Reviews: Lost Wolf, Chosen Wolf

Curse Of The Moon: Lost Wolf | Stacy Claflin

Published: July 17th 2016

Genre: NA, Paranormal, Romance

Pages: 258

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

She’s hiding a dark secret. It already killed her once. 

Victoria can’t wait to start college, but there’s a hitch—she can’t remember anything before arriving on campus. Her memories finally spark when she sees her ruggedly handsome math professor, but she senses something terrible happened. The shock on his face affirms her fears. 

Toby is an alpha wolf who never thought he’d see his true love again—not after she died in his arms. Nothing could have prepared him for her walking into his class. But to his dismay, not only has she forgotten the past, she doesn’t even know who she is. 

He’s determined to do whatever it takes to restore what they’ve lost. Can Toby help Victoria recover her memories, or will he lose her forever? 

USA Today bestselling author, Stacy Claflin, brings you Lost Wolf, the first book in the Curse of the Moon series. It’s a paranormal romantic suspense saga that features gripping supernatural drama, surprising twists, dynamic characters, and heart-pounding romance. 

Read Lost Wolf today to satisfy your craving for a fast-paced paranormal tale.

So, so damn good. I hoped for a decent paranormal story with okay romance at best but holy hell this was awesome. Exciting and gripping story with tonnes of mystery and questions. A hot as HELL romance. Seriously, I want a Toby. And I really liked Victoria as a MC too. The only downside was Carter, who felt surplus, but I can live with that. A romantic, mysterious story. Don't hesitate to read this.

Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/World ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Curse Of The Moon: Chosen Wolf | Stacy Claflin

Published: September 29th 2016

Genre: NA, Paranormal, Romance

Pages: 228

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Victoria is a werewolf who can’t shift… and it’s slowly killing her.

Since leaving her family’s pack, Victoria has acquired many enemies. One of them has cursed her with the inability to turn at the full moon. Each un-shift is painfully worse than the last, breaking bones as well as her optimism.

Before finding the cure, Victoria must figure out who is behind it, and that proves harder than it would seem. Even with the high witch, a valkyrie, and a former troll king on her side, the mystery only continues to deepen. A cursed body is unearthed and friends disappear.

Can Victoria and her new pack find the cure in time to save both her and their missing friends?

Chosen Wolf is the second book in the Curse of the Moon series by USA Today bestselling author, Stacy Claflin. It’s a paranormal romantic suspense saga that features gripping supernatural drama, surprising twists, dynamic characters, and heart-pounding romance.

Read Chosen Wolf today to satisfy your craving for a heart-pounding paranormal tale. 

With just as much wolfy, paranormal drama and smoldering romance, this is a strong sequel. I didn't love it QUITE as much as book one, but I like how Victoria and Toby's relationship grew, and the look into their past, along with the growing threat surrounding them. Great action, layers upon layers of mystery, and an awesome cast of characters. I'm so glad I started this series!

Characters ★★★☆☆
Setting/World ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Saruuh Explores NA Review: City of Fae + City of Shadows

Bear with me while I write these reviews - it's been a wild and emotional ride through City of Fae and City of Shadows, but I'm loving this series and dying for more!

London Fae: City of Fae | Pippa DaCosta

Published by: Bloomsbury Spark, May 7th 2015

Genre: NA, Urban Fantasy, Fae

Pages: 336

Format: Ebook

Source: Bloomsbury Spark, via Netgalley

From the moment Alina touches London's hottest fae superstar, breaking one of the laws founded to protect all of her kind, her fate – and the fae – close in. 

Below ground, the fae High Queen plots to claim the city as her own and places her pawns, ready for the battle to come. A battle she cannot lose, but for one small problem – Alina. There are four ancient keepers powerful enough to keep the queen in her prison. Three are dead. One remains … And to fight back, Alina risks sacrificing everything she has come to love.

I have a whole bunch of adjectives for this book. Engrossing, captivating, chilling, unsettling, romantic. Basically it's all these things and something I can't put into words, something fun and dark and exciting. City of Fae is an inventive urban fantasy story with a hella complex main character (seriously, you will not guess her secrets) and a super, super sexy love interest. Plus, Reign is sweet in moments and the maybe-romance-maybe-not between them made my heart full of love.

