fantasy – Page 2 – Mithah Reads

adult, contemporary, fantasy, Romance, ya

📚 Down the TBR Part 16! 📚

March 22, 2020March 22, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Happy Sunday guys! I hope we are all social distancing and staying healthy!

I had planned to do a couple bonus posts last week, but work was crazy, I was tired, and it just didn’t happen. So today we will tackle the next 20 books from July 15, 2015.

We are starting at 1854, two more than last week. Not as bad as I thought! Let’s dive right in!

✔ What I Kept ✔

Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally

I feel like this is a classic and I’m not sure how I didn’t read it in school.

Day of the Dragon by Richard A. Knaak

I played WoW for so many years. I’d love to give the books a chance and learn more lore.

A Rose for Her Grave by Ann Rule

Ann, my queen. I love her and her true crime.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

I’m a sucker for historical fiction set in Paris. I gotta have it!

A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris

Book 2 in the series. It’ll stay if I like book 1!

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

I swear I’ve read this before, but I don’t really remember. Plus, it’s part of a series and I know I didn’t read the others.

You’ve Been Warned by James Patterson

I’ve never read a Patterson book before. This sounds interesting so I think I’ll give it a try!

The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie

I love Hugh Laurie. Love. It’s only right that I read his book.

Hot Number by Carly Phillips

Doesn’t look like a book I’d normally read, but I can get behind a sporty romance. This is also book #2, so I added book #1

✘ What I Deleted ✘

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down by Neta Jackson

I’ve deleted the rest of the series that was on my tbr. Just not the chick lit for me.

Gone by Lisa McMann

This is book 3 in a series. I read the synopsis for book 1 and it didn’t seem like something I would enjoy.

One Door Away from Heaven by Dean Koontz

I’m not a huge horror reader, and the synopsis didn’t grab me.

Damaged by Cathy Glass

I probably could have read this earlier in life. But I just can’t really read child abuse stories anymore – especially if they are true. It breaks my heart.

Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

It’s Nicholas Sparks. Need I say more?

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult

Another child abuse story. I just can’t.

The Covenant by Beverly Lewis

Another Amish fic.

The Betrayl by Beverly Lewis

Book two to The Covenant

Demon Seed by Dean Koontz

Another horror that I just don’t think I’d be a fan of.

The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

Honestly, this seems like a movie I’d watch, but I don’t think I’d enjoy reading it.

Jake, Reinvented by Gordon Korman

A Great Gatsby retelling. It didn’t pique my interest.

Okay, I deleted 11, so that brings my tbr to 1844 since I added 1. I’m pretty happy with my results this week!

Did I make any mistakes? Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, Erotica, Historical Fiction, mystery, Sci-Fi, ya

Down the TBR Part 15

March 15, 2020March 14, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

This book meme is currently active over at Zezee with Books. Here’s what you do:

“A meme where we decide whether to keep or remove books on our TBR. The rules: Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf. Order on ascending date added. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books. Read the synopses of the books. Decide: keep it or should it go?”

I’ve started doing this a little different. Same concept, but to cover more ground I’m going through one day at a time. Today we’ll examine all the books I added on July 15, 2015.

….Oof. Maybe not. So, I started getting all the books in a tab and it just kept going and going. Guys. I added 156 books that day! Whaaaat. That’s too many for one post. Cause I wouldn’t even want to read that. Let’s divide this up into a few posts. I’ll do 20 books this post, which is still kind of a lot, but I need to clear out this day! What was I thinking or doing? Lord.

Okay, so we’re starting at 1867. I’ve added a lot of arcs and books I found on other blogs. But maybe we can cut that number down!

✔ What I Kept ✔

✔ Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

I have almost picked this book up many times. I need to get to it soon!

✔ Creation in Death by JD Robb

This is #25 in the series, but it sounds so good. Do I need to read these in order? Can I commit to a 25+ book series?!

✔ Salvation in Death by JD Robb

This one sounds good too! Please let me know if I need to read these in order.

✔ The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day

I love a good historical romance. This one sounds great!

✔ Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

I love Charlaine, and I love a good cozy mystery.

✘ What I Deleted ✘

✘ Night Terror by John Passarella

I’m gonna get flack for this, I know. But I’m just not that into Supernatural anymore? Sorry, fandom!

✘ Before Sunrise by Diana Palmer

Just seems like typical chick-lit love story. Nothing jumps out at me.

✘ The Final Kill by Meg O’Brien

This one started off sounding great, but then it kind of turned into a political thriller so it kind of lost me.

