karenbookshelf finished reading and wrote a review...
What a perfect conclusion to the Elements of Cadence duology 😭
I loved reading this series a lot, and I enjoyed A Fire Endless way more than A River Enchanted. The stakes were higher, we got so many revelations, so many good deaths, it was an overall amazing book.
Adaira and Jack are just my babies and they went through so much, I'm just glad they are there for each other. Two other couples I didn't think I would like as much as I did are Innes and David, and Torin and Sidra. The two lairds and their consorts, on opposite sides of the isle, ended up helping each other with the blight, the vengeful storm that Bane created. The character growth 🤌🏼
I loved how the spirits were all against Bane, especially after learning the truth about him (he's a bitchhh), and how they helped our heroes in their journey to overthrow the northern wing king.
I never would've thought that I would be able to read about the clans slowly opening up to the idea of a unified isle, but I'm so glad that's where the book ended, full of hope for a better future.
“If I am weak for wanting you, then let me embrace that weakness and make it my strength," he said, his gaze fixed on the west. "And if you must haunt me, then let me haunt you in return.”
“He marveled at how his own heart could exist outside his body. “You don’t know what you do to me,” he whispered. “By you alone I could be undone.”
karenbookshelf finished reading and wrote a review...
Theo Silvaaa The Man that you are 🩷🩷🩷🩷
I can finish this review by just saying that and I will
karenbookshelf finished reading and wrote a review...
This duology has been the highlight of my 2025 reading year. I'm very glad I did not wait longer to read it because I would've been missing out on peak literature. This series is criminally underrated and more people should be talking about it so that others can read it and enjoy it just as much as I did.
I took a bit longer to be immersed in the sequel compared to book 1 because of the change in the perspectives and the points of view, because one was solely from Elspeth's POV, but in book 2 we have a multitude of people we share thoughts with, but they were very insightful because I never would've thought that's what's going on inside their heads.
I loved Elspeth and Ravyn, as well as Ione and Elm. And honestly I'm just glad they ended up all together in the end because they so deserved it after everything they went through. I just wanna hug each and every one of them and tell them they are all okay.
Please make yourself a favor and read these two books ❤️
“To anyone who’s ever felt lost in a wood. There is a strange sort of finding in losing.”
“Here we are, my darling girl, he whispered to me. The end of all things. The last page of our story.”
“There once was a girl,” he said, his voice slick, “clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King—a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: “The girl, the King, and the monster they became.”
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Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2)
Leigh Bardugo
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Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, #2)
Rachel Gillig
karenbookshelf finished reading and wrote a review...
THIS BOOK!!
This book absolutely did not disappoint! And what do you mean this was Rachel Gillig's debut novel??
I absolutely loved everything there was in this book, from the magic system, to the characters, to the entire plot points, to the twists, to just Ravyn and Elspeth (my loves) 😩❤️❤️
I never expected to love this book so much, but I did and it made its way to my all time favorite books shelf because it honestly deserves it. I cannot find any fault in it and I was so glad I enjoyed it. I was so scared that it was going to be one of those books that I would not be a fan of, but oh boy I was wrong!
Ravyn made its way to my favorite book boyfriends because come on, how could I not include him? Have you read about him??
Elspeth, my ride or die, I need to know what will happen to you because this cannot be the end of her, no way.
Elm had such a good impression on me, I need to read more about him, and his obvious crush on Ione. Like come on, did he even try to hide his feelings?
I cannot wait to read Two Twisted Crowns (I already started it and loving it). I'm loving the ride and feelings this book is providing!!
"Nothing is free. Nothing is safe. Magic is love, but also, it’s hate. It comes at a cost. You’re found, and you’re lost. Magic is love, but also, it’s hate."
"Are you still pretending?" I said, reveling in his gaze. Ravyn gave a surprised laugh and, in front of everyone, leaned in and kissed me. "I never was," he whispered into my lips."
"I love when they argue," Emory said into his soup. "Keeps my weak little heart beating."
"I am the shepherd of shadow. The phantom of the fright. The demon in the daydream.” Her yellow eyes flickered to Ravyn. “The nightmare in the night."
karenbookshelf wrote a review...
This book was both amazing and super annoying to go through!! Reading it via audiobook was super pissing me off and it was dangerous because I was listening to it in my car drive to and from work 😂
This book was such a masterpiece I don't really have anything to say other than, don't do what June did.. please 🙏 Because the way she was literally believing her lies, and she kept on wanting to like make the entire situation about her and her "genius" writing and how everything was her effort, her blood, sweat and tears 🙄
I'm just glad that by the end of the book, the truth was slowly getting revealed and people finally knew how insane June is and the mess she created.
I'm very glad that I read this book, but God I'm glad it's done and I don't have to read it again 😂
"Reading lets us live in someone else’s shoes. Literature builds bridges; it makes our world larger, not smaller."
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Yellowface
R.F. Kuang
karenbookshelf started reading...
One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1)
Rachel Gillig
Post from the Yellowface forum
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Yellowface
R.F. Kuang
karenbookshelf started reading...
Yellowface
R.F. Kuang
karenbookshelf finished reading and wrote a review...
While my enjoyment of the story is nowhere near how much I enjoyed the OG books and the place they hold in my heart, The Sun and The Star became a beloved book of mine because of the characters we followed in this book.
I never knew I needed to read a book about Nico and Will's adventures in the underworld but I had so much fun and I did tear up at times. One time specifically in what I can describe as my favorite chapter in the entire book, Chapter 48.
Chapter 48 was a chapter Nico needed badly, that little "family reunion"? Brought me to tears, I was so happy for him 🥹🥹
"Will had heard love described in so many dramatic, bizarre ways over the years, but no one had described it like this: It's like drifting down a river of pain and knowing you are safe. It's like holding a person in your arms and realizing they are an interlocking piece of a puzzle you hadn't know how to assemble. It's like staring into a dark and treacherous expanse, unsure of what await you but finding comfort in the fact that you won't have to face it alone. It was a son of Apollo falling for a son of Hades. It was this."
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Summer 2025 Readalong
Read at least 1 book in the Summer 2025 Readalong.
karenbookshelf started reading...
Reckless (Chestnut Springs, #4)
Elsie Silver
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I honestly had zero expectations going into this book. It's been on my tbr for like 5 years and I finally decided to give it a chance, and I'm glad I did. I'm really enjoying so far!
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The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure (Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, #17)
Rick Riordan
karenbookshelf finished reading and wrote a review...
While browsing which audiobook I want to read/listen to next, I stumbled upon The Sweetest Oblivion, and I was like why not. I wanted to start this series and what better way to do it than to read it via audiobook.
It was not that bad, I did not really connect with any of the characters, and to be fair I did not think I would've cause they are so different 😂
I was pissed off by Elena's behavior cause bro please grow up 🥲 She had such a childish behavior in the beginning of the book, I was ready to tear her apart. She kind of grew on me but well not enough.
I felt the story had no real structure cause stuff were just happening after each other with no real plot 😮💨
Anyway, I guess I can say that Elena and Nico are perfect for each other because they do fit each other's dark parts. But their story is not my favorite. I guess I'll just have to wait and read the next books to see if they are worth it.
karenbookshelf finished reading and wrote a review...
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