Category: ARC

ARC, LGBT, mystery, One Star Book, ya

Swipe Right for Murder ARC Review

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On the run from the FBI.
Targeted by a murderous cult.
Labeled a cyber-terrorist by the media.
Irritated texts from his best friend.
Eye contact with a nice-looking guy on the train.
Aidan has a lot to deal with, and he’s not quite sure which takes top priority.

Finding himself alone in a posh New York City hotel room for the night, Aidan does what any red-blooded seventeen-year-old would do—he tries to hook up with someone new. But that lapse in judgement leads to him waking up next to a dead guy, which sparks an epic case of mistaken identity that puts Aidan on the run from everyone—faceless federal agents, his eccentric family, and, naturally, a cyber-terrorist group who will stop at nothing to find him.

He soon realizes the only way to stop the chase is to deliver the object everyone wants, before he gets caught or killed. But for Aidan, the hardest part is knowing who he can trust not to betray him—including himself.

– Goodreads

You guys… this was.. a book.

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

Uhm. It didn’t take me long to read? Thankfully. Cause otherwise… well.

Gah. I just didn’t like this book. There was nothing I liked about it.

What I didn’t like:

Where to start? I almost DNF’d this book, but I didn’t since it was an arc. Maybe it would have been better if I would have.

Like I said, this book didn’t take me long to read at all. However, the story felt very jumbled and it got very confusing at times.

I feel like there was supposed to be some kind of political espionage in there, but it didn’t really make sense. You didn’t know who was good and who was bad, which I think was the point, but I also didn’t care. They all seemed horrible.

There was an attempt at pop culture references. There was a line in there from RuPaul. They called someone Katniss Fuckerdeen. It all just felt forced and silly.

At one point about 75% in, they sacrificed a bunny. In a pool of electric water. I just….. why?! It was sudden, made no sense, and just made my heart hurt. Some of my friends even removed this book from their TBR because of it.

Would I recommend?

No. I can’t. I couldn’t find anything enjoyable, wanted to DNF, and the bunny sacrifice just sealed the deal for me.

Get Swipe Right for Murder here:

| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, Four Star Book, Uncategorized, ya

Spin the Dawn ARC Review

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh

– Goodreads

Spin the Dawn was advertised as Mulan meets Project Runway, and that’s definitely what the beginning of the book was. It was fabulous!

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

I was hooked on Spin the Dawn from the very first page. When I started reading I decided to play that very dangerous game of, oh I’ll read one chapter before bed. So I did. And I didn’t want to stop!

Ask me to spin the finest yarn of thread, and I can do it faster than any man – even with my eyes closed. YEt ask me to tell a lie, and I will stumble and falter to think of one. I have never had a talent for spinning tales.

With a first line like that, how can you not be pulled in?!

Also, I loved Eden. He was my favorite character. He talks about how he’s not a morning person, he loves to read. I mean, book boyfriend, yes? I also liked Maia. She was strong and grew throughout the story. But she couldn’t hold a candle to Eden.

The pace of this novel was good. About 30-ish percent through the competition ends and Maia is set on an impossible quest. Or so they think. The rest of the story is her and Eden gathering items to make a gown with the suns laughter, a gown with the moon’s tears, and a gown with the star’s blood. The quest is eventful, dangerous, and exciting.

What I didn’t like:

There wasn’t anything specific I didn’t like. The plot was good, the pacing was good, I enjoyed the characters. I think it just didn’t hit the mark of the other books I’ve read this month. Just a personal preference thing, I think. I’ll definitely be reading the sequel!

Would I recommend?

I would! This was our first club read this month and I really enjoyed it! I’m looking forward to her future works!

Get Spin the Dawn here:

| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, Five Star Book, Horror, mystery, Romance, ya

House of Salt and Sorrows ARC Review

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Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.

– Goodreads

So, this is probably my first gothic, horror-ish novel and I am here. for. it!

