Tag: fantasy

This Chick Read: A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson

In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance.

When Vivian Featherswallow inadvertently helps break the truce between the dragons and humans she is taken to Bletchley Park where she’s put on a team of codebreakers set to crack the secret dragon language that could help the humans win the war. If she succeeds, she and her family will survive, if she doesn’t they’ll all die. No pressure! As she unravels this new language she discovers corruption in her own government and has to make a decision between the lives of her family and doing what’s right for the world.

S.F. Williamson does a wonderful job of building a world that feels familiar but is completely different than a world where the reader lives. I loved the different dragon species and Finley’s ability to speak different dragon languages really adds to that global feel of different lands where these dragons lived. Her 1920’s London felt very post world war era appropriate that added to the ambience and set the mood.

The story flowed so well. All of the characters were interesting, added to the story and theme, and helped build Viv up into someone who the reader could like. She didn’t start off that way, but by the end of the book she had a redemption arc that left me wanting to know more about her, this world, and what would happen next. All in all I thought it was a solid fantasy novel, with hints of greatness. I’ll definitely be picking up the next novel when it comes out. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Language of Dragons

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: A Broken Contract (Fractured Conclave #2) by Vanessa Nelson

I’m not sure how an author whom I’d never heard of before a year ago made my “must read” list as soon as one of her new books gets released, but Vanessa Nelson is that author for me. For those of you who’ve followed my blog for awhile you know that I read a mish mash of romance and fantasy novels. If those two genre’s are ever combined I’m all over it. Ms. Nelson’s books lean more towards fantasy than romance, but there’s always that hint of chemistry between two of the characters that make me take the leap and it’s her stories that keep me coming back for more.

The Fractured Conclave is her newest series that follows Hallie, who is a skip tracer. Kind of like a bail bondsman and investigator all rolled into one. She lives in a society that is segmented between the elite and then the lower caste, which she was born into, but somehow, through no fault of her own she has inherited some genes that have turned her from being human, into a member of the higher caste. Something that she’s kept secret but has also made her family disown her. Each of these books finds Hallie and Special Investigator Girard combining their strengths into finding someone or solving a mystery. In A Broken Contract, Girard comes to Hallie and asks for her help because some members of the elite have gone missing. As she investigates, Hallie does help Girard, but she also unveils things about her true nature that helps define her in her new place in the world.

Both books in this series have been really great and if you love great world-building and urban fantasy novels you will love these books. Then, just like I did, you will look up her backlist, become overjoyed with the number of books and series that she has written and you will spend the next few months catching up and then eagerly anticipating more.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Broken Contract

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above affiliated link, I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Bride of the Shadow King by Silvia Mercedes

Princess Faraine has been shunned by her people and sent to live in a convent, but when her sister is affianced to the Shadow King Vor, she is brought from the convent by her father to attend her sister and make sure the marriage he wants happens. Faraine and Vor meet on the road when he saves she and her brother from some disreputable Fae and make a connection but knowing a relationship with her would not help his kingdom he chooses her sister to marry.

I have a weakness for romantic-fantasy novels and was really pleased with this plot, characters, and their world. Silvia Mercedes spun a really interesting take on an arranged marriage trope- most likely because their two worlds were so vastly different and viewing those differences through Faraine’s eyes held my attention. Needless to say, the above summation of the plot wasn’t exactly how the story played out but the betrayals and deceit were balanced out by heroics and good deeds making both Faraine and Vor easy to root for because they were so likable.

Some of my favorite moments were prior to the “wedding” when Vor and his people were experiencing the strangeness of Faraine’s world, and then when Faraine was in the depths of Vor kingdom and she was discovering the differences in her new home. Those small details are for me what makes good world building so great and this author did a nice job of painting a picture for the reader, not only of the characters, but of their surroundings. These details gave the book such a nice roundness. As this is a re-release, I immediately go the second novel and continued to read their story- and it was just as good.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Bride of the Shadow King

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- If you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick’s Audio Review: The Road of Bones (The Ashen #1) by Demi Winters

Synopsis: Silla Nordvig is running for her life.

The Queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous quest: travel the treacherous Road of Bones—a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer—and go to Kopa, where a shield house awaits her.

After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. But the queen’s ruthless assassin has other plans and hunts Silla obsessively.Will Silla make it safely to Kopa? Or will she fall prey to the perils of the Road of Bones?

Narrated by Islay Jacobs in a charming English accent, The Road of Bones follows Silla on her journey to get to Kopa with the help of the Blood Axe Crew, led by Reynir, or as she refers to him, Axe eyes. He is a viking-esque warrior who slightly terrifies Silla when she hides away in their wagon as they start their journey on the Road of Bones. When she’s found out, her life is threatened, but it’s her charming nature, and the fact that she can cook that lands her a semi-permanent position with their crew at least to the next town. All the while she has the Queen’s warriors hunting throughout the countryside for her as well as an agent of the queen who has a magical ability that is frankly terrifying but also really useful in getting information out of the people she questions.

This novel is filled with loads of adventure, lots of killing, comradery, and a side of romance. Things that are common in epic tales of heroism and adventure. Silla herself starts off as a young 20 year old girl, but ends the novel a slightly stronger woman who has learned a lot about life’s lessons, evil, and heartbreak. I’ll admit to finding her younger self slightly annoying because she was so naive, and still kind of annoying when she lost that naivete yet still refused to embrace her true self. However, I loved the camaraderie, and tales of adventure. I’ve never read a book by this author but I’ve already checked out the second novel in the series because after 25 hours of listening (truth!) I need to know that Silla is going to embrace her future and become the woman I know she can become.

If you are a fan of epic fantasy novels you may like this series. This first novel has given me hope that a female author can write an epic tale that has a strong female lead that can conquer, kick butt, fall in love and remain someone that I can root for until the end. Fingers crossed that book #2 delivers! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Road of Bones

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate -if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: The House at Watch Hill (The Watch Hill Trilogy #1) by Karen Marie Moning

Zo Grey is mourning the death of her beloved mother when she receives a call from a lawyer stating that she’s the soul beneficiary of a relative in Divinity, Louisiana. Dead broke and no where to call home Zo figures she doesn’t have anything to lose and flies out to Louisiana to hear the details of her inheritance. What she finds is that she has inherited a very large manor on a hill, but she must live in that house for three years before officially becoming the heir. Putting aside her foreboding she moves into this Gothic mansion where she is faced with riddles, secrets, and faces sinister forces that are impossible to comprehend. In order to discover her true identity she must awaken her hidden powers.

I’m a fan of this author’s and really enjoyed both the Fever and Highlander series. I was surprised to receive an ARC for this novel and relished digging into this brand new series. The synopsis sounds eerie and interesting I just knew that I was going to love the main character, Zo, and her story. For some reason though, I had difficulty falling into the story and really had trouble caring for Zo. She was impressively whiny and her character was very dark. Granted, she was going through some tough times, and I tried to give her some slack, but as the book went on she became more unlikable. The characters around her were interesting and ultimately my curiosity about those characters was the reason why I did keep reading. Also, I kept thinking there would be a shift and Zo would evolve into a character I could come to care about but she just never got there. It wasn’t until the final chapter that I became more interested, wondering where the author would take us in the next novel.

If your a fan of this author’s your either going to love or hate this book. I kind of fell in between, but I will admit it was a tough story to love. If it wasn’t for the cliffhanger ending (yes, there is one!) I probably wouldn’t be invested enough to pick up the second novel. However, she made me just curious enough that I know I’ll give it a try. I have hope that Zo becomes more interesting, less self-serving, and a bit more about her background is explained! ❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The House on Watch Hill

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Storm of Secrets and Sorrow (Legacy Series #2) by Melissa K. Roehrich

Control has slipped through Theon St. Orcas’s fingers. He’s been given a task by the rulers of the realm and he’s racing against the clock to get his plans back on track. Everyone wants something from Tessa and she trusts no one, including the one she is still tied to, Theon. She has plenty of secrets and is busy navigating this realm full of villains.

