Son Of A Bite by Lucia Ashta

I have to say this is one of my least favorite books. And here's why. This book is full of vulgar language, words I don't even use to call women I don't like. While there are new creatures I've not heard of before. All the men in the book talk about are drinking, doing drugs, & having relations with the opposite gender. Although, it is mentioned that certain people say if they liked the same gender they'd like that person. I normally like dark vampire books. But this book is too gritty and I find the characters are not ones I connected with enough to stay interested. And at eighty percent of the way through I couldn't read it anymore. Which is a shame because I feel like Luciana books have really changed over the years from fun worlds & characters to several series I don't want to read.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Here's my parental warning that I always put in books that I think warrant them. At first this book wasn't bad just talking about people hooking up without details. There is mention of same gender relations. About halfway through the book is where the relationship between two people changes. And yes this get descriptive. I will say it's not too spicy. I've read worse but a lot of those times I had no idea what I was getting into. As far as your teen reading this it really depends on how conservative you are. And I grew up very conservative so I wouldn't even let my 18 year old read this. But technically, they are adults then & don't listen to us. Some of you might let your 16 year old read this but that's on you. I should also mention the dark way this book treats death. People die left and right in this book and the characters are supposed to treat it like it's A part of life. People are literally burned along with their belongings & their names read once & then everyone moves on. I always recommend parents read a book before they allow their kids to. 

If you love books about dragons, schools, and characters who learn things about themselves they never knew you will love this. It's an enemies to lovers, right vs wrong, corrupt politics, & bullies who'd rather kill you so they can take your spot. I personally love dragon rider books. I've been reading them for years. This one has rich world building and previous battle history. On top of this Violet is a very intelligent girl who has a joint and ligament condition. Her bones also break easily. Violet is the daughter of a dragon rider general (mother) and a scribe. Violet was all set to take the scribe test & become one until her mom interfered. Violet only had 6 months to train for what others train for all their lives. Of course, she passed the written tests it's the physical part that she has to worry about. Personally I can't stand her mother! I think she resents the fact that her daughter has something wrong with her. Plus, Violet reminds her mother of her dad. I think she expected her to die and not make it through the first year. Now Violets mother was part of the military that had to kill all the resistance parents. They were ordered to kill them in front of their children. Which is totally barbaric. Xaden took 107 scars on his back to protect that many kids who lost their parents that day. If any of them rise up against the leadership Xaden dies. Xaden is a 3rd year wing leader. And the leader of Violets squadron. Now here comes love interest number two Dain. Rain is Violets best friend who grew up with her. He's a year older but already a squad leader. But here's Dain's big problem he does everything by the rules. Yeah, I know you can see the train wreak coming. Xaden tells Violet he's going to kill her but he has plenty of opportunities and doesn't. In fact, he's intrigued by her. He gives her opportunities to get him in trouble but she doesn't tell his secrets. Violet gets help from a diary her brother gave her. It allows her to beat her opponents in hand to hand combat. Because of her last name & because she's weak there are plenty of people who want Violet dead. Zander starts to get Violet to think about challenges she can't physically complete for a legal way to accomplish them. Whereas Dain keeps trying to talk her into running back to the scribes & hiding from her mother. And when Violet saves a little dragon from 3 bullies she is rewarded by the most powerful dragon wanting to bond with her. She's surprised to learn the little dragon has bonded to her as well. This makes the military officials go crazy. They want her to choose one. What Violet doesn't know is her dragon is mated to Xaden's. And because of this they can all telepathically talk to one another. Xaden desires he has to help train Violet or she won't pass the other trials. Plus she's so little she can't stay on her dragon. He has others he trusts train her, protect her, etc. Violet quickly falls for Xaden who tells her not to after their first time together. When Violets signed power (magic she & her dragon power) comes out it scares her because she ends up causing an avalanche that kills the bully that was trying to kill her. Violet is a very compassionate person. Something the harsh world she lives in doesn't understand. When the war games come something feels off to Violet and she should've read more into the look Dan's dad gave him before they all left to pack. That would've sent red flags off in my head. When Xaden changes plans & has Liam & Violet go with him instead of Dain she should've noticed Dain's demeanor. Because when they stop for a water break they are warned by gryphon fliers that the town they are flying towards has venin, mythic creatures, coming to attack. Violet's dad used to read a fairytale book to her about them when she was younger. Violet is furious because Xaden has been keeping secrets from her. He was part of the people stealing supplies. But until she sees the cabin for herself when they get to their destination she never would've believed they were real. Plus something is seriously wrong the keep is empty. Hundreds of soldiers are gone. All that is left is a note from Dain's dad with an impossible choice. They can leave all the people in the town unprotected & relinquish Xaden's wing leader title or stay & fight. Fighting is basically a death sentence. There are four venin and they are immune to dragon fire. Plus even with their numbers venom channel with dark magic which is stronger than the magic they wield. There is a big cliffhanger at the end!

