Mad World by Hannah McBride ARC review

I'm Madison.

I spent the last seventeen years in a trailer with my mom as she rolled from one addiction to the next. All I wanted was to survive high school and get out of this place. Finding out I had a long lost twin sister on the other side of the country seemed like something out of a movie.

Too bad I didn't realize it was a horror movie.

Now I'm Madelaine.

We were only supposed to switch lives for a summer. But then the unthinkable happened and now I have the chance to be my twin for the rest of my life. I get the fancy house, the rich father, and the elite school.

But all of those things come with a price I don't think I can afford.

Maybe taking over my dead twin sister's life isn't as easy as I thought it would be.

Mad World is the first book in a new series by Hannah McBride . It contains dark themes (including bullying, drugs, and mentions of past/implied assault) that may be triggering for some readers.

 

Mad world is a one of a kind, rollercoaster of emotions book.

After reading the prologue I was suspicious of every character intention, every word and action was to me, something to analyze. I was sure I was going to be able to figure out who that person was, I wasn´t going to be led astray, no sir… I WAS WRONG. Very wrong.

On Mad world no one is as it seems and every situation can spiral out of control in an instant. Hannah McBride has always been an amazing talented writer but this time, she out did herself. Mad world is her best book yet. I can see this story going places that scare me and at the same time excite me.

I loved the enemies to lovers/bully romance type of relationship the characters have. The characters interactions, the friendships everything was designed to suck you into the world in a way I’ve never felt before. Ryan is a very complex character, I didn´t know if I loved or hated him half of the time. Bex is my ultimate friendship goals, loyal to the core and that relationship that’s cooking OMG freaking hawt.
I even had to confess that for the first time ever I peeked at the last page to figure out who was the person on the prologue. What did I learned???  Nothing!!!!! I was going crazy, my anxiety levels where through the roof.

The ending killed me in so many ways I have no clue how I’m going to survive until next spring for the next instalment. I had to read the book 2 times and still my heart was broken by the end.

This series contains a lot of hard topics, surrounded by a story that needed to be told, wrapped by a dose of perfect world building and the incredible writing style of the author. There´s romance, action, drama, suspense, mystery and even a little bit of comedy sprinkled around and it creates a truly magical first book for what I’m sure is going to be a perfect contemporary series.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my voluntary and honest review.

Hannah McBride has been many things in her life - a manager, a clinical research coordinator, a dreamer, a makeup brand ambassador, an event coordinator, a blogger, and more. But at heart, she's always been a writer, and in 2020 she decided to make it official with her first release, SANCTUM.

Things that Hannah loves include: horror movies, makeup, glitter, and her opossum,Tink.

website: 

https://hannahmcbrideauthor.com/

Twitter: Ideally_Hannah

ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas SERIES REVIEW

 A Court of Thorns and Roses

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

A Court of Mist and Fury

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

A Court of Wings and Ruin

FEYRE WILL BRING VENGEANCE.

She has left the Night Court - and her High Lord - and is playing a deadly game of deceit. In the Spring Court, Tamlin is making deals with the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees, and Feyre is determined to uncover his plans. But to do so she must weave a web of lies, and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As mighty armies grapple for power, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

BUT WHILE WAR RAGES, IT IS HER HEART THAT WILL FACE THE GREATEST BATTLE.

THE THRILLING THIRD BOOK IN #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING FANTASY SERIES FROM SARAH J. MAAS.

I love this series and I felt the need to reread this story, so I caved and here we are.

The first time I read this series I was team Tamlin all the way until under the mountain. I couldn't wrap my mind around how he didn't tried to help her once.

Rhys on the other hand was intriguing since the start. Yes he was bad but he never did truly bad things to Feyre. I didn't understand why I felt such a fascination with this character until this reread.

Rhys is present in this series before we even get to meet him. Feyre always looked to the night sky for comfort and I started to associate it with Rhys unconsciously.

I started to truly see the difference between Tamlin and Rhys on the second book. Tamlin didn't care for Feyre's wellbeing while Rhys did everything he could to help her push through her trauma. She never seek one for comfort while she leaned on the other.

I realized that I started to fall for Rhys right along with Feyre, while he still was an enemy. The story was crafted perfectly.

Knowing how everything ended, gave me the opportunity to see things I didn't saw at first. How wrong Tam was for her, how wicked Ianthe truly was since the beginning. The why of Nesta's attitude. So many things I didn't picked up on the first time.

I can't wait for the next book and see how Nesta's story is going to unravel.

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Crescent City, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the Throne of Glass series. Her books have sold more than twelve million copies and are published in thirty-seven languages. A New York native, Sarah lives in Philadelphia with her husband, son, and dog. To find out more, visit sarahjmaas.com or follow @therealsjmaas on Instagram.

Website

Broken by ℍ𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕙 𝕄𝕔𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕖 Book Review

 

A beta in denial

Rhodes DeWitt has always known he was a lost cause. The Blackwater beta embraces the bad boy label with open arms, praying that the girl next door will never know that the one thing he wants is the one girl he can’t have.

A heart that’s breaking

After spending years in love with the boy next door, Larkin Dawes is ready to move on. Her head knows this is for the best. Her heart hasn’t quite gotten the memo.

The storm of the century

Trapped and isolated together as a blizzard rages around them, Rhodes will finally have to decide if he’s going to watch Larkin move on with or without him. 

I fell in love with Larkin and Rhodes since Sanctum.

The bond they had went beyond friendship and everyone knew it but them.

It was hilarious watching them dance around each other.In Broken we finally see them come together.

Larkin has come a long way since the events on Sanctum, she's coping as best as she can but she misses her best friend whom she's been in love with for years.

Rhodes is in love with his best friend but feels she deserves better, his life hasn't been an easy one and he refuses to drag her down with him.

