Crown of Coral and Pearl: Mara Rutherford

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…

Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.

Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.

In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.
(Goodreads)

So when I read the premise I knew exactly what I was going to read. I just didn't expect it to flop as hard as it did.  I know, I know that the new fad in writing is princesses taking back their kingdom, being badass, falling in love with someone they shouldn't. The typical story right now. But this one was just an absolute disappointment. The idea of using vanity was interesting, until it became too much. For a good chunk of the book all they would talk about was beauty. The worth of the females because of their beauty. The shame that Nor had but a small scar because she saved her sister from drowning. And yet all they could focus on was her supposed jealousy because Zadie was more beautiful and pure and blah blah blah. 
I get it, the author wanted to be different to all the other books that all share the same premise. But her use of beauty in this book honestly was not a wise choice. If she had possibly written the book better, maybe I would have liked it more. But it just fell flat.
It was shallow and the plot honestly didn't do much. Nothing really changed when Nor took Zadie's place. And that whole exchange and the events that happened were ridiculous. God I could barely read it, the shallowness of the village was incredible. Lets talk about Zadie for a second here, because literally this whole thing started because of her selfishness. Like I get it, she loves her boo, it's sweet and cute. But to literally get angry and jealous because her twin is being FORCED TO MARRY SAID BOO, AGAINST HER WILL. BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS SAID SO  and ignore her sister, was honestly so petty and shallow I was almost done with the whole book there... 
But then it gets worse because stupid sister forces Nor to brutalize her body to make her ugly and undesirable to stay with the love of her life and it was hinted at that the only reason he kinda liked her was because of her beauty... nothing else 
And thus the village turns on them and its all supposed to be sad and important, but really it was just vain and shallow with no lasting impact.
The rest of the book is mediocre and really nothing important happens, she meets her new soon to be husband. The beach girl now lives in a mountain away from the light, people are plotting murder, she falls in love with the prince's half brother. You know, the usual 🤷
Overall, the book is severely underwhelming and nothing of importance happens in the book to make it stand out against the others of its kind. I felt like it was doomed from the start because of how beauty focused it is, it just made the rest of the plot very shallow and lacking of real depth.
But if you liked it, awesome! Personally not my favorite, and I will not be reading the next one.
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

Bright Burns the Night: Sara B Larson

Ten years ago, King Lorcan of the Dark Kingdom Dorjhalon defeated Queen Evelayn and cut her conduit stone from her. Since then, he has kept her trapped in her swan form. With the loss of balance between Dark and Light, winter has descended and the Draíolon of Éadrolan lose more power every day. But once a year, Lorcan transforms her back to her Draíolon form and offers a truce. And every year Evelayn refuses -- for he requires her to Bind herself to him for life.

But now, with an Ancient power bearing down upon them, everything may change. Evelayn will learn that the truths she once believed have shattered, and that she may need her enemies even more than her allies. Lorcan and Evelayn become partners in a desperate quest to return the balance of power to Lachalonia. How far will this partnership go? Can friendship -- perhaps even love -- bloom where hatred has taken root?

Sara B. Larson delivers a thrillingly romantic and hauntingly satisfying end to this extraordinary duology.
(Goodreads)

