Author: Margaret Rogerson
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Running Time: 8 hours, 45 minutes
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mild gore and violence
Rating: ⭐⭐.5

What's it called when you mix disappointment with an newly released book you've been anticipating? Asking for me cause that's exactly what I'm feeling after finishing An Enchantment of Ravens. This book seemed to have so much going for it! Fae, an autumn theme, a story centered around art--what could go wrong? The answer: a lot.

One of my biggest problems with An Enchantment of Ravens was the number of things that seemed like convenient loopholes and inconsistencies born of a weak plot and shallow world-building. For instance, craft = art, right? Then why can the fairies dance??? Is dance just conveniently deemed "not an artform" so we could get a masquerade ball scene? And that was one of the minor loopholes. The plot seemed so riddled with these loopholes and inconsistencies that I honestly lost track!

The lack of world-building totally played into the creation of those inconsistencies and loopholes! Literally nothing--nothing!--had an explanation, the reader is just expected to gobble it all up without asking any questions. Where did the fairies come from? How does their magic work? Why does the Good Law even exist? What were the villain's motivations? And for God's sake--can someone please tell me what historical era this book is set in or is supposed to mimic?!?!! I mean, what on Earth is going on in this world and why is it happening?!!! *cue existential crisis*

Also, can we take a moment to talk about the plot and the wonky pacing, please? Let's start with the fact that during majority of the first half of the book Rook and Isobel were literally walking in circles in the forest! What was driving the plot during this period? Ya got me there 'cause I sure as heck don't know! And when we got to the bulk of the plot in the second half, it turns out the plot was really weak and built on a really flimsy point. HIGHLIGHT FOR SPOILER -> I mean the idea that Rook and Isobel defeated The Alder King simply because he was trying to enforce a law??? You couldn't find a more compelling reason to defeat him??? I mean the dude is supposed to be evil, right? Yet his worst action was trying to enforce a law??? Come on.<-The watery plot made for really uneven pacing too. The pace was very stop and go and it gave the story this really weird cadence. It was all very frustrating.

There was also the issue of the characters and their lack of chemistry, as well as my lack of connection to them. Part of the issue for me was that I felt like they weren't that deep. Isobel was defined by two factors: her love of painting and her difficulty in breaking rules. Rook was...cocky...just cocky, but that was about the only defining trait that he had. Gadfly was just vain, Lark was just bubbly--you see, the characters were all so one dimensional! The characters' lack of depth probably played into their lack of chemistry too, which brings me to the romance...

I'm not the biggest fan of insta-love, it's true, but I can bear it so long as said couple has good enough chemistry. And sadly, chemistry was perhaps the biggest thing missing from the romantic pairing of Isobel and Rook. I just couldn't see why they liked each other. What was their relationship built on??? The fact that they both thought the other was pretty??? Because that's all I can imagine they'd know about each other after knowing each other for such a short period. Everything about the romance was so uncompelling.

I do want to take a moment to talk about the frustrating fact that An Enchantment of Ravens had no explicit diversity. It's not that I need every book I read to be diverse, but what made this book particularly frustrating is that it had hints at diversity, but it was never explicitly said. For instance, the Autumn Court fairies are described as being "tan". Okay, so are they modeled after people of color or are they modeled after tan white people??? Another thing was that it was always mentioned how Rook was very restless and fidgety. It would be easy for some readers to read into that as, "Rook has ADHD." But it would also be easy for readers to overlook that and think, "Oh, he's just a restless soul." Does Rook have ADHD? I can't say because it's never explicitly stated if he does. You see what I mean with the diversity being a near miss? The author came so close to making you think she added diverse characters but then didn't follow through with the action of actually adding diverse characters. That's what made this book so irritating in terms of diversity and representation.

So all in all, An Enchantment of Ravens was more than a little underwhelming for me. It was hailed as a "great alternative to ACoTAR" but the only thing the books had in common was a) seasonal fairy courts and b) a complete and total lack of any kind of diversity. Color me less than impressed.

Hello, friends! I hope y'all have been well! Me? I've been pretty well! Anyhoo, it's that time of week again--time for a new segment of Obsession Confession, in which I "confess" everything about my latest obsessions! This past week has given us a lean yield of obsessions, but hasn't skimped on the fangirling! So let's get straight to it!

