Review: Ruin and Rising

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



3.5 stars
Ok, I've never experienced this before but the first book was the best.
I did enjoy this one. The conclusion to the story is mostly satisfying BUT I feel like a lot of the complications for the main characters that had been developed were too easily resolved. Almost conveniently resolved to tie everything up in a neat little bow and the consequences for everything that happened were minimal or actually beneficial.

But it is a really good story and the villain is one of the best I've read.

Format: ebook

Ownership: own

Tags: Young Adult

Themes: Dystopia, Mild Love Triangle


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com


View all my reviews

Review: Siege and Storm

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I have such mixed feelings about this one. It started with a bang and ended with a bang but the middle was a bit of a chore to read. I think this book could probably be taken out of the series and make it a duology instead of a trilogy...

There were some interesting moments and we get a lot of character growth during the middle when nothing is going on but I feel like it could have been condensed a bit more.

I would give it 3.5 stars because I loved the opening so much.

Format: ebook

Ownership: own

Themes: mild love triangle


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com


View all my reviews

Review: Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Oh my god, I wish I had read this the day I bought it instead of waiting months and months! I was really surprised by this book. By how much I liked it and by how unpredictable the plot was (for me at least).

I absolutely LOVE the complex and alluring nature of the main villain. He’s as well rounded as Loki in the MCU. Someone I just love to hate (and maybe just love a little bit in general…).

It was just fantastic! I loved it and really want to keep reading the series but I have a feeling this is the kind of story I could get obsessed with so I’m going to try to pace myself….. try.

My edition included bonus material in the form of a letter Mal wrote to Alina while he was searching for the stag and an interview with Leigh.

Format: Paperback

Ownership: Own

Tags: Magic Users, Mythology, Royalty

Themes: Love Triangle (mild)


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com


View all my reviews

Review: Voyeur

Voyeur by Fiona Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Very steamy book with a sweet romance. It starts off with a bang and slows down a bit in the middle but has a satisfying ending.

Format: ebook

Ownership: own

Tags: Contemporary Romance, Erotic, New Adult, College

Themes: Forbidden Love, Sex Work, Age Gap, Tortured Hero, Student Teacher Relationship


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com



View all my reviews

Review: Wicked Abyss

Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I really enjoyed it but it’s not going to be one of my favourites by Cole. I kind of wish I hadn’t listened to the audio and read the ebook instead.

I loved the nods to Disney and it being a Beauty and the Beast retelling without directly following that story.

Format: audiobook

Ownership: Scribd

Tags: Paranormal Romance, Demons, Fae

Themes: Beauty and the Beast, Enemies to Lovers


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com


View all my reviews

Review: My Best Friend's Exorcism

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I expected this to be much scarier but I still enjoyed it. It was pretty humorous and very enjoyable to read. I loved all of the music and 80's pop culture references. The horror aspect was a little bit of a letdown. There were some creepy moments but it mostly seemed like Gretchen had just turned into a mean girl (a smelly one).

Format: paperback

Ownership: own

Tags: 80's Nostalgia, Music, Pop Culture, Satanic Panic

Themes: Friendship, Religion

Group Read: Facebook Book Club


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com



View all my reviews

Review: 99 Percent Mine

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I stayed up until 6.30am to read this book. That should really tell you enough about how much I enjoyed it 😅

It was a complete joy to read that left me with warm fuzzy feelings and a book hangover.

Format: ebook

Ownership: eARC from Edelweiss+

Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Themes: Friends to Lovers, Second Chances


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com


View all my reviews

Review: Arcana Rising

Arcana Rising by Kresley Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I loved this one again but I feel like the pace slowed down quite a bit in the middle and it got a bit tiresome to read. We were kind of rehashing elements from the Endless Knight that bored me a bit.

But the bad Arcana finally show up in force and we get some action.

Format: ebook

Ownership: Own


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com


View all my reviews

Review: Day Zero

Day Zero by Kresley Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was really interesting. We get a lot of background information and insight into the other characters that we wouldn't get in the main books since we follow Evie. It isn't necessary to read to enjoy the series and some elements may be considered spoilerish since she introduces characters here that haven't been introduced in the main books yet. I loved learning more about my favourite characters though especially about what was happening with Jack after the Flash.

Format: ebook

Ownership: own


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com


View all my reviews