Review: Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Publisher: Thomas Dunne
Publication date: 02/07/2017
Source: Bought

Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.

All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.

But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.

Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world. 

The whole premise of this book had me intrigued which is why I moved it up on my TBR list. Wintersong is a retelling of the Labyrinth and I’ve yet to watch this movie. I enjoyed the musical aspects throughout the book but I did find a hard time trying to connect with the characters. It may have had a lot to do with the main character, Liesl. She pulled the short straw when it came to her siblings and being inside her head as she wallowed about not being beautiful compared to her sister and her dedication to her brother was a bit stifling at times.

After Liesl ventures Underground to save her sister is when I started to lose focus. I loved the idea of the Goblin King. He was such a complex character. My heart went out to him. With that being said, I still didn’t feel invested enough in the story. I guess it was too much drama and got to be tedious at times.

Overall, it was an OK read. This book also had a Hades and Persephone feel to it too.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Order WINTERSONG

Review: Black Iris by Leah Raeder

BLACK IRIS  by Leah Raeder
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: 4/28/2015
Pages: 384
Source: NetGalley

The next dark and sexy romantic suspense novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of Unteachable, which was praised for its “lush, haunting prose, deft storytelling, and scorching sensuality” (M. Pierce, bestselling author of the Night Owl trilogy), and called “one of the best forbidden romances” (Lauren Blakely, New York Times bestselling author).

“Love is not a thing that we create. It’s an undoing.”

It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn’t worth sticking around for.

If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.

She’s not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.

But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it’s time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.

Which was the plan all along.

Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.

She’s going to show them all.

After reading Unteachable, I knew Raeder was an author to look out for. She can tackle any subject matter and weave it into every cell of your body and make you believe that you’re living that character’s life. Raeder has a way with words.  Her writing ensnared me and I had to keep turning the pages to see how Laney’s story would unravel.

I loved how this book was laid out in past and present tense, it just made the story more compelling as I got an up-close and personal look inside Laney’s head and how her experiences led me on a whirlwind of emotions while wandering would happen next.

This book was dark, twisted, and emotionally beautiful - everything I love about new-adult.  With impeccable writing and great characterization, Black Iris is an experience I won’t forget.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication date: 05/05/2015
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses , #1
Age range: 14 - 17 Years

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin-one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin-and his world-forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristen Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

I've heard so many great things about this book! I'm a picky girl and all of Sarah's books have received 5 stars from me & that says a lot. She is an auto buy author for me and I just know that I'll love this book just as much as her Throne of Glass Series.

After I read this book, I'm going to come back and poll everyone on a question that I asked Sarah: On a scale of 1-10, how does Tamlin stack up against Dorian on Hotness? Her response was: This is literally the hardest question anyone has ever asked me. Well, I don't know about you people, but that says a lot so let's get this question answered! I'm so excited to meet Tamlin!


So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?