The Shadow Between Us: Tricia Levenseller

 

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

(Goodreads)

 

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO FUCKING MUCH! 

That is all.

JK *cue cry-laughing emoji* 

So to begin, this is an enemy to lover's story....  but one-sided. One-sided, you say? How can it be one-sided? Our main character, Alessandra, is here to marry the king and then kill him, so therefore he is her enemy. But the king is unaware of this plot, so he doesn't see her as an enemy. It's cute and plays a fun role in the plot.

Another fun trope that I absolutely adore is the marriage, or relationship, of convenience. Which this book is all about. 

So let us get started. 

The plot, my god, the plot was glorious. This book was everything Serpent and Dove wanted to be and more. It did it in one book without being annoying. Cough Anyways! SO the plot is about love, romance, murder, and a mystery to solve. The King's parents are dead, and no one knows who killed them, and it was too clean. Alessandra wants to be queen, and she finds herself to be the perfect candidate to fill that role. Alessandra also killed her first and most beloved lover, so she thinks she will excel in this endeavor. The way Levenseller wrote this is ensnaring; it absolutely enraptured me. 

The characters were incredible. I loved the depth to them; they had dimension. Even Alessandra, who seems like she'd be this vain she is and terribly shallow person. A Murderer, and a girl in charge of her sexuality. She was more than all of this; when she tells her story of why she killed her first love, it really just gave her more depth. I just really loved the characters. 

And the humor? THE HUMOR!?! There's this one part that legit had me laughing so hard I almost cried. It's when they find out she killed someone, and the King should be worried. Instead, he calls her his beloved seductive murderess or something like that, and I am living. LIVING.

The romance was tender and sweet, and then it was mature and an excellent read. It was a slow burn through and through—my favorite romance.

I'm telling you this book is seriously so good.

Please read it; it's a super-fast read and an excellent book.

Until next time readers <3

Love Kat

The Glass Butterfly: A.G. Howard

For close to a decade, twenty-five-year-old Felicity Lonsdale has masqueraded as a dowager almost twice her age—selling caterpillars to butterfly consortium's—enabling her to hide an ill-fated past while raising her late brother’s daughters. Together, the three live on an isolated Irish estate bequeathed by a dying earl. When the earl’s estranged son arrives to claim his inheritance by threatening to expose Felicity’s true identity, she longs to pack up her nieces and run. But a ghostly secret within the castle’s turret holds her captive.

Nick Thornton—a Roma viscount’s heir—is also captive. After a tryst with an investor’s wife nearly destroyed his family’s holiday resort, Nick forsook everything to elope with her. However, a tragic mistake at his hand led to her and his baby’s deaths. Refusing to turn to the family he shamed, Nick travels to seek the countess who once co-wrote a romance with his sister. There’s rumor of a special butterfly in her keep—a transparent-winged species with ties to the afterlife. Nick hopes to contact his dead wife and child, for only their forgiveness can free him.

Upon his arrival to Felicity’s estate, Nick offers to help her defeat the earl’s son, on the condition she allow Nick to investigate her glass butterflies. Felicity agrees, though fears the closer he gets to the ghosts of his past, the closer he’ll come to uncovering her own. As Nick spends time with Felicity and her nieces, he realizes the mystery enshrouding this fragile countess and her castle is more intriguing than the ghosts he originally came to find. And perhaps putting his dead to rest and helping her do the same will be his true path to redemption.
(Goodreads)

This is book three of the "Haunted Hearts Legacy" and it was considerably better than the second one. Let me begin by saying this is the third to a series of stand alone books, that can totally be read by themselves. But you get the full story by reading them in order.

