#Review - For the Throne by Hannah F. Whitten #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Wilderwood (#2)
Format: Paperback, 496 pages
Release Date: June 7, 2022
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Dark Fantasy / Romance

In this breathtaking sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller For the Wolf, Red's sister Neve struggles to escape a mysterious land of twisted roots, lost gods, and mountains made of bone—and the only clues to her rescue are a magic mirror and a dark prince who wants to bring the whole thing crumbling down.

The First Daughter is for the Throne

The Second Daughter is for the Wolf...

Red and the Wolf have finally contained the threat of the Old Kings but at a steep cost. Red's beloved sister Neve, the First Daughter is lost in the Shadowlands, an inverted kingdom where the vicious gods of legend have been trapped for centuries and the Old Kings have slowly been gaining control. But Neve has an ally, though it's one she'd rather never have to speak to again: the rogue king Solmir.

Solmir wants to bring an end to the Shadowlands and he believes helping Neve may be the key to its destruction. But to do that, they will both have to journey across a dangerous landscape in order to find a mysterious Heart Tree, and finally to claim the gods' dark, twisted powers for themselves.

For the Throne, by author Hannah F. Whitten, is the second and final installment in the authors Wilderwood duology. Key Characters: Neverah (Neve), Redarys (Red), Eammon, Raffe, Solmir, and Okada Kayu, a new character who definitely stirs things up. The story is told in multiple POV such as Red, Neve and Raffe. The book picks up right where For the Wolf ended. Neve and Red spend the book trying to find their way back to each other, all while adjusting to the newer version of their world they're now living in. 

 

We've know for awhile that Red and Neve will do anything to save and protect each other and now it seems as though someone is pushing the sisters towards a common goal which no one quite knows what the end game will be. Neve finds herself in the Shadowlands, an inverted kingdom where the vicious gods of legend have been trapped for centuries and the Old Kings have slowly been gaining control along with Solmir, the so called Fifth King, who is on a mission to kill the Kings.

 

But to do that, they will both have to journey across a dangerous landscape in order to find a mysterious Heart Tree, and finally to claim the gods' dark, twisted powers for themselves. Both Neve and Solmir are more morally grey compared to Red and Eammon, but they each are trying to do what they believe is best. Meanwhile, Red and Eammon are literally Wilderwood and have become immortal. The key is that they are no longer fenced in by Wilderwood. They are able to travel to different parts of the world. Red, as well as Neve, are both hearing a strangers voice guiding them towards a similar goal.

 

As with Neve, Red seems to be driven to find a key to the Heart Tree and a reunion with her sister. Can the sisters survive the brutal journey ahead? And, who is the voice that seems to know about a Golden-veined woman, and a Shadow Queen?

The world-building is dark and vivid and immersive and has expanded from the first book. The romance between Solmir and Neve was more of a subplot than the relationship between Red and Eammon. It would also be considered enemies to lovers which many readers gobble up. I also think that the main subplot of this story is fate vs choice. There are choices made in this book that kick fate in the head and leaves it bleeding along the highway. Every character in this book has a choice including Raffe and Okada. 

 

Overall, I am satisfied with how this series wraps up. It also explores many thought-provoking themes about love, loss, power, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they care about.

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#Review - Cast in Flight by Michelle Sagara #Fantasy

Series: The Chronicles of Elantra (#13)
Format: Paperback, 544 pages
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Publisher: Mira
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Epic

Private Kaylin Neya already has Dragons and Barrani as roommates. Adding one injured, flightless Aerian to her household should be trivial. Sure, the Aerian is Sergeant Moran dar Carafel, but Kaylin's own sergeant is a Leontine, the definition of growly and fanged. She can handle one Aerian.

But when a walk to the Halls of Law becomes a street-shattering magical assassination attempt on the sergeant, Kaylin discovers that it's not the guest who's going to be the problem: it's all of the people who suddenly want Moran dar Carafel dead. And though Moran refuses to tell her why she's being targeted, Kaylin is determined to discover her secret and protect her at all costs--even if keeping Moran safe means dealing with Aerian politics, angry dragons and something far more sinister.

Michelle Sagara's Cast in Flight is the Thirteenth installment in the authors Chronicles of Elantra series. The story is once again told in the third person narrative. Key Characters: Lord Private Kaylin Neya, Corporal Severn Handred, Annarion, Mandarin, Teela, Nightshade, Helen, Bellusdeo, and Sergeant Moran dar Carafel. Elantra is a place where you will find Dragons, Barrani, Humans, Leonites, Aerian, and Tha'alani. Kaylin works the Hall of Law as a Hawk.