You guys! You guys!!! *flaps hands excitedly*

I'm finally reading a book!!! And I'm loving it! I'm not gonna go so far as to say I'm out of my slump cause I do't wanna jinx myself, but at least I am experiencing some respite! And I LOVE the book I'm reading! Which, speaking of, I should probably tell you what it is. The book I'm currently reading is...DRUMROLL PLEASE!...Graceling by Kristin Cashore!

Now...Guys. This book is soooooooo good!!! It's about a world where some people are "graced," or super talented at a particular skill like fighting or swimming or even mind reading. Katsa, the main character, is the niece of the king and is graced with killing (i.e. she can kill people easily). The book is super fun and also super feminist and I just love it the death! I think that's all I wanna say about the book for now because I went into this book blind and I think it' more fun that way. Trust me, though, this book is one you definitely don't want to miss!

I'll be the first one to admit that "He Like That" by Fifth Harmony is totally meaningless, derivative "fluff" pop. But I'll be darned if it ain't catchy! I mean, I've caught myself humming along and dancing to this lil' ditty more than a few times. "He Like That may not be revolutionary musically, but it sure is a great breezy summer song!

Though I still have yet to finish season 1 of Riverdale, I figured I'd let y'all know that season 2 is premiering soon and trailers for it are being released. I personally am still split on whether or not I want to watch Riverdale. It's problematic, cliché, and slightly tacky, it's true, but it's also kind of addictive in a trashy, guilty pleasure kind of way. I'm gonna continue season 1 on Netflix and I'll keep ya posted on my feelings.

There's only been one major recent occurrence in the YA world that I know of and that is that Hank Green, younger brother of John Green and YouTuber/one half of the popular VlogBrothers, is going to be releasing his debut novel in 2018! Nerdfighters everywhere, rejoice! There's no set release date yet, but we do have a title, a rough synopsis, and the knowledge that Hank got a two book deal, so there'll be plenty more to come!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a lover of learning. There’s nothing I enjoy more than diving deeply into a subject and completely mastering it! There are so many things that I read about in fiction books that I’d love to know more about! And obviously there would be no better teacher than the characters in those books! So when I saw Sam over at Thoughts on Tomes do a recent Top Five Wednesday video on classes she wishes book characters taught, I figured I'd do a post on the same topic! So, without any further ado, here are some classes I wish were taught by book characters!

Can you imagine being taught tarot by actual psychics? It would be so freaking cool! Calla, Maura, and Persephone have been professional (real) psychics and know everything about the psychic arts. Plus, class would never be dull or boring with these eccentric women as your teachers!

I can’t think of any better self defense teacher than an assassin, someone who murders for a living and, as a result, probably has to defend themselves pretty often. And Celaena is the queen of assassins, herself. Known far and wide a the best and most infamous assassin in Adarlan, Celaena would make a great teacher! Just don’t let her get distracted by with books, chocolate, or pretty dresses—or any handsome guys!

Kady Grant is a hacking wiz and I seriously wish I could take a hacking course with her as the teacher! Imagine computer genius and professional badass Kady Grant as your teacher! You'd be saving the universe through computer science in no time at all!

I read The Partials Sequence long ago, but it was one of the few biology-centered dystopians and Kira, the main character, was a medical and biology genius. She'd be a perfect candidate to teach a biology course! In particular, I think she'd be an awesome teacher for a genetics course!

Cinder is a boss mechanic! She’d make the best teacher for an engineering course! The neat thing about Cinder is that she, herself, is a cyborg—so she has an even more intimate knowledge of engineering than most professionals!

In The Winner’s Trilogy, though she is not very strong or agile, Kestrel is known as a brilliant strategist. Having a strategy course taught by her would be like having a strategy course taught by the person who wrote the book! After a course with Kestrel, I imagine solving math problems and logic puzzles and winning chess games would be a snap!

Anyone who has read this trilogy knows that Lara-Jean is the absolute queen of baking! So who better than her to teach a backing class? This class would of course, be perfect for me as I’m a really good cook, but not a great baker. We could learn how to make the perfect sugar cookies and snickerdoodles and cute little cupcakes topped with adorable, artistic icing!

