Blog Tour: Psyche and Eros – Luna McNamara

May 27, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment

Release Date: May 25th 2023
Publisher: Orion Books
Pages: 336
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis
In this utterly transporting reimagining of Greek mythology, the god of desire is cursed to fall for a spirited young mortal woman, but if she looks upon his face they will be parted forever—an epic adventure and love story for the ages, sure to satisfy fans of Madeline Miller and V.E. Schwab

Who said true love is a myth?

A prophecy claims that Psyche, princess of Mycenae, will defeat a monster feared even by the gods. Rebelling against her society’s expectations for women, Psyche spends her youth mastering blade and bow, preparing to meet her destiny.

When Psyche angers the love goddess Aphrodite, she sends Eros, god of desire, to deliver a cruel curse. After eons watching humanity twist his gifts, the last thing Eros wants is to become involved in the chaos of the mortal world. But when he pricks himself with the arrow intended for Psyche, Eros finds himself doomed to yearn for a woman who will be torn from him the moment their eyes meet.

Thrown together by fate, headstrong Psyche and world-weary Eros will face challenges greater than they could have ever imagined. And as the Trojan War begins and divine powers try to keep them apart, the pair must determine if the curse could become something more . . . before it’s too late.

Review
Psyche and Eros is a beautifully told Greek myth retelling. I was initially drawn in by that beautiful cover and was completely hooked from the outset. The story follows Psyche, the princess of Mycenae, who angers the goddess of love Aphrodite. As revenge, Aphrodite sends Eros to deliver a curse to Psyche. However when Eros is hit with the arrow meant for Psyche, he finds himself in love with her. With the gods determined to keep them apart, will they be able to survive the Trojan War and find a way to be together?

I really enjoy reading Greek myth retellings however the story of Psyche and Eros isn’t one that I am particularly familiar with. I was really captivated by the story but having no knowledge of the original, I cannot say how much the story has changed. Psyche and Eros is a beautiful, vibrant tale and the setting and world really came to life in McNamara’s prose. The story was quite quick paced so I found myself getting gripped quite early on and turning pages long into the night.

Where Psyche and Eros excels most is the characters. Psyche in particular is a really compelling protagonist and she has a very vivid and confident personality that leaps off the page. She’s an aspiring warrior and determined to fulfill her dreams. I really enjoyed both perspectives in the story and Eros similarly felt well developed and fleshed out. Psyche and Eros is a really fun, engaging reimagining of the famous Greek myth, and if you’re looking for a captivating read this should absolutely be on your reading list.

Book Review: The Foxglove King – Hannah Whitten

April 14, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment

Series: The Nightshade Crown #1
Release Date: March 7th 2023
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 466
Find it on: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I bought a copy of this from my local Waterstones
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

Review

Lured in by that beautiful cover and intriguing synopsis, I picked up The Foxglove King even though I haven’t gotten around to reading Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf yet. The story follows Lore, a young poison runner with the ability to channel Mortem – death magic. Channeling Mortem is illegal so when Lore is caught summoning she’s captured by the Presque Mort, an arm of the church where channeling Mortem is allowed. There Lore learns about a mysterious affliction that is wiping out entire villages and is tasked with using her magic to discover what is killing them. Having no choice but to accept Lore ends up in the Sainted King’s court, attempting to uncover the truth behind the killings, but will she be able to discover the truth before it’s too late?

This book sucked me in right from the very first chapter. It had such a fascinating premise and I found myself completely glued to the pages. The story is pretty quick paced, with plenty of action. The world building is well developed and I was so intrigued by the magic system in this world. It felt well fleshed out and it was so interesting seeing Lore continue to develop her abilities. One of the things that stood out most for me with this book were the scenes where Lore used her abilities. They were so atmospheric and intense and more than one sent a shiver down my spine. I’m so looking forward to seeing more of the magic in the next installment. The Foxglove King features so many things I love in fantasy books, it’s absolutely full of court intrigue, mystery, magic, and danger.

The characters in The Foxglove King are well developed and it was easy to see their motivations. Lore is a dynamic protagonist, she’s strong willed and clever and I really enjoyed seeing the story from her perspective. Gabe and Bastian are compelling characters too and I liked how the relationships between the three changed as the story reached the tense ending. The Foxglove King is a brilliantly told fantasy tale and one I can’t recommend highly enough.

