Daughter of the Pirate King: Tricia Levenseller

 There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.
(Goodreads)

So I know this book is meant to be interesting. And dear Crystle said it was okay so I decided to read it. It was okay... The whole book is set on a pirate ship, so it feels a bit claustrophobic. It was stagnant and nothing major happened. Alosa hinted at a secret she had the whole book and it was getting boring to keep getting teased by the information. Once we finally found out her secret was that she was part siren the story finally started moving forward at a faster pace. 

The fact that the father lied about her mother being dead was so sad and devastating for Alosa, but the ending was just meh

Everything about this book was just meh. 

Well until next time readers <3

A Deadly Education (The Scholomace): Naomi Novik

 Lesson One of the Scholomance: Learning has never been this deadly.

A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets.

There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.

El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.

(Goodreads)

Okay, where to begin... honestly, I kinda didn't like it. I forced myself to read it because I needed a book to read for my reading challenge and this just so happen to be the first book to pop up on Libby. It was interesting enough.... but it sort of fell flat at times. I felt like this book was setting you up for something amazing. Something absolutely incredible.... and it didn't. It felt like the climax never reached its peak until the last sentence of the book. It took 321 pages for me to really feel anything other than neutrality. I mean, come on! That last sentence was incredible! This was the peak I was waiting for, the spark I'd been looking for. Don't get me wrong, the book definitely had its moments that kept me enraptured and entertained... It just wasn't enough. Not just that it's incredibly dark, the amount of death they talk about is just sad.

Let us take El, for example. El is technically supposed to be this super evil witch capable of so much destruction that her great-grandmother wanted her dead, not in those words exactly... but nonetheless what she meant, And yet she didn't do anything except whine about how she could be this absolutely incredibly evil witch but isn't. It was nice that she didn't become an evil witch that easily, but the entire book is still spent talking about how she was destined for great evil and nothing. I felt like it was an absolute let down. Maybe Novik is setting it up for the second or third book. I checked, there should be three. Anyway, the romance was cute, if you could call it that.... Which honestly made it cuter. It was a clique and simple but nonetheless cute.

Honestly, I don't have much else to say about the book; it was just that okay. It wasn't amazing or incredible. It was just okay; the only really redeeming quality it had was the last sentence. That one sentence is what has made me want to invest time in the second book. It was just that intriguing. I mean, we just spent the whole last book falling in love with Orian, see this boy fumble around El, see El figure out she was kind of dating him. AND then her mom says to stay away from him?!? Why?!?

Anyway, until next time reader <3

Love Kat

Heartless: Melissa Meyer

 

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
(Goodreads)

From the moment I began this book, I knew it would be sad. Right from the get-go, you get a sense of foreboding. Something isn't okay, something isn't right, and you don't know what it is. except... You do; you know exactly how this story is going to end. We all know that the Queen of Hearts doesn't have a happy ending. And this story thrives on that energy. It thrives on the dread you feel that Something bad will happen, and you don't know when it'll happen. The book also carried this amazing energy of childlike wonder; it felt like being in Wonderland. It had this bittersweet melancholy, as though to some extent, you've also felt this at some point as well. 

Can you believe I felt all of this from one book? One book. That had me feeling so many different things that when the end came, it was a relief, and yet I still cried because it was so sad, and my heart hurt for Cath side note that was kind of an ugly nickname like come on Cath? 
Anyway, I highly recommend this book for the sole purpose that you will feel so much while reading this book. I at least hope you do.

Until next time readers <3
Love Kat

Post script from Maddie~

I also knew it was going to be sad but I did end up kindly chucking it across the room and declaring I would never read it again because of the heartbreaking ending. Destroyed me. Granted whenever anyone reads I say it’s a great book that I absolutely hate. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Scythe: Neil Shusterman

 Two teens are forced to murder—maybe each other—in the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology.

In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed (“gleaned”) by professional reapers (“scythes”). Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythe’s apprentices, and—despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation—they must learn the art of killing and come to understand the necessity of what they do.

Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe’s apprentice. And when it becomes clear that the winning apprentice’s first task will be to glean the loser, Citra and Rowan are pitted against one another in a fight for their lives.

(Goodreads)

Let's just say that this book was so much better than I thought it would be. I should have known the book was going to be good because Shusterman wrote it. I feel like he's an absolute king at dystopian books.