So I was contemplating books the other day (as per usual, honestly), and I got to thinking, "What are some things that I wish I saw ore of in books?" And I figured, I may as well create a blog post on said topic just in case some author stumbles upon my blog and decides to grant my wishes (it could happen!). So I'll not dilly-dally with intros any longer! Without any further ado, here are things I wish I saw more of in literature...

1. Retellings of More Obscure Stories/Folklore/Fairytales/Myths from around The World...
I'm not against retellings. Really. I'm not. It's just that I feel like we see so many retellings of the same handful of western European fairytales over and over and over again! I mean, when was the last time you saw something other than a retelling of Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella? Probably a while, right? Yeah, me too. You know what I'd love to see, though? Retellings of stories/folklore/myths/fairytales that are a) more obscure and/or b) from around the world. I'd love to see more retellings of things like The Firebird or Anansi or Sindbad or Asian, African, Polynesian, Middle Eastern, or Latin American mythology!

2. Different Kinds of Strong Female Leads
You know the Strong Female Lead™, right? You know the one--she's pretty and sassy and strong and determined and basically flawless save for a ridiculous "quirky flaw" like having oddly colored eyes? Yeah. I'm talking about her. See, the thing is, I'm tired of seeing this archetype. Physical strength isn't the only kind of strength, after all, and there is such a thing as quiet confidence. The thing is, when we hold this archetype up as the ultimate pinnacle of womanhood, it's just as harmful as when we hold up the "mother/housekeeper" archetype up as the pinnacle of womanhood. Why? Because it tells girls who don't fit that exact mold that they're not worthwhile. But anyhow, I'm just gonna pull myself back from the edge of that tangent! My point is, I'd like to start seeing female characters showing different kinds of strength. Show me a girl who's shy, but brave! Or one who's intelligent, but maybe not quite the most confident. Show me human beings in all of their complexity. Because that's what women are.

3. Diverse Fantasies
This point is kinda similar to #1, but I'd really love to see fantasies that are diverse. And not just racially, but diverse in terms of sexuality and gender, able-bodiedness, mental health, and socioeconomic status, among other factors! For me, as someone who is diverse, and as someone who lives in one of the most diverse, integrated areas in the US, the more diverse a story is, the more believable it is. I grew up constantly interacting with people who were different from me. In many ways, I don't know what it's like to live in a homogeneous world, that's just never been my life. So when fantasies present an all/majority white, straight, cisgender, able-bodied, neaurotypical,wealthy, patriarchal world, it's definitely weird to me! I want people to be able to envision themselves as the hero/heroine of a story, even if they're not the "default". 

4. Low SES Protagonists
Good representation of poverty is something that is severely lacking in media and it massively contributes to the current stigmatization of poverty. As someone who is low income, I've only seen myself represented in literature once and even then, it was inferred representation--meaning the words "poor" or "low income" were never explicitly stated. I've faced a lot of discrimination based on class and I think if we had better representation to show how poverty works and who low income folks are that would go a great way towards changing that prejudice.

5. Pirate Fantasies Done Right
So this is a fun, less serious one! I love a good swashbuckling pirate story, but apparently authors don't because I rarely see them on the market, despite the demand! What's wrong with pirates, authors?! What--do you just not like them?!! JUSTICE AND REPRESENTATION FOR PIRATES CAUSE THEY'RE PEOPLE TOO!!!

So that' it for now! I hope you enjoyed this list and definitely tell me in the comments--what are things you wish you saw more of in literature? Do we agree on any of them?

Title: Song of the Current
Author: Sarah Tolcser
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Stephanie Willing
Running Time: 9 hours, 42 minutes
TRIGGER WARNINGS: N/A (Note: please inform me if any trigger warning needs to be added and I will update the post)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

HOLY WOW! Talk about an awesome book! Song of the Current fulfilled all of my needs--the ones I knew I had, as well as the ones I didn't know I had! Now this is what I call a great book! I'm pretty positive you'll hear me raving about this one for the rest of time! With a fast paced, fun plot, a diverse, lovable main character (and awesome secondary characters too!), and a wondrous world, Song of the Current has been marked as a new favorite in my book! Here's what I loved about this book...