As well as swoony romance, there's great action and a story unlike anything I've read before. I HATE spiders but this book is so good that I stuck it out - that should tell you how much I love Alina and Reign.

This book stole my heart. One of my favourite NA books ever. I devoured it in two sittings.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

London Fae: City of Shadows | Pippa DaCosta

Published by: Bloomsbury Spark, July 7th 2016

Genre: NA, Urban Fantasy, Fae

Pages: 326

Format: Ebook

Source: Bloomsbury Spark, via Netgalley

Alina knows she is not real – the fae queen spun an evil web to create her – but she wants more than to spend her days feeding off humans’ energy to survive. She isn’t content to lose herself in the dangerously attractive Reign. She wants a life of her own making.

Desperate to help the man who saved her life, Alina vows to find his missing sister. Alina is convinced that the general of the Fae Authority plays a part in her disappearance. She infiltrates the organisation and gets close to their strongest fighter. But while Samuel’s tormented soul and masterful touch stirs in Alina a feeling of being human again, her loyalty to Reign makes her Samuel’s enemy. Who should she trust?

This New Adult urban fantasy is packed with action and suspense and will have you yearning for more forbidden fae romance.

Okay, first off, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as City of Fae, but that was mostly because I hated the tension and upset between Alina and Reign and I suspected the HECK out of Samuel. Good call, past!me.

I turns out I quite like Kael, the general? I'm not sure when that happened, but this series is so wild and throws so many twists at me that I'm not surprised. 

The Reign/Alina hurt me so much in this book - and the ending made it a thousand times worse. I just want them to be happy and besties for life - that's not too much to ask, right? In other news, there's a new character called Nyx and I want to be her best friend.

Aside from hurt and characters, the story from City of Fae builds epically in this book. You can really tell the series is heading towards something catastrophic. The Hunt actually scare me. But my favourite thing was how the world expanded and we got to see more of the fae in London. The world building is EXCEPTIONAL - part of me wants to live in it, which is saying something when it used to have a giant spider lady in the tube tunnels!

I'm dying to get my hands on the next book!

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

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Followed By Frost (ARC Review)

Followed By Frost | Charlie N. Holmberg

Published by: 47 North, September 22nd 2015

Genre: Adult, (NA?), High Fantasy

Pages: 244

Format: Ebook

Source: 47North, via Netgalley

Seventeen-year-old Smitha has the wealth, status, and beauty that make her the envy of her town—until she rejects a strange man’s marriage proposal and disastrous consequences follow. Smitha becomes cursed, and frost begins to encompass everything she touches. Banished to the hills, hunted by villagers, and chilled to the very core of her soul, she finds companionship with Death, who longs to coax her into his isolated world. But Smitha’s desire for life proves stronger than despair, and a newfound purpose gives her renewed hope. Will regrets over the past and an unexpected desire for a man she cannot touch be enough to warm Smitha’s heart, or will Death forever still it?

I LOVED The Paper Magician so I jumped at the chance to read this book, and it didn't let me down. It started off and I wasn't so sure about it - I didn't really like the MC, what I thought was the love interest was creepy and just felt wrong, but I was interested in the curse and I liked the whole nomad, wandering woman thing. This book really came to life when Smitha met Prince Imad and left her homeland to bring her snow (a curse to her own people, a gift to Imad's) to the desert. And Smitha felt to change completely as a person, which at first was strange and unrealistic, despite three years having passed, but then I just didn't care because I liked the person she'd become.

Part of this book, especially the parts in the desert towns, were what I wanted from Fire and Thorns, which just didn't satisfy me. Followed By Frost was enthralling and unique, I didn't know what was coming next, and it was a perfect slow burn of a book. It took its time, and in that time built an amazing world and made me fall so hard in love with the characters. I felt for Smitha and her constant cold, and I loved Lo (oh Lo, let me count the ways I love thee) as much as she did, feeling her heartbreak when she couldn't have him. And the world building was so subtle but detailed that I felt I could see the places Smitha went, from the harsh mountains to the castle carved into sandstone, and even the background characters felt genuine and authentic.

I probably have small niggles, like the story wrapping too perfectly, and her curse breaking seeming a bit convenient, but I do not care. I loved this story, I ADORED the characters, and I'll forgive everything else. PLUS the love interest was a MOC, and most of the characters in this book were POC too! (Sadly not the main character...) And it felt like the desert kingdom (whose name has completely slipped my mind) was based on a middle eastern country instead of that cardboard cut-out medieval English-ish world most high fantasies are nowadays.

