its_justine's reviews
274 reviews

The Broken Girls is a brilliant thriller/paranormal suspense/whodunnit story that captivates you and easily sinks its claws in right from the start. Infamous Idlewood Hall, previously an academy for troubled girls, has remained a ruined eyesore for the citizens of small-town Vermont for decades…until now. Journalist Fiona Sheridan has always had an obsession with the strange and secretive school ever since her murdered sister’s body was found in the middle of its fields. Now she cause to investigate further as she intends to write a story on its mysterious renovations and benefactor. But there’s a chance she may find much more than she’s bargained for.

The story alternates between two timelines, one focusing on four girls in attendance of Idlewood Hall in the 1950’s and Fiona’s in 2014, both of which come together in a maze of twists and turns. Once you believe you’re coming to the right conclusion, St. James tosses in more puzzle pieces and you’re right back to attempting to make them all fit. This Gothic story is beautiful and emotional and her characters draw you into caring deeply for them. Secrets tiptoe around every corner and it’s extremely satisfying when they finally come to light.

If you’re looking for an interesting, well-written thriller that will keep you on your toes, then this is definitely a read for you. I highly recommend.

As expected, I'll read whatever Jex throws at me. As expected, dark and delicious. I hope to see more of these two in the future.

Swarm and Steel is a twisted and weirdly beautiful love story set in a world where the delusions of the insane literally shape reality. We follow the journey of Zerfall and Jateko, two Geisteskranken - those who suffer these delusions - as they attempt to dismantle the Täuschung, a religion that wrongfully imprisons the souls of the masses in a hell named Swarm. Zerfall has created this hell through her delusions and now a fragment of her mind rules over its administration. It is her goal to stop the filth at its core. Jateko will do whatever it takes to remain by her side, even if it heaves him deeper into madness.

This tale is technically a standalone in the author’s Manifest Delusions universe, and while it isn’t necessary to read the main novels in the series in order to fully enjoy this, I highly recommend you do. Fletcher has created some of the most unique, albeit utterly disturbing, dark fantasy stories in the industry, most of which have gone straight to my favorites shelf, and this book is no exception. It’s vile. It’s hilarious. It’s emotional. It’s cringeworthy. It’s thought-provoking. It’s beautiful. There’s death (lots of it). And life (and focus on how precious it is). Lastly, the ending is perfection.

I highly recommend!

The Destroyer by Michael-Scott Earle is a riveting and bloody tale of sword and sorcery. The human race is being plagued and enslaved by sadistic, murderous elves and a group of people set out on a journey to find the savior of mankind. Their mission is to locate and wake The O’Baarni, a legendary warrior of old who defeated the armies of the Ancient - the Elven - who has been tucked away in a magically-induced sleep for thousands of years. Upon awakening a man they thought to be the one they seek, Kaiyer suffers severe amnesia and cannot remember who he is or where he came from. As the adventure continues, Kaiyer begins to regain bits and pieces of his past, as well as his strength and magical abilities, leaving us to question whether he is in fact the hero they need or the villain that will destroy all?

I really enjoyed this book and found the adventure to be both fun and amusing, regardless of its darker nature. The non-stop action and breakneck pace forced me to blow through these pages at an alarming speed and left me immediately wanting more. The one thing I love the most about this story is Kaiyer’s character and development - he’s akin to a clueless child whose hand you have to hold so he doesn’t wander off into trouble, but at the same time so indomitable and just completely obliterates any opposition in very amusing, imaginative and bloody ways. Watching his character evolve throughout was quite entertaining. We’re left at a cliffhanger ending with lots of threads just waiting to come together, and I definitely plan on picking up the next book in The Destroyer series to continue the adventure.

Warning: this book is very sexually explicit - Kaiyer has his mind set on sleeping with any and all women - aaand his plans always crumble. Just let the man get some, for crying out loud. That is all.

The thoughts of all men arise from the darkness. If you are the movement of your soul, and the cause of that movement precedes you, then how could you ever call your thoughts your own? How could you be anything other than a slave to the darkness that comes before?

Well, this is simply one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s actually pretty difficult for me to write a review that will capture the grandeur of this story - which is probably why I initially threw five stars at it and walked away - but I think it’s time to give it a go.

The Darkness That Comes Before is the first installment in The Prince of Nothing series and is an intelligent, ambitious and complex recount of the beginnings of the great holy war that threatens the lands of Eärwa. Throughout its pages we embark on a crusade and witness events unfold through the eyes of multiple characters of highly varying backgrounds and beliefs. While the people of the land are focused on each other, an ancient group of magi lurks in the shadows and tirelessly works to bring about the return of an evil most no longer believe in. Of all the mysteries draping over Eärwa, a strange and enigmatic monk travels to the Holy city of Shimeh, seamlessly intertwining himself in the lives of many, his true intentions hidden beneath a refined and charming mask.

