Every so often I tend to get in a super-clean/super-organizing mode, or I’ll get really focus on something and then go all in. I’m kind of doing that now.
My drafts folder has been driving me nuts. How many times have we sat down to write a review, get a couple lines down, and then blank out. We tell ourselves we’ll come back to it later, but do we ever?
Tonight, I went through my drafts folder and deleted everything that didn’t have any actual thought. A lot of them had the blurb and covers, but really…that’s not a review, that’s marketing. But there were a few that I did manage to write something down; although it’s not much. Let’s say they were my last impressions on the book I had just finished, but now I couldn’t really form a full review around it. Some of these reviews were started years ago, which means I would have to re-read the novels if I wanted to do a full fledge review – but have you seen my TBR stack? While a lot of them were fantastic reads, there are so many fantastic reads I haven’t read yet and I kind of what to get to them.
So I’m putting all of my quick thoughts into one review. However I currently have six different reviews that I’ve started and have left, and I really don’t want to leave you with that long of a post. So here’s the first part in what I’m going to consider an ongoing series, of which I’m calling, My Thoughts on a Scattering of Novels. Shall we begin?
Cruel Enchantment by Anya Bast
The second book in Anya Bast’s Dark Magick series, Cruel Enchantment is another fabulous story of love and conflict as long as you don’t mind the action to be a little slow.
Even the most powerful hands need a delicate touch…
Emmaline Gallagher is a master of wielding personal glamour. As a free fae who lives among humans, she must hide her true self at all times as she works undercover within the powerful Phaendir—for if certain factions within the Phaendir gain control, the fae will be wiped from existence. Now, an object of fae power lies within a locked ancient box. And there is only one fae who can forge the key.
Known as “the Blacksmith” Aeric O’Malley can create or destroy almost anything with his forging skills. Emmaline has come to him in need, but he and Emmaline have a past—and he has spent centuries wanting to take revenge on her for her transgressions. But now that he has her within his grasp, something about her keeps him from exacting his vengeance—or is it merely her glamour blinding him?
Trapped by fate, Emmaline must hope that she can reach Aeric’s furious heart before it’s too late….
Do not get me wrong, Cruel Enchantment is a great story, but I’ve had this feeling since picking it up that the action isn’t quite as it had been in Wicked Enchantment. In fact, the more I think about it, there really isn’t any grand conflict that needed action. Yes there is some, but what there is actually goes with Emmaline fairly well. Her whole talent is being able to do these incredible glamours so she doesn’t have to be a kick-ass heroine. She’s able to manipulate and sneak around what others might just barrel through. From that perspective, then the action was perfect. There were some fight scenes, considering her past that was bound to happen, but they showed that Emmaline could take care of herself if she had to, but you could tell she didn’t fight first. So while there wasn’t that much action to make me lose track of time and keep turning pages, it works for the characters.
Speaking of whom, I love the chemistry Aeric and Emmaline have.
Read Order:
Wicked Enchantment
Cruel Enchantment
Dark Enchantment
Midnight Enchantment
Tarnished Knight by Shiloh Walker
I’m trying to think of what I can say about Shiloh Walker’s Tarnished Knight, the fourth in her Grimm Circle series, that I haven’t already said about the previous three novels. I mean, how many times can I say that I love this series? Honestly, Walker does another fantastic job, this time twisting the Rapunzel fairy tale in such a way that it had me in tears within the first chapter.
The mind forgets, but the body remembers. Everything.
One look at Jack Wallace and Perci knows he’s going to be trouble. Even surrounded by soul stealers, he’s a one-man wrecking crew. What does he need Grimm training for? He’s already hell on earth, a warrior bent on destruction. And something…more.
He’s too strong and fast to be a mere mortal. Even covered in blood, he makes her forget she’s only here to do a job and get out. It’s twisted. Sick. She hasn’t felt this alive in three centuries.
Born with a natural talent for killing unnatural things, Jack has always known things he shouldn’t. The fact that Perci is one of them glows all over her. Giving him an unholy urge to see just how far he can push her before don’t touch me melts into touch me there.
When they come together, it isn’t careful or cautious. It’s heaven and hell, exposing all their raw and wounded places to healing heat, resurrecting memories of a destined love from the distant past. But the evil that destroyed them once before has tracked them here, threatening their second and last chance at forever. Demanding a sacrifice no one—Grimm or human—should ever be asked to make…
I’m not kidding, I really was in tears within the first few pages of Tarnished Knight. The emotional trauma Perci went through in her mortal life is so heartbreaking that I’m surprised my hormones didn’t start going out of control. Of all the Grimms out there, Perci is the only one (so far) that hasn’t moved on from what happened during her mortal life. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really tragic, but you would think after 300 years that some of the pain would just lessen. Especially considering who her partner is. At the same time, that may have been part of their problem too. One of the things about being a Grimm is getting a second chance and Perci couldn’t let go in order to take that chance. Neither of them could.
Although, I did notice that Tarnished Knight did much the same thing as Candy Houses as in that there didn’t seem to be as much action as there was in Candy Houses or No Prince Charming. The allusion to violence is there, but we really don’t get into the thick of it. We’re not a part of the action, we merely hear the sounds of the battle going on.
Read Order:
All The Time In the World
Candy Houses
No Prince Charming
I Thought It Was You
Crazed Hearts
Tarnished Knight
Locked in Silence
Grimm Tidings
Blind Destiny
