Book Review · Books

Chain of Iron (The Last Hours #2) By Cassandra Clare [BOOK REVIEW]

Chain of Iron (The Last Hours #2) By Cassandra Clare [BOOK REVIEW]

Cassandra Claire is one of those authors that no matter what she writes, I’ll be there to read it. Chain of Iron was no different – a very high-paced and adventurous continuation to Chain of Gold. I love this series and can’t wait for Chain of Thorns to come out now.

About The Book:

Chain of Iron (The Last Hours #2) By Cassandra Clare [BOOK REVIEW]


Pages: 637

Format I read it in: Paperback

Publisher: Walker Books

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★★

Synopsis:

The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel.

Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.

But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.

Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

My Thoughts:

Chain of Iron is the second book in The Last Hours series. It should be read after you have read the first book, Chain of Gold. This review will probably contain spoilers for the first book, but I will do my best to refrain from revealing anything major in this book.

I love the writing of Cassandra Clare, period. Her chapter openings that make me tab and seek the books she is referencing. The way she adds a foreign language into the books. Here, have some Latin and Italian. Yes, please. I also love how she casually drops so many interesting facts. I don’t think I ever was curious how chess came to be, but I love the myth that was in the book. And also, not to forget, the unforgettable Magnus Bane cameos.

“You all know Magnus Bane, of course?” Anna gestured to the tall figure standing next to her. 

“It’s my understanding,” Cordelia said,”that the question is never whether you know Magnus Bane. The question is always whether Magnus Bane knows you.”

The romance in the book was spot on.

Very slow burn, just as I like it. There were some couples I was expecting to start felling things for each other, and there were also some which pleasantly surprised me. It felt like every couple or potential couple had a unique connection and I felt differently pleased when reading their chapters. The middle of the book hyped me up, and I was so happy when I finished Chapter 22. I have also never been so annoyed at a bracelet before, so that’s a first. 🙂 The ending gave me a big heartbreak, and I can’t wait to read book 3 to see if some hearts will be mended, because I don’t like the way it ended, with some couples being heartbroken…

“My father used to tell me that sometimes you cannot reconcile with someone else. Sometimes you have to find that reconciliation on your own. Someone who broke your heart is often not the person who can mend it.”

I didn’t like the Lucie and Grace combo, and I really missed the relationship Lucie had with Cordelia in the first book. For best friends that are supposed to be parabatai, they didn’t have much time together in this book and I truly missed that. On the subject of Grace, I enjoyed her chapters, but I felt no sympathy for her at all and this didn’t change. She knew exactly what she was doing, and I will never have sympathy for her in this lifetime or the next.

“Love leads to pain, but if you are careful with the way you wield it… you can use it to wound, as well.”

The mystery part was a bit weak.

Without spoiling anything away, I will just say that a certain narrative kept being pushed as to who the killer is, and if you can instantly know this is not the truth and something else is going on. The reveal was very promptly revealed and wasn’t satisfying to me, but I did like some parts, for example the twist with Cordelia.

Overall, I loved this book. I devoured it very fast, and that always says a lot to me. If I don’t like a book, I tend to read it for longer periods of time. Chain of Iron was amazing and satisfied my need for adventure, romance, and Shadowhunter world vibe. I am looking forward to read the next book, and I also warmly recommend this series!

About The Author:

Chain of Iron (The Last Hours #2) By Cassandra Clare [BOOK REVIEW]

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

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Book Review · Books

House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

I enjoyed reading every second of House of Sky and Breath, even though at times I wasn’t too keen on where the story was heading. It’s a perfect continuation of House of Earth and Blood and I’m definitely curious to find out what happens in the next book in the series. 

About The Book:

House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]


Pages: 802

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★★

Synopsis:

Two sisters. One throne. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to avenge her parents’ murder and usurp the princess, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves.

Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.

The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.

In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it.

My Thoughts:

This review is SPOILER FREE – I won’t be talking about any spoilers, but I may inadvertently mention some thoughts regarding the plot, so please be wary. 

As a whole, House of Sky and Breath was a true gem and I wholeheartedly enjoyed it. I read it as part of the Tandem Collective readalong throughout 15 days, and reading this book in this way made it even more meaningful. Every night, all of us readers would get together in our Instagram chats and talk about what happened and plot our theories. Having so many buddy readers made reading this book so much more enjoyable! 

