Gilded Ruins

Gilded Ruins by Chantal Gadoury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an E-ARC copy of Gilded Ruins from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to read Gilded Ruins, the sequel to Blinding Night. Continuing the story of Summer and Darce, as they try to make the world around them recognize and accept their love. I love the way the author weaves together the modern and ancient ways of humans, gods and goddesses. With some unexpected twists and turns, the story is engaging and entertaining. I did find that I wanted to learn more about the story of Morpheus and Persephone. Their unique relationship made me feel a but sad with the final ending. I will also admit, the switch to the plural personal pronoun "they" for a character, first left me confused - as I was trying to find a new character, or a two headed monster, that I missed onboard the yacht.

If you read Blinding Night - you must take time to read Gilded Ruins - you will be captivated!

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Skies of Olympus: Books One, Two & Three by Eliza Raine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just finished reading The Skies of Olympus 1- 6, and I will admit, I was so captivated in the story, I didn't really pause to see where one book ended and another began.

Skies of Olympus: Books One, Two & Three
The story started off with so much going on that I was swiftly overwhelmed and had to stop, go back, and reread the entire first chapter to make sure I knew what was happening. Characters, creatures, and story line are so vivid, that you need to take your time in the beginning.
Take everything you have learned about the Greek gods, and then shake up some of your knowledge of the heroes and demi-gods. Captain Lyssa is a wild young woman, commanding a small but fierce crew of smugglers. Her bold actions and family ties draw her into a race for immortality, 12 trials from the gods, to see what humans, giants, and heroes are made of. Not everyone plays by the rules, especially not the gods creating them.

I received an ARC of this book from the author. This is my honest review.

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Goddess of Fate Series

Inevitable by Tamara Hart Heiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting YA read, creative twists on unknowns of mythology. Jayne is a high school student challenged by a secret power - she can smell death - and she doesn't know why. This book is the first in her journey, learning about her power, why she has it, and what she can do with it. All of this while trying to be your average teenager, going to school, making car payments, trying to work a part-time job, and falling out or into love.

Inevitable is the first in a 4 book series, and I was able to read them in order, thanks to the author supplying me with the books in return for my review.

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Hexen's Binding

Hexen's Binding by J. Kowallis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I finished reading Hexen's Cross, I was very happy to start the sequel the next day. The journey gets better with each turn of the page. Taran faces chaos as her life is altered from her experiences in Bryden. Relationships with the Donovans and her own family members take on new paths that continue to force Taran to grow and develop into a powerful Hexen, trying to understand her role in an ancient prophesy. The ending is a cliff hanger, so now I'll be counting down the days for the next book in this fantastic series!

I received Hexen's Binding ARC in exchange for my review.

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Hexen's Cross

Hexen's Cross by J. Kowallis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I loved this book - the characters, the story, the action. Everything was woven together into a fantastic reading experience. Taran is a strong female lead, pulled into a magical whirlwind adventure. She is uprooted from the world she knows, and learns to stand strong in a new and challenging environment. I don't want to give anything away. Just go read this book!

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Life After: The Complete Series by Julie Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just finished listening to the audiobooks for the Life After series. Such a wonderfully engaging story weaving together fantasy, faith, and love. Audrey is a captivating main character, and it is easy to fall in step with her journey. Each of the books adds layers and new dimensions to Audrey's time learning about herself, her spirituality, and her relationships with those around her.

Honestly, I was not a big fan of the narrators using multiple character voices. When either narrator was speaking as a character of the opposite sex, I was immediately drawn out of the story. So much so, that I often had to pause the book, go back and listen to refocus on the words and try to ignore the voice. That feature was disappointing, as the story itself was highly engaging. I do wish I had just been reading the digital book, rather than the audio.



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Huntress by Julie Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished listening to the audiobook, and I must admit, I am intrigued. Audrey is a strong female character, perfectly flawed. Her journey is intriguing, and worth following.

During my original scan of the reviews, I didn't pick up on the "Christian writer" label, but did notice as the story unfolded. However, it wasn't a preachy style - it was an inquisitive, cautious, and engaging adventure into an afterworld that combines ancient and modern cultures and myths (from Pandora's box to Star Trek), into a questioning (not challenging) approach towards the role of God in the afterlife.

I am new to audiobooks - and I wasn't particularly thrilled with the "voices" of the supporting characters. The contrast in voices pulled me out, rather than drew me in, but the story arc kept me listening.

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