Scan barcode
lilyrooke's reviews
465 reviews
The Twice-Drowned Prince by L.M. Morrison
5.0
This is a haunting and beautiful read. I can't think of anything I've read that's quite like it.
There is so much sadness, grief, pain, and rage in this story, yet the relationship that slowly grows between the two main characters unravels in a completely believable, natural way, such that the ending - when it came - seemed an inevitability. L. M. Morrison's prose is sparce and beautiful, perfectly fitting for the underwater world she has created. This is a truly magical story.
There is so much sadness, grief, pain, and rage in this story, yet the relationship that slowly grows between the two main characters unravels in a completely believable, natural way, such that the ending - when it came - seemed an inevitability. L. M. Morrison's prose is sparce and beautiful, perfectly fitting for the underwater world she has created. This is a truly magical story.
The Lightning Bride by D.M. Sonntag
5.0
This was such a wonderfully fun read!
I really enjoyed the nuance of our main character, Maylie, at once brave and naive. The level of world-building in this novel is amazing, and I was particularly impressed at how delicately it was sprinkled in over the course of the story.
Behn was a firm favourite of mine, and the loss of a certain character made me so sad! And I've got to say there's a particular ship I'm hoping sets sail in the next book, so I'll have to see if that works out ...
I would recommend to anyone who enjoys an action adventure story with a great mix of fantasy elements. A must-read for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean, too! I thought this book was so cinematic.
I really enjoyed the nuance of our main character, Maylie, at once brave and naive. The level of world-building in this novel is amazing, and I was particularly impressed at how delicately it was sprinkled in over the course of the story.
Behn was a firm favourite of mine, and the loss of a certain character made me so sad! And I've got to say there's a particular ship I'm hoping sets sail in the next book, so I'll have to see if that works out ...
I would recommend to anyone who enjoys an action adventure story with a great mix of fantasy elements. A must-read for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean, too! I thought this book was so cinematic.
Half Bad by Sally Green
5.0
This novel killed me, there is an ache in my heart that just won't go away. I feel as though this story lodged itself inside my bones and it's still as powerful ten years later, maybe even more so to be honest (Part of my January re-read of books I liked years ago, to see how they still hold up.)
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel by Lisa Cron
5.0
Incredibly helpful and highly recommended!
Argent Blade by Luke Courtney
5.0
Action-packed and exciting, weaving history and the supernatural, 'Argent Blade' was a real thrill ride!
As a fellow Brit, I adored the care and attention Luke Courtney gives to Lucy's London, and to her life as a Londoner. In this dark fantasy of hellish creatures and historical Orders, Lucy grounds us in normalcy, and allows us to experience what it is like to be thrown into a world you never knew existed. The fight scenes are heart-pounding and gripping, and I thought the author did such a great job of weaving detailed and thorough worldbuilding throughout the story.
Considering the impressive depth and breadth of the story, I also have to applaud the author for the confidence with which 'Argent Blade' is written, and how the pacing and tension steadily builds throughout the story.
I'm so excited to read 'Argent Blade: Plague Carrier'!
As a fellow Brit, I adored the care and attention Luke Courtney gives to Lucy's London, and to her life as a Londoner. In this dark fantasy of hellish creatures and historical Orders, Lucy grounds us in normalcy, and allows us to experience what it is like to be thrown into a world you never knew existed. The fight scenes are heart-pounding and gripping, and I thought the author did such a great job of weaving detailed and thorough worldbuilding throughout the story.
Considering the impressive depth and breadth of the story, I also have to applaud the author for the confidence with which 'Argent Blade' is written, and how the pacing and tension steadily builds throughout the story.
I'm so excited to read 'Argent Blade: Plague Carrier'!
The Maven Knight by Matthew Romeo
5.0
'The Maven Knight' was my first dive into sci-fi, and it was a real thrill ride! I loved how the novel opens with so much action and mystery, throwing up so many questions - both for the readers and for the characters. I felt immediately invested in the main characters, especially Sarina and Talir. Getting to see the cast of characters overcome their struggles and form bonds of friendship and cameraderie was so rewarding! The story was fresh and exhilerating, the action sequences heart-pounding and gripping. The world Matthew Romeo has built is so complex and fascinating, with so much yet to be explored. I am so excited to read 'The Maven Knight: Ones of Aster'! A must-read for sci-fi fans.