After losing her wings, Kaylin gave Sergeant Moran a home even if it were a temporary one. After all, she's already living with two Barrani, and the only remaining female Dragon, as well as a sentient being known as Helen what's one more? When a walk to the Halls of Law becomes an assassination attempt on the sergeant, Kaylin discovers that it’s not the guest who’s going to be the problem: it’s all of the people who suddenly want Moran dar Carafel dead. 

Kaylin is determined to discover her secret and protect her at all costs, even if keeping Moran safe means dealing with Aerian politics, angry dragons and something far more sinister. Kaylin's curiosity and temptations are always front and center. She's not afraid to ask the important questions, even though 99% of the people she works with can easily kill her. She's slowly getting to the point where it's time to give her a promotion to Corporal. 

Hopefully that will happen soon. For someone who has read this book from the first one onward, I am still conflicted about my feelings for Kaylin. Time and time again, she seems to get in deep trouble and somehow manages to escape relatively unscathed. She wears Nightshades mark on her face, she's called the Chosen, yet nobody has really enlightened her into what that exactly means in the overall pictures, she has a familiar she is unable to communicate with (except in certain circumstances). 

She has an allergy to magic, but her magic helps heal and her services are always on call by the midwives whenever there's a baby in danger of not making it. She's somehow managed to survive to the hardest test a Barrani can face and became worthy of being called Lord Kaylin. There's some really interesting scenes in this book including the dinner that includes three dragons, Bellusdeo, the Emperor, and the Arkon.  

This is the story of Moran grudgingly accepting the mantle of power that is her birthright, and Kaylin unraveling more of the mystery of Shadow. This is a series that you need to read in order, because the amount of world building and character work that has happened thus far would leave newcomers more than a little lost.  

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#Review - Trouble with the Cursed by Kim Harrison #Fantasy #Paranormal

Series: Hollows (#16)
Format: Hardcover, 464 pages
Release Date: June 14, 2022
Publisher: Ace
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal

Rachel Morgan must keep her friends close—and her enemies closer—in the next Hollows novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison.

Rachel Morgan, witch-born demon, has one unspoken rule: take chances, but pay for them yourself. With it, she has turned enemies into allies, found her place with her demon kin, and stepped up as the subrosa of Cincinnati—responsible for keeping the paranormal community at peace and in line.
 
Life is . . . good? Even better, her best friend, Ivy Tamwood, is returning home. Nothing’s simple, though, and Ivy’s not coming alone. The vampires’ ruling council insists she escort one of the long undead, hell-bent on proving that Rachel killed Cincy’s master vampire to take over the city. Which, of course, Rachel totally did not do. She only transformed her a little.
 
With Rachel’s friends distracted by their own lives and problems, she reaches out to a new ally for help—the demon Hodin. But this trickster has his own agenda. In the end, the only way for Rachel to save herself and the city may be to forge a new understanding with her estranged demon teacher, Al. There’s just one problem: Al would sell his own soul to be rid of her. . . . 

Kim Harrison's Trouble with the Cursed, is the Sixteenth installment in the authors Hollows series. Witch-born demon Rachel Morgan and her friends fight to protect the inhabitants of the city of Cincinnati--including humans, werewolves, vampires, demons, witches, elves, and pixies. For the past 4 years, Rachel has been a licensed runner (bounty hunter) tracking down those who break the law. For the past 4 months, Rachel and vampire Pike Welroe have been running Cincinnati and it's mostly gone smoothly.

In fact, one could say that their partnership has been a godsend for Rachel knowing that she doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting alone. Rachel is also the Subrosa for Cincinnati responsible for keeping the paranormal community at peace and in line. Rachel's troubles begin right out of the gate. From the D.C. undead vamps wanting to send someone to Cincinnati where they believe Rachel killed the last person who was sent there. She didn't. No spoilers. They are also keeping Ivy Tamwood and her lover Nina hostages. 

So, in order to see for themselves that Rachel didn't kill the former Master of Cincinnati, they're sending a powerful undead named Finnis to shake things up. Finnis, like every other villain that happens to come to Cincinnati, truly has no clue as to how far Rachel will go in order to save her friends, and her city. Finnis also holds the key to the undead vampires future in his hands. But Rachel's problems are just getting started. 

