Book Review - Ruinsong by Julia Ember

Ruinsong by Julia Ember is about a young woman, Cadence, who must decide if she dares to stand up against her ruthless queen, Elene. Cadence was a small child training to be a principal singer for the palace. Her singing is imbued with magic and can be controlled and used depending on the song Cadence sings.

Cadence was chosen by the queen to be a mage for the palace. As Cadence is one of the most powerful mages in the castle, she is made to do the queen’s bidding, whether or not she wants to.  The queen’s latest request was for Cadence to host a concert to torture the country’s nobility. 

While Cadence doesn’t enjoy using her powers to hurt people, Cadence just accepts that this is her fate. That is, until she is reunited with her childhood friend, Remi. Remi is a noblewoman and has a deep hatred for the current queen. Remi and her family have ties to an underground rebellion. Cadence must decide if she will finally stand up for herself against the queen or continue doing Elene’s bidding.

The novel was a quick and straightforward read. It didn’t have any unexpected twists or turns. I was surprised that this was considered a “Phantom of the Opera” retelling as I would have never assumed that from just reading the book. The idea that magic can be conjured by singing was cool to me and I wish magic took a bigger role in the book. I also wish there was an epic magic showdown in the book at least once, or that the concept was explained in more detail. I was interested in learning more about their world. It seemed pretty basic and not much details about it were given other than magic is done by singing. I thought the ending seemed a bit rushed and felt disjointed. I did enjoy the novel and would be open to reading more books by the author.

 

Book Review - Soul's Prisoner (Portraits of Grace #2) by Cara Luecht + Giveaway

Photo Source - Amazon

In 1891, Rachel is trying to survive the cruel winter in Chicago. She left her simple, quiet farm life to become a teacher in Chicago, but when things don't go as she planned. She ends up taking a job as a laundress at a local asylum. As the asylum's laundress, Rachel is able to access the deepest and darkest crevices of the asylum such as the labyrinthine like basement. During a particularly bad winter day, Rachel is unable to return to the boarding home that night and spends a night in the employee area of the asylum. However, Rachel witnesses a devastating secret that might put her very life in grave danger.

Jeremy, Rachel's brother is busy trying to get settled down that he barely has time for anything. But when he receives a letter from their mother desperately asking Jeremy to check on Rachel since no one has heard from her since she left the farm. Jeremy will stop at nothing to find his little sister since he feels responsible that he didn't check in on her sooner. Will Jeremy be able to find Rachel? What is the secret that Rachel stumbled into?

The novel gives readers a glimpse of the dark nature of asylums during the 19th century. It depicts the condition and hardships some of humanity's most vulnerable must have faced on a daily basis. The book was a captivating read and it kept me on the edge of my seat. It was filled with a strong cast of characters who are willing to do what is right regardless of their station in life. The novel is the second book in the series and can be read as a stand alone.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

About the Book

Book Title: Soul’s Prisoner

Author: Cara Luecht

Genre: Historical fiction with some suspense and romance

Release Date: December 15, 2015

Chicago, Winter, 1891

Rachel is in danger. She’s seen too much.

She creeps along the cement walls through the dank underbelly of the asylum. She’d never planned to leave her quiet farm life, never thought she’d find a place in the city, never imagined she’d be in the kind of danger that would have her cowering in Dunning’s cold, labyrinthine basement.

Jenny has finally found her place. After a childhood of abuse, she has friends, a real job, and her only wish is to give her adopted son the kind of life she never had.

A life of stability, without the risk and uncertainty of a father.

But when Jeremy, Rachel’s brother, stumbles into their warehouse, asking for help to find his missing sister, Jenny’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble.

About the Author

Award winning author, Cara Luecht, lives in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin with her husband, David, and their children. Cara graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Currently, Cara is studying for a Masters of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away a grand prize of a signed copy of Soul’s Prisoner and sketching art supplies!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cb74

Book Review - The Gift (The Amish of Hart County #3) by Shelley Shepard Gray

Photo Credit - Amazon

When the Schwartz family inherited a small fortune, they couldn't wait to start their new life on a farm instead of their duplex. The family hired a real estate who found them a beautiful and affordable farm in Hart County. However, strange and deadly things start to occur once the family arrived.  Susanna hears gunshots that frighten her horse and topples over her buggy while her little sister, Traci falls through a wooden bridge into a creek. At first, the incidents seem like accidents, but eventually it starts to become clear, someone wants them gone. Who is targeting the Schwartz family? Why are they targeting them and will they be able to survive?

I have read a few of Mrs. Gray's novels and been a fan of most of them. This novel is no different, it offered a lot of suspense and questionable characters on who could be the culprit. However, I felt something was missing as the novel wasn't as exciting as her other "Hart County" novels. As the culprit became very clear midway through the novel. That isn't to say that I won't read her other novels.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**