I was completely in the mood for a short and sweet YA contemporary romance and something a little more on the nerdy side was just my thing. Dungeons and Drama is a cute high school romance with fake dating to full on flirty swooning. I had some real laugh out loud moments throughout my read, I read it in two sittings because it was addictive and I really liked the characters.
Riley is loud, assertive and a musical theatre enthusiast trying to save the Spring musical with her best friend but she got in a whole lot of trouble resulting in being grounded for two months and having to work in her dads gaming store so that parents can keep an eye on her. There she meets Nathan, a co-worker and totally nerdy but incredibly flirty (who she knows from school but didn’t really associate with) games lover that takes part in a regular Dungeons & Dragons campaign with his friends at the store. A slip of the tongue from Riley ensues the two start fake dating but lines get crossed and feelings happen.
I have nothing negative to say. I haven’t read a book so fast in absolutely ages and I really loved this one. It was cute in all the right places, the flirting was tame but very swoon-worthy and the two main characters are really fun to get to know. Readers spend most of their time with Riley as the book is written from her perspective so you feel all the things she’s feeling as they happen and I like that. At 293 pages it is a great summer read, ideal for cosy days at home or throwing in the bag for the beach. It’s also a floppy paperback and we all know they’re the best kind.
Dungeons & Drama by Kirsty Boyce is ideal for any contemporary romance readers, is suitable for the YA audience with kissing and flirting only. Some trigger warnings to think of would be divorce, reckless driving (mentioned), hospitalisation, overbearing ex boyfriend and jealousy. There is a queer relationship with one of the male friends which is nice to see but the romance aspect of the book focuses on a male/female relationship.
The Flat Share is a contemporary romantic read by Beth O’Leary. I’ve recently listened to the audio of the book and wanted to share my thoughts in this book review.
I recently used one of my Audible credits on The Flatshare. Contemporary reads aren’t usually my go to but I do enjoy them from time to time. I’ve seen this one recommended on Bookstagram a few times and have been curious about. The audio is dual narrated by Carrie Hope Fletcher and Kwaku Fortune.
I rated The Flatshare 5 stars.
Basic Synopsis of The Flatshare
The Flatshare is a contemporary romance read in dual narrative; Leon and Tiffy. Leon needs money, Tiffy needs somewhere to live. She responds to an add to share a flat with someone for cheap rent and bills in London. It’s a slow burn read as the two have issues with ex relationships and it takes them around five months or so to actually meet and cross baths and when they do it’s hilarious!
Review of The Flatshare
There was so much I loved about this story and I now want to read more from this Author. I found myself nodding along to a lot of this and I really loved Tiffy and Leon. The concept of the book is really interesting too. Tiffy and Leon share a flat, a bed yet they’ve never met. One has the flat during the day and the other during the night and weekends. It had that sort of feeling of ships passing when you’re in a relationship, sharing a space but almost living seperate lives. It took me a while to get around to listening to this but I really enjoyed it. Tiffy works as a publisher for a small company that specialise in eccentric diy books and Leon is a palliative care nurse. The side characters really add a compelling plot which really brings them all together in the very last chapter. I loved it.
What I really loved about this romance was the fact that neither of the characters was trying to push the other into commiting to anything. I also loved that despite the abuse Tiffy faced with her ex she was healing in this book. It really dismantled a lot of tropes in that way. Tiffy isn’t a typical girl but she doesn’t become this perfect female, she isn’t the trope ‘not like other girls’ because she’s really relatable and interesting. She has lovely friends which was brilliant to read.
Leon is the good guy that you want to win. He’s kind and thoughtful and introverted and he recognises the signs of an abusive ex but he doesn’t push Tiffy to do anything she isn’t ready to. He doesn’t advise her, he just listens, comforts, and asks what she wants. He is so respectful of Tiffy’s boundaries which is amazing. Both characters had a bit of fear getting into something new so the build up was full of tension and anxious but ultimately it was the respect of each other, the mutal fear and for once, in the end, talking to each other that made this romance work so well.