✘ Free Spirit by Fern Michaels

Another chick-lit that isn’t sparking my interest.

✘ Wish List by Fern Michaels

Another chick lit. Honestly, these seem like something my grandma would read, which isn’t bad. We just don’t have the same taste.

✘ Dear Emily by Fern Michaels

Same as above.

✘ The Vampire Diaries books 1 & 2

I loved the tv show. The books? Not so much. One of the rare instances where TV was better than the original. I DNF’d book 1.

✘ The Vampire Diaries books 3 & 4

I couldn’t get through the first two soo…

✘ Irish Trilogy Collection by Nora Roberts

They all just seem typical love stories. Nothing sticks out at me.

✘ Birthright by Nora Roberts

It just sounded… eh.

✘ Born in.. Series by Nora Roberts

These all take place in Ireland, which is cool, but they’re all just romances. I usually need a little more than just a typical romance.

✘ Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts

Like the ones before, I guess. This sounded like it had more action, but it still didn’t really catch my attention.

✘ The Dark City by Catherine Fisher

This is a YA series, but I’m just not really into secret relics and like, kind of historical science fiction? It’s kind of hard to explain, I just know this isn’t for me.

Horde by Ann Aguirre

Number 3 in the series, but the synopsis of the first didn’t really sound great.

Sara’s Song by Fern Michaels

This has a doctor MC, which is usually an automatic keep, but its just a weird love triangle. Which usually I like, but this one seems super weird.

So, here’s where we stand. I am ending the TBR at 1852. I deleted 15/20, so that’s not bad! I’m excited to do my next post! From what I have just glanced at, I’ll be deleting a lot from this day.

What do you think about what I kept and deleted? Did I make any mistakes? Do I have to read the JD Robb series in order? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, fantasy, ya

Stacking the Shelves!

March 14, 2020March 13, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

So it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve done this post! With the way the Saturdays fell I did my wrap up for February and my top 5 March releases.

Since February 22, I have been approved for 15 ARCs. Wow, I didn’t realize it was that many. Today I’ll show you the 6 I am currently most excited for!

Stacking the Shelves meme is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. Here’s how it works:

“Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!”

Admission by Julie Buxbaum

“From the New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things comes an of-the-moment novel that peeks inside the private lives of the hypercompetitive and the hyperprivileged and takes on the college admissions bribery scandal that rocked the country.“

The college bribery was so interesting to me. I cannot wait to read this novel!

Release date: May 5, 2020

We are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian

“A toxic coach finds himself outplayed by the high school girls on his team in this deeply suspenseful novel, which unspools over twenty-four hours through six diverse perspectives.“

I am reading this after I finish All the Stars and Teeth (hopefully this weekend!) I CANNOT WAIT

Release date: March 31, 2020

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

“A desperate orphan turned pirate and a rebellious imperial daughter find a connection on the high seas in a world divided by colonialism and threaded with magic.“

Magic and pirates. I didn’t think I liked pirate books, but I’ve been real into them recently.

Release date: May 5, 2020

Spindle and Dagger by J. Anderson Coats

“This rich literary novel follows Elen, who must live a precarious lie in order to survive among the medieval Welsh warband that killed her family.“

I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel set in Wales, so I’m excited about that. It sounds like a super interesting read!

Release date: March 10, 2020

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

“Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.“

This cover is gorgeous. It sounds amazing. I can’t wait! Thanks Steph for getting this one for me!

Release date: May 26, 2020

The Ballad of Ami Miles

“Raised in isolation at Heavenly Shepherd, her family’s trailer-dealership-turned-survival compound, Ami Miles knows that she was lucky to be born into a place of safety after the old world ended and the chaos began. But when her grandfather arranges a marriage to a cold-eyed stranger, she realizes that her “destiny” as one of the few females capable of still bearing children isn’t something she’s ready to face.“

This sounds so good. I love cult-y stories. I can’t wait to dive in!

Release date: May 26, 2020

So these are all releasing this month or May.. ha! I will definitely get to We Are the Wildcats this month, and maybe even Spindle and Dagger.

Are any of these on your radar? What are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

fantasy, Romance, ya

⚓ First Impression Friday ⚓

March 13, 2020March 12, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Normally when I do First Impression Friday, I read the first chapter and review it, give my thoughts and predictions. Yeah. That did not happen. I started and I.couldn’t.stop. I’m on chapter 6 now.

Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice.
She will reign.
As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.
When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.
But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.
I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
-Goodreads

So, like I said, when I started this book I couldn’t stop. I’m usually not super into pirates and sea adventures, but this cover was gorgeous so I knew I had to try. I’m so glad I did.

It starts out with lying, people disguised as others, and magic that goes awry. Plus there’s so many different kinds of magic and rules. It’s so interesting!

I was immediately drawn to Amora. She just seemed so likeable and a heroine I can root for. I’m already shipping her and the love interest! Ahhhh!

I think this will be a 4-5 star read. Too soon to tell, but I know it’ll be a great fantasy!

Plus: we are discussing this book over at Words & Whimsy! Join us here!

Have you read All The Stars and Teeth? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, Romance, ya

🗡️ The Queen’s Assassin ARC Review 🗡️

March 12, 2020March 22, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🗡️ Title: The Queen’s Assassin
🗡️ Author: Melissa de la Cruz
🗡️ Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
🗡️ Publish Date: Feb 4, 2020
🗡️ Book Form: Physical ARC
🗡️ Pages: 384
🗡️ Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance
🗡️ Dates Read: Mar 7 – Mar 11
🗡️ Rating: 🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️

Thank you to GP Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Red Queen, this is the first novel in a sweeping YA fantasy-romance duet about a deadly assassin, his mysterious apprentice, and the country they are sworn to protect from #1 NYT bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.
Caledon Holt is the kingdom’s deadliest weapon. No one alive can best him in speed, strength, or brains, which is why he’s the Hearthstone Guild’s most dangerous member. Cal is also the Queen’s Assassin, bound to her by magic and unable to leave her service until the task she’s set for him is fulfilled.
Shadow of the Honey Glade has been training all her life to join the Guild, hoping that one day she’ll become an assassin as feared and revered as Cal. But Shadow’s mother and aunts expect her to serve the crown as a lady of the Renovian Court.
When a surprise attack brings Shadow and Cal together, they’re forced to team up as assassin and apprentice. Even though Shadow’s life belongs to the court and Cal’s belongs to the queen, they cannot deny their attraction to each other. But now, with war on the horizon and true love at risk, Shadow and Cal will uncover a shocking web of lies that will change their paths forever.
– Goodreads

I received a beautiful arc of this in the mail and could not wait to dive in. We all know how much I love assassins. This book was good, but there was not enough assassin action for me!

The Queen’s Assassin is told from two POV’s – Shadow and Cal. Cal is the Queen’s Assassin. He saved Shadow’s life one day. As she ran to tell the Queen of his heroics, he was put into jail. Shadow knew she had to rescue him, along with convincing him to let her be his apprentice.

Cal agrees begrudgingly. Then, friendship forms. And also love, because why wouldn’t it?

I loved the growth of the relationship between Cal and Shadow. I was rooting for them the whole time. I mean, what ya fantasy couple do I not root for? I was so glad when feelings started forming. I wish there would have been more romance, but I liked the slow burn, will-they-won’t-they. I feel like there will be plenty of room for romance in book two!

The mystery of who was trying to kill the princess was great. I didn’t guess who the villain was. I loved all the espionage they had to go through to get to the answers.

My only complaint was for a book with assassin in the title, there wasn’t a lot of killing. Does that sound morbid? Probably. But if there’s assassin the title, I want assassin work! Hopefully there will be more of that in book two as well.

If you love ya fantasy, assassins, and slow burn romance, this book is definitely for you!

Is The Queen’s Assassin on your tbr? Have you read it? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, fantasy, review, two star book, ya

Lovestruck ARC Review

March 5, 2020March 3, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🏹 Title: Lovestruck
🏹 Author: Kate Watson
🏹 Publisher: Flux
🏹 Publish Date: April 2, 2019
🏹 Book Form: E-ARC
🏹 Pages: 350
🏹 Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Mythology
🏹 Dates Read: Feb 28 – Mar 3
🏹 Rating: 🏹🏹

Sixteen-year-old cupid-in-training Kali is in an Olympus-sized mountain of trouble. Rule number one in arrow-toting matchmaking: don’t stick yourself. But accidents happen, and Kali instantly falls hard for her indie rock, bass-playing target, Benicio.
The God of Love is going to kill her. Even if he is her dad.
Being the daughter of Eros isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. For one thing, a girl can get jaded when her parents have the most beautiful and fatalistic love story in history. For another, immortality royally sucks when the Oracle condemns you to eternity in the wrong profession. Do the Gods care that Kali wants to ditch the love stuff and be a muse?
Nope.
To reclaim her heart and her destiny, Kali is left with no choice but to defy the Gods, tempt the Fates, date the mortal love-of-her-life, and hope she doesn’t lose her best friend, Hector, in the process.
– Goodreads

So many conflicting emotions about Lovestruck. I wanted to like this book. I loved the premise. It just fell really flat for me.

