#edelweiss

Publication Day: March 29th, 2022

Rating:  ★★★★

Saylor Rains

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Publication Day: April 5th, 2022

Rating:  ★★★★

Amazing, twisting plot.

A copycat serial killer is murdering people, each different in method but all famous cases from the past. Detectives Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are trying to hunt down the true killer. At the same time Jessica Ambrose is on the run after being accused of being the arsonist who set the fire killing her husband. With the help of suspended detective Nate Griffin, she discovers a shocking connection to the copycat killer and the arson.

A culmination of crimes committed all leading up to one tantalizing finale. This is apparently Sam Holland’s debut novel, and it was a very thought out plot. There are murders, plot twists, darkness, suspicion, shifting tension, and all of the things that make a great thriller. I was definitely glued to this book— I had to know who did it!

One of my favorite things about a book is when they have amazing, well rounded, flawed characters. The one things that dragged for me about this book was that some of the main characters started off hard to empathize with and/or were borderline unlikable. After dipping into the plot more, this didn’t matter as much, but I do find that liking the characters and rooting them makes a book SO much better, because then you’re rooting for them to win, you’re hurting when they hurt, you’re overall getting all of the emotions that a great book makes you feel. I think that would have put this book over the top.

Thank you to Sam Holland, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the pleasure of getting to read an arc of this book.

Saylor Rains

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Publication Day: March 1st, 2022

Rating:  ★★★★★

The Night Shift was like coming home and realizing it smells just as good as you remember— in this case home is Alex Finlay’s writing.

FBI Agent Sarah Keller is back, investigating what could be two connected crimes fifteen years apart. In 1999 four teenaged girls working at a Blockbuster were attacked, and only one survived. History repeats itself all these years later in an ice cream shop.

Alex Finlay is a master of keeping you on the edge of your seat, suspicious of everyone. He creates real, flawed, well-rounded characters, lays out a phenomenal and complex plot, and is well practiced at writing alternating perspectives without a single one being boring. I read this all in one sitting and I kept jotting down theories for each thing said, heard, or realized throughout the story and one of them panned out!

The one thing I do not forgive Alex Finlay for: just like after reading Every Last Fear I feel genuine heartbreak for some of these characters and I now need to decompress once again.

This was an amazing read, thank you to Alex Finlay, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this incredible ARC.

Saylor Rains

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Publication Date: June 8th, 2021

Rating:  ★★

Heather Evans returns home after her mother’s baffling suicide. In her mother’s belongings she finds some alarming letters- correspondence with the serial killer Michael Reave. Reave has been serving a life sentence for decades now after being convicted for several ritualistic murders of women, even though he continually pleaded his innocence. Finding these letters causes Heather to seek out the person her mother had been writing to and look more into this case. When a new body is discovered with the same MO as the previous murders, Heather tries to find out the truth about what happened and what her mother could have known.

Initially, this story is a gripping thriller. It gives you the creeps the same way the opening to a horror film does, very atmospheric which is great. I would advise anyone who can’t handle animal cruelty in a book to skim that. I did find that once you reach a certain point in the book there is so much going on, so many different elements that are supposed to be mysterious, creepy, or haunting, that it does feel like a little too much.

The premise of this book was intriguing and the creep factor was definitely there for some of the book. I wasn’t completely satisfied with it as I finished it up, but there are some great reviews for this book and I’m sure there will be even more by the publication date. I would definitely recommend you read it and form your own opinions because I have a feeling people are going to be very hit or miss with this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Jen Williams for the opportunity to read this review copy.

Saylor Rains

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Publication Date: February 9th, 2021

Rating:  ★★★★★

As far as studying psychopaths, serial killers, and how they might have become the way they are, this book is an absolute gem. I knew when I started this that it was going to be a five star rating within the first few pages. Starting off with the preface, which was amazingly written and enticing the reader to continue reading, we read about the last “celebrity” serial killer of the epidemic years and a name everyone knows: Jeffrey Dahmer. Enough of a blurb to show how lives can change forever in one day and really kickstart the whole book.

