Audio Book Review: Death and Devotion by K.M. Merritt

Death and Devotion by K.M. Merritt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a fantasy adventure of heroes that aren't your normal heroes. They are a little... clumsy. lol. And I love that about them. Which is what brings us to the series name, Mishap's Heroes.

They don't have it all together yet. They're still learning. But they are becoming their own family and learning to trust each other.

We learn more about the group through this book. We get to see what Sorrel's history is and what she's running from. Also, we learn what Talon is hiding from too.

This group makes me feel comfortable. It's nice to see a group of what others would call misfits coming together and finding the friendships they didn't know they needed.

In thinking back, I realize the adventure is more than what I realized while listening. The story is tightly woven with their life stories that it's not always easy to see there's more happening. There's a great balance of personal for the characters along with the adventure/mission they are on.

I do enjoy when the mistakes happen and how they come out of them still gleening information and more.

A nice relaxing listen for me. I'll be listening to the rest when I need a book that's not heavy and looking for a little light fantasy fun.

Kristin is the narrator and I always love her work.

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Audio Book Review: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was nervous through this whole book. I didn't know if anyone was going to make it. Or what to expect with everyone.

I knew what I wanted. But so, so much doom and gloom. It didn't look like Alina and her friends would come into the power needed to defeat the Darkling.

I couldn't stop listening to this to see what would happen next. So much action and reveals here. We learn what the third amplifier is! I wasn't overly surprised in this, yet I was as it was nice to have that feeling that I just wasn't sure of confirmed.

This book tied the trilogy up nice. It brought Alina, who started the trilogy with no friends to finding friends. Friendships aren't easy, and Alina starts to see how this goes. There are people who do believe in her and will follow her. Alina has become a leader. Alina learns the history of others as well. This history is a huge part of the story and explains so much as well.

This was full of fantasy with adventure and danger, so if those are something you'd like, I recommend this series.

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Book Review: The Wicked and The Damned by Rebecca Robinson

The Wicked and the Damned by Rebecca Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this book. Vaasa made a bargain at the end of the first book and I wasn't sure how that would come to pass. I had questions. And, honestly, I still had many questions that grew as I read this book.

I didn't know how the magic would be... given? Then I didn't know how it was working the way it was in this book. And why was the person doing what they were doing?

I grew more and more curious as the book went on. Things were going a different direct that I had thought it might at the end of the previous book. And I'm great with this. Especially after finishing the book.

Let's talk about Vaasa. She's an amazing woman. She's smart. And men seem to miss that and think she's just a pretty face. She plays these men to get what she wants. That brings us to Reid. Reid knows she's smart and so much more than the men of her country give her credit for. And he loves her for all the reasons.

Reid... I said in the first book we didn't get to see the deadly and dangerous warrior he's said to be. We get to see that side of him here. He's calculating too, even though he thinks he's not. He knows when to lay low and when to attack.

In the end I got insight into why things were set to happen as they were. And the Epilogue helped fill in gaps at the end for this. I like this direction. And I'm looking forward to the next books to see what Vaasa does with what she's learned. Because I feel there's more that's not told to her, something that could be danger for her.

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Audio Book Review: Eros Element by Cecilia Dominic

Eros Element by Cecilia Dominic
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was a good one for me to get a taste of Steampunk I've been missing.

If you're looking for romance, this book is very, very light on romance. The potential pair hardly spend time together. I know the time period set here has limits, but she works more with his friend than with the love interest. They get glimpses of each other and have a few starts to solid conversations to get to know each other, but it's limited.

I like that there's a steampunk element in the world for how things work and function. The world is something I enjoy. There's also a connection to history, which brings us to what the mission is for the expedition the crew goes on. There's hints in history that will help stabilize Aether and be cheaper to use as energy.

There's a science to the way things work and that's something that's talked about. At times when we learn about connections that draw us to different places and a device I did listen to the areas twice so I didn't miss anything.

There's an interesting "magical" aspect to what Iris can retrieve from artifacts. And Marie has me curious as to what she can do as well.

The group end up working together and becoming a group of friends to help each other.

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Audio Book Review: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book surprised me in the best way possible.

In the beginning I wasn't sure if it was for me. I struggle with characters in pain from loss of close family members. I know it's true, I just struggle to relate. And I felt like there were questions posed and events that happen and I felt lost without knowing what was happening. Well, hold on to you chair and keep going as you'll get answers and you'll then not want to stop as you learn with Bree so much more than we bargained for.

