A digital copy of this book was given to me for free in order to facilitate this review. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Fiery and outcasted, Princess Ceridwen pays penance for an unforgivable crime in the service of the Outriders. A group of soldiers that ride  horses with magical abilities. When a foreign nation attacks Soldonia, Ceridwen is forced to confront her painful past and rally her forces before the kingdom falls. 

Of Fire and Ash is an epic fantasy with three main characters, Ceridwen, Rafi, and Jakim. Generally speaking, I don’t read epic fantasies. Why? They. Are. So. Long. I just don’t have the patience. I made an exception for Of Fire and Ash and I’m so glad I did. This is an incredible book.

Plot

You will fall inlove with the world of Fire and Ash. The solborn concept is so unique, so fresh, and yet so realistic. There are six different types of Solborn. By the end of the novel, you’ll probably feel an allegiance to one in particular and will definitely want one for yourself. The world itself is so vast. This book spans over three (I think) countries and several different plotlines. 

Each character represents a different story arc. Ceridwen is a military fantasy plot, Rafi was kind of a superhero story line (kind of…it’s if a Solborn is considered a superpower), and Jakim’s storyline is all about the journey and his emotional and physical hardships. I loved how two of these plots tied together at the end. It was perfect.

The overall pacing of the novel was great. I was invested with Ceridwen’s story the most from about 1-50%. I started to waver at about 60%, especially with Ceridwen’s and Jakim’s story. That was, ironically, where Rafi’s story started to get really, really interesting. 

Characters

Each of the three characters were well-written and totally believable. Hands-down, Rafi is my favorite character in this book. I admired Ceridwen’s fire (literally) and Jakim’s determination, but I connected most with Rafi. He’s funny, his cowardly actions are so relatable, and I was cheering for him the entire time. His character development was so fun to watch.

And his “sea demon?” I need one!  

Writing

This is a traditional fantasy novel, written in third person perspective, multiple viewpoints with rich descriptions of the environment, magic, etc. 

Gillian Bronte Adams is an extremely talented writer. Her descriptions were beautiful. My only complaint was that the sentences were very long (I counted 40 words at one point), so sometimes I had to stop and re-read. This wasn’t a deal breaker though. Overall, I thought her writing was flawless.

Having said all that, this book is huge. Like, very, very long. I was so winded from the length of the book that I started skimming, particularly at that 50-75% line. Does that mean the book slowed down or am I just not the best reader? I have no idea. 

Content

I would say upper YA simply because the book is so long. Having said that, there’s no swearing or any other kind of content that would be bad for younger teens. It’s just a huge book with epic battle scenes. 

Would I Recommend Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams?

Definitely. This is a long book but if you can get through it, the ride is definitely worth it. The world makes it worth it. I love Soldonia, the solborns, and the characters from Of Fire and Ash. I hope you’ll check it out!

Thank you so much Gillian Bronte Adams and Enclave Publishing for letting me read this ARC!

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The post Of Fire and Ash Book Review appeared first on Erin Artfitch.

Here we are again with Emberly the Spunky Nephilim. First and foremost, I’m so glad we didn’t play a lot of catch-up in Forging Darkness. We immediately dive in right where we left off with Stealing Embers. Steel and Emberly have this passionate but stand-offish romance, Emberly is still discovering (and growing) her Harry-Potter-Level-Cool powers, and the Forsaken threat is still pushing against the team.

Forging Darkness starts out with a bang and the tension does not stop until the book ends (on a cliffhanger).

What I Loved:

The Forsaken and Fallen

In Stealing Embers, we explored the world of the angel-born, the good nephilim. In Stealing Embers book 2, we dive right onto the other side of the spectrum, the Forsaken and Fallen. This world is dark, unforgiving, and sometimes (for the reader), uncomfortable. 

I love it. This book presents some interesting gray areas that were fun to explore.

Emberly

I love Emberly’s voice. She’s, hands-down, one of my favorite protagonists of all time. She’s spunky, sarcastic, yet believably vulnerable. I know that EVERYONE says that about great female protagonists, but seriously, she makes the books. 

If you’ve ever watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I’m probably dating myself here…) her “voice” is very similar. 

Emberly’s Abilities/World-Building

The world of the Fallen Legacies is totally immersive. Julie Hall has done such an excellent job at creating a believable, terrifying world with flying superheroes and ruthless fallen angels. And Emberly’s incredible powers are at the center of it all. She’s the kind of hero that you read about and go, “Woah, she’s freaking cool. How can she possibly get cooler?”

And it’s not just Emberly. Seeing Steel and Thorne’s abilities in action is pretty epic too.

