The Forsaken And The Fated: The Hollow And The Haunted #2, by Camilla Raines

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

In this thrilling sequel to The Hollow and the Haunted, Miles and Gabriel find themselves ensnared in a web of dark magic beyond their wildest imaginings. Time is running out to change their future, and the dead are hungry...

Perfect for fans of atmospheric queer fantasy romance, including The Raven Cycle, Cemetery Boys and Sixteen Souls.

With Gabriel missing and the death premonition still unbroken, Miles and Charlee race to work out where he is. Armed with the grimoire, they might stand a chance of breaking the curse on Gabriel's family and preventing his death—but only if they can find him.

Miles's parents are furious to learn he's been helping Gabriel—and they don't even know the half of it. Miles is sure understanding the feud between their families is key to lifting the curse. Plus, he'd like them to get to know the boy he's hoping he's maybe, sort-of dating.

With new premonitions changing everything they thought they knew and the dark power of the grimoire whispering in their ears, Miles and Gabriel are running out of time. Both their lives are on the line, and danger might be closer to home than they realize…

my thoughts:

Love, love, love the sequel to this awesome duology by Camilla Raines. The Forsaken And The Fated is the followup to The Hollow And The Haunted and it is terrific! I absolutely LOVED falling back in with familiar and beloved characters, Miles, Gabriel, and Charlee - who once again find themselves mired in DRAMA. I'm talking teen angst issues - school, romance, friendships, family, and of course, the paranormal. Life and death stakes are unfortunately turning out to be the norm for these teens and they do not shy away from confrontation, which makes for a thrilling and emotional story. I enjoyed every minute spent with these characters and their story - what a treat!

I would happily recommend this fantastic duology to anyone and everyone looking for their next great reads - you won't want to miss out! Make sure to grab a copy! Happy reading!

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

Frankenstein's Monster by J. S. Barnes

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

“He was soon borne away by the waves, and lost in darkness and distance.”

There are those who would swear that Victor Frankenstein is dead. Those who would swear that his Creature died also.

They are wrong.

1. Folklorist Nathaniel Greene escapes to the country to finish his latest book, along with his wife, Alice. Yearning for a family, and yet finding herself without, Alice watches as Greene grows ever more distant with her, fraying their already tense bonds. When a mysterious stranger arrives on their doorstep, bedraggled and delirious, Alice welcomes him in, finding herself seduced by the promises he makes.

2. In Newgate prison, Nathaniel Greene stands accused of murder. Philanthropist Jesse Malone and psychic Hubert Crowe are determined to understand what happened, but the story Greene has to tell is almost unbelievable: one of monstrous, impossible creations made in an outhouse laboratory.

To uncover the truth behind Greene’s bizarre claims, the two investigators must delve into a terrifying world where the men play God once more, and the ghosts of the past appear to be alive and vengeful.

In this visionary sequel to Mary Shelley’s peerless classic, old experiments resume, new mysteries arise, and the true question of mankind’s morality is tested once more.

my thoughts:

A sequel to Frankenstein! How awesome does that sound? The idea that Victor and his monster still live - I mean, that is definitely the way to Frankenstein fans' hearts. Plus, it's always fun to read someone else's reimagining of a story, well, at least when it's done right. And let me just say, J. S. Barnes has written a terrific Gothic tale with his sequel, Frankenstein's Monster. I absolutely loved it! 

Barnes' story is dark and moody, suspenseful, a bit creepy, and chock full of fantastic storytelling. He carries on from the original book that inspired him seamlessly.  I really enjoyed how he was able to take such a beloved classic and make it his own. He writes with enthusiasm and transports his reader to a world with new and old characters that make this horror story unputdownable. You can't help but get caught up in the dual timelines, letters, and questions about humanity. This book is a literary treat! I would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read. Of course, I would definitely recommend it to fans of Frankenstein - you won't want to miss out on this must-read sequel. Make sure to grab a copy ASAP.

Happy reading!

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!