Talk Nerdy Book Blog

TagMagic

Becoming Elemental (Five Elements, #1) by Ryann Elizabeth

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
February 8, 2018
B

Series: The Five Elements

Release Date: December 16th, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Eighteen year old Breanna Hunter has always seen herself as just an awkward teenager with the unfortunate aptitude for winding up in crazy and unexplainable situations.

After tragedy strikes, she ends up on a path she never knew was possible. Bre hoped her first year of college would be a life-changing experience and a new start. She will soon discover just how transformative college can be.

After another dangerous encounter, she meets five alluring strangers who are not as they seem. Together they uncover the truth, she is like them. She is an Elemental. Through them she learns that the Elemental world is not only filled with magical gifts and bonding, but also demons and danger.

Bre and the guys need to work together to figure out where she came from while keeping her safe from those who want her dead.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Traumatic death of best friend (on-page)
• Violence
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have OW drama
– She ends up staying at the guys’ house because she’s family friends with one of the heroes.
• Does have the Heroes and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Heroes and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3/5 stars

(more…)
Read onAdd comment

Chosen (The Warrior Chronicles, #1) by K.F. Breene

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Book Review
December 28, 2017
C

Series: The Warrior Chronicles

Release Date: July 1st, 2014

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
It is said that when war threatens the world, one individual will be selected by prophecy to lead the Shadow Warriors out of the Land of Mist and reclaim the freedom which has been stolen.

Shanti has grown up under the constant threat of war. Since she helped her people defeat a raiding party by using a special power, she’s been a hunted woman. Carrying rare abilities and an uncanny fighting aptitude, Shanti is the only hope of salvation for her people. The problem is, she doesn’t believe in her own divinity, and when she flounders, she nearly fails in the duty hanging so heavy on her shoulders.

It seems like any other day when Sanders and his band of misfit boys find a foreign woman clinging to life in the wastelands. Oblivious to the weapon they now have in their possession, they are content to harbor the mysterious woman until she is well enough to continue her journey. But when the war spreads its arms and lands on her borrowed doorstep, Shanti has no choice but to reveal her secrets, plunging her saviors into danger.

If they band with her, they will face certain death. But to trade her to Xandre, the warlord desperate to add her to his war machine, would be to give up their entire way of life.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• PTSD
• Murder of the Heroine’s village and family (including her husband)
• Grief
• Violence
• Allusions to torture and rape
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have descriptive sex scene with OW
– The Heroine walks in on the Hero and OW, so the reader doesn’t “see” all of it.
• Does have OM drama
– The Hero makes it so the Heroine can’t pursue the OM though (double standards)
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

(more…)
Read onAdd comment

Keystone (Crossbreed, #1) by Dannika Dark

By Sarah
In 2-stars, Book Review
December 14, 2017
K

Series: Crossbreed

Release Date: January 15th, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Raven Black hunts evildoers for fun, but her vigilante justice isn’t the only reason she’s hiding from the law. Half Vampire, half Mage, she’s spent years living as a rogue to stay alive. When a Russian Shifter offers her a job in his covert organization hunting outlaws, dignity and a respectable career are finally within her grasp. The catch? Her new partner is Christian Poe – a smug, handsome Vampire whom she’d rather stake than go on a stakeout with.

They’re hot on the trail of a human killer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. One misstep during her probationary period could jeopardize Raven’s chance at redemption, and her partner would love nothing more than to see her fail. Will Raven find the courage to succeed, or will she give in to her dark nature?

Dark secrets, unexpected twists, and a blurred line between good and evil will keep you on the edge of your seat.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
• BIPOC side characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence
• Murder
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Not Safe
• No cheating
• Does have OM drama
– The one guy the Heroine is sexually interested in, the Hero scares him away (double-standard)
• Does have descriptive sex scene with OW
– Heroine walks in on the Hero and an OW having sex. The Hero asks her “do you like to watch.” The Heroine just stands there watching. and the Hero keeps going.
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 2/5 stars

(more…)
Read onAdd comment

Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King, #1) by Tricia Levenseller

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
October 26, 2017
D

Series: The Daughter of the Pirate King

Release Date: February 28th, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence
• (Attempted) Murder
• Casual attitude towards death
• Torture (Off-page: Heroine’s “training” from her father included torture)
• No OTT sad parts
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Sexual references
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

(more…)
Read onAdd comment

The Queen of Blood (The Queens of Renthia, #1) by Sarah Beth Durst

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
September 28, 2017
T

Series: The Queens of Renthia

Release Date: September 20th, 2016

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks.

Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
• Addresses ageism
• BIPOC side characters
• Matriarchal community
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence
• Murder
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Allusions to sex (no descriptive sex scenes)
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

(more…)
Read onAdd comment

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2) by Sarah J. Maas

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
August 10, 2017
A

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Release Date: May 3rd, 2016

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
• BIPOC sidecharacters
• LGBTQIA+ side characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Severe PTSD
• Gaslighting
• Emotional and physical abuse
• Violence
• Death
• Torture (off-page, descriptions and flashbacks)
• Rape (off-page, descriptions)
• Allusions to gang rape (off-page, nothing graphic)
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
• No cheating
• Does have OW drama
– The Heroine gets jealous when the Hero flirts with an OW. She also thinks he spent the night with her, but it gets cleared up nothing happened. The Hero and Heroine were not together at that point.
• Does have descriptive sex scene with OM
– There is only one scene: Heroine sleeps with her fiancé early on in the book before they break up.
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Note: This is a review of the second book in the series; therefore, there will be spoilers from the first book below. Click Here to read my review of the first book in the series.

(more…)
Read on1 comment

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
August 3, 2017
A

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Release Date: May 5th, 2015

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.

At least, he’s not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Torture
• Death
• Murder
• Allusions to rape
• Severe PTSD
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Hero does sleep with an OW as part of a Spring ritual… the Hero and Heroine are not together at this point. And, the Heroine never meets the OW.
– The villainess of the story wants the Hero (which is not reciprocated by the Hero). The villainess is a sexual predator.
– The Heroine is kissed by an OM, after the Heroine and Hero are together, for her “protection.” The Hero sees the OM kiss the Heroine.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

(more…)
Read on2 comments

The Dark World (Dark World, #1) by Cara Lynn Shultz

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Book Review
October 31, 2014
T

Series: Dark World

Release Date: May 27th, 2014

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Paige Kelly is used to weird–in fact, she probably corners the market on weird, considering that her best friend, Dottie, has been dead since the 1950s.

But when a fire demon attacks Paige in detention, she has to admit that things have gotten out of her league. Luckily, the cute new boy in school, Logan Bradley, is a practiced demon slayer-and he isn’t fazed by Paige’s propensity to chat with the dead.

Suddenly, Paige is smack in the middle of a centuries-old battle between warlocks and demons, learning to fight with a magic sword so that she can defend herself. And if she makes one wrong move, she’ll be pulled into the Dark World, an alternate version of our world that’s overrun by demons-and she might never make it home.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence
• Killing/murder
• Death
• Bullying
• Girl-hating
• Sex-shaming
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Allusions to sex
• Training to kill
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

(more…)
Read onAdd comment

The Queen of The Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling, #1) by Erika Johansen

By Sarah
In 5-stars, Book Review
September 24, 2014
T

Series: The Queen of the Tearling

Release Date: October 31st, 2013

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Kelsea Gylnn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother – Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid – was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Teraling has been ruled by Kelsea’s uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of the neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea’s 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother’s guard – each pledged to defend the queen to the death – arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding …

And so beings her journey back to her kingdom’s heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother’s legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea’s story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance – it’s about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive …

The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Slavery
• Torture (including that of a child)
• Murder
• Assassination
• Death
• Rape
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Allusions to sex
• Discussion of drugs
• Allusion to abortion
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 5/5 stars

(more…)
Read on1 comment
Talk Nerdy Book Blog

Follow Me on Wordpress

Follow Talk Nerdy To Me on WordPress.com

Currently Reading

You Should See Me in a Crown
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
I Hope I Join the Band: Narrative, Affiliation, and Antiraciset Rhetoric


Sarah Anne's favorite books »

Archives

Upcoming Releases

Parade
The Art of Catching Feelings
A Novel Love Story


Sarah Anne's favorite books »