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

“We are born of the Salt, we live by the Salt, and to the Salt we return.”

House of Salt and Sorrows was a great mix of fantasy, mystery, gothic horror, and a little bit of romance thrown in. Now, I am a granny. 9pm? I’m in bed usually asleep. But this book kept me up LATE – and by late I mean 1030pm. I could not put it down! The night I stayed up reading I got up to go to the bathroom and I thought, well, I’m kind of thirsty. I was at a rather creepy part of the book. I looked down the long, dark hallway and thought, nah. I’m ok. I don’t need water. And I got back in bed. No lie. It creeped me out!

The descriptions of this novel brought it to life. I usually have a hard time picturing what I’m reading, but Erin made it so easy! I loved the descriptions of the castle, the dresses, and all the creepy things that I won’t mention because I don’t want to spoil it!

The start was a little slow, but once I hit about 30% I did not want to put this baby down. It was so good!

Two funny things about this novel: first, I think I am being called to make squid ink risotto because it is everywhere in my life. It was on Queer Eye, it was on Master Chef, and now it’s mentioned in this novel! So I think I need to find a recipe. Also, my sister hates names that end in -leigh. Well, the main character is Annaleigh and every time I saw her name I smiled and thought of my sister in law. She said she wouldn’t read it because of the name. I told her she was making a grave mistake.

What I didn’t like:

The only reason this book isn’t getting five stars is because of the pace at the beginning. Maybe I’m just hard to please, but it felt slow. But like I said, after 30% I just wanted to devour it!

Would I recommend?

Yessssss! It was the perfect mix of fantasy, horror, mystery and romance. It had everything you could ever want in a novel. And this is a debut! I’m expecting more great things from Ms. Craig. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Get this novel here!
| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacort for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Until next time…

adult, ARC, Four Star Book, mystery, thriller

The Whisper Man ARC Review

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  • Title: The Whisper Man
  • Author: Alex North
  • Publisher: Celadon Books
  • Publish Date: August 20, 2019
  • Book Form: E-ARC/Physical
  • Pages: 368
  • Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Adult
  • Rating: ★★★★

In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.

After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town. Featherbank.

But the town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed “The Whisper Man,” for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.

Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter’s crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man.

And then Jake begins acting strangely. He hears a whispering at his window…

– Goodreads

Yall. I couldn’t read this book at night. It was scary. And I almost stopped reading it cause it was so terrifying.

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

I love a good thriller, and this novel has moved up to the top of the list! I was lucky enough to receive this arc on Netgalley, then also got one in my mailbox! So when I opened it, it came with all the usual arc stuff, then this CREEPY card. It sang:

“If you leave a door half open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken.
If you play outside alone, soon you won’t be going home.
If your window’s left unlatched, you’ll hear him tapping at the glass.
If you’re lonely, sad and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.”

Yall. I couldn’t listen to the whole card! It was so scary. The book was scary. But it was so good.

The Whisper Man had stories told from multiple POVs – all of which were interesting. I especially liked Jake, the little boy. He was so sweet and I just wanted to hug him. The creepiest, by far, were the three chapters told from the killer’s POV. I still get chills thinking about them.

The Whisper Man was definitely a page turner. I didn’t want to put it down, but also didn’t want nightmares. It left me in quite the conundrum. The chapters were really short. It makes it easier to stop reading at the end of a chapter, but also say, ‘Oh, one more chapter and I’ll do this or that’. Then you end up reading five more.

There was a crazy dynamic between Jake, his dad Tom, and the police officer Pete. It blew. my. mind. I loved it!

Then Chapter 37 blew my mind. Yes, I made a note about this specific chapter because I was so surprised!

What I didn’t like:

Honestly, not much. There was one part where Pete says profiling is bullshit. I mean, to each their own, but I believe I missed my call as a criminal profiler. I took personal offense to this. Ha!

I really liked The Whisper Man. It flowed nicely, I loved the development. Also – I ALMOST caught the killer! I was on the right track! I was v proud of myself.

