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The Vardoger Boy (The Forerunner Saga Book 2) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The Vardoger Boy (Forerunner Series)The Vardoger Boy by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was just as stunningly fabulous as the first book! I adore the illustration of the world and the characters too. The alternating points of view are such an engaging way to tell the story, seeing different parts and how they tie together. I like seeing how the characters interact and how they relate to each other, even as they come from different ways of life and different experiences. Also I enjoy the family ties aspects, how family is important to each character and the way that relationship guides actions. This truly is an amazing book within this series and I look forward to reading more!

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns, #1)Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this book! Chloe is a headstrong but compassionate person who cares so deeply about her family. I adore her as a character. The author did a fantastic job of creating the world and illustrating it with their words. I would love to go see Faerie and was fascinated from beginning to end of this book. Quintus is also very headstrong but with such a genuine care for his home. I would love to meet both Chloe and Quintus and talk to them about their different experiences.

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Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse (The Forerunner Saga Book 1) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review By Jo Frizzell

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Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse (The Forerunner Series #1)Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was excellent! The author did a fantastic job illustrating this world. It’s one of those places that I really want to visit and meet all the characters. I was fascinated by the world itself and the storytelling in the book. The author’s characters were well-written and their descriptions were top-notch. I adore the way the characters interacted and look forward to reading more of this series!

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The Wolf’s Shadow (The Lycanthropy Files Book 1) by Cecilia Dominic – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The Wolf's Shadow (The Lycanthropy Files #1)The Wolf’s Shadow by Cecilia Dominic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was extremely well-written and kept me on the edge of my seat! I’m a sucker for strong female leads and this story’s main character definitely didn’t disappoint. An epidemiologist, focusing her research on curing lycanthropy, is brilliant and strong-willed. She’s also unwilling to bow to others who will stop at nothing to get her to stop her research. If you like urban fantasy and thrillers, this is definitely a must read!

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The Curse of a Faeblood by MK Lorber – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The Curse of a FaebloodThe Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! The author does a fantastic job of world building, and an even better job of character building. The courage with which Ember faces her challenges is inspiring and I would love to spend just one hour talking to her. The relationship between her and Gavyn was so realistic and I really enjoyed seeing it grow. The chosen family they build is just so heartwarming; I always enjoy reading about chosen families because I can relate – even having a good blood family, chosen family can be so important.

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A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending Book 1) by Nicole Bailey – Review by Jo Frizzell

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A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending, #1)A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing! I’ve always enjoyed Greek mythology, and have read a lot of books that use it as part of their premise, as well as just reading the myths themselves. I’ve never read a book quite like this one though. I was enthralled. The different characters and their individual perspectives, even as they struggled with similar dilemmas was beautifully written. The growth of the characters as well as their relationship building was wonderfully done. Temi and Pip are these fabulously fierce friends pushing gender norms in a place where that would be looked down upon while Cyn and Apollo were just hiding their true selves like so many of us do. Watching them open up and understand each other was beautiful. Their story is definitely far from over, but oh what a magical beginning!

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Snap Me Up (Full Throttle Cyborgs Book 1) by Landra Graf – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Snap Me Up (Full Throttle Cyborgs, #1)Snap Me Up by Landra Graf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing! I was reading it and completely engrossed by the world they live in and the people in Frog Lick and the way they interacted. Snapper and Gina’s relationship was so realistic in the way it grew, even with the interference from others. Snapper’s story in particular was heart-wrenching but explained so much about why he acted the way he did. Gina’s journey to learning about humanity was fun to follow even as she struggled to figure out the nuances of interacting with other people while keeping her secret.

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The Wish-Eater by Claire Luana – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The Wish-EaterThe Wish-Eater by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Honestly, I don’t know what to say first, because when I started reading this book, I was immediately enthralled. This author brilliantly wove this amazing world with characters that are so relatable! I wanted to know them, interact with them, and see their world. Elodie in particular is an amazingly strong female lead, who has excellent role models both in Pepa and Agathe. Willum’s story made me ache for him, but I truly wanted to meet Sebastian. His and Dion’s friendship was so genuine and I loved it as much as Elodie and Josephine’s sisterly relationship. The relationships within the family and town, the doubt within the characters’ normal lives, and the hope brought by a story were just truly beautiful. It’s a story that gave me Inkheart vibes, so if you liked those stories, I’m sure you’d enjoy this one.

