Showing posts with label new adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new adult. Show all posts

10 Apr 2023

Review: A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS by Elise Kova, Book #3 of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!

10 April 1 Comments

A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS

Author: Elise Kova
Series: A Trial of Sorcerers #3
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: September 13, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representationgay side characters

Summary:
From the co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid, a thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads

Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.

But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner's office, she's never encountered a case she couldn't solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren's examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.

An addictive read with straight-from-the-morgue details only an autopsy technician could provide, The Butcher and the Wren promises to ensnare all who enter.
Purchase:
Amazon | TBD

Content Warning: abuse of a family member and blood from some scenes during the competition, grieving, mentions of death

This was a little disappointing - mostly because it feels like it's dragging instead of getting to the interesting parts. I think there are too many things happening that don't have enough satisfying threads throughout the novels to keep me interested. 

I was really happy with the fact that this series is following someone who isn't a royal and tangentially related to the previous events of the Air Awakens world, but I am disappointed with how things are intertwined and integrated. The most interesting part of Eira is how she shows her strength and her mysterious parental lineage and that is barely touched upon in this book.

Also the romance is just not there for me at all. There was too much build up in the previous books only for this one to be a let down. I think that's the struggle with knowing this series is 5 books - there is too much book timespan for it to feel super satisfying because there's too much time for things to go well or poorly.

I will finish the series but I hope I'm not let down the way I was with the Vortex Chronicles at the end!

Have you read this series? Are you going to pick this up?

12 Dec 2022

Review: A HUNT OF SHADOWS by Elise Kova, Book #2 in A Trial of Sorcerers

12 December 0 Comments

A HUNT OF SHADOWS

Author: Elise Kova
Series: A Trial of Sorcerers #2
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:
Representation: gay side characters

Summary:
Eira is now a champion of the Solaris Empire. She’s off to a land she’s only dreamed about. But a nightmare awaits her.

Her sworn enemy has escaped. His allies are powerful and deadly. And Eira finds herself tangled in the dangerous web of the undercity of Risen where the mysterious Court of Shadows and lethal Pillars battle for the fate of the kingdom.

But vengeance has a price. When Eira is captured by her enemies, it’s not only her life, but the lives of her friends, and the man she loves most, at stake. The woman she was won’t be enough to turn the tides churning against her from long before she was born. She’ll have to become something more. She’ll have to love deeper and fight fiercer than ever before.

The only way to kill a legendary champion, will be to become one herself.

Experience Eira’s adventure in the A Trial of Sorcerers series by USA Today bestselling author Elise Kova today, for readers who enjoy young adult, epic fantasy, filled with sorcery, deep friendships, forbidden romance, and tales of faraway lands.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
Content Warning sexual harassment, torture, fire explosions resulting in loss of life, kidnapping, death of a loved one (discussed), mild gore and blood.


I'm seeing a lot of pattern in the way the Air Awakens related series are going. That's both a good and bad thing. I loved Eira as a character, and having her focus on revenge and also being curious about a new land, was great! She had such great character development throughout this and I really liked exploring more of her magical abilities.

However, I'm not totally feeling the romance. Looking back at my reviews for the Vortex Chronicles series (and Air Awakens), after book two of each of those I was very meh on the romance as well. I hope that changes as things continue and progress forward. I was definitely rooting for them, but there's not enough on the page for me to really believe it.

But the worldbuilding, the setting, and the overarching plot is so exciting and intense! I loved every second of it and sometimes wish we got other perspectives in this one so that I could see some of the moving pieces behind the scenes that we don't get from Eira (who is very much in the dark and making her own decisions based on what she knows).

If you are planning on reading this, I still very much think you should read the entire Air Awakens and Vortex Chronicles series so that you get to experience the lush worldbuilding of the setting and not get spoiled for those if you end up going back to them.

I have definitely seen Kova's craft improve book over book and series over series and this is shaping up to be the best one yet. I can't wait to see where this goes next with A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS!

Have you read this book? Are you going to pick this up?

20 Jan 2020

#Review: BEST LAID PLANS by Lauren Blakely

20 January 0 Comments

BEST LAID PLANS

Best Laid Plans by Lauren Blakely coverAuthor: Lauren Blakely
Series: Lucky in Love #1
Source: Purchased from Audible
Publisher: Little Dog Press
Publication Date: February 27, 2019
Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:


Summary:
That time I had the brilliant idea to ask my good friend for lessons in sex-ploration…

Awkward? Maybe. But how else is a good girl going to find out if she likes being naughty?
And Gabe is charming, trustworthy, aces at seduction (or so I hear) and willing to give me lessons. But to guarantee it won’t ruin our friendship, I want these classes to be hypothetical more than hands-on.
So what if he’s hella sexy? I can handle that, no problem.
***
I have it bad for Arden. She’s bright, brilliant, and insanely fun. When she asks for my help, I see my chance to win her sweet heart by showing her how much fun we can have getting spicy.
Trouble is, she has a different idea of what “sex-ploration” should mean. Now I’m going to have to get really clever to win her over.


