Crush the King - Early Book Review

Crush the King (Crown of Shards #3)
by Jennifer Estep

What is it about:
A fierce gladiator queen must face off against her enemies in an epic battle in this next thrilling installment of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series—an action-packed adventure full of magic, murderous machinations, courtly intrigue, and pulse-pounding romance.

Queen Everleigh Blair of Bellona has survived the mass murder of the royal family, become a fearsome warrior trained by an elite gladiator troupe, and unleashed her ability to destroy magic. After surviving yet another assassination attempt orchestrated by the conniving king of Morta, Evie has had enough. It’s time to turn the tables and take the fight to her enemies.

There is no better opportunity to strike than during the Regalia Games, a time when warriors, nobles, and royals from all the kingdoms come together to compete in various sporting events. With the help of her loyal friends, Evie goes on the attack at the Regalia, but things don’t turn out the way she hopes. Soon, she is facing a terrifying new threat, and she will have to dig deep and learn even more about her growing magic if she has any chance of defeating her foes.

Because to secure her throne and ensure her kingdom’s survival, Evie must think like a true Bellonan: she must outsmart and outwit her enemies... and crush the king.

What did I think of it:
I've very much enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, so I was happy to get my hands on an ARC of the last book.

And this is yet another entertaining read.

As I mentioned in my review of Protect the Prince I see this series as Renaissance Fair Fantasy (Yes, my own term), meaning that it's at times over the top, and unbelievable. Much like how the Middle Ages are depicted at Renaissance Fairs. I myself don't mind this at all. It makes for a very entertaining story, but for people looking for serious Fantasy it may be jarring.

This book is the conclusion of the trilogy, so there is a lot going on, all leading to a big finale. Some things had me raising my eyebrows, like a family with an Italian name having a band of bounty hunters with a Dutch name. And maybe Geldjagers may sound mysterious to those who don't know any Dutch, but for me it sounded a little corny, especially as Geldjagers = Money Hunters, so basically a sort of translation of bounty hunters.

There were some very obvious things, but overall I really enjoyed Evie's antics and those of her friends. I especially really like Paloma and Cho. I wouldn't mind some extra stories set in this world with them in the lead. The romance between Evie and Sullivan fizzled out in this book in my opinion. It felt a bit like a forgotten side plot.

Small points of critique aside I had a great time with the book. It's fun, enjoyable, and packed with action and intrigue. From what I understand Estep has plans for more books in this world, and I can tell you I'll be along for the ride.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Fantasy read.


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Protect the Prince - Book Review

Protect the Prince (Crown of Shards #2)
by Jennifer Estep

What is it about:
Magic, murder, adventure, and romance combine in this second novel in the exciting Crown of Shards saga from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep.

Everleigh Blair might be the new gladiator queen of Bellona, but her problems are far from over.

First, Evie has to deal with a court full of arrogant, demanding nobles, all of whom want to get their greedy hands on her crown. As if that wasn’t bad enough, an assassin tries to kill Evie in her own throne room.

Despite the dangers, Evie goes ahead with a scheduled trip to the neighboring kingdom of Andvari in order to secure a desperately needed alliance. But complicating matters is the stubborn Andvarian king, who wants to punish Evie for the deaths of his countrymen during the Seven Spire massacre.

But dark forces are at work inside the Andvarian palace, and Evie soon realizes that no one is safe. Worse, Evie’s immunity to magic starts acting in strange, unexpected ways, which makes her wonder whether she is truly strong enough to be a Winter Queen.

But Evie’s magic, life, and crown aren’t the only things in danger—so is her heart, thanks to Lucas Sullivan, the Andvarian king’s bastard son and Evie’s... well, Evie isn’t quite sure what Sullivan is to her.

Only one thing is certain—protecting a prince might be even harder than killing a queen...

What did I think of it:
This is a very entertaining read.

I loved the first book, so with the last book in this trilogy on its way, it was more than time for me to pick up book two.

