My discord servers book of the month is The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert.
Synopsis:
Briar Rose might have a name out of a storybook, but she learned My discord servers book of the month is The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert.
Synopsis:
Briar Rose might have a name out of a storybook, but she learned at a very young age that no prince was coming to save her. She’ll have to save herself. Unfortunately, even that is an impossible task in her current situation—trapped in a terrifying marriage to a dangerous man. Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is how she finds herself making a deal with a demon. Freedom from her husband…in return for seven years of service. She expects the service to be backbreaking and harsh. She doesn’t expect to be put on an auction block in a room full of literal monsters and sold to the highest bidder. To Sol. A dragon. He might seem kinder than his fearsome looks imply, but she knows better than to trust the way he wants to take care of her, or how invested he is in her pleasure. In her experience, if something seems too good to be true, it certainly is. Falling for Sol is out of the question. She’s suffered enough, and she has no intention of staying in this realm…even if she leaves her heart behind when she returns to her normal life.
“Fear makes fools of us all.”
The only downside of this book was that it was a very short one. I like my monster romance books to be on the chonkier side. But otherwise it was a really good read!
He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell...Neon Gods by Katee Robert review.
Synopsis:
He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell...he was, quite simply, mine. *A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that's as sinful as it is sweet.* Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that's ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city's dark facade. With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil's bargain with a man she once believed a myth...a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed. Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he's spent years craving, it's all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he'll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close...
“Consent because you have no other option isn’t consent.”
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. With the reviews I’ve seen, this book has been too spicy for a lot of readers. I personally love a lot of spice in my books as long as it has a good plot line and story. This one absolutely did! But I also found that it wasn’t as spicy as everyone was saying. They made it seem like every page is full of sex. Far from it actually. Yes the smut was present but it wasn’t taking over the whole book.
“What kind of threat is that? You’re worried about your floors?” “They’re nice floors.”
I just relate to this one.
“Hades, king of the lower city, boogeyman of Olympus, someone more myth than reality, is taking care of me.”
I loved Hades. It was quite refreshing to read about a male mc in a smug book that actually cares about the female mc. In most books I’ve read, the male mc doesn’t give a flying fuck about the well being of their partner. Especially in smut books that have BDSM in it. It’s refreshing seeing a dom have compassion and actually care about his sub.
You’d think being abducted by aliens would be the worst thing that could happen to me. And you’d be wrong.Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon Review.
You’d think being abducted by aliens would be the worst thing that could happen to me. And you’d be wrong. Because now the aliens are having ship trouble, and they’ve left their cargo of human women—including me—on an ice planet. We’re not equipped for life in this desolate winter wasteland. Since I’m the unofficial leader, I head out into the snow to look for help. I find help all right. A big blue horned alien introduces himself in a rather . . . startling way. Vektal says that I'm his mate, his chosen female—and that the reason his chest is purring is because of my presence. He’ll help me and my people survive, but this poses a new problem. If Vektal helps us survive, I’m not sure he’s going to want to let me go.
“Every girl they pick up has the same story. Except for Megan. She was pregnant. Two months along, she said, and they vacuumed her out like it was no big deal.”
I’ve heard so much about this book and all good things so when I saw the special edition, of course I had to pick it up!
It was full of adventure, smut and romance! I loved it! Plus a bonus epilogue at the end of the book!
I received an ARC of Link by Link Anthology by Elle Beaumont in exchange for an honest review.
Between the Quiet by Candace Robinson
“Tell Francis I drI received an ARC of Link by Link Anthology by Elle Beaumont in exchange for an honest review.
Between the Quiet by Candace Robinson
“Tell Francis I dropped the two quarters in the hat.”
‘At the end of the day, Tuesday had made thirty-four dollars, two condoms, a pack of bubblegum, and two dice. This was a win; sometimes she’d come away with only a few coins and condoms. The collection there was growing.’
‘Life was bullshit.’
‘talking to no one, and then coming home. There was one person she still talked to—Beck—but it was online, between the quiet. Maybe because it was easier that way.’
“Life is a labyrinth, and some things we must do on our own.”
“The one thing I want to leave you with is that you should always have confidence. And even if things might not end up the way you want, at least try going for it.”
Another story from Candace Robinson! I reviewed her book, Tin last month and I loved it, she definitely has a way with words.