The Mover of Mountains by Esme Carmichael
5.0
Shockingly brutal, and unflinchingly honest, 'The Mover of Mountains' is an absolute must-read. After 'The End of Everything', I knew I would be in for a rollercoaster ride when it came to the second book in The Connection Series. 'The Mover of Mountains' delivered, and then some. Indeed, I would go so far as to describe myself as emotionally wrecked.
It's hard to know where to begin with this review. I could talk about the shocking brutality of the truly despicable villain that is Mason, the ultimate counterpoint to the supposedly-so-bad villains who turn out to simply be misunderstood. He is an incredibly complex and outstandingly-written character, and I have gone over and over in my head trying to figure him out, and each time I think I have the answer, he eludes me. Esme Carmichael provides a masterclass in true villainy in 'The Mover of Mountains'. I could talk about the beautiful shimmers of hope in the friends and companions Alira finds in the Palace, the greatest of which I cannot include here due to spoilers, but which makes me cry just thinking of it.
I could talk about how the portrayal of the relationship in this novel is about as close to perfection as you can get. It's the best example I can remember reading of a long-term abusive relationship, and at times it became too much for me. The second half of the story, in particular, as coping mechanisms such as rationalising, numbing, and minimising, struck such a chord with me. I am always on the look out for stories that include themes like those explored in 'The Mover of Mountains', because I believe they are sadly lacking. Here, they are so expertly handled and honestly written.
But I want to talk specifically about how the author manages emotion in this story. I cannot praise Esme Carmichael enough for this. Not only in the moments between Alira and Anya (find me when you've read Chapter 33 and we can weep over it together). But also Alira's love, despite the circumstances, and all the things she does to show her love, despite the awful way she is treated by Isobel, Verity, Mason, and so many other characters. Her quiet resilience and bravery was just so moving. I was also living for Alira's heart-of-darkness slide as the events of the story take their toll on her. The way the author sprinkles coping mechanisms and branches of hope throughout such a dark and brutal story - painting, reading, sewing, the Flowerbook Alira makes - serve as beautiful, fragile reminders of attempts at clinging to normalcy and the drive of a survivor to simply make it through another day.
In my opinion, 'The Mover of Mountains' is a masterpiece.
I was so grateful to receive and ARC copy of 'The Mover of Mountains' in return for an honest review.
It's hard to know where to begin with this review. I could talk about the shocking brutality of the truly despicable villain that is Mason, the ultimate counterpoint to the supposedly-so-bad villains who turn out to simply be misunderstood. He is an incredibly complex and outstandingly-written character, and I have gone over and over in my head trying to figure him out, and each time I think I have the answer, he eludes me. Esme Carmichael provides a masterclass in true villainy in 'The Mover of Mountains'. I could talk about the beautiful shimmers of hope in the friends and companions Alira finds in the Palace, the greatest of which I cannot include here due to spoilers, but which makes me cry just thinking of it.
I could talk about how the portrayal of the relationship in this novel is about as close to perfection as you can get. It's the best example I can remember reading of a long-term abusive relationship, and at times it became too much for me. The second half of the story, in particular, as coping mechanisms such as rationalising, numbing, and minimising, struck such a chord with me. I am always on the look out for stories that include themes like those explored in 'The Mover of Mountains', because I believe they are sadly lacking. Here, they are so expertly handled and honestly written.
But I want to talk specifically about how the author manages emotion in this story. I cannot praise Esme Carmichael enough for this. Not only in the moments between Alira and Anya (find me when you've read Chapter 33 and we can weep over it together). But also Alira's love, despite the circumstances, and all the things she does to show her love, despite the awful way she is treated by Isobel, Verity, Mason, and so many other characters. Her quiet resilience and bravery was just so moving. I was also living for Alira's heart-of-darkness slide as the events of the story take their toll on her. The way the author sprinkles coping mechanisms and branches of hope throughout such a dark and brutal story - painting, reading, sewing, the Flowerbook Alira makes - serve as beautiful, fragile reminders of attempts at clinging to normalcy and the drive of a survivor to simply make it through another day.
In my opinion, 'The Mover of Mountains' is a masterpiece.
I was so grateful to receive and ARC copy of 'The Mover of Mountains' in return for an honest review.
Forever Never Always by Hanna Holt
5.0
Oh my goodness. What a beautiful story. I couldn't put it down!