I didn't 100% believe how Bree got into the Legendborn society. But, okay, I guess I see with who Nick is. That was a hold up for me for a moment.

But man, I was glad she did get in. The things they see, do, know... Pretty cool.

Sel was getting on my nerves a little bit. Just like he was with Bree.

Bree's loss of her mother changed her. But in more ways than she could ever even imagine. And for us too. This sudden death has her on a new path and here at Carolina College she finds a direction to take those feels on. To try to learn what really happened. And who was at fault.

But what she learns exceeds what she even thought and drives her deeper into a secret society that's based around King Arthur and the Round Table. And Bree finds friends she didn't expect, along with enemies as well.

Yes, Bree is an amazing character of color. She faces difficulties and prejudice as well. She's an amazing young lady and stands tall as she should. She shouldn't have to face the prejudices that she does, but people are blind to what truly matters. We get to see her thoughts and feelings as we get to know her.

The author takes many different backgrounds and weaves them together in this story. I love the blend of magics and histories she's brought together in this story. There's pieces that the different histories don't know of the other and they come together here with someone who has an open mind to work it out and place it all.

There's demons that are summoned. Aaaand, there's demons in actions. Can you figure out which is which?

There's a surprising twist to the ending. I really didn't see that one coming. At. All. And I loved it! Totally awesome. And thank you for outlining the connection for it afterwards.

This story brings magic, action, feelings, growth, connection, and so much more together. Really a great book. I'm going to look into the next books in the series.

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Audio Book Review: Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa K. Roehrich

Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa K. Roehrich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The gods say they'll not interfere. But...Do they really? Sometimes a seed is planted and let to grow on it's own.

This book has a magnificent and complex structure to the world. It's of a current type setting with cities and technology. But the people who liver here are so much more. Legacy, Fae, and mortals. There's a hierarchy to them and a reason for them to exist. The Legacy are of a demi god blood line. Fae are created and here to serve as a source to the Legacy for power. And then there are mortals.

The world has different kingdoms based on different god bloodline. And as you can suspect, things are complicated between them all.

This story starts off reminding me of Crescent City (at this time I've only read the first book). It is one I would recommend to those who enjoy that book. From the way the world starts to Tessa as a character. Even the trama that Tessa goes through. The feel of the book resinates for me with the Crescent City world.

There's sexual tension in the book but I wouldn't say it's full on romance. There's a lot happening around Tessa. She's learning things she was never told about. But she's determined to be her own person as well. Tessa breaks and keeps breaking. She's damaged by the testing the fae go through to learn their power element and the lonely life she lived. She's head strong even though she's breaken and breaking more. Tessa is smart and crafty. She's bold and defiant. Just a little chaotic and wild that can't be controlled.

I will say after the first 5 hours, I was feeling like I was ready for more. I was tired of hearing about the pain and hints at some grand scheme. I wanted more and it felt like I wasn't getting to move forward. Then the book did take a turn and I got into the world and events unfolding. Trying to figure out Tessa's power, knowing by the hints she was more. And trying to figure out what Theon, Axel, and Luka are up to. I had a little inkling of what it could be, and I'm still not 100% sure where they are going.

In the end, I found I liked how Tessa has now found what she's fighting for. And she is going to play the games to learn all she can.

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Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book starts quick and keeps going forward with events and action.

We know where Alina and Mal are along with how long has passed, it's just weeks. They are tracked down just when they are starting to feel comfortable. The Darkling has them and we are heading to find the next amplifier.

That's how things keep getting more interesting. With the amplifier, tracking, the privateer (pirate of a sort). There's so much here and happening. Alina is clueless about what she's going to do as things happen around her. Then as the book goes, the Apparat and his pilgrims are growing and become something to be alarmed about.

Alina needs to learn to trust her feelings. First, her nerves when they are irritated. It's like a gut instinct. Then second is her shoulder, when you read you'll know what this is. She has never felt as she fits in anywhere growing up. And she still feels this way. She's different. One of a kind. She's trying to figure out her feelings and powers, while being drawn to the power she has and wanting more with using the amplifier. Things don't quite fit together for her at this time in life.

The Darkling feels undefeatable. He's lived for hundreds of years, though many don't know that. He's got control over his power and it's growing due to events that have happened too. He's a little voice in Alina's ear that has her second guessing relationships and herself.

I'm curious to see how this all plays out in the third book. It feels like there's not much that can be done at this point.

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