RiReviews

Really Enjoyed!!

Revisado: 01-17-25

Not what I was expecting!

House of Bane and Blood is Peaky Binders meets Bridge Kingdom. There's an arranged marriage/contract, non-stop trust issues, the burden of legacy, found family, remnants (magic), rivals to lovers, and most of all, the battle for power.

Really enjoyed the world building throughout... dropping us in a world of dark magic mixed with political house dominance for power. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining witty banter, sexual tension, and overall plot and character intrigue. I am dying to know so much more about what happened to some of these characters.... I need more back story. These peaks into their past make you want more - what or who did this to you?

Loved that the author included 2 pictures of the characters throughout the book. Would have loved to see a picture from the Salt Ball (iykyk) 🔥

Be prepared for that last chapter that has you like... ummm what?? And a cliffy that will make you crave Book 2!

Loved the audible. Both narrators were excellent!! Made the story so much more engaging to listen/read.

Rivals to Lovers
Magic
Houses
Found Family
Betrayal
He falls first
She's mine
Spice (slow burn - but great description) 🌶🌶

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Unexpectedly Amazing!!!!

Revisado: 01-13-25

Wow. Gothic dark romantic Academia ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let me start by saying.... THIS BOOK DOES NOT GET ENOUGH HYPE!! SOOOOO GOOD! GOING DOWN THE KERI LAKE RABBIT HOLE NOW!

Nocticadia is a mesmerizing journey into the depths of desire, darkness, and the complexities of love. From the very first page, Lake crafts a world that is both haunting and beautiful, pulling readers into a narrative that is as enthralling as it is poignant.

The story revolves around themes of obsession, redemption, and the intricacies of human connection. Lake's characters are richly developed, each with their own struggles and secrets. The protagonist's journey is particularly compelling; readers are drawn into her psyche, experiencing her fears and triumphs in a way that feels deeply personal. Lake's ability to portray raw emotion is one of her greatest strengths, and she does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of her characters’ lives.

The pacing of the story is masterful. It balances tension and tenderness, ensuring that readers are kept on the edge of their seats while also allowing moments of introspection and vulnerability. The banter and tender moments are chef's kisses!!

I was not expecting to love this book so much. It was captivating from start to finish (even telling my non-bookish friends about it at brunch and swaying them to read it, too).

Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World building ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Banter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶🌶
Twist ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Also, it has an extra story at the end, add on due to the ending 😍😍

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Let the Games Begin!

Revisado: 01-10-25

Really enjoyed this twist on Hades Persephone Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson rollercoaster!

The world-building was quite interesting.... every detail—from the rules of magic and games to the politics among the Gods— was meticulously crafted and thoughtfully executed. Each game setting was a mini tribute to the mythology behind that God, but also an adventure for the characters and background on their personal lives outside the games. I loved the character development throughout, letting us become invested not only plot but each characters journey (are they ally or foe). My favs are obviously Hades (absolutely loved!!), Charon (bestie), Cer Ber Rus (best pup ever), and Zai (found fam). The FMC Lyra had an interesting journey as well, exploring identity, loyalty, and self-discovery (but did become annoying at times, especially with the save everyone complex).

Overall, the book had me hooked, but the last 40% of the book was page turning! Started the book at midnight (thinking it'll be a light read for an hour) and ended up reading half the book that night... only stopping because I had work. Picked right back up and finished as soon as I logged off work the next day. Great palette cleanser from the norm supernatural genres (fae, werewolves, witches, dragons).

The book finishes with you satisfied but leaves you on a mini cliffy to lead up to book 2.

Found Family/Friends ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Banter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sarcasm ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice ⭐️

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Haunting Surprise

Revisado: 01-07-25

This book was full of surprises and so many twists. From the creaking floorboards to the shadows that linger in the corners, the mansion is steeped in history and mystery, drawing readers into its eerie embrace.