One of my favorite aspects of Song of the Current is that Caro herself is a person of color! And she's mixed race, like me! And no, I don't mean some silly white/white mixed race like "Oh, my mom was elvish" or some sh*t--her father has light skin and red hair and her mother has dark skin and black hair (and Caro, herself, has dark skin and curly, red hair). As a mixed race person myself, I loved Tolcser's portrayal of a mixed race heroine. Caro's being mixed race didn't play a major role in the narrative, but little sprinkles of it were bought up here and there when it was natural to be brought up. For instance, Caro mentioned how she sometimes gets funny looks for being mixed race. In this way, Tolcser subtly portrays a society much devoid of racial bias, but not totally free of it, much reflective of our own world.


Another aspect that I loved about Song of the Current was the feminism! Caro is an incredibly feminist character, but not in an in-your-face, preachy kinda way! Anytime someone says something like "It can't be done! No man can/has ever done it!", Caro is basically like, "I am no man!" And we also see other women in powerful positions! Caro's mom is the top negotiator in a powerful merchant family business and there's also a female wherrywoman who has an all female crew. It was nice to see women living in a slightly patriarchal society who shrugged off traditional roles and went for what they wanted.


Oh--and there's also the fact that consent is brought up in Song of the Current! I loved that this was a thing, guys! When one guy tries to kiss Caro without her consent, she slaps him and pulls a knife on him before basically telling him that it doesn't matter what kind of girl he thinks she is, it's not okay to kiss her without her consent! The moment had me screaming, "Yes! You go, girl!"


As someone who loves the history of the American Revolution and learning all about it, I loved the inspiration that Tolcser took from the American Revolution. In Song of the Current, there is a revolutionary who has published a pamphlet on why the emperor should be overthrown and replaced with a democratically elected government which worked for the rights of the people. Remind you of anyone? Also, Tolcser didn't forget how the American Revolution was very based on classism and attempting to get rid of it. In Tolcser's world, the revolutionary works for the rights of the working class, just like American revolutionaries did! I loved this aspect so much, it was a nice Easter egg for history buffs like me.


I think it's pretty clear that I absolutely adored Song of the Current! I'll be pushing this one at everyone for eons to come, lol! Filled with swashbuckling adventures and endearing characters, Song of the Current is a wildly fun ride that anyone can enjoy! 5/5 stars

Title: Roar
Author: Cora Carmack
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Soneela Nankani
Running Time: 13 hours, 25 minutes
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Some violence, anxiety, panic attacks, depressive behavior
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Oh, Roar. *sigh*

We were supposed to get along so well...

Roar was a book I was really anticipating. With a unique premise of storm based magic and a plot that sounded like a fun adventure, I thought Roar and I would get on great. Well...I was half right, I suppose...

Roar was a fun (though, in the end, forgettable) time, but I did have quite a few issues with it. Let's not beat around the bush any longer, though. Here are my thoughts on Roar...


Let's start with the good. Roar was a fun read, despite my issues with it. The plot moved along quickly enough and Carmack balanced Roar being plot driven and character driven fairly well.

I enjoyed that Aurora wasn't the typical Strong Female Heroine™. Instead, Aurora begins the book timid and weak. She's physically strong, but her confidence in herself needed work. She grew across the novel from that timid, insecure girl to a stronger, more confident young woman (though not yet totally devoid of her insecurities).

I also enjoyed the secondary characters. They all had unique, individual personalities. I loved the snippets of banter between the group that we saw. They all drove Aurora's character development well, so that was good and in that way they played their part well.

But despite the things I liked about Roar, there were still a lot of things that I thought weren't done so well...


One of the main technical issues for me was that the main villain is introduced over halfway through the book! And he was introduced in the most awkward way: a random, totally new, third person, nameless POV that just popped up out of nowhere. Like...what??? It was really clunky and jarring. Not only that, but also the late introduction left me wondering what the rest of the book that I'd just read had been for? And it also made the villain seem more mustache-twirling and less like he had any real motivations to drive him. The whole thing was just...weird...