I must warn you that this isn't High Fantasy, or Epic Fantasy. I'd call it Renaissance Fair Fantasy myself. If you go into this book with that in mind you'll have a great time with it. Is it over the top at times? Yes! Is it always believable what is happening? No! Is it a fun and very entertaining story? Totally!!

I very much enjoyed Evie's antics, the political mess she gets herself into, and the danger that stalks her and others. Once again the culprit didn't come as a surprise, but even with seeing the outcome from miles away I had a great time with this book.

You bet I'll read the last book soon (I have an ARC *squee*) to see how Evie's story ends.

Why should you read it:
It's a super entertaining Fantasy read.


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Out Today: Protect the Prince

Out Today:

Protect the Prince (Crown of Shards #2)
by Jennifer Estep


Magic, murder, adventure, and romance combine in this second novel in the exciting Crown of Shards saga from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep.

Everleigh Blair might be the new gladiator queen of Bellona, but her problems are far from over.

First, Evie has to deal with a court full of arrogant, demanding nobles, all of whom want to get their greedy hands on her crown. As if that wasn’t bad enough, an assassin tries to kill Evie in her own throne room.

Despite the dangers, Evie goes ahead with a scheduled trip to the neighboring kingdom of Andvari in order to secure a desperately needed alliance. But complicating matters is the stubborn Andvarian king, who wants to punish Evie for the deaths of his countrymen during the Seven Spire massacre.

Dark forces are also at work inside the Andvarian palace, and Evie soon realizes that no one is safe. Worse, her immunity to magic starts acting in strange, unexpected ways, which makes Evie wonder whether she is truly strong enough to be a Winter Queen.

Evie’s magic, life, and crown aren’t the only things in danger—so is her heart, thanks to Lucas Sullivan, the Andvarian king’s bastard son and Evie’s … well, Evie isn’t quite sure what Sullivan is to her.

Only one thing is certain—protecting a prince might be even harder than killing a queen…

~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

I stared up at the queen’s throne sitting on top of the dais. The chair was crafted of jagged pieces of tearstone that had been dug out of Seven Spire and fitted together centuries ago. The throne gleamed with a soft, muted light, shifting from starry gray to midnight-blue and back again, just like the columns did. The changing colors represented the Summer and Winter lines of the Blair royal family, as well as the everlasting strength of the Bellonan people.

I had seen the throne many, many times before, but now that it was mine, I found it far more intimidating, especially since the top featured the same crown-of-shards crest that adorned my tunic, bracelet, sword, and dagger. I had never paid any attention to that symbol before the royal massacre, but now, it was everywhere I went. Sometimes, I thought I would have been far happier if I had never seen it at all. I certainly would have been much safer.

Summer queens are fine and fair, with pretty ribbons and flowers in their hair. Winter queens are cold and hard, with frosted crowns made of icy shards.

The words to the old Bellonan fairy-tale rhyme echoed in my mind, as though all the queens who had come before were whispering them to me over and over again. I listened to the phantom voices a moment longer, then exhaled, slowly climbed up the dais steps, turned around, and sat down on the throne.

That was the signal everyone had been waiting for, and all the lords, ladies, senators, guilders, and others strode forward, stopping a few feet away from the bottom of the dais. They split into their usual cliques and began gossiping, while servants handed out sweet cakes, fresh fruits and cheeses, and glasses of blackberry sangria.

I looked up at the second-floor balcony. More nobles milled around there, eating, drinking, talking, and watching me, although they were all poorer and thus far less important than the ones on the first floor.

I started to drop my gaze when I noticed a man sitting by himself in the top corner of the balcony. He was wearing a long gray coat over a black tunic, and his dark brown hair gleamed under the lights, although a bit of stubble darkened his strong jaw. His handsome features were as blank as mine were, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, although his blue eyes burned into mine with fierce intensity.

My nostrils flared. Even though he was as far away from me as possible, I could still pick out his scent—cold, clean vanilla with just a hint of spice—above all the others in the room. I drew in another breath, letting his scent sink deep down into my lungs, and trying to ignore the hot spark of desire it ignited inside me.

