Book Review: House of Sky and Breath.

Book 12 of 2022

Crescent City Book Two. House of Sky and Breath. Written by Sarah J Maas.

Ok. So I finished this 11 hours ago (and all I have done since then is sleep and get to work!) I am still fully processing this book. I also have the urge to be more careful than every before because it has never been more important to me to not allow any spoilers. If you have not read this book then you MUST. If you are planning to read this book but have not yet – then stay away from anywhere that could have a spoiler!

So here we are the gang is all back together and simply kind of trying to get on with their life. Which you kind of have to admire. But also says quite a lot especially about the character of Bryce. Her determination just to be. However this was never going to work out the way she wanted and so we have the premise for the book. Change is afoot in crescent city, and Bryce, despite her best wishes is drawn in.

I really liked that it felt like we got to understand many of the other characters more in this book. Ithan was a brilliant addition, and his side story was super powerful and exciting. I am super keen to see where that goes.

This book is 805 page long – it is by no means a short book. But the detail and the story that Maas is able to craft more than makes up for the length of the book. While it took a while to read at no point did I feel like it was dragging, the pace was done so well, as were smaller reveals throughout the text.

I think that Maas has a tendancy to write about some quite possessive males, but that feels a bit more toned down in this book. I almost wonder if Bryce is the character that Feyre wanted to be?? She is stubborn and unpredictable and seriously in control. ANd why there is a part of me that is frustrated that she seems to constantly get away with these traits, I am also 100% cheering for her. I really appreciated in this book that the posessive males that surrround her, kind of accepted who she was, and supported the decisions that she made, or would make, although you could see them struggle with this.

I really enjoyed learning a lot more of the world in this book, and thought that that was evident from the beginning with the description of each of the houses. I think if I had requests – I would have liked to better understand Bryce’s job and also exactly her Jessiba is. There were so many things to like I really don’t know where to start.

I think Maas is somewhat of the master of the ‘easter egg’ and I think I would need to read the book again to really comprehend this in its entireity. (This is where being an 805 page book is a put off!).

I think that this book, shows Maas’ development and complexity of an author. Because she started writing so young, we have always been able to see her development. For example the first book (s) of throne of glass, that she started when she was 16/17 are full of issues, the pace is off, the characters swing wildly around, and I struggled, even with the end of that series. In ACOTAR we were able to see her concept and planning in more detail, and her writing developed again, but in Crescent City I am actually blown away.

I am worried that this does not so much sound like a review as a fangirl moment – but I do not want to ruin this book for anyone!!! Once you have read it though, I would love to engage with you on your thoughts. Some of me is a little scared, mostly I am so excited, and could we have book three tomorrow please??

Mrs K

Genre: Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Sarah J Maas, Crescent City, House of Sky and Breath, Urban Fantasy, Fae, Faeries, Shifters, Romance, Adult, New Adult, 2022 releases, February releases, series, trilogy, Fantasy romance, paranormal, magic, Bryce Quinlan, Hunt Athalar, Ruhn, MrsKReads, Mrs K Reads,

Book Review: Traitors Triolgy

Books 10 & 11 of 2022

The Traitors Ruin & The Traitors Kingdom. (Books 2 &3 of The Traitors Kingdom). Written by Erin Beaty.

So I read the first of this series over the summer while camping, and then downloaded the second on the kindle, however then heading back to work and long hours there meant little time for reading. I made a real effort to get back in the habit this week and finished both book 2 and 3.

The reviews on the first book were mixed but I really enjoyed it. For the most part I have loved the follow up books as well. What I think I have really enjoyed is that althought there is a central romance this is not really a romance book. I would instead classify it as a book on the friendship of women. Strong women, who can hold there own with men.

I think these characters (with some limitations for the world that they live in) are absolutely incredible, there seems to be little discrimination, but more than that the characters are smart, quick witted, brave and more than a little foolhardy.

I did struggle a little in book three, with all the traitors – it got a little hard to keep up with, but the characters remained true to themselves, and just as strong and complex.

