Review: Between The Blade and The Heart

Between The Blade and The Heart
Rating: 3/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Valkyries have one great responsibility: to return immortals to the afterlife by slaying them. As a Valkyrie, Malin has always known that the balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die, her world is thrown into chaos. 

Malin not only wrestles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought—she’s also thrust into the path of a gorgeous blue eyed guy named Asher who needs her help slaying the rogue immortal who destroyed his family. The balance of the world is at stake. And, as Asher competes with Malin’s ex for her love and loyalty, so is her heart. 

You guys know me, you know how much I freaking love mythology of all kinds, so naturally I jumped all over this because yaaaay Norse Mythology! This book was kind of a mixed bag for me so I'm going to cover the good and the bad in my review! 

First off, while the book was slow to start, the mystery started to build up nicely with some sprinkles of action. Like there where intriguing plot twists throughout, and the ending was super action packed! I loved the setting it was dark and gritty and kinda reminded me of the aesthetic for Gotham or Arrow with a futuristic twist to it all regarding the technology and so on. 

The characters are an interesting group and they have fun personalities and interactions with each other. Malin, our MC, was a badass and she's been dealt kind of a crappy hand with her mother and what her mother did and the mess she has to clean up and so on. I can't say anything about the accuracy and how good it was etc, but Malin is Bi so it was nice to see some LGBTQ rep in this book, plus Malin has a modern attitude to relationships, you could say. I actually really liked Asher  but I also liked Quinn too and I wanted to shake Malin when it came to Quinn. 

Now, my issue with the romance is that from the back of the book I assumed it was going to be all Malin and Asher and I'm fairly sure it still is judging by the end of the book. My issue is that when it comes to Quinn, I feel like Malin being Bi and Quinn being there was largely thrown in just to get points for having LGBTQ rep. Because I'm not sure if there's actually going to be a love triangle or if Malin's all about Asher now. If there is a love triangle them I'm so here for that, if it's done well, but if there's not it just seems like something thrown in. The other thing that bugged me was that I didn't really see how the romance developed. Malin broke up with Quinn for a ridiculous reason and yet still pined for her, and then she suddenly decided she liked Asher, it all seemed a bit superficial. Not to mention how the world was going to hell in a hand basket and Malin couldn't control her damn hormones for five minutes. 

Now, I was expecting Norse Mythology but there was actually a lot of different representation with cultures and mythology from multiple different places which was totally cool...but at the same time felt like a bit too much and I think that was one of the things that slowed the book down. Along with the excess of detail for things that didn't actually need to have that much detail. For example, I was so confused about the world of the book because I couldn't mentally picture the world or where Malin was in it. Malin talking about her assignments which where you know...everywhere all over the world, as if each location was just a stroll down the road. Which makes no sense. 

I have to say, some things seemed a bit too convenient too. However, the ending did leave me wanting more as things had picked up by then, and finally gotten interesting! 

Review: Freeks

Freeks

Rating: 2/5

Buy or Borrow: Buy

Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Welcome to Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow, where necromancy, magical visions, and pyrokinesis are more than just part of the act…

Mara has always longed for a normal life in a normal town where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future. Instead, she roams from place to place, cleaning the tiger cage while her friends perform supernatural feats every night.

When the struggling sideshow is miraculously offered the money they need if they set up camp in Caudry, Louisiana, Mara meets local-boy Gabe…and a normal life has never been more appealing.

But before long, performers begin disappearing and bodes are found mauled by an invisible beast. Mara realizes that there’s a sinister presence lurking in the town with its sights set on getting rid of the sideshow freeks. In order to unravel the truth before the attacker kills everyone Mara holds dear, she has seven days to take control of a power she didn’t know she was capable of—one that could change her future forever. 

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book going in, but I was intrigued by the Carnival element. I certainly wasn't expecting the supernatural elements, the synopsis I read...well I assumed it was just a regular serial killer type thing and it was going to be a murder mystery at a carnival, so I was surprised, but I'm not sure if it was a good surprise or not. 

For most of this book, I was a bit meh. I did contemplate DNFing it but the creepy supernatural element made itself known and I decided to hang on a bit longer. It essentially saved the book, because I finished it but I wasn't all that invested in the book. I wasn't eagerly turning pages. I was just kind of...meh about the whole thing. 

I love all things 80's and I have a penchant for 80's movies and music, but I was sad there wasn't more of that included, more references and things. At one point the time period was kind of indistinguishable from any other time period. It didn't stand out to me as distinctly 80's except for maybe one or two times. But then I did resort to skim reading this book just to finish it so perhaps I missed something. 

The romance was kind of cute, but it was a bit insta lovey and I don't really like insta love except for in very rare cases...and this wasn't one of them. I kinda felt like it was there just to be there. I found the book to be very predictable, and like I said...it never really grabbed me and had me gripped. I was just mildly intrigued and wanted to know what the creature was. 

I did like Mara and her determination, her sudden switch to budding Buffy was a bit swift. The other characters are a colourful bunch with different abilities and backgrounds. The book was darkly atmospheric at points. My favourite part was probably the last part, when the mystery was coming to a head, and things where happening, and everyone started gearing up for battle. But the rest of the book for me was just a blur that I genuinely can't remember all that much about and I only finished it the other day. 

Wishing For Wednesday #21

So here we have the first WFW of the New Year! I have some right treats for you as well, and I've picked three for this week that I am really, incredibly, unbelievably excited for! In no particular order....one's another stumbled upon one and sounds fantastic. Aaaanndd the second is, another stumbled upon, one that sounds totally awesome. Like.....yeah. It sounds really fantastically unique! There's even recipes included in it! Who doesn't love a book that's going to be entertaining, and that's going to pretty much provide you with food? Sort of.

Frostfire

Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

Frostfire is out now! Grab your copy here.
Add it to your GoodReads here. 
(It's totally a fantastic January read....just saying)

The Accidental Alchemist

When Zoe Faust--herbalist, alchemist, and recent transplant to Portland, Oregon--begins unpacking her bags, she can't help but notice she's picked up a stow away: a living, breathing, three-and-half-foot gargoyle. Dorian Robert-Houdin is no simple automaton, nor is he a homunculus; in fact, he needs Zoe's help to decipher a centuries-old text that explains exactly what he is. Zoe, who's trying to put her alchemical life behind her, isn't so sure she can help. But after a murder victim is discovered on her front porch, Zoe realized she's tangled up in ancient intrigue that can't be ignored.

The Accidental Alchemist is out January 8th, pre-order your copy here.

Add it to your GoodReads here.