4/5 Stars!
The Spirit of You by Elle Beaumont
‘He waggled his brows and rolled off the bed. “You’d just take advantage of me.” She grinned. Shutting the amp off, she twisted on her heels and walked up behind him. She spanked his butt, grabbing a handful. “I would, because this is mine.”
“Dummy.”“Forever your dummy.”
‘The part of you that lives in me Chases away the monsters inside A wind that blows away the storms And silences the mounting tide The Spirit of You Yeah, that’s the part I love most A strength that can bring me through The Spirit of You’
Wow.. I haven’t actually cried while reading a book in a very long time. This was my first book from Elle Beaumont and I can already tell, anything else that I read of hers, is definitely bound to make me bawl like a baby again. This one definitely hit my heart strings.. just wow.
4.5/5 Stars!
I Saw Her Again by Lauren Emily Whalen
“I’ve also watched you mess up. Get angry. Make mistakes, onstage and off.” His smile fades. “We’re human; we all do these things.”
‘Sam had the kind of depression that meant she couldn’t function sometimes. Couldn’t come to school, couldn’t do anything but lie in bed, staring at the glow-in-the-dark stars on her ceiling that she’d arranged during a happier time.’
‘I know in my head and my heart that Sam’s final choice was hers, and hers alone. She was too far gone to care how it would affect anyone else. She just wanted the mess in her brain to end.’
‘The door was always unlocked. I just had to open it.’
I really liked this book. Especially how the author touched on depression. That really hit home for me. Lovely writing and a lovely lesson.
5/5 Stars!
Yesterday’s News by Leslie Rush
“Some people just have to see for themselves instead of being told.”
‘Change the future by changing the present.’
I’m a sucker for a good ghost story and this one was pretty darn good. Reminded me almost of Ghost Adventures or The Dead Files! Loved it.
5/5 Stars!
Paw Prints by Kristin Jacques
“No one knows the exact origins of the Malkin. He is an entity borne of human faith and worship from before the hearts of man turned away from feline deities. The Malkin is something darker, an avenging entity who preyed on evil men and punished the wicked. This also changed as time went on, and the Malkin slipped from human memory. It is said that, fed up with the ever-changing nature of human hearts, this feline entity now only answers the pleas of his descendants, the modern wildcat and the common housecat. If you ever find your cat companion staring at nothing in the room, there is a chance they are holding a private conversation with the Malkin, who can only be seen by those humans he chooses to appear to.”
‘Better one life, full of love, than seven more lives without the one I chose.’
‘Don’t fuck with cats.’
‘I thought you took all eight of my lives. That I would never find her again.’ The Malkin shifted his bulk on the fire escape, a strange look on his face. Violet could almost call it longing. ‘A love like that deserves at least one more lifetime.’
This one was quiet cute! And the story of The Malkin would honestly make sense!
5/5 Stars!
Coffee Talk by M. Dalto
“As children, we’re told to be good or Santa is going to give us coal in our stockings. As teens, religion tries to teach us to repent for our innate sins or else we’re going to Hell.” “And as adults?” “As adults, we realize it’s all bullshit.”
“And the Christmas lights serve to remind us to provide light to others during the holiday season and throughout the rest of the year. Sometimes it’s hard to remain on our path, and the light shows us the way, even in the darkest of times.” “And what if your life is all one big darkest time?” “Then you need to surround yourself with more light.” The man winked.’
This book had some pretty good lessons and I loved it!
5/5 Stars!
Bound By What by Jess Moore
“It’s wild how one life affects so many things…”
‘Anne might change the world. And for the first time in a long time, I feel something. A sparking twinge lights up around my ankle, starting right at the spot once shackled to her spirit. It doesn’t take too long for me to realize what it is—hope.’
Definitely gives you something to think about.
3/5 Stars!
Charing Cross by Pam S. Dunn
“In life, I was your father,” the spirit said. “I will find no rest until I am forgiven.” The ghost continued to metamorphize, losing legs and arms and torso until only its head was visible. “How can I forgive you?” she asked. “You left us.”
“I wear the chains I forged in life.”
Interesting concept, but a little hard to follow for me.
3/5 Stars!
