Review: The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

The Bone Shard Daughter

Andrea Stewart

(The Drowning Empire #1)

Publication Date: September 8, 2020

Hardcover, 435 pages, Orbit

Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Goodreads

The emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands.

 

Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

 

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people.

My Review

The Bone Shard Daughter is a page-turning multi-POV fantasy read perfect for YA, adult, and sci-fi readers. It has gods, necromancy/android elements, and cute companion creatures.

This book has been on my TBR for a while, and I regret that. It has the same addictive qualities as some big-name SFF books, like The Daevabad and The Poppy War series. But going in, I was a little skeptical. The first few chapters were a bit dry, since they're trying to establish the world and characters. But by the end of chapter three, I was hooked. I guess world-shattering fictional disasters will do that for me. Weird.

The Bone Shard Daughter has five POVs, but really two main characters. Lin is the emperor's daughter who's jealous of her father's ward and how her father is teaching him the art of creating constructs (basically using people's life sources to animate dead animals, so very sci-fi but in a fantasy way). Jovis, the second major character, is a smuggler. His POV was my favorite. He's kind of like Aladdin with Abu, but on a mission. Both main characters' narration is in first-person, whereas the other three characters are in third-person. Phalue, a warrior and governor's daughter, reminds me of Brienne of Tarth; and her partner Ranami, another POV character, is trying to persuade Phalue to step up and stop the injustices her father allows. As for the final character, well, that's a secret. But honestly, I don't think I had a least-favorite POV. The characters were very well-written and their secrets were interesting to discover.

As for the plot of the book, all of the characters have their own stories going and it's hard to see how they may connect, but the author gets there eventually. Obviously there's rebellion ensuing, and that always brings a team of unlikely "heroes" together at some point. I did figure out Lin's secrets and storyline a little bit earlier than some of the others' though. However, her chapters were a little wilder than I expected. There were some twists I didn't see coming. And for one particular creature, well, I'd give him the world. He deserves it, and the author put him through too much. Because of all the twists and turns for the two major characters, I read most of this book in less than two days. The ending went by rather fast, and while it wasn't super rushed, I feel like it could've taken a little time to recuperate with a couple of the characters. I think the last few chapters could've been doubled to make the pacing more realistic. It's not a major thing, since I still definitely plan on picking up book two very soon, it was just something I noticed as the book was winding down.

All in all, I think this story is perfect for adult SFF fans of the two series mentioned earlier as well as YA fans of Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes and Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. It's a great crossover book with the potential to be a really great series.

*Note: I received a copy of this book from a friend. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Cemetery Boys

Aiden Thomas

Publication Date: September 1, 2020

Hardcover, 352 pages, Swoon Reads

Genres: YA, Paranormal, LGBT+

Goodreads

A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys, described by Entertainment Weekly as "groundbreaking."

 

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him. 

 

 When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. 

 

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

My Review

Ghosts and boys? Brujos and Latinx family feels? Heck yes! Cemetery Boys is such a fun, wholesome urban fantasy romp that gave me major Meg Cabot Mediator series and Supernatural vibes. I truly wish I had read it during spooky season and not right after the winter holidays. Major fail on my part.

Yadriel, our main character, just wants to be accepted by his family as a real brujo. And oh my, is Yadriel such a cinnamon roll. But he's a cinnamon roll with a purpose. He knows what he wants and he goes after it with the help of his cousin, Maritza, who was also super fun. She's very protective and fierce. It was nice to see her so supportive of her cousin and watch her get roped into all of his schemes.

Our other main character is Julian, and, despite being a ghost, Julian is such a full-of-life character. He made me smile continuously. His friends were fun too, though they didn't get a lot of page time.

As for the plot, it had its ups and downs. The family dynamics and interactions provided all the family drama feels, and Yadriel's conversations with Julian just gave me all the warm fuzzies. However, the antagonist was, unfortunately, pretty easy to spot on their first introduction. I didn't know exactly how everything would resolve, but the sequence of events lined up pretty closely to my original guess. It was still an entertaining journey though, and I don't regret taking it.

All in all, Cemetery Boys is a book not just for trans kids. It's for everyone who feels out of place in their family, school, or even career path. Though, for trans and any other teens, this book might be a great way to find a story that gets them sucked into reading. It's pretty addicting.

*Note: I received a copy of this book as a gift from a friend. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

These Violent Delights

Chloe Gong

(These Violent Delights #1)

Publication Date: November 17, 2020

Hardcover, 464 pages, Hodder & Stoughton

Genres: YA, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

Goodreads

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery. 