Certain Demons are trying out their newly experienced freedoms which Rachel helped with and her supposed friend Hodin. Hodin seems to have his own agenda which doesn't help Rachel with her issues with the arrival of Finnis, or the fact that Al seemingly is helping her behind the scenes, or the fact that Dali is creating his own brand of chaos that is ending up spilling over to Rachel since she's the one who is supposed to keep the peace in the city, or the fact that it seems that everyone around Rachel, including Trent, is busy doing other things instead of standing by her side against the rising tide. 

Without any hesitation, I love the fact that Al is back in Rachel's life. Over the course of this series, you could say that the pair have had a rocky relationship with Al affectionately calling her Twitchy Witch. I love the fact that Jenks may have found new love. It's been a long time coming. I would love to know if Rachel is going to keep teaching. She's a riot. Without any spoilers, I will say that the book does end on a sort of cliffhanger that will warm the cockles of your heart. Trust me.

CHAPTER

1

It wasn't even ten yet, and the cicadas were already screaming in the hot, muggy air. Uncomfortable, I fidgeted, my sandals scraping the time-warped porch boards as I impatiently waited for Pike to pick the lock of the dilapidated Victorian he'd tagged as an unregistered blood house. It was stifling under the overhang and scraggly street trees. My camisole and shorts seemed woefully inappropriate to be kicking vampire ass in, but Pike had promised it was a five-minute thing. In, out, iced coffee and Band-Aids before noon.

Traffic was a distant hum, the bars and restaurants a comfortable two blocks away. It was a perfect location for a blood house where consenting vamps could finish out their evening or, more often, where others could hide from unwanted attention. Working on all levels, blood houses gave the highly charged, highly dangerous vampires a secure place to indulge and find refuge-often at the same time.

The age-old dichotomy didn't make sense until you saw it in action, but vamps, both living and dead, had an unfailing need to protect the distressed even as they endangered those they professed to love. When it went bad, the abuse went bone-deep, fueled by the trust these houses engendered. Why it was up to me, a witch-born demon, to ferret out and "gently" correct the problem was a long story with a short motive. I didn't like bullies.

Tired, I tucked a strand of hair behind an ear. The humidity was breaking through my anti-curl charm and the red mass was frizzing right out of my braid. "I thought you had a key," I muttered, and Pike, crouched at the lock, softly swore.

"Yeah. Me too." Pike's low, intent voice pulled an unexpected pulse of libido from me, and I shifted to put more space between us in the hopes he wouldn't notice. It was the pheromones he was unconsciously kicking out, not a real attraction. It didn't help that Pike wasn't your usual living vampire, his unerring, classic beauty still showing under a disturbing number of scars. There was a hint of gray in his short-cut hair, evidence of his early-thirties maturity. His light shirt and slacks were cut for ease of movement, his languid grace held a definite pull, and when his eyes went black? Da-a-amn.

But it was Pike's confidence that elevated him beyond the usual living vampire, and I was secure enough in my relationship with Trent to admit that he was . . . well . . . mmmm. Most vamps were confident on the outside, but Pike was truly comfortable in his skin. It set him apart, as did his numerous scars, most of which had been gained from his brothers trying to kill him as opposed to bedroom fun. Working under my protection was safer than him being on his own, but that's not why he had agreed to do it.

In contrast, my few scars were recent, almost hidden behind what passed as a tan for me. I missed my old ones-scars, that is-the ones that had real meaning. My almost-dormant vampire bite hidden under the curse-virgin skin tended to drive the undead wild, something that wasn't actually advantageous in my line of work.

"I got up early for this," I grumbled, tucking my sunglasses into my bag before gingerly sitting on the edge of the dusty porch chair. The residential street wasn't busy, and my eyes narrowed as I tracked the passing car, frowning as the black Crown Victoria parked at the curb.

Doyle.

Pike glanced up, his incredible senses attuned to my sudden unease. Doyle worked for Inderland Security, an I.S. detective now if I remembered right. That the living vampire was watching us break into an unregistered, and therefore illegal, blood house didn't bode well.

"So . . . did you ask me to help this morning because Doyle is following you?" I said.