The Recipe for Cornbread by C Vonzale Lewis
‘He hesitated. Then ran over, wrapped his arms around my waist in a brief hug, and dashed out the room. I relished these brief moments of affection that he showed. It reminded me that no matter what, my son was still in there. Buried under all that anger and frustration. And one day soon, my sweet boy would heal enough to let me in again.’
‘Lay the seashells so you can hear him coming. Plant the rosemary to keep him out. Use the Aloe vera to repel his hate. Sprinkle some cayenne pepper to make him ill. Wear the obsidian to show him his soul. Hang the mistletoe to freeze him in place.’
Lovely book with diversity and an awesome story line!
I was gifted an ARC of Tin by Candace Robinson and Amber R. Duell in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Tin is the most famous fae in Oz for all I was gifted an ARC of Tin by Candace Robinson and Amber R. Duell in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Tin is the most famous fae in Oz for all the wrong reasons. Cursed with a stone heart, he is the perfect assassin: ruthless, efficient, and merciless with thousands of kills to his name. When his old friend, Lion, offers him a small fortune to deliver Dorothy to the South for his lover to wear the girl’s head as her own, Tin doesn’t hesitate to accept the unsavory deal.
Dorothy Gale lost everything—her family to illness, her dog to age, and now her farm to foreclosure. The entire town thought she was crazy for believing in a faerie world called Oz, but even after ten years have passed, she can’t help knowing she was right. So when an emerald green portal opens in her wheat field, she jumps at the opportunity to return to the only place she ever felt like she belonged.
Tin wasn’t expecting a grown woman to step through the portal, just as Dorothy wasn’t expecting Tin to have his stone heart back, but Oz holds more unexpected things than either could have imagined. Magic has hidden dangerous lies behind glamour, trapped innocents in curses, and left the land of Oz in turmoil—none more so than the South. As Tin and Dorothy travel together for the second time in a decade, their lives begin to make sense again. Soon, they must decide who to give their loyalties to before Lion takes Dorothy’s head and Tin’s cursed heart is forever doomed.
‘As he sauntered back toward the brownie’s house to collect the rest of his fee, leaving a red trail in his wake, he whistled the end of the dwarf’s song.’
This book was deliciously good, the cover is to die for and the writing is whimsical! It’s the Oz like you’ve never seen before. Fae, Witches, and grown up, seductive and fiery characters from the original Wizard of Oz story but with a naughty side. Yum!
“There’s no place like home,” she said through clenched teeth. “There’s no place like home, Dorothy. Because this is the only place that’s real. Oz never existed.” She breathed heavily, remembering the needles, the pokes, the prods, the medicines, the shock therapy—all of it.’
This book was quite the trip! There were parts that were quite disturbing, especially with the writing style. Very descriptive. And I loved every part of it! Seeing this retelling and diving into more of what happened to Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion, and Crow after they defeated the Wicked Witch was amazing! Finding out more and more about each character enchants you and sucks you right in, feeling the need to devour more of the story.
‘And, for the record, my brain is perfectly intact because I took the time to nurture it. You let your heart harden, just as Lion let his courage deprive him of a real connection with anyone.”
It reminded me of a mixture of Laura Thalassa’s ‘Pestilence’ (Four Horsemen series), and Sarah J Maas’ ‘A Court of Thorns’ and Roses series. I can’t wait to see the rest of the series and hopefully have a chance to review them.
Genesis Long and Sebastian Campbell are childhood sweethearts that meet their untimely end in a tDeadly Pretences Review by Angelique Snowden
Synopsis:
Genesis Long and Sebastian Campbell are childhood sweethearts that meet their untimely end in a tragic accident that occurs on the night of their Senior Prom. But one year later, their spirits continue to haunt their beloved town of Savannah, desperate to be united in the afterlife. But is a happy ending all they seek, or does their unfinished business have much deeper darker roots? Colette Vaughn is the new girl in town, a Chicago transfer who moves into Genesis’ old house and is thrust into this ghostly universe. Haunted by the undead lovers, she is desperate to unbury the secrets surrounding their deaths, all while trying to prevent herself from falling for Abel Campbell, Sebastian’s mysterious and handsome younger brother. As the truths are revealed, Colette also discovers an unknown ability that threatens to disrupt both the living...and the dead.