Let us begin by saying in this world, we have conquered death, life is perfect, and everyone lives forever. No one gets sick unless they want to, and everything is great... except what do you do with population control when no one dies? Thus the job of a Scythe, these are the reapers of society humbly, kindly, and gently killing people. Yes, that's right, their job is to kill people, officially kill people. But they must be chosen; not everyone can be a Scythe. Citra and Rowan are chosen to be scythes, and in doing so, they are part of such a big and life changing, world-altering few years.

The sense of dread this book held, it felt like reading a nightmare waiting to happen. Like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop in a perfect scenario. Everything about this book made me think, what if this were real? What if we actually achieved this? What if? This book challenges you to think of things from a different perspective, to think outside of the box to be put in a situation that might not have a happy ending. 

Everyone should read this book. It honestly incredible and kind of life-changing in the way it makes you think of the possibilities of life. It's such an extreme, and it's weirdly a fast-paced slow book now that's an oxymoron.

Until next time readers <3

Love Kat

Strange the Dreamer: Laini Taylor

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep.
(Goodreads)

Let me begin by saying that I started reading these books because of @dontgobrekkermyheart on Instagram would not stop raving about it. She posted quotes and her pictures were absolutely stunning. So I caved and checked the books out of the library.

I did not expect to like these books as much as I did. Strange the Dreamer was one thousand better and more magical than I could possibly imagine. It was magical, wonderful, mysterious, and beautiful. The writing was like poetry at times and the imagery was like being sent to the world of Weep, absolutely immersive.

I do admit that the beginning of the story was confusing, the prologue started at the end from an outsiders point of view. It was startling and abrupt. And then it ended, and chapter one starts at the beginning, the beginning of Lazlo's very sad and very mediocre life.

I'm going to end it here, and say how much I love this book. It's beautiful and melancholy. It's stunning and whimsical, it's everything I could have wanted and more. The absolute wonder of this book is incredible. The idea that we are more than we seem, more than our parents, more than what even ourselves think of us. It's beautiful and I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

Until next time readers <3

Love Kat

Kingdom of Ash: Sarah J. Maas

Aelin has risked everything to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day…

With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last defense line to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet, they soon realize that the many allies they’ve gathered to battle Erawan’s hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation―and a better world.

And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen―before she is lost to him forever.

As the threads of fate weave together at last, all must fight, if they are to have a chance at a future. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever in the explosive final chapter of the Throne of Glass series.
(Goodreads)

This book was everything I wanted and more. It was HUGE, it was GLORIOUS, and it was HEARTBREAKING.  I cried so much it's kind of ridiculous.
Now let me begin, this book was seriously everything I wanted and more. It's the epic finale to this amazing book series.
Honestly, is this going to be a review? Probs not. It's probably going to be me ranting about how much I love this book. 
SPOILERS ARE COMING!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Besides, the book has been out for a couple months, so...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyways! Seriously I have so many feels when it comes to the Kingdom of Ash, just as many as A Court of Wings and Ruin<--- Click here. The book starts about 3 months after the events of BOTH Tower of Dawn and Empire of Storms with the most heart wrenching beautiful intro story thing in the points of view from both Aelin and Rowan:

“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …”

throws self into a dark abyss to cry. That little intro sets the tone for how the first part of the book will progress. Like Sarah J. Maas's usual writing, we will be jumping around perspective. A lot of the beginning is from Aelin's perspective, and it introduces us to the torture she has endured these past few months, including the mental trauma. I honestly felt like this was reminiscent of when she was in the salt mines, in regards that she fought at first. Then settled that her circumstances were irreversible, then regained her spirit and escaped. It was honestly pretty epic.... and I cried a lot. It was seriously so cool that Aelin did save herself in terms of getting out of the building. But it took the help of Rowan, Gavriel, Lorcan, and Elide to actually officially save Aelin and get her to safety. That was literally all I wanted; a lie was for Aelin to finally allow herself to get help and do not have to do everything by herself. Oh, she tries, she tries so hard, but none of her friends will let her suffer alone.

I'm just going to finish this now, two years later, by saying I love this book series so much. And the ending was perfect even though I want so much more. It was beautiful growing with these characters and seeing how they grew. This story is beautiful, and though it's not for everyone, I hope you give it a chance. 
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat

Stain: A.G.Howard

Once upon a nightmare, her fairy tale begins...

