Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review: “Fourth Wing” By Rebecca Yarros

I have had this book on my shelves since shortly after it came out but didn’t know if I really wanted to read it. This book has so much hype surrounding it that I was scared I would be let down. Not to spoil my own review but lets just say this book lived up to its high expectations.

“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy.
A rider without their dragon is dead.”

Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Possible Spoilers Ahead, Read at your own Risk!

Other Empyrean Posts

Book Review: “Iron Flame” By Rebecca Yarros
Fourth Wing & Iron Flame Theories: Before Onyx Storm
Book Review: “Onyx Storm” By Rebecca Yarros

About The Book

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Publisher: Red Tower Books

Published Date: May 2, 2023

Page Count: 528

Main Genres: Fantasy, Romance

GoodReads Rating: 4.65

Format: Physical Book

“Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs—on the probabilities.”

Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Synopsis

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die

Synopsis From GoodReads

“Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?”

Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“Lies are comforting. Truth is painful.”

Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Reviews

Possible Spoilers Ahead, Read at your own Risk!

I honestly can not believe that I waited this long to read this book! This book has been all the rage on every book platform and I was seriously starting to get FOMO. It wasn’t until I met my new Bestie (Also Named Bailey) who finally convinced me to pick up this glorious book. So yes, I finally finished it two hours before Iron Flame was released. Probably the best decision I could have made so I didn’t have to wait for the next book like everyone else. If you need me you can find me with my nose stuck in Iron Flame for the next few days. Ok sorry now on to the real review.

I had heard this book was beginner friendly for anyone who hasn’t been a fantasy reader and I was skeptical of that, but of course they were right. The world building in this book is beautiful to say the least. It is so easy to follow along with , I would say the hardest part is the pronunciation of all the names, honestly in my head it just sounds like blah blah but or I make up my own way to say it so there is no way my characters are named the same as the rest of yours haha.

I knew nothing about this book going into it other than Dragons. But after reading it I chalked it up to an even better Divergent book. Divergent was one of my favorite books as a teen, ok well maybe it was the only series I read growing up so it automatically gets the title for favorite book.. Anyways, It felt so nostalgic while reading this book which is part of the reason why I was able to devour it so quickly! I have heard it reminds people of the Hunger Game Series as well but I never read those and (Don’t Hate me) I never liked the movies either so I have no input on that connection.

“But I will not run. I wouldn’t be standing here if I’d quit every time something seemed impossible to overcome. I will not die today.”

Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Ok, here are all my spoilers, you have been warned!

This was an easy five star rating for me for several reasons. The main one being the connection between Violet and Xaden. I love morally gray men and I knew as soon as we met him that he was the one! The fact that they can communicate telepathically is just chefs kiss! The way Xaden is so protective over Violet just melts me to my core, I honesty don’t know how you could write a better morally gray character and if they aren’t end game I don’t know if I could ever recover, or even if they are end game I can’t take any miscommunication but that is way too much to ask. I just want them to be forever happy haha.

The second reason why this was an easy five star read for me is how fast paced this book was. The way the end of the chapters left me wanting more just made me fly through! I needed to know what the heck was going to happen next because again, I can not get enough of these characters! I also just found out that this should be a five book series which I am happy about because I can not get enough of the characters, however I am so scared of who we might lose along the way.

When I tell you that I sobbed when Liam died… Man that was so tragic! I totally understand the bond between riders and their dragons but why did he have to die too?! He was one of my most favorite side characters and I was not prepared for him to be the one who passed at the end. This made me think about everyone else I love in the book and just knowing that there is a high chance that they won’t make it through the whole series and I am not ready for that! I am already too attached!

“I’m going to keep you. You’re mine, Violet.”
“Only if you’re mine.”
“I’ve been yours for longer than you could ever imagine.”

Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

For this next Section I will be rapid Firing some of my Thoughts

  • Dain is Trash
  • Violet’s Mother is the worst!
  • She Bonded two dragons?!
  • Fucking Lightning? Did not see that coming!
  • Dain is literal Garbage!
  • Hot Damn!
  • Andarna is my baby!
  • Tairn is a God!
  • Sgaeyl scares me…
  • Fucking Dain!
  • Please, Mom and Dad, Don’t Fight….
  • This is why women think we can change men
  • Brennan is Alive?! WTF!

