Tabitha Tomala

Robin may have found her family’s grimoire, but there are still pages within Claude’s possession. Determined to find the lost pages and discover Claude’s goals, Robin and Zylas continue their hunt. But the closer they come to Claude, the more danger they will face. Claude has allied with powerful magic users who can directly combat Zylas’s demon magic. The pair will have to ramp up their teamwork and abilities to overcome this latest threat.

Robin and Zylas have come such a long way from two characters who could hardly see eye to eye. But while they’ve made great steps towards becoming a team, the danger is increasing the closer they get to Claude. With each new challenge, their lack of communication and trust shows. Robin and Zylas are equally stubborn and they’re going to learn some hard lessons when they find their separate abilities have little power.

The ramp up of romantic tension in the series has gradually built from book to book. And while it by no means takes over the plot, the character interactions are influenced by their feelings. The ability to work magic together is intricately tied into Robin and Zylas trusting each other with their innermost thoughts and feelings. The power balance between the two has always been unequal, yet if they can learn to communicate and sync with one another, they will make a dynamic team. And the tension between the two is just as exciting as the plot tension.

Each book in the Guild Codex: Demonized series improves on the last and the audiobooks bring such a wealth of emotion to the characters. The narrator does a fantastic job changing pitch and tone to reflect how the characters are feeling. Hunting Fiends for the Ill-Equipped is an action-packed fast-moving read. Urban fantasy readers need to visit the Guild Codex world.

The emperor controls his land and people through bone shard magic. Each person in the empire is forced to give up a bone shard from their skull. But not all who undergo the brutal chipping survive. And even if they do, their shard may be chosen to give life to one of the emperor’s constructs. Lin and Bayan are rivals for the throne, and each has been learning to use bone shard magic, vying for the emperor’s keys which unlock more secrets and knowledge in the palace. But Bayan is steadily making progress, whereas Lin is held back. All she wants is to earn her father’s praise, but the emperor seems to favor Bayan over Lin. Determined not to fall behind, Lin steals keys to make copies. But as she delves deeper into the secrets of the palace, she will uncover unspeakable horrors the Emperor has kept hidden for years.

The evolution of Lin and Bayan’s rivalry was intense. They are nearly at each other’s throats constantly, yet there is a spark of chemistry between them. Lin’s greatest challenge is the loss of her memories, and because of this, she is held back from studying construct magic. But Lin will not let the emperor’s disregard hold her back. And while Lin is ambitious, she does not fully understand the consequences her actions will have. In her drive to outpace Bayan, she will put those outside of the palace in danger.

While Lin and Bayan’s story gives background information on bone shard magic and the degrading state of the emperor, Jovis opens readers' eyes to the common people. Hired to smuggle children away before their bone shards are taken, Jovis sees the everyday horrors. And after one job goes awry he finds himself with an animal companion named Melphie. Melphie is absolutely adorable and gives Jovis’ storyline a humorous balance. Jovis has no idea what kind of animal Melphie is, but their companionship grows throughout the storyline as they become further involved in the revolution of the empire.

And then there is the pairing of Phalue and Ranami. Phalue is the daughter of a governor, and Ranami is a rebel actively working with the revolution. The two have a complex relationship as they are on opposing sides but in love with each other. While Phalue wants to slowly fix governing from the inside, Ranami wants immediate action. Ranami is similar to Lin in her actions, where she does not see the potential consequences that may occur. Blinded by her need to do better for those she sees suffering, she will drag Phalue into situations they will not be able to come back from.

Then to add another layer of mystery to all the hints, and tidbits dropped throughout all the storylines, is Sand. A woman who one day falls from a tree and realizes she's been brainwashed and taken from her home. She lives on an island with multiple others who have had their past erased.

Each storyline, whether it focuses on the inner workings of the empire, ongoing unrest with the emperor’s rule, or even day to day life, carries dark undertones surrounding the use of bone shard magic and the disregard for humans as living beings. There are many character points of view, but each adds another intricate layer to the plot. And when the atrocities that are occurring are fully realized for the reader, they will be horrified. The Bone Shard Daughter is for those who enjoy characterization and richly developed plot lines.

Thank you to The Write Reads and Neem Tree Press for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Told through multiple points of view, and spanning years, The Idle Stance of the Tippler Pigeon tells a tale of grief and recovery. It is a story about second chances, the complexities of family and friendship, and learning how to live on past traumatic experiences.

Safinah Danish Elahi can capture raw human emotion in a detailed and intricate way, from the characters’ inner thoughts to their interactions. Readers will find themselves experiencing intense moments of conflict within each of the characters, and their struggles to find some semblance of balance and peace in their life.

