Friday, September 22, 2017

Book Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Release Date: March 6th, 2017
Read: September 6th-7th, 2017
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 320 pages
Source: McNally Robinson




Description from GoodReads:


   Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

   Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

   Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

   Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

   Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

   But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.


Review:


   Do you ever think about leaving this town?
   I am always subconsciously seeking out mermaid and witch books, that is how The Wicked Deep came to my attention, and of course the gorgeous cover. I'm a sucker for covers with moons, stars and trees. 
   When it comes to villains or the bad guy, I really enjoy learning about their story and how they get to where they were, how they became who they are. The Wicked Deep was perfect for that because we got two different kinds of chapter styles, flashbacks to the past, which focused on the three sisters' history, and the present with the protagonist Penny. Shea Ernshaw wrote the two kinds of chapters perfectly to the point where they both blended together in the end.

   I couldn't help but fall in love with the sisters and their story. They were three independent sisters that would sometimes cause a little mischief, but didn't deserve to die the way they did. The mysteriousness to the sisters made them all that more appealing to me, and I couldn't help but look forward to their chapters.

   I really enjoyed how Shea Ernshaw give the little town the same mysterious vibes as she did the sisters, it made everything that much more entertaining and intriguing. I've read a lot of stories that take place in small unknown towns, and after a while the trend burnt me out, but The Wicked Deep was a refreshing twist on the trend that I'm glad I gave a chance.

   Then finally, I loved the little witch hunt that occurred in the novel. Where all the students attempted to hunt down, and figure out which sister was stowed away in whomever's body. It was a thrill to read about, and I was continuously trying to figure out what sister was where before the characters in the book did. Boy was I wrong!

   Normally standalones don't appeal all that much to me, I, for the most part feel that standalones don't wrap up nicely the way the author intended them too. The Wicked Deep sure showed me differently. The story kept me intrigued, surprised and in love throughout the whole novel.

   The Wicked Deep was a thrilling and magical witch hunt that I'd recommend to all lovers of witches and possibly mermaid tales. I look forward to what Shea Ernshaw has in store for us next!


Rating:



Favourite Quote:


"If only love were so easily conjured, there wouldn't be so many broken hearts."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy: 


Young Adult, Paranormal, Witches, Mystery Vibes, Magic, Courses, Redemption 



Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Book Review: Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

Release Date: September 5th, 2017
Read: July 31st-August 10th, 2017
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Series: The Nighernight Chronicle, #2
Format: ARC, 448 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review




Description from GoodReads:



   Assassin Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church ministry think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending Consul Scaeva and Cardinal Duomo, or avenging her familia. And after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia begins to suspect the motives of the Red Church itself.

   When it’s announced that Scaeva and Duomo will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself to a gladiatorial collegium for a chance to finally end them. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold within the collegium walls, and the body count rises, Mia will be forced to choose between loyalty and revenge, and uncover a secret that could change the very face of her world.


Review:

   
   Memory is a traitor, and a liar, and a good-for-nothing thief.
   Oh my god, I'm literally a mess. Why is it that the books you love the most are the ones you have the hardest time finding words for?

   Jay Kristoff does it again with Godsgrave, creating a masterpiece. Having read Nevernight and Godsgrave back to back, I didn't have to deal with any pain of a cliffhanger, unfortunately I could not say the same for the ending of Godsgrave.

  Godsgrave was filled with murder, mayhem, and so much scheming. Nothing out of the ordinary for Jay Kristoff. The story takes place after a bit of a time jump. In a Nevernight like fashion, the book also goes back and fourth between two different times in Mia's life, slowly leading up to the periods blending together.

   Although I didn't need it after having read the books back to back, the book began with a refresher told from the perspective of the narrator. Going into detail about each character, and what kind of roles they played in Nevernight. It was refreshing to see, and I hope that more fantasy sequels will do the same in the future.

   Without giving too much away, I can tell you that readers will love Godsgrave just as much as they did Nevernight, and will be dying for the final book in the series.

   I highly recommend waiting to read the series until the final book releases, as the cliffhanger is BRUTAL for this one. But if you love pain and torturing yourself, please pick up this series as soon as you can. 

Rating:




Favourite Quote:


"The heavens grant us only one life, but through books, we live a thousand."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Adult, New Adult, Fantasy, Murder, Magic, Shadows, Vengeance, Shadows, Assassins