After Lyra—a princess incapable of speech or sound—is cast out of her kingdom of daylight by her wicked aunt, a witch saves her life, steals her memories, and raises her in an enchanted forest ... disguised as a boy known only as Stain. Meanwhile, in Lyra's rival kingdom, the prince of thorns and night is dying, and the only way for him to break his curse is to wed the princess of daylight, for she is his true equal. As Lyra rediscovers her identity, an impostor princess prepares to steal her betrothed prince and her crown. To win back her kingdom, save the prince, and make peace with the land of the night, Lyra must be loud enough to be heard without a voice and strong enough to pass a series of tests—ultimately proving she’s everything a traditional princess is not.
(Goodreads)

This book was so much better than I thought it would be like I was already excited since A. G. Howard is an incredible storyteller, but I've never read a retelling of the princess and the pea. 
This book was everything I could have wanted and more actually, that's a lie... I need so much more, but we'll get to that.
The story begins with the unfortunate events of the Queen. Who pricked her finger on a flower and died... Technically she died in childbirth, and it was very tragic. But something peculiar happens, and the princess that was born was different. Compared to the rest of her people, she's looks just like the citizens of the kingdom of night. They are all extremely pale, with almost luminescent skin, purple eyes that look to glow, and the whitest hair. This pale princess can't even step out into the sun without horrible pain, and her voice? She doesn't really have one; it's just musical but cannot form words. Everyone was shocked #shook, and confused, but Lyra's father bless his soul, loves his daughter so much like a father should, and wants to do everything he can to make Lyra's life as amazing as possible. Honestly, her dad is amazing, and he makes me sad.
So this book is split into three parts; the first part is all about Lyra's childhood until her "death" (wack, right!?!) The tragedy of her father's death, the abuse of her aunt and cousins, the loneliness of her isolation. It's all horribly sad, and I (having read the book multiple times) still can't believe how badly the aunt treats this child. This poor innocent child was abused by the one supposed to help her. The end of part one is the death of Lyra, and the first time I read it, I cried. It was honestly so heartbreaking, the betrayal of one of her cousins, who was actually kinda nice. Absolutely terrible.
The second part is her rebirth? Revival? Reanimation? ANYWAYS So part two is about Lyra, who isn't Lyra anymore. She was saved! And this is her life now, after death. Clueless to who she is and was, clueless to her betrothed, and clueless to her destiny.
The story progresses more when her horse turns out to not be a horse?? It's an interesting twist that becomes really important when she meets the Prince.

To not continue spoiling the book and summarizing it. I just want to say how much I loved this book again. It's beautiful and full of hope and love and believing in oneself.

Please take the chance to read this amazing book

Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

Serpent and Dove: Shelby Mahurin

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all. 
(Goodreads)

Alright! So I honestly had no idea what I was getting into when I first read this book. My friend told me to read it, saying it is absolutely amazing. One of the best books she had read in a long time... Therefore I had to read it. AND I LOVED IT 

SO! This book is full of tropes, so many goddamn tropes. I was living. Enemies to lovers? And then they were roommates? THERE WAS ONLY ONE BED?! Marriage of convenience? Pining?
I'm telling you, this book has them all. Also, enemies to lovers are seriously my favorite trope, so of course, I was going to love this book.  

Now, where do I begin? This book has an exciting start. And I personally didn't like the beginning, and I struggled so hard to get into the book... Funny because afterward, I could NOT put the book down.

The book begins with Lou dressed as a man looking for something; we don't know what, but we know it's essential. The next thing we know, she gets caught by none other than our good sir Reid, and he notices she's a girl because her mustache falls off. Classic.

Things happen, and somehow, miraculously, Reid and Lou end up getting married in a marriage of convenience. Lou's freaking out because she's a witch, and Reid is devastated because he's now married to a woman he doesn't know. AND he was semi courting another girl who was "perfect."

This is where the meat of the story begins. THE ROMANCE BEGINS! He finds her beautiful, reluctantly. She is blatantly staring at this hot man, and now they're fake married... what could go wrong? A lot, actually. The moment Lou and Reid start talking like adults and sharing feelings is when my soul left my body and went to heaven. It's honestly pretty cute the way they fell in love, and the cliques just keep coming. 

Honestly, looking back, this book isn't the best. It's mediocre at best. Plot-wise the book is sound; it has a stable middle and end. But that's about it. The characters are meh. The interpersonal struggles are okay but not new. The conflict is what kept me going, I mean... Mother wants to kill daughter for power? Love it. 

Overall, I loved the book when I first read it, but having reread the book just kind of took away from the original sparkle. 

Until next time readers <3

Love Kat

Wayward Son: Rainbow Rowell

The story is supposed to be over.

Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after…

So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch?

What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light…

That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West.

