breabooks's reviews
172 reviews

I’m convinced Sophia Slade is going to become the next Sarah J. Maas, but better. 

Nightstrider was nothing short of amazing. The dark fantasy world she constructed was intricate and fresh. The concept of a dream world is nothing new, but Slade created a believable dual reality with humans and the dreams they create. Her writing truly gave me a clear picture of the Wake, the Reverie, and all the monstrous (and not so monstrous) creatures that reside in the Reverie. It took a minute to catch on to the world building but it was worth the momentary confusion.

The characters struggles were so real. There was no “perfect” FMC or MMC. The 4 POVs were masterfully woven together. This book tackled heavy themes such as trauma, love, betrayal, and self-acceptance. Wren’s story was heart-wrenching.

The constant revelations in the ending had me flailing. Some smaller twists were so obvious, but I believe she included those to completely throw the reader off before the huge plot twists. Overall, this story was just amazing. I already want to re-read it. 

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

EXCUSE ME??? I wasn’t expecting another ending that had me banging my head against the wall. 🥲😵‍💫

The second book in the series was even better than the first. It continues right where House of the Raven left off. Echoes of the Raven is action packed, full of twists and turns, and delves deep into Rifior’s history. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The character develop was wonderful. The darker themes of trauma and murder were handled well. I hope to see more about Jago and about Galen! They were great comedic relief. I loved the politics - and I usually don’t prefer politics. I forgot just how complex House of the Raven was and this book is no exception. There are explicit scenes, this book is only for adults. 

What made it 4.5? The constant italicized exclamations in the narrators’ inner monologues got obnoxious really fast. It took me out of the story. 

Wow. If you want heart-wrenching pining, a Welsh- and Slavic-based story, complicated characters, and a quest that dives into ancient folkloric magic with beautiful prose then this book is for you. I loved it. 

The book can be slow at times, but the pacing seems to match the idea of time brought up later in the book. It also seems to emphasize the literal heartache of the characters. The story itself is complicated and nuanced. Raegan is a reporter through and through. She’s always questioning, look for the details in everything. Her reporting on sudden drownings all over Philly (in puddles, mind you) plunges her into a quest with the Unseelie King to find her father. That is only the beginning! The urban fantasy world is built with beautiful imagery and fantastic magic. There are a few scenes around the unique magic that were so very different from what I’ve ever read before. 

The love story is beautiful but painful. If the name of the book didn’t give it away, there’s a ton of heartache, so prepare yourself. 

I am so excited to read the next book in the duology to see how this all pans out.

This was a uniquely captivating story with a fascinating magic system. Meda is a misunderstood and very neurodivergent witch in a land where magic is scarce. Everything is protected from the fae outside by a massive magical shield. All remaining magic comes from those with distant fae relatives- witches. Except for Kalcedon, the prickly half-fae that works with Meda. 

The magic system is truly unique! Magic is referred to in terms of heat. Those with high amounts of magic are hot, but using magic makes you cool. If you run cold, you die. And magic is (mostly) performed with hand movements (much like weaving) and sigils. Scrying is an accepted form of magic among witches. Magic has a language. It’s all so different from anything I’ve read before. 

The plot was good, but felt rushed towards the end. I felt like the end could have gone slower- I wanted to know so much more about everything. I enjoyed the three main characters so much. Meda’s neurodivergence is the cause of so much miscommunication, but “miscommunication trope” isn’t typical. The author does an excellent job of portraying Meda’s autism, especially how she thinks. The romance was so sweet. Oraik was wonderfully naïve. Kalcedon was so complex. 

Overall, this was absolutely wonderful. I literally couldn’t stop thinking about it when I had to put the book down. I would be at work trying to riddle out what would happen next since I couldn’t read. My biggest issue is the rushed ending. 

Perfect ending to one of the most unique series. It has it all - humor, fantastic plot, amazing characters, and tons of breaking the fourth wall.

As much as I hated Xander in the earlier books, it was nice to see him get his own book. It was nice Xander’s self obsession stems from lack of attention and love from his mother. And that’s all he wants- love. It’s an interesting journey to watch him slowly morph from a self-absorption brat to someone who not only desires to be wanted, but deserves to be wanted. Even though he’s a jerk. I really appreciate how Caggiano throws in some really thoughtful, deep themes into each of her books. This was no exception.

The new characters were a delight. The plot was fast and fun. Imps are my favorite. I’m upset this is the last book, but it went out with a bang. Thank you A. K. Caggiano for the gifted eARC. All thoughts are my own.