I also really enjoyed that there were a series of different leadership styles shown, contrasts between characters and kingdoms, but they all were also able to recognise that they could learn from each other.

Men in this book were also not threatened by powerful women, which I think is particularly striking.

Overall, the plot was a little confusing in book three, but still just as engaging, but I recommend this series for the way the characters are written, and for genuine examples of strong female characters.

Mrs K

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Erin Beaty, Traitors Trilogy, Traitor’s Kingdom, Traitor’s Ruin, Young Adult, Adolescent, speculative fiction, fiction, Royalty, Fantasy Fiction,

Book Review: Little Thieves

Book 9 of 2021

Little Thieves. Written by Margaret Owen 

I am sure you will all be pleased to hear that this is the last of the reviews that I am doing in retrospect! A massive relief for me, but also means a much better quality of review for you!

This book I really loved. I was really excited to realise that it was in my summer reading bag, as I had looked at it on the shelves in shops for ages. The book blurb told me that it is a retelling however I was not familiar with the original story, so I did not quite think that it was a retelling. However I will say that my all time favourite guilty pleasure book is Sweet Revenge by Nora Roberts, which this book reminded me of a little bit. Which was pretty cool.

I really really enjoyed this book – like this was THE book of my summer. It had characters who were so well developed and a story that was ultimately about redemption and I loved it.

It looks (according to my trusty friend goodreads) that it could be a sequel and that is 100% something that I would be on board for! Overall I felt this was a well paced, interesting book that developed both the world and the characters well. I particularly liked the juxtaposition of the red and the white which was woven througout the book.

Mrs K

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings, Young Adult Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, LGBT, Magic, High Fantasy, Fairy tales, Mrs K Reads, Mrs K, Little Thieves, Margaret Owen, crime, curse, kingdom, royalty,

Book Review: Fake it Till you Break It.

Book 8 of 2022.

Fake It Till You Break It. Written by Jenn P. Nguyen.

This was soooo super cute!! I loved this book – it was exactly what I expected and sometimes that is all that you need!

You have to love the fake dating trope.

It reminds me – I always used to read a mills and boon when uni finished because I knew exactly what happened, and how it would start and finish. This book felt a little bit like that – you knew what would happen and you absolutely were not mad about it.

Overall I loved this book!! It was hardly one you would talk about in a class or try and use as a connections report but for a nice light summer reading it was exactly what the doctor ordered!

Mrs K

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, High School, Womens Fiction, Chick Lit, teenage romance, adolescent fiction, adolescent romance, Jenn Nguyen, Mrs K Reads, Fake it till you break it, Mrs K,

Book Review: Song of the Crimson Flower.

Book 7 of 2022.

Song of the Crimson Flower. Written by Julie C. Dao.

I have decided that this book is something of a little ear worm. At the time when I finished it, I gave it 3.5 stars and stated that it was good and sweet but didn’t keep me reading non stop. What is interesting is how since then I have compared other books to it, and keep coming back to ponder it a little bit. I find this so interesting, since my initial thoughts were simply that it was pleasant!

So this book is a fantastical tale of darkness and love, some magical bonds are stronger than blood. It is Vietnamese American book, which is really cool as is the pronunciation guide at the start.

I didn’t realise until I started this review, that this is classed as book 2.5 in a series. I can say whole heartedly that you did not need to have read anything else to have fully understood this book. However I may investigate some of the other books written by Dao.

So – here I am trying to think what was it about this bok that makes it something of an earworm! The characters were sweet and genuine, if perhaps both being a touch naiive. The beginning was really concise and clean and set the tone and mood of the book. I liked the Bao that we saw in the opening scenes, although I probably didn’t love him straight after that.

I did feel that both characters had a sense of both on one hand being trapped but their class, their parentage, their situation, and then also being inevitable that they would end up together. The pacing of their story was good, it unfolded in a genuine way which showed how kind they were and garnered sympathy and appreciation from the audience. The world was also developed through genuine explanations and interactions, we learn the problems as Lan does – which meant that thtere was no world building dump which so many books can have at the start.

I suspect if I was not back at work I would be seriously considering re reading this book a second time to really unpack what it was about this book that was so captivating.

