Death – Talk Nerdy Book Blog

December 9, 2020

M

The Gist: An entrancing standalone epic fantasy; it brings the magic of books to life through the Heroine’s journey to discover who is attempting to sabotage the Great Libraries and made all the more enjoyable by its adorable enemies to friends to lovers romances and themes of friendship.

Series: Sorcery of Thorns, #1

Release Date: June 4, 2019

Synopsis

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

Ending

HFN

Representation

• Bisexual Hero
• Asexual supporting character

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Murder
• Allusion to torture
• Gaslighting

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away
• Does have a separation between the Heroine and Hero
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 4.75-stars

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Entertaining Yet Unsatisfactory: Seven Ways to Kill A King by Melissa Wright

By Sarah

In 3-stars, Book Review

December 5, 2020

E

The Gist: A standalone epic fantasy that has all the makings for a great revenge-filled novel with its good pacing and complex assassinations; however, it falls short in its comparison to The Witcher and Game of Thrones as there’s more moral introspection than badass name-taking and its uninspiring characterizations.

Series: Standalone

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Synopsis

She was born a princess. They made her an assassin.

One was an accident. Two a coincidence. By three, they would know. It would be harder. But I would avenge my mother’s death. These kings would pay that price.

Seven cities make up the Storm Queen’s Realm, each of their self-crowned, murderous kings one of Princess Myrina’s marks. The treasonous curs may have banded together to share a stolen throne, but soon they will fall.

They thought her dead, killed in the massacre. They thought their rule secure. But Myrina of Stormskeep has awoken, and with the help of her loyal bloodsworn, the shadow princess will have her revenge.

For fans of The Witcher and Game of Thrones—a new princess set on vengeance is here to steal your heart.

Ending

HFN

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Murder
• Betrayal
• Death of loved ones (family members)
• Blood and gore
• PTSD

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing each other away
• Does have a separation between the Heroine and Hero
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Kindle

Rating: 3.25-stars

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Gut-wrenching and Healing: The Cabin by Jasinda Wilder

By Sarah

In 3-stars, Book Review

November 21, 2020

G

The Gist: A gut-wrenching, tear-jerker of a romance novel that transforms itself into a book of healing and convincing second-chance love–although its enjoyability is severely limited by the frustrating characterization of its Heroine.

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 22, 2020

Synopsis

One year ago, I buried my husband.

One year ago, I held his hand and said goodbye.

Now I spend most of my days lost somewhere between trying to remember every smallest detail of our lives, and trying to forget it all. I fill my hours with work until I’m too exhausted to remember him, to feel anything at all.

One year, 365 days—and then one knock at my door changes everything. A letter from him, a last request, a secret will:

My dearest Nadia,

Trust me, my love. One last time, trust me. Sometimes the epilogue to one story is the beginning of another.

Ending

HEA (married and expecting a baby)

Representation

• Black Biracial supporting character

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Cancer
• Death of loved ones
• Grief
• Depression
• Suicidal ideation
• References of miscarriage

Safety Rating: Not Safe

• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
— But the Heroine’s husband dies from cancer at ~30% into the novel. So, the reader gets his POV. He’s really the first Hero.
— The Hero (who the Heroine eventually gets with) is also grieving *his* dead wife
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• No separation
Note: the Safety Rating is Not Safe because the reader reads the Heroine’s husband — who she’s very much in love with — die on page in both their POVs.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: 3.5-stars

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Sustained (The Legal Briefs, #2) by Emma Chase

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

September 14, 2017

S

Series: The Legal Briefs*

Release Date: August 25th, 2015

Synopsis:

A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will turn you on. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy & Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and arguing cases in the principal’s office.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, defend her…and the kids.

And that — that, I know how to do.

Ending

 HEA

Representation

• Brazilian side character

Possible Triggers

• Grief
• Death of parents and sibling
• Allusions to domestic abuse
• STD scare

Safety Rating: Not Safe

• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Hero goes on many dates before and after he meets the Heroine
– The Heroine goes on dates with OM after the Hero breaks up with her
• Does have a descriptive sex scene with OW
– The book opens up with the Hero having sex with a one night stand.
– Hero decides to give up ONS because the OW tells him she has an STD. The Hero–although he doesn’t have an STD–becomes paranoid. He decides to give dating a try.
– There’s a brief scene with the Hero and OW that is interrupted when the Hero needs to go help the Heroine–the Heroine calls which interrupts them.
• Does have the Hero pushing away the Heroine
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
– The Hero and Heroine briefly break-up because the Hero doesn’t want to help raise six kids
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4/5 stars

*Each book in the series is Standalone

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Brokenhearted, A Series by Amelia Kahaney

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Series Review

October 26, 2014

B

Quick Take: This series has been a joy to read! It’s the perfect blend of romance, intrigue, and suspense. It’s a high-action two-part novel (so far), and the best part being a female superhero!

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Ruin, A Series by Rachel Van Dyken

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Series Review

March 21, 2014

R

About the Series

I’ve devoured this series. I’m crazy in love with Wes and Kiersten’s story! The main theme in the series is fear and conquering the fear fostered throughout all these different characters’ life-altering challenges. But as Wes always says, “Do it afraid.”

The review of the series includes reviews on each of the following books (listed in order of release):

Note: Each book in the series is Standalone (except for the novella Fearless, which is an extended epilogue to the first book in the series, Ruin).

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