Would I recommend?

I already have! I told my friend Erin, who is a mystery addict, that she HAS to get this novel when it comes out August 20! I need someone to talk about it with! Also I told my mom she’d have to read it.

If you like mysteries and thrillers please read this! It’s a fun, twisty ride with a great ending! Great debut novel from Alex North! I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Find The Whisper Man Here:
| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble|

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Sci-Fi

Contagion ARC Review

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  • Title: Contagion
  • Author: Teri Terry
  • Publisher: Charlesbridge Teen
  • Publish Date: July 9, 2019
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 416
  • Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Dystopia
  • Rating: ★★★.5

An epidemic is sweeping the country. It spreads fast, mercilessly. Everyone will be infected. . . . It is only a matter of time. You are now under quarantine. 

Young teen Callie might have been one of the first to survive the disease, but unfortunately she didn’t survive the so-called treatment. She was kidnapped and experimented upon at a secret lab, one that works with antimatter. When she breaks free of her prison, she unleashes a wave of destruction. Meanwhile her older brother Kai is looking for her, along with his smart new friend Shay, who was the last to see Callie alive.

Amid the chaos of the spreading epidemic, the teens must find the source of disease. Could Callie have been part of an experiment in biological warfare? Who is behind the research? And more importantly, is there a cure?

– Goodreads

This was a fast paced sci-fi mystery with some medicine elements that I loved!

The attire for most of the book. Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

This was a page turner for sure. The chapters were short, which was also nice. I always like to stop reading at the end of a chapter, so this book made it easy to do that. I loved the medical aspects of the novel. The virus, how it started, how it spread, looking for a cure. As a nurse, I love a book with a good medical backdrop. There was also some suspense! Part 4 had my heart beating out of my chest!

What I didn’t like:

The beginning was hard to get into. Around part 2 it really picked up for me and had me reading quickly. This almost felt like two different novels meshed together – one where the focus was finding the lost girl and one with a killer flu like virus. It all ends up coming together, but the start didn’t mesh well for me. Some of the conversation didn’t flow very naturally. There was also a part about family lineage that I felt like was thrown in only for shock value? Maybe in the second or third book it will be explained. While I liked the medical aspects of the book, at times it was a little too science-y. She started talking about matter, anti-matter, particle accelerators and I was just as lost as could be. I do realize some people could feel this way about the medical aspect though.

All in all, it was a pretty solid read. Not a full four stars because I think it got too science-y and the start was hard to get into.

Thank you to Netgalley and Charlesbridge Teen for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Would I recommend?

I would! I actually included it in this month’s Book Battle recs for multi-pov! It was a good story with a solid start. I can’t wait to read the next books in the series!

Get this novel here:

| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |
| Kobo|

Until next time…

ARC, ya

August TBR!

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Another month, another TBR!

This one is aiming high, I know. Also this month I HAVE to read King of Scars. I’ve put it off too long.

Thanks, giphy! Also, Latrice Royale for life ❤

So, most of these are ARCs that release this month. Wilder Girls and Spin the Dawn have already released, but they are club reads this month and I am super excited to dive in!

Nevernight is an older release. I started it, loved it, not sure why I never finished so definitely doing that this month.

King of Scars I haven’t read because I don’t want to be without a new Leigh book to read. Dumb, I know, but it is what it is. I’m doing it this month though!

Can’t wait to share all my reviews with you! What are you reading this month? Are we reading the same things? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, contemporary, cozy mystery, dystopian, Memoir, ya

July Wrapup!

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July was a bit of a slow month for me. I was on vacation the first week and got a lot read. Then back to work and my baby and I got sick, and well, it all just stopped. But here’s what I read, loved, and hated!

Thanks, giphy!

Sweet Dreams Bake Shop by J.A. Whiting

Review here.

Cute cozy mystery. Three stars. Just isn’t my favorite genre.

