Book Shelf – Page 3 – The Biblio Life

Title: A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire, book 1)
Author: Jessica Cluess
Pages: 416
Release Date: Sept. 20, 2016
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Summary: I am Henrietta Howel.
The first female sorcerer in hundreds of years.
The prophesied one.
Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.
Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she’s shocked when instead of being executed, she’s invited to train as one of Her Majesty’s royal sorcerers.

Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one.
As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

TRB Review – 4/5

A refreshing spin on fantasy, sorcery and magic with fantastically developed characters, terrifying monsters, and an absolutely stunning war-wreaked world! This book was very well written which is such an exciting thing to see from a debut author.

I was immediately absorbed into Henrietta Howel’s extraordinary life. Jessica Cluess has a special way of writing that draws you near to her characters and drops you off in the center of the world that she’s created. Henrietta, or “Nettie,” is likable from the first page and her POV is very interesting throughout the book. She’s 16 so there’s quite a bit of teenage angst and drama, more emotional than anything else but we’ve all been there so it’s at the least relatable. For being so young, Nettie is fairly mature (except for the love triangle thing, I’ll get to that) and very strong willed, both characteristics that I like to see in leading ladies. Rook, Nettie’s best friend who is called an “Unclean” because he was touched/wounded by the Ancient Ones, is a bit of a mystery. They have an obvious connection, but his history isn’t put into much detail and he becomes more elusive as the story proceeds.

As for the love triangle situation – that portion became a bit annoying to me after awhile. The main character is a teenage girl without much worldly experience so of course I expected some of the theme to surface. In retrospect though, she just seemed confused and love sick about too many young gentleman and there were parts that I didn’t even think necessary to feed the story. Perhaps these little side romances and bubbly feelings will develop or lead to more interesting sub-plots in the sequel(s), but for now they felt a bit forced.

This was a quick read for me because I was constantly enthralled by the plot twists and various things that were happening to the characters, I couldn’t put it down! Especially toward the end, if you haven’t read this yet but plan to OH JUST YOU WAIT!! I did not expect the story to take the turn that it did, which made the last 50 pages or so such a blur since I couldn’t read fast enough! Cluess’s style of writing is such a delight, I’ll just be sitting here twiddling my thumbs until the next book comes out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author:

Jessica Cluess is a writer, a graduate of Northwestern University, and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel. When she’s not writing books, she’s an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories.

Bio retrieved from author’s website.

You can also connect with Jessica via Twitter, Goodreads, and Tumblr!

If you haven’t already added this book to your TBR list, now’s the time!
It can be purchased from any of your favorite retailers below:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and Penguin Random House

What is your favorite type of YA fiction/fantasy? I am not huge on magic and sorcery, I prefer dragons and knights but love to get my hands on just about anything! Comment below and share some of your favorite reads with us!

Title: The Cottage (Secrets of the Shetlands #2)
Author: Michael Phillips
Pages: 416
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Genre: Christian Fiction
Summary: When Loni Ford is informed that she has inherited property in the Shetland Islands, she laughs. She wants nothing more than to sell it and be done with it. But when she arrives in the North Sea enclave, she is stunned to find that “the Cottage” is not at all what she expected, nor is David Tulloch, the man most of the islanders believe to be the rightful heir.

The locals could hardly be more surprised that the heir is a woman–and an American. Loni, in turn, finds the islanders quaint and a bit behind the times. Expecting David to be as provincial as the rest of his clan, she discovers that there is far more to the man than meets the eye. And there is something about the peaceful atmosphere of the place–and the character of its most prominent citizen–that soon gets under her skin.

Beneath the peaceful surface, however, change is threatening the island of Whale’s Reef. David’s cousin Hardy Tulloch, whose claim to the inheritance now in Loni’s hands was backed by oil investors, has not been deterred in his aim to control the island. But his co-conspirators have plans of their own, plans that put Loni’s very life in danger.

TRB Review – 4/5

The fantastic Scottish accents and gorgeous Shetland scenery combined with good hearted humor and a riveting storyline keeps you hooked from the first chapter!

I did not have the chance to read the prequel to this novel, Inheritance (Secrets of the Shetlands #1), but without any prior context I can happily say that it was a pleasant and compelling read regardless. I honestly don’t know that you even need to read the first book to follow the character development, but it’s always a good idea to go in order!

It took me quite a while to get to this review, which was a mix of my own and other sources faults. I am so glad that I read it though! It’s not often in an ever growing world of erotica and paranormal romance publications that we find a decent Christian Fiction novel. What I quickly learned to like about Michael Phillip’s writing is that he weaves a fantastic story while teaching valuable lessons, he takes the time to define and develop his characters, and keeps your wheels turning all the while.

“A wise man knoweth when he has contracted foot-in-mouth disease.” – The Cottage, Michael Phillips

Loni Ford really resonates with me because she is a kind hearted but very driven woman. She has a great career and has worked hard to get herself there, so when her life is turned upside down by the surprise inheritance in the Shetland Isles, her reaction is of no surprise to me! She develops beautifully, and is very easy to relate to. Her struggles are human, and her thoughts were way too similar to mine!

The story really gets gripping toward the middle/latter half of the book, so much builds on the struggles of the town and the new threats by Hardy Tulloch that you just want to keep reading! It was very difficult to put down, and it even has me considering starting from the beginning with book one and continuing with the third installment! This is a very lighthearted read that can be enjoyed any time of day, but prepare yourself for endless hours of not wanting to put the book down!

I received a complementary copy of this book from the Bethany House Blogger Review Program in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author:

MICHAEL PHILLIPS (b.1946), one of many in a rising generation of spiritual offspring of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, and the legacy of the Inklings, has made it his life’s passion to promote the teachings of these giants of the past.

Michael Phillips is considered to be one of the most versatile and prolific Christian authors of our time. To those unfamiliar with his work, the question, “What kind of books does Michael Phillips write?” has no easy answer. He began his distinguished writing career in 1977 with several non-fiction titles. Since that time, he has authored over twenty non-fiction books, most notably dealing with the nature and character of God and the Fatherhood of God. After turning to the writing of novels in the mid – 1980s, Phillips has penned some sixty fiction titles of great variety. The enormous breadth of his faithful audience is testimony that his writings are universal in their appeal. Most of his series have been best sellers in the Christian market.

To find out more about this author, visit his website and Facebook page!

You can purchase The Cottage from one of your favorite online retailers below:
Amazon, Baker Book House (Bethany House), Barnes & Noble, and Book Depository

Tag: Book Shelf

Book Review: A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

Book Review: The Cottage by Michael Phillips