The Queens of Fennbirn
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!
Uncover the sisters’ origins, dive deep into the catastrophic reign of the Oracle Queen, and reveal layers of Fennbirn’s past, hidden until now.
The Young Queens
Get a glimpse of triplet queens Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Katharine during a short period of time when they protected and loved one another. From birth until their claiming ceremonies, this is the story of the three sisters’ lives…before they were at stake.
The Oracle Queen
Everyone knows the legend of Elsabet, the Oracle Queen. The one who went mad. The one who orchestrated a senseless, horrific slaying of three entire houses. But what really happened? Discover the true story behind the queen who could foresee the future…just not her own downfall.
I have been so ready for this novella bind up to flesh things out some more and just take me back to the world of the series while I wait for the next book! For those of you who don't know, this book is two novella's in one and I'm gonna review each one individually!
The Young Queens
This is a prequel of sorts, and I'm guessing the main purpose of it was to flesh out some of what we already know! For instance, we get to see the Queens when they where younger and find out more about their backgrounds, as well as certain...events that are fleshed out more. I feel like Camille is more real for me after reading this, and I feel like the world has been expanded upon a bit more! This novella basically provides more detail for us, and things we've been curious about.
We follow the same narrative style as the other books, so we switch POV's between different characters which I actually really liked because it kept it fresh and helped you delve in to each of the characters. Of course we get to discover more about Jules and her younger self too, not just the Queens, we get to see how she met her familiar and what happened when she first met Arsinoe. And speaking of the Queens....seeing how they interacted as girls together, before being separated, was actually really interesting.
This one is actually kind of heart breaking, because there's always been this question of how exactly did Arsinoe and Katharine get switched, and this novella answers that and it was actually quite a sad opening scene with Queen Camille.
Interestingly we get to see some of the injustices of the Poisoner's being in power for so long. I have to say...Natalia really does intrigue me, and I really can't quite bring myself to dislike her (I have written down in my notes before I read the second novella). We also get to see some more of Madrigal, who I didn't really care for after what she did in the first book, and this novella serves to make me like her even less.
Oh, we meet Willa in this novella too, which I really loved because I'd been super curious about who raised the girls until they left and got separated and so on and I was really invested in her POV and her story.
Overall, we get to see the girls at various different intervals, how they grew up and we get more depth to events that have been mentioned...as well as having a mystery solved! It's a nice addition to the canon to flesh out the world and the characters a bit more!
The Oracle Queen
Okay, so the Oracle Queen has been mentioned multiple times throughout the main series and I don't know about you guys, but I've always been super curious about her and felt like her story had to be told at some point...and here we are. I think this is my favourite of the two novellas. I got so invested in to it, and it made me so ragey.
We meet Queen Elsabet, the last Seer Queen...the rhyme about her is even mentioned in the previous novella. There's so much deceit and backstabbing in this tiny, tiny little novella, not to mention all the politics and the general shadiness between the different groups. It was interesting to see how the different groups interacted with each other though.
I have to say...I knew Gilbert was shady AF right from the start, I don't know if that makes me jaded or what, but I didn't trust him further than I could throw him. I was disappointed but not at all surprised in him. William I just didn't like at all. Sorry dude. It reached a point in this novella when I was kind of wary of Bess and Jonathan too which they didn't really deserve.
This volume we meet Natalia's ancestor....Francesca. Oh how I hated her. This novella made me so sad, I could see in my minds eye what was going to happen and how they'd twist things. It was like being on a rollercoaster and anticipating the drop. You knew it was coming, and you're speeding towards it but you can't do anything about it other than brace. I felt so damn bad for Elsabet and Rosamund and Bess.....and I felt so much rage towards Francesca and the Arrens. I feel like this novella has changed how I look at the Arrens for now. I kinda want them to suffer.
Considering the behaviour of certain male characters in the main series, I could see what was going on with Francesca and the Consort a mile off. Again....disappointed but not surprised. I think because I kind of like Natalia, I was like...Francesca can't be that bad. Oh how wrong I was.
For a novella, it really painted the character of Elsabet perfectly...even if she herself wasn't quite the perfect Queen. You got to know her really well and despite her faults you could empathise with her. It was a wild ride, filled with politics and betrayal and treachery and it was actually quite juicy, let's be real!
Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight Vol 5
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!
