Fourth Wing & Iron Flame

By Rebecca Yarros

First 2 books in a 5 book series. 

I enjoyed the first book (Fourth Wing) more than the second. 

But by the time I was reading the second? The stakes: so high. The choices: so incomprehensible. The relationships: a little uncomfortable. 

I still finished it. I still wanted to know how the second book ended. (I was irritated with how it ended.)

Will I read the rest of the series? 🤷‍♀️

Castle of the Cursed

By Romina Garber

YA Fantasy 

284 pages

Owlcrate Special Edition 

front cover

endsheet and blurb

This was a great book. I didn't actually read the summary before I read the book, so some things that shouldn't have been surprising were - like vampires.

Came with some serious warnings. 

It was dark and sad, but not as "rough" as I feared it might be. 

first page

It was a satisfying book. Things came through, pulled through, were consistent without being annoying. Everything tied together well. 

Not a series!

Also, it's gorgeous. Just look how pretty! 

My Little One really loves the styling, so I'm going to let her steal it from me. 

Signed! ❤

Author letter! ❤

This book also had a bonus chapter - some key events from a different character's point of view. 

author info 

Masquerade of the Heart

By Katy Rose Pool 

356+ pages

Hardback

YA Fantasy 

Owlcrate Special Edition 

A really great sequel. Nice, tidy duology. 

I didn't do the full re-read of the first one, I just went back and read my blog post, the summary, and the last couple pages. Then I jumped right in to this one. Since it's YA, it wasn’t too hard to pick it right up.

back cover

It had a satisfying ending. I wasn't sure at one point how it was going to wrap up. 

It's also gorgeous. 

inside dust jacket 

front lid

front endsheet 

back endsheet

back lid

The Owlcrate is edition had an author letter bound in, a signature, and a bonus chapter. 

It also gloriously matched the first book.

Something Dark and Holy trilogy

By Emily A Duncan

YA fantasy

Finished all 3 of these. 

When I ordered books 2&3 I was unaware of how problematic the author was. 

They are beautiful books. 

They are full if horrific things. Blood magic inherently has aspects of gore and self-harm. 

The Shadow and Bones books do the sort of Slavic style world in a more fun and interesting way. 

For such long books, there are still questions I'm left with. 

And then ending. We like, "fade to black" and then the fighting is over? 

I won't read them again.

A Court of Frost and Starlight

By Sarah J Maas 

229 pages

This book was so pointless. 

Like no plot advancement. 

But annotations return! 

Greymist Fair

By Francesca Zappia

314 pages

Hardback first edition

YA Fantasy 

When the author announced this book I had to pre-order it. I have read her other books and loved them all. They all have made me cry in different ways. This one so gave me sniffles. 

The book is kind of different because the whole story us told through 7 mini novels, with two shorter pieces at the start and end. 

Table of contents: all the stories

Each story has its own chapter sequence and is centered on a different character . 

This book was so good that I'm going to forgive Blogger for randomly insisting that the rest of the post should be centered. Also, I've tried to fix it 3 times and I'm fed up with it, so that’s just how it's going to be. Not like anyone else reads these anyway. 😅

I really liked the shifting perspectives. All of the main characters were interesting and round - although some of the side characters weren't. Also, I longed to know more about some of the side characters: What happened to the friend of the prince? The boy's mother? Etc.

Also, becuase I pre-ordered the book, I got some special things:

Author info:

Back of the book:

The Ivory Key

By Akshaya Raman

372 pages

Hardback

YA Fantasy 

Owlcrate 

It's a beautiful book, and it was a good read. 

I'm kind of annoyed that it's not a stand alone novel.

Map! I do love a map. 

First page. The book rotates through the POVs of the 4 siblings. 

the inside of the cover includes art of the main characters 

pretty detail on the front lid

Signed first edition 

author letter

author info 

I don't think I'll keep it - it's destined either for a student or for my classroom library. I did enjoy it - I just don't think I care enough to hang onto it until the next one is out.