As the story unfolds, each point of view begins to paint a picture of the tragedy that ultimately influenced each person’s life. Hints are mixed among each narrative, slowly working to expose why each character is dealing with grief in their own way. And how the loss of one person can influence the lives of many. Though each character readers encounter, knows the deceased in different capacities, the effect on their lives is no less profound.

The Idle Stance of the Tippler Pigeon is an emotional read that centers on how relationships and lives change after loss. And how years later it can still impact a person's life. This book is for those who enjoy stories of families and friendships trying to endure and move past their grief.

Thank you to Joel C. Flannagan-Grannemann for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Talia: Heir to the Fairy Realm has a large cast of characters. Not only do readers have a chance to experience the story through Talia’s eyes, but her nine ladies and their soldiers also journey with her. Readers can witness the relationships between all the characters, and how they collectively work together towards common goals. This does slow down the pace, but readers who enjoy side characters having their moments to shine will enjoy this style.

With a larger cast of characters, there is also the opportunity to explore many harder hitting themes without requiring the main character to experience it all. Talia and her companions face many challenges as they move from one goal to the next—grief, loss, recovery from traumatic experiences, etc. There is so much packed into this novel. Not to mention the political maneuvering and undercurrent of family rivalry.

Joel C. Flannagan did a wonderful job showing the difference between Talia’s mother as a queen and as a mother figure. There are times the queen struggles with her decisions because as a mother she would not force Talia into certain situations. However, as the queen she must do what is best for the kingdom and carry out certain political maneuvers. And the readers can see how devastating it is to her as Talia’s mother. But the bond between mother and daughter is strong, and while they will voice anger and sorrow, ultimately they love each other and understand what must be done.

Talia: Heir to the Fairy Realm is a novel for those who want an in depth quest based novel. While it is slower paced, it has an intricate way of showing Talia develop her knowledge and world understanding by physically experiencing the troubles of others in her realm.

Kings of the Wyld hits spot on with the balance between humor and darker fantasy. The team encounters quite a shock at how different it is to start a band and earn their keep. Gone are the days of working hard to earn a name. There are now contests and parades, fanfare, and PR that Clay’s team would have never imagined participating in. And of course, all of this is a parallel comparison to the music industry in the modern age as well! Earning your name is more than just playing shows in the hopes of catching the eyes of the right audience, it’s social media and fanfare.

And while readers will enjoy the many subtle (and not so subtle) ties into music, there are also wonderful character dynamics. Clay is such a stalwart father figure. While he leads a boring life, it’s a peaceful one where he can enjoy his family and watch his daughter grow up. And despite all he faces on his latest adventure, his mind is never far from his family. And while he is a family man, he also has deep connections to his crew. He’s formed bonds with each member of the band. And while they go through ups and downs, and many mistakes, he remains steadfastly loyal to them. He is a character who faces down impossible odds to protect his family and friends.

Alongside the wholesome moments and humorous pluck, there is a darker fantasy undertone. It is no secret the band is marching toward what could be their death. They must travel through the Wylds, which brings a level of danger most adventures don’t have the courage to face. There is also a slow creeping devastation as characters face down the fears lingering in the back of their minds, and harsh realities come to light.

Kings of the Wyld balances humor with dark fantasy, to create a unique and engaging story. For fans of rock music, this will also have plenty of easter eggs. The characters are well written and the relationship dynamics are phenomenal. Character personalities blend into a complex and intricate team that will entertain readers through every leg of their journey. Fantasy fans have to read this book.

Through manipulation and decades of planning, Ruin does all it can to sway lives into the path of destruction. Its counterpart, Preservation, is drained as it tries to combat Ruin’s actions. Vin, Eland, and the team must figure out the hidden meaning of messages left by the Lord Ruler, who knew this day would come. But is it too late to turn back the devastation that Ruin has unleashed?

There are so many revelations taking place within The Hero of Ages. Careful planning and foundations of misdirection went into the previous books. When the truth is finally revealed readers will be hard-pressed to see it coming amidst the twists and turns. As things begin to click into place both the characters and readers will be left stunned.

The Hero of Ages touches upon recovering from grief and the battle against depression. As Sazed works to overcome his loss from book two, he begins a downward spiral. The religions he took such care to research have become meaningless. Readers will witness Sazed’s struggle to understand the circular nature of what he studied and how religions are formed over years of individual understanding and contribution. Sazed will come to a startling discovery about the history he holds close.

And then there is Spook. He goes through such an intense stretch of character development. Spook is no longer the boy crushing on Vin and lingering in the background. He makes it his goal to be a more effective part of the team. Even though all his choices are not wisely made, and he is influenced by darker intentions, Spook truly makes his mark on the world. And while not everything is perfect, he does discover self-worth and purpose.