Lucas Sullivan was the magier enforcer of the Black Swan troupe, a bastard prince of Andvari, and my . . . Well, I didn’t know exactly what he was to me. Much more than a friend, but not a lover, despite my pointed advances on that front. But I cared about him more than I wanted to think about, especially now, when I was facing another battle inside my own palace.

So I dropped my gaze from his and studied the nobles again. Even though I had been queen for about three months, ever since I had killed Vasilia, the crown princess and my treacherous cousin, this was my first formal court session. Practically every noble from across the kingdom had journeyed here to discuss business and other matters, and it was important that things went well. I doubted they would, though. The nobles weren’t going to like some of the things I had to say.

While the nobles chattered and downed their food and drinks, I discreetly drew in a breath, letting the air roll in over my tongue and tasting all the scents in it. The people’s floral perfumes and spicy colognes. The fruity tang of the sangria. The pungent aroma of the blue cheeses that the servants were slicing on the buffet tables along the walls.

I opened my mouth to start the session when one final scent assaulted my senses—hot, jalapeño rage so strong that it made my nose burn with its sudden, sharp intensity.

Most people scoffed at my mutt magic, but my enhanced sense of smell was quite useful in one regard—it let me sense people’s emotions, and very often their intentions. Garlic guilt, ashy heartbreak, minty regret. I could tell what someone was feeling—and often what they were plotting—just by tasting the scents that swirled around them.

I’d had years to hone my mutt magic, so I knew that jalapeño rage meant only one thing.