Vronsky writes an absolutely fascinating introduction to the “golden years” of serial killers. His writing is clear and concise, and absolutely filled with interesting statistics, facts, and information. Organized by decade based on the adaption of serial killers in the time and featuring prominent killers in the media, we also learn about outside influences each decade that could help cook up the perfect storm that makes psychopaths commit these heinous acts. Things like wars and fathers with PTSD, media such as movies and magazine filled with dark themes in post war times, the politics of race and underreporting of black victims, the brain of a psychopath and the damage that can cause a shift in personality, etc. 

One of the greatest parts of this book for me had to be Vronsky’s thorough use of his research and citations. I took down so many of his citations for science journals and books that I want to read to do further research. He remains seemingly objective to everything and merely writes things as they are, which is a talent to be respected when dealing with atrocities that break your heart. He is such a good writer that some of the descriptions and reading about the lives of the victims is devastating. 

Thank you to Peter Vronsky, Berkley, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC, especially for such a well-written book. 

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Saylor Rains

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Publication Date: March 2nd, 2021

Rating:  ★★★★★

Too Good to Be True is one of those books that just grabs ahold of you and won’t let you stop reading. When you think you know what’s going to happen, suddenly everything is spun a completely different way. I don’t want to spoil anything or give anyone clues or ideas, but this is a unique, interesting story filled with lies and betrayal then sprinkle some revenge and deception on top. Set both now and telling the story of thirty years ago you have to figure out who is lying, what they’re lying about, and why.

Too Good to Be True is a book to take a chance on, just go for it and read it without anyone’s reviews in your head!

Thank you to Carola Lovering, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Saylor Rains

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Publication Date: January 5th, 2021

Rating:  ★★★★

The beauty of The Wife Upstairs is that the book is very clearly based on Jane Eyre but also in its own little parallel universe, not relying too heavily on staying true to the classic, which was so important in making this a new and interesting read.

In this book, twenty-three year-old Jane, a foster child who aged out of the system, is walking dogs for her rich neighbors and surviving by stealing things people wouldn’t miss. Then Jane meets Eddie Rochester, who is still the rich, handsome widower, even in this version. Quickly, Jane and Eddie fall into a whirlwind romance which inevitably ends in Eddie asking Jane to marry him. The only problem? Jane feels that Eddie is also keeping some secrets. The story leads you wanting to find out the truth and what really happened.

This book is great for those who enjoy the classics and also some modern thrillers, as well as people who enjoy lighter reading rather than the classics. It’s really an interesting combination of genres that would interest so many types of readers, which makes it great. Of course, it’s not actually Jane Eyre, one of my favorites, but it’s definitely an interesting, fun read.

Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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 Saylor Rains

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Rating:  ★★★★★

Police captain Linda Turner becomes obsessed with solving the haunting murders of two young children and their pastor father, as well as the disappearance of their mother and why they never made it to their missionary work in Africa. Salvation Station is a murder-mystery that combines elements of suspense, police procedural, and a fraudulent religious organization in a way that reads like an episode of CSI or Criminal Minds. Schleich takes you along more than one plot line but is skilled enough to never lose the reader or cause the story to become muddled. I don’t want to give anything away, but the story of the killer was such an interesting one because the author gives them a backstory and makes them a more realistic character while at the same time showcasing to the reader that they are a master manipulator with no conscious.

I was most impressed by the actual crime-solving/investigation writing and how well it was written, and I was shocked when I found out this was Kathryn Schleich’s debut novel. It’s well balanced, concise and not drawn out or boring, and has an interesting plot. Definitely the kind of novel to put an author on my radar for the future.

Salvation Station wasn’t a long novel, but it was an absolute page-turner and the perfect novel for all of the crime readers and watchers.

Thank you to Kathryn Schleich and book publicist Kelsey Butts for this review copy, this was a great read!

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Saylor Rains

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Rating:  ★★★★★

Trumanell Branson disappeared a decade ago, leaving behind a town that never forgot and people who never stopped trying to find her. Odette Tucker, the town’s youngest cop and one with personal ties to Trumanell and her family, is sliding down a slippery slope as she tries to solve this mystery and the one of the missing girl who showed up in a field with only one eye.

No description I give this book could do it justice. I’m heartbroken. This was one of those books that grabbed a hold of my nerves and my heart and just didn’t let go. The powerful imagery, complex plot, and atmospheric writing made for one of the most interesting books this year. The middle of this book made me gasp out loud, the change halfway through something you couldn’t have guessed.