Good thing I know exactly how to upend her best laid plans.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
This was okay and had some cute (and sexy) moments, but I felt it was kind of bland. And definitely too predictable. I enjoyed it enough but it didn't WOW me like I wanted it to. But for an Audible Daily Deal, it was fine.

I liked how this story started and came to be. It was an interesting meet-cute/reunion and I liked that the two became friends. But we didn't really get to see that - it kinda skips ahead and we're to assume that they are BFFs.

Beyond this, I hate when miscommunication is the plot. And that's what this is. Both assume they are communicating with the other when really they say something vague and then are like "yeah they totally know what I mean" or say something similar to what they mean but that has a VERY different meaning and assume the response would be the same. I wanted to shake both of them and be like "this is not how you communicate!!!"

But I liked their relationship overall. I definitely think they would be a good couple IRL and I liked reading about the sexy times, especially at work which made it feel very mischevious. Although I did accidentally press "play" without my headphones connected so THAT WAS FUN.

Also, I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook. The performance by Erin Mallon and Joe Arden is really outstanding. Because 1. they do the dialogue for their own characters, so even if it was Arden's POV, Joe would do Gabe's dialogue and vice versa. This made for so much more exciting and interesting dialogue and scenes because you felt as though they were there together. Which made it that much more real. I think a whole star of my rating is because of how fantastic the audiobook is. Plus at the end, they interview each other about recording it together, their lives, etc. and it is very cute!!!!

Have you read this one? What was your favourite part?

5 Mar 2018

#Discussion: New Adult Book Recommendations!

05 March 1 Comments
A Twitter firestorm was had over YA books set in college versus NA books versus everything else in the world, pretty much. Each side had it's valid points but in all honesty, it is an overdone and tired conversation. One mostly perpetuated by people who only see the surface of what NA is and think that it is nothing more than a stereotype.

So today's post is for you if you want to start reading more older YA/NA which I'm titling "Books With Protagonists Who Are 18-25 That Have Minimal Romance" I am going to do the best I can to be inclusive, diverse, and hit as many genres as possible, but I am one woman and cannot do it all.

Note: Some of these books may be labelled "YA," some may be labelled "NA," and some may be labelled "Adult." But I am including them if the protagonists is between 18-25.

Contemporary

26 Aug 2016

#NAAugust: #GuestPost by Lyssa Chiavari

26 August 0 Comments
Over on Books Are My Fandom, we are hosting a full month all about the New Adult genre! There you can read posts from bloggers and authors about what New Adult means to them. On Dani Reviews Things, Dani will be reviewing New Adult books all month! And on here, Books and Ladders, every Monday and Friday, I will be reviewing New Adult books and talking about ones I *have* reviewed and really enjoyed!


FOURTH WORLD

Author: Lyssa Chiavari
Series: The Iamos Trilogy #1
Publisher: Lyssa Chiavari
Publication Date: December 29, 2015

Summary
IAMOS, S.C.D. 8378
Nadin's planet is dying. As its atmosphere drains away, her people are forced to live huddled in domed cities for protection. With only enough resources to support the population for one more year, time is running out. Nadin thinks she's found a way to save Iamos, but it will mean defying the planet's rulers, the geroi—and betraying the geroi could cost her everything.

When a strange boy from another world appears out of nowhere outside the citidome's glass walls, Nadin knows for sure that her plan will work. But to build the device that can save her people, Nadin must first find the legendary city of Elytherios. And to do that, she'll need the help of the mysterious alien boy named Isaak.

MARS, 2073 C.E.
All Isaak wanted was to get through his senior year at the Academy in one piece. Everything would have been fine if he hadn't found that ancient coin among his missing father's possessions. The coin seems to have a strange connection not only to Isaak's family, but to Mars' ancient past.

But how is that possible, on a planet that was supposed to be dead until just forty years ago?

Now Isaak's got agents of the Earth's government on his tail and a deranged factory worker stalking his every move. Everyone is desperate to get their hands on something called the Key. And the only way to escape is to unlock an even bigger secret, one that could change his life—and the fate of Mars—forever.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25555364-fourth-world
Purchase:

What makes a book New Adult? 

We’ve seen some great discussions about the genre this month during #NAAugust, and a lot of it has seemed to boil down to sex. There’s been debate about how much sex NA books should include, whether sex should be a prerequisite for classifying a book as NA, and what the line should be between NA and YA on one side, erotica on the other. Many of the arguments I’ve seen from both sides of the debate have pointed out that sex is important in NA because sex is so integral to the lives of people that age range (18- 30).

22 Aug 2016

#NAAugust: DAYBREAK RISING by Kiran Oliver

22 August 1 Comments
Over on Books Are My Fandom, we are hosting a full month all about the New Adult genre! There you can read posts from bloggers and authors about what New Adult means to them. On Dani Reviews Things, Dani will be reviewing New Adult books all month! And on here, Books and Ladders, every Monday and Friday, I will be reviewing New Adult books and talking about ones I *have* reviewed and really enjoyed!