Mrs K

Genre: Mrs K Reads, Mrs K, Song of the Crimson Flower, Julie Dao, Fantasy, Speculative fiction, Vietnamese, Young Adult, Romance, Adolescent fiction, fiction, asian literature, retellings, magic, teen, science fiction fantasy,

Book Review: It’s not you, It’s me

Book 6 of 2022

It’s not You, It’s me. Written by Gabrielle Williams.

I am not quite sure what I expected from this book, but it was way better than I expected. I found it really compelling and interesting and had enough twists etc to keep me guessing!

The cover stated it as a “Freaky Friday meets Pretty Little Liars” which was a pretty accurate sum up – I certainly loved Freaky Friday when I was younger, and I loved the contrast here between an adult and a child and there different reactions.

While definitely falling into the fantasy genre, this book was not like anything else that I read! Which made it super interesting and good. It was funny and such an easy read.

On instagram after finishing I gave it 4 stars – with the comment that I did not think there was anything wrong with it – it was just not totally one of those WOW I have to read again type books!

Mrs K

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, TIme Travel, Contemporary, Mystery, Fantasy, Speculative fiction, Mrs K Reads, Mrs K, Gabrielle Williams, It’s not you It’s me,

Book Review: Fireborn

Book Five of 2022.

Fireborn. Written by Aisling Fowler.

So because it is awhile since I read this book I am going to start with a blurb of the book lifted straight from goodreads.

Lyra. Lucy. Percy. Once in a generation, a hero emerges whose story enthralls readers worldwide.

Ember is full of monsters. Twelve gave up her name and identity to train in the art of hunting them–so she says. The truth is much more deadly: she trains to take revenge on those who took her family from her. But when Twelve’s new home is attacked, she’ll find herself on an unexpected journey, where her hidden past is inescapably intertwined with her destiny–and the very fate of her world

I really enjoyed this book. This was a great fantasy school book. It had a strong protagonist, who had a few moments, but for the most part was fantastic. This is a series I will follow and look forward to seeing through.

This was definitely a younger read – aimiing more at that middle school rather than the older audience. There seemed to be no real love triangle or interest which is always a winner!

I really enjoyed the premise and the characters and the realisation that it is only with working together and overcoming their differences that will allow people to succeed.

Of all the books I read this summer this is one that I definitely recommend.

Mrs K

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Fiction, Young Adult, Mrs K reads, Mrs K, Book Reviews, Fireborn, Aisling Fowler,

Book Review: Dangerous Remedy

Book Four of 2022

Dangerous Remedy. Written by Kat Dunn.

I really wanted to like this book, and I did try really hard, but agter a week and still being on the first page I gave up and this was DNF. I love the history around the french revolution but I do really struggle with the fictional literature around the same time. I think this book, the single page that I did read reminded me a bit of prison healer.

Overall I cannot say much due to the DNF. I did have both book one and two in this series and they both are gorgeous looking books!

Mrs K

Genre: DNF, Kat Dunn, Dangerous Remedy, Fantasy, French Revolution, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Adolescent fiction,

Book Review: To Kill a Kingdom

Book 3 of 2022

To Kill a Kingdom. Written by Alexandra Christo.

Feeling a bit sad that I did not have the sequels to the previous book. I chose a book that was recommended by a friend so I knew that I would love it. Haha! This book was fantastic. I really loved it. It is a little bit of a a Little Mermaid story. I would even go so far as to say that it was a retelling.

I think the key component of this story is that it employs the enemies to lovers trope. Which lets be honest – is not a trope I hate! In fact on occassion it is one that I have been know to seek out.

The story is quite dark for a YA fantasy, with the main character acknowledging that technically she would be a murderer, however the actual story, albeit predictable has a good amount of information and action.

Overall I really enjoyed this book for what it was. A YA summer read. While I enjoyed it I was also not sad that it was not a sequel!

Mrs K

Genre: Young Adult, Adolescent fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Fantasy, To Kill a Kingdom, Alexandra Christo, Retelling, magic, siren, mermaid,