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kjharrowick's reviews
92 reviews
Balanced on the Blade's Edge by Lindsay Buroker
5.0
Why I picked up this book:
On a night when I was feeling undone in both writing and personal life, I scoured kindle reads for a free book or novella. Holy crap did Lindsay Buroker deliver. Right away I dove into the first book in the series and fell in love with both main characters. Buroker brings together the perfect blend of adult situations, action, emotion, world-building and sensuality. At the time of writing this review, I’ve only read the first in the Dragon Blood series, and can’t wait to read more.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
Ridgewalker is my new book boyfriend. There, I said it. Everyone else can go home now. Ridge leapt off the page and grabbed me by the throat. He’s the perfect blend of middle age stubbornness, youthful sass, and determined fanatic. Every movement and line of dialogue bled out his hardened personality so well that there was no doubt he was a stunning hero that walks the dark and the light to get shit done.
Sardelle was an amazing female character, a perfect blend of smarts, determination and sass. I find many book females come off either fluffy and eyelash batty or so strong they’re almost aggressive. This woman has such a light touch and yet brings a depth of complexity, especially during her conversations with soulblade Jaxi.
The side characters were perfect. Each one had a strong personality that made them unique. The interactions were fantastic, and the world building and pacing were stellar. I was always grounded and never bored. Everything about this story kept me putting aside real life to get back to the Ice Blades and find out what happens next.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
The finale for Sardelle against the other sorcerer. All of this absolutely gorgeous tension was built all the way to the end, then boom, maybe two vague lines to the effect ‘oh yeah, here’s how it ended.’ I really wanted this bit to draw out for another page or two, gimme the action happening, the blood spilling, the shocked look in his eyes, maybe a vague word from the sorcerer about where she could find the others. But definitely it needed a lot more pizazz.
General Nax’s finale. This character came on so strong right away that his power bled into everything. But at the end, he was only given a line or two of ‘oh yeah, this happened.’ I would have loved to see a lot more done with this character.
Overall:
Holy crap did this book deliver. It packed such a punch that it will always have a permanent place on my bookshelf. I can’t wait to dive into the next two books in the series.
If I had to wish for one thing out of this story though, it would be to make it longer. To spend more time on Nax and Vespa, Tace and Rolff, and all the beautiful characters so we can see every arc play out to the finale.
On a night when I was feeling undone in both writing and personal life, I scoured kindle reads for a free book or novella. Holy crap did Lindsay Buroker deliver. Right away I dove into the first book in the series and fell in love with both main characters. Buroker brings together the perfect blend of adult situations, action, emotion, world-building and sensuality. At the time of writing this review, I’ve only read the first in the Dragon Blood series, and can’t wait to read more.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
Ridgewalker is my new book boyfriend. There, I said it. Everyone else can go home now. Ridge leapt off the page and grabbed me by the throat. He’s the perfect blend of middle age stubbornness, youthful sass, and determined fanatic. Every movement and line of dialogue bled out his hardened personality so well that there was no doubt he was a stunning hero that walks the dark and the light to get shit done.
Sardelle was an amazing female character, a perfect blend of smarts, determination and sass. I find many book females come off either fluffy and eyelash batty or so strong they’re almost aggressive. This woman has such a light touch and yet brings a depth of complexity, especially during her conversations with soulblade Jaxi.
The side characters were perfect. Each one had a strong personality that made them unique. The interactions were fantastic, and the world building and pacing were stellar. I was always grounded and never bored. Everything about this story kept me putting aside real life to get back to the Ice Blades and find out what happens next.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
The finale for Sardelle against the other sorcerer. All of this absolutely gorgeous tension was built all the way to the end, then boom, maybe two vague lines to the effect ‘oh yeah, here’s how it ended.’ I really wanted this bit to draw out for another page or two, gimme the action happening, the blood spilling, the shocked look in his eyes, maybe a vague word from the sorcerer about where she could find the others. But definitely it needed a lot more pizazz.
General Nax’s finale. This character came on so strong right away that his power bled into everything. But at the end, he was only given a line or two of ‘oh yeah, this happened.’ I would have loved to see a lot more done with this character.
Overall:
Holy crap did this book deliver. It packed such a punch that it will always have a permanent place on my bookshelf. I can’t wait to dive into the next two books in the series.
If I had to wish for one thing out of this story though, it would be to make it longer. To spend more time on Nax and Vespa, Tace and Rolff, and all the beautiful characters so we can see every arc play out to the finale.
The Dragon Blood Collection, Books 1-3 by Lindsay Buroker
5.0
Will leave reviews on individual titles and my blog. <3
The Fall of an Overlord by Kevin Potter
2.0
I was pretty excited to read this because I am always on the hunt for great dragon stories (and the cover's rad as hell).
