Book Review: The Wrath and The Dawn, by Renee Ahdieah

“A riveting Game of Thrones meets Arabian Nights love story.” - US Weekly 

Synopsis: Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi’s wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

Book Review: The Fate of The Tearling by Erika Johansen

"Katniss Everdeen, you have competition."—Entertainment Weekly Synopsis: The thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Tearling trilogy. In less than a year, Kelsea Glynn has transformed from a gawky teenager into a powerful monarch. As she has come into her own as the Queen of the Tearling, the headstrong, visionary leader has also transformed her realm. In her quest to end corruption and restore justice, she has made many enemies—including the evil Red Queen, her fiercest rival, who has set her armies against the Tear.

To protect her people from a devastating invasion, Kelsea did the unthinkable—she gave herself and her magical sapphires to her enemy—and named the Mace, the trusted head of her personal guards, regent in her place. But the Mace will not rest until he and his men rescue their sovereign, imprisoned in Mortmesne.

Now, as the suspenseful endgame begins, the fate of Queen Kelsea—and the Tearling itself—will finally be revealed.

Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Synopsis: Destiny and darkness collide in this romantic, sweeping new fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan, Reign Of Shadows.

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok's lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna's survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn't stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.



Review: This fairy-tale retelling of Rapunzel is a dark and twisted one. The world as they know it is plunged into darkness. Imagine having only one hour of light a day. AND DANGEROUS CREATURES RUN RAMPANT. Forced into a lunar eclipse for the last 17 years, Luna is also forced into seclusion the night she was born and the very night the castle was taken.

Her parents were the former King, and Queen of Relhok (killed in the seige) and Luna has been hidden away in a tall tower in the cursed black woods. Whisked off to safety by her parents trusted people. Enjoying the seclusion and paltry life hidden away was not a life worth living. Not to Luna. Their semblance of peace is about to shatter.

The life of the Queens nursemaid, Perla; her father's trusted guard, Sivo and the long princess of Relhok is tethering on a dangerous line. One night after picking berries, the brave Luna hears a cry for help. Does that cry, spell danger. For the people in the tower, it does.

When the tower is found and attacked, Luna is again forced to do something she doesn't, and that is to leave the security of her tower. She travels to a "fairy tale" land with Fowler at her lead. The boy who crashed into her life the night she left the safety of her tower. The boy who didn't want her company. And the boy she doesn't want to be interested in because of his indifference to her.

They both harbor a secret that will shatter their relationship. But before they even have a chance to reconcile the truth the unthinkable happens.

Fantastic first book in the series debut. BUT YET ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER. Sigh... you don't want to miss this book but be careful not to hit your head as hard as I did when the book ended.  -GLADYS  ATWELL (This review was originally published by in NerdGirlOfficial.  It has been modified and reprinted here with permission of the author.)

BOOK REVIEW: "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis: Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

 
REVIEW: I had to catch my breath!  I love a great many things. Books mainly, music, my friends but most of all I love when a book is more than a book. When it paints a picture, plays a song and the characters become your friend. This book gave all of that to me ten folds. It took me to the heights that only a few other books dared to go.

In this book (I may have to be brief because I will babble and give everything away) Feyre is broken. She maybe high fae now by the graces of the High Lords of the fae courts but she still possesses a human heart.

After her arrival at spring court she is left alone by Tamlin. By her friend Lucian. She is stuck being the high lords "pet", which is something that she didn't expect from Tamlin at all. TRAPPED! She easily slides into depression and wastes away a little at a time. Until her enemy from "Under The Montain" calls in their Bargain. One week a month in his court, The Court of Mist and Fury otherwise known as the Court of Nightmares.

Will she survive like she did when Amarantha cursed the fae courts and she had to win their lives back? Will she be able to navigate through this new world with a new body and powers she just can't understand. You know Feyre and root for her. BUT ULTIMATLY who will your root for to be her savior. Tamlin of the Spring Court or Rhysand of the Court of Nightmares.

Read on dreamers as this is one book you will never stop thinking about...

All the stars in the world cannot be contained to rate The Court of Mist and Fury so I will settle with 5 stars and whatever other perfect score applies!  And a deep bow of gratitude to Mrs. Sarah J Maas!

