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Friday 17 November 2023

Wrath of the Dragon King by Brandon Mull


Wrath of the Dragon King (Dragonwatch, #2)Wrath of the Dragon King by Brandon Mull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 2 of the Dragonwatch series is a total rollercoaster - where do I even start? The narrative seamlessly continues from the first book, and I found myself completely enraptured by the twists and turns. I experienced a whirlwind of emotions - worry, uncertainty, and a plethora of feelings, the kind that all good books gift you when written with exceptional world-building and characters.

This book delves deeper into a few new characters, and there's one I dislike with a fiery passion at this point, but it all contributes to this crazy ride.

More than once, I thought I had everything figured out, only to be completely shocked at the end. I wasn't expecting that and felt totally floored. I can't express how immensely I loved this book; it's quickly become one of my favorites out of the two I've read so far.

Now, I can't wait to move on to the next book, though I'm a bit worried and unsure of where it might go. Let's hope it's as amazing as this one

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Dragonwatch (Dragonwatch, #1)Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Guess who's back in the enchanting world of Fablehaven? Yep, it's me! So, after devouring the first set of books that wrapped up the saga, I never thought there'd be more. But then, bam! News of new books in the same world hits, and I'm all in. Enter the Dragonwatch series, starring the same awesome kids from Fablehaven. That alone had me sold.

Now, I'll admit I was a bit worried. I mean, I loved Fablehaven so much that I feared the new books might not live up to it. But you know what? I tore through the first book in record time, and oh boy, did I love it.

It's got everything—adventure, danger, magic, you name it. And let me tell you, it kicks off with a bang. No slow buildup here; the author catapults us straight into the action, and I'm loving every moment of it.

I wish I could spill all the details, but spoilers, right? All I can say is, this new series has me seriously hopeful for what's to come. Solid five stars from me!

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Wednesday 15 November 2023

Crimson Queen (Blood & Flame Saga #4) Crimson Queen by E.A. Winters

 

Crimson Queen (Blood & Flame Saga #4)Crimson Queen by E.A. Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, I blitzed through the whole series in record time, and here we are at the last book. No disappointments, folks. The storyline, true to form, picked up right where the last left off, and within a few chapters, chaos ensued. Old faces resurfaced, playing their parts—some causing trouble, others adding to the stakes.

Without giving too much away, let me just say this book made me despise two characters so intensely that I wished I could reach into the pages and give them a piece of my mind. But hey, that just made everything more intense, right?

I appreciated the turnaround of some characters; it warmed my heart and solidified my appreciation for the series. While I missed a few characters from the previous book, it was clear they found what they'd been searching for—the promise our lead had made.

Now, the ending—no spoilers, but it went out with a bang. It wrapped up nicely, yet left a lingering tone, suggesting there might be more if the author chooses to explore it. That open-endedness lets your imagination run wild.

In conclusion, a fantastic series that's absolutely worth a read. The quality and storyline blew me away. Sad it's over, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye on what the author cooks up next. πŸ“šπŸ”₯

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Noble Claims (Blood & Flame Saga #3) Noble Claims by E.A. Winters

 

Noble Claims (Blood & Flame Saga #3)Noble Claims by E.A. Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, Book 3—it's a wild ride. We get to meet a bunch of new characters, and let me tell you, a couple of them really got under my skin. Like, I-want-to-feed-them-to-a-dragon level of annoyance. But hey, that just means the author knows how to make you care, right?

The action might not be as crazy as the last book, but there's something about the story that keeps you hooked. I couldn't put it down, especially towards the end. Yeah, I might have shed a tear or two. Don't judge; it got emotional.

What surprised me was that the main character kinda steps back in this one. Usually, that bugs me, but it worked. Other characters got a chance to shine, and you see different sides of them. It's like the author decided to shake things up a bit, and I'm here for it.

Honestly, I think I liked this one even more than the last two. Maybe it's the twists, maybe it's the characters coming into their own. As I gear up for the last book, fingers crossed that it wraps up this saga just as strong. πŸ“š✨

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Broken Bonds (Blood & Flame Saga #2) Broken Bonds by E.A. Winters

 

Broken Bonds (Blood & Flame Saga #2)Broken Bonds by E.A. Winters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 2 of the Blood and Flame Saga picks up right where the last book left off. The writing maintains its easy-to-read quality, allowing me to finish the book within a few hours. The storyline was enjoyable, although there were moments when I desperately wanted to slap some characters and scream at them. It was challenging for me not to get irritated and disappointed with certain characters' behaviors, but that emotional engagement is part of the joy of reading. Semra is a complex lead character, exhibiting both strength and vulnerability. While her inner struggles sometimes frustrate me, I can empathize with her character, and I hope to see some positive changes in the next book.

Overall, the book was excellent. Was it better than the first one? I'm not certain. It maintained the same level of quality, but I can't definitively say it surpassed the first. I was content with the overall story and character development. The only aspect that slightly disappointed me was the shift between characters, something that wasn't as prominent in the first book. Nevertheless, I'm very satisfied with my reading experience and look forward to the next installment.

Rating: 4 stars

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Sunday 12 November 2023

Blood & Flame Saga #1 Dragon's Kiss E.A. Winters review 4 stars

 

Blood & Flame Saga #1 Dragon's Kiss E.A. Winters 

Description: Every month, the great black dragon comes.

Every month, a child is snatched.

That's all the village of Kalma knows.

But Semra was one of those children, and she knows the truth: there is a dragonlord in the mountain, raising the children into his own personal syndicate of assassins.

When seventeen-year-old Semra learns they aren’t fighting evil but are in fact evil themselves, she risks everything to expose the dragonlord. As one young, nobody assassin against the king's security and an army of her former colleagues bent on her destruction, Semra must uncover the truth and save the royal family before the dragonlord rips them apart and plunges the kingdom into war.


Review

 Where do I start with this... 'Dragon's Kiss' is book one of the Blood & Flame Saga by E.A. Winters. I stumbled across this book while trying to find something new to read after finishing the Fablehaven series and waiting for my new books to get here. I was a little worried at first due to the fact that it was free with Kindle Unlimited, but I am a massive sucker for dragons and assassins, and reading the book details, it had both, so I downloaded it.

The book was easy to read, the wording and descriptiveness of places good but not overdone to the point where the reader has spent a whole page describing a rock. No, the writing style here was clear and easy, which made reading the book easy. As someone that loves to read at a fast pace, I was not finding myself lost in the mass of overcomplicated wording or looking stuff up to find out what something was. I found the writing here very smooth, which made my submersion into the book easy.

The storyline of the book was interesting and exciting. From the first page, it throws you into the world headfirst, like I was being waterboarded in a dungeon. I dislike books that are slow, and nothing happens until the 8th chapter. By that point, I am normally bored and uninvested, but there was no problem with this book. It started in the action and carried on throughout with moments of respite that gave you a second to breathe before you are hit with the next full force of action.

The lead female, Semra, is very likable. I love my main characters to have a lot of heart and a great story to tell. The banter between Semra and some of the others is amazing and had me smiling throughout. Now, let's move on to my downsides...

I felt that Zezura did not get as much use as I would have liked. I felt a little disconnected to her and underwhelmed by her usage sometimes, which is as I felt like more could have been done with her. The last thing has to be the description. I found myself almost forgetting what people looked like or wondering if they had been described and having to go back and check. Apart from that, I was totally impressed and blown away by the quality and fantastic story. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

Well-earned 4 stars.