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lilyrooke's reviews
465 reviews
The Mermaid's Shadow by D.M. Sonntag
5.0
What an immersive read! The world of the Kingdom Isles that D. M. Sonntag has created is so rich and vivid. From the moment he arrived on the page, Mad had my whole heart. Something that always stands out to me with D. M. Sonntag's stories is the way she manages to seamlessly weave important religious and cultural questions into a fast-paced and engaging plot. I read 'The Lightning Bride' before reading 'The Mermaid's Shadow' but I think it would work just as well to read 'The Mermaid's Shadow' first, which I personally see as the sign of an excellent prequel. I loved getting to know more about Emilia and Madeaus, as well as the story behind Raevina and Caius, and the glimpses into the earlier lives of the other characters such as Ferryn. Highly recommended for lovers of action adventures and worldbuilding that is second to none!
Wings of Fate by Skye Horn
5.0
I loved 'Wings of Fate'!
(This review contains mild spoilers.)
I fell in love with the world of Faerie, adored the romance between Thea and Kieran, and truly enjoyed Skye's fresh approach to her main character entering a new world and learning how to live, survive and thrive in it. Having read the heart-rending prequel 'Wings of Betrayal', I might have been a tiny bit biased, but I was so, so excited to meet Kieran, and he absolutely did not disappoint!
Some specifics that I need to mention:
1) I need more Amara in my life and I am so excited to find out more about her.
2) I appreciated how Thea's sense of morality is not at all black or white, and really enjoyed reading about her process of forgiveness concerning some of the other characters.
3) The way Kieran is torn between his duty and feelings for Thea hurt my heart, and with the best will in the world I hope Book 2 will continue to hurt it even more!
*****
(This review contains mild spoilers.)
I fell in love with the world of Faerie, adored the romance between Thea and Kieran, and truly enjoyed Skye's fresh approach to her main character entering a new world and learning how to live, survive and thrive in it. Having read the heart-rending prequel 'Wings of Betrayal', I might have been a tiny bit biased, but I was so, so excited to meet Kieran, and he absolutely did not disappoint!
Some specifics that I need to mention:
1) I need more Amara in my life and I am so excited to find out more about her.
2) I appreciated how Thea's sense of morality is not at all black or white, and really enjoyed reading about her process of forgiveness concerning some of the other characters.
3) The way Kieran is torn between his duty and feelings for Thea hurt my heart, and with the best will in the world I hope Book 2 will continue to hurt it even more!
*****
The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes
5.0
An accessible and incredibly detailed work.
Seraph of the End, Vol. 1 by Takaya Kagami, Yamato Yamamoto
5.0
my heart :'( the opening and flashbacks kill me every time.
also I can never get enough of the phrase 'my precious family'.
also I can never get enough of the phrase 'my precious family'.
The Reckoning by Kayla Knue
4.0
Wow. This was an addictive read. I've seen The Reckoning compared to The Hunger Games, and in some aspects this holds true, but there is so much more to the story than that. I was struck by the contrasting character arcs of two of the main characters - as one rises, the other falls, and this was done beautifully. My heart is aching.
It's very hard for me to choose a favourite character. I loved Ki and his journey. Tyler is a wonderful character and I loved their interactions. She was like a ray of sunlight, and the revelations about her as the story progresses have me so excited for the next book! Harrison broke my heart... I have many thoughts and feelings, and I am so invested in him for the sequel too. I won't say anything else because of spoilers, but yes, very interested to see where the story takes him next...
Something that stood out to me about The Reckoning is how well the author balances an exciting plot (the Reckoning itself) with romantic relationships, personal realisations, traumatic experiences, and many other complex themes. I thought the plot and character development was weaved so well throughout the novel. I'm so interested to learn more about the conflict between the Darkbloods and the Lightbloods, and to see how the characters will take their places in the coming conflict.
It's very hard for me to choose a favourite character. I loved Ki and his journey. Tyler is a wonderful character and I loved their interactions. She was like a ray of sunlight, and the revelations about her as the story progresses have me so excited for the next book! Harrison broke my heart... I have many thoughts and feelings, and I am so invested in him for the sequel too. I won't say anything else because of spoilers, but yes, very interested to see where the story takes him next...
Something that stood out to me about The Reckoning is how well the author balances an exciting plot (the Reckoning itself) with romantic relationships, personal realisations, traumatic experiences, and many other complex themes. I thought the plot and character development was weaved so well throughout the novel. I'm so interested to learn more about the conflict between the Darkbloods and the Lightbloods, and to see how the characters will take their places in the coming conflict.
Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels by Gwen Hayes
5.0
I re-read this today for... reasons ;)
Essentially this is the only writing craft book on romance you will ever need to read, imo. It's short, snappy, clearly-explained, and written in an engaging and helpful way. For anyone new to writing romance, or who would like to check up the beats in their romantic subplot, I would highly recommend this read.
Essentially this is the only writing craft book on romance you will ever need to read, imo. It's short, snappy, clearly-explained, and written in an engaging and helpful way. For anyone new to writing romance, or who would like to check up the beats in their romantic subplot, I would highly recommend this read.
Wings of Insurgence by Skye Horn
5.0
Now *that's* how you end a series!
I have a bit of an ache in my chest writing this review. To see Thea come full circle from where she began in Wings of Fate, to the end of Wings of Insurgence, was so moving!
Wings of Insurgence manages to be packed with action while also tying up loose ends, giving the many wonderful characters endings appropriate to their journeys, while upping the stakes and danger.
Kieran has always been my favourite character, and, yes, I absolutely cried.
I think anyone who has been enjoying the series so far will be delighted by the final installment!
I can't wait to see where Skye Horn takes us next!
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.
I have a bit of an ache in my chest writing this review. To see Thea come full circle from where she began in Wings of Fate, to the end of Wings of Insurgence, was so moving!
Wings of Insurgence manages to be packed with action while also tying up loose ends, giving the many wonderful characters endings appropriate to their journeys, while upping the stakes and danger.
Kieran has always been my favourite character, and, yes, I absolutely cried.
I think anyone who has been enjoying the series so far will be delighted by the final installment!
I can't wait to see where Skye Horn takes us next!
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.
Sir Bennet by Nicolette Beebe
5.0
Just like 'Mar King' (possibly even more so?), 'Sir Bennet' is a bingeable read! I got to maybe one third of the way through the book and then literally could not stop reading until I found out how it ended. Beyond the Splitters and the ruined world, what really captivates me about this series is the love story between Sara and Dexter. After everything they experienced in the first book, 'Sir Bennet' felt like a desperate sprint towards peace and happiness on a horizon that was always just out of reach. And oh boy, do Sara and Dexter have to earn their happy ending! The love between these two characters shines through on every page. Dexter is wonderfully protective, yes, but some of my favourite moments were always when he just stepped back to admire Sara's bravery and capability. His respect and adoration for her sits at the heart of this story. And the romance... :) It was lovely to meet the whole family, and I'm so excited for the potential sequel!
Danseur by Ruth Miranda
5.0
Danseur is a heartrending, beautiful contemporary M/M romance read. Following the death of his husband, vulnerable Jai starts to rent their house to actor and dancer DaoShi, whose star is at risk of waning. What follows is a tender, heartbreaking story about a fledgling romance between two individuals struggling with different aspects of themselves and their pasts. Ruth Miranda's handle on emotion in the story is absolute, flowing seamlessly from sweet to steamy, sharp to sensual, leaving the reader carried along on the raw emotional experience of the two MCs. With legacies of an abusive relationship and eating disorder carried between the pair of them, there are times when Jai and DaoShi's story can be difficult to read, but the overarching theme is one of love, support, companionship and friendship, a 'you and me against the world' sort of feeling. The pacing and structure of the novel is on point, the characterisation rich and deep. I want to shelter Jai in my heart, and the ending of the novel left me with such a heavy emotional weight that it took me a while to get myself together enough to write this review! A must-read <3
Re-read in a day because when I'm in a certain mood, there's no other story I want to read than 'Danseur'.
Re-read in a day because when I'm in a certain mood, there's no other story I want to read than 'Danseur'.