Tag Archive for: Fantasy

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Tress Of The Emerald Sea

Tress Of The Emerald SeaTitle: Tress of the Emerald Sea
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 369
Length: 12h 27m
Narrator: Michael Kramer
Rating:

My Thoughts

I’m glad I had a chance to read TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it. Part of the issue for me was Hoid, the narrator. I didn’t like his way of telling the story. I’m not a huge fan of 4th-wall-breaking, unless it’s in movies or TV shows, because it usually takes me out of the story and I want to be immersed.

I did like Tress and most of the other characters. I also liked the overall story of her defying the king’s order to not leave her little island to search for her lost love and travel through the dangerous spore oceans. I also liked the ending and the fact that Sanderson left it open so he can write more stories about Tress and her planet.

After doing some research, I’ve now realized that this book is part of Sanderson’s Cosmere universe. While TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA is a standalone novel, it has connections and some shared characters to his other series and books.

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Phantasma

PhantasmaTitle: Phantasma
Author: Kaylie Smith
Series: Wicked Games #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 497
Length: 13h 14m
Narrator: Laura Horowitz
Rating:

My Thoughts

I absolutely adored PHANTASMA. It read as a dark gothic romantasy. Yum! I thought the levels of Phantasma were a creative nod to Dante’s Inferno and the nine circles of Hell.

I loved the characters, especially Blackwell and Poe (even though Poe’s just a cat). I thought Smith’s depiction of Ophelia’s struggle with OCD was very realistic and enlightening of how true OCD affects its victims.

While some of the spicier scenes made me roll my eyes, I really adored the banter and tension between Ophelia and Blackwell. (I’m sorry but no guy’s penis is so big around that a 5’9” woman can’t grab it without encircling it completely. Well, unless she has such small hands that that’s all people would notice about her.)

Anyway, I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment.

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Onyx Storm

Onyx StormTitle: Onyx Storm
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Series: Empyrean #3
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 527
Length: 23h 52m
Narrator: Rebecca Soler, Teddy Hamilton, Justis Bolding, Jasmin Walker
Rating:

My Thoughts

Holy crap! That ending! Why do I read these series before all the books are out?! It’s going to be torture waiting for the next book. I feel like I did after watching Avengers: Infinity War for the first time–numb, sad, and trying to be hopeful despite the crushing weight of grief. So many tears! So many! Rebecca Yarros certainly knows how to hook her readers and stomp all over their hearts.

From the instant I started reading ONYX STORM, I was hooked. I wanted to know everything and make sure my favorite characters made it out of the story alive. I loved learning more about Andarna and seeing more of the world than in previous books.

I’m excited to see where this series goes next and I’ll be on pins and needles waiting for the next book.

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Ruthless Vows

Ruthless VowsTitle: Ruthless Vows
Author: Rebecca Ross
Series: Letters of Enchantment #2
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 420
Length: 14h 6m
Narrator: Rebecca Norfolk, Alex Wingfield
Rating:

My Thoughts

RUTHLESS VOWS was everything I wanted in a sequel to DIVINE RIVALS and more. I was hooked on page one and despite the bittersweet ending, I loved this story immensely. I loved seeing more of the magic in this installment and learning more about Enva and Dacre and even getting their perspective every now and then. I really enjoyed seeing the contrast between Enva and Dacre’s relationship and Iris and Roman’s as the story progressed. I’m so glad I decided to read this series.

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Divine Rivals

Divine RivalsTitle: Divine Rivals
Author: Rebecca Ross
Series: Letters of Enchantment #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 357
Length: 10h 50m
Narrator: Rebecca Norfolk, Alex Wingfield
Rating:

My Thoughts

Gah! I’m glad I chose to read DIVINE RIVALS after RUTHLESS VOWS was published. I need to read the rest of this story now!

DIVINE RIVALS was such a compelling read. I loved the premise so much. It felt very You’ve Got Mail that takes place during a war between Hades and Persephone but from the human perspective. I loved gradually learning about Enva and Dacre through the myths Iris and Roman shared with each other. Speaking of Iris and Roman, I loved them so much. The chemistry between them was fantastic and I especially loved their banter.