This one is about Nick, and I like him more than his brother. Nick is a womanizer, a scoundrel, the shame of his family or so he thinks. Obviously Nick has a dark past, a dark and depressing past and he is now chasing ghosts... Butterfly ghosts (??? it's a whole thing). Which leads us to Felicity, the ruler? leader? owner? Master of this ghostly estate. Felicity also has a dark past, a dark and devastating past, her only light in this grim world are her two nieces. And the boy who saved her from death. Who's obviously Nick though he doesn't remember her 
And thus starts their romance! With Nick breaking into her greenhouse in search of her ghost butterflies and Felicity literally ripping his knee open. Fun!
Honestly Felicity annoyed the ever living hell out of me, her back and forth emotions regarding Nick. When he LITERALLY told her MULTIPLE times that he was going to take care of her and the girls and that he loved her. He would not only tell her this, but he would show her. Actions speak louder than words and yet she continued to lie to him time and again. 
Until they got married. They got married and she was still lying to him 
But what's a true Gothic Romance without ghosts. Well her brother, yes, her brother is MOSTLY dead. And with the help of his eldest daughter and the butterflies is trying to help out around the greenhouse and communicate with Felicity. Felicity is having nothing of this nonsense and instead isolates her nieces more go figure 
Nick throughout this all suffering over the guilt of his deceased wife and child. He's falling for Felicity and has started to love her nieces as children of his own. Honestly Nick is pretty damn princely throughout this all. He's the textbook tall, dark, and handsome. He believes the eldest niece oops totally cannot remember her name for the life of me in regards to the butterflies and her father. Since he too has experience with ghosts... well... his parents. *cough* Anyways, Nick is doing everything he can to prove his love to Felicity, his devotion to her girls. 
And it only works when she saves the youngest one from drowning in the bog how clique... I love it But even then, Felicity manages to screw it up.
But in the end love conquers all! Nick makes up his estranged family, he is happily married to Felicity. Felicity makes peace with her past and the scars it left on her both figurative and literal Her dear old brother awakes from his coma, is pinning after Emilia slightly cringes a lot 
And everyone lives happily ever after, Nick's family visit the estate.
And by some amazing miracle, Felicity gets pregnant and all is well.
Honestly I love the clique of a Gothic Romance being a goth myself, I can't help but swoon and I love how Ms. Howard delivers the story in her own way. 
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

A Court of Wings and Ruin: Sarah J. Maas

Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places. 
(Goodreads)