After seeing Kaede at Lockheart Castle, Hinana rests assured that her beloved has eyes only for her... until a surprise visit from Kaede's manager brings some unexpected news. Kaede's ex-girlfriend is still in love with him, and she's decided to try to get him back!
The volume opens a little bit after the events of last volume. Nana has a run in with Kaede's manager, Shige, and he gives her some disturbing news....mainly that Shu, Kaede's ex, is after him. Just the thing she wanted to hear...not. I was actually starting to like Shige but now I'm kind of side eyeing him a bit.
Akira is actually a really good friend, despite how he feels about Nana personally, he still dishes out solid advice to her and I have to respect him for that. I wouldn't say I'm rooting for him...but I do hope he gets a happy ending too. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of him in coming volumes though.
Shu makes her move, and so we get to see a lot of her in this volume, but our main man Kaede actually says and does the right things. He's considerate of how Nana would feel, and what would upset her (colour me surprised), so there shouldn't be a problem....right? Kaede has us on a bit of a seesaw this volume. He did all the right things in the beginning but by the second chapter he started to get sucked in and you're kind of like, "No...don't do it...." but then he turns around and surprises you, but then something semi shady happens again and you're like "Kaede....no" but then he does the right thing...again.
It's not like the usual where the dude is dumb and doesn't get how the girl would feel. I keep waiting for him to do something shady but as much as your stomach drops and you're like "oh no" he turns round and sorts it all out so it's not shady/wrong. Like with Shu staying over...he slept in his car. The situations are there but he's loyal.
The thing is....I don't trust Shu, I think she's shady so I didn't believe a word she said. Then there was a split second when you thought she wouldn't be a total cow...but she did the mean thing in the end. Plus Mitsuki is like the old witch stirring the pot and cackling in Snow White.
We actually get some more insight in to Kaede and how he feels and what it was like for him in Funny Bone.
The story really moves forward this volume, the game is being stepped up and things are getting juicy! We have Akira finally stepping up and throwing himself in to the mix as he can't sit back any longer. The knowledge that Akira has confessed to Nana lowkey sends Kaede over the edge. Kaede...well he's definitely struggling and Nana is too, and we end with quite the cliffhanger as Shu makes a threat.
Arrowheart
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!
The gods are gone.
The people have forgotten them.
But sixteen-year-old Rachel Patel can't forget - the gods control her life, or more specifically, her love life.
Being a Hedoness, one of a strong group of women descended from Greek God Eros, makes true love impossible for Rachel. She wields the power of that magical golden arrow, and with it, the promise to take the will of any boy she kisses. But the last thing Rachel wants is to force someone to love her . . .
When seventeen-year-old Benjamin Blake's disappearance links back to the Hedonesses, Rachel's world collides with his, and her biggest fear becomes a terrifying reality. She's falling for him - a messy, magnetic, arrow-over-feet type of fall.
Rachel distances herself, struggling to resist the growing attraction, but when he gives up his dream to help her evade arrest, distance becomes an insurmountable task. With the police hot on their trail, Rachel soon realizes there are darker forces hunting them - a group of mortals recruited by the gods who will stop at nothing to preserve the power of the Hedonesses - not to mention Eros himself, who is desperate to reverse the curse . . .
Rachel must learn to do what no Hedoness has done before - to resist her gift - or she'll turn the person she's grown to love into a shadow of himself ... for ever.
I'm sure you guys know by now...as soon as I see the words "Greek Gods" I'm in. If there's mythology, I'm all over it. Throw in some interesting quirks and something a little bit different and I'm totally here for it. I'm not going to lie, I read this in one go and I regret nothing.
Arrowheart hooked me from the start, and I was so ready to sit glued to this book. I had snacks and everything! The world of this book is an interesting one, St Valentines is a school for all the Hedonesses but reading about it via Rachel...it felt like quite a stifling environment. I liked that Rachel didn't glorify her gift, she pointed out the wrongness of it which was interesting to me, because usually it's like "Look at my awesome power, let's ignore how wrong and immoral it is".
I really felt for Rachel throughout the book, she's so stifled by her environment. She doesn't want this gift, she doesn't want to use it, and everyone's shoving it down her throat. I empathised with her so much, and she tries so hard to do the right thing. Then when things with Kyle happened my heart broke for her. I loved him and he was hilarious and I'm hoping to see more of him next book...but my heart ached for Rachel. For me, it was really easy to root for Rachel and support her throughout and I loved having her as an MC.