The story starts with a twist, but then threads very slowly, almost at the same pace as House of Earth and Blood. If you manage to get through the first 70 pages, you will be engrossed with the story, and the pace doesn’t stop from there on. Adventures are at every corner, and the crew keeps discovering new hints and clues that make you continue reading. After those first 70 pages, stopping will be an issue – honestly! 

“Fae were highly sensitive babies. Their tantrums could last centuries.”

The characters in this book are as vivid as they are in the first one.

We met a lot of new faces that joined the crew and I loved the vibe that they brought with them. I loved that people from different houses joined and how they all had their own stories to tell as well. The only part that I didn’t like was that some characters that died in the last book were now part of the story as well. New things were discovered about them, which changed a lot of things.

The issue I have with this is I think it’s a very weak plot armour. It’s very easy to write a plot twist about someone that’s already dead. Have them done things in the past, and they can no longer talk for themselves or explain. This is however, just a matter of taste, and some people may enjoy this trope, but not me. I hope the next book doesn’t follow this path again. 

“Have you met my mom?” Bryce burst out. “Does rational ever spring to mind when you think about her? She makes sculptures of babies in beds of lettuce, for fuck’s sake.”

Sarah J. Maas did a very good job in portraying feelings.

I felt that the survivor’s guilt was portrayed very realistically at the beginning of House of Sky and Breath. It shows how different characters deal with it in a different way. You can also feel the aftermath of everything that’s happened in the first book linger in the air whilst reading, and that shows the true mastery of Maas’s writing. She created a unique atmosphere where you can almost sense what people are feeling without them saying it out loud. It was the same later on in the book where people dealt with grief and anger. 

But also, when people felt love. Aside from our obvious couple, we had some other couples along the way, and every love I read about I felt differently about, which truly shows how good the writing is. They all loved differently, but just as strongly. I was so enchanted with Ruhn’s story and his love interest. It gripped me in a way I didn’t expect it to. I knew where the story was heading and I thought I’d be untouched, but it touched me, and it’s my favourite love story in the book. And if you’ve read the book, you’ll know that says a lot. 

“But wherever you’re headed when this life is over, Quinlan, that’s where I want to be, too.”

This book engrossed me from the very beginning.

And even as I finished it, I am still enchanted by the amazing storytelling. There is so much going on in this world, with so many characters, and yet everything felt in place. Everyone’s story was told, and everything was left with a meaning behind it. Fighting for what’s right and trying to find the truth was what led this book forward. But the power of friendship and family (blood related and made one) made it worthwhile. 

“Hard to enjoy being free.” Hunt countered darkly, “if you’re dead.”

I cannot recommend House of Sky and Breath enough. If you love adult fantasy romance, the Crescent City series should be on the top of your reading pile.

About The Author:

House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-seven languages.

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Book Review · Books

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber [BOOK REVIEW]

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber [BOOK REVIEW]

Twin Crowns was such a magical read. From the moment I read the synopsis, I wanted to know more about these two sister twins. The action starts from the very first page, and it never stops. Even when it ended, I was immediately craving to read the second book in the Twin Crowns series. Needless to say, I will be pestering and stalking both authors for book spoilers and updates.

About The Book:

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber [BOOK REVIEW]


Pages: 512

Format I read it in: Paperback / Limited Edition Uncorrected Proof

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★★

Synopsis:

Two sisters. One throne. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to avenge her parents’ murder and usurp the princess, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves.

Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility including marriage into a brutal kingdom. Life outside the palace walls is a place to be feared and she is soon to discover that it’s wilder than she ever imagined.

Twin sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better… 

My Thoughts:

The royal theme entwined with magic really hooked me. The stories about the witches were some of my favourite scenes whilst reading this book. All the awful things that happened to them, things that were done to them. How they were forced to go into hiding and give up so many things, the throne being one of them. However, what really made me love them was the willpower for them to keep fighting. They never give up and finally come back to fight for what truly belongs to them.

“When you break open the stone heart of Anadawn Palace and seize your rightful place on its throne, all the winds of Eana will sing your name. May the courage of the witches go with you, my little bird.”

I also loved that this book features twin sisters.

I was very glad that we didn’t have any of those stereotypical moments that authors like to do with twins. It was such a relief! Wren and Rose are two completely different people with different personalities, and this book really explores that. They are both so very lovable in their own unique way. I connected with Wren slightly more than I did with Rose. Perhaps due to the fact that Wren is more adventurous, outspoken and sarcastic. However, Rose is also amazing – and her story is very emotional. The development she is going through is inspiring. It’s not easy to suddenly realise that your whole life has been based on lies, and now you are away from home and have to relearn everything from the beginning.