Warning everyone now, this is NOT going to be spoiler free. It's been a year... I'm going to assume everyone has already read it
You have been warned. (honestly this isn't even a review thing... It's more of my reaction to the book)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well this book starts maybe a month after the events at the A Court of Mist and Fury. (I'm totally going to disregard the weird prologue in Rhys point of view... because honestly I didn't get it so lets ignore it)
Well my fear has come to pass, Feyre is back at the spring court with Tamlin the tool and Lucian my beloved but useless friend. But she is not the same person she once was, she is strong, she is married WHERE IS THE GOD DAMN WEDDING?!?! WE DESERVE A FEYSAND WEDDING *cough* She is not broken, nor is she suffering from depression (as severely as before). Feyre is now acting the victim while she sabotages everything she possibly can while at the spring court. She's totally messing with Tamlin and Lucian knows something is up. Now the bitch Ianthe is back and is worse than ever. But mah gurl Feyre, she ain't about that life anymore and she totally steals the spotlight from her during the super important I can't remember which holiday it was ritual, and it was just glorious. Anyway.... Feyre and Rhys are still keeping contact and it honestly just breaks my heart to think of how worried Rhys must have been having Feyre back with her abuser.
Things get sketchy when the twins arrive, and demand that they show them the hole in the wall. Ianthe trying raping Lucian by DRUGGING HIM!! MY GOD I WAS SO ANGERY and devastated. Feyre beat the ever living shit  hell out of her, and mind controlled her into never doing that again. And that she would always live in fear. That moment was just incredible, and much deserved.
Lucian and Feyre escape, and get all the way to winter. And just when it looks like they are going to get caught and bad things are going to happen. CASSIAN AND AZRIEL COME AND SAVE THE DAY. I cried, I cried because in the last book we had no idea if Cassian was going to be able to fly again, and how he was healing. It was all left in the dark and I was dying.  I legit cried tears of happiness with how Cassian greets Feyre and they hug and they sass each other. There friendship, I just, I can't. fangirls over their bromance
Once they get back to the Court of Dreams, everything seems normal for a bit. We see Nesta bitch hover over Elain. And Elain useless sister, Elain is depressed over her fiancé and their wedding that's obviously not going to happen. Lucian is coming to terms that Feyre was legit okay, better that okay when she was with Rhys. And that Rhys is not the evil person he shows to everyone else.
But now, now its game time and they are running against the clock to defeat the king of Hyburn and hopefully keep the wall intact. Lucian decides to go and find the lost queen (Dear Mrs. Maas, I would humbly ask that you please, write a novel about Lucian's adventure to find the lost queen. With how he deals with his trauma, his new birthright I'll get to that in a moment. How he got to the final battle in the nick of time. Please and thank you. A humble fanatic fan)
Feyre learns to fly, taking lessons from my quiet bat Azriel. And we finally get to hear Azriel talk, more than he has in all the books. I loved seeing them bond, to see Az sass Feyre. I loved their dymanic, and I loved that we finally got to see them bond and laugh. And just be friends.
Shit hits the fan, Nesta the bitch doesn't want to help Feyre and the inner circle (which, okay. I understand it was super traumatic. I fully understand that, but with her there it would honestly help so much), until she sees them help the summer court when they are under attack by Hyburn. This was such an intense fight. And it was extra nerve wracking because they had been sent the "ruby eggs of exile"... so... They could have been killed on sight, not just by Hyburn's soldiers, but by summer court people too. But they didn't they survived, they make a joke about Amren and her hoarding of shiny things. All is well for the moment.
Now comes the fun part.
The meeting with all the courts. We get to meet a new favorite, Vivian and Kallias. Everyone is tense. Tamlin the tool makes some horrible remarks. Azriel about beats the hell out of him. Feyre and Rhys
tell the story of how Feyre now has a small bit of everyones power. Fun stuff man.
But it gets better, turns out that Lucian is actually Helion's son. I repeat, HE IS THE SON OF HELION THE RULER OF THE DAY COURT. Let that sink in (Dear Mrs. Maas. I ask as a humble fan, that you please address this in either one of the novella's or in a seperate book. I would love to see how Lucian takes that news, how everything that had happened to him because of his shitty father and brothers begin to make sense. Please and thank you) We learn Cassian, Mor, and Helion have had a three way that was something new
Anyways as the story progresses and new relationship begins, we see Nesta and Cassian get closer... Ish. And honestly I hate it. I loathe Nesta. I cannot stand her, I am indifferent to Elain. But Maas is hinting that Cassian and Nesta are going to end up together and I am not happy, I love Cassian with all my heart and I want him to be happy... With someone else, I don't believe Nesta deserves him. Now if she sort of redeems herself maybe I'll be okay with it. So far I am not. But now, now I like Elain with Az. I just love how sweet they both are, I love how happy Azriel is with just spending time with Elain. AZRIEL DESERVES TO BE HAPPY, AZRIEL DESERVES ALL THE HAPPINESS IN THE WORLD AND IF ELAIN MAKES HIM HAPPY. SO BE IT *cough*
Before the final battle, I experienced heartache with the death of the Surriel, who was a dreamer. And then came the satisfaction of Ianthe dying a horrible death because of the Weaver.
In the final battle I experienced two of the biggest heartaches. One was when Cassian almost died, if it weren't for Nesta grumbles for an eternity I cried. I sobbed. And then I cried some more because of the heart felt words he shares with Nesta grumbles for an eternity.
And then, then came the biggest heartache that left me literally sobbing for two days (seriously, ask my mom, she couldn't understand why I was crying for TWO DAYS).
On page 666 our beloved Rhysand died. Rhysand died while helping Feyre put the cauldron back together. His final words were of his love for Feyre. RHYS DIED TO SAVE THEM ALL I cried, and I cried. Not only because my favorite character had just died, but because of how Feyre reacted to this. It was a parallel of Rhysand in the first book. Her anguish reminiscent of Rhys, and she convinces the other high lords to give a small bit of their power to bring him back, even Tamlin. And his last parting words were sweet. That he wants her to be happy.
Rhys comes back to life, I cry some more. And then we find out Amren is alive, and she is fey. She is not a phoenix of death any longer (Dear Mrs. Maas, as a humble reader. I would like to ask that you address Amren coming to terms that she is now fey. A normal fey who will one day eventually die. Please and thank you). Everything is done. Not happily ever after per say.
The book ended at a good place. Everything is safe, the evil has been defeated. But now, now they have to heal after everything that has happened. They need to make peace with the humans, they will need to rebuild the courts. And readjust to normal life.
Honestly I loved how Sarah J. Maas ended the series. She could have left it here, and I personally would have had no problem. I love that she is going to write more books, and that they are going to deal with the aftermath of the final battle.

Thank you, Maas, for writing such a beautiful and loving story. Something that I feel I needed as a young teen. These books are my new favorite book, that I have read multiple times well... not the first one
Thank you, thank you for writing these books. These books who dealt with depression in a realistic way, that made me cry and laugh. Who gave me incredible quotes to live by (I have a floor pillow with a mist and fury quote). And inspired me to get my first tattoo.
Thank you

Until next time readers <3
Love Kat 
"Only you can decide what breaks you."

