Review: Aflame (Awakened Book 2) by Roseanna M. White

About the Book

In a land of fire and ice, love is considered a weakness.

Princess Valkyrja has always been deemed "pretty and useless" by her family, who rule the kingdom of Fjordlandi. Though she has the same magical Blessing over ice and snow as her brother, sister, and father, she can never seem to use it for the brute-force ruling they require, choosing instead to make art that makes her people smile. But when a horrific attack shakes their whole world, she has to step up...and find a strength she didn't know she had.

Nikanor has lived his life under the greenhouse domes, a commoner with no opportunities to do things he most desires—to study the Words or the law, to be something other than a farmer. When he and his best friend follow his father to the capital, he hopes only for a nice holiday. Instead, the attack throws him into the path of a princess, and his world is never the same.

But the Blessed aren't the only ones with magic in Fjordlandi. There are others already Awakened in the volcano, those called the Cursed, with lava in their veins and rebellion in their hearts. And once the fires of revolution ignite, they won't stop until all of Fjordlandi is Aflame.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Whitefire Publishing Store / Author Website / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Y’all! This book was so good! It exceeded all of my expectations. I loved Awakened, the first book in this series, and didn’t think there was any way it could be topped, but somehow, this book did! I loved it so much!

The worldbuilding was fantastic. The land of Fjordlandi was beautiful and fascinating. It felt so real.

I fell into the story, right alongside these wonderful characters. They really came to life. Kyrja was an endearing and likable heroine. I loved seeing her character growth, and I really loved seeing her faith in the Giver blossom. Nik was an easy character to root for. He faced quite a big change, and it was really interesting seeing him adapt to it.

I absolutely loved this book and am very eager for the next one in the series! If you’re a fan of the romantasy genre, don’t hesitate to grab a copy! You’ll love it! While this could be read as a standalone, I still recommend starting with Awakened.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Aflame (Awakened Book 2) by Roseanna M. White

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Aflame (Awakened Book 2) by Roseanna M. White

About the Book

In a land of fire and ice, love is considered a weakness.

Princess Valkyrja has always been deemed "pretty and useless" by her family, who rule the kingdom of Fjordlandi. Though she has the same magical Blessing over ice and snow as her brother, sister, and father, she can never seem to use it for the brute-force ruling they require, choosing instead to make art that makes her people smile. But when a horrific attack shakes their whole world, she has to step up...and find a strength she didn't know she had.

Nikanor has lived his life under the greenhouse domes, a commoner with no opportunities to do things he most desires—to study the Words or the law, to be something other than a farmer. When he and his best friend follow his father to the capital, he hopes only for a nice holiday. Instead, the attack throws him into the path of a princess, and his world is never the same.

But the Blessed aren't the only ones with magic in Fjordlandi. There are others already Awakened in the volcano, those called the Cursed, with lava in their veins and rebellion in their hearts. And once the fires of revolution ignite, they won't stop until all of Fjordlandi is Aflame.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

The water waited, asking to be pulled up from the springs beneath the arena, to be chilled and frozen into the icy floor beneath Valkyrya's boots.

Friday 56

The light sconces on the walls froze, shattered. Snowflakes formed in midair, hanging there without movement in a way that made it seem as though times stood still. 

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Miss Fortune by Ashley Bustamante

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Miss Fortune by Ashley Bustamante releasing March 31

About the Book

The moonlight gave her luck...love might take it away.

Since childhood, eighteen-year-old Nia has relied on the fortune stone—a gift from a boy who once saved her from drowning. Its magic, tied to the phases of the moon, brings her extraordinary luck…at the cost of a life spent in hiding from those who would exploit her.

But on the night of the dark moon, Nia is attacked by a nightmare creature and left for dead—only to awaken in an enchanted castle ruled by the enigmatic Neilos. He offers her a bargain: he’ll heal her damaged lungs, but only if she remains within the castle’s walls until the next dark moon.

There, Nia discovers the boy from her past, Enitan, now serves as Neilos’s guard. In stolen moments with Enitan, Nia uncovers a devastating truth: whenever he is near, her fortune stone falls silent. She can have her luck or Enitan…never both.

As Nia uncovers the castle's twisted secrets, she realizes the cost of staying may be more than she's willing to pay. Nia must choose: keep the magic that has protected her, or risk everything for love.

What upcoming release are you eagerly anticipating?

Review: The Restitching of Camille DuLaine (The Rivenlea Sphere Book 2) by Lindsay A. Franklin

About the Book

A splintered world, a heart gone cold. Hope reborn in threads of gold.

After accidentally bridging the storyworlds together, Emlyn DuLaine faces an impossible task: sever the connections without destroying the stories themselves. If she fails, the characters will be trapped in twisted versions of their tales, forced to relive their worst moments forever.

But undoing the bridges is only the beginning. To truly fix what’s unraveling, Emlyn must uncover the secret flaw buried deep in Rivenlea's foundation, something that's been wrong since the very start.

And the danger has never been closer to home. The clock is ticking for the injured wyvern who needs Rivenlite air to survive and the story boy Emlyn swore she’d never fall for. Emlyn and her team must rescue Frank and Laramie from chaotic, shifting story spheres before they’re gone for good.