Tessa and Theon have two marks now and are tied closer than before. He’s responsible for keeping her safe but a mysterious group thinks they’d save the world if they ended her life. Lucky for Tessa her powers keep getting stronger and she learns she doesn’t need Theon to determine her fate. She is going to determine her own.

I didn’t think this series could get any darker, but whoah! It certainly can! In the first novel we learn a bit about Tessa’s background and why she always vacillates between giving up and fighting back. Thank goodness about half way through this novel she gets her fight on and some of the old Tessa reappears. We have also learned Theon’s plans to save the world which turns him from questionably a bad guy to possibly a good guy? Despite this change in status he still makes bad decisions which again causes a certain someone from mistrusting him. Will they or won’t they ever choose the same side? On to book #3 which comes out in October!

Again, if you have triggers regarding death, small places, destruction, violence and end of the world prophecies, this may not be the series for you. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Rain of Shadows and Beginnings (Legacy Series #1) by Melissa K. Roehrich

Every five years eligible Fae are gathered for the Selection and are required to serve one of the six Kingdoms. To be chosen to serve as the Source for a chosen Heir of one of those kingdoms is seen as a huge honor and at this year’s Selection there are six heirs looking for a source. Tessalyn Asura is at the Selection and has not interest in being one of the chosen but finds herself serving as the source for the heir of the mysterious Arius Kingdom. Theon is the heir of death and Tessa is going to do everything possible to escape his control.

I came across this series by chance and am so glad to have discovered a new and really talented author. Rain of Shadows and Beginnings reminds me quite a bit of ACOTAR but unfortunately I don’t think Tessa is going to be able to escape her fate as easily as Feyre did in her series. Tessa is tied to Theon magically and each time she is marked they grow closer needing that physical closeness of touch in order to calm their magic. What is the purpose of being someone’s source you ask? Well, good question! In this magical world of Devram, the Legacy (Theon and his pals) are descendents of gods and the Fae who serve them have elemental powers that are revealed. As a Source, the Legacy would have access to Tessa’s powers, making his own so much stronger. So the heir’s search for the strongest Fae available and Tessa seems to be one of the strongest.

As with a lot of romantic fantasy novels, Rain of Shadows and Beginnings is pretty darn dark. Theon is not the kindest Legacy Tessa could’ve found herself tied to. He has been taught from a very young age a lack of trust and because he doesn’t trust easily he handles Tessa, who is described as uncontrollable, in a manner that is abusive. I would be bothered by this a lot more if Tessa wasn’t such a strong character and fought back as hard as she does. Theon never knows what is coming next. This Fae that he’s chosen is not malleable as he’s seen other Sources be, she argues every point and doesn’t want anything to do with this life that she now lives. Who could blame her! As I found out more about each of their backgrounds I could understand better why they were both reactionary and dark. It didn’t excuse the abuse but it did explain it. It also gave me a reason to root for Tessa, who was a hard character to like.

There were some great side characters in this book as well. I loved Tristyn, Luka, and Axel. Without their involvement this book would’ve just been one dark, hot mess. These guys lightened up the mood and created reasons to see both of our main characters in a different way other than snarky and off putting. Gosh, reading all of the above you might think I disliked this book but I actually liked it a lot! I’m looking forward to book #2!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Rain of Shadows and Endings

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchased this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: A Usual Suspect (Fractured Conclave #1) by Vanessa Nelson

When a friend calls Hallie in a panic, she races to her side to investigate. As a skip tracer, she is used to finding the lost who don’t want to be found. What she finds in Rosalie’s house is a murdered member of the elite and some assassins who try to finish the job by killing them too. Hallie needs to use all of her skills to remove she and her friend from the suspect list and find the killers before they find her.

I can always count on Vanessa Nelson to deliver some great world-building, a strong female lead, and a mystery that hooks the reader into the story and doesn’t let them go until the story is finished. A Usual Suspect delivers on all of these things but is also delivers the promise of more great books to come.