 

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule. 

 

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

My Review

Romeo and Juliet as two rival gang members? In 1926 Shanghai? With paranormal elements? Sounds like a blast, right? For some of it, it was.

These Violent Delights is a unique idea with a unique location not seen very often in western young adult publishing, but something in the book just seemed to be missing. The exposition was kind of dry at times, even though the information about foreign powers interfering with Shanghai's political backdrop was super important to real events, the story kind of read like a history book in spots. Juliette Cai's narration was often the most dense, even though there were multiple POVs in the book.

There was also a lot of description of the city and political backdrop, which is completely fine, but as a character-reader, I felt like the characters' individual personalities didn't get to shine with so much description. The gang elements were kind of the same way. I went into this story expecting some heavy tension between the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers, but I never really felt like any of our main characters were in danger at any point. Maybe some of the side characters, but not the two protagonists. And, more importantly, why do these kids just get to run around? Shouldn't the head of a major criminal operation have guards for their kids or keep tabs on them somehow? Maybe I'm modernizing the fictional story too much...

Now, to the actual Romeo and Juliet, a.k.a Roma and Juliette. Roma wanting to stop committing violent acts and Juliette being all about the gang life was a dichotomy I loved and did not expect going into These Violent Delights. Juliette was pretty fierce, but, as I mentioned, her exposition was looooong. She also had the longest chapters. I was disappointed that when the two characters were together, there was never enough tension and angst between them. I never really felt their love and longing (something that seems crucial in an R&J retelling), even though I wanted to. However, I was very happy with the diversity Gong added to the story in terms of her side characters. I may continue with book two just for more Mars and Ben content.

Personally, this book simply missed the mark somewhere. I honestly wish it had solely been a historical romance retelling of Romeo & Juliet without the whole paranormal/bug aspect. A proper gang war story would've been bada$$ and allowed for some true tension. Instead, it turned into a weird monster hunt. Unfortunately, the ending was all about the paranormal elements and the gang war storylines barely played a part, so the big cliffhanger has me hesitating to pick up the sequel.

All in all, I give Chloe Gong major, MAJOR props for writing something so unique and intriguing. Even when I wasn't super invested in the story because of exposition, I still found myself learning about 1926 Shanghai. Sadly, I think I went into this book expecting something that I just didn't get. Hopefully other readers will have better luck.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

 

Review: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Kingdom of the Wicked

Kerri Maniscalco

(Kingdom of the Wicked #1)

Publication Date: October 27, 2020

Hardcover, 448 pages, JIMMY Presents

Genres: YA, Paranormal/Fantasy

Goodreads

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

My Review

Unlike a lot of people, I didn’t really know a whole lot about this book (or that it even existed) until October’s FairyLoot theme was announced. And actually, I’m glad it wasn’t a book that was on my radar. Surprises for book bloggers are hard to come by in these days of Bookstagram, Booktube, and Goodreads.

All that being said, I did very much enjoy this one. Kingdom of the Wicked reminded me of a cross between Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Dark Elements trilogy and Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. Two series I enjoy very much.

Like most paranormal romance books, there are two main characters in this one. The heroine is Emilia, a witch who just lost her secret-keeping twin sister, and the love interest is Wrath, a prince of the underworld. Emilia is a decent character, she kind of just ran around making bad decisions 90% of the novel. However, she accomplished what she set out to do. It just seemed like every time she stepped out of her house, she’d run into demon creature goon #99 and discover a clue to her revenge plot. It was almost a little too easy and quick sometimes. Now Wrath, he was cool. Not the best demon prince I’ve ever read about (that title goes to Roth), but sexy, nonetheless.

So the characters are fun, but not super unique. The author did manage to create an awesome world, though. Using the seven deadly sins as demon princes is super similar to Lords of the Underworld, but there’s a different vibe, since these are witch-based demon princes and not demons from Pandora’s Box. Unfortunately, I am still kind of confused about what the time period in Italy was when this book takes place, since there are no cell phones yet the clothes for Wrath reminded me of an early-1900s gentleman. Maybe it was mentioned and I just missed it. Not sure. Oh, and why was there a map of a certain demonland at the beginning if the characters never actually visit it..?

As for the ending, the book concludes on a pretty big, annoying cliffhanger. Gah! I hate it when authors cut the book off when things just get really good. But I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel. Oh, and a random quirk I noticed was Emilia’s parents, who just let their daughter run around talking with demons. Very odd.