I absolutely loved this book is steamy and super sexy. Rhodes and Larkin are explosive together and I can't wait to see how everything goes for them when the next book on the Blackwater pack series comes out.

Hannah McBride has been many things in her life - a manager, a clinical research coordinator, a dreamer, a makeup brand ambassador, an event coordinator, a blogger, and more. But at heart, she's always been a writer, and in 2020 she decided to make it official with her first release, SANCTUM.

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                   Twitter

Of Thorns and Beauty by 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐃. 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐥𝐞 BOOK REVIEW

"You think you know the tale as old as time, but you’ve already got it wrong.

There never was a beauty and a beast, only a girl who was both.

And that girl was me."

Zaina will never be free.

She's forced into an arranged marriage to a Viking King in a castle full of secrets. But she carries secrets of her own, and the scars of her haunted past.

Handed off from one monster to another, she has no choice but to do her best to survive and protect her sisters.

Even if it costs her everything.

A Beauty and the Beast retelling you won’t want to miss, where nothing is what it seems and time is running out.

 

If you guys know anything about me as a reader is that I hate cliffhangers that being said I knew well in advance this book had one so here we go...

I absolutely adored Einar and Zaina their differences made a unique couple and their interactions spirited as they may be where witty and funny. I loved the slow burn romance and spend most of the time hoping for a kiss.

I spent quite a lot of time trying to figure out who was who on this beautiful retelling of the beauty and the beast. Keep in mind that I used the word retelling as loosely as possible, there are a couple of hints here and there but for the most part Of Thorns and Beauty is a different story all together.

There were a couple of instances when I got so mad at Zaina she could’ve spill the beans at any point and Einar blessed his heart would have helped her fight her demons.

The only reason I didn’t give this book a 5 rating, is because sometimes it felt a little rushed and the chapters where super short giving the impression that this was supposed to be a bigger book but somewhere along the way the authors decided to make it a series.

That being said the story is amazing, the characters are well rounded with pretty defined background stories. The whole ambience of the book is dark and chilly so the sprinkles of warmth throughout makes them even more special. I truly enjoyed how the authors took inspiration from Beauty and the Beast and the way they transformed the story.

Of Thorns and Beauty is a perfect first book for a series and I would definitively read the next one because I really want to know where the story goes.

I was given this ARC for free in exchange for my voluntary and honest review.

Elle Madison is a faerie disguising herself as an author in the human world.

When she isn't wrestling her children, she's busy baking cookies for her husband and becoming a regular at every taco shop she comes across.

After hours, when she puts the kiddos to bed, you can usually find Elle working on creating new fantastical worlds, reading about them or playing Stardew Valley like the child she is.

Elle enjoys watching the sunset, trying new wines, the occasional raccoon or two, and being with people who make her laugh.

Robin D. Mahle started out as a pen name I shared with my husband for The World Apart Series, but since then, I've absconded with it to delve into the wonderful world of fairy tale retellings and fantasy romances with my partner in crime, Elle Madison.

When I'm not writing, you can find me spending time with my seven hundred cats and drinking wine by the barrel.

A Court of Silver Flames REVIEW

 

Sarah J. Maas's sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre's fiery sister, Nesta.

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.

It’s finally here OMG I have it in my hands I feel I’ve waited forever for this story and after I read it my heart is full. I cried and laughed so hard that the roaring in my head stopped and recognized a kindred spirit on the person behind this words.

Favorite part: The training

Favorite character: The House

Best scenes: The Blood Rite

Smut level 15/10 my boy Cassian knows what he’s doing

Fav. Quote:

 “You were trying to show me. Show others. Who you are, down deep. What haunts you. You were trying to show them all those dark, broken pieces because the priestess and Emerie, and I… were the same as you.”

I really liked Nesta before, now I love her. I am a Nesta and her journey to self-recovery truly resonates within me. Sometimes it’s easier to fight against that which surrounds you than fight yourself.  I’ve been there and I think that’s the reason I connect with her so much.  I know how hard and how much work it takes.

Nesta feels too much and doesn’t know how to cope with everything she’s feeling. She´s like a wounded dog that bites out of pain and fear of being harmed again. She’s broken and there’s no putting the pieces back together so she reinvents herself.

Cassian is perfect in every sense of the word, he knows when to push and when to hold, no matter his feelings for Nesta he lets her hit rock bottom and work her way up. He´s her anchor but knows that he can’t do anything to help her, she needs to help herself. His I will help you pick your pieces but you need to stich yourself back together is what’s pushes her to be better. No judgment just an unmovable force at her side.

I loved that we could spend some time with the rest of the court and know a little about what’s going on at the other courts. I didn´t like Rhys as much in this book, I get the Drama but he was too different to the all-powerful high lord I am used to.

Azriel is getting more interesting by the second and I feel we finally meet his lady. I hope I´m right cause I adore Gwyn, nothing really happens between them but there’s this vibe I can’t forget.  I really don´t think Elain is going to be endgame in fact I think something more is going to happen with her she is too nice to be real. So I’m calling it, she´s either going to die or turn evil, No goodie two shoes has ever lived that way in a Maas world.

I don’t want to give much away but let’s just say that this book is filled with action both heart stopping and heartwarming. There are old and new players in the game trying to ruing everything the court of dreams has work for and there’s no way the gang it’s going to let it all slide. There´s politics, new beginnings and new life.

This is a book worth reading with very hard topics but with beautiful stories about rebirth and self-discovery.

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Court of Thorns and Roses and the Crescent City series, as well as the Throne of Glass series. Her books are published in thirty-seven languages. A New York native, Sarah lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, son, and dog.

https://sarahjmaas.com/

https://www.instagram.com/therealsjmaas/

https://www.facebook.com/theworldofsarahjmaas