Month: Mar 2025

The Phoenix Nest by Arizona Tape

Posted on by DragonSusie

Simply Glorious!

This book was so full of highs and lows! From giggling glee, to terrible tears! So full of emotions!

One thing I absolutely loved was the amount of detail about the animals. This was so much on a higher level than the previous book, as you get to learn about these birds as intensely as Charlotte is. It’s so obvious the amount of effort that has gone into creating these birds in such fine detail, it was wonderful!

Whilst we have this ongoing “will they, won’t they” between Charlotte and Felicity, I was a little disappointed that there was no final flirtation between them at the end, to discuss the wonders Charlotte had just experienced, just like she’d shared her animal heartbreak.

I was also somewhat disappointed that we didn’t see the hatchling grow and be released, or will that be touched upon a little later on? I hope so, but the books seem primarily invested in one species at a time.

But, all in all, still a solid little read, packed with so much realism for a fantasy world.

Final rating: ★★★★★ – Loved it/couldn’t put it down

*I received a free digital ARC via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

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Rite of Blood and Secrets by Laura Greenwood

Posted on by DragonSusie

A Bit of a Miss

I always write reviews from a personal space, which means that it’s to do with how I feel, and not a blight on the author in any way. Because, the truth is, not every book gels with everyone, and we all come away with our own unique impressions.

So, these are mine and, as you may have realised by now, they weren’t entirely good. But that’s not to say that they were entirely bad, either.

The problem for me personally was that it felt hollow. It’s understandable how Beatrice is being pulled around like a marionette, especially in the vampire stages of the book. It’s understandable how Beatrice’s relationship with her brother changes after he’s brought her into something she wants no part of. Her relationship with Lord Fallmartin, a complete stranger who now has such control over her life, is to be expected, too. But why do I feel like there’s something missing as I move through the pages?

The story, at a base level, is brilliant; I love the ideas, the interplay. It sounds like there is much political intrigue to come. Beatrice makes a couple of friends along the way, too, although we only really get to hear about one of them. Yet, still, for all that brilliance, I couldn’t bring myself to love this. Very good books keep me reading far beyond bedtime. With this, I just couldn’t connect to it!

My favourite part, mind, has to be vampire pets! Having lost two of my beloved cats, being able to keep them around forever is always a pet lover’s wish. The only true perk of being a vampire.

Yes, somewhat of a disappointment, because I couldn’t make that full connection, but it still has so much potential.

Final rating: ★★★☆☆ – Sort of liked/OK

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Deadly Storm by E.W. Saloka

Posted on by DragonSusie

An Unending Disaster

I am unsure of my feelings for this book. It annoyed me most of the way through, after first completely throwing me off with the Regency-style language at the beginning, then annoying me with the amount of out-of-place modern Americanisms. I will list: ‘sass’, ‘tush’, ‘biscuits and gravy’ (in England, biscuits are for tea!), ‘earbobs’ (I had absolutely no idea what they were, until I found out on Google that it’s a word from the Southern US), ‘gee’, and the rather referential ‘gorgeous, darling’. If one is writing a Regency-style novel, I think it best to get the language right! I am unsure if I’m offended with cream in tea or not, as I’ve read that that might be an upper-class thing.

The story itself, the raw bones, is a good idea. There was absolutely far too much “s/he loves me, s/he loves me not”, so much back and forth, done in an overdramatic way each time, lots of repeated deceit and betrayal, with barely a word different. I actually did enjoy the intrigue part of the story, who’s pulling the strings. The reveal of who Lady Osprey is might have worked better if the rest of the story wasn’t so chaotic.

Then there were all the trysts, all the repeated words, mostly feelings; is it possible that someone can feel the same, but not in a completely identical way each time?

Some additional notes: a bizarre typo ‘cardsharp’. Then, whilst they’re at sea, they’re told to stay in their cabin but don’t…?

Add to this, all the sheer editing work that hasn’t happened yet meant that it was a headache at times trying to work out where each person’s speech began and ended.

There is potentially a solid story lying within these pages. A solid, interesting story. But it’s not ready yet.

Final rating: ★★☆☆☆ – Disliked

*I received a free digital Beta copy via the author in exchange for an honest review*

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