All of my nitpicks aside, Kingdom of the Wicked is a fast-paced, addicting read. If you love any kind of paranormal romance, this is for you. In fact, I wish it had been New Adult versus YA. I think it really could’ve been better with a higher page count and some darker scenes.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift

 "Can’t-Wait Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Wishful Endings, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

Cast in Firelight

Dana Swift

(Wickery #1)

Publication Date: January 19, 2021

Hardcover, 448 pages, HarperTeen

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Goodreads

The first book in an epic, heart-pounding fantasy duology about two royal heirs betrothed to be married, but whose loyalties are torn, and a ruthless enemy who threatens their world, perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, and Renée Ahdieh.

Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.

Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.

Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.

Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross...and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.

Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.

My Thoughts

Such a pretty cover. I’m a little wary of the new trend of illustrated book covers, but this one is lovely. I have a feeling Cast in Firelight will be in a lot of book subscription boxes in November. (Update: New January 2021 release date due to COVID-related printing issues, so it may not be in any boxes this year.) I’m ready for it, though. So ready. I just hope they don’t change the color scheme of the art. I have a NetGalley review copy of this one, so at least I don't have to wait to read it. :)

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Review: Crave by Tracy Wolff

Crave

Tracy Wolff

(Crave #1)

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

Hardcover, 592 pages, Entangled Teen

Genres: YA, Paranormal

Goodreads

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

My Review

I bought this book solely because I’ve been obsessed with Twilight lately, and this cover is 100% Twilight. Right? Right. While Crave does have similar vibes to Twilight, it’s not quite the same. Which is good, because no one likes to read the same book written by different authors, but I was looking forward to that type of narrative, so I have mixed feelings.

Let’s start with the characters. Grace is very naïve, and it feels like she didn’t ask important questions about the different supernatural species and what their species means for her current situation. Jax, our vampire love interest, has an intriguing history given his princely position. This element was actually super interesting, and it wasn’t explored very much except in snippets of backstory. I hope we get more in the sequels. Jax is definitely similar to Edward Cullen. He’s got the angst thing down.

Something I very much didn’t like about this book were the pop culture references both of the characters make. They took me so out of the story, especially the Twilight one. Why was that necessary? Don’t break the fifth wall if you’re a paranormal romance writer. It’s weird. Also, Jax and Grace have cheesy dialogue and text messaging scenes that are supposed to come across as romantic but really just sound pathetic. I wasn’t impressed by them.

Now, for what I did like. I liked the dichotomy of watching everyone in the school react to Jax and Grace’s relationship, more than I actually liked Jax and Grace’s relationship, unfortunately. Their romance is very shallow, but the side characters and how they feel about Jax and Grace truly make the book. Oh, and the chapter titles were super fun! I loved them. That’s how you can safely break the fifth wall without it being disruptive to the story.

One thing I do have to mention is that there seemed to be an editing error towards the end that really had me scratching my head, as it throws the story out of whack. This is kind of spoilery, but not really. So Grace says she’s Jax’s “mate” in her head before anyone else even mentions the term. This really bothered me. Also, the bad guy is predictable. Even the motivation behind the plan was predictable. The dynamic between some of the bad guys was cool, though. I wish that had been explored more.

I know I’m bashing this book a lot, but it did manage to entertain me, and it was super easy to read, despite being almost 600 pages. I like paranormal romance and supernatural creatures. I had just hoped for more character and plot development, and I think this could have been amazing if some things were changed versus how average it sits as is.

All in all, Crave is a fun YA paranormal book. I would have liked it more if I’d read it in the early Twilight years, but it’s still entertaining, and I might pick up the sequel. However, I’m tired of werewolves being the bad guys or the weak ones compared to the vampires. It’s annoying. Werewolves are sooo much cooler.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

 "Can’t-Wait Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Wishful Endings, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

A Sky Beyond the Storm

Sabaa Tahir

(An Ember in the Ashes #4)

Publication Date: December 1, 2020

Hardcover, 464 pages, Penguin Random House

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Goodreads

Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?

Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...

The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.

At his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.

Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory--or to an unimaginable doom.

And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life--and love--he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save--or destroy--all that he knows.

My Thoughts

I have put off starting this series since the first book came out. And boy, am I glad that I did. Now, I can binge read the entire thing at once. Without the years of wait between sequels. Also, this cover is GORGEOUS! It’s probably my favorite cover of 2020. I just hope Penguin releases a box set of all four books so I can have them all in these lovely matching covers. It is kind of sad, though, that my original copy of An Ember in the Ashes is signed. Guess I can’t get rid of it unless I hate the series. And I really hope I don’t hate it.

