Speak of the Devil (Over My Dead Body #2) by Sweeney Boo

Speak of the Devil by Sweeney Boo

My Rating: ★★

I received a copy from HarperAlley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Younwity, a secret school of magic, is still reeling from the events that nearly destroyed the entire place. Most people just want things to settle so they can move on, but a strange fissure has appeared and no one can close it. What’s worse is that the fissure is slowly breaking down the school grounds!

I absolutely loved the first volume, so I was extremely excited when I saw that volume two was on the way! Unfortunately, the story was all over the place. I think it was an interesting concept that could’ve worked, but it might’ve needed a whole new setting and characters rather than reopening an existing story. I even reread the first volume since it’d been a while and I still felt like I stepped into a new world that just happened to have the same characters.

While it wasn’t my favorite read, I still enjoyed the artwork and seeing how Abigail’s friendships have grown and become even stronger. I just wish the story itself was executed better on top of having a more solid and clear ending. It wasn’t a bad read, and if you’ve read the first book, I urge you to pick this up. Just head in knowing that it has a completely different vibe.

Crafting for Your Cat: 25 Playful Projects for You and Your Feline Friends by Annika Hinds

 

Crafting for Your Cat: 25 Playful Projects for You and Your Feline Friends by Annika Hinds

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Chronicle Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you are a crafter and have cats, then this is the book for you. Inside you will find 25 fun projects ranging from DIY cat collars to how to make different kinds of cat scratchers. I love that the projects are rated using a paw system to let you know how difficult it is. It’s so cute!

I’m surprised at how simple it is to make cat scratchers. It still takes a lot of work, but it made me realize how simple it is to design and build your own cat tree once you know what you’re doing. I could see repairing or adding onto an existing cat tree that’s sturdy as well. The possibilities are endless! I really liked this book, and now I want to see how much stuff we can make ourselves. It may be possible to make more of my cat’s favorite toys!

Destined Dawn (The Arrow Hart Academy #5) by Hannah Haze

Destined Dawn by Hannah Haze

My Rating: ★★★

Rhianna is in the middle of a war where new enemies just keep appearing. It’s a good thing her new savior just appeared… or is it? Because now Rhi is forced to choose between the fantasy her savior is creating for her, or the reality behind who he is and what he intends to do. Is creating an alliance with them worth the risk? With her mates backing her up, Rhi makes some tough decisions as she prepares for the final showdown.

I’ve really been enjoying this series, but this book was all over the place. The prologue set a weird tone for the book. I wish it was one of Rhi’s visions or the prologue that opened the series instead. Plus, the pacing was off, and the pregnancy scare was super out of place. I think it would’ve been better if it was something that happened in one of the previous books instead of now.

The entire plot with Rhi’s father and the West was super rushed and seemed random until we got to the final battle. I think it would’ve been better if it was rumored that her dad could feed on magic and skip the entire side story with her dad just to squeeze in an underdeveloped vampire plot. I think all of this could’ve been dealt with better, and that if we were going to have vampires, they should’ve been introduced a lot sooner.

All in all, I still liked the book. I just think it wasn’t a good ending for the series that started with so much promise. That said, I had a lot of fun reading the entire series and look forward to checking out the author’s other books at some point.

Burdened Bonds (The Arrow Hart Academy #4) by Hannah Haze

Burdened Bonds by Hannah Haze

My Rating: ★★★

After barely escaping the attack that destroyed the academy, Rhianna finds herself on the run with Renzo. He’s not someone she would normally choose for herself, but she’s starting to see why fate has thrown them together. Rhi doesn’t have much time to dwell on it though. There’s someone extremely powerful and evil who has put a price on her head, and he’s just taken over as chancellor by force. To top things off, she doesn’t know if Tristan is dead or alive, and Spencer is missing all together. How will she get through this?

While I’ve been enjoying this series, I was a bit disappointed with the previous book. Luckily, this installment has restored my faith in the series. I really enjoyed following all of the characters, especially Rhi and Renzo. He’s the only one of Rhi’s mates that we’ve spent very little time with, so it was great to finally learn more about him while they were doing their best to get somewhere safe.

However, it did still have some issues. The interactions between some of the characters was super clunky in Stone and Azlan’s chapters during the search for Rhi. It also seemed like various characters lost every last brain cell at times. The lack of communication was also a problem. I’m not sure why the story keeps making a point for there to be no secrets only to hold off sharing some major information that would help them decide what to do.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this, but I did occasionally pause to side eye the lack of communication and lack of brain cells on and off. The good news is that I’m about to start the final book, so everything will be out in the open… I think. Anything can happen!

Shattered Stars (The Arrow Hart Academy #3) by Hannah Haze

Shattered Stars by Hannah Haze

My Rating: ★★★

After finally unlocking some of her memories, Rhianna is left reeling by the horrors that were hidden away. At least she’s learned something important about herself: she’s a seer. Now she understands why her aunt was determined to keep her hidden, but it doesn’t mean that she’s not wondering why she had to be left completely in the dark. Meanwhile, bullies have painted a target on her back, and Tristan openly pursuing only adds fuel to the flames. At least she’s got Azlan and Stone, but Rhi is determined to ignore her other fated mates until the unthinkable happens.

