Search

Search only in certain items:

A Suitable Replacement (Deceived #4)
A Suitable Replacement (Deceived #4)
Megan Derr | 2014 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is an MM Historical Romance with a dash of fantasy added to it. After all, I don't think anyone studying the magical theory of the Goblin Wars would have gone down too well with the 'ton' in normal circumstances. However, there are parts of it that rang true for the historical genre - the attempted assassination of the royals, the child having to atone for the 'sins' of his parents, etc.

This is a fast-moving and intricate plot involving a Duchess who has run away with a love match, her brother just returned after three years away, the jilted fiance and the lady the love match was supposed to be marrying for reasons of her own.

It is written very well with enough plot twists to keep you on your toes. I loved the relationship between Kelcey and Max and the way that you were constantly left wondering what would throw a spanner in the works next. At the same time, I wanted to knock their heads together to get them to talk honestly with each other.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and definitely recommended.

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 1, 2015
  
Kingdom of Souls
Kingdom of Souls
Rena Barron | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I completely invested myself in the world that Kingdom of Souls was set in: a young girl, Arrah, is the daughter of two powerful Witch Doctors, who themselves come from a long line of Witch Doctors. But when Arrah comes of age, her powers do not come with it. She’s incapable of even the simplest acts of magic. So when children start disappearing, one of them being a friend of hers, Arrah decides to buy magic from a Charlatan. The cost is years from her life for every magical act. But in borrowing her powers, Arrah discovers a terrible secret. That all Witch Doctors, all people, are in grave danger.

I really enjoyed this - it’s completely immersive, and every detail needed to build an alternate world is thought of. The end could have been a bit more succinct and to the point, and I’m always a bit sad when a previously strong female character seems to lose it over a man, but on the whole, I really enjoyed this and will look out for the next in the series on audible (I really enjoyed the audiobook)
  
OS
Of Shadow and Elves ( Of Goblin Kings 2)
Emma Hamm | 2023
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
151 of 235
Kindle
Of Shadows and Elves ( Of Goblin Kings 2)
By Emma Hamm
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Freya couldn't have known she would destroy the entire faerie court by beating the Goblin King. All she wanted was her sister back, not to imprison the king. But with her sister refusing to return home, Freya is left trapped in her own mess. She has to fix what she broke or the faerie realm will get infinitely more dangerous.

Bring the Goblin King back. Save the people she harmed. And do her best to avoid the temptation of falling into the Goblin King's arms. Considering the Goblin King is locked away in a magical prison, at least one of her goals may be impossible to achieve...

...unless she's willing to go through hardships unnumbered.

I needed this it was all magic and fantasy with kings queens hero’s and villains plus a few goblin creatures thrown in. It followed on from book one seamlessly and was a fun read. Freya is a sweet hero who has to reach deep in this one to go against her own nature all for her goblin king.
  
40x40

ClareR (5667 KP) rated The Illusions in Books

Aug 21, 2023  
The Illusions
The Illusions
Liz Hyder | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Illusions was completely and utterly riveting - I couldn’t put it down!
It’s the late 1890’s and The Greatest Magician is ready to hand over his mantle (wand?) to George Perris. George meets Eadie Carlton, a photographer and pioneering film-maker, and decides that he wants to try and incorporate her work into his show.

Cecily Marsden finds herself alone again when her con artist master dies suddenly, and she gets a job in the house of his nephew. But the nephew has some secrets of his own. Luckily, Cec meets a kind gentleman who only wants to help her and take her away from her employer.

Cec, George and Eadie soon find themselves working together on the greatest magic show, and Cec has to try and save the performance from sabotage.

I loved this: there’s stage magic, a bit of ‘real’ magic and the excitement of the modern age and film. It’s exciting (will the show go on?), romantic (will they EVER get together?) and frankly magical (of course!).

I’m so glad I read this, it really did start my summer holidays on a high!
  
76 of 235
Kindle
A Forest of Vanity and Valour ( Lavanthria 1)
By A.P. Beswick
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vireo Reinhold relishes collecting his monarch’s proper dues. Working hard to prolong and fund the king’s never-ending war, the self-centered official revels in the perks of luxury that come with his unorthodox role. But his world upends when he unearths an ancient spellbook that promises to unlock a shadowy, forgotten magic.

Embroiled in a secret affair with a fellow noble’s wife, Vireo is mortified when he’s forced to commit an unthinkable act. Driven into exile, no longer able to coerce the vulnerable, and with the powerful tome in his enemy’s hands, the fallen agent’s only shot at survival hangs on his skills at saving others.

Can Vireo redeem himself as the people’s champion before they all fall to a sinister fate?


I really enjoyed this! The world building now really good I love the whole Medieval theme to it. The characters and the storyline were very enjoyable to read. Can’t wait to see what other magical beings we encounter during the series. I really like this authors work so far.
  
The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus, #1)
The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus, #1)
Jonathan Stroud | 2003 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.6 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well.

Have you ever read any Terry Pratchett? (incidentally, one of my favourite)

The author of this surely has; in particular putting me in mind somewhat of Eric.

This, however, is set in a (fictional) London, still on planet Earth, but where magic is real and practiced by the ruling (and not very pleasant) class of Magicians, who summon magical creatures to do their dirty work.

Which is where Bartimaeus comes in: a djinni summoned by the boy would-be Magician Nathaniel (aka John) and initially bound to do his will until he discovers his masters birth name.

The story is told roughly every 2 or 3 chapters about from the perspective of both Bartimaeus (in the first person, and with tons of footnotes) himself and from that of Nathaniel (third person, no footnotes), leading up to the final chapter which flits between the both of them in the one chapter alone.

The result, I found, was an enjoyable enough read (although you do want to smack one main character in particular around the head) - I may pick up parts 2 and 3 in the series, but would not be in any great rush to do so.