Sunday, February 13, 2022

Book Review: "These Hollow Vows" by Lexi Ryan

Title: These Hollow Vows
Author: Lexi Ryan
Series: "These Hollow Vows" #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 464 pages
Publication Date: July 20, 2021
Rating: 4.5 // 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see where the sequel takes the story!

I'd seen These Hollow Vows floating around online for a while and decided to pick up a copy a few months ago. Originally, I was going to just wait until the sequel comes out (summer 2022). Then one of my good friends read it and was raving about it and then I felt I had to read it sooner rather than later. 

This book, despite being almost 500 pages, was a really quick read for me. The writing style was really easy to follow, the pacing worked for me, and I was able to fall into the story and stay in it for the most part. There were a few parts where I was just stressed from real life but once I allowed myself to let all that fade away I was able to fully immerse myself in this world.

The world was intriguing and not too hard to understand. I also really enjoyed there was a map in this one (as I think is becoming mostly standard in fantasy?). A big part of the story is the emphasis on the importance of stories and tales. We got a lot of world building for the fae lands in the form of these tales which I think was rather interesting as it added an element of us having to question the validity behind them. 

The actual plot itself was interesting, if a bit predictable. I love thief and heist stories, though I did think that thievery would play more of a role in this one. There were plenty of times I guessed the plot twist or big reveal but that isn't a negative at all as I do like the satisfaction I get of guessing right. That being said, there were a few that I didn't see coming. 

My favorite part of this book was definitely our main character. Her motivations, her personality, etc. She's in a difficult situation and I think many criticisms of this book don't take into account she's a human in a fae world at a disadvantage. I enjoyed the side characters and I definitely am interested in how all of the relationships progress in the next book. There are a few that I really want to see get more page time as well. 

I am torn on the romance. There is a love triangle, which is something I really haven't read in a long time. I will say, the romance aspect wasn't as strong to me, likely because it was split trying to make us love two different characters. What was interesting, though, is that who I wanted the main character to end up with from the beginning of the book was completely different by the end. I was so sure going into the book that wouldn't change and...it did. 

That being said, I have very strong feelings about who I want our character to end up with if she has to end up with anyone. I knew from about halfway through the book which of the love interests I liked better and I truly hope it continues that way in the future. I think part of why I rated this less than five stars despite enjoying it immensely is because I didn't really like some of the romance bits with the love interest I don't like. 

And it's not even that I don't like him for the main character. I just flat out don't like him at all. He's an interesting character, but in terms of likability, I spotted some things and got the ick pretty early on. Obviously there is an entire book left to go and things could change in that regard. However, for now, I much prefer the other love interest (and I'm sorry if that's too vague...I just don't want to spoil anything!). 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this book. It's nothing revolutionary or genre-breaking but it does exactly what it is supposed to do and is the YA fantasy it's supposed to be. The writing is strong, the story is interesting but not overly complicated, the magic system is (so far) intriguing, and the characters were well-developed enough for me to connect with them. I can only imagine what the next book will be like after that ending!



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

To get more awesome posts like this post, click the follow button to the right!

Get free worldwide shipping with Book Depository using my affiliate link



Saturday, February 5, 2022

January 2022 Book Haul


The first month of the year is over and so it's now time for the first book haul of the year! I was pretty good this month about getting books and I'm hoping to carry this restraint into the year as long as possible. I only picked up five books this month (and one was ordered back in the summer while another three were used for cheap). I'm quite happy and excited about this haul so let's just dive in!



The first three books I got this month were the Twilight Volume 1 and 2 and the New Moon Volume 1 graphic novels. These are increasingly hard to come by and I've been searching for a copy of New Moon for five years. I got all of these for less than the cost of a brand new hardcover so I'm incredibly happy with this find. I can only hope that one day the rest of the books finally get graphic novels as well. 

The next book I got this month was the Fairyloot edition of Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong. I ordered this way back in the summer and I'm thrilled that it has finally arrived. This was one of my favorite books of 2021 and I'm so excited to have this gorgeous edition on my shelf finally. The Fairyloot edition is, by far, my favorite edition of this book and I can't help but just look at how beautiful it is every now and then. 

The last book I picked up was The Fledgling Handbook by P.C. & Kristin Cast. This is a companion guide to one of my favorite childhood book series, House of Night. I started rereading that series in January and I desperately wanted this to tie in with the series. It's basically like a textbook used in the books on being a vampyre. Cannot wait to peruse this from time to time. 