The issue of the missing villain played into the larger problem of the plot stalling. When there's no villain, there's no motivation for the characters, so...what was the point of what we read before the villain showed up??? I mean, we did get to know the characters a tad bit better, but at the same time the plot kinda stalled in the middle of the woods while the same training sequence played on repeat. I get that we needed to get to know the characters better and that Aurora needed to train, but couldn't we have also used that time to hear anything about the villain and their motivations? It would've helped to move the story along better.


There has been a bit of recent controversy over Roar in regards to the romance and feminism and toxic masculinity. While I can say that I agree with most of what was being said, I do feel that an important piece of the puzzle was left out of the discussion: Aurora's reaction to Cassius's and Locke's actions.

First off, there is no doubt that Cassius is a villain and that his actions are portrayed in a villainous light, thus condemning them as Not The Right Thing To Do. So I don't consider his actions to portray any kind of misogynistic or toxic message, because they are so clearly shown as Wrong.


Now, let's talk about Locke, the main love interest.

To be honest, I really disliked Locke. He pushed Aurora, emotionally, mentally, and physically, at all the wrong times and in all the wrong ways. He'd "manhandle" (his words, not mine!) Aurora when she clearly didn't want to be touched, he'd manipulate her for the sake of his "lessons," he'd demand personal information that he had no right to simply because he wanted it. Clearly, he overstepped several Boundaries.

But and however. Aurora does push back (physically and verbally) when Locke oversteps. And in that way, Carmack does kinda show that Locke's behavior isn't right.

The problem for me is that it wasn't enough. Locke still remains a love interest and his overstepping clear boundaries is chalked up to him being "protective." And I want to say here: If your version of "protecting" your partner includes overstepping clear boundaries, then you're doing it wrong and you are possibly the thing that your partner needs to be protected from.


Ultimately, while Roar had a lot of issues, it was a fun time; however, it was also an easily forgettable book. Just days after finishing it, I have trouble recalling what happened and I feel no emotional connection to the characters. I know this is Carmack's first time writing YA and her first time writing fantasy, so I'm willing to give her a second chance. I might pick up the sequel when it's released, but I'm pretty on the fence. 2.75/5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars.

http://inspiredbybooks1.tumblr.com/post/163245017824/read-in-2017-8-roar-by-cora-carmack-you

Sometimes we get into a loop of talking about the same ol' popular books over and over again. At least, I know I do! There are some books/series that I absolutely adore and yet somehow manage not to discuss often. A lot of them just seem to slip through the cracks of my memory, despite my love for them. Anyhoo, I wanted to make a post focusing on books/series I should probably talk about more because they're honestly pretty darn amazing!


I recently finished Avenged, the second book in this trilogy, and I feel the intense urge to share how great this series is with the world! This series has almost everything that is required for my love--action, adventure, political intrigue, romance, and much more! This series is pretty plot driven, but the characters have enough heart for you to instantly fall in love with them. Admittedly, the writing itself isn't the best, but the story just sucks you in and holds you! This is definitely a series worth checking out!


This is a recent release (recent meaning it came out in early spring of this year) that hasn't been getting too much attention. I've only seen a few bloggers and booktubers talking about it. Which is a gosh darned shame, in my opinion, cause The Valiant is A++! In addition to being full of action, adventure, and romance, The Valiant earns bonus points from me for portraying really strong female friedships and for not doing the "Well, the book is set in ancient Rome, ergo it just has to have a 100% white cast" thing. The Valiant was an all around great read worth taking a look at!


This duology is an alternate history in which the Axis won World War II and each year they hold a motorcycle race to celebrate. Yael is a "skin shifter" (a person who can shapeshift into other people) who disguises herself as Adele Wolf, the only female to win the motorcycle race. Yael's mission is to win the race and kill Hitler, but she finds it might be more difficult and dangerous than expected.

This is an incredible duology that y'all are seriously sleeping on! It's full of action and just a hint of romance and to top it off, Graudin's lyrical writing is absolutely magical! I honestly don't know why this series doesn't get more buzz.