Amid Stars and Darkness by Chani Lynn Feener

Review here.

Great start to this space trilogy! It was one of my recommendations for the upcoming Book Battle!

Ice Cream Murder by Leighann Dobbs

Review here.

Another cutsey cozy mystery. A lot of our Book Battle criteria were food themed, so a lot of cozy mysteries this month.

Double Stuffed by Farrah Paige

My least favorite book this month. I didn’t review it. The plot had promise – baker forced to go on a reality baking competition and falls in love with producers. But the language – like meat stick. I just couldn’t.

Between Frost and Fury by Chani Lynn Feener

Great second installment to the Xenith trilogy! I was so glad I already had book 3 – that cliffhanger!

Within Ash and Stardust by Chani Lynn Feener

My first blog tour! See it here!

The reason I binged this whole trilogy this month. I absolutely loved it! Review on the blog tour post.

Final Girls by Riley Sager

Review here.

Such a twisty mystery! I LOVED it! Can’t wait to read more from Mr. Sager.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Review here.

Probably my favorite book I read this month. I want to live in this universe! Ugh this was just such an adorable novel!

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Review here.

This just didn’t live up to the hype for me. If the book was completely podcasts and interviews I think I would have liked it better.

Karamo by Karamo Brown

I love getting to read all the Fab 5’s memoirs! He gave great advice on emotional growth and how to handle problems. My favorite chapter was about the Queer Eye casting process!

Contagion by Teri Terry

Review to come!

I just finished this book today and I loved it! I was graciously provided an ARC. It was a page turner and I want to read book two!

Be sure to check out my August TBR! It’s a doozy!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Five Star Book, LGBT, Romance

Red, White & Royal Blue ARC Review

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  • Title: Red, White & Royal Blue
  • Author: Casey McQuiston
  • Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
  • Publish Date: May 14, 2019
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 423
  • Genre: Romance, Contemporary, LGBT
  • Rating: ★★★★★

A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends…

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.

The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him. 

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you

– Goodreads

I cannot stop gushing over this super-cute, super-adorable, super-lovable novel. It was just super good, okay guys?

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

That gif pretty much describes my feels as I was reading Red, White & Royal Blue. I adored all of the main characters. I cared about all six of them and their backstories. I was rooting for them from the get-go.

There’s just enough political intrigue in this novel to keep it from being just a basic LGBT love story with a backdrop of politics. I loved that it really played on the politics of it. This is set in an alternate universe, I guess is the best way to put it, where we have our first female president and people who are LGBTQ+ are just, like, the norm. It’s not a whole deal. I. Love. It. I kept thinking, can’t I just live in this universe? Can this just please be real?

The love story is amazing. It’s enemies – to friends – to lovers and I was here for it.

What I didn’t like:

Um, was there anything I didn’t like? I honestly can’t think of anything. There were a couple of times I didn’t like actions of characters, but that’s what makes a book good, isn’t it? This novel really was that good.

Would I recommend?

Oh yes. Hell yes. This book is for anyone who loves a good enemies-to-lovers love story or lgbt love stories. The political intrigue was great and kept me on my toes for the ending!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Get this novel here:

| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |
| iBooks | Kobo |

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

BLOG TOUR! Within Ash and Stardust by Chani Lynn Feener

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Guys! It’s my first blog tour and I am so freaking excited! So here I’m going to give you info on Within Ash and Stardust, give my review, and share a give away! Exciting! Let’s jump right in!

Book Details

  • Title: Within Ash and Stardust
  • Author: Chani Lynn Feener
  • Series: Xenith Trilogy #3
  • Publisher: Swoon Reads
  • Publish Date: July 16, 2019
  • Genre: Sci-Fi, YA
  • Rating: ★★★★

Having gone from kidnapped faux princess to the legitimate heir to an intergalactic throne, an impulsive, sarcastic teen must take charge of her own destiny in this epic YA novel.

On Earth, Delaney is a normal teenager who recently graduated high school with a fantastic best friend and a loving boyfriend.

