Fire Falling by Elise Kova

Fire Falling by Elise Kova
(Air Awakens #2)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Soldier… Sorcerer… Savior… Who is Vhalla Yarl?

Vhalla Yarl marches to war as property of the Solaris Empire. The Emperor counts on her to bring victory, the Senate counts on her death, and the only thing Vhalla can count on is the fight of her life. As she grapples with the ghosts of her past, new challenges in the present threaten to shatter the remnants of her fragile sanity. Will she maintain her humanity? Or will she truly become the Empire’s monster?

Check out my review for book 1: Air Awakens.

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Book Depository | Available in KU

     I have to say I am loving this series. It captures my attention so well, and I'm really enjoying it. If you like historical fantasy with a good focus on the magic and especially the characters then you should definitely give this one a go! The character development is just really good, and the world-building is fantastic as well. The relationships develop so beautifully as well, between all the characters.

     Did you think they were going to war in this book? Think again! They have to get there first. Most of this book is the journey to the Northern front, which normally I might find really boring. But I was not bored for a second in this book! There is so much emotion! How does she do that? She so easily shows us into the mind of a young girl broken by the world, confused by her feelings, figuring out her place in the world, and getting to know her own power.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
(Winternight Trilogy #1)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Then she must have a husband," said Dunya simply. "The sooner the better. Frost-demons have no interest in mortal girls wed to mortal men. In the stories, the bird-prince and the wicked sorcerer - they only come for the wild maiden"

I adored this book! There are so many things about it that I loved. It’s so different from the books I’ve been reading lately. I don’t know where to start.

The Russian folklore - all the little fairy folk who live in the house and the Winter King - I love this! I never knew anything about Russian folktales before and now I’m really keen to go and read some actual Russian fairy tales to see what this is based on. I don’t know how accurate they are, but it’s a fantasy novel so who cares? The author can write whatever she wants. It did remind me quite a bit of books by Juliet Marillier and Naomi Novik, but the story is very unique.

The Glamourist by Luanne G. Smith

The Glamourist by Luanne G. Smith
(The Vine Witch #2)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads blurb: Abandoned as a child in turn-of-the-century Paris, Yvette Lenoir has longed to uncover the secrets of her magical heritage and tap her suppressed powers. But what brave and resourceful Yvette has done to survive the streets has made her a fugitive. With a price on her head, she clings to a memento from her past—what she believes to be a grimoire inherited from the mother she never knew. To unlock the secrets of her past, Yvette trusts in one woman to help solve the arcane riddles among its charmed pages.

Elena Boureanu is the vine witch of Château Renard, noted for its renowned wines. Even as she struggles with her own bloodline—and its poisonous threat to her future—Elena can’t ignore a friend on the run. Joined by a cunning thief, the proprietor of an enchanted-curio shop, and a bewitching black cat, Elena and Yvette are determined to decode Yvette’s mysterious keepsake. But what restless magic will be unleashed? And what are Yvette and Elena willing to risk to become the witches they were destined to be?

Thankyou to Netgalley and 47North for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read my review for book 1 in the series: The Vine Witch here.

As soon as I heard about the sequel to The Vine Witch I was so excited and I couldn't wait to read it! I was not disappointed, I loved The Glamourist just as much as book 1, and now I'm even more excited for book 3, The Conjurer. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this magical romp through turn-of-the-century Paris. The beautiful writing style and the stunningly well-crafted world that Smith has created is absolutely mesmerising. I was hooked from the very start.