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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Book Review: The Fix by Mia Sheridan

The Fix by Mia Sheridan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm starting to enjoy mystery and thriller reads. This is one of the top I've read.

I'll admit the beginning was hard. The kids are awkward as teens in high school and we feel that. But what was hard for me was when Cami returns home. It's hard to read. There are triggers here. If you can't do rape, don't read this.

The story then jumps ahead a short time where we see who they are looking at as one of the guilty party. Then we end up in the story 11 years later. This is when things really take place.

Cami bumps into the nice boy she talked to once as a teen. Rex has always admired Cami.

Rex is so understanding for all Cami went through. And such a great help for her now. He has the skills she needs and his soft heart where she's concerned, he agrees to help her with her "Do Over".

I really like the way things fit together to find the area they need to be. Interesting to see how it works out.

There's action and danger in this story with the suspense.

There's sections added in of another. It took me some time to figure out that the story is in a different time than we were in. But all comes together in the time frame at the end.

When I thought the story would be over, we got more. Which I'm glad we did! This ending tied up all the remaining things I wanted to see through.

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Audio Book Review: The Return of Supervillainy by C. T. Phipps

The Return of Supervillainy by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

And we are back with Gary and the gang!

This time Gary is asked to join a group to find and save Mandy, thinking she's held hostage. Once things get going, there's more to it all. Helios maybe involved... or the problem.

I always look forward to the fun clips, the music references, the pop culture references, and so much more.

This is book 10 in the series, so there's many details given through the book of previous events, people, and more. Are they all important? Well, they maybe down a rabbit hole in a discussion but it really keeps everything interesting and makes me smile.

Some of the conversations take work to remember where we started. I feel like it's an ADHD conversation. lol. Goodness, the trips in conversations make me laugh and wonder, how did we get here? lol.

We get to see all those we have grown to love in this book, again. We even have those that have arrived in this world in a previous book. So much history between all these members.

These are always fun stories for me. The action, how Gary ends up in situations, and the references I grew up with. Fun!

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Audio Book Review: Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. I really liked the character Elowen. She's not your traditional princess. She's broken, crafty, and she sees things with a wider mind. When she's faced with how things happen and not shared, she sees how it fits and why. She still reacts but it's reasonable and not just overreacting.

Oh Elowen's first birthday she's gifted dragon eggs, and a seers vision of her with the dragons. She grows up with her dragons, and loves them as family. But, there comes a time when her father, the king, sees they are a problem. They are locked away and eventually her too.

The book starts years later, after she's been broken out of the prison and grown. Elowen is kind of a female Robin Hood to her small hidden town. She's a little bit of a spy, fighter, and thief. All rolled into one and I like this blend.

I love how she met Cayden the first time. Cayden would like her help, to side with the kingdom he's a commander for and fight against her father. He'll help her get her dragons back.

This book has many pieces I like. There's growing trust, betrayal, fighting, and more. I love how Elowen handles it all. She seems to have a mind about her to view it all with an open mind.

This book left me wanting the next book. I love the characters and want to see how things ended here and where they'll go in the next book. I'm waiting for the library audiobook loan to come through.

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Audio Book Review: The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like the way Carissa writes her books with levels to work through. She did that in each book in different ways. This book has levels to work through in it's own way. She works emotions and feelings into her words.

This book picks up exactly where the previous one ends. Mische is in the Underworld, as a soul after her passing with the end of the last book.

I'm surprised who appears to help Mische along the path she still has to travel. Her guide along the way is Vincent. Mische will need to climb back up, out of the underworld to help Asar. She's a soul that will have a form when she rises, but souls are to return to where they are from in time. So there's a lot to accomplish and maybe find a way to stay in the world of the living.

I wanted to be in Asar's head in the previous book. I get that HERE! We get to see through Asar's eyes in this book as well.

Asar can't forget the vision of what the other gods did at the end of the previous book. He feels the pain. He feels her.

There's something they need to do. Find pieces that could lead them through different places they've been and back to friends. Where they see how much the world is in trouble from what happened and what's happening to the Underworld.

This is a romance read. There's reconnecting and figuring new ways to be together.

The Epilogue leaves us ready for the next duo that we'll read about. And there's a huge change in the world.

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Audio Book Review: The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day

The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a suspense read set in the real world.

The story starts at a turning point in Mary's life. She's lived with Cal for 10 years and she's feeling the isolation and see's he's noticing she's starting to get wrinkles. We see how the routine day goes for them. And there are read flags.

As you can guess, things are not as they seem. Things start to unfold as the story goes and Mary finds journals of another woman.

I don't want to give the story away. Mary is one strong lady. She's creative as well. There's a lot that she will go through. Her strength will push through it all.

We do get a full closure in the end of the book to what happens in everyone's lives. There is abuse in this story, but also about overcoming it.

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