sagek's reviews
1006 reviews

The Orphan Queen is an enjoyable, engaging, wonderfully-written high fantasy read full of action, magic, and secrets. In it, we follow Wilhelmina as she disguises herself as a dead Duchess to infiltrate Skyvale palace in order to gather the information she needs to take back her kingdom.

I was definitely drawn in by the world and the premise of this book. I didn’t want to put it down, and when I did I was still thinking about the possibilities of what could happen and how it would all work itself out. I imagined battles and arguments and mystery! That helped me overlook some of the flaws this book has, and so in spite of them, I enjoyed reading it.

The writing is light and dark, soft but loud. The characters each have a voice, and though some, namely the prince, are barely heard because they’re not all that interesting, others seem to scream and yell just to get their point across because they are that well written. I was eager to immerse myself in their world and explore why magic was banned and how they plan to take care of the Wraith. There were a lot of compelling discoveries and secrets that only made me want more and more.

*Read my full review here

*I received a free uncorrected digital version of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (I'm aware I'm very late in getting to it)

A Thousand Nights is a beautiful story about a young unnamed female character who could not bare to lose her sister to the king who had killed 300 brides already, so she purposely made herself into a vision of beauty so she'd be taken instead. The entire tale is full of bravery, cleverness, and a strength that really brought the whole story together to make it feel as real as it possibly could. It's infused with magic and love and darkness, though in the end, it all comes together.

The prose was elegant, and incredibly well done. The world-building was on point, too and very real (I assume, since I have never lived in a desert before). The desert tribes, their lives, were brilliantly written. I almost wanted to find one and join in! They work hard, they have tough lives, but they never complain and they are so strong. They sing and dance and have such lovely traditions, and they are incredibly wise from all that they have lived through. If our unnamed bride had not come from her home in the desert, I doubt she would have fared so well against the king. In fact, she probably would've died, but since her family had prayed for her since she took her sister's place, she grew a strange power.

The King has a power too, though. It kills, and it destroys. He claimed at one point that they were the same, but she does not destroy or kill, she fixes things and tries to help to the best of her ability. At first I wasn't sure what to make of her, but it became very clear early on that she is loyal, strong, brave, and clever. She was not bitter or angry with her life, even if her sister had a shadow she was supposed to live in.

"I am not you," I said to her. I was not bitter. She had never made me feel the lesser, and she had only scorn for those who did.

She couldn't, for the life of her, allow Lo-Melkhiin to take her sister away when everyone loved her so dearly. She wanted to protect her sister, and her love for her was so fierce that she made sure she would be the one taken.

"Lady mother, we must be quick if we are to save your daughter."

My sister's mother looked up and clung to the silk I offered to her.

"How?" she said to me, an I saw a desperate hope burn in her eyes.

Lo-Melkhiin took a little longer for me to really form an opinion on. He was cruel but clever, strong but weak in wanting power so much. He didn't care about the lives he took, nor did he care that he took so many. He got power from it, so who was he to deny more? And yet there were glimpses of a kind man, of who he used to be. And it wasn't until I read of how he was in the desert and came back changed that I realized what had happened. There were many twists that I did not see coming, and it kept the story fresh and me intrigued. I had a hard time putting the book down.

"It was never enough for me. I craved more."

The magic never felt separate to the story, as it tends to. It was entangled in the stories told, entwined with each word spoken and unsaid, and it was a part of both King and unnamed bride. There were wonderful creations, lives destroyed, lives given back, and there was a strength that came from it. If Lo-Melkhiin decided to mess up the women's crafts, she fixed it. If Lo-Melkhiin decided to make one of his guards carve stones with eyes that are wrong to everyone but him, so be it, but she will do her best to help the carver. And if Lo-Melkhiin decided to bring out his kind to take down many, she fought him until there was no more war.

The author did a magnificent job with this book, and I definitely intend to buy A Thousand Nights and the companion novel when it comes out. This book is worth a re-read, which I almost never do. I definitely recommend reading it!

*This will also be posted on Booklikes.

