King of Ash and Bone (Review)

Shattered Realms: King of Ash and Bone | Melissa Wright

Published: February 2nd 2015

Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Post-Apocalyptic

Pages: 217 (from Amazon)

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

When flying monsters break through the veil into her world, Mackenzie Scott has nothing left to lose. Her brother has been marked, her future has vanished, and all that remains is a desperate need for revenge. After discovering the breach the creatures used as a gateway, Mackenzie devises a plan to stop them, whatever the cost.


When she finds an injured stranger in the street, he just might be the key she needs to succeed. What Mackenzie doesn't know is that this stranger isn't the helpless boy he appears to be. He's one of the monsters. And he's got plans of his own.


Thrown into a dying city in another realm, Mackenzie is powerless to get back. With the gateway closing, time is not on her side. But the stranger is, and if they can escape execution, this girl and her monster might be able to save both their worlds.

I've made no secret of the fact that I adored the Descendants series, so when I saw Melissa Wright had just released a new book I didn't hesitate in grabbing it and reading ASAP. I love the way she writes, and especially how she writes action and romance.

I'll start by saying I didn't love this as much as the Descendants series, but that was purely a personal thing. I didn't fall as hard for the characters, and I'm a character driven reader. Now that's said, let's talk about all the things I did love:

Mackenzie, the MC of this series, is another determined, take-no-crap female and she's awesome. She'll go to any length for her brother and I really liked that about her. I also liked how when she found herself in another (mirror?) world, she freaked out. A lot. She went quiet and withdrawn, and eventually she pulled herself out of it and got shit done. I love my badass ladies who aren't afraid to show emotions or break down. Hunter, too, I loved, but I never loved him. I admired him, sure, and liked a lot about him, but he didn't have a spark for me. Still, I enjoyed reading about him, and especially learning about his world and his place in the realm of monsters.

I liked a bunch of other things about this - how we're thrown into the action from the start, the wreckage Earth has become, the introduction to a creepy ruling force in the other world, the perfect mix of post-apocalyptic and fantasy, and the prospect of a human girl becoming queen of a dying world of inhumans. I did miss a lot of world-building, though, and didn't quite understand or visualise the dying lands as well as I'd have liked, and crossing through the gateway confused me at times; I couldn't understand what was happening. But I overlooked these things for the great plot and writing.

King of Ash and Bone is a unique blend of portal fantasy and post-apocalyptic Earth. Instantly compelling. I have a hunch I'll like book two much more than this, and I can't wait to read it!

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Saruuh Explores NA: Reign of Shadows (Review)

Descendants: Reign of Shadows | Melissa Wright

Published: July 30th 2014

Genre: NA, Urban Fantasy

Pages: 220

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Brianna can see her future, but it's the past that haunts her. Plans laid in place centuries ago are threatening not only her and her sister, but all of the Seven Lines. As the shadows plot their way to old rule, the visions shift again. Her power has led to some hard choices—and the occasional stab wound—but this set of futures holds nothing but darkness.

Unable to bear the idea of losing the footing they've so recently gained, she turns the soldiers of the Seven. But with shadows hidden among the ranks, can she overcome the path they've set in place, or is she blindly following their lead?

This is by far one of my favourite series of all time. And certainly my favourite indie author. Melissa Wright has written one of the best urban fantasy series I have ever read. I'm in love with the Descendants.

Reign of Shadows introduces us to a whole new threat, one that has been watching and waiting all through the events of Bound By Prophecy and Shifting Fates, and builds on the lore of the Shadows we first saw in book two. I didn't completely understand what they were in the second book but I have a better understanding of them now. As far as I know it, Shadows are the all-powerful beings that created the Seven Lines -Aern, Logan etc. I thought they were pretty cool. I liked the suspense of knowing they were coming, of being built up for destruction and the end of all things. I was really disappointed with the end though - it felt rushed after all the build up and the waiting. The Shadows went down much quicker and easier than I expected, and I lost track of what was happening a couple times during the climax. It was quick, and I wish it was slower, longer, the tension drawn out, but I'm still pretty happy with the end we got.