-GLADYS ATWELL (Review originally published in NerdGirlOfficial.  Modified and reprinted with persmission of author.  In addition to working for Dabel Brothers, Gladys Atwell manages a team of professional book reviewers. For more information, check them out here.)

New Netflix Movie "Mercy" Makes You Feel Bad About Yourself.

Don't waste your thanksgiving holidays on this. Seriously. Watch something else.  But, if you have already watched it and need some validation for your disappointment, or if you want to know exactly why this movie is so bad, then this is the article for you.

   It's a home-invasion thriller. No, it's a family-drama.  Wait, there's something really heavy going on here.  A dying money with lots of money is going to leave the inheritance to her family. And four siblings show up to fight over it.  But maybe they should euthanize her.  Right?  And if she dies now, or later, that somehow affects this serious, heavy tension that's going down.  But, the characters talk vague enough, that you begin to think, "maybe, I'm not getting it at all.  Maybe I'm dumb.  Maybe I just don't watch movies the right way. " 

So you keep watching.  And you get to the end.  And you get a little bit of an answer, but not only is it not satisfying, it also leaves you bitter, as if first noticing your own mortality, you realize that you have wasted the past hour and a half watching something that was......really.....really......boring. 

-CLINT SABOM

Book Review: Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman

Synopsis: Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains, and when evil stirs beyond the edges of the map... A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise!

Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to a newcomer…

Katerina must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission to kill the Queen. But she doesn’t account for her first love…

Jacob will go to unthinkable lengths to win Katerina, even if it means having to compete for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince.

And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet betrothed, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Weaving fantasy with the shocking details of real history, New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings, Eleanor Herman, re-imagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known:  Alexander the Great. This is the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

Review: If you look through my reviews, it’s very rare that I give a bad review. A book would have to lack world-building, character development and a certain magic in order to get on my bad side . Legacy of the Kings does NOT lack in any of those categories. It’s the good stuff that, um....legends are made of!!

Now this book is loosely based on the teenage life of Alexander the Great and his rise to power so to speak. You don’t have to know about him to enjoy it, and, yes, it is a slow upbuild at first.  BUT FAIR WARNING - most historical-based fantasy fiction novels are slow at first; they must introduce you to each and every character and bring the world to life. If you enjoy this genre you will enjoy how Eleanore Herman navigates the reader through her novel.

Each character assists in the world-building through their own POV, and yes, it does switch around, so be prepared. I do like having the world described to me by the various characters, and even though there are 4 main characters, there are also a few more tossed-in supporting characters that add even more to the intrigue.

If you like the magic and beauty of Sarah J Maas, Victoria Aveyard and indie author B. Lynch (King Callie), you will enjoy the multifaceted YA historical fantasy that Herman has woven together here. I highly recommend this book.  

-GLADYS ATWELL (book review originally reviewed in nerdgirlofficial.com and re-printed and abridged here with permission of author)

Book Review: The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

Synopsis: This New York Times bestselling dark epic fantasy inspired by the tale of Snow White is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Cinder. C. J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series, gives us a breathtakingly romantic, action-packed fantasy.

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen. In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic of his own—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman—and bring her Lorelai’s heart. But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

Review: The Shadow Queen is a dark and twisted retelling of the fairy tale Snow White, and I LOVED IT! It's perfect for middle-grade tweens, young adults and "new" young adults (ahem) like myself. In this retelling, the part of the evil queen is played by Queen Irina who is the aunt and stepmother of Princess Lorelai. Irina is pure evil and a magic wielder called a Mardushka. She uses power words to evoke spells from a living thing or a person's core. She has also used her vast knowledge and power to hold the kingdom once beloved by Lorelai's parents. For all that Irina knows of the world, she doesn't know two things. One that Lorelei survived the attack on the castle nine years ago and that Lorelai's powers as a Mardushka has grown ten folds!!! With the help of her father's most trusted captain and her brother, Lorelai plans on taking back her kingdom. What she didn't plan on was a Dragon-Shifter King from Elder with two hearts worth their weight in gold. Queen Irina has made a twisted pact with the King of Elder to save his Kingdom to her benefit, but she also was in for a shock! The Queen of Shadows is excellent and gives you the twists and turns a reader craves in a fairy tale. You will NOT be disappointed. The main characters and the secondary characters come alive with each word you read. I wasn't disappointed at all in this magical rendition. -GLADYS ATWELL