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Taming of the Few (Guardians of the PHAE Book 1) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Taming of the FewTaming of the Few by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is so beautifully written! The descriptions were so vibrantly authored that it made me think of Tolkien’s illustrative language. I really enjoyed the way the point of view alternated which let me as reader understand more characters. I also adored the realistic and genuine relationships and the way the characters interacted with each other. Learning the backstory of characters is so interesting to me, seeing why they react to different situations the way they do, because I have an understanding of who they are. This book is just fabulous and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys some modern fantasy!

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Blood & Ravens (The Casket Girls Series Book 1) by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance (The Casket Girls Book 1)Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story was wonderfully woven! The paranormal was integrated perfectly with the historical aspect. I adore Greer as a character, she’s someone whose story I would wish to be a part of. The byplay between her and Theron was fabulous. I also really enjoyed her friendship with the other girls, and the growth of their bond even in a short period of time. Strong female leads are always something I enjoy, and this author wrote her beautifully. I will definitely be looking up more of their works!

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The Last Cabin Girl (Detective Josie Thompson Series) by Tom Swyers – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The Last Cabin Girl: A totally gripping thriller full of twistsThe Last Cabin Girl: A totally gripping thriller full of twists by Tom Swyers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my lanta! Where do I start with this book? I was absolutely enthralled from beginning to end. It was a hard read with the emphasis on the pandemic, as we’ve gone through that. I know I tend to read to go somewhere else and not worry about the real world. Throughout the entire story though, even as I could relate to some of the events – such as the pandemic – I still needed to know what came next. Josie’s story is so well-written and wonderful, through all the twists and turns. The rendering of her family and the truly genuine relationships they shared were just done so well. I like to think that I would get along with her, and would love to meet her in the real world. However, I know and appreciate that her story was told in a way to showcase parts of her life and how she reacted. The emphasis she placed on protecting her kids was amazing, and honestly, I think there’s a little bit of Josie in everyone. Thank you for this fabulous story!

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, first and foremost, I have to say thank you for this book. In all honesty, while there are some books that have queer representation, and more are coming, it’s rare that there are characters that are like me. Watching this non-binary human take on their challenges was so inspiring and kept me completely hooked. The world this author built was so well illustrated that I wanted to see it, even in the midst of the turmoil. Ruarnon’s relationships with the people around them were so well written and their growth kept me cheering them on, and wishing I could know them too. I look forward to reading more of their story!

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Spring’s Calling (Seasons of Magic Book 1) by Sarah Biglow – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Spring's Calling (Seasons of Magic, #1)Spring’s Calling by Sarah Biglow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I sat down to read this book, I couldn’t stop. I read the entire thing in 2 hours, completely captivated by Ezri’s story. Her suffocating grief, even as she was a true warrior focused on justice, was heartbreaking. Watching the pieces come together in the mix between remembering the past, learning more about the truth of the past and knowing what the future needed to bring was almost cinematic in its execution. The relationships shown were so genuine and truly made me want to know her. This book truly was a beautiful story that kept me completely engrossed from start to finish and I can’t wait to see what comes next for Ezri and the people around her.

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Class Clown (Ghost Girl Series) by Allan Evans – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Class ClownClass Clown by Allan Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story really drew me in from the beginning. Abbey is such a strong-willed and relatable character who I know would be a good friend to have. The descriptions of the clowns brought me back to 2016 with the hysteria of the scary clowns attacking people. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat even as I couldn’t stop reading because I just had to know what came next. I adore the dynamic between the soccer team, especially Abbey, Lexi, and Kelly. I love her determined spirit, and I absolutely adore her relationship with her family. Everything good about stories that draws you in is executed beautifully in this book!

