#Review - Nature of Frost by Jus Accardo #YA #Fantasy #Romance

Series: Omen of Ice # 2
Format: Kindle, 363 pages 
Release Date: January 13, 2025
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Romance

A dying kingdom on thin ice…

Not so long ago, druid Keltania Tunne thought she knew the world—and her place in it. Magic was all but dead, and the kingdom torn apart. Then she was sent to the court of the Winter Fae and charged with the protection of Valen, the icily arrogant prince who some believed would bring about the destruction of them all…

Instead, he brought magic.

The greed for magic nearly destroyed their world, and its return could plunge them all back into chaos—or unite the estranged fae courts…if they move quickly.

Now, Keltania and Valen must navigate the temperamental fae, their insidious secrets, and an enemy who would cleave the kingdom in two in the name of vengeance—all the while hiding the truth of their connection.

Its magic. Its remarkable power. And its ability to crush their hearts in two.

But no one knows that Valen struck a secret bargain with their enemy...and soon, everyone in the land will face the consequences.

Nature of Frost is the second and final installment in author Jus Accardo's Omen of Ice duology. This story focuses on two main characters: Valen Frostreaver and Keltania Tunne. Keltania spent her whole life training to be an Aphelian, one of the few druids left descended from the nearly mythical Aphelian who helped save everyone by giving up most of her magic to a fae she loved. Tania is one of the more skilled fighters to come along. Her ability and cunning make her the ideal candidate to become a Fae protector. 

Valen is the heir because of who his mother was, and the fact that he is likely the only one in the entire court who was born with magic. Magic is slowly drained from him to keep up the lies built upon for generations. Not so long ago, Keltania thought she knew the world—and her place in it. Magic was all but dead, and the kingdom was torn apart. Then, she was sent to the court of the Winter Fae and charged with the protection of Valen, the icily arrogant prince who some believed would bring about the destruction of them all. Instead, he brought magic. 

The greed for magic nearly destroyed their world, and its return could plunge them all back into chaos—or unite the estranged fae courts if they move quickly. Now, Keltania and Valen must navigate the temperamental fae, their insidious secrets, and an enemy who would cleave the kingdom in two in the name of vengeance while hiding the truth of their connection. It's magic. It has remarkable power. And its ability to crush their hearts in two. But no one knows that Valen struck a secret bargain with their enemy...and soon, everyone in the land will face the consequences. 

The story is told from both Keltania and Valen's points-of-view, and they each have the knowledge and folklore of their people to draw from. The druid and fae histories are linked but with disparate histories passed down, particularly since the fae are basically immortal and some witnessed the Great Drain and the war or are only a couple generations removed from it, while the druids are many, many generations removed. There are definitely quite a few unexpected twists in the story. 

While some elements seemed easy to guess, many left me completely shocked. The banter between Tania and Valen is so incredible. Valen and Keltania are very good for each other as they are opposites and balance each other. Tania is persistent, courageous, strong, and fierce. Valen has a lot of secrets and an unfortunate childhood, which explains a lot about why he tries to be cocky, charming, and glib about what happens around him. I would definitely recommend this series from the beginning. 

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#Review - See How They Hide by Allison Brennan #Thriller #Suspense

Series: A Quinn & Costa Thriller (#6)
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: MIRA
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thrillers / Suspense

When two identical murders occur at the same time on opposite sides of the country, Kara Quinn and Matt Costa must find the killers before the next target dies, in this latest thriller in the New York Times bestselling Quinn & Costa series.

A college student in Ashland, Oregon, and a 40-year-old antique store owner in rural Virginia are both found murdered: their throats slit, bodies posed in the same unusual position. Both were murdered the same night. On the surface, there is no obvious connection between the victims. Matt Costa divides his team to cover more ground, and soon they discover that both victims were both living under false identities created by the same person.

When a third victim is found, killed at the same time as the other two, in a completely different part of the country, they realize that there isn't one killer, but a group of serial killers with a list of targets. Eventually, they discover that eight people had escaped a cult called Havenwood in a remote town in Colorado. Now, the cult is hunting them down one by one. With three victims gone, they race to find and save the other five before it's too late.

As tensions increase and Quinn and Costa find their own lives in danger, they must find the killers before anyone else dies.

See How They Hide is the Sixth installment in author Allison Brennan's Quinn & Costa series. Detective Kara Quinn, formerly of the LAPD, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt Costa, have a mystery on their hands. The FBI Mobile Response Team has been asked to investigate the deaths of two people who were murdered in the exact same way, one in Virginia and another in Oregon, with red poppies covering their bodies. Quinn and her partner, FBI Agent Michael Harris, investigate the murder of Jane Merrifield in Oregon.