Plot

Usually I only write about 3 things I love, tops. But I don’t feel like I can write this Forging Darkness book review without mentioning how its plot completely has me enthralled. I need to know what happens so. Bad. 

What’s the deal with Steel and Emberly? Why are they so drawn together? Why did Emberly’s mom and dad decide to make a little angel hybrid baby? Who is Emberly’s mom anyway? Julie Hall has completely got me hooked on this trilogy’s drama and I think you will be too!

What I Didn’t Love

Steel and Emberly

Okay, this isn’t necessarily true. I do really like their relationship. I would be devastated if they didn’t work out. 

But. 

There’s something missing. I’m not sure what. But sometimes I don’t feel as invested in them as I feel like I should. When Thorne came onto the scene I was like “Mmm, okay, maybe I can get down with this.” I think this kind of speaks to how torn I am about Steel and Emberly.

I haven’t given up on them. They’re sweet. They’re steamy (clean-steamy). And they seem fated. So, as long as Book 3 goes well, I think they have the potential to be an epic couple.

It Wasn’t as Clean as Stealing Embers

For you parents out there that are wondering if Forging Darkness or Stealing Embers is appropriate for younger teens, let me just reassure you….it kind of is. Stealing Embers was 100% clean (except for maybe one scene where Emberly kicks a character in the family jewels). 

Forging Darkness is a little…well…darker. There’s a few cuss words. There’s some disturbing (although not graphic) deaths.

Having said that, Forging Darkness is very clean compared to most YA paranormal romances.

Would I Recommend?

Angel hybrids. Quirky main characters. An inter-dimensional plot that will keep you hooked for 400 pages? Please, if you like YA paranormal books, just buy Stealing Embers and Forging Darkness. This is a fantastic book and I loved every single second of it. Julie Hall is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in the universe. If you like (mostly) clean YA, you really can’t go wrong with this book. 

POSTS RELATED TO THE FORGING DARKNESS BOOK REVIEW:

• Stealing Embers Book Review
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The post Forging Darkness Book Review: Fallen Legacies Book 2 appeared first on Erin Artfitch.

In the future, a deadly virus has wiped out most of the population. From the ashes, The Authority rose. They provided safety and order for their citizens.

All they demanded in return was absolute control.

Every person has a purpose in this society. Men are assigned jobs. Women have two options: they’re either chosen to be someone’s wife or they’re sent to the Stacks to work as Lints.

Carrington Hale trained her entire life to become someone’s wife. With great scores, impeccable manners, and beauty, she was sure she would be chosen. She was wrong.

Becoming a Lint derailed her entire identity. Not only is she forced to work a disgusting job for the rest of her life, but she’s told that she’s unworthy. That she is the only one to blame for her situation.

One night, in an act of desperate rebellion, she travels outside the city walls to listen to a heretic. A heretic that tells her that she was born beautiful and worthy of love. Born chosen.  When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity arises that allows her an opportunity to be chosen again, Carrington must decide if her worth is in how the Authority defines her or what this mysterious man says.

The Choosing is a rare Christian dystopian novel that touches on a fantastic message that girls NEED to hear these days, but it presents it in a chilling dystopian setting that grips you. It features a lot of elements typical in a dystopian novel (a walled city, authoritarian government, advanced technology) but the warped religion made it interesting. Add a random serial killer and a sweet romance and you have a good book. 

POSTS RELATED TO THE CHOOSING BOOK REVIEW:

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What I Loved:

The City

Before the outbreak, the city was known as Washington DC. Diving into a future that included former national landmarks was fun. The city also produces a sense of finality and loneliness that’s hard to describe. When you’re a Lint or a City Watchman, you’re also forced to live in either the Stacks (pre-virus apartments) or barracks. You’re still within walking distance from downtown, but you’re not allowed to interact with anyone else from the rest of society.

So basically, you live amongst them but completely separate. This made my heart ache for Carrington and Remko. 

The Message

You’re beautiful and worthy and chosen from birth.

Oh my stars but young women NEED to hear this message. I think The Choosing did a beautiful job of taking a flaw from our own culture and tackling it in a fun way. How many times do we define ourselves but what our society thinks of us? Says we should be? Too often. I ached when Carrington as she struggled with self-loathing and a complete lack of individuality. I also loved watching her grow into herself and begin to stand against what others said about her.

Carrington and Remko

I like unique romances. And there’s nothing more unique than a brain-washed girl with zero self-esteem and a handsome guy with a debilitating speech impediment. I love how sweet their relationship was and how they communicated without even speaking. 