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Weep, Woman, Weep: A Gothic Fairytale about Ancestral Hauntings by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Weep, Woman, WeepWeep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story was simply amazing! Reading the first page, I was immediately drawn in. I love Mercy’s voice and the storytelling she does. I adore the reality in the relationships, and the way the story touches on all the ways that things were different then. I loved reading about Mercy’s dreams and her fighting spirit even as her dreams changed because reality struck. I just really truly love everything about it, I was absolutely enthralled from beginning to end.

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Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Divine VintageDivine Vintage by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story was fabulous! I loved meeting the characters and getting to know them! I wanted to visit the town and see her shop. Watching the relationships build warmed my heart. I’m a sucker for stories with successful relationships and this is such a sweet story. The suspense and mystery just made it even better. It’s a great read, especially if you like romance and mystery.

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Return of the Elf Lord (Kingdom of the Elf Lords Book 1) by Heidi Vanlandingham – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Return of the Elf LordReturn of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! My go-to genre tends to be fantasy, and this author has this amazing mastery of what makes fantasy novels so compelling. The author weaves these worlds, making it easy to see and understand the way they are interrelated. Reading this story, I was completely engrossed in the descriptions especially because they painted a picture: not always a pretty one, but an intense and compelling one that completely made sense for where on the journey we were, following the characters. The characters were also complex and relatable, facing problems that we may face here in the real world, but adapted to their world. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy!

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Seven Strengths: A Tale from Turaset (The Industrial Age) by P.L. Tavormina – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Seven Strengths: A Tale from TurasetSeven Strengths: A Tale from Turaset by P.L. Tavormina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was excellent! I really enjoyed the different take on a different time and place. The intentionality with which the author built the world, creating and building different types of places and biases is absolutely amazing. It mirrors our world, showcasing the differences between the citizens. However, even with the differences between them and us, the characters are still relatable, making me want to know them more.

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Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Depending On YouDepending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Where do I even start with this? Reading this book was a rollercoaster of emotions and I want to ride it again and again! I absolutely adore Cate and Patti’s friendship, and their relationships with Cate’s dad and Patti’s mom. I love the romance and the love story, but I also kind of loved that it wasn’t the main point. I had so many ideas about what had actually happened on that night and I just had to keep reading so I knew for sure. All of the relationships were just so amazingly realistic and genuine and that’s my favorite part, because even with a HEA, it takes some work to get there. They say you can’t see a rainbow without rain and this story demonstrated that beautifully. I just really honestly loved every bit of this and will definitely be looking up all of this author’s other books.

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Journeys Through Collection: Volumes 1-3 by James Talisman – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Journeys Through Collection: Volume 1-3Journeys Through Collection: Volume 1-3 by James Talisman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series is exceptionally well-written! It draws a reader in from word one, completely engaging every reader with the complexity of the characters. The intricacy of the worlds the author builds is absolutely amazing! The originality of the journeys kept me reading and I just had to see what came next! I wish it was a world I could tour myself, and characters that I could make friends with. Their growth is realistic but they never lose the complexity that endeared them to me in the first place! There were also many intense ideas that made me want to save them so I could think more about them later! All in all, his writing is exquisite and will not disappoint!

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Daire’s Devils (Daire’s Devils Series Book 1) by Danielle Ackley-McPhail – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Daire's DevilsDaire’s Devils by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

People always say, don’t judge a book by its cover, yet everyone does, at least to an extent. I know I do! So, when I saw the cover, I was intrigued, when I read the synopsis, I was immediately hooked, and reading the story, I was absolutely not disappointed. The author has this way of writing that just draws you in, like you’re standing in a corner listening to and watching the events as they occur. I adore Kat as a character, strong-willed, independent, and just a general BA woman. I also adore the teamwork and the friendships between the Devils. They are just so genuine, and I know at least I want to have relationships like those in my life. I adored this book, and the world it was in!