But Delaney isn’t on Earth. She’s on Xenith, a war-torn planet half a galaxy away. Originally mistaken for an alien princess, Delaney has gone from kidnapped imposter to the recognized heir to an alien throne. Oh, and she’s engaged to the prince of an enemy nation whose ruthless father is on the warpath.

Torn between two planets, two fates, and two loves, Delaney is finally ready to choose her own destiny in Within Ash and Stardust, the stunning conclusion to Chani Lynn Feener’s Xenith Trilogy.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Guys. This series was so good. As I’ve said before, I’m not a huge fan of sci-fi, but this was like a back drop of space. Not in your face look at me space which I am so a fan of.

I love the technology elements. I love the political intrigue. I love how I was fearing for Delaney, Trystan, AND Ruckus’ lives! This book was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t wait to see them win against the Rex!

My most favorite part was the love triangle. Of course. So Xenith #1. I was #teamRuckus ALL THE WAY. Like, who was this Trystan guy thinking he’s all hot? Thank u, next. Then I read Xenith #2. Okay, this Trystan guy isn’t soooo bad, but I’m still rooting for my man Ruck. But then the more Trystan does the more I’m like, ok I love him too. How do I choose?! Then Xenith #3. Man oh man. I felt for Delaney cause I would not have wanted to make that decision. I’m not going to tell you who she goes for – that’s the best part! I love how it ended though and my sweet, sappy heart was satisfied.

I would so recommend this series to anyone who loves a good love triangle or a good space setting. It was a great, clean, YA series!

You can find this great novel here:
| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |
| iBooks | Kobo |

Be sure to enter the giveaway hosted by Xpresso Book Tours here!

Chani Lynn Feener has wanted to be a writer since the age of ten during fifth grade story time. She majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont, and graduated in 2012. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. Chani is also the author of teen paranormal series, the Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut, but lives on Goodreads.com.

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

Amid Stars and Darkness ARC Review

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  • Title: Amid Stars and Darkness
  • Author: Chani Lynn Feener
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 368
  • Publisher: Swoon Reads
  • Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Romance
  • Rating: ★★★★

Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage.

Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.

No pressure or anything.

Factor in Trystan, the princess’s terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets, and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.

Get lost Amid Stars and Darkness, in this YA sci-fi romance from debut author Chani Lynn Feener.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Here’s a little backstory about why I’m reading this series this month. I signed up for a Blog Tour for Within Ash and Stardust on Xpresso Book Tours. I was living for the cover so I knew I had to sign up. I have learned – do your research! That’s the 3rd book in this series. Thankfully they also sent e-arcs of the first two. Man, I am so glad they did. I loved this book!

It’s a typical case of mistaken identity. Only Delaney gets kidnapped by aliens and taken to their home planet. Come to find out, it wasn’t just mistaken identity. There’s some gadgets that come into play, and now Delaney looks exactly like the alien princess! Delaney falls for her body guard. He falls for her. Only she has to pretend to like her fiance – the alien prince Trystan.

I’m usually iffy on sci-fi books. I love all of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s stuff. This was similar in the fact that yes, you’re dealing with aliens and spaceships and other worlds, but it doesn’t scream SPACE. I don’t like books where space is just shoved in your face. This focused more on Delaney trying to fool everyone into thinking she was the princess. Space was just the backdrop, which is exactly how I like it.

The romance was slow-burn, which I enjoy. I’m not a huge fan of insta-love. Trystan was the ‘bad guy’, but is he really so bad? Is he acting? Will he turn good? I love when you kind of feel for the bad guys. Also, I know there’s a lot of #teamTrystan out there! Right now I’m #teamRukus, but we will see if that changes with book two!

The ending had a cliffhanger, and I was so glad I already had book two! It would have been torture if I had to wait for it to come out!

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a love triangle, sci-fi, and political intrigue! I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to start book two!

Until next time..