Book Review: Earth's End by Elise Kova

After that cliffhanger ending of Fire Falling, I couldn't wait long to read the next in the Air Awakens series!

I have to be honest here. I dove right into this book and read halfway through the last book in the series before I stopped to write my blog. So... some of the details are fuzzy between what happens in which book, apologies.

To me, that is one of the biggest compliments a reader can give an author, that they devour a series so quickly that they can hardly tell the difference between books.

That said, we've finally reached the war front. The end of Fire Falling saw my loveable sad murder boy Aldrick in peril. Oh no! Would he live?

I mean... he had to, there were still three books, but I digress.

When Vhalla awakens, she discovers that Aldrik is gravely ill. They're in the north, on the precipice of war, but the man she loves is *gasp* dying!

So what happens? Vhalla has to flee to the northern camps to find help!

I know this seems like I'm being sarcastic, but I promise, I'm not. I did really enjoy this book. Seeing Vhalla as she tried to save the man she loved hit something deep inside of me. Once Aldrik is saved and they get on with the war, there are more shenanigans and fun happening. We get to see Vhalla take on more of a leadership role while she tries to find her place.

Who is she? A commons? A Windwalker? The lover of the crown prince? Can she be all of those things?

Vhalla and Aldrik finally, finally, did the deed in this book. HOWEVER. It was fade to black. As a reader of New Adult/Adult romantic fantasy, I was really disappointed to say the least. I won't complain too much, honestly, though, because the relationship between the two them is a lot of fun.

There's a pretty epic battle toward the end of this book where Vhalla and Aldrik use their powers together. One thing Kova is incredible at is using flowery language that really pulls forth visceral images.

The end of the book was slightly predictable, but I was excited by it anyway. Aldrik is engaged to a northern princess, grants Vhalla her freedom and ladyship, and vows there was nothing between them. Dun dun dun!

Abbie

Book Review: Fire Falling by Elise Kova

After being so surprised by Air Awakens, I was ready to dive into Fire Falling!

The first chapter immediately reminded me of why I loved the first book: Prince Aldrik.

Recently, I reread the first draft of one of my future projects and I realized that he reminds me so much of the male main character from that series. Needless to say, my excitement was renewed and I devoured this novel.

I have a thing for dark brooding bay boys with a heart of gold. Prince Aldrik is that and so much more.

At the end of Air Awakens, Vhalla has been conscripted into military service to redeem herself from what happened on the Night of Fire and Wind. When this novel starts, she's preparing herself to leave with the military to fight the never ending war with the north.

One of my favorite thikngs about this novel was Vhalla's relationship with Larel, another sorcerer who is a badass and the kindest person in the world.

They all set ofthings together. While there isn't a ton of action, per se, there's a lot of traveling and a lot of getting to know the characters more deeply. I reached a point during this novel where I just had to buy the paperback copies of the books. I'd been reading them on Kindle Unlimited, but I just really needed to have the physical words in my hands.

The romance between Vhalla and Aldrik is a cross between two of my own favorite fictional couples. There's heat and playfulness and tension and all of the things that make a romance great.

This novel leaves off on a major cliffhanger, so I'm happy to say I already have the next book and will be diving in pretty quickly.

If you enjoy romance and fantasy, you don't want to miss this series!

Abbie

Book Review: Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

This has been a popular book for quite a while.

This will probably have spoilers, so you should click away if you don't want them.

Everyone knows the story of Achilles. But do they really

The only things I knew were that he was the greatest Greek warrior who ever lived and subsequently died because of a weak heel (Achilles heel).

I'd heard through the grapevine that it's a tragic story and all that, so I was expecting a full-blown romance. Admittedly, I'd never read anything by Miller before, so I couldn't be sure what I was getting myself into.

While I'm not saying I didn't like it, or you should read it, it definitely didn't feel like a romance. I wasn't very invested in the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. I had hoped it would be more like Red, White and Royal Blue. Alas, it was not.

What it was, was a fun rendition of the Trojan war as told from Patroclus's perspective. Rife with Greek mythology and famous characters we all learned about growing up, I thought it was fun to see Odysseus and Agamemnon.

I wanted more. That's truly the only way to put it. It was definitely not a romance and it wasn't even historically accurate (I looked it up after, you should too if you're interested).

One aspect that I did like was the push and pull between Achilles's mother and Patroclus and how she was the one to release his soul to the afterlife in the end.

If you're looking for an easy read with lots of fun Greek lore, this is for you. If you're looking for a sizzling, heartbreaking romance, this is not it.

Abbie