There were moments where I thought the plot would go in a completely different direction but didn’t and I loved that I was unexpected and didn’t end the book in tears. There was enough drama to keep me going but ultimately it was actually just a really lovely read. I have to give a special mention to Rachel who had some of the funniest moments in the book as well as some ball of rage moments. He castle dance and double thumbs up reminded me a lot of how I would react to certain conversations.
Reviewing Legendborn by Tracy Denonn is a 2020 debut novel. The first in a new fantasy ya series with an interesting spin on King Authurian legends. The books focus is secret societies and demon hunting.
Legendborn is described as “A heard-pounding YA fantasy series from debut author Tracy Denonn”. I felt my heart pounding right from the first page which I’ve heard others describe as a little bit of a slower build up. I was instantly hooked and intrigued by Legendborn and I wanted to know more. It quickly became a fantasy murder mystery with an intricate magic system, demons and secret societies.
Legendborn Paperback by Tracy Deonn with a frothy latte. Reading and coffee in perfect harmony,
Content Warnings for Legendborn and This Review:
Parental death, Racism, Alcohol Use, Memory Tampering and Loss.
Summary Review for Legendborn (non spoiler)
Originally, I purchased this on my kindle on an amazon and then got a paperback copy in my illumicrate box. Lots of friends have been recommending Legendborn; the hype is worth it. I am reading in January 2021 as part of a book group to help read books I actually own. My rating for Legendborn is 5/5 Stars.
The writing and pacing is fantastic. The plot makes me think of a sort of cross between Twilight and Shadowhunters. It is mordern/urban fantasy with a hidden world element that I really love. The insights into black lived experience is phenomenal and painful for the main character. This story does have a strong undercurrent of racism and misogyny. There’s a point in the book where it’s kind of said that Bree has two faults; being black and being a woman. I can understand this discrimination for being a woman. The way this was tied into the plot and the civil war is really well done. It made it more real as it dealt with real life issues. I was thrilled with the ending and I can not wait for more.
Where Can I buy Legendborn?
Full Review and Series Predictions (Spoilers)
I was instantly gripped when I started Legendborn with the image of the shimmery police officer talking about the main character, Bree Matthews and her mother’s death. It really drove empathy with the main character straight away and almost effortlessly. I already felt connected emotionally with the character and that’s something I’ve been struggling with for quite a while. It’s always impressive when an Author can connect you like that.
Discussing the start of Legendborn
We quickly learn in the early chapters of Legendbrn that Bree is really intelligent and is going to an early college programme and again right at the start there is talk of cliff diving and I’m just like this is going to be sending my heart in all kinds of places. Then we are introduced to Selwyn Kane who approaches Bree in a bit of a strange way and of course he is all tall, dark and brooding so naturally I want him to be the love interest in this. I’m not sure though. He tries to erase Bree’s memory but it doesn’t work so she stays hidden and watches the magic unfold. She hears a lot of terms she doesn’t understand and so it becomes her mission to find out more.
There is some racism in the start of the book, coming from the police officer and I found that really interesting to read as a white person reading the personal experience of a black person. I obviously can not fully comphrehend a back person’s lived experience with racism but it really gave you an insight into that sort of everyday casual racism and it did shock me.
The themes of racism really show how hurtful offhand comments and snide remarks can be
Because I was in Bree’s headspace hearing her reaction and it just made me so angry that he would speak to her like that – not because I don’t believe it happens but more because I have not witnessed it (white priviledge) and it was just a snippet in this lived experience. Like I was horrified because I have never had those assumptions made about me and I would hope I would never make those assumptions about anyone else (the conversation is doubting Bree getting into the early college programme on merit).
