Book reviews by Amie and Lydia
For any fiction lovers wanting to get their next best fix, take a look at our book reviews.
From personal favourites to trending fantasy series, check out our honest reviews of some of these best sellers.
Lyla Sage – Swift & Saddled
By Lydia Kealy *potential spoilers ahead for those who haven’t read it, so turn back your horses now* I think I’m late to the party with cowboy romance, but better later than never! Swift & Saddled was a great follow up to book 1 in the Rebel Blue Ranch series (Done and Dusted), and dare…
Keep readingLyla Sage – Done & Dusted
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers for those who haven’t read it, so turn your horse around if you don’t wish to run into any barrels!* It’s official – I am in my cowboy romance era!! As a rule of thumb, I generally steer away from straight romance novels, unless I’m in the mood for a trashy,…
Keep readingStephanie Garber – Caraval Series
By Amie Kealy *beware of entering Caraval as there may be spoilers galore and unfavourable feelings for those who step inside* After falling in love with Once Upon a Broken Heart, I couldn’t wait to read Stephanie Garber’s debut series Caraval. And I have to say, I don’t know if it’s because the last two books I read before this series…
Keep readingAmie Kaufman- The Isles of the Gods
By Lydia Kealy *Please note there are spoilers below…* ‘I wished we’d had more time, Selly. I wanted to teach you dance.” I’m going to say it – I think this is one of the best books I’ve read recently! After finishing An Ember in the Ashes series, I really hit a reading slump. I…
Keep readingAva Reid – A Study in Drowning
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers for those who haven’t read it* Readers of Ninth House and The Folk of the Air will love this book! I absolutely devoured this book – I couldn’t put it down, and when I had to, it lingered in my mind as though I were still traversing the sea of fictional pages. A perfect blend…
Keep readingSabaa Tahir – An Ember in the Ashes (books 2-4)
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers for those who haven’t read it* What can I say, other than I’m SO pleased I finally know how this series ends! It’s only been about 4 years but I got there in the end. If you haven’t read my review on An Ember in the Ashes, go back and…
Keep readingHolly Black – The Prisoner’s Throne
By Lydia Kealy *be wary of entering Elfhame, for there are spoilers ahead. Should you wish not to be ensorcelled, turn your eyes away now* If you’ve read my sister’s review of the Folk of the Air trilogy, then you’ll know we LOVE all things Elfhame and are obsessed with Cardan and Jude! The Prisoner’s Throne, however,…
Keep readingSabaa Tahir – An Ember In The Ashes
By Amie Kealy I read the first 3 books in this series years ago before the 4th book came out. I will admit, the reason why I never read book 4 was because I found the 3rd book quite dull and hard to get through. But I decided to give the series another go because I…
Keep readingHolly Black – The Folk of the Air
The following letter was delivered to Elfhame by the High King’s messenger from one of the court members, Amie Kealy *be wary of entering Elfhame, for there are spoilers ahead. Should you wish not to be ensorcelled, turn your eyes away now* I loved this series the first time I read it years ago and I think I…
Keep readingAmber V Nicole – The Book of Azrael and The Throne of Broken Gods
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers for those who haven’t read it* I picked this book up after watching a review that said it would be the next best thing you’d read, declaring that any fantasy lovers who liked brooding males would not be able to put this down. I could, in fact, put it down.…
Keep readingSenLinYu – Manacled
By Amie Kealy *spoilers ahead for those who haven’t read it* *trigger warnings: rape, self harm, abuse and violence* I’m not really a massive Harry Potter fan but I’d read reviews about how this book is one of those books that you can’t stop thinking about… And after having a serious book hangover from Normal People, I…
Keep readingSally Rooney – Normal People
By Amie Kealy *contains spoilers and heartache* I didn’t really know much about this book but I heard an audio of the TV programme on a reel on Instagram, and the quote from the reel made me add it to my to buy list straight away. I think because I had no expectations going into…
Keep readingSarah J Maas – House of Flame and Shadow
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers for those who haven’t read it* Check out my review on Crescent City and ACOTAR here first! I’ve been patiently waiting for this book to come out for the last 2 years and I have to say I felt a little disappointed by it. I don’t know if it’s because…
Keep readingHannah Kaner – Godkiller
Blessed by Amie Kealy *potential spoilers ahead* For anyone who loves gods, folklore, and quest narratives, this book is definitely for you! Wrote in a split narration between our four main characters, the human vs gods elements and overall world-building of the book was reminiscent of the Wickerman and Vikings. The novel begins in a…
Keep readingLauren Roberts – Powerless
By Lydia Kealy Think Throne of Glass meets Hunger Games. Welcome to my new favourite ‘trial’ book! Powerless by Lauren Roberts was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s take on the ‘trial’ trope that is popular in the Young Adult/Adult literature at the moment. I found Roberts’ take on the trope really…
Keep readingShelby Mahurin- The Scarlet Veil
