Sophie Reads YA: Adalyn Grace

Waiting On Wednesday: Foxglove (Belladonna #2) by Adalyn Grace

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2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: All the Tides of Fate (All the Stars and Teeth #2) by Adalyn Grace

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All the Tides of Fate
Series: All the Stars and Teeth #2
Author: Adalyn Grace
Published February 2nd 2021 by Titan Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.

No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that she’s lost her magic. No one can know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul.

To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everything―but it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After defeating the rebellion against her throne, Amora Montara is now queen of Visidia, but without her magic. Cursed with sharing her soul with Bastian, who also has access to her magic, she needs to keep a hold of her crown, as the sharks start to circle at the first sign of weakness. Amora learns about a mythical artifact - one she isn't even sure if it exists - that may return her powers and her soul, but it comes at a great cost. Pretending to tour her kingdom in the hunt of a husband, Amora risks everything for the hope of a future.

I'm going to hold my hand up a little, and say I completely forgot that this book was even a thing until I was checking my NG account, and realised I hadn't read it yet. I've forgotten a little of book 1 too, but after the first couple of chapters of this book, I remember enough to plod along through the plot. I liked that Amora was such a real character in this book. Yeah okay, it's a fantasy book with magic, mythical creatures, etc., but she was grieving her father, conflicted over her feelings - both platonic and romantic - for her friends, and had the weight of a whole kingdom on her shoulders. She was facing threats and danger from every angle, and because of the curse, she couldn't even trust those closest to her, let alone her own feelings. Some parts of the book dragged a little, particularly the first half, but the ending definitely more than made up for it. This book nicely wrapped up Amora's story, and though the ending took a turn I wasn't expected, it was right for this duology.

Dates Read:
January 29-February 1 2023

Rating
4 Stars

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: All the Stars and Teeth (All the Stars and Teeth #1) by Adalyn Grace

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All the Stars and Teeth
Series: All the Stars and Teeth #1
Author: Adalyn Grace
Published August 4th 2020 by Titan Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice.

She will reign.

As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.

When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.

But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder — and more peril — than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.

I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Amora has trained her entire life to become the next High Animacer of Visidia, as the crown princess. To demonstrate her right to rule, she must perform the soul magic in front of the entire court, but when it goes awry, and she's imprisoned - awaiting execution - it's only the mysterious pirate, Bastien, who can help her flee and escape. Now exiled, fleeing from her people and her powers, Amora needs to work with Bastien to save his island from the clutches of a tyrannical dictator, Kaven, hellbent on power, or else the entire kingdom may suffer and fall. Will Amora be able to control her power long enough for the good of her kingdom, or is she doomed to fail?

I wasn't too sure what to expect from this book, but ultimately, it was really enjoyable. Okay, the love triangle aspect of it all was extremely cliched, especially when one of the love interests was only really there because he had been betrothed to Amora when they were younger - there's no real feelings or anything. I did like the chemistry between Amora and Bastien, and aspects of the story were original and engaging. I honestly wasn't expecting how gruesome the book could be at times, especially when discussing the way in which Amora's magic - essentially blood magic - worked, nor how action heavy it would be. I'm definitely going to be reading book 2 when I have a chance, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book!

Dates Read:
August 29-30, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Belladonna (Belladonna #1) by Adalyn Grace

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Belladonna
Series: Belladonna #1
Author: Adalyn Grace
Published August 30th 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton

Goodreads Synopsis
For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars...

Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being – and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy.

Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger, and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer, though, is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful – and more irresistible – than she ever dared imagine.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Signa Farrow has always known death. Orphaned as a new born, she has been passed from one family member to another in her nineteen years, and her guardians have often died. But, considering most of them only cared about the wealth she could bring them, it wasn't much of a loss. Signa is comfortable in the company of Death, and has worked out how to reach Death, and communicate with him with the help of Belladonna berries. Now with her latest family members, she discovers not all is as it seems. Her guardian is mourning the death of his wife from a mysterious wasting disease, one which his daughter, Blythe, seems to be suffering from as well. He ignores his son, Percy, and his business is about to collapse. Soon, Signa realises that the spirit of Lillian is trying to find her, and that her death may have been murder - and someone wants to kill Blythe too. Working with Death to solve the mystery, the sparks fly, and Signa is risking losing not just her heart, but her life too.

When I started this book, I wasn't too sure what to expect. I was hooked, however, from the first chapter. Belladonna is full of poetic prose and lyrical speech, with a plot line which grips your attention, and doesn't want to let you go. Signa was a character who was strong, but extremely vulnerable too. She'd never had anyone who really cared about her, and as a rich, orphaned heiress, she was surrounded by people who wanted her money, not her attention. She found a good family in the Hawthorne's, though the secrets that were hiding just below the surface were doomed to come out. Yes, some chapters were a little boring, with the side plot of Signa preparing herself for society, and marriage, whereas when the mystery and murder plot line took hold, I could barely put the book down. There's a hint of a love triangle, but it's obvious what's really happening, so I wasn't too fussed by it. I also guessed a little at the true culprit, but there were a number of twists and turns along the way that blew me away. I'm loving the world building, and am glad this was not the standalone I was expecting. Bring on Foxglove!

Dates Read:
June 21-24, 2022

Rating
4 Stars