This book builds on my love of the characters, and introduces a new character for me to hate with a fiery passion (Callan needed to leave for 90% of this book, even if he was "protecting" Brianna.) Aern and Emily are super cuties and I love them, and the moments we got between them in this book, however quick and rare, I adored. (I wish there were more Aern/Emily moments in this! Actually I just want another 3 books of Aern/Emily moments!) Logan and Brianna continue to be adorable and everything I love. The way they support and strengthen each other, the absolute trust between them, the belief in each other - I love them.

The plot was probably the weakest of the three books, but there was still plenty of action and drama and danger to keep me turning pages at a rate of knots. Just wish there'd been a bit more romance and a longer ending! 

Sad to see the series end but I loved it from beginning to end! Read this now!

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

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Saruuh Explores NA: Shifting Fate (Review)

Descendants: Shifting Fate | Melissa Wright

Published: December 20th 2013

Genre: NA, Urban Fantasy

Pages: 214

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

According to prophecy, Brianna Drake was born to save the world. The trouble is, she doesn't have the slightest idea how. Her visions should have given her the answer, but they’re beginning to shift, making the danger too unpredictable, even for a prophet.

If she can just help her sister restore their hidden powers, she might be able to stop what’s coming. But an old enemy returns, and he’s got plans for Brianna and her visions.

What neither of them knows is that fate has given a stranger one chance to find her. He was trained to protect the chosen—but if he fails, the future will crumble.

You know how books suffer from second book syndrome? How the plot is drawn out to boring and the characters go a little flat and not much happens? Shifting Fate is not one of those books. It's full of action and danger, consequences and prophecy.

Shifting Fate picks up right where Bound By Prophecy left us, but from Brianna's point of view. I wasn't sure about that at first but she really grew on me. I ended up loving her as much as Emily, and admiring her bravery in the face of physical weakness even more. Melissa Wright really knows how to write female characters. AND male characters. I didn't think you'd ever get me to love someone more than Aern. But Logan. Damn, he's got that noble, duty-bound soldier thing going on, along with being blonde (you know I love blondes) and having a heart of mushy gold when it comes to Brianna. They almost killed me with their moments. "Is it now?" If you mean me crying over these precious characters, yes, it's now.

The only thing that kept it from being one of my all time favourites, like the first book, is that I didn't completely understand the Shadow thing. I'm guessing that's gonna be explained more in the next book but I couldn't grasp the meaning in this one. That's really my only issue, and it's pretty small in relation to the book.

A compelling, romantic sequel from Melissa Wright, who continues to astound me with her incredible Descendants series.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Come back on Thursday to read my review of the next book - Reign of Shadows!

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Reading round up (68)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

2nd March

I read 83 pages of Smoulder by Brenna Yovanoff and I'm loving this. In the last 20 or so pages I've found that Yovanoff magic I adored in The Replacement. Also Truman is veeeeeerry reminiscent of Cole from The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, with his self destructive tendencies. I'm gonna fall hard for him by the end, I can see it.

I also read 10% of Blades of Magic by Terah Edun, bringing me to 35%. It's taking me a while to read it but other than my slow progress, I don't mind it so far. I think I'll end up liking Ezekiel.

3rd March

Finished Smoulder (212 pages read) and the end ruined me. Like full on sobbing. This is a devastating book and induces awful emotions.

I also started Ferals by Jacob Grey (13%), which is fairly interesting so far. I like the crows and the escaped criminals.

4th March

I read 90 pages of Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow, bringing me to page 207. Gotta get my butt in gear and finish this by tomorrow! I'm liking it but I can't connect with the romance and that's dampening my enjoyment somewhat.

5th March

Finished Crow Moon (198 pages) and I'll be honest, I skimmed the last 100 pages. The characters don't do anything for me, even if I liked the magic and setting. I'd love the series to be from Melz POV.

I also read 2% of Blades of Magic and I'm not sure where this is going but sticking with it. That 2% felt like 10% though ... 

As well as this I read 42% of King of Ash and Bone by Melissa Wright because I need something guaranteed to be good to break up my mediocre reads RN.