Predictions for Iron Flame Before I pick it up

  • Dain has two fates he either dies or they make up and he joins the forces. God I hope they kill him! Traitor!!!!
  • Someone we love is going to die because this series is tragic and is going to rip our hearts out!
  • Mira will find out about Brennan this book and stick to her siblings like glue
  • Maybe, just maybe, Violets mom isn’t as bad as she seems and will also come help fight the vennin… Maybe…

“You can’t make me fall for you and then die.”

Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

If for whatever reason you have not picked this book up yet I highly recommend that you do. This is a book that will stick with you for a long while and will consume all your thoughts. Literally, I have been dreaming of this book for days!

QOTD: What Kind of power would you wish to Wield? What kind of Dragon would you want to bond with?

“And when others are quick to stand in front of me, Xaden always stands at my side, trusting me to hold my own.”

Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing

Book Review: “Down Among The Sticks And Bones” By Seanan McGuire

I read the first book in this series about a year ago and I immediately fell in love with the writing and just the main story line. I went to start the second book only to find it was following Jack And Jill whom at the time I didn’t care to learn more about so I set the book aside for far too long. I am so glad I finally picked this one up as it truly surprised me.

Make sure to check out my review for the first book in this series “Every Heart a Doorway”.

This Post May Contain Spoilers as this is a second book in a series.

Read with Caution.

“Some adventures require nothing more than a willing heart and the ability to trip over the cracks in the world.”

Seanan McGuire, Down Among the Sticks and Bones

About The Book

Author: Seanan McGuire

Publisher: Tor

Published Date: June 13, 2017

Page Count: 187

Main Genres: Fantasy, YA

GoodReads Rating: 4.15

Format: Audio

“There are worlds built on rainbows and worlds built on rain. There are worlds of pure mathematics, where every number chimes like crystal as it rolls into reality. There are worlds of light and worlds of darkness, worlds of rhyme and worlds of reason, and worlds where the only thing that matters is the goodness in a hero’s heart.”

Seanan McGuire, Down Among the Sticks and Bones

Synopsis

Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.

This is the story of what happened first…

Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter—polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.

Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter—adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you’ve got.

They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted.

They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“The Moors exist in eternal twilight, in the pause between the lightning strike and the resurrection. They are a place of endless scientific experimentation, of monstrous beauty, and of terrible consequences.”

Seanan McGuire, Down Among the Sticks and Bones

Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

As I mentioned above, I wasn’t really in love with these characters in the first book so I struggled wanting to read this one. I had heard this is a lot of peoples favorite book of the series though so I knew I had to pick it up and I am so glad I did! This book really dove deep into why these kids are the way they are and how your parents can really make or break you at a young age. I mean the childhood trauma they have to face… I don’t blame them for finding the Moors a more suitable place for them.

I couldn’t imagine being thrown out of the one place you could call home and felt like you belong just to know you have to go back to these parents who were never good to you in the first place. This book really put the events of the first book into perspective and it all comes full circle!

I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and to learn more about all of these crazy worlds these children find themselves in. It makes me wonder what magical door would have opened for me if this was something that really happens. Probably a door filled with cats, like a world ruled by cats…Ok yeah…I might be a crazy cat lady haha.

I highly recommend this book/series however please read trigger warnings as the events that take place can be tough to read.

“Every choice feeds every choice that comes after, whether we want those choices or no.”

Seanan McGuire, Down Among the Sticks and Bones

QOTD: What Magical Door would you hope opens to you?

“She had tried to make sure they knew that there were a hundred, a thousand, a million different ways to be a girl, and that all of them were valid, and that neither of them was doing anything wrong.”

Seanan McGuire, Down Among the Sticks and Bones

Book Review: “Creep” By Jennifer Hillier

At this point in time I am quite behind on my book reviews! I actually finished this book probably 3 weeks ago? However, I did start it back in July so it did take me quite some time to finish, will that effect my rating? I guess we shall see!

About The Book

Author: Jennifer Hillier

Publisher: Gallery Books

Published Date: July 5th, 2011

Page Count: 436 Pages

Main Genres: Thriller, Mystery

GoodReads Rating: 3.88

Format: E-Book

Synopsis

If he can’t have her . . .

