Monica Enderle Pierce

It's a shame I read this sequel first instead of the full-fledged series because of both being spoiled a few tidbits here and there, along with the realization it's a series with good worldbuilding.

Being a novella side-story, you will obviously end up with only mere nibbles, and the plot of Princess Arevik and her enslaved bodyguard Mahod offers expected tension from their forbidden love. I liked the overall concept of the story where Arevik has to choose between being betrothed with two noblemen from different nations, both options she finds to be disagreeable.

She's young and naïve, he's too obvious that he loves her but knows full-hand that he could never have her. Sometimes I found the book overused description to describe mundane village market scenes, but I mostly liked the prose of the story.

I think that if anything, the book would have been a lot better if the final 20% had been through a few more rounds of polished editing to make the scenes clearer to understand and the great revelation of Mahod's past a great climax instead of clunky and somewhat anticlimatic.

Still, it was a fun story, and I'll probably read the full series sometime.… (meer)

More than a month's worth of reading on various levels.

The World Below Book One by Vivienne Lee Fraser is a family-friendly quest that starts off in London and travels to Cornwall to rescue the parents of 18-year-old Priscilla Crown and Snake Fieth from the World Below that takes a day to read. 4 1/2*

Fire Soldier by J.A. Culican: Allow a day for this PG15 example of what can happen when domestic squabbles get WAY out of hand. 5*

WHICH WAY THE CAST JUMPS by Ava Silvers: Allow a full day for this NC17 paranormal involving grief, both fresh and old. 4*

Emissary by A.L. Morrow: Allow a day for this steamy MM celestial romance which travels all over the place. 4 1/2*

FIGHT FOR DARKNESS by Susan Stradiotto and Sophia-Rose Johnson: Allow two days for this mature adult cage-fighting paranormal supernatural fantasy phasing between Wickney, Wisconsin, and Penumbra. Trigger warnings for graphic violence and sexual abuse of a minor. 4*

Inheritance by Skye Callahan: Allow a long afternoon for this PG15 supernatural rescue romance involving experimentation on a child. 5*

Shadow and Soul by A. R. Colbert: Allow an afternoon for this PG13 paranormal romance quest for the missing ingredient. 5*

BENEATH THE WAVES OF NEVERSEA by K.A. Last: Allow a day for this strange fantasy adventure when Wendeline, Jonathan, and Michael follow Peter Pan to Neverland. Ronan Hatter is sent there by his mother, the Queen of Hearts, and this is what happens. 5*

Inferno Games by Elise Knight: Allow a solid two days (or three) for this adult paranormal supernatural visit to Hell where Quinn Amelia Valentine, 28, is seeking her kid sister Jenny Alicia Valentine. 4 1/2*.… (meer)