You know who I didn't like? Marissa. She was my one issue with this book because honestly she was such a silly cow...and kind of dumb because she got them in to such a mess. Like the whole situation is entirely her fault and I felt like she really didn't care at all. I got so frustrated with her so many times I just couldn't feel sorry for and I do feel kind of bad because I think I was supposed to but...I couldn't relate to her and I really didn't like her as a character. What I'm hoping for...is that she'll be redeemed in the next book because I think things from this book shook her up a bit. It's just...she's supposed to be Rachel's friend but she really doesn't act like it.
On the romance front, I shipped Ben and Rachel so much, their banter was so amusing. I couldn't quite work him and his motivation out in the beginning but it all becomes clear. He really doesn't give up at all, and he's a lot less mad at Rachel than anyone else would have been at the end, I think! I liked that he made some effort to understand Rachel and he let her explain things. Oh and I have to give a quick shout out to Eros because he was hilarious and interesting...and more of him please!
I got such strong Percy Jackson vibes from this book for some reason, even though it wasn't remotely similar...perhaps it was the group of teens out on a quest vibe?
Arrowheart is a wild ride with plenty of twists and turns, action and romance to keep you hooked. It's easy to binge read and get completely absorbed in because it's a lot of fun! It's an original and fun idea, well thought out and it personally made me think a lot. There's an emphasis on choices in this book that's hard to ignore. The world building is well executed and we even have a super shady organisation that I'm curious about and resent on Rachel's behalf at the same time.
When I read this...I had assumed it was a standalone book, so as I was reading the final few pages I was preparing to write some notes on how well wrapped up the story was and so on...but Sky was like "bitch you thought" and threw in one last twist that had me screeching because hello cliffhanger! And you know...the wait for book two and I just...whyyyyyy!
No, for real, I'm actually super excited for book two because after certain....developments it's going to be interesting to see how Rachel and co handle things and what the Committees end game is here...I have a suspicion but we'll see! I also feel like book two is going to give us different vibes from this book!
If you're looking for a fun and entertaining read, with interesting mythology and some adventure, this is the read for you!
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku Vol 1
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!
Narumi Momose has had it rough: Every boyfriend she's had dumped her once they found out she was an otaku, so she's gone to great lengths to hide it. When a chance meeting at her new job with childhood friend, fellow otaku, and now coworker Hirotaka Nifuji almost gets her secret outed at work, she comes up with a plan to make sure he never speaks up. But he comes up with a counter-proposal: Why doesn't she just date him instead?
This volume is surprisingly chunky....but it's actually two volumes in one! There's a lot of brilliant colour pages at the beginning of each volume too which was fun! Plus there's a tonne of information on the characters throughout, so we really get to know them this volume! Plus it helps to flesh them out a bit and fill in some blanks without bogging down the story!
I have to say, Wotakoi is funny from the start, and Narumi is so freaking relatable! I think she might be one of my favourite characters ever. She is literally all of us and I love her so much, I'm rooting for her! AS for Hirotaka...I love how he seems really expressionless, but then when he texts he's all about those cute emojis. I also love how he words/frames everything like a game. It makes the gaming nerd in me happy!
Hirotaka's little brother Naoya is hilariously opposite to him and he fully ships Narumi and Hirotaka! I'm really hoping we get to see more of him in the coming volumes and he gets some romance of his own!
Kabakura seems like a protective brother of Narumi's...or a fanboy. I'm still undecided on which. He and Koyanagi are freaking hilarious together...but also kind of cute when they want to be. But their arguments are priceless, like the insults really fly!
I love how the volumes are laid out, it really brings the nerdiness. There's little text boxes that pop up like in a game! Think Pokemon, like "A wild Kabakura has appeared" and then there's options etc sometimes too. Not only is it fun, but it also makes it so obvious what's going on in Narumi's head...which is pretty much what some of us would do a lot of the time too! There's also a tonne of bonus chapters along with the actual content, which is a lot of fun and provides some quick and entertaining scenes. Plus it provides more insight in to the characters and their relationships!
Wotakoi is an entertaining and hilarious first volume, introducing us to the characters and the start of their relationship. We have two couples, a veteran couple, if you will, and a newer one in the form of Narumi and Hirotaka. They're kind of navigating things and each other and learning how to date a fellow Otaku, instead of hiding their Otaku tendencies. I have to say, the nerdiness is strong with this new series, and I lived for it, plus there's a tonne of relatable moments too! The volume hits us with a cliffhanger as our new favourite couple are about to go on a *dun dun duuuuuunnn* date! I'm definitely going to be looking forward to each volume of this, for a dose of fun!