Someone here wanted to kill me.



~~~~~~~~~~


About Jennifer Estep:

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series. Protect the Prince, book #2, will be released on July 2.

Jennifer is also the author of the Elemental Assassin, Mythos Academy, Bigtime, and Black Blade fantasy series.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com.


PROTECT THE PRINCE BUY LINKS:

EBOOK

Amazon Kindle - Barnes & Noble NOOK - Apple Books
Google Play - Kobo:

AUDIOBOOK

Amazon.com digital audiobook - Amazon MP3 CD - Audible:
Kobo - Libro:

PRINT BOOK:

Amazon print - Barnes & Noble print - Books-A-Million - IndieBound:


ABOUT KILL THE QUEEN:

“KILL THE QUEEN is the definition of epic fantasy: exciting, original, and filled with characters who jump off the page. Jennifer Estep enters the arena and takes no prisoners. Long live the Winter Queen.” — Ilona Andrews #1 New York Times bestselling author

“KILL THE QUEEN rocked my world! With court intrigue, a cast of fantastic characters, epic political sweep, and a slow-burn romance to die for, this book had me rapt. I only regret I devoured it so fast. And that I didn’t write it. More please!” — Jeffe Kennedy, RITA® Award winning author of The Pages of the Mind

“Jennifer Estep takes the world of high fantasy by storm with a book so perfectly plotted and executed that I gasped out loud at each new reveal and unexpected turn. Evie is the heroine we all want to read about: as compassionate as she is ruthless, as cunning as she is kind, and as fierce and focused as anyone must be in order to KILL THE QUEEN.” — Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles

“Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: A royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in Kill the Queen, the first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep — an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.” — PopSugar

“Kill the Queen is a sweeping, addictive adventure with a tiny hint of romance that will leave readers clamoring for more of this universe as soon as they reach the last page.” — Culturess

“Full of magic, fierce women, and revenge.” — Booklist

ABOUT PROTECT THE PRINCE:

“Estep (“Elemental Assassin” series) follows up Kill the Queen with a tale as action- and character-driven as its predecessor, proving that strong female protagonists are still in fine form.” — Library Journal

Seasons of Sorcery - Cover Reveal

Seasons of Sorcery

An anthology of fantasy novellas for all seasons from the hottest authors of fantasy romance and urban fantasy.
Amanda Bouchet
Grace Draven
Jeffe Kennedy
Jennifer Estep

Coming November 13, 2018

Pre-order links:
Kobo - B&N - Amazon

Kill the Queen - Spotlight and Excerpt

I absolutely love Kill the Queen, so I'm happy to be able to share an excerpt with you today!


The thrilling first novel in the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series combines magic, murder, and adventure when an unlikely member of the royal family suddenly becomes a contender in a clash for the crown . . .

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of combat, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

ISBN-10: 0062797611
ISBN-13: 9780062797612

Purchase at:
Amazon - Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million - iBooks
Google Play - Bookdepository


~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

“The Andvarian ambassador is an important dignitary, and I want everything to be perfect for the luncheon,” Maeven called out. “Understood?”
The workers ducked their heads, avoiding her gaze. Maeven nodded, satisfied that she had cowed everyone into continued obedience. She looked around the kitchen again, and she noticed me standing with Isobel. Her gaze cut back to the crates of champagne, but she plastered a smile on her face and walked over to us.
“Incoming.” Isobel stepped back, grabbed a wet dishrag, and started wiping flour off the table, leaving me to face the kitchen steward alone.
“Coward,” I whispered.
Isobel grinned and kept working.
Maeven stopped in front of me. Up close, she was even more beautiful, especially her deep, dark, amethyst eyes. “Lady Everleigh. I didn’t realize that you were . . . visiting the kitchen.”
Visiting? That was Maeven’s way of stating that this was her territory, not mine, and that while my presence was tolerated, it would never truly be welcomed. As if I needed another reminder of my lowly position.
I pasted my usual bland, benign smile on my face, matching her supposed politeness. “Yes, I had to make the pies for the Andvarian ambassador. It’s tradition.”
“Oh, yes, the pies.”
Maeven’s gaze swept over me, and her lips puckered again. Not a speck of flour, sugar, or anything else marred her tunic, but the same could not be said for me. Sugar granules clung to my fingers like sticky sand, while flour stains streaked my clothes like stripes of chalky paint. Plus, several tendrils of my black hair had escaped from its braid and hung down the sides of my face. I blew one of the strands out of the way, but of course it dropped right back down again.
Maeven’s face cleared, as though some other, far more pleasing thought had distracted her from my unkempt appearance. She waved her hand at the crates. “Can I interest you in some champagne? I would love to get a royal opinion on it. Besides, you’re always . . . tasting things for Isobel.”
It might have sounded like an innocent request, but suspicion filled me. Maeven never asked me to taste test anything. Besides, what kind of lush did she think I was? It was barely ten o’clock. Even Cousin Horatio, the Blair family drunk, wouldn’t guzzle champagne at this hour. He’d wait until at least eleven.
“You’re the expert. I’m sure that whatever champagne you’ve picked out will be fine. But thank you ever so much for the offer.”
Disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she smiled at me again. Well, as much as she ever smiled at anyone. “I’ll be sure to save you a glass.”
“That sounds lovely.”

~~~~~~~~~~



About Jennifer Estep:

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. 

Jennifer writes the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series. Kill the Queen, book #1, will be released on Oct. 2.

The Crown of Shards series focuses on Everleigh Blair, a member of the royal family who is distantly in line for the throne of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. But when the unthinkable happens, Evie finds herself fighting for her life—both inside and outside the gladiator arena.  

Jennifer is also the author of the Elemental Assassin, Mythos Academy, Bigtime, and Black Blade fantasy series.  

