Eira has felt out of place ever since she could remember. Underestimated, overshadowed, and outcast, she has always longed for a spot far, far away from the place she has called home, a place of legends and magic she never knew.

One day, the opportunity to visit the mysterious land of Meru, the elfin homeland and source of Eira’s fascination, emerges along with a unique Tournament of the Five Kingdoms. If Eira can prove herself, she will secure a spot as a champion and will participate in the main event in the kingdom of Meru.

This – proving her worth after years, proving everyone wrong, stepping foot on the soil that calls for her – is what Eira wants more than anything, and what she will strive to get. No matter how many people tell her she should drop out of the tournament. No matter how many opponents wish her ill. No matter that her own family requests she forfeit her only chance at success.

A set of five trials. Many opponents. Countless voices telling her to stop, to give up, to back down.

But Eira will face them all. Because finally, she knows what she wants, and she is not going to back down from it.

***

Set in the universe of the Air Awakens series, A Trial of Sorcerers unveils more of the magical kingdom of Solis created by the author in her previous works. Having been away from my beloved characters for a while, I was delighted to be able to encounter them again – more mature, more experienced, more powerful than ever. Vhalla and Aldrik, as the empress and emperor, play crucial roles in the book, despite not being directly connected with its plot or characters. I always enjoy generations intertwining in books, and I wasn’t disappointed that despite presenting us with new intriguing protagonists, Elise Kova did not deny us the pleasure of encountering our former favourite ones among the pages of her newest book.

A Trial of Sorcerers was a light read. It didn’t suck me in from page one as the original trilogy did, but I’ve promised myself I won’t compare anymore, so that’s all I will say on that matter. Still, I definitely enjoyed reading Eira’s story, witnessing her fluent transformation akin to the one of Elsa from Frozen. Whether the Disney character has inspired the author into creating her newest protagonist or not, they have a lot in common without being identical, and as a verified Disney fan I perceive it as a definite plus.

The plot follows the typical fantasy pattern of a journey. In this case, the target is becoming the representative of Solis in the upcoming Tournament of the Five Kingdoms and the journey itself, is the five trials the competitors need to complete in order to secure the title of the champion. Each trial is different and entertaining to the reader, allowing to dive into the book and feel a bit like we’re spectators watching athletes compete for the golden medal – except in this case, the athletes are sorcerers, and all the disciplines involve magic.

Admittedly, the main character does suffer from the “I’m not like other girls” complex a little bit, but her evolution makes up for that cliché aspect of her personality. As a Waterrunner, we slowly watch her freeze over, brace against the cruelty of the world surrounding her, giving in to the coldness inside her and letting it envelope her until nothing can shake her. It is no doubt a disturbing transformation we wish she never had to undergo, but necessary given her circumstances. In Disney’s Frozen, Elsa supposedly had been meant to be the villain of the story, and the writers changed their mind at the very last moment. The case with Eira is quite similar. We understand her motives, we are inside her head when she explains them to us, but if told from someone else’s perspective, her story could easily be that of a villain. It is – at least in my opinion – a relatively original approach, which I found intriguing. I admit, I cannot wait to see what becomes of Eira in the following books in the series.

I have not reviewed all of Elise Kova’s book I’ve read. Maybe one day I will. However, one of the novels I did review and considered a slip-up in the author’s otherwise collection, was A Deal with the Elf King. I wondered then if my dislike for that particular title has been the result of a long break from Elise Kova’s writing, or merely the question of just this one topic not sitting too well with me. Well, a few months and a new book later, I am happy to say it was the latter. I still love her as a writer, and will continue to recommend her works to everyone after a Trial of Sorcerers.

P.S. Have I ever discussed Elise Kova’s cover design? I don’t think so, but MAN do I wish the same artist designs mine when I finally get my own fantasy series done because they’re all brilliant.

All of you win, or none of you win.

Lark has already successfully completed her trial and created a union with the ruler of the Sky.

