Here we are with today’s next round of five most recent reads. We’re still going strong with Indie Accords and this is mostly fantasy with a touch of contemporary romance as well. I also read my 100th book for the year in this post so let’s get straight into it.
Broken Bonds and Savage Bonds (The Bonds That Tie #1 & 2) by J Bree
It’s extremely rare that I read books in series back to back, but I had to do that with these two and I’m just including the reviews together for ease. I enjoyed book one but I didn’t love it. It was a fun read, but there were some cliche and overdramatic moments as well as a couple of things that were said/happened that rubbed me the wrong way. But it completely sucked me in, and so I had to pick up book two. I enjoyed that one a lot more—there were still a few things that I didn’t like but it definitely grabbed me more. I think one of the reasons that this series is so interesting to me is that J Bree is really great at creating tension and keeping things mysterious—both of these books made me desperate to know what would happen in the next instalment. In fact, I absolutely would’ve marathoned this series if we weren’t waiting for the final book to be released in September. So now I have to pace myself when all I want to know is where the story is going to go next. I gave Broken Bonds 3.5 stars and Savage Bonds 4 stars.
Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3) by Kelly St Clare
After starting so many new series lately, I’m actually really proud of myself for continuing a couple of series this month as well. In saying that, I did read the first two books in this series in August of last year so I probably shouldn’t be too proud of myself for that one. I struggled a lot with this one—I think mostly because it had been so long since reading the previous books that I couldn’t exactly remember who everyone was and what happened. I could remember the basics, but I was too lazy to go back and reread the previous ones so I could remember. Looking back at it now, I think I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more had I done that because I spent the first 200 pages really not liking this because I was so focused on trying to remember what had happened rather than enjoying the story. Towards the end I did really start enjoying it again—the world is very intriguing and I do really like our two leads, so I’m excited to move onto book four in early August.
In the Weeds (Lovelight #2) by B.K Borison
This is actually my 100th book for the year, and absolutely one of my favourites for the year. I read book one, Lovelight Farms, earlier in the year and adored that so I’d been holding out to read this one ever since. It was so worth it—it was just absolutely fantastic and so adorable! I usually don’t like second-chance romances but Evelyn and Beckett are just so perfect together that there wasn’t a single second I didn’t enjoy this. Beckett is literally wonderful—he’s a little grumpy but he has such a big heart, and I really related to the way Evelyn felt a bit lost and confused. The way that they grow together (pardon the pun) was just so heartwarming. Honestly, both of these Lovelight books have just felt like a really warm hug and they’ve bought me so much joy. I’ve never been a small-town romance person either, but these just make me want to pack up my things and move to InglewiId, even though it’s only fictional. I cannot wait to read book three when it’s released at the end of August.
Crown of Shades (Relic Hunters #1) by Keri Arthur
I’ve got to say, this is one of the most confusing books I’ve read in a while. This takes place in this world where there are fae and pixies and s sort of general urban fantasy/steampunk vibe but there are also mobile phones and other modern-day technology. That kind of world can totally work, but I felt like Keri Arthur was holding something back from us that would’ve made the world feel more complete and fleshed out. I felt nothing for any of the characters, apart from maybe a few of the characters who are already dead before the book begins. To me, they felt very flat and I got a few of the characters mixed up because there really wasn’t anything to differentiate them from one another. This was my first ever Keri Arhut and I wasn’t impressed, but I do want to give some of her other books a chance.
That’s it for today. Have you read any of these? Are any on your TBR?
Earl Grey Books 