This was a slow read that I definitely took my time with, but I didn’t ever lose my patience with it.

We Are All the Same in the Dark

grabbed my attention and wouldn’t give it back until I finished it. This story had so many layers built into it, it was a masterpiece of a “who-done-it” and makes the reader suspicious of every character at least once. Sip this one slowly like a fine wine and enjoy.

Thank you to Ballantine Books, Julia Heaberlin, and NetGalley for this arc.

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Saylor Rains

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Release Date: March 2nd, 2021

Rating:  ★★★★★

Every Last Fear reads like the best kind of crime drama playing right before your eyes. Matt Pine comes back to his NYU dorm after a night of partying to the worst news possible news; his entire family who were on vacation in Mexico was just found dead. What at first looks like an accidental gas leak turns out to be so much more and it has everyone wondering: could this relate to the murder that put Danny Pine, Matt’s older brother, in prison seven years ago.

The unique plot was built on real characters with multifaceted lives. Each chapter revealed new plot and more layers to the story, causing the reader to constantly adjust their theory on what happened. The constantly changing perspective, where everyone has a different piece of the puzzle, is engaging and gives butterflies just like all good thrillers.

The web that Alex Finlay was able to weave in this novel was intricate and fascinating. The things this family went through all because of one night are heartbreaking. The ending was satisfying. I had to mentally decompress after the amount of action my heart just went through. Every Last Fear is a new favorite of mine.

Many thanks to Alex Finlay, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this incredible ARC.

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Saylor Rains

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Release Date: August 11th, 2020

Rating:  ★★★

The Only Card in a Deck of Knives is a collection of rambling, free-verse poetry that is constantly changing and contradicting all within one poem. Written from the perspective of a twenty something year-old who has a terminal illness, she has the ability to speak on a love of life, dying to die, as well as society’s reaction to sick women and its habit of discrediting their symptoms and feelings.

One of my favorite things about this collection was the way that each poem felt like a stream of consciousness. Things followed a train of thought, like a game where each word or phrase might remind the reader of their next point, or the next thought. You could follow the ideas even as long-winded as each piece might appear. Not every poem will relate to everyone, and how could it when it’s written from a specific perspective that the rest of us can only try to empathize with, but some of the lines were absolutely profound and lyrical.

Thank you to Lauren Turner, Buckrider Books, and Edelweiss for this review copy.

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Saylor Rains

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Release Date: September 8th, 2020

Rating:  ★★★★★

This is another one that hurt my heart.

An Inconvenient Woman instantly immerses you and makes you start asking yourself questions right off the bat, hooking you instantly so that you are forced to keep reading. Buelens paced this novel amazingly, information was given to the reader naturally without it feeling overwhelming, and it only added to the anticipation and need for answers.

This book does alternate perspectives, between Claire and Sloane, who couldn’t be more opposite for most of the book. Claire, who is convinced her ex-husband, Simon, is a pervert who murdered her fifteen year-old daughter and is trying to stop him from trying it again with his new future step-daughter. Sloane, an ex-cop who is now a sin eater hired by Simon, to stop Simon’s crazy ex-wife from stalking his family and vandalizing his property. Suddenly, this story becomes so much more everything- more complicated, more tangled, more messy, more people involved- in ways Sloane never could have predicted.

The most heartbreaking thing that could ever be said is “I don’t believe you.”

An Inconvenient Woman had me at the edge of my seat and finishing this book in one sitting because I couldn’t bring myself to put it down. For all that this book is heartbreaking, especially considering the reality of things like this happening right under our noses, the ending was satisfying. This was incredibly well written, it may have hurt but that’s because it was well done, and I look forward to more from Stéphanie Buelens.

Many thanks to Edelweiss, Scarlet, and Stéphanie Buelens for this advanced review copy.

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Saylor Rains

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Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer by Harold Schechter (A TRUE CRIME BOOK)

Release Date: March 9th, 2021

Rating:  ★★★★★

(I would highly recommend this to those who study/are interested in true crime, forensics, serial killers/mass murderers, psychopathy, nature vs. nurture, etc.)