What I Didn’t Love

Struggled to Connect  

Sometimes I struggled to connect with Carrington. I loved the side-characters (especially the ones that DIED, grr) but Carrington was a toughie. While we do get into her head and feel her emotions (I ACHED for her at times), it was hard for me to identify with her personality. 

Keep in mind, of course, that she’s been brainwashed her entire life. Her survival was literally dependent on how well-behaved she was. 

Dream Moments

So…I don’t want to spoil ANYTHING, but towards the end we have a series of dream sequences where Carrington is somewhat unconscious. During these dream moments Carrington comes to some pretty big conclusions and “finds her courage”. I think this is where I really struggled. I would have loved to see these conversations with the particular character she chatted with in real life. So, when the big, major battle arrived, she would have gone through that character change already.

Carrington and Remko

Wait, what? Didn’t I say I loved them. Well, yes…in some respects.

In others I really wanted to go deeper and see more with their relationship. It’s difficult for them to actually talk, given their circumstances and speech impediments, but I still would have loved to see more scenes where their love deepened. Hopefully in book two this is exactly what we’ll see.

Would I Recommend?

Uh, yeah. This is a great book. The Choosing is relevant, fun, and I am interested in seeing where the rest of the series goes. If you loved Divergent but you’re looking for a more Christian message, I think you’re really going to like The Choosing. 

POSTS RELATED TO THE CHOOSING BOOK REVIEW:

• A Soul as Cold as Frost
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The post Book Review: The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker appeared first on Erin Artfitch.

Helen is an ordinary sixteen-year-old that happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. A Rime, citizen of the kingdom of Winter, stumbles into her and gives her an Orb of Truth. Now a Carrier of an Orb of Truth, Helen is hunted by the evil Queen of Winter (think the Witch from Chronicles of Narnia).

A Patrol, her magical bodyguard with ice magic reluctantly offers to hide her from death and uncover the orbs secrets. 

This book has Chronicles of Narnia vibes but in a new, fresh setting that I found instantly intriguing. It’s hard to convey the vivid “taste” of this book. It’s magical (ice magic, orbs of light, curses), whimsical (dwarves, magical flowers, and life-giving peppermints) but there’s a distinct darker tone.

RELATED POSTS TO THE A SOUL AS COLD AS FROST BOOK REVIEW:

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What I Loved:

The World

I loved the world of Winter. The best way I can describe it is The North Pole meets Narnia. There’s magic, hot chocolate, magical creatures, and a robust society that promises exciting future tales. I found it so interesting that Winter was referred to as a snow globe. I feel like there’s more there. If not, I thought this terminology made a great describer that helped me grasp exactly what world I was pulled into.

Ice Magic

Everybody that’s anybody in Winter is throwing around some pretty sweet ice magic. Namely Zane and the evil queen. Thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions, I was able to very clearly “see” the ice magic in action, almost feel it blasting off my skin.

I also loved the “magical system.” The way the author introduces curses, the parallel universes existing together, the Truth orbs from the Dead King… all of this immersed me into the world. 

Zane

I loved Zane. He wasn’t your usual sidekick/love interest. Zane had a lot of layers that made me cheer and ache for him. For example, at first, Zane gave off burned out rescuer vibes. But then the author added another layer to him: he loves to laugh (sometimes to a fault), tease, and has a great sense of adventure that contrasts well with Helen’s serious personality.

I would love to see more of Zane in future books. He was definitely my favorite character. 

What I Didn’t Like

The Lengthy Descriptions (sometimes)

I think an essential aspect of the book–what made it unique–was the well-written prose.

However, if I had one complaint about the book, the ONE thing that made me give this book a 3.5 star rating, it was the descriptions. At times, I loved how the author could utterly immerse me into the story. She doesn’t just tell you the MC is drinking a cup of hot chocolate. She describes the hot chocolate in such rich detail that you can practically taste, smell, and see it yourself. This isn’t an exaggeration. I legitimately had to make myself hot chocolate while I read this book.

But. 

Other times, I got lost in the descriptions. Particularly during action sequences. Sometimes I legitimately had no clue what was going on. 

I remember there were scenes where I would wonder, “So, what’s the villain doing? Oh, she’s still walking toward him with a sword. She started that three paragraphs ago…” For me, these instances pulled me out of the story and made it difficult to continue.

Helen

There was nothing wrong with Helen. I didn’t have anything against her and her personality didn’t particularly annoy me. Having said that, I also had trouble connecting with her at times. I think the author wanted her to be an average teen, which I totally get. While I did enjoy watching her bravery develop, I also craved one more layer or something interesting to remember her by.

Would I Recommend?

