Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic #1), by Rin Chupeco ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Alternate History, Diversity, Fantasy, LGBTQ, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 3rd, 2020

432 Pages

Synopsis: Tarla Warnock has little use for magic—as a descendant of Maria Makiling, the legendary Filipina, she negates spells, often by accident. But her family’s old ties to the country of Avalon (frozen, bespelled, and unreachable for almost 12 years) soon finds them guarding its last prince from those who would use his kingdom’s magic for insidious ends.

And with the rise of dangerous spelltech in the Royal States of America; the appearance of the firebird, Avolon’s deadliest weapon, at her doorstep; and the re-emergence of the Snow Queen, powerful but long thought dead, who wants nothing more than to take the firebird’s magic for her own—Tala’s life is about to get even more complicated.

I have to be honest and say that the first 100 pages of Wicked As You Wish, is somewhat of an info dump and at one point I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to keep reading. There are numerous characters that are introduced and a LOT of world building, which had me confused and frustrated. But I persevered because I’ve enjoyed Rin Chupeco’s previous books and I really loved the premise behind this story, and as it turns out, I’m really happy I did. The cast of characters are lovable and diverse, and they left me hard-pressed to choose a favorite. The world building, while confusing at first, wound up utterly entrancing after that awkward start. The story evolves into an artistic tapestry woven from shimmering threads of diversity, alternate history, fantasy, and fairytale magic, and I dare say only Rin Chupeco could pull this off. I highly recommend this to fans of hers as well as readers who are looking for a thoroughly unique and engrossing read filled with endearing characters. Despite the rocky beginning, I encourage you to push past it, because the rest of the book is sheer perfection!

Sword and Pen (The Great Library #5), by Rachel Caine ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Alternate History, Diversity, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 3rd, 2019

368 Pages

Synopsis: With the future of the Great Library in doubt, the unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone, must decide if it’s worth saving in this thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.

The corrupt leadership of the Great Library has fallen, but with the Archivist plotting his return to power, and the Library under siege from outside empires and kingdoms, it’s future is uncertain. Jess Brightwell and his friends must come together as never for, to forge a new future for the Great Library…or see everything it stood for crumble.

The Great Library is one of those series that’s improved with each book, and Sword and Pen perfectly brings to a conclusion one of the best YA series I’ve come across. When the series first started, Jess was the star, with everyone else cast as supporting players. But as in many fantasy stories, where would the main character be without his friends? Would Harry Potter have been able to defeat Voldemort without Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, and okay, Ron? I think not. While Jess has all the qualities you look for in a hero, he also has flaws which have come to light as the series’ mythology has progressed, which is why it’s important that each of the other characters have taken on more responsibility with each new book. This last book is a true ensemble with everyone spread out across Alexandria and each chapter told from a different POV. One non-spoiler-spoiler: a favorite character dies. I’m not going to say who, but I felt I had to warn any Great Library fans who might read this. From beginning to end it’s a non-stop roller-coaster ride that builds to a thrilling finale. I finished this in about three hours and that was with me trying to read more slowly because I didn’t want to say goodbye. But gosh darn Rachel Caine! Just like with every other book she’s written, she just sucked me right in! 

In the end Pen and Sword has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand it brings everything to a satisfying “couldn’t ask for anything more” conclusion. On the other, I loved the alternate history and characters that Rachel Caine created so much, that I’m having difficulty saying goodbye. But then, that’s the mark of a truly great writer isn’t it? I promise fans of this series that they’re going to love this entry. If you haven’t read any of the books, but you’re intrigued, I recommend you start at the beginning. Here are the books in order:

 

Ash and Quill (The Great Library #3), by Rachel Caine – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Alternate History, Fantasy, LGBT Relationships, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available Now

368 Pages

Synopsis: Hoarding all the knowledge in the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny…

Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the Library’s rule.