This series is one of my favorite series and that's saying a lot because I'm a fantasy gal and this is a contemporary trilogy. The Thunder Road trilogy is a lot more gritty and dark than most contemporaries, but it's still a romance-centric series. It's a companion trilogy which centers around a small-town motorcycle club. There are so many swoon-worthy romantic moments and there's also a lot of action. One of my favorite things about this series is how sexually empowered the main female characters are and how respectful the main male characters are. I actually got a chance to ask McGarry about that aspect and she said that it was indeed intentional, which I think is awesome! Even if you're not a major contemporary fan, I'd say definitely check this series out if you're looking for a fun time!


The Diabolic was released last November and it got a little bit of buzz that soon died down. But, in my humble opinion, it deserved lasting hype because wow!

The Diabolic is the story of Nemesis, who is what is called a Diabolic--a genetically engineered human who is trained since birth to be loyal to one person only and to protect that person with their life in every way. I'm not explaining it great, but trust me, it's a really interesting concept. Anyhoo, Nemesis is a Diabolic who is sworn to protect the daughter of a galactic senator. When the murderous, scheming emperor orders the galactic senator's daughter to the palace, the galactic senator sends Nemesis in his daughter's place. In a court built on politics, lies, and plotting, Nemesis, who has been trained to be emotionless, is wildly out of her depth.

The Diabolic is full of action, romance, intrigue, and backstabbing. It's a whirlwind of a ride that you won't want to miss!


I read The Darkest Part of the Forest a few years ago, so I don't remember it 100%, but what I do remember is really loving it and needing more! Unfortunately for me, The Darkest Part of the Forest is a standalone--but I believe Holly Black's upcoming series is a companion to this book! So yay! Anyhoo, this book was awesome as far as I remember! It had partying teens, small towns, fairy mythology, cruel fairies, and a fairy prince locked in a glass case in the middle of a forest! How can you resist such a tale?! Hint: the answer is "YOU CAN'T!"

So that's all for today's post! What are some books you think are underrated and deserve more appreciation? Tell me in the comments! Ta ta for now!

Title:
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Marisa Calin
Running Time: 7 hours, 25 minutes
TRIGGER WARINGS: Passing insinuated rape threats, brief attempted rape
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I must say it's been a loooong time since I sped through a good book thiss fast, but I absolutely devoured Tricia Levenseller's debut novel, Daughter of the Pirate King. Filled with swashbuckling, adventures, and romance, Daughter of the Pirate King is the story of the Alosa, the fierce daughter of The Pirate King. Alosa is instructed to be purposefully taken captive by an enemy crew wwith the goal of finding an important artifact for her father. But the rival crew's alluring and charming firsst mate, Riden, keeps gettiing in her way.

I loved most everything about Daughter of the Pirate King. It's rare to find YA pirate stories--and when you do find books that at least claim to be pirate stories, they generally, in my experience, aren't the best. But Levenseller pulls of the perfect pirate escapade with ease! With snappy dialogue, endearing characters, and a fast paced plot filled to bursting with action, Daughter of the Pirate King is a wildly fun read!


What makes this book so fun is the the non-stop adventure that takes place. I never got why YA pirate books are so rare because the chaotic nature of pirates means it would be difficult to drag--and Levenseller proved this theory right! Between general swashbuckling and Alosa searching for the map and all of the mischief in between, the story never stops! There really never was a dull moment. If you enjoy action and adventure, then this is definitely the book for you!


I think my favorite aspects of Daughter of the Pirate King was the fierce and feisty Alosa and the feminist themes her character conveyed.

Alosa is a badass all in her own right. Her father may be The Pirate King, but that doesn't stop Alosa from being a fearsome pirate with her own 97% female crew! Alosa is snappy, intelligent, strong, and a great fighter--and she won't let herself or anyone else forget it! She may have been posing as a captive, but never did Alosa question her own capability. Whether Alosa is fighting physically or having a battle of the minds, she dominates!


I love that Alosa's crew is all female save for two male pirates, who are assigned a minimal role. But Alosa's crew isn't just special in that it's made up of mostly women--Alosa has curated a crew of skilled, intelligent women. It's a lovely show of sisterhood and girl power!

There's also something about Alosa that I won't reveal that allows her to use a more feminine skill set to her advantage--without it being demeaning!

There are far too many feminist elements of Daughter of the Pirate King to list here (it would be a long list, trust me), but if you're a woman who's looking for an empowering read, this is most certainly a book to pick up!


The feminist nature of Daughter of the Pirate King doesn't prevent there from being plenty of swoon-worthy moments! And, boy, were they really swoon-worthy!


I loved Alosa's slow burn romance with Riden, the first mate who's assigned to interrogate her! Alosa never compromises herself, her dreams, or her abilities for him and he accepts that and doesn't push her to. Their flirtatious bickering was adorable (*squee!*)! Alosa never let Riden forget how intelligent she was, not once! As for Riden himself, I love that he wasn't the typical dark, brooding, brave love interest. Riden has his own complexities and flaws. Alosa and Riden complement each other in the best way possible!


All in all, I think I can confidently say that Daughter of the Pirate King is the pirate book I've been looking for! I loved it and had so much fun reading it and I'd absolutely recommend it! I give Daughter of the Pirate King 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Title: Avenged
Author: Amy Tintera
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Emily Rankin
Running Time: 11 hours, 7 minutes
TRIGGER WARINGS: PTSD
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Last year Ruined was a book I enjoyed greatly, but I must say, Avenged was the push I needed to cement this as one of my favorite series! Avenged didn't falter or slow, widely avoiding the Second Book Slump. There's so much to love about this sequel, from the romance to the action to the politicking! Here's why I loved Avenged by Amy Tintera...


I'm not gonna lie: I'm a sucker for romance! I love a good ol' swoon or two--and luckily for me, Avenged had plenty to give!

Cas and Em solidified themselves as one of my new favorite OTPs in this! There were plenty of sexy moments (but not over-the-top or smutty), but there were also tender moments in which they showed not just how much they loved each other, but also how much they respected each other. I love Em and Cas's dynamic--they complement each other perfectly. I love how Cas softens Em and how Em pushes Cas to be a strong leader. I just...*melts into a puddle of lovey-dovey mush*


But Cas and Em weren't the only couple who won my heart--I gotta give a shout out to Aren and Iria's sloooooow burn. I loved all of their moments together so much! I especially loved how Iria set a great example of how a friend and/or partner can deal with a person's PTSD. She never pushed Aren to do more than he could handle and she grounded him and came up with practical solutions to his issues and never asked for anything in return. I just loved everything about their partnership!


All hail Olivia, Queen of Muder!...erm, I mean...Queen of The Ruined! Honestly, the way Olivia kills with such glee, it's an easy mistake to make.

We ended Ruined with Em and co. saving Olivia and then Olivia promptly rips the queen of Lera's heart out. That's...not a metaphor. She literally rip's Cas's mother's heart out. If you thought that maybe Olivia might, ya know, cool her jets a bit with time and distance from Lera, you would be wrong.


Sooooo...yeah, Olivia's basically a psychopath. Filled with rage and vengeance and a misguided desire to "do right by the Ruined," Olivia feels the most joy when she kills humans. And, in her mind, no human is innocent. Hence, she pretty much wants to kill every human. And she'll do so cheerfully.

As you can imagine, this complicates things for Em on many fronts.

The thing that made Olivia so interesting to me is that I could never quite figure out where she stood until the very end. She clearly loves her sister and her people, but at the same time she's dead set on killing every human. Would she listen to Em's requests or would she give in to her bloodlust? I never knew and that meant that for the vast majority of Avenged, I was unable to categorize Olivia as an ally or an enemy. This created an underlying air of unease for me, ratcheting up the tension in the book.


Personally, I think I deserve a gold medal for keeping track of the constantly shifting alliances in Avenged because it was a lot, y'all!


A large portion of Avenged was spent politicking, but I stayed impressed because Tintera managed to make it interesting. How so? Oh, ya know, she just made sure that we never knew where anyone's true allegiances lay...if they lay with anyone at all, that is. And on top of it, everyone had ulterior motives, our main characters of Em, Cas, Olivia, and Aren  included! I was always on the lookout for any of the characters to try and make a sneaky move.


All in all, I loved Avenged! I can't wait for book three in the series to be released, especially with the killer of a ending that Avenged had! Five out of five stars to this awesome book.