The Assassin in the Castle (Crown of Lies, Book 2) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

This series keeps getting better.

I dropped everything else to read this book as I had enjoyed the first book so much. I wasn’t disappointed. This book was equally engrossing and I could not put it down. Yet again, it felt like it ended too soon because I was so immersed in it. There was action, fighting, politics and a lot of sexual tension. There were non-explicit scenes of a sexual nature.

This is the second book in a new Historical Fantasy Romance series from HP Mallory and JR Rain. The book is set in a fantasy realm in and around the Kingdom of Woodfall Gath.

Charlotte soon finds herself accompanying Nicolo on a personal journey outside the gath, which would give her ample opportunity to carry out her mission. However, when they leave the castle and the politics behind, she sees a new side of him and finds she is unable to do so. She’s already taken too long and assassins are now coming for her. 

Much like the Genie from Aladdin, I found myself shouting at Charlotte to tell him the truth; to explain everything, including the captive boy with the violet eyes. Much like Aladdin, Charlotte withheld the truth for too long and unsurprisingly, there were consequences to that. 

These characters are very well thought out. The worldbuilding is brilliant and the story so believable that I didn’t want it to end. I have a theory on the identity of the boy with the violet eyes but I don’t know whether to write it here in case I am right. I can’t wait for book three.

The reading order so far

Crown of Lies, Book 1 : The Man with the Violet Eyes

Crown of Lies, Book 2 : The Assassin in the Castle

Available from Amazon

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR, Book 1) - Sarah J Mass

Brilliant read. Blew me away. 

I have been looking at people singing the praises of this series for a while now and finally decided to give it a go. I don't know why I waited so long. It's absolutely brilliant. I was glued to it from start to finish. 

The writing is smooth and easy to read. The worldbuilding is excellent. The characters are well developed, have depth and continue to grow throughout the book. I found myself really rooting for the main female character, far more than I usually do. 

The story has some twists and turns and a lot of action and tension. I could not put it down. I was completely engrossed. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I can't wait to get the next book.

Available from Amazon

Rise of the Tobian Princess : D.L. Gardner

An epic tale of war and magic, love and loss, good and evil, family and foe. 

Rise of the Tobian Princess is the first book in the Sword of Cho Nisi trilogy; a planned fantasy saga set in faraway lands in an age before technology. This is a tale of war and magic, love and loss, good and evil, family and foe. 

The Kingdoms of Potamia and Cho Nisi are threatened by a malevolent magical entity. They must ally to fight it but when tragedy befalls the Cho Nisi King before a mission to support Potamian troops, can the alliance hold? 

Erika, youngest of the Potamian princesses, is determined to go into battle alongside her brother to fight for the land of her people but her inexperienced actions trigger political upheaval and jeopardise the fragile alliance. 

Arell, the new King of Cho Nisi, is forced into a role he didn’t want and is unprepared for. Can he get past the untimely death of his Father to rule his island of peaceful magic users fairly while maintaining an alliance with the Kingdom where his Father was slain?

The writing is beautifully descriptive, painting a clear picture for the reader and the world building is wonderful and complex. The array of characters and cultures grow as the story unfolds. I found myself invested in their journeys and lifestyles. I celebrated their successes and felt their losses. 

There are battles, politics, magic, monsters and still within that there is love and family. I am very much looking forward to book two. 

Available from Amazon 

Demi-Fae (The Nancarow Saga Book 2) : Molly Storm

This is the second book in the Nancarow saga. I originally read this in July 2020.

In this book we see Malena Nancarow develop and really start to grow into herself, increasingly reflecting her Fae heritage. The decisions she made in book 1 see her drawn into the political intrigue of her adopted home as the threat of war between two factions of Fae grows increasingly near. 

Malena continues to investigate her family history while searching for her former love. She explores her changing feelings as she becomes closer to the Fae who surround her especially towards one Fae in particular. 

The story is filled with politics, the threat of war, magic, imprisonment, rescue and love. There is a third book to come and I’m looking forward to it. 

Available from Amazon.

Nancarow (The Nancarow Saga Book 1) : Molly Storm

Nancarow is the first book in this fantasy saga. I originally read this book in July 2020.

This book is a voyage of self discovery centred around Malena Nancarow, a young woman who ventures into the unfamiliar realm of the Fae to rescue the person who she believes is the love of her life. 

Malena will have to overcome her fear of the Fae, something instilled in her since childhood, to journey through the Fae realm of Arcadia. Along the way she unearths the secrets of her mixed heritage and faces difficult choices which result in an abrupt change to the direction of the path she thought her future would take her down.

This story of magic, Fae, fairies and life in another realm drew me in from the start. It’s well written, the characters are relatable and grow with the story and by the end of this book I was left wanting more.

Available from Amazon.