Cursebreakers Series (A Curse so Dark and Lonely) by Brigid Kemmerer

Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she's pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what's at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

 

Published:     2019, 2020 and 2021
Publisher:  Bloomsbury YA
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Books 1, 2 and 3, Cursebreakers
Source: Owned

 

MY REVIEW

I read the first book in this series, A Curse So Dark and Lonely back in 2018 when I had very kindly received an advanced readers copy from the publisher and loved it.  It had certainly been my intention of continuing with the series but, for me, I like to try the first book in the series to see whether I like it or not and if I do then I tend to wait until all the books are out in that series and then binge read them one after the other so I get the 'full impact' of the story while you are still in the world.

I loved this trilogy.  I am not sure whether there are going to be any more books in this trilogy/series as the way it was left at the end of the third book left me thinking either way really.  I would be happy if it was left as a trilogy but equally I would love to have more books in this series.  

What I loved about this story was the character development.  Following most of the characters, I found it interesting that characters that I loved at the beginning I ended up hating and vice versa changed the more into this trilogy I got into.  What I also loved was the world and the conflicts that appear between different characters and different 'sanctions' of this world.  

This was such a fun trilogy to read and good one to pick up if you don't want anything too complicated. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review / Partners by John Grisham

JOHN GRISHAM'S FIRST ORIGINAL E-SHORT
 
In this standalone prequel to his #1 bestseller ROGUE LAWYER, John Grisham tells the story of how Sebastian Rudd finally found someone he could trust to be his driver, bodyguard, law clerk, and partner.
 
Sebastian Rudd, rogue lawyer, defends people other lawyers won't go near. It's controversial and dangerous work, which is why Sebastian needs his bodyguard/assistant/sidekick: Partner. So if Sebastian is just about the most unpopular lawyer in town, why is Partner so loyal to him? How did they meet? And what's the real story of this man of few words who's as good with a gun as he is with the law? The surprising answers are all in PARTNERS, John Grisham's first exclusively digital short story.
 

 

 

 

Published:     29th March 2016
Publisher:  Doubleday

Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 0.5, Rogue Lawyer
Source: Owned

 

MY REVIEW

 

I am not usually one to pick up or like short stories in part of a series or continuation of a story as most of the time they don't really add much to the main plot, but this short story is different. If you enjoyed reading Rogue Lawyer, I would strongly recommend picking up this as it gives us more of a background to the dynamic between Sebastian Rudd, the lawyer, and his driver/bodyguard/many other job descriptions I won't list right now.  

Although this is described as a prequel, I actually read this after reading Rogue Lawyer and I found that I appreciated this story so much more knowing what was going to happen afterwards and knowing the characters from Rogue Lawyer.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review / Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham

On the right side of the law. Sort of.
 
Sebastian Rudd is not your typical street lawyer. He works out of a customized bulletproof van, complete with Wi-Fi, a bar, a small fridge, fine leather chairs, a hidden gun compartment, and a heavily armed driver. He has no firm, no partners, no associates, and only one employee, his driver, who’s also his bodyguard, law clerk, confidant, and golf caddy. He lives alone in a small but extremely safe penthouse apartment, and his primary piece of furniture is a vintage pool table. He drinks small-batch bourbon and carries a gun.
 
Sebastian defends people other lawyers won’t go near: a drug-addled, tattooed kid rumored to be in a satanic cult, who is accused of molesting and murdering two little girls; a vicious crime lord on death row; a homeowner arrested for shooting at a SWAT team that mistakenly invaded his house.  Why these clients? Because he believes everyone is entitled to a fair trial, even if he, Sebastian, has to cheat to secure one. He hates injustice, doesn’t like insurance companies, banks, or big corporations; he distrusts all levels of government and laughs at the justice system’s notions of ethical behavior.
 
Sebastian Rudd is one of John Grisham’s most colorful, outrageous, and vividly drawn characters yet. Gritty, witty, and impossible to put down, Rogue Lawyer showcases the master of the legal thriller at his very best.
 

Published:     20th October 2015
Publisher:  Doubleday
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 1, Rogue Lawyer
Source:  Owned

 

MY REVIEW

 

This book was so much fun!   You have this over the top lawyer, Sebastian Rudd, who seems to run 'rogue' (excuse the pun) with no partners to keep him in check, no associates but only one employee which is his driver, bodyguard and many other things. 

What I loved about this was that you follow this lawyer who is completely reckless, diving into the most dangerous situations and not really seeming to be all that worried about it and follow him as he navigates his way in and out of these situations.   I also loved the fact that this story contained so many different cases that Sebastian gets himself into and not any particular one.  For me, the best part of this novel was the character of Sebastian and watching his character develop as we see him in different scenarios.  

I am very intrigued to know more about the dynamic between Sebastian and his bodyguard/driver/many other things and I am guessing I will get some more answers with the short story/novella, Partners, which I plan to pick up next. 

Would highly recommend but don't go into this expecting one massive case from start to finish.  Its more about the characters than the plot, well it was for me.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review / Song of the Nile by Hannah Fielding

 

 Luxor, 1946. When young nurse Aida El Masri returns from war-torn London to her family’s estate in Egypt, she steels herself to face the challenges ahead.

Eight years have passed since her father, Ayoub, was framed for a crime he did not commit and died as a tragic result. Yet Aida has not forgotten, and now she wants revenge against the man she believes betrayed her father – his best friend, Kamel Pharaony.

Then Aida is reunited with Kamel’s son, the captivating surgeon Phares, who offers her marriage. In spite of herself, the secret passion Aida harboured for him as a young girl reignites. Still, how can she marry the son of the man who destroyed her father and brought shame on her family? Will coming home bring her love, or only danger and heartache?
 