Maniac is an amazing piece of work, but it also hurts like hell. Harold Schechter is thorough and devastating in this true crime chronicle of a “human time bomb” whose acts of violence seem to foreshadow an era of mass murder and bombings.

Schechter consulted books, newspapers, journals, census records, and so much more to detail the lives of so many people and communities together in order to accurately tell the story of The Bath School Disaster. There are so many elements that played a part in making this book as good as it was. The background into the area that would become Bath, the life stories of the immigrants who would give birth to Andrew Kehoe, the contemplation on the public’s tendency to remember certain crimes for generations while others, such as this one, that are just as publicized and heinous are forgotten almost overnight. The inclusion of other events throughout the story to help you understand what was shaping the way people lived at the time, and even to remind you of all the things happening at once that you don’t think about, was incredible.

Using records, quotes, and facts, Schechter gives you the information you need to make your own analysis. Andrew Kehoe was the first son born after six daughters and thus pressure was placed on him to be the heir, especially in comparison to his siblings’ successful lives. Placed on a pedestal and developing a pathologically inflated sense of self-importance. Reportedly a genius who was cold and distant, as well as a loner. You read the reports from others that show cruelty in the first half of his life. For true crime readers this book has a little bit of everything that we tend to see and study in a mass murderer, but with a relatively above average life at the time and a seemingly good environment what could have caused it?

In the climax of the story, the events leading up to and during the bombing of the school, my heart was palpitating. The short snapshots throughout this chapter felt like the flashing scenes in a movie before bad things happen that drive up your anxiety. The worst part was the aftermath. The newspaper reports and witness accounts of the reactions of the parents and the community, as they lose 45 people to Kehoe’s horrifying act, most of them children. This book’s worst quality is that it’s so real.

While my heart is aching after reading this, I can’t help but be impressed with Harold Schechter and his ability to put these events to paper with so much going on at once, and to have me at the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. This is definitely an author who stands out, and one who I’ll have to read more from.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little A, and Harold Schechter for this advanced review copy, this was a great book to read and you broke my heart.

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Saylor Rains

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Rating:  ★★★

Splinters Are Children of Wood is not what you expect. It doesn’t feel like poetry as you’re reading it, it feels like someone tapped into the unfiltered, feral mind of Leia Penina Wilson and wrote every word down as it appeared without editing anything. My favorite words to describe this collection: visceral, aggressive, unrestrained, unhinged, and intense. This is raw.

My least favorite things about this collection: Not always structured, some parts are incredibly disjointed, the juxtaposition of the pages that mean absolutely nothing and do nothing for the collection when put next to the meaningful, emotional pages.

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Saylor Rains

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saylorreads:

Release Date: August 4th, 2020

Rating:  ★★★★★

This is what happens when you’re crossing all of life’s t’s and dotting its i’s and then everything you thought was put together falls apart. Allison has everything, a well paying job that she’s good at, a fiance, a few best friends doubling as her bridesmaids in the upcoming wedding- and everything is toppled over in one day.

Charming Falls Apart’s best quality? These are real characters. They are built on personality, insecurities, faults, and growth. I am blown away by the characters jumping off of the pages through their personalities, actions, and realistic lives. Every time Allison made a mature decision, reacted to a completely human emotion, or even stopped herself from jumping right into something without thought, it was a win for the real-life woman reading this novel after reading countless characters that don’t feel down on Earth.

Allison’s entire life falls apart in one fell swoop and this story has a natural rhythm as she regains her confidence, both professionally and socially. While she reads self-help books you bear witness to self-reflection and growth, and the changes a person can make to better their life at any age.

The romantic progression was another great thing to read. She meets Eric by chance in a coffee shop that he owns and she can’t help but keep coming back. While at first she’s too freshly burned to even consider it, she gains back a piece of herself in her conversations with Eric- along with a reoccurring blush across her cheeks. The romance didn’t feel forced, which was probably the best part. There were times where I found myself smiling while reading because Eric comes across as charming while he makes jokes and teases Allison.

This was a breath of fresh air as far as romance novels, I really enjoyed the maturity of it and the characters. People who enjoyed Evvie Drake Starts Over would also enjoy this novel. Thank you to Edelweiss, Angela Terry, and SparkPress for the pleasure of reading this review copy.