Meanwhile, Matt and Agent Sloane Wagner, who is new to the team, are in Virginia looking into the murder of Robert Benson. What is his connection to Jane? As they investigate, they pinpoint Jane’s roommate, Riley Pierce, as the link between the two and other victims who appear to have been given new identities. Eventually, they learn that Riley, who arrived from Paris, has information about an isolated cult-like community called Havenwood in the Colorado mountains that might be the key to solving the murders. 

Riley grew up in Havenwood, a commune started by her grandmother, where people could live a much simpler life. It was a place for people who wanted to live a simple life. But when Riley got older, she discovered that her mother, Calliope, had taken control and refused to allow anyone to leave. Those who tried, died. Those who escaped were tracked down. While Riley escaped to Paris to study art, her best friend, Jane stayed behind. Now she's dead. Riley is devastated to learn that friends who escaped with her help are now being targeted by Calliope. 

The suspense rises throughout the investigation as Matt gets himself kidnapped as a way to send a message to Riley. Kara, Michael and the rest of the FBI/MRT team are determined to find Matt and save Riley (whose mother wants her back). Unfortunately, Kara once again faces scorn from her teammate, Catherine Jones, who thinks she's unhinged and out of control. Catherine's issues have always bothered me because she's sanctimonious, like most politicians, believing that her truth is one everyone should agree upon. Even Dean Montero, who takes over while Matt is gone, seems to have issues with Kara. 

The good thing is that Kara develops a bond with Riley, one of the bright spots in this series. Riley is a character who not only escaped her own mother but now may have answers as to how to find Havenwood and how to rescue Matt and others who might want to leave. Dean Montero is an expert in cults but he hasn't been out in the field for years, which allows Kara to do what she does best. Kara is well aware of her shortcomings in the eyes of the FBI, but no one has her instincts, and that counts for a whole lot, especially when things go sideways and Matt is in danger.

On the brighter side, it has taken a few books for Matt to realize that Catherine's opinion is just that—her opinion. Matt loves Kara, who is now looking to move ahead with her life without worrying about her past issues with the LAPD or her issues with Catherine. There is a bit of hope when it comes to that, but I won't spoil it. Let's hope this means that the author intends to give the couple time to explore if they are meant to be together.  

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#Review - Holmes Is Missing by James Patterson, Brian Sitts #Thrillers #Suspense #Mystery

Series: Holmes, Margaret & Poe (#2)
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: January 6, 2025
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thrillers / Suspense

Success has come quickly to Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations. The New York City agency led by three detectives—Brendan Holmes, “the brain,” Margaret Marple, “the eyes,” and Auguste Poe, the “muscle”—with famous names and mysterious pasts is one major case away from cementing its professional reputation. 
 
But as a series of child abductions tests the PIs’ legendary skills, the cerebral Holmes’s absence leaves a gaping hole in the agency roster.
  
Only by closing ranks and solving the mystery within can they recover all that’s been lost.

Holmes Is Missing is the second installment in James Patterson and Brian Sitts's Holmes, Margaret, and Poe series. This series features Auguste Poe, Margaret Maple, and Brendon Holmes. As the story opens, Holmes is not missing but self-isolating, trying to break a decades-long addiction to heroin. Meanwhile, Holmes, Marple, and Poe Investigations, along with their assistant Virginia, gets involved in what appears to be a child kidnapping ring. 6 newborns have been stolen from the nursery. 

Margaret believes this is the time to visit Holmes at the rehab in Ithaca, New York, and convince him he needs to help with this case. Holmes comes back with them, but he doesn’t feel he can help them with his case. In fact, I dare call him a whiney crybaby for much of the story. Until he meets a mysterious man who may know a bit too much about him and his mother. This "wannabee" true crime writer may have sinister intentions of his own. 

His cure for heroin is the prescription drug buprenorphine and he’s certain that the side effects dull his hyper-cognition to the point that he can’t make the extremely rapid connections that his partners need him to make as the ‘brains’ of their team. So, Poe,  Maple, and Detective Helene Grey, who has a few surprises of her own, try their best to solve this case, which ends up being connected to two other abductions, one in England. 

While Holmes is dealing with his issues, and Poe, surprisingly, has some new ones to deal with, Maple is the voice of reason and stability. Oh, and let's give Virginia credit where credit is deserved. She has been a steady addition to the team, and perhaps she will end up being more involved since the authors stunned me with the cliffhanger ending, which means that even more sinister things are on the road ahead. 