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers ahead for those who haven’t read it* I had high hopes for this book after loving Mahurin’s Serpent & Dove series but I must say, it was rather disappointing. From the random introduction of vampires, the slow plot development, and the lack of action throughout the book, it was tough…
Keep readingAmanda Hocking – The Trylle Series
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers ahead for those who haven’t read it.* Having just finished reading Crescent City 2, I had a major book hangover that I needed to get over – and the Trylle series by Amanda Hocking was just what I needed. A light, easy, and fast-paced read, each book in the trilogy…
Keep readingRebecca Yarros – Iron Flame
Recovered correspondence from Lydia Kealy, avid reader. So, I’m sure many of you have been waiting for the book review of one of the highly anticipated sequels of this year: Iron Flame. Warning: this review contains spoilers, so please stop reading now if you haven’t read the book yet! I should start by saying that…
Keep readingJennifer L Armentrout – Flesh & Fire series
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers for BOTH Flesh & Fire and Blood & Ash series* I recommend reading my review on Blood and Ash before reading this review as it will help contextualise the Flesh and Fire series! I read the Blood and Ash series a few years ago and really enjoyed it, although I…
Keep readingLeigh Bardugo- Ninth House & Hell Bent
– Amie Kealy, Days of Lethe, class of 23 *beware before taking the descent, spoilers ahead* One of my favourite tv shows of all time is Supernatural, a show centred on brotherly love and their quest to hunt demons. And Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House and Hell Bent is Supernatural given book form! I love anything…
Keep readingStephanie Meyer – Midnight Sun
By Amie Kealy Having first read Twilight when I was 11, I was somewhat dubious as to whether re-reading it as a 25-year-old would make me question my adolescent obsession, which is why I decided to read Midnight Sun instead. Midnight Sun is the Twilight told from Edwards’ point of view and we get some insight into his history that we were unable…
Keep readingStephanie Garber – A Curse for True Love
By Amie Kealy *Beware, spoilers ahead. Tread carefully, those who dare to read.* As I may have mentioned in my previous review on Once Upon a Broken Heart and The Ballad of Never After, I’ve been waiting not-so-patiently for A Curse of True Love to be released. And it was definitely worth the wait! Although from…
Keep readingChloe Walsh- Binding 13
By Amie Kealy *spoilers ahead for those who haven’t read it – but if you haven’t, I suggest you do* Having read high fantasy book after high fantasy book after high fantasy book, I was in the mood for a good, eat-your-heart-out romance, and Binding 13 certainly scratched that itch! I spent the entire weekend getting…
Keep readingGabi Burton- Sing Me to Sleep
*please be aware that this review may contain spoilers…* If you loved The Cruel Prince and your heart longs for the sea, then this one is for you! The romance in this book is very similar to the relationship we see in Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince and I’m definitely here for it! Except in Sing Me…
Keep readingEvelyn Skye – The Hundred Loves of Juliet
*potential spoilers for those who haven’t read it.* By Amie Kealy After reading the blurb for this book, I was immediately drawn in by the modern take on Romeo and Juliet and the promise of unrequited love and tragedy. And whilst the prose was well-written and the overall storyline a reinvention of what is arguably…
Keep readingStephanie Garber- Once upon a broken heart and The Ballad of Never After
By Amie Kealy *Beware, spoilers ahead. Tread carefully, those who dare to read.* Where do I begin with this book review, other than with the fact that I CAN’T WAIT for 24th October when the final instalment of the trilogy is released! Having never read any Stephanie Garber books before, I was looking forward to reading…
Keep readingS.T.Abby – The Mindf*ck Series
By Lydia Kealy *This review contains spoilers for those who haven’t read the books yet* I was really excited to read the Mindf*ck series after seeing a raving review about it on Instagram, but I must confess, this series did not live up to expectations… I took a step outside of my ‘comfort’ zone with…
Keep readingJennifer L. Armentrout – The Blood and Ash series
By Amie Kealy *potential spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet.* The Blood and Ash series is definitely one I would recommend for anyone looking for a fresh take on standard fantasy tropes paired with juicy romance and a male protagonist whose cocky arrogance almost makes us want to hate him. With secondary characters…
Keep readingSarah J Maas: House of Earth and Blood & A Court of Thorns and Roses
By Amie Kealy House of Earth and Blood As a major fan of all of her works, I was thrilled and excited to read her first adult novel House of Earth and Blood from her new Crescent City series. Maas sets the world of her novel far into the future, creating a universe in which mortals struggle to survive…
Keep readingThus with a Kiss
Chapter twenty-one. Lawrence. I walk back over, black coffee in hand, and can’t help but memorise every line of Paige’s face. The soft curve of her ear hidden underneath her hair, the gentle shape of her lips, the foggy expression in those pure blue eyes, as if her thoughts are a chain around her neck,…
Keep readingSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.