Juniper, having her own role to play, finds herself in the woodland realm of Puck, the satyr Fae sovereign with a dagger-sharp grin and an ever sharper tongue. His witty, naughty self will pose a challenge for the composed and collected sister.

Faced with the task of doing the impossible, Juniper engages in a hunt where she is both the hunter and the prey. She cannot lose, because it is not only her life at stake – but also her beloved sisters’. Her determination to stay out of trouble does not apply to protecting the ones she loves, but all her other beliefs will be put to a test – or even get shattered.

It is time for the second sister to fulfill her task.

***

This time, I will not start with commenting on the character structure and development. Ha.

(Yes, it is going to come later on, BUT there are more important features to discuss first).

Namely: I find it incredible how Natalia Jaster can change her style of writing to match the personality of the narrating character. With Kiss the Fae still fresh in my mind, it was a 360 degree shift from Lark’s snarky narration to Juniper’s painfully technical one. Reading reviews for this book, I have found some complaints about the odd/clumsy/difficult style of writing in Hunt the Fae. I admit, Juniper’s worldview was not exactly the easiest for me to identify with, but I still can appreciate how BRILLIANTLY the author switches between different types of narration just like that. I know no other author who would be able to do that. Most have a particular, defined style that I love, but which remains more less the same throughout their various books. With Natalia Jaster, every novel is a new point of view, new identity, new journey that lets you identify with the protagonist better, lets you become them, in a sense.

The world we are presented with in the second installment of the Vicious Faeries series is utterly different from the one in the previous book. Each court in this author’s reimagining of the Fae realm is different, bears its own traits, has a distinct climate. Where Cerulean’s realm of sky and wind was elegant, wicked and sophisticated, Puck’s forest is mirthful, careless, and bawdy. The exact opposite of Juniper, who finds herself trapped within this court’s clutches.

The worldbuilding is my second favourite aspect of this book. The appearance of the Fae, the exotic woodland creatures bearing traces of magic had me entirely sucked into this world of wicked Faerie. At the heart of this story, there is nature, and in my opinion, Natalia Jaster has managed to perfectly capture its green beating heart and let the plot and everyone in it rotate around it like planets around the Sun.

Of course, there is also transformation. The unfolding of Juniper’s hidden side, usually too restrained by her logical and down-to-Earth way of being. She does not lose who she is at her core, God forbid – she just learns to become more. Finds out that along with logic and control and calm, a wildness can exist, one that will allow her to take more from life, to enjoy everything it throws at her rather than run from it. She lets the wild side of the forest around her consume her, get inside her, until her limits broaden and reservations loosen.

As the middle one out of the three sisters, Juniper was no doubt a challenge to write – one that the author has stepped up to perfectly. Given the deep connection she shares with her siblings and her longing for them, Juniper constantly compares herself to them. “Cove would retreat the step, as though the words have reached out to snatch her. Lark would stride forward and dare those words to make contact, to fight her. I take the neutral option and regard the satyr placidly”. Putting her in the middle like that does not make her meek. It does not make her weak. It makes her her own person, neither aspiring too high or dropping too low. It makes her a real person, one we can identify with despite the initial differences.

Just like with Lark and Cerulean, the past is deeply intertwined with the present in Juniper and Puck’s story. The vision of Juniper as a little girl blends in with the image of her as a young woman, still carrying that scared child inside of her.

Hunt the Fae is the story of testing one’s limits, of stopping taking things for granted and learning how to experience more – how to find your new self without losing the old you in the process. It is the perfect continuation of the trilogy, and an invitation to await the third book in the series.

Morgane has extended a challenge towards those opposing her – one they cannot decline.

Hiding and on the run like nothing more than a group of cut-throats, Lou and her friends gather strength and secure alliances for the final battle against the Mother of Dames Blanches. The path to victory is bendy and full of traps, ones that might cost them their lives and with it, the wellbeing of many others.

Life as fugitives will pose a difficulty for everyone – loyalties will be tested, relationships put at risk, trust broken. And in the midst of the mountain of problems, some might begin to question their very nature.