‘Soon, she couldn't discern between the stars in the sky and the stars that flashed before her eyes. Eventually, those twinkling lights transitioned into darkness, and everything faded to black.’
I really don’t say this often. I have maybe said it once. But I am amazed at the writing in this book. From the first paragraph, they had my under their spell. The writing is hypnotic and unearthly. This author has some serious talent! The cover hooked me but the writing kept me.
“Sometimes, the evil that festers within us is too much to defeat and we succumb to the madness.”
This book was hauntingly beautiful! The writing is unique and I found it a pleasantly chilling thriller. I would be happy to review book two and I cannot wait for its release! This is definitely a book I would buy the physical copy of.
**spoiler alert** I received a copy of A Memory in the Flame by K.J. Sutton and Jessi Elliott in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
An offer too **spoiler alert** I received a copy of A Memory in the Flame by K.J. Sutton and Jessi Elliott in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
An offer too good to refuse. A love doomed from the start. An uprising in the making.
Charlie Travesty has been banished. Again.
While still working in the sewer and tracking down clues linked to the weeper attacks, Charlie struggles to keep her wits about her. Especially when her relationship with Drew keeps complicating everything.
Amidst so much turmoil and unanswered questions, only one thing is certain... Charlie Travesty’s Awakening was just the beginning.
‘We throw our hands up and sing at the top of our lungs, dancing as if our mother isn’t dead and we don’t have monsters living inside of us.’
A lot has happened in this book. It had more jaw dropping moments than the first two books combined!
“There is no sanity in the dark. There is only chaos,” the weeper whispers. The blackness where her eyes used to be is fixed on something over my shoulder.’
“It gets better,” Noah says abruptly, interrupting my downward spiral. I refocus on him and frown. “What gets better?” “That hopelessness you’re feeling. Everything might seem like shit right now, but it will change. Eventually.”
I was a little iffy about Noah when we first met him in the previous books, but he has slowly started to grow on me. There’s something else behind the asshole we all know as Noah Forrest. There’s something that we have yet to discover and to be honest, the very last little bit of this volume, I felt for him. I felt for him when Charlie acted one way around him and then a split second later after seeing Drew again, she turned. I don’t think Noah is a bad guy and he does deserve a chance at happiness.
And I’m just going to put this out there as well, I’m going through a really rough patch and reading that, even from a book, gave me hope that things will be okay. So thank you Jessi and K.J.
“You were poison, but oh, you were a delicious poison,” he whispers, leaning close, his breath tickling my ear.’
I was pretty in to Drew’s character in the first books, but now I’m not so sure. I still like him as a character but I think he still needs to prove himself to Charlie some more. Usually in every book series that I’ve read this has a love triangle, I know who I’m voting for and who I want the girl to pick. But in this third books, now I’m not so sure. I guess we will see who wins both Charlie and I over.
‘She is not anyone’s pawn. She is not a victim. And she’s not afraid of waking up anymore.’
Atta girl. You fix that crown on your head darlin. You may not have the title of ‘princess’ anymore, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t one.
‘But people rarely say the words written on their hearts.’
I received a copy of Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
BestsAphrodite Made Me Do It.
I received a copy of Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Bestselling and award winning author Trista Mateer takes an imaginative approach to self care in this new poetry and prose collection, Aphrodite Made Me Do It. In this empowering retelling, she uses the mythology of the goddess to weave a common thread through the past and present. By the end of this book, Aphrodite make you believe in the possibility of your own healing.
‘The thing about embracing your own chaos is that it never becomes clear when you need to stop.’
‘They made me earthly. They branded me woman. Then they saw things in me that didn’t mesh well with woman. They saw parts of me they didn’t understand and they broke them off. They called me a hundred different names, an epithet for everything.’ (italics woman)
‘I belong to no one. They never wrote that part down.’
‘I’m afraid of..’ When I read through all the things written down regarding fears, it stole my breath. It was so accurate with many of the fears expressed.
‘Love has little to do with blood relations and more to do with who you choose to bleed for.’
‘The night I was raped, I walked right past my mother and said nothing. I was afraid to be dusted for fingerprints. I was afraid to be called a liar.’
I think that’s a common fear of those who have been raped or abused. Doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. The fear of being branded or accused as a liar is terrifying. Especially when you speak the truth.
‘Understanding doesn’t have to mean granted forgiveness. And forgiveness doesn’t have to be a free pass.’
