Hello there guys!!
I hope all you US peeps had a brilliant weekend with the 4th of July and the Women's World Cup win, and I hope that my fellow Europeans are surviving the bloody awful heat wave!
Today for Mark This Book Monday I have two mini reviews for two books that have been part of a very good reading binge, until I ended up with a massive book hangover last weekend. Both count towards my 105 Challenge, one as a 2015 Release and the other as Fantasy book! And since one of them is also a debut, it counts towards my 2015 Debut Author Challenge!
Burn by Paula Weston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is what a final book in a beloved series needs to be! And this is the perfect finale for this series, with the good and the bad and the fights and everything! 5 stars doesn't start to describe it properly!
Writing a proper review of this one is gonna be rather difficult, given how easily I might end up spoiling either this book or any of the previous 3, but given how the summary tells you the big ending of the previous book... Just trust me, start reading this series now!
Gaby has to be quite one of my favourite female characters with her flaws, her loyalty and her way of fighting what doesn't make sense and accepting things once they are proven. And I love that despite getting all the missing pieces, she still made herself anew!
We get quite a few twists and surprises when it comes to getting all the pending information, and trust me, we do get it in spades! Some of the twists are quite game changers for all the characters. Some unexpected alliances happen, and some moments of hilarity also unexpectedly happen!
The romance in this series is the most awesome mix of attraction/slow burn/complicated relationship that you can find, and even if we find out what happened in the past between Rafa and Gaby... it made me root for them both even more!! *happy sigh*
Another thing that I loved about this book is how important the relationship between siblings is, because Jude and Gaby and their relationship really is pivotal on everything that happens, the good and the bad. Splitting apart and getting back in touch... and you gotta love how even when choosing different sides, it is a great depiction of a familiar love!
And I don't want to fail to mention how much I loved that friendships are also very much important in this book. Between Rafa and Jude, Gaby and Maggie, and how those friends stand various tests, one of the biggest the revelation of not being human and fighting demons!
If you are a fan of angel books, you NEED to read this series. If, like me, you really aren't too keen on books about angels... you NEED to give this one a try, as I did!! Aussie angels are different mate! ;)
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! THE NEXT BOOK!!! I NEEEEEED IT!!!!!
*takes a deep breath*
Okay, now I feel like I can attempt to write a somewhat coherent review, now that a pair of days have passed and I still feel very strongly about the book but not as lost for words!
First of all, I haven't read 1001 Nights properly, but I do own a gorgeous edition of the books, and I've read quite a few of the stories as children's stories and know a bit about the general plot of the book.
That might have been for the best given how this one is a loose retelling, and although we get some stories told at night here too and those I was quite familiar with, we get more of the day to day of Shazi and Khalid and how their relationship changes in unexpected ways for them both.
The writing and descriptions are fantastic, lush and visual and I was completely immersed in the book! So much that I completely devoured it in a day! The clothes, the architecture... the FOOD!! I'm still craving Indian and Persian food after reading this book because so much amazing food!!
I loved Shazi as a character, she's loyal, she's fierce and her internal monologues where always very sincere. I love that she can be trying to achieve her goal and protect her family, but she finds herself learning more and her feelings change and she never really lies to herself.
Khalid is a more difficult character to relate at first, because we know so little about him, but we also know there's so much more about him, about the deaths and about his fight for his kingdom, and as Shazi discovers it, so do we. I feel like I fell for Khalid right beside Shazi!
Political intrigue, magic and love, this book has them in spades! Add to that a completely heartbreaking ending and you find yourself as I did, screaming for a sequel! A fantastic debut very much worthy of 5 stars!
View all my reviews
I hope all you US peeps had a brilliant weekend with the 4th of July and the Women's World Cup win, and I hope that my fellow Europeans are surviving the bloody awful heat wave!
Today for Mark This Book Monday I have two mini reviews for two books that have been part of a very good reading binge, until I ended up with a massive book hangover last weekend. Both count towards my 105 Challenge, one as a 2015 Release and the other as Fantasy book! And since one of them is also a debut, it counts towards my 2015 Debut Author Challenge!
Burn by Paula Weston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is what a final book in a beloved series needs to be! And this is the perfect finale for this series, with the good and the bad and the fights and everything! 5 stars doesn't start to describe it properly!
Writing a proper review of this one is gonna be rather difficult, given how easily I might end up spoiling either this book or any of the previous 3, but given how the summary tells you the big ending of the previous book... Just trust me, start reading this series now!
Gaby has to be quite one of my favourite female characters with her flaws, her loyalty and her way of fighting what doesn't make sense and accepting things once they are proven. And I love that despite getting all the missing pieces, she still made herself anew!
We get quite a few twists and surprises when it comes to getting all the pending information, and trust me, we do get it in spades! Some of the twists are quite game changers for all the characters. Some unexpected alliances happen, and some moments of hilarity also unexpectedly happen!
The romance in this series is the most awesome mix of attraction/slow burn/complicated relationship that you can find, and even if we find out what happened in the past between Rafa and Gaby... it made me root for them both even more!! *happy sigh*
Another thing that I loved about this book is how important the relationship between siblings is, because Jude and Gaby and their relationship really is pivotal on everything that happens, the good and the bad. Splitting apart and getting back in touch... and you gotta love how even when choosing different sides, it is a great depiction of a familiar love!
And I don't want to fail to mention how much I loved that friendships are also very much important in this book. Between Rafa and Jude, Gaby and Maggie, and how those friends stand various tests, one of the biggest the revelation of not being human and fighting demons!
If you are a fan of angel books, you NEED to read this series. If, like me, you really aren't too keen on books about angels... you NEED to give this one a try, as I did!! Aussie angels are different mate! ;)
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! THE NEXT BOOK!!! I NEEEEEED IT!!!!!