Unfortunately, I DNF'd after the first two chapters (10% in). This story had no conflict. No goals. No anything. The first chapter was spent running with the character as he mulled over life in the woods, and the second chapter was him mulling over a painting he couldn't remember painting. Doesn't have to be explosions, but I would have loved to see a villain right off the bat, or have some conflict to be resolved so I have a reason to root for this character.
Unfortunately, I DNF'd after the first two chapters (10% in). This story had no conflict. No goals. No anything. The first chapter was spent running with the character as he mulled over life in the woods, and the second chapter was him mulling over a painting he couldn't remember painting. Doesn't have to be explosions, but I would have loved to see a villain right off the bat, or have some conflict to be resolved so I have a reason to root for this character.
The Charmer by C.J. Archer
4.0
Tuesday Reviews – The Charmer by C. J. Archer
Why I picked up this book:
While eagerly awaiting C. J. Archer’s 5th installment in her Glass and Steel series, I wanted to try one of her more adult novels. And with a series title of Assassin’s Guild, how could I resist? Something to note: I’m not a huge romance reader, but I do love romantic plot lines alongside monsters and explosions in a story. I took this into consideration with how I reviewed this tale.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
I loved Orlando’s sass. He may have been a charmer, but he also had a strong sense of humor and a quiet strength to his personality. All of these blended really well into a deep, complex character.
I found myself falling in love with the side characters in this story much more than the main characters. The staff surrounding Susanna were funny and fantastic, and there was a great balance to Margaret’s character & the Guild members, and how her arcs thread through the book. It was strong enough to feel like they was always present, but without casting too much light in their directions.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
Some of the pacing was off. There were areas in the story where the tension was strong, then suddenly the characters were bouncing from task to task, or the setting was cut entirely in favor of only talking. The dialogue heavy bits felt rushed and I found myself wishing the author had fleshed those areas out.
Some of Susanna’s behaviors toward Orlando seemed a bit aggressive for the time period. She wants him, yes, but there were times Susanna felt out of character. Almost as if she needed to have some agency, so she was pushed by the author toward a more aggressive “take me now” action in favor of an organic conflict between her needs and societal standards.
At times the setting fell into a white room effect. There’d be so much dialogue and facial gestures that the sensory and setting details fell to the wayside. I’d have loved to see more overall for a solid immersion throughout.
Overall:
This was an immensely enjoyable read and many of the characters were so vivid I couldn’t help but fall in love. At this point in writing the review I was so taken by Cole’s character that I’ve already read The Rebel, second in the Assassin’s Guild series. I hope to have the review up in a few weeks.
Why I picked up this book:
While eagerly awaiting C. J. Archer’s 5th installment in her Glass and Steel series, I wanted to try one of her more adult novels. And with a series title of Assassin’s Guild, how could I resist? Something to note: I’m not a huge romance reader, but I do love romantic plot lines alongside monsters and explosions in a story. I took this into consideration with how I reviewed this tale.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
I loved Orlando’s sass. He may have been a charmer, but he also had a strong sense of humor and a quiet strength to his personality. All of these blended really well into a deep, complex character.
I found myself falling in love with the side characters in this story much more than the main characters. The staff surrounding Susanna were funny and fantastic, and there was a great balance to Margaret’s character & the Guild members, and how her arcs thread through the book. It was strong enough to feel like they was always present, but without casting too much light in their directions.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
Some of the pacing was off. There were areas in the story where the tension was strong, then suddenly the characters were bouncing from task to task, or the setting was cut entirely in favor of only talking. The dialogue heavy bits felt rushed and I found myself wishing the author had fleshed those areas out.
Some of Susanna’s behaviors toward Orlando seemed a bit aggressive for the time period. She wants him, yes, but there were times Susanna felt out of character. Almost as if she needed to have some agency, so she was pushed by the author toward a more aggressive “take me now” action in favor of an organic conflict between her needs and societal standards.
At times the setting fell into a white room effect. There’d be so much dialogue and facial gestures that the sensory and setting details fell to the wayside. I’d have loved to see more overall for a solid immersion throughout.
Overall:
This was an immensely enjoyable read and many of the characters were so vivid I couldn’t help but fall in love. At this point in writing the review I was so taken by Cole’s character that I’ve already read The Rebel, second in the Assassin’s Guild series. I hope to have the review up in a few weeks.
Through the Veil by Colleen Halverson
2.0
I really wanted to love this story as I have a high regard for the author, but I think it just wasn't my cup of tea. I loved the fantasy element, and everything surrounding the fae lore. But many of the main character's sassy colloquialisms felt too modern and kept throwing me out of the story. I will be adding her other works to my TBR though as this disconnect was purely subjective.
Dragonmaster by Chris Bunch
2.0
This story started out fantastic, but as I got deeper into it, many of the chapters focused more on war maneuvers than actual dragoning. Such a bummer, too as I lost connection with the character and the story.
