Stonefire Dragons Universe Book 1: Winning Skyhunter by Jessie Donovan

Stonefire Dragons Universe Book 1

For more than a decade, Clan Skyhunter suffered under a cruel, power-hungry leader who did anything to advance his agenda. He was finally caught in an illegal scandal and sent to prison, and now the dragon-shifter clan in the south of England is ready for a new leader. And so the trials begin…

Asher King had been locked away under the former clan leader for speaking out against his cruelty. Now free, he wants to win the leadership and lead his clan to a better future. However, being the nephew of the old leader isn't easy, and if that wasn't enough to overcome, he's still recovering from the torture he endured while imprisoned. Still, he's determined to win and keep his clan from being disbanded by the humans, even if it means competing against his old teenage girlfriend and denying how much he still wants her.

Newly returned from her stay in America, Honoria Wakeham puts herself up as a candidate to be clan leader. Not everyone approves of a female candidate, but that doesn't faze her. The old clan leader killed her parents and in order to fully heal, she wants to bring the clan together and implement her plans to bring them into the twenty-first century. What she didn't count on was running into Asher King, the male she loved over a decade ago, before she'd been sent to stay with relatives in America for her safety.

It doesn't take long for Asher and Honoria to give in to their attraction, but from it springs an idea that may be the best of all. Can they win the leadership trials and keep their clan together? Or, will one of the other candidates win and try to keep Skyhunter in the past?

NOTE: Full-length story with a happy ending. While can be read as a standalone, cameos by characters from Stonefire Dragons and Lochguard Highland Dragons mean those who've read the other series will find it more enjoyable.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43514136-winning-skyhunter

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Back in the dragon-shifter world and I am loving it! In the previous books and series, Stonefire and Lochguard, we heard a good amount about the Skyhunter clan. For a good while it was ruled by a tyrant until finally he is gone. Now, Skyhunter is in need of leadership. And that leadership could not be better than Asher and Honoria. Asher was the nephew of the awful leader and has spent the last 5 years imprisoned because he spoke out against his uncle. After 6 months of being released, he is determined to help his clan. Honoria was sent away just before the clan was abused by the last year. Now, she has returned home to help them. While in their teens Asher and Honoria were a couple, until she was sent away. Now that they are home, neither can deny the spark between. And they realize that together they can bring change and hope back to Skyhunter. Clans typically don't have two leaders, but they both know that leading together will only bring good things. They compete in the trials together and while they find a way to lead their clan together, they also desire to be partners in every sense of the word. I loved both of these characters and I loved seeing some familiar faces. Great addition to this dragon-shifter world!

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller

How do you kill a god?

As her father's chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: to win back her honour, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43446574-warrior-of-the-wild

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Another fantastic book by Tricia Levenseller! I love her writing and her stories. Strong female warrior characters, a plot so interesting with twists and turns, a romance that makes you swoon, and always an ending that makes you wish there was more! I really loved her latest novel Warrior of the Wild. In this story, our main character Rasmira finds her self banished after her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged by someone she thought she could trust. The only way she can return home and restore her honor is to complete the task set by the elders. And her challenge? The most impossible one: kill a god. More specifically that god that has been terrorizing the villages for decades. She keeps her head held high as she enters the wild despite her heart feeling torn to pieces by her family and who she once called friend. The only thing that keeps her going is her promise to her sister that she would try to return home. She wouldn't quit. She would try. She has trained to be a warrior for ten years, it was time she showed everyone what she could do. But she isn't alone. She finds two others who were banished a year earlier from their villages. Soren and Iric have their own stories and when Rasmira saves Soren, he feels he owes her a life debt. He'll look after her, despite her telling him to get lost. But the more the three spend time together, the closer they become, and soon Rasmira realizes that together they may be able to complete their impossible quests. Th development of their friendship is great. And the slow building romance between Rasmira and Soren as she learns to trust again is so sweet and real. Together, they all realize that they can go home and bring change to their homes. A really great story overall. It has a little bit of everything. If you liked Levenseller's previous works, this one will not disappoint. A satisfying story with a satisfying ending. I couldn't put it down!

DC Icons Book 4: Superman: Dawnbreaker by Matt de la Peña

DC Icons Book 4

When the dawn breaks, a hero rises.

His power is beyond imagining.

Clark Kent has always been faster, stronger--better--than everyone around him. But he wasn't raised to show off, and drawing attention to himself could be dangerous. Plus, it's not like he's earned his powers . . . yet.

But power comes with a price.