This story is intense, unrelenting and unforgiving, immediately immersing you in a world with millennia of history, where cultures, factions, religions, rituals, and more are described in minute detail throughout. Told in a beautifully poetic and philosophical prose, it took me some time to fully grasp the gravity and brilliance, but once I finally did, I became completely absorbed until the very end. It’s haunting and intriguing and dark, brimming with palpable peril and disturbing encounters. We’re introduced to a cast of absolutely deplorable, yet extremely interesting and well-developed characters and the change of point of view smartly gives us insight into the current status of all different parts of the world.

I feel like I’ve dipped my toes into a deep and bottomless ocean and cannot wait to continue on this journey. I know nothing I say will give this book the justice it deserves, so please just go and give it a read.

He was another knife I could feel it. A different sort, but a knife still. I did not care. I thought: give me the blade. Some things are worth spilling blood for.

Circe is a beautifully-written, solemn memoir of Circe, a lesser goddess of the Greek Pantheon, daughter of Helios and Perse. Blessed with neither beauty nor godlike power, and exiled after a series of events unfold, she must live out the rest of her days on a remote island in the world of mortals. It is a tale of self-discovery, an exploration of the importance of inner-strength, one of hope and finding light in the darkness. It’s charming and truthful, and although the main character is a goddess, it feels altruistically human. As we witness the story through Circe’s eyes, we can feel the swelling in our hearts as she gives her own to a lover. We can feel her anguish and sorrow birthed from heartache. We can feel the fury of being unjustly judged. All feelings so very real and relatable. This story is incredible and one I really enjoyed. I cannot recommend it enough.

Senlin Ascends is one of the most unique stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. It is a tale of transformation, exquisitely written with prose that is just altogether breathtaking. It’s weird and mystifying and extraordinary, set in the ancient, enigmatic Tower of Babel - a maze one can easily lose themselves within, where each ring is as strange and exotic as the last. We follow Thomas Senlin, an aloof and mellow headmaster, on his arduous journey to locate his wife after losing her shortly after arriving at the tower’s outer markets. As he ascends the rings, he discovers a fortitude he had no idea he possessed and fervently continues on to find the love of his life regardless of the obstacles blocking his path. I was completely enchanted by this charming story Bancroft has so beautifully crafted and I cannot wait to continue my ascent in Arm of the Sphinx. I highly recommend.

The Armored Saint was my first dip into Myke Cole’s work and I have to say, this has been one of my favorite reads of the year. It is the hauntingly raw and gritty story of Heloise, a young girl that witnesses and is subject to the injustices of the land’s ruthless and domineering religious institution, the Order. After being forced to participate in a “Knitting”, a ritual to rid a neighboring village of its corrupt magic, and seeing the sheer amount of needless collateral damage, she decides to oppose what she believes is a greater risk to the people - the Order itself.

This tale is brutal and vivid and one of brazen defiance, with a profound sense of hope, regardless of how dark thing may seem. The author has superbly crafted our heroine, Heloise, who, in my opinion, is one of the finest and most well-rounded female protagonists to ever grace the pages of any fantasy book. As the story progresses, her agony and contempt for the current state of the world is unmistakable, and her relentless drive to right the wrongs is a treat to observe. We are allowed to experience the world as she sees it with achingly beautiful detail as Cole refuses to hold anything back. This little novella packs quite a punch in such a small amount of pages - a two-hundred page adrenaline rush that doesn’t dissipate until the very end. I loved this story and cannot wait for more. I highly recommend.

Grey Sister by the incomparable Mark Lawrence is the incredible, and a bit darker, sophomore installment in his Book of the Ancestor series. It's a story of intrigue and sacrifice, filled with tension that drips from every page. The world he has created continues to be carefully curated and becomes more enthralling as the tale of Nona progresses. With a cast of beautifully crafted characters, strange mysteries of the past, and a unique setting that threatens all life on Abeth, this tale is sure to grip you and not let go. We get to witness the story through the eyes of multiple characters, which really worked for me and I have to admit, Nona’s ferocious loyalty is both humbling and inspiring. The final chapters are filled with surprising twists and turns and sent shivers down my spine on multiple occasions - I was a little upset I didn’t have book three waiting in the wings to get started on right away.

Lawrence’s The Broken Empire series is what really drew me into dark fantasy years ago and his works never disappoint. Book of the Ancestor is no exception and his writing seems to only be getting better and better with each book he releases. While I thoroughly enjoyed Red Sister, I absolutely LOVED Grey Sister and I’m really looking forward to the conclusion of Nona’s story next year. I cannot recommend this series enough - go read it!