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Etched in this Moment (Etched Series Book 1) by Calla Zae – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Etched in this Moment (Etched, #1)Etched in this Moment by Calla Zae
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my lanta this book! I don’t know how this author did it! They just wrote characters and made them realistic, and grow exponentially, and just did such an amazing job with the way they wrote their personalities. I always notice characters, because if I don’t like the characters or see true personalities I get bored. That was most definitely not a problem I had with this story! The suspense and relationship building between Theo and Sofia were top notch and 10/10 I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book fascinated me from seeing the cover and reading the summary until the very end! I read the summary and immediately wanted to know everything. This author does an amazing job building the world and enticing their readers to want to be there. The characterizations and their development were truly fabulous! One of my favorite parts of reading any book is watching the relationships between the characters grow and change, and this author did a marvelous job drawing me in from word one!

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The View from Here by Leon Stevens – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The View from HereThe View from Here by Leon Stevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one that I am going to be rereading over and over, I can already tell. I started reading it and honestly didn’t stop until it was over. I love Thomas and April, and their friendship that has such genuine rapport. I always adore when I can read a story and fall in love with the characters, or the setting. Everything in me wants to go see the place, and meet Flick. I want to know more about Thomas and April, and if they go back. Truly though, I just want to see it, and explore.

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Tomb For An Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders Book 1) by Lexie Conyngham – Review By Jo Frizzell

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Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders #1)Tomb for an Eagle by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t normally read historical stories, but I couldn’t help but choose to read this after seeing that it was set in Viking times! The descriptions were vivid and beautiful giving me a clear picture of the setting. The characters completely endeared me to them and they just matched well. I truly enjoyed this book! I am looking forward to reading more by this author!

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having started this series, I had to keep reading! I loved the way all the characters interacted with each other. I wished I could walk around outside and see the beautiful places that were painted into my mind! This author does a fabulous job showing you their world, and dragging you in, to the point where you look up and don’t expect to see your own space, but truly expect to see their world. As someone who usually shies away from historical fiction, I truly recommend this series because it drew me in from word one, so I’m really glad I decided to try something different than I usually do!

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ConQuest: The Art of Selling at Cons by Megan Mackie – Review by Jo Frizzell

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ConQuest: The Art of Selling At ConsConQuest: The Art of Selling At Cons by Megan Mackie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was spectacular. I decided to read it because I have always wanted to write a book but have never had any idea how I could successfully sell it. I tend to have a hard time reading non-fiction books, or how-to books and that was not the case with this book. I appreciate the way the author wrote it, almost like they were standing in front of me sharing this information. It also made it very easy to read because it gave information in a clear and concise manner without being condescending.

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The Traveler (The Traveler, Book 1) by Deborah Dugan – Review by Jo Frizzell

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The TravelerThe Traveler by Deborah Dugan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book drew me in and kept me wondering! I just wanted to keep reading to understand. Honestly, Tristan’s immediate reaction to Harry was much more mild than mine would have been. My roommate would have been dying laughing at me while I cried in a mixture of fear and confusion. I have to give this author kudos for just having such a knack for showing the world she’s designed with words in a way that makes me want to know if Harry has tried to talk to me and I had the aforementioned freakout and made him leave, or if she has just created this world that is like ours, but not.

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Apocalypse Thoughts (The Pox Series Book 5) by Kendra Griffin – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Apocalypse ThoughtsApocalypse Thoughts by Kendra Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was phenomenal! Kella and Huck have such an amazing sibling relationship, and tying that in with their relationship with Jumper is truly heartwarming, the way they take care of each other. All of the references to Lord of the Rings also kept me smiling, with the way they communicated with each other building relationships in the midst of the turmoil the was the ETM. I cant wait to see how Gazer, Huck, and Kella band together to get out of this new conflict. Honestly, the way this story was written was truly a masterpiece and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

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Fall to Pieces by Becky Flade – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Fall to PiecesFall to Pieces by Becky Flade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This author writes a beautiful story! The main character, Lexi, is so relatable! She’s living her every day life, and refuses to compromise her morals. That’s so hard to do, and the way she interacts with the other characters is so realistic. The relationships weaved between the characters and the complexity of the plot were truly amazing and I didn’t want to put this book down!

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