They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…

With Wayward Son, Rainbow Rowell has written a book for everyone who ever wondered what happened to the Chosen One after he saved the day. And a book for everyone who was ever more curious about the second kiss than the first. It’s another helping of sour cherry scones with an absolutely decadent amount of butter.

Come on, Simon Snow. Your hero’s journey might be over – but your life has just begun.
(Goodreads)

Here's a link to my review of -----> Carry On 

Anyway, if you read my review, you'll notice that I had a lot to say about Carry On. And yet I decided to read Wayward Son hoping thinking it would be better..... It was... And it wasn't at the same time. 
So pros: the story was definitely more original. I liked the idea of after. We seldom get a story after the hero kills/destroys the big bad. So I liked that premise. Since she couldn't get inspiration from Harry Potter like in Carry On, she had to come up with her own original story, and it was decent. College students want to go on vacation, and nothing goes right. So relatable. 
Now the cons: honestly, it took too long to get to the point. It was still slow and boring; I get that it was showing how everyone is basically depressed. Like Simon? He's so depressed because everything he knew and loved has been ruined. He doesn't know who he is anymore, he's lost his identity, and he's struggling in his relationship with Baz. It's plain ol', not a good time, yo. And honestly, kind of a mood Penny is just as annoying as ever. Sucks that her boyfriend broke up with her when she went to visit him... And I totally see his point of view since I've literally seen this happen in person many times. Shepard? A regular human appears knows a bunch of stuff, and that's it... He doesn't really do anything. 

 
The story was random, and I feel like if it had a bit more structure, it might have been better. The weird twist of the vampires wanting magic gave it a bit of spice. That was actually interesting, and I wanted more on that, but we didn't anymore in this book specifically. 

Anyways, until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

Oh My Goth: Gena Showalter

A fiercely individualist Goth girl wakes up to discover that the whole world has gone Goth and she's actually -- gag -- popular.

Jade Leigh is a nonconformist who values individuality above all else. She has a small group of like-minded Goth friends who wear black, dabble in the dark arts, and thrive outside the norm. They're considered the "freaks" of their high school. But when Jade's smart mouth lands her in trouble -- again -- her principal decides to teach her a lesson she'll never forget.

Taken to a remote location where she is strapped down and sedated, Jade wakes up in an alternate universe where she rules the school. But her best friends won't talk to her, and the people she used to hate are all Goth. Only Clarik, the mysterious new boy in town, operates outside all the cliques. And only Mercedes, the Barbie clone Jade loathes, believes that Jade's stuck in a virtual reality game -- because she's stuck there, too, now living the life of a "freak." Together, they realize they might never get back to reality...and that even if they do, things might never be the same.
(Goodreads) 

So! This book had been on my TBR shelf for a hot minute and I finally decided to take the plunge and read it. I had a small idea what I was getting into... But boy was I wrong.
At its base, this book is about redemption, letting go of loss and pain. Accepting others, accepting mistakes. It's kind of profound in that way.
But the way Showalter wrote it... Really fell kind of flat. Her stereotypical use of Goth vs. Prep to show that we're all equal while maintaining out differences just didn't work out in the best way. She tried to be trendy and use hip words and slang and it was seriously so cringe-y I couldn't focus on the message of the book. Mind you the book was published in 2006... and as a goth at the time, I swear to god we did not say ANY OF THESE THINGS... To a certain extent.
But! Don't get me wrong, the book definitely had moments that were truly profound for this crappy book

“Dude. That’s because girls can’t win. If she accepts a compliment, she’s automatically considered a conceited witch. If she denies a compliment, she must have low self-esteem or she’s playing coy. If she ignores a compliment because it makes her uncomfortable, she’s got to be a total snob.” He opens his mouth, closes it. Opens, closes. “You’re...right.”

Take this quote for example, this was talking about Mercedes, resident popular girl. Rival to Jude for some unknown reason other than being a cheerleader and popular. It talks about how hard it is to be a girl because literally everything we do gets nitpicked.

Though the book wasn't the absolute best... it wasn't the absolute worst either. It was absolutely stupid at times, and then very emotional at others.
The book also deals heavily with depression, at times it was highly exaggerated, but other times it was like looking at myself. It was kind of a contradicting book. It was weird.
In the end Jude realizes she's been missing out on so much in her quest to be this goth or die person. That after experience in the alternative world she realizes she has so much to do and fix. Which was actually pretty refreshing.
Overall... Not the best, could be better.
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

A Heart so Fierce and Broken: Brigid Kemmerer

Find the heir, win the crown.

