Category: Fantasy

Title: Cupid’s Match (Cupid’s Match #1)
Author: Lauren Palphreyman
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

He’s mythologically hot, a little bit wicked, and almost 100% immortal. And he’ll hit you right in the heart . . . 

“Miss Black, we have a big problem.”

Lila Black doesn’t believe in matchmaking, let alone soul mates. So then why is she constantly being hassled by the Cupids Matchmaking Service? But this gilded, cherub-bedecked dating agency isn’t exactly what it seems . . . and it’s about to turn Lila’s entire world upside down. 

It turns out that Cupids Matchmaking is the real deal. As in, it’s run by actual cupids—who don’t look at all like they do in the paintings—and they have a serious problem with Lila’s “match.” Because this guy shouldn’t be in the system. He shouldn’t have a match. And while he’s irresistibly hot, he’s also incredibly dangerous. Because Lila’s true love match is Cupid. The original bad boy of love. And he wants her. 

Now Lila’s once-normal teenaged world has exploded into a mythological nightmare overrun by crime-lord sirens, wrathful cupid hit men, magic arrows that cause no end of trouble, and a mischievous, not-so-angelic love god she can’t seem to stop herself from falling for . . . 

Adored by 50 million readers on Wattpad, Lauren Palphreyman’s smash-hit book is now in print for the first time. 

Review:

This story was a cute combination of mythology and a contemporary romance.

The world building of the Cupid matchmaking service became very developed by the end of the story. The beginning was more contemporary, as the characters were introduced. There were some other mythological figures who made an appearance by the end, which I loved.

There were a lot of cheesy references in the first half of the book. The names of places in the town Forever Falls included the Love Shack and Romeo’s. There was a street named after Juliet, to go along with Romeo. I also found it a little confusing that all of the Cupids had names that started with “C.” It made it easier to tell who was a Cupid, but I kept getting the names mixed up.

Despite the sickly sweet references, this was a fun story!

Thank you Wattpad Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Valentine’s Day (Cupid’s Match #2) by Lauren Palphreyman

Have you read Cupid’s Match? What did you think of it?

Title: The Baby Sitters Coven (The Babysitters Coven #1)
Author: Kate Williams
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this funny, action-packed novel about a coven of witchy babysitters who realize their calling to protect the innocent and save the world from an onslaught of evil. 

Seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl has a babysitters club. She knows it’s kinda lame, but what else is she supposed to do? Get a job? Gross. Besides, Esme likes babysitting, and she’s good at it.

And lately Esme needs all the cash she can get, because it seems like destruction follows her wherever she goes. Let’s just say she owes some people a new tree.

Enter Cassandra Heaven. She’s Instagram-model hot, dresses like she found her clothes in a dumpster, and has a rebellious streak as gnarly as the cafeteria food. So why is Cassandra willing to do anything, even take on a potty-training two-year-old, to join Esme’s babysitters club?

The answer lies in a mysterious note Cassandra’s mother left her: “Find the babysitters. Love, Mom.”

Turns out, Esme and Cassandra have more in common than they think, and they’re about to discover what being a babysitter really means: a heroic lineage of superpowers, magic rituals, and saving the innocent from seriously terrifying evil. And all before the parents get home.

Review:

This book was so amazing! It’s a mix of the Babysitters Club and witchcraft.

I loved all of the references to other magic/witchcraft stories. There were references to Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There were also references to the Babysitters Club. That was one of my favourite series when I was a kid! In this story, Esme and her friends had a babysitters club, based on the one in the book. These references made the book so relatable.

The pace of the story grew steadily throughout the book. It started out with Esme in her regular life, until she developed telekinetic powers. It got so exciting towards the end, that it was hard to put down. There were also some surprises at characters who weren’t who they pretended to be.

I loved this book so much! I don’t know how I’ll wait until next year to find out what happens next!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Shadowland (The Mediator #1) by Meg Cabot

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin

Have you read The Babysitters Coven? What did you think of it?

Title: A Treason of Thorns
Author: Laura E. Weymouth
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Violet Sterling has spent the last seven years in exile, longing to return to Burleigh House. One of the six great houses of England, Burleigh’s magic always kept the countryside well. And as a child, this magic kept Violet happy, draping her in flowers while she slept, fashioning secret hiding places for her, and lighting fires on the coldest nights to keep her warm.

Everything shattered, though, when her father committed high treason trying to free Burleigh from the king’s oppressive control. He was killed, and Vi was forced into hiding.

When she’s given a chance to go back, she discovers Burleigh has run wild with grief. Vines and briars are crumbling the walls. Magic that once enriched the surrounding countryside has turned dark and deadly, twisting lush blooms into thorns, poisoning livestock and destroying crops. Burleigh’s very soul is crying out in pain.

Vi would do anything to help, and soon she finds herself walking the same deadly path as her father all those years before. Vi must decide how far she’s willing to go to save her house—before her house destroys everything she’s ever known.

Review:

I loved this spooky story about a house coming to life.

A lot of this story is told through memories. Violet’s father passes away at the beginning of the story, but there are many memories of him at the house throughout the story. The house, Burleigh, shows Violet memories as a way to communicate with her. It was a creative way for the House to help Violet on her quest.

The way that the house would come to life was quite creepy. There was a lot of description of the way its mortar would become a part of the people inside the house. It started as a fairytale type story, with the house communicating with Violet, but it became dark by the end.

The ending of the story had so much tension. I kept holding my breath because I didn’t know what was going to happen. The final events lasted many pages, which created a lot of anticipation.

This is a great story to read in the fall!

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin

Have you read Treason of Thorns? What did you think of it?

Title: Serpent and Dove (Serpent and Dove #1)
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 3, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

Review:

I’ve heard so much about this book, and I was so excited to finally read it! It definitely lived up to the hype.

This story had two different narratives, Lou and Reid. At first, I didn’t know why it had both narratives, since Lou’s narrative was more frequent. By the end of the story it made sense, because one character could tell the story if the other wasn’t able to give their perspective. It also gave both sides of the argument of the witches versus the witch hunters.

I loved the battle between the witches and the Chasseurs, the witch hunters. The storyline that brought Lou and Reid together was kind of silly at first. It was a little extreme to make them marry after being caught in a compromising position. However, they represented larger parts of the long battle between witches and witch hunters. It all came together beautifully at the end.

I loved the cliffhangers at the end of the book! I don’t know how I’m going to wait to find out what happens next!

What to read next:

Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1) by Maya Motayne

Grim Lovelies (Grim Lovelies #1) by Megan Shepherd

Have you read Serpent and Dove? What did you think of it?

Title: One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2)
Author: Kendare Blake
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 17, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.

In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

Review:

I flew through this book, just like I did the first one, Three Dark Crowns. Even though it’s been a year since I read the first one, I was immediately back in that world when I started reading it.

There are many different narrative perspectives, but they don’t get confused. Each chapter switches to a different setting and focus character. I love that you get to see what the supporting characters are doing behind the scenes, not just the three main queens. The people around the queens are pulling strings and creating a lot of drama that surrounds them.

There were some unexpected deaths at the end of this book! I was quite shocked by them. Blake is definitely not afraid to kill her characters. I’m curious to see what the aftermath will be like in the next book.

I loved this book and I can’t wait to read Two Dark Reigns next!

What to read next:

Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns #3) by Kendare Blake

Have you read One Dark Throne? What did you think of it?