The Sea Witch - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

The Sea Witch 

by Rebecca F. Kenney

What is it about:

When Averil saves a young man from a shipwreck, she thinks she feels the Soul Echo--the sign that the young human male is her one true mate. And the malevolent Sea Witch is all too happy to offer a deal that could make all her dreams come true. He wants her to win the prince's heart--even coaches her in the art of seduction. But what is the real price of the Sea Witch's help? Why is he more brutally beautiful--and charming--than Averil expected?

*check for trigger warnings before picking this up*

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

I was in need for a book I knew I would enjoy, but I wasn't in the mood for a reread - I already reread The Arrows of the Heart by Jeffe Kennedy for the x-th time - so I picked up a book by Kenney as she hasn't disappointed me so far.

And this is another enjoyable read.

Just as in The Maleficent Faerie Kenney manages to write a delicious gender-swapped villain. I was rooting for the Sea Witch from the start. The overall story was very entertaining, but the scenes between Averil and the Sea Witch were so good! I was totally engrossed and yearned for their Happily Ever After.

There were enough elements to recognize this as a re-imagining of The Little Mermaid, but Kenney makes the story her own and I loved the new elements and the ending. I will say I only read the original tale and never saw the Disney version, so if you love that version I don't know if you'll love this book. But let me say one thing: Tentacles!

All in all: this is a delicious and enjoyable re-imagining with a yummy villain/grey hero. You bet I'll read more by Kenney.

Why should you read it:

Tentacled Male Sea Witch!

Divergent - Book Review (repost/reread)

 

Divergent (Divergent #1)

by Veronica Roth

What is it about:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

What did I think of it:

This was a surprisingly cool read.

I did have some trouble with the world view of this book at first. The factions and how they function didn't seem very believable, but for the sake of the story I decided to take them for granted.

And I'm glad I did.

The story is suspenseful, intense and really cool.

I really liked Tris and could understand her struggle to try to fit in. And even though I was still a bit skeptic about the factions they did make for a very interesting setting.

The initiation Tris goes through is brutal and made for some really intense moments. There was lots of cool action as well. I did wonder how the initiation for other factions would be and luckily for some of them it is explained.

The romantic storyline was very nice, though slightly predictable, but at least it wasn't yet another love triangle or square, so that made me all happy.

Very late in the book a second major storyline gathers speed and plunges Tris in even more intense situations. This leads to an ending that makes you want to pick up the next book in this series right away.

This is certainly one of the more interesting Dystopian stories I've read lately and I will try to get hold of book 2 as soon as possible.

Why should you read it:

It's an action packed, intense Dystopian YA

Thoughts on rereading:

With a re-imagining/alternate storyline/thing coming out later this year I decided to do a reread of at least the first book in this series to be able to compare the new books to the original.

And this reread was fun!

I still think the world building is strange, but it makes for a fun story. I had forgotten there's a bit of a religious message near the end, but it's so minor I didn't mind. Overall still a cool Dystopian read. I'm curious about the new duology.

System Collapse - Book Review

 

System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries #7)

by Martha Wells

What is it about:

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back.

Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.

But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wrong with itself, and fast.

Yeah, this plan is... not going to work.

What did I think of it:

I read and forgot to review this back in 2024.

(It was quite the year)

I couldn't really remember a lot, so when I got Platform Decay in the mail I decided to reread this before reading Platform Decay.

I know lots of people complained about Network Effect being slow, but to be honest to me System Collapse felt slow at first. I still enjoyed the story, but was waiting for things to actually start happening. (Some of this may be because it was a reread however little I remember of that first read.)

Murderbot is a mess and trying to deal with a lot of things and the way it was written was cleverly done. Still I was glad when action kicked in and the pace of the story picked up. From there on out it felt like Murderbot was back on track and found a way to move forward after the things that happened in Network Effect. I'll be picking up Platform Decay soon to see what's next for Murderbot.

All in all a great read if a bit slow at first.