6th March

Finished King of Ash and Bone and while I enjoyed it and didn't mind the characters, I didn't fall for them like Aern and Emily or Logan and Brianna, and actually some of the transitions between Earth and the dying lands confused the hell out of me. I couldn't see what was happening. Still a pretty awesome paranormal post-apocalyptic and I'd recommend it without question.

I also read a further 23% of Ferals, and I don't love it, but it's interesting.

7th March

I finished Ferals (60% read) and I know I said I liked the crows and escaped criminals but I thought this book would involve MORE than that... :/ I also started Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep (19% read). Fairly intriguing so far, despite the HUGE overload of information at the beginning.

8th March

I read 48% of Cold Burn of Magic, bringing me to 67%, and it's proper growing on me. Sad I won't have much opportunity to read it the next two days since I'm going to London.

Books finished this week: 4
Books DNF'd this week: 0

The Pyramids of London | Andrea K Host

Cold Burn of Magic | Jennifer Estep

Got these two beauties from Netgalley!! Excited to read them, as I've been meaning to read both the author's books for some time!

Smoulder

Crow Moon

Ferals (scheduled for 23rd April)

The Paper Magician

The Winner's Crime

Justice Calling

SARUUH EXPLORES NA: Bound by Prophecy

Saruuh Explores NA: Bound By Prophecy (Review)

Descendants: Bound By Prophecy | Melissa Wright

Published: April 15th 2013

Genre: NA, Urban Fantasy

Pages: 252

Format: Ebook

Source: Free on Amazon

Twenty-two-year-old Aern is done watching his brother destroy the only thing that matters. He never wanted to take Morgan’s place among council, never wanted to rule their hidden world. But when the key to the prophecy is found, a young girl named Brianna whom Morgan will destroy, Aern knows he has to take action.

What he really wants, is for things to go back to normal. But now he’s kidnapped a girl, and his brother’s men are after him. His only hope is to join with the Division, but they have plans of their own, and it’s the last thing Aern is willing to do.
Emily just wants her sister back. She doesn't care about the prophecy, or realize what’s at stake. But when she goes after Aern, the truth of the matter uncoils, and Brianna isn't the only one who’s in danger.

Suddenly, they’re at the center of a secret war, and unless they can work together, they’ll both have a sacrifice too big to make. 

WOW. So I am seriously kicking myself for this whole avoiding NA because I think they're all crappy written erotic romance thing. This book, THIS BOOK, is insane. It is so good. Bound by Prophecy is the realisation of every promise New Adult made it the beginning: it's the same as any YA or Adult book, just in a different age bracket. It's not loaded with sex, problematic relationships, flimsy ladies and macho men. It's perf. Let me tell you why.

The fantasy! It's not entirely unique but what Melissa does with it is. The paranormals in this series have the power of sway. Compulsion, control, whatever you wanna control it - they can touch someone and control them. And what does the main villain do with that power? Well he wants to control the whole human race with it. Obviously. It's the MCs job to stop this guy - his brother - before a pretty terrible prophecy comes to pass and the villain causes the enslavement of one species and the end of another.

The characters! Aern, the MC, is a guy. I dig male POVs for some reason. But Aern is the polar opposite of what I expected from NA. I thought he'd be the Extreme Alpha Male, or the Hot Badass, maybe the Tortured Asshole. He's none of these types, none of the bad boy tropes. He's honest and driven and good. He's a genuine good boy, not a bad boy. (and maybe he's pretty badass and super hot but he's not That Guy.) Holy hell I love him. His protective (over-protective?) streak was something I could quickly identify with. I fell hard.

And Emily, the love interest, turned out to be more than just a love interest! It's a New Adult miracle!! She was integral to the plot, a hella strong character, and I thought her distrust of Aern was pretty realistic in the beginning. Even when she began warming to him, it felt natural.

Here's one of my favourite things about Bound by Prophecy: it doesn't force the romance. There isn't a single kiss until the end of the book. Aern and Emily have chemistry, a connection, but there are more important things going on and they know it. I expected at least one obligatory sex scene but when it didn't come I was pretty shocked - NA without sex? Astounding. Who would have thought a NA book could be anything but erotic? (Literally everyone who got excited for the NA age bracket before it blew up with romance.)

