Review: Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Alina and Mal have been forced into hiding across the True Sea. Alina is haunted by her memories of what happened on the Fold while Mal is eager to put as much distance between the girl he loves and the Darkling, as possible.

The Darkling is now more powerful than ever and has a plan that will test the boundaries of the world as they know it unless Mal and Alina can find a way to destroy him.

While she can’t be sure….Alina senses that if she brings all three amplifiers together, she will hopefully be powerful enough to defeat him. But how does one find ancient, mythical items?

The Darkling quickly discovers Mal and Alina on the True Sea but after a daring escape, they find themselves heavy one Ravka prince, Nikolai.

With his help, Alina and Mal return to the country that they have been fleeing with the hope that she will find a way to stop the Darkling. But her power continues to grow and the bond between Alina and the Darkling strengthens and it pushes her further and further away from Mal.

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Review: The Ambassador’s Wife by Jennifer Steil

This book made me want to quit my job and apply at the U.S. Embassy immediately!

I really enjoyed reading this one! It was a nice break from some of the books I’ve been reading lately. I thought this book was going to be much different than it was….for one I thought it was going to be set in like the 1940’s or something but it’s not….it’s actually a modern novel.

I don’t read a lot of contemporary fiction but I do make exceptions when the book or premise sounds unique and different and this fit the bill.

Artist Miranda is living in Mazrooq where she instructs Muslim women on painting….the kind forbidden in their culture. Miranda is kind of a free spirit, very bohemian and enjoying being free to paint and enjoy the Mazrooq people. Then she meets Finn.

Finn is a British ambassador who has just arrived in Mazrooq. He is only need there a few days when he has a chance encounter with Miranda in the market. Their acquaintance soon blooms into something more and before they know it, they are in love.

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Review: Enchantress of Paris: A Novel of the Sun King’s Court by Marci Jefferson

Marie Mancini was destine to disgrace her family. The stars foretold her shame and for most of her life, her family has kept her closest at a convent to avoid said ‘disgrace’.

Ignoring the stars and horoscopes, Marie’s uncle and guardian, Cardinal Mazarin along with her other sisters call her to court where she catches the eye of King Louis XIV.

Even though the King is sharing his bed with Marie’s sister Olympia, he is clearly captivated by the studious and witty Marie.

With the death of one of Marie’s sisters, the Cardinal wants her to return to the convent and become a full fledged sister. Upon hearing of Marie’s scheduled departure, the King bids her to remain at court.

The Cardinal agrees, especially with Olympia rapidly losing favor….he urges Marie to give in to the King and share his bed…..but she refuses.

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Review: Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms #3) by Morgan Rhodes

The King of Blood continues to rule over the kingdom of Mytica with an iron fist. His son and heir, Magnus, is married to the former princess, Cleo, against both of their wills. Cleo and Magnus know that the King searches for the legendary Kindred  in hopes of gaining absolutely power through their magic.

The King plans on using Magnus’s sister, Lucia, a powerful sorceress, to find the Kindred but her magic threatens to consume her. The King looks for witches who can tutor her and teach her to temper her powers but so far, there have been none.

From across the sea comes two visiting royals, Ashur and Amara who also seek the Kindred. They propose an alliance with Princess Cleo but Cleo is hesitant to accept….there is something about them that she doesn’t trust.

The rebels continue to try and find a way to take down the King, but every potential plan ends in more death and destruction. Jonas, the leader of the rebels, begins to doubt if he has what it takes the beat the King and restore order in the kingdoms.

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Review: Rebel Spring (Falling Kingdoms #2) by Morgan Rhodes

After a bloody siege, Auranos has been defeated and the young queen, Cleo, is a captive in what was once her home and kingdom. The three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now unwillingly united as one country called Mytica with the King of Blood as their ruler.

At the heart of this conflict though is the quest for magic. Four brave young people search for that magic and the power it promises.

For Cleo,  the magic would enable her to reclaim her royal seat. In Jonas’s hands, it frees his nation, and in Lucia’s, it fulfills the ancient prophecy of her destiny. And if the magic were Magnus’s, he would finally prove his worth in the eyes of his cruel and scheming father,the King of Blood.

If the King of Blood has his way though, he will use that magic for complete domination and absolute power over Mytica. All of them are frantically searching for magic but no one really knows where to start and they each only have a little piece of the puzzle.

When the King of Blood begins to build a road into the Forbidden Mountains to physically link all of Mytica, his cruelty sparks a revolt among the people that will change the course of the kingdoms and its people.

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