Review: The Trophany (Krimson Empire #0.5) by Julia Huni

Title: The Trophany

Series: Krimson Empire #0.5

Author: Julia Huni

Genre: Adult, sci-fi

Publication date: July 2023

Published by: Julia Huni

Source: Kickstarter reward

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Synopsis: When gaggle of military spouses gets abandoned on a defunct asteroid base, can Quinn Templeton rescue herself and the others before the Krimson Empire attacks?

This story was first published in The Expanding Universe 5.

My rating: ★★★★☆

Quinn and a bunch of other military spouses are suddenly left stranded on an asteroid base just as they find out that the Krimson Empire is set to attack.

Review: Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Title: Avalon

Series: Avalon #1

Prequel novella: Proxy

Author: Mindee Arnett

Genre: YA, sci-fi

Publication date: January 2014

Published by: Balzer & Bray

Source: Paperback ARC for review from publisher

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Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Thrift Books

Synopsis: Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

I first read this book about ten years ago and I remember absolutely loving it! I re-read it recently because after all of these years, I still had not finished reading the duology and my recollection of this book was pretty nonexistent 😅

Review: The Wizard's Mark by Janette Rallison

Title: The Wizard's Mark

Author: Janette Rallison

Genre: Adult, high fantasy

Publication date: March 15th 2024

Published by: Janette Rallison

Source: Ebook for review from author

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Synopsis: He was her first love. Now he’s her deadliest adversary.

By day, Marcella pretends to be a highborn lady, but at night, she’s a thief for the renegades, a group whose goal is to help servants escape their noble masters.

That isn’t her most dangerous secret. In a land where only men are wizards, she’s able to wield magic.

Marcella grew up as a serving girl in the castle where young wizards train. Falling in love with Ronan, the most promising apprentice, was a bad idea from the beginning. He’d made it clear he never planned on a future with her. It would’ve stood in the way of his ambitions.

Now the renegades want Marcella to go to the king’s court where an assassination might prevent a war, but then she’ll be back in Ronan’s path. This time as enemies.

He's dangerous. He knows her secrets. Despite the sparks that always fly between them, he could easily destroy the mission and her.

And yet she might still be in love with him anyway.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have been really into high fantasy lately, so when I found out that Janette Rallison wrote one I knew I needed to read it immediately. And I ended up really enjoying it! But that’s unsurprising because I tend to love everything that Janette Rallison writes.

Monthly Wrap-Up: March 2024

I hope you guys are having a good Spring so far! In March I read 6 books, one of them a re-read, for a total of 2400 pages (about 350 pages more than the previous month)!

• 4 were part of a series and 2 were standalones
• 5 were finished copies and 1 was an ARC
• 5 were physical books and 1 ebook
• 2 were 5-star reads and 4 were 4-star reads
• 5 were traditionally published and 1 was indie published
• 5 were by authors I've previously read and 1 by a new-to-me author
• 3 were adult books, 2 YA, and 1 middle grade
• 5 were fiction and 1 nonfiction
• 1 was high fantasy, 2 contemporary romance, 2 urban fantasy, and 1 medical science

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #362: This Makes Me Happy

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.