Audio Book Review: The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you like vampires and magic with romance weaved in, this series is one that you should read. I give Carissa Broadbent a huge congrats at knowing how to write these stories with intriguing actions to keep me interested and building a slow burn romance in the background as the characters take on the world.

This series's main books has a theme of places with layers. The first book had the house for the tournament. The second was breaking through layers. This book is the layers of the dead, through Hell.

Mische knew the day she killed her creator they'd come for her. She was able to run for a while, but they found her. What she didn't expect was to be claimed by the bastard son as needed by him to go on his mission for the vampire god, Nyaxia.

Asar needs Mische for her connection to the sun god, but given a chance to live she's not going to tell him that Atroxus doesn't answer her prayers anymore. She's lost his favor. But, there maybe something she can do to gain it back.

This journey is dangerous. The different levels have different obstacles that can kill them. They stumble and fall, even lose their way. But the more that Mische and Asar are together and Mische asks questions and talks, it seems they can help each other in other ways too. A connection starts to form.

We learn more about Mische's past. And Mische faces her past. She has to face what she's done and did when she turned. Mische has her past that's not as nice as she is. She chooses to remain as she is on the outside, kind and friendly. Asar has his scars to bare as well.

I was really drawn into the story to see what the characters would decide in that moment they were here for.

As we come through that height of a moment, we are left with wanting the next book to see how things will continue on after this ending.

We do finish through the goal of this book, why they are working through the levels. But with the events there, we will want to keep reading for the next book. Which I'll be picking up soon.

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Audio Book Review: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book felt very heavy in character and character relationship building, with weaved in fantasy elements.

I found the first half or more of the book to be very slow building for me. We're learning the world with Odessa as she tries to get to know her new husband and people.

There were a few things I figured early on, about the Guardian and things. Though, the problem with the Guardian and what we see happening with the animals, this is what I wanted to learn more about. As does Odessa when she finally learns of it too.

If you like books that are character driven and building relationships and love, this is a story for you.

Now the ending. Wow. I really liked the things we find out. And I'm left curious as to what it means...All we've learned of the world and what's happening to the animals... Then who's that person? Why are the Crux here early?

I have my suspicions and look forward to seeing how it's connected.

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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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