Say that again for the people in the back.
‘It’s important not to isolate yourself when you’re healing but it’s also important to be able to sit quietly with yourself.’
I think that this line is so true. When you’re hurting and healing, it’s more than okay to be alone to get yourself together and to seek the calmness that you need. But you also need to surround yourself with things or people that help you heal. Never be completely alone.
‘You are not required to be small. You are not required to be pleasant. You are not required to be accommodating. You are not required to be submissive. You are not required to be merciful. You are not required to be quiet.’
You are not required to do anything you don’t want to.
‘How long you’ve known them does not absolve them of their abuse.’
I think this is a line that I need to reflect on and accept.
‘Even a matchstick remembers the moment before it was struck.’
So powerful.
‘Fuck another poem about everything that has hurt me. Fuck another poem that means I have to stand in front of strangers and make a bouquet of my trauma. Fuck another poem that prevents me from forgetting my abusers. Fuck another poem that adds weight instead of taking it away. Fuck another poem about my sadness. Fuck another poem about my emptiness. Let me fill the space instead with joy.’
I remember telling my boyfriend how this book is going to be getting 5 damn good Stars.
This book made me nod my head and say, “yes, 100% yes” all the way through. It’s truly one of the most powerful, relatable, raw and honest poetry book I have read. I loved it.
I received an advance readers copy of Nineteen by Makenzie Campbell from Central Avenue Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
SynopsisNineteen
I received an advance readers copy of Nineteen by Makenzie Campbell from Central Avenue Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
By the author of the wildly successful 2am Thoughts, comes Nineteen - titled after the poets age when she wrote this new book. Nineteen is a collection of poetry that broaches heartache, love, loss, war, peace and healing. For every place we go, there is a feeling or a memory that’s been painted on the walls. You can paint over it, but it will always be there. Even if you can’t see it, you know. You can feel the heartbreak inside the bedroom where you lost a love. You can feel the hope at the coffee shop where a beginning happened. You can feel the healing as you sit in the drivers seat, in charge of your own life.
‘Suddenly, the world picked up and ran away without me. I was not ready. Time has left me broken.’
‘I know you are insecure and you have this wavering confidence that takes hours to build and only seconds to destroy.’
‘Let’s run through the woods with the wind on our face and the soil on our skin as we escape this sad place.’
‘I see things. Then I feel things. And then I write them.’
‘Then October passed us quietly and he left me on his doorstep to rot.’
‘You do not have the authority to hurt me anymore.’ Read that again. You do NOT have the AUTHORITY to hurt me again. That line is so powerful, you have no idea.
‘Hiding everything you ever feel behind a smile is protecting everyone else but weighing your own soul down.’
‘Letting your scars show is not a weakness. Talking about the things that have caused you to ache is not a shortcoming. It is strength. It is courage. Is it self care.’
‘Don’t blame the scars of those who left on the ones trying to stay and heal.’ A lot of the time we try to blame the wrong doings of someone who hurt you before, to the ones who are here for you now and are trying to help you heal. We have to stop and take the time to learn that they are not the ones before them.
‘There is this double standard where a boy’s loss of virginity calls a celebration but a girl’s calls for derision and exclusion. The same act leads to congratulations and disappointment.’
They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the cFamine by Laura Thalassa Review
Synopsis:
They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.
Ana da Silva always assumed she’d die young, she just never expected it to be at the hands of Famine, the haunting immortal who once spared her life so many years ago. But if the horseman remembers her at all, he must not care, for when she comes face to face with him for the second time in her life, she’s stabbed and left for dead.
Only, she doesn’t quite die.
If there’s one thing Famine is good at, it’s cruelty. And how these blighted bastards deserve it. Try as he might, he can’t forget what they once did to him. But when Ana, a ghost from his past, corners him and promises pain for what he so recently did to her, she and her empty threats captivate him, and he decides to keep her around.
In spite of themselves, Ana and Famine are drawn to each other. But at the end of the day, the two are enemies. Nothing changes that. Not one kind act, not two. And definitely not a few steamy nights. But enemies or reluctant lovers, if they don’t stop themselves soon, heaven will.
Every time I start a new Horseman book I think to myself, it’s not going to top the last one. And usually I’m wrong.