Book Review: The Sinister Booksellers of Bath – Garth Nix

April 4, 2023April 3, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: The Left-Handed Booksellers of London #2
Release Date: March 21st 2023
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 416
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

There is often trouble of a mythical sort in Bath. The booksellers who police the Old World keep a careful watch there, particularly on the entity who inhabits the ancient hot spring. Yet this time it is not from Sulis Minerva that trouble starts. It comes from the discovery of a sorcerous map, leading left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger. A desperate rescue is attempted by his sister the right-handed bookseller Vivien and their friend, art student Susan Arkshaw, who is still struggling to deal with her own recently discovered magical heritage.

The map takes the trio to a place separated from this world, maintained by deadly sorcery performed by an ancient sovereign and guarded by monstrous living statues of Portland Stone. But this is only the beginning, as the booksellers investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths and try to unravel the secrets of the murderous Lady of Stone, a serial killer of awesome powers.

If they do not stop her, she will soon kill again. And this time, her target is not an ordinary mortal.

Review

Garth Nix is back with an all new fantasy adventure featuring Susan Arkshaw and the mysterious booksellers. Picking up after the events of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, the story follows Susan, Merlin and Viven as they are transported to a strange house taken out of time. There they find a series of murders have taken place and an ancient sovereign with the ability to animate stone. The ancient sovereign takes an interest in Susan and together with the help of the other booksellers, the trio must find a way to stop the Lady of Stone before she kills again.

I really enjoyed The Left-Handed Booksellers of London so I immediately picked up the sequel. This installment is just as action packed, featuring plenty of shoot outs, battles with mythical monsters and clever puzzles. This one felt particularly fast paced and I found myself turning pages quicker and quicker because I was so intrigued by the story. The plot is well executed and I enjoyed getting to know more about the magic that the booksellers and ancient sovereigns possess. Garth Nix continues to be one of my favourite authors, with all of his books delivering engaging storylines and compelling characters.

We stick with the three main protagonists as the previous book and Susan in particular feels well developed. I was really fascinated by her storyline, coming into her powers and trying to find a balance between living her normal every day life as an art student and the lure she feels towards her father’s powers. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion and was a really fun and engrossing read – I would love to read more about Susan and the booksellers and hope Nix continues to write more books in this world.

Book Review: The Left-Handed Booksellers of London – Garth Nix

April 3, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Release Date: September 22nd 2020
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 416
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this book in my local bookshop
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

In a slightly alternate London in 1983, Susan Arkshaw is looking for her father, a man she has never met. Crime boss Frank Thringley might be able to help her, but Susan doesn’t get time to ask Frank any questions before he is turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the outrageously attractive Merlin.

Merlin is a young left-handed bookseller (one of the fighting ones), who with the right-handed booksellers (the intellectual ones), are an extended family of magical beings who police the mythic and legendary Old World when it intrudes on the modern world, in addition to running several bookshops.

Susan’s search for her father begins with her mother’s possibly misremembered or misspelt surnames, a reading room ticket, and a silver cigarette case engraved with something that might be a coat of arms.

Merlin has a quest of his own, to find the Old World entity who used ordinary criminals to kill his mother. As he and his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, tread in the path of a botched or covered-up police investigation from years past, they find this quest strangely overlaps with Susan’s. Who or what was her father? Susan, Merlin, and Vivien must find out, as the Old World erupts dangerously into the New.

Review

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London is a whimsical fantasy adventure tale that follows Susan Arkshaw, a young woman who winds up involved with the mysterious booksellers – an extended family that protects the ordinary world from the creatures of the Old World. Susan is in London to start art school and find out who her father is, but her search may take her further into the Old World than anyone thought possible.

I grew up reading Garth Nix books and Sabriel remains one of my all time favourite books to this day. I always find that Nix’s books have really intriguing, clever concepts and this is absolutely no exception. I was completely captivated by the idea of a group of magical booksellers who not only sell books, but fight dangerous creatures, work out puzzles and protect the public from the Old World. The story was well paced and incredibly well executed. I found myself hooked early on and really enjoyed the ride this adventure story takes you on.

