A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess (Kingdom on Fire book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, A Shadow Bright and Burning, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“The magicians want her to lead. The sorcerers want her to lie. The demons want her blood. Henrietta wants to save the one she loves. But will his dark magic be her undoing?

Henrietta doesn’t need a prophecy to know that she’s in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the bloodthirsty Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook’s system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own.

So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients’ past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth. - taken from Goodreads.com

Once again, this book shows that this series is grossly underrated. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the first book Poison takes Henrietta's story and makes it so much better. Full of heartbreaking moments and shocking twists, a couple that I, unfortunately, saw coming,, This book sets up what will be an epic showdown that will leave no one unscathed 

The story will conclude in 2018 with A Sorrow Fierce and Falling.

Visit Jessica Cluess’ website.

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

“Stop the Magician. Steal the book. Save the future.

In modern-day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she’s been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta’s training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.” - take from Goodreads.com

This book was not near the top of my TBR pile until I read a review that raved about this book. The Last Magician confused me at first with all of the time jumps between 1900 - 1902, 1926, and the present day. Esta is able to travel through time. Her latest assignment is to go back to 1901 to acquire a book and stop the last magician. This is where the vast majority of the story takes place. Esta is able to assimilate into Dolph Saunders “gang” of people with various affinities.

Each chapter has a title that links to what is about to happen in the story. Readers are kept on their toes as they attempt to figure out who Esta is supposed to stop and how she will get the book back to the present day. The twists and jaw-dropping revelations at the end will leave readers reeling. The ending is satisfying if not open-ended. At first a stand-alone novel, the author is currently working on a second book.

Visit Lisa Maxwell’s website.

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

“Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.” - taken from Goodreads.com.

I adored this book. Sloane Finch and her family have recently moved to Florida. Her father, a Nicholas Sparks type author, has hit a dry spell and is struggling to write his next book. Always on the fringe, Sloane inadvertently inserts herself into a group of close friends when she stands up to a bully at a party. Meeting Vera and Gabe Fuller and becoming pulled into their circle of friends is new to Sloane and soon finds herself developing feelings for Gabe.

When Sloan finds out that a painting done by the Fuller twins deceased mother is sold, she and embarks on a journey to locate it for a devastated Gabe. Along the way, Sloane discovers insights not only about her family and her new group of friends but herself.

This book was hard to put down and I cannot wait to read her latest book, Foolish Hearts.

Ever the Brave by Erin Summerill (Clash of Kingdoms book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Ever the Hunted, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Ever the Divided. Ever the Feared. Ever the Brave

After saving King Aodren with her newfound Channeler powers, Britta only wants to live a peaceful life in her childhood home. Unfortunately, saving the King has created a tether between them she cannot sever, no matter how much she'd like to, and now he's insisting on making her a noble lady. And there are those who want to use Britta’s power for evil designs. If Britta cannot find a way to harness her new magical ability, her life—as well as her country—may be lost.

The stakes are higher than ever in the sequel to Ever the Hunted, as Britta struggles to protect her kingdom and her heart. - taken from Goodreads.com

In this conclusion to Britta’s story, the action picks up quickly from the first book. The story is told in three different points of view; Britta, Cohen, and Aodren. With the bond broken between her and Cohen, Britta must deal with her new bond to Aodren now that she has saved his life. As the battle for Malam grows, Britta discovers that what she knows about her life isn't the truth. Her world is turned upside down as struggles to learn who she truly is.

Needless to say, the book was an excellent wrap up to Britta’s story. The next book, Once a King,will be out on December 14th, 2018 and will be the third book in the series focusing on Lirra and Aodren.

Visit Erin Summerill’s website.

The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (Dash & Lily book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Dash and Lily have had a tough year since they first fell in love among the shelves of their favorite bookstore. Lily’s beloved grandfather suffered a heart attack, and his difficult road to recovery has taken a major toll on her typically sunny disposition.

With only twelve days left until Christmas—Lily’s favorite time of the year—Dash, Lily’s brother Langston, and their closest friends must take Manhattan by storm to help Lily recapture the unique holiday magic of a glittering, snow-covered New York City in December.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This book picks up one year later after the storyline in the Dash from Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. Things have not been great for Lily with her grandfather having become sick. As one who loves Christmas, Lily isn’t in the spirit this year. So it's up to Dash to get Lily back into the spirit. Once again set at Christmas time, my favorite part of this book has to be when Dash invites The Librarians to the ice skating party where hilarity ensues.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan (Dash & Lily book 1)

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?” - taken from Goodreads.com

I really enjoyed reading this book especially, before Christmas. It was basically a scavenger hunt between two people who have never met that takes place the week before Christmas through New Year's. This book was a quick read and I cannot wait to see what the sequel, The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily will bring to these characters.