The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.

Win the crown, save the kingdom.

Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen--until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?

The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.
(Goodreads)

"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." 

Lets just say that this quote is a wonderful representation of Rhen. But I shouldn't get ahead of myself since Rhen really isn't all that important in this book.  It's more like the idea of him that is important? I guess? The question of what kind of ruler he'll be... Anyways...
This book is all about Grey, and a new character Lia Mara why two names?? I don't know but her sister and mom have a two name thing going on too Now I fully admit, I didn't like Lia Mara very much in the beginning, I truly didn't care for her part of the story until she got to the palace. And boy does it get better.
Just like the first book, I totally struggled with the beginning. The pacing felt a little off but then everything changed when Rhen's guards killed an innocent man accused of magic. All on a man hunt for the magesmith, the true heir, who just so happens to be GREY. He's been hinting at this terrible secret he's been keeping to help protect Rhen and the reason why he ran away from the castle. Because it obviously had to happen, Grey get caught when he decided to be an awesome dude and sub for the actual fighter. The royal guard recognized his fighting style and called him. It was all very tragic.
Anyway he ends up back at the castle beaten and bloody to kneel before Rhen and it's this emotional affair. Did I forget to mention that Grey likes Harper? Because Grey likes Harper and I totally ship it now but only for like a second We all remember Rhen being this amazing prince, he's different and would never stoop to torture considering he suffered torture at the hands of evil enchantress for decades. And yet this rat bastard has the audacity to whip a child to get information out of Grey. He whips them both saying it's for the greater good. To protect them all from magic. And Grey notices that this isn't for the safety of his kingdom but for his fear of what could happen if someone used it against him again.
Meanwhile: remember how I mentioned this new character named Lia Mara... She's really not that important until she escapes from her gilded cage. Quick back story: she's the oldest, mom doesn't like her very much because shes "weak." Chooses her sister to be the queen, she has a plan to marry said baby queen to Rhen to have access to better trade. Didn't happen they leave, Lia Mara has a plan because she saw something different in Rhen, so she runs away to the castle to convince him to change his mind. Doesn't work out, he kills her guard and locks her up. She becomes important when Grey just so happens to be caged in the room next to her, which is connected by a wall in the fireplace that moves. He sees her and is like "okay interesting."
Flash forward again: Lia Mara is free because they underestimated her and Grey absolutely enraged by the whipping of this innocent child somehow unleashes magic and knocks everyone out. Lia Mara appears and helps them escape. And thus the book really starts.

Everything that happens from this point on in the book is what truly made the book incredible. The action, the romance, the character growth. The power struggle. Grey coming to terms with his birthright, becoming a better king than Rhen ever could. It's literally a wild ride.
And it gets crazier when you find out that Rhen has been working with THE EVIL ENCHANTRESS WHO HAD THEM CURSED. WHO TORTURED HIM, AND KILLED ALL HIS FAMILY.
What the hell is Rhen thinking working with evil incarnate.

And now I have to wait for the next book because I finished this book a little too fast.
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

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 

Carry On: Rainbow Rowell

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Carry On - The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.
(Goodreads)

 Okay.... so I finally started this book because a friend encouraged me thinking I'd like it so much more than I did,since it's based on Harry Potter, my absolute favorite book series. I was also interested because I loved Fangirl so much and her love for the series... Anyway lets get this review underway!

First and foremost, this book is obviously based on Harry Potter, not only that, it's FANFICTION FOR DRARRY. Mind you I really don't care for that ship... So this was interesting to read someone who thoroughly enjoys Drarry write about it. Still not my favorite ship.

Second: if you're going to base something on such an amazing book.... don't ruin it with your ridiculous magic style. Let me explain; their magic was based around a system that words hold power. Okay, I get that and it can be a valid form of magic. But then she tried to make it mainstream and relevant to the currant time (which is going to seriously date this book in a few years) by adding popular books, movies, and songs (i.e. 'to be or not to be' 'do or do not there is no try' 'these are not the droids you are looking for' 'don't stop believing' I could go on)…. And it make the book sound so dumb. Here they are in a serious situation spouting YOU KILLED MY FATHER PREPARE TO DIE or something along those lines totally ruining the serious moment. And I know, I know its supposed to spoof Harry Potter... But that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it.