So first of all I adore Ash. I loved him from the moment he first stepped onto the page, and I was so invested in him throughout the whole novel. He is such a well-rounded, heartbreakingly decent character, with so much to deal with, and he tugged at my heartstrings from the very start. The theme of second chance romance, and April's struggles, mirrored Ash's story so well, and I'm full of praise for Hanna Holt in how she handled this storyline and managed the pacing and structure of the entire novel.
The author does such a fantastic job managing a large cast of characters, especially a chaotic family, and I found myself rooting for all the members of the Forester Family, and can't wait to see who we'll get to follow next. Hawthorn, Willow, Juniper, Maggie, and of course Aspen, were among my favourite characters. I was hugely impressed at how the chaos of such a large sibling group was expertly handled from a writer's perspective, not to mention how each of the siblings' personalities shone through, along with their individual struggles, complexities, hopes and love.
I would recommend Forever Never Always to any romance fans, especially fans of second chance romance, as well as fans of family sagas.
So first of all I adore Ash. I loved him from the moment he first stepped onto the page, and I was so invested in him throughout the whole novel. He is such a well-rounded, heartbreakingly decent character, with so much to deal with, and he tugged at my heartstrings from the very start. The theme of second chance romance, and April's struggles, mirrored Ash's story so well, and I'm full of praise for Hanna Holt in how she handled this storyline and managed the pacing and structure of the entire novel.
The author does such a fantastic job managing a large cast of characters, especially a chaotic family, and I found myself rooting for all the members of the Forester Family, and can't wait to see who we'll get to follow next. Hawthorn, Willow, Juniper, Maggie, and of course Aspen, were among my favourite characters. I was hugely impressed at how the chaos of such a large sibling group was expertly handled from a writer's perspective, not to mention how each of the siblings' personalities shone through, along with their individual struggles, complexities, hopes and love.
I would recommend Forever Never Always to any romance fans, especially fans of second chance romance, as well as fans of family sagas.
The Waltz of Wolves: Part 1 by Esme Carmichael
5.0
Action-packed and heart-stoppingly tense, 'The Waltz of Wolves' is a prequel to The Connection Series and can be read at any point before or during the series. The story follows a teenage Campbell Anders and Harrison Dagger, the architects of the Dagger Rebellion, years before the uprising that we get hints of during 'The End of Everything'. While Campbell has a relatively small but vitally important role in 'The End of Everything', Harrison remains an elusive mystery. Here, they take centre stage, and have fast become two of my very favourite characters in the whole New World saga.
From the very first page, as we learn what fate has befallen Campbell, and why, I was gripped, and desperate to discover how Campbell and Harrison would make it out of the dangerous and vicious situation they found themselves in alive. The personalities of the two main characters clash and blend so well together, and the author does such a fantastic job of developing their growing friendship in a short space of time, such that it was completely believable that they would come to rely on one another to such a great extent. Each represents so much to the other, and I was rooting for them both the whole way through the story.
I love the harsh, unforgiving world Esme Carmichael has created, and Mason as usual does not disappoint in this regard. Campbell's father too, as the face of the Aristocracy, serves as a reminder of what Campbell was trying to leave behind, and adds a real sense of pathos while re-reading 'The End of Everything' and the following books in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thrilling action-adventure with leads to fall in love with and root for, and I can't wait for Part 2.
I received an ARC of 'The Waltz of Wolves' in return for an honest review.
From the very first page, as we learn what fate has befallen Campbell, and why, I was gripped, and desperate to discover how Campbell and Harrison would make it out of the dangerous and vicious situation they found themselves in alive. The personalities of the two main characters clash and blend so well together, and the author does such a fantastic job of developing their growing friendship in a short space of time, such that it was completely believable that they would come to rely on one another to such a great extent. Each represents so much to the other, and I was rooting for them both the whole way through the story.
I love the harsh, unforgiving world Esme Carmichael has created, and Mason as usual does not disappoint in this regard. Campbell's father too, as the face of the Aristocracy, serves as a reminder of what Campbell was trying to leave behind, and adds a real sense of pathos while re-reading 'The End of Everything' and the following books in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thrilling action-adventure with leads to fall in love with and root for, and I can't wait for Part 2.
I received an ARC of 'The Waltz of Wolves' in return for an honest review.