The Dueling Duchess (Wicked Women of Whitechapel, #2) by Minerva Spencer – Review

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4 stars, Book Review, circus, feminism, historical, historical romance, reversal of fortune, romance, series

Review of The Dueling Duchess

The title character, Cecile Tremblay, runs a circus that features women as the main entertainers including boxing (see The Boxing Baroness), knife throwing, and Cecile’s act – sharpshooting.   She has a mysterious past, but has found her home with her circus family in London. 

Gaius Darlington’s previous adventure with the circus endeared him to Cecile but when it was over, Guy made a terrible mistake, offending Cecile to the point where she wished never to see him again.  But Guy has had a gigantic reversal of fortune.  He needs a job and he really wants Cecile back in his life. 

It is clear Cecile and Guy have a thing for each other.  They also have an unfortunate history.  Their friends help/hinder where they can.  A young street girl and her dog join the family which really serves as the needed buffer between the two.  But, they have a lot to work through. 

Part of this story overlaps The Boxing Baroness.  Good news for anyone who has not read that story – you get the background.  I did read that book and while new viewpoints were presented, I always find rehashing a scene a bit tedious. 

Once the story catches up to a new timeline, it takes off and at that point, I found The Dueling Duchess to be bundles of fun!  Witty conversations and humor can be found on every page.  There is chemistry between Cecile and Guy whether they are arguing or kissing.  The original take on feminism in a male-dominated society will appeal to many readers.  The historical setting, post Napoleonic wars, is enhanced with gossip papers, the London ton, imposters, ex-patriots, a raven, and plenty of romance!

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book.  My review is my honest opinion.

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About The Dueling Duchess by Minerva Spencer

When Cecile Tremblay lost everyone and everything in the French Revolution, she never imagined that she’d earn her living as a markswoman in a London circus. But Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre has become her home, her family, and her future. Another thing Cecile never imagined was becoming entangled with the man gossip columns call The Darling of the Ton. But mere weeks after her rejection of his insulting carte blanche—and his infuriating engagement to an heiress—Darlington is back, this time to beg Cecile for help. And help him she will, by teaching him about honest work—and the right way to treat a woman.

Gaius Darlington has always led a charmed life. Until now. Suddenly, a long-lost heir has appeared to claim his title, possessions, and property, Not only that, but Guy’s fiancée has jilted him to marry the usurper! Yet there is a silver lining: it’s no longer Guy’s duty to marry an heiress to save the dukedom. He’s free to wed the woman he loves—if only he can earn her forgiveness.

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But fury is just a step away from passion, and Guy knows just how to arouse Cecile’s. . .

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The Blood Gift (The Blood Gift Duology, #2) by N. E. Davenport – Review

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4 stars, Book Review, fantasy, N. E. Davenport, scifi, series

Review of The Blood Gift

In The Blood Gift, Ikenna comes into her powers.  Magic.  Basically banned by the Mareenians, her people, the gift may be the only thing that will save them when the Blood Emperor invades Mareen in an attempt to control the world. 

At first Ikenna’s control of her powers is lacking.  She improves through the narrative, but she is a young person whose lack of maturity is an obstacle to using those powers to help her team and Mareen.  Faced with a very powerful foe, her magic alone is not likely to be enough to get the job done.  Ikenna’s team will play a pivotal role in most of the good and bad events of the story.

I’m not sure what compelled me to read this book.  The violence that disturbed me in The Blood Trials, is still present in this second book, although the motive behind it is less arbitrary. I supposed I was invested in Ikenna, the main character and wanted to make sure she found her way in the end.  And if that also involved saving a lot of people, so much the better.

While it is not necessary to read The Blood Trials before The Blood Gift, the background provided there is helpful.  The author does fill in a little.  I found myself wishing there had not been so much time between the two books because it was a challenge to recall some of the details.  And I found certain aspects of the story to be lacking depth without the backstory.  The two biggest items were Ikenna’s relationship with her team (with the exception of Darius) and the betrayal of Mareen’s council.  