***

The main theme of Blood and Honey is transformation.

Every character, with no exceptions, undergoes a major process of development. Some to a lesser extent, some in a more visible way, but it is certain that nobody stays where they were at the beginning of the story when the book finishes. And that, in my opinion, is one of the most reliable indicators of a well-written novel.

Lou’s decent into the darker side of her magic, into her mother’s legacy, is hypnotizing. The passages where her devious power is manifesting, written from her perspective, grab your heart and throat and squeeze, both of them at the same time. Her control on her own abilities – her own nature – is slipping, and we’re there, in the first row, inside her very head, to witness it all.

Everyone struggles with their own problems. Reid has a hard time accepting the use of magic in general, and it is even harder to accept that he himself possesses it. Coco is faced with elements of her past she does not want to hold on to, but has to if she wants herself and everyone she holds dear to survive. Ansel fights to retain his childlike innocence, his youth, but even that proves difficult when life forces him through things that might change him forever. Beau’s development might be yet my favourite one of them all – he goes from a person who only goes along with the rest of the gang because “if his safety is involved as well, he might as well take interest in the case” to somebody who will be ruthless in his path to protecting those he cares about.

Blood and Honey is a game of cat and mouse laced with malice and darkness, a dangerous quest in search of alliances that would back those fighting against Morgane in the brewing war. New characters are introduced, plot twists lurk in every page, and the mystery of the book will keep you up all night, connecting the dots and searching for answers.

In other words, the perfect continuation to the perfect series.

Magic – if used unwisely – can be a dangerous thing. Just like blind dedication towards a manipulated religion.

Lou le Blanc knows more about survival than anyone. Having fled from her home – a witch coven – years ago, every day has been a fight for survival in the streets of Cesarine. Reid, knowing nothing other than the church he serves, is only committed to one purpose in life: make sure the last of the witches walking this Earth dies by holy flame. His purpose – and duty – as a young captain of the Chasseurs is simple: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

But there is one thing even more powerful than magic or any god – fate. And it is about to prove what is bound to happen when a devoted Chasseur is forced into an alliance with a witch.

Except he doesn’t know she is one.

***

The approach towards magic in Serpent and Dove is very original. I really like the divide between Red and White witches, and the importance of balance in both of their powers.

To break a lock, you have to break a bone. To give somebody else warmth, you need to give up your own. To save a life, it is necessary to sacrifice another.

I have read many, many, many books portraying different approaches to magic but this one is by far one of my favourites. Nature demands balance and as nature, it tends to be ruthless. I am tired of magical systems of unknown origin with no apparent limits or rules dictating how that particular kind of magic works. Yes, magic is called magic for a reason – it is something surreal, something unexplainable that we read about because we need to escape the dullness of reality and the last thing we want to be bothered with is the convoluted secrets of how it operates.

Still, I believe every self-respecting author should be aware of how their understanding of magic works, where it comes from, and what boundaries it is enclosed within. Bonus points if they actually take care to explain all this in their books for pesky readers like yours truly. Shelby Mahurin gave me all that, and I will forever respect and love her for it.

As usual in stories with well-constructed magic systems, using magic has its consequences. Here, in the form of good old witch hunt. Religious inquisition, burning stakes, persecution and terror; the author took a rather simple concept and expanded it into a heart-stopping, sleep-depraving plot that is somehow original in its familiarity.

Elements of ancient Celtic legends add to the original climate of Serpent and Dove. Usually, authors prefer to create their culture from scratch, only basing it on actual historical beliefs. Here, the French influence plays an important part, and it is one of the things I love most about this novel.

Adding the well-structured, quirky and, most importantly, diverse characters, we gain a recipe for a book that comes as close to perfection as I have encountered. The plot twists left even me surprised, and the character development is going to inspire me in my own future works.

Hats off to Shelby Mahurin – I can’t believe I only discovered her works now, and I cannot wait to get to know her better.