The Awakening by Jasper T. Scott
2.0
DNF'd at 26%
I picked up this book because it sounded stellar. Right after cryo, there's a lot of great tension that gets built up, then the characters all stop in the hallway for several pages of earth history. It derailed the story, and after that point rushes through. So unfortunate, because I like this author's other works.
I picked up this book because it sounded stellar. Right after cryo, there's a lot of great tension that gets built up, then the characters all stop in the hallway for several pages of earth history. It derailed the story, and after that point rushes through. So unfortunate, because I like this author's other works.
Deathmaker by Lindsay Buroker
Why I picked up this book:
After reading Balanced on the Blade’s Edge and utterly falling in love with the story and characters, there was only one option: keep going. No faster had I gotten the first book’s review done and I was already diving into this book. It came as part of an initial trilogy package, but there are many more books in this series.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
Cas is a fantastic character. Trained by her father to be a sniper, and pulled into Wolf Squadron at a young age, she’s the type of complex character that’s seen too much for her young age and sometimes forgets she’s human, too. I loved her sass and her loyalty to her squadron even in the face of danger.
The entire story was really engaging. It was hard to step away from Ridge and Sardelle’s characters after the first story, but Buroker wove subtle hints about them through the narrative to keep readers connected. But even without the hints, once Cas is deep in pirate territory, it’s tough to step away from this action-packed tale.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
I think I would have liked a hint more of an emotional struggle from Cas when it comes to Tolemek. While she’s tough and dedicated to her duty, and she’s repressed her emotions from an early age, the first hint of an attraction comes in the middle of the story, so when she kisses Tolemek, it’s a bit of a leap.
When the truth serum forces Cas to speak all truth, there’s a lot of information that gets clumped together. Same with the captain. It’s interesting, but some of it could have been dished out a touch earlier to avoid an info dump.
Sardelle’s bit role in this book felt like the all-knowing wizard trope. She was always in the right place at the right time to either have the necessary knowledge, or help someone in need.
Overall:
I loved this book, just as much as I loved the first one. Cas and Tolemek are both great characters, and seeing more from the pirates’ perspective opened up another hunk of the map in the Iskandian world. At the time of this review, I’ve read the third book in the series and should have the review up in a few weeks.
5.0
Why I picked up this book:
After reading Balanced on the Blade’s Edge and utterly falling in love with the story and characters, there was only one option: keep going. No faster had I gotten the first book’s review done and I was already diving into this book. It came as part of an initial trilogy package, but there are many more books in this series.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
Cas is a fantastic character. Trained by her father to be a sniper, and pulled into Wolf Squadron at a young age, she’s the type of complex character that’s seen too much for her young age and sometimes forgets she’s human, too. I loved her sass and her loyalty to her squadron even in the face of danger.
The entire story was really engaging. It was hard to step away from Ridge and Sardelle’s characters after the first story, but Buroker wove subtle hints about them through the narrative to keep readers connected. But even without the hints, once Cas is deep in pirate territory, it’s tough to step away from this action-packed tale.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
I think I would have liked a hint more of an emotional struggle from Cas when it comes to Tolemek. While she’s tough and dedicated to her duty, and she’s repressed her emotions from an early age, the first hint of an attraction comes in the middle of the story, so when she kisses Tolemek, it’s a bit of a leap.
When the truth serum forces Cas to speak all truth, there’s a lot of information that gets clumped together. Same with the captain. It’s interesting, but some of it could have been dished out a touch earlier to avoid an info dump.
Sardelle’s bit role in this book felt like the all-knowing wizard trope. She was always in the right place at the right time to either have the necessary knowledge, or help someone in need.
Overall:
I loved this book, just as much as I loved the first one. Cas and Tolemek are both great characters, and seeing more from the pirates’ perspective opened up another hunk of the map in the Iskandian world. At the time of this review, I’ve read the third book in the series and should have the review up in a few weeks.
The Rebel by C.J. Archer
4.0
True rating: 3.5 stars
Why I picked up this book:
I adore C. J. Archer’s Glass and Steel series, and I’m eagerly awaiting her 5th installment, but I wanted to try one of her more adult novels.
After reading The Charmer, I absolutely fell in love with Cole’s character. So naturally, once I knew there was a book about him, I picked it up right away.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
I loved Cole’s darkness, when he was dark. He has this brilliant stubborn, gruff, no-nonsense type persona, and I absolutely adored it.
I also really like the tie-in to the Cowdrey family from the first novel in the series, and that this book explored a little more of the Sutton Grange area. And you get to see a few of the characters from The Charmer, which is great. I look forward to seeing more of everyone in the next two books.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
This is purely subjective, but I didn’t like that much of this book focused on Cole as an 18-year-old. It’s great backstory, but he was just too childish and naive for my tastes. Dark-hearted, rebel Cole is a much more interesting character. Chances are someone else feels different.