But Frank and Laramie aren’t the only ones lost to the spheres. Camille DuLaine is a prisoner, held as bait by someone who knows exactly how to lure her sister in. After seven years of sleep, Camille wakes to find herself trapped in a storybook and sure of only one thing: Emlyn must stay far, far away.

Racing to solve one mind-bending puzzle after the next, Emlyn uncovers a plan seventeen years in the making. She stands at the center of a fractured universe—and she might be too late to save it.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Enclave Publishing / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

What a fantastic conclusion to this duology! Enchanting, whimsical, full of humor and heart, I couldn’t read fast enough. I’ve been anxiously awaiting this sequel, and it did not disappoint. It was so much more than I ever could’ve imagined.

This is a book lover’s dream! I loved seeing all the classic tales mixed up. I won’t mention which ones, though. Part of the fun, for me at least, was trying to figure out which ones they were.

This was action-packed right from the start and full of twists and turns I never saw coming. There were several times I literally gasped out loud at the turn of events.

I didn’t know how everything could possibly wrap up, but it was an absolutely masterful conclusion. It exceeded all of my very high expectations. I know I’m gonna want to reread it again and again! I can’t recommend it highly enough! This is not a standalone, so be sure to pick up book one before starting this one.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: The Restitching of Camille DuLaine (The Rivenlea Sphere Book 2) by Lindsay A. Franklin

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring The Restitching of Camille DuLaine (The Rivenlea Sphere Book 2) by Lindsay A. Franklin. This book releases Tuesday and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC. Y'all! It's so good! The perfect conclusion to this duology!

About the Book

A splintered world, a heart gone cold. Hope reborn in threads of gold.

After accidentally bridging the storyworlds together, Emlyn DuLaine faces an impossible task: sever the connections without destroying the stories themselves. If she fails, the characters will be trapped in twisted versions of their tales, forced to relive their worst moments forever.

But undoing the bridges is only the beginning. To truly fix what’s unraveling, Emlyn must uncover the secret flaw buried deep in Rivenlea's foundation, something that's been wrong since the very start.

And the danger has never been closer to home. The clock is ticking for the injured wyvern who needs Rivenlite air to survive and the story boy Emlyn swore she’d never fall for. Emlyn and her team must rescue Frank and Laramie from chaotic, shifting story spheres before they’re gone for good.

But Frank and Laramie aren’t the only ones lost to the spheres. Camille DuLaine is a prisoner, held as bait by someone who knows exactly how to lure her sister in. After seven years of sleep, Camille wakes to find herself trapped in a storybook and sure of only one thing: Emlyn must stay far, far away.

Racing to solve one mind-bending puzzle after the next, Emlyn uncovers a plan seventeen years in the making. She stands at the center of a fractured universe—and she might be too late to save it.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

I think I'm dead.

Friday 56

"Emlyn." It sounds almost like a relieved sigh. "You have finally come."

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Raging Waters (Elements of Danger Book 2) by Dana Mentink

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Raging Waters (Elements of Danger Book 2) by Dana Mentink releasing March 3. 

About the Book

As the dam crumbles and water sweeps across the terrain, their battle for justice and survival is just beginning.

When Mackenzie Bardine's brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing "Bullseye," the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron's best friend, Gideon Landry. On the run to the wilds of Washington to chase a recent lead, she meets none other than Gideon himself.

While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he's certainly not interested in helping her after he's already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron's fatal choices, but not for the reasons Mackenzie suspects.

As killers begin to circle Mackenzie like sharks, it's clear to Gideon she's in over her head, and in light of his troubled past with her brother, he can't bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.

A gripping, clean romantic suspense featuring enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and high-stakes investigations set in small-town Washington, sweeping readers away on a turbulent wave of thrills and chills. Perfect for fans of forced proximity, wilderness survival, protective heroes, and justice-driven heroines.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Mists over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin

About the Book

Behind enemy lines, adversary and ally become impossible to distinguish.

The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot's peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father's medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy's quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything by providing medical aid to escaped workers--even as danger closes in.

Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide--or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?

Renowned WWII fiction author Sarah Sundin crafts a compelling historical romance featuring enemies-to-lovers, wartime resistance, and medical intrigue--a tale of loyalty, resilience, and courage when love and duty collide.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Goodreads / Author Website

MY THOUGHTS

I always look forward to a new book from Sarah Sundin. They’re always at the top of my most anticipated reads list. Nobody does WWII books like her, and Mists over the Channel Islands is Sundin at her finest. It exceeded all of my very high expectations.

It was really interesting to read about Jersey during WWII. I can’t believe I didn’t know more about what happened in the Channel Islands. It was fascinating.

I really liked Gerrit and Ivy. I admired Gerrit’s courage, strength, and heart. I enjoyed reading about Ivy being a doctor. And I really loved seeing her strong relationships with her brother and aunts and uncles. I really felt for her with the struggling relationship with her sister. It was heartbreaking to see the way Fern treated her.

This was an exciting read. There was plenty of suspense and some espionage and subterfuge too. I had a hard time putting it down when real life called. If you’re a fan of faith-filled, heartfelt, and entertaining WWII romances, grab a copy of this book. You will love it! I highly, highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS