Three mini reviews for some of my “recent” reads!

1. City of Brass (Daevabad Trilogy #1) by S.A. Chakraborty ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow I totally regret putting this series off for so long. This book was so layered, magical, and intriguing.

I tried picking this up in 2019 but ended up putting it down because I was in the middle of a terrible fantasy slump. And for some reason, ever since, I thought this book just wasn’t for me. Boy was I wrong! 

I’d heard from other reviewers that this book starts off really slow but I didn’t find that to be the case at all. I was completely wrapped up in this world and hanging onto every word from the very beginning. Chakraborty’s writing is so atmospheric and magical without being heavy or tedious and it sucked me straight into this amazing world. I loved the magic, politics, and setting. 

I love fantasies that are based off real cultures, myths, or legends – and this story did it impeccably. This world felt so real and rich – like Daevabad was a real place one could go. 

This story is full of complex and flawed characters with grey morality. I love when books explore the line of what is good and evil and SA Chakraborty blurred that line so impressively. With warring clans, complex history, and flawed politics, there was no clear right or wrong. And I loved the tension that added to the story and character interactions. 

I’ve gathered that romance tends to be a lot of reader’s least favorite part of this first book. But honestly I quite enjoyed it. I’m a romance reader at heart, so I’m always here for a romance! I will say a lot of the build up happens off page, so the relationship can come across quick to the reader. But I think it was really impactful to the plot and Nahri’s character development. 

The ending of this book was SO intense and was absolutely flying through the final quarter of this book. I can’t wait to dive into the sequels as soon as possible and be back in this world!

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2. From Blood and Ash (From Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was a bit of mixed bag, but it was a really fun fantasy romance that I’m excited to read more of!

So my biggest complaint about this is that the first 200ish pages were a complete and total drag. Literally nothing about the world is explained and we simply follow our main character as she wanders the palace complaining. And if it weren’t for reviewers I trust telling me to push through, I probably would have DNF’d this book. Which is a shame because the last half of this was so much fun!

I will say: there is a reason so much of the world and magic is left unexplained in the first half of the book. And once you get to the end, everything makes sense. But it was an oddly frustrating reading experience listening to characters discuss the lore and hierarchy without understanding it – especially since the plot was so lacking. 

But once the action finally started, it didn’t slow down for a second. I was completely hooked and flew through the last 50%. Overall I had such a good time with this story! There wasn’t anything particularly inventive or shocking, but this was just a solid, fun fantasy romance. I enjoyed the politics, the characters, and the romance. And the chemistry between the 2 MCs was *chef’s kiss*

I’m really excited to see where this story goes from here! I already have book 2 on my shelves and I cannot wait to dive in and be back with these characters!

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3. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow – this thriller absolutely blew me away! It’s definitely a new favorite thriller I will be recommending forever.

This follows a psychologist who starts a new job where he can work with a famous patient who killed her husband and no longer speaks. This premise alone intrigued me and I was fully invested in this story from the get go. 

While this story isn’t particularly frightening or thrilling thought out – there aren’t jump scares or haunted setting. This story has a ominous and uncomfortable feeling throughout. You know terrible things have happened and every character seems suspicious. I had SO MANY theories throughout this book and I wasn’t even close once.

This ending is one of my favorite twists I’ve read and it had me SHOOK. I absolutely cannot wait to read more from this author in the future! If you’re looking for an amazing thriller to read this fall, definitely check this one out! It’s worth all the hype.

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