Frowning, Pike returned to picking the lock. "He's not following me. He's watching the house. Same as I am." Pike's weight shifted as he tried a new angle. "He's probably waiting for us to do the hard part, then swing in and take credit for it. The I.S. wants this place shut down as much as we do."

True. I stood, hands on my hips as I stared provocatively at Doyle. Vampires were weird contrasts. The undead ones did ugly things thinking it was love, the living ones endured ugly things thinking it was love, but they both had a protective streak a mile wide. True, it was a little warped in the long undead, but no one liked underage predation, and that's why we were here.

Unlike the I.S., I didn't need three days on a missing person's report before I opened up a can of ass-kickery. So when Kip, Pike's number one, had failed to report in after tracking three missing teens here, Pike had called me. I didn't know the small woman well, but Pike both trusted and relied on her.

"You think Doyle will give us trouble?" I said as Doyle grinned, showing me his short but sharp canines as he took a picture of us. "We have probable cause."

"No." Pike frowned. His eyes lost their rim of brown as his pupils dilated, and the delicious scent of vampire incense rose in the stifling air, reminding me of when I had been younger and stupid. Still smells good, though, I thought, a pheromone-induced quiver of angst and desire rising before I stifled it. Sensing it, Pike smirked. I liked working with Pike, even if resisting his vampiric charms was often a challenge. I loved Trent, but finding someone to kick ass with was difficult, and Ivy had been stuck in DC for months.

"Maybe I should have brought Jenks," I muttered, and his smile vanished. But truth be told, I didn't need my usual backup for this. It was part rescue, part reminder to a few uppity vamps that the law was there for the living and dead. Still, I was beginning to regret telling Jenks to stay home. Standing outside a door this long looked unprofessional.

"You need some grease?" I said as I checked my phone for the time.

"I've got this." Frustrated, Pike angled the pick another way.

"I can check to see if there's a back door," I offered, wanting a coffee.

"There's no back door," he said flatly. "Will you shut up so I can concentrate?"

Well, excu-u-u-uuse me. I stood, going to the dirty window to put a hand to my face to peer in at the front room. Jenks could have been in and out by now, verifying the floor plan that Ivy would have dug up online somewhere. But this was Pike's run, not mine. I was here to help. If we ever got in. Frustrated, I checked my phone again, attention returning to Doyle as I tucked it in my pocket. Damn it, he was laughing. "Maybe Doyle has a key," I said sourly.

Pike exhaled heavily. "Yes. Why don't you go and ask Doyle if he has a key."

Ooh, sarcasm! I'd had enough, and as the cicadas sang in an irritating whine, I strengthened my grip on the nearest ley line and mulled over which "find" spell would work best. Nearly all worked on auras, and the undead didn't have much of one unless they had just fed-and then it wasn't even theirs. Most finding charms didn't work well underground, either, which was where this was going to end up. I knew it. Many of Cincinnati's original homes had sub-basement floors, and this was one of Cincy's older "ladies."

The ley line slipped into me like sunshine, warm and tingling to my toes. I let the unfocused energy pool up in my chi, then spindled a wad of it in my thoughts before I let the energy find a path back into the ground and make me part of a circuit. "Invenio," I whispered, feeling the energy take direction and the charm invoke. With the force of creation running through me, I opened my second sight.

Distorted as if by flame, the image of an open field in the ever-after wavered into existence, overlaying reality in a disjointed double vision. The front room became indistinct, almost like colored chalk lines. I wasn't exactly seeing through walls, but they didn't exist in the ever-after, and the effect was the same. Pike's aura was obvious beside me, but nothing else. The upstairs was clear as well. If Kip or the kids she was trying to find were here, they were downstairs.

"We're clear aboveground," I said as I let my second sight drop-and the image of an open field vanished and reality returned. I held on to the line, though, letting it continue to run through me like a second sun. "Excuse me," I said as I picked up the porch chair. Gut tight, I slammed it into the big front window. Glass shattered inward in a satisfying feeling of give, and then the chair rolled across the faded, crushed carpet to thump into the wall. Smirking, I reached in to unlock the door from the inside.

Pike slowly got to his feet, his dark eyes going from the broken window to me. "You are no fun when you're in a hurry, you know that?"

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#Review - Veiled Threat (Rylee Adamson #7) by Shannon Mayer #Fantasy #Romance

Series: Rylee Adamson # 7
Format: Mass Market, 296 pages
Release Date:  June 20, 2017
Publisher: Talos
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy

My name is Rylee and I am a Tracker.”

When children go missing, and the Humans have no leads, I’m the one they call. I am their last hope in bringing home the lost ones. I salvage what they cannot.

Demons are putting rips in the veil in order to cross over and steal my friends and allies away.

But, going after them isn’t even close to simple. The deepest level of the veil is not a place you can just open a doorway too, after all, and of course, that’s where they’ve been taken.

As fate would have it, it looks like I might get some help from a trained demon slayer and his fire breathing ride.

The only problem? Said demon slayer claims to have family ties to me. And I’ve never trusted my family.

Nor am I about to start now.

Shannon Mayer's Veiled Threat is the Seventh installment in the authors Rylee Adamson series. For Rylee, and her allies (Liam, Milly, Alex, Eve, Blaz and Pamela), it has been a month of relative piece and calm. In fact, Rylee and Liam have just returned from a European vacation which made their bond even stronger. But that quickly changes when Rylee discovers that doorways have been destroyed, Red Caps are being slaughtered by demons, ogres are now enemies, Orion manages to kidnap both Milly and Pamela, and a man who claims that he is Rylee's uncle appears out of nowhere along with a dragon (Ophelia) that allegedly belonged to her father.

If you've read this series, which I hope you have, Rylee is a Tracker who can track anyone. She's also immune to magic. So, finding and bringing back Milly and Pamela should be an interesting adventure. But let's not kid ourselves. Rylee is a trouble magnet and her issues keep getting larger as the series grinds to an end. Rylee attempts to get the ogres to side with her, but their new leaders are blind with grief and blame her for their misfortunes. On the bright side, Alex seems to have grown some cognizant abilities and isn't so snarky most of the time. But the issue remains whether or not Rylee can truly trust the man who claims he's her Uncle Erik who just happens to be a Slayer.

While Lesser demons have escaped the veil and are possessing supernaturals, Rylee enlists the help of an unwilling necromancer to help her cross the veil to rescue Milly and Pamela. Both Rylee and Milly are aware that Orion plans to use Milly’s child when he overthrows the world. More information about The Blood of the Lost and Rylee's alleged part in stopping Orion are dropped throughout this story. Ties into the whole Rylee prophecy vs Orion. I think there's another part of this story that hasn't yet been addressed, and it will be interesting to see how that particular story plays itself out. With only 3 books left in this series, I am looking for an answer about what is really going on with Rylee.   

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#Review - Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J. Redwine #YA #Fantasy #Romance

Series: Rise of the Vicious Princess # 1
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Release Date: June 14, 2022
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Romance

The first in a YA political fantasy duology about a fierce princess determined to bring lasting peace to her kingdom regardless of the cost to her heart.

Princess Charis Willowthorn is the dutiful sword of Calera. Raised to be ruthless and cunning, her only goal is to hold her war-torn kingdom together long enough to find a path toward peace with their ancient foe, Montevallo, even if the cost is her own heart.

When violence erupts in the castle itself and an unseen enemy begins sinking Calera’s ships, Charis realizes a threat much greater than Montevallo is coming for her people. So she forms a plan. By day, she is Calera’s formidable princess intent on forging an alliance with Montevallo. By night, she disguises herself as a smuggler and roams the sea with a trusted group of loyalists, hunting for their new enemies. And through it all, there’s the one boy she can’t have—who guards her life but steals her heart.

But her enemies are much closer than Charis realizes, and her heart isn’t the only thing she has left to lose. 

C.J. Redwine's Rise of the Vicious Princess is an action-packed start to a new duology full of political intrigue, smugglers, and sea monsters. The story is a truly classic-feeling epic fantasy with all the ingredients that YA fantasy readers adore—exciting adventure, strange beasts, and of course a fabulous romance. Princess Charis Willowthorn is the dutiful sword of Calera. Raised to be ruthless and cunning, her only goal is to hold her war-torn kingdom together long enough to find a path toward peace with their ancient foe, Montevallo, even if the cost is her own heart.

When violence erupts in the castle itself and an unseen enemy begins sinking Calera’s ships, Charis realizes a threat much greater than Montevallo is coming for her people. So she forms a plan. By day, she is Calera’s formidable princess intent on forging an alliance with Montevallo. By night, she disguises herself as a smuggler and roams the sea with a trusted group of loyalists, hunting for their new enemies. And through it all, there’s the one boy she can’t have—who guards her life but steals her heart.