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Saylor Rains

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Publication Day!!!

Release Date: September 7th, 2020

Rating:  ★★★

Coffee Days Whiskey Nights has a very unique concept in that on all the pages on the left side you have the “coffee days” which typically contain the more hopeful, happy poems and the “whiskey nights” which are the more insecure, unhappy poems. I loved this way of publishing the poetry, and I really think having some kind of organizational method in a poetry collection helps readers digest the words.

Unfortunately some of this collection seemed like rambling, unorganized thoughts that weren’t relatable. The poems that were relatable or inspirational seemed to only be so in a vague “anyone could have said it way,” that’s similar to inspirational tweets that go viral, for example. Good words but unspecific, and you aren’t sure where it really came from because they aren’t incredibly profound. This was disappointing for me because I had been really looking forward to this collection. I think Cyrus Parker has a lot of writing potential and a lot of thoughts to put to paper, and one day when all their skills are honed we’ll be blown away.

Thank you to NetGalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and Cyrus Parker for this advanced review copy.

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Saylor Rains

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Release Date: August 4th, 2020

Rating:  ★★★★★

This is what happens when you’re crossing all of life’s t’s and dotting its i’s and then everything you thought was put together falls apart. Allison has everything, a well paying job that she’s good at, a fiance, a few best friends doubling as her bridesmaids in the upcoming wedding- and everything is toppled over in one day.

Charming Falls Apart’s best quality? These are real characters. They are built on personality, insecurities, faults, and growth. I am blown away by the characters jumping off of the pages through their personalities, actions, and realistic lives. Every time Allison made a mature decision, reacted to a completely human emotion, or even stopped herself from jumping right into something without thought, it was a win for the real-life woman reading this novel after reading countless characters that don’t feel down on Earth.

Allison’s entire life falls apart in one fell swoop and this story has a natural rhythm as she regains her confidence, both professionally and socially. While she reads self-help books you bear witness to self-reflection and growth, and the changes a person can make to better their life at any age.

The romantic progression was another great thing to read. She meets Eric by chance in a coffee shop that he owns and she can’t help but keep coming back. While at first she’s too freshly burned to even consider it, she gains back a piece of herself in her conversations with Eric- along with a reoccurring blush across her cheeks. The romance didn’t feel forced, which was probably the best part. There were times where I found myself smiling while reading because Eric comes across as charming while he makes jokes and teases Allison.

This was a breath of fresh air as far as romance novels, I really enjoyed the maturity of it and the characters. People who enjoyed Evvie Drake Starts Over would also enjoy this novel. Thank you to Edelweiss, Angela Terry, and SparkPress for the pleasure of reading this review copy.

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Saylor Rains

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Release Date: August 11th, 2020

Rating:  ★

Little Bridge is one of the smallest islands in the Florida Keys. It’s also seen a strange spike in crime- which just so happens to bring the sheriff and children’s librarian together on more than one occasion when Molly keeps finding crime scenes.

For me, this book fell flat. I was incredibly excited to receive the review copy and I was intrigued by the plot. I was expecting a fun new take on a modern romance. The romance, however, ended up feeling non-existent. There was no spark between the characters and even the characters themselves could’ve used a lot more dimension to make them more life-like. As it was their lives weren’t as engaging or very fun to read about. I found myself bored throughout the majority of the book and the ending didn’t make up for it.


Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this review copy  in exchange for an honest review. 

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Saylor Rains

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Rating: ★★★★

Release Date: August 20th, 2020

Jim is a department store security guard with an unhappy marriage and a condescending boss younger than him. He used to be a member of the Gardaí. He also happens to secretly be The Nothing Man, Cork’s very own serial killer at large since his first assault occurred two decades ago in 1999.

In 2001, he commits his last known crime. The murder of almost all of the Black family. Now it’s eighteen years later and survivor Evelyn Black is back on his radar- and this time she’s coming for The Nothing Man.

With this book’s unique format we are seeing through Jim’s eyes as he discovers a newly released book titled The Nothing Man, named after his media-given moniker from all those years ago. We fall down the rabbit hole with him as he reads through Evelyn’s collection of interviews, reports, and memories.