Lucas (A Preston Brother novel): Jay McLean

In a sprint, every millisecond counts.  
When you’re waiting for love, those milliseconds can feel like eons.  

High school senior Lucas Preston has it all: star of the track team, a scholarship waiting for him, an apartment to himself and a revolving door of girlfriends. He also has an older sister, five younger brothers and a father who relies on him to make sure those brothers don’t kill each other.  
His saving grace? Lois “Laney” Sanders, a girl he started to fall in like with when he was just eleven. 
A girl who became his best friend, his confidant, his courage.  

It took only sixteen clicks and eight seconds for Lucas to realize that his like for Laney had turned into love.   
Eight life-changing seconds.  
It’s also the exact length of time it took to lose her.
(Goodreads)

Okay, so... I got this book free through bookbub. And holy shit dude. This was a wild ride from start to finish, I honestly thought this was going to be your usual high school romance book. Girl loves best friend, *best friend* doesn't notice her until she either dates someone else, or takes off her glasses and she becomes the hot girl.
Well this story was like that... until it wasn't. The book starts really cute, it flips between the past and present. And is in both Lucas and Lois's point of views (which I absolutely loved).
Anyways... Everything changes when literally in the first fifty pages Luke and Laney have sex! LIKE BRUH, THAT WAS FAST O^O
Totally did not expect that to happen so fast, I legit thought they were going to get together and everything was going to be all happily ever after. EXCEPT IT WASN'T! this is so shocking because it legit almost never happens in the books I normally read... so for this to happen, it was such a shock and I loved it.
*cough* I totally forgot that Luke was actually still dating his then girlfriend Grace oh shit dude well this obviously broke Lois's trust.... And instead of wallowing (which she did like any normal person), and waiting around for Luke to get back to his senses and NOTICE HER, she started dating Cooper. Not right away, they became friends and were so stinking cute I loved it. 

I admit I loved Cooper in the beginning because he was just so darn charismatic, and he was really good for Lois. He helped her stop being so meek and waiting for things to happen. And he helped her love herself more. He was someone she needed at this point in her life. And I am loving this. I loved seeing Lucas pinning for Laney, to see him wait for her to realize that he was the one for her. Her happily ever after. Her one true love. I'm telling you it was so stinking sweet. I loved this dynamic
But then things started to changed, Laney really started to pull back from everyone she loved. And her relationship with Cooper started to go south. He was forbidding her from talking to Luke, and to any other dude. He was always around. And she started making excuses for him and his behavior. I was seriously thinking "bitch get rid of him you don't need that kind of man 

Well, things get weird and then Lucas and Lois FINALLY started dating. It was amazing, it seemed like they both needed each other to kind of heal from everything that had been happening. AND THEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS
At their senior prom Luke and Laney obviously went together, when out of nowhere Cooper shows up asking to talk to Laney. Next thing you know you hear gun shots, Lucas runs to find his two brothers and then looks for Laney. And he finds her, outside bleeding because Cooper FUCKING SHOT HER FOUR TIMES!!! I AM SHOOKETH I CRY
Lucas beats the hell out of Cooper things get really shitty for a while, Luke gets arrested for assault EVEN THOUGH COOPER SHOT! LANEY! LIKE! WHAT. THE. HELL. I have a lot of feelings about this 
We later learn that Cooper had been severely abusing Laney, like hospital stay abuse. And this broke my heart. I cried, I cried for poor Laney who had to suffer through this. For other men and women who go through this. 

Anyways,  everything ends happily ever after and I cried. It was adorable.
And I loved this book so much. And I am so happy I read this

This totally isn't a review type thing... it's more of a rant but whateves 

Well, until next time readers <3 

Love Kat 

A Court of Mist and Fury: Sarah J. Maas

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.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.
(Goodreads)