‘Bag of flesh? Bitch please. I know I look good.’
‘I think about my aunt, who hardly gives two shits about me. If I were lying in a ditch, I’m not sure she’d save me. I know what it’s like to not be wanted. And if I were the one hurt and begging for help, I’d want someone to care. Even a stranger.’
Okay, first of all, Ana is now the number one heroine in these books. She is honestly an average woman right here. Sarcastic, witty, doesn’t take shit, confident. It was really quite refreshing to have her in this book. She really made it something. Especially adding to the fact that she was a prostitute, because you normally don’t see those features as the main characters in a book too much. She definitely made me laugh, and cry. I would love to have her as an ally and a friend.
“I’ll tell you a story — with a head scratch — and then I’ll leave.” I frown at the leave part, but then — head scratch? I’m laying down in a matter of seconds, Famine sitting at my side.’
I’ll admit 100% that this is me. I can relate to this.. I’m a sucker for head scratches myself.
‘Famine plucks the flower from the bush and hands it to me, thorns and all.’
Famine was definitely bloodthirsty in this book. I’m not sure if he was more than Pestilence though, but he was definitely something else.
“Finally,” Famine says, a smile curving the corners of his lips, “a hint of your fire.”
“Because around you,” he says, “I feel the oddest urge to use my power to create rather than destroy.”
“It was one thing to try to hurt me. But then you went and tried to hurt her.” Famine glances over his shoulder, casting me a look. In the lavender glow of the morning, the horseman stares at me with a fervent sort of intensity.’
“No. You came to violate her. And my friend, we’re both discovering that nothing stokes my rage like trying to harm my flower.”
Famine was definitely a mean motherfucker in this book. He was ruthless, mean, evil and lacked empathy. Until he meets Ana again. Then piece by piece, she tears down his wall and in return, he tears down hers. They were a perfect match for each other even though they were theoretically like Romeo and Juliet. He was a fierce warrior and I just adored how he, as well as Pestilence and War, protected their women. I loved it. I’m a sucker for things like that. You wanna year apart the work to protect me? I’m down.
‘The Reaper’s lips quirk. “Little flower, don’t you know? I happen to enjoy it when you pee on my boots, and you sing songs off-key, and when I wake up to your atrocious morning breath — you know, you also fart in your sleep.”
Ivy Bloodgood’s mother is dead, and she should probably be sad about it. But she isn’t. Mariah Bloodgood was a confusing mix of protective anSynopsis-
Ivy Bloodgood’s mother is dead, and she should probably be sad about it. But she isn’t. Mariah Bloodgood was a confusing mix of protective and abusive, a manipulative personality who never told the truth- about where she came from, who Ivy’s father was, or why they were living their lives on the run. Now that Ivy has been sent to Darkhaven, an island off the New England coast, to live with a rich uncle she didn’t know existed, she is forced to reckon with her mother’s past. Ivy can tell right away there are long-held family secrets buried within these walls, but when she wakes up from one of her nightmares covered in someone else’s blood, Ivy fears that whatever demons her mother battled while she was alive have come to roost in her own mind. Scared that she can no longer trust what she sees, Ivy seeks the help of a boy who thinks her episodes are connected to the sordid history of Darkhaven- but what they don’t know might kill them both.
“You deal with your issues when s child is involved,” Simon replied. “You don’t pass them on.”
I loved this book! Who doesn’t love a good mystery though? I will admit that the ending came a little too fast. It could have been stretched out a bit more but other than that it was awesome! And that plot twist near the end. Holy cow!
Four political prisoners living in a 1940s Siberian POW camp volunteer to be Subjects in a Soviet Military experiment. They**spoiler alert** Synopsis:
Four political prisoners living in a 1940s Siberian POW camp volunteer to be Subjects in a Soviet Military experiment. They are promised freedom in exchange for completing the exercise. In return they must endure 30 days without sleep, fueled by Gas 76-IA.
The longer the experimentees endure insomnia, the more they deteriorate. Words and pleasantries break down until they turn on each other. Researchers look on, neutral, and take notes for the super solider applications possible with this new, wonder drug. One researcher, Luka, stands alone in believing the experiment needs to be stopped before irreversible damage is done but is he too late?
The Subjects no longer want the Gas switched off...