Overall, I enjoyed A Soul as Cold as Frost. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you’re a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia. It’s a fantastic story for teens 12+ (although some may struggle with the lengthier descriptions. In any case, give it a try. You might love this aspect of the book!)

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• Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig Review
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The post Book Review: A Soul as Cold as Frost appeared first on Erin Artfitch.

This twist on Beauty & the Beast completely enthralled me. From the first page, I was there with Zaina, rooting with her, crying with her, and sometimes, wanting to punch her in the face.

Zaina was stolen by “Madame” as a child. Every despicable act she has done in Madame’s name was for her adopted sisters’ safety. So, when Madame sells her off to a beastly viking king in a magical, frigid land, she goes without question. Even a world away from Madame, she’s not free. She’s been married to the king for a reason. Produce an heir. Steal his kingdom. When she’s met with a frigid ice land with an inhospitable court, Zaina thinks her mission should be easy.

Soon she discovers that there is something magical and dark at work. A hidden secret that the castle inhabitants don’t trust her with yet. One she needs to figure out if she wants to secure her sisters’ safety. 

Worse, the king isn’t such a beast at all. As they get to know each other, his kindness begins to heal her damaged soul. 

Suddenly a clear-cut mission becomes an impossible choice.

Zaina and Einar’s love story is compelling and beautiful. I loved the world, the side-characters, the magical furry companions, and best of all, Zaina’s journey.

What I Loved:

Zaina and Einar

They’re the bull-headed power couple that everyone loves. At first, both of them are sour-tempered jerks to each other. Even while butting heads, their chemistry and conflict is on fire.

More than that, I love how Einar is so perfect for Zaina. She’s a cunning assassin that knows every manipulative move in the book, but he doesn’t buy any of it. He keeps her on her toes and outwits her when he needs to. I respect “book boyfriends” that are sweet and loving, but I love the ones that can hold their own while doing it.

Zaina

To say that Zaina is incredible is a vast understatement. Following her journey was downright inspiring. She’s the jaded beauty the author’s wanted her to be but never once did she come off as cheesy or forced.  I loved her wit, ninja moves, and vulnerability. 

Her past and trauma was so real. This Beauty has literal scars from the horrible things that have happened to her. You have so much respect for her because her character never wavers. 

I also loved her unique Eastern background. So many times I think fairytale retellings fall into recreating the Disney characters. Zaina is an eastern beauty and the contrasting cultures play a huge part in this book.

The TENSION

Elle and Robin are masters of creating tension in a book. They’ve just landed themselves a diehard fan. Guys, I was hooked from the first page and I could not put this book down for the next 48 hours (and it only took me 48 hours because of my responsibilities. If I didn’t have kids and a job, I would’ve read it in one sitting). 

When I look back, the “world” Of Thorns and Beauty is fairly small. The castle, a village, the mountains, and a couple caves. But I feel like a took an epic journey. I was hooked on every page. 

It’s that tension, man. It never lets up. 

You’re so confused but it’s the delightful kind of confusion that makes you want to turn page after page. I wanted to find out what was going on with the castle. Needed to learn more about Zaina’s past and discover what Einar’s deal was.

And Of Thorns and Beauty delivered.

But it was hell (in a really good way) waiting to find out.

Everything Else

The World, the Magic, the Characters, the Writing Style. Of Thorns and Beauty introduced a number of magical creatures that I fell inlove with. My favorite: The Chalyx. Think if the Cheshire Cat and Rajah from Aladdin had a baby. 

I loved 99.9% of the book. I’m SO glad there’s a sequel (even if I’m a wee bit mad about the cliffhanger.)

What I Didn’t Love

Sometimes Zaina

Okay, there was one thing…. Sometimes I didn’t understand how Zaina could be so salty in the beginning. I understood her feelings (obviously) and why she as a person might be rude in an arranged marriage situation.

But. 

If her job was to win over the king’s heart and get preggo, it just didn’t make sense that she would lose her temper so quickly. That’s just my two cents!

The Sensual Scenes

I would still classify this book as clean. However, there is some language in it and the make-out scenes pushed me to the edge of my tolerance level. I think the authors did a great job of building steam without diving into the smut category. However, in any case, I like to recommend only books that I consider clean so I think it’s worth mentioning that some parents might be hesitant to allow a teenager to read these scenes.

Would I Recommend?

Oh, yes. If you love fantasy romances or fairytale retellings, this book is a must! Of Thorns and Beauty is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I really, really don’t think you’ll regret buying it!

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The post Book Review: Of Thorns and Beauty appeared first on Erin Artfitch.

