Book Reviews

Book Review: The Reclaimed Kingdom by Dana Claire

The Reclaimed Kingdom
by Dana Claire
Book 1 in the Syphon Series
Rating: 4/5
Release date: February 14, 2021

Wow. This is literally the second book that I’ve read from Dana Claire and once again, she did not disappoint. This story is full of non-stop action and reminds me of a mashup between Robin Hood and Snow White.

After her father is sent off to war, Princess Andrua “Dru” of D’Land is forced to flee her home when her wicked stepmother starts using her to hurt her people. Dru must hide her identity and gender to join the Band of Brothers who are stealing from the rich to redistribute to the poor. Trained as a warrior since she was little, she has no problems ascending the ranks and becoming a feared leader – even after they discover she is a female. Hiding her past from her new friends is imperative but one fellow, Hawkins, can’t seem to keep asking her questions and wanting her to open up. He sees her differently ever since they found out she was not a lad, so she tries to keep her distance. She chooses to keep her syphon powers hidden but can’t stop herself from healing a wrongfully injured soldier, who just so happens to be the personal guard of her former childhood best friend, Prince Edward “Dodge”. With her secrets exposed, Dru must rise up before the evil queen destroys what’s left of her kingdom. She needs the help of Hawkins, Dodge and the rest of her Band of Brothers to reclaim her birthright and discover the truth behind her mother’s tragic death.

So I do not care for love triangles (frustrated sigh) but I do appreciate what the author is trying to portray especially in this magical fantasy world with interesting creatures. My frustration really only comes up near the end of the story, but since this is part of a series, this is just the beginning so I’ll have to reserve final judgment till the end. LOL. This story is full of fairly violent action (especially in the last act) and there is some talk of rape but no descriptive scenes. Just wanted to give a heads up if you have any triggers. Overall, I wish there was more about Dru – I am left feeling like there’s more to her but I haven’t been able to get to know her yet. It might be because she doesn’t realize who she fully is yet – this is only the first book in the series though so there’s definitely room for more development. You won’t regret picking up this book to read, and I cannot wait to read what comes next.

Highly recommend this fantasy adventure with romance and mystery.

Content: PG-13.

My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

February 11, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: Cast the First Stone by David James Warren

Cast the First Stone
by David James Warren
Book 1 in the True Lies of Rembrandt Stone series
Rating: 4.5/5
Release date: February 9, 2021
Preorder here!

I am a huge fan of Susan May Warren and was super excited to be chosen to be an early reviewer of this new series by multiple authors; however, I had a hard time reading past the first few chapters of the book but then BAM! The story really picked up, and I couldn’t stop reading till the end. So if you start this book, please give it a chance and you will not be disappointed.

Rembrandt Stone’s life is not perfect as a struggling author and former police investigator, but he doesn’t hate his life. His wife, Eve, and daughter, Ashley, are the loves of his life, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. When his old boss leaves him his watch and a box of cold case files, Rem’s life gets very strange very fast. He remembers the unsolved case that haunts his nightmares and suddenly, it feels like he’s traveled back in time to try to solve the case before it’s too late. Can he discover what he missed previously? And at what cost?

Wow. Simple enough premise, but the authors did a great job of bringing Rembrandt Stone’s past to life. I felt like I was right there with Rem experiencing the investigation and its many twists and turns. Getting into his head was interesting as he tried to sort through what he already knew from what he had forgotten. Although I wasn’t quite hooked from the first few chapters, they were still necessary to establish Rem’s background and home life. I expected the cliffhanger ending since it’s a series and felt it was necessary. If you’ve ever seen the TV show, Continuum, you may enjoy this story that has some similarities but also has its own nuances. I can’t wait to read what comes next!

Highly recommend if you enjoy time travel and crime thrillers with a hint of romance. I feel like the book (and series) has something for everyone.

My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

February 2, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: Forging Darkness by Julie Hall

Forging Darkness
by Julie Hall
Book 2 in the Fallen Legacies series
Rating: 4/5
Release date: January 26, 2021
Preorder here!

I am such a huge fan of Julie Hall and I was so excited to finally get my hands on the sequel to Stealing Embers, the first book in the Fallen Legacies series. I highly recommend reading the first book before this one, and you will not be disappointed. Forging Darkness picks up where Stealing Embers left off and continues the adventure by taking the reader into a whole new world that we only caught glimpses of in book one.

When Emberly seeks out Steel and tries to help him find his sister, things go horribly wrong and she is taken captive by Thorne, someone who is like her and has similar powers. She is curious about the way things work in Thorne’s world while trying to figure out a way to escape back to the mortal realm. Thorne’s control and power over the Fallen and Forsaken is uncanny and she finds herself unable to fully trust him. When the truth is revealed, can Emberly and Steel find a way back to each other before the unthinkable happens?

I really enjoyed the continuing story and cannot wait for what comes next. (Way to end the story on a bit of cliffhanger.) I found the progression in the relationship between Emberly and Steel to be slower than I would have preferred lol. The relationship between Emberly and Thorne was interesting but a bit annoying since I don’t really like love triangles (this is not necessarily a true love triangle but it has hints of one). However, I really liked learning about Thorne, and the author does a good job of showing why he is the way he is. I did enjoy finding out more about Emberly’s powers and her angel fire. Her abilities make her a threat to the entire theology built around the Fallen and Forsaken, which could literally change the world. I definitely did not see that coming.

Highly recommend if you enjoy YA fantasy with lots of action, mystery, humor, and some romance. (Especially if you enjoy animals that talk and drink Red Bull and like the interactions between siblings)

PG-13.

My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.