To Kill a Kingdom
Written by: Alexandra Christo
Released on: 2/6/18
Genre: YA Fantasy
Reviewed by: Emily L*
Rating: 4.5 Sirens Serenading
Recommended for: Anyone who loves a retelling of a fairy tale – not Disney – but the original SCARY ones
I must’ve been distracted when I read the description of this book because it wasn’t until I was actually reading that I realized it was a retelling of The Little Mermaid. I wasn’t upset with this because it seems like this is one fairy tale that’s been a bit neglected in this world of redoing ideas that have been done before. And let me tell you, this is a retelling done right. It’s dark, evil, and imaginative and that’s just how I like my fairy tales. Mermaids – they’re boring. Give me Sirens trying to sing silly humans to their death; give me sexy pirate princes on an honorable mission; give me a quest that sends a wily crew to mysterious lands where something could go wrong at every turn. If that sounds good to you, read To Kill a Kingdom. Buy it!
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
A Princess in Theory
Written by: Alyssa Cole
Released on: 2/27/18
Genre: Contemporary Royal Romance
Reviewed by: Bea*
Rating: 4 Rescued Lab Rats
Recommended for: People who’ve fallen in love with Black Panther or wish they were Megan Markle
This is a very smart book for my very favorite kind of low effort reading, the Suddenly Princess Book. There’s no way I wasn’t requesting an ARC about a lady scientist raised in foster care who finds out she’s actually the long-lost betrothed of an African prince. Especially since she has the good sense to assume this news is a scam. There’s a good splash of castle intrigue, medical mystery, academic work, and friend drama in addition to the romance— I liked the protagonists more thanks to their continued lives as loving, smart, hard-working human beings outside their romance. I’m still giggling that his ridiculous prince friend is from “Liechtenbourg” though. Buy it!
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
The Hazel Wood
Written by: Melissa Albert
Released on: 1/30/18
Genre: YA Fantasy
Reviewed by: Angela
Rating: 4 Twisted Fairy Tales
Recommended for: For anyone who prefers their folk tales to include death
Alice and her mother have moved around her entire life, hiding from both the bad luck that always catches up with them and Alice’s author-of-a-cult-classic-fairy-tale-collection-The-Hinterlands grandmother. When they get a letter that Grandma died, they think that their luck has changed, so they settle down in one place.
But nothing is ever that simple. Soon, Alice feels that bad luck on her tail and her mother goes missing, leaving Alice the message to stay away from Hazel Wood, Grandma’s estate. Of course, Alice sets out to find Hazel Wood with…let’s call Finch a friend, but really they were barely more than classmates before our story begins. Along the way, the stories from The Hinterlands find them, and they have it out for Alice and Finch. This book was dark and twisted and felt like it would fit perfectly on the shelf next to a Grimm Brothers collection. Actually, I think the cover art even looks like my B&N copy (I am a big nerd about fairy tales, both as a romance reader and as an amateur linguist). I did think it got a little on the long side, but I couldn’t tell you anything that I would have had her take out, but it will be interesting to see where she is going to go with the series. Buy it!
Lost to a Spy
Written by: Sharon Cullen
Released on: 3/13/18
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Janna*
Rating: 3.5 Hot Printers
Recommended for: Scottish history lovers and HEA seekers
Lady Emma Hamilton is a widow, living at Holyrood Palace as a friend of Mary, Queen of Scots. She witnesses what appears to be a murder while walking home late at night, but is knocked unconscious by an explosion immediately afterward. She is found and cared for by Tristan Fitzherbert, a kind, charming English printer, but who is secretly a spy for Queen Elizabeth. When it’s discovered that the murder Emma witnessed was that of Queen Mary’s husband Lord Darnley, her life could be in danger if the men behind the murder learn there was a witness. And her heart, bruised and wary after her loveless, abusive marriage, could be in danger of falling for her mysterious rescuer. Will their attraction survive when their loyalties are at odds? And will they survive the Scottish court and its treacherous plots?
A sweet but fast-paced story, Lost to A Spy has a little bit of everything-adventure, suspense, history, and heartwarming, heart-racing romance. The characters are well rounded and likable, and it brought to life a period of Queen Mary’s reign that I wasn’t familiar with. It’s the perfect HEA for an afternoon curled up with a cup of tea. Buy it!
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
How to Stop Time
Written by: Matt Haig
Released on: 2/6/18
Genre: Adult Fiction
Reviewed by: Heidi*
Rating: 3.5 Time Traveling Lute Players
Recommended for: Fans of Time Traveling historical fiction
How to Stop Time is part romance, part historical fiction, part science fiction and all a great read. Tom has lived nearly 500 years old, but only looks 41. You’d think aging at such a slow rate that you’ve experienced London during the time of Shakespeare, invaded Tahiti with Captain Cook, played the piano in 1920’s Paris and have several hundred years ahead of you would be a blessing. You’d be right…and wrong. Outliving the people you love and never being able to stay in one place for long has its drawbacks. Tom is lonely, he lives half in the present world has a history teacher and half in the past of his memories. How to Stop Time is his story of love and loss and learning to love again when loss is inevitable. You’ll like it as much as I did. Buy it!
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
False Start
Written by: Rebel Farris
Released on: 2/7/18
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Emily L*
Rating: 4 Red calla lilies NOT left by a stalker
Recommended for: Anyone who likes a lot of story with their romance. And some super sexy sex
You know you’re enjoying a book when you start on a Friday night and finish on Saturday. I enjoy Maddie as a character and I LOVE the way her story is told. The “now” and “then” perspectives amplify the suspense and keep you intrigued wondering what terrible moment(s) this story must be leading up to. Every single time I was annoyed to leave the present, and then every single time I was bummed to leave the past. That doesn’t usually happen. It’s great fun to learn about her bit by bit and to slowly understand why she is the way she is.
Maddie is quite a leading lady. I’m a bit jealous of her incredibly full life – in a band, roller derby, MMA, a million friends, owns multiple businesses – all at 27. I have about 6 months to get my life together, people. It is well deserved though – Maddie strong because of all the ways she’s been tested, and that number is high. I think it’s kind of great that her current romantic story is not necessarily the focus (that’s not to say there’s not sex or romance. There is. Oh, THERE IS). Maddie is the focus, and she has more than just one thing to think about in her life since it’s so full. The cliffhanger ending is totally unfair and made me very glad I have the next book queued up. Buy it!
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
There you have it! Real quick reviews for books we loved … real quick because we lazy. Hope you find something new to read. But in the meantime, tell us what you are reading in the comments or on Twitter using #TNReads.