“I imagine the battles a princess must fight don’t often call for knives and swords.”

Everything about this book captivated me. The world, the twin sisters, the witches… Then Tor and Shen, the Cliffs, the desert and the unknown places we are still yet to explore. I can vividly imagine every detail in this world, because it was so perfectly described. The story itself carried excitement and suspense at the end of each chapter. It made me desperate to keep reading. And the chapters swapping between Wren and Rose’s points of view only add up to the fast pace the book has.

The romance in this book is adorable.

We have a few slow burn romances entwined with humour. I am so invested in these people’s relationships and I can’t wait to read about their happy ever afters. The bonds that they make are very wholesome and adorable, and I am here for it.

Rose glared at him. “Do you always talk to women the way you talk to your horse?”
“You should be flattered. There’s no one in this world I respect more than Storm.”

I also had the privilege to attend two online meetings and meet both authors. They shared so many incredible details about the book, the places and the motivation behind it. Reading this book with some amazing bookstagrammers as part of a readalong and also whilst chatting with the authors made this book very special to me. I will forever cherish that experience!

To sum up, although I could go on forever, please pick this book up! It’s the magic YA fantasy you’ve been yearning for. As soon as you finish the first chapter and the magic starts working, you won’t be able to put Twin Crowns down. I am sure Wren’s enchantment spells have something to do with this!

About The Authors:

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber [BOOK REVIEW]

Catherine Doyle grew up in the West of Ireland. She holds a first-class BA in Psychology and a first-class MA in Publishing. She is the author of the Young Adult Blood for Blood trilogy (Vendetta, Inferno and Mafiosa), which is often described as Romeo and Juliet meets the Godfather. Her debut Middle Grade novel, The Storm Keeper’s Island (Bloomsbury, 2018), is an adventure story about family, bravery and self-discovery.

​Aside from more conventional interests in movies, running and travelling, Catherine also enjoys writing about herself in the third-person.

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber [BOOK REVIEW]

Katherine Webber was born in Southern California in 1987. She currently lives in London with her husband, Kevin, and their young daughter. In addition to her YA, Katherine also co-writes young fiction, as Katie Tsang, with Kevin.

She loves an adventure, whether it is found in a book or in real life and has travelled to over 45 countries. Travel, books, and eating out are her favourite indulgences.

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Book Review · Books

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman [BOOK REVIEW]

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman [BOOK REVIEW]

The Devouring Gray has a very gripping introduction. I love a trope when a new person comes to town. And add to this a small town with founding families that all keep secrets. Very creepy small town setting and danger looming. I loved this book and can’t wait for the next one.

About The Book:

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman [BOOK REVIEW]


Pages: 389

Format I read it in: Paperback

Publisher: Titan Books

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★

Synopsis:

Branches and stones, daggers and bones,
They locked the Beast away.

After the death of her sister, seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders finds herself dragged to Four Paths, New York. Violet may be a newcomer, but she soon learns her mother isn’t: They belong to one of the revered founding families of the town, where stone bells hang above every doorway and danger lurks in the depths of the woods.

Justin Hawthorne’s bloodline has protected Four Paths for generations from the Gray—a lifeless dimension that imprisons a brutal monster. After Justin fails to inherit his family’s powers, his mother is determined to keep this humiliation a secret. But Justin can’t let go of the future he was promised and the town he swore to protect.

Ever since Harper Carlisle lost her hand to an accident that left her stranded in the Gray for days, she has vowed revenge on the person who abandoned her: Justin Hawthorne. There are ripples of dissent in Four Paths, and Harper seizes an opportunity to take down the Hawthornes and change her destiny-to what extent, even she doesn’t yet know.

The Gray is growing stronger every day, and its victims are piling up. When Violet accidentally unleashes the monster, all three must band together with the other Founders to unearth the dark truths behind their families’ abilities—before the Gray devours them all.

My Thoughts:

It was so easy for me to get sucked into the story. Even though we have four founding families with a lot of characters and different histories, it wasn’t too hard to understand how they all fit into the story as a whole. If you have read “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart, you can feel the same vibe from this book too. The adventures of the group, their personal stories, secrets and battles. Their eagerness to defeat the status quo and the Gray.

“She thought about heroes, and villains, and legends, and monsters. And decided that whoever told the story was more powerful than all of them.”