Rating: 4.5\5

I don't really know where to start. Basically, we follow Meg [Marguerite] as she travels from one dimension to another with Theo in search of Paul, their friend who betrayed them. They see and learn so much while hopping from one place to the next, and each place is a new world, a new life with new people and surroundings.

I really like the world-building. There's a historical- like world, a futuristic and seriously technologically advanced world, one that looks so much like their own and yet is different, and even one underwater! Each is described in detail, and each time Theo, Paul, and Meg have different roles to play and it's fascinating to read about each new life, each new adventure.

Which brings me to the characters. I really like them. So yeah, sure, Paul's the silent, and mysterious, and Theo was the bad boy with a large heart, but they are also so different from the types you would see in other novels. Paul opens himself up a lot, but in his actions and Meg gets him like he gets her, and if you pay enough attention to when they interact, everything just makes sense for them. And Theo, he isn't that much of a bad boy anyway, not really. The revelation near the end helps us understand him more, and I just didn't really think of him as a bad boy. But anyway, what I was trying to say was that although you think you get them, you really don't, and it's just so great to discover them while they discover more about themselves too.

As for the writing, I love it. I love the way the words flow and how the story just hooks you in and you're so immersed you're like, whats reality? I couldn't put A Thousand Pieces of You down, there was never a dull moment and I always wanted more; I still do. It was just great overall, and I loved it. If I hadn't borrowed it from a friend, I would re-read it again and proudly place it on my shelf. But sadly, I did borrow it, and I have no clue when I will be able to get my own copy. But that said, you should go and buy yourself a copy because you need to experience what this story dose to you yourself.

I highly recommend this for, well, everyone, basically. And I know I didn't say much, but either way you should read A Thousand Pieces of You.

I found myself drawn to the premise and promise of this book as soon as I started it. I thought about the book while I wasn’t reading it and was eager to return to certain parts of it, hooked by a character. For me, that was enough to overlook the few flaws I ran into.

The writing is gritty and raw, Zaina and Javes chapters really setting a tone that some sensitive readers may be unnerved by, but hooks others in. As I am one who got hooked, I was entranced by the world and the intriguing set up of Windwalkers (which are basically a race of people who collect ancient, odd objects and survive in the desert by wearing wrappings like a mummy) and Dust Devils (which are basically icefire desert tornadoes, from what I understand) that both played a large part in Javes job of being a young meteorologist apprentice whose Teacher died, and also Zaina’s life. There are compelling questions and discoveries about the people, the past war with icefire, and the oncoming war with Arainia. When violent, bad people want something, you have to fight like hell to keep it.

*Read my full review here
*I received a free eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Crown's Game is an intriguing read full of magic, mystery, and romance. It's a game where death is unavoidable, and magic can be deadly but also lovely.

Vika needs to train daily if she wishes to become the Imperial Enchanter, protector of the Royal family, so living on an island in a secluded spot where others rarely visit is her perfect little bubble of magic paradise where she can let go. Until two males stumble upon her little fire show. Nikolai deems her a deadly opponent from that moment on, and Pasha becomes intrigued and enchanted with her. That meeting kick-starts the love triangle, even though Nikolai denies it until later.

Fortunately for Vika, she can show off her talents sooner than expected because the Game has been announced two years early! Unfortunately for me, the Game was not what I was expecting. There was no epic action, no true close calls with death. It was a back and forth of pretty lights and dancing dolls to impress Pasha, and the odd attempt to kill but never being able to fully do it. Which is my main problem. If you're to protect the Royal family, you should be able to kill threats no problem. You need to be strong, impassive, sharp in mind, and quick on your feet. So why have a 16 year-old and an a 18-19 year-old battle it out? Their powers are not strong enough yet, nor are they themselves. You want someone experienced, powerful, and deadly to protect the Royal family. Not young kids who used their magic to provide pretty islands and dancing dolls and colourful water. It was enjoyable to read, don't get me wrong. I loved seeing what they could do with their magic, but what does it prove other than their need to impress? It just makes it abundantly clear that neither of them are -or should be- capable of being the Imperial Enchanter.

