Isela Vogel has the power to attract the favor of the gods for anyone who can pay her fee but struggles to hide the degenerative hip condition that will end her career. Then she’s offered a job that will set her and her family up for life. Though her prospective patron is a formidable necromancer with a heated and infuriating gaze, she can hardly refuse the payday.

The Allegiance of Necromancers is powerful but not omnipotent, and when someone starts murdering his kind, Azrael must enlist a human in order to track down the killer. But why does she have to be so frustratingly stubborn–and intriguing? Azrael can make the dead walk, but he can’t make the very much alive Isela toe any line. 

Isela is thrown into a world of supernatural creatures–demons after dark, witches in the shadows, shifters running wild in city parks–where the grace of gods can truly infuse the blood of the most mortal-seeming dancer. As the danger increases with each thrilling discovery, trusting Azrael may be the only way to survive a conspiracy to destroy the fragile peace of a broken world. 

But the greatest threat is their growing attraction. Dancers and necromancers don’t mix for a reason–it turns out there are fates worse than death. 

I absolutely adored this, something completely different and couldn’t put it down. I loved Isela and Azrael. Isela was the amazing rarest of things in good fantasy, a strong female lead who didn’t lose her strength, didn’t back down and kept true to herself, even after meeting a male she loved ! Cannot wait to read the sequel.  Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest review

Liang Anlei wants a life of glory and revenge

As a warrior who protects her village from shadow spirits, Anlei has never been beyond the borders of her town. All of that changes the day the viceroy and his fleet of mechanical dragons arrives. It’s the protection her village is desperate for, but it will only be given in exchange for Anlei’s hand in marriage. Torn between wanting to protect her village and her own freedom, Anlei is forced to make a sacrifice. 

The day before her wedding, she encounters Tai, a young thief who is also trying to save his people. Tempted by his quest and the thrill of glory it promises, the two embark on an epic journey to the Courts of Hell to discover where the shadow spirits come from. But the secret of their existence isn’t so easily solved. 

Amid dark experiments and battles on magic-fueled airships, Anlei must summon the courage to be the hero; to live the life she has always dreamed of.

I was lucky enough to get a free copy of this to review from netgalley and the publisher, provided for an honest review. Well I can honestly say I 100% loved this. It’s a fabulous read. I have a soft spot for Asian stories, and I love so many more are available now. This is one of my favourite I’ve read in a long time. The characters are well written, very empathetic and likeable. I loved Tai so much, that kind of irritating charm we all love. Anlei is a great MC strong but human. You will love this book trust me . It’s full of everything you could want steampunk, dragons, action and magic. Highly recommended and you should definitely check this out.

In a sealed-off city, it begins with a hunt. A young woman, Lena, running for her life, convicted of being a mage and sentenced to death. Her only way to survive is to trust those she has been brought up to fear – those with magic.

On the other side of the locked gates is a masked lady, Constance, determined to find a way back in. She knows only too well how the people of Duke’s Forest loathe magic. Years ago she escaped before her powers were discovered. But now she won’t hide who she is any longer.

A powerful and terrifying storm cloud unites them. It descends over the dukedom and devastates much in its wake. But this is more than a thunderstorm. This is a spell, and the truth behind why it has been cast is more sinister than anyone can imagine … Only Lena and Constance hold the key to destroying the spell. Though neither of them realise it, they need each other. They are the blood and they have the thunder within

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this from netgalley and it is amazing , one of my favourite reads so far this year.

I loved this, it was a bit slow in the middle but not enough for me to drop any stars. I loved Lena so much, she is a wonderful MC and so interesting and so human. Emris I adored too, this took twists and turns I didn’t see coming and was original and creative. A must read and up there with my favourite read of the year so far. Amazing 

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

• 

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead of moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight. 

I loved this book so much, the writing is wonderful. You don’t want to put the book down. The relationship with Nadim and Zara is brilliant. Zara is amazing such a kick ass strong character. I don’t mean strong in the sense she’s unbeatable, but strong in the real sense she’s survived so much and doesn’t give up. This book is well worth reading, you should pick it up now ! Straight onto Honor Bound for me ! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0722MH4X8/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738

By Jessica Thorne

I was lucky enough to get an Arc of this and it’s predecessor from netgalley (The Queen’s Wing). They are both wonderful books, great reads for YA fantasy, light, great humour and well thought plots. The first book I found far more interesting than the second, but they are both entertaining and fun.( See earlier post )

Jessica Thorne

Bel would do anything to spend her days alongside her best friend and childhood sweetheart Shae – training in the art of Vairian combat, hoping to some day live up to the legacy left by the mother she lost as a child. 

But when a mysterious and deadly attack on the capital lands Bel’s father unexpectedly on the throne, her life is forever changed. In order to secure her father’s new empire, Bel is forced to travel to the distant land of Anthaeus to marry its recently widowed ruler, Conleith. 

For any other young woman the chance to become royalty would be a dream come true, but for Bel, the rigidity of court life is like a prison sentence. And while Conleith is an unexpectedly intriguing – and attractive – puzzle… could she ever love him when it would mean turning her back on her feelings for Shae, her first love and last connection to home? 

Then a brutal assassination attempt nearly takes her life, and Bel learns that there’s more on the line than just her happiness. Is it the same faceless enemy who attacked her homeland and, with dangers around every corner, who in the palace can she trust? 

I loved this so much, from page one I was hooked. I loved Bel so much, at the beginning when she gave into demands and didn’t fight back I didn’t think it sat well with her character but she holds her own and fights in her own way, feisty and stubborn I loved her. Love triangle wasn’t too bad at all as it sorts itself out and isn’t too drawn out like some stories, I loved Shae so much (sigh no spoilers) !!! Cannot wait for the sequel.

I got a free ARC from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review