Everly Frost

extremely heavy-handed. constant unnecessary repetition. cringeworthy melodrama. to say the plot is full of holes is an understatement and its entier core is completely forced by unnecessary secrecy among other tired clichés. The writing is decent tho. The present tense first person is interesting to read.
Cliffhangers in books I didn't enjoy much usually leave me just resentful that the book after failing me in so many other ways didn't even have the decency of giving me a somewhat satisfying ending.
But not in this case. I feel strangely compelled to pick up the next one despite all the shortcomings but I probably won't because I have common sense on my side.… (mer)

Everything in this one is exaggerated, melodramatic, overly sentimental and everyone involved in this world apparently rolled dice for every decision.
I have listened to the first 2 hours of the audiobook and even tho there weren't any obvious contradictions, things in this world just don't make any sense.
Most facts are crafted just to navigate the plot in a planned way but in itself are completely ridiculous and make no sense whatsoever.
Things like the chain of command, power structures or all of the infinite number of rules, all of it and more are specifically designed to make this particular extremely contrived plot plausible.
The mc is a total marry sue and suffers from the same problem.
Instead of having plothole, this story contradicts with common sense.… (mer)

Particularly original? No, not at all. It's chock-full of tired clichées and common tropes.
But the execution is excellent.
This is what happens if you actually apply all those age-old clichées and tropes well.

The setup that initially looked like an enemies-to-lovers romance was more like a strangers that happen to be enemies immediately become lovers romance. The term Instalove is not strong enough to describe what was going on there. Usually, stuff like this annoys me, but honestly, I didn't mind at all in this case.
The only major frustration I had was the vicious cliffhanger. Make sure you have the second book at hand before you finish the first one. I didn't.… (mer)

Jaw dropping my AWESOME

Be warned CLIFFHANGER ending!!! However it's soooooo worth it. Can't wait for the next and final book of this BRILLIANT series.

This one picks up where the last left off. Storm Princess Marbella fled with her love, Jasper, the Phoenix, and the invisible Storm Queen after the horrific betrayal by their Elven Elders. Still trying to wrap her mind around all that happened, and the current state of Baelen (all but frozen in a coma like state)...The group flees to attempt to find some semblance of safety. Quickly a female gargoyle launches herself at them pleading for asylum and help. Moments later the Gargoyle king guard face off against them demanding she be returned as she's "property of His Majesty"... ICK....and NO! Marcella, Jasper, and all that were able fight off these male gargoyles in an attempt to get this female newcomer to safety. Out of nowhere a barrage of arrows appear to help them by fighting the men trying to take the fearful female. Not knowing who sent these arrows their little unit quickly use the help and get her to ground. Within moments the road 's appear to move...only for them to realize it's another male gargoyle...oh and he has arrows in his hand. Guess that answers the question of who notched the arrows....now to determine friendly or foe. Moments later Marbella realizes he's the Gargoyle she came upon in the cave....The father of the twin babies. Surprises just keep coming, which seems to be the trend in this book. Their "fearful" female is suddenly fearful to more...in fact she fiercely goes to protect the group that saved her from this new male. Seeing the mark in his skin she knows what clan he's from and thinks him a monster. Here is where we learn how just like the lies spread within the Elven realm, so have they spread within the Gargoyle realm.

All our Storm Princess knows is she desperately needs the water from the special spring that runs below where the current gargoyle "king" has made his palace if she has ANY hope of saving Baelin. Many falsehoods are revealed, enemies become friends, legends shown false, and a few personal surprises for the Storm Princess emerge along this path to save her love. It all begins when they're captured by the Gargoyle king, whom they soon learn is working with the tainted Elven Elders. Marbella works her magic with all that she meets...making friends with the Gargoyle miners, the previous Gargoyle high priestess, and strangely enough the Gargoyle captain of the guard. What she learns in her time imprisoned. Would change everything for herself and the Gargoyle nation. This one tiny female has so much strength within. Strength of conviction, love, belief, and the desire to set things right and save an enslaved realm not her own....or is it? Forced to use her wits, mind, instincts and friendships as she's without the storm power for now...we see her truly come into her own. The truth begins to reveal itself to her...slowly. I for one can't wait for the next book to see the full reveal....I have a feeling those horrible Elven Elders will rue the day they turned on her, Baelen and their people. Here's to Marbella and her friends possibly freeing two peoples, revealing the falsehoods spread to BOTH kingdoms, and possibly uniting them? Maybe the mysterious book that she was shown by the previous gargoyle high priestess within the Gargoyle "Kings" palace holds many of the answers they all need. Fingers crossed the next book comes out soon. This series is full of adventure, excitement, betrayal, sorcery, politics, and so much more!… (mer)