Hallie was a big mystery herself. Being of mixed race, she is not considered human after a near fatal attack in her childhood. She was saved by a mysterious person and has gained inhuman strength, quickness, and healing abilities that are more common among the elite. She also has a truth sense which helps her succeed as a skip tracer with a 100% close rate. As the reader quickly finds out, this is one woman you don’t want on your trail! Not only is Hallie interesting, but this world she lives in as well as the characters we’ve been introduced to are ones I’d like to explore more, but will have to wait a few months for the second novel to be released. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Usual Suspect

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chicks Audio Review: Sanctuary (Roman’s Chronicles #1) by Ilona Andrews

When a wounded boy stumbles into his yard and requests sanctuary, Roman takes him in despite knowing he was bringing trouble to his door. As the Black Volvh to Chernobog, the God of Destruction, Darkness and Death, Roman was looking forward to his three days off drinking egg nog and cookies. Now he has mercenaries surrounding his home and combat mages dousing his house with fire.

Roman is a character in the Kate Daniel’s universe and if you’re a fan of that series, like I am, you are saying to yourself “FINALLY” Roman gets his own story! Roman is a particular favorite because despite his serving Chernobog, he is a man who acts with kindness and has always stood at Kate and Curran’s side in a crisis. In fact, they asked the Black Volvh to marry them! In this book more of Roman’s back story was revealed. How he was called to his position from a small child, how that calling affected his family, and how it shaped him into the man he is today. All while kicking mercenary butt and teaching this young man Finn how to survive his own call of duty. It was a special tale, and it is not down being told. Yay!

Chris Brinkley does a solid job as narrator on this novel. I’ll admit that I had a bit of a stumble when I first heard his voice because I’m a big fan of Penny Reid’s Winston Series and he voices all of those Winston brothers. However, this is not a rom-com and Chris Brinkley lived up to the character he was voicing. His slight southern dialect fits the location for the Kate Daniel’s universe, which is in the Atlanta area, and as far as I know (because I’m not Russian) he did a great job with the pronunciation of all of the characters from that countries mythology. Honestly, anyone could voice an Ilona Andrews novel and I’d fall in line and learn to love it, I like them that much.

In an author’s note at the end is a woman’s voice with what sounds like a Russian accent describing Ilona Andrews use of mythology in their stories. This was an interesting addendum to an already great story and provided more insight into this author duo that I love so much. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this ARC through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this audiobook!* Sanctuary

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Winter Lost (Mercy Thompson #14) by Patricia Briggs

When Mercy’s brother turns up at her home unable to see or speak she and her husband Adam travel to Montana to investigate the origination of the spell he is under. When they arrive they are trapped in a Lodge in a magical winter storm with the family and guests for a wedding that must happen or the world as they know it will come to an end.

This series is one of my all-time favorite urban fantasy novels. I have read each novel, some multiple times, including listening to the audiobooks and I am truly invested in Mercy, Adam, and the Tri-Cities pack. As Coyote’s daughter, readers have seen Mercy grow from a woman living on her own to a woman connected to a pack, Fae leaders, and her own magic growing at a pace where she is viewed as a threat. She is all of these things but it is her humanity and instinct to protect others that draws me to these books. She is tough, yes, but she is the weakest of all of these “beings” living around her and somehow she, like the being she is related to “Coyote”, she outwits everyone and somehow survives attacks that would kill a normal human. Her heart is her greatest asset and her biggest weakness and each novel showcases that humanity in a way that makes me love her even more.

This story does an amazing job of introducing the reader to new mythology in a way that is interesting and somewhat easy to understand. If you are a reader of the entire series you are used to learning as you read, and dissecting this new information and parsing it into whether what you are reading will hurt or help Mercy. How will she get herself, and in this case her brother, out of this mess, and if Mercy will come out of this investigation whole, or at least in the same shape she was in when she started. In this case Mercy carries a hole in her magic from the previous novel. She starts from a position of weakness. How will she possibly come out of this without being hurt more? It’s worth the read to find out! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Winter Lost

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads