Spell the Month in Books [1]

 

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Reviews from the Stacks. Each month, you select books that correspond with the letters in that month’s name (for example, December) and create a list. You can also link your post on Jana’s site each month.

I saw this when I visited Lisa over at Bookshelf Fantasies! It looked like fun so I decided to give it a try.

Deal with the Devil (Mercenary Librarians, #1) by Kit Rocha

Review Snippet: I don't know about Orphan Black and Avengers, but Deal with the Devil definitely made me think of Ilona Andrews and their Hidden Legacy and Kate Daniels series (two of my all-time faves)! This book was full of adventure, steamy sex, and the unbreakable bonds of found families. I devoured this book and cannot wait to see what happens next! The story had a satisfying conclusion, but the last chapter left me feeling totally floored. It was just so unexpected (giving me hope while also destroying a piece of my soul), but really sets up the next book!

I love stories that start off with a bang and hit the ground running, and Deal with the Devil did not disappoint! I never felt like the world was foreign to me, because the authors explained it through conversations and character observations. There was no info-dumping, just information gained from being immersed in the world. It was brilliantly written and explained, and I seriously could not put this one down. It's been ages since I read a book in one sitting, but I easily could have sat on the couch with this one and not gotten up until I'd turned the last page. It actually took me two days to finish this book (#momlife), but the story was on my mind even when it wasn't in my hands - - that's a good book. *click here for the original post and full review

Empire of Night (Age of Legends, #2) by Kelley Armstrong

Review Snippet: I know I reviewed the first book on Monday, but I am zinging through this series! I'm already halfway finished with the third and final book, Forest of Ruin. It's crazy intense and wonderfully fantastical. I am in love with the characters and the world Kelley Armstrong has created. I feel like I'm on the long and arduous journey with them, and I'm increasingly worried about their safety. They no longer know who they can trust, and they keep finding bodies that are broken, shredded, or unrecognizable. Beasts from stories and lore are appearing with more frequency, so I'm pretty confident the dismemberments and disappearances will continue.

Although dark and dangerous, Armstrong has written a story that has completely captivated my mind. She has given the characters a rich history and an authenticity that makes me feel as if I've known them my entire life. I cannot wait to see how everything ends! *click here for the original post and full review

Circe by Madeline Miller

Review Snippet: Madeline Miller has surpassed my expectations, and they were pretty high after The Song of Achilles. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, and jumped at the opportunity to read Circe. I've always loved stories about Greek mythology, so her books have been perfect for me!

I've heard about Circe, but I wasn't really familiar with her story. I think I would confuse her and Calypso, though now I can see there is no comparison. Circe wasn't like the other gods, or even the other members of her family. She was soft-spoken, didn't draw attention to herself, and was mostly left to her own devices. She wanted to find love and be loved, though her efforts tended to backfire or not work out. *click here for the original post and full review

Emerald Blaze (Hidden Legacy, #5) by Ilona Andrews

Review Snippet: I am obsessed with this series! I wanted to start Emerald Blaze as soon as it arrived (preordered this as soon as I could) but knew I'd need an entire day to read it. Once I start something by Ilona Andrews I'm incapable of putting it down! Thankfully there was a day when my husband was home and I could disappear for a few hours. I'm not saying there weren't interruptions - - because there were - - but I still managed to get through this entire book within 24 hours. It may have been 2 AM, but it still counts! ;)

This author duo is phenomenal and I will forever read whatever they write! The characters, world-building, and storytelling are always amazing. I can pick up the next book in a series (after waiting roughly a year for a new one) and immediately fall back into the story like I'd never left. There's a larger, looming goal that the characters are steadily moving towards, but each book can stand alone and comes with its own set of problems to solve. I really love how they're able to tie everything together, yet still make each book something that's unique and captivating. *click here for the original post and full review

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1) by Ilona Andrews

Review Snippet: I love the Ilona Andrews duo, which is what led me to this series after reading their Hidden Legacy books, and I'm happy to report that I enjoyed this book immensely! Stories like this are my kryptonite -- magic, snarky female characters that kick butt, shifters or shape-changers, and other paranormal creatures. I also really liked the mystery surrounding Kate, and the subtle threads that were woven into the larger story. Kate is someone or something special, and she is adamant about keeping her blood a secret. If she is injured during a battle, everything has to be destroyed before she can leave. For some reason Kate cannot leave a single trace of herself behind, but she's also unwilling to share that secret with her companions.

While we don't get definitive answers about Kate and what she is, there are clues and conversations that address the mystery. I'm curious to see what's so special about her, and why her blood is so powerful. Her secret is going to come out eventually, obviously, but I liked that it wasn't the main focus of the book. She's trying to figure out who killed her guardian and friend, which leads her all over the city and puts her in contact with the different factions. *click here for the original post and full review

Bitter Spirits (Roaring Twenties, #1) by Jenn Bennett

Review Snippet: I thought this would be an excellent book to read during October--and I was right! It was wonderful!  It's like the green eggs and ham of books. I would read it in a house, with a mouse, in a box, with a fox-- I would read it anywhere! I honestly could not get enough of this book.

I really enjoyed Aida's character. She's confident, determined, and unafraid of sex and the more risqué things in life. She is okay with who she is as a person, and she isn't looking to change something about herself. It was really refreshing. She may have gotten a little flustered at times, but she still maintained her flirty, daring attitude. I also liked that she knew what she wanted and went for it, even if that meant attacking making a move on a more than willing bootlegger in the back of a taxi. *click here for the original post and full review

Every Last Breath (Final Hour, #1) by Juno Rushdan

Review Snippet: Every Last Breath was an enjoyable read that exceeded my expectations. I felt like a kid chasing an ice cream truck, only it was my mind that wasn't moving fast enough. I wanted to know more about Maddox and her history with Cole, what he's been doing for the last nine years, her work at the Gray Box, the threat they faced and why, and additional details about Maddox's team and Cole's family. It took a few hours, but I finally got my ice cream.

I did have some small issues while reading this one, so we'll get those out of the way first. There's a pretty big cliffhanger. Yes, I understand it's there to set up the next book. No, I don't care. We spend a good portion of the book trying to determine something, but it's left unresolved. It's a big something, too. I kept waiting for the answers to click into place, but the book ends and we're left with a clue that makes zero sense. The story itself wrapped up the main conflict, but I don't like feeling like a baited fish when I finish a book. *click here for the original post and full review

The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove, #1) by Kaitlyn Davis

Review Snippet: I cannot stop thinking about this book! Once I reached certain point, there was no stopping. I had to know how this story would end, and if my lovebirds would be okay. I have no idea how similar this book is to Tristan and Isolde, because for the life of me, I cannot remember that tale. I'm sure I could Google it, but what's the point? The Raven and the Dove was better than it could ever hope to be! (No offense to Tristan and Isolde fans, I just really loved this book!) ;)

My one teeny, tiny complaint would be the cliffhanger. I knew it was coming, I braced for it to happen, but I still felt frustrated when the story concluded. I wanted to know how people felt, what they were thinking, what might potentially happen in the next book! Instead we're left with a lot of questions and only promised answers. Our main characters are left in less-than-stellar situations, and my heart is still breaking for them. Why do authors have to be so cruel to their creations?? *click here for the original post and full review