The story is set in a slightly alternate London in the 1980s and I loved the way Nix brought the sights and sounds of London to life. The world building felt solid and I was really fascinated by the history of the booksellers and the Ancient Sovereigns they stand against. Like all Garth Nix books the story has a cast of brilliant, compelling characters and I really liked Susan, Merlin and Viven. The three worked as a great team and I can’t wait to read more about these fascinating characters. The story has plenty of action, including a goblin kidnapping, fights against resurrected corpses and shoot outs with criminals. If you’re a fan of Garth Nix or looking for a fun, fantastical tale that will keep you hooked, this one should definitely be on your TBR.

Book Review: Sister, Maiden, Monster – Lucy A. Snyder

April 2, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Release Date: February 21st 2023
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 272
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Synopsis

Sister, Maiden, Monster is a visceral story set in the aftermath of our planet’s disastrous transformation and told through the eyes of three women trying to survive the nightmare, from Bram Stoker Award-winning author Lucy A. Snyder.

To survive they must evolve.

A virus tears across the globe, transforming its victims in nightmarish ways. As the world collapses, dark forces pull a small group of women together.

Erin, once quiet and closeted, acquires an appetite for a woman and her brain. Why does forbidden fruit taste so good?

Savannah, a professional BDSM switch, discovers a new turn-on: committing brutal murders for her eldritch masters.

Mareva, plagued with chronic tumors, is too horrified to acknowledge her divine role in the coming apocalypse, and as her growths multiply, so too does her desperation.

Review

Sister, Maiden, Monster is a unique cosmic horror book that is completely unlike anything I’ve read before. The story follows three women in the wake of a pandemic that spreads across the world and infects people in strange horrific ways. Each woman is transformed in ways they could not possibly imagine.

This book really pulled me in with the intriguing premise. The story is told in three separate sections, each one from a different character’s point of view. The first section, which focuses on Erin was really compelling – seeing how the virus was dealt with by government officials, how society adapted, and how it affected people in different ways. I thought this section of the book was really well paced and I was so intrigued to learn more. The middle section was where I started to struggle a little bit. It felt a bit slower and I found it a bit more difficult to get through. I wasn’t a massive fan of of Savannah and I think this contributed to why I found the middle section a bit on the slower side. The final section focusing on Mareva was horror-inducing and I found I could not look away from the book even though it was sending shivers down my spine.

I enjoyed Snyder’s writing style and the story was well executed. The story is told in a very vivid way and there were plenty of moments that really grossed me out. This is definitely a book that will stay on your mind long after you’ve finished reading. The characters are well developed and I particularly enjoyed Erin’s perspective, seeing how she adapted to life as a Type Three. If you’re looking for a dark, cleverly told story with plenty of body horror, this book should absolutely be your next read.

Book Review: The Faithless – C L Clark

March 30, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment

Series: Magic of the Lost #2
Release Date: 7th March 2023
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 558
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this book from my local bookshop
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

In the second installment of C.L. Clark’s Magic of the Lost trilogy, soldier Touraine and princess Luca must return to Balladaire to reclaim Luca’s throne and to face the consequences of dismantling an empire.

The rebels have won, and the empire is withdrawing from Qazal. But undoing the tangled web that binds the two nations will not be easy, and Touraine and Luca will face their greatest challenge yet.

Luca needs to oust her uncle from the Balladairan throne once and for all and take her rightful place as Queen. But he won’t let go of power so easily. When he calls for a “Trial of Competence” and Luca’s allies start disappearing from her side, she will need to find a way to prove her might. And she knows someone who can help…

Touraine has found a home in the newly free country of Qazal. But she soon realizes that leading a country and leading a revolution are two very different tasks. And, even more importantly, if Luca’s uncle doesn’t ratify the treaty, the Qazali could end up right back where they started.

Together, the two women will have to come overcome their enemies, their history, and their heartbreak in order to find a way to secure Luca’s power and Touraine’s freedom.