Without spoiling the event, the cast ends up at an author signing, and it's a hoot, especially when the authors of this book toss in some really big names to antagonize Poe, Holmes, and Maple. 

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#Review - A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson #YA #Fantasy #Historical #Dragons

Series: Unknown
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical

In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans, in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance. Perfect for teen fans of Fourth Wing and Babel.

London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies, and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get a summer internship studying dragon languages, be smart, be sweet, and make sure her little sister never, ever has to risk growing up Third Class. She just has to free one dragon.

By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.

With her parents and cousin arrested and her sister missing, Viv is brought to Bletchley Park as a codebreaker—if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn’t, they’ll all die.

As Viv begins to discover the secrets of a hidden dragon language, she realizes that the fragile peace treaty that holds human and dragon societies together is corrupt, and the dangerous work Viv is doing could be the thread that unravels it.

Set in an alternative 1920s with a rigid class system and dragons on every corner, A Language of Dragons is a rich fantasy about language, loyalty, love, and redemption.

S.F. Williamson's A Language of Dragons is loosely inspired by the events of the codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II, with a fantasy twist, where instead of breaking the German code, a group of teenagers must learn the secret language of dragons. S. F. Williamson was inspired by her work as a literary translator. The story mixes dragons with politics and action with linguistic studies and academia. A Language of Dragons is a love letter to dialects, language, and how something is always lost in translation. 

Early twentieth-century England is rendered unflinchingly, with reflections on the arbitrary distinctions between classes—as Viv goes from risking it all to avoid falling into Third Class to realizing that the whole system must be torn down. London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies, and protests erupt on the streets, but 17-year-old Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get a summer internship studying dragon languages, be smart, be sweet, and make sure her little sister never, ever has to risk growing up Third Class. 

Except Viv is not a good person. She's selfish. She lets a boy intentionally feel her up to enhance her goals of not falling into Third Class, and she betrays her best friend Sophie to pass an examination that determines her class status and future as a dragonic translator. Now, that former best friend is missing. After her parents and her cousin Marquis are arrested for being suspected rebels and conspiring with the dragons. She is intent on keeping her little sister Ursa safe and freeing her family, no matter the cost. Viv intentionally releases a chained dragon named Chumana, which destroys the peace treaty between humans and dragons. 

After meeting with the villainous Prime Minister Wyvernmire, she receives a lifeline in the form of a job offer; she seizes it. Living at Bletchley Park, she soon discovers that she is recruited as a codebreaker aiding in the war effort. If she succeeds, her family goes home; if she fails, they die, and her sister disappears. Initially, she believes that uncovering the hidden dragon language is achievable, but the more she learns, the more she realizes nothing is as it seems. Viv's attraction to Atlas, the rakish young priest in training from Third Class, sparks a forbidden and morally fraught romance, intertwined with the fantastical war, perfect for romantasy readers. 

As the dragons rise and Viv is swept into a war she knows little about, she quickly learns that no one can be trusted—not even her own family who may have unlocked a key secret they've tried to reveal, only to be destroyed by powerful politicians. As Viv discovers the secrets of a hidden dragon language, she realizes that the fragile peace treaty that holds human and dragon societies together is corrupt, and the dangerous work Viv is doing could be the thread that unravels it.

*Conclusion* Here is the reason for my rating: Perhaps is was my misunderstanding, but I thought this was a standalone novel. However, the ending leaves questions, and no answers as to what happens next. It would benefit the author to write a sequel to this novel so that the answers left behind could be wrapped up. As I said, Viv is not a nice person until she opens her eyes. She's insufferable most of the time. It's really hard to root for a self-centered, ignorant, absolutely blind character; literally, most characters all but yell at her about the pain and suffering that goes on in the world, and she couldn't care less about anyone else but herself and her family. The ending is also very emotional. I would also say this leans more towards the upper YA genre due to some gory and violent scenes in the book. 

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#Review - The Blood Orchid by Kylie Lee Baker #Fantasy #YA

Series: The Scarlet Alchemist # 2
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: October 22, 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy

The sequel and conclusion to the acclaimed dark YA fantasy duology that began with The Scarlet Alchemist. Zilan sets out on an epic and dangerous quest through alternate Tang Dynasty China in search for a mysterious place, hidden by alchemists, that could hold the power to resurrect her loved ones and fix past mistakes.

Whatever power you think you have is an illusion.
Whatever your dreams are, they belong to me.
And wherever you run, I am already there waiting for you.