Kali is basically Cupid. She is tasked with making love matches. She has been studying her mark for weeks. The time has come. She about to shoot him, when suddenly she sticks herself with her arrow. Now she is matched with Ben. Since Kali is immortal, it cannot be reversed. Kali must now go on a quest with the help of her god and goddess friends to find a way to reverse what has happened.

Everyone in this novel was SO DANG DRAMATIC. Like, think of the most dramatic individual you know. Times it by 10 (yes, I promise) and those are the characters. Hector accidentally stuck himself while looking at Kali. Now he is matched with her. She dated him for a while, loved it, but then broke up with him. Yet, when she sees him with another girl, she flips out! You’re the one that left him, honey. You’re to blame.

Ben, Kali’s mark-turned-boyfriend, is emo. But not in the cute, early 2000s emo way. No. If she even mentions Hector, he starts brooding and turning super angsty. I couldn’t with him. He would be so mean to Kali, and she’d just write it off like it was nothing. She just loved that he called her his muse and she inspired his music. I wanted them both to jump off a cliff.

The only characters I liked were Tony and Artmetis. They actually seemed like the genuinely liked each other. I was rooting for them through the whole book.

I know, I’ve been ranting. So why did I give Lovestruck two stars (or arrows)? I love the premise. This story could have been wonderful had it been executed better. I would even be ok with the weird love triangle between Kali, Hec, and Ben had they not been so damn dramatic.

I don’t know that i can recommend this book. Maybe if you like mythology – there were TONS of gods and goddesses in this. But just be prepared for the worst teenage dramatics.

Have you read Lovestruck? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

contemporary, fantasy, Five Star Book, Romance, two star book, ya

The Prediction Book Tag

March 4, 2020March 3, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Thank you so much to Love for Words for tagging me in this one! This is the first tag I’m participating in, but I hope to do more! Here’s how this one works –

💖 Ping back to the creator of the tag, @bookprincessreviews
💖 Tag the person who tagged you, @LoveForWords
💖 Find an answer to match each prompt.
💖 Have fun!

💖 All these prompts are predictions for your… 💖

💖 Next read💖

This has been on my ARC backlong for too long. I’m trying to catch up as quick as I can! I’m hoping to finish my current read and start this one today!

💖 Next 5 Star Read 💖

I received a beautiful ARC of this and I can’t wait to dive in! I think I may read it after A Brief Chronicle.

💖 Next 1 Star Read 💖

My current read. I don’t normally rate one stars, and this will probably get a two. It’s an ARC, so I will finish and review it, but I’m just not loving it.

💖 Next Love Interest (Or Character Who Seems Really Cool) 💖

A bastard aching to belong…
Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.
– Goodreads

I mean, just look at that pic and read that synopsis of him. I’m already swooning.

💖 Next Book You’ll Be Buying 💖

This is one of the books that has been on my TBR the longest! I’ll have to buy it but I’m determined to work more of these books in!

💖 Next Book That Will Leave You With a Hangover 💖

I’m so into the girl power in this book! It’s one of my most anticipated this month!

💖 And now for tags! 💖

💖 Sarah at Bookish Bug Blog
💖 Destiny at Howling Libraries
💖 Lauren at Lala’s Book Reviews
💖 Kristin at Kristin Kraves Books
💖 Leslie at Books Are The New Black

I hope you all enjoyed this tag as much as I did! What is your next read? What are your thoughts on these? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, blog tour, contemporary, fantasy, mystery, Romance, ya

March 2020 TBR

March 1, 2020February 29, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

February flew by compared to January! I know it’s two days shorter, but it felt weeks shorter! I almost hit my goal of 15 books last month. Here’s what’s on the TBR now! I have an extra book because I can’t decide what to cut!

What’s on your TBR this month? Are we sharing any of the same books? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, Erotica, fantasy, Historical Fiction, mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

February 2020 Wrap Up

February 29, 2020February 28, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

I felt a little better about this month! I read more than last month, which was nice. I think overall I enjoyed my books more, too. Let’s jump right in to what I read this month!

