Review: Ransacker

Ransacker by Emmy Laybourne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Hemstads are finally settled in a small Montana town and are trying to keep their secret hidden. Their family has special powers that were granted by the Norse gods and they fled their homeland to protect themselves. Sissel, the youngest girl, thought she was the only one who didn’t have a power; until she discovers that she is a Ransacker. She can find precious metals, even gold, and bring it to her. But this small Montana town is not safe. The Pinkertons have sent a spy and he is pretending to court Sissel. Will the Hemstads be able to keep their powers a secret? Will Sissel be able to control this power that she just discovered?

Ransacker is the second book in the Berserker series. There is a bit of a delay in time between the ending of the first book and the beginning of this book, but not so much that the characters have changed. The family is split during the majority of the story, which gives some added adventure and scenery. Laybourne has done a wonderful job of taking this time of years gone past and crafting a story that teens and adults will both want to experience. I loved the twists and turns of the plot and was nearly holding my breath to see what these young people would do next. This is a great second book, but please read the first book; otherwise, you may not understand all of the interactions. I don’t know if it is a duet or trilogy, but I am hoping for more books.


View all my reviews

Review: Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bryan Stevenson was a new law student when he visited his first death row inmate. This single experience shaped how he viewed law school and what he wanted to practice after graduation. It wasn’t long after he became a lawyer that he founded the Equal Justice Initiative. This group of lawyers and their assistants focused on those who needed legal help the most: the poor, those wrongly condemned and women/children who have received harsher than normal punishments. Bryan helped many people lost in the system, but one of his first cases, the case of Walter McMillian, changed Bryan’s view of mercy and justice.

Just Mercy is a wonderful nonfiction account of one man’s pursuit of equality and the lives he changed along the way. Although Bryan did not win every case he fought, he believed in all of these individuals and gave every person his all. Through cases, he pursued he was able to bring to light flaws in the criminal justice system and help change some of the flaws into gains. I feel every human should read this book, but definitely every American!


View all my reviews

Review: The Queen of Nothing

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jude had released her control over Cardan in order to become his queen but was exiled shortly afterward. As the first mortal Queen of Faerie, she has no power to fight Cardan after his betrayal. She is living in the mortal realm waiting for a chance to reclaim the throne and when her twin sister arrives to tell her about a crime she committed in Faerie, Jude knows that she must violate the exile in order to save her sister. When Jude returns she quickly learns that Elfhame is on the edge of war and the only way she can save the realm she has grown to love is by jumping into the conflict with both feet. Will Jude be able to protect her sister and save Elfhame? What does she want more, to be Queen or human?

The Queen of Nothing is the finale in The Folk of the Air trilogy. I read these three books within a short span of time and can say the read time was well used. I loved the adventure and splashes of romance that were included in this fantasy novel and became fully vested in the outcome of the main characters. Black has outdone herself with a well-rounded story and a fabulous ending. I recommend this entire series to everyone who enjoys fantasy novels or anything Faerie.


View all my reviews

Review: The Shadows Between Us

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alessandra has a plan. She is going to meet the Shadow King, marry him and then take his kingdom after killing him. Alessandra has no problem catching the King’s attention, but he only wants to pretend to court her to get everyone off his back. He knows that there are people who want him dead and he isn’t one to trust others. Now Alessandra is trying to keep the king alive, at least long enough for him to make her his queen first. Will Alessandra get her greatest wish? Will she lose her heart along the way?

The Shadows Between Us is a stand-alone fantasy that was everything the description promised. We had court intrigue, backstabbing ex-lovers, a family curse and a budding romance. Levenseller has created a strong female protagonist and readers are hard-pressed to decide if they like her or hate her. In a world full of trilogies and series, I was thoroughly invested in this one and done novel. I couldn’t wait to get to the end and all fantasy fans should add it to their to-read list.


View all my reviews

Review: The Queen's Assassin

The Queen's Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Caledon is bound to the Queen by a blood vow. He must find the missing Deian Scrolls that were taken many years ago. He is also the best at what he does, which is why he is the one and only Queen’s Assassin. Shadow wants to join the Guild. She has been training her entire life and wants to follow in the footsteps of the strong women who raised her. Because magic is now forbidden, she has learned to control her powers and keep them secret. After events bring Shadow and Cal together, they forge an alliance as assassin and apprentice to bring down this new threat to Renovia. In a world full of secrets, who can they trust? What truths will they uncover along the way?

The Queen’s Assassin is the first book in the Queen’s Secret series. This fantasy-romance will grab reader’s attention at the start and de la Cruz has crafted characters that are easy to love and hate. I must tell readers that the romance portion is not overwhelming, so if you are looking for more of a fantasy, this book will still satisfy. It has action, adventure and a lot of intrigue. The story is told in alternating voices of the two main characters, yet readers will find the story more full from this experience and it will be enjoyed by readers who enjoyed Maas’ Throne of Glass series. I appreciated this first book and look forward to the next book in the series. Too bad we must wait for a title and release date.


View all my reviews

Review: The Wicked King

The Wicked King by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oak is hiding in the human world until he is old enough to return to Faerie and assume his role as king. Jude has bound herself to the wicked king, Cardan, in order to keep her brother safe. Even though she is bound to Cardan, he isn’t controlled. He takes every opportunity to embarrass Jude and undermine the little power she has. To make matters worse, there is someone in Faerie who plans to betray her and would love nothing less than to take her life and the lives of those she loves. Will Jude discover who the traitor is before someone dies? Will she continue to fight the feelings she is beginning to have toward Cardan?

The Wicked King is the second book in The Folk of the Air series. The events in this book take place shortly after the ending of The Cruel Prince and Black doesn’t spend much time reviewing the events. Yet the review wasn’t needed. I quickly remembered who the main players were and what their backstories were. The backstabbing is continuous and it is definitely hard to remember who is friend and who is foe. Many second books fall flat, but this one holds its own and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, The Queen of Nothing.


View all my reviews

Review: Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Diana feels as if she is constantly trying to prove herself. All of her warrior sisters have died in battle before becoming an Amazon, but she was molded out of clay and wants to prove her warrior status to everyone. When she finally has the chance to beat the other warriors in a race, she sees a boat wreck and risks everything to save a mortal girl. This is not any mortal girl; she is a Warbringer. Alia comes from a long line of women who are directly descended from Helen of Troy and their presence brings war to the world. These two unlikely allies are now on a quest to break this curse before Alia is either killed or the next world war breaks out.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer is a graphic novel adaptation of the novel with the same name. I read the original novel about a year ago and was still able to fully enjoy this version without feeling like anything was left out. Bardugo’s novel and graphic novel version of Diana’s first adventure are both wonderful reads. The graphics were extremely well done and added additional details that might go overlooked in a traditional novel. It doesn’t matter if you are an avid Wonder Woman fan or this is your first foray, this book should not be missed.


View all my reviews