Holding up a paperback copy of Legendborn against a grey brick background
It was evidently and obviously because of her skin colour and even though it was still me reading about an experience rather than living it it made me angry. Again, that’s excellent writing but it’s also drawing on what goes on every day for people of colour and it’s not all about attacks and violence, it’s the sneers and asumptions and just lack of decency when having human contact.
Moving on then after Bree gets in trouble with the Dean she is given a peer mentor and he turns up all bright eyed and smart and is also part of the Legendborn. Nick is all charismatic and has a winning smile. I am not sure on him at the start of the book but maybe it’s because I find the dark and mysterious Selwyn more appealing? Who even knows. We learn that he dennounced his heritage to the Legendborn but he’s going to sponsor Bree to join so she can find out the truth about her Mother’s murder.
Getting some answers and firmly in middle book territory
Basically I got completely enthralled and could not put this book down. Every time I made a prediction about the book I was wrong and I kind of loved that I was. Basically, Bree has to do these trials to get into the secret society which are to test her skills, strength and combat. This book takes place just over a couple of weeks I think – its less than a month I’m sure and so there’s a bit of insta love in there between her and Nick. I’m not keen on Instalove but I think the instant connection is necessary.
Later down the line Bree has a conversation with William, the healer, who says relationships between Scions are basically forbidden because of the risk of mixing the lines and not knowing where the scion true bloodline is. This is vital for the ending as we find out but also will give the author the ability to stop the relationship with Nick.
After the final trial Bree hears Selwyn, the kingsmage sworn to protect Nick is out throwing trees around. Bree goes to check on him because he had the coutesy to offer her some final training so she wouldn’t loose in the combat round too badly. The conversation is heated and angry, things are said that are hurtful and then she goes back to the house, to Nick’s room, to wait for Nick who has gone to pick up his father. At this point we know Nick is the Scion for the Arthur line and he wants Bree to be his squire so he can help her find what happened to her mother.
The build up to the final act
Time passes and Bree dozes off to be woken by Sel returning and slamming doors. She goes to check on him a little while later and then confesses everything and he does agree with her. He ends up helping her to break into Lord Davis, Nick’s Father’s, study to find information about Bree’s mother. They find what they looking for and it reveals so much but Bree’s mothers death was complate accident.
We also find out about Selwyn’s mother which is devestating. Bree leaves really upset and then she can’t really shake out of it for a week or so. She’s supposed to be going to a gala selection dinner where the scions choose their squires and she doesn’t want to go. Her dad takes her out to pancakes and they chat and he gives her an old bracelet from her mother. Bree opens the charm bracelet box back in her room and is sucked into a mage flame memory.
Basically, her mother tells her loads of stuff about why she might be dead. She’s with a younger version of Bree. She confesses lots about the line and their magic and how it’s a cursed part of root magic called bloodcrafting. The curse is that the magic can only live in their bloodline at once, and is passed down mother to daughter.
This usually means that, as the best scion age is 16-21 or something that for the magic to awaken in Bree, her mother had to die. So her mother’s death wasn’t caused by a merlin but instead was just part of the curse from an ancestor. Bree’s mother is talking to someone else, a merlin, who then mesmers child Bree so she won’t remember this speech her mother is giving to teenager Bree.
What will happen next in the Legendborn series?
Here is the final act where everything is revealed about who Bree really is, why the family was cursed, why I think her and Nick’s relationship is doomed. Also, why I think Bree and Sel are going to end up as endgame and I honestly think that is a couple I ship because they have shared pain. There is another connection as well which is just really well done. I think with everything they have and learn they have what it takes to not only change how things are run within the secret society order. Bree and Sel also potentially have the power between them to beat the shadowborn and line of Morgaine. You will have to read it to find out what happens in the end!
Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin is the second book in the series and follows Lou Leblanc & Reid Diggory after the events of Serpent & Dove. This is a YA Fantasy story with a dark edge.