Their time is running out. To survive, they’ll have to choose to live or die as one, to take the fight to their enemies–and to save the very soul of the Great Library…

The third installment in the Great Library series, Ash And Quill picks up immediately where Paper And Fire left off. To quickly sum up the mythology of the series: The Great Library of Alexandria exists in this alternate reality. Sadly, this isn’t a good thing. You see, they insist they’re there “to contain the knowledge of the world in the name of the greater good.” What this really means is no one outside of The Library is allowed to possess actual print books. If they want to read they’re given “blanks”, into which stories can be temporarily downloaded. There are all sorts of other rules and restrictions, but the biggest and most serious offense is possession of a real book. It’s not only a serious crime, it’s one that may cost you your life.

This is shaping up to be one of my favorite YA series, which isn’t a huge surprise as I’m a huge fan of Rachel Caine’s previous books. While I found the last book a little slower paced, here the action began on the very first page and never stopped. And what I really liked was that everything that unfolds in this book is obviously setting things up for the last two. 

What truly stands out though are the characters. In the previous two books there were times where I felt somewhat disconnected from Jess and his friends. Here, they literally spring to life. The dynamic between them is wonderful and they each contribute something vitally important to their mission. Although romance understandably takes a backseat in this eventful story, what is there is lovely, whether it’s between Jess and Morgan; Wolfe and Santi; or Dario and Khalila. And best of all, there is no angst and no annoying love triangles!’

The world-building continues to be spectacular and with Jess and his fellow rebels spending a majority of the story with book “Burners” in Philadelphia, you get to see what The Great Library has done in a different light. The ending is a heart-rending cliffhanger and I can’t believe we have to wait an entire year for the next book! I swear this series is going to kill me before it comes to a close! 

Ash And Quill is definitely my favorite of this series thus far. Full of magic, adventure, friendship, and of course–BOOKS!–this is a series not only for teens, but adult book lovers as well, and I really can’t recommend it highly enough! 

 

 

 

Iron Cast ~ By Destiny Soria – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Alternate History, Fantasy, Mystery, Racism, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 11th, 2016

384 Pages

Synopsis: It’s Boston, 1919, and the Cast Iron club is packed. On stage, hemopaths–those whose “afflicted” blood gives them the ability to create illusions through art–captivate their audience. Corinne and Ada have been best friends ever since infamous gangster Johnny Dervish recruited them into his circle. By night they perform for Johnny’s crowds, and by day they con Boston’s elite. When a job goes wrong and Ada is imprisoned, they realize how precarious their position is. After she escapes, two of the Cast Iron’s hires are shot, and Johnny disappears. With the law closing in, Corinne and Ada are forced to hunt for answers, even as betrayal faces them at every turn.

Oh gosh. Where do I even begin to express my love for this book? First, the pure originality of the plot. I don’t think I’ve seen anything else out there that comes close. Then there’s the beautiful friendship between Ada and Corinne. They’re fiercely protective of one another, and it’s their relationship that is the heart and soul of this story. The supporting players are all vividly brought to life and there’s not one character that I felt could have been developed more. Better yet, these are all people I’d love to have as friends in real life. The magic of Hemopathy is gorgeously described and I was mesmerized at how each person used it differently. One character creates music from feelings, while another creates breathtaking illusions. The idea behind this magic is simply amazing! The book also deals with racism in multiple forms. Hemopaths are seen as an inferior race and Ada is biracial, which makes her looked down on even more. The cast is diverse in several ways which only adds to the appeal of this magnificent book. There is plenty of action in this fast moving story which led me to finish it in two sittings. In the end, Iron Cast is an exquisitely detailed story filled with wonderful characters and incredible world-building. It’s the type of story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished. I really can’t recommend it highly enough!

Forevermore (Darkest London #7) ~ By Kristen Callihan – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Alternate History, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Thank you NetGalley and Forever, for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 28th, 2016

Synopsis: Miss Layla Starling, the young, beautiful, and extremely wealthy heiress, is the talk of London. Until now, she’s managed to evade the marriage noose. Despite the fact that that she is unfortunately an American, she’s received a staggering number of offers. And turned down every one.

