I’m starting off 2020 with a bang and mini reviews for three fabulous books. Different genres, but all wonderful reads that I highly recommend.
Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
Wayward Children #5
YA Fantasy
January 7, 2020 by Tor.com
ARC
I really love this series. These aren’t long reads, but each one touches on important issues and leaves the reader satisfied and eager for the next release.
In Come Tumbling Down readers are reintroduced to Jack and Jill Wolcott, who we first met in Every Heart and Doorway. In the second book of the series, Down Among the Sticks and Bones, their backstory is revealed along with their life in the Moors and their fight to be who they were born to be, not who their parents in the mundane world tried to mold them into. Jack is a mad scientist with a OCD issues and Jill the adopted daughter of a vampire with sociopathic tendencies.
If you feel like trying out this series and haven’t read any of the previous books in the series, I highly recommend you start at the beginning.
This lovely novella length addition to the series features a Quest back into the Moors, Jack trying to get back into her stolen body, Kane, Christopher, Cora, Sumi (who I adore), Alexis, and what can only be assumed, the ending to Jack and Jill’s story. But who really knows… this is the Moors after all, and mad scientists regularly bring back the dead with lightening, so one never knows what might happen.
I get the feeling that we might finally see Kane get his own book sometime soon as Ms. Eleanor West appears to be growing tired in her role without Lundy to help her.
As usual, I quite enjoyed this story. If I have any complaint its that my time in this world wasn’t long enough. Very much looking forward to the next release.
Final Grade- B+
The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe
Uptown Girls #2
Historical Romance
December 30, 2019 by Avon
ARC
I always enjoy Ms. Shupe’s Gilded Age historical romances. The first book in the series, The Rogue of Fifth Avenue, didn’t quite work for me like I’d hoped and I think it was mainly because the chemistry between the main protagonists didn’t really feel authentic or believable. But I liked what I saw when introduced to Florence and Clay, so I couldn’t wait to hit the request button when this came up for review.
The Prince of Broadway worked for me right from the beginning. I LOVED this couple. I think I have a thing for heroes who live their lives on the wrong side of the law, have grudges to see through and revenge to mete out. As soon as Clayton appeared as brooding and dark on the balcony of his casino, watching Florence as she won game after game from the dealer downstairs and asked for her to be brought up to him I was like THIS IS THE BOOK FOR ME. It also helped that Clay was essentially like “I hate your dad and I will have my revenge against him, but I am attracted to you and wouldn’t mind if you used me for sex.” Here for the honesty.
I loved Florence in all her stubborn, intelligent, liberated woman glory. I liked that she had already shed her innocence before she met Clay, but was still thoughtful about granting him liberties and careful with her consent. I liked that Clay accepted her for exactly who she was and by the HEA marriage and children didn’t matter, just that they had pledged themselves to each other and wanted to spend the rest of their lives with each other.
What a perfect HEA for this couple.
This was probably my favorite book by this author and I am now super excited to read the finale in the series, The Devil of Downtown, which comes out on June 30th and feature Justine and Jack Mulligan.
Final grade- B+
Claimed by the Horde King by Zoey Draven
Horde Kings of the Drakkar #2
Science Fiction Romance
December 24, 2019 Self Published
The first book in this series appeared on my Best of List at the end of 2019 because it was a complete surprise and I was blown away. I love this world.
Ms. Draven had a little gift for her readers and released the second book in the series on Christmas Eve. I was on a trip to Florida to visit my daughter for Christmas when the newsletter email came through and right then I knew I had to find a way to read it in between family stuff. And I did.
First let me just say, the hero of Claimed by the Horde King first appears toward the end of the previous book in the series when he is on his way to find out if someone in the human settlement is illegally hunting. As you can guess, he finds Nelle in the act, her bow and arrow notched and ready to go. He does punish her, but almost immediately stops it and decides to bring her back with him to his settlement.
This romance is just as magical as I hoped it would be. It’s a bit of a slow burn as the hero and Nelle are different species with varied customs and understandings about pretty much everything. There is a power imbalance between the two as well, but just like in the first book, consent between the main couple plays a big role and they really do come together as equals. And it is lovely.
I hope this author continues to put out books in this world because I find it fascinating. Highly recommend this series.
P.S. I didn’t mention the Hero’s name in this review, because just like in the book, names have importance and are not given until they are earned. So good read Captive of the Horde King and find out for yourself.
Final grade- A
I liked CAPTIVE OF THE HORDE KING (the first book)—but not quite as much as you did. I think I was thrown off by some of the slangy, anachronistic language the heroine used. She said things like, “I’ve paid my dues” and “I’m giving myself permission to be happy”—phrases that made no sense in the subsistence society in which she was raised or the Drakkar society to which she moved. I did like the love story and the emphasis on consent, but I think Draven’s language choices were far too 21st-century western world to make sense in the world she created—and that really took me out of the story.
Are you planning on reading the second book in the series? I’d be interested in your thoughts afterward.
I didn’t get more than a chapter into “the rogue of Fifth Avenue” but I also loved their interaction. Did I miss much development of the characters in that first book or am I good to start “the prince of broadway”?
You’re good to start Prince of Broadway. I don’t think you missed much.
Sweet, thanks!