Only a year ago, Jennifer L. Armentrout probably wouldn’t have made it onto my The Best list. I used to adore her writing when I was in my earlier teens – I’m talking here about the Lux, Covenant or the Dark Elements series.

A tad bit later, I discovered her as J. Lynn – a writing pseudonym under which she published her Wait For You series.

In the meantime, continuations of certain series appeared: Titan (a follow-up to Covenant), Origin (happening after Lux) and the Harbinger (continuation of the Dark Elements). I read them all and then I just… stopped. Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing remained as good as ever, it was me who has changed. I have strayed away from the paranormal romance genre, focused on other things.

And then, one day, From Blood and Ash happened.

I was scrolling through my Instagram (which in my case is either bookstagram or foodstagram, no in-between) when my attention caught on a particularly beautiful cover – visibly fantasy genre. I stopped to see who stands behind this visually-pleasing story and my jaw dropped when I spotted Jennifer L. Armentrout’s name spelt there in bold letters.

I have recently gotten sucked back into Fantasy, so of course, the book was on my Kindle within minutes. And with it, my fascination with the author’s writing came back. Old love never dies, as they say. It has proven true in this case.

You can see by now why I chose to call Jennifer L. Armentrout the Chameleon. The range of genres within which she writes is unbelievable. And what is even more astonishing is – she finds herself within every single one of those genres.

The border between paranormal romance and regular romance is much thinner than that between romance and fantasy. Writing fantasy books just requires a particular mindset, lots of research, and even more plotting and planning. I admit, I approached From Blood and Ash with an equal mix of doubt and curiosity. I was skeptical about an author suddenly changing their domain from teen/new adult books to what seemed like a proper fantasy world. And, as it often happens when I am skeptical about something, my doubts turned out to be unjustified.

Jennifer L. Armentrout is not only a chameleon in terms of genres. As I have mentioned, I began my journey with her books as an, I don’t know, a fourteen year old? Maybe younger? As time passed, and I grew up, so did the author’s writing. To the point where now, at twenty, I am still holding my breath for the release of the third book in the Blood and Ash series because having read what I read over the years and having formed certain expectations based on that, I still simply can’t get enough of it.

This author is one of those I feel sentimentally connected with. Some of her works I liked more, some I liked less – I can’t say for sure I would enjoy those I loved as a fourteen-year-old if I read them now instead of then, but I can confirm I definitely enjoyed those I have read recently. Within the wide range of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s novels, I believe most readers can find something for themselves.

As the Chameleon, Jennifer L. Armentrout has the unique ability to feel comfortable within various genres and age groups – she does not, however, adapt to the environment as chameleons tend to do. She creates her own and then bends it the way she likes – which is what I admire most about her.

This is a review of book 4 in the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. The reviews for book 1 and book 2 can also be found on my blog.

Ever since the King of Hybern forced Nesta into the Cauldron and made her Fae, she has been spiraling. Her life became a never-ending stream of males, alcohol and misery. Tired of watching her sister gradually destroy herself, Feyre gives her an ultimatum: start training with Cassian, work in the Priestesses’ library and get her life together or be sent back to the mortal world.

While Nesta engages in a personal battle with herself as an opponent, tension brews over the Courts. Ancient figures work to awaken ancient powers that have been lost for centuries – and for a good reason. Alliances form, some more fragile and less honest than others.

In the centre of it all, there is Nesta – Nesta, who did not leave the Cauldron without tearing a part of its dark power for herself. Bestowed with magic no one quite understands, she becomes a crucial player in the game for power – and the future of the Courts depends on her. Trapped by her own demons, she has to find the strength to play a part in the fight for the safety of everyone she holds dear. All the while taking care not to let herself be turned into a demon as well.

***

I know I haven’t written reviews for the two preceding books in the series (#3 A Court of Wings and Ruin and #3.1 A Court of Frost and Starlight). It was not because I was lazy. I just felt that – as much as I love the author – the previous two parts following Feyre and Rhys’s story didn’t really bring that much into the picture. Not as much as A Court of Silver Flames, at least.