St. John Evernight does not want to admit the relief he feels every time he hears that she’s rejected one of her suitors. Which is unfair of him. Layla deserves to be happy. But he can not offer her happiness. He will never be normal, never be anything but a freak in her world. So St. John resolves to keep his distance, until he is recruited by the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals to guard Layla. For she is in grave danger, and he’s about to learn the full extent of his powers.

I can’t believe after four years my favorite historical romance/urban fantasy series has come to an end. I’ve been a devoted fan of Kristen Callihan since her first book, Firelight, was published, and subsequent books proved that she could be relied on for incredible storytelling. I became completely attached to the characters in this magical world she created, so you’ll have to forgive me. It’s difficult to let go. As I started reading Forevermore, it was with mixed emotions. I was anxious as to how everything was going to come to an end.

Yet at the same time I was looking forward to another enthralling read, and as usual the author did not disappoint. I’ve been looking forward to Sin’s story for a while now and I think Callihan made a wise choice ending things with him. He’s such a sympathetic character that you can’t help but become emotionally attached. He’s a tragic sort of hero, in as much as all the heroes in the Darkest London series are, but I think out of all of them Sin is now my favorite. The author always does a wonderful job matching up her romantic couples, so it’s not a great surprise that Layla is the perfect match for sin. She’s sweet, fierce and loyal to a fault, and does whatever it takes to protect her loved ones. The romantic scenes between her and Sin literally sizzle off the pages. And well before the exciting conclusion, all of the characters from the previous books come back to assist in this final battle against evil. There are a couple of subplots involving Augustus, Layla’s guardian, and Archer, whose story kicked off the series. With these and all of the previous players returning, their intertwined pasts and Augustus’s hidden role in their lives are completely revealed. The only isue I have is that I think the final battle is a bit rushed. But honestly, with everything else going on this is a minor flaw. 

If you’re a fan of the Darkest London series and are anxious about how it all ends, you have nothing to worry about. It’s a spectacular finale to this wonderful series. And if you haven’t tried these books and you love steamy historical romances mixed with urban fantasy and the paranormal, I beg you to try these. I promise you won’t be sorry! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go find some Kleenex.

And I Darken ~ By Kiersten White – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Alternate History, Dracul Family, Historical Fiction, Islam, LGBT Relationships, Ottoman Empire, Wallachia, YA Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 28th, 2016

Synopsis: NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL.

And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend–and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against–and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

And I Darken has been a much-hyped book since last year, and has been compared to George R.R.Martin’s Game of Thrones. While I didn’t find much in the way of similarities between the two books, I wound up really enjoying this. The story is told in the third person and alternates between Lada and Radu who are both fascinating and memorable characters. Lada gives new meaning to the term anti hero. The first part of the story focuses on her and Radu as young children. Even at the young age of five, it’s obvious that Lada is very different from most girls. To be perfectly honest she’s scary as hell. She’s basically a feral child who is violent even toward her year-younger brother Radu who isn’t as adept at defending himself. Growing up, their personalities pretty much stay the same, with Lada maintaining her ferocity and Radu being weak. When they’re thirteen and twelve they’re traded by their power hungry father to the Ottoman Empire and this is when things really start getting interesting. Held as political prisoners and completely on their own, Lada and Radu’s relationship becomes closer, although Lada can still be fairly brutal in her treatment of him. She believes he’ll be better off toughening up, in a certain way she’s right. As they both reach their late teens, Lada’s temper and violent nature become a little more controlled, and Radu becomes quite adept at traversing the political undercurrents of the Sultan’s court. They’ve also become close friends with Mehmed, the Sultan’s youngest son and an interesting love triangle develops. Lada does everything she can to deny her feelings for Mehmed, who represents everything she hates about her predicament, while Radu struggles with his embracing of Islam, and his growing feelings for Mehmed. He’s torn between his love and loyalty for his sister, and his yearning for what may be an unattainable relationship. I actually found Radu to be the most interesting and sympathetic character out of the three. I don’t know very much about the time period and the Ottoman Empire, but it seems as though the author definitely has done her research. And the idea to have the historical figure the world has come to know as Vlad Tepes, or Dracula, be female is sheer genius! I do think there’s some parts of the story that are a bit slow and at almost 500 pages, it could have been edited a bit more. But I still finished this in three days, mainly because I became so emotionally invested in Lada, Radu and Mehmed. While the ending isn’t a cliffhanger per se, it’s obvious that a second book is in the works, and I’m definitely looking forward to it. And I Darken has made me want to do more research on both the time period and the characters, and for me, right there, makes the book a success. I highly recommend this to older teens and adults who like historical fiction with a bit of a twist.