Review

C. L. Clark’s The Unbroken was one of my favourite reads of 2022 so I was dying to get my hands on a copy of The Faithless. Picking up after the events of book one, we follow Touraine as she travels to Balladaire as an Ambassador for Qazal. Touraine knows this will be no easy task and the future of Qazal rests upon her. Meanwhile Luca has returned home to take her rightful place as Queen, however, her Uncle is not willing to let the crown go. Luca must go through a Trial of Competence to prove she is ready for the throne, but with so few allies will she be able to rally the nobles to her cause and stop her Uncle stealing the throne?

I was so curious to see whether I would love The Faithless as much as I loved The Unbroken. I was so surprised to discover I loved this book even more than book one. As soon as the book arrived I couldn’t help picking it up (partly because of that stunning cover) and I was completely glued to the pages. The story is complex, well executed and utterly compelling. I enjoyed seeing more of the world in this installment and seeing all the sights and sounds of Balladaire come to life. The world building is excellent, with the reader getting the opportunity to learn more about the magic both in Qazal and in Balladaire.

Much like book one, The Faithless is full of action packed scenes. Clark has a way of writing really dynamic fighting scenes that really have the reader on the edge of their seat. There is also lots of political intrigue in the story and it was fascinating seeing Luca attempt to bring allies to her cause. The romance in the story is impeccable and I so enjoyed seeing how the dynamics between Luca and Touraine have changed over the course of the two books. The story is not only told from Touraine and Luca’s point of view, but we also get to see the story from Pruett’s perspective – something I hadn’t been expecting but really liked. Touraine and Luca are such fascinating characters – Luca is clever, doing everything she can to fight for her throne and do the right thing for her people. Touraine is struggling to find her place in the world and help Qazal survive after being liberated.

The Faithless is a brilliant, unputdownable read with complex compelling characters (I loved Ghadin too!) and an intriguing, well paced plot. If you’ve read The Unbroken you will not be disappointed in this sequel and I cannot wait to see where Clark takes things in book three.

Blog Tour: Some Desperate Glory – Emily Tesh

March 28, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Release Date: April 11th 2023
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 448
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

While we live, the enemy shall fear us.

All her life Kyr has trained for the day she can avenge the murder of planet Earth. Raised in the bowels of Gaea Station alongside the last scraps of humanity, she readies herself to face the Wisdom, the all-powerful, reality-shaping weapon that gave the Majoda their victory over humanity.

They are what’s left. They are what must survive. Kyr is one of the best warriors of her generation, the sword of a dead planet. But when Command assigns her brother to certain death and relegates her to the nursery to bear sons until she dies trying, she knows she must take humanity’s revenge into her own hands.

Alongside her brother’s brilliant but seditious friend and a lonely, captive alien, she escapes from everything she’s ever known into a universe far more complicated than she was taught and far more wondrous than she could have imagined.

A thrillingly told queer space opera about the wreckage of war, the family you find, and who you must become when every choice is stripped from you, Some Desperate Glory is award-winning author Emily Tesh’s highly anticipated debut novel.

Review

Emily Tesh’s Some Desperate Glory is an epic space adventure that follows Kyr, a young woman living on Gaea Station – one of the last holdouts of humanity after planet Earth was destroyed. Kyr has trained all her life to be the most skilled warrior and she knows she will be assigned a combat job to help get revenge for her planet. When Kyr is unexpectedly assigned to the nursery to bear sons and her brother Mags is sent on a suicide mission, Kyr teams up with her brother’s friend and a captive alien to rescue Mags and take matters into her own hands. However, once Kyr and her team escape the station, they find there might be far more out there than she realised.

I’ve always wanted to read Emily Tesh’s Greenhollow Duology, so I absolutely jumped at the chance to read Some Desperate Glory. This is a fast paced and addictive read – one I positively raced through. The world building is well developed and this well executed tale had plenty of surprise moments that I absolutely did not expect. Even when I was sure what was going to happen next, Tesh took the story in a completely different direction. Some Desperate Glory is a compelling read, and one science fiction fans are not going to be able to put down.

Some Desperate Glory has a really fascinating protagonist. Kyr really believes in the idea of vengeance for humanity. In the beginning, she’s so unlikeable and it was so intriguing to see how she changes as the story progressed. You eventually get to the point where you can’t help but root for her. Tesh does a brilliant job creating a complex protagonist and combining that with a really compelling story, which meant I was glued to this book for hours on end.