Why should you read it:

Murderbot! Ehm... I mean: It's a really great SciFi read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Mister Magic

 

The sun assaults Val's eyes as she stumbles off the missing front step, knocking over one of the cinder blocks. She nearly falls among the toads.

(page 128, Mister Magic by Kiersten White)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Faraway Inn - Book Review

 

The Faraway Inn

by Sarah Beth Durst

What is it about:

After a devastating heartbreak, a teen girl decides to spend her summer helping her eccentric great aunt manage her quaint Vermont inn--but this fixer-upper is hiding a magical secret--in this cozy and irresistable new fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.

Sixteen-year-old Calisa is desperate for a change of scenery after her lying ex ruins her perfect Brooklyn summer. When her parents suggest she head to rural Vermont to help her great-aunt run her cozy bed and breakfast for a few months, she jumps at the chance.

But when Calisa arrives at the B&B, she's shocked to find a rundown inn with only a handful of guests. And to make matters worse, upon meeting with her great-aunt it quickly becomes clear that Calisa was not invited. Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn…even if it is clear she needs the help.

To earn her keep, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper's (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the more it becomes evident that there is something strange about the B&B—and its residents. Something almost…otherworldly.

The inn is keeping a magical secret—but to protect the place she's come to love, Calisa must unravel the truth of it, and her aunt, before it's too late.

What did I think of it:

After the fluffy happy coziness of The Spellshop series I totally had to get this YA Cozy Fantasy.

And it doesn't disappoint!

I loved every minute I spent with this book. Together with Calisa I got to explore the Faraway Inn and discover its many wonders. Having read my fair share of Magical Realism and Fantasy books I picked up on the hints dropped throughout the story, which made sure I kept ahead of Calisa in discovering what was going on. It was fun to see where things started to click into place with Calisa.

Overall this is a wonderful and cozy read. You bet I'm keeping an eye out for more books by Sarah Beth Durst.

Why should you read it:

This book is like a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror - Book Review

 

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Crowns of Nyaxia #2.5)

by Carissa Broadbent

What is it about:

She was commanded to kill him with a single strike to the heart. She didn’t expect her own to betray her.

Sylina has sacrificed everything for her goddess–her soul, her freedom, her eyes. Life in service to the Arachessen, a cult of the Goddess of Fate, has turned Sylina from orphaned street-rat to disciplined killer, determined to overthrow Glaea’s tyrannical king. But when a brutal vampire conqueror arrives on their shores, Sylina faces an even deadlier adversary. She’s tasked with a crucial mission: infiltrate his army, earn his trust… and kill him.

Atrius is a terrifying warrior carving an unstoppable path through Glaea. Yet when Sylina becomes his seer, she glimpses a dark and shocking past–and a side of him that reminds her far too much of parts of herself she’d rather forget. Sylina’s orders are clear. The conqueror cannot live. But as the blood spilled by Glaea’s tyrant king runs thicker, her connection with Atrius only grows stronger. A connection forbidden by her vows. A connection that could cost her everything.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a standalone fantasy romance set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, full of heart-wrenching forbidden romance, dark curses, and epic battles – perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom and the From Blood and Ash series.

What did I think of it:

I devoured this book, it's so good!

Turns out I absolutely love Broadbent's writing and worldbuilding, I just really did not like the main characters in The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Sylina is an intriguing character. I liked getting to know her and learn more about her order and how it shaped her. Atrius is a cool character as well, so it was easy to root for the both of them to connect and learn to trust each other.

There's action and suspense, betrayal, and more, but the growing bond between the two and Sylina's growth as a person away from her order were the heart of this story. 

All in all this is a really enjoyable and engaging read. I'll investigate if there are more books in this world that have this vibe.

Why should you read it:

Cool worldbuilding and a very enjoyable romance.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Sea Witch

 

But I thought I should show him what I can do, I protest.

The Sea Witch cuts me off. Let him win. Again and again. Watch his mood improve.

(page 136, The Sea Witch by Rebecca F. Kenney)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!