Blood & Honey Book Review
Blood & Honey was released on 1st September 2020 and is the second book by Shelby Mahurin. I ordered the special edition from Fairyloot which has been delayed so I also bought the Kindle version of this book. Blood & Honey is 544 pages long and continues the story of Lou & Reid from Serpent & Dove. This book is very different from Serpent & Dove and I feel it’s important to go into this one with fresh eyes. This is not the romantic enemies to lovers tale we first read in book one because the relationship has already been established. It is, however, a continuation after the events of book one and builds up nicely for what I think will be an explosive finally to the trilogy. If you would like to order a copy I have an affiliate link for Blood and Honey below.
I am trying out a new way of reviewing books by using my kindle notes and annotations to talk about certain aspects in the book. Therefore, this review will contain spoilers, a summary and a book review. If you have not read this yet or do not want to be spoiled then please do not read. I really want to try and make this more of a discussion on the characters and the plot of the book rather than a spoiler free review. If you would like spoiler free reviews then this blog is not for you.
Reviewing Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin
I read Blood & Honey on my kindle and uploaded my thoughts and notes as I went through the book. If you want to follow me on Good Reads you can find more of these notes if you’re interested.
Blood & Honey felt really dark to me. The setting of it being in an enchanted forest, the appearance of the matagot and all the other magic around. What we learn of La Dame Rougue’s magic and how they could use tears but choose blood and the price they have to pay was really interesting. I felt this book was a little strangely paced at times, certain things were stretched out to give the appearance of two weeks passing which lead to a lot of character development but not much plot development.
I would personally say this is a heavily character driven book with some filler plot details and a pretty spectacular final 30% where most, if not all, the action is. The last part of the book holds the most plot development and foreshadows some interesting parts to expect from book 3. The appearance and addition to Claud Deveraux is an interesting one and I felt his revelation fitted well with the story but I’m not really sure what his motives are or what will happen with him next. I don’t think he’s really about good v evil, more of a spectator that shouldn’t intervene but feels he has to. Something bigger is afoot and I hope it’s revealed in the next book.
Kindle book cover of Blood & Honey alongside Ember Stag candles and Book Besties Book Sleeve
On Ansel Diggory
My first note from reading Blood & Honey was on Ansel Diggory and I don’t know if this was foreshadowing or if it was just because of his development but his feelig of hopelessness in the book was just incredibly sad. “But I was worthless in that fight, just like I’ll be worthless in the Blood camp.” – there are a few more like this from Ansel and each time my heart was breaking. Ansel is such a cinnamon roll character. He’s incredibly sweet and so wants to find his place in the world. He didn’t really believe in what the church were doing which is probably why he was so drawn to Lou and Coco even if he didn’t *know* they were witches right away.
Ansel’s Hopelessness
Ansel, throughout the book, does not feel like he is good enough. He doesn’t feel worth anything. He is so incredibly lost but it never comes across as him being a moody teenager. It is just really sad. It makes you want to wrap him up in a warm hug and tell him it will be okay. His training with Lou is painful because it’s not something he’s good at. His romance with Coco doesn’t come to fruition. Again, foreshadowing maybe but it really feels like these things are like severing ties. He isn’t good at fighting. He isn’t good at romance. He’s not feeling his best self. He is vulnerable and almost feels shame at being the ordinary in the group. He doesn’t feel special, and Lou trying to tell him he is in his own way just isn’t enough.
There were points were it felt like everything hadn’t quite broken Ansel yet. He wated to keep trying, to fight, train, with Coco. I think the fact that he still wants to try and protect others, that he still wants to be good, shows that the huntsme upbringing didn’t completely tear him down. He still had some spark of special left.
The Moment I realised…Who Dies in Blood & Honey?
“I’m not worthless, but I still don’t believe you. I can’t fight. I can’t cast enchantments. Let me prove I can do something—” This just felt horribly foreshadowing. It was the final line for me really that made me know what was going to happen to Ansel and my heart started to break all over again for him. His last conversation with Lou in the tunnels before the confrontation was hard and something I think Lou is really going to battle with in the next book.