Charis’s mother is unrelenting in her demands and expectations of Charis, and Charis proves she is up for the challenge. Though only seventeen, she is a strong leader, and she faces many difficult challenges. Charis’s father is the opposite of his wife. Kind and loving, he shows Charis that there is more to life than becoming Queen. They have a close relationship, and they bring so much happiness to each other, which Charis doesn’t really have with many people.

Charis is a capable and fearsome heroine, with a reputation for violence. But she is also a princess determined to carve out her own path and take care of the citizens who depend on her. Constantly on her guard, there is only one person able to get close enough to see the real Charis—her bodyguard, Tal. But with her kingdom’s future riding on her political marriage to an enemy prince, this is a classic, star-crossed romance, with some truly surprising twists.

Redwine does a good job of transitioning between the various of versions of Charis. Whether its a Captain on the seas, Charis in her private chambers with her bodyguard, or her Highness in a strategy meeting to defend Calera from its long time enemy Montevallo. I would have loved to have picked up a copy of the final product. There is a map that shows the numerous countries that are mentioned throughout the book, and their relative location to Calera. As this is the first part of a duology, of course there's a brutal cliffhanger ending which will likely push people to pick up the sequel.

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#Review - Wilde Magic (Immortal Vegas #1) by Jenn Stark #Fantasy #Romance

Series: Immortal Vegas # 1
Format: E-Galley, 291 pages
Release Date: May 31, 2022
Publisher: Elewyn Publishing
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Off the grid and on the run since she was a teen, Sara Wilde has made a name for herself as an artifact hunter with an edge—finding the most magical treasures on the planet with the flip of a Tarot card.

But when she’s hired to steal a powerful fertility idol on the last night of Carnival, Sara discovers her rough-and-tumble skills are no match for the new, mysterious buyer she’s attracted. Rich, demanding, and sexy as sin, this Magician promises to be nothing but trouble. Yet, for what he’s willing to shell out for her services, Sara can afford the risk.

Or so she thinks.

As the danger—and the payoffs—mount, the power of Tarot leads Sara from the rollicking party of Rio de Janeiro to the grand historical cemeteries of Savannah, then on to the ostentatious museum halls of New York City. Meanwhile, the relentless Magician weaves an ever more seductive spell, hinting at a world she’s barely glimpsed.

To keep from getting burned by passion, power, or betrayal, Sara’s going to need some Wilde Magic.

Jenn Stark's Wilde Magic is the new series starter for the Immortal Vegas Series, which continues next with Getting Wilde. The opening adventure of Wilde Magic was previously published as the novella One Wilde Night. That story has been changed and expanded here, and leads Sara to all-new adventures. Sara Wilde is an artifact hunter with an edge in finding the most magical treasures on the planet thanks to her trust Tarot Cards. 

Sara's first stop in this action packed adventure begins during Carnival Week in Rio de Janeiro where she attempts to get a jade stone necklace with powers of fertility, powers of luck, health, and abundance of long life. During the assignment, Sara catches the attention of  a powerful member of the Arcana Council, who hires her for an assignment and the pay is just too much for her to pass up. From Rio, Sara travels to Miami, Florida where she finds out that there are powerful people on her trail, and the only one who seems to be able to keep her safe, is a dangerous and sexy man named Armaes Bertrand aka the Magician who seems to make Sara's heart flutter.

Sara's next stop is Savannah where she must find another artifact, as well as finding a girl who was taken for her blood. Lastly, Sara ends up in New York City where she comes face to face with a powerful man who needs certain artifacts in order to allow the Gods to return to this realm. One of the things I've always loved about Sara is her heart. Sara's in the business to save the children which are referred to as connected in that they have unusual abilities. These children are being abused and even killed for their blood and their abilities. 

Along with Father Jerome, she's always been on the lookout for the next big score to keep the children safe from the dangerous black market. The story does a really good job of getting inside of Sara's head when it comes to her unusual powers, her ability to connect on a different level with the Magician, as well as her next steps in what's she supposed to do next. One could say that this story is a glimpse into the future for Sara and her globe traveling to find dangerous artifacts.

As a reviewer who has read every single installment in Sara Wilde's series, I can honestly say that this is an interesting new twist on the original story. Because I am one of the original readers, I attempted to keep spoilers from leaking into this review. I can't emphasize this enough. If you have not yet read this series, now would be the perfect time to jump and and enjoy the world of Sara Wilde and the Arcana Council.  