Sarah J. Maas has the tendency to idealise. Strong, beautiful females, alpha males with enormous wingspans, mates connected by an otherworldly love, impossible fighting skills. It is a part of her charm as a writer and by claiming to adore her, I accept this feature of her works. It was, however, incredibly refreshing to see this otherwise perfect world filled with perfect people through Nesta’s eyes. Nesta, who is anything but perfect.

Feyre suddenly became privileged and annoying. The love she shares with Rhys suffocating. Her mate himself overbearing and distrusting. Their friends – blinded by loyalty to the point of irrationality. As all of that has previously only been shown from Feyre’s perspective, seeing their life as anything other than ideal was like getting splashed with a bucket of icy water.

There was loneliness, too. So much loneliness.

It emanated from Nesta in waves, accompanied by hatred for herself, for everyone around her, by misery and desolation. Reading ACOSF, I was going through a rough period myself. There were many negative emotions inside me that I felt nobody understood. From page one, I identified with Nesta more than I identified with Feyre in any of the four previous books.

A Court of Silver Flames tells the story of crawling one’s way from the rock bottom. Of re-building one’s life anew after believing said life was over for a long time. Nesta has support, but I like how it is shown that some battles, we have to fight on our own. No matter how much faith somebody else has in us and how much they are willing to help, the first person who is able to put us back together is our own self.

I love how Nesta slowly finds her independence. Contrary to Feyre, who had accepted her mate’s family as her own, Nesta is determined to build her own friendships. New characters are introduced, bringing a breath of fresh air into the novel.

Old threads are continued and solved. New ones are brought into the picture. Old aspects are shown from a new perspective, and we also get insight of Nesta’s feelings about her and her sisters’ difficult past. ACOSF reminds us of two things:

1. Things should never be taken for granted and
2. It is never too late to start over.

Disclaimer: Celestial is book #2 in the Angels of Elysium series. The synopsis and review may contain spoilers, so if you’re not familiar with book #1, head here for my review of Feather.

Celeste has never been a stickler for the rules. Four years ago, with the death of her best friend, she turned away from them altogether.

As an angel, the essence of her existence is to complete her wings and ascend to Elysium – the promised land of angels, where she’d finally be able to pick her career and start eternal life. Blaming her society for establishing rules that had ultimately led Leigh to take her life, Celeste refuses to comply with them. She gives up on her feather-gaining process and abandons all thoughts of ascension.

Ultimately, life – and death – throws Asher in her path. The Archangel is determined to change Celeste’s mind about giving up her wings and won’t rest until every last feather is earned by her. A race of good deeds begins, becoming the centre of Celeste’s life.

The main opponent? Time. The price to pay in case of failure? Loss of eternal life. Two months and a whole lot of feathers to gain.

The clock is ticking.

***

The Angels of Elysium series wasn’t supposed to be a series. Jarod and Leigh’s story was originally meant to be a one-off, a beautiful story with a sad but perfect ending.

Usually, one-offs that become series or trilogies that gain a few extra books are better-off staying as they are. An important part of being an author is knowing where to draw the line and – hard as it may be – let the plotline drift off and the characters go.

Celestial is a rare exception to that rule. Having read it whole, I couldn’t be happier that Olivia Wildenstein’s fans have managed to convince her to tell us more about the world of angels.

I’ll be honest – there were two main reasons why I’d decided to give Celestial a chance after learning it hadn’t been planned. One: I loved Celeste’s character in book one, and looked forward to seeing who she’d grown into as a twenty-year-old. Two: as the epilogue of Feather suggests it, I think I won’t surprise anyone by saying Jarod and Leigh’s souls didn’t extinguish like they were meant to. We knew Asher ultimately harvested them from the bodies, and I was curious to see what he’d proceed to do with them.

I’ll tell you this much: finding out was worth the wait.

Just like Celeste has always been Leigh’s opposite, Celestial is very much different from Feather. And why wouldn’t it be? After all, those are the stories of two very different people angels.