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behavior. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away.

. . . no one else can.

Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex video that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail . . . and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn’t resist—who is now the monster who won’t let her go.

Synopsis From GoodReads

Rating

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Review

When I first started this book I was waiting in an airport for 6 hours waiting on my plane to Vegas. I was honestly hooked from the first chapter! I would say I read the first 200 pages during this time.

However, The halfway point hit and I quickly realized this book was headed in a direction I wasn’t expecting nor did I think I would like it nearly as much.

Sure enough, I was correct. The last 200 pages were beyond slow.. The twist at the end I would say I didn’t see coming but It was the final nail in the coffin. I just didn’t care for the ending at all and I think the book could have done a few more things to make this book a solid five star read. So because I liked the first half so much I decided 3 stars is the best rating I could give it.

As for the characters, I really loved the main character Sheila and Our Kidnapper Ethan. I feel like their storyline was quite interesting. However, I honestly didn’t like Morris and didn’t care for their relationship all that much so it was hard to really care if he found her or not other than of course I wanted Sheila to live.

Overall I am not too eager to pick up the rest of this series based on the twist at the end. I just don’t care to learn how the rest of it goes. We shall see though.

QOTD: What Thriller books are you loving right now?

Book Review: “The Nanny” By Lana Ferguson

I don’t read a lot of spicy books but this one was just calling to me as a perfect vacation read and I was not wrong! I read this in three days which is crazy quick for me! I need more spicey reads like this one.

“You can have good things, but you have to let yourself have them.”

Lana Ferguson, The Nanny

About The Book

Author: Lana Ferguson

Publisher: Berkley

Published Date: April 11th 2023

Main Genres: Romance, Contemporary

GoodReads Rating: 3.62

Format: Physical Book

Synopsis

After losing her job and being on the brink of eviction, Cassie Evans finds herself with two choices: get a new job (and fast) or fire up her long-untouched OnlyFans account. But there are no jobs to be found, and as for OnlyFans. . . . Well, there are reasons she can’t go back. Just when all hope seems lost, an ad for a live-in nanny position seems the solution to all her problems. It’s almost too perfect—until she meets her would-be employer.

Aiden Reid, executive chef and DILF extraordinaire is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie was imagining. She is shocked when he tells her she’s the most qualified applicant he’s met in weeks, practically begging her to take the job. With hands that make her hindbrain howl and eyes that scream sex, the idea of living under the same roof as Aiden feels dangerous, but with no other option, she decides to stay with him and his adorably tenacious daughter, Sophie.

Cassie soon discovers that Aiden is not a stranger at all, but instead someone who is very familiar with her—or at least, her body. She finds herself at a loss for what to do, given that he doesn’t remember her. As their relationship heats to temperatures hotter than any kitchen Aiden has ever worked in, Cassie struggles with telling Aiden the truth, and the more terrifying possibility—losing the best chance at happiness she’s ever had.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“only liars say they’re fine. You know that right?”

Lana Ferguson, The Nanny

Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

If I were to give this book a spice rating I would say 3.5/5.

I really thought this book was written so well, it had a great balance between the actual Nanny Job and the Spicy scenes which just left you wanting more!

I fell in love with every single character in this book, even ones that should have been unlikeable. This made for such a fun read!

“I’m angry that you dealt with this alone. I’m angry that you spent all this time worrying that I would push you away without giving me the chance to tell you that there is absolutely no way I’m letting you get away again.”

Lana Ferguson, The Nanny

QOTD: I need spicy books with great plots drop them below!

Book Review: “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia Of Faeries” By Heather Fawcett

This was my book clubs book pick for August and it turned out to be one of the best books we have read so far! All the ratings we have received so far from those who have finished the book have all been five stars, which is phenomenal! I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you so lets dive in!

“I knew you wouldn’t believe it. Just because you have a heart filled with the dust of a thousand library stacks does not mean everybody does.”

 Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

About The Book

Author: Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Del Rey

Published Date: January 10th, 2023

Page Count: 325 Pages

Main Genres: Fantasy, Romance

GoodReads Rating: 4.10

Format: Physical Book

“The Folk were of another world, with its own rules and customs—and to a child who always felt ill-suited to her own world, the lure was irresistible.”

Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

Synopsis

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.

Synopsis From Goodreads

Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

This book was the perfect cozy fantasy read! I really needed this book in my life in this exact moment so I am so happy we were able to read this for my Book Club this month.

I am not a huge fantasy reader so I was honestly super worried to pick it up but I was hooked within the first few chapters. I truly did not want this book to end. I really ended up falling in love with all the characters in this book especially Bambleby. He seems like an unlikeable character at the beginning but he really grows on you throughout the story.

I really loved the connection all the characters ended up building with each other over the course of the book. Many friendships blossomed between the towns folk, the fae and our main character even had a sweet romance plot that didn’t feel forced and was honestly so subtle. It was the perfect mix to make a perfect book.

Learning about the different kinds of Fae that live in this small town was just so much fun! I really loved the world building and how easy it was to follow which I find hard in most fantasy books as it is easy for new worlds and rules to get complicated quickly. I think it might have started a small fantasy obsession? I really need to find me some easy cozy fantasies to pick up ASAP! I really can’t wait for the second book to come out in January 2024, gosh this is going to be such a long wait!

“One doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories.”

Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

QOTD: Send me some Cozy Fantasy Recs.

“Perhaps it is always restful to be around someone who does not expect anything from you beyond what is in your nature.”

Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

Book Review: “She Started It” By Sian Gilbert

This is the first and really only book I read in July. I read this as a buddy read with one of my bookstagram friends and surprisingly I really enjoyed it! I listened to this via audio book and I am happy I did as it sparked my interest in audio books again.

“In reality, we all stick together because we know no one else would ever understand what we did in the past. And the trouble is, we’ve all become so convinced that what we did was alright that we’ve accepted an invitation from the very woman we did it to.”

Sian Gilbert, She Started It

About the Book

Author: Sian Gilbert

Publisher: William Marrow and Company

Published Date: June 13th, 2023

Page Count: 352 Pages

Main Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Adult

GoodReads Rating: 3.63

Format: Audio

Synopsis

Annabel, Esther, Tanya, and Chloe are best friends—or were, as children. Despite drifting apart in adulthood, shared secrets have kept them bonded for better or worse, even as their childhood dreams haven’t quite turned out as they’d hoped. Then one day they receive a wholly unexpected—but not entirely unwelcome—invitation from another old friend. Poppy Greer has invited them all to her extravagant bachelorette party: a first-class plane ticket to three days of white sand, cocktails, and relaxation on a luxe private island in the Bahamas.

None of them has spoken to Poppy in years. But Poppy’s Instagram pics shows that the girl they used to consider the weakest link in their group has definitely made good—and made money. Curiosity gets the better of them. Besides, who can turn down a posh all-expenses-paid vacation on a Caribbean island?

The first-class flight and the island’s accommodations are just as opulent as expected…even if the scenic island proves more remote than they’d anticipated. Quite remote, in fact, with no cell service, and no other guests. The women quickly discover they’ve underestimated Poppy, and each other. As their darkest secrets are revealed, the tropical adventure morphs into a terrifying nightmare.

Synopsis From GoodReads

Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

This audio book started off pretty slow which honestly made me super nervous! This Audio had, I believe, Two separate narrators. One Narrator sounded like Alexa was telling me a story which I truly struggled with, while the other narrator really kept my interest. Because of this I pushed through and I am so glad that I did because I loved this book in the end!

Part of me believes the reason I liked this book so much is because I was in a really horrible reading slump for all of July so really any book I picked up would have probably been a 5 star read at this time. I say this because my Friend I buddy Read this with actually rated this book pretty low and we tend to have the same thoughts on most books.

This was a book filled with a lot of drama and a lot of miscommunications which kept the book moving quick with many twists and turns. I feel like most people probably could have expected the twist at the end but if I am completely honest with you it came to me as a shock which I loved!

I Would for sure recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast paced Thriller to get yourself out of a reading slump!

“Those bitches might have started it, but I sure as hell finished it.”

Sian Gilbert, She Started It

QOTD: What Thriller got you out of a reading slump?