, Reid is the man from the beginning. lol. He's not going to let that night down. But Vaasa has her reasons to fight him. Enemies in so many words and actions.

There's a slow burning tease between the two characters, an enemies to lovers undertone to the story. Reid has been a gentleman since the beginning. Kind and respectful to her, yet fun. I did have fun with their banter.

There's a few turns in what they learn and unexpected events and people. Vaasa learns through the book about her curse and grew relationships with new friends through the book. I liked the character connections here with the growth. The world was easy to follow as reading.

The ending had me. I was ready for book two when I finished but have to wait for release. I can't wait to pick this one up when it releases.

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Book Review: Guardian of Wrath by Michelle Manus

Guardian of Wrath: A Nyx Fortuna Novel by Michelle Manus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book starts six months after the previous in the series. I will admit, I was worried coming into this one yet I wanted to see what Nyx did next. (If you read -- which you should read this series if you love traditional Urban Fantasy -- then you know why I was worried yet needed to get this.)

After reading this book and all I've read by Michelle so far, she has my total faith in her characters path in life. Her writing keeps things emotionally invested and moving along, keeping me flipping pages.

So much talent in this woman's writing. She builds the world and works it, expanding the limits as we learn things that are experienced. I think this is a great way to share magic and worlds. It elevates the investment for us the readers as we experience and learn with the characters.

I teared up a few times. I'm so glad someone's not forgotten. Nyx struggles to move one, which is hard to see. She needs something to focus on, to work on, to try to bring her around to her friends again. In this mission she's made, to punish the one who did this, Nyx is reminded of who we've lost. It's heartbreaking to move forward with life after such a dear lose. And when you start to smile... if feels wrong. This is part of carrying that heavy heart on. But when with friends, they are there with you. Everyone feels lose differently and sees it differently in life, but they are needed to help you. It's okay to hurt.

This book's theme for me is friends. Friends and found family are so important. They can be the ones that are the closest to you in the most difficult times and the best times in your life. So much love for this book.

Nyx. We see Nyx start to come out of her shell. We get to see more of Jevryn, which I love him! There are so many parallels between Nyx and Jevryn. It was a rough start with Jevryn in the previous book, and there's still bumps in the road here. And I'm sure many bumps to come knowing Nyx's personality, but I can't wait to see the interactions.

As I get into this series, I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. This is a series I love. I'm looking forward to the next book and the series as Michelle writes these.

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Audio Book Review: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sarah has all the great elements layered together in this book that make it wonderful. She has a great cast of characters to love and hate, the world building that's layered in with actions and events in the character's lives, and there's great history here. World and character driven is amazing.

There's more to the characters than what we see at face value. I love this. The characters come alive for us as we go through the book (especially if you listen to the audio book).

There are brutal moments for the characters, but that's what brings the story to life. Hurt and heartache is what forms people, and the characters fall in the same category.

There's a great mystery to the story too. We are searching with Bryce in one mystery, but there's another hidden in that first question. I had wondered about this, or a part of this, through the book.

I love we have strong woman in the book. They are in control of themselves and do as they want to do, not as expected. They also support each other, even when they are involved in things that might be a bit too much.

There's so much more to the world. We get to scratch the surface of the area we are in and the history here. I know there's much more to come. The magic that's present is weaved into the living of the people here and works great with the story.

I will say, Bryce with the vacuum. If you've listened you know. I laughed and loved this moment.

There is a romance in this story as well. This book is far more than one element but Sarah has layered it all in to create the full package.

I do highly recommend this book. I'll be listening to the next book in the new year as they are long books. And so worth it. You'll get your money's worth with this one.

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Book Review: Throne of Ash and Flame by M.C. Harden

Throne of ash and flame by M.C Harden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've put off reviewing this book as I don't know how to rate it.

I've enjoyed the idea and the story idea created. I just feel as though it could use some work to expand the story line. There were sections that I felt like I missed a whole story with what happened.

I'm not one for instant attraction. I would have liked more interaction and banter to connect them and then something to have them work on to build up to more. We have the mission that they are sent on, but I would have liked to see more of them together training before hand and on the way that they could build on their trust.

I do like the world idea we see and the magic here. I'm always a sucker for dragons too. This all could work nicely together.

I'm sorry I didn't love this more than I did. I felt like a good content editor could help with the holes I felt in the story and growth of romance. I do love the idea all around here.

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Audio Book Review: To Sift Through Bitter Ashes by David Niall Wilson

To Sift Through Bitter Ashes by David Niall Wilson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The vampire clans could use help. Montrovant has a plan, one he's worked on for ages. It's to find the Holy Grail. To find and drink from to to stop the petty struggles between the clans. Montrovant is told he can go on this mission, but to not return unless he succeeds.

Montrovant collects those who can help him on this mission. The humans who are selected are very religious.

I found the story had many details but they are shared with inner dialog, not conversations with others or through actions. There's a lot of Self reflection used to tell these details. For me, this process feels slow to me.

There's another taking up residence in the temple they need to be in. Where the religious items are hidden below. The demon here is a battle to be fought with help of another. Which then shows us there's three agendas at work here. Different people and groups with different goals. There's a lot of religious talk, which felt overdone to me. I know it's an important piece of the puzzle here though.

This book felt as though it was giving us a base of the history and placing people where they need to be for future events. For more to come. There was more action in the end of the book. I think there's more to it and behind the grail and actions.

I know there's many who love this style of fantasy reads. I hope you enjoy this one.

I listened to the audio book. I know the narrator's style is one that many use for fantasy books, but it feels more monotone to me and hard for me to listen to.

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