While Leigh moved further away from her society and its rules as her story progressed, Celeste gravitated closer towards it (with Asher’s guidance). Leigh’s book ended with her giving up on her angelic life completely: Celeste’s began there.

In a way, those two novels are parallel to each other – they move in different directions, constituting a perfect harmony together. Celestial perfectly picks up the unfinished threads from book one and unravels them. I feel like without it, Feather wouldn’t be complete.

The roles of Jarod and Asher for Leigh and Celeste contradict each other. Jarod was the reason Leigh gave up her wings, a decision that eventually cost her her life – not just her eternal one, but mortal as well. Asher re-entered Celeste’s life at the very moment before she could follow in Leigh’s path. He convinced her to complete her wings, to strive towards the life her best friend had abandoned. I just love how well thought-through it is, how the sequel isn’t just a carbon copy of book one – something that sadly happens quite often.

Reading both Feather and Celestial makes you realise that everyone has their own life: their own purpose, beliefs, a path to follow. Different people write different stories for themselves, and even best friends can eventually end up pursuing very different kinds of fate. The sweet, polite Leigh rebelled and fell. The rebellious, fierce Celeste centered her life around pursuing the life she’d so passionately hated. Olivia Wildenstein is here to remind us that sometimes, life – and people – aren’t necessarily what they make them out to be. That nothing is pre-destined and everything – and everyone – can suddenly change.

The bitter-sweet feeling lingering after having finished Feather is still there, causing you to consider everything carefully. Even after four years, Leigh isn’t forgotten – not by Celeste, and not by others. But such is life, after all – something ends so that something new can begin.

I, on my account, am very glad Celeste and Asher’s story began – and was successfully finished. I cannot wait for the next installment in the series (and you won’t, either, once you learn what – and who – it’s going to be about).

Eighty-one feathers.

That’s how many Leigh is missing to complete her mission and ascent to Elysium – the angelic haven, where accomplished angels can pick their desired career and live an immortal life full of prosperity.

The only problem? Eighty-one is a huge number, and she only has fourteen months left to gain them by helping mortals fulfill good deeds before her chance at a place in Elysium and becoming a Malakim – the harvester of souls – is gone forever.

When the time comes to pick her sinner, she settles on a Triple – a human so full of sin his soul is beyond saving. The deal is simple. If she succeeds in making Jarod Adler a better person, she gains one hundred feathers – more than enough to ascend and fulfill her life-long dream. If she doesn’t, she’ll have wasted her time and will be left with even less time to collect the missing feathers.

Leigh doesn’t believe Jarod is beyond help. Not a single part of her expects the dark sinner might fall even harder – and take her down with him.

***

I recommend playing this song in the background to set the mood (even though the lyrics and music haven’t been written specifically for Feather, they might as well have been).

Before I start, I just want to say I really didn’t expect to like this book. Its blurb on Goodreads wasn’t particularly catchy or inviting, and the fact I’d never heard of its author didn’t help either. In all truth, I’ve had a rough couple of weeks behind me and was looking for a silly read to take my mind off things – nothing too engaging or requiring commitment.

And I admit it here and now: boy, did I choose wrong.

First of all – the originality of this book. Gone is the notion of everyone having their own private guardian angel assigned to them at birth. Olivia Wildenstein gave angels freedom: here, they are able to pick their sinners and climb the hierarchy ladder as they go.

Of course, this also exposes the double-sided nature of angelic help. If they have something to gain, they are not doing it from the purity of heart or their loyalty to their creator, are they? The more time Leigh spends in the human world, the more she discovers how shady and imperfect the rules her celestial world is based upon are. Whether that was the author’s intention or not, one of the morals of this story is that human world? Not so different from Heaven. Or rather it’s Heaven that’s not so different from the Earth.

I did not like the main character when the book started. It wasn’t just that she was soft – I honestly believe nowadays teen fiction is swamped with badass female characters who are so independent and brave it crosses any lines of sensibility. Leigh, however, was a bit too soft, a bit too gullible and a lot too blinded by her mission as an angel. Then again, the more I read, the more I found myself in her inborn need to salvage the entire world and everybody who lives in it, the inherent belief there is good in everyone.