Since Zilan entered the world of royal alchemists, she has learned firsthand that alchemy comes at a price. She has lost her family and her beloved prince in her search for justice against the evil Empress. All Zilan wants now is to find some way to bring them back. Resurrection is her specialty, after all.

In search of Penglai Island, where the infamous myth says life can be fully restored, Zilan starts a new adventure. But Penglai Island has been kept well hidden by a group of unpredictable and often dangerous alchemists. Uncovering the secret means challenging some of the most powerful alchemists to ever live. And when old threats come back to haunt Zilan, she will have to decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to save her loved ones—and the practice of alchemy that has long defined her and the world around her. 

The Blood Orchid by Kylee Lee Baker is the finale of the author's The Scarlet Alchemist duology. Return to the world of The Scarlet Alchemist with this twisty sequel that picks up right where the first book left off. Set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China where alchemy has flourished, this world is decadent with gold and gems but teeming with death underneath the glitter. Inspired by Kylie's heritage, the half-Chinese, half-Irish heroine Fan Zilan has the ability to raise the dead, a power that thrusts her into the middle of a dangerous game at the imperial court. 

Fan Zilan, the newly appointed Scarlet Alchemist, must find a way to resurrect her loved ones after they sacrificed their lives to destroy the evil Empress, who we haven't seen the last of. Zilan, who grew up poor, and practicing alchemy, once dreamed of becoming a royal alchemist, but although she’s achieved this goal, she’s also lost almost everything: Her friends, family, and beloved prince have all died as part of her quest to kill the Empress and enact justice. Hoping to resurrect them all and create a better world, Zilan, her alchemy duck, and her brother, Wenshu—who’s been resurrected in the prince’s body—search for legendary Penglai Island, said to be home to eight immortals who possess an elixir for eternal life. 

With only her white foreign father’s scant notes and a riddlelike poem as guides, Zilan and Wenshu set off on a daunting journey. Each clue brings them one step closer to Penglai Island—and deeper into the dangerous, secretive world cloaking its whereabouts. But Penglai Island has been hidden well by a group of unpredictable and often dangerous alchemists. Uncovering the secret means challenging some of the most powerful alchemists to ever live. And when old threats come back to haunt Zilan, she will have to decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to save her loved ones—and the practice of alchemy that has long defined her and the world around her. 

Joining Fan Zilan on this adventure, besides her brother Wenshu, are her sister Yufei, rival alchemist Zheng Sili, and, most importantly, Durian, the alchemy duck Zilan created in the first book. Along the way, they encounter new threats, old enemies, and unexpected allies, making Zilan question whether the sacrifices she’s made (and continues to make) are worth it. If you like books with quests, and if you like nonstop action until the last page, you should read this entire duology. One of the best parts of this book was the family aspect. It was nice seeing Zilan and her siblings get away so well, even with a little banter to keep things moving. 

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#Review - A Merciful Silence by Kendra Elliot #Mystery #Suspense #Thriller

Series: Mercy Kilpatrick # 4
Format: Kindle, 351 pages
Release Date: June 19, 2018
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

In this Wall Street Journal bestseller, FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick must unlock the mystery of a mass murder, and the secrets of its silent witness...

For Mercy Kilpatrick, returning to rural Oregon has meant coming to terms with her roots. Raised as a prepper, Mercy is now relying on her survivalist instincts to defend her town from the people the law can’t reach. But this time, an investigation calling up a dark past for her and police chief Truman Daly may be hitting too close to home.

A rainstorm has uncovered the remains of five people—a reprise of the distinctive slaughter of two families twenty years ago. Except the convicted killer is in prison. Is this the case of a sick copycat, or is the wrong man behind bars? One person might have the answer. The lone survivor of the decades-old crimes has returned to town still claiming that she can’t remember a thing about the night she was left for dead. As the search for the truth becomes more dangerous, Mercy fears that the traumatized woman may not have buried her memories at all. She might be keeping them a secret. And there’s a price to be paid for revealing them.

A Merciful Silence is the Fourth installment in author Kendra Elliot's Mercy Kilpatrick series. Each book has a standalone mystery/suspense plot, but it also has a building romance involving the main characters of the series, which may or may not be prominent in each story. While this series focuses on FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick, the story also allows more storyline time for Eagle's Nest Police Chief Truman Daly. As the story opens, one of Truman's officers, Ben Cooley, stumbles upon bones while on a call-out due to a damaged road during torrential rain. 

