THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE (Spellshop #2) by SARAH BETH DURST

 THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE (Spellshop #2) by SARAH BETH DURST ( Pgs 375)

Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.

This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home.

But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again.

This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

A Fire in the Sky

 A Fire in the Sky Sophie Jordan (A Fire in the Sky #1), 336 pages       

 Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying. But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard.

To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride...but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.

Magic is not dead...it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

I love romantasy, but this book didn't keep my interest. Because of that, it was difficult to even finish. It was very slow and didn't get to the "real story" until the last few chapters. I did like the characters, and because of the cliff-hanger at the end, I am intrigued to know what happens next.

  

Accomplice to the Villain

Accomplice to the Villain bk 3 by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 336 pages

Summary: Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.

A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.

My Thoughts: I still love this series and I can't believe it's still going and that there will be a 4th book! This one has even more treachery, evilness, betrayals, and humor. I love the subtlety of adding in the fairytale about "The Frog Prince". The prophecy has gotten more out of hand and of course they are interpreting it completely wrong. The King everyone is trying to murder/overthrow is even more horrid in this one. It's just been a wild ride and I'm just along for it.  

Enchantra

 Enchantra Bk 2  by Kaylie Smith 448 pages

Summary: Genevieve Grimm has felt adrift ever since her sister became the head of the family. So when a mysterious friend of their mother's invites her to Italy, she accepts. She arrives at his grand palace, expecting passion and magic, decadence and luxury... perhaps even a midnight ball.

She doesn't expect the owner's ruthlessly handsome son to slam the door in her face. Rowin Silver is tall, dark, and exceptionally rude, and invitation or not, he demands Genevieve leave and never come back. But Genevieve follows nobody's orders, especially those of arrogant rich boys. She slips inside—and immediately discovers her mistake.

Rowin and his family are caught in an insidious game of hide and seek, where only one can win. The rest will be trapped in Hell... until the competition begins again.

Genevieve must either join the hunt or forfeit any hope of escaping. But to her dismay, her best chance of survival lies with Rowin. Since lovers may play as a pair, Rowin and Genevieve agree to form an alliance under the guise of a fake courtship. However, as they race through the game's elaborate labyrinth, trapped among gleaming gold and shining marble, their loathing gives way to irresistible attraction. Only Rowin is keeping secrets, especially when it comes to his ruthless family, and Genevieve can't help but wonder if she's trapped in two treacherous games: Enchantra and the one Rowin is playing with her heart.

My Thoughts: This book was very different from the first of the series, Phantasma. We didn't get to truly understand Genevieve in the first book and I loved the deeper look we got into her in this book! The Games were in a sense more interesting in this book, because the games revolve around Immortals and they have to play it each year, whereas in the first book, random humans would play and then never play again. So the dynamic was definitely different, Exciting read, the ending was pretty fast, and I hope there's another book as there are TOO many unanswered questions from both books

The Hemlock Queen

 The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten 400 Pages

Summary: In the second installment of New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten's lush, romantic epic fantasy series, a young woman who can raise the dead must navigate the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King's royal court.

The corrupt king August is dead. Prince Bastian has seized the throne and raised Lore—a necromancer and former smuggler—to his right hand side. Together they plan to cut out the rot from the heart of the sainted court and help the people of Dellaire. But not everyone is happy with the changes. The nobles are sowing dissent, the Kyrithean Empire is beating down their door, and Lore's old allies are pulling away. Even Prince Bastian's changed. No longer the hopeful, rakish, charismatic man Lore knows and loves, instead he's reckless, domineering and cold.

And something's been whispering in her ear. A voice, dark and haunting, that's telling her there's more to the story than she knows and more to her power than she can even imagine. A truth buried deep that could change everything.

With Bastian's coronation fast approaching and enemies whispering on all sides, Lore must figure out how to protect herself, her prince, and her country before they all come crumbling down and whatever dark power has been creeping through the catacombs is unleashed.

My Thoughts:  It was harder for me to get into this second book of the series. I really enjoyed the first and the fact that Lore seemed like an Anti-Hero to me. This book had a love triangle which was annoying to me. However, the storyline continued in an excellent way and I love the descriptions the author gives. 

Night Meets the Elf Queen

 Night Meets the Elf Queen Book 4 by J.M. Kearl 486 pages

Summary: Layala Lightbringer has embraced her goddess side, Valeen, but she has the fight of her life against the Council of the Gods before she can reclaim her throne and immortality.