DAYBREAK RISING

Author: Kiran Oliver
Series: Daybreak Rising #1
Source: eARC via the Author
Publisher: Torquere Press
Publication Date: September 21, 2016
Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary:
22-year-old Celosia Brennan spent sixteen years being raised as the heroine her nation needed. A dual-touched Elementalist with both the power to conjure fire and see glimpses of her future, Celosia was the best hope at overthrowing the oppressive Council in a mission called Daybreak, an attempt to secure justice for the massacre of her people and so many others. There’s just one problem: she couldn’t. Celosia broke down after realizing the enormity of her task, and is struggling to make things right while the blood of her fellows stains her hands.

Now branded a failure, Celosia desperately volunteers for the next mission: taking down the corrupt Council with a team of her fellow elementally-gifted mages. Leading the Ember Operative gives Celosia her last hope at redemption. They seek to overthrow the Council once and for all, this time bringing the fight to Valeria, the largest city under the Council’s iron grip. But Celosia’s new teammates don’t trust her—all except for a powerful ice Elementalist named Ianthe who believes in second chances.

With Council spies, uncontrolled magic, and the distraction of unexpected love, Celosia will have to win the trust of her teammates and push her abilities to the breaking point to complete the Ember Operative. Except if she falters this time, there won’t be any Elementalists left to stop the Council from taking over not only her country, but their entire world.

Disclaimer: I received an early ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this one was pretty good but I had some difficulty following the story line 100% of the time. I think that the plot could have used a little more polishing because there are things I'm a little confused about that I should have a pretty firm grasp on after finishing the whole novel. The magic system was really intricate, well thought out, and well explained. However, the novel didn't give me enough to understand why there was an uprising, what the uprising was supposed to be doing, etc. etc. which was kind of disappointing in that sense.

5 Aug 2016

#NAAugust: THE ISLAND by S. Usher Evans

05 August 1 Comments
Over on Books Are My Fandom, we are hosting a full month all about the New Adult genre! There you can read posts from bloggers and authors about what New Adult means to them. On Dani Reviews Things, Dani will be reviewing New Adult books all month! And on here, Books and Ladders, I will be reviewing New Adult books throughout the month!

THE ISLAND

Author: S. Usher Evans
Series: Madion War Trilogy #1
Source: eARC via Author
Publisher: Sun's Golden Ray Publishing
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary:
Prince Galian is third in line to the throne, but prefers his place as a resident at the Royal Kylaen Hospital. When his father urges him to join the military to help reclaim their colony, Galian is forced to put aside his oath to Do No Harm and fight a war he does not believe in.

Across the great Madion Sea, Captain Theo Kallistrate dreams of a day when she is no longer bound by conscription to fight for her country's independence. But when the Kylaens threaten, honor and duty call her to the front lines to fight off the oppressors.

When an air skirmish goes wrong, both Theo and Galian crash on a remote island hundreds of miles from either nation. Grievously injured, Theo must rely on Galian's medical expertise, and Galian must rely on Theo's survival skills, to live another day in a harsh and unforgiving terrain.

Can they put aside their differences long enough to survive? Or will the war that brought them to the island tear them apart?

The Island is the first in a new romance trilogy by S. Usher Evans, author of the Razia series and Empath.
Purchase:


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There were some things that were done pretty well in this: the overall conflict and how the politics worked. But I thought it was kinda boring (and very similar to THESE BROKEN STARS by Meagan Spooner and Ami Kaufman). I also wasn't a huge fan of the bastardization of the Japanese culture for the Ravens. 

1 Aug 2016

#NAAugust: RADLEIGH UNIVERSITY Series by Dahlia Adler

01 August 0 Comments
Over on Books Are My Fandom, we are hosting a full month all about the New Adult genre! There you can read posts from bloggers and authors about what New Adult means to them. On Dani Reviews Things, Dani will be reviewing New Adult books all month! And on here, Books and Ladders, I will be reviewing New Adult books throughout the month!


LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT 

Author: Dahlia Adler
Series: Radleigh University #1
Source: eBook from Amazon
Publisher: Smashwords Edition
Publication Date: December 9, 2014
Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary:
Lizzie Brandt was valedictorian of her high school class, but at Radleigh University, all she's acing are partying and hooking up with the wrong guys. But all that changes when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, making her guardian to her two younger brothers. To keep them out of foster care, she'll have to fix up her image, her life, and her GPA—fast. Too bad the only person on campus she can go to for help is her humorless, pedantic Byzantine History TA, Connor Lawson, who isn't exactly Lizzie's biggest fan.

But Connor surprises her. Not only is he a great tutor, but he’s also a pretty great babysitter. And chauffeur. And listener. And he understands exactly what it’s like to be on your own before you're ready. Before long, Lizzie realizes having a responsible-adult type around has its perks... and that she'd like to do some rather irresponsible (but considerably adult) things with him as well. Good thing he's not the kind of guy who'd ever reciprocate.

Until he does.

Until they turn into far more than teacher and student.

Until the relationship that helped put their lives back together threatens everything they both have left.
Purchase:


I think I liked Lizzie's story better than Frankie's (in OUT ON GOOD BEHAVIOR) but I still had a couple issues with it. I definitely recommend this series if you're looking for good NA books, though. I think there is the right mix of conflict, romance, and literal sex that adds up to the perfect combination for Contemporary NA.