The story has plenty of action packed moments that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. Some Desperate Glory is an unforgettable science fiction adventure and will definitely be amongst my favourite sci-fi reads of the year. Some Desperate Glory is a book that should not be missed and I cannot wait to read more from Emily Tesh.

Book Review: The Tyranny of Faith – Richard Swan

March 17, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: Empire of the Wolf #2
Release Date: February 14th 2023
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 496
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

A Justice’s work is never done.

The Battle of Galen’s Vale is over, but the war for the Empire’s future has just begun. Concerned by rumors that the Magistratum’s authority is waning, Sir Konrad Vonvalt returns to Sova to find the capital city gripped by intrigue and whispers of rebellion. In the Senate, patricians speak openly against the Emperor, while fanatics preach holy vengeance on the streets.

Yet facing down these threats to the throne will have to wait, for the Emperor’s grandson has been kidnapped – and Vonvalt is charged with rescuing the missing prince. His quest will lead him – and his allies Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir – to the southern frontier, where they will once again face the puritanical fury of Bartholomew Claver and his templar knights – and a dark power far more terrifying than they could have imagined.

Review

The Tyranny of Faith is the second installment in Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf series. Picking up after the events of The Justice of Kings, we follow Helena and Sir Konrad as they return to Sova after the battle of Galen’s Vale. Sir Konrad and his team know the work is only just beginning – there is the threat of rebellion and traitors within the Magistratum. When the Emperor’s grandson is mysteriously kidnapped, the Emperor tasks Vonvalt with finding him and bringing him home alive, but as Vonvalt, Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir dig deeper, they uncover a much bigger plot than they could possibly have imagined.

After meaning to read The Justice of Kings for months I finally picked it up and was absolutely hooked. After finishing the book I immediately order The Tyranny of Faith because I was desperate to know where the story was going to go next. This fantasy series is well executed and I really enjoyed the plot of this second installment. There were a number of threads that Swan wove together seamlessly to create such a compelling narrative. We get to see more of the world in this installment and I was fascinated by the descriptions of Sova that practically leaped off the page.

In The Justice of Kings, I was keen to learn more about the magic and Vonvalt’s powers and we definitely get more of that in The Tyranny of Faith. This was probably the aspect of the book that intrigued me the most and I’m so glad we got to see more of it. The story features some really compelling characters that are so well-developed. Each character is dealing with their own issues and it was fascinating seeing how the dynamics between the four main characters changed as the story progressed and the tension heightened.

The Tyranny of Faith is an impressive second book in the series. It’s got wonderful characters and plenty of tense, action-filled moments to keep the reader turning pages. Swan has a really compelling writing style and that definitely shines through in this book. If you’re looking for a fantasy series with magic, mystery and tons of intrigue, this is definitely a series worth checking out. The Tyranny of Faith will definitely be on my best books of 2023 list and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next.

Book Review: Queen of Deception – Anna Stephens

March 1, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: Legends of Asgard
Release Date: March 7th 2023
Publisher: Aconyte Books
Pages: 352
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I received an E-ARC of this book via Netgalley
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

All that stands between Hela and control of Elizabethan England are two legendary heroes and an army of Dark Elves, in this action-packed historical adventure from Marvel’s Legends of Asgard

A burst of magic from Midgard attracts the attention of Hela, Queen of Hel. The Goddess of Death craves power to enable her ultimate conquest of the Realms, and this new sorcery from Earth is tantalizing… Pursuing its source, Hela is appalled to find herself in Elizabethan England. From Asgard, Lady Sif and the valkyrie, Brunnhilde are also dispatched to Midgard, and neither of them have any love for Hela. Yet a still greater threat awaits: the Dark Elves see Midgard as the first battle in war of the Realms. Only a team-up between hated enemies can win the day, but how far can you really trust the Queen of Hel?