I’ve been really enjoying this series, but I think this is probably my least favorite. It was still a fun read, but it really bugged me that everyone seemed to forget that they just learned Rhi is a seer for a good portion of the book. I also kept wondering why she wasn’t mentioning the bullying to Stone or Azlan. I totally understand why she doesn’t want anything to do with Tristan or Spencer because I wouldn’t either! I just wished she at least told one of them when something very important was stolen if she didn’t want it to go to Azlan or Stone with it. It could’ve easily been retrieved instead of being left in the air like it was a small matter.

Outside of that, I really enjoyed the book. It was interesting to get more backstory on Tristan and Spencer, and I actually do feel bad for Spencer. I still wouldn’t forgive him easily at all, but I understand some of how he turned out the way he did. Same with Tristan. The two have a lot to atone for, but the backstory? It makes sense for them. If either of them really want to turn over a new leaf, they might want to drop the pig girl nickname. That would help a lot.

All in all, it was a good read, but it had its issues. I’m hoping everything picks back up in the next book because I’d hate to see the series lose steam. Even Rhi standing up for herself and fighting back blew straight out the window at some point. I know this is a bullying series, but since it’s fiction and Rhi is as powerful as she is, I was hoping to see the bullies begin to lose their power rather than gaining more.

Twisted Ties (The Arrow Hart Academy #2) by Hannah Haze

Twisted Ties by Hannah Haze

My Rating: ★★★★★

After barely surviving a run in with an assassin, Rhianna Blackwaters is now freshly bonded with her fated mate. The problem? This fated mate business is news to her, and he knew all along and didn’t say a thing. To top things off, Rhi didn’t even get a choice in whether or not they sealed the bond! Between the huge mystery that is her life, the fated mate business, and the magical school full of bullies that have declared open season on her, Rhi has had enough. She’s taking things into her own hands and risking everything to learn the truth about why her aunt gave her life to keep her hidden from the world.

I’m so excited that it’s the weekend because I can spend it reading the third book. I definitely didn’t expect to get so addicted right away when I started the first book! This time around, we follow Rhi and each of her fated mates through their rotating perspectives, and all of the guys have huge story and POV chapter expansions. We touched on their perspectives on and off in the first book, but now they’re playing larger roles in the story and really being fleshed out. This is primarily Rhi’s story, but we do spend a lot more time with the guys than before, especially Azlan and Stone. There’s also even more world building, which I really enjoyed. 

I told my best friend that if Rhi and Winnie don’t realize they’re besties, I was going to riot. Thankfully, their best friend status has officially been sealed, and the duo go on an adventure together. I love the two of them so much. I also want Winnie’s grandma to adopt me because my own grandma could easily make an appearance in the book and fit right in with all the bullies.

The character growth we see with Azlan and Stone gets the chef’s kiss seal of approval. Are they both forgiven? Hell no! But are they both determined to learn from their mistakes and do better? Yes. Are they seeking forgiveness? Another yes! Honestly, they’re the only two male leads who are forgivable. The rest are on their own for being bullies and mega douches!

All in all, I’m ready to dive into the third book. I’ll see you all when I emerge because I’m ready for Rhi to continue to learn how to kick ass while continuing to sort out what she learned about her past. I’m excited to see her take down her bullies along the way!

Fractured Fates (The Arrow Hart Academy #1) by Hannah Haze

Fractured Fates by Hannah Haze

My Rating: ★★★★

Rhianna Blackwaters just can’t catch a break. After spending her entire life on the run and hiding as an unregistered magical, the authorities finally closed in on her and now she’s been tossed into a college of sorts from hell. Totally unprepared for this school and the world of magicals, Rhi stuck defending herself from a bunch of rich bullies along with various professors. What’s even worse? There’s a bounty on her head, and she can’t trust anyone but Pip the pig and her one friend, Winnie.

We follow Rhi and her various fated mates through their rotating perspectives, but primarily Rhi. Of course, Rhi, Winnie, and Pip are the stars of the show! A good portion of the book is world building, but honestly, I would hate this world as much as Rhi if I was in her shoes. Not only is she carrying the weight of her aunt’s unspoken secrets regarding her very existence, but she also has to deal with a school full of bullies… including the professors!

The romance plot is interesting because it’s a reverse harem primarily made up of awful men and Rhi is the only one who has no idea fated mates are real. All she knows is that she has a strange connection to these men and that most of them need a good dose of humble pie. I’m assuming something will change at some point in the other books, but I would be so mad if I was stuck connected to almost all of these dudes. I swear you’re going to love hating them though, so at least there’s that. I’m not really a fan of the romance at this point because I think maybe two of the guys are okay, but poor Rhi needs to make a run for it whenever she sees the other ones!

All in all, this was an entertaining read that made me feel like I was reading some old school reality TV. I was fully entertained on top of enjoying the mystery. I can’t wait to read the next book. I’m looking forward to seeing Rhi get her revenge. Not only is she surrounded by bullies, but they are completely out of control and walking around with a massive chip on each of their shoulders. It’ll be great to see her fully come into her abilities as well, so we’ll see how much progress she’ll make on both fronts in book 2!