I didn’t connect at all with Lucy’s character. She was interesting at first, but after three days descended into clingy, needy, girlfriend mode. It dissolved all the romantic tension and I was secretly hoping she’d accidentally get shot. *Sorry* Again, this is purely subjective on my part. Her character seemed badly mismatched with the real Cole.
The last 25% of the book was rushed. I would have liked to see a lot more tension, grounding, and sensory detail to smooth out the pacing.
Overall:
Overall this was an enjoyable read, but I think I wanted more from this book. I was disappointed with the ending, especially how things closed out with Cole’s father and brother. It was all a little too neat. Though, if Archer ever wrote an exploration of Cole’s descent into darkness after leaving home, I’d probably be all over it. I have a love of dark and self-destructive characters.
Why I picked up this book:
I adore C. J. Archer’s Glass and Steel series, and I’m eagerly awaiting her 5th installment, but I wanted to try one of her more adult novels.
After reading The Charmer, I absolutely fell in love with Cole’s character. So naturally, once I knew there was a book about him, I picked it up right away.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
I loved Cole’s darkness, when he was dark. He has this brilliant stubborn, gruff, no-nonsense type persona, and I absolutely adored it.
I also really like the tie-in to the Cowdrey family from the first novel in the series, and that this book explored a little more of the Sutton Grange area. And you get to see a few of the characters from The Charmer, which is great. I look forward to seeing more of everyone in the next two books.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
This is purely subjective, but I didn’t like that much of this book focused on Cole as an 18-year-old. It’s great backstory, but he was just too childish and naive for my tastes. Dark-hearted, rebel Cole is a much more interesting character. Chances are someone else feels different.
I didn’t connect at all with Lucy’s character. She was interesting at first, but after three days descended into clingy, needy, girlfriend mode. It dissolved all the romantic tension and I was secretly hoping she’d accidentally get shot. *Sorry* Again, this is purely subjective on my part. Her character seemed badly mismatched with the real Cole.
The last 25% of the book was rushed. I would have liked to see a lot more tension, grounding, and sensory detail to smooth out the pacing.
Overall:
Overall this was an enjoyable read, but I think I wanted more from this book. I was disappointed with the ending, especially how things closed out with Cole’s father and brother. It was all a little too neat. Though, if Archer ever wrote an exploration of Cole’s descent into darkness after leaving home, I’d probably be all over it. I have a love of dark and self-destructive characters.
The First Crown by Meg Cowley
4.0
Why I picked up this book:
I received a series of free books via email, and The First Crown was buried in the pile. The cover was the first thing that called out to me, and honestly, how could I resist any story about dragons? It was a quick read and definitely a gem for readers who are curious about the Caledan worlds.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
This novella length story is very well written. It had the feel of Tolkien’s worlds, and immediately put the reader in the middle of a dire conflict that needed to be resolved. I love that it showed three armies coming together in a struggle for peace without delving too deeply into a how-to on execution of flank maneuvers.
Brithilica is wonderful, and his role from start to finish was the most heart-felt. I now have a reason to cheer and keep reading into the series to find out how his story continues.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
I wanted to feel a bit more in touch with each of the characters. They were all really fascinating, but the story didn’t have a strong emotional depth until the incident at the end. I would have liked to feel more. To connect more with each of the three main individuals and their struggles.
Overall:
Although this story read more like a quick history for the Caledan series, I really enjoyed it. And I’ll be honest… if it wasn’t for one tiny, heart-wrenching thing that happened toward the end, I may have chalked it up to a good read and moved on. However, the author hooked me and I’ll be picking up the first book in her series, The Tainted Crown, and adding it to my reads pile.
I received a series of free books via email, and The First Crown was buried in the pile. The cover was the first thing that called out to me, and honestly, how could I resist any story about dragons? It was a quick read and definitely a gem for readers who are curious about the Caledan worlds.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
This novella length story is very well written. It had the feel of Tolkien’s worlds, and immediately put the reader in the middle of a dire conflict that needed to be resolved. I love that it showed three armies coming together in a struggle for peace without delving too deeply into a how-to on execution of flank maneuvers.
Brithilica is wonderful, and his role from start to finish was the most heart-felt. I now have a reason to cheer and keep reading into the series to find out how his story continues.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
I wanted to feel a bit more in touch with each of the characters. They were all really fascinating, but the story didn’t have a strong emotional depth until the incident at the end. I would have liked to feel more. To connect more with each of the three main individuals and their struggles.
Overall:
Although this story read more like a quick history for the Caledan series, I really enjoyed it. And I’ll be honest… if it wasn’t for one tiny, heart-wrenching thing that happened toward the end, I may have chalked it up to a good read and moved on. However, the author hooked me and I’ll be picking up the first book in her series, The Tainted Crown, and adding it to my reads pile.