So I'm back! And I decided to read the second one even though I really didn't like the first one, I thought I may was well finish the duology. It's just two books, this one can't be worse than the first one right?
Wrong, I was wrong
So this one picks up 10 years after the first one, and it had the most underwhelming thing opening EVER. So in the last book she gets turned into a swan. And as the story of Swan Lake goes, a declaration of true undying love is what saves her. But! How is that going to happen when Tanvir is dead? Whatever will she do? Well, the spell Lorcan put on her Just. Stops. Working. That's it. The spell suddenly stopped working and now he has to scramble to figure out what to do with her. And in a moment of clique, Lorcan's brother is fatally wounded, and Evelayn helps save him... which somehow softens her heart to look at Lorcan differently??? The person who has kept her captive for 10 YEARS? And she finds him interesting? What?? Did? I? Just? Read? Where did this come from?
From here the plot moves extremely fast because of some unknown evil that was actually the actual true villain in these books is attacking. And Lorcan was forced to follow their evil deeds for safety of his kingdom. To go along with the cliques, Tanvir is alive, and Evelayn needs to renounce her love for him. Therefore marrying Lorcan, or else he won't help her retrieve her jewel thing.
And off they go on a journey to save their kingdoms and get her jewel thing I seriously cannot remember what it's called. I know it's important Tanvir is livid that they're going to get married and he is determined to stop it, though he fails and they are wed. But determined as ever, he tries to remind Evelayn of who she truly loves. Evelayn is having these feelings for Lorcan and just rolls with it, while Lorcan is also fighting these new found feelings that have sprouted for Evelyan
Conflict wise there wasn't a lot, it was mainly bargaining, and overall the story felt rushed.
The relationship between Lorcan and Evelayn was rushed and underdeveloped. And pretty confusing, considering how it all started.
Things come to light, hearts change and its a happily ever after for the King and Queen.
I'm okay with having finished the books, I just wish I had enjoyed them more
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

Dark Breaks the Dawn: Sara B Larson

On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless.

But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn onto the throne much sooner than she expected.

In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.
(Goodreads)

Considering this is one of the books that had been highly recommended to me by a friend, and then meeting the author at a book signing prompted me to finally read the book.... I expected more. Much more than what was delivered. This book from the get go, is mediocre, its sporadic hard to follow. It's nothing amazing and the plot is very lacking in everything that would make it better. The writing was sub-par and I felt like she tried to shove as many things as she could in the first book and yet the plot felt stagnant.
The world was very underdeveloped, and the rules and customs of the world were hard to understand. Larson tried to give us background knowledge of how her world worked, but it just didn't work out well. This book was described to me as a beautiful love story paired with the devastation of failure and a broken heart. And it was a failure, it failed the characters and the lackluster story line. And nothing about this book was memorable.
The end was a failure, and I understand this book is a LITERAL representation of the authors fight with depression.... I just didn't like the book
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

Everless: Sara Holland

In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.
(Goodreads)

Okay, so first thing first... I have mixed feelings. I have very mixed feelings because the book was good, and it wasn't at the same time. Let me explain:
So if you take out the aspect of the blood iron, and time being their form of payment. It's just like every other low grade dystopian out there. Adding the blood iron made it more unique, I've never read anything where time YOUR time is the currency. That was so interesting and I absolutely loved it. The story was mediocre at times, and really dragged. I totally skimmed parts I mean who doesn't to get to the action.
Honestly the story really started picking up when she because the lady-in-waiting to Ina. When they ventured out to the orphanage in search of Ina's true parents, that right there is when everything really got interesting. Don't get me wrong her dad dying got the ball rolling. But the orphanage was the place where we FINALLY learned stuff relevant to the plot.
Then like usual things aren't what it seems
AND!! MAJOR SPOILERS HERE
I TOTALLY GUESSED IT! JULES ANTONIA ACTUALLY WAS THE ALCHEMIST
I totally guessed it and I am so damn proud of myself I just can't. Anyways, everything starts to click. And of course this all happens in the last like 50  pages why couldn't the whole book be like this when I just can't get enough. So Liam is probably crushing on Jules Antonia and he just didn't know how to act. Ina is actually her twin, so that was super interesting... Like I can see them battle it out like "you killed the love of my life!" "NO it was Caro!"
You know, drama.
 Caro being the Sorceress was a great plot twist. I totally thought it was the Queen like we were supposed to but it wasn't and I was like "WHAT?!?! O^O"
Exactly like that
Anyways Jules accepts that she is a reincarnated Alchemist and that is the end.
And I have feels
Well... Not feels per-say, because I'm honestly not that invested to that characters like I normally am *cough* but I have mixed feelings, and I just can't figure out how to describe how I feel about this book.
Is it because I am anxiously waiting for the next Bone Witch? Or because A Court of Frost and Starlight is coming out in, like, two weeks. screams into the abyss
Well, I give this book 3.5 stars. I feel like it's going to get better, but for now I feel like it was okay, to read the one time

Well until next time readers <3

Love Kat