If you’ve read the book then you’ll know at the end of Blood & Honey that Ansel dies. I had a feeling someone would die but I guess throughout the story it’s kind of hinted at that it will be Reid although with him being a narrator it didn’t make sense to kill him off. Ansel’s death is absolutely heartbreaking.
On Beauregard Lyon
Beau is the complete opposite to Ansel. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself or feel like he’s worthless but he is frustrated with his father and the status quo. I ended up realling liking him and felt he had a few moments of quiet genius when he put his arrogance aside. What I do like about Beau is he’s one of the males in the book that doesn’t agree with the system and he wants change because he doesn’t want to see people like Ansel – despite the love war – from suffering. I am convinced Beau is a good guy really. At least beyond the whips and jokes he knows what’s right or wrong despite what he’s been told. Reid struggles with this with his huntsmen beliefs. It seems Beau has questioned what’s right/wrong and I am here for it.
On Coco Monvoisin
Coco is a princess and I am here for it. She is such a good person, she’s so loyal and seeing her family at the blood camp really tore at me. The guilt she was feeling even though she was trying to protect Lou and keep her safe really made me so sad. Coco is absolutely the most resolute, strongest character in this series so seeing her vulnerable side was really interesting. I honestly think her and Lou will be able to bring both witch camps together again with the disposal of La Voisin & La Dame des Sorcieres. I love how she tries with Ansel because she knows he’s a good person and I think her infuriation at Beau was funny. I loved that she had some LGTBQ representation as well i this book as that’s really important. She is just beautiful and strong and really held everyone together. Someone needs to look after Coco.
Flickerwix Canvas Collection – Coco Character art
On Reid Diggory
“Blue pigs. Fury coiled in my throat at the slur. These men didn’t realize all the Chasseurs did to ensure their safety. The sacrifices they made. The integrity they held. I eyed the men’s rumpled clothing in distaste. Perhaps they lived too far north to understand, or perhaps their farms sat too far removed from polite society.”
Reid. I like Reid. I really do. But he is a bit of a snob, especially when you consider his roots, and what we now know about his heritage. I know he’s still dealing with his loss of identity a bit but the huntsmen life really did sink in. Sometimes it makes me angry that he just accepted without question but then I guess that’s why he was captain because he was just how the archbishop wanted him to be from his early brainwashing. It is frustrating to read how he still views the chassuers as the right way to live and behave. However, he has a lot of work to undo here. He’s never had to question anything at all and this is testing every single one of his boundaries.
Reid has great character development in the second half of the book
Reading ‘Reid Labelle’ for the first time was really strange and it was the first time you see another of his names. I think he has four in this book. Lyon, as he’s the king’s son, Labelle, as he’s Madame Labelle’s son, Leblanc as Lou’s husband and Diggory the name he grew up with which is given to oprhans. I guess he has all of these identities pressing on him and he’s trying to find out who he is throughout the book. The world Lou and Coco come from is Matriarchal so he would have taken these names if things had been different.
When Reid says “All because of me. My beliefs.” I think this is a really important realisation for Reid, outside his bubble where people don’t respect the Chasseurs and what they do or don’t believe witches are evil or whatever other reason they don’t like the huntsmen. Growing up sheltered and praised, duty bound, to finally learning and listening. A revelation and so doubt another knock for him.
Flickerwix candle art for Reid Diggory
Reid desperately wants to belong to something or someone
There were parts that made me sad too, that throughout the book, particularly when Reid is without Lou, he is desperately seeking connection with someone. He doesn’t have Lou, or Ansel. His mother is kinda infuriating to be honest. He killed his father figure. He’s alone. He’s against everything he thought he knew. He seeks family. It really makes me sad because right now the last thing he needs is being hunted down, he needs some time to discover himself and figure things out. I guess there’s nothing like putting someone under pressure to work that out though!