Brand of Light in a Nutshell

Kersei lives on a world without technology and trains to be like her father, the greatest warrior in all the land. After a deadly explosion that kills her clan, Kersei is taken to space and held as a prisoner, tortured for her family’s deaths. In the midst of all this, the strange brand on her arm burns.

Marco is a hunter, gifted with the ability to track his bounty’s scent for miles. He lives for the thrill and the honor of the hunt. When a priesthood gives him a bounty on Kersei, he is determines to bring the girl in. Whether she’s guilty of her crimes or not. Immediately, he knows that things aren’t as they seem. The bounty is wrong. The entire space coalition is after this girl. And strangely, the brand on his arm burns when she’s near.

This book broke me. It’s been a while since I’ve felt the urge to throw a book across the room, but Brand of Light did it. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED it. But, the ending seriously left me traumatized and more than a little angry.

Calling Brand of Light a space opera isn’t entirely accurate. It’s a thriller, with plenty of action and suspense to keep you turning pages until the end (which I hope makes you angry too). It’s also a fantasy novel, with prophecies, magic, and ancient deities.

This is one of those rare books where the writing style, characters, and plot are incredibly fleshed out and flawless. 

What I Liked:

The World Building

 I am beyond impressed by the level of world building in this book. Once you start reading, you’ll become immersed with a completely different universe with its own creatures, traditions, rules, and even languages.

Kind of like Star Wars, but without the endless species of aliens and the Force. That said, there are definitely some fantasy kinda-sort-of magical elements in the book as well.

The Characters

The cast of characters in Brand of Light is immense. Sometimes it was difficult for me to keep track. That said, each character is unique and well-fleshed out. Every single person in the book has a part to play in this wonderful drama.

The Plot

I hated it. I loved it. And then I hated it some more. But trust me, it was the good kind of hate. The plot drew me in from the first page, tossing and turning my emotions until I finished it. I have a feeling Marco and Kersei’s story is more of an epic, filled with twists that completely destroy me by the end of it.

Things I didn’t like…

Confusing

I loved this book so much that it’s honestly difficult to pull out the negatives. But, speaking objectively, I can see these elements becoming frustrating for some readers.

There’s no doubt that you’ll be overwhelmingly confused for the first 20-40 pages of the book. Brand of Light doesn’t give you any time to adjust. The author just throws you into the water and it’s up to you to not drown. You’ll have to acclimate to the new language, the culture on a couple planets and spaceships, plus Marco’s abilities. I’ll admit, it’s a lot.

Once you figure everything out though, you’ll enjoy the full spectrum of this beautiful world.

Lots of Characters

Seriously though. If I had one complaint, it’s that there were lots of characters and I just couldn’t keep up with who is who. I feel like it’s kind of necessary in the world that Ronie Kendig created (it literally touches on 4 planets and 3-4 spaceships), but this still took me out of the book a little.

The Writing Style

This isn’t a complaint, more of a disclaimer. Ronie Kendig’s writing style is very unique. Lots of sentence fragments. Very short sentences. (Kind of like this blog post.?) This writing style is gripping and creates a fast-paced read, but some readers may not enjoy it. I, personally, loved it.

Would I Recommend It?

I either hate or love space operas. I loved this one. Brand of Light offers a diverse universe, compelling characters, really cool powers, a twisted ending, all with a splash of romance. I feel like you would like this book if you’re an Andy Weir or Brandon Sanderson fan.

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The post Brand of Light Book Review appeared first on Erin Artfitch.

Come Back to Me in a Nutshell

*Thank you Netgalley and Revell Fiction for the eARC. All opinions in this review are my own. 

Come Back to Me is a time-traveling Christian romance that dips into several genres. On one hand, you’ll notice some thriller (almost Da Vinci Code-like) chases and historical explorations. On the other, we have time-traveling, the ultimate cure for illnesses, historical battles, Tree of Life lore, and…to top it all off…steamy romance.

This sounds like a lot (and it is), but Come Back to Me ties in all of these elements pretty well.

When you strip Come Back to Me of all these extra components, you’ll find that it’s a romance at heart, exploring the relationship between a modern woman and medieval man. 

Now, full disclosure: This book is steamy. As in, you’ll-probably-need-a-fan-to-cool-yourself-off steamy. The main characters are very attracted to each other and are very single-minded at times. This is a Christian book that contains no explicit content, but the amount of “bedding” thoughts may be too much for conservative readers.

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What I Liked:

William

By far, William was my favorite character. He’s the tall, dark, and handsome classic-type hero, but he was by no means one-dimensional. Because of the wars and grief he endured, William has several layers that makes if much more endearing. 

I also really appreciated how tender and loving he was to Marian. Especially given his time-period. 