 

Smoke ~ By Dan Vyleta – 2.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Alternate History, Fantasy, London, Mystery

Thank you Netgalley and Doubleday for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: An England where people who are wicked in thought or deed are marked by the Smoke that pours forth from their bodies, a sign of their fallen state. The aristocracy do not smoke, proof of their virtue and right to rule, while the lower classes are drenched in sin and soot. An England utterly strange and utterly real.

An elite boarding school where the sons of the wealthy are groomed to take power as their birthright. Teachers with mysterious ties to warring political factions at the highest levels of government. Three young people who learn everything they’ve been taught is a lie–knowledge that could cost them their lives. A grand estate where secrets lurk in attic rooms and hidden laboratories. A love triangle. A desperate chase. Revolutionaries and secret police. Religious fanatics and coldhearted scientists. Murder. A London filled with danger and wonder. A tortured relationship between mother and daughter, and a mother and son. Unexpected villains and unexpected heroes. Cool reason versus passion. Rich versus poor. Right versus wrong, though which is which isn’t clear.

I’ve really enjoyed Dan Vyleta’s previous books, particularly his historical mystery The Quiet Twin, so I was quite excited when I was approved on NetGalley for an e-ARC of his first historical fantasy. Despite its fascinating premise though I felt the story was overlong, and too convoluted in places, which kept me from enjoying it fully. Another problem I had was with the characters. Except for Thomas and Charlie, two of the main characters, I couldn’t stand any of the others. This includes Livia who rounds out the trio of heroes. She’s snobbish, judgemental and a religious fanatic. Unlike Thomas and Charlie she has very little personal growth through the book which makes the love triangle that develops between her and the two boys completely unbelievable. I also found myself wishing that the world building had been more fully developed. Beyond the concept of Smoke, there weren’t any other mystical elements which could have added some much needed layers to the story. For me, wrapping an entire book around one element is always risky, and in this case it just didn’t work. Smoke has been compared to Harry Potter and Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, but in my opinion it doesn’t really live up to the hype. However, it has already garnered many positive reviews, so if you do like historical fantasy or alternate history novels, I encourage you to try this. 

The Witch Hunter ~ By Virginia Boecker 4.0 Stars.

Tags

Alternate History, Fantasy, Middle Ages, Persecution, Witchcraft, YA Fiction

 I received this ebook from NetGalley and Little Brown Books in exchange for an honest review.

~ Elizabeth Grey is one of the king’s best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she’s accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake. 

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal; he will save her from execution if she can she can break the deadly curse that’s been laid upon him. 

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth’s witch hunting past–if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she’s thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

Virginia’s Boecker’s debut is set in an an alternate version of the Middle Ages. Witches are known as Reformists, and they are considered evil. Malcolm, who is the king, is weak, ineffective, and corrupt. It is Blackwell, the Inquisitor who is the true power behind the throne. He reminded of Cromwell, and is a master manipulator. While it’s a period piece, the language is more contemporary, which I found a little strange, but not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the story. There’s a lot of world-building, particularly at the beginning, but it never slows down the pace of the story. From the very first page I was absolutely riveted. 