On Lou LeBlanc
I didn’t have a lot of notes on Lou from my kindle read. Lou Leblanc is one of my favourite fictional females because she’s really badass. In Blood & Honey this is no different but there was a really important point made. When you start messing with memories and magic you lose a piece of yourself. This is so important I think and we see it come to fruition when they’re fighting Bas later in the book as he has no recollection of who she is. It is mentioned not to mess with memories but it seems Lou has done this a few times now, in Serpent and Dove and through Blood & Honey. Perhaps even before because she was hardly doing any magic and what she did do was in secret to prevet Morgane from catching her.
In Blood & Honey we see Lou spiral into madness and her magic. I had real vibes of Lady Macbeth and Cersei when reading some of Lou’s chapters as there were times when she was quite cruel. This must be the result of the memory removal changing her personality. I desperately hope it can be fixed in the third book as, even though she agreed to stop, her encounter at the end of the book makes me think all will not be as it seems. I worry for one of my favourite characters. She has put herself in quite a dark place and this has torn holes in who she is. The last part of the book she is much less ‘mad’ with the help of friends she see’s she is turning into Morgane and she doesn’t want that. I think we still have a way to go with Lou. I worry about how Ansel’s death will be a part of her in the next book, I worry that we have’t seen the extent of her madess and it will get worse before it truly gets better. However, I am hopeful that good will win against evil and even though everything requires a balance I hope Lou and Reid get their happy ending.
OTP Lou Leblanc and Reid Diggory character art from Serpent and Dove
Who is the true villian of Blood & Honey?
This is an interesting one here I think. We have Morgane as the obvious villian. King Auguste who just seems like an asshole. I am completely unsure of Madame Labelle’s motives but I don’t think she’s a bad person. I think La Voisin and Nicholina are kind of working with Morgane but also for themselves. I think they want to destroy the leadership of the Dame Blanche and reverse the roles. I think they’re in this for revenge. I don’t trust them though at all. The last scene it seems like they do some kind of magic on Lou and I’m not sure how that will play out but it worries me. I think the chasseurs aren’t exactly bad but they’re kind of in over their heads now. I think by the end of the book we will see the end of witch hunting as well as the deaths of the king, Morgane and La Voisin.
Have you read Blood and Honey? What did you think? How do you think the next book will play out?
This month I finally started reading Nevernight, the first in the Nevernight chronicles and I am so glad I did. It was part of a monthly buddy read with a group of other readers, some who had read the book before and some who were reading for the first time. I guess I was inbetween as I’d had the audio book for a while and had heard the epilogue so I knew what was coming but that made the journey getting there so much more interesting.
The book has an unusual format which I’ve not come across before but I really liked it. Part one was full of back and fourth chapters explaining the past and present, with our protagonist Mia on her way to the red church to train to be a blade; an assassin (my kind of book for sure!). The flashbacks paved the way for the the journey to the church. The book also includes lots of footnotes, some quite lengthy and some short, snarky and snappy which I loved. The footnotes provided an interesting way of getting extra lore across in this new world in a way that is more natural to the storytelling because it didn’t make sense for the character to have to explain in the book. The book is narratted, (I suspect by Mr Kindly maybe?) and the footnotes kind of carry that across better than the third-person style text does.
Mia is such a badass character. She’s smart, interesting and confident, sometimes overly so due to her abilities as Darkin and having her shadowcat drink her fear. I mean that would be a pretty cool thing, right? To be able to drink ones fear away. I imagine I’d get a lot more stuff done if I wasn’t held back by certain fears and anxieties. The book is brutal, def one for mature eyes and has sex, a lot of blood (a lot) and violence throughout. There are moments of real laugh out loud humour too, which I loved.
I’m excited to read the next book, Godsgrave and finish the trilogy with Darkdawn because I have no idea where Mia will go next. I can’t wait to follow her journey though. You can buy Nevernight below using my affiliate link.