 

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#Review - Rise of the Snake Goddess by Jenny Elder Moke #YA #Fantasy

Series: Samantha Knox # 2
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Release Date: June 7, 2022
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables

The beautiful island of Crete, an archaeological find for the ages, and one seriously pissed-off Greek goddess. It’s just another day for Samantha Knox.

After being snubbed by her college’s archaeology department for an honor she rightfully earned, Sam is hell-bent on proving her worth to her misogynistic department head. So when an opportunity presents itself to solve the hidden meaning behind a symbol found inside a cave in Greece, Sam is all over it, and she’s bringing Bennett and Jo with her for the cross-Atlantic trip. Once on the island of Crete, Sam finds a treasure she never expected—the golden girdle of an ancient and powerful goddess, and she can’t resist its siren call, or the accolades she would win for discovering it. But before she can take credit for the find, the girdle is stolen and the island is hit with a series of earthquakes that don’t feel quite coincidental.

Soon Sam, Bennett, and Jo are embroiled in a wild hunt—one that takes them to tiny island shops, a glamorous high-stakes auction, and a fiery near-death experience—to find the girdle before someone can use it to raise the ancient goddess from her slumber. An unexpected heist, a terrifying trek through a labyrinth, and a fight to the death with the Minotaur itself lead to a final standoff she and her friends won’t soon forget—one that might just break up Sam and Bennett for good.

Set against the gorgeous backdrop and ancient ruins of the Greek islands, the pulse-pounding action in this twisting mystery will appeal to action-adventure fans, romance diehards, and mythology buffs alike.

Rise of the Snake Goddess, by author Jenny Elder Moke, is the second installment in the authors Samantha Knox series. Samantha Knox is back in her second adventure, along with Bennett and Joana Steeling, this time taking her to the ancient island of Crete where mysterious caves, dangerous treasure hunters, and a shrine to a powerful goddess ensnare Sam and friends in an even deadlier game! 

With rumors surrounding Sam's last adventure in Dublin, where Sam met the Specter Queen, the Celtic goddess of vengeance and death, Sam has become the subject of strange rumors and gossip. She's called a treasure hunter, foolish amateur, and gold seeker. Nobody believes a girl who came from nothing, ended up at the top of her class in a short time. After being snubbed by her college’s archaeology department head, Professor Atchinson, for an honor she rightfully earned, Sam is hell-bent on proving her worth to her misogynistic department head. 

So when an opportunity presents itself to solve the hidden meaning behind a symbol found inside a cave in Greece via a letter to Professor Wallstone, Sam is all over it, and she’s bringing Bennett and Jo with her for the cross-Atlantic trip. Once on the island of Crete, Sam finds a treasure she never expected—the golden girdle of an ancient and powerful goddess, and she can’t resist its siren call, or the accolades she would win for discovering it.  

Also known as the Snake Goddess, Ariadne is a powerful being who's ready to return--unless Sam and her friends can stop her. But before she can take credit for the find and prove that she's not a treasure hunter out for herself, the girdle is stolen and the island is hit with a series of earthquakes that don’t feel quite coincidental. Soon Sam, Bennett, and Jo are embroiled in a wild hunt—one that takes them to tiny island shops, a glamorous high-stakes auction, a fiery near-death experience, , a terrifying trek through a labyrinth, and a fight to the death with the Minotaur to put Ariadne back to her slumber ancient. 

Joana, Sam’s best friend, is more the party girl type, getting drunk and gallivanting about, even getting expelled from school. She’s funny but also very pushy and stereotypical, focusing on the party and the finery instead of on the situation most of the time, but she does have her good moments. Bennett is way too overprotective, lording his experience over Sam and Jo for much of the book, again. He’s ready to make all the decisions and stop them from participating in the adventure, despite Sam being super useful in solving all the riddles. She’s the first one to find the clues every time and he knows nothing.

Samantha (Sam) is sort of like a young female Indiana Jones. She's smart, loves to follow clues and crack codes and has no problem digging around for a bone or two. She seems to get things before others around her, including Bennett who she a crush on. Set against the gorgeous backdrop and ancient ruins of the Greek islands, the pulse-pounding action in this twisting mystery will appeal to action-adventure fans, romance diehards, and mythology buffs alike.

 

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