Quite a few readers have mentioned their dislike of Elizabeth, but I actually found her a very compelling character. Yes, she’s done some pretty horrible things as a witch hunter, but she and her fellow hunters have been brainwashed by Blackwell. I’m telling you, if you decide to try this book, you will absolutely loathe this man. He takes young orphans such as Elizabeth, and with some truly horrifying training methods, molds them into soldiers who will do whatever he wants. Even when he turns on Elizabeth, all she can think about is clearing her name and getting back in his good graces. Gah! It was very frustrating. She also is pining for her childhood friend and fellow witch hunter Caleb. To my surprise, he’s another character who I felt sympathetic towards. He’s torn between his duty as a hunter and his feelings for Elizabeth. Once Elizabeth gets involved with Nicholas and his followers, things get really interesting. There’s a prophecy which points to Elizabeth as being the one who will turn the tide in favor of the reformists. The problem is none of them know she’s a witch hunter and when they find out, well, things get a little tense. As Elizabeth is accepted into the group of rebels, she begins to see that things aren’t quite as black and white as she’s thought, and she begins to regret some of her actions. One member of the group is a magical healer named John, who becomes Elizabeth’s love interest. The development of their relationship is slow but sweet, and I found the idea of them as a couple quite believable. Despite Elizabeth’s feelings for Caleb at the beginning, there is no love triangle, thank goodness! I’m hoping this continues in the next book, although I wouldn’t mind learning more about Caleb.

Overall, I think The Witch Hunter is an auspicious debut. The characters are fascinating and well-developed. There’s a few loose ends including the mention of a plague that the witches supposedly started, but it doesn’t really go anywhere. The action is fast-paced and the ending is neatly tied up, but it’s obvious there’s going to be another book. There is a reference to rape, but it happens before the story begins, and isn’t graphically depicted. However, because of this and some of the disturbing scenes describing the executions of witches, and the training the hunters go through, I’d probably recommend this for ages 13 and up. Virginia Boecker is definitely an author I’m interested in following.

The Shadow Revolution ~By Clay Griffith, Susan Griffith (Crown & Key #1) – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Alternate History, Urban Fantasy, Victorian History

 I received this e-Arc from NetGalley and Random House Publishing – Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: 6/2/15

~ They’re the last, best defense against supernatural evil. But they’re going to need a lot more silver.

As fog descends, obscuring the gas lamps of Victorian London, werewolves prowl the shadows of back alleys. But they have infiltrated the inner circles of upper-crust society as well. Only a handful of specially gifted practitioners are equipped to battle the beasts. Among them are the roguish Simon Archer, who conceals his powers as a spell-casting scribe behind the smooth veneer of a dashing playboy; his layabout mentor, Nick Barker, who prefers a good pub to thrilling heroics; and the self-possessed alchemist Kate Anstruther, who is equally at home in a ballroom as she is on a battlefield.

After a lycanthrope targets Kate’s vulnerable younger sister, the three join forces with fierce Scottish monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane–but quickly discover they’re dealing with a threat far greater than anything they ever imagined.

When I saw this offered on NetGalley with that gorgeous cover. I must confess I thought “MINE!”. So, did the story live up to the cover? For the most part, yes. I now have a new book crush in the form of Simon Archer. Despite his being a bit of a ladies man, he’s also a gentleman. Plus he’s covered in druidic tattoos from which he draws his magic from. And, well, just look at him! He’s gorgeous! He’s also willing to sacrifice himself for the people he cares about. Once he teams up with Kate to track down her missing sister, and to discover exactly what the werewolves are up to it’s immediately clear that they’re perfect for one another. 

Kate is the perfect heroine. She’s a brilliant alchemist who has no patience for polite society, yet has little problem moving among them. She’s also extremely patient with her unappreciative younger sister Imogene. And finally, Kate’s is the cooler head that prevails when other team members are prone to act rashly. 

I’ve been having issues with romances in the last few books I’ve read, but the one between Simon and Kate was simply perfect. It slowly evolved through the course of the story, and it will be fun to see how it develops further in the next two books.