Right from the beginning of this book Catherine Ryan Howard hooks you by drawing you into the mind of an easily angered, unhappy man. Her knowledge and care of the subject is obvious as you read about the progression of his crimes and the accuracy of an escalating killer. The attention to detail doesn’t stop there as she dazzles the reader further by giving us an example of the way trauma shapes a child’s mind. Howard keeps you hooked and doesn’t let you put this book down by using her ability to write something simultaneously terribly tragic and in the realm of possibility.

I’ve never read a book quite like this and the uniqueness alone made for an excellent read. The narrative rarely dragged and the characterization and behavior was true to the profile of the killer. One of my favorite parts of this is the way that Howard sends a message: the men who commit these acts are nothing and we shouldn’t be glorifying them. The emphasis on this is important today in this desensitized age when sometimes we need a reminder.

Thank you to Catherine Ryan Howard, Blackstone Publishing, and Edelweiss for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.

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Saylor Rains

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Rating: ★★★

In the Dark, Soft Earth starts strong, the first book in this poetry collection is absolutely captivating. My favorite section in this book thematically, as it uses nature to create beautiful imagery. Watson is able to use nature to his advantage when it comes to painting a picture in your mind. Book two and three introduce the “she” that is in Watson’s thoughts. She feels like someone slipping through fingers, a mystery, wearing a mask for everyone to see. The poetry collection is written mostly in all lower-case letters with minimal punctuation, which creates a feeling of continuity.

Book four is where it all begins to slip away from me. Book four abandons the nature that has been present up until now and instead uses jazz and music, but feels more like an interlude than anything. The next few books return to nature and elements, and we arrive at the title poem: In the Dark, Soft Earth. This poem feels like a perfect ending, a “rest at last” to close with. Except this isn’t the end. Instead we’re met with a book of poetry that is based on tarot cards, which I found to be ill-fitted with the rest of this poetry collection. This section feels less full of feeling and more forced to be picturesque. Book nine was a few short poems that didn’t feel cohesive or necessary, and ten was alright but not nearly as dazzling as the beginning of this book.

With all of that being said, I still think Frank Watson is a good writer. The first three sections dazzled me and I adored his writing style. Some of the poems and lines were fantastic and will stay with me. Aside from the books that didn’t feel like they fit ruining some of the original continuity, his poetry was well-written. If some of the work was cut out this would’ve been at least been a four, if not a five, star book for me.

Thank you to Frank Watson, Plum White Press, and Edelweiss for giving me this DRC in exchange for an honest review.

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Saylor Rains

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I just got a  review copy of The Nothing Man, which is coming out this August, and I’m SO excited! I’ve been wanting to read this one.

I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you publisher!

4 out of 5 stars

The Descendant of the Crane is not your typical YA novel. It is a book which will make you stop and think and reevaluate your ideas about good and evil. It is not wasted on petty tropes of a typical YA novel and it is absolutely wonderfully written.

Our story begins with Hesina visiting a soothsayer in order to uncover who was responsible for her father death. Soothsayers and magic are outlawed and Hesina is risking a lot - while the soothsayer cannot tell her exactly who did it, she does confirm that her father was murdered. Now Hesina just has to find out who did it. And so we enter the world of intrigue, politics, twits and turns - and let me tell you - I did not see a lot of them coming. Not only that, but the author does not divide his world into good and evil, most, if not all, characters are morally grey and relatable and it makes everything feel so real! Furthermore, Hesina is a reluctant queen - she is thrust into the role and she has to learn how to make decisions which serve the greater good but which leave her questioning her own morality. All in all - just WONDERFUL!

My only complaint with the novel is that the themes of the book are NOT YA and I do not understand why it was put into the genre - I think it would have been a more successful adult fantasy novel. I saw some reviewers compare it to The Game of Thrones and while I agree that the political intrigue and the backstabbing is VERY a la Game of Thrones, I think it’s “cleanness” is actually a deterrent. Don’t get me wrong - I don’t want books littered with rape or sexual abuse or torture - but it is really hard to pull off a believable fantasy world and not mention any adult situations or violence. I also think that the characters would have been more believable if they were older, a general who is 16 years old? I don’t know…seems far fetched and I can swallow a lot.