*Read my full review here

How to Disappear is an intriguing, adventurous tale about a girl running for her life, scared and lonely but incredibly determined.

Nick is a fighter and a deceiver. She runs away and disguises herself and thinks up the perfect lies at the best times, though she also fumbles and messes up. Practice makes perfect; learn from your mistakes. Men are after her, and she knows they want her dead, so when she starts getting threatening messages... She runs again, changes her identity again, deceives again. It's a downward spiral of lies, a web of intricate disguises and truths parading around masked with false information. It's an epic adventure of danger and deceit, but even when your life is threatened, love can bloom. It's intense, dark, and raw to its core.

Nick is doing just fine on her own. She got away safely, learned from her previous mistakes, and she's very good at staying under the radar. She's a sketchy character, not above lying and deceiving or stealing. She's dark and twisted, and that's what makes this book all the better. Right from the start, you know she's guilty, especially from the hints we get from her. However, it doesn't end how you may think. The author strays from being too predictable, and it pays off. The author takes a determined criminal and lets us see into her mind, her life. It's devious, dark, just like Nick.

*Read my full reviewhere
*Thank you RBT for providing me with an eARC in order to participate in this tour:)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. It sounds cliche, predictable, and like so many other books that I didn't even want to give it a chance. But my friends love it and recommended it, so I tried it. I didn't go in expecting greatness. I didn't even expect epic romance or brilliant characters. And while it wasn't brilliant or epic are full of greatness, The Selection was an enjoyable, surprising read that whent by quickly.

America loves a boy, and a boy loves her. She's a Five and he's a Six, so they have to sneaka round. Her family is full of singers and artists, his are cleaners. She shares her meals, he saves up every penny so he can marry her. But then America gets a letter, an invitation to join The Selection, and her love convinces her to sign up. She never thought she would get picked. She never thought that she would like the Prince. And she certainly never thought that he would be interested in her.

The Selection itself is a game, a compettition between 35 girls who all want the crown. They flutter their fake eyelashes, pop out their boobs, and wear expensive dresses. However, the people have a say too. If they like a girl, she will stay in the game, as the Prince likes to keep them in mind. This game is a brutal girl fight, full of jealousy and pettiness, but America keeps her head and becomes friends with the Prince. It's enjoyable to read her development, how her thoughts and actions changed, and how she saw herself.

*Read my full review here

4.5

The Carver was difficult to put down. I feel in love with the world and premise quickly, and the characters definitely grew on me. I was intrigued from the start and my attention was only pulled deeper the more I read. I easily got lost in the world, and even though the characters are ones we already know of (Peter Pan, Alice (Wonderland), Hansel and Gretel, and Pinocchio) they still felt realistic and developed.

The writing is mysterious and adventurous, because even when you think they've finally won, something new comes along to disrupt everything. This book is everything that went wrong in the Old World. The author isn't afraid of a little darkness, and that shows through corrupt characters and greed and power. This is a book where power is not your friend, not unless you want to lose yourself. Full of grief and geed and power, this book takes you on an epic adventure of redemption and hope. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!

*Read my full review here
*A huge thanks to Blaze Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.:)

Rebel of the Sands was not easy to put down. In fact, I didn't put it down until I read the last page; it was that good. This quick and engaging read pulled me in with it's premise and kept me hooked because of lovely bonds and great world building. I was eager to get lost in the world, and the writing really helped pull me in. For me, that was what helped me overlook some things that I notice now that I have finished the book.

The writing is light and Almost sugar-coated. Faced with danger and adrenaline, violence and darkness, the atmosphere still feels light and almost daring. Most of the time however, it keeps the pace moving and it sucks you in easily. The author has a way with words, and easily weaves emotions and life into fiction so that you can connect and enjoy what you visualize. So while the atmosphere it creates may not always seem to fit with some scenes, it all comes together and you hardly notice that the pieces don't fit until after you've already read the book. That is a skill, and this author is very talented.

*Read my full review here