[Because facebook has very unfairly blocked my blog, Punya Reviews..., from being promoted on their platform, I'm using booklikes as a "gateway" of sorts so I have a link to promote. It's been almost 3 yrs now so I'm not holding out on any hope of having this block removed. More on what happened can be found here.]
LINK to my book blast post for Angelbound Anniversary Edition on Punya Reviews...:
https://punyareviews.blogspot.com/2023/05/book-blast-and-giveaway-angelbound.html
[Because facebook has very unfairly blocked my blog, Punya Reviews..., from being promoted on their platform, I'm using booklikes as a "gateway" of sorts so I have a link to promote. It's been over a year but I tried for the first 4 months to reach them through any means I could find but without any luck whatsoever. Doesn't look like I'll get the block removed anytime soon, if ever. More on what happened can be found here.]
LINK to my release blitz post for Griffin Undone on Punya Reviews...:
https://punyareviews.blogspot.com/2022/11/release-blitz-griffin-undone-by-ella.html
This book was so much fun! I have never read the author before but I enjoyed her style very much, so I think I might pick up some of her other books after this one. This one had a bit more romance than I expected but it had a lot of adventure and twists and turns that kept me entertained.
Alessandra is delightfully scandalous. She is witty and funny but also slightly sociopathic. She delights in using men and bucking the patriarchal system she lives in. She figures that if men can have a thousand lovers then the women must not be being very chaste either so why not. She killed the first boy who broke her heart and is determined to not make herself vulnerable ever again. Instead she has a mission to seduce the king and then kill him and take over his kingdom. She finally sees her opportunity with the engagement of her older sister, since she was not allowed to attend court until that time. She catches the Shadow King’s eye immediately and away we go.
I fully expected for the plot of the story to be a romance. I knew going in that Alessandra would fall in love with the king, and he with her, and she would no longer want to go through with her plan. So, I didn’t really mind when the story started taking me that way. Especially since the romance was handled with a lot of snark and lots of nefarious plotting and teasing. There was so much sexual tension in this book and it was delicious. Kallias set my heart pitter pattering and I hoped beyond hope that he was getting through to Alessandra too. He’s just so delightfully bad!
The only downside I had with this book was that I found the rules of the world building to be a tad inconsistent. We are told from the outset that this is a very Victorian world. Women are expected to be demure, chaste, and never be found in a compromising situation that could ruin their opportunities for a good marriage. Women cannot go to court to attempt to woo a husband until all of their older sisters are married off. The males of the family make the marriage arrangements. All of this is extremely typical. But then, it’s also okay for the nobles to be engaged in homosexual or bisexual relationships. Openly and at court. That certainly does not fit with the world you have built. At all. I am okay with either world. I am okay with a very straitlaced Victorian world. And I am okay with a slightly more liberal world encompassing people of all sexualities. But the two things don’t work well together.
This small gripe aside, I loved this book. It was wonderfully wicked and very sexy. I was sad it was over.
Raised in isolation on the magic-shrouded Isle of the Moon, five girls became five sisters. Now women, they are ready to claim their places in the world—and perhaps change it forever . . .
FLAME AND FORTUNE
Sorcha knew the mission was dangerous. Leaving the safe grounds of her brother’s kingdom and parlaying with the elves across their border . . . well, treachery seemed at least as likely as true peace. But to support her sister, Sorcha would brave far more than the underhanded ways of the elves. Or so she thought, before she was taken hostage.
Of course, her captors didn’t count on her particular abilities—or on the help of the Woodsman, the mysterious thief who made his home in the forest. He saw the battle from the trees, saw the soldier attacking against incredible odds to save a comrade—and then saw the valiant fighter revealed as Princess Sorcha of Norveshka. He can’t tell if he wants to kidnap her or kiss her. But despite Sorcha’s stubbornness, his inconvenient honor, and a rebellion on the cusp of full war, something burns between them that neither can let go . . .
How to Love Your Elf is book four in The Embraced series by Kerrelyn Sparks.
I’m not sure why the author or publisher decided to label this novel as Embraced by Magic series when it’s part of The Embraced series. It’s not a title that can be read as a first in a series. How to Love Your Elf needs to be read after Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon.
I’ve loved the previous titles in The Embraced series, but unfortunately this one feel off the mark.
If you’ve been following the series, Sorcha, is a princess and ‘Embraced’. She was featured throughout the series as a women with a fiery personality, but we soon learning that that’s just a front. She’s scared to love to the point that she makes herself physically ill. I was very disappointed to learn that Sorcha wasn’t the go getter she was portrayed. She lacked confidence in everything she did, even her Embraced gift is next to nothing. She was dull and spent the novel pining and obsessing over the Woodsman.
The Woodsman had a sexy appeal. I liked his confidence and strong personality. He was the only thing I liked about this novel.
The store progressed at a snails pace. I was not invested in the characters or plot. The main plot focused on the angst caused by the romance between these two. We also don’t spend any time dealing with who the Woodsman is and his history. As for the ending it happens fast and things are put to rest way to easily.
You might be wondering why I read this one. Well I loved the previous novels, I also wanted to get the full picture on the Embraced prophecy; which is the secondary plot featured throughout this series, and to also get those surprise tidbits offered up in the novel.
How to Love Your Elf was not the book for me. It’s my least favorite and I was sadly disappointed. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.
Rated: 2 Stars
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Kensington via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!
Challenge:
I was born and raised in Northern Indiana. I’m an outdoor sun loving reader living near San Fransisco. I’m a mother, wife, dog owner, animal, and book lover. I’m the owner, reviewer, and mind behind Angel’s Guilty Pleasures. My favorite animals are horses & dogs. As for reading I love all things paranormal & urban fantasy. My favorite shifters are dragons!
This was a novella and I wish that it had been fleshed out more to make it a longer story. I think that Dina's quickness of reconnecting with Gertrude Stein was way too fast considering how much of the story had her full of angst because she can tell that she and the inn were not synched up like they were before her sacrifice in "One Fell Sweep." I loved the story-line though with a whole new powerful entity out there. I hope we get to see the new characters introduced in this one again in future stories.
"Sweep With Me" takes place during the same time period of "Sweep of the Blade." Dina is still recovering with her sacrifice when she connected with a seed before it would become an inn. She also feels afraid that Sean, her boyfriend, and werewolf, may get hurt and she will be left alone again. I loved that we get to see a tradition of the inn's on Earth during "Treaty Day" where they have to allow anyone who wants to stay at the inn, to stay as a visitor. Due to this, Dina has agreed to host three special people/groups who may cause her trouble with the Assembly.
I loved that we get to see a new species in this one called the Drifen. They sound like superheroes or gods practically. I would love a new spin-off focusing on them and the leader that we get to meet in this one who had shades of Kate Daniels, though sadder somehow.
We also get Dina and Sean hosting galactic chickens. I maybe died at the illustration that was included.
And lastly we have Dina and Sean hosting a Medamoth. Sean's adventure with the Medamoth and Orro was the freaking best and I laughed for a long time. I wouldn't mind a POV.
I definitely cannot wait for a longer novel.
Log in with Facebook 