The Pacing

After I got past the first few pages,  I enjoyed Come Back to Me and couldn’t have put it down. I stayed up until 1:00 a.m. reading it because I just had to find out if Marian would stay in the past or go back home. The author artfully built the suspense of the novel until it resolved in a most satisfying way.

This was a pleasant surprise since Come Back to Me is part of a series.

Tying Lore with History

Come Back to Me proposes that the miraculous healings from the middle-ages (and throughout history) could be attributed to seeds from the Garden of Eden’s Tree of Life. Ultimately, the novel ties in the Fountain of Youth with the Tree of Life with historical events from the middle ages. 

Somehow it all works.

Things I didn’t like…

As you read these disadvantages, Come Back to Me is a romance with a splash of time travel and fantasy sci-fi. I am more of a sci-fi fantasy reader who likes a splash of romance. So, my brain automatically goes to the plot logic and action and in-depth relationships between the characters.

The Beginning 

The first 20 pages of Come Back to Me were difficult. Right from the get-go, I wasn’t on board with Marian. Her reaction to her father falling into a coma didn’t seem realistic (even despite their estrangement). I was also distracted by the initial information dumps. While I do appreciate some backstory, the amount of information in the beginning really stopped the story from unraveling organically.

Don’t let this be a make or break for you though. Story beginnings can be difficult. I think if you get past this initial hump, you’ll enjoy the story.

The Characters.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t develop an attachment to any of the characters (except for William, of course.) I also struggled with the emotional connection between Marian and Will. The attraction was sizzling, but I never got the sense that they got to know each other.

While I felt like the author did a fantastic job getting into Marian’s head, I still didn’t feel a great connection with her. I think this may have been, in part, that she was a scientist but when transported to the middle ages, she seemed “feisty” but like every other woman. I have loved to see more of her scientific background contrast with an era where women were largely uneducated and trained to be submissive.

The Science

 One thing that I just didn’t get on board with was the main “science” behind the novel. Water that heals everybody’s wounds but somehow transports them back in time? It just didn’t make sense. Even when the main characters explained it, it didn’t make sense. And, without revealing any spoilers, the rules behind time-traveling didn’t either.

Now, having said that, it was very easy to just shrug and move on.

Would I Recommend?

Even with all of those reservations, Come Back to Me is a fantastic novel. If you’re a fan of Christian romance authors like Francine Rivers or you’re looking for a clean version of Outlander, you’ll be very happy with Come Back to Me. I am primarily a speculative fiction reader and I was thoroughly entertained by this book!

I will definitely read the sequel!

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Stealing Embers in a Nutshell

Do you ever feel like a book was written for you? Like the author jumped into your head, picked out some of what would be the coolest things you can imagine, and wrote it down on paper?

That was Stealing Embers for me. As I was reading this book, I went from “Oh, that’s cool.” to “Woah, that’s really cool….” and finally, “Man, I friggin’ love this book!”

17-year-old Emberly knows she’s in trouble. After years of bouncing around the foster system, with numerous adults trying to cage her in mental institutions, she decides that her best chance of survival is living on the streets. You see, Emberly isn’t like other girls. Not only was she born with weird hair and freak superstrength and speed…sometimes she slips into another dimension. A dimension with flying beasts trying to kill her.

Then one day, she discovers the truth: she’s actually a descendant of a fallen angel, a nephilim. With the hope of learning more about herself and training for survival, she goes to Seraph Academy. Think Hogwarts, but for half-human/half-angel hybrids. 

Cue the Mean Girl standoffs, enemies-to-lovers tropes, and the cool power discovery scenes. 

At first she’s hopeful that she’s finally found her place in the world, but as her powers grow, so do the Fallen attacks on the academy. Soon Emberly’s forced to confront the monsters that have chased her for so long. 

Stealing Embers is a Harry Potter meets Vampire Academy meets Constantine novel. All written by a Christian author and with totally clean content (with the exception of one cuss word and some family jewels kicking). 

The pacing is fantastic. From the first page, I was hooked. I read it at my kid’s dentist appointment, while my husband drove us to the mall, and every single time my kiddos were distracted with toys (#badmomstatus). There wasn’t a single time where I felt like putting it down. 

What I Liked About the Book: 

The Powers, the Lore…

 Angels, the Fallen, Nephilim, the Creator…I’ve read books with these elements before but Julie Hall created an original world that makes me hungry to learn more. 

Not to mention, Emberly is my hero. Nephilim powers. Cool. Emberly’s powers? AWESOME. 

She. Kicks. Butt.

