House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) - Review

Book Review:
Title: House of Earth and Blood
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

“That's the point of it, Bryce. Of life. To live, to love, knowing that it might all vanish tomorrow. It makes everything that much more precious.”

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

The Midnight Lie - Review

Book Review:
Title: The Midnight Lie
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“It’s a midnight lie... a kind of lie told for someone else’s sake, a lie that sits between goodness and wrong, just as midnight is the moment between night and morning.” 

Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.
Nirrim keeps her head down and a dangerous secret close to her chest.
But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away who whispers rumors that the High Caste possesses magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

A Heart So Fierce & Broken - Review

Book Review:
Title: A Heart so Fierce and Broken
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Bloomsbury Books
I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Choices are never easy. There are good and bad options, but the most dangerous is to not make any choice at all.”

Find the heir, win the crown.  
The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers. 
Win the crown, save the kingdom.  
Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen--until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?
The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.

Favourite Reads of 2019

2019 was quite the year. I finished my 2^nd of University (with an average of 80% ayyyyyyyyy) and I started my Industrial Placement at one of the biggest companies in the UK. For those unaware, an Industrial Placement is when a student does a year in industry between their 2^nd and 3^rd year at Uni. I’m currently just over 6 months in and it has been a crazy experience thus far. Full time, 9-5 work is no joke. It’s such a great learning experience, and I’m having so much fun, but it’s also intense and highly stressful. As a result, in terms of numbers, 2019 has been my worst reading year probably since I first properly got into reading about 6/7 years ago! I read 39 books in 2019, which isn’t bad by any means, but I did set my Goodreads goal at 45 ☹

However, saying that, for the first time in years, I actually found it easy to pick my favourite reads of the year (I have become increasingly picky with handing out 5 stars) and I really truly did love all the following books;

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

The Wicked King - Holly Black

First up we have my first actual read of 2019. When I read The Cruel Prince back in 2018, I enjoyed it, but a part of me was left a little underwhelmed and so The Wicked King could have gone either way for me. And I’m so happy it went the positive way and I absolutely LOVED it! It was fast paced and thrilling, and I fell in love with Jude and Cardan. I also read The Queen of Nothing in 2019, and while I loved that too and rated it 4.5 stars, TWK is for sure my favourite of the trilogy and is therefore wholly deserving of a spot on this list!