My one gripe? The next book is from a different POV and I need MORE of these babies. Hopefully it won't hinder my Absolute Adoration of this series any, since I'm already fair fond of the next MC (and hoping the love interest is Logan, the only guy in this, aside from Aern, I actually trusted.)

I read this in one sitting, in four hours, and I loved it so much I had to get the second book right away. Bound by Prophecy is an instant favourite. BRB getting all Melissa Wright's other books.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Come back on Tuesday to read my review of the next book - Shifting Fate!

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Reading round up (66)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

16th February

I finished A Magic Dark and Bright (19% read) and THAT ENDING!!! How cruel you are, Jenny Adams Perinovic! I need the next book right now.

I also started The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes which was kind of a wildcard pick for me. I love the cover, was interested in the blurb (although put off by it being a contemporary and my general non-enjoyment of those...) but it could have gone either way. Happily, the survival element of the story is PREVALENT and it's AWESOME. I love this, how the MC has been silenced by a reputation she didn't earn, the exploration of male and female voices and which are heard or ignored, and also the fact it's set in a Wild Mountain Landscape. Uber cool. I read 58% in one sitting.

17th February

I finished The Distance Between Lost and Found and it was harrowing and left a hollow feeling in me. 

I started Suspicion by Alexandra Monir (81 pages) but I'm not sure what to think yet. I like the aristocracy thing but not sure about the MC, whose voice has changed like 3 times I swear.

Because I reckon Suspicion will be a slow read for me, I also started Nightbird by Alice Hoffman (33%), which is odd and maybe boring (I can't tell) but may turn out fairly good. As someone who enjoys middle grade, I haven't enjoyed the past 3 I've read. Which is fair upsetting.

18th February

I finished Nightbird (67%), which was pretty sweet if slow the whole way through. Didn't reeeeeeeeally like it, but didn't hate it either.

19th February

I read 22 pages of Suspicion. The more insults that are thrown at England and the English, the less patience and enthusiasm I have with this. Thought it'd be Amazing but so far it's kind of Alright. 

I had hoped to cut Suspicion with Bound By Prophecy by Melissa Wright, my first Saruuh explores NA read, but I read the entire thing in one sitting (252 pages). Oops. It is SO GOOD. My first NA novel and it blew me away. Crazy, insane, wildly good urban fantasy with characters that I adore!!

20th February

Abandoning Suspicion for now because it's not holding my attention or interest and I'm low on patience. However, I am ADDICTED to the Descendants series. I read Shifting Fate by Melissa Wright. All 214 pages of it. What an exciting, romantic, thrilling series!!!!

21st February

I read 80% of Reign of Shadows, the last in the Descendants series. So far I can't stand Callan but that's to be expected. What's his deal with trying to 'help' Brianna. More like trying to own her.

22nd February

Finished Reign of Shadows (20%) and it was a great ending to the series!! Even if the end of the book did feel a little rushed and I kept expecting more conflict.

I also started Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow (read 82 pages) and it's really interesting!! The MC is a guy of colour and it's set in Devon and Cornwall which is uber cool.

Books finished this week: 6
Books DNF'd this week: 1

A Vision for the Future | Melissa Wright

King of Ash and Bone | Melissa Wright

Shifting Fates | Melissa Wright

Reign of Shadows | Melissa Wright

Sooooooo I adored Bound By Prophecy and went and downloaded everything I could get my hands on by Melissa Wright. I plan to read Frey and buy the rest of the series if I love it ASAP!! I can't wait to start Shifting Fate and Reign of Shadows, and the other two sound suitably exciting!!

A Magic Dark and Bright (scheduled for 25th April)

The Distance Between Lost and Found
Nightbird (scheduled for TOMORROW)
Bound by Prophecy (scheduled for March 7th)
Shifting Fate (scheduled for March 10th)
Reign of Shadows (scheduled for March 12th)