City of Wishes 1-4 Review by Rachel Morgan

The Memory Thief (City of Wishes #1)

City of Wishes 1: The Memory Thief
By Rachel Morgan
Rating: 5/5

So I’m a huge fan of fairytale retellings and after reading the premise, I was hooked. The first book in this series (6 total) is so interesting and gets the reader so involved and invested in the story that you can’t stop reading. Granted, it is short – only 128 pages – but definitely a jam-packed story full of great world-building and fun characters. Elle is bound to her stepmother with a slave charm. Elle is desperately trying to gain enough fae currency to purchase a wish to be free. She has a rare gift that her stepmother takes advantage of, but Elle is able to monetize her gift to hopefully gain enough to get that wish. On a work outing, she literally bumps into the mysterious Dex, a fae, who tries to protect her from a vampire. Warning: this story ends on a cliffhanger. You will want to continue reading what happens next. Highly recommended for a great YA fantasy read!

The Vampire Trap (City of Wishes #2)

City of Wishes 2: The Vampire Trap
By Rachel Morgan
Rating: 5/5

Warning: highly addictive! This story is a continuation of the first book, The Memory Thief, and would not be understood without having read the first book. The first book is currently free, so please go there first. This story will have 6 different parts that all pretty much end in a cliffhanger – so be prepared to need to keep reading once you’ve finished one book. These are more like episodes due to their shorter length – this second episode is only 118 pages. Elle, who desperately wants to be free from her stepmother’s cruel enslavement, turns to Dex, a mysterious fae, who offers her a way to earn her freedom if she helps them trap the vampire that attacked her. Dex is investing these vampires who have been abducting humans and promises to keep Elle safe if she plays the bait. Secrets abound and will the truth be revealed? This story is nonstop action and fast-paced entertainment. Highly recommend.

The Moonlight Masquerade (City of Wishes #3)

City of Wishes 3: The Moonlight Masquerade
By Rachel Morgan
Rating: 5/5

Book 3 did NOT disappoint. The ball has arrived!!! I love fairytale retellings! I’ve been waiting for this part of the story. Parts 1 and 2 set up Part 3 so you’ll want to read the first two books first. The books are more like episodes and end on a cliffhanger so be prepared for that. Elle is finally ready to request help from the Godmother, who can grant illegal wishes. Elle is not willing to pay the ridiculous price that the Godmother requires, so Elle tries to trick the Godmother. Of course, more surprises ensue at the ball! I’m so in love with the characters and I can’t enough of this world. Highly recommend for those who love YA fantasy and retellings.

The Eternal Night (City of Wishes #4)

City of Wishes 4: The Eternal Night
By Rachel Morgan
Rating: 5/5

If you have not read the first 3 parts of this series, STOP. Read those 3 parts first and then come back and read this 4th part. There will be 6 parts total, so expect cliffhangers until the end. Elle’s experience at the ball was not what she was expecting, and she failed to fulfill her mission for the Godmother. Now, she’s in hiding from her stepmother and the Godmother with the most unlikely characters. She and Dex must somehow figure out the location of this vampire king and confront him to save the world. Loving this series. Each part is definitely on the shorter side but it makes for a fast, yet satisfying, serial. Highly recommend.

My thanks to the author for an ARC of all 4 books. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Book Review: The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep

The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep Book Cover

The Noble Guardian
by Michelle Griep
Book 3 in the Bow Street Runners Trilogy
Rating: 4.5/5

Abigail Gilbert is finally free! She is leaving her family who hates her and is going to meet her beloved fiancé and live happily ever after with someone who actually wants to be with her. However, highwaymen run rampant on her journey and threaten her life.

Captain Samuel Thatcher is in charge of keeping the roads safe from highwaymen and steps in to save Abby’s life. The captain is close to retiring but begrudgingly agrees to escort Ms. Gilbert to her destination in exchange for money from her fiancé for her safety.

Unfortunately, this harrying journey is more than either expected. Together they must find a way to coexist and not kill each other as they face many trials and heated discussions.

This fast-paced story is everything you’d want and more. I didn’t quite know what to expect when I started reading this story but I knew it would be good because of Michelle Griep’s ability to weave a fun and provocative tale. When I first started to read, I wasn’t aware it was part of a trilogy. It can definitely be read as a standalone book. After realizing it was part of a trilogy, I found that I had read the previous books but didn’t realize it because that first book was from back in 2015. I will have to revisit those other two books in the series to jog my memory but that isn’t necessary to appreciate the wonders of Griep’s gripping action. The characters are lovely and you feel their tension and conflict. Very well written and highly recommended.

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received. 

EDIT: Buy this book here!

Review of Sky of Fire and Ash

Sky of Fire and AshSky of Fire and Ash
by Julie Hall & Audrey Grey
Novella in Empires of Shadow and Ash: A Limited Edition Collection
Rating: 4/5

I absolutely loved the story and completed it within a couple hours. Recently, I became a huge fan of Julie Hall and her Life After series and when I saw she had another book coming out, I had to read it. Now, I’m going to have to read more Audrey Grey too. It’s that good.

Now to the story…DRAGONS! Who doesn’t love dragons? I admit I haven’t had a chance to read much regarding dragons but the story swept me up and I was so sad to see it end. Novellas have a way of taking you on a journey that you don’t want to end. The story does not rush to conclusions though at the end which is usually a consequence of length.

This is a beautiful story about self-discovery. Fallon is a Firewalker who has never fit in but she tries to do the job she was created for — kill scorchers in the war against the drakoni. However, when a mission goes “horribly wrong” (on her birthday no less) the truth about who she is and what she’s fighting for is just beginning. Will she be able to save her people? Will she accept her true destiny?

I highly recommend this book. I took off one star because I haven’t read the rest of the stories yet but honestly, paying $0.99 for this one story is so worth it. Anything else is just extra icing!