The Hero of Ages is an intense conclusion to the original Mistborn novels. It leaves behind lingering mysteries the main cast could not discover and opens the door for even more adventure. Yet at the same time, it neatly concludes all the current character’s stories. Each of these novels was intense but easy to read. The politics are simple yet complex enough to influence the character's actions. This trilogy is for those who enjoy epic stories and well-developed characters and worlds.

In Shift, readers will follow Donald. A politician skilled in architecture, who takes on a peculiar but at the time unalarming job. After all, planning new structures isn’t completely out of the way for political figures. But as the project progresses and Donald realizes what he has helped build, the chain of events will already be set in motion. As the remaining population is given medication to forget, there are some whose memories can never be erased.

As a prequel to Wool, Shift will reveal the origin of the Silos and the reason behind their creation. This is explained through the eyes of selfish and biased characters. Both Donald and the reader will be horrified at the slow-dawning discovery of what happened to the world and the utter manipulation that takes place. Not to mention the devastation and true intentions behind the entire plan. Donald may very well lose all he knows and loves, just to satisfy the goals of humans seeking power. The emotional impact Shift will have on readers is much more in-depth than Wool.

But Shift doesn’t just tell the origin story of the silos, it also gives readers an exploration of Solo’s story. When readers encounter him in book one, he’s been alone for years. But what happened to his silo? As Donald struggles in his storyline, Solo deals with the loss of his loved ones and the only life he grew up knowing. Readers will be brought back to the very moment Solo’s silo began to break apart, and the ensuing chaos he found himself barely surviving. Solo’s storyline shows the downward mental spiral isolation can inflict on the human mind.

Readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic stories should give the Wool series a try. This series focuses on the people living in the aftermath of an apocalypse and its effect on entire societies. When the remaining population has their memories erased and is forced to restart with a created doctrine and history, it is only a matter of time before something goes awry.

The evolution of Robin’s character from a meek girl to an empowered woman is off to a great start. Robin has so much left to go with her development, but the way she is beginning to assert herself in situations is encouraging. Robin is using her mind to think of new solutions and plan for a future version of herself. She’s even reluctantly started combat training to circumvent her natural reaction to run away.

And then there is Zylas. While he tested the boundaries of his contract with Robin in book one, in Slaying Monsters For the Feeble he’s going to push things near the breaking point. Robin and Zylas are both hard-headed and stubborn. When the two go toe to toe, there's a definite power difference. Robin keeps trying to use the customs and morals of humanity, but Zylas comes from a completely different environment. The two are going to have to sort their differences out to achieve their common goals.

Plot wise, there are so many tidbits and hints being dropped as to Zylas’ demon house being special and the origin of demon summoning. Readers will be enticed to continue reading to find answers. Not to mention the ongoing partnership and character development. Robin and Zylas’s relationship is so complex due to power differences and a base understanding of how the world works for each of them. They’re going to have to break down and try to understand one another, it’s just a question as to who will be the bigger of the two characters to do so.

Slaying Monsters For the Feeble is just as exciting to read as book one in The Guild Codex: Demonized. Readers who enjoy fast-paced, action heavy urban fantasy with complex relationships need to give this a try.

Thank you to C.M. Debell for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Isyr is the most coveted material in the land. Blades made from Isyr are the finest quality, surgeons use it in their treatments and the elite seek to obtain as much of it as they can to show their wealth. But there is a deadly secret surrounding the material and how it is made. One that will bring destruction to the land and its people.

The Many Shades of Midnight paints a startling picture of what happens when the land is poisoned by greed. The levels of destruction brought on by the mining syndicates are heartbreaking. There is no thought to the people and land they kill in their search for more wealth. And the repercussions of their actions are growing widespread as the story progresses and the depth of damage is revealed. The real-world implications reflected in this novel will be sure to send chills down a reader’s spine.

The characters C.M. Debell has created are so in-depth and complicated. Each of them has a different relationship with Isyr and it impacts the decisions they make. Some are outright addicted to Isyr, and they use their addictions to either fuel their need to destroy it or allow it to corrupt them. Others see what Isyr can inflict and can reason through what must be done, even if they do not like what has to occur.

Friendships in The Many Shades of Midnight are as complex as the characters. Alyas and Esar portray a relationship spanning years. They’ve been through the hardest times of their lives together, and despite upsets remain close friends. Friends that might as well be family. When one feels pain the other displays discomfort knowing what they are dealing with. As Brivar becomes an addition to the group, his outside perspective of Alyas only accents the intricate way Esar understands him.

Brivar himself was such an interesting character. As a surgeon’s apprentice, his perspective on people is vastly different. His training allows him to see the hidden pain in a person, and his need to help them is endearing. His dedication and resolve are what make him such a great character to read and provides counterbalance to Alyas’ emotionally charged personality.

Readers who enjoy fantasy novels with underlying themes tying back to the real world have to give this novel a try. With strong characters and themes, this is one book you do not want to pass up the chance to enjoy.