A rainstorm has uncovered the remains of five people—a reprise of the distinctive slaughter of two families twenty years ago. The FBI is called in to take over which brings in Mercy and her team. While there are a lot of unknown factors and mystery surrounding the find, it bears a resemblance to previous mass murders in the district where families were bludgeoned to death at home as they slept. Except for the convicted killer, Grady Baldwin is in prison. Is this the case of a sick copycat, or is the wrong man behind bars? One person might have the answer. 

The lone survivor of the decades-old crimes, Britta Vale, has returned to town, still claiming that she can’t remember a thing about the night she was left for dead. Britta's story is that of heartbreaking loss, and prepping for the worst to happen to her again if she doesn't close herself from everyone around her. Hard to do if you return to the place where everyone knows you. As the search for the truth becomes more dangerous, Mercy fears that the traumatized woman may not have buried her memories at all. She might be keeping them a secret. And there’s a price to be paid for revealing them. 

With few clues on the original and current crimes, the team races to find their killer. As Mercy works her case, Truman has a unique traffic stop with a young man who shows an illegal ID and claims to be a sovereign citizen. Sovereign Citizens are unhinged people who don't recognize the laws of the United States and are worse than preppers in every way imaginable. While jailed, he sends Truman a letter claiming he owes him $3 million for an illegitimate arrest. Truman does not know whether to take this seriously or as a joke. Later in the story, Truman and his police vehicle disappear, and there is blood on the driveway. 

Mercy and Truman both go through so much in this book, especially Truman who needs saving from sick people. A few months ago, Mercy was shot in the leg and lost almost everything to a fire. She's still trying to pick up the pieces while also raising her 17-year-old niece Kaylie and finding love with Truman, who is her rock in every way. Even as they are apart, it is the fight to get home to the other that gives them their strength. Mercy realizes no amount of prep can prepare her for everything. She learns it is OK to sometimes rely on family and friends, especially when Truman is in trouble. Truman’s love for Mercy is his strength and reason to continue on even when he thinks he cannot. This was definitely an edge-of-your-seat read, with both cases having such high stakes.

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#Review - Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Legends of Thezmarr # 1
Format: Kindle, 550 pages
Release Date: February 13, 2023
Publisher: Alchemy
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

With her death foretold, Althea Zoltaire only has three years to become what she’s always dreamed of being: a warrior legend.

Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with protecting the five kingdoms.

The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone.

All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms.

Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts?

"In the shadow of a fallen kingdom, in the eye of the storm, A daughter of darkness will wield a blade in one hand And rule death with the other. When the skies are blackened, at the end of days, The Veil will fall. The tide will turn when her blade is drawn. A dawn of fire and blood."

Blood & Steel is the first installment in author Helen Scheuerer's The Legends of Thezmarr series. 24-year-old Althea Zoltaire had always dreamed of becoming a great warrior, but fate had other plans for her. Althea has been devastated by a prophecy that predicts her untimely death at the age of 27. As an orphan, she had to rely on her own wits and strength to survive in a world that didn't favor women with the blade. Despite the odds stacked against her, Althea never gave up on her dreams. Even though she trained alongside her sister, she never gave it real effort. 

She trained tirelessly in the shadows, honing her skills in secret, knowing that if she was ever caught, it would mean the end of her dreams and banishment. Thea's journey is not just about battling external forces but also about overcoming her internal fears and doubts. One of the most heartwarming aspects of the novel for me was the bond between Thea and her sister, Wren, a chemist with her own story to tell one day. Their relationship is a beacon of steadfast love amidst the chaos, providing a heartwarming subplot that adds depth to the narrative. 

Then there's Wilder Hawthorne, the youngest of the three remaining Warswords, along with Vernick and Torj. Wilder knows that things are changing. He has seen the ugliness spreading across the borders from the mist, which is supposed to be in the penetrable wall. He has seen monsters that once were men. There is also a prophecy that was foretold 20 years ago that ended all hope for any more female warriors. The only hope for Thea is to prove to the King that she is worthy to take the trials. After a trip to the capital, she does just that.

The slow-burn romance between Thea and Wilder added a layer of tension that kept me turning the pages. Now, at the age of 24, with only three years left to live, Althea must hurry to make her dreams come true. With her heart set on her goal, she dives headfirst into the world of warriors, even with all the challenges, from the harsh training to her fellow candidates to evil that appears unstoppable. Will she succeed in her quest to become a great warrior before time runs out? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – Althea is not one to be underestimated.

"If you seek power in a world of men and monsters, there is nothing more powerful than knowledge and the ability to wield it. Remember that, would-be shieldbearer."

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