Review

Anna Stephens is back with a new Asgard novel, full to the brim with magic, action, and adventure. We are back following Lady Sif and the Valkyrie Brunnhilde as the head to Earth in search of the mysterious magic that is causing Brunnhilde nightmares. Arriving in Elizabethan England, the two warrior women must attempt to blend in and uncover what the Dark Elves are up to. The Asgardian warriors are not the only ones interested in this dark magic though. Hela, Queen of Hel has also arrived on Midgard, determined to take the magic for herself – Hela and the Asgardians are old enemies, but will they be able to team up in order to stop the Dark Elves from opening a portal between realms and waging war in Midgard?

As I mentioned in my review of The Serpent and the Dead, I know very little about the Marvel universe besides having watched the movies. I really enjoyed reading The Serpent and the Dead and was intrigued to see where things would go in this new novel. Much like the previous book this can be read without prior knowledge of the world and is a standalone story. I really enjoyed being back with Lady Sif and Brunnhilde, they are brilliant, fearless warrior women and it was so fun seeing them attempt to blend into the rules and trappings of Elizabethan England. The story also contains chapters from Hela’s point of view which I absolutely loved. She is dark, ruthless and determined to get what she wants – at any cost. I really enjoyed the relationship between her and William as it showed Hela might not be so heartless after all.

The story is quick-paced and I raced through it in just a few days. There are plenty of action-packed moments and Stephens does a brilliant job of writing dynamic battle sequences. This was a compelling adventure tale and if you’re a fan of Anna Stephens or the Marvel Universe, this is definitely a book worth checking out.

Blog Tour: The Jaguar Path – Anna Stephens

February 16, 2023 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment

Series: The Songs of the Drowned #2 (See my review of book one here!)
Release Date: February 16th 2023
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Pages: 626
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

The Empire of Songs reigns supreme. Across all the lands of Ixachipan, its hypnotic, magical music sounds. Those who battled against the Empire have been enslaved and dispersed, taken far from their friends and their homes.

In the Singing City, Xessa must fight for the entertainment of her captors. Lilla and thousands of warriors are trained to serve as weapons for their enemies. And Tayan is trapped at the heart of the Empire’s power and magic, where the ruthless Enet’s ambition is ever growing.

Each of them harbours a secret hope, waiting for a chance to strike at the Empire from within.

But first they must overcome their own desires. Power can seduce as well as crush. And, in exchange for their loyalty, the Empire promises much.

Review

Anna Stephens is back with the next installment in her brilliant Songs of the Drowned series and we pick up with our main characters two years after the events of The Stone Knife – Lilla is a slave warrior, training to be part of the biggest and most ruthless army the world has ever known. He secretly hopes to spark a rebellion amongst his fellow slaves, but how can they overcome the might of the Empire? Xessa is a slave in the fighting pits, tasked with providing entertainment to those she despises, she knows she will never get out alive, but can she help her fellow Tokob survive long enough to claim freedom? Tayan is stuck in the heart of the Empire, surrounded by the most ruthless and power hungry people, but the Singer’s magic speaks to him in a way no one thought possible – can he survive long enough to understand how to wield it? Meanwhile, on the other side of the conflict, Pilos and Enet are at each other’s throats, each one determined to outwit the other.

Anna Stephens is one of my favourite authors so this book was one of my most anticipated releases for 2023. It has all the things that I love about her books – incredible world building, an intriguing plot with some surprises I didn’t see coming, and brilliant, complex characters you can’t help but become attached to. Despite the book being over 600 pages I raced through this and I am already desperate for more. Stephens has created such an interesting world in this series. The magic is so fascinating and I loved learning more about the song and the world as the story progressed.

I would say that this is a bit more on the slower paced side compared to The Stone Knife, but if anything that gives the reader the chance to become even more attached to the characters. It was fascinating to see how things changed for the characters compared to book one and there was so much growth and evolution for them. I absolutely adore Xessa (and Ossa), she is one of my favourite characters and I am terrified of how things might go for her in book three. All of the POV characters are really fascinating and I really liked Enet’s chapters as she’s so ruthless and determined to make all her plans come to fruition.

Just like The Stone Knife, The Jaguar Path is dark, gritty and has more than a few gruesome moments. Stephens does a brilliant job writing dynamic fighting scenes, with moments that practically leap off the page. I enjoyed every second of this book and I cannot wait to see how the story ends.