Waiting For Spring Vol 6
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!
In her efforts to become a more proactive person, Mitsuki has agreed to join the school festival committee. Now she must lead class in putting together a cafe for the day of the big event. Towa has agreed to help her, but his mind is elsewhere. His team is about to have a joint practice with Aya's team, and he and Aya will finally have a basketball showdown...!
Towa inexplicably agrees to cosplay for the cage their class is doing for the festival...much to Reina's delight and Mitsuki's bemusement. Mitsuki is all of us really, in this scenario. Turns out he's too focused on the practice against Aya which is imminent at the beginning of the volume. This series really doesn't hang about, the pacing is excellent! There's always something going on, whether it's action with the basketball games, or fluffy and cute scenes.
Aya manages to rile up Ryuji and Rui and get on their bad side...and mine, I'm not going to lie. He has a one on one match with Towa and...let's just say he's out to win. As usual the action shots are beautifully drawn, and I'm in awe of them!
There's a little bit of a mystery for us this volume, as something happens between Towa and Aya that we don't get to see, but other characters keep alluding to, and it ramps up the tension for the big showdown...and drives you mad in the process trying to work out what went on! To the extent I shrieked when Reina accidentally deleted the video! Like I said...it adds a nice bit of tension to this volume, and the game was wonderfully drawn. The tension between Aya and Towa really came off the page though.
I have to say...Towa finally gets some balls in this volume, and provides us with a cute moment to rival Aya...finally! He also manages to crack a smile and laugh! Woooooo progress!
Speaking of tension, Sudo gets her hands on Towa's wristband and see's a certain message...but she doesn't know who wrote it. However it does serve to give Rui some more page time as he realises Towa likes someone and Towa actually confesses to Rui who then starts to avoid him!? Oh yes folks, everything is kicking off this volume!
Sudo has her suspicions but she actually goes to Reina for advice which provides some hilarity because it's a hilarious disaster...like that's the worse person you could go to! At this point I'm waiting for it drop and Sudo find out and some more drama come in to the series.
Kyosuke is totally on to Towa and Mitsuki, despite the former trying to hide his feelings, and I'm curious to see if he's going to help them.
I have to mention Rui, because this volume...there's a question of if he has feelings for Mitsuki or not or if he just wants to be a good friend. His character is expanded upon a lot more this volume, and I was living for it. Mitsuki opens up to him and it was nice to see the two become closer. Rui said he's on her side and honestly, I ship the bromance between the two of them!
Things start to move this volume as Towa, with a push from Rui, determines to tell Mitsuki how he feels! ....I think. That's the impression I got anyway, but let's see if he follows through on it next volume! There's more potential drama being brought in, and more character development and growth throughout the volume! The volume ends on a cliffhanger, that had me screaming because of course when the thing happens with Mitsuki...Aya is right there. Forever screeching at this series honestly.
Oh and we get a cute bonus chapter featuring Towa and it's totally adorable!
Napping Princess
Rating: 3/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!
When Kokone sleeps she dreams of Heartland, a place full of technology and warring machines, where she's the Princess Ancien who possesses magical powers. But when events in her dreams and real life start to intersect, Kokone has to run from bad guys in both worlds. Will her dreams provide a way out, or get her into deeper trouble...?
I love anything fairy tale, and this new series sounded like fun, and something a bit different to the usual...all things I value!
I have to say, things are pretty effed up in Heartland like...forcing people to buy new cars or it comes out of their pay? What even? I'd have so many issues living there! There's imminent threat and danger in Heartland that the Princess is trying to defeat with the help of Peach, and using her magic, but the shady bad guy is determined to thwart it! Meanwhile in the real world the shady guy comes for Kokone's father and there's some sort of secret he's hiding. I have my suspicions but I guess we'll see.
Morio looks like he could be fun, and I liked the contrast in Kokone and her fathers facial expressions! He's kind of blah and blank about everything, while she can be quite excitable and her face is very lively!
This initial volume is fast paced, and switches between the real world and the dream world smoothly. It's certainly piqued my curiosity, even if it's only three chapters long! Plus we did get a bonus chapter! There seems to be a few things to unravel and I'm excited to see how this is going to unfold!
