Crown of Shadows by Keri Arthur My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love Keri's books. She writes some amazing woman characters. They are mentally strong and can stand on their own to fight battles. They also can have friends with them and rely on them for help. These woman are not scared, well, they are but they face the big bads and fight on. They don't run when things get tough. They may run INTO things a little too fast, but they are determined. And the male cast supports these woman. They don't belittle them at all for being determined and have a mind of their own. This is what I love. Bethany i ..read more

Dungeon Lord by Hugo Huesca My rating: 4 of 5 stars I totally agree with Edward's playing ethics. Edward had me on his side from the beginning when he was gaming with his friends and another who's a little self centered in the game. (There's always that one.) This person, Ryan, invited himself to their group and...is Edwards boss at work. Not a good combo when Edward makes the decision to help others and save the team to win the battle. Things get a little heated at work and Edward gets mad enough to do something he wouldn't normally do. This leads Edward down a path where he's intercepted ..read more

Liberate by Krista D. Ball My rating: 4 of 5 stars Let's go save the rest of our favorite team! Erem has been missing for a year now. Suspected that Jud has him locked away and doing who knows what to him in this time. Jovan's found Erem. Bethany has received note that he knows where he is and she's determined to leave NOW to get bring him home. Arrago tries to talk Bethany into a plan, even with all the threats and attacks on Bethany, she needs to go in with a plan. They come up with a few. First, to help with attacks against Bethany. And she agrees. (I love this one as I've been waiting ..read more

Marked by Kim Richardson My rating: 3 of 5 stars I've seen completely opposite and mixed reviews of this book. When I read a terrible review, I had to check it out. lol. So which reviews do I think are right.... I'd say it falls somewhere in between. The main character is 16 years old. Maybe if she was a little older it would be easier to accept the potential budding relationship, the forbidden relationship, in Horizon. But, if she was a little older the story wouldn't get away with not asking questions. She's got innocents going for her in that token. Kara dies early in the book as the bo ..read more

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas My rating: 3 of 5 stars We follow Celaena as she travels to a new continent that has fae and magic. She has a job to do, but will she do it? She's found by Rowan, one of Maeve's warriors that's bound to her, and taken to see Maeve. Celaena's aunt wants to see what Celaena can do. She must train and show her powers to Queen Maeve to get into the Fae city and learn what she can of the Word Keys to save her home land. Celaena has a knack for finding tough people who don't like her and she feels the same for them, and becoming the best of friends over time. Celaena ..read more

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sarah is great at creating characters we are invested in. We grow attached to them. I feel like she enjoys pulling my heart strings. Celaena is the King's champion. She now is sent on missions to eliminate people on his list. Celaena has been doing things a little...differently with her missions. And she builds her relationships with Dorian, Chaol, and Nehemia. Things aren't exactly what they seem. Celaena has been doing her own thing as are others. I have mixed feelings with this book. There's something in the works. There's more ..read more

A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows: The Song Duology: Book One by Michelle Manus My rating: 5 of 5 stars Michelle is masterful with her word choices. To have song weaving as magic and describe in words how people react without us hearing the music is wonderful. The time pacing in this fantasy book is wonderful. It doesn't feel like fast time wise in the actions, but there's time passing. We are fully in the moments that are important. We grow bonds between the characters in the ways they are to be, friendships, potential more than friends, irritation, dislike, and more. Clare is a special pe ..read more

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas My rating: 4 of 5 stars After being left heartbroken from the novellas leading up to the series, and Celeana's past, I finally jumped into to the first full length book. This book was great. I loved the potential threads here. Celeana is broken, which we knew from before she was sent to the salt mines. (The previous novellas.) She had a different upbringing. This book takes her from the salt mines that were to be her death and puts her in the hope of winning her way to the King's Champion for her freedom in four years. There is a line Celeana has to walk and ..read more

Vials and Tribulations by S.L. Rowland My rating: 4 of 5 stars Esil had no desire to compete in another tournament. He did not want to be in the spotlight again. But when he goes to the orphanage he grew up in to talk to the kids about hope, he saw what he remembered feeling in their eyes. One kid wasn't as receptive at first, and Esil shared what he knows and experienced. In helping the kids, he becomes closer to this kid, Dean. And when no one else will take a chance to work with a kid from the Boxes, Esil steps in to help him see there's more and to give Dean a chance. I liked seeing Esil ..read more

Magic and Mayhem by S.L. Rowland My rating: 4 of 5 stars We return to the world with Esil as he starts his new job and has moved out of the boxes to the town with so much more to offer. Esil sees how many here live and how everyone he knows lives in the boxes. He wants to help them all. He does start saying things to people, hoping and wanting to make a difference for so many. He starts to see that he can't help the masses at once. He starts with those he knows and can move from there to help everyone as he learns more. This is a book where we are in the gaming world. Esil's new job is a ne ..read more