Danke an den Silberfisch Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar von NetGalley im Hörbuchformat! 💕

Die Neuinterpretation bzw. der Perspektivwechsel war super durchdacht und hat mir sehr gut gefallen! Vereinzelte Fragen die mich zwischendurch rausgebracht haben wurden im Laufe der Geschichte gut erklärt. 😌

Mit griechischer Mythologie hab ich bisher nicht viel am Hut gehabt, aber natürlich kenne auch ich die Geschichte von Medusa, und eine Geschichte aus ihrer Perspektive klingt erstmal total vielversprechend! Vom Klappentext her dachte ich allerdings, hier kommt eine Geschichte darüber wie sie in unserer Zeit anynom lebt, und auch wenn das zutrifft, hätte ich gerne vorab gewusst gehabt, dass sie in 2000 Jahren ihren Fluch weder verarbeitet noch akzeptiert hat, weil sie die meiste Zeit schlief... Dann zu sagen, Medusa wäre durchgehend gejagt worden halte ich für etwas übertrieben. Ich hatte von der Erzählung her nicht den Eindruck, dass sie und ihre Wächter oft ihre Verstecke gewechselt haben? Naja. 😅

Sterneabzug gibts weil mir der Erzähl-/Schreibstil nicht so zugesagt hat. Medusas Kapitel waren stark, die von Isla dagegen eher langatmig. Dadurch dass Medusa die vergangenen 2000 Jahre nicht erlebt hat, ist sie sehr unerfahren und die Lovestory wirkt eher niedlich. In sich ist das gar kein Problem, ich fand die Beziehung zwischen Isla und Adrian echt schön und absolut stimmig, aber der Spice hat für mich absolut nicht dazu gepasst (und ich bin eigentlich großer Fan von spicy Büchern). 🙈

Auch was das Hörerlebnis angeht passt für mich diese Bewertung. Der Sprechstil ist melodisch, wodurch man gut zu hören kann, aber sie erzählt was passiert statt die Emotion tatsächlich in ihre Stimme zu legen, was bei einer Geschichte die sich so auf Loyalität und Freundschaft fokussiert schade ist. Die Sprecherin des Epilogs wirkt als könne Band zwei was das angeht mehr zu meinem Geschmack passen. 🤔

Thanks for the eARC, R.I. Aryn! 💕

This is a story about a girl who has always believed to be stuck in her twin sister's shadow, and to finally step out of it, she'd need to fulfill her late mother's last wish and marry the prince. Amazingly, while trying to catch his attention, she steps away from her sister and realizes that all she had to do was switch on her own light... ✨

I loved the gothic atmosphere here, but maybe I just need to quit reading fairytales. Death's Rose was much better than OUABH (which in terms of plot and structure was all over the place imho) but I'm still confused about a few things which unfortunately is deeply unsatisfying to me. 😅

However, I really liked Elvira. I get it, as a teen I also wanted to be more like those other girls. Thinking back as an adult my instant reaction is fuck that. Never try being someone you're not just for popularity's sake, it cannot make you truly happy. On her quest to step out of her sister's shadow Elvira steps out of her comfort zone and does impulsive things, even some that might have been deemed improper. But she finds herself, and that's absolutely beautiful and really well done. I love that it helped her stand out of the crowd of debutantes vying for the price's attention. The message here is loud and clear. 💖👏

Caius was a little more frustrating. Yes, some of his behavior made sense in the end, but still. If I'd been in Elvira's stead, I'd have been tempted to pummel him and yelled at him way more than she did. 🙈 Speaking of the end, I really liked it! I suppose it's meant to be a cliffhanger, but leaving a story like this sort of open ended would have worked just fine for me, and is probably the reason why I'll still be thinking about this for a while. 😌

OMG. I had this on my TBR since before its release but was so busy with ARCs I never got around to reading it but I'm so glad I finally took the time to read this! I put it off for a long time because tarot is something I know nothing about and I was scared I wouldn't understand a thing. If the same applies to you, let this be your sign to go and pick up AVIV now!

World/setting: I love a divided world and political schemes. In AVIV, a wall separates mortals (humans) from immortals (druids, seraphs, fae), ever since the great war/uprising 15 years ago. Every year since then, the immortals take turns selecting 100 humans to take to their respective territories beyond the wall, and those taken are never seen or heard of again. No mortal knows what happens to their loved ones after they are taken - the only way to find out? Is to be selected yourself.

Lovestory: Anyone following my reviews knows that I'm a sucker for a good slow burn and I'm not a huge fan of insta love/lust. Draven had a thing for Rune from the start, but honestly? Here, it worked for me. Maybe because I was obsessed with him right away? 🤭 It's obvious from the start that while he's all high and mighty on the outside (the snark was fantastic!), he's secretly kind and just wants someone to love him. 😍 And while Rune readily acknowledges that he is quite handsome, she has no interest in him. It is only when she ends up in a bind forcing her into a fake fated mate relationship with Draven, that she slowly warms up to him (like I said, he's charming). Them being roommates already implied a sort of forced proximity, but faking being fated mates brings it to an entirely new level. 🥵

Single POV: We're told this story from Rune's perspective (which was a great choice). The first chapters reflect a little on her early years, highlighting her justified hatred of immortals. I liked her for not falling for Draven's charm right off the bat, but that she immediately fell into easy banter with him - probably because she didn't care what he thought of her. Her reactions to him were 100% relatable, and I loved loved loved that Rune did not turn into a helpless puddle whenever she looked at him or caught him staring at her. We get to see Rune develop genuine friendships with her peers and the multitude of characters actually reminded me a lot of Fourth Wing! Everyone's different but they mesh so well, I felt right at home. 💕 I truly appreciate that her reason for joining the Selection remained with her at all times, she's stubborn about her goals but flexible about her mothods. 🔥

Plot/twists/pace: I ate this up. The book starts with one overarching goal, Rune wanting to reunite with her family or die trying (and possibly take down the immortals with her). I admire how she progressively learns more about the immortals, develops and friendships/alliances, and at some point Draven's goals even become Rune's goals, but she never loses herself in the process. There was one minor surprise I saw coming from a mile away, and a medium twist that I kind of expected, but daaayyumnnn the circumstances were beyond my wildest imagination. 🤯👀 the Ending??? I need book two, ASAP.

Ich bin eher zufällig über dieses Buch gestolpert, und als ich gesehen habe dass ich es über mein KU hören kann direkt zugeschlagen.

Diese sehr kurzweilige Geschichte hat wie typisch für Dystopien einige starke Messages, welche Yesim super erzählt hat.

Danke fürs Rezi Exemplar über NetGalley an den Lyx Verlag! 💕

Ich habe mich unheimlich auf diese Fortsetzung gefreut und dementsprechend dieses Buch eingeatmet! Normalerweise (gerade bei suspense stories) halte ich ja gerne mal kurz inne um zu hinterfragen ob das, was gerade passiert überhaupt Sinn macht, aber immer wenn ich kurz einen entsprechenden Gedanken hatte konnte ich den kaum Zuende führen weil ich einfach weiter lesen musste. 100% un-put-down-able! 👏

Die Tension zwischen Darcy und Tristan ist einfach unfassbar.🔥 Er ist einfach so verletzt von der Aktion die Darcy in Royal Heist abgezogen hat, dass man nur mit ihm fühlen kann. Insgesamt passiert in Royal Fake sehr viel auf der Emotionalen- und Beziehungsebene, und was das Schreiben dieser angeht macht Lena Kiefer niemand was vor. Ich werde definitiv nach und nach alle ihre Bücher lesen müssen, because I'm obsessed. 😍

Einen Abend lag ich dann wach im Bett und hatte doch 1-2 Gedanken, zu denen ich bis jetzt keine Antwort habe. Aber ich gehe davon aus, dass diese im finalen Band nachgeliefert werden, da das Thema noch nicht vom Tisch ist! Und ich hatte ja nach dem Ende von Royal Heist mit einem Cliffhanger gerechnet, und die letzten 15% waren auch total spannend! Da kam dann auch eine Keule geflogen wo ich dachte "wow, krass dieser Turn" und ich hab mir schon Gedanken gemacht wie das wohl in Royal Lies weiter geht und hatte quasi schon mit Royal Fake abgeschlossen, und dann kam die letzte Seite. Die Cliffhanger stapeln sich regelrecht! 😱

Wenn ich den aktuellen Termin richtig interpretiere erscheint Royal Lies an einem Samstag - zum Glück, denn sonst wäre ich echt in Versuchung mit dafür Urlaub zu nehmen. 🤭

Thanks A.N. Caudle for the eARC! 💕

Hbtdv is a dark fantasy standalone that will make you look at spoons from a new perspective.

I signed up for this because I just love a conflicted man and oh boy this delivered. Daemon never wanted any part of the Hunt, but when Vhaena is taken, he's forced to face his inner demon if he wants to save her. He knows demons live out their wildest fantasies during the Hunt, and I was positively shocked by the dark things happening on the island. 😨 (Really, I loved how dark this was.)

Having caged his demonic urges all his life, Daemon isn't sure what his depraved self will be capable of once unleashed, but years of pent up desire have made his demon even more obsessed with Vhae than he ever imagined himself to be. 🤭

The true plot twist for me came with the spoon. I thought it was a means to lighten this overall dark experience but oh boy even the spoon has a dark side. 🫣

And going into this I was wondering about the artwork with the blindfold, because if he wears a mask why would she need one? But there's a satisfying explanation for it. 😏 Speaking of, I was actually frustrated for a minute because wtf do you mean they only hunt women? But even that's explained later on, so kudos to the author for tying up this loose end! 👏

I was told book two is better than book one and I have to say... I agree.

I'm obsessed with Nadir, and got totally hung up on the detail that his name is rock bottom?? How did his mother allow that? I really hope Lor will grow up a little though. How is he even able to put up with her? He definitely is a man posessed.

Also, the backstory keeps adding more details that seem to inevitably link them, I really love this storytelling. Nisha J. Tuli is definitely cooking with this series!

I can't wait for book three, don't care about Atlas (although this book added a ton of backstory making me dislike him even more!) but Gabriel I'm looking forward to.