 She kicks Fallen butt. She kicks Steele’s jerk-face butt. BUT. She also struggles to find her powers, so that makes the butt-kicking much more enjoyable.

Sorry for all the butts.

The Passion

While my one hang up with the novel was Steele, let me just say that the passionate scenes between them are fire. Julie Hall is a craftsman about building a steamy yet clean scenes. I love their connection and the attraction between them. I also love that Emberly does not put up with his disrespectful actions and puts him back in his place several times. 

The Characters

Stealing Embers doesn’t do tired stereotypes. In fact, the author literally takes YA, high school stereotypes and crushes them. 

I think all of the characters are very well fleshed out, but Emberly is certainly my favorite. She doesn’t take crap from anybody. When Steele is being a butt, she’s not the type of heroine to let his behavior slide. She gives it right back to him. She stands up to mean girls without stooping down to their level. And on that note, the mean girls respect her after a confrontation.

What I Didn’t Like:

Steele

I loved almost everything about the novel except for Emberly’s main love interest, Steele. He’s just a jerk sometimes and I have a hard time with that. To be fair, Emberly acknowledges his jerk-status and refuses to get involved with him out of self-respect. She also attempts to stay away from him rather than letting him have his way. 

However, in future novels, I would need to see a lot of character development before I would be on board with him being a legitimate love interest.  

Would I Recommend?

I do not hand out 5 stars. A book has to really impress me.

Stealing Embers checks off all the boxes. Catches you from page one. Strong characters. Intriguing plot. Unique world. And enough action and romance to compel some page turning until at least 3 am. If you liked Mortal Instruments or Vampire Academy, I think you’ll love this one!

By now the sequel has released with special editions (including beautiful artwork) available. I highly recommend getting your copy!

The post Book Review: Stealing Embers by Julie Hall appeared first on Erin Artfitch.

POST RELATED TO NEVER MISS BOOK REVIEW:

Book Review: Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

Never Miss in a Nutshell

It was just another day on the run for former sharpshooter Kadance when she rescues Lyndon from an assassination attempt. But Lyndon is a different character altogether. Not only is he very attractive, possesses an eidetic memory and a host of doctorates, but he seems to accept her for who she is. She can’t abandon him. Soon Kadance and her Maine Coon, Mac, are entangled in a massive conspiracy that forces her to confront the past she spent so long running from.

Never Miss is a thrilling novel by new author Melissa Koslin. The plot centers around two unique protagonists stopping a plot to unleash an amped-up version of the Ebola virus on the world. There’s plenty of action and romantic tension to keep readers turning pages until the end. Faith plays a decent role in the book, but I think the conversations are well-written and not “preachy” at all. Lyndon discusses his thoughts on the Big Bang Theory and why he believes the universe shows evidence of a creator. Eventually, Kadance joins in musings of a creator or “Presence.”

What I Liked About the Book: 

The Characters

I loved how quirky the characters were. Kadence is well-trained fighter and sharpshooter, yet her weaknesses made her so likable. I loved her wit and bluntness just as much as her insecurities. Lyndon is a super genius whose greatest attribute is his logical approach and seeing things that people can’t. The fact that he has an eidetic memory made him much more interesting. But he also struggles with his emotions and I loved how this added tension throughout the book.

 And of course my favorite character was Mac. I’m not going to lie, after reading this story, I looked up how I can buy myself a Maine Coon. His personality was so fun. He definitely takes the spotlight in every scene.

The Passion

I’m not a romance reader at all, y’all. I skip the steamy sections of movies and to be honest, I can’t even remember the last time that I watched a rom-com. This book had me.  The tension between the MCs was downright steamy but utterly clean. 

Fast-paced 

Once the book starts it doesn’t stop. I can’t remember any slow parts or a time where I had the urge to stop reading.  I probably would have read it in about 2 days if I wasn’t insanely busy with two kids. 

What I Didn’t Like:

While I was hooked by the passion between the two MCs, sometimes the romantic internal musings and discussions occurred at weird times. I don’t want to give anything away, so here’s a vague example: After Kadance and Lyndon discover a significant, game-changing plot point, the MCs were thinking about their feelings for each other. For me, that just wasn’t very believable considering the context. 

Grammatical and Writing Mechanics 

Sometimes I found it difficult to keep up with the scenes, especially the faster-paced ones. The MCs would be running and then all the sudden they were in another place. It disoriented me. 

In other instances, I noticed a lot of repeated words. At one point, the same word was repeated five times in a paragraph. Usually I take off my editor/writer when I review a book, but these things kind of took me out of the story.

Disappointed with the end of the book.

For most of the book I felt very engaged with the plot. At about 80% through, Kadance and Lyndon ran into some troubles with stopping the main villain. This is where the plot fell apart. 