The monsters are truly horrible, especially the ones created by the book’s resident mad scientist. At the same time, the way they are written, you can’t help feeling a certain amount of sympathy for some of them.

There were a few things that stopped this from being an absolutely perfect read for me. First there’s Simon’s mentor, Nick. I really didn’t like him. He has several different magical talents, but doesn’t tend to be inclined to use them to help others, unless he’s bullied into it. Instead he prefers to spend his time drinking and gambling. He does however care deeply about Simon, and manages to redeem himself somewhat near the end of the book.

I also found myself conflicted regarding Malcolm. He’s a courageous and valiant fighter, but tends to see everything in black and white. His hatred of “monsters” and werewolves in particular clouds his judgement. This is especially apparent when a little werewolf named Charlotte attempts to help them. Malcom just cannot seem to get over his abhorrence for her kind, and this ultimately causes trouble for the team.The second book features him, so I’m hoping we’ll learn more of his backstory, and why he’s like this. His love interest is another team member who I loved. Penny is a mechanical engineer with a fantastic personality who isn’t afraid to kick butt. I’m thinking she’s exactly what Malcolm needs.

And there’s the story itself. The worldbuilding is great and it’s filled with plenty of thrilling adventure. The only problem was that after the first few action scenes they seemed to me to be quite similar. That said, the fight scenes were so incredibly descriptive, I felt like I was there. I also appreciated that Kate and Penny more than held their own. There’s a mystery involving Kate’s deceased father which evidently has a direct correlation to the larger plot. Although there’s a couple of things that are unveiled, the larger picture is simply teased at, and I found this to be a tad frustrating. 

Overall, The Shadow Revolution is a worthy addition for fans of Alternate History, Steampunk, and Urban Fantasy. Even better, the next two books are being released the end of June and July, so readers won’t have long to wait to see how this exciting adventure plays out. 

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             6/30/15                                              7/28/15

Soulbound ~ By Kristen Callihan – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Alternate History, Paranormal Romance, Steampunk

. This ebook was provided to me by NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Adam, King of the GIM (Ghosts In the Machine) has been searching for his soul mate for 700 years. She is the only one who can lift the curse placed on him and his “children”. Eliza May is the one he’s been waiting for, but unfortunately their first meeting is literally over her dead body. Using his powers, Adam is able to bring her back, but then he panics and keeps her chained to him for the next several months. Having escaped, an extremely angry Eliza now lives with her grandmother Mab and the rest of the Fae, but she is quickly growing disenchanted with their selfishness and cruelty. While in Mab’s house, she discovers a chained and tortured Adam in the basement. Now the balance of power has shifted and Eliza finds herself in the position of having to rescue Adam and to lift the curse that has been placed on him and his GIM. First she’ll have to let go of her anger and learn to trust him which given their complicated relationship is no easy matter.

Soulbound is the 6th book in the Darkest London series and is my favorite so far which is really saying something given how much I enjoyed the previous books. Because of the way he first treats Eliza, I didn’t expect to like Adam as much as I did. He actually turns out to be a surprisingly sympathetic character. While there is no excuse for his behavior toward  Eliza when he first discovers her, there is a reason, and he spends the rest of the book making amends. He has that whole tormented yet ultimately chivalrous hero vibe going for him. Eliza is, well, perfect. Despite her suffering at the hands of others, she’s smart and strong and becomes an equal and worthy partner for Adam. There’s also the mystery of what sort of supernatural being she is, and when it’s revealed, it’s done brilliantly! Speaking of revelations there are plenty. Not just regarding Adam and Eliza, but also secondary characters, some which have headlined previous books, and others who will hopefully star in future ones. I really cannot recommend this series enough! If you want to try it though, you should definitely read them in order. This is a London populated by GIM, Werewolves, Demons, Fae, and with this book, at least one Angel. The worldbuilding is complicated so it’ll make more sense that way.