No longer is she the confused, lost elf afraid of her power. She is a primordial goddess and wife to the god of mischief and magic, Hel. She, Hel, and Thane have a vendetta to settle, and she will rain down the very stars on her enemies to protect those she loves.

But the enemy is ruthless, powerful, and cunning. Everyone she loves is threatened, including her beloved sister Katana, and the existence of Palenor.

The council wants what she has and they’ve hunted her through the ages to get it. But she won’t give up, and she won’t give in. The drums of war steadily beat, but the queen is back and ready to take what’s rightfully hers.

Summary: When I tell you I LOVED LOVED LOVED this series. I was so excited for the last book, I couldn't start reading it because I DIDN'T want it to end! It was the perfect conclusion to this exhilarating series! Turmoil, war, heartbreak, love, enemies, all existing to keep the reader enticed and not ready for the series to end. I absolutely adored this series and recommend it to anyone who enjoys High Fantasy! I cried when I finished this series. 

Assistant to the Villain

 Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 342 pages

Summary: ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.
After all, a good job is hard to find.

My Thoughts: I Loved this book! The humor and banter between the Villain and Evie was the Best! I liked the flow of the story and the mystery behind it. It's hard to describe this book, but if you enjoy fantasy and humor and a devilishly handsome Villain, I would recommend it. 

The Foxglove King

 The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten 467 Pages 

Summary: When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne'er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

My Thoughts:  Going into this book I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it. The first couple of pages it was weird (to me, I don't know if I was in the mood to read this type of book). However, it got really interesting when she heads to the castle. The "love triangle" wasn't as excruciating as some of the other love triangled books I've read. I enjoyed the magic aspect and I really enjoyed the characters. You have power hungry characters, an anti-hero, unwanted destiny character, and a character in denial. I am exctied to read the second book whenever I get the chance to.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

 Sword Catcher

2023 | 624 Pages

Summary: In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill.

Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword Catcher—the body double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are as close as brothers, but Kel knows that his destiny is to die for Conor. No other future is possible.

Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community whose members still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls within the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend without access to forbidden knowledge.

After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces.

As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will their discoveries plunge their nation into war—and the world into chaos? (Courtesy of Goodreads)

Review: Reading this a second time was definitely a great way to recap the story before I dive into the sequel that recently came out. Its that sort of story where you still find more details on each reread and it really emphasizes the author's attention to the world building and characters. I highly recommend this story to fantasy lovers out there!

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros with Rebecca Soler (Narrator), Teddy Hamilton (Narrator) - 21 hrs., 22 min (517 p.)

"Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die."--Provided by publisher

If you are a fantasy/romantasy lover, this wildly popular book is absolutely already on your radar. Now that it's been out for a couple of years, opinions have formed and it's a divisive title of "love it or hate it." I am in the LOVE IT camp! This was a re-read for me, in preparation for the 3rd book in the series being published. My previous review: "This seemed to be the "it book" of the summer, and it was right up my ally, so I dove right in. I feel like it deserved the hype. It was well-written, with great world building and a great female lead. Can't wait for the next book in the series!" This was my first book narrated by Soler, and it took me a while to settle into her reading. I feel like she did a pretty good job, though I was disappointed in the obvious disregard for pronouncing Gaelic correctly. 

 

THE LAST DRAGON OF THE EAST by KATRINA KWAN

 THE LAST DRAGON OF THE EAST by KATRINA KWAN  (320 Pages)

At the spry young age of twenty-five, Sai has led a quiet life, keeping the family teahouse up and running—even if that means ignoring the past-due notices—and taking care of his ailing mother. But he has a not-so-secret gift that he’s parlayed into a side career: he was born with the ability see the red threads of fate between soulmates, which lends itself nicely to matchmaking. Sai has thus far been content not to follow his own thread, the only one he’s ever seen that’s gray and fraying.

But Sai’s ordinary existence is about to be turned upside-down by a pair of shining dragon scales. When his mother’s doctor sells them to him, claiming them as a miracle cure, Sai is pretty sure he’s being scammed. When the medicine actually works—and the terrifying, ruthless emperor catches wind—Sai is thrust into the search for a dragon long thought extinct that will lead him into the throes of a brewing war and deep into foreign lands, facing down challenges both magical and mortal on an unexpected adventure. And for the very first time, as his own thread of fate begins to move, he may be able to solve the mystery of his Fated One on the other end of the line.

Loved this book, read it in one day!