King of Always by Juno Heart

Black Blood Fae

Prince of Never * King of Always

Publish Date: August 24th, 2020
Format: ebook
Series: Black Blood Fae
Author: Juno Heart
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Introduction

Taking place after the first book, King of Always brings another romance from the land of Faery. Isla, a baker with a stubborn and independent personality, has decided to take a vacation in the land of Faery. Raff is the current crown prince and is seeking his fated mate. In the last book, he is so carefree and friendly, but now, the curse runs through him. He has become colder, meaner. When Raff and Isla meet, it's obvious they are meant to be together, but Raff isn't exactly likable all the time, and Isla doesn't like being ordered around by anyone. To top it all off, they are in the land of Faery, a dangerous place for humans, no matter how independent they are. 

Relationship

I really enjoyed reading about their relationship dynamics. Can you imagine having a smouldering hot crown prince with fire magic trying to woo you? Poor Isla, though. She doesn't want to stay in Faery. She wants to be a baker and she has dreams she wants to fulfill in the human world. Plus, she wants to marry for love! But there's something unique about Isla and her baking and her link to fire that can't be ignored.

Final Verdict

I definitely recommend this book to people who like happily-ever-after romances, enemies-to-lovers, and faeries. It was just as addictive as the first book, and we get to see Lara and Ever again as well. Also, this book makes me want to bake. I have been told I make a mean apple pie. So, snuggle up with some baked goods and enjoy this fabulous book! 

 

An Ignorant Witch by E.M. Graham

Witch Kin Chronicles 

An Ignorant Witch

Publish Date: July 17th, 2019
Publisher: OneEar Press
Format: Kindle Edition
Series: Witch Kin Chronicles
Author: E.M. Graham
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

Introduction

Dara goes to school, has a best friend, and has an average life. She shouldn't. She's a half-witch, untrained, and shunned by her witch father. Magical creatures also reside in her hometown in Newfoundland and she is capable of magic, but forbidden to venture into such territory. Her mother disappeared years ago and she resides with her aunt. Then her best friend's brother disappears and Dara becomes entangled in a magical mess she's not equipped to deal with. 

Audience

I'm not sure who the audience is supposed to be. Dara is 20 but immature, the book occasionally uses curse words, and the writing is straight forward and mostly easy to read. It makes it difficult to recommend because it sounds New YA based on story/ages but it reads like a young YA book. It's the same issue I had with The New Keeper. It really could have been written to strongly suit one specific audience.

Setting

The book has a strong setting on Granby Island, Newfoundland. Graham does a fantastic job describing Newfoundland's landscapes, people, and berry pail quirks. I've never been there so I can't confirm, but Dara lists off the directions she's taking by naming streets and local points-of-interest, along with the names of various hills and describes the terrain. I also enjoyed the juxtaposition of her aunt's cozy kitchen/home and Dara's step-mother's home. I know Dara points it out, but I still enjoy how the sterility of their home is not "witchy" but Edna's home has more of said qualities.   

I don't remember there being Newfoundland
dogs in this, but there should be. They are
good bois.

Writing

The book does a lot of telling rather than showing. The beginning pages of the book goes into her appearance, her house, her family drama - Dara just tells the reader. She legitamitely talks to the reader and that drives me bananas. All this information could have been explored naturally such as: she gets a glimpse of herself in the mirror, brushes her unruly hair, comes home to her aunt's house so she can describe it, a slow dribble her family history to the reader to keep interest and mystery. Dumping it on the reader was jarring, but if you can take the dumps of information and run with the story, I think you can have a fun time.  

Final Verdict 

If you're looking for a new book of witches who aren't instantly over-powered and who make mistakes, and even a book set in Newfoundland, this book may strike your fancy. The core story is what kept me reading. This author has a lot of potential and I sincerely hope they continue writing. As for this book, I hope this is Dara's introduction to the Witch Kin in terms of magic and politics that will follow in book 2.