That being said - I will still pick up book two of this series and I honestly cannot wait. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves GREAT fantasy and is looking for a book which will keep you on the edge of your seat.

~Iryna

It took me a while to get through the nearly 800 pages of The Empire of Gold. I had forgotten so much of what happened in Kingdom of Copper. I was also just generally not a fan of the love triangle and was really hoping to see Nahri excel on her own. I still think Nahri from City of Brass was my favorites—scrappy, sarcastic, stands-on-her own Nahri.

The first 30-40% (I’m reading on a Kindle) focus on character and emotional development much of which is driven Nahli and Ali’s growing romance. I struggled with this the most because after rereading the ending of Kingdom of Copper I was hoping for more tension and more action. In contrast Dara’s dark, grim chapters were a bit more of what I was anticipating. It felt a bit disorienting to switch but Chakraborty has always been fantastic at building that slow tension and culminating in an explosion of change. The prose and world building was as beautiful as the previous books in the series and will not disappoint.

I think the conclusion really made it for me. So many trilogies fall into trap of having too many loose ends and try to solve them all at once. I loved Dara’s ending. I teared up at their parting words:

“ I would do it again, Dara. I would take your hand a thousand times over.”

This bittersweet moment choked me up for two reasons. Dara is finally able to chose a path for himself and gain redemption after millennia. Their love is still there but has changed. This was so much more realistic than a “they lived happily ever after”. There was just no world where Dara and Nahri could be together. And while I still don’t love Ali and Nahri, I wanted happiness and family for our little thief too.

4 stars for the epic conclusion to one of my favorite trilogies of all time.

I received a digital ARC courtesy of Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

xx

Susan

Cuckoo Flower:

Fertility, romance, persistence, sensuality, conception, love, perseverance, lust, fecundity, tenacity, endurance, and fruitfulness. Toxic.

Daffodil:

Positivity, prosperity, fertility, love, restoration, vitality, good luck, romance, abundance, hopefulness, healing, fortune, and revitalization. Toxic.

Dandelion:

Divination, wellbeing, manifestation, spirit work, happiness, inspiration, revitalization, psychic power, healing, vitality, and delightfulness.

Echinacea:

Amplification, warding, brilliance, restoration, immunity, inspiration, revitalization, charging, protection, encouragement, and motivation. Poisonous to Animals.

Edelweiss:

Warding, bravery, eternal love, loyalty, romance, daring, allegiance, manifestation, deep devotion, courage, valor, nobility, and true love.

Eyebright:

Mental strength, wellbeing, psychic powers, understanding, clarification, restoration, dexterity, healing, soothing, insight, and warding.

Feverfew:

Protection, illumination, maternity, soothing, warding, fertility, clarification, healing, understanding, fortification, maternal love, and rebirth.

Gardenia:

Spirituality, tranquility, love, compassion, harmony, healing, peaceful, romance, soothing, restoration, harmonization, and serenity.

Geranium:

Fruitfulness, beauty, fortune, protection, love, fertility, compassion, warding, romance, healing, and beauty.

Goldenrod:

Prosperity, divination, affluence, insightfulness, prophetic visions, abundance, lushness, spiritual strength, and good fortune. Toxic to Animals.

Heather:

Shielding, great fortune, security, wealth, fortification, abundance, warding, excellent luck, protection, and weather manipulation. 

Heliotrope:

Banishment, luck, affluence, divination, healing, success, warding, restoration, insightfulness, cleansing, forecasting, and prosperity. Poisonous.

Hibiscus:

Divination, glamour, desirability, sensuality, magnificence, psychic gifts, romance, lustfulness, forecasting, and attractiveness. Poisonous to Animals.

Honeysuckle:

Abundance, visions, protection, psychic power, fortitude, prosperity, divination, good fortune, spiritual prowess, connection, and luck. Only some varieties of the petals are edible, and all parts are Poisonous for Animals.

Hyacinth:

Happiness, commitment, confidence, warding, romance, protection, delightfulness, love, vitality, cheerfulness, peacefulness, and beauty. Poisonous.

Other Links:

Flower Magic: I
Flower Magic: III
Flower Magic: Poisonous
Flower Magic: Toxic