*takes a deep breath*
Okay, now I feel like I can attempt to write a somewhat coherent review, now that a pair of days have passed and I still feel very strongly about the book but not as lost for words!
First of all, I haven't read 1001 Nights properly, but I do own a gorgeous edition of the books, and I've read quite a few of the stories as children's stories and know a bit about the general plot of the book.
That might have been for the best given how this one is a loose retelling, and although we get some stories told at night here too and those I was quite familiar with, we get more of the day to day of Shazi and Khalid and how their relationship changes in unexpected ways for them both.
The writing and descriptions are fantastic, lush and visual and I was completely immersed in the book! So much that I completely devoured it in a day! The clothes, the architecture... the FOOD!! I'm still craving Indian and Persian food after reading this book because so much amazing food!!
I loved Shazi as a character, she's loyal, she's fierce and her internal monologues where always very sincere. I love that she can be trying to achieve her goal and protect her family, but she finds herself learning more and her feelings change and she never really lies to herself.
Khalid is a more difficult character to relate at first, because we know so little about him, but we also know there's so much more about him, about the deaths and about his fight for his kingdom, and as Shazi discovers it, so do we. I feel like I fell for Khalid right beside Shazi!
Political intrigue, magic and love, this book has them in spades! Add to that a completely heartbreaking ending and you find yourself as I did, screaming for a sequel! A fantastic debut very much worthy of 5 stars!
View all my reviews
First of all, I need to read the Paula Weston series IMMEDIATELY!!! I've heard nothing but amazing things and now that all the books are out I can binge read:)
ReplyDeleteSecond, how heartbreaking are we talking with the W&D ending? Maybe I need to wait until the sequel is out before I dive in.... *takes deep breaths*
Jenny!! YOU NEED TO READ THE REPHAIM SERIES!! I KNOW YOU'LL LOVE IT!!
DeleteAnd as for the ending of the Wrath and the Dawn... how near your limit of heartbreaking triangles for the year are you? Because this is one is HARD!! The book is a must read but maybe wait till closer to the sequel's release date...
At first I thought the title of this was "Burn the Wrath and the Dawn" and I was like WHAT?! I have got to get ahold of that one, so many people love it, and I know that I will too. Great review!
ReplyDeleteHahahahha, no way!! It's an amazing book that I DO RECOMMEND VERY MUCH!! No burning of the precious!! ;)
DeleteI need to read The Wrath and the Dawn, yes I do! I am hoping it will be an ebook special after Christmas. :D
ReplyDeleteYup yup, Linda, you need to! The good thing of waiting till it's an ebook special it's that it'll be closer to the release date of the sequel! ;)
DeleteYESSSS OHMYGOSH HOW AWESOME IS BURN I LOVED IT JUST AS MUCH AS YOU DID GIRL!! Your review sums up all my feels PERFECTLY.
ReplyDeleteYESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! BURN WAS BRILLIANT!!!!
DeleteOmg you make the Rephalim series look so amazing. I can't wait! Also The Wrath!!!!! Need!! I love your reviews. They make me heart so many books!
ReplyDelete❤️Britt
You need to check The Rephaim series Britt, you liked Angelfall, you'll love this too!! =D
DeleteYESSSS I'm so glad you loved Wrath!! The romance was so beautiful. The writing was fantastic. I loved the food and culture descriptions. It's supposed to be Persia-inspired, and ahhhh I need The Rose and The Dagger SO BAD. Lovely review <3
ReplyDeleteRachel @ A Perfection Called Books
YESSS!! The Rose and The Dagger won't release early enough!!
DeleteThe 'loose' retelling part gives me some hope since I have the absolute worst luck with actual retellings. The gorgeous, rich writing is also right up my alley. That's the kind of thing that makes me want to keep reading until I'm done, in a single sitting. I have an extra Audible credit and I now know what to spend it on.
ReplyDeleteYes Maja, just remember to have food handy because the food descriptions will make you so hungry!!
DeleteNoooo, heat wave! Stay cool, lady! I'm very excited to see that you enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn! I loved it and cannot wait to read the sequel. Sequel/CONCLUSION HECK YES. I hate waiting ;) Just waiting for book two is THE WORST. Anyway. Excellent reviews, Pili!
ReplyDeleteHang in there, lady :)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Thank you Alyssa! The wait for book two does suck indeed!!
DeleteThe heat is awful, right? I am in Croatia so I dont come out until after the dark... like a vampire XD I am so glad you loved The Wrath and the Dawn, it is definitely on my tbr pile, the sooner I buy it, the better. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteYES! You need to read TW&TD ASAP!!
DeleteAnd the blasted heat is killing me!!
OMGG Pili both of these books sound amazing! I haven't started the Rephaim series yet but it sounds like it ties up really well, loving the sound of the sibling relationship too. Love the sound of The Wrath and the Dawn as well, the cultural stuff, the food, everything! Beautiful reviews!
ReplyDeleteYESSSS!! Jeann you need to read both ASAP!! Start the Rephaim series as soon as you can because it is brilliant!!
DeleteYaaay :D Stunning reviews Pili. <3 I'm oh so happy that you loved both books so much :) I have yet to read book one, Shadows. But I own all three, getting four from the UK in.. august? then I might read them all :D So happy you loved it. And yay for the second book too :D I must read it soon. I must. But aw. HEAT WAVE? What heat? :( We have yet to have heat here at the top of Norway, soooobs. So cold. Not much sun either. So weird and not usual, hmph. But hope you are having a great summer :)
ReplyDeleteOh dear Carina, I wish I could send some of this horrible heat up for you guys!!
Delete