Without spoiling anything, the danger that looms over this town is unique. There is a strangeness and an eeriness. The spookiness that an episode of “Stranger Things” can bring. And in this whole world, where things are very real, but they seem very unreal, we have our main characters. They make this fictional town seem very real. They make us readers believe this is the normal, and I believed them throughout the book. The family roots and history tales, the power and responsibility they carry. Their bravery to fight something they know is very dangerous.

Violet was my first favourite character. But very shortly after she arrived, Harper because the queen in my eyes. And then all of them, every single one of them. Now, I am most intrigued by Isaac. But maybe because his story is not told in full. He’s yet to share the full tale and when he does, I’ll be here for it.

“People could hurt each other without being monsters. And they could love each other without being saints.”

The Devouring Gray is that YA fantasy thriller that you’ve been waiting for. It will give you the chills and the feels. New girl comes in town with a mystery town eerie twist is something that should intrigue anyone. I will be eagerly waiting for book 2.

About The Author:

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman [BOOK REVIEW]

Born in New York City but raised in Japan and Hong Kong, Christine Lynn Herman subscribes to the firm philosophy that home is where her books are. She returned to the United States for college, where she traded out a subtropical climate for harsh, snowy winters and an Honors English degree at the University of Rochester. Currently, Christine and her books reside in Brooklyn, along with her partner and their extremely spoiled cat.

Her debut novel, THE DEVOURING GRAY, will be released by Disney Hyperion on April 2, 2019, with a sequel to come the following year.

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Books · Monthly Tags

February TBR 2022 – The TBR Raffle

February TBR 2022 - The TBR Raffle

Hello, fellow readers!

A week later, but better late than never – here’s my February TBR.

You probably already know this, but just a reminder that I share my current reading updates on my Instagram posts and stories, and my Goodreads and Storygraph account, so don’t forget to follow my Instagram and other socials (all listed at the bottom of the blog) to see what I am reading at any given time during this month. Sometimes my TBR varies, as I add additional books during the month.

Before I start my February TBR, as this is still the beginning of 2022, I want to add that there are a few challenges that I have chosen to participate in. Firstly, I am doing the PopSugar Challenge of 2022, The StoryGraph’s Onboarding Reading Challenge 2022 and a few other small monthly challenges that are organised either by myself or by fellow readers.

And with that being said, let the February TBR commence.

The February TBR Raffle

I am filming my TBRs on my Instagram Stories. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, and check my Raffle draw (usually posted as a highlight or a reel).

My TBR Raffle game is simple: I have a number of prompts that I put in small papers, into a jar. I draw a prompt, and I fit in a book that matches my prompt. Here is a list of the current prompts I have. Feel free to leave any prompt suggestions in the comments. Once the paper is drawn, I put it back into the jar, so it has an equal chance to get drawn again. I draw a total of 5 prompts, which result in 5 books for the month. If I fail to read a book, it automatically goes into the next month.

My February TBR

✨ 1. Giveaway

February TBR 2022 - The TBR Raffle

Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier is a book I won as a giveaway, and it came together with a kit for making pizzas. I, of course, made the pizza and ate it immediately, but never had the chance to get to the book. When this prompt came up, it was easy to pick it up.

Synopsis:

Eighteen years old, pregnant, and working as a pizza delivery girl, our dysfunctional heroine is deeply lost and in complete denial about it all.

Her world is further upended when she becomes obsessed with Jenny, a stay-at-home mother new to the neighbourhood.

As one woman looks toward motherhood and the other toward middle age, the relationship between the two begins to blur in strange and ultimately heartbreaking ways.

Bold, tender, and unexpected, Pizza Girl is a moving and funny portrait of a flawed, unforgettable young woman as she tries to find her place in the world.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 2. Beautiful Cover

February TBR 2022 - The TBR Raffle

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman was my choice, because I love the neon pink on the cover. Although, I have to admit, the competition was ruthless. Also, the synopsis sounds thrilling, and I am already half-way through it whilst writing this blog post, and can tell you I am loving it so far!

Synopsis:

Branches and stones, daggers and bones,
They locked the Beast away.


After the death of her sister, seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders finds herself dragged to Four Paths, New York. Violet may be a newcomer, but she soon learns her mother isn’t: They belong to one of the revered founding families of the town, where stone bells hang above every doorway and danger lurks in the depths of the woods.

Justin Hawthorne’s bloodline has protected Four Paths for generations from the Gray—a lifeless dimension that imprisons a brutal monster. After Justin fails to inherit his family’s powers, his mother is determined to keep this humiliation a secret. But Justin can’t let go of the future he was promised and the town he swore to protect.