Everything works in this book's favour, and it's one of my favourite fantasy books I've read this year, so just read it.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world-building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

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Saruuh Explores NA: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ARC Review)

A Court of Thorns and Roses: A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas

Published by: Bloomsbury Children's, May 5th 2015

Genre: NA, (very upper) YA, Fantasy, Retelling

Pages: 416

Format: Ebook

Source: Bloomsbury, via Netgalley

The breathtaking start to a seductive high-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author of Throne of Glass series.

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

*is an inconsolable puddle on the floor*

WHY DID IT HAVE TO END??

I put off reading this book for SO LONG because I thought it would never live up to my expectations. And it didn't deliver exactly the story I'd expected but it was way better, way way better, than any of my wildest dreams.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is perfect. The romance is natural and right and just lovely to read. The magic is traditional and feels vast and unpredictable. The main character is a sarcastic, smart badass whom I love dearly. And the villain is TERRIFYING. Everything about this is flawless.

Especially Tamlin, who I fell in love with completely. He's gruff and caring and everything a beast in Beauty and The Beast should be. But I also sorta accidentally love Rhysand, too, and I don't know when or how or why that happened, but it did. And I CANNOT WAIT for the next book, because I suspect it'll have loads more Rhys in it!!! But also Tamlin! Whom I adore, and whose story I am so eager to see unfold.

This book is so more than a series opener. Not only does it build up the world, characters, and threat without a single fault, but it delivers a series-finale-style ending IN THE FIRST BOOK. It's thrilling and scary as hell and my heart was in my throat at least three times. I can't say enough about this book.

Just read it.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world-building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

This book counts towards my Fairy Tale Challenge!

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The Queen of The Tearling (ARC Review)

The Queen of The Tearling: The Queen of The Tearling | Erika Johansen

Published by: Bantam Press, July 17th 2014

Genre: NA, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 432

Format: Ebook

Source: Random House UK & Bantam Press, via Netgalley

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother - Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...

And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...

Queen of The Tearling was both everything I expected and the complete opposite of what I wanted. I have a lot of conflicted opinions about it, hence the huge review. This book is a sweeping high fantasy, with a girl rising to rulership of a corrupt kingdom and dealing with all the consequences of putting said kingdom right. 

HOWEVER. For most of the book, it just plods along at a snail's pace. Stuff happens, but it doesn't really feel like much is happening, to me at least. Kelsea didn't even make it to her castle (keep) until 30% into the book, at which point I knew a lot of back story about the world, but little else. It meandered on in the same way, all the way to the end.

I couldn't seem to read more than 10% in one go, which averaged about 40 pages, though it felt like I was reading double that amount. The book itself had the feel of something about 600+ pages long. Along with that, I think my main problem with Queen of The Tearling was its lack of threat. Sure, there was a looming war on the horizon but it felt distant, impersonal. There were no real stakes, and because of that the book felt flat. 

Don't get me wrong, there were aspects I loved - like the world. Johansen did a great job setting up the Tearling and Mortmesne, despite the often winding info dumps. It was unique and fascinating, with a seat of corruption and evils as deep as hell. It was really cool to see mentions of things that exist here (Grimm's fairy tales, for example), to put together the pieces that Tearling was a land separate from ours, but still very much in the same world. I even liked the characters. Kelsea is alright, a decent enough main character, but I adore Mace, her guard. If the book was just about him doing whatever it is he does every day, I think it would have been 100% more exciting.

I liked this book, but there just wasn't enough in it for me to really enjoy reading it. I finished it, but that was a mix of determination and love of the Mace (and Mace is the only reason this isn't a 2.5 star rating.) I wish there'd been more of Mortmesne, more immediate threats, and less of the long stretches of information. All in all, an okay epic fantasy, but not recommended for people looking for adventure, action, or a fast pace.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing Style ★★☆☆☆

The Queen of the Tearling is destined to be a fantasy classic. Johansen’s writing is assured, confident and thrilling. I can’t wait for the next book. 

- AMY McCULLOCH, author of The Oathbreaker’s Shadow