Title: The Lost King Author: Frazier Alexander Genre: Adult Fantasy Release Date:10 November 2020
Summary:
In an ancient place, in an ancient time…
King Athan vanishes at sea. His children, prince Thalos and princess Thara, drift apart with age, their kingdom falling into ruin. Thalos stubbornly clings to the past; Thara, resentful of her father, looks to the future. In the wake of this decline, a beautiful enchantress usurps the throne from the estranged siblings. She exiles Thalos to the edge of the world and slowly enslaves Thara’s mind.
In his exile, Thalos finds another castaway—an old comrade of his father. Together they begin a voyage in search of the lost king. Thara, meanwhile, resists the new queen’s coercive spells and finds a resistance of creatures still loyal to her father.
With a vast world of enchanted islands and beings between them, Thalos and Thara struggle to restore their family and rekindle the hope of the true king’s return.
I’ve been reading this series since the start, and it’s been getting better with each book, Black Knight, by far the best in the Royal Elite Series. It’s compelling and gorgeous in its emotional depth. Kim’s characterization is fantastic and truer than book three, Twisted Kingdom when she came across like a fluffy little cheer queen. But there is so much of this book re-used from Rina Kent’s other books. And much is nonsensical as far as the plotline is concerned. And Xander, where to even start there?
And I’m prepared for the rotten tomatoes and voices of dissent but hear me out before you get angry.
Kim and Xander were besties growing up, completely inseparable. Then one day, Kim and Xan have a level two event on a scale of one-to-ten, he’s cold to Kim and tells her she’s disgusting and hates her. Boys are awful, but this is strange. It doesn’t follow the timeline mentioned in the earlier books, which is ten years old, and this occurs when these two are eleven.
Secondly, there is a point in Black Knight in which a triggering event causes a life-threatening situation. Kim’s life is endangered–wait, didn’t that happen to Ella in Twisted Kingdom? And several times to Reina in Lies and Truth Duet?
My point is we are at clickbait level of storytelling, where we all wait for the next story with the same trope with just a little further pushing of the envelope. I’m not knocking the writing; I’m knocking the lack of creativity. I waited for how many months for this, and I got a regurgitation. What’s worse; It was the wrapping paper of shock value content and a pity party for two of my favorite characters.
Which brings me to Knight, what the — ?
I couldn’t buy into the characterization sold in this book. The problem with dual POV is it ruins the mystery, right? It is also supposed to explain some of the hatred, but this POV insight further trivialized it. It made it seem as if he was unhinged. Not only bonkers–but also foolishly so that the rest of the Horseman pitied him–which is out of character. Previous three books establish Ronan as his best friend, but he comments against this, suggesting he tells his secrets to Aiden.
But that isn’t where my issues start; they are just everywhere. Xander is dealing with many home life and personal problems in this book that are supposed to clarify why he’s such a douchecanoe. We are just dealing with more clickbait fodder. It’s a mountain rather than one manageable and actionable issue. But this is typical Rina reveal fashion. Why be happy with managing one thing when we can reveal personal weakness, betrayal, scandal, lying parents, near-death experience, perversions and degradations, and the ultimate sacrifice. That isn’t necessarily a good thing. Sometimes too much is just too much.
I would like one good book that is less fan service and based on Rina ripping her heart out to write and less trying to use the stuff she’s done before.
Black Knight by Rina Kent
About Rina Kent:
Rina Kent in an English author who’s constantly parading between France and North Africa due to her studies and her husband’s demanding job. When she’s not packing suitcases or hopping from one plane to the other, she’s busy whipping her characters to shape.
Since a young age, Rina has been obsessed with storytelling and flawed, edgy characters. Her heroes are often killers and anti-heroes and her books are always sprinkled with darkness, angst, violence, and lots of heat.
Title: It’s Our Secret Author: W. Willow Genre: Romance Release Date: 26 July 2020
Summary:
In a single day, it all changed, and there’s no way to take it back.
It’s Our Secret, a captivating and unforgettable romantic suspense standalone from Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Willow Winters, is available now!
Allison: It was only a little lie.
That’s how stories like these get started.
But with every lie I told, he saw through it.
I think in his heart he knew I was broken; he felt my pain as if it was his.
And that’s what changed everything.
He’s the reason it all fell apart.
Sometimes it’s a single moment that alters everything in existence.
Sometimes it’s the fall of dominoes, lined up in a pretty little row and designed so that each one will cause more and more pain.
In a single day, it all changed, and there’s no way to take it back.
I didn’t know what would happen. But secrets and lies ruin everything and I should have known better.
And for the first time in… I don’t know how long, I wish I could take it back. I’d take every bit of it back if I could just be with him again.