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea

TJ Klune

Publication Date: March 17, 2020

Hardcover, 398 pages, Tor Books

Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Goodreads

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

My Review

I’m pretty sure I could leave this review as “incoherent sobbing,” and it would be 100% accurate to how I feel about The House in the Cerulean Sea. It’s such a beautiful book. So loving. So sweet. So needed in the crazy times we live in.

The protagonist, Linus Baker, is a case worker for government-controlled magical orphanages. He’s dedicated to his job, and he loves what he does and the way he can help his charges. Honestly, he’s so naïve and adorable. I’ve never felt that way about a rotund, balding, forty-year-old man before, but that’s what Linus is. And I’m so glad TJ Klune gave readers an older protagonist to follow; it’s such a breath of fresh air.

Unsurprisingly, when Linus gets assigned to a new orphanage, he becomes attached to its inhabitants. I don’t want to give anything away by saying who the children are and what they can do, as it’s better if you go into it blind like I did. I will say I had a favorite magical child, though. He hid under beds and had amazing career goals.

Now, the reason I took off half a star is because I wanted just a little bit more from the romantic relationship than I got. For some readers, less romance is good, but I like it. I’m a sucker for the happily ever afters. This book isn’t a romance, though. It’s about found families. I simply think Linus and Arthur deserved more time alone together. Their interactions made me smile.

Oddly, the overall tone of this book reminded me strongly of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Obviously, this book is much happier, but there’s a vibe in Unfortunate Events that makes it seem as if it simultaneously takes place in the past and present. Plus, there are orphaned children with unique skills, so the comparisons there are obvious.

Overall, this book is totally different from what I normally read. I had just heard so much about it, and I loved Klune’s Green Creek series. So if you’re wary of reading outside of your comfort zone, don’t be. This book will make you forget you even have one. It’ll also leave you a bawling, incoherent mess, but that’s just a given when reading about cute, magical children. Oh, and it's perfect for middle-grade, teenage, or adult readers. It's a tale for anyone who needs some happiness in their lives.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

Jennifer L. Armentrout

(Blood and Ash #2)

Publication Date: September 1, 2020

Paperback, 576 pages, Blue Box Press

Genres: New Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Goodreads

A Betrayal

Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice

Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret

But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

My Review

I shouldn’t be reviewing this book right now. I have 10+ other books I need to be writing reviews for, but I desperately want to talk about this one. JLA, you’ve done it to me again. You’ve turned me into an obsessed fangirl over fictional characters. And in this case, morally gray fictional characters. Yeah, Poppy and Cas aren’t terrible people, but they’re not as nice and uppity as some of JLA’s other protagonists. It’s refreshing, but can sometimes be conflicting. In a good way.

While this installment in the series didn’t have a ton of plot, it was still a fast-paced, super easy read. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is mostly about Poppy and Casteel running from the bad guys and giving some background information on who everyone is and what terrible deeds they’ve done in the past. Also, there are the feeeeeelings. Poppy and Cas are so angsty. I love it.

This brings me to my favorite part of the story: the relationships. So, if it’s not obvious, I really enjoy Poppy and Cas’s romance. Poppy is p*ssed at Cas and stabs him on a regular basis. LOVE IT. And Cas is broody, apologetic, and protective. Again, LOVE IT. However, JLA introduced a new concept that I really, REALLY want to come to fruition somehow someway. The bond relationship that’s mentioned has me hoping beyond hope that Kieran gets more page time in the sequels. A polyamorous relationship written JLA style would be awesome! Especially if it means protective Casteel to both of the other bond members. If nothing happens with this, I’m not sure why JLA would even mention it in the book. Like why even go there if nothing comes of it? I’m probably hoping for too much, but it would just be so cool to have a REAL love triangle in a fantasy romance series.

Though I did love 90% of this novel, there’s a small 10% that I’m slightly confused about. Is there a difference between vampry and an Ascended? I’m sure this was mentioned at some point, but sometimes the history explanations had me zoning a little. Same for the gods and goddesses explanations. Which brings me to the ending. It was great. Major cliffhangers all around, but I feel like I missed something in terms of the significance to all of the goddess history. This didn’t affect my enjoyment too much, because I’m still way more interested in the romantic relationships (and possible actual love triangle) than the powers and vampires, but it was befuddling nonetheless.

All in all, this is just another JLA series I’m addicted to. She’s given me sexy aliens, sexy demons, sexy gargoyles, sexy demigods, and now sexy vampires. I can’t wait to see what kind of sexy comes next. After she finishes this series, of course.

Oh, and bonus points for that GORGEOUS cover.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.