Ebooks Read

Harmony by Addison Jane ★★★★
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller ★★★★★
Second Star by JM Sullivan ★★★
The Girl’s Weekend by Jody Gehrman ★★★
We Are Blood and Thunder by Kesia Lupo ★★★
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson ★★★★★
Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black ★★★
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen ★★★

Audiobooks Read

Human Errors by Nathan H Lents ★★★
The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish ★★★★
Buried Deep by Margot Hunt ★★★★
My Lost Family by Danny Ben-Moshe ★★★

I had two favorite books this month – The Shadows Between Us and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder! They were my only 5 star reads and so totally different. The Shadows Between Us is a fantasy about two bad people falling in love and being bad together. It was great. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’s inspiration came from true crime podcasts and it totally had that feel!

My least favorite book was probably Second Star or Lock and Key. Second Star was a sci-fi Peter Pan retelling and I just didn’t really connect with anyone. Lock and Key was like a day-to-day in the life of a teenager and it just wasn’t very enticing to me.

Stats

Goodreads Goal: 21/165. I’m 5 books behind schedule now, which is one more than last month. However, I read more so I think if I can keep up the pace I can get back on track!
I read 3204 pages, almost double last month! I also listened to 12 hours, 45 minutes, which is only two hours less than last month. My average rating was 3.5.
I read 1 erotica, 2 fantasy, 1 historical fiction, 3 mystery, 3 nonfic, 1 romance and 1 sci-fi.
I read 6 YA, 4 adult, and 1 new adult! I read 6 ARCs this month which was way better than last month.

Yearly Goals Check In

I didn’t think about doing this last month, so we will start here!

Monthly goal of 15 books a month – I read 12, 3 more than last month. I’m slowly getting there!
TBR Goal – I’ve kept up my TBR posts and even did a bonus post! I want to read 20 books off my tbr. I think I am at 3. I probably need to pick up the pace on that. I also want to get my TBR below 1800. I’m at 1904 so we’re getting there!
Words & Whimsy – I’ve done one author chat so far this year and I’m already scheduled for a couple more! It was so fun and I remembered why I loved it so much!
Book Battle – I used a lot of arcs that have been released as recs this month so that was great! I think I only missed two days of my discussion this month so that’s better!
My Blog – I wanted to do more blog tours and I think I have 3 coming in March! I wanted to up my follower count to over 150. I’m already at 151 in two months! THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH!! As of right now, I’m not going to up this. I”m just going to see where this year takes me. I also wanted to post at least every other day. Earlier this month I missed a few days, but I’ve been going good these last couple of weeks!
I wanted to keep up with my Owlcrate reading planner. That lasted all of a week. However, I have kept up with 3 book log spreadsheets, so I say that’s still a win! I also thought about getting back into bookstagram, but that’s on the back burner for now. I’m doing good just to keep up with what I got!

How many books did you read this month? What was your favorite and least favorite? How are you on your goodreads goal? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, three star book, ya

We Are Blood and Thunder ARC Review!

February 24, 2020February 20, 2020 Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Title: We Are Blood and Thunder
Author: Kesia Lupo
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Publish Date: April 4, 2019
Pages: 448
Book Form: E-ARC
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Dates Read: Feb 11 – Feb 20
Rating: ★★★

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

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 realize it, they need each other. They are the blood and they have the thunder within.
– Goodreads

So many mixed feelings on We Are Blood and Thunder. Parts I loved, and parts I felt I would never get through. It did take me 9 days to read.

This was told in Dual POV – Lena and Constance. I liked Constance more. I could never tell if she was good or bad. I was questioning her thoughts and actions throughout the whole book, which I love.
Lena was more one-dimensional to me. She was just always very flat. She never showed a ton of emotion, and when she did (or tried) I didn’t believe it.
There was also a boy – Emris. He loved Constance once, and now loves Lena. It was a weird love triangle.

In the first 50% I loved Constance’s pov. I just wanted to keep reading her. At a little over the halfway mark Lena’s story picked up and gained some action. The last 20% or so was just hard for me to get through. I’m not sure exactly what it was. Everything was resolved. It just couldn’t keep my attention.

I also see on Goodreads this is book #1 in a series. I’m not sure what book #2 would entail – the story was very nicely wrapped up like a standalone. Maybe it will be in the same universe with different characters? I kind of hope so because I don’t know where else this trio could go.

I gave this 3 stars because I honestly liked a lot of the book. There were nice action scenes, magic, fighting. There wasn’t much of a love story, even with the triangle. But the last 20% or so really kept me from giving this over 3 stars. I was just ready for it to be over.

Have you read We Are Blood and Thunder? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!