Lately it's difficult to hold back and keep his heroics in the shadows. When Clark follows the sound of a girl crying, he comes across Gloria Alvarez and discovers a dark secret lurking in Smallville. Turns out, Clark's not the only one hiding something. Teaming up with his best friend, Lana Lang, he throws himself into the pursuit of the truth. What evil lies below the surface of his small town? And what will it cost Clark to learn about his past as he steps into the light to become the future Man of Steel? Because before he can save the world, he must save Smallville.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29749094-superman

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Another great edition to the DC Icons series, it's finally Superman's turn. And Matt de la Peña does an excellent job of Superman's origin story. With new twists and turns, familiar faces, and a story that really brings justice to who Clark Kent. In this book, Clark is struggling to control his abilities. He realized early that he was stronger than faster than those around him, but now he is discovering some new powers, which leaves him with some questions. Like who is he? Why does he have this abilities? His parents are keeping something from him and he realizes that it may be time to find some answers. Meanwhile, people are disappearing in Smallville. He teams up with his best friend Lana and some new friends to find out what's really going on in their small town. Action, plot twists, and birth of a hero, Superman Dawnbreaker has it all. It really was a great portrayal of a young Superman finding his way. 

Last of Her Name by Jessie Khoury

Sixteen years ago, rebellion swept the galaxy known as the Belt of Jewels. Every member of the royal family was murdered--down to their youngest child, Princess Anya--and the Union government rose in its place. But Stacia doesn't think much about politics. She spends her days half-wild, rambling her father's vineyard with her closest friends, Clio and Pol.

That all changes the day a Union ship appears in town, carrying the leader of the Belt himself, the Direktor Eminent. The Direktor claims that Princess Anya is alive, and that Stacia's sleepy village is a den of empire loyalists, intent on hiding her. When Stacia is identified as the lost princess, her provincial home explodes into a nightmare.

Pol smuggles her away to a hidden escape ship in the chaos, leaving Clio in the hands of the Union. With everything she knows threading away into stars, Stacia sets her heart on a single mission. She will find and rescue Clio, even with the whole galaxy on her trail.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39983511-last-of-her-name

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

An Anastasia retelling but in space! Last of Her Name was another great book by Jessica Khoury. She takes the story of Anastasia and makes it her own. The science fiction element takes the story to a new level. Even the Romanov curse plays a part in the story, but again there is a special twist to it that you don't see coming until it's right in front of you. When a Union ship appears in town, Stacia learns the truth about herself. One she didn't even realize was a possibility. Her parents aren't her parents. She is the lost princess Anya of the Lenovs. In the chaos the Direktor brings to her town, one f her closest friends, Pol smuggles her off the planet. But when they left, Stacia left behind her best friend, Clio. She won't abandon her friend. Along the way they make some unlikely friends and learn that Stacia is the key to something much bigger than they could have imagined. Adventure, space travel, and lots of twists and turns,  Last of Her Name is definitely worth checking out!

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen

Dark Shores Book 1

A PIRATE WITH A WILL OF IRON

Teriana is the second mate of the Quincense, a ship beholden to the Goddess of the Seas. Her people are born of the waves, and they alone know how to cross the impassable oceans between East and West. 

A SOLDIER WITH A SECRET

Marcus is the commander of the Thirty-Seventh, the notorious legion that has led the Celendor Empire to conquer the entire East. The legion is his only family, and even they don't know the secret he's been hiding since childhood.

A DANGEROUS QUEST

When a power-hungry ruler captures Teriana's crew and threatens to reveal Marcus's secret unless they help him conquer the unknown West, the two are forced into an unlikely–and unwilling– alliance. They unite for the sake of their families, but both must decide how far they are willing to go, and how much they are willing to sacrifice.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41555964-dark-shores

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

I really love Danielle L. Jensen's writing. I remember when I picked up Stolen Songbird and I was so surprised by how much I loved it. So when she announced she was writing a book that was inspired by Roman culture and had pirates! I was super excited. So I will admit that this book started off a bit slow for me. There was a lot of information and the action wasn't picking up as much as I wanted it to. However, I stuck with it. Because I had a gut feeling it would get better. And I'm happy to say it did! The story is told between Teriana and Marcus. Both are forced into this unlikely and unwilling alliance. And though Teriana knows Marcus is her enemy, in the end he will always be her enemy, the pull she feels toward him is hard to ignore. Meanwhile, Marcus is pulled to Teriana in the same way. He built walls inside him because he knew the dangers of caring for someone. Yet, Teriana threatens to tear those walls down every moment she is with him. Thrown into a situation neither want, Teriana is forced to reveal the West, the Dark Shores. She is betraying her people in the process but she is doing to protect her crew who are her family. But the more these two enemies spend time together, they start seeing one another for who they are. Action, romance, and lots of twists and turns, Dark Shores keeps you on your toes. And not to mention some great characters. Can't wait to read the second book!

I received an ARC for an honest review.

The Harbinger Series Book 1: Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Harbinger Series Book 1

From the #1 New York Times, USA TODAY and internationally bestselling author of the fantastical Dark Elements and the Lux series comes a new novel set in a world of gargoyle protectors, rising demons and one girl with an explosive secret. 

Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40291564-storm-and-fury

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Freaking amazing!! Like wow!! Storm and Fury is the beginning of a sequel series of the Dark Elements series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. It was so much fun revisiting this world she created. We had a ton of familiar faces, like Layla, Roth, and of course, Zayne who is one of the main focuses of this book. Our heroine is a new one and she is Trinity. Trinity is an awesome character. A total bad ass like Layla and very unique in the world of Wardens and demons. I loved the introduction to what I think will be a really great series. And what was even cooler was that Armentrout based an important part of Trinity off herself. Showing that you may be born with something but that doesn't mean it will stop you from living your life to the best it can be. It was really moving. So this story, like I said was pretty cool. We are back in the world of gargoyles and demons and Trinity is something unique to them all. Which I will not say because spoilers! This book takes place about seven months after The Dark Elements books ended and there is something out in the world killing both demons and gargoyles. When Trinity's home is attacked and her friend taken, she is determined to find him. Zayne was visiting Trinity's clan, when her friend was taken. There is an instant spark between the Zayne and Trinity, a pull between them that is stronger than they have ever felt before. And though Zayne is still trying to work through everything from the previous series, even he can't deny the pull he feels toward Trinity. They work together to find out what happened to Trinity's friend and recruit some old friends to help them along the way. Action, romance, and plot twists that you honestly do not see coming, this book was just...wow! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one. If you haven't read the series before this one, definitely do! You'll understand the world and all the characters a lot better. Great, great book!

I received an ARC for an honest review. 

Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige

From Danielle Paige, the New York Times best-selling author of Stealing Snow, comes a Mera and Aquaman origin story that explores Mera's first steps on land as well as her first steps as a hero or a villain, forcing her to choose to follow her heart or her mission to kill.

Mera is teenage royalty, heir to the throne of Xebel, the other not-so-lost colony under the sea. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown, that of Atlantis. When the inhabitants of Xebel plot to overthrow their homeland of Atlantis, Mera is sent to kill the heir to the throne, Arthur Curry. As the unrest between their colonies grows, Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love...will Arthur Curry be the king at Mera's side in Atlantis, or will he die under her blade?

Mera by Danielle Paige is an astonishing story that explores themes of duty, love, heroism and freedom, all through the eyes of readers' favorite undersea royalty.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38452566-mera

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My Review: 3/5 Stars

A graphic novel that gives us a new origin story for Mera and Aquaman. Mera: Tidebreaker follows Mera as she struggles to prove that she is more than a princess. She is a warrior and she is the future of Xebel, despite those who do not believe she can be queen. After overhearing her father's plan to send another to kill the heir of Atlantis and if he succeeds he will be the heir of Xebel, Mera decides that she won't let anyone steal her birthright. She leaves home to find Arthur Curry. But she soon realizes that there is more Arthur Curry than she believed. He is innocent and has no idea what his birthright is. And soon she is falling hard. It was fun to read but I will say I wish there was more to it. 

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

After an awkward first encounter, Birdie and Daniel are forced to work together in a Seattle hotel where a famous author leads a mysterious and secluded life in this romantic contemporary novel from the author of Alex, Approximately.

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36511805-serious-moonlight

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I love Jenn Bennett's stories. They are always so good and rich and have the best characters. All her characters have such personalities and back stories. None of them are perfect and they are all so unique. Serious Moonlight is just another great addition to her young adult contemporary romance books. I absolutely adored Birdie and Daniel. Birdie loves mysteries and when Daniel presents her one at her new job she can't resist. The only problem? Daniel and her already met and she left things pretty awkward between them. But, like Daniel says, "fate finds a way." They take a leap of faith and pursue the mystery while they find themselves becoming friends and then falling in love. Their romance is sweet and awkward and adorable. But what I love about both of them most are their pasts and who they are. Neither are perfect. They have their secrets and fears and we get to see them lower their defenses and open up to one another as they try to move forward. Really loved this book. If you loved her other books, then this one will not disappoint. Jenn Bennett's writing is fantastic and I always find myself picking the book up and not putting it back down until I'm finished. 

I received an ARC for an honest review. 

Shatter Me Series Book 4.5: Shadow Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me Series Book 4.5

Fan favorite character Kenji Kishimoto narrates this gripping companion novella to Tahereh Mafi’s New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, set during the explosive events in Restore Me!

Juliette is still reeling from Warner's betrayal, and Kenji is trying to balance his friendship with her with his responsibilities as a leader of the resistance against the Reestablishment. Things get even more interesting when an unexpected person from Omega Point’s past surfaces.

The ending of Restore Me left readers gasping, and this novella full of Kenji’s signature sass and big heart is the perfect story to tide fans over until Defy Me, the shocking fifth book in the Shatter Me series, hits shelves in April 2019.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40863452-shadow-me

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

This was the perfect novella to hold you over before Defy Me comes out next month. Yet at the same time, it reminds me how anxious I truly am about Defy Me. Loved this short novella from the Shatter Me series. Kenji is one of my favorite characters and it was awesome to finally get his point of view. This picks up a little before the end of Restore Me right up to when that book ends. We get to a really nice inside look of who Kenji is. We see one thing in others' points of views, but there is so much more to Kenji than we realize. Made me love the guy more. If you like Kenji this story is perfect for you and there was a lot revealed that hints that there is quite the amount of things coming in Defy Me. Can't wait!