Ever since my brother showed me an article online a few years ago about The Russian Sleep Experiment, I had become obsessed. It sounded so horrifyingly creepy but incredibly interesting all at once. I’ve been trying to find as much info about it as I can and I’m glad I read this book!
“All subjects awoke by 7:08am, eight minutes after Gas 76-IA was switched on and pumped into two corner holes of their five by seven room. The eight minute delay between drugged sleep and induced wakefulness suggests the dosage was adjusted correctly for the larger room and mammal size. The mice had a seven minute wake time in animal testing.”
So they first tested with this experimental gas on small animals and then all of a sudden, worked their way to humans next? Unbelievable.
“It will be informative to watch their relationships develop in the coming days. Animal trials showed a big shift on day four which developed into a quick downward spiral. Perhaps there will be a clearer transition with human subjects?”
At the beginning of this experiment, the four men that were put into a five by seven room together, got along and no violence or ill will had occurred. But as we near the fourth day, things begin to change.
“No violence yet, but subject A is very restless and easily bored. He could be the first to crack.”
As the men begin to go mad, they turn into horrific creatures. More monster than man. They turn on each other. They do not feel pain as they rip each other and themselves to shreds. They don’t feel anything. Unless the Gas gets shut off. And trust me, you don’t want the Gas shut off once it’s been done.
“Luka swallowed and shoot his head. “Just hate to see that happen to someone.””
Short note. These men were to be kept awake and in this room, for 30 days. They only made it to 9.
“I looked to my chair and shook my head, knowing I would never sit on it again. It has been claimed now, by the shadows of what we’d done. Those poor men...”
Luka obviously feels massive regret and guilt after the experiment comes to an end at last. He knew it was wrong but was unable to stop it from happening and going on and that will haunt him. But other things are starting to happen to Luka. Monsterous things.
Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall, thought he could be saved eSynopsis-
Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope. Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world. Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall... and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen and his people from utter ruin.
“Words spoken in the dark in the middle of the night always feel so much heavier than they would at any other time.”
I have wanted to read this book for so long and now I finally have! And I absolutely loved it! I flew through it in less than 2 days. It’s definitely gotten me out of my reading slump for now! So bonus!
“I close my eyes and hug my arms to my body, thinking of my mother. When I was little, she would tell me that we all have a spark inside of us, and our sparks can find each other no matter where we are. It gave me a lot of comfort when I was young. It’s giving me a lot of comfort now. I never asked her what would happen to her spark if she dies. When she dies.”
I feel for Harper. She’s had it tough for so long and she’s trying to be so strong. She’s a tough little cookie, that’s for sure. I’m super proud of her so standing up to the bad guys and fighting for what she believes in, even though she has Cerebral Palsy, she doesn’t let that define her. She takes charge and doesn’t back down. A true warrior right there, my friends.
“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”
This romance wasn’t insta-love. It was slow and just right. Rhen and Harper didn’t fall for each other right away, which i find always happens in books now a days, there were fights and yelling. They clashed heads and fought. Trust had to be earned. It wasn’t just “oh she’s pretty/ he’s handsome, I automatically love her/him.” It was more than that.
“Failure isn’t absolute. Just because you couldn’t save everyone doesn’t mean you didn’t save anyone.”
I’m just gonna our this out there, Lilith is a savage bitch and I hate her. The end.
I received a copy of Blinding Night from the author in exchange for an honest review.
So I want to start off with saying how many relatable lines therI received a copy of Blinding Night from the author in exchange for an honest review.
So I want to start off with saying how many relatable lines there were in this book.
“Insert awkward photo from a delayed flash and you have me in all of my glory”
I think we’ve all felt like this at least at one time in our lives.
Summers first taste of alcohol. She had the same reaction as I did when I first drank wine. I feel you, girl.
“That’s my girl.”
Ever since Summer was four, she has been haunted by shadows. Black figures with no faces. At thirteen she was sent to a psychiatrist. She had been diagnosed with ‘depression’ and places on a light dose of medication.
“Things can grow and flourish, even in the darkness. They adapt. They change.”
A mysterious, yet somehow familiar man approaches Summer. After a devastating accident which altered Summers world forever, she begins her journey with the man who calls himself Darce. There, she ventures with him to the Underworld. Summer begins to understand who this man is a long with her own self discovery.
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