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter.


~~~~~~~~~~


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Kill the Queen - Early Book Review

Kill the Queen (Crown of Shards #1)
by Jennifer Estep

What is it about:
Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

What did I think of it:
Did I immediately ask Jeffe to get hold of an ARC of this book for me when I heard Jennifer Estep had ARCs with her to RWA? Yes: I totally did!

I mean: who can resist a book promoted as Gladiator meets Game of Thrones, and which promises magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance. This piggy can't.

And this is such an awesome read!

I fell in love with Evie from the start: she had a difficult life and learned to keep herself out of the court intrigues. She is remembered when she's useful, and forgotten when she's not. She keeps her resentment of her situation and of the people who betrayed her hidden deep inside and acts as is expected from her. Just in the first few pages it is clear how much strength Evie keeps locked inside of her.

And then disaster strikes and she is on the run. I was already hooked from the start, but when Evie is away from court she is finally able to truly be herself and she shines even brighter than before.

There were some events and revelations that I clearly saw coming, but I totally didn't mind. The events fit the story and I might have even be disappointed if they didn't happen like they did.

I loved the story, the characters, the atmosphere, the understated, but clearly there romance, the suspense... OK, I confess: I loved everything and couldn't put the book down. If not for dinner and an unfortunate blackout I'd have finished it in one sitting (candlelight reading is not as fun or romantic as it seems, I tell you!).

The ending is very satisfying, but leaves enough open that I'm eager to get my greedy trotters on the next book. You bet I'll stalk Estep's social media for news!

In the mean time I'll make sure to get a finished copy once the book releases, because with all the rereading I'll be doing, I'll need an extra copy.

Why should you read it:
It's a totally awesome Fantasy read.


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Kiss of Frost - Book Review

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2)
by Jennifer Estep

What is it about:
I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

What did I think of it:
This is a very entertaining read.

I really like the mythology and the setting of this series (I'm a sucker for boarding school stories). Gwen is nice enough when she's not talking about man-whores and sluts, and I like her friends even more. There are some cool developments regarding Gwen's powers that make them even more interesting, and I'm curious how Gwen will decide to use them in the future.

The mysteries weren't that mysterious. Two of them could be seen from miles and miles away. But in a series like this that's not important. It's more about being entertained than being surprised in my opinion.

Overall I think the first book was better, but I still very much enjoyed this one, so I'll be picking up the next book one of these days to see what's next.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun YA Paranormal read.

Touch of Frost - Book Review

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)
by Jennifer Estep

What is it about:
My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy; a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why; especially since I should have been the one who died...

What did I think of it:
I got a soft spot for stories that take place at a boarding school (I blame Enid Blyton!), so I really wanted to try this series. I was lucky enough to get the first three books from Melliane.

And this first book is a very enjoyable read.

I liked the world building: Amazons, Spartans, Valkyrie and other mythological warrior teens being trained to fight and use magic so they can defend the world from evil. And the a fore mentioned soft spot for boarding school stories made that I was hooked from the start.

The mysterious death that Gwen is investigating was a nice way to show the reader around on the campus and get to know the school and characters. The investigation and mystery weren't that suspenseful (apart from some cool action scenes), but very entertaining.

The one thing that really annoyed me was Gwen's double standards. She keeps slut-shaming a girl who likes to sleep with more than one guy, but a guy who sleeps with more than one girl is sexy and dangerous!

That annoyance aside (and the fact that once again Loki is the bad guy), this was a really nice read, and I will most certainly pick up the next book to see what kind of trouble Gwen will get herself into next.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Paranormal YA read

Spider's Bite - Book Review

Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin #1)
by Jennifer Estep

What is it about:
My name is Gin, and I kill people.
They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South — when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction...especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

What did I think of it:
This book left me feeling a bit disappointed.

I guess it's because most reviews I've read about this series were raving. I had expected to fall in love with this book.

Instead it left me feeling lukewarm.

I'm not sure what was missing. Is Gin too much of a hard-ass for me? Too jaded? I'm not sure. I've read books with hard-boiled heroines before where i loved the heroine. Is it because she's an assassin? Now that's more likely. I even suspect that my dislike of another assassin character colored my opinion of Gin.

Anyway: I never warmed up to Gin, which made me not that interested in reading how she gets herself out of trouble. I also didn't much care for the 'ít's lust, not love' relationship between Gin and her Caine. That I did finish reading the book had more to do with the fact I didn't have another book with me, than that I was in any way invested in the story.

I will confess that I liked the writing and the world building though, so it wasn't all meh.

So as you might guess I won't be continuing this series, although I think I might give Estep's Mythos Academy series a try, to see if another lead character might make me fall in love with Estep's writing.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice UF read with cool world building.