There were some really climatic scenes that were underwhelming and then the ending was anticlimatic. I felt like there were a lot of loose ends between the characters and Kadance’s past. I was also disappointed with how things ended with the villain.

Would I Recommend?

Absolutely. Even with my issues with the last 20% of the book, I think Never Miss is a fantastic read. I hope there’s a sequel planned. Also, thanks to this novel, my new life goal is to get myself a Maine Coon. I’ve been completely converted.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller with some hardcore steam between the main characters, check Never Miss out! You’ll love it!

POST RELATED TO NEVER MISS BOOK REVIEW:

Book Review: Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

The post Book Review: Never Miss by Melissa Koslin appeared first on Erin Artfitch.

*Thank you Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers for the eARC. All opinions in this review are my own. 

Night Fall in a Nutshell

Night Fall is a fast-paced Christian suspense novel that gives readers a look into the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and a serial killer’s disturbing delusions.

The Train Man strikes at night, killing his victims at random and tagging nearby train cars with verses from his unholy Book. His mission is simple: make six sacrifices before ushering in the apocalypse; that is, murdering a third of the population with a deadly virus. When the case hits the desk of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, SSA Alex Donovan recognizes the Train Man’s tags, and the cult they originate from, immediately. The hunt for the serial killer forces her to finally face the traumatic childhood she spent most of her life outrunning.

Night Fall is a fast-paced Christian suspense novel that blends real crime investigation with questions of faith and destiny.

What I liked about the book: 

The Beginning

Night Fall hooked me at the first sentence. I loved that we were able to see into the Train Man’s twisted psyche in several parts of the book, but leading with this unique perspective was genius. Adam’s perspective was by far my favorite aspect of the book. Nancy Mehl painted a completely believable, heart-breaking, and totally evil killer. I genuinely had nightmares the entire time I read the book.

Contrasting Light and Dark, “Angels” and “Demons”

Members of the Train Man’s cult believe that the world is populated by either angels or demons. You don’t get to choose whether you’re an angel or demon. You’re born into one or the other. The novel sharply contrasts this twisted faith with the redeeming grace Christianity offers.

Trauma and PTSD:

The novel also contrasts Alex and Adam (the Train Man). Both were child-victims of the same cult, yet they lead very different lifestyles. As a protagonist, Alex’s weaknesses are her best attribute. While she’s as tough as nails, she’s also very vulnerable. Night Fall doesn’t try to create a stereotypical agent. She struggles severely with anxiety, PTSD, and obsessive compulsive disorder. 

What I Didn’t Like:

Alex and Logan discover the identity and ultimate goal of the serial killer immediately.

Ohhhh, I really did not like this twist.

I was looking forward to seeing the BAU in action, watching the cat and mouse game as Alex discovers the identity of her UNSUB. For his identity and main goal to be revealed in basically the first few pages…that was tough. I don’t think I would have even minded it so much if Alex would’ve discovered these facts early. But this critical information was revealed by a fellow agent that learned about it from a phone call. This stole a lot of the suspense and thrill away from me.

The meetings, debriefings, rehashings, etc.

It’s extremely obvious that Nancy Mehl did her fair share of research on the BAU and crime investigations before writing this book. For the most part, I appreciated that throughout the book. However, the meetings really slowed things down for me. Given, the BAU probably hosts a mass of meetings in real life, but I (as a simple reader) struggled with this.

At one point, Alex presents her findings to the rest of the team. She reveals tidbits about the serial killer that she discovered from her research. I would have loved to be there with her as she’s making these discoveries, not reading the summary. Also, meetings seemed to serve as “info dumps.” The killer’s name and agenda was revealed in a meeting. His family history was revealed in a meeting. Even some of the BAU’s procedures were revealed in a meeting. These info dumps cheapened the story for me. 

Some of the “The Message”

Please don’t misunderstand,  I am ALL FOR overt Christian themes in books. I think Christian authors should boldly put their faith on a page. So, even if these messages don’t appeal to some readers, it will to the people that need it the most. Unfortunately, some of the internal monologue or even the conversations sounded a little cliché, like Christianese.

Would I Recommend?

For the reasons listed above, Night Fall just wasn’t my cup of tea. Having said that, I think the author’s very talented and I believe many people will Night Fall. I think it comes down to personal preference on this one. Well-written and written, Night Fall offers a unique, faith-based perspective on criminology and a fast-paced storyline. If you enjoy the suspense and thriller genres, I would definitely check it out.

The post Book Review: Night Fall by Nancy Mehl appeared first on Erin Artfitch.