Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

 *E-ARC received in exchange for an honest review*  

Home Before Dark was a little dull in the beginning, it took me a hot minute to really get into but by 45% through I was hooked. This is my 3rd book by Riley Sager that I've read, and so far this is the only one where I kind of saw the ending coming... the very end because I definitely didn't catch on to that one thing. Although I was able to put some of the story together myself I still loved it. We have Maggie Holt who has a past she can't quite remember and basically after her father dies she does her best to uncover what she believes are the lies that made her family rich. She returns to the house of horrors, the haunted house that her family fled from in the middle of the night and slowly she pieces together what's true and what's a lie. The story switches perspectives from Maggie to different chapters from her fathers books, and it was executed just so perfectly. Riley Sager has aced that in each of his novels I've read. I absolutely adore how this author builds slow suspense in normal everyday events, fixing up a house, camping, etc...

I loved the Final Girls and I really liked The Last Time I Lied, so I'm ready to jump into Lock Every Door. 

Fable by Adrienne Young

E-ARC provided in exchange for honest review*

Holy moly guys, Fable is easily one of my favorite books of all time and it is 100% making my top 10 reads this year. 

Synopsis

As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.

But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.

Ok, so I absolutely fell in love with this main character, she was both sassy and fierce but also kind and goal oriented. I liked that she wasn't heartless but she also wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. I also loved the story, side characters and the complexities that each is going through or went through. Everything about this book was perfect, I just loved it so much. The world building was done very well, you could tell it's a big world but the author only explained as much as necessary to the plot. I don't really have much to say, except if you love swashbuckling and the high seas/coast than you'll love this story. 

TBR & Beyond's Shielded Book Tour & Review

 

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For the full book tour schedule here's the link!

https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2020/07/19/tour-schedule-shielded-by-kaylynn-flanders/

My Review is spoiler free

I gave this book a solid 3.5 almost 4 stars out of 5. The only reason it's not a 4, is because the first half of the book dragged a bit for me. It may have been my mood while I was reading or that although I was invested, it was a bit too drawn out. Whereas I felt the ending was a bit rushed... That's my only real negative. This story follows our heroine Jenna and the mysterious aggressors who are in the process of hatching their plot. I felt like these different styled chapters really invoked their inner Remnant Chronicles by leaving a bit of the unknown as to who the mages are. I really enjoy it when authors leave a lot of hints but you're really just not sure who you can trust. This book was a lot of fun with a swoon-worthy romance, be still my beating heart, and I really enjoyed the experience... (I may or for sure... have a special edition of this book coming in the mail). I don't really want to give too much away or say too much but I've edited a fun playlist for you guys to listen to as you read this book and I've left the synopsis and author info, etc.. down below as well! 

Playlist

Experience my full playlist by clicking^

Otherwise here are my main songs for this book

1. Family by The Chainsmokers/Kygo

2. Magic by Coldplay

3.Warrior (ft. Lights) by Steve James/Lights

4. Shadowplay by the Killers

5. bury a friend by Billie Eilish

6. Castle by Halsey

7. Bad Blood by Bastille

8. Demon by Imagine Dragons

9. Secrets by OneRebuplic

10. Worth Fighting For by Taylor Henderson

11. Love and War by the RockAteers

Shielded

by KayLynn Flanders

by Delacorte Press

Publishing date: July 21st, 2020

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Synopsis:

For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes a thrilling new fantasy about a kingdom ravaged by war, and the princess who might be the key to saving not only those closest to her, but the kingdom itself, if she reveals the very secret that could destroy her.

The kingdom of Hálendi is in trouble. It's losing the war at its borders, and rumors of a new, deadlier threat on the horizon have surfaced. Princess Jennesara knows her skills on the battlefield would make her an asset and wants to help, but her father has other plans.

As the second-born heir to the throne, Jenna lacks the firstborn's--her brother's--magical abilities, so the king promises her hand in marriage to the prince of neighboring Turia in exchange for resources Hálendi needs. Jenna must leave behind everything she has ever known if she is to give her people a chance at peace.

Only, on the journey to reach her betrothed and new home, the royal caravan is ambushed, and Jenna realizes the rumors were wrong--the new threat is worse than anyone imagined. Now Jenna must decide if revealing a dangerous secret is worth the cost before it's too late--for her and for her entire kingdom.

Buy the book 

↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

BOOK LINK:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42281684-shielded
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593118537
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Shielded-Kaylynn-Flanders/9780593118535?ref=grid-view&qid=1594819850295&sr=1-1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shielded-kaylynn-flanders/1134256504
Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/shielded/9780593118535-item.html?ikwid=shielded&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=2b60e6c6759a72c42103c4aa83ad8d61

McNally Robinson: https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9780593118535/kaylynn-flanders/shielded?blnBKM=1

July Final List of What I Read

In July, I had some really great reads but I also went through a mini book slump, where I read the first few days a lot and than I went two weeks only reading every now and then. And to be perfectly honest, I started a bunch of books and on the last day of the month I finished 3 that I was more than halfway through because reading goals...

So here's what I read and my star rating

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 4 stars

The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan 4 stars

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell 4 stars

A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation Vol. 1 by Momochi 4 stars

So This is Love by Elizabeth Lim 3.5 stars

Shielded by Kaylynn Flanders 3.5 stars

Sisters of Song and Sword by Rebecca Ross 4 stars

Fable by Adrienne Young 5 billion million stars

As you can see it was a pretty decent reading month, I really enjoyed all the books I read. A couple were pretty heavy and weighed on me afterwards, but I'll hopefully get into those in another post soon. 

I was lucky enough to read Fable early and will definitely give it it's own blog post because omgosh I loved it so much with all my heart and soul and I just pray that every book box I get does it so I can own it...