@gilliangrantauthor

I really enjoyed this novella. Do I wish we could have seen a different kind of vampire? Absolutely. (Carissa, I am DYING for a House of Blood love interest.) That being said. this was a really good story and I look forward to seeing these characters in the next book.

I wasn't as engaged plot wise with this one as I was with the first, but the characters are what drives this story and they delivered. Oraya's healing journey was beautiful to read, and I really loved how the forgiveness wasn't rushed in favor of the romance. Raihn had to earn it, and I will admit to believing he couldn't---but he came through. Not my favorite book boyfriend, but definitely one with some brains between his ears.

I wish I was more excited about the heroine of the next duology seeing as she's a character we're supposed to adore in these books, but I never really connected with her. The book pretty much ended confirming the House of Shadow was the next setting to visit, but I was really holding out for the House of Blood seeing how they have so many interesting characters and potential. Alas, that might just be me hoping for a lot more darkness in this already dark fantasy romance.

The majority of fantasy romance books hyped by the community haven't worked for me. However, I can always be tempted by vampires and deadly trials, which this book had in spades. The MMC didn't give me the ick the way a lot of them do in books, but it was Oraya, the main character, who truly kept me reading. The world was interesting and the trials engaging, but only due to Oraya's unique perspective. I truly adore her character and root for her every turn of the page.

Character dynamics were interesting and I really appreciated the need for consent multiple times during more intimate scenes---as well as recognizing that the power dynamics between a human and a vampire are vastly different and make said consent even more complicated.

The theme of 'never trust anyone' was kept clear throughout the book, something I really enjoyed even when the romance was added in. It gave a very full circle moment to the ending. Overall, I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would.

Words cannot describe how much I adore Andrew, his writing style, and the stories he's given us. This is less horror in the traditional sense---there are no monsters hiding in the Appalachian woods of this story, at least not the way you'd think. Instead this story focuses on the very human monsters that can terrorise us if we let them.

Where this story hit home the most was the focus of queer people in the southern states. As a queer woman living in Texas my whole life, it was an unreal experience to read a story that brought so many of the feelings I've had in my life to the page. The focus on family as the main character's rock---something often dismissed or vilified despite family being one of the biggest parts of southern culture---often had me in tears.

I, like many people my age, have longed to leave our home states for someplace easier or better. Many things hold us back, such as fear, poverty, or family ties (its hard to leave your rock b...

A slow start and in no way a leisurely read, but to see my favorite death knight Galva again it was all worth it.

Honestly? I could have done with another 200 pages of this. Despite the title of this book, the story of Galva is less about the war and more about who she was forced to become in the beginning of it. There are battles, gruesome ones that don't hold back on the gory details. But there is a lot of reflection and growth as well.

Bhuelman's way of narrating normally doesn't sit well with me. Galva, much like Kinch before her in The Blacktongue Thief, is telling you the story. Where as Kinch was colorful with his descriptions and didn't bother to remind you that he was a liar, Galva was the opposite. She'd often refuse to describe a scene because she stated she was no poet and couldn't do it any justice. We'd get letters from her brother instead, describing in greater detail what we needed to know. Galva also would ...

This was everything I didn't know I needed in an Arthurian retelling. I LOVED THIS.

I tore through this book, but in hindsight I think I was just trying to get to the meaty action. I wanted to see this MC lose it and the whole book was more or less a prelude to that. A little frustrating, but I enjoyed the world building and attention to detail. The food also sounded amazing when I read it. Just wanted more.

I honestly didn't think I would like this book. It was an impulse buy and looked cute, but I didn't like The Atlas Six by the same author and haven't touched YA (let alone YA romance) in a very long time.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this one, and how much I find myself thinking back to it. It was a good, cozy read when I needed it most.

I had a blast here! Actually giggled at several parts. Very nicely done.

Needed more dragons and descriptions of everything--especially the dragons. Predictable, but enjoyable.

I've been in a hell of a reading slump and picked this up practically begging for it to snap me out of it. The first half was slow going but the second really pulled through, and I absolutely adored the ending!!

Jury's still out if it fixed the slump or not.

My first Star Wars book started off with a bang! Literally. Despite that, it took a while for me to feel connected with the story. The POV changes often to weave a ton of characters into a larger story. It really came together in the end, but it still didn't feel like this had a conclusion. It felt like a very detailed, extended prologue. Overall, I still had fun. I connected with enough characters to instantly nab the next book to see what happened to them.