Third, the plot. God the plot was a mess. It all started with the author assuming we know more about the world of Carry On than we actually do. There's too much that has previously happened in "previous" years for us to be able to truly understand the book and connect to the characters 100% . The plot focuses on Simon being the worst chosen one ever I'll get to that in a bit, because I am SALTY. How bad at magic he is, the fucking HUMDRUM the stupidest fucking villains name. In the history of the world. The twists weren't all that exciting, especially if you consider that its like four characters merged into one. And the story was honestly very mediocre.

Fourth: the characters. God the characters were so bad I could cry. When I first read it was I so mad. I was angry how she twisted my favorite characters into these pathetic shadows of the original. Simon Harry Potter is the worst chosen in the history of the world. He also sucks at magic and is a total fucking idiot. That's it, that is the character. Does he get any character growth? No. Does he learn how to use his magic and be the great wizard he's destined to be? No. Does he ever do anything of importance? Also no. God Simon was this sad whiny character that Rowell decided to make the worst of everything. He's literally the total opposite of Harry. Unless he's obsessing over Baz like in The Half Blood Prince and what he's doing, or if he's plotting his murder. All very original. Now Baz, Baz is Draco obviously. The Draco we never got to know because Harry Potter is only in his point of view. Baz had a bit more potential solely because she didn't have anything to casually mess up copy. Baz was more original because she had to fill in the blanks. You could tell that he was based on Draco, but he was still his own original character unlike Simon. Next we have Penelope, Penny...Whatever her name was. She was obviously Hermione, if Hermione was a pureblood. She lived and breathed magic, was the best at it. A total annoying know it all. All things we've seen in Hermione. She was honestly very boring, though a little bit more annoying like Hermione in the first book. Then we have Simons girlfriend.... Whose name I cannot remember for the life of me. Anyway, she was more like Cho Chang, than the amazing spitfire that is Ginny Weasley. She was whiny, was pinning for another guy cough that was Baz's gay ass and utterly useless. Lived in a world of her own and didn't want anything to do with magic. Then we had the weird Goat Lady that was a cheap Hagrid knockoff, if Hagrid liked ghosts and was good at magic instead. And finally, we have the headmaster dude. Who was a mixture of: Dumbledor, James Potter, Sirus Black, Voldemort, and maybe a little bit of Remus if you squint. One of the major plot twists is that good sir, headmaster is actually Simon's dad and he killed Lily his wife in the name of creating the chosen one. He was a total Dumbledor for not telling Harry Simon anything and abandoning him to orphanages fucking orphanages instead of TAKING RESPONSIBILITY OF HIS SPAWN. Anyway this character was a mess and a total psychopath

I basically didn't like this book at all. The final and most important twist was that the HUMDRUM was Simon. That every time he actually performed magic he siphoned said magic from areas that were bursting with magic rip to Baz's family home. And this was all because of Good sir Dumbledor trying to make him the Chosen one.
And that's the end. That is the end to this tragically written fanfiction.
I kind of want to read the next one... but I  also don't. So we'll see what happens
Anyway!
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

A Curse so Dark and Lonely: Brigid Kemmerer

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she's instead somehow sucked into Rhen's cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. But 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.
(Goodreads)  

I waited three months to get this book from the library. And it was definitely worth the wait.
This is a retelling of the beloved tail, Beauty and the Beast. Though the story is familiar to all, this story is anything BUT ordinary. 
The inclusion of disabilities viewed in a positive light was an amazing part of the story. It never held the heroine back from accomplishing her goals and it wasn't this constant thing to pity her for. It was just there. 
I struggled getting into the book at first, I felt like the pacing was a bit off, but then you hit a point that the flip switches and you are just hooked. Once I got to that point I could not put the book down!
Everything about Harper's bravery, the way she viewed each problem was just so... different? I guess you could say? Her decision making keeps you on your toes, and she just so proactive in the best way possible. She really seemed to brighten Rhen when he was just to hopeless.
But what really got me was the ending. The ending was not something I ever would have anticipated. In the original tale of Beauty and the Beast, whether you watch the Disney version, or read the original story. It always end with Beauty saving the Beast with her confession of love. And in Kemmerer's spin of the tale is completely different because no one truly knows who really broke the spell. Was it Grey, the amazingly loyal Guard Commander, Rhen the Prince fighting against the curse, or Harper the supposed Chosen one the beauty to the beast. No one knows, because Harper admits that she's not really in love with Rhen, and that absolutely blew my mind.

A Beauty and the Beast story without the true love??? What?!?! Now Harper, Jacob, AND Noah are stuck in Emberfall because Lilith is dead. Grey is missing, and they are now royalty pledged to help Emberfall with an "army"
And then it ends
what. the. hell.
Can the next one come out already and end my suffering?!?!
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

After: Anna Todd

Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way.

But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to.

But he’s also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before.

He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn't the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper.

Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her?

Unless…could this be love?

There was the time before Tessa met Hardin, and then there’s everything AFTER ... Life will never be the same.
(Goodreads)

I totally read this because of the movie. I probably would never have read this if the movie wasn't as cute and romantic as it was.
But the book? The book is nothing like the movie shocker.  You know how the book is usually better than the movie? That was not the case. The book was absolutely utterly shitty.
That is the only word for it, it was shitty. 
It was a horrible book that contained so much abuse that it hurt my heart to read. I actually gave up on it for a few weeks because it was just so terrible.
So! To give some background: Anna Todd is a fanfiction writer. This book series is was actually published on Wattpad first. And you can definitely tell. Her writing is immature and juvenile. Her story was like reading a young adult 50 shades of grey. THAT IS BASED ON HARRY STYLES. SHE TOOK HARRY STYLES AND TURNED HIM INTO HARDEN. I read that there was a lot of backlash because fans were mad that this lady turned Harry Styles into an abused asshole. All it focused on was the physical relationship between Harden and Tessa, with some plot.
Now the plot. What plot you say? I totally agree. Because in all honesty this book doesn't really have a plot. It just kinda goes in a never ending loop of abuse.
The abuse. I've read books with abuse, both physical and emotional, and they handled the abuse in a way to show that it's wrong. That this is not normal in a relationship, it is not healthy and it is not something you should look for. Whereas this book, this fucking book glorifies the abuse. It romanticizes the abuse Harden throws at Tessa, and expects her to stay with him. To thank him for giving her the time of day. And she eats it up, destroying her relationship with her boyfriend who she describes as a little brother:

"... but sometimes dating (Noah) him is like having an annoying little brother who tattles on me." pg 48 (After: Anna Todd)

 One: already a HELLA bad example. Two: why would she date someone she considers a brother. And Three: their relationship was doomed from the start so I won't fault her for ending it with Noah. But I will fault her for cheating on him because no one deserves that. Anyways She destroyed the relationship with her mother, but don't get me started on her 😠 And just dedicated her time to this abusive boy who only pursued her because of a bet. A BET ON HER VIRGINITY God he's a horrible human being
Now lets talk about abusive Harden. Harden is supposed to be this mega hot British HARRY STYLES WANNABE with a tragic backstory absolutely original who sleeps around with as many girls he possibly can, because he can he probably has a bunch of STD's. He see's Tessa and I quote "is going to ruin her." Like???? That does NOT sound romantic at all. He then proceeds to belittle her, bad mouth her, and say the most hurtful things that the author deems "romantic."
As the story progress the abuse gets worse, then better. Better only because Tessa does everything Harden tells her. She'll "fight" and threaten him, but it always back fires, therefore Hardin gets everything he wants.

The way Anna Todd romanticizes the abuse Tessa as this relationship goal, this fantasy catered to young adults is concerning and dangerous. It shows them that if a boy or girl treats them like this its okay, it'll be alright as long as their partner loves them and apologizes. Then everything will be okay, but it's not. As the book showcased everything fell apart, but it only lasted about five minutes because Hardin continues to manipulate Tessa into coming back. By being 'different' more loving and kind. Something that should not be used as a bargaining chip, which is what it is to Harden. He uses it to lure her back and when she does he then continues the abuse. It's absolutely tragic and heartbreaking

I would never recommend this book to anyone. It's a horrible book that glorifies abuse in the clique idea that it is considered romance. That having someone declare their love to you one minute then shout at you for leaving a room, is not love. Having someone say that they can't sleep without you, and then belittle you, is not love. This book is not romantic, its not cute. It's harmful and cruel and I'm honestly sorry I wasted my time reading such an awful book.
Until next time readers, hopefully with a better book

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 

The Wicked King: Holly Black

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
(Goodreads)

This literally starts right where the last one ended. Well, technically six months after The Cruel Prince, and Jude is nowhere near figuring out how to keep Cardan in line after her year and one day is finished. 
She's tired, she's frustrated, and now her sister is getting married and they want the whole family to be there..... So now she has to figure out how to get her brother here safely and keeps him safe from anyone who wants to kill him... It's not a fun time honestly.
Holly Black did an amazing job of making this book feel dangerously whimsical. The stakes are up and anything can happen.
But freaking! She and Cardan did the do, they did the sexy. And Cardan obviously cares for Jude.... SO HOW THE HELL DID HE GET FOOLED BY HER SISTER!?!?! screams into the void
Everything about this book is frustrating in the most exquisite way. And now I have to wait for the next book.... at least I don't have to suffer alone... sorry bestie not really
And last but not least:
Jude... My dude... I feel you.... Like, I too have wallowed and watched Yuri On Ice!! while eating ice cream... many times  too many times
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

The Shadowglass: Rin Chupeco

Tea is a bone witch with the dark magic needed to raise the dead. She has used this magic to breathe life into those she has loved and lost…and those who would join her army against the deceitful royals. But Tea's quest to conjure a shadowglass—to achieve immortality for the one person she loves most in the world—threatens to consume her heart.

Tea's black heartsglass only grows darker with each new betrayal. And when she is left with new blood on her hands, Tea must answer to a power greater than the elder asha or even her conscience...
(Goodreads)

This has seriously been one of my most highly anticipated books of the year, and boy was it better than I expected. 
I bought it as soon as it came out, and oh my gosh look at that cover <3 
Anyways, this book begins where the other one left off. Tea's story is coming to a close and her past and present are starting to intertwine. Everything that she told the Bard is now a direct cause to what's happening in the present. It's magnificent and dizzying all at the same time. And it's super confusing because we still only get the bare minimum, just like everyone else. Everything is starting to fall into place. Everything that Tea has sacrificed will finally have meaning. 
Unlike the previous two books, this one has a sense of urgency. This urgency that makes the book feel like we are running against the clock. Our time is running out, and it was she was able to convey this so well in her writing. I couldn't stop reading! All the dots were finally connecting and I felt my heart break for all the misunderstandings.
The romance between Tea and Kalen is just so sweet, seriously his death was devastating, heart wrenching. 
Honestly I just have so many feelings about this book that you just need to read this book to fully understand the beauty that is The Bone Witch series.


This story, at its core, is about love. The platonic love between a sister and her brother. This love so unconditional, to do anything for her fallen brother. To change the course of the world and its history for her brother. To bring him back from the dead so that he may have the happily ever after she believes, no, the one she knows he deserves, even at the cost of her only life. Is what makes this book magnificent. Magnificent and heart wrenching. It's enchanting and I am so thoroughly grateful that I bought this book on a whim. 
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

Girls of Paper and Fire: Natasha Ngan

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.

But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.
(Goodreads) 

WARNING THIS BOOK CONTAINS SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THEMES
*nothing too graphic or descriptive, but can still be triggering for certain people.

I fully admit to buying this book because it was pretty. Like? Look at that cover, its gorgeous. Yes the story itself sounding interesting, but I was more captivated by the cover. It had the premise of a regular old book, until it didn't. I fully admit that I went into reading this book thinking I wouldn't like it. But that sentiment quickly left within a few pages in.

The story starts with Lei, a girl in the lowest class, who works for a demon who's like family. She lost her mom in a raid years prior. The only thing that stands out is her golden eyes, eyes that shouldn't belong to a human. So the story at its base seemed very familiar to me and I thought it was going to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling.... Boy was I wrong
Everything changes when Lei makes it to the castle and things start progressing in a different way. 
Let me explain,  there are subtle changes to Lei's character in regards to girls and women around her. And me, being a hetero-normative female.... this threw me off. When they officially meet the Demon King, it officially puts everything into perspective. The way she reacts to Wren, how intrigued by her she is. And this is around the time I start thinking... is she a lesbian?? And then I moved on. 
When the girls met the Demon King, it was an unsettling experience. Lei's reaction was both fascination and fear. It was unsettling, because on the surface all the girls... Except Lei slight horror and Wren's indifference, are in love or so it seems 
Everything changes when Lei finally gets the letter, that it's her turn to pleasure the king. Obviously everyone is excited and jealous. And this was also around the time that everything started feeling more real. 
What happens when she gets the King's palace is weird..... and then horrifying. To say that I was crying... would be an understatement. Luckily, Lei fought back and was not raped this time 
Her romance with Wren is healing, and it is the most beautiful and pure love one could possibly find.
When.... Lei does get raped by the King. I felt my heartbreak, and I couldn't stop crying. The emotional trauma of what she endured was horrifying. 
The end of the book was amazing! They kicked ass! They escaped! They FELL IN LOVE! 
AND THEN THE KING DIDN'T DIE!!! I am so angry and I cannot wait for the next book 

Until next time readers <3

Love Kat