Kingdom of Chaos by Julie Hall

This book is in my opinion better than the first book! And we all know that's hard to do. In this book we are racing to find a way to a gate to get to the human world. Then we need to locate Becks & see if he's still alive after being stabbed in the heart. Locklyn wastes days because her parents want answers about Chaos. But Locklyn needs time to process everything she went through & the new information that changes everything she knew about herself. Because she was told by the evil Kerrim that she was human. Which she was very angry about because if her parents knew this why would they pretend like she was a creature & take her to the doctor? That's just cruel. When her parents force her to talk she learns the secrets of her adoption. And the circumstances are pretty sketchy. Yet, her parents wanted a baby so bad they never questioned any of it. This book has a lot of ups & downs. Locklyn, Ensley, & Titus take a road trip to get Talon. He had returned home. There the meet Talon's annoying yet tough as nails vampire cousin, Imogen. Talon comes clean with them & reveals the Arcane Society (the group his family leads to help keep the 8 gates closed) true purpose. But by revealing so much he is banished from the group & his family. He gave up a lot to help them find Becks. I know part of him felt guilty but he really only did it for Locklyn. I have to say it infuriates me that she lies to herself all the time! She claims that Becks has always been so supportive but that's a lie. A guy that loves you & trusts you should believe in you. That you are strong without magic. And not constantly say things that hurt her so much that it feels like a literal punch to the gut. Becks treated her like a trophy but one he was afraid to show off. I don't care who you are that hurts. She had to feel like his dirty little secret. I would've! And Talon was right, Becks never stood up & fighted for their relationship. That tells me he's not committed enough or mature enough for one! This book is one fight, strategy, & survival at a time. They go through a gate & find themselves in human gatekeepers hands. Things do not go well. But they get information & transportation to get to Central Park. On the way there someone's shadow magic seems to get out of control when they get emotional. Talon continues to be a calming balm to her anxiety & overthinking. Talon has to teach Locklyn how to control her new powers. And she soon learns how hard it is to keep her emotions in check. Especially, since she's constantly worried about Becks, thinks that everything that's happened is her fault. As time to rescue Becks grows closer Locklyn lies to herself about her feelings toward Talon & she fights to lock them up. Locklyn makes some hard deals to get Becks out. And when he gets out in my opinion he acts like a overprotective pig! I would've pulled him aside & told him no way are you to treat me like that again. Because everything he did was for show to stake a claim on Locklyn. He might as well have marked her as a dog does. According to a prophecy Locklyn has to fight Kerrim. That fight is pretty nasty. Ensley gets kidnapped before they can initiate their plans. So Locklyn can't stand the thought of that creep hurting Ensley and they arrange to meet the next day. The plans go wrong as usual several of them get hurt. In order to save Locklyn Talon shares his power with her. But will he have enough to sustain himself? And who will Locklyn choose to be with? There are several surprises at the end. I was upset when Talon was injured early on & never seemed to heal. Especially, as he got seemed but hid it behind his mask like he always does. 

Savage Crown (Bonded by Fate Duet book 2) by Leia Stone

Kaelric is my mate but he will never forgive me because Valkaryn (the powerful sword who has his mothers soul in it) rejected him. It's supposed to help him win save his people. My names Brynn and I sacrificed giving my family magic for this sword. And now my mate says we can't be together because I'm human. I could die in childbirth. And he left me & the sword here after the trials. Don't get me wrong he gave me & my family his mom's childhood home. After living in the Dregs this is a mansion. But he never uses the mind speak to talk to me anymore. I find myself thinking of him every second of the day. I help my people build houses. Cassian moved here because someone was trying to assassinate him. He comes over every night for dinner. My best friend Elia is here and I see her a lot. Her daughter & my little sister are best friends. Finally, a wolfkin comes & tells me Kaelric needs me. We ride to the war front. Turns out it's Godric, Kaelric's uncle (second in command). Kaelric apologized. But, we have a problem the evil king has Mind Render a sword that is second only to mine. He also has Ella's mom as his concubine. Mind Render basically gives him power to control everyone in town. I learn I am a weak vessel for Valkaryn. And I find out how she was able to have children with her wolfkin mate as a human. So, in a desperate attempt to save the kingdom I try it. Only things don't go as I planned. There are consequences. But I am able to help Kaelric get the kingdom back. Then I have to deal with the consequences that I didn't tell Kaelric about. One more quest before I can rest. After all I made a promise I intend to keep. But it ends up costing me a lot in the end. But I promise this book like all Leia Stone books has a happy ending.