What’s important, though, is not who Leigh was. It’s who she became. Still soft, still with a huge heart and still willing to help even those beyond helping, but not so naive anymore. Turning against everything one grew up believing requires an open mind and a backbone of steel. Coming to Earth, Leigh attributed many human traits and emotions that were beautifully expressed throughout the story – insecurity, lust, jealousy. The change she undergoes with time is a magnificent journey I really enjoyed witnessing.

As I avoid including spoilers in my reviews, I won’t give any details about the ending: I will just say I absolutely loved it. If somebody follows my blog more closely, it’s probable they’re familiar with the specific type of endings I’m particularly fond of. If not, I hope I’ve sparked your curiosity because it’s not often that I praise an author for their ability to end a book skillfully – and this is one of those rare times.

I could write a lot more about Feather, but I’ll finish here and leave you to discover it on your own. Yes, as I said in the beginning, I’d never heard of Olivia Wildenstein’s work before, and it’s a shame I’m only discovering her now. The beautiful journey of Feather is already behind me, and I’m looking forward to the many more her other books are hopefully going to present me with.

I was looking for a non-committing read. What I got instead was a story full of passion and pain, laughter and tears, good deeds and sin and finally, a transformation so grand it will inspire my future gains from now on.

Disclaimer: Niccolaio Andretti is book #2 in The Five Syndicates series. The synopsis and review may contain spoilers, so if you’re not familiar with book #1, head here for my review of Asher Black.

When you ask a university graduate about where they see themselves three years from now, you might get various answers.

Rich. Successful. Famous. Married.

Minka Reynolds? Her plan is to get married to a man old enough to be her father, as long as he has enough money in his bank account.

Some might call it gold digging. She calls it her only way to survive.

With no parents and a sister she desperately wishes to get back after she’d been taken away from her, Minka will do anything to swipe the fact she comes from nothing under the carpet and prove she’s worthy of custody over Mina.

The only problem? Her most likely solution also happens to be a mafia member on the run, with a million-dollar bounty on his head. Definitely someone who can get her into the kind of trouble she doesn’t need.

Like getting shot at. Or being followed.

For his part, Niccolaio Andretti also knows intertwining any part of his life Minka has TROUBLE spelled all over it in capital letters. The only problem?

He doesn’t seem to be able to stay away. And the fact that she seems to share his sentiments is not exactly helping either of their cases.

***

Reading Asher Black, I was engaged, but I wasn’t hooked. Having read it straight after Devious Lies, I felt like there was something missing in the author’s debut book. There just wasn’t enough humour, enough chemistry between the characters, who also didn’t seem as wholesome as Emery and Nash.

I found all of it in Niccolaio Andretti. Maybe it’s because Asher Black was Parker’s debut novel, and she hasn’t yet spread her wings fully. She definitely learned to fly by the time she wrote the sequel.

First of all, I love it when villains get their own books. They deserve it like nobody else, and oftentimes their stories turn out to be more interesting than their counterparts’. In this case, the villain is Minka Reynolds – Lucy’s red-headed, ill-tempered tormentor. Catty bee queens do not belong to my circle of favourite characters, and I absolutely hate it when they’re mean and jealous for the purpose none other than simply being mean and jealous. Life is too short to waste it on reading about two girls fighting about one guy. If I wanted that, I’d just go re-watch Love Island.

However, as soon as we’re introduced to Minka in her own story, we learn there’s more to her than sour pouts and her inexplicable need to steal somebody’s boyfriend. “Please don’t hate me for this book” Parker wrote in the introduction to Niccolaio Andretti. She felt like her readers might not appreciate the fact she took book one’s biggest pain in the butt and introduced her as the new protagonist. Yet, this is exactly what I love her for.