 

 

Published:     14th February 2020
Publisher:  London Wall Publishing
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Review Copy from Author

 

 

MY REVIEW

 

I can't tell you how excited I was to delve into this latest book from Hannah Fielding, one of my favourite authors.  In this story, we follow Aida who has been in England since the death of her father, having been born and previously lived in Egypt.  Aida travels back to the family's estate after the war is over (having not been able to travel back before then because of the war) and she is very unsure of what she will find both at the estate and with certain people she may not want to come across when she gets home.  Aida is convinced that her father was framed for a crime that he was on trial for just before he died and also believes that she knows who is responsible.  

What I loved the most about this story is Aida's journey from rediscovering herself again after being away from Egypt for so long and also trying to find out the truth about what happened to her father.  You also have the complicated relationship with Phares (the person who she was destined to marry before she left Egypt after her father died) and it was certainly very interesting to see what happened when they met again.  You also have other characters, some good and some bad, that pop in along the way.

I also enjoyed the fact that this story was based in Egypt, which is a location that I haven't ready much in novels so it was very interesting to learn more about customs and ettiquette back in the 1940s.

A thoroughly enjoyable novel that will grab you from the very first page and hold on until the very last.  I can't recommend this high enough.  You need to read this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review / A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas (Book 4, A Court of Thorns & Roses)

To avoid spoilers, below is the description for book 1 in this series, A Court of Thorns and Roses

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
 

 

 

Published:     16th February 2021
Publisher:  Bloomsbury
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 4, A Court of Thorns and Roses
Source:  Owned

 

 

MY REVIEW

 

Having re-read the previous books in this series, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on this book!  I can't tell you how happy I was to also find out that it was 757 pages long.  I wouldn't normally be excited by such a large book but the more the merrier when it comes to this series.

Avoiding spoilers, I adored this book.  This book centered more around Nesta and characters around her.  I found this story very interesting, watching this character grow as the story progresses.  Nesta is not a character that I particularly liked before so I was certainly intrigued how a 757 page book was going to make me like her, but it did!  

I also don't usually pick up books with a lot of erotic content but this story certainly does have its fair share of that and I loved it!

I can't wait to see what comes next in this series.  Looking at Goodreads, it tells me that there are two more books in this series so I am definitely intrigued!

 

 

 

Book Review / A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas (Book 3.1, A Court of Thorns and Roses)

To avoid spoilers, below is the description for the first book in this series, A Court of Thorns and Roses

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

 

 

Published:     1st May 2018
Publisher:  Bloomsbury
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 3.1, A Court of Thorns and Roses
Source:  Owned

 

MY REVIEW

 

I am not one for usually picking up novellas in series as most of the time they really don't add anything more to the series but, of course, as this is one of my favourite series of all time I leave no stone unturned and had to pick up this one again.  

This was my second time reading this and the second time I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Although I don't think this adds anything specifically relevant to the series, it was a fun read and added a bit more to each of the characters. 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review / A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas (Book 3, A Court of Thorns and Roses)

To avoid spoilers, below is the description for book 1 in this series, A Court of Thorns & Roses.

 
Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
 

 

Published:     2nd May 2017
Publisher:  Bloomsbury
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 3, A Court of Thorns and Roses
Source: Owned

 

MY REVIEW

 

Now this is where this world and story gets extremely interesting.  We have the first book where it more about introducing the world and the characters.  We then had the second book where it turned on its head what we thought about certain characters and changed the pace of the story.  We now have this book where it goes a step further and delves into the politics of the world and watching characters 'battle' against other characters.  This is one of my favourite books in this series - although I love this series in its entirety.

This book also takes some character relationships to another level, which I won't go into so as to avoid spoilers. We also have quite a few twists and turns that I had completely forgotten about from reading this book in the past that surprised me this time around too!  Loved that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review / A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas (Book 2, A Court of Thorns and Roses)

To avoid spoilers, below is the description for book 1 in this series, A Court of Thorns & Roses.

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
 

 

 

Published:     3rd May 2016
Publisher:  Bloomsbury
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 2, A Court of Thorns and Roses
Source: Owned

 

 

MY REVIEW

 

Having read this book before, I enjoyed this book just as much as I did the first time around if not a bit more than the last time.  

Obviously as this is book 2 in as series there is a lot that I won't go into as I don't want to spoil the story for those of you who have not yet read this book or the series but what I love about this book is where it takes us deeper into the world, learn more about the various characters and learn more about the politics of the world.  

For me, this story certainly changes my opinion about certain characters.  Some good and some bad.  Some were good but now they are bad and some where bad but now they are good.  I loved that I never quite know whether what I think about a certain character will remain the same throughout the entire of this series, including those books that have not yet been written.  

With most series I read, book 2 tends to fall flat but this certainly didn't and I can't wait to dig back into the next book!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review / A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas (Book 1)

 

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
 

 

 

Published:     5th May 2015
Publisher:  Bloomsbury
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 1, A Court of Thorns and Roses
Source:  Owned

 

MY REVIEW

 

I am one of those types of readers who just can't pick up a book later in a series that has just come out (having waited a very long time for it to come out) and just delve back into that book.  Usually I rarely remember the smaller details that you would remember if you had read the previous books before picking up the new one.  With the release of A Court of Silver Flames, I knew that to give that book a fair chance I would re-read the previous books, which was no trouble because I adore this series.

What I love the most about this first book in this series is the world building and the character building.  The more times I read this book the more little details I notice and also realise that there may be some foreshadowing going on for future books.  

I enjoyed this book just as much as I did the first time around and would happily re-read this over and over again!