A Fate Inked in Blood

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle Jensen | 418 pages | 2024

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood

Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood -- 94 pages

When Aethelthryth—“Ethel” to her modern-day Manhattan neighbors—finds her sworn nemesis Lazlo Enyedi with no memory of who or what they are, an ancient hunt becomes an unexpected chance at forbidden passion. He’s crashing on her couch, solving her sudoku puzzles, and looking at her like she’s his eternal flame (minus the whole bursting-into-ashes part). As his memories slowly return, Ethel realizes she might be in danger of losing more than just her head…

Until the World Falls Down

 Until the World Falls Down by Jordan Lynde 544 pages

 

Synapsis: When a brutal betrayal leaves Nell heartbroken and alone, she makes a desperate wish for love, recklessly offering anything in exchange.

Her plea is heard by Enver, an immortal as wicked as he is beautiful. He sweeps Nell away to his castle that seems to exist out of time and presents her with a bargain: escape his labyrinth within forty-eight hours or surrender to eternity as his lover.

Nell vows to conquer the labyrinth, despite the dangerous attraction she feels for its monstrous ruler. But every stolen moment with him leaves her craving more. And every step deeper into the castle reveals hidden truths about herself…and the curse that holds Enver captive.

Torn between her desire for love and the dark being incapable of loving her, Nell faces an impossible choice. And her time is running out.

My Thoughts: This book is for all of my David Bowie Labyrinth fans! It's Labyrinth meets Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed this book, be forewarned there is a ton of smut in this book though. The infamous ball scene with the mirrors, the labyrinth, brooding male. This book, I liked up until the last couple of chapters. I then figured out there will be a second book... It was worth the read though and I got to see what that old movie would be like if it was an adult version!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

 The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab 448 pages 

Synapsis: A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget. France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever―and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

My Thoughts: 

I thought this book had an exciting idea, what if you could live forever, stay the same age, but the moment you left someone's eye sight they would forget about you. I liked the character's in this book, I enjoyed getting to know Addie and going through life with her. The "devil" or whatever you want to call him was an excellent villain. I enjoyed this book.

A Harvest of Hearts

 A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames 448 pages

Synapsis: 

Before Foss Butcher was Snagged, she thought no more of the magic-users than did anyone else in her tiny village. Sometimes gorgeous women in impossible carriages rolled into town and took bits of people’s hearts. Everyone knew hearts fueled their magic. But Foss, plain, clumsy, and practical as a boot, never expected anyone would want hers.

True enough, when the only sorcerer in the kingdom stepped from his glossy carriage, he didn’t intend to hook Foss. Sylvester’s riot of black curls and perfectly etched cheekbones caught her eye a moment too long, that was all. Suddenly, Foss is cursed and finds herself stomping toward the grand City to keep his enchanted House, where her only friend is a talking cat and the walls themselves have moods.

But as Foss learns the ways of magic, she realizes she’s far from its only unwilling captive. Even Sylvester is hemmed in by spells and threats. It’s said this sorcery protects king, country, and order for thousands. If Foss wants to free herself—and, perhaps, Sylvester—she’ll have to confront it all . . . and uncover the blight nestled in the heart of the kingdom itself.

My Thoughts: 

This book was so good! It had the elements of Howl's Moving Castle which I loved, always been a fan of that book and movie! The magic system was a little lacking as I wanted to know more about it and we only got a little information on how it worked and what exactly it was. There's a talking cat in it though! 

Birds of Prey, Volume 2: Worlds Without End by Kelly Thompson

Birds of Prey, Vol. 2: Worlds Without End by Kelly Thompson

Birds of Prey (2023) #2, 176 pages

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The series being called, “The Best Superhero Book Right Now” by The Hollywood Reporter makes its return from writer Kelly Thompson and artist Javier Pina. When shocking revelations in the wake of the team’s first mission lead to a conspiracy against the Birds, our crew of face-punching feathered friends will jump into action. It’s a new team and a new mission. Plus, making her much-anticipated return is one of the original Birds, Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl.

Review

A little bit slower than the first volume, but it was still enjoyable. The different worlds having a different artist each time was pretty fun, compared to an otherwise mediocre story. But I think this series has piqued my interest enough to keep giving it a shot!

Bone, Volume 5: Rock Jaw Master of the Eastern Border by Jeff Smith

Bone, Volume 5: Rock Jaw Master of the Eastern Border by Jeff Smith

Bone, 116 pages

⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Trying to return a rat creature cub to the mountains, Fone & Smiley Bone encounter yet another adversary: the sly and mighty mountain lion, Rock Jaw.

In this fifth volume of the BONE saga, Fone and Smiley Bone strike out into the wilderness to return a lost rat creature cub to the mountains. It doesn't take long before they run smack into Rock Jaw, "Master of the Eastern Border," an enormous mountain lion with a none-too-friendly disposition. Life gets even more complicated when they befriend a group of baby animals who are being orphaned by rat creature attacks. Everything comes to a head in an earth-shattering clash between Rock Jaw and Kingdok, the leader of the rat creatures.

Review

This volume really slowed down the story, because they spend the entire time on this mountain and it gets a little repetitive. It offers up a bit more of the lore, but it was probably the most boring way to do so. The characters are just so likeable that it makes it hard to completely dislike any of these volumes.