Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths by Danielle Annett

 

Click the image to add to your Goodreads shelf 

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After the death of her mother, Isabella has no option but to leave her pack and live with her father. She is to start at the local school, Hellbound High soon after she moves in.

Isabella quickly catches the attention of the son of the local Alpha and finds herself in a confusing, hot/cold relationship with him.

As Isabella is not a member of a pack anymore, she is a lone wolf and therefore fair game. Even her relationship with the Alpha's son won't help her. In fact, it might just make it worse.

What I liked about this book 

• The book was well written and the pacing is really good. There wasn't a point where the story lulled and there was nothing happening.
• There are a few fighting scenes throughout the book. These are written well and add an element of excitement and danger to the story.
• Both Isabella and Raphael have chapters showing there points of view.

What I didn't like

• Isabella and Raphael's relationship is slightly worrying. She is presented as a strong woman and in other aspects of the story, but not within the relationship. Isabella stands up to raphael for all of about 2 seconds before doing what he says. When I thought that it was improving it actually got worse.
• There were so many questions left unanswered. I understand that this is the beginning of a series but I would have liked a bit more information on what was going on.

Despite the points above, I was drawn into this book and wanted to know what would happen next. That only increased my disappointment in the way the story was left.

2.75 stars 

✮✮✭

Incandescence by Elena Leman (release date 9th November 2020)

Click the image to add to your Goodreads shelf 

Thanks BookSirens for providing me with an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Orobella is a being who wanders the galaxy wearing the form of other beings. She is on a mission to collect Emotion Crystals and spread joy. In every world Orobella has visited in the past, she has concentrated on collecting crystals and going back home. This time, her intention is the same, that is until she meets Sambor. The dark and mysterious tattoo artist seems to be the only one who is immune to Orobella's charms.

In exchange for a Lasota tattoo, Orobella agrees to help Sambor's baby sister to prepare for a ceremony which will decide the rest of her life. Despite his best efforts Sambor is drawn to Orobella and finds his resolve slipping. 

The longer Orobella stays in this body the more attached she begins to become to this life. Will she complete her mission and go home? Or will this body's past come back to haunt her?

What I liked about this book

• This story is so imaginative. The author has not just created one world, but a whole universe. The main story takes place in a world which is similar to earth, but with magic. However, Orobella tells stories of the worlds she has visited in the past and some of them sound magical.
• The emotional aspect of the narrative is really well written. I was emotionally invested in Orobella's relationship with Sambor and his sister, Child. My heart strings were tugged several times.
• The writing is easy to follow and has a good flow.
• Child and Smoku were my favourite characters. Child is adorable and Smoku brings the comic relief.

What I didn't like

• Some of the word choice during the more intimate scenes made me cringe.

Incandescence is the first book in the Shadowlight series. I think that you would enjoy this book if you are a fan of Fantasy/Sci-fi romance. This book had me captivated from the beginning and I am excited to see where the series goes from here.

4 stars 

✮✮✮✮

A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

Click the image to add to your Goodreads shelf 

 

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In 1895, in France, 16 year old Juliet LaCompte falls hopelessly in love with Auguste Marchant, the painter who lives nearby. Their relationship is doomed from the start. August is already married and Juliet has been promised to another. Juliet's mother is a witch who provides small spells and potions to the local townspeople. When she discovers Juliet and Marchant's relationship she is livid. In a moment of rage and desperation, Juliet's mother casts a curse. Though she intends this only to curse Marchant,  Juliet is caught in the crossfire. 

Juliet and Marchant are forced to relive their tragic love story over and over again throughout different life times. Though they are not supposed to remember their lives before, each of Juliet's new lives do.

Luke Varner is a demon who has been tasked with protecting Juliet in all of her lives and ensuring the curse plays out as it should. Despite his best efforts he falls completely in love with her soon after they meet and continues to be throughout all of her reincarnations. 

Fast forward to the present day, Juliet has been reincarnated as Helen, a magazine exec from Washington DC. As Helen starts to remember her past it becomes clear that there may be a way to break the curse once and for all. Will she be able to stop their suffering or will Luke stand in her way?

What I liked about this book

• The concept of this story is appealing, that was what initially drew me to this book.
• The different perspectives of each of Juliet's reincarnations. Even though they are all essentially the same woman, they each have attributes that make them different.
• Starting in 1895 and ending in the present day, A Witch in Time is set during some very prominent times in history. The author has made a real effort to include some of these historical events and has researched them well.

What I didn't like 

• As A Witch in Time is predominantly a romance story, I expected the romance to be a bit more than it was. 
• The magic that the main character holds is completely inconsequential to the story. The story would continue the same way if it wasn't included. 

A Witch in Time wasn't what I had expected it to be, but that is not to say that I didn't enjoy it. I ended up being sucked into the story and eager to find out how everything would pan out.

3.5 Stars 
✮✮✮✫

Every Dead Thing by John Connolly

 

Click the image to add to your Goodreads shelf 

NYPD detective Charlie Parker's life is turned upside down when he comes home to find his wife and young daughter brutally murdered. Consumed with grief and guilt, Charlie leaves the force. 

When his former partner contacts him asking him to hunt down a missing girl, Charlie finds himself mixed up in a much larger plot - a murder spree spanning 3 decades. Spurred on by his involvement in this murder case, Parker also sets out to find the vicious murderer who killed his family, in order to finally get his revenge.

What I liked about this book

• This book is really well written. John Connolly sets the scene perfectly, describing each detail in such a way that they stick in your mind.
• There aren't really any characters who are completely 'good'. Most of the characters are morally grey at best.
• Flash backs into Charlie's past really helps the reader to understand his relationship with his wife and the experiences which have brought him to where he is today.

What I didn't like 

• There are a lot of small characters who are introduced throughout the story. Although they did each bring something to the plot, I kept forgetting who some of them were.

My friend recommended that I read this book and I'm glad I listened. Every Dead Thing is a dark tale of murder and betrayal which will grab your attention and hold it throughout the book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers or murder mystery novels.

4 Stars

✮✮✮✮

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco (release date 27th October 2020)

Click the image to add to your Goodreads shelf 

 Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emilia and Vittoria are twins and best friends. They are also Strega - witches. Forced into hiding due to the fear of persecution, the Strega operate under cover, hidden from the rest of the world. When one night Vittoria does not turn up for her shift in the family restaurant, fear for her safety starts to grow. Emilia soon discovers her sisters body, which has be horrifically brutalised. Emilia will make it her mission to discover who murdered her sister and why. Even if that means using dark magic to do it.

What I liked about this book 

• The concept of the demonic embodiments of the seven deadly sins running the underworld was intriguing. Only some of them are introduced in this book which hopefully means we will meet them in the next one.
• The story is well paced. There isn't really a lull in the action as there is always something happening. 
• Kerry Maniscalco's writing flows well and is easy to follow. 
• Kingdom of the Wicked is set in Italy. There are Italian words and phrases sprinkled throughout the narrative, this adds a level of culture to the feel of the story. 

What I didn't like

• The culprit was pretty obvious from quite early on
• I was a bit confused about the when the story was meant to be set.

I love the the idea of witches and any book which has been centered around them is always going to catch my eye. Plus I loved Kerri Maniscalco's other works. These two things combined drew me towards Kingdom of the Wicked and I was not disappointed. I can't wait till the release of book 2 to find out what turn this series will take.

4.2

✮✮✮✮✬