Starling House is a haunting tale that explores themes of family, grief, and the search for belonging. Harrow crafts a compelling protagonist whose journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about uncovering the secrets of a mysterious mansion. The character’s evolution is portrayed with authenticity, as she grapples with her past and confronts her fears. The author does a beautiful job in the development of all the characters throughout the book - especially Arthur 😍.

I especially loved the exploration of familial bonds—both nurturing and toxic. These relationships added a poignant layer to the story, making it resonate with the readers on a personal level.

Surprising read to start off 2025!
Audible narrator was excellent!!

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Hold on tight... the plot thickens!

Revisado: 01-04-25

This book is a delightful twist on the classic trope of heroes and villains, offering readers an engaging blend of humor, romance, and fantasy. The story weaves a captivating tale that pulls you into a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, and the relationships between characters are as intricate as the plots they weave.

Wright does a masterful job of developing the FMC character, giving her depth and relatability, and showing us just how clever she is!! Be prepared for a lot of "oh shit" moments you might have missed, but Miss Evie did not.

I really enjoyed how the book delved into deeper themes of redemption and the potential for change. Is the villain bad or good?

Surprisingly, LOVED this book. I was on the fence on reading it since the first one was meh (except the last 20% of book 1), but this book had a LOT to unravel. The plot thickens.... can't wait for book 3!!!

Also, audio was chef's kiss!!! A++ to the narrator!

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Cute Light-hearted Humorous Read

Revisado: 01-02-25

This book was different.... not bad, but not great. I read it due to all the hype and had no real clue on what it was about. Overall, very light-hearted humorous read, with the characters pining for each other internally throughout the entire book, but refuses to act on it, with more of a "villainous" rom-com feel. The last 20% of the book was great! The story finally started making more sense from a plot perspective.

Overall, it definitely had a lot of "Minions" vibes, with Trystan being Gru the "villain" and Evie being the good girl (aka the kids) that he finds "feelings" for.

Looking forward to seeing how it plays out in the next book!

I enjoyed the audible. The narrator was excellent interior voicing the inner thoughts of Evie and Trystan with just the right amount of emotions and sarcasm.

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Cozy Fun Fantasy

Revisado: 06-02-24

Unexpected, fun, cozy, sweet fantasy. I honestly went into this not knowing or reading the plot, and it held my interest the whole way and read it in one sitting. Dragons in the plot was unexpected and thoroughly enjoyed!! I mean who doesn't love a book with dragons, elves and now throw in an orc... yes please.

The Audible was excellent, narrators were excellent and made the story so much better!

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fun quick read

Revisado: 06-01-24

The concept of the book was great, however it seemed a bit rushed. In this series, it seems as each book will be it's own stand alone that intertwines with the other books of the series. I normally absolutely love Leia Stone's books, but the last 30% of the book went way to fast and didn't seem very realistic. The end is where it gets interesting as you see how the other books in the series will connect.

Overall, fun quick read. I read it in one sitting, but I felt like it could have been longer and less rushed. Loved the MMC, I thought the FMC was annoying at times, but she is still a baddie with all her powers and assassin skillset. I'll continue to read the rest of the series as I absolutely love all of Leia Stone's and Julie Hall's books.

Audible by Vanessa Moyen was exceptional as always!

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Best book of the series

Revisado: 03-01-24

Sweep of the Blade takes us through Maud and Arland's story, and boy is it good! I loved Maud's journey of learning to trust again, Arland's sweet moments, Helen's fierceness, and overall the plot and belonging!

The YA book reference was chef's kiss. Arland's reference to Helen as his daughter was absolutely swoonworthy.

Absolutely loved this book, definitely my favorite of the series so far.

Audible performance and narrator was awesome!

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Love Love Love

Revisado: 02-26-24

Love this series!! Highly recommended for a fun read with action, plot, suspense, family, and spice. Can't wait to read about all the side characters stories!

Audible was incredible!

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