Ever since Harper Carlisle lost her hand to an accident that left her stranded in the Gray for days, she has vowed revenge on the person who abandoned her: Justin Hawthorne. There are ripples of dissent in Four Paths, and Harper seizes an opportunity to take down the Hawthornes and change her destiny-to what extent, even she doesn’t yet know.

The Gray is growing stronger every day, and its victims are piling up. When Violet accidentally unleashes the monster, all three must band together with the other Founders to unearth the dark truths behind their families’ abilities—before the Gray devours them all. 

Purchase Links:
 Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 3. Series

February TBR 2022 - The TBR Raffle

After reading The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski and really loving it, I am desperate to dive into the Witcher series and read more about Geralt of Rivia. Getting series as my prompt was the perfect excuse.

Synopsis:

For more than a hundred years humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other – and themselves: Dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elves are murdering humans and elves, at least those elves who are friendly to humans… Into this tumultuous time is born a child for whom the witchers of the world have been waiting.

Ciri, the granddaughter of Queen Calanthe, the Lioness of Cintra, has strange powers and a stranger destiny, for prophecy names her the Flame, one with the power to change the world – for good, or for evil… Geralt, the witcher of Rivia, has taken Ciri to the relative safety of the Witchers’ Settlement, but it soon becomes clear that Ciri isn’t like the other witchers. As the political situation grows ever dimmer and the threat of war hangs almost palpably over the land, Geralt searches for someone to train Ciri’s unique powers.

But someone else has an eye on the young girl, someone who understand exactly what the prophecy means – and exactly what Ciri’s power can do. This time Geralt may have met his match.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 4. Sent by Publisher

February TBR 2022 - The TBR Raffle

I am very privileged to receive a lot of book form publishers, so this was also a very difficult one. But I couldn’t not choose Extasia by Claire Legrand – it’s a new YA horror novel and it’s coming out this month, so I am so excited to be picking it up and reading it for its publication month.

Synopsis:

Her name is unimportant.

All you must know is that today she will become one of the four saints of Haven. The elders will mark her and place the red hood on her head. With her sisters, she will stand against the evil power that lives beneath the black mountain–an evil which has already killed nine of her village’s men.

She will tell no one of the white-eyed beasts that follow her. Or the faceless gray women tall as houses. Or the girls she saw kissing in the elm grove.

Today she will be a saint of Haven. She will rid her family of her mother’s shame at last and save her people from destruction. She is not afraid. Are you?

This searing and lyrically written novel by the critically acclaimed author of Sawkill Girls beckons readers to follow its fierce heroine into a world filled with secrets and blood–where the truth is buried in lies and a devastating power waits, seething, for someone brave enough to use it.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 5. Instragam Scroll

February TBR 2022 - The TBR Raffle

This may have been the first time this prompt has come up in the raffle. When I get this one, I scroll through my Instagram feed, until I find a book posted that I own. When scrolling, The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli came up. It’s a book I won as a giveaway, but one which I am very excited to start.

Synopsis:

In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be darkness—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death-bringer.

These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up learning in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl.

Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 6. Sent By Publisher

February TBR 2022 - The TBR Raffle

The team at Avon have been kind enough to send me a paperback copy of The Lighthouse by Fran Dorricott, which is being published in February as well. I think it’s the mystery/thriller book I will need to break apart my YA fantasies this month, and I think it will be amazing!

Synopsis:

No one expected them to go there. The question is: will any of them leave?

Six friends travel to a remote island north of the Scottish Highlands for an old school reunion. They’ve rented The Lighthouse – a stunning, now abandoned building that was once notorious for deaths at sea.

On the first evening, someone goes missing. The group search all through the night to no avail. But when the five remaining friends return to the lighthouse early the next morning, they are shocked to find James inside. He’s looks terrified – but won’t say a word about where he’s been.

The party vow to put the strange night behind them and enjoy the rest of their stay, but when more unexplained things begin to occur, tensions escalate. It’s clear James knows something, but nothing will persuade him to give up the secrets of the island. Is he protecting his friends from a terrible truth, or leading them into more danger?

A chilling, gripping and powerfully atmospheric suspense novel with a gothic edge.

Purchase Links:
 Amazon UK | Amazon US

Make sure to follow me on Instagram, so you can stay up to date with my current updates during the month.

And that’s my February TBR. Have you read any of the above books? What is on your February TBR? Let me know in the comments!

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