Her Hidden Fire - Dark academia with Scottish flair

 For fans of the Assassins trilogy and Robin Hobb's dark routes to power, this book will mesmerize you and hold you firmly in its eloquent grasp!

Power borrowed from living fodder to fuel those who see the power lines makes for an incredible premise, and Eadha is a perfect heroine, submissive and loyal, sacrificing her power to Ionain the Lord's heir at Ailm.

She believes she can loan him her power and follows him to school - and learns that there are the haves and have nots. With a host of interesting characters, the enigmatic and seeing Gry, a powerless heir of the first family, Senan, the sadistic channeler who lives on power gluttony, Eadha melds her way through apathy, hardship and accepting that she is also of power, even though she isn't noble born. There is much darkness in the book, but it is handled very very adeptly and leave you stunned and incites your rage for Eadha. The handling of class divisions and the status of the highborn are also brilliant. The final chapters were the real cherry to this broody novel!

I can hardly wait for the sequel to see where Cliodhna will take us in this journey. Mahera! I see you dear author - brava!

My sincere thankyous to Netgalley and Penguin Yound Readers group for this gorgeous eARC!

A Most Unsuitable Suitor - Victorian caper with clandestine roots

 Emma Orchard has penned another stunner!!

Dearest reader, welcome to London, a neo-cosmopolite city which is still sticking to its mores and fashions; rife with prejudice and rumor mongering a la ton. Allegra Constantine, the middle child, whose mother is determined to see her engaged, has three prospective suitors and the annoying and observant Mr Max Severin laughing and mocking her gauche attempts at securing a proposal. 

An inadvertent outing in the garden turns into a smoldering kiss and sparks a flurry of furious ripostes between these ill suited protagonists. The drama is brought on by blackmail, ancestral  mystery and rigid societal norms! This was one book where Max's charatcer arc matched that of his lady loves - her mother shone in all the proceedings (I love the strong maternal figure!). With excited siblings, an absent father and a mysterious grandfather playing god-grandfather, this tale comes to life!

Thank you to Boldwood books and Netgalley for sharing the ARC! This book is best accompanied with victorian sandwich cake, a strong  pot of  Earl grey tea with a side of cucumber sandwiches!

The Bewitching Miss Blair - Darcy McGuire but witchier

 Dearest reader, this book is an ode to Bridgerton flushed with swathes of Practical Magic!

The amazing Darcy McGuire delivers again - if you aren't acquainted with her Queen's Deadly Damsels, then wow! are you in for a glorious exercise in witchiness with fire sparking and familiars, rife with broody, dark heroes with tragic pasts who are drawn together like moths to flame. 

What I absolutely adore about Darcy is the heat she builds with her character interactions which leaves you breathless, hot and bothered. The electricity is palpable between the two protagonists who try to hide their inner turmoil, instead wielding their wit, to injure their ruthless, and yet, gorgeous adversary! The scathing contests between the straight laced lieutenant general Thomas Grey and the free spirited, yet peerless (see what i did there) Clio Blair are the stuff legends are made of..

With homage to the covens based on magical powers, and cousins with familiars residing and managing an apothecary aptly named All Things bright and beautiful, the story delves into the murder of Viscount Bletchley and his missing wife Violet... Each character has a unique quality and brings more to the tale than just a random placement. In true Darcy McGuire fashion, there is a heady twist at the end!

Delve into the streets of London and make your way through the mystery and imbibe in the magic and social experience that colors regency! A tale best enjoyed with crumpets and tea!

My sincere gratitude to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for furnishing the ARC. I breezed through the tale in a day!

#TheBewitchingMissBlair #Netgalley

Trident and the Pearl - suffused with slowburn romance and evocative writing

 An ode to the stormy sea and the salty tears flowing from the broken heart of an ousted queen...

If you loved Circe and Games Gods Play - this book reads like a grown up version - full of self-doubt, growth and over arching imbalances. Sarah K. L. Wilson draws us into Coralys' world - one where she is queen and yet needs to maneuver for power plays. In order to save her people she pledges herself to wed the first man to wash ashore; a humble fisherman... And so begins her foray into a world of Gods, myths and impossibilities, all the while, the guilt of losing her mortal husband plagues her. The tale is haunting in its imagery and delves into the savageness of hurt and the taunt of happiness when your guilt hacks at your ability to smile when, surely, the world should come to an end. This slow burn was one of the most mature and tantalizing fantasy reads this year.