“I was captivated from the very beginning, and I couldn’t let go until the very end. Winters wove an outstanding tale, which has an even better message within its pages.” – Kendra, Reads and Treats
It’s Our Secret was originally released Jan 2018. This edition is re-edited and extended
Title: Zon (Beyond #5) Author: Maureen A. Miller Genre: YA Sci-Fi Adventure Release Date:22 June 2020
Summary:
From USA TODAY bestselling author, Maureen A. Miller, comes this young adult cosmic adventure.
With a father from the planet, Ziratak, and a mother from Earth, Zon’s challenges are galactic. Zon doesn’t possess superpowers, though. If anything, he’s a bit of a klutz.
In Ziratakian folklore, the tale of the Temple of the Monarch has been passed down for generations. As legend has it, a series of miniature globes lead to the temple’s gate.
Folklore…nothing more.
Except, Zon knows of a cave with small globes in it. And with one clumsy mishap, he triggers the gate–opening a portal to other worlds.
A trip through this vortex transports him to Earth, where the first human he encounters is a young woman with challenges of her own.
This is a brand new saga, and a new generation. There is no need to read the BEYOND series. However, for readers of the series, you will enjoy this continuation of the epic science fiction adventure.
Okay, Marked is not as good as the book Captured. Or maybe I’m just not into bears–Goldilocks and all did nothing for me growing up. I thought it was a story about buying new beds. Marked is a Goldilocks story that, to me, is more porn-y than sexy, and less dark than it is kinky.
Rosalie has a very crappy marriage and a crappier husband. She has finally pulled the trigger on an escape plot to get away from the zero-promise future that is her life. Her escape plan is desperate, and the execution is bonkers. It’s no shock that she ends up in a car accident where there is a fatality who turns up to be a bear–yep, a bear. Then it couldn’t get more surreal, but she finds an adorable baby bear in the back seat, and crazy Rosalie is off on another hare-brained adventure.
The three main bears are easy to dislike and not find sexy–I only liked the most psychotic, go figure, and I think it was because he was the least bow, chicka, wow-wow. Brooks, Colt, and Lincoln quite quickly become ‘kitty’-trained to come whenever Rosalie has even a thought of straying. The bears mean to keep her close–but she doesn’t want to leave because her creeper husband is out there just waiting to kill her so, really, peeps.
Grim’s blurb is a summary of the book, and I feel like I got what the blurb offered, so I have no room to complain.
Natalie and her daughters, Aggie, Davina, and Sorcha, have started new lives in Montana after her husband horribly attacked Natalie. It’s not been a smooth restart for the ladies, and there is dissension in the ranks because Davina doesn’t believe her daddy did the things that her sister and mother say he did. She wants her mom to get over her drama and forgive him to be a family again.
Enter Grim and the–you know what I don’t know the MC wow that isn’t a good sign–The Reapers MC, a series Elizabeth Knox is into 13 books deep. Grim meets Natalie and takes a fancy to her. He asks her out, and it’s a bit of an insta-love situation. The two quickly romance one another, and suddenly the book is over, and we are enjoying a HEA. It’s a fast read.
I read Big Bad Claws and immediately went and one-clicked three other first in series this author wrote, so it’s safe to say I liked it.
Lila is a shut-in. She is the heir to her family’s business ventures, but she certainly isn’t ready to join society. She’s happy with her little world with her house staff and her cats. Lila would happily leave the family business to the other members of her family. And all would be well if an “ethical” assassin didn’t warn her that someone wanted her dead and then escaped her of the planet to a “safer” place. Now she is lost, in the open, under the outdoors, in a strange land, without protection.
Mmmm, something dark, dirty, and sexy lives here, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
Werewolves: Jax, Reid, and Thorn Woodward are out for retribution; only blood will do.
There is a debt to pay for the death of their brother Chase, and despite killing the death dealers, there is no sweeter boon than taking the surviving daughter, Isabel, as a slave. They can’t punish the dead for their sins, but they can continue receiving payment from Isabel’s soft flesh. That works until she starts liking how the Woodwards discipline her for the sins of her kin.
Are you in the mood for a quick little feel-good romance? Secret Plunge could be it.
Harper’s had a rough year. It’s New Year’s Eve, and she and her bestie are letting down their hair for a farewell to the old and ringing in the better. And what could be better than a hottie one-night stand?
But Harper’s luck is crap and last year’s BS is chasing her into the new one because she has a souvenir and in nine months so will her one-night stand. If only she knew his last name. No, wait–sucks to be Harper. She just found it out. Mr. Sexy is her dad’s new swimmer trainee.
So much happens between page 1 and page 407 that I can’t even. Donna Grant just kept dropping hints, leads, and bombs, I had whiplash. I started wondering if she was worried her readers were losing interest and needed to reel us back in or what, but Flame never lets up and never lets one down. I need a nap.
