Book Review: Her Ravening Heart by A.J. Vrana

This book was a reckoning and I was all for it.

There is so much packed into this book and for the page length, it's impressive to feel like I know everything about this world and the people who live in it after such a short amount of time spent with them. I adored Senka from the start and I never wavered in my belief in her. And that ending? Perfection.

It was easy to step into the world of this book, it felt like the setting of your every familiar folk horror location. We have the remote village, the one where they are living in a place that makes no sense, where you'd think the logical conclusion would be to try to pick up and move somewhere more favorable. Instead, these people choose to stay and they've somehow made a deal with some supernatural entity that ensures that their circumstances improve so long as they keep their end of the bargain. The fact that their bargain includes sacrificing a young bride to the god of life, well, it's no matter to stress over because this is what appeases their god and they will hold to their traditions with no questions asked. I can think of several other works that remind of this setting but the point is, stories like this NEED these settings. They need the isolation to have lasted generations, they need outside assistance to be non-existent. Otherwise, logic enters the equation and these people would rather that not be an issue. With the interactions between the neighbors and lead character, Senka, Vrana fills in the town with every necessary detail to truly see the division between the village and Senka, and how that division helps Senka to grow into the character we need to lead this story.

My dear Senka, that village did not deserve you. Senka questioned everything, as well she should have when a bargain for the well-being of her home could lead to her being offered up to their god. Everything she said made sense and the fact that no one wanted to believe her truly showed the, well, delusion the town was under. They were so quick to dismiss her and the fact that Senka continued on her quest for the truth, for the sake of saving the girls of the village, made Senka truly admirable. I loved her curiosity, her tenacity, and her determination. Her actions frustrated me the slightest bit because I knew where it would lead for Senka, it's the way these stories usually go, but Vrana turns things on their head and that's why I loved this novella.

What could have been like so many other stories where the lead rises above their situation and attempts to change things for the better decides to make a different point here. The village is shown to have been given all the proof they needed to change their ways, to give the girls a better understanding of the bargain, and what they chose to do with that information instead made this book a little heartbreaking. I wanted these people to grow and learn and instead, Senka was the only one who evolved into something more and I say, good for her. A little knowledge goes a long way and in the end, the village made their choice. The fact that they made the wrong one? Well, serves them right.

Read this book if you love a story where the main character decides on what's best for themselves, the whole world be damned.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars. I can be a little vindictive, I'll admit, when it comes to stories and this book spoke to that piece of me and I LOVE it for that alone. The fact that Senka was brilliant was perfect and the life she manages to create for herself was, in a word, divine, and the ending made me smile.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to pre-order the copy of this book that comes with all the bookish goodies because I need a copy of this on my shelves for all time.

My thanks to The Nerd Fam and AJ Vrana for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. 

Book Review: Ocean Eyes by Taubin Dupavillon

You know that feeling, of being swept away by the water, the exhilaration of the push and pull of the waves and the water coming over your head? The rhythm of the tide making something in you steady and then grow with every moment you spend watching the water, being a part of it for just a small amount of time?

That's what it felt like to read this book, Ocean Eyes by Taubin Dupavillon. I am still so bereft at the loss that it took me a few days to come back and put into words just what this book did to me. And that ending?

Chills. Followed by a thought that was simply this:.......NOOOOOO! DON'T END THE BOOK THERE!! IT CAN'T END THERE, MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT!!

*clears throat* Can you tell I loved this book? If not, here's the rest of the review, just to really convince you.

In terms of writing, Dupavillon was able to build a story here that had the tension, the yearning, the finding of true family and all of works to make this a story that pulls you in and doesn't let you go. There is so much information in this book and every moment is necessary in the whole of the story being told here. There are so many threads here being woven together and while some things seem likely, Dupavillon manages to surprise the readers with ideas and revelations that make this book just amazing overall. The world-building here is easy enough to step into and a lot of what readers learn here is able to expand things in ways that can feel familiar and at the same time unique. Readers will be able to pick up this book and be absorbed by the story within pages of the opening chapter.

As for the characters, it takes talent to make it that I ended up loving nearly every character we spend time with on the page. There are a couple I'm not so keen on and readers of this book will probably know exactly who I mean but the majority of this cast of characters were amazing. Starting with Kaida, the pain and the heartache in this character, coupled with the astounding loyalty, made me want to fight people for this girl. Kaida made my heart ache and the journey she took in this book made me smile because after years spent as a weapon, Kaida was finding something else to be and I wanted the world for this girl. Reave took a little convincing for me to thaw towards, especially after that introduction, but the tension between these characters made everything worth it in the end because of every moment we saw where these two characters pushed and pulled at each other until they finally started working together. There connection felt earned and I love when a love story feels natural in the way the characters grow, both together and on their own.

I loved the group that traveled with Kaida on her mission, every single one of these people are completely indispensable. I loved Kahan and his ways of looking out for the group. Damiano surprised me with his wit and wonder at learning new things. Messer also surprised me with how much he endeared himself to me with his quick actions to defend his friends and then his jokes to keep spirits up. And I loved how Piper was quietly making herself important to the group, helping with tasks and being a steady friend for Kaida as the entire group slowly became a family I wished I could be a part of. There's also Syraah and Luca and gosh, trust me when I say that there are so many characters in this book and not one of them can be left out of this story, they are all necessary.

As for the plot, cursed mermaid story is what drew me in but it's not the only draw to this story. Sure, enemies to lovers and found family are definitely of interest but this book is so much more than that. Kaida has known one way of life for a long time and has come to accept her role in the kingdom as being it for her. This story shows what it takes for someone to come to terms with what has been done to them and decides to make a change. There is pain with change, nothing in this book comes easy for these characters and yet, there is beauty in the way they grow together, in the way Kaida lets herself open up to the others and starts to step out of the role she thinks is all there is to her. The love story was a bonus for me because my focus was mainly on Kaida's journey and I can't wait to see what Dupavillon does with this world next because, and I'll say this again, I'M STILL NOT OVER THAT ENDING!!

Read this book if you like stories about the assassin who decides to fight for themselves for a change.

Rating on my Scale: 10 Glorious Stars!! I want to go back and read this again as soon as I have the chance. This was such an amazing read, beautiful and haunting and it will live in my mind for years to come.

My thanks to BookCovenPR and Taubin Dupavillon for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.