Hachette audio does a fabulous job in bringing this evocative shifting spectrum of human angst to life, narrated by the epically talented Ell Porter - her rendition of Coralys' emotions, leave you breathless, hollow and carves sorrow into your soul...

My impossible thank yous to the Hachette Audio, Orbit and Netgalley for furnishing the ALC of this warm tale, wafting with the salt spray and foaming like the turquoise waters lapping a seaweed ridden shore... I was gutted when the book ended and look forward to seeing the Fisher King revive and rejuvenate in the soon to come sequels for this riveting romance!

#thetridentandthepearl #Netgalley

Enchanted to Meet You - Grumpy x Sunshine amysement park escaoe for fans of Lynn Painter

 What do you do when you favorite fairytale, your favorite romcom trope and your favorite narrators combine in a uniquely gorgeous and moving young adult novel!?!? You grab your headset and escape into the narration of Fairy Tale Gardens! 

My heartfelt gratitude to Netgalley, HarperAudio Children's for this beautiful rendition! 

The story deals with sunny Princess Arden err, I mean, the indefatigable Imogen Rogers, lands herself fired from yet another job. Her bosom buddy Divya ropes her into investigating a charity embezzlement at Fairy Tale Gardens.. Imogen expects to be in charge of the turkey stall, but instead finds herself in the limelight as Princess Arden, a face character, opposite the broody and swoonworthy Tristan Walsh , err, Prince Winthrop.

While Imogen finds a job she loves, the disenchanted Prince Winthrop, and discontent Prince Winthrop discover magic, meaning and marketing by her side.

Brittany Pressley does an absolute fantastic job giving voice to the ray of sunshine that is Imogen, tinged with insecurity, yet brimming with energy at the opportunity to nake the FTG experience spectacular! Alex Knox provides the stormy, reticent and angry young man, who revisits guilt, anguish and pain at the memories of his late mother, that the park evokes. The chemistry between them is palpable and exquisite!!! Well done! Brava!!

I completed my ALC in a day, and if you can beat that... definitely try!

Hearts Gambit - a blush if black history swiped across a scarred battlefield imbued with magic!

 I loved this book!! Broadway streaks, magic circus shows and feuding families tethered to destroy each other is a unique Romeo Juliet doomed love perspective.. add in a fated fight to death with a shadowy witch and spying Ravens, it elevates the tension!!

My heartfelt gratitude to St. Martin's Press snd Netgalley for this wonderful opportunity.

J.D.Myall enthralls with the exploration of black history, meandering through key events and cultural gambit that capture the essence and spirit of each age. The Davenports and the Baldwins have been engaged in centuries of clan battles, we with each side losing beloved members, tracing back to an ancient curse by the witch Sabine!

The book boasts of a melt your heart letter exchanges, beautiful dates and wildly and madly dysfunctional families, all helmed by strong matriarchs! The New Orleans vibe is alive throughout the book!

I blazed through it in 2 days time and am a satisfied, culturally immersed and in love with Emma and Malcolm- cannot wait to see more!!!

Here Lie All The Boys Who Broke My Heart - Riotous romcom mystery

 Eeegadd!!! This absolute wreck of a book!! 

Emma Simmerman totes a beautiful line between Good Girls guide to murder meets the suspense of Freda McFadden's Housemaid series in a worthy conclusion that will knock your socks off!!! Think of it as a murderous spoof of To All The Boys I Ever Loved 💀🔪

Consider a messy messy protagonist, a riotous group of college going amigoes who drink themselves to stupor on a regular basis, and oh, a journal of ex-eulogies which is coming true!! Sloane Sawyer never recovered from her rebellious teenage phase, damn the consequences.. being a literature major who had an affair with her professor, a DUI charge and countless other notches in her cap, she hides her infactuation with awes from her friend group to nornalize.. She gallops headfirst into situations and often indulges in alcohol to escape her feelings of guilt. You hate her, but you understand the ease of making stupid decisions and ruing the web they leave in their wake. 

This tale was a whoduunit with sensuous scenes and amazingly apropos Netflix references for the win!! If you are craving a book which feels like a Netflix binge watch but in half the time, pick this up- you won't be disappointed.. 

My sincere thank yous to HarperCollins and Netgalley for providing this opportunity to relish this guilty pleasure!💥💯❤️‍🩹