Well, those were the five books that I picked up in January! What books did you get? Did you spot any favorites on this list? Let me know in the comments below!



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

To get more awesome posts like this post, click the follow button to the right!

Get free worldwide shipping with Book Depository using my affiliate link



Thursday, February 3, 2022

Blog Tour: "The Weeping Tide" by Amanda Foody + Giveaway


Happy Thursday everyone and Happy Release Week to The Weeping Tide by Amanda Foody! This is the sequel to The Accidental Apprentice, one of my absolute favorite books from 2021, and I am so incredibly excited to see where this book will take the story of Barclay and his friends. Not only am I excited to share this awesome book with you guys on my tour stop, but I am thrilled to be able to share a giveaway with you all! Let's go ahead and dive right in!


*Mild spoilers for book one* 

Barclay and his friends must save an island city from the Legendary Beast of the Sea in this exciting second book in the Wilderlore series, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and How to Train Your Dragon.

Something is wrong at the Sea. The weeping tide, a carnivorous algae bloom, is eating up all the fish. Beasts are terrorizing the nearby Elsewheres. And Lochmordra, the Legendary Beast, is rising at random and swallowing ships whole.

Barclay’s teacher, the famous Guardian Keeper Runa Rasgar, has been summoned to investigate, and as her apprentice, Barclay gets to join too. But Runa’s nemesis has also been called to the Sea, and he’s brought apprentices of his own. When the not-so friendly competition between them grows fierce, it’s Barclay—the only one from the Elsewheres—who can’t seem to keep up.

The key to stopping Lochmordra lies in his mythical home, but as the flood of the weeping tide encroaches, time is running out to find it. If the rival groups can’t cast aside old grudges and learn to work together, soon the Sea will be destroyed completely. And all the while Barclay must ask himself: is there truly a place for him in the Wilderlands?

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books


Amanda Foody has always considered imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After a double life as an accountant preparing taxes for multinational corporations, she now spends her free time brewing and fermenting foods much more easily obtained at her local grocery store. She lives in Boston, MA with a hoard of books guarded by the most vicious of feline companions, Jelly Bean.

She is the author of THE SHADOW GAME series and more. Her middle grade debut, WILDERLORE: THE ACCIDENTAL APPRENTICE, is available now and ALL OF US VILLAINS, co-written with Christine Lynn Herman, releases in November 9, 2021.

WEBSITE     |     INSTAGRAM     |     GOODREADS


Enter to win one (1) of three (3) sets of the first two books in the WILDERLORE series! The first two books include WILDERLORE: THE ACCIDENTAL APPRENTICE and WILDERLORE: THE WEEPING TIDE. Open USA only. There will be 3 winners.

January 31, 2022 - February 7, 2022 at 12:00 A.M. CST

Direct Entry Link

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Follow along with the rest of the tour here!



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

To get more awesome posts like this post, click the follow button to the right!

Get free worldwide shipping with Book Depository using my affiliate link



Tuesday, February 1, 2022

January 2022 Wrap-Up


And just like that the first month of the year is over. This month was a bit up and down in terms of real life, but when it comes to reading I am so incredibly happy with how this month went. In fact, I think if I'd put my mind to it and watched a little less Netflix, I could have read even more than what I already did. In total, I read 12 books in January and enjoyed all of them. In addition, I finished two book series and discovered some new all time favorites! Let's go ahead and dive right in. 


1. 
Title: We Hunt the Flame
Author: Hafsah Faizal
Rating: 4 // 5 stars

2. 
Title: We Free the Stars
Author: Hafsah Faizal
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
3. 
Title: Priest
Author: Sierra Simone 
Rating: 3 // 5 stars

4. 
Title: Fable
Author: Adrienne Young
Rating: 5 // 5 stars

5. 
Title: Namesake
Author: Adrienne Young
Rating: 5 // 5 stars

6. 
Title: The Love Hypothesis
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Rating: 5 // 5 stars

7. 
Title: Iron Widow
Author: Xiran Jay Zhao 
Rating: 5 // 5 stars

8. 
Title: Marked
Authors: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
-reread-

9. 
Title: Betrayed
Authors: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
-reread-

10. 
Title: Chosen
Authors: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
-reread-

11. 
Title: Untamed
Authors: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
-reread-

12. 
Title: Hunted
Authors: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
-reread-





Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

To get more awesome posts like this post, click the follow button to the right!

Get free worldwide shipping with Book Depository using my affiliate link