The author admits herself that at a first glance, Minka and Niccolaio don’t belong together. They’re ice and water, and not in the opposites-attract way. Nonetheless, the more you read, and the more you learn about the both of them, the more you discover just how perfectly thought-through their relationship is. It’s a slow burn – there is awareness there that physical attraction doesn’t equal insta love, and the fact one finds another person appealing, doesn’t necessary mean they honestly like or even respect that person.

Here, that realisation comes in gentle waves to both of the characters, which makes the bonds forming between them all the more believable. More attention is paid to both of their private lives than their relationship developing, which I think is extremely important in case of this particular book.

Minka lives and breathes for her little sister, and she remains her number one priority throughout the story. I very much dislike the notion of a protagonist throwing their entire past lives to the wind and pushing their loved ones to the side because of someone they suddenly fell in love with. Loyalty is rare, which makes it all the more beautiful, and surprisingly, we find it in who we thought was the one character in the series beyond saving.

Minka Reynolds got the opportunity to tell her own story and remind everyone there is depth to everyone. When somebody is obnoxious, it might be because they’re simply having a bad day or a bad life in general. She was a surprise, bow-wrapped and handed to us in the form of an unexpected book protagonist, and she fulfilled her role perfectly.

Niccolaio – although an equally important part of the story – didn’t dominate her, like male characters often tend to do in today’s literature. The both of them coexisted, creating a story I can only describe as wholesome.

If you didn’t like Minka in book one, you should go on and read the sequel. Especially if you didn’t like her. To be completely honest, I disliked her so much my only motivation for picking up Niccolaio Andretti was the fact he appeared briefly in Asher Black and intrigued me. I’d originally wanted to learn more about him, but in the end ended up amazed by Minka, whom I haven’t expected to turn out to be such a captivating character.

She doesn’t steal Niccolaio’s thunder, but she is a positive surprise – as is the entire book two in the Five Syndicates series.

Disclaimer: Ranieri Andretti is book #2.5 in The Five Syndicates series. The synopsis and review may contain spoilers, so if you’re not familiar with book #1, head here for my review of Asher Black or here for book #2, Niccolaio Andretti.

Ranieri Andretti used to be Carina Gallo’s everything. Her best friend. Her protector. The boy who hung the moon and the stars. And it seemed like he felt the same way about her.

Up until the day he became cold and pushed her away – for no apparent reason.

Eleven years later, fate pushes Ranie back into Carina’s life. No matter how much she wants to fight it, she can’t deny the longing she still feels toward him – nor can she forget the way he turned his back on her without the explanation she deserved all those years ago.

Ranieri is still the same boy she fell in love with – only older, matured, more intense. More annoying. More… everything. And the worst thing?

He is determined to win her back, no matter the cost.

***

I hardly ever review novellas. I always read them but somehow, I don’t perceive them as an actual part of the series. I don’t know why, since I know this is far from the truth.

I’ve decided to make an exception and review Ranieri Andretti, a #2.5 novella in Parker S. Huntington’s Five Syndicates series. With a little over 140 pages, I devoured it in one sitting, though not only because of its length.

I was this close to skipping this book and heading straight for Bastiano Romano. What stopped me?

I wanted to get to know Niccolaio’s little brother’s story. There was a lot of anger in him over the course of book two, and I wanted to understand that anger. I needed to be reminded that there are always two sides to the same coin – that Niccolaio suffered because of his brother’s hatred, but at the same time, Ranieri was going through his own misery.

Carina Gallo is introduced to us as a completely new character, a well-appreciated freshness among the circle of characters we already know. She brought in liveliness, humour and a whole lot of sarcasm that made this read a nice break after a long day of too much seriousness.

I very much enjoyed the intertwining of the present and the past. Twenty-five-year-old Carina and Ranieri now, versus their fourteen-year-old versions of themselves in high school. It’s a story of a bumpy friendship turning into love – first teenage, slowly maturing over time, despite being forcibly squished.

Ranieri Andretti gives us hope that what’s meant to be will be, and that if we want something badly enough and fight for it with all we have, we are going to find our happy end.