Runes by Ednah Walters

My rating:
Story: 5 awesome stars
Cover: 2/5

Goodreads Summary:


Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.


***Received a free copy via netgalley.

I've been busy reading lots of new adult and adult genre books for the past few months, I forgot how refreshing and fun it is to read a Y.A book. I immensely enjoyed reading Runes, it brings out the girly girl in me lol. The moment Raine met Torin *swoon, I knew that I'm going to absolutely add Torin to my book boyfriends list, gawd I don't even care about Eirik lol, team Torin all the way..if and if there is even a competition.

Torin was the new guy next door, and oh! what a guy-next-door he is, I am totally wishing I am Raine..so yeah, the new guy next door story is not really original but the author manage to make it awesome. I was constanly excited while reading Runes, Torin and the weird trio were all mysterious, there is so much to discover about the Runes and Raine's birth but more than that I keep on looking forward for Torin and Raine's moment(and damn, those moments are pretty hot).

I was surprise about how the book ended, it was totally unexpected.. even the answers about Torin's Identity is not what I expected. And now I'm dying to know what happens next..gahh I am so ready for the next book!

I loved loved this book and it kills me to know that it will be a pretty long wait for the next book in the series, but I know that it'll be worth the wait.

I think the Lux series and daemon fans will love this book.

Sworn to Raise by Terah Edun

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Summary:


Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the kingdom. But beneath her kingdom’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron. 

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

***I requested and received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.

I'm always fascinated with stories about "companions", like Memoirs of a Geisha or stories about Kisaeng (korean geisha) because back in the days, those companions are not just companions, they are bunch of talented ladies who spend a lot of time mastering the art of entertaining, they are known for their exceptional skills in dancing, acting, playing various instruments and more. If the a certain companion manage to become a high ranking and most coveted companion, they become powerful in the sense that they can influence their "patrons" and most of that patrons are actually the most powerful men in their country.

Sworn to Raise tells the story of Ciardis, a girl who grow up in poverty but was given the chance to become a companion, if she'll manage to prove her worth. But being a companion is not just learning how to dance and recite poetry, in their world i'ts more..it's about possessing a different type of skill which is magic.

Ciardis is a character that is not hard to like and understand, she's not some soft kind of heroine, contrary to that..although naive she's streetwise and thank goodness far from being an annoying-dramatic-type-of-heroine, instead of complaining when facing hard situation she takes action.

In a way Sworn to Raise reminds me of one of my favorite fantasy series which is the Study series, hopefully Ciadris will became stronger just like Yelena.

All in all I can say that I absolutely enjoy reading Sworn to Raise, I love the world building and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Series.

View all my reviews