Everything you thought you knew in the first book... was a lie. 
This book starts maybe a month after what happened under the mountain. Feyre Darling is suffering from PTSD, Tamlin is trying to deal with everything the best he can, and Lucian my dear is just kind of there for now. Honestly, no matter how many times I read this book, my heart breaks for dear Feyre. The way she is treated, the way she feels, how Tamlin the supposed love of her life. The Mate. DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT SHE IS SUFFERING. THAT SHE IS SO DEPRESSED SHE IS DYING. SHE IS WASTING AWAY *lays in a pool of my own tears* ALICE NOTICES, RHYSAND NOTICES.
The wedding, of my god the wedding. She almost has a panic attack at her own GOD DAMN WEDDING, because they didn't listen to her and still put red petals all over. 
Rhysand is an extremely interesting character, I want to know more about him.
Honestly what kills me the most about this book is how ignorant Tamlin is being, especially when he LOCKS HER IN THE HOUSE SO THAT SHE CAN BE #SAFE
Morrigan saving her is amazing, Alice giving her blessing knowing that these strangers will care for her better than Tamlin can. It truly breaks my heart
~~~~~~~
And now we get to the second part, the part where Feyre begins to heal.
Sarah J. Maas honestly describes Feyre's depression in the most realistic way (at least for me, a depressive girl) a way that shows how incredibly debilitating it can be, how lonely it makes you. How broken you feel. 
Cassian, Azriel, Morrigan, and Amren: the inner circle. These amazing characters that all have their own past, they all have their own scars, and they all battle with their own memories. These are the types of characters that we should see more of. Cassian supporting Feyre during their training, even when Feyre lost control of her fire and FUCKING BURNED CASSIAN. He didn't say anything, he didn't complain. He just gave Feyre the space she needed and let her lash out. 
Honestly the love, care, and support they all give each other is amazing. It is amazing how this support was what our darling Feyre needed to understand that she was being abused by Tamlin. That her own self worth was so low that she would defend her abuser.
This is the kind of story that we need, it shows young girls that this is not okay.

Can I just talk about how much I love Rhysand? He is such an incredible character that has done so much for Feyre and his city. He, who is also abused, has risen above this and came out a stronger man.
And his love for Feyre is the most beautiful thing in the world.
Chapter 56 where he explains everything from his point of the sorrow he faced, the feelings he had when he first saw her. How he heard Cassian's voice when she killed the worm thing (if Rhys didn't marry her than he would). To when he died and DID EVERYTHING HE POSSIBLY COULD TO BRING HER BACK (unlike Tamlin). 
Rhys and Feyre's love is just so beautiful and pure. It is a love forged on friendship and a deep understanding that are still healing, that they are not perfect. That they still have hard days, but they won't let them win. They are absolutely perfect for each other
The ending ruined me, and I had to wait a year for the next book.
Ms. Maas has created an incredible story full of rich characters and plot, that will honestly forever live with me. These books have changed the genre for me. They have set a new standard of reading, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Until next time readers <3 

A Court of Thorns and Roses: Sarah J. Maas

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
(Goodreads)

This is seriously my new favorite book, I am in love with this book. The book, the characters, the world... This book is absolute perfection, by having such imperfect characters. I do admit that I actually didn't want to read this book. I found it interesting, but I never had the motivation to actually read it... Until a friend of mine legit forced me to read it, and it was absolutely incredible.
Feyre is just such a strong character, she is human and imperfect. She makes mistakes, she gets mad at her sisters. But she is strong, she is real and just so human. I just love her so much because of her imperfection.
Feyre is then taken by Tamlin who says she has broken a sacred treaty by killing one of his people. Now Tamlin is an interesting character, there is something about him that calls to Feyre's need for safety, to be taken care of and not have to worry when her next meal is going to be. Now this is a love story so of course there is going to be love.
Feyre's strength during the trials, is honestly incredible. She suffered through all of this for the love of her life. AND HE DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO GET THEM OUT WHEN RHYSAND GAVE THEM THE CHANCE. *cough* What was interesting though, was how passionate Rhysand was compared to Tamlin. Rhysand is just this stranger and he was the one to convince everyone to give a small bit of their power to see if that would bring her back. I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on the next one. And I hope Rhysand is in it. He's an interesting character. Excuse my rant... Anyways, Sarah J. Maas does an incredible job in making these characters human, she made me feel exactly what Feyre was.
That moment when Feyre is just about to break, she just can't do this anymore, she doesn't know how she will survive... And suddenly she hears music in her head. The most beautiful song she'd ever heard. And it helps her survive, it helps give her the motivation to survive. That, that right there makes me cry every time I read it.
Ms. Maas delivered an excellent book of love and trials, with a mixture of beauty and the beast and badass women.