The racism that was big in the first book, is toned down in The Blood Gift. Elitism, war, and disregard for life, carry over into this book. Hope, diversity, heritage, and self are also important themes that are woven through the story.  The Blood Gift has a proper ending, but hints that there may be more to the story.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

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About The Blood Gift by N.E. Davenport

After discovering the depth of betrayal, treachery, and violence perpetrated against her by Mareen’s Tribunal Council and exposing her illegal blood-gift to save her Praetorian squad, Ikenna becomes a fugitive with a colossal bounty on her head.

Yet, somehow, that’s the least of her worries.

Her grandfather’s longtime allies refuse to offer help, and the Blood Emperor’s Warlord is tracking her. She’s also struggling to control the enormous power she was granted by the Goddess of Blood Rites…and come to terms with the promises she made to get such power.

Amidst all of this, the Blood Emperor wages a full-scale invasion against Mareen and leaves a trail of decimated cities, war crimes, and untold death in his wake. As the horrors increase, Ikenna and her team realize they must assassinate the Blood Emperor and quickly end the war. But the price to do so is steep and has planet-shattering consequences.

The price to do nothing, though, is annihilation.

War has erupted. Alliances are fracturing. And Ikenna is torn between her loyalties, her desires for revenge, and the power threatening to consume her. With the world aflame, only one thing is certain: blood will be spilled.

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A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley – Review

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4 stars, Book Review, demons, magic, paranormal, romance, Sarah Hawley, witches

Review of A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon

Mariel’s magical talent is a bit wonky.  She is great with plants, but not so great with everything else.  Just ask her mother.  While practicing non-plant magic one day, Marie accidently calls the demon Ozroth.  Problem!!  The demon has no intention of leaving until he has bargained for Mariel’s soul.

Mariel has no intention of giving up her soul.  And Ozroth, who recently and unexpectedly received a soul, is not soul-thirsty enough to aggressively pursue it.  Until he gets the soul, Ozroth needs to stay close to Mariel, so they start fake dating.  Which has all sorts of comical outcomes with Mariel’s friends, boss, and especially her mother. 

In the meantime, there is bickering, witty banter, laughs and attraction.  There is also a power-hungry mayor who wants to destroy the land to make way for a spa.  Something evil is eating at the forest.  And there is Mariel’s mother, who is the worst at parenting.  Never supportive and ever critical, to Mom, Mariel falls way short of the family legacy and prophecy. 

All this means that in addition to a charming romance, there is plenty of intrigue. As Mariel, Ozroth and her friends deal with the bad guys, Mariel’s magical spark may finally start to burn.  Even though I felt the books started slowly, all the plot lines built up to make for a fun read.

With a youngish heroine witch and a hero demon who is old, but practically starting over, I would categorize this book as New Adult.  Even though the current retail listings don’t indicate a series, at the end of the book, there is an excerpt for the next book.  A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon is a standalone, but with plenty of characters that just may also get their own story.

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book.  My review is my honest opinion.

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About A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon—one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain.

Ozroth the Ruthless is a legend among demons. Powerful and merciless, he drives hard bargains to collect mortal souls. But his reputation has suffered ever since a bargain went awry—if he can strike a bargain with Mariel, he will earn back his deadly reputation. Ozroth can’t leave Mariel’s side until they complete a bargain, which she refuses to do (turns out some humans are attached to their souls).
 
But the witch is funny. And curvy. And disgustingly yet endearingly cheerful. Becoming awkward roommates quickly escalates when Mariel, terrified to confess the inadvertent summoning to her mother, blurts out that she’s dating Ozroth. As Ozroth and Mariel struggle with their opposing goals and maintaining a fake relationship, real attraction blooms between them. But Ozroth has a